Still feeling ill, anga looses another force missile and the mad dwarf
Leira keeps holding the rope "[b]Go on Kaos! Yes! Bring him down! You dwarf its better for you to surrender![b]"
Haskyll gets clear of the rope and then he stops and makes a throwing gesture and a blob of sickly green acid flies through the air at the mad dwarf.
His hammer continues to strike at the dwarf as he moves.
Round Four
Anga hits the Wild-Eyed Dwarf with a Force Missile.
The Wild-Eyed Dwarf again touches Kaos. More wounds begin to appear on the big human's flesh.
GMPC Ragnir continues to have his Spiritual Axe attack the Wild-Eyed Dwarf. It just missed a critical strike.
The Wild-Eye Dwarf ignores Leira's intimidations. The Rogue Arcanist strains even more on the rope as Ingrihild climbs up. Leira believes that Ingrihild weighs far more than either Haskyll or Umlo.
Umlo continue to work to get around to the Wild-Eyed Dwarf.
Haskyll's Spiritual Weapons strikes the Wild-Eyed Dwarf, but the Dwarf seems unfazed by the blow. However, the Dwarf did react with disfavor from being hit by a glob of acid.
Ingrihild finishes her rope climb.
Ignoring the wounds growing on his flesh, Kaos hacks again into the Wild-Eye Dwarf, then just missed a critical bite from his now dragon-like maw.
Ulfgard looks for an opportunity to get into the fight.
Droja's Black Cat continues to fight. But is more of a nuisance than a real threat to the Wild-Eyed Dwarf.
Round Five
The Wild-Eyed Dwarf continues touching the big human.
Kaos once again resist the effects of the Wild-Eyed Dwarf's Tortuous Touch. He then brings down hard again his big oversized axe. And though the Dragon Disciple's bite failed to penetrate the crazy Dwarf's armor, the Wild-Eyed Dwarf swaggers and falls.
Suddenly, the now Dead-Eyed Dwarf begins to deteriorate. Flesh, muscle, organs, and finally bone begins to turn to dust. What remains is his tattered clothing, his breastplate, the Longspear at his side, Nargrym’s steel hand, three gold rings that had been woven into the Dwarf's beard, and an intricately engraved platinum beard clasp in the shape of a castle sitting atop a cloud. The platinum beard clasp was still attached to a portion of Nargrym's shorn beard. This crazed Dwarf must have been the one who removed it from Nargrym's body.
Victory!
He wuz a toughie
Anga sways, supporting herself on the wall.
Ah'm not fully totally chipper. That damned traiterous dwarf put a 'fluence on me. With an effort she strightens, and says still, we beat him and saved the items.
Umlo makes it into the room just in time to see the Wild-Eyed Dwarf turn to dust. A nauseating stench of filth fills this chamber. Various items of broken furniture are sloppily piled into curious arrangements throughout the room. Among the piles of wreckage are toppled statuettes of jade and serpentine, shards of clay and porcelain urns, and several crushed drinking steins. The western wall of the room bears several large cracks and a few small holes where it meets the floor.
"E gads, what be that stench?" Umlo covers his nose.
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Kaos will look up suddenly as the dwarf dusts te it. To see Umlo come into the room. For a brief moment he looks as though he will lash out at the new dwarf. But instead he relaxes his grip on his axe and as his features return to normal he slumps in the doorway.Well that was different. Is everyone alright?
Leira exhales as the battle comes to an end That was an incredible display she thinks for herself.
Helping Ingrahild to climb up without commenting on the weight, she waits for the rest of the party to go up and then recovers the rope.
The young girl comes closer to the decomposed corpse to identify whatever she can from the items there. She takes special attention on the castle clasp.
She then moves into the room and examines the item there and the source of the smell that took Umlo's attention "Let me see there..."
Looking at Kaos Ulfgard shakes his head."You hoarded all the fun. That ain´t right!"
But then he looks at the beard clasp and smiles. "That is a beautiful item!"
The Longspear and Nargrym's Steelhand radiate magic.
Umlo will note the breastplate is masterworks quality, amidst his excitement for defeating the Wild-eyed Dwarf, and finding Nargrym’s beard clasp, "This is what my sister and I set out to find many months ago. Our clan sent us out to retrieve this family heirloom. It was meant to be passed down to Nargrym's kin, and not left with the dead. Nargrym would not have wanted to be buried with it and or his weapons and armor. Particularly, if others could use the weapons and armor to slay Giants." He says this as those up top gather around.
