After looting, the party heads down the ladder and reaches the Lower Quarter, making your way to the Hopespring and last beacon. The stench of blood and smoke hangs thick in the air. In the darkness, the crackling of fires mingles with the war cries of orc raiders and the screams of townsfolk. In the distance, you hear the sounds of the orcs' catapult being destroyed as it seems the forces of Trunau may yet survive the night! Tired and dirty and wounded, your journey to the Beacon is uneventful. You reach the Hopespring’s waterfall only to find you are not the first ones who have tried to light the beacon. You see militia soldiers' bodies scattered all over, their skulls caved in and their ribcages crushed. There is one menacing figure still standing in front of the waterfall: a 10' tall humanoid, massively muscular, and almost a cross-mix of a feral orc and an ogre but bigger than both. The giant walks with a perpetual stoop, most likely due to his overdeveloped musculature. His arms are quite long, most likely due to his hunched posture. Curiously, there are chains wrapped around his arms, legs, and neck that end in the corpses of orcs, who apparently were strapped to the giant in life, but were probably killed in battle with the militia. The giant seems to just stand in front of the pool silently, holding the chains in his hands. Behind the giant is a pool of water and you hear the faint sounds of a waterfall, though you cannot see it from your current position.
Ugun took a step back s he saw the giant mass of muscles. Well, at least he killed some his orc handlers...
He knew that he was too far for his magic to be effective so he waited until his more combat oriented companions went forward and followed them.
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HP 22/23
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10
Conditions: mage armor (AC=16)
Melee (greataxe): +1 = +1 (base)
Melee Damage (greataxe): 1d12, x3
Melee (MW dagger): +2 = +1 (base) +1(MW)
Melee Damage (knife): 1d4, 19-20, x2
Spells used: snowball, chill touch, pearl of power, glitterdust
"Oooh, a giant! How fun!" Falric re-casts Shield on himself.
"Ready for me t' get 'is attention, Falric?" murmurs Morti, raising his crossbow to his shoulder and taking aim.
If he gets the nod, the dwarf takes his shot --
...and then stows his crossbow, to be ready to draw his axe.
"Ach, that'sa big'un!" Barundar says aloud, beginning to wind up his dorn dergar in long, (relatively) slow arcs. Rather than charge into the fray, though, he approaches slowly, not advancing any further forward than Falric does.
As he sees Morti aiming his crossbow, Falric whispers, "Hold on, let me get closer. C'mon Bar, let's go dance with the giant!" Falric will move up ahead 30' with the dwarf following. After his move, he gives Morti to signal to shoot and start the festivities!
It's a few feet west of him. It's lit on the map but in my version, it is not lit.
Even when Falric and Barundar move up, the menacing giant hardly flinches...that is until Morti's bolt buries itself in his shoulder and he lets out a scream of anger and hatred!
Falric skips up ahead, as he gets into range of the giant's chains and tries to stab him in the leg, fighting defensively to test the giant's offense.
Falric misses his strike on the flat-footed giant.
Elise moves 60' south, hoping to set the giant up from a flank, to better use her color spray spell without hitting the others.
Barundar bellows out a battle cry in his native Dwarvish, charging at the giant with no heed for his own danger!
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The giant is a menacing creature up close, as Falric and Barundar can attest to, now so close to it, as it towers over them, its muscles ripped and corded. Up close image Through mumbles and spits, it yells out, "I am Crusher!", as it releases its chains and proceeds to slam the loud dwarf with his fists! The first blow almost plants Barundar into the ground with its force, as it dents his armor and cracks some ribs! Thankfully, Barundar spins away from the second blow, which shakes the ground next to the warrior with the impact!
Morti double moves closer to the giant to help his mates.
Seeing the powerful blows of the giant, Falric looks back to Ugun and Elisen, who disappeared from sight..."If ya got any tricks up yer sleeve, now's the time for them!"
Eli moves forward so that she was almost ready to blast the giant. "Hold on just a bit more!"
