You begin in Heidmarch Manor, a large manor in Magnimar with sprawling gardens and a sweet scent of linden in the air. A servant escorts you to a large sitting room and offers you refreshments. Once you are seated Sheila Heidmarch enters the room, gives you a quick
once-over and launches into the assignment in her
characteristically deep voice.
Thank you for coming, Pathfinders. You look well qualified
for the task at hand, and I’m relieved a team such as yours
was available so far from the Society’s heart in Absalom. How
familiar are you with the ruins of ancient Thassilon? Well, you’re
going to be getting a lot more familiar with one of the most
strategically important sites in the entirety of Varisia—the
Storval Stairs.
This stairway—carved by giants and scaled appropriately
for creatures of their size—provides the easiest means of
climbing the Storval Rise west of the Iron Peaks. Thus, it also
provides the swiftest means of getting supplies and personnel
to and from the ruins of Xin-Shalast and other sites of interest
on the Storval Plateau. We had a supply caravan go missing
a week ago; its last reported location was near the stairs,
and rumors I’ve been hearing from as far away as Riddleport
indicate this isn’t the only similar situation in recent months.
Some reports claim a tribe of hill giants have claimed the
Storval Stairs as their territory and are demanding exorbitant
tariffs to pass in either direction. Apparently they’re led by the
self-proclaimed King of the Storval Stairs, who doesn’t like the
idea of anyone traveling through his kingdom without paying
their due.
A knock sounds on the door, and a messenger sticks her head
in shyly. In her hand she holds a leather scroll case embroidered
with traditional Varisian beadwork. A message for you, Lady
Heidmarch. From your cousin Guaril in Riddleport. Sheila
accepts the missive, tips the courier, and turns back to the
matter at hand, shaking her head.
I’ve told that greasy charlatan to stop calling me family…
The venture-captain draws the scroll from the case and
quickly reads it, raising one eyebrow inquisitively,
Well, this is fortuitous. It seems ‘Cousin’ Karela
is also interested in your mission, and wants
to ensure your success in a timely fashion. No
doubt he has some ulterior motives that don’t
align with our own... Then again, we’re likely to
use his influence among the Varisian people to
populate the supply caravans to and from the
Storval Plateau, so perhaps his motivation is not
so different after all.
Travel to the Storval Stairs and confirm
what happened to our supply wagons. While
you’re there, take care of this so-called king
and ensure he and his giant followers don’t
present a problem for us in the future. Then
hold the location until a larger contingent
of Pathfinders arrives to set up a more
permanent way station there. It’s nearly a
five hundred mile journey, but our ‘cousin’
has seen to it that won’t be a problem for you—he included a
scroll here to teleport you to a location another ‘relative’ of his
divined as the current location of the supply caravan. He says it
was expensive but a good investment, and that you’re worth it
Sheila holds the scroll out for the taking, the sketch of
the location one should use as its destination visible in its
uncurling corner.
Best of luck, Pathfinders.
Sheila pauses for a moment contemplating the question and then replies, Rumors describe him as a brute of a hill
giant, and many claim even his own people fear him.
He is said to follow one of the giant gods and sacrifice
prisoners or slaves at a holy site on the Storval Plateau if
they don’t pay his tariffs.
ago by the empire of Thassilon and many
ruins surround the stairs themselves.
The stairs originally housed an
army of giants, and the proportions of the
entire site are suited for creatures at least
twice the size of a human.
the Varisian lowlands and the elevated Storval Plateau.
It’s the easiest route between destinations on the plateau
and western Varisia (though still an arduous trek).
In addition to the giants spoken of in current
reports, harpies and trolls are also known to claim the
Storval Stairs from time to time.
negotiated a deal with the Shoanti Hawk Clan to guard
a caravan through the stairs. Rumor has it the missing
Pathfinder expedition had a Hawk Clan escort.
It is not a very delicate situation, that's why we are calling in you. I like to use tact when we can, but I fear the only thing the giants understand is strength. If you do decide to speak with them make sure you only do it from a position of strength.
The rumors of trolls is the reason Markavious was selected for this mission, Aamiri was selected both for her strength and her background with giants. Alan you are here because I trust you.
Markavious here is the scroll. The mountains drawn on it should be enough to ensure the greater teleport gets you to the stairs.
I am expecting at least one more before you leave. Get any supplies you need out in town and meet back here in the morning.
I will need a DC 14 caster level check from Markavious to activate the scroll. If he fails I will need a DC 5 will save to avoid a mishap. If he fails the caster level check and the will save (very unlucky) then the scroll will be used up with out effect and you will have to hoof it to the stairs.
MAP
Yup, it should be an easy check for you.
With a whirl of wind and a sudden jerk in your stomachs you find yourselves far removed from Magnimar.
Five hundred feet from the foot of the Storval Stairs lie the remains of what appears to have recently been a small caravan, now scattered over a large area. Most of the wagons are overturned, and the corpses of livestock, hill giants, and a few humans litter the area. The smell of rotting flesh permeates the air, and a haze of flies surrounds the carcasses on the ground. A pile of broken wagons burns in the center of the wreckage, sending a plume of thick, black smoke into the afternoon air, visible for miles.