Ingrihild comes up, "Take everything else. Umlo and I only want the beard clasp. But we need to restore the Tomb. And then seal it up again. Without any valuables, no one should need to disturb Nargrym again."
Umlo, Ingrahild, and Leira will reveal the following concerning the items found:
Nargrym Steelhand replaced the hand he lost to a frost giant’s greataxe with this magic prosthesis.
NARGRYM’S STEEL HAND MINOR Artifact SLOT none CL 20th WEIGHT 3 lbs. AURA strong transmutation
Forged from solid steel, this magically animated prosthetic hand is elaborately sculpted down to the finest detail. Nargrym’s steel hand can be used to replace the normal hand of a humanoid creature—it can’t be worn in addition to an already existing hand. When attached to the wrist stump of a living humanoid creature, Nargrym’s steel hand magically forms a permanent bond to the wearer’s flesh and nerves. Once the hand has bonded to the wearer’s wrist, the wearer gains full control over the hand as if it were part of his own body. The hand has a full range of motion and functions as a normal hand. While worn, Nargrym’s steel hand grants its wearer a +2 enhancement bonus to Strength (treat this as a temporary ability bonus for the first 24 hours the hand is worn) and a +5 bonus to CMD against disarm attempts. In addition, the wearer can wield weapons of one size category larger than the wearer’s size without penalty and without altering the weapon’s designation as a light, one-handed, or two-handed weapon. For example, a Medium creature wearing Nargrym’s steel hand could wield a Large longspear as a two-handed weapon without penalty. However, whenever the wearer of the hand is within line of sight of a creature with the giant subtype, he must succeed at DC 15 Will save or be compelled to attack the giant, as suggestion. Once bonded to a wearer, Nargrym’s steel hand cannot be removed except by the wearer or after the wearer’s death. DESTRUCTION: Nargrym’s steel hand is destroyed if it is smashed by a giant wielding a hammer of thunderbolts.
Nargrym Steelhand took this spear from the dead hands of the taiga giant warlord Neveraka, and used the weapon for the rest of his giantslaying career.
Heartspit PRICE 10,310 GPS SLOT none CL 8th WEIGHT 18 lbs. AURA moderate evocation
Fitted with a menacingly cruel 2-foot-long barbed iron head, this Large +1 giant-bane longspear can skewer an opponent, lodging beneath the flesh and holding fast. On a confirmed critical hit with the spear, Heartspit’s wielder can attempt a combat maneuver check to grapple the target as a free action. This grapple attempt does not provoke an attack of opportunity from the target if that creature is not threatening the wielder. While grappling a creature with Heartspit, the wielder can move or damage the target with the spear only on the wielder’s turn. The wielder is still considered grappled, though he does not have to be adjacent to the target to continue the grapple. If the wielder ends the grapple or the target successfully breaks the grapple, the target takes 4d6 points of slashing damage as the spear’s barbed head is ripped free.
CONSTRUCTION Requirements COST 5,310 GP Craft Magic Arms and Armor, hold person, keen edge, summon monster I
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Droja will call up, "This mule is pooping down here."
"Those are powerful artifacts" Leira explains what she can add to Ingrahild and Umlo's knowledge of the dwarven artifacts "I do guess there is no volunteer to stump it's hand..."
She then starts laughing as Droja remembers the party about the mule "Let me see what can I do" The young Trickster comes down to the now closed secret door and looks for a way to open it or force it open.
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The girl nods to Anga's proposal "We can help Ingrahild and Umlo to restore the tomb to what it should have been, and rest here for the days we should need to do it"
Leira finds the mechanism to the secret door. She was able to unlock the door. The party has full access to Nargrym's tomb again.
Ingrihild and Umlo begin working to restore the Tomb, or at least as best as possible.
Ulfgard quickly joins in, aiding as best as he can.
Anga, recovering a bit, joins in the restoration. She snidely remarks to Ulfgard, So, who willing ta cut off one of there mitts for tha hand?
Well, I be thinking there might have been a harder way, but one that would work.
Haskyll walks over to Kaos.
Laddie, you have to learn to duck some of these strikes.
Getting close to Ragnir, Kaos and Ingrahild, he calls upon Torag.
Anga, give me a few, and I will be seeing himself over your weakness.
Oh, he's too tall ta dodge, maybe ye should try parrying?
Day Sixty-four through the morning of Day Sixty-seven
The party spends the next several days cleaning and restoring Nargrym’s tomb.
On the morning of the six-seventh day, the party leaves Nargrym’s tomb behind, heading the way they came.
Ingrahild will notice what looks like the remains of an old road, "This thar be escaped me befir. It be an old road, very old, heading west. Janderhoff is towards the west. Should we be give it a whirl."
