"I'm Ferin. I was grabbing some food for me and Etena. When the fight started I stayed here to hide from you."
"Not very successful." Ferin adds.
"Happy to meet you, Ferrin," Bupkis replies. "Who is Etena? Other giants not let you have food?"
"Etena is an old slag giant. Why do you think, the others won't let me have food?"
The goblin realizes he may have misunderstood the situation. "Bupkis not understand the ways of giants. Sometimes say wrong thing."
"So, may I go?" Ferin asks.
Where is Etena? Would she be willing to talk? If you hold us no ill intent, I fine with allowin' ye ta go fer now.
"<I guess she would talk. I'll lead you to her.>" Ferin replies and leads the way.
The way leads back in the direction you came from, but through another door. Ferin opens it and leads you through. The next door she only opens a crack and checks that no one is in there. "<Be quick and be quiet.>" she tells.
The nave of the cathedral opens into a huge amphitheater. Three tiers of curved stone benches are arranged in immense horseshoes around the chamber’s centerpiece, a great pit filled with cold black slag. From the middle of the slag pit rises a wide, round platform of black basalt. A great forge, its fire gone cold, sits in the center of the platform, along with a massive iron anvil the size of a cow. The soot-stained ceiling arches far above the chamber floor. A bridge of stone connects the platform to a dais at the rear of the hall, where a towering statue of a stone giant ominously overlooks the entire cathedral.
Ferin hurries over to the statue of Minderhal and opens a secret door at its side. Behind it is a flight of stairs leading down.
"<Etena, we have visitors.>" she announces.
Dust covers the floor and cobwebs drape the walls of this broad oval chamber. Near the center of the room stands a pillar of cemented soot-blackened stones illuminated by the waxy lumps of crude candles and surrounded by a ring of mystic symbols fashioned out of metallic dust sprinkled on the floor. To the south stand a large chair and a table laid with a single place setting, a clay bowl, a pitcher of water, and pot of gruel. A large framed box filled with straw and covered with a couple of heavy quilts and a few oversized pillows lies farther east beyond the pillar.
The huge pillar is the furnace that once fueled the forge. It lies cold, and the Forgeheart has been shrouded in near darkness. Set into the northern side of the furnace is a great door of black iron with a latch handle and a sliding barred grate. Stone buckets holding ancient slag stand near the furnace door, along with a giant-sized bellows with cracked and worn leather, a huge broom, a large iron shovel, and a pile of coke for starting a fire.
Out of a dark corner a venerable slack giant steps into the dim light the candles provide. "<You brought little folk?>" Etena voices with disgust. But as she sees Ivan and the hammer he wields, he almost blind eyes brighten. "<You brought the hammer of unmaking!>" she whispers awestruck.
Daseem found the way the giants loomed over him intimidating but he'd decided that for now Ferrin wasn't a sparring partner, yet. When she opened a secret door it seemed this stance was validated, they'd have likely missed that. The ancient giant waiting inside the ancient forge room didn't seem like a likely sparring partner either, yet. He watched with mild curiosity but when the old one claimed Ivan had the 'hammer of unmaking' he looked at the dwarf sharply. Where had it got that name from?
Bupkis knows that Ivan's hammer is special. He wonders what Etena knows about it, and why she's interested. he tells her, "Found in giant's tomb underneath Trunau. Orcs and a giant attack our home, we stop them. Attack was ordered by Hill Giant Grenseldek. Her letter says Storm Tyrant Volstus wants to bring ruin to small folk. We don't want to be ruined!"
"In times now lost, my ancestors built the sacred forge in the cathedral above to honor He Who Makes and Unmakes. Minderhal’s Forge is a repository of awesome power, but long have its fires lain cold. Only with Minderhal’s great hammer, Agrimmosh—which I sense in your hands, can the effects of long ages be unmade and the flames restored." At this point it becomes clear, that she is not really replying to Bupkis answer.
"I, Etena, am Keeper of the Forge. I inherited my position from those who walked this world before me, and those before them. I am the guardian of the sacred forge, but I am not its creator. Were that the case, I would have long ago renewed its fire, but this task is beyond my ability. You, however—you, the bearer of the Hammer of Unmaking - you have the power to
relight the forge. But first, you must learn its history and what must be done."
"According to the sacred texts, four ancient heroes first brought
Minderhal’s Forge to life."
