Junar waves you forward and takes you through the large cave subsystem.  He explains: "Before giants come and take caves from gnomes, we have more...how do you say?...tunnels.  They collapse many.  Giants afraid of small things, they say.  But some they keep.  Two air tunnels remain.  Connect this higher level with lower level where giants now stay.  You see."

He takes you to a 5 foot round tunnel dug straight into the ground and leading down.  The ladder there is ancient and rusty as it leads down into darkness.



He begins climbing down, and you follow.  It leads at least a 100 feet down and then opens onto a small ledge carved out of the rock.  Junar waves at you to keep still and quiet.

He whispers as he points around.

What you find is that the giants have relocated to the lower level.  Junar points to the southwest area and tells you that is the main tunnel the giants now use to go back up and patrol the upper level.  Directly below you, a number of giants are milling around.  They appear to be the warriors, and there are at least 50 of them.  They are not paying much attention but would be dangerous foes.  The ledge itself is about 50 feet off the ground.

Looking out to the east/southeast, you see a number of tents and structures erected to serve the daily life of the giants, and beyond them you see an underground lake with a slowly flowing tide to the northeast.  Around the tents and structures are a number of women and children giants, cooking and playing near the water's shore.

"I take you to other ladder," Junar says, and he climbs back up.  You wander around the caves to the northern end, and Junar takes you down another similarly worn ladder.

This time, when you look out, you see you are closer to the shore of the lake, slightly upstream.  There are three giantish boats that appear like giant canoes.  They are sitting on the shore, and 5 giants are using tools and rocks to repair another of the canoes not far below you.  There is a narrow walkway along the rocks, which you could use to climb down over to the northeastern part of the cavern near the shore, but it would require some skill not to fall.  Or you could lower yourself from where you are at using a rope, but it would put you slightly farther from shore and closer to the 5 giants, though you could hide behind the large boulder (see map below).

About 300 feet past the shore, you see a small island with a stone building erected there.  A number of giants are posted as guards atop the ramparts and others are milling around.  There are four canoe-like boats on the western shore of the island.

One thing catches your eye on the island.  There is a mast-like pole erected there, and tied to it is one of the dark elves -- a drow like the one who came to you and warned you to go back to Tienna and adjust the Time Ark.  This Drow is wounded, and his head is bowed, obviously a prisoner of the giants.  Two giants constantly guard the Drow.

Junar says, "That island where they take prisoners for play and for eating.  Maybe more prisoners inside building.  That where I escape from.  Giants take it from gnoes, knock down walls and use as their own."


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:54, Fri 17 Jan 2014.

Hatchman whispers to the others, "I am a knight of honor, and my Code tells me we need to rescue any prisoners on that island.  They may even have information about where to go when we get out of here.  Junar, where does that lake river flow?  Does it go to the outside?"

Borimer glances about the area with a furrowed brow...

how far are the nearest giants from the island? borimer is trying to decide whether fighting on the island will alert others off-island.

A little more than 300 feet (1 football field).  So fighting and noise is likely to arouse attention unless it can be done behind the very large boulder, which is about 20 feet tall and 100 feet long, plus tapered edges.

Each square of the map is about 50 feet to a side.

"Please wait" Shapfren spoke "Does your code demand you putting others in danger?  you and Borimer, and a few of the others may be true warriors, but not all of us are, we are refugees, we fled to escape our dying world and to keep the memories of it alive. I admire your courage, but I'm not that brave, I'm tired, scared, and just keeping up with you is taxing. Facing danger I could do, going straight into it, I just can't I'm already over my own limits here, and I think the others aren't too far from reaching their own."

"I agree with Hatchman that we need to get to that island and free those prisoners.  Who knows who or what information we might find and I would not be able to sit with myself by turning my back on the plight of others.   But how?  I am out of fly spells.  I do have one dimension door so I could get there, I unfortunately can only cast that spell on myself, but I would be pummeled if I tried to fight two giants at once."

"I do have a couple of invisibility spells left so two people could try to steal a boat, but I'm sure the other five giants would notice a boat floating away.  And that's assuming two people could pilot a boat designed for Giants which I doubt highly."

Tahldar scratches his chin and thinks.  "Firstly I will need to be at full strength for his plan.  We split up into two groups.  An attack group on the island and a diversion group.  Somehow the diversion group creates a diversion that will draw the Giants attention away to the south and west.  Then I cast invisibility on Borimer, Lukas, Kahan and Hatchman.  I then cast fly on Borimer and Hatchman.  Borimer then carries Kahan, or at least Kahan rides on his back, and Hatchman carries Lukas over to the island.  Perhaps Lukas and Hatchman attack the two guards on the drow and Borimer and Kahan attack the other guards along the wall.  Once the fight starts I will dimension door over to the island to help.  As this goes on the diversion group continues to divert the attention of the giants."

"Of course this plan is risky and I'm not married to it.  Too I think the division of labor is debatable.  I have to be in the attack group and I think Borimer and Kahan need to in this group as well but the rest I'm unsure of.  Another problem is I'll have to recover for at least a day to get my spells back and the Giants are going to be looking all over for us once the patrol doesn't return.  Which will be soon.  However this actually might help thin their numbers at the camp so we should time any attack to be when they go out searching for us."

"Does anyone else have any other ideas?"

"Our whole group was barely able to take down three giants, how are we supposed to stand any sort of a chance if we split up? I agree that every attempt should be made to rescue those prisoners, but we need to be smart about it. We need to use their size against them; if we can find an area to lure them to where only one giant can get through at a time, we can bottleneck them and kill them without much danger to ourselves. Junar, do you know any passages around here that we could use for such a task?" the priest asks.

