Kathryn, Stefan, Michael and I will be playing as Grupo Martes in the qualifying round for the German Boardgaming Championship. The games this year are Heck Meck am Bratwurmeck, Agricola, Dominion, and Stone Age.
Yesterday, Kathryn and I played a round of Heck Meck. She had some great luck with the dice. Once she rolled five worms in a single throw! I ended the game with no worms (points). Kathryn may have had as many as 20. Hopefully I will be luckier when it comes to the qualifier.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Grupo Martes: November 24
While waiting for Peter and Kathrin, we played a dice game, where you flick dice down a set of wooden steps. The farther down you flick them the higher the multiplier. Flick the dice too far and the multiplier is -1.
After Peter and Kathrin arrived we settled down into two groups. I played Ad Astra with Kathrin and Stefan. Ad Astra is basically the Settlers of Catan with the order options of Race for the Galaxy. At the start of each turn you lay out 4 of your 11 cards showing what want to do that turn. The others get to perform the actions you choose, too. They are move ships, harvest resources, collect victory points, build, and trade resources. You send ships to planets in different star systems and build colonies (read settlements) on the planets so you can collect the resources. You can upgrade the colonies to factories (cities) to collect double the resources. The game ends when someone has 50 victory points.
Stefan won the game handily. First, he and I started off with planets with energy. This meant that Kathrin had trouble moving her ships around. It also meant that when Stefan and I collected resources, well chose energy, leaving Kathrin to collect nothing. Stefan also found alien worlds that gave him 4 resources of his choice. This gave him a boost in building ships and colonies. With that kind of lead, Kathrin and I could not keep up. Unlike in Settlers, where the other players can team up a little to keep the robber on the leading player, Ad Astra has no such mechanism. In fact, other than trade, there is little player interaction. Although visually attractive, Ad Astra is not a game I will be looking to play again.
After Peter and Kathrin arrived we settled down into two groups. I played Ad Astra with Kathrin and Stefan. Ad Astra is basically the Settlers of Catan with the order options of Race for the Galaxy. At the start of each turn you lay out 4 of your 11 cards showing what want to do that turn. The others get to perform the actions you choose, too. They are move ships, harvest resources, collect victory points, build, and trade resources. You send ships to planets in different star systems and build colonies (read settlements) on the planets so you can collect the resources. You can upgrade the colonies to factories (cities) to collect double the resources. The game ends when someone has 50 victory points.
Stefan won the game handily. First, he and I started off with planets with energy. This meant that Kathrin had trouble moving her ships around. It also meant that when Stefan and I collected resources, well chose energy, leaving Kathrin to collect nothing. Stefan also found alien worlds that gave him 4 resources of his choice. This gave him a boost in building ships and colonies. With that kind of lead, Kathrin and I could not keep up. Unlike in Settlers, where the other players can team up a little to keep the robber on the leading player, Ad Astra has no such mechanism. In fact, other than trade, there is little player interaction. Although visually attractive, Ad Astra is not a game I will be looking to play again.
Cloudy With Negotiations
After slaying the frost giants in their barracks, the party settled down to exploring the caverns. Aside from tables, chairs, and giant hair-care products the party found a storage cave. Cora found various demi-human torsos in addition to other mammal carcases.
Bob was keeping watch at the cave entrance, when several giants emerged from a nearby cavern. The appeared to be looking for something; probably the party. There were 6 frost giants lead by a cloud giant. The party still had not recovered from their encounter with the frost giants in the barracks. Thorir drew out his wand of Animate Dead. Sir William said, "In the interest of saving this undertaking, I am going to look the other way this time, Thorir. But you know, raising being from the dead is strictly prohibited by my order!" Thorir pointed out that the animated corpses are not in themselves evil. It is only the will of the necromancer that can make them perform evil deeds. He then proceeded to raise 17 large zombies. "Oh look! Meat shields!" cried Thorgrim.
The giant zombies staggered out of their cave to the shock of the frost giants. The frost giants chopped the zombies to pieces as they stepped up. The party then began shooting arrows at the giants to harrass them. Lars cast a Holy Strike blinding two of the giants. The cloud giant ordered two of the giants back down the tunnel where they had come. Sir William stepped out from their tunnel and one of the giants tried to grab him, only to grab a hand full of sharp steel. Soon two giants were killed. The cloud giant ordered the last two giants to retreat. The cloud giant then threw himself from the cliff and began levitating down into the crevasse. Thorir ordered 3 of the giant zombies to tackle the cloud giant. The zombies sprang over the cliff edge. The first one was batted aside by the morning star of the cloud giant. The other two were thrown off as they hurtled past, only to splatter on the rocks and ice below.
The rest of the party began to pepper the cloud giant with arrows. The damage began to tell. The giant dropped from the sky to land 120 feet below in the snow drifts at the bottom of the crevasse. Thorgrim walked down the ice ramp, while Sir William flew down to the giant on Ravia. The giant was unconcious. Sir William hamstrung the giant and knocked his weapon away. When Thorgrim arrived, Sir William healed then interrogated the cloud giant. Cloudy admitted to being a henchman of the frost giant Jarl Grugnar. He also told them that Eclavdra had been there with the Star of Darkness, but was probably no longer in the rift. Grugnar would know where she went. Sir William and Thorgrim got Cloudy, under threat of death, to lead the party through a back entrance to the Jarl's caverns. Sir William saw that Cloudy was not completely trustworthy, but was telling the truth as far as he could tell.
The party took the captive giant back to their cave in the next valley and rested overnight. The next day they came back to the rift. As they approached, a group of 8 orgres were leaving the rift. A fireball from Thorir roasted all but one. The ogre escaped. The cloud giant lead the party back into the rift. At the far end of the crevasse, they crept past what the giant said was the lair of a rhemoraz. Beyond that lay a sinkhole descending 100 feet into the darkness. Cloudy said he would lower the party down with his levitation. The party agreed. Bob tied a rope to an outcropping of rock and held on while they went down. The others held tight to the cloud giant, except for Sir William, who hovered above them on Ravia. Sixty feet down the shaft opened into a cavern. Thorgrim struck a sunrod to make light. Levitating 30 feet above the floor, the party first noticed the sparkling of gold and jewels. Philia first pointed out the white dragon atop the hoard. Then Cora pointed out the second dragon atop a ledge deeper in the cavern. Then Cloudy dropped his levitation sending the party crashing to the floor.
Bob was keeping watch at the cave entrance, when several giants emerged from a nearby cavern. The appeared to be looking for something; probably the party. There were 6 frost giants lead by a cloud giant. The party still had not recovered from their encounter with the frost giants in the barracks. Thorir drew out his wand of Animate Dead. Sir William said, "In the interest of saving this undertaking, I am going to look the other way this time, Thorir. But you know, raising being from the dead is strictly prohibited by my order!" Thorir pointed out that the animated corpses are not in themselves evil. It is only the will of the necromancer that can make them perform evil deeds. He then proceeded to raise 17 large zombies. "Oh look! Meat shields!" cried Thorgrim.
