Chrysa's interest is piqued. She considers this giant, not taking her eyes off of him, as she thinks.
Two are obviously related, a father and son. The father seems to be protective of his son, though still giantish. He wants to try and figure out if you all are a threat.
Vincent stays well to the background. His presence would be odd, and his best attack spells have considerable range anyway. No doubt Mum has noticed that the giant chief is acting strangely too so he simply waits. The plan was for this not to become violent.
But everyone knows what they say about plans...
Mum's moment is over, and she smiles. "Guards rarely travel, mercs do but stick to civilized areas, where clients are. Adventures like us, travel to the dusty corners of the lands, and see much more than those that shun you." with the explanation over, she shurgs "We are simply more accustomed to those different than the 'norm'"
She waits a moment and then adds "Did that answer you concern?"
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Tikroch watches the exchange with interest. This is much different than his usual interactions with the fey troublemakers. Usually there is more mocking of his wild ways until Luca ends up tearing their throats out. This peaceful conversation is tiring but he assumes Mum knows what she's doing.
His brow furrows a little, ”hmm. We’ve been steering clear of adventurers - they’re more dangerous than mercs.” He looks over the group, and sniffs, ”so then, you work for Drelev? Did he send you or are you trying to get something from us?” some of the pretense is dropped and the giant leader tenses up a bit as he looks down at everyone.
The woman sighs, weary at the suspicion. "I stated quiet clearly what we wanted when we arrived. Shining up to the biggest of the lot in this berg. It just makes good sense. But it seems like just talking to you has fouled that well." she sighed again. "So we'll be taking our leave. Enjoy the whiskey, since a gift is a gift, even if unappreciated." the MUCH smaller lady bows low to the giant then turns to go.
Inwardly she is angry, thinking she will be shortly killing a kid.
The guy sighs, ”no, sorry. I’m just being paranoid,.You all have expensive weapons - I can tell - so I guess Drelev has learned his lesson. I heard he attacked some faeries in the east with trolls - and lost.” He’s disbelieving ”I’m guessing he’s finally listening to that wizard of his.” He gestures, and cracks open a barrel of ale, and takes a sip, ”come on - share. Sit. Everyone here runs away. I can only talk to these guys about so much.”
The woman stops, turning back, and then flashes the big guy a smile "The townfolk aren't much better." she says about their conversational skills "Mostly mice, and those that aren't just grumbling constantly. Have you traveled much before this place, um... what's your name? I'm Mum." the dark-haired woman finds a perch and plops her bottom on it.
She'll try and get him talking about where he's been, then talk about the places she knows, spending extra time on the Vale (of course). Trying to gauge the chance she can get him and his boy to leave. If she can't or doesn't like the odds, she'll instead just keep talking and getting him to drink more.
Following Mum's lead, Tikroch finds a seat as well. Rather than drinking anything though, he picks a seat where he can watch the rest of the giants. He also makes sure Luca doesn't get into any trouble by keeping him close at hand.
Tinker pulls out some alchemical trinkets and starts fidgeting with them. "Mmmmm. Ahhh." Because he thinks that's how gnomes are supposed to act.
Vincent continues to watch and curses himself a few times for not making the effort to learn giant. Still, by listening to the grumbles among the rank and file he starts piecing a few words together - the language has quite a lot of similarities to sylvan... oddly.
The party gets the impression from talking to the guy, who says his name is “Kollis” that he and his son left their tribe when adventurers raided them and killed his wife and a lot of others in the tribe. He admits informally that his tribe had been stealing from puny humans orcs near belzken, but that he didn’t have much choice. Also he explains that giants like his cousins tend to feast, fight, and f$~# with reckless abandon. When he was growing up, his parents raised him to be a little more cautious, but to hide that in case others would try to take advantage of him.
His cousins joined him because he promised food and fighting, and he’s been taking up as a mercenary for the last few years as he raises his son alone. He tries to steer his kid in a better direction, and manage his own anger, but many people in his culture had for years ingrained brutal violence into the psyche of their children. He doesn’t know what to do sometimes.
Kollis is thankful for the beer, and his cousins proceed to get hammered. He has enough control over them, somehow, that a glance is enough to get them to pull back from the most dangerous and destructive activities, only throwing rocks - for example, and only throwing them away from the town and at birds or other things they see. Some looked like they wanted to toss the party around but Kollis won’t have it. His son looks at him with respect and care, but is very quiet.
Chrysa listens and feels an ever-increasing dislike for this town. She looks to her companions, long and searching, then decides. While getting opinions from those she trusts is important, she is the baroness. "Kollis, come with me, please." The dark-haired woman rises and moves away from the others until her form is blocked from all view.
"I am more than an adventurer. We all came from the lands of to the east, where we destroyed the army attacking Gliocas. I want to be perfectly clear. Destroyed the army, the trolls, the barbarians, all of them. Just the few of us here." She let the words settle. "We are here to make sure an attack like that never happens again, not just for Gliocas. But also for Shadowfall." the two lands "Gliocas is a land of laws and love, but Shadowfall is a land that accepts those that have known violence all their life but strives to protect that which is most important. Their children. Either would accept you. But I assure you The Baroness of Shadowfall would welcome you. I know this, Kollis, I promise you this."