Shapfren was caught in thought "Is it necessary to fight them? I didn't intend to sound selfish before, but since it is obvious you won't listen to me on leaving it alone, at least lets focus on doing it right." she paused for breath.
"We don't have unlimited time for this, and killing the giants is not only suicidal, it would be wrong too, by killing these two giants we will enrage the rest to take retaliaton on the towns the captives come from, only if we killed all the giants they would be completely safe, and even if we had the strength to do that, it would have to be all of the giants, including the children, and that is too much, they have the right to live too" she then made a pause trying not to get too sidelined
"I have a four illussions left, two invisibilities, a sound phantasm and a visual one, I could try to cast the sound illusion to distract the two giants long enough for Thaldar and other of us to go and release the chained prisoner, then Thaldar could make him invisible and the three then rejoin with us, meanwhile I could use the last one tho project an illusion of the prisoner still there, then escaping and fleeing the guards, at that point when they are distracted chasing the phantasm we could release the rest of them"

"We could always use some kind of deception to distract the giants and while they are dealing with the distraction we could free the prisoners."

Borimer keeps vigil while the others formulate a plan, his eyes darting around the area and his ears alert.

Lukas peered out and started counting the boats, "How about this for a diversion, what if we caught all of the boats on fire, causing enough damage to make them unusable, except for one that we could use get away from the island with any prisoners. Then we would only need to come up with a way to deal with the giants on the island? 
This message was last edited by the player at 18:39, Mon 20 Jan 2014.

I can fire at them with my bow from up on the ledge as part of a distraction as well, but I think it's suicide to attack them at all.  The only chance we would have of getting them out of their is by trickery or stealth.  These bold plans will get us all killed, judging by how things went last time.

"I agree, we should be leaving this place, not launching a rescue mission,"  Borimer shrugs *edit* with two shoulders and one arm.  "I will go where the group decides."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:38, Tue 21 Jan 2014.

Considering his options, Tahldar ask Junar "Is there a way around these Giants?  How do we leave this cave?  Is the way out through them?"

Junar says, "I know no passage around, but on far side of island is footpath.  It take you to waterfall.  Bridge cross to next cliff there.  Bridge is small--wood and rope.  It used by gnomes many years back.  Too weak for giants to use.  You get across bridge, giants cannot follow.  You save prisoners, their people be very grateful.  Easy job for wielder of Godslayer and killer of giants."

He looks at Borimer as though Borimer has just walked out of a legendary scroll.  "Xren Codex speak of one armed warrior.  Speak of how he get his arm back too."

Borimer stifles a groan until hearing word of a new limb, "Does this Xren Codex speak of how to free prisoners in the dark, too?" He murmurs, preparing for the upcoming inevitability as he knows the paladin hears the words of the gnome as well.

Junar stares blankly at Borimer, confused.  "The Xren Codex exist since ancient time.  It contain prophecy, not instructions."

"If we must do this, then we will at least use a bit of discretion if we are to survive," the ranger puts in understanding the character of party that saved him.

Hatchman says, "I do not sneak up on opponents, but I am not opposed to sneaking by them to save more lives.  If we can distract them to go to the south, maybe we can swim across to the island."

Is there a current, or could we swim across?

"So we must get to that island to leave.  If we have to we might as well try to save the prisoners since we'll have to fight the Giants there anyway.  But to do this every spellcaster must be fully rested and ready to go.  I see no other way."

Speaking to Junar he says "Is there no where save from the Giants we could use to rest?"

Shae says, "If we are all resting, we could watch them for a day and see their habits.  We could get a better sense of the changing of the guard or other opportunities."

"Could be also a chance to allow Thaldar to copy some of my spells, I don't know but that thunder thing looks very unpredictable and dangerous"

"I can keep watch while everyone rests,"  Borimer says, relying upon his native endurance to suffice in the place of true sleep for the time being.

Junar says, "Time we have little.  When patrol return not from caves, alarm will be raised.  When bodies found, all will be on alert."

borimer can't row a boat, but can otherwise be wherever needed. the plan sounds good to me.

Shae says, "I am a strong swimmer and can change shapes.  I can go out first and cause a distraction, and then transform and fly away before being caught.  In the meantime, you can make your way to the island like Tahldar suggested.  I will try to give you enough time to make it there unseen."

"That sounds good Shae, just be careful to not get too close to any Ginat." Tahldar says in reply to her suggestion to be the source of their need distraction.

"Shapfren, could you use your illusions to disguise some of us as Giants?  If you can then everyone besides Shae could advance on the island while she distracts them."

"I can only project the illussion of a Giant, disguising someone is beyond me, but invisibility is a possibility, my only worry is that I won't have much energy left if we get into a fight"

As you discuss your plans, the giants by the canoes walk over in your direction.  You are hiding on the ledge above, and you still your voices.  They talk while they work, gathering some stones and hauling twine around.

Two of them begin to talk in their Giantish tongue.  [Language unknown: "Are son ha un ame ivpr sonearder?" "A, N ainpe riecpl fover mechtomias."  "Il nd whe meut."  "Iou omcharil."  "Wack verthorat m o lo p ti seenth?"  "Lili it chetle whletr, neulat."]

They laugh and then haul the twine back out to the canoes.  Their stench doesn't follow them away quickly enough.

They pile the long twine and an armful of stones into one of the canoes and then all three of them begin walking south on the shoreline around the side of the cave wall and out of sight.

"What did they say?" Borimer whispers, eager to fight but willing to wait for better odds.

As you wait, the remaining two giants get on an empty canoe and begin paddling across to the island.

The area below you is now clear, and two canoes remain, one with the stones and twine.

OOC: To clarify, the building in the island across the way does not have all its walls knocked down.  What Junar was telling you was that the giants knocked down interior walls of the building to make it large enough for them to move around.

"Can you translate what they just said?"

"Junar, can you tell us what they said?"