"The first was Mymrith the Maker, priestess of Fandarra, who prepared fallen warriors for the afterlife by anointing their bodies with sacred clay. She lined the forge with the clay to contain the fire within."
"The second was Aduromi, the Priestess of Crystals, whose veins ran hot with molten metal and who could temper steel to a hardness that would cut diamonds. She brought with her the secrets of the fire geodes, which once ignited would burn for a century."
"The third was Jogrothir the Hunter, guardian of the sacred horn Drakesbane, which he used to call the ancient drakes native to the surrounding peaks. Jogrothir brought the forge to life, for he alone was able to capture the dragon’s breath, the only flame hot enough to ignite the fire geodes."
"The last was Rosag, the Preserver of the Forge. A great priestess of Minderhal, Rosag held the secrets of water - both its ability to temper metal as well as its capacity to quench the sacred flames. She performed the Blessing of Rosag, the final incantation that stoked the fires and sanctified the forge."
"Only by following in the footsteps of the blessed ancients, by repeating those acts which have been undone, shall the fires of Minderhal’s Forge once again blossom."
"If we relight the Forge, what would you do with it?"
The old woman looks absentminded into the distance.
Bupkis says to Etna, "We find Prayer of Rosag in underwater temple!"
He thinks of the disk with the inspire prayer that the party is carrying.
Ivan does show a hint of awe at the forge. It was quite the beauty, but when Etena speaks, his scowl returns.
<Aye, well I can see why the smell around 'ere would make ye voice sound as such.> He glances to his hammer.
After the tale, Ivan's face remains a scowl.
I care not fer ye legends and farce... Though, that said, the smith in me cannot deny his curiosity at working with a forge who claims such a tale. While I be doubtin' it stands to the dwarven forges of yore, a forge with such a legacy doubtless stands below nary any others. I'll relight the forge, ifn' I'm able on two conditions. One, I may test my skills with it, and two, no item forged in its flames will willingly go towards the giant's crusade against us. Is that acceptable?
At the mention of the stone disk, Ivan looks around. Aye, I've got it in a sack I think..
"Fine with me." Etena agrees. Those who didn't notice the blatant lie right away are made aware by Ferin, who's jaw drops.
"Once we have time you need to tell me about those dwarven forges that are more impressive than this one consisting of an artifact level holy or rather unholy forge and an artifact forging hammer."
Hearing the casual agreement of Etena, Amira bursts out laughing. "Even if this woman were serious, she got no say in that. There is someone in charge of this army and if she doesn't forge the stuff for that army, someone else will, once the forge is lit."
"But I wonder - this place is holy to Minderhal, which is as evil as they come. Doesn't that taint that place beyond doing any good?"
"Fine with me."
Daseem snorted in derision, "R-remind me why would we w-want to do this?"
At Amira's jeering, Ivan Harrumphs.
I'd wager there be more than one forge in the ancient sky citadels to compare, and without the taint O' evil to boot, but for your concern, He shows the hammer to her.
I wager this hammer has much a similar dedication and makin' but I'd say its done plenty O' good in me hands. If we can put it to use, perhaps the that issue would not matter in the end. I do wonder, however, ifn' it could be turned to Torag, the true father of creation.
Ivan taps his chin, before letting out a Baahhhh! It likely -could- be possible, but would require one well schooled in Torag's faith and teachings, likely one highly devoted to him, and while Ivan was a devout believer, his devotion went as far as being a craftsman. But the thought of using such a forge to craft weapons or armor to honor Torag almost made Ivan chuckle. He doubted that alone would truly change anything about the forge itself, but then again, maybe it would.
At Daseems question Ivan laughs.
A true sentiment indeed lad, I'd wager I could craft a mighty weapon or armor in those fires, ifn' I had the time. I'm no real follower of Gorum, but perhaps I could try to dedicate a weapon to him from it as well as Torag.
"I'm sure Torag would take on any challenge for crafting or otherwise from Minderhal and expect to best him. But the Skyforge of Torag is in another realm. And even if there are dwarves that can create masterpieces unchallenged in this realm, I haven't heard of a single forge that makes it that easy as this one."
"If one wanted to be despicable, one could say it was created to compensate for a lack in skill."
Amira is aware that this is an affront to the giants present, but it is already clear that each others presence is only tolerated as a means to an end.
Bupkis was hesitant to join in on the theological discussion. He really didn't know much about the different gods and their religions. The power of nature was everywhere, so it made sense to pray to Gozreh for favorable weather.