"Sorry guys, don't look at me about cutting my hand, I need them for those trapping you know?" Leira looks scared as the boys talk about stumps.
The young girl looks at the road "Why not? Let's give it a try, worst case scenario we end up trapped in a giant's village and end up cutting some more giant's heads"
Well, annot see me cutting off a hand unless it was absoluty necessary. I suggest we discuss it when we are not so rushed.
Haskyll takes the time during the cleaning to cast lesser restorations, and any heals that need to be done.
Leira will recognized that the ancient road that Ingrihild discovered was once paved with stones, but have over time been misplaced and scattered.
Ingrihild will determine that wild game now use the road. She readies her bow just in case the opportunity for a tasty deer comes by.
Indeed an opportunity comes by. And Ingrihild and the party bags a long-horned elk.
The party has no other encounters through the day. The ancient road begins following a narrow river. You make good progress westerly toward Janderhoff this day. The party finds a nice riverside camping spot near a heavily wooded spot that once had a homestead, the stone foundations and fireplace still stand. The party was able to clear and use the fireplace to roast some fresh elk for dinner. The site is just downstream from a beautiful cascading waterfall. From this point on the ancient road begins to wind up the ridge toward some of the Mindspin Mountain's tallest peaks. Janderhoff is just beyond. It appears that this ancient road's destination was an above ground route to the great Sky Citadel of the Dwarves.
oh, i wuz joking about cutting your hand off. Don't tell me ye may go through with it?
Later
Anga will the last watch, so she can memorize her spells first thing. [/b]
"No sure abou' slicin' off a hand, but I'm thinkin' the spear and hand would be better suited te one tha's in the back rank, attackin' at a distance. Tha's no' me."
Leira will do the fourth or fifth watch.
As the dwarven companions continue the talk about hands flying she looks at Ulfgard and Haskyll eyes and adds "Mmm... but who will make the cut?"
Haskyll takes a day and prepares another scroll. (lesser restoration)
If there be a clean cut to be made, I would suggest the laddie here as he is the only one using blades.
Haskyll waves his hand in the direction of Kaos.
Just be true with the strike, and by the gods I hope it dont interfere with my abilities of the divine.
Ulfgard looks approvingly at Haskyll. "We will hand you an important relic of our people. HA pun intended!"
Back at Nargrym's tomb
Pain courses through Haskyll's arm after Kaos cuts off his hand. But the pain is immediately relieved when Nargrym's hand attaches to bone, sinews, blood vessels, and nerves. In every way it feels like a real hand. And Heartspit though oversized, feels like a normal spear in Cleric's hand.
You have seen the birth of Haskyll Steelhand. Only time will tell if he too will be known as the Giantslayer.
Tears of joy flood through Ingrihild's eyes as she witness the sacrifice Haskyll has made.
There are three watches. I went ahead and set up your watches as follows:
1st Watch: Kaos, Ingrahild, Droja
2nd Watch: Ulfgard, Leira, Ragnir
3rd Watch: Anga, Haskyll, Umlo
A healer in every watch.
Surprise Round
The attack comes quickly during the third watch.
A huge Scorpion darts out from amongst the trees along the river bank, and lunges at Umlo. It strikes with it poisonous stinger, stabbing Umlo in the chest.
But the hardy Dwarf resisted taking in the harmful venom.
Umlo strikes back with his warhammer, having a little immediate retribution.
Surprise Round and Round One
Waking up at the yells of pain from Umlo Ulfgard grabs his hammer and springs up.
When the sacrifice is completed, Leira takes Haskyll's new hand and makes it up "The new Haskyll Steelhand!" she saves the sacrificed flesh hand "Perhaps we should magically preserve this. Just in case"
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Leira takes her time reflecting on all the sacrifices these dwarves are doing not only for their kin but also for Trunau as she takes the watch. She thoughts on her dreams and the truth of her orcish ascendancy.
Later she comfortably sleeps on the floor half naked when the attack begins.
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Ragnir rouses, wearing a nightshirt, quickly snatching up his axe and shield, "Who's makin' all that racket! We be needin' our sleep." He does a double take when he sees Leira, pausing for a moment, stepping between her and whatever is making the noise. "I'll jus' stay here wi' me back facin' to ye, lass."
Anga doesn't hear the approach of the scorpion horror. On hearing the attack she spins in surprise.
To arms, we are being attacked
Haskyll yells as he grabs the spear and brings up light for those that
cannot see
Startled by the scorpion, Haskyll is caught completely off guard