The Never Ending Winter part 2: Secret of the Frost Hold
Our party for the second leg of the adventure are:
Selina K.: Tobuscus "Ole' Tobi" Barrackbomb
Joe P.: Leonard the Wise & Hagar the Barbarian
Steven: Leonards' Retainers - Kolloc & Brywood, a Man-at-arms and a Cook
Steve F.: Rook - Thief
Joshua V.: Sliish - Magic-User/archaeologist & Mable the mule
Sal C.: Jack Quick the Slacker
Kelsey: Madame Estelle the Herbalist
The group are gathered at the Dog-n-Bone tavern, while eating a hearty meal they prepare themselves for the journey to the Frost-Hold! This place is supposed to be the lair of at least one Frost giant who is league with the Fae Lord responsible for the Never Ending Winter.
Rook leans in wiping beer foam from his lip. "So Ole' Tobi, Sliish and I will be leading this expedition. Icirus is preparing a fast travel spell for us from the information we gained from the Druids."
Sliish then continues as Rook takes a spoonful of stew, "Schkrog shuffered a broken leg at the hands of the Hill giants and can't join us. We need shome more fighting shtrength and shpell ability as well."
Leonard and Hagar look at each other then back to Rook and the others. "I will add my magical skill to this endeavor, and Hagar his blades and skill in battle. Also my retainers Kolloc and Brywood will come as well." The bearded mage sips a mug of ale and continues, "But know this, Frost giants are larger and more terrifying than those hill types you messed with."
"Indeed, our people have had direct dealings with their kind over the years." said Kolloc, a northman by his look and dress. "They do not take kindly to visitors or thieves to their homes. We might want to think about approaching them openly."
Just then a young man, who had gone previously unnoticed spoke up. "Though I've not had prior encounters with giant's, I am skilled in array of diplomatic etiquette and dabble in the arena of blades. I will throw my lot in with you and offer the abilities of my companion as well." He motioned to a cloaked woman beside him.
"Who the heck are you two?" asked Ole' Tobi looking up from his now empty beer mug. Motioning for a re-fill the old dwarf winked at the pair of new-comers and made room for them to sit at the table. "Tell us more about yer'selves."
The young man smiled broadly and places his hands on his hips, "Why I'm Jack, Jack Quick! I've adventured with the one you know as Icirus and he can vouch for my ability. We defeated the dreaded Axe-Man, a minion of the Duke himself!"
This was impressive as Icirus had indeed relayed the tale of this adventure, and now they had a face to put with the name of the wily Jack Quick.
The young man continued, "As for my companion, I'll allow her to speak for herself."
The woman removed a thick woolen hat to reveal dark hair plaited in a pair of long braids. She had a broom with her that seemed to move of its own accord. "Good evening to all gentle beings." Her speech was soft in tone and had the accent of the southern kingdoms. "You may call me Madame Estelle, an herbalist and purveyor of charms, elixirs, & enchantments." She sat and picked a few choice grapes from a bowl on the table. "I am newly arrived here in the Duchy, but feel that it would be rude to not offer my skills in your quest to stop this dreadful winter from imperiling us all."
Tobi finished his newly filled mug off in one swallow, smacked it on the table and said, "I like your gumption there Madame." The old dwarf winked at the young woman. "If Jack's a friend of the Owl, then he's good by me. What do the rest of ya's say?"
A round of quick discussion decided that the party was now formed and this group would take on the task of finding out the secrets of the Frost Hold.
Equipment and cold weather gear was handed out amongst the group. They then took up position within a magical circle prepared by Icirus. The Owl-man then spoke to the assembled team.
"This is very new magic to me, and also my first attempt. I will create a doorway that should open quite near if not next to the Frost Hold. Know that you have limited time to accomplish your task! I would say twelve hours at the most before my energies dwindle and the portal closes! Are you ready?"