Since Tahldar is the most literate, he tells you what they said:

Giant 1: "Will you be at the game tonight?"
Giant 2: "No, I must guard the younglings."
Giant 1: "The drow will die."
Giant 2: "Most certainly."
Giant 1: "Any others to be put in the arena?"
Giant 2: "Only as treppan fodder, surely."

"We should wait for the night, attack while they are away at their games with the drow."

Junar says, "By night, dead giants be found.  Everything change then."  He looks wistfully out at the island.  "Also," he says, "mayhap gnomes be captive there yet.  Giants slaughter and eat them in cruel games."

"If we are going to do something, waiting until the games is too late."

"We need to attack now.  I can cast one fly, which I will on Borimer.  Shae can use her shapeshift to fly to the island.  I will use my dimension door to get there.  The rest can use a boat.  And then finally we do our best to time our attack at the same time.  Me, Shae and Borimer on any that are atop the walls, while the rest deal with the two defending the drow." Tahldar says to the group.

"And I will cast an invisibility on Borimer so he can at least surprise them for his initial attack.  Once I make it over to the wall I will use approximately four magic missiles, and once this is exhausted I will resort to my dagger.  I wish I could do more but this is all I have at my disposal."

"Sounds good to me," Borimer agrees, loosening Chianta in it's sheath and preparing to fly.

Thinking a bit more he adds "Shapfren, might you cast an invisibiliy on Shae?  This way our attack atop the walls will be completely by surprise."

You put your plan into motion.

Borimer flies over, Tahldar uses dimension door, and Shae changes into a bird and flies over.  The others use the canoe (with the twine and rocks) and head over.

Roll 1: Observation -- failed.
Roll 2: Navigation -- succeeded.

The current is a little stronger than expected, with an undertow that pulls the large canoe, but your group makes it safely to the island.

Unfortunately, you notice that the giants across the way see the canoe going across and begin pointing.  At first, they do not realize what is going on, but then they start to group together to give chase.

You are now all safely to the island.  Tahldar, meanwhile, has cast invisibility on Borimer.  There are stairs leading up to the top of the building on the island.  The building itself is nearly 40 feet tall -- 4 stories for the gnomes, but knocked down to 2 stories for the giants.

Although no one on the island saw the approach, it is only a matter of time before giants round the corner of the building or look over the ramparts above.

(FYI, if there are any other details for the island assault/escape, let me know.  I plan on trying to get a rough map to you.  Borimer, Shae and Tahldar can still attack the two giants on top before the others get all the way to the island if desired, though I was not sure of the timing you wanted.)

OOC: Sorry, I was typing and missed Tahldar's last post. Probably it won't change anything since Shae is a bird, and there are a few other birds flying around every now and again, coming in from downstream.

Here is a map.  The building is the main compound here.  The canoes skirt to the south side to avoid the eyes of the less than diligent giants who guard the compound.  It appears there are six giants on the outside of the compound.  Two guard the west area, two guard the north, and two are up on top guarding the drow (as shown below with the red circles).

There are also two canoes on the northwest side of the island, plus the one you just landed on the south side.

You notice from the south that there is also a previously unseen arena of some sort on the eastern side of the island.

From here, there are stairs leading up to the roof area, where the drow is tied to a mast as shown below.  The black area is the entire roof area, which is flat and surrounded by a rampart wall.  Stairs in the northeastern side of the roof lead down into the building itself.

Borimer diligently follows his part of the plan and flies to the west side of the prison  before launching an assault upon the hapless giants...

no giants on the walls, so attacking others

In preparation of the battle to come Tahldar casts mirror image.  Instantly six copies of the diminutive elf appear around him.

Turning to Junar he says in his native tongue, [Language unknown: "Os not re uswi i fiiv po unai u po of niev Inofwa."]

OOC:  Rolled a total of six images for mirror image.

Edit:  I will leave the boat and move to a little bit into the island.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:39, Wed 29 Jan 2014.

To be clear, Borimer, are you attacking the two giants on the roof who guard the drow or the two at ground level outside the building on the west?  The giants guard in groups of two, but obviously the sounds of a battle would attract at least the other 4 lingering around the outside.

The boat and arriving PCs are on the south side.

Hatchman jumps from the boat and sneaks up the stairs to sneakily look on the roof and see what he can use as cover, as makeshift weapons, or as anything else useful in this caper to free the drow.  "We should do this as quietly as possible," he says, "but it should be a fair fight, not backstabbing."

there were none on the walls, so Borimer attacks the ones on the west side, ground...?

OOC:  I see 2 giants to the west, 2 giants north of the building, and 2 giants atop the building with the drow.  I would think Borimer and Shae go on top of the building.  Tahldar will catch up via the stairs most likely.

That was what I thought as well.  (Note that it is a 40 foot drop, so giants will suffer some injury if they fall over the parapats -- as will you.  They are close enough to the wall that they could possibly be pushed off with a successful strength roll vs. their strength roll, though they would likely land on or near the northen giants.)

ok good :)

Borimer diligently follows his part of the plan and flies to the roof of the prison  before launching an assault upon the giants guarding the hapless drow...

After borimer gets his first surprise attack, Hatchman will charge the other giant, trying to knock it over the side of the wall.

Kahan grabs a rock and casts Silence 15' radius on it, carrying it with him as they all move up the stairs.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Thu 30 Jan 2014.

So now everyone must remember not to talk to each other if they are within the radius.  If you want to talk, both must leave the radius, and then use Private Lines to talk.

Shae will fly in front of the giants and in their faces to distract them as the rest of the party gets a surprise attack.  She will not let them spear her, however, flying quickly away if in danger.

Shapfren will follow the people upstairs, with hope not to get herself into too much trouble, she advances sword in hand and a little scared, in her mind the Drow is as dangerous as the giants guarding it.