The giant zombies staggered out of their cave to the shock of the frost giants. The frost giants chopped the zombies to pieces as they stepped up. The party then began shooting arrows at the giants to harrass them. Lars cast a Holy Strike blinding two of the giants. The cloud giant ordered two of the giants back down the tunnel where they had come. Sir William stepped out from their tunnel and one of the giants tried to grab him, only to grab a hand full of sharp steel. Soon two giants were killed. The cloud giant ordered the last two giants to retreat. The cloud giant then threw himself from the cliff and began levitating down into the crevasse. Thorir ordered 3 of the giant zombies to tackle the cloud giant. The zombies sprang over the cliff edge. The first one was batted aside by the morning star of the cloud giant. The other two were thrown off as they hurtled past, only to splatter on the rocks and ice below.
The rest of the party began to pepper the cloud giant with arrows. The damage began to tell. The giant dropped from the sky to land 120 feet below in the snow drifts at the bottom of the crevasse. Thorgrim walked down the ice ramp, while Sir William flew down to the giant on Ravia. The giant was unconcious. Sir William hamstrung the giant and knocked his weapon away. When Thorgrim arrived, Sir William healed then interrogated the cloud giant. Cloudy admitted to being a henchman of the frost giant Jarl Grugnar. He also told them that Eclavdra had been there with the Star of Darkness, but was probably no longer in the rift. Grugnar would know where she went. Sir William and Thorgrim got Cloudy, under threat of death, to lead the party through a back entrance to the Jarl's caverns. Sir William saw that Cloudy was not completely trustworthy, but was telling the truth as far as he could tell.
The party took the captive giant back to their cave in the next valley and rested overnight. The next day they came back to the rift. As they approached, a group of 8 orgres were leaving the rift. A fireball from Thorir roasted all but one. The ogre escaped. The cloud giant lead the party back into the rift. At the far end of the crevasse, they crept past what the giant said was the lair of a rhemoraz. Beyond that lay a sinkhole descending 100 feet into the darkness. Cloudy said he would lower the party down with his levitation. The party agreed. Bob tied a rope to an outcropping of rock and held on while they went down. The others held tight to the cloud giant, except for Sir William, who hovered above them on Ravia. Sixty feet down the shaft opened into a cavern. Thorgrim struck a sunrod to make light. Levitating 30 feet above the floor, the party first noticed the sparkling of gold and jewels. Philia first pointed out the white dragon atop the hoard. Then Cora pointed out the second dragon atop a ledge deeper in the cavern. Then Cloudy dropped his levitation sending the party crashing to the floor.
A Little Dynamite Nurse
In a spare hour, Ursula and I tried out Dynamite Nurse. We did not shuffle the cards very well. All we had was emergencies. We never finished, but Ursula had fewer kill marks than I did, so we declared her victor.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Love, Verbeeg Style!
The Quest for the Cauldron of Plenty continues …
For the next three days the adventurers headed south and west from the cave of Bolg Mor towards the shores of the great ocean. They saw little in the chill November rain. Arya’s druidic spells were of little use in speaking to the local animals. Neither the hungry bear, nor the annoyed badger (the bear was trying to catch it for dinner), nor the squawking flock of seagulls had any useful hints.
The exploring party spent one night in a forlorn farming settlement, unimaginatively called “Sod” by the villagers thanks to their sod huts. Rhugar’s dwarven taste buds were not impressed by the fermented slug juice drunk by the men. But the villagers were quite happy to sell them a cow for an exorbitant price. James paid happily enough. He knew the party’s servant and cook, Dulus, would prepare fine steaks for his masters, which he did the next evening as they spent another night outdoors.
And around noon on the third day, the adventurers stopped short at the top of a hill. They saw a giant and three young giantesses, all dressed rather rustically. They stood deep in the surf and cast fisher nets into the cold waves that crashed into their small cove. A large cave entrance was visible in the cliffs at the head of the cove’s wide beach.
Upon seeing the intruders the giant spoke to the three females, then approached bearing a cudgel. But James the bard was never at a loss for words.
“Good day, Mr. Giant! We’re searching for a giantess! Are you a family-loving man? We’re looking for a match for a rich giant – have you ever given any thought to grand-giant-children?”
It turned out that the giant Dustin indeed had three daughters and was willing to discuss their future with the adventurers. Inside the cave the eldest daughter, Moira, rather dark and silent, helped Dulus prepare a meal of roast beef and tea for her family and their guests. The middle daughter, Brulla, glared at the little people and gave little more than gruff, rude comments. The youngest, Vaughn, a rather chubby and vain creature, kept up more than enough chatter to make up for her sisters.
The party was faced with a quandary: Which daughter? They interviewed each one and discussed their options long into the night.
For the next three days the adventurers headed south and west from the cave of Bolg Mor towards the shores of the great ocean. They saw little in the chill November rain. Arya’s druidic spells were of little use in speaking to the local animals. Neither the hungry bear, nor the annoyed badger (the bear was trying to catch it for dinner), nor the squawking flock of seagulls had any useful hints.
The exploring party spent one night in a forlorn farming settlement, unimaginatively called “Sod” by the villagers thanks to their sod huts. Rhugar’s dwarven taste buds were not impressed by the fermented slug juice drunk by the men. But the villagers were quite happy to sell them a cow for an exorbitant price. James paid happily enough. He knew the party’s servant and cook, Dulus, would prepare fine steaks for his masters, which he did the next evening as they spent another night outdoors.
And around noon on the third day, the adventurers stopped short at the top of a hill. They saw a giant and three young giantesses, all dressed rather rustically. They stood deep in the surf and cast fisher nets into the cold waves that crashed into their small cove. A large cave entrance was visible in the cliffs at the head of the cove’s wide beach.
Upon seeing the intruders the giant spoke to the three females, then approached bearing a cudgel. But James the bard was never at a loss for words.
“Good day, Mr. Giant! We’re searching for a giantess! Are you a family-loving man? We’re looking for a match for a rich giant – have you ever given any thought to grand-giant-children?”
It turned out that the giant Dustin indeed had three daughters and was willing to discuss their future with the adventurers. Inside the cave the eldest daughter, Moira, rather dark and silent, helped Dulus prepare a meal of roast beef and tea for her family and their guests. The middle daughter, Brulla, glared at the little people and gave little more than gruff, rude comments. The youngest, Vaughn, a rather chubby and vain creature, kept up more than enough chatter to make up for her sisters.
The party was faced with a quandary: Which daughter? They interviewed each one and discussed their options long into the night.
- They swiftly crossed Brulla off their list. No question about it, she was a shrew.
- Vaughn seemed at first to be more suitable but her lack of connection to reality became swiftly apparent – she was flighty, said to be a horrid cook, and insisted that she be kidnapped by the adventurers (!) because it would be more romantic that way.
- After careful consideration they decided on Moira. Painfully silent, but perhaps just shy or overly coy, she seemed the one most likely to get along with the bachelor Bolg Mor. She was also first in line as the eldest daughter and the preferred choice of her own father.
With a dowry for Bolg Mor in the wagon (four giant barrels of salted fish), the blessings of Dustin, and the disappointed screams of Vaughn echoing in their ears, the doughty adventurers escorted Moira across the hilly countryside. (Jann lingered an hour or two behind at one point, hidden in a copse, just to make sure Vaughn was not trying to follow. Fortunately, she hadn’t.) They encountered no one other than a group of men at a distance, who hastily fled in the other direction at the sight of the giantess. Thus three days of travel went uneventfully and they reached the Trollclaw Mountains and Mor’s cave.