With an affirmative nod, Icirus begins the spell to open a doorway to the snow covered peaks of the Blackcrag mountains.
 |
| The portal |
The party stepped through the magical portal and onto the snow covered mountainside. The chill wind biting through their garments. Ole' Tobi and Sliish along with Mable took the lead and guided the group along a path worked into the cliff side. After about fifteen minutes they topped a rise and in the distance could see what could only be the destination they sought. The lair of the giants called Frost Hold!
 |
| Frost Hold |
They pushed on and made good time heading towards their target. Soon the group came into a secluded grotto and discovered the remains of a campsite, and the remnants of a battle. A shredded tent, smashed gear and a broken flail that could only be used by one of gigantic proportions. A fine silver dagger is discovered by Jack, and a pouch full of red berries is picked up by the retainer Brywood. Not wanting to linger long the group heads off towards the lair of the Frost giants.
Arriving finally at the Hold the party is overcome by the sheer enormity of the structure! The bridge spanning the chasm from the cliff to the tower base is itself estimated to be twenty strides wide and at least eighty feet in length. The Hold easily topping ninety to a hundred feet!! After a short discussion, the group send Rook first using his snow-cat cloak to hide his approach from any watchers. Then just behind the Thief, Sliish, Mable and Jack approach with a plan to gain entry by claiming to be here for the census.
 |
| an Ogre! |
Leonard is sure he knows what the creatures are. "Hmm, Ogres I'd wager from your description Rook. And we're not sure how many Frost Giants are inside. It would seem stealth may be our greatest assest here."
"I don't think all of us combined could take those three upstairs without surprise on our side." Says Hagar.
Just then one of the doors to the hold swings silently inwards! The party are stunned to see Sliish standing at the doorway his hands extended. Looking over his shoulder to the group he whispers. "I jusht thought I'd give it a push to shee if it wash locked!!"
Taking advantage of their good luck the party scoots inside as the door swings closed behind them. Standing in a large hall they see an open doorway that leads down, a set of large steps going up and the sounds of the ogres from there as well. However, to their dismay is the rythmic sound of breathing coming from the very large white wolf sleeping in this very chamber not twenty feet away from them!!!
 |
| The really big wolf! |
The striking blue eyes flick open, and the beast raises its head taking in the party with a long look.
It is Madame Estelle who quickly steps to the forefront and calmly approaches the beast. She murmurs a rhyme so softly that only the keen senses of the wolf pick it up. The woman stops a mere few feet from the muzzle of the beast and bows.
"We apologize for disturbing your slumber, most grand wolf, and I beg of thee to know the whereabouts of your master."
The large wolf replied to the Herbalist, "My Master is out with my kin, while his kin and the stinky ones lair above." His nostrils widened at the scent of the mule. "I don't think you belong here, and I'm hungry!"
"Now there's no need to get mean, besides I have something for you." Estelle motioned to Brywood, and the man revealed the bag of red berries. She winked at Icirus and the Owl cast a spell upon the treats and slipped a handful into her palm. "See sweet treats for the good boy."
The wolf stood up and his full height threw a wave of fear over the group. "No, meat is better!" His lips peeled back revealing dagger sized fangs! He lunged to snap up the woman, but her broom was quicker! With a flick she tossed the berries into the mouth of the wolf and rode her broom to safety. The wolf gulped down the berries, looked at the party and barked once before collapsing in a magical slumber!
The noise had roused the Ogres attention and soon one of them came down the stairs to admonish the canine. The party had moved into the descending stairwell and hid from view. Well, almost all of the party. Sliish and Mable had attempted to hunker down behind the sleeping wolf to escape being seen. The Ogre being quite the dim-wit didn't see the pair, but he did smell Mable who at that moment let out an enormous fart!! The scent made the Ogre gag and almost vomit into the half empty keg of dwarf-beer he carried. The Ogre bellowed and retreated back upstairs. With the room clear, Siish and Mable joined the others and they went down stairs to search below while they had the chance.
The lower chamber was searched and found to be dungeon. The body of a man was discovered and presumed to have been a member of the encampment the group had found outside. Suddenly the sound of doors swinging open, a rush of cold wind, and a bellowing call of "Ho Ho, what's this? Why does my wolf slumber so!"