Donovan goes up the stairs as well, bow at the ready.

Giant Battle
ROUND 1
(Remember that you cannot speak due to the silence spell.)

You rush forward to attack while the two giants on the roof are not looking.  The invisible Borimer makes two incredible hits with his sword.  (2 critical hits!)  The giant falls as gaping wounds erupt from his back.

The second giant is turning around as the rest of you attack.

Shae begins flying in the giant's face, distracting him.  As the party attacks, the giant is hit by one of Donovan's arrows.  (6 hp dmg.)  The other arrow flies harmlessly past the giant, which is about the time you realize that shooting arrows over the walls will likely attract attention of the giants below.

Hatchman charges the giant with his body and sword.  The giant is hit but is not thrown off balance.  The sword, however, hits it in the leg.  (8 hp dmg.)

The other attacks miss the giant.

Tahldar has six copies of himself as his mirror image takes shape around you.  Junar is back at the boat per Tahldar's command.

As the giant turns to attack you, it misses spectacularly, dropping its spear to the ground.  (Critical miss, weapon dropped.)

The giant is now reaching down for its spear and loses its attack next round.  It is also calling out in surprise and anger, not realizing that its voice is drowned by a silence spell.  It is apparently not one of the brighter giants in the clan.

OOC: By now, Shae's conjured ape has vanished.

Borimer rushes the second giant, taking three quick slashes at his belly...

Seeing the others taking care of the giant, Shae lands near the drow, draws her knife and cuts him loose.  She will try to talk to see if she is out of the zone of silence and tell her they are there to help him.

Kahan tries to grab the spear before the giant can get it, knowing he won't be able to do mucg other that irritate him slightly. It might buy some time, though...

Hatchman attacks again with his sword, this time taking careful aim to try to stab him in the throat as he leans down for the spear.

The diminutive Tahldar rushes in to stick the Giant with his dagger.

OOC:  Rolled a 19 to hit (total 21 for AC -3).  Whopping damage of 3.  :)

ROUND 2
Borimer attacks, swinging three times and hitting twice.  One of the hits opens a gaping hole in the giant's chest.  (1 critical hit, 83 total damage.)

Shae strikes out with her spear but misses.  Hatchman strikes out but misses.  Donovan hits the giant with one of the arrows.  (6 dmg.)  Tahldar hits the giant with his dagger.  (3 dmg.)

Kahan grabs the spear.  Lukas and Leogold are apparently just watching.

The giant is badly wounded.  (Morale check failed.) It attempts to flee by running down the steps into the building in the northeastern corner.  (Attacks of opportunity allowed next round.  Indicate if you will take them.)

Giant 2: 23/123

Dropping the spear, Kahan attempts to swing at the giant with his mace as he runs past.

Borimer finishes off the giant as quickly as possible.

Both Kahan and Borimer hit.  The giant tumbles dead down the stairs and into the interior of the building.

Shae, meanwhile, has run over and cut the Drow loose.

(Assuming you all step out of the zone of silence...)

The drow rubs his wrist.  "Thank you," he says in a deep yet not unpleasant tone.  "My name is Etag Faerl Yorthaeyorn.  Who are you?"  His eyes are piercing and highly intelligent.  He seems slightly distrustful and suspicious, and then he sees Borimer.  "You are the wielder of the Godslayer?"  And he sees Kahan holding his Mace of Disruption.  "And you wield the Deathbane?"  He repeats, this time more in wonder.  "Who are you?"

"We are refugees from our dying world" said Didit a little unsecure and confused, in all of her life she had never met a Drow, and she hoped the fears induced by the tales she's learned from her kin were unfounded "And just to be sure, you really are this nice, right? you aren't going to eat us or anything,  will you?

"Are there other prisoners?  And if so where are they?" Tahldar asks simply of the drow, though with a tangible tone of distrust borne from centuries of racial divide.

Borimer keeps an eye out for any sign that other giants heard the ambush.

Etag looks at the two elves.  "You speak the Ezren Tongue?  Impressive.  I will not harm you.  I am from the Order of the Bwael Bae'qeshel.  We depart from our brethren in many ways.  We seek good through the Ust Belbol -- the first gifts of magic."

He takes a step toward the northeastern staircase leading down, and then stumbles.  He wears nothing more than a loincloth and a tattered undershirt.  "I am weak," he says.

There are marks on his hands and feet, swelling from the bonds that held him.  He also appears dehydrated and emaciated.  His fingers and toes seem dark with pooled blood.

"I fear the Black Curse has beset me.  It saps my strength even now.  We must get to Lathia, the earth berries.  I can use them to cure this disease."

He stumbles, takes another step toward the stairs leading down, and says to Tahldar, "Yes, there are other prisoners on the lower level.  Gnomes, I think.  If I can get to my spellbook, I can get us out of this place.  My things are being held downstairs.  The gnomes may come too."

Just then, Borimer hears someone approaching up the southern stairs.

Here's the map again:

Borimer moves into position to attack anything untoward climbing the stairs.

"Quickly, everyone down the stairs so Etag can get us out of here.  Too, we'll have better odds in a confined space and perhaps better numbers if we can free some prisoners if he can't." Tahldar says to the group as one of his shimmering images grasps Borimer by the lapel of his cloak.

[Language unknown: Ou we olwh di il.] Shapfren spoke a little shaken

Donovan gets ready to follow down the stairs.

The drow looks strangely at Shapfren.  "I do not understand your tongue," he says.  "Ezren suits you just fine.  But I must have water."

You quickly give him some water, which he gulps down.  "Two days without water, at least," he says, water flowing over his cheeks and chin.  "At least twice that without food or subsistance."