The introduction went well. Moira even managed to smile a trifle and Bolg Mor blushed happily. The adventurers had made the right choice. All the giant had ever wanted was a way to be kept fed on a regular basis – now he had a helpmeet to make sure he and his household was kept tidy and comfortable as well.
“You’ve kept your part of the bargain,” said Bolg Mor. “Now I keep mine!”
The giant presented them with the Cauldron of Plenty. They had done it! Had they attempted to take the Cauldron by force, they would’ve been cursed with misfortune the rest of their lives.
But the wide wilderness and fierce monsters lay between them and Moray City. Would they be able to make it back?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Giant Lovers’ Lane (or is that “Lovers’ Lane for Giants” …?)
The narrow switchback trail twisted monotonously up the side of the mountain as the adventuring party went slowly and carefully forward in the howling wind. The wagon, their horses, and Dulus the cook were now far beneath them, tiny dark specks against the snowy ground. But although they had been on the move since early morning the pass above them didn’t seem any nearer than before.
“It’s the druids’ fault –” James started to say yet again.
“ – the human druids,” interrupted Arya, also for the umpteenth time.
Even Marcher the wolf seemed to sigh in relief as their exchange ended there. Everyone was saving their breaths for the climb.
They hadn’t imagined it would be so hard back at the camp. They had agreed that helping Bolg Mor find a suitable bride was safer than trying to fight the verbeeg giant for possession of the Cauldron of Plenty. But if he couldn’t find a giantess himself, how could they?
“I do not travel much nowadays,” the verbeeg had explained. “All I know is that there are some of my kind in this direction and that,” waving his huge hands vaguely to the northwest and to the south. “And there are many more in the Jotunheim Mountains, on the next island over.”
After Mor had departed for his own cave the adventurers had spent the evening talking it over in their chilly camp.
“I think we can forget about the Jotunheims,” said Jann. “It’s several days of difficult sailing just to get to that island. And I doubt we could find anyone willing to bring a giantess on shipboard, much less any official who would let us dock in Moray harbor with one.”
“There is a song about the giantess Scath from the Trollclaws,” said James. “A rather jolly song, actually. It tells how she went bowling with goblins.”
Rhugar the dwarf looked doubtfully at the bard. “A giant who’s friends with goblins?”
James smiled. “Not really.” He started reciting in a singsong voice:
"The giantess grinned as she sang,
Picking up a gob from the gang,
“Flinging goblins’ heads at the pins,
That is when our fun begins!”
“Ah, a sensible giantess, then,” grunted Rhugar, satisfied.
“Yes, there’s no love lost between the goblins in the East Trollclaws and the giants of the West Trollclaws. And the song says she could see Sunset Isle from her home,” added James, looking at Jann, “which means she must live to the west of here."
So they had set off the next day, leaving Dulus to pitch camp an hour later as the trail became too steep and narrow for the horses and wagon to continue. The adventurers were thankful for their winter clothing as they trudged up the icy trail in the intermittent snow flurries. Few trees lived at these heights and the ones that did grew flat against the ground due to the constant wind.
They finally reached the pass in the early afternoon. A large, stony mountain valley stretched out before them, interspersed with isolated clumps of trees in more sheltered areas. They spent most of the rest of the day following the faint trail, climbing steadily upward. Although the trail finally petered out on the other side of the valley the slope of the ridge before them was easy enough to allow them to cross over into the next valley.
That valley was somewhat more fertile, a mountain meadow interspersed with boulders and rocks. They were now above the tree line. Yet more jagged mountains fenced in the valley on the western and northern sides. Isolated clumps and drifts of snow were far more common here.
Just towards sunset Deidre stopped and pointed at the ground. “Look, tracks! Some sort of animal, I’d say.”
Arya looked and said, “I’d say they’re the tracks of giant goats.”
“Are you sure about that?” said the halfling, frowning at the elf.
“Of course. They’re right there,”Arya said, pointing.
Three goats were looking askance at the intruders. And they were indeed giant goats. They were at least as large as oxen.
“They aren’t normally domesticated,” continued the elven druid calmly as her companions shifted uneasily and felt for their weapons, “but not normally aggressive unless we threaten them. Let me reassure them that we’re not.”
She cast the charm of animal language and began to speak. To the others it sounded little more than baa-aa maa-aa aaa-aa. But they could also see the goats pick up their ears and advance slowly and curiously, staring at Arya and swishing their tails in what seemed to be a friendly manner.
To Arya it felt as if she were talking with a constant catch in her throat. “Do-oo yo-ou kno-ow oo-of aa-ny gi-ii-ants ne-ee-ar he-ere?” she asked the goats.
“Ye-ee-es,” they bleated. “Oo-one, ii-in a-a ca-aa-ve ii-in th-ee bi-ii-ig mo-oun-ta-ain.” They gestured with their heads towards a prominent nearby peak. “She-ee wa-aa-nts to-oo ca-atch u-us a-and ee-eat u-us.”
“Aa-any thi-ing ee-else ne-ear-by-yy? Oo-the-er cre-ee-atur-ee-es?” she queried.
“Go-oo-ob-li-ii-ins! Go-oo-ob-li-ii-ins, ma-aa-ny. Aa-and tro-olls to-oo.“
Well, that just confirms what we had already heard, thought the elf. “Aa-nd ho-oo-ow do-oo yo-ou li-ii-ike ii-it he-ere?” she continued, politely. “Do-oo yo-ou ha-aa-ve go-oo-od gra-aa-aass ii-in su-umme-er?”
“Ye-ee-es, ye-ee-es! Aa-nd clo-oo-over, lo-ove-ly swe-ee-eet clo-oo-over!”
The conversation dragged on about the quality of the hay that year until the other adventurers got impatient. “You’re not asking them about how nice the grass is, are you?” asked Jann dryly.
“Of course not.” Arya turned rather abruptly away from the goats, blushing. “No, they were telling me where the giantess lives.” She related what she had learned (but left out the culinary bits).
Since it was too dark to go any further they spent the night in the grassy valley. They decided to do without a fire in case goblins or trolls were about.
Although the party stayed warm and dry enough in their travelling clothes, the lack of warm food and the drizzle the next day did not brighten their spirits as they marched off towards the giantess’ mountain. It was too cloudy and foggy to see very far, and Jann resigned himself to not being able to see his home island from the cave.
Only it wasn’t a cave. The word “hovel” had not been in the goats’ vocabulary. Smoke arose from a massive pile of rocks and trees, more or less organized into the walls and roof of a rude hut, and a great goatskin pelt flapped in front of the entrance. Giant goat bones lay strewn about with other refuse.
No one was very eager to enter.
“Well, Arya and I will go ahead and do the talking,” huffed James at last. “We are the best at diplomatic matters, after all. Deidre, are you going to – no, I suppose she won’t be joining us,” he said as he looked about. The little rogue was nowhere to be seen, although they were certain she was nearby, bow at the ready, watching them walk slowly up to the giant hut.
“Hello!” yelled James. “Hel-loo! Is anyone there? We’re the friends of giants!”
They stopped five meters from the entrance as a titan arm pushed the entrance flap aside.
