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.