The adventurers:
Kigash Bodaz – Mountain Dwarf Tempest Barbarian 4
Garthog Pomdetierre – Tiefling Archfey Warlock 4
Íoldîr Greenleaf – Wood Elf Beast Master Ranger 4
Lini Bagwhistle – Forest Gnome Moon Druid 4
Turnin Hammerhand – Hill Dwarf War Cleric 4
The party find themselves on a wondrous floating island made of cloud stuff. It appears solid enough to support a large wizard’s tower, sized for a giant. Having accepted an invitation for a chat with whomever dwells here, they cautiously step inside. They meet Zephyros, a cloud giant wizard who is investigating a disruption among the giants.
Zephyros explains that he has been casting Contact Other Plane to divine the truth of what is happening and how best to set it right. Like most wizards he has his share of eccentricities, but some among the party ( *cough* Kigash *cough*) wonder if he isn’t completely insane. He would like to learn more about the attack on Nightstone and agrees to transport the party to Waterdeep while they pool their knowledge.
The party spend most of the day loitering around Zephyros’ hall while he putters and mutters to himself. He tells them to make themselves comfortable wherever as he prepares to consult with the extraplanar entities. He begins a ritual that involves chanting in a language that none of the party recognize. Lini takes first watch while the others lay out their bedrolls under the giant-size table. The low throb of the giant’s chant has the effect of lulling them to sleep, although Lini remains alert. Lini wakes Kigash for second watch and then seeks her own bedroll. About an hour later Kigash is surprised to see Zephyros come floating down, dressed in a sleeping gown and fluffy slippers and clutching a stuffed yeti (life size!). He turns towards Kigash and mutters “Mithral armor lies hidden in a yakfolk basket.” he then sleepily turns away and drifts back up to his chamber above.
The following morning Zephyros has no recollection of telling Kigash anything. With Lini’s help they all deduce that yakfolk are minions of the fire giants, and that she has heard they grind the bones of adventurers into flour to make their bread. A short time later Zephyros is visited by Myth’ri, an emissary of King Hekaton’s court. She relays to him “By decree of Uthor, Steward Imperator, let it be known that Neri, Queen of all giantkind, is dead. She was found murdered at the Purple Rocks, at the hands of small folk. The Lords Alliance is complicit and will be punished. Let word be spread to all Giants. This conspiracy against Giant-kind must be made known.”
They continue on to Waterdeep and report this news to the Lords Alliance. The party is offered membership with the faction, and are told the Alliance may need to call upon them in the future. Garthog has an audience with Lord Tularth Nandar and relays the recent events, including the death of Lady Velrosa. Tularth is keen on restoring the flow of income to his House and pledges his support for Garthog in seeking a position in Nightstone, provided he can secure a peace with the elves of Ardeep Forest. While working her network of contacts in Waterdeep, Kigash hears tell of a village along the Iron Road that was destroyed by a blue dragon. Somehow statues within the town came to life and aided in the destruction.
They meet back up with Zephyros just outside of Waterdeep and request to be taken back to Nightstone. Zephyros shares that his divinations have revealed an unpleasant discovery. The cloud giants, and indeed all giant-kind, are jockeying for ascendancy within the Ordning. The taking of the Nightstone and other raids by giants of settlements in the North may be a part of each race’s effort to establish themselves as dominant with giant society. If the disruption of the Ordning isn’t mended soon, the resulting conflict between giants and small folk may grow into a great catastrophe.
At roughly mid-day more visitors arrive. Eight riders mounted upon four wyverns land outside the tower entrance. They march in and demand an audience with Zephyros. They come on behalf of the Kraken Society to make an alliance. Zephyros is mildly curious and asks what it is that the Kraken Society seeks. The answer, “To return the world to its primordial state, as it was at the dawn of history,” isn’t exactly enticing. Zephyros retreats to his upper chamber to seek guidance.
Everyone hears Zephyros’ cry of confused pain from above. Adventurers and cultists alike call out to him, asking what is wrong. They hear in reply mumbled mutterings that resemble no language known to any of them. Garthog recalls something about the spell Contact Other Plane, that it often places the caster at risk of temporary madness should they encounter an entity far beyond their mortal comprehension. It would seem that the only cure for Zephyros is to sleep it off. The Kraken Society cultists make themselves “comfortable” on the tower floor and wait for Zephyros’ answer.