A face looked out. A giant female face.
An old female face. A very old, wrinkled, and ugly female face, attached to the old, hunched, but still powerful body that stepped into the entryway, covered in roughly- made goatskin clothes.
“Not good,” gritted Jann.
“Ahh, friends of giants, be you?” the giantess cackled. She beckoned to them. “Come in, it’s much warmer inside! Horrible cold day, innit?”
She smacked her lips. It was clear to everyone she wasn’t smacking them due to the cold.
Alarmingly, Arya kept walking, as calmly as if she were strolling into a palace, with Marcher following right behind. The wolf’s tail, however, was tucked between his hind legs and he looked distinctly uncomfortable.
“Yes, very bracing winds today,” said the bard. “I am James,” (as usual pronouncing it Hhhha-més) “a minstrel and teller of tales travelling across the land. These are my friends and companions on the road. And you must be Scath the Giantess?”
“Aye, Scath Mor, that’s me name. You’ve heard of me?”
“Scath Mor?!” said Rhugar, bushy eyebrows raised in alarm.
“As in, ‘Scath Mor, who just happens to be related to Bolg Mor’?” said Jann, goggling.
Scath Mor grinned, revealing huge gaps between her few (but horrifyingly large and sharp) remaining teeth “You know of me grandson too? Have you seen him lately?” She frowned. “Never comes to visit, that boy. Lazy sod,” she snarled, making the family resemblance unmistakable.
Jann’s shoulders sagged. “This is so not good.”
“The island of the Jotunheims – it’s not that far away, is it?” murmured Rhugar. “Could we persuade a giantess to swim from there to Moray?”
Arya and Marcher stood somewhat inside the hut behind Scath Mor. Giant goat hide cushions stuffed with straw, giant goat hide blankets piled in the corner for a bed, giant goat hides hanging along the rude stone walls. She wouldn’t have had to guess at what was cooking in the pot hanging over the fire pit even if giant goat bones had not been sticking out over the rim.
“Come in, have a tea,” the giantess beckoned again. “Don’t be so rude, all me children are much more polite.”
Apparently the desire for tea ran deep in the Mor family. The adventurers went in and perched cautiously on the cushions while Scath Mor busied herself with a teapot. Eventually she poured the scalding liquid into the smallest vessels she could find for her guests.
“We’re seeking a companion for our friend, Bolg Mor,” said Arya, accepting a crude clay cup and covering up her trepidation at the sight and taste of what was within. It certainly was hot, and it certainly was drinkable because the giantess slurped it down loudly and happily enough. But it certainly wasn’t tea.
“What, he’s finally looking to settle down? But there aren’t too many giants up here nowadays. Most of me kin moved away to the south. The few giants left are a bit further west, allied with the pirates.”
SNAP! Everyone started, then stared at Jann, who had broken the handle off the giant-sized mortar he was using as a teacup.
“Sorry,” he muttered, shamefaced. “Don’t like pirates.”
Scath didn’t seem to mind the broken crockery. “But as to me dear little Bolg, I haven’t been keeping track of him, me kin don’t visit that often. What sort of a girl is he looking for?”
James spread his hands and used them to outline a lush female figure. “A lusty giantess … a young giantess … and we thought we’d seek your help as an ... experienced giantess –”
“Oh Earth Mother,” groaned Arya, closing her eyes. “Is that what men call diplomatic?”
“—to find him a refined giantess, from a good giant family,” James rhapsodized. “Surely you wouldn’t want to deny him the joys of married life, which you yourself enjoyed for so long?”
That seemed to make Scath Mor think. She swished tea around in her mouth, swallowed it, smacked her lips for a moment, and then spoke abruptly. “Can you take me to that boy? He needs me advice and right quick too.”
James paused barely a second. “Surely, Scath Mor! Let’s leave now!”
The giantess leapt up. “Ha! Let me pack me things! Hasn’t been nice up here without the mister being around anymore, no siree! Nothing but goats! Time to see me family again!”
The others looked rather sourly at James as old Scath scampered about her hut, throwing various odds and ends into a goatskin bag. He shrugged at them.
“Well, what was I to say to that?” he whispered to them. “Poor thing, living up here all alone, who hasn’t seen her grandson for years –“
“Maybe there’s a reason for that!” said Jann.
“ – and it certainly took her mind off the idea of eating us,” continued James, never nonplussed for long.
“Eating what?” asked Scath Mor, turning towards them. She held the bag in one hand and a walking stick the size of a ceiling beam in the other. Either one of them would make formidable weapons.
“We wanted to say, ‘Thank you for eating with us later’,” said Arya rapidly. “We can offer you something other than goat for a change.”
“Mmmmmm …!” She looked appraisingly at the wolf. Marcher whined.
***
The adventurers and the giantess got as far as the meadow valley before sundown (the giant goats scattered for the hills, bleating in alarm as the saw the giantess approaching) and camped near the same spot, this time risking a fire.
“Goblin play time,” said Rhugar. “They’ll see that for sure.”
“Yes, but I think we’re more than a match for anything short of a horde,” said Jann, polishing his sword. “Especially with our large friend here.”
Deidre shivered at that. She had been following well behind the group the entire day and staying out of the giantess’ sight, but was now close to the fire with the others. “I never thought I’d feel safer having a giant along.”
“Oh, a halfling,” said Scath Mor, seeing Deidre for the first time. “I love halflings, they’re so sweet.” She grinned at Deidre, making it obvious what she meant by “sweet”.
Jann looked at Deidre. “Goblins or giants. Take your pick.”
Deidre smiled weakly. “First watch, please?” and vanished into the darkness.
But it was during the second watch, barely an hour before dawn, when the goblins struck. Arya managed to call out a warning as a dozen goblin spears fell out of the sky and a dozen shrieking goblins charged their camp. The elf was struck by two spears and could only fight weakly, but Marcher made light of his own spear wound and fell howling upon the throats of those who threatened his mistress.
Jann and Rhugar were also lightly wounded but immediately gave battle, striking down goblins right and left. Deidre took cover and shot several more goblins as James’s singing inspired them all to greater effort. Despite the carnage the goblins were clearly not prepared to back down and kept up their attacks.
Everyone was startled by a humming whoosh as Scath Mor swung her tree-sized walking stick with her right arm. There was a loud, wet crunch as the goblin she struck with it went flying off in a huge arc into the night.
The giantess grimaced, holding her left hand to her back. “Oh, me rheumatism!” But she continued holding her stick aloft, hobbling forward towards the suddenly thoroughly dismayed goblins. Apparently they had also heard the song about Scath's bowling.
“My uncle will never believe this!” shouted Rhugar as he crushed another goblin head to fragments. “I’m fighting goblins together with a giant!”
The goblins didn’t want to believe it either. Between the sight of the giantess and the sight of their dead compatriots, they’d had enough. The survivors ran away, screaming in terror.
“Ahh, run away, you little beggars!” hollered the giantess after them. “Wonderful! Haven’t done that in years. Not since that time bowling with their runty little heads.”
“I will write another song about you, about this battle,“ James beamed.
And then the adventurers watched in mingled amazement and disgust as Scath Mor picked up one of the dead goblins, twisted off its head, and started drinking the blood out of the neck.