"Tricks? My cursed magic is not tricks."
He then gestured with his hands and two large butterflies appeared, with wings black as night. Ugun sent the black butterflies towards the giant. The cursed moths danced and flapped around the giant's head and in front of his eyes, spoiling his attacks.
At the same time, Ugun started to laugh, a deep throaty laugh that did not induce mirth or happiness but rather heralded doom.
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HP 22/23
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10
Conditions: mage armor (AC=16)
Melee (greataxe): +1 = +1 (base)
Melee Damage (greataxe): 1d12, x3
Melee (MW dagger): +2 = +1 (base) +1(MW)
Melee Damage (knife): 1d4, 19-20, x2
Spells used: snowball, chill touch, pearl of power, glitterdust
Crusher looks at Ugun and yells, "Puny magics not hurt me! I kill you soon, cursed one!" He motions to the chains wrapped around his wrists, as he stares at Ugun.
"Uh...thanks for that I guess. It's up to us, Bar! Flank it on the right, and I'll flank its left and 1.2.3..now!"
Falric delays until Barundar gets in position and away we go!
Ugun cursed as his black butterflies were swatted away to mere wisps of smoke by the giant.
The half-orc taunted the mass of muscles back, "You're too stupid to have survived this far in life. You die today, ugly one!"
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The bleeding dwarf listens to the halfling's instructions and flanks the giant, bringing his ancestral weapon to bear on it! The chain flies out and strikes the giant, but glances off its shoulder harmlessly, the giant's tough skin protecting it from harm!
Round 2:
Angered by the blow, as he felt the dwarf's strength behind it, the cave giant brings both of his fists down on the Barundar! The dwarf has never seen such fury, as the first blow dents another piece of his armor, spraining his shoulder, while the second staggers him as the chains around the giant's wrist wrap him up and he is picked up to the giant's eye level helplessly, where Crusher looks at him evil in his eyes, spit dripping off his jaw, and simply says, "Die!" Then with powerful might, the giant throws the dwarf down to the ground, where his body hits the ground with an agonizing and bone-breaking thud audible to the party! The apparently lifeless dwarf lays there unmoving, his weapon lying next to him, blood oozing from everywhere, defeated at Crusher's feet, as the giant looks at the party and screams in joy, "I am.....CRUSHER!!!"
Ugun gulped as his dwarven companion was flattened. he wanted to rush in and help the hapless dwarf but there was the stupid giant of muscles to deal with.
The half-orc once more called upon his cursed magic. His shoulder scarifications flared an angry red as he yelled at the giant, "Fall you dumb brute. Fall asleep to never wake up again!"
The giant felt the magic enter his feeble mind and he struggled to keep his eyes open...
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HP 22/23
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10
Conditions: mage armor (AC=16)
Melee (greataxe): +1 = +1 (base)
Melee Damage (greataxe): 1d12, x3
Melee (MW dagger): +2 = +1 (base) +1(MW)
Melee Damage (knife): 1d4, 19-20, x2
Spells used: snowball, chill touch, pearl of power, glitterdust
Fabric watches in horror as his dwarven flanking buddy is beaten and discarded. It brings back painful memories of the death of another dwarf friend. No more! Not if I can save him!
Falric begins the dance of a thousand cuts taught to all practioners of the Dervish in honor of Sarenrae, each spin building force and momentum! As the sweat begins to pour down his forehead, Falric keeps his body under control until at the last possible second he unleashes that fury on the giant's hamstring!
Eli moves 10' closer and tosses a glob of acid at the giant.
RTA
Damage
Morti circles the brute, waving his axe overhead with a flourish and trying to rattle it, weakening it to Ugun's hex and Falric's attacks -- taunting it in orcish, "Ho, Crusher! Yer luck's run out -- we've already left a trail o' yer betters behin' us!"
-- but his voice catches in his throat, seeing what the giant has done to Barundar.
