March 8, 2013

Fortress of the Stone Giants / Sins of the Saviors

Players present: Elora (Sally), Azalyn (Shelley), Bastian (Casey), Orden (Mike), Sirilenda (Melissa), Vale (Dean), Derani (Rachel), Kage (Arren)

Moments after defeating the dragon Longtooth and his minions, Conna again implored the group for assistance. She knew that Longtooth was not the real danger that lay ahead. The gathered army of stone giants outside the fortress walls needed a new leader, and if Conna did not claim it some other less desirable creature would. And whoever controlled the stone giants controlled the trolls, ogres, and various other humanoids as well. She could not imagine another leader who would disband the tribal armies as she would. Instead, the result almost certainly would be a continuation of Mokmurian's plan to invade the civilized Varisian lowlands.

As she explained, the stone giants chose their new leaders in a precise, if violent, tradition. A successor, if not chosen by the previous leader, nominated herself, and defended her claim against the other claimants in single combat. None of the other stone giants could match Conna in single combat considering her substantial magical prowess. However, the other humanoids amongst the giants might not respect the sanctity of the stone giant tradition, so she asked the group to help prevent the other tribes from derailing the process.

With the group's assent, Conna opened the fortress doors and stepped out to meet the gathered throng of giant humanoids. She declared Mokmurian dead, and announced her claim for the rulership of the stone giants. The silence that followed gave hope that no challenger would appear, until the crowds began parting before enormous strides of Cinderma, the Taiga giant. A giant even among the stone giants, Cinderma made plain her contempt for the "miniscule" Conna, and challenged her for leadership of the army. Though she was not a stone giant, her claim carried no less weight with the crowd of humanoids, and Conna realized she must face this claim or forfeit her own.

In the few moments before the combat, Conna asked the group once more for assistance. She knew that Cinderma was beyond her strength, especially after the encounter with the dragon. But she could not receive outside assistance, at least not observable assistance. The group consulted each other and planned ways to help Conna that would be undetectable to the surrounding onlookers. Azalyn loaned her boots of speed, Kage applied a poison to her spear, Orden cast sanctuary to protect her in the first moments of the melee, and Bastian granted her the ability to use smite evil on Cinderma. With all of that help, Conna easily bested the hulking Cinderma. No other challengers approached after that.

***

The town of Sandpoint

The group retured to Sandpoint for a period of rest, secure in the knowledge that they had averted the imminent stone giant invasion. The next month passed as the group collected the wealth of Longtooth's treasure hoard, and subsequently spent the loot on various magical items and equipment. Their new gear did not sit unused for long; Mayor Deverin, Sheriff Hemlock, and Faher Zantus summoned the group for an urgent meeting at the month's end. Trouble was rising in Sandpoint again!

Father Zantus

Father Zantus related to the group how not two days ago, a large sinkhole opened on Tower street, right next to the town garrison (also the town jail). Sheriff Hemlock sent a pair of guards to investigate, but they never returned. Now the sinkhole howled at night, with a sound no natural dog could make, and the Sheriff dared not risk sending more guards in. Though the group had already done more for Sandpoint than anyone had a right to ask, the three town representatives knew that the heros could end this problem.

Sheriff Hemlock

The group agreed and made preparations to venture into the hole. They began the next day, and climbed down into the pit, which eventually connected with the previously explored catacombs beneath the town. By searching the catacombs again, they discovered a previously blocked passage that lead further down underground. The end of the passage hid a secret door, which Sirilenda detected and Derani opened.

Mayor Deverin

They entered a medium sized chamber, pitch black, covered floor to ceiling in indecipherable scribblings. The writing seemed to them to match the language of Thassilon, but none of the group could read it. Bastian cast daylight on his shield, and the group stepped foot in the room. After a few paces, a voice called out to them from a passageway to the north, obscured by a dense fog. He questioned them about the rulers of the lands above, and about what had happened to the Runelords. He wanted to know who wielded supreme magical power "in this time," and which nations were the most powerful. The group traded him question for question, but the speaker, who named himself Xaliasa, took liberties with his questions and answers. The group quickly became annoyed, and the conversation soon ended. 

Orden then dispelled the fog in the passage, only to find it empty. They regrouped in the chamber and considered their next actions...