“’Something other than goat’ you said, young missee elf, and you were right,” she said, wiping her smacking lips off on her sleeve. She pulled an arm off the goblin and started chewing on it the same way a human would eat a chicken wing.
“No accounting for taste,” said Arya, a bit pale.
***
“THIS – is my BRIDE?!”
The group had made it back to Bolg Mor’s cave the next day, collecting their cook, horses and wagon along the way. Although, standing there beside Scath Mor, who was rocking back and forth on her heels in front of her stunned grandson, they were beginning to think this hadn’t been the best idea they’d ever had.
“THIS. IS. MY. BRIIIDE?!!”
Bolg’s voice thundered in the close confines of the ravine. His face was a battlefield of emotions. Astonishment, disappointment, anger, and more than a soupcon of anxiety were dueling for dominance.
“Of course not, O mighty Mor,” soothed James. “Do you not recognize your grandmother? It’s been so long since you’ve seen each other –“
“OF COURSE I RECOGNIZE HER YOU DOLT!” The giant’s eyes bulged alarmingly. “Maybe there’s a REASON I haven’t seen her for so long! Did you consider THAT?!”
“I had, actually,” said Jann. James frowned at him.
“Don’t just stand there chatting, Bolg,” interrupted Scath. “Remember your manners! Me standing her with me rheumatism. Are you going to invite me in? These friends of yours have been going on about the wonderful tea you make.”
The giant shook himself, then looked at Scath as if seeing her for the first time.
“And they also say you’re looking for a young thing to marry?”
Bolg’s mouth fell open at that. “I – I – I – “
Scath looked at him sadly. “You should’ve come to see me sooner, “ she said. “Me grandson looking for a mate, and not asking his own flesh-and-blood for advice? Me and your gramps, we used to know so many cousins in the south who would be fine matches!”
She poked him with her walking stick. “And shut your mouth before the farnoth flies get in there, it’s very rude! No decent giantess will take a second look at you if you keep on doing that”
The giant’s mouth snapped shut. For a long moment he stared at Scath, then blinked.
“Certainly, Grandmother,” Bolg Mor said, suddenly all politeness. “How good of you to come see me. I have some lovely tea from the southern lands. Would you be so kind as to join me?”
As she hobbled past her grandson the rest of the party started to follow.
“STOP.” They stopped abruptly as Bolg whirled about, astonishingly smoothly for someone his size, and held out a massive hand.
“My marriage prospects, or the tattered remnants of them, are a family matter, as you have so conveniently reminded me,” he rumbled ominously. “You – lot – will have to wait out here while I greet my dear, dear grandmother. I’ll come out later and speak to you.”
They stood there uneasily as the giants went into the cave.
“You can come out now, Deidre,” said Rhugar.
The halfling popped up from behind a boulder. “Are we actually going to stay here? We need the head start!”
Jann scratched a spot on his head under the helm. “I’m too tired to run right now and he can probably outrun us. Let’s pitch camp and rest up for now. We can run, or fight, later if we have to.”
It was much, much later before Bolg Mor returned with a bucket of his own tea. They sat around the fire as they had several nights previously, Dulus once again serving tasty morsels to everyone’s satisfaction.
The giant had grown much calmer. “Grandmother is resting comfortably in the guest cave. She understands I couldn’t contact her while the magician had ensorcelled me. I’ve left just when I broke the spell purposely vague, so as not to antagonize her. And, surprisingly, she is quite taken with all of you, especially since your fight with the goblins. Haven’t seen her that cheerful in ages.”
“Living with goats high in the mountains was probably not always comfortable,” said Arya as she regally sipped her tea.
“And killing goblins always cheers us up,” chortled Rhugar.
“Well, I believe you have the best of intentions, if not the best strategy,” continued the giant, and he set them all at ease with a grin. “I am indeed surprised by you.”
And then his grin turned more threatening.
“Now, surprise me again. When did you say you were heading south to search for a giantess?”
Next Time: In the Footsteps of Giants ...?
“It’s the druids’ fault –” James started to say yet again.
“ – the human druids,” interrupted Arya, also for the umpteenth time.
Even Marcher the wolf seemed to sigh in relief as their exchange ended there. Everyone was saving their breaths for the climb.
They hadn’t imagined it would be so hard back at the camp. They had agreed that helping Bolg Mor find a suitable bride was safer than trying to fight the verbeeg giant for possession of the Cauldron of Plenty. But if he couldn’t find a giantess himself, how could they?
“I do not travel much nowadays,” the verbeeg had explained. “All I know is that there are some of my kind in this direction and that,” waving his huge hands vaguely to the northwest and to the south. “And there are many more in the Jotunheim Mountains, on the next island over.”
After Mor had departed for his own cave the adventurers had spent the evening talking it over in their chilly camp.
“I think we can forget about the Jotunheims,” said Jann. “It’s several days of difficult sailing just to get to that island. And I doubt we could find anyone willing to bring a giantess on shipboard, much less any official who would let us dock in Moray harbor with one.”
“There is a song about the giantess Scath from the Trollclaws,” said James. “A rather jolly song, actually. It tells how she went bowling with goblins.”
Rhugar the dwarf looked doubtfully at the bard. “A giant who’s friends with goblins?”
James smiled. “Not really.” He started reciting in a singsong voice:
"The giantess grinned as she sang,
Picking up a gob from the gang,
“Flinging goblins’ heads at the pins,
That is when our fun begins!”
“Ah, a sensible giantess, then,” grunted Rhugar, satisfied.
“Yes, there’s no love lost between the goblins in the East Trollclaws and the giants of the West Trollclaws. And the song says she could see Sunset Isle from her home,” added James, looking at Jann, “which means she must live to the west of here."
So they had set off the next day, leaving Dulus to pitch camp an hour later as the trail became too steep and narrow for the horses and wagon to continue. The adventurers were thankful for their winter clothing as they trudged up the icy trail in the intermittent snow flurries. Few trees lived at these heights and the ones that did grew flat against the ground due to the constant wind.
They finally reached the pass in the early afternoon. A large, stony mountain valley stretched out before them, interspersed with isolated clumps of trees in more sheltered areas. They spent most of the rest of the day following the faint trail, climbing steadily upward. Although the trail finally petered out on the other side of the valley the slope of the ridge before them was easy enough to allow them to cross over into the next valley.
That valley was somewhat more fertile, a mountain meadow interspersed with boulders and rocks. They were now above the tree line. Yet more jagged mountains fenced in the valley on the western and northern sides. Isolated clumps and drifts of snow were far more common here.
Just towards sunset Deidre stopped and pointed at the ground. “Look, tracks! Some sort of animal, I’d say.”
Arya looked and said, “I’d say they’re the tracks of giant goats.”
“Are you sure about that?” said the halfling, frowning at the elf.
“Of course. They’re right there,”Arya said, pointing.
Three goats were looking askance at the intruders. And they were indeed giant goats. They were at least as large as oxen.
“They aren’t normally domesticated,” continued the elven druid calmly as her companions shifted uneasily and felt for their weapons, “but not normally aggressive unless we threaten them. Let me reassure them that we’re not.”
She cast the charm of animal language and began to speak. To the others it sounded little more than baa-aa maa-aa aaa-aa. But they could also see the goats pick up their ears and advance slowly and curiously, staring at Arya and swishing their tails in what seemed to be a friendly manner.