The small woman stands before the giant without worry, without fear, and with a confidence of a queen.
"Leave. There is a clearing to the northeast, we will be there if you wish to travel back with us when we are done. Or travel without us, but Leave. Take your son, and if you wish, try and take your cousins. Any that remain at nightfall will not live much longer than that."
Donovan seems uncomfortable about sitting, and remains standing a short distance behind the rest of the crew, probably because sitting and standing in adamantine armor isn't exactly easy.
"Are you a wizard or aren't you?" A voice that sounds remarkably like his father rings in Vincent's ears as he starts flicking through his spellbook. There! Page seventy six - Tongues.
Why didn't I do this before?
He finishes transcribing the spell and casts just as Mum walks away with Kollis, before scampering after her.
"I can attest to this." He adds when she's done. "Shadowfall takes in anyone willing to work - regardless of our... natures. If you are loyal to the Baroness she will be loyal to you."
Thanks to his helmet, it's impossible to see Donovan's expression under his helm as certain members of the group openly talk about working for what he was told was the enemy nation.
The giant follows Mum, jovial at first, until she starts to explain the circumstances.
He folds his arms and stares down at her in disbelief, and after a moment - fear and anger. He looks at her and then at the others, and grimaces, grinding his enormous teeth.
With surprising speed - he reaches over and grabs a rock. He hefts it, and looks like he’s going to throw it - at what Mum doesn’t know, but he simply crushes it to dust in his hands.
”F~~*. Okay. I don’t know if we can go to Shadowfall- you tricked me and lied to me, but I’m not going to get my son killed.” He wipes off his hands, and stands up, ”he owes us money, and he’s an arrogant prick so he only paid us part. We’ll stand down but, if you don’t get the rest of my pay - whatever you’re planning on doing - my cousins will try to kill me.” He still looks upset but now more disappointed and resigned, and he grumbles, ”better odds fighting them than all your magic shit, I guess. Do what you’re going to do fast - because Drelev may be a bastard but they’re smart and paranoid as f+#+.” He shakes his head and goes back to his son, the thudding steps shaking the ground.
Chrysa sighs. Not Mum, but Chrysa. A times like this a whisper of a voice, full of scorn and malice and POWER attempted to seduce her brain. The voice sounded every bit like her aunt, Queen Natala Surtova, the most vicious brilliant woman she had ever even contemplated.
The whisper told her Chrysa was being a fool, putting emotion, putting her morality, before grabbing hold of power in a stranglehold that even GODS wouldn't be able to wrestle away from. Whispers that she is being weak.
Again.
Chrysa pinches the bridge of her nose, she settles a hand on her belly, and takes a moment, before forcing that moment to be gone.
Eyes up, catching Vincent watching her, she winks, then rejoins the group. " The giants will not be a problem. We go back to talk to Kisandra, get the location of the passage, and take care of this lordling before the next bell falls." While the tone she gives is commanding, her eyes look to each of her companions for discussion and ideas.
"Good." Vincent says simply. "I say we wait until night and then strike. Are we going for stealth or maximum destruction? I can prepare either way."
The owner of the Velvet Corner, Satinder, welcomes the group back after their eventful day, and listens carefully as they explain what happened. She considers, then nods that the party held up their end of the bargain, and gives the location of the secret exit from the keep that Drelev built.
The tunnel exit is onto the shore of Lake Hooktongue, and the party thinks they can find it if they try.
Mum takes in their resources "We won't be able to maintain stealth, which is fine, it suits our needs. There is a time when wholesale destruction can serve as a very powerful statement." she looks to the young man and smiles a very Chrysa smile. "A statement about exactly Who can be antagonized without reprisal."
"Any specific requests before we make our way in?" asks Donovan as the team strategizes.
Mum thinks "We know they have a mage, so anything you could prepare that would silence or hamper him would be lovely."
"Let me deal with the mage." Vincent says with certainty. "I will counter his magic. The rest of you simply need to stab him."
He prepares spells to suit, plenty of damage and a smattering of utility - grateful as always that he has transcended the mundanity of wizards who must transcribe every spell they ever want to cast.
Looking to the intimidating figure in full adamantine, Tikroch gives a short nod. "We can be a solid vanguard from which to strike. Shock and awe used to be my specialty to drive out the loggers encroaching to far into the forest. This will undoubtably be more difficult than that. But for this effort, I have many magics to enhance myself or others if needed. I'll wait to change shape until we are abandoning stealth. You've seen it, not the most stealthy of beasts."
"Stab? Sootscale prefers to burn his foes!" He begins preparing concoctions especially for the fight ahead.
The stone walls of this massive cavern bear signs of discoloration from occasional flooding, no doubt due to water from Lake Hooktongue entering through the eastern passage when the lake rises during the rainy season. Stagnant runoff has collected in a natural limestone basin to the north. An iron gate rimed with rust blocks a tunnel to the west.