Two hill giants have their backs to you and have not yet noticed your arrival. They seem to be searching through the remains of the caravan. You have a surprise round.
There is no map for this encounter. The Giants are 10 feet apart and 30 feet from the group.
So the order for the surprise round is:
Markavious
Aamiri
Alan
Kyra
Subsequent rounds:
Markavious
Giant 2
Aamiri
Giant 1
Alan
Kyra
As Alan's attack connects the Hill Giant gruntsHrrrwaaah
Aamiri hit the Giant on the left in the neck, it reals from the assult.
Kyra commands the giant on the right to HALT.
Giant 1 .
After the surprise round:
Giant 1: Halted, 0 Damage
Giant 2: 73 Damage
Five bolts of force impact the giant on the left. As he keels over a look over horor spreads across the other's face.
Alan connects with the remaining giant, sending shockwaves through his flesh.
The remaining giant collapses, it's head cleft from it's body.
The clearing overflows with the shattered and burned wreckage of the caravan. A huge pile of wagons and other debris burns. Amongst the burning wreckage lies a variety of trade goods.
Markavious finds no survivors, a pair of finely carved ivory tusks do catch his eye however.
Alan, searching through the wreckage finds a very burnt body, it is hard to determine what it is, it looks like it once had wings.
Kyra looks at the cadaver and tries to determine what happened to it.
After some poking arround and finding wing bones Kyra says I believe it was once a harpy, its head seems to have been crushed.
The ancient ruins at the base of the stairs lurk in the perpetual shadow of the monstrous cliffs known as the Storval Rise. The stairs form a fifty foot wide cleft cut deep in to the cliff. The stairs bear the weight of time lightly; though rounded with age and cracked in a few places, they remain level from end to end. Each ponderous two foot deep step streches two feet upwards. Massive landings flanked by monsterous structures obscure the top of the stairs from the bottom. The angle of the sun means shadows blanket the entire length of the Stairs, and will probably do so all day except for a short period around midday.
Massive statues flank the stairs; they rise three humdered feet above the base of the stairs and proudly looking out over the surrounding countryside as if standing guard. Each statue holds an immense tome in one arm and a deadly looking glaive in the other.
On either side of the statues, buildings carved directly out of the cliff face rise from the valley floor. The gargantuan proportions of the structures make it difficult to judge their height. They rise nearly to the top of the plateau, four hundred feet above the valley floor.
The tusks are not magical but with your you can tell that they are worth quite ammount money in their own right.
The stairs cut deep into the cliff at this point, and walls tower
fifty feet or more overhead on either side. A massive landing,
fifty feet to a side, offers a brief respite from the relentless
climb. To the north and south, large hewn caverns with
elaborate facades plunge deep into the solid bedrock of the
cliff, three to the north and one to the south. Though the sun
shines in the sky above, the landing is in the shadow of the walls
towering on either side.
A macabre scene of torture and ruin defiles the landing.
Flies swarm around four human-sized corpses held vertical
by impaling stakes. Another lifeless body is suspended twenty
feet above the landing, its limbs dislocated by the merciless
pull of taut ropes affixed to hooks in the walls.
A pair of tortured hill giants completes the display. One is
barely alive; she is hog-tied, and lurches and convulses as she
tries to tries to free her broken limbs from the sturdy ropes.
Her companion is similarly bound, but is dead, with vultures
picking the meat from his bones. The wreckage of several
wagon beds lies near the northern caverns.
Oily black smoke pours from the large central opening on
the north side of the landing, carrying the putrid smell of
burnt hair and decomposing flesh. A loud whimpering sound
and a man’s terrified scream fills the air from the cave.
As you make your way towards the cave you hear an argument that suddenly stops. You can only make out a few of the words but you do pick up, Pot Toss him and I like em crunchy.
I am assuming that you all stayed together and did not make the wizard your scout. If anyone is still at the base of the stairs let me know.
You can barely make out the silhouettes of two more hill giants inside the cave(area D).
The light in this area is dim.
The first giant tries to get out to the new disturbance hoping for more tasty snacks. He will double move out, slowing down when he gets to the Grease.
Because he failed his DC 10 acrobatics check for moving through grease at half speed or less he must now make the DC 19 reflex save or fall.
The giant falls prone sliding on the mud after it lost its footing.
The second giant seeing the plight of his brother picks up a rock out the rubble and throws it at Markavious
No worries Alan, you guys are flying through this adventure. I think it is significantly faster with the 4 player adjustment.
Aamiri and Alan land solid blows on the grease covered giant. Anger fills his eyes.
Kyra will walk up to Markavious and invoke the healing power of Sarenrae.
empowered for 15.
***Round 2***
Markavious 0 damage after healing form Kyra
Giant 1 43 damage
Giant 2 0 damage
Alan 0 damage
Aamiri 0 damage
Kyra 0 damage
The giant on the ground takes two swings at Aamiri with its enormous greatclub.
Despite the disadvantage from striking on the ground the giant manages to smack Aamiri across the face. His second attack misses widely.
The second giant grabs another boulder and seems to wait a second.
Alan's first strike hits but his second strike slides off of some of the grease.