To Arya it felt as if she were talking with a constant catch in her throat. “Do-oo yo-ou kno-ow oo-of aa-ny gi-ii-ants ne-ee-ar he-ere?” she asked the goats.
“Ye-ee-es,” they bleated. “Oo-one, ii-in a-a ca-aa-ve ii-in th-ee bi-ii-ig mo-oun-ta-ain.” They gestured with their heads towards a prominent nearby peak. “She-ee wa-aa-nts to-oo ca-atch u-us a-and ee-eat u-us.”
“Aa-any thi-ing ee-else ne-ear-by-yy? Oo-the-er cre-ee-atur-ee-es?” she queried.
“Go-oo-ob-li-ii-ins! Go-oo-ob-li-ii-ins, ma-aa-ny. Aa-and tro-olls to-oo.“
Well, that just confirms what we had already heard, thought the elf. “Aa-nd ho-oo-ow do-oo yo-ou li-ii-ike ii-it he-ere?” she continued, politely. “Do-oo yo-ou ha-aa-ve go-oo-od gra-aa-aass ii-in su-umme-er?”
“Ye-ee-es, ye-ee-es! Aa-nd clo-oo-over, lo-ove-ly swe-ee-eet clo-oo-over!”
The conversation dragged on about the quality of the hay that year until the other adventurers got impatient. “You’re not asking them about how nice the grass is, are you?” asked Jann dryly.
“Of course not.” Arya turned rather abruptly away from the goats, blushing. “No, they were telling me where the giantess lives.” She related what she had learned (but left out the culinary bits).
Since it was too dark to go any further they spent the night in the grassy valley. They decided to do without a fire in case goblins or trolls were about.
Although the party stayed warm and dry enough in their travelling clothes, the lack of warm food and the drizzle the next day did not brighten their spirits as they marched off towards the giantess’ mountain. It was too cloudy and foggy to see very far, and Jann resigned himself to not being able to see his home island from the cave.
Only it wasn’t a cave. The word “hovel” had not been in the goats’ vocabulary. Smoke arose from a massive pile of rocks and trees, more or less organized into the walls and roof of a rude hut, and a great goatskin pelt flapped in front of the entrance. Giant goat bones lay strewn about with other refuse.
No one was very eager to enter.
“Well, Arya and I will go ahead and do the talking,” huffed James at last. “We are the best at diplomatic matters, after all. Deidre, are you going to – no, I suppose she won’t be joining us,” he said as he looked about. The little rogue was nowhere to be seen, although they were certain she was nearby, bow at the ready, watching them walk slowly up to the giant hut.
“Hello!” yelled James. “Hel-loo! Is anyone there? We’re the friends of giants!”
They stopped five meters from the entrance as a titan arm pushed the entrance flap aside.
A face looked out. A giant female face.
An old female face. A very old, wrinkled, and ugly female face, attached to the old, hunched, but still powerful body that stepped into the entryway, covered in roughly- made goatskin clothes.
“Not good,” gritted Jann.
“Ahh, friends of giants, be you?” the giantess cackled. She beckoned to them. “Come in, it’s much warmer inside! Horrible cold day, innit?”
She smacked her lips. It was clear to everyone she wasn’t smacking them due to the cold.
Alarmingly, Arya kept walking, as calmly as if she were strolling into a palace, with Marcher following right behind. The wolf’s tail, however, was tucked between his hind legs and he looked distinctly uncomfortable.
“Yes, very bracing winds today,” said the bard. “I am James,” (as usual pronouncing it Hhhha-més) “a minstrel and teller of tales travelling across the land. These are my friends and companions on the road. And you must be Scath the Giantess?”
“Aye, Scath Mor, that’s me name. You’ve heard of me?”
“Scath Mor?!” said Rhugar, bushy eyebrows raised in alarm.
“As in, ‘Scath Mor, who just happens to be related to Bolg Mor’?” said Jann, goggling.
Scath Mor grinned, revealing huge gaps between her few (but horrifyingly large and sharp) remaining teeth “You know of me grandson too? Have you seen him lately?” She frowned. “Never comes to visit, that boy. Lazy sod,” she snarled, making the family resemblance unmistakable.
Jann’s shoulders sagged. “This is so not good.”
“The island of the Jotunheims – it’s not that far away, is it?” murmured Rhugar. “Could we persuade a giantess to swim from there to Moray?”
Arya and Marcher stood somewhat inside the hut behind Scath Mor. Giant goat hide cushions stuffed with straw, giant goat hide blankets piled in the corner for a bed, giant goat hides hanging along the rude stone walls. She wouldn’t have had to guess at what was cooking in the pot hanging over the fire pit even if giant goat bones had not been sticking out over the rim.
“Come in, have a tea,” the giantess beckoned again. “Don’t be so rude, all me children are much more polite.”
Apparently the desire for tea ran deep in the Mor family. The adventurers went in and perched cautiously on the cushions while Scath Mor busied herself with a teapot. Eventually she poured the scalding liquid into the smallest vessels she could find for her guests.
“We’re seeking a companion for our friend, Bolg Mor,” said Arya, accepting a crude clay cup and covering up her trepidation at the sight and taste of what was within. It certainly was hot, and it certainly was drinkable because the giantess slurped it down loudly and happily enough. But it certainly wasn’t tea.
“What, he’s finally looking to settle down? But there aren’t too many giants up here nowadays. Most of me kin moved away to the south. The few giants left are a bit further west, allied with the pirates.”
SNAP! Everyone started, then stared at Jann, who had broken the handle off the giant-sized mortar he was using as a teacup.
“Sorry,” he muttered, shamefaced. “Don’t like pirates.”
Scath didn’t seem to mind the broken crockery. “But as to me dear little Bolg, I haven’t been keeping track of him, me kin don’t visit that often. What sort of a girl is he looking for?”
James spread his hands and used them to outline a lush female figure. “A lusty giantess … a young giantess … and we thought we’d seek your help as an ... experienced giantess –”
“Oh Earth Mother,” groaned Arya, closing her eyes. “Is that what men call diplomatic?”
“—to find him a refined giantess, from a good giant family,” James rhapsodized. “Surely you wouldn’t want to deny him the joys of married life, which you yourself enjoyed for so long?”
That seemed to make Scath Mor think. She swished tea around in her mouth, swallowed it, smacked her lips for a moment, and then spoke abruptly. “Can you take me to that boy? He needs me advice and right quick too.”
James paused barely a second. “Surely, Scath Mor! Let’s leave now!”
The giantess leapt up. “Ha! Let me pack me things! Hasn’t been nice up here without the mister being around anymore, no siree! Nothing but goats! Time to see me family again!”
The others looked rather sourly at James as old Scath scampered about her hut, throwing various odds and ends into a goatskin bag. He shrugged at them.
“Well, what was I to say to that?” he whispered to them. “Poor thing, living up here all alone, who hasn’t seen her grandson for years –“
“Maybe there’s a reason for that!” said Jann.
“ – and it certainly took her mind off the idea of eating us,” continued James, never nonplussed for long.
“Eating what?” asked Scath Mor, turning towards them. She held the bag in one hand and a walking stick the size of a ceiling beam in the other. Either one of them would make formidable weapons.