After a bit of commotion upstairs, they hear a giant command the Ogre's to check the tower for intruders from bottom to top! With no time to spare the group scatters about the room, but there is really no good place to hide!! Rook scampers up a wall and sticks himself between the ceiling beams. As the sounds of heavy footsteps echo down the stairs it is Madame Estelle who weaves a rhyme.
"We've not much time and no place to hide, still your knees for time I'll bide. Hush your mouth make no sighs, I'll keep us safe from prying eyes! "
The group all held their collective breath, as they were all (except for Jack, who hid behind the corpse and Rook in the rafter.) visible spread out around the room. A white haired giant, and an ogre stopped at the bottom of the steps just inside the room. They looked around and seemed to peer directly at the party yet somehow didn't notice they were there!
"See, I told ja. Nobody got past us, we was watchin' real expert like." said the ogre with an overbite.
The giant looked around the room a second time and then smacked the ogre who had spoken, "Hmmm, well I think something happened Horsetooth. And when I figure out what, you'll be the first one I beat!"
The pair ascended the steps back to the tower entry where an argument began between the Giant's and Ogre's about what had befell the wolf, whom could not be roused from its slumber. The group then heard the lead Giant command the ogre guards to clean the dungeon and there was much lamenting by the ogres!
With moments to spare, Ole' Tobi took the lead. "Sliish, I need ten feet o' strong rope!" The mage quickly grabbed this from the rack on Mable the Mule. "Hagar, gimmie two o' yur iron spikes." The Barbarian complied with the elderly dwarf. "Aaaannd that guys rib cage!" Tobi pointed to the corpse of the dead adventurer in the corner of the room. Rook ran over and pulled the asked for torso from the skeleton inadvertently revealing the hiding Jack!
The Dwarf just finished the hastily constructed trap and dove under some old hay in the corner of the room as the trio of ogre's entered the chamber. The first stepped right over the rope trip wire without even noticing it and sauntered to the center of the chamber, the second ogre at the last second hopped into the room from the second to last step and spun to face the last ogre. Now this fellow was not as lucky as the first two, nor was he very agile! He tripped over the rope and fell right into the second ogre that had turned to face him and the pair went down in a tangle of limbs and curses!
The first Ogre turned to yell at his companions when he spotted the trip-trap and then realized there were other's here with them! He was about to yell for help when Tobi sprang up and fired a red-berry right into his mouth from his slingshot! The Ogre gulped and fell right to sleep. The other two stopped fighting as they realized they were being ambushed, "Hey what the heck!" was all that was said before the party overwhelmed the pair with spell and berries!
From above a giant inquired as to the progress of cleaning the dungeon, and Leonard responded with a magic spell to answer in the voice of an Ogre!
The party looted the slumbering fools, and to their surprise they found a halfling bound and beaten inside the belt pouch of the one called Horsetooth!
Revealed as the lone survivor of the mountain encampment the halfling joined Estelle as a loyal henchman and asked to be called Cherry!
The party ascended back up the stairs to the entry room where they spied a single giant petting the large wolf they had put to sleep. There were now a pair of slightly smaller, but still large white wolves lounging in a bed across the room from the door. They waited until the giant left and went upstairs before the group cast magic on the two new canines. The group debated how to handle the giants as they knew there were three and that would be a tough fight!
A plan was hatched, a potion of Clairvoyance was used along with Ventriloquism and soon in the chaos the three giants were tricked into running down into the dungeon, where they were trapped by use of Hold Portal magic!!!
The party had discovered the secret hideaway containing not only a Magic compass, but a goodly portion of treasure too, and a great quantity of Dwarf Beer! (This was seen by Estelle, when she used her potion to look through the eyes of the giant Chief!) After interrogating their captives the group bid the angry giants a fond farewell and then stole their flying longboat that was kept on the roof of the tower!!
 |
| The Flying Longboat! |
The victorious adventurers returned home just before sunset of the same day they had set out. Having learned that Lord Never-be-borrowed was at a location called the Cloud Castle. This place could only be located with the compass they had retrieved from the Frost Giants treasure hoard. With the Compass and the Flying longboat the final leg of the battle to stop the Never Ending Winter should be a breeze!!
Stay tuned for part 3!!
No comments:
Post a Comment