The cave giant smirked at the thought that the little dwarf who hurt him with the crossbow could scare him! Ha! Don't they know who I am?! I am Crusher and I just put down his dwarf friend in the matter of seconds. This little Halfling at my ankle, I will surely ignore him and and go crush the cursed one next. Don't like him, trying to mess with my mind with butterflies! Yes, I will teach them all to FEAR ME! And those orcs, who chained me, I am glad I crushed their bodies. I will kill all who stand in my way and then I will rule the giants...YES! The name of Crusher will be feared all places...what is this cursed one doing now? More magic?! Sleep?! Ha...as if....I were that....stup...id...no, what is going on....can't end...not like.......thi.....s.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The enraged Halfling, seeing his opportunity for vengeance, scales the sleeping giant and stands on his shoulders, while the party watches in curiosity. Falric closes his eyes for a few seconds and meditates on his dance training techniques. Then, the party hears a soft "This is for Barundar, you bastard!", right before the Halfling crouches down and gracefully somersaults backwards off the giant's shoulders, in the process, slicing a huge gash across Crusher's carotid artery! Falric appears to freeze in mid-air, as the giant wakes with a scream, clutching his throat, gurgling and choking on his own blood....before collapsing backwards to the ground dead, at the same time that the Halfling lands gracefully on the ground unharmed!
Thereafter, you light the final beacon! In the distance, you hear cheers from the town's defenders!! The Hopespring beacon burns brightly, illuminating the pool at the bottom of the Hopespring’s waterfall as well as a rough hole gouged into the side of Bloodmarch Hill, wherein a tunnel lies....
After landing, he raises a fist to Ugun, "Powerful magic indeed!" Falric stares at the tunnel, "Guess the real reason for the attack on the town lies in there. If we're going to go in after the ones who left Crusher out here as a sentry, I'm going to need an hour to brew another potion." With that, Falric starts brewing another mutagen.
Ugun's first reaction was to scream a throaty yell, much like a war cry.
After landing, he raises a fist to Ugun, "Powerful magic indeed!"
"Yes, you did well too, little one. Good kil for you to notch in your belt. Your grandchildren will be proud.""
He spat on the giant, "The brute, he killed my black butterflies!"
He then rushed to the fallen dwarf and, uncharacteristic of the mad-looking man, lovingly held his head.
He took out one the healing sticks they had recovered and applied it to the dwarf.
Once the dwarf came to, he unceremoniously dropped his head on the ground as he moved away. "Get up Barundar, lots of more orcs to kill!"
tag?
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Morti grins as Ugun switches the tough facade back on, walking over to grab Barundar's forearm and haul him to his feet. "Ye remember me uncle Straler? Always made fun o' me fer drillin' wi' th' axe so much -- said I'd ne'er be brave enough to make use o' it. Well, ahm beginnin' to wish he'd been right...an' ahm not even th' one been used as a rag doll!"
"Guess the real reason for the attack on the town lies in there."
"Or use' t' lay in there - maybe they already found wha' they sought? Th' white markings musta been their scoutin' o' where their buried treasure migh' be."
Morti examines the mouth of the tunnel, hoping to discern whether its creators exited its depths, or how many might still lay in wait within.
Eli almost wept with joy when she saw all of her friends standing triumphant over the giant. "I've never been more proud in my life!"
She sat down and looked around. She couldn't wrap her head around what exactly led the orcs to attack. All he signs seemed to indicate they were looking for something. Maybe it was one of those artifacts that she had read about so many times. Perhaps they'd have time to explore a bit after putting the town back together!
"Morti, you make a lot of sense with the crosses and hunting for treasure."
Ugun discarded the spent healing wand and took note of what resources he still had left.
He grunted and conjured up two more large butterflies, black as night they danced and flitted at his command. "I am ready to go but can wait for others to get ready."
He sat down near the mouth of the tunnel, "In any case, I will stay here and make sure nothing comes out of the tunnel without us knowing about it."
