[D&D 5e] There Might Be Giants G2 Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl Session: 020 The Definition of Madness.

[Goonalan]

There Might Be Giants​

PCs
DCI Bawg Race: Unknown Class: Rogue Level: 12 Background: City Watch Investigator
Phreakalus Nevrospastos Race: Human Class: Artificer Level: 12 Background: Courtier
Thrunorus "Thugg" Garn Race: Half-Orc Class: Barbarian Zealot of Bradlust & Fighter Level: 8 & 4 Background: Mercenary Veteran
Yen Stonefist Race: Stout Halfling Class: Monk Level: 12 Background: Hermit

NPCs
Piniccarus, Phreakalus' animated puppet 'son'. Just weird.

Session 019: The Fighting Is Not Over Yeti.
Mission Time: 00:46 to 00:52

To begin with an apology, at the end of the last write I said that the Giantkillers took a moment to get some healing done, and that the fight was over. I was mistaken- I should have looked ahead, at the pictures on Discord from this session.

I think what I should have written was everyone (well, almost everyone) really wanted the fighting to stop for a bit.

But that didn't happen.

Can you guess?

Here we go again.

Helga, the frost giant, is retreating. Yen, DCI Bawg & Phreakalus are looking to get a breather. Thugg is not.

And so there he goes again- chasing after Helga, replete with hit points- he has about twenty or so to his name.

And Yen still has his fifteen foot reach once/day Dragon Tattoo thing still going so- why not. Yen is easily persuaded, and seconds later a beaten up Helga is off her feet. She's going nowhere.

But, do you remember who's coming to play? Sneaking down the corridor towards the PCs?

That's right, the snowmen (and women, no doubt).

The Yeti's are identified quickly, here's the first of them- just about to get into Thugg.

But Thugg, on point, is having fun.

Helga less so. While Waythe (as always) is still trying to be helpful.

And the rest of the PCs are now scrambling (once again) to get to the front line, or else close enough to shoot the bad guys.

And there are few Yeti, although none of them so far have managed to land a hit on Thugg- and ACs not his thing, although he's probably Hasted again atm. He's swigging potions of speed every chance he can, it's his new addiction.

Oh, and you'll note the PCs have started calling out the NPCs and Orcs, that little gravestone (far right on the image above) is where one of the frosties (earlier) threw Balthazar (the orc).

Balthazar is the first of the Giantkillers entourage to die.

There's a clue to what happens next.

Helga dies, and you'll note two of the Yeti's are not looking too healthy either, the artillery has arrived.

But to the north...

The first of the snow leopards comes rushing out of hiding and into Thugg, the half-orc barbarian takes the hit and keeps on swinging.

And soon after- with the Yeti's also climbing up and over the fight to get to the rear, well- it's a Thugg pile-on.

And then, at bloody last...

One of the PCs succumbs to a Yeti's Chilling Gaze, they've all been making this attack every turn- Yen is the first to fail his save. The Monk is paralysed, that's got to crimp his style.

Yen is also very close to ko'd, on maybe six hit points.

But Thugg...

...is still doing Thugg.

Although that doesn't keep Yen safe.

Note the square on the map, that's Piniccarus' web spell. The bane of my existence.

This has been happening a lot-

Even before my poor Yeti's got webbed.

And oh look-

Thugg is still rolling Crits. Keep in mind he's usually raging, reckless and hasted. It's a terrifying combo.

And then, at last, or else soon after...

The end of the fight comes remarkably quickly, Phreakalus & Bawg account for another pair of Yeti's and Thugg (with a help from a couple of orcs) takes care everything else. You'll note in the picture above Thugg is running for a bed- he is now convinced that rest is the best option. Yen has also been given a potion, but he too is really not well.

The plan is- I say plan, it's not much of one- is to hide here and get a short rest, or else cast some spells (the Artificer has a few healing spells), or swig healing potions (but they're getting really low on these).

Phreakalus also boots up his telepathic communication spell, and now all of the Pcs can chat with each other via the astral space phone (or something similar).

But...

The tea break doesn't last, the Giantkillers get five minutes off. Note in the image above Bawg is concealed in a snow drift (stealth '28') and watching the ways. Bawg has a passive perception of '20'- and is also making active perception checks every now and then, the approaching Yeti is spotted quickly and the fact telepathically communicated to his friends.

There are (telepathic) groans.

The grind doesn't stop for tea and biscuits.

The PCs (and entourage) form up and ready themselves to go again.

The Yeti at the back (unidentified) seems to be somehow directing the attack. DCI Bawg breaks stealth by hurling a Fireball down the corridor.

And...

Yeti's burn.

And then it all kicks off.

And as usual...

The bad guys get webbed. Note, this web is specifically targeted to attach to the ceiling in the corridor- filling the upper half of the passageway- this because the two closest Yeti's in the image above were climbing in on the walls of the passage. One of the Yeti's quickly breaks out of the webs.

You'll note Thugg is still in bed.

He's like a surly teenager at times.

"I'll be there in a minute! Gawhhh!"

Several of the Yeti manage to tear their way through or else out of the web, but the hits keep on coming.

Moments later, Pablo (an Orc) is sent scurrying under the web, basically to see if it can be done.

It can.

However 'can' does not equate to should.

Egil, a frostie, flings a rock at Pablo the orc as soon as he emerges from beneath the web.

Pablo does not last.

Nor, however, do the Yeti's.