The night that follows is awkward, as several party members attempt to engage the stoic cultists in an attempt to learn more about their organization and its goals. But even the charismatic Garthog is unable to break their discipline and devotion to their cause. Sleep comes a little more slowly this night, as concern for Zephyros and caution about the cultists weigh on the party’s thoughts. But with the rising sun Zephyros appears to be in good health and good spirits, although he does complain of a headache.
N’von, the leader of the Kraken Society riders, presents a gift – a leather pouch containing ten sachets of pixie dust. He reiterates the society’s offer and waits expectantly. Zephyros politely declines to ally with the Kraken, and N’von storms off. Leading the riders out the door, he pauses to admonish Zephyros, “You will come to regret this foolish and short-sighted decision!”
Just before noon Zephyros sets the cloud island down outside of Nightstone, seeking not to upset the residents like he did with his first visit. Before they head out, Kigash asks Zephyros if he had heard of a village along the Iron Road being destroyed by a blue dragon. The wizard seems startled and alarmed to hear of this, and he asks for more information. He quickly decides to investigate, and agrees to meet the party back in Nightstone when he is done. He wishes the party well and ushers them out the door. Kigash brings up the rear as the party takes their leave, and she observes Zephyros obsessively cleaning the floor where his “djinn associate” is due to appear. She shakes her head ruefully, convinced that the wizard’s brain has turned to mush from dabbling in magic.
The party are happy to see the townsfolk of Nightstone busily working on repairing what they can with the materials at hand. Intent on contacting the elves in Ardeep Forest, they secure horses and a wagon and quickly set off to the north. Íoldîr leads the way, making himself visible to the Ardeep elves. Riding with his hood thrown back, Íoldîr feels very exposed. After a century of keeping his identity hidden, making his face visible like this feels like he might as well be posting flyers on the streets of Silverymoon. But this mission of peace is worth the risk and leads the party forward.
The party follows what was an old road that winds its way north towards the ruins of the Nandar hunting lodge. About ten years ago, Lord Drezlin Nandar started making hunting expeditions into the forest in an attempt to reestablish the hunting lodge held there by House Nandar two centuries earlier. These incursions infuriated the elves of Ardeep Forest. In the following years, the conflict escalated until the elves assaulted Nightstone and killed Drezlin. In the aftermath, his widow, Velrosa Nandar, made a temporary peace.
Íoldîr halts when he is alerted by his owl companion that wood elves are approaching. A scout steps into view directly ahead, demanding to know what business they have in his forest. Íoldîr replies that they come on behalf of House Nandar in Waterdeep to establish a lasting peace between people of Nightstone and the elves of Ardeep Forest. “Wait here,” the elf says and he steps back into the foliage. Íoldîr and the party wait, basking in the vibrant energy of the forest. About ten minutes later the elf reappears. “We will talk peace. Come to the ruins of the Nandar lodge tomorrow.”
The party continues on. There are several miles to go to reach the lodge and a few hours yet until dark. They push the horses hard and travel three more miles before making camp just as the sun sets. The night passes uneventfully, although during his watch Íoldîr does catch the scent of elk or stag. He contemplates hunting the beast, but realizes that for this diplomatic mission it would be best to refrain from any action that might upset the wood elves.
The party gets back on the trail at first light, wanting to reach the ruins by mid-day. About a mile shy of their destination, they hear sounds to the west of some great creature crashing through the forest. Garthog sends his pseudodragon familiar to fly up and let him see through its eyes. About two hundred feet away he can see two hill giants marching through the forest, sending trees toppling as they look about in search of something. Garthog breaks the telepathic link and quickly informs the others that two giants are on their away and will be on top of them in less than thirty seconds.
Everyone scrambles into position as they make ready for the giants’ appearance. Turnin casts Bless, granting Marthammor Duin’s blessing upon Kigash, Lini, and Garthog. As people are looking to which trees and bushes will provide the best cover, the head of one of the giants comes into view. It sees the adventurers and roars in excitement, eager to snack on humanoids and horses. Both giants burst forth and battle is upon them. Roll initiative!