Meanwhile, Borimer is ready to attack near the southern stairs.  The figure comes into the shadowy light of the undergroud cave, and you see that it is Junar.  "I wait no more in boat.  Giants come," he says, pointing across the way, and you see that 5 giants are clambering into a boat to head to the island.  They are gesturing toward the building on which you stand.

The two giants guarding the western side have approached the edge of the water and are now in view below.  They are scratching their heads and looking across the water with their backs to you, not realizing that the other giants are trying to get them to go to the roof.

Junar says, "We save my people, no?  The Ash-man help."  By Ash-man, you think he is referring to the sallow skinned drow.

Etag stumbles to the stairs leading down into the building on the northeast corner.  "I may need help," he says, indicating someone may need to take his arm and help him get down.

Borimer starts to move forward and pick the little man up, but remembers his singular arm and grimaces instead. He moves to follow the gnome and protect him from danger.

borimer will take second place in the marching order until the gnome has finished leading

Hatchman will follow the others down the stairs and into the building.

Tahldar cringes at the mere suggestion of the drow's arm being placed around his shoulders.  Though he is aware Etag is not of the type of drow he is used to, it will likely take him time to grow accustomed to this new type of elf.

"Let's go before those Giants reach us." he says as he starts down the stairs.

Having grown up shunned by normal elves like Tahldar and Shapfren, Shae happily offers up an arm to their new companion and helps him down the stairs.  "Borimer, you first," she offers to the strongman.

Kahan looks at his mace after Etag comments on it, already knowing who they were. What sort of place is this, and how does everyone know who they were? "If you are in need of healing, simply speak up. I can cure your physical wounds, all but the poison, anyway." he offers the drow, having likely never heard the terrible stories the other elves had of their darker cousins.

Borimer nods and moves to the forward position.

"Lets move down quickly, I'm completely dry and I don't think we can afford to keep fighting eternally" said Didit while staying in the rear.

You move down the stairs and into the northeast room.  (See map.)

This room is filled with barrels and stored goods like blankets and utensils, all giant sized.  A line across the center of the wall tells you that this now 40 foot tall room was once two 20 foot tall rooms, large by any standards.  Obviously, the giants made some adjustments after they ousted the gnomes.

The supplies themselves appear to be haphazardly thrown into the room, not well organized.  Your assumption is that they were all things salvaged when the giants had to flee the visperillion invasion of their caves.

Etag is going through the southwest door into a large and empty hallway.

As you watch him, you hear the door handle to the north, which leads outside, start to turn.  Someone is about to enter.

Etag motions for you to follow him south into the large corridor.  The rooms are all very dark, having none of the glowing crystals from the caves to light your way.  Only faint light seeps in from some small windows and the staircase.


This message was last edited by the GM at 21:28, Thu 06 Feb 2014.

Borimer moves quickly south following the gnome's dark elf's directions.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Fri 07 Feb 2014.

Hatchman also follows the Drow's directions, not hesitating to wait and see who's at the door.

Donovan also follows quickly and quietly.

Kahan, too, follows, trying to look around for something to slow the giant's pursuit.

Contemplating trying to use his spells to slow the Giant from entering, he realizes he has little that will help in any way.

Tahldar follows Etag as fast as his legs will carry him.

Shae will follow behind the group, trying to knock over barrels or things to block the doorway or floor and slow the giants down, but she does not want to be seen.

Thinking on their situation Tahldar says "Shapfren, how about an illusion to trick the Giants?  Maybe a wall or anything that might buy us a little time?"

"I cannot think of something that could distract them long enough, I don't know enough of Giants to trick them. I listen o suggestions, though my casing is very noisy and they might find me out quickly"

"How about a simple wall hiding the door we are going through?" Tahldar suggests.  It is a simple and well worn ruse, but he thinks it might slow the thick skulled Giants.

Etag quickly leads you through the door to the east.  They are all large doors, having been modified for the giants, but you get it opened and shut behind you just as the giants appear to be entering the northeastern rooms.

"Quickly," Etag says, leading you to the stairs that lead down.  You follow him down, and they go on for 40 or 50 feet underground, finally opening up onto a dungeon.  This dungeon, being underground, is not modified for the giants and they would have to crouch or bend over to move through here.

You are in the northern part of the cells where the stairs lead down.  There are 10 cells, and each appears to hold a gnome.  Most of the gnomes appear fairly weak, but all are in good health.  They wear rags, and Junar quickly tells them you are there to rescue them.

Etag ignores the gnomes and goes to the southeastern door.  He finds it unlocked.  "My things are in here," he says, but when he enters, there are many things in there--in boxes and barrels and wrapped in blankets.  It may take him a few minutes.

Also, there is the problem of the gnomes.  Their prisons are all locked, and you don't have the key.  There are, however, two doors, one leading east and one leading west.

For the moment, you do not hear giants coming down the stairs.  The gnomes are making a ruckus in celebrating and reaching out to touch Junar, but they are not speaking the Common tongue.

"It might make noise but I can break down some of these doors..."

Borimer gets ready to knock down the first cell door...

The jail cells are heavy doors with small barred windows and a slot for putting food in and out.

Borimer bangs against the first door, making a loud reverberating sound, but he fails to get it to open.

"Perhaps a quick search for the keys would be in order?  I'll check this door right here." Tahldar says tries to open the north cell just west of the stairs.  "Perhaps two groups can check the east and west doors?  Somewhere in here has to be a guard station."

OOC:  If I'm not mistaken my six images should still be up.  I cast mirror image at the start of the Giant battle on the island.  The spell lasts for a total of 24 rounds.

Borimer bites back on a curse as he fails to open the door with only one arm, and so instead he takes watch at the east door while the others search for the keys.

The cell just west of the stairs is unlocked and empty.  There is nothing but some stray straw on the ground.

Donovan draws his swords and stands guard near the door they came in.