Phreakalus goes on a killing/shooting spree.

And then when, at last, the last of the Yeti are put down...

Thugg (who else) goes chasing after Egil.

Thugg has nothing to help him atm- no speed potion, no rage... he is however reckless. He's always reckless.

I think it's his middle name.

The Giantkillers, once again, have got my bad guys on the run.

Well, almost. The first Winter Wolf turns up (alas this fellow is only a pup- a Dire Wolf in white).

And Thugg, very soon after, starts screaming for his friends/colleagues/associates/pit-crew/patsies (delete as appropriate).

Reluctantly they come running.

What else is there to do?

White Wolves (plural).

Thugg is, soon after, reduced to maybe two hit points.

All the healing that Phreakalus dropped on him has gone away now.

That's a shame.

You'll also note that Arne the frostie has just tipped up- he was herding the wolves to here, see the behind the scenes images at the end of the last session.

Thugg's down, and Egil is standing in him. To be sure.

Let's see how the Giantkillers do without him...

Because that's the end of the session.

Although not without a little sneaky peek at what's coming-

There are another pair of Winter Wolves eager to get into the fight.

And...

There's another frost giant with a bunch of Ogres waiting to ambush the party should they head to the north.

But I'm revealing these pictures here and now because, well... we've already played past this point. I'm still a way behind with this write up.

Book of the Dead.
Helga- Frost Giant.
Yeti x11 (including one Max HP leader type)
Snow Leopard x2.

Until next time.

Cheers goonalan.

 

[Goonalan]

There Might Be Giants​

PCs
DCI Bawg Race: Unknown Class: Rogue Level: 12 Background: City Watch Investigator
Phreakalus Nevrospastos Race: Human Class: Artificer Level: 12 Background: Courtier
Thrunorus "Thugg" Garn Race: Half-Orc Class: Barbarian Zealot of Bradlust & Fighter Level: 8 & 4 Background: Mercenary Veteran
Yen Stonefist Race: Stout Halfling Class: Monk Level: 12 Background: Hermit

NPCs
Piniccarus, Phreakalus' animated puppet 'son'. Just weird.

Session 020: The Definition of Madness.
Mission Time: 00:52 to 00:58

And so here we all are- Thugg is down and dying, Yen is down to a handful of hit points only, Phreakalus (and Piniccarus) and DCI Bawg have taken a few wounds. The Giantkillers have just had a very brief rest, but not a short rest, and so they're having problems already. Also the Army of Nun/None (the Orcs) are struggling, by which I mean they keep getting themselves killed.

Or else the players keep on getting them killed.

And yet...

DCI Bawg continues to ply his trade- he only has one attack/turn (unless Hasted) but he rarely misses (maybe once per session), and always it's a chunk of damage. Egil shouts his fury.

Like I said-

Egil is not happy.

And seconds later...

Very not happy, and Webbed.

But one of the winter wolves rips it's way through the webs and unleashes its icy breath.

Laurelea Moongem, elven knight and ex-prisoner of the Hill Giants, is flash frozen- dead.

The players aren't happy, they liked Laurelea.

However, moments later, back from the dying comes...

Thugg. Waythe applauds the half-orcs re-awakening.

But...

The orcs are dying, and the winter wolves are into the passage.

There's a modicum of freight going on amongst the players.

But we're back to Bawg again-

And he Crits a lot. A winter wolf's head explodes.

As does Phreakalus-

Crits a lot that is. Two Crits from three attacks, and the other one was a hit too. Phreakalus is also on fire. Egil is being held up by the Web.

But not for long-

Ballbag the orc takes Egil down.

And then Yen fills the gap.

Hold the line!

And yet another Crit. Keep in mind that three of the winter wolves here are pups, Dire Wolf stats- no breath weapon.

The Giantkillers hold the line.

The winter wolves are trying to get through the web and into the Giantkillers, Arne the frost giant is throwing rocks atm.

But that doesn't last, and for some reason there's no picture of this- what happens next is Thugg gets up- sinks a big healing potion and then gets back into killing things- the two badly wounded winter wolves are dead in moments.

The end is nigh for the winter wolves, and Arne is not happy. Note, Thuggs token is below the Winter Wolf for some reason.

Arne has seen enough, the frost giant manoeuvres towards the exit, chopping with his greataxe as he goes.

Ballbag the orc dies.

And...

Yen is back down and dying again.

Arne is off.

But still not enamoured with the Giantkillers.

Bernard (the orc) is sent to try and slow Arne down, plunging through the web to do so.

Bernard the Brave?

Back in the web-

Waythe is continuing to charm Thugg.

And then, and inevitably...

Arne's retreat is curtailed. Webbed.

Thugg, gets into his work again-

Three attacks- three hits, seventy-five points of damage. He's a caution that Mr. Thugg.

And seconds later, just after Arne kills Tormund (the orog)...

DCI Bawg shoots Arne in the head and dead.

Bloody hell, what's a DM to do to slow down these buggers.

And so, next...

The Giantkillers scurry back into their hiding place (the same one as previous) and Phreakalus sets about healing as many people as he can with his Aura of Vitality. You'll note the plan is the same as last time- hide here, try to get a short rest.

What did Einstein define as madness?

Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.

Some variant of the above.

And so, five minutes later...

A winter wolf sniffs it's way around the corner and then unleashes it's icy breath. Yarnie and Terri (both orcