Posting Here.
Surprisingly, Venture Captain Drendle Drang sends for you all in the middle of the night. The messengers dragg you out of bed and lead you to his office in the Grand Lodge in Absalom. "It seems that we have recently acquired a tome called the 'Book of the Titan'. We are not completely sure what it does, but we do know that to unlock its secret we need a mage with the blood of a giant. We have made an arrangement with cloud giant by the name of Zoarth who is an accomplished wizard in his own right. I need you to take this book to him and have him perform the necessary ritual to unlock the power of this book."
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"Capital idea, capital idea. First off, I would like to introduce myself to my companions. I am Davoliznakamushka Polyphonus, adjunct professor of linguistics a the Kitharodian Academy in Oppara.
"Can you tell a bit more about Zoarth? Where does he reside? The nature of the payment, if any, promised to him?"
He'll pick up the book and concentrate on the tome, causing the magic in his blood to resonate the same way as a giant.
v. 25
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Pallas bows his head to the gnome, quickly revealing twin crossed scimitars on his back. "It is an honor to meet you Davoliznakamushka Polyphonus. I am Pallas Morningstar, a Keleshite from the Osirion town of Tephu. Is there perhaps a shorter form of your name that we might employ if time is of the essence?"
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Shin stands quietly, watching his party members. He appears to be of mixed ancestry, likely Kellid and Tien. He wears simple monks robes and carries a temple sword at his side. He listens, head bowed as if in meditation. When Drang finishes, he looks up. "I am called Shinkeer, though you may call me Shin." Turning to Drang, he says. "Where does this giant reside and how are we to get there?"
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A female Halfling wearing a chain shirt and pink cloak comes running in, late for the meeting, singing to herself. She has a small tattoo of a Ruby Phoenix on her cheek. She is smiling as she approaches.
"This sounds so exciting. I have never met a real cloud giant before. Have any of you? I wonder if I have a map for where we are going? Oh I am so sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Dora, traveler. My pleasure to have this chance to adventure with you." the Halfling bows to each of you.
"I was originally a language instructor for a group of barbarians, and having little success, found myself assigned to a band of ninjas. I have learned a bit about tactics and battles over the past year, so that is where I have concentrated my studies since. That, and a few odd assignments for the Society hunting Aspis agents in the tapestry, which we won in the Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Oh and I alsmost forgot...this is Rusty..."
She points to a large red wolf with white paws in barding and riding harness.
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Pallas' eyes grow wide when he hears of Dora's exploits in Tian Xia. "Really? The Ruby Phoenix Tournament! It is a great honor to finally meet one of the Pathfinders that the Decemvirate sent to Goka. We are all in your debt. There were some issues with the Hao Jin Tapestry, of course, but that wasn't the problem of the champions of the Society!"
You know everything about cloud giants in the bestiary. You also have heard of the book. It is said to give one the power of a titan and what Drendle is saying is correct. It requires a specific ritual that you do not recall, with the help of a caster with giant blood. However you cannot recall the ritual itself. You know that Zoarth is(unlike his kin) not automatically hostile to the smaller races but he does enjoy his privacy. His castle lies at the top of a high peak in the Kodar mountains.
"His abode is in the Kodar mountains which are East of Belkzen and south of Irrisen."
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Brom greets each Pathfinder with the slightest of nods but otherwise remains silent as introductions are given. When it appears to be his turn, he speaks in a voice that's more growl than human speech.
"I am known as Brom'mosh. You can call me Brom."
Brom’mash is a truly massive figure with a hulking muscular physique that could be carved from marble. He wears a loose open-fronted tunic that puts his powerful torso and olive-gray skin on display. He wears a half-helm with enormous curled horns that partially obscure his crude features and further evokes imagery of Brom as some kind of deific figure. Worn across his back via a gilded leather harness is an ornate ulfen longaxe, engraved with the lion of Taldor.
"I suggest we still our tongues and put thought toward the task ahead."
"No, time is not of the essence for this one. So to save some overhead, you are on your own for getting there. We will of course provide very accurate directions though."
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Pallas shrugs his shoulders and turns back to Venture-captain Dreng. "Couldn't we just pop through the Hao Jin tapestry? We could take a quick jump to Magnimar, or even to the lost city of Xin-Shalast. I know the Society has a dig going there, and the ruin is in the middle of the Kodar Mountains. I think we have done enough for the Society to be given a bit of a magical piggy-back ride, no?" Pallas hopes that his rescue of Nuar Spiritskin is still remembered in Absalom, but if not, pulls out a special Wayfinder that was given him by the Society after uncovering a particular dangerous Shadow Lodge cell and shows it to Dreng.
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"Really Brom'mosh, I hope that you are experienced enough as an agent to know that being prepared and succeeding are often the same thing" the wrinkled gnome professor sighs exasperatedly.
"Now that I have cogitated a bit, I do recall cloud giants are known for falling into two rather extreme camps, polar opposites in fact. The two groups represent the two extremes of good and evil. They are a full fifteen feet in height and wields weapons that are even large for giants. They all have at least some minor ability with summon fog and mist - hence their name."
"This brings up another point - the Kodar mountains are the highest in Avistan, and Zoarth lives upon one of the higher peaks. What do we intend to do about cold weather and altitude sickness during our travels?"
Dreng sighs audibly as Pallas calls in his favors. "Alright, fine. You can use the tapestry. But you still have to make it up the mountain on your own. Grumble..grumble.."
"You can figure out the rest. Now get going."
The road up the mountain—such as it is—has been entirely free of other travelers until now. Further ahead, four massive humanoids coifed in chain hauberks and carrying gigantic clubs studded with nails and barbs trudge up the road. Each is accompanied by a spike-collared wolf the size of a small horse. A fifth wolf, closer to the size of an elephant and draped in chain armor, walks ahead of the group. A group of bulging, bald men—large, but smaller than the armored giants—brings up the rear, carrying something large and heavy between them. They’re wearing the same spiked collars as the wolves.
You know that the large bald men are ogres and that the wolves are dire wolves. The huge one is an advanced one. The Giants are of the Hill variety. Looking closer, you can see rocks covered by tarp.
The Hill Giants seem entranced as well as the dire wolves. The Ogres and the lead Dire Wolf are not affected. The Ogres are confused as to what is going on.