Morti, you see 3 separate medium humanoid tracks entered the tunnel about an hour ago. An hour passes without incident and Falric has his mutagen and Barundar is conscious. The sounds of battle have died out and it appears thanks to the hope and vision the beacons brought, thanks to your efforts, the town of Trunau has survived! Now comes the clean up and searching the town for stragglers or hidden enemies. When you are ready, the tunnel awaits.
Barundar slowly sits up, shaking his head and blinking. He seems dazed as he looks about, the impression of the giant's hand in the ground all around where his body lay.
"Bloody hell...I feel like I wus aboot as close tae death as I e'er wanna be..." he says aloud. Clearly, the dwarf is shaken by the experience, and he takes a moment to re-center himself before getting to his feet. A second later and he seems to be fully in the present again.
"Ye all 'ave me thanks fer savin' me life. I'll dae all I kin to make it up tae ye!"
Morti spends the hour guarding the tunnel entrance, pondering its nature while watching out for the three humanoids apparently within to reemerge.
"Elisen, ye mentioned ye were in search o' artifacts...had ye e'er heard o' one buried undernea' Trunau? An' -- what type of place usually holds such a treasure? Whoe'er's in 'ere, they been in 'ere a while: 'ere mus' be some sorta cave system they dug inta? Or somethin' more constructed? Don' think I e'er heard o' anything dwarf-built 'round 'ere, 'ad you, Barundar?"
"There are several rumors about artifacts in this neck of the woods. That's what brought Falric and myself to town. I've not even heard a whisper since I've been in Truneau, however. Maybe we should have kept an orc alive to ask questions," she grumbled, just realizing what would have been a smarter course of action.
Falric brews his mutagen and when the party is ready, drinks it. His face distorts a little, as his skin is suddenly covered with lizard scales and his form becomes faster. He winks at the party to let them he is okay and drawing his scimitar, he says, "Good to haves you all here watching my back, especially you Bar! Let's go end this night and find out who is responsible for all of this." A ball of three lights suddenly appear lighting the tunnel ahead.
Upon hearing Morti's theory, Falric concentrates to see if he can remember ever hearing about something hidden or buried in town.
Falric, now with the exact location of the tunnel revealed behind the cave wall in the waterfall, you remember one night at the tavern, where one of the locals commented something to the effect of "You know, there are tales of a giant being buried around here somewhere...some great chieftain, but no one has ever found it!" Suddenly, that tale resonates in your head for some reason among the dozens of other tales you have heard in your lifetime. Could this be said location?
As Morti investigates, he realizes the party has stumbled onto an existing network of natural passages covered for years by the cavern wall that Crusher so conveniently burst through. The ceiling here is 15-20' tall, again consistent with Falric's story of a giant being entombed here.
Ugun's armor had worn out while he stood watch at the cave's mouth.
Once they were ready to enter, he once more called upon his magic and his skin was suddenly covered in small, glistening black beetles that writhed as he moved.
The witch paid no mind to the surprised looks of his companions, "The insects protect me. I am ready to go."
The half-orc knew the dwarves, like himself, did not need light to see in the dark but his other companions could not see. He conjured up four moths that danced in front of him providing illumination.
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"Nay, I've nae 'eard o' ony kin'a dwarf treasure anywhere close by, either. It is nae tha sort a' place dwarves woold taeke oop lang enough tae leave sumthin so valuable."
"A gian' chief's tomb? This seems like a great lot o' trouble t' go t' just fer some tomb raidin'! An' wha's takin' 'em so long in there, then, if they're jus' grabbin' loot? Think they found another way out?"
Morti falls in behind the rest of his comrades as they troop into the tunnels.
"I don't to slow anyone down, but shouldn't we head back to the town square and see how everyone else is? They might need our help and healing. We have went through most of our magic and a lot of our healing. Maybe we could post a guard here tonight and tackle this tunnel tomorrow. Heading out into the unknown half dead might not be the best decision."