“We wanted to say, ‘Thank you for eating with us later’,” said Arya rapidly. “We can offer you something other than goat for a change.”
“Mmmmmm …!” She looked appraisingly at the wolf. Marcher whined.
***
The adventurers and the giantess got as far as the meadow valley before sundown (the giant goats scattered for the hills, bleating in alarm as the saw the giantess approaching) and camped near the same spot, this time risking a fire.
“Goblin play time,” said Rhugar. “They’ll see that for sure.”
“Yes, but I think we’re more than a match for anything short of a horde,” said Jann, polishing his sword. “Especially with our large friend here.”
Deidre shivered at that. She had been following well behind the group the entire day and staying out of the giantess’ sight, but was now close to the fire with the others. “I never thought I’d feel safer having a giant along.”
“Oh, a halfling,” said Scath Mor, seeing Deidre for the first time. “I love halflings, they’re so sweet.” She grinned at Deidre, making it obvious what she meant by “sweet”.
Jann looked at Deidre. “Goblins or giants. Take your pick.”
Deidre smiled weakly. “First watch, please?” and vanished into the darkness.
But it was during the second watch, barely an hour before dawn, when the goblins struck. Arya managed to call out a warning as a dozen goblin spears fell out of the sky and a dozen shrieking goblins charged their camp. The elf was struck by two spears and could only fight weakly, but Marcher made light of his own spear wound and fell howling upon the throats of those who threatened his mistress.
Jann and Rhugar were also lightly wounded but immediately gave battle, striking down goblins right and left. Deidre took cover and shot several more goblins as James’s singing inspired them all to greater effort. Despite the carnage the goblins were clearly not prepared to back down and kept up their attacks.
Everyone was startled by a humming whoosh as Scath Mor swung her tree-sized walking stick with her right arm. There was a loud, wet crunch as the goblin she struck with it went flying off in a huge arc into the night.
The giantess grimaced, holding her left hand to her back. “Oh, me rheumatism!” But she continued holding her stick aloft, hobbling forward towards the suddenly thoroughly dismayed goblins. Apparently they had also heard the song about Scath's bowling.
“My uncle will never believe this!” shouted Rhugar as he crushed another goblin head to fragments. “I’m fighting goblins together with a giant!”
The goblins didn’t want to believe it either. Between the sight of the giantess and the sight of their dead compatriots, they’d had enough. The survivors ran away, screaming in terror.
“Ahh, run away, you little beggars!” hollered the giantess after them. “Wonderful! Haven’t done that in years. Not since that time bowling with their runty little heads.”
“I will write another song about you, about this battle,“ James beamed.
And then the adventurers watched in mingled amazement and disgust as Scath Mor picked up one of the dead goblins, twisted off its head, and started drinking the blood out of the neck.
“’Something other than goat’ you said, young missee elf, and you were right,” she said, wiping her smacking lips off on her sleeve. She pulled an arm off the goblin and started chewing on it the same way a human would eat a chicken wing.
“No accounting for taste,” said Arya, a bit pale.
***
“THIS – is my BRIDE?!”
The group had made it back to Bolg Mor’s cave the next day, collecting their cook, horses and wagon along the way. Although, standing there beside Scath Mor, who was rocking back and forth on her heels in front of her stunned grandson, they were beginning to think this hadn’t been the best idea they’d ever had.
“THIS. IS. MY. BRIIIDE?!!”
Bolg’s voice thundered in the close confines of the ravine. His face was a battlefield of emotions. Astonishment, disappointment, anger, and more than a soupcon of anxiety were dueling for dominance.
“Of course not, O mighty Mor,” soothed James. “Do you not recognize your grandmother? It’s been so long since you’ve seen each other –“
“OF COURSE I RECOGNIZE HER YOU DOLT!” The giant’s eyes bulged alarmingly. “Maybe there’s a REASON I haven’t seen her for so long! Did you consider THAT?!”
“I had, actually,” said Jann. James frowned at him.
“Don’t just stand there chatting, Bolg,” interrupted Scath. “Remember your manners! Me standing her with me rheumatism. Are you going to invite me in? These friends of yours have been going on about the wonderful tea you make.”
The giant shook himself, then looked at Scath as if seeing her for the first time.
“And they also say you’re looking for a young thing to marry?”
Bolg’s mouth fell open at that. “I – I – I – “
Scath looked at him sadly. “You should’ve come to see me sooner, “ she said. “Me grandson looking for a mate, and not asking his own flesh-and-blood for advice? Me and your gramps, we used to know so many cousins in the south who would be fine matches!”
She poked him with her walking stick. “And shut your mouth before the farnoth flies get in there, it’s very rude! No decent giantess will take a second look at you if you keep on doing that”
The giant’s mouth snapped shut. For a long moment he stared at Scath, then blinked.
“Certainly, Grandmother,” Bolg Mor said, suddenly all politeness. “How good of you to come see me. I have some lovely tea from the southern lands. Would you be so kind as to join me?”
As she hobbled past her grandson the rest of the party started to follow.
“STOP.” They stopped abruptly as Bolg whirled about, astonishingly smoothly for someone his size, and held out a massive hand.
“My marriage prospects, or the tattered remnants of them, are a family matter, as you have so conveniently reminded me,” he rumbled ominously. “You – lot – will have to wait out here while I greet my dear, dear grandmother. I’ll come out later and speak to you.”
They stood there uneasily as the giants went into the cave.
“You can come out now, Deidre,” said Rhugar.
The halfling popped up from behind a boulder. “Are we actually going to stay here? We need the head start!”
Jann scratched a spot on his head under the helm. “I’m too tired to run right now and he can probably outrun us. Let’s pitch camp and rest up for now. We can run, or fight, later if we have to.”
It was much, much later before Bolg Mor returned with a bucket of his own tea. They sat around the fire as they had several nights previously, Dulus once again serving tasty morsels to everyone’s satisfaction.
The giant had grown much calmer. “Grandmother is resting comfortably in the guest cave. She understands I couldn’t contact her while the magician had ensorcelled me. I’ve left just when I broke the spell purposely vague, so as not to antagonize her. And, surprisingly, she is quite taken with all of you, especially since your fight with the goblins. Haven’t seen her that cheerful in ages.”
“Living with goats high in the mountains was probably not always comfortable,” said Arya as she regally sipped her tea.
“And killing goblins always cheers us up,” chortled Rhugar.
“Well, I believe you have the best of intentions, if not the best strategy,” continued the giant, and he set them all at ease with a grin. “I am indeed surprised by you.”
And then his grin turned more threatening.
“Now, surprise me again. When did you say you were heading south to search for a giantess?”
Next Time: In the Footsteps of Giants ...?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
A Pitched Battle with Frost Giants
After the unpleasant exchange between Sir Robert and Sir William, the party decides to follow Kiruk's advice and climb to the top of the crevasse. The party begins to climb the steep and narrow ramp that is cut into the ice. The path is slippery and Deadana nearly slides off the edge when she falls. Halfway to the top of the crevasse, the party watch as a troop of ogres come around the corner of the path towards them. The ogres must first walk along the path through a hairpin turn before they can reach the party. Before their smiles of anticipation can leave their faces, Philia calls down a flamestrike, engulfing the first group of ogres in flames. A ogre turned around only to be flung from the narrow path and to his death by ogres eager to engage the adventurers. The ogres cannot make any progress. The adventurers either kill them with spells and missles or they slip from the ice now slick and half-melted. Eight ogres die before the remaining ogres run for their lives. Sir William tries to fly after the ogres, only to be flung by the wind against the cliff wall.