Mum considers the surroundings, looking for anything other than the gate out of the ordinary, then if nothing stands out, she quietly moves to the iron obstruction to look for traps and locks.
As mum moves forward, around the corner in the pool she spots on the ceiling above the pool - pair of what appears to be black puddings, a type of ooze typical to underground areas. It’s not clear what they’re doing here, but they are plumper than a typical ooze of this type. They notice her as she rounds the corner and begin to scootch forward on the ceiling.
Mum knows these types of oozes split into other puddings when attacked with non-bludgeoning attacks. Each subsequent pudding has the same attack bonuses and damage. She also knows they have ooze traits.
Mum's mouth sets into a frown "Blunt weapons if possible. If not they were split into multiple forms, all equally bad." the warror pulls out a wand and settles a thin blue shield around her.
Approaching the cave, Tikroch re-evaluates his plan to not shape change. Damnit! I was hoping to save this for later but I'm no good to anyone if I can't see.
As he enters, you see him change into the shape of the familiar large dual horned rhinoceros, though this time, there are wisps of brimstone and the outline of his form doesn't look quite right. The hairs are a bit more spikey than previously seen and the horns have more jagged edges.
His next step takes him just above the ground in an attempt to minimize any signs of his heavier foot falls.
At Mum's indication of oozes, Tikroch curses his luck. "I'll have to trample them, can't use the horn. Splitting them might let me have more impact if we can weather their counter attacks." He casts an enhancing spell, just in case, and moves to be able to support Mum at the front. He also commands Luca to stay back and protect the others as he will not be effective against these foes.
Donovan speaks a simple command word and the wayfinder that he wears like a necklace gives off magical light.
At Mum's request he sheathes his sword. Turning slightly to the right, he hunkers down behind his shield, ready to bash with it.
Oozes have the following special qualities and attacks as well:
Speed: 20 ft, climb 20 ft.
Attacks: slam +8 (2d6+4 plus 2d6 acid plus grab), and once grabbed - constrict (2d6+4 plus 2d6 acid)
Acid (Ex)
A black pudding secretes a digestive acid that dissolves organic material and metal quickly, but does not affect stone. Each time a creature suffers damage from a black pudding’s acid, its clothing and armor take the same amount of damage from the acid. A DC 21 Reflex save prevents damage to clothing and armor. A metal or wooden weapon that strikes a black pudding takes 2d6 acid damage unless the weapon’s wielder succeeds on a DC 21 Reflex save. If a black pudding remains in contact with a wooden or metal object for 1 full round, it inflicts 21 points of acid damage (no save) to the object. The save DCs are Constitution-based.
Corrosion (Ex)
An opponent that is being constricted by a black pudding suffers a –4 penalty on Reflex saves made to resist acid damage applying to clothing and armor.
Suction (Ex)
The black pudding can create powerful suction against any surface as it climbs, allowing it to cling to inverted surfaces with ease. A black pudding can establish or release suction as a swift action, and as long as it is using suction, it moves at half speed. Because of the suction, a black pudding’s CMD score gets a +10 circumstance bonus to resist bull rush, awesome blows, and other attacks and effects that attempt to physically move it from its location.
"That shield won't last long if you aren't careful Donovan." Vincent says calmly. "You would do better with a ranged weapon or magic."
Fortunately the small vampire is well provided with one, if not the other, and snaps his fingers to send a Fireball streaking into the centre of the oozes.
"What about fire?"
Sootscale moves up and makes a bomb and lobs it at the slow moving oozes.
Sootscale throws the bomb and then nods at Vincent, ”yes, yes. Blow it up with fire. What you humans doing? You need me to teach you explosives?”
Donovan fetches a vial of alchemical fire from his gear.
"Just checking."
The two oozes creep forward and land in front of the party with a plop, but can’t do much else.
Vincent frowns and flicks his hand in a shooting gesture.
Sootscale looks around, and notices Vincent is engaged.
Vincent had done almost all the needed damage to kill one of the puddings, and Sootscale focused on the other with a pair of bombs. The splash damage burns up the pudding, leaving nothing remaining.
Sootscale looks satisfied, but then quips, ”good, good. Dead puddings. Let’s go.”
You can see the relief on Tikroch face despite him being an animal. "Thank you for taking care of those. I am poorly equipped to handle oozes. Didn't expect those here... About this gate, can anyone see if there's something to be concerned about when trying to open it?" Following his own advice, he takes a look about himself.
Mum stands down, letting out a simple sigh of relief, before leaning into her act of being someone different "Exceedingly good job! Roasted pudding will never Ever hold the same warm happy thoughts of the family at the holidays." her eyes crinkle in a smile of amusement, maybe that there might actually be people with memories like that. Then she shrugs. "Not watch dogs at least, let's look at that gate."
Donovan puts the flask of alchemical fire back.
"Do we want to try to bypass this with magic, or should I just try to cut through it with my adamantine sword?"