On December 9th, after fleeing the frozen land surrounding the giant’s dell, the party makes their way to the ruined manor to use it as a staging point. On the 10th, Pathos and Pep lead a scouting expedition with Ingrid and Cinnin backing them up. They loop around clockwise, seeing the giant working in the distance near the center of the cold. They also see some unusual tracks north of the dell, but no sign of the giant coming or going from the dell.
- Mel’on Juse (MaD): Level 7 Human Cleric of Sky Light
- Ingrid Corvinsdatter, Level 1 Barbarian
- Gillican (MaC): Level 7 Elf Mage
- Halen Ricter, Level 6 Human Man-at-arms
- Altlan, Level 5 Human Cleric of Rusk
- Kyra, Human Handmaid
- Omac “Sir Pathos” (MaC): Level 5/4/5 Elf Fighter/Mage/Thief
- Derrick Lefter, Level 1 Half-orc Courtier
- Askellion, Level 1 Gnomish Religious Brother of Guffrey
- Simon Duffy, Human Longbowman
- Bristol, Human Squire
- Pepperin Lightheart (MaD): Level 6 Halfling Scout
- Zaum (JoF): Level 6 Half-orc Fighter
On December 11th, in the afternoon, they make their way to the border of the cold region surrounding the dell and by night they send Pathos invisibly to scout the work site west of the dell where they saw the giant working.
He finds a stone quarry where large blocks have been cut from the stone and dragged away with one still in process. There is one set of quarrying tools, convincing him that the giant works alone. He continues on toward the center and hears the creek and a sound like an avalanche, but constant, ahead. He draws nearer and sees the giant sleeping between the wall and the creek on the other side of the creek.
He realizes that the rumbling, grinding sound is coming from the creek near the giant, which he sees is actually a creek of flowing ice rumbling into a liquid stream. As he gets closer to the creek, the cold becomes damaging even through the protection of his ring of warmth. He skirts this damaging cold around the frozen creek, finding its head. He sees piles of indistinct equipment among the fog surrounding the frozen creek. He also sees several blocks from the quarry near the frozen creek and others soaking in it, as well as one finished and shimmering like those in the wall.
On the 12th, they maintain a warm camp near the cold dell so Pathos can observe the giant’s behavior during the day. He finds that his work is irregular as he finishes some of the stone blocks he has queued in the creek and queued for soaking. He does spend a little while taking an unseparated stone out of the quarry and dragging it away, but not knowing when he’ll return to the quarry, they determine stealing his tools to set up an ambush may not be as predictable as they hoped.
They make a new plan and move in by night with Mel and Altlan accompanying Pathos and Gillican to provide resist cold and prayer. With silence on the giant, Gillican moves up and attempts to polymorph him, but the giant resists. They intend to try again on the 13th, but a heavy, sudden rain and violent winds outside the dell cause a blizzard inside the cold area and they hold off for the night.
On the 14th, they go in during the night again but the giant is laying in wait to ambush them, but Mel spots it and they pull back again, withdrawing to the manor to make a new plan with the giant alerted to their ongoing attempts. In the predawn, Zaum and Altlan on watch are surprised by horse thieves whose arrows glance off of Zaum’s armor, but wound Altlan.
Arrows shot back at at the tribesmen do some damage while they shoot more, wounding the unarmored Halen as he comes out to respond to calls for help. Gillican’s sleep causes them to retreat, but more arrows and a second sleep spell catch most of them. They execute most of the prisoners, but interrogating the remaining three they learn the two leaders got away. When the sun rises, they follow the prisoners to their camp, but find the two leaders didn’t return after fleeing. They bring the prisoners to Warded Cross and leave them with bows and a few arrows in the care of the villagers, saying they found them in the wilderness. They camp at Cleftdown for the night.
On the 16th, they go to Dragon Manor and confer with their lieutenant, learning that visitors have become more prevalent, including elves from Greenleaf and hunters from Merrickburg which they have been suspicious of. On the 17th, they take pikemen and crossbowmen to Larkbridge planning to ambush the giant from a hill on the east.
On the 18th and 19th, when they send Pathos to scout for the giant, he isn’t able to find the giant anywhere. They move in with the ring of warmth and resist cold stacked on some of their heartier members to haul out all of the loot around the giant’s lair. The spellbooks Gillican and Pathos wanted so badly are there, as well as a scroll and some other adventuring goods they decide to sell.
They made it clear to the giant they weren’t going to misstep, it only made sense for him to leave for his own safety. Shame he took all the gems and potions with him.
Mind Weave Role-Playing Platform 