Combat starts with there being about fifty feet between the giants and the party. Using ranged weapons and spells, they inflict a small amount of damage. The northernmost giant then reaches down and plucks a rock out of the overturned dirt of an upended tree. It hurls the rock at Íoldîr and strikes him solidly, nearly knocking him out of the saddle. Íoldîr grunts in pain as he suddenly feels himself at less than half strength. With new respect for the filthy monsters before him, he opts to put more distance between the giants and himself.
Lini casts Flaming Sphere and rams it into one of the giants, searing it with fire damage. Kigash starts raging and rushes forward, hurling a javelin at the nearest giant. Garthog fires his crossbow, waiting until one of the targets is in closer range before casting a spell. Turnin casts Spiritual Weapon at the northern giant, then advances close enough to attack the southern giant with his glaive. Íoldîr guides his horse to the east, stopping about seventy-five feet away from the nearest giant. He shoots with his longbow, but cannot pierce the thick hide of the hill giant.
The giants close on the two dwarves and swing their mighty greatclubs with fearsome speed and effectiveness. The giant pounding on Turnin hits him both times, causing the dwarf to grimace as he is bludgeoned twice in the chest. The giant attacking Kigash hits once with the greatclub but the second swing just misses, deflected by the small tree providing partial cover.
Garthog steps out from behind the wagon and gets close enough to the giant on Kigash to cast Burning Hands. The giant is unable to avoid the cone of flame, but the spell does not inflict as much damage as hoped. Garthog steps back as far as he can and ponders his next action. Kigash attacks with her greataxe and uses her Storm Aura to inflict additional lightning damage. Turnin attacks with his maul and his Spiritual Weapon and prays to his deity that the next attack doesn’t do him in. Lini wildshapes into a brown bear and charges into melee next to Turnin. Íoldîr shoots again and is dismayed to see his arrow fly wide of its target.
The giant standing before Turnin again swings its greatclub, missing with the first attack but hitting with the second. This swing does the most damage yet, and Turnin feels his legs wobbling and head ringing. Trying desperately to remain on his feet, he offers prayer to Marthammor Duin as he commits to standing his ground. The other giant continues its attacks on Kigash and again is frustrated by the small tree on one of its attacks. The one that hits does would be enough to crush most creatures, but in her rage Kigash is able to shrug off half of the damage.
With renewed focus the party unleashes upon the giants. Garthog casts Toll the Dead but the giant is able to avoid the spell’s effects. Kigash swings again with her greataxe and critically injures the giant. Refusing to retreat, Turnin attacks again with his maul. Lini bites and mauls the giant, doing great damage with tooth and claw. The northmost giant is still standing, so Íoldîr makes an inspired shot with his longbow. The arrow flies through the air striking the giant in its left eye. With mouth agape, the giant slowly turns its head, trying to figure out why it’s having trouble seeing. As its body begins to collapse from having the brain pierced, the giant spins to the right as first the left leg then the right lug buckles. Still not realizing it is dead, the giant blinks its one good eye then falls forward with a crash into the forest foliage.
Lacking any sense to flee, the remaining giant renews its attacks on Kigash. and again it hits with one attack and misses with the other. Turnin casts Shield of Faith upon himself then follows up by swinging his maul at the giant and hitting it solidly. Invigorated by the power of Marthammor Duin, he immediately swings again and bludgeons the giant for more damage. Íoldîr moves his Hunter’s Mark to the other giant and shoots his bow, striking it in the torso. Garthog again casts Toll the Dead and is gratified to see the giant wince in pain as the sound of a tolling bell inflicts necrotic damage upon it. Lini bounds over the corpse of the dead giant and attacks the other with first bite then claw. She hits with both, and her final attack is enough to shred the giant’s abdomen. Blood and viscera come pouring out and the giant wobbles slightly then falls over backwards.
Turnin is barely standing, so Lini reverts to gnome form and casts Cure Wounds upon him. The others go through the large sacks the giants were carrying. They are dismayed to find nothing but the giant equivalent of pocket lint. Happy at least to have survived the encounter, they are greeted by the elves of the Ardeep Forest. “Well done, friends. Let us talk peace.”
DM Summary: There was no treasure to speak of in the giants’ sacks (a dead trout?). Much was learned but a quest is yet to be completed.
Individual Rewards:
- 0 experience (milestone not met)
- 0 gold
- 15 down days
- 1 renown
Chugiak Tinkerer 