"Ah yes. Quite an improvement over our last neighbourhood." Altai has the angelic pilot touch the ship down atop the bluff.
"We owe you a big favour, Xaaara. Of course, the unfortunate incident with the, ah, sentient power source of the ship was extraordinarily unfortunate as well. So, we will most certainly aid you in your quest to free the imprisoned paladin. But first we need to rest and recuperate a bit here."
Pip enjoys the bucolic scenery of Gjetost's homesteading
"It reminds me of the hillier parts of the Yeomanry, blown up in size"
Pip looks up at the giant
"Say, what kinda grub do your folk cook up? I had a herder cousin who liked haggis, any of that here?"
"Mainly goat."
"Dwarves like haggis."
"Well, Gjetost, I look forward to eating your food and meeting your friends and family. Where should I put up my magical hut?"
"I'd put it in my back yard.......it's not that big, right?"
A stone giant stands up on the wall around the town, and waves you guys in.
"You can put down in the city square; it oughtta fit this boat," says Gjetost.
The boat puts down, and two big stone giants walk out of the biggest building there.
"Who goes there?" one cries out.
"It is I, Gjetost, son of Gammalost. I've brought my employer to see my steading here in Jotunheim!"
They nod to each other;
"well met, Gjetost!"
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"It is I, Gjetost, son of Gammalost.
"Greetings and salutations!" Altai wanders down the gangway before bowing to the two giant marshals. "I am Altai Iscarni; I employ Gjetost and these are my companions. We would humbly ask your permission to stay here a little while as we tend to our wounded and plan our next adventure."
As the ship makes its way to the lands of the giant accompanying the mage, Emrael can be seen nearly the entire time, one sword or another in hand. She seems preoccupied - the only conversation she will entertain is if someone offers to practice, in which case she trades her keen sword for a sparring weapon of remarkably similar weight. She says little even then, complimenting a particularly good move by her practice partner, scowling at an error, however slight, on her part.
She seems to be practicing a specific set of blows, working out how to get through another's guard to slash at the inside of a leg, arm, or even a shot at the side of the neck.
Upon arrival at the steading, she cleans up and respectfully greets the marshals, standing behind Altai as he introduces himself.
"It is I, Gjetost, son of Gammalost.
"Greetings and salutations!" Altai wanders down the gangway before bowing to the two giant marshals. "I am Altai Iscarni; I employ Gjetost and these are my companions. We would humbly ask your permission to stay here a little while as we tend to our wounded and plan our next adventure."
"Aye;.....Gjetost does well in your employ. I will go tell Jarl Kavli of your arrival. I'm sure it will be all right. Welcome all!"
then,
"I am Snøfrisk, Huskarl of Jarl Kavli!"
Pretty cheesy, huh?
"Thank you, Master Snøfrisk. We're looking forward to making the jarl's acquaintance."
That's awesome!
"Jarl Kavli summons you!" announces one of the stone giant huskarls.
Elgan wanders down the ramp, looking around (Mainly up) at the latest place their adventures have brought them. He nods approvingly.
"Naice place dere. Wurks wit' natuh. Ah lahiks it."
Elgan feels much better, to be out of Leng.
"Lead the way." Altai follows the huskarls, with Claw following close behind.
Pip follows along, playing appropriate mountain songs
"look at that goat! My Gammer would never believe the size! Why his champion Blue Mouflon could have rode on one-a those things horns!"
The group is led into the massive throneroom of the Lord of Ancient Cheese.
He sits there on his throne, in fine oriental silks, with a massive f$~+ing hammer made out of granite sitting on a dragon skull next to his hand.
To the left at a table, two massive stone giant huskarls are arm rassling, with big ass daggers sticking up where their hands will be slammed down when they lose.
To the right, a bevy of three stone giantesses dressed like Dark Ages Norwegian chicks with wigs of fine gold homespun (they're bald on accounta they're stone giant broads) spin a loom, obvious norn metaphorical foreshadowing.
A big ass raven sits on the skull carved outta the back pillar of a chair; it caws at you.
"What little folk be these?" says the raven, more the size of a cassowary. "To them, mere bushes be as trees!"
Beldan approaches the three giantesses.
"Aaaaah......the gyre of the future......I can see it in the patterns.
The.....Baron, his skein takes him here.
He returned to heaven, but not entirely the right one. And so his quest continues.
Ragnarok, though; still a long ways off. For this world anyhow....."
"That sits not quite well!"
quothes the raven;
"To name it heaven, just because it isn't hell!!!"
And the Stone Giant Jarl, relaxing in his fine silks, stares out from under his craggy beetle brow.
Motionless as a statue.