Menrozzar snorts. This giant was a terrible liar - and the fact that he could tell that made it all the worse. "I don't see much of a point to relighting it, then, if its use would be turned to war upon Trunau and other non-giants. I don't particularly care one way or the other about the religious significance of it, but I do not want to see harm come to Trunau."
Ivan's talk of forging a weapon dedicated to Gorum was very interesting. However after listening to Menrozzar Daseem suddenly had a horrible thought, if something happened to Trunau Tessa would never forgive him! He found himself nodding to Menrozzar...
"So, ... I guess that's all here. We'll see you again once we have all four things we need to. Sacred clay, fire geodes, the drakesbane horn and the prayer of Rosag. Thanks for the information, we'll talk to you later again."
She then Ushers the party out of the room. Once out of the basement and in the sacred forge she tells "Whatever our plans will be, we don't need to discuss them in front of the giants."
"As we already found the prayer of Rosag and it's four things needed and the map in the cave shows four positions, this seems to be no coincidence. Shall we clean out the kathedral first, or shall we go searching for that stuff?"
Bupkis considers Amira's question about what to do next. "Don't know safe place to rest in cathedral. Could return to Dark Passage — places to rest there."
He's conflicted about whether they should help the Slag Giants re-light the forge. Would it just be used to make weapons to use against Trunau?
Daseem nodded, "Yes! We must r-rest... But can w-we? Not seen anywhere safe but the dark passage."
"That's hours of walking through the giant camp again." Amira points out the obvious. "Let's hide in the pantry or something."
I can keep watch while ye lot rest. Even if I'm tired next day, I'll not lose out much going a night without sleep. Especially ifn' ye can get rid O' these damnable bugs.
Ivan offers to be the guard through the rest.
The party hides awy in one of the smaller rooms in hopes no one finds them there. Ivan hears some ruckus during the night as someone notices the massacre that they created during the day.
And luck isn't with the group as a patrol of three stone giants comes along searching through all the rooms and finally also tear open the door to the pantry. One obviously is the leader of the others.
Because of Ivan's alertness everyone is at least ready for the fight.
Daseem cries, "GORRUM!" and a tiny sliver of Our Lord In Iron's awesomeness inhabited his sword making it gleam wickedly! With that he advanced.
The giant concentrates, and works some magic.
Amira recites an encouraging poem about slaying giants.
Menrozzar enters a battle rage, shifting into his draconic-touched form, then steps forward and stabs the nearest giant twice with his spear.
Ye ought'a just left well enough alone ye dumb as rock giants. Now ye walked into a meat tenderizer.
Bupkis is just settling down for a rest when three noisy giants rudely interrupt. "What do you uglies want?"
Teaming up on one giant, Ivan and Menrozzar take down a giant. But the other one steps up and attacks Ivan.
Bupkis steps up behind Daseem and launches a bolt at one of the attackers.
With a wild swing that was all power and barely any control let alone finesse, Daseem leapt at the giant that attacked Ivan. Surely Gorum would favour such earnest bloodlust!
Daseem attacks the giant that is closer to him, as it is also the one who looks like a more glorious fight is in him. But he finds out that his attack doesn't cut it.
Bupkis shoots the stepped up stone giant and hits it hard.
The giant with the more prestigious apparel shows Ivan that he can swing a hammer too, and maybe even better.
Ivan laughs as the giants, as they are want to do, flail against his shield. However, when the leader steps up, Ivan underestimates him, but then lets out a devilish grin as he is sent sliding back 5ft, the blow numbing his entire arm.
Aye. I think I felt that one laddie. Now, lets see ifn' ye can take as well as ye give. He says as he returns the strikes, Having found an opponent in which he could prove his point. Dwarves are better than giants.
Even though Ivan knows how to work stone, that giant is a hard one. He doesn't even get a dent into him.
Amira keeps reciting encouraging verses.
Menrozzar turns his attention to the next stone giant and rips at it with his spear.
Menrozzar ends another giant.
With a frustrated roar Daseem rushed the remaining Giant and tried to impale it with his sword!
Bupkis moves up and, trying to ignore the maddening itch, shoots at the last giant. But the distraction is just too great.
That giant proves resistant. Daseem manages to draw first blood with his blade, but Bupkis misses.
The giant is like: just a scratch. "Might Minderhal make you pay." the giant declared judgement on you.
Bupkis scratches furiously and shoots again.
Ivan for once, crumples to the floor.