1-4E How did you do?

[James McKendrew]

I didn't see this one anywhere, so by golly, I created it.

How did we do? CD-Valeros, CD-Kyra, Meliski, and CD-Sajan discovered that Ash Giant Thugs are REALLY bad at hiding.

Kyra wandered by the Befouled Altar and found an Ash Giant Thug trying to hide in behind the podium. She dispatched it and wedged a handy Cultist in the door to keep the Heart from sneaking in.

Valeros and Meliski went to the Rapture of Rupture (together, with the Banner of Valor... I didn't ask) and found an Ash Giant Thug dressed in leather hiding behind a lacy pillow. Valeros dispatched it and spent some quality alone time with Shamira. (Diplomacy is difficult to distinguish from Combat in the RofR...)

Sajan went to the Locust Shrine and found an Ash Giant Thug flapping his papier-mâché locust wings. He dispatched it, and casually ducked the various locust demons on the way out.

With half the work done, everyone gathered for a nice dip in the Molten Pool where Meliski provided a Holy Kegger (er, Feast). Valeros the Daredevil, as a class feature, carries a lava-proof umbrella which he politely held over everyone ELSE rather than himself. The Ash Giant Thug, smelling lots of Ash Giant blood on the lot of us, was much more effectively hidden (stood behind Valeros the whole time). Sajan turned around to look for a place to relieve himself, spotted the Thug trying to get under the umbrella, set the Ash Giant ablaze with his Four Winds elemental abilities, and proceeded on his initial "quest". Valeros left with the umbrella while Sajan was still relieving himself. (THOSE were some uncomfortable burns...)

The others adjourned to the Grinder because, as ugly as that place sounds, it's still less annoying than the Abyssal Rift. It was there that our party had its first encounter with the Heart of the Fane. (How Valeros spotted it amongst all the other viscera, I have no idea.) Suddenly, there were Vulture Demons EVERYWHERE. Fortunately, the Banner of Valor (with some suspicious stains) flew over the Grinder, and only Sajan had to face his demons without its comforting flapping noise. We decided that being owed a boon from Shax (The Blood Marquis, The Demon Lord of Lies and Murder) was NOT better than nothing, so we sacrificed that boon (much to Shax's electrical displeasure) to conquer the Heart. It slipped away (nobody wanted to really grab onto it too firmly) into the Abyssal Rift. The Ash Giant Thug at the door of the Grinder tossed up his hands, said, "I'm out," and left. The whole place started to shimmer and shake, and everyone dove into the Rift to keep from ceasing to exist.

Sajan joined them there and the Heart was discovered again. (It leaves a bloody trail as it squidges along...) The Banner of Valor had been grabbed and brought along to the Rift when the Grinder went Poof, so everyone was enjoying its presence when the Vulture Demons returned. This time, Nocticula's boon (which she actually owed Gorum, but Gorum pawned that debt off on Sajan) was sacrificed. Nocticula wasn't any better a sport about it than Shax, but as that was the moment that we felt the presence of Queen Galfrey's incursion, we failed to complain and left the Abyss behind.

[Donald Hiles III]

I was there and can confirm that is exactly what happened. And that AGT in leather at the harem, well that was a sight to behold.

[Keith Richmond]

Thanks for the writeup!

I really like the idea of an Ash Giant Thug with papier-mâché wings. :)

[James McKendrew]

@Keith - I totally googled and copy-and-pasted the proper spelling for papier-mâché. Glad you enjoyed. This write-up was less unbelievable than my performance reviews!