Altai can't help but grimace as the addled Beldan elbows his way to the front. He quickly regains his composure, though. "Well met, Jarl Kavli! We are the Reavers, a group of adventurers from the Flanaess. I am Altai Iscarni, a wizard, and these are Elgan Dreadwood, a servant of nature, Pip Bushytoe, a singer of songs and teller of tales, Emrael Bladewalker, a paragon of sword and sorcery and, finally, Satari-San, master of the mystical fist. Our fellow travellers are Evindra, the ocean sprite, and the steadfast Xaaara. Gjetost you already know."
"We come here in search of peace and quiet. Our travels previously took us to the nightmare lands of Leng; to recover our wits, we hope to spend some time in the Jotunheim, breathing the fresh air and admiring the snowcapped mountains. We will be nobody's burden, and bring no quarrels with us. If you will permit it, we will spend a forthnight or two here before setting off for new travails."
He's silent, for a good long time.
Then,
"Aye, I welcome you to my Jarldom. I hope you find the peace and quiet you so desperately seek.
Alas,......it is not here though.
A rag tag group of Jacks-in-Irons has decided to come down from the mountains, and to poach my good goats.
They've put blows to one of my Karls who caught them thieving, and they did make a blood eagle on his back, and they do their best to evade capture."
Nitey nite!
"Hmmm.... Tell us about these Jacks-In-Irons."
"Giants, in chains. They usually haunt the mountains. Don't know why they're here stealing my damn goats.
He's in Niflheim, my karl is now."
Elgan does indeed seem to breathe easier since they have left the nightmare realm. Once they disembark he actually walks up to the nearest naturally growing thing, be it tree, bush or flower, and hugs it like a long -missed relative. Then he rejoins the party, smiling the wide-eyed smile of the young planar traveler. (IE= Tourist)
Once they enter the Jarl's steading, Elgan's attention is instantly drawn and riveted to the large raven.
"My. Dey DO grow dem big roun' heah,... Don' dey?"
HE leans over and whispers to Pip,...
"Hey. If'n yew git deh chance, yew cuuld try teh win deh bird's favor wit' flattery an' rhyme. Even jes' holdin' a conversayshun wit' him in rhyme might wurk. All dem stories about the wisdom an' power uv deh ravens caint all be wrong. An' if deh llil' wun's iz all dat, den how much mur so kin a BIG wun be?!?"
"He's in Niflheim, my karl is now."
"I can bring him back to life, if you want me to. His body has to be mostly intact, though."
"Yes; we can go to his cairn then..."
And....I'm going back to work now.
Pip looks about
"Do we have any master fletchers in the area?"
He hears Elgan's whisper and strikes up a tune
"Noble bird of wisdom!
What riddles have you
For we heroes?
All know ravens
Speak great wisdom
For those who listen"
"Yes; we can go to his cairn then..."
"Tomorrow- I need to prepare a bit first. He can't have been dead for more than two weeks or so. And, of course, he must want to come back... But who wouldn't want to turn their backs on Nifelheim?"
"Once he's back, he might tell us some useful things abut the Jacks. They probably bragged about their plans as they were cutting him up."
Emrael keeps her own counsel as they enter the throne room, taking in the scene, noting the details of the many carvings and the sheer size of the occupants. When introduced, she bows deeply, somewhat embarrassed by the description offered by Altai. Surely none consider me so highly. I have been of little use in our battles.
Pip looks about
"Do we have any master fletchers in the area?"
He hears Elgan's whisper and strikes up a tune
"Noble bird of wisdom!
What riddles have you
For we heroes?
All know ravens
Speak great wisdom
For those who listen"[dice=Performance(diplomacy)]1d20+33
"Aye, a master riddler am I...."
he seems pleased with himself now. You've stroked his ego.....
"“Who is the great one that glides o’er the earth,
and swallows both waters and woods?
The wind he fears, but wights nowise,
and seeks to harm the sun.
Aright guess now this riddle, Heithrek!”
"Guess my riddle; I'll shew you to a master fletcher!"
Pip strums Lucille
“Good is thy riddle, Huginsson
and guessed it is:
That is the fog. One cannot see the sun because of him, but he disappears when the wind blows, and men can do naught against him. He kills the light of the sun.”
"RAAAK! YOU MEAN GOOGLE IS THY RIDDLE!!!"
j/k
"Fly you to a fletcher I will, hop on my back when you would be off!"
The Snarky raven takes a liking to Pip.
"RAAAK! YOU MEAN GOOGLE IS THY RIDDLE!!!"
j/k
"Fly you to a fletcher I will, hop on my back when you would be off!"
The Snarky raven takes a liking to Pip.
Pip hops on the raven's back
"What is thy name Huginsson? I am Pip of the Bushytoe clan, late of Oerth. "
"I be not Huginsson. I am Floki."
"Well met Floki. Where are we going for arrows? "
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"Well met Floki. Where are we going for arrows? "
"I know of some elves."