The party waits for the path to refreeze, before they continue to the top of the crevasse. At the top, Deadana almost flies from the ledge again, but Thorir catches her with a Web spell. The party walks on the wider ledge along the side of the crevasse and arrive at the point where they first entered the realm of the frost giants. They decide that they will not catch the remaining ogres and decide to enter the first cave. As they enter the ice cave the stink alerts them to the fact that they are not alone. Soon they come face to face with 7 Yeti. Sir William tries to start a dialog, but Thorgrim's comments anger their leader, a large yeti with a dimly glowing sword. Their fearsome stares freeze Thorgrim in place. Weapons are drawn and the humanoids attack the party. Philia summons a fire elemental. The magic sword of the yeti extinguishes it in a cloud of smoke. The yetis are no match for the party. One after the other, the party kills the wooly creatures. As a prize, they discover that the sword is a frost brand, a powerful magical weapon.
Weary, the party rests for the night. They are disturbed twice, once a pack of winter wolves attacks the party. Later, before dawn, a troop of 8 ogres discover them. Both encounters disturb their sleep, but do not pose a real threat. In the morning they proceed to the next cave in the wall of the crevasse. Sir William and Thorgrim walk down the tunnel and enter a small cavern. The other party members watch as snow leopards spring on their backs from above. Try as they might, the leopards cannot harm Sir William. Soon, Thorgrim is adding snow leopard pelts to the raw winter wolf pelts he has already gathered.
The next cave is filled with warm air and fog. The fog makes the ice cave extremely slippery. Other than fog, the party finds nothing other than a narrow crack through which warm air rises from deep beneath the glacier.
Sir William leads the way in the next ice cave. He casts a light spell on his shield when he reaches a small ante room where two tunnels lead on. The adventurers hear a noise to their right. Three pairs of giant eyes reflect the light and three huges blocks of ice come flying out of the dark. The frost giants bellow as they reach for more boulders. Four more frost giants engage the party from the left tunnel. Deadana and Sir William battle the giants on the left, while Thorgrim and Lars battle the giants on the right. Thorir and Philia call down magical fire on the monsters, while Cora shoots bolts from the shadows. The giants hit hard, but weakened by the spells of the adventurers, they begin to fall one by one. Lars and Philia heal Thorgrim, Sir William, and Deadana as they their wounds begin to weigh on them. Sir William speaks with relief when just two giants are left, that it looks like that they will survive this battle. As he says, this six more giants crowd through the left tunnel, while four more giants appear in the right tunnel. Deadana and Sir William hunker down and block the tunnel. Lars and Thorgrim develop a rhythm as first one then the other steps forward to attack and the other takes the blow. Thorir is running out of spells. He collapses part of the left tunnel as there is enough rock in the roof to turn it into mud. Three of the giants must slog through the mud as Philia summons fire mephits to harrass them. One giant knocks Sir William to the ground and attacks Philia. Philia is knocked hard, but between them, they kill the giant and get William to his feet before more giants can get at the spell casters. The fighters are beginning to tire. Deadana must pull back before she collapses completely, bleeding from a dozen wounds. Lars uses his healing powers to fortify Thorgrim as the giant blows hammer him to the floor. The need to survive keeps the warriors fighting and killing the giants one-by-one. The last giant in the right tunnel knocks Thorgrim senseless. He lands stretched out and bleeding. Lars and Cora take down the last giant, while Sir William and the others finish the last of their foes. The party can barely believe that they are alive.
The party waits for the path to refreeze, before they continue to the top of the crevasse. At the top, Deadana almost flies from the ledge again, but Thorir catches her with a Web spell. The party walks on the wider ledge along the side of the crevasse and arrive at the point where they first entered the realm of the frost giants. They decide that they will not catch the remaining ogres and decide to enter the first cave. As they enter the ice cave the stink alerts them to the fact that they are not alone. Soon they come face to face with 7 Yeti. Sir William tries to start a dialog, but Thorgrim's comments anger their leader, a large yeti with a dimly glowing sword. Their fearsome stares freeze Thorgrim in place. Weapons are drawn and the humanoids attack the party. Philia summons a fire elemental. The magic sword of the yeti extinguishes it in a cloud of smoke. The yetis are no match for the party. One after the other, the party kills the wooly creatures. As a prize, they discover that the sword is a frost brand, a powerful magical weapon.
Weary, the party rests for the night. They are disturbed twice, once a pack of winter wolves attacks the party. Later, before dawn, a troop of 8 ogres discover them. Both encounters disturb their sleep, but do not pose a real threat. In the morning they proceed to the next cave in the wall of the crevasse. Sir William and Thorgrim walk down the tunnel and enter a small cavern. The other party members watch as snow leopards spring on their backs from above. Try as they might, the leopards cannot harm Sir William. Soon, Thorgrim is adding snow leopard pelts to the raw winter wolf pelts he has already gathered.
The next cave is filled with warm air and fog. The fog makes the ice cave extremely slippery. Other than fog, the party finds nothing other than a narrow crack through which warm air rises from deep beneath the glacier.
Sir William leads the way in the next ice cave. He casts a light spell on his shield when he reaches a small ante room where two tunnels lead on. The adventurers hear a noise to their right. Three pairs of giant eyes reflect the light and three huges blocks of ice come flying out of the dark. The frost giants bellow as they reach for more boulders. Four more frost giants engage the party from the left tunnel. Deadana and Sir William battle the giants on the left, while Thorgrim and Lars battle the giants on the right. Thorir and Philia call down magical fire on the monsters, while Cora shoots bolts from the shadows. The giants hit hard, but weakened by the spells of the adventurers, they begin to fall one by one. Lars and Philia heal Thorgrim, Sir William, and Deadana as they their wounds begin to weigh on them. Sir William speaks with relief when just two giants are left, that it looks like that they will survive this battle. As he says, this six more giants crowd through the left tunnel, while four more giants appear in the right tunnel. Deadana and Sir William hunker down and block the tunnel. Lars and Thorgrim develop a rhythm as first one then the other steps forward to attack and the other takes the blow. Thorir is running out of spells. He collapses part of the left tunnel as there is enough rock in the roof to turn it into mud. Three of the giants must slog through the mud as Philia summons fire mephits to harrass them. One giant knocks Sir William to the ground and attacks Philia. Philia is knocked hard, but between them, they kill the giant and get William to his feet before more giants can get at the spell casters. The fighters are beginning to tire. Deadana must pull back before she collapses completely, bleeding from a dozen wounds. Lars uses his healing powers to fortify Thorgrim as the giant blows hammer him to the floor. The need to survive keeps the warriors fighting and killing the giants one-by-one. The last giant in the right tunnel knocks Thorgrim senseless. He lands stretched out and bleeding. Lars and Cora take down the last giant, while Sir William and the others finish the last of their foes. The party can barely believe that they are alive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