Tahldar notes the inactivity of others while he pokes around the north most cell and says "Standing guard isn't likely going to help much as we're pressed for time and have to get the Gnomes out.  Peek behind the east and west doors and see if you can find the keys."

Kahan takes Borimer and heads through the eastern door after peeking through to make sure nobody was in there.

Borimer heads east with Kahan to find the keys to these extraordinarily strong cell doors.

"Let's hope those giants haven't caught up yet..."

"Even if they catch up, we'll have the upper hand against them because of their large size in these small rooms." Kahan replies.

The door to the east opens on stone steps going about 15 feet down into a very large cellar area.  The room is about 50 feet by 50 feet with 20 foot high ceilings and holds various cold food related items.  The place was obviously used as a freezer storage area, and it is actually large enough for giants to move around.  In fact, in this case, a giant is wrapped in furs on the ground near the far corner, where there is also a large (read: giant sized) chest stashed in the corner.

With the door opening, he begins to stir.  He is about 40 feet away from you, hugging two daggers (which are larger than 2 handed swords to you) in the fetal position, though he is starting to sit up.

Etag is still looking through the junk in the southeast corner of the prison cell room.

Borimer quickly moves to subdue the giant before it can alert others.

Hatchman watches with shock as Borimer tries to fight a sleeping enemy.  He does not do the same, wishing only to fight an enemy on fair terms as his paladin training requires.  But his sword is ready and he stands nearby to defend himself as he descends the stairs.

Kahan, however, has no qualms about fighting an unaware opponent, especially in these circumstances, so he follows after Borimer and swings with his mace.

Tahldar walks into the main hallway to see how things are going in the east and west rooms, unaware of the commotion going on with Borimer, Kahan and the sleepy Giant.

Shae will go back with Etag and help him search, trying to speed up the process of finding his spellbook before the giants can get down there.

Shae begins helping Etag.  Etag has found an umber robe that he has put on over his emaciated form.  He is quickly looking through bags, baskets and barrels, mostly large ones with a multitude of small gnomish knick-knacks in them.  Occasionally, Etag will put something in a bag next to his feet to save for later.

"We are looking for a book," he tells Shae, as if Shae doesn't know what that is.  "A spellbook."  He doesn't seem to mind the company.  "Some of my things are here.  I'm sure the spellbook must be as well."

Meanwhile, down in the cold cellar, Borimer, Kahan, and Hatchman reach the bottom of the steps.  It is very dark down here, though some of the glowing purple crystals are spread about in lumps for a soft light.

The cellar itself has essentially aisles worth of crates stacked floor to ceiling, with a large area in the center and a cleared out area at the far corner.  It is in the far corner where the giant lays under the giant furs.

The furs begin to move even before Borimer gets close, and then the giant is moving quickly, sweeping aside the furs.  And you see two things that make you stop in surprise.

First, the movement of the furs was not caused by the giant, but what was laying next to the giant under the furs.  Two giant wolves begin snarling as the giant jumps to its feet with the sword-daggers ready.

These are no normal wolves either.  Each is 8-10 feet long, larger than any wolf you have ever seen.  It is a beautiful wolf, with a glistening white fur and eyes seeming to glow silver.  But they seem to be of a foul disposition, and they begin snarling and circling.

Second, the giant is not the same sort of giant you encountered above, though obviously working in cooperation.  Though it has the same muscular, roughly human build, it is 21 feet tall, a good 5 feet taller than those you have encountered thus far, and he must weigh a solid 8000 pounds.  Standing in this large storage celler with 20 foot high ceilings, he still has to crouch somewhat.  Unlike the other giants, he has a snow white skin, and his hair is a light bluish color, with matching eyes.  He does not seem much more intelligent than the others, or any kinder, as he also prepares to do battle.  You are not sure if he was just waiting for you as part of a trap, if your initial opening of the door awakened him and he pretended to sleep, or if he has fast reflexes, but he is not one to be surprised and he is ready for battle.


Frost Giant: 116 hp (AC=0; THACO=7)
Winter Wolf 1: 48 hp (AC=5; THACO=15)
Winter Wolf 2: 48 hp (AC=5; THACO=15)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:42, Wed 12 Feb 2014.

Hatchman launches himself straight at the nearest wolf, sword swinging, while he calls up the stairs, "We've got a problem down here!"

Tahldar heeds Hatchman's call and moves a little closer to get a good view of the combat.  Selecting Hatchman's wolf, he cast's a magic missile spell on the creature.

OOC:  I will assist Hatchman with a magic missile spell w/4 missiles.  Damage = 9pts.  Tahldar will remain in the main area with the cells so as to hopefully not get caught up in combat.  Though if he does he still has 6 mirror images running.

Shae rushes down past Tahldar and down the steps to help.  Since she will probably not get there during the first round of combat, she will have her spear ready and decide what to do on the next round.

Borimer rushes the hulking giant, swinging the ebony blade back and forth.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 04:20, Thu 13 Feb 2014.

"We should probably fall back to the cell area..." Kahan mutters as he begins casting a spell off a scroll from his pack.

"I cast a vote for going into safety" exclaimed Shapfren while moving towards Kahan, if she was close enough to a wolf during that, she would make a quick swing towards it.

ROUND 1
Borimer jumps into the fight, making massive strikes with the Godslayer blade against the giant.  (75 total damage, including one critical (no special).)

Tahldar casts magic missile, hitting the wolf that Hatchman is going after.

Hatchman launches himself at the wolf as well, slicing open its belly.  As its entrails fall over the floor, the wolf collapses.  (Critical hit, natural 20, critical bleeding from abdomen.)

Shae is rushing down the stairs to help.

Shapfren is also moving down the stairs to help, while at the same time telling everyone to move back to safety upstairs.

