Big Trouble
10/01/2000
Prelude
The Library
Harkonnen didn't notice?! Are you sure?
We're breathing aren't we?Troll Kingdoms
I want them dead. All of them.
Yes Your Majesty.The Trek North
I'm telling you it's too early.
Nonsense, it's never too early to take money from an easy mark.
They did try to kill us last time.
Ah, yes, but this time we have information.
(sigh)West of Town
Run! Retreat!
Summary of the Adventure
The company is going about its business in town, preparing to make another journey to the Spire, when a messenger arrives for Androth. It appears that a group of guardsman have been ambushed. One of the survivors is in town looking for someone to aid his wounded brethren.
After hearing his tale, Androth sends for Harkonen to heal the man. Harkonen arrives with the long absent Jameson in tow. The pair decides to join Androth and Malz on their rescue mission. After a brief discussion, Androth determines (over Harkonen's objections) that they'll leave in the morning.
The trip to the pass is uneventful; they travel a day and a half before they get to the cave where the wounded scouts have taken shelter. The men are in good spirits and Harkonen's healing talents are put to good use. There is no sign the giants have pursued them, but of course none of the Company knows how to track...
They push on and stop about an hour from where the attack took place. Malz uses a spell so he can fly and scouts the pass. When he doesn't see anything, he moves in closer, hoping to spot the giants. He sees some sign of the spot were the horses were killed and their gear scattered, but nothing more. As he flies lower, two rocks are suddenly thrown at him.
Hit by one, he is badly hurt; looking below he can now see where two giants have emerged from the rocky shadows. He begins flying upward and casts a lighting bolt, wounding the pair. The giants continue to throw rocks but they are now less effective and both miss several times. Malz returns to the group which, having seen the lightning bolt, is now moving forward to his aid.
Plagued by Malz' wounds and inspired by the presence of giants, Harkonen suggests they spend some time in prayer and healing; the group agrees and they are back on their way to the giant's lair in about two hours. They arrive and take cover in the woods. They begin creating their plan, most of which relies on using the camouflage spell to hide themselves from the giants until they get close.
Harkonen is reminded by his phylactery that deception is a bad thing. He opts to stay below while the others sneak up, ignoring that the phylactery still tells him it's a violation, just not as serious. An hour later, he steps out of the woods and calls for the giants to face him. Two giants, previously unnoticed, step out from the shadows near their tunnel entrance in the pass.
They move quickly to hurl boulders at Harkonen, but Jameson stabs one in the back and, with the help of Malz and Androth it is killed, but not before it hurls a rock at Androth. Harkonen begins running up hill for the battle. By the time he arrives, Jameson is also wounded, but the second giant is dead. Malz casts an Evard's Tentacles in the giants passage effectively separating the company from their enemies.
The giant laughs at them and issues some threats; the company does the same. The giants carry out one threat as a guardsman (apparently left for dead) is tossed into the tentacles. While the group considers its next action, the giants begin hurling boulders and clearing the passage of tentacles.
Malz lobs a fireball down the passage killing a couple. If you're the first one to email me on seeing this, you'll get a ten thousand experience point bonus. The others are less eager. A moment later, the mouth of the passage is a sea of mud. Everyone save Jameson jumps clear and Androth saves him with a rope. With the front of the passage clear of spellcasters, the giants redouble their efforts to destroy tentacles. Malz uses a levitate to get in a good position for a fireball. When he looks in the cave, he spots four, one of them the leader and the others armed with rocks. He is hit by two rocks and chooses to rise out of their line of sight.
Further arguments ensue and eventually the company, convinced the giants know their every move, retreats down the hill to recuperate and wait.
The Spoils
None
Experience Summary
Adventure in progress