The giant strikes back at Borimer...missing the massive barbarian with both giant daggers.

The remaining wolf rears back and emits a stream of frost from its lungs that engulfs everything within 10 feet.  (Save allowed for half damage, otherwise 4d6 damage.  Borimer and Shapfren made their saves; all else failed.)

Borimer...is hit with the frost for 9 hp dmg.
Shae...is covered with the biting frost for 17 hp dmg.
Kahan...also is hit for 17 hp dmg.
Hatchman...is right in front of the beast and takes 19 hp dmg.
Shapfren...ducks and takes only 9 hp dmg.

OOC: That's weird.  I just rolled 17 in 4 out of 5 of the 4d6 rolls.  Check the dice roller if you want.

Kahan finishes casting, and the frost giant's furs catch on fire.  (8 hp dmg.)
OOC: If I say "no special" with a critical or don't indicate anything special, that means it didn't do any special kind of damage, like broken limb, bleeding, severing, etc.  Because this is based on a roll that depends on the weapon size versus the size of the opponent, it is more rare to have special damage with a critical hit against a giant sized opponent than a smaller one.

Frost Giant: 33/116 hp (AC=0; THACO=7)
Winter Wolf 1: 0/48 hp (AC=5; THACO=15)
 Winter Wolf 2: 48/48 hp (AC=5; THACO=15)

Seeing as the group seemingly has them on the ropes, Tahldar closes on the remaining wolf to use his dagger.  Thinking it might be wise to save his dwindling supply of available spells.

OOC:  Hit AC 4 on the wolf (hits).  Damage = 4pts.  FYI:  Tahldar still has 6 images going.

Hatchman switches his attention to the remaining wolf, hoping for similar luck as the paladin slashes out to take it down before it can spew more of its vile frost over the party.

Borimer fights to put the giant down for good...

Kahan swings at the wolf, hoping to put it down.

Shae stabs her spear at the wolf, joining the fray after finally getting to the bottom of the stairs.

ROUND 2
The giant swings but misses again.

Borimer puts him down with mighty swathes from his blade.

The wolf strikes out, biting into Hatchman's flesh.  (6 hp dmg.)  But the attacks of everyone else swarming the wolf put it down with a yelp.

Your enemies are down for now, just leaving the ice cold storeroom, the burning fur cloak the giant had been wearing, the dead bodies of the wolves with their warm pelts, and the large, giant sized chest in the corner.

Borimer wipes off the slayer of Gods on the giant's corpse before sheathing it.  He moves to the stone steps and listens for more incoming enemies while other more nimble folk look to the chest.

Talhdar searches the Giant for the set of keys he hopes to find that will unlock the cells and maybe, just maybe open the chest.

You open the giant trunk, which takes a little work because it is so large and heavy.  Inside, you find:

Giant-sized clothes;
Giant-sized utensils, bowls and cups;
Giant-sized boots;
A closed "pouch" of leather which is the size of a very large sack to you; it seems about half full of something;
Yet another closed pouch, but this one made of burlap, which also seems about half full.  It is stained dark all over the bottom.

You can hear a discussion from the top of the steps (i.e., the steps leading to above ground, not the ones from the freezer room).  They appear to be in a giantish discussion.

[Language unknown: "Rison m usntet."  "A, entur n ekasle."  "Ilith ceall fo teand.  Ul vir k les sewiet."  "At antthibut ekfock miev i athou."  "Ut nd yinratomeoer."  "Pe, al ereenctic ant."  "Earsi ratithati."  "Na, tha erslinive."  "Ate onlein sipr listncto forerales he al."  "Fiasck nce ilce lomawh."  "Wilantnde ant comes terartort chtin er."]

It appears to be some sort of hushed argument.

About this time, Etag emerges from the storage area holding a black, leather-bound book.  "I found it," he says.  "We can get out of here now."

Junar steps in.  "We must save my people."  He indicates the gnomes still trapped behind the bars.

Etag looks to you for an opinion.

OOC: Feel free to post some small actions in the downstairs room and if you are returning upstairs.  I was simply moving the plot forward without delay.

Kahan assists Tahldar in searching the giant's belongings, hoping to find a key. "The least we can do for all of Junar's help is to release his kin. They do not deserve this fate." the priest states.

Shae goes and starts looking in the storage room where Etag was at to see what she can find, but she says, "We still haven't checked the room to the west.  I'll look in here if you want to check out in there."

Quickly Tahldar hatches a plan.  "Some of you search here and some search west.  We must find the keys!  I'll see if I can hold off the Giants at the stairs.  But be quick, we have no time!" he says tersely.

Running back to the bottom of the stairs Tahldar says something in reply to Giants in their foul tongue, in a voice as deep and gravelly as his small lungs can manage, [Language unknown:  "Whlo!...Sswhme witwe erous!...Out thma oul mewewh sta!...His on er...Alntet!"]

As he speaks near the end of his speech, the small mage brings an arm to his brow and falters in a mock swoon.  Displaying a poor and overwrought bit of acting, but hopefully enough to trick their pursuers.

Borimer nods and goes with Shae to check the west room.

Etag begins to wait while Tahldar calls up the stairs in giantish.  The voices suddenly become silent, as if in puzzlement.

Borimer and Kahan head west.  The door opens to a wide stone-cut corridor leading down.  As you head down, it becomes colder, much like the room you just exited.

This corridor is actually very wide as it leads down, and you can see rails built into the walls where apparently large stones or something had been slid down on them to make them easier to carry.

At the bottom of the stairs, your way is blocked by two large doors.  Written across the double door entry is something sloppily written in Giantish.


The double doors are locked in place by a large sword (or actually a dagger for the giants with a very wide hilt), obviously meant to keep something in, not to keep you out.  The large dagger could be easily removed.

Nothing else is found among the giant's things other than noted above.  However, opening the burlap bag, you find that it contains a severed head covered in blood.  It is a humanoid sized head (not giant), and on its head is a crown.  It is facing down so you can't make out its features.

Hatchman will follow Borimer.  "Think we should pop this lock off and go inside?  It may be our only way to find the key."

Lukas will remove the crown and examine it.

It appears to be of solid gold and likely fits a gnomish head.  It looks to be very valuable.  In fact, you presume the head in the sack belongs to a gnomish royal family member.

Borimer nods as they approach the doors.  "I wonder what those giants are trying to keep out..." Borimer withdraws the giant dagger and slowly pushes open a door...

"I think that's a bad idea Borimer. Its likely to be either a visperillion, or worse, and right now, I'd rather only have giants to worry about." Kahan replies, stopping the warrior from fully removing the dagger. "Come, lets look around some more. Perhaps Etag or the gnomes know what is behind there."

Etag does not know, but the gnomes say that the two doors lead to the crypt where they buried their dead, and the giants apparently thought something supernatural was down there.

The gnomes tell you that one of the giants had a key on a chain around his neck that opened the gates, and that he was last seen going down into the crypt.

OOC: I'm surprised no one thought to ask them before.

Lukas still examining the crown comments to Kahan, "That make a lot of sense to me"
he checks the size of the crow seeing if it would be a good fit for his head

Hearing that the key is likely down the stairs, Shae stops looking in the storage room area.  "Looks like we have to go down there if we're to get them out," she says, spear ready.

"Agreed.  We'll have to go down there.  But I think some of us should stay and defend the stairs.  Those giants will be coming down them all too soon I think as my ruse won't keep them away for very long I think."

"I suggest Donovan, and maybe Shapfren and Legold too, guard the stairs while we rid the way forward of whatever blocks our way."

OOC:  I suggest the idle players take guard duty if that's okay with everyone else.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Sat 08 Mar 2014.

Borimer nods and stops moving the dagger when Kahan restrains his one remaining arm. He hears the others talking about the crypt.  He patiently waits and watches for danger until the word is given to descend or otherwise.

Lukas scratched his head, "So let me get this right, you want me to stand rear guard, and stop one of those big ole giants.  Can't say that I'm liking that idea."  Lukas put the crown on his head tilting it to the side.

The gnomes see Lukas wearing the crown and immediately go berserk.  "Our king is dead!" they cry out.  "Despoil not his image or memory.  Only the royal family may wear the crown.  We must take the crown to our people and crown a new king.  Do not steal it!"

"What happened to your king? Was it the giants that killed him?" Kahan asks, politely removing the crown from Lukas' head and stashing it in his pack. "And do not fret, as soon as we are rid of this awful place you shall have your crown returned to you to do as you see fit." he reassures them.


OOC: Honestly I thought they didn't speak common so asking them would do nothing, and with Lukas barely posting, using him as translator would take ages.

"Actually I'd prefer if you went with the team to go after the cell key.  But in any event, three of us should be able to hold the stairs for a little while if a giant comes down.  Keep in mind only one can fit where as we can fit much more.  And to boot I think Leogold himself being a halfling could give any giant fits as I have heard they and dwarves are known to do well against them.  But hopefully it won't come to that and we'll be back before they gather the courage to fight us." Tahldar says in reply to Lukas.

"What did you say to them anyway, Tahldar?" Kahan inquires, removing the dagger from its resting place.

"They muttered something about demons maybe being down here so I just put on a little bit of acting and said demons were in fact attacking me.  I suspect they won't fall for my ruse for very long so let's be off and find this key so we can get out of here."

"Good, I like that option much better"  Lukas makes ready to go with the others to find the key "Besides, who would better in this group in helping to find any traps, layed out to protect the key"

"Good, I like that option much better"  Lukas makes ready to go with the others to find the key "Besides, who would better in this group in helping to find any traps, layed out to protect the key"

You do find it odd that they speak Common, just as it was strange that Junar was speaking it.  I should have done a similar accent to his had I been thinking.

When you say 'odd', how odd are you talking? Like, 'maybe the giants aren't the bad people here' odd, or 'gnomes don't speak common back home' odd?

Odd as in you'd think people in Allevia would speak Allevian or their racial languages, not Common, which is the language spoken on Tienna.

After hearing all of you speak for awhile now, and after seeing the incident with the crown, Etag looks at you and says, "I just had a thought.  You are from Tienna, yes?  Our sister planet.  Who is the human king in your land and what is his condition?"

"The king is dead, as Tienna will soon be dead little brother."

Hatchman says, "We come from the Krusark Kingdom, and King Thresh III sits on the throne.  He was still alive the last time we saw him, but maybe the end of the world will leave him dead like Borimer says."

oops thought he was dead :)

OOC: You are not incorrect.  You killed the lich that the king turned into, and his name was not "Thresh."  But Hatchman is also not incorrect.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Wed 12 Mar 2014.

"Yeap, Him dead or needs to be dead"

"Let's catch up when we're safe, eh? Now is not the time for idle talk." Kahan reminds everyone while he pushes the door open and prepares to head inside.

Borimer leads the way through the door after Kahan opens it, hand on the Godslayer's ivory hilt and eyes wary for whatever the giants tried to keep out.  He was glad the priest was with him if the dead were walking.  "Hope you have that mace ready, my friend."

Kahan nods, casting a spell on himself as they walk down, mace at the ready.

As the party answers and then walks away, Etag says, "This is very troubling.  Neither or your stories matches the correct historical account of Tienna at the time of the Kuvlah Tah, which will not take place for another thousand years.  And the fact that your stories do not match each other means the Telling of the Three was true."  He fades out as you move to the door to enter the far room.

OOC: The new room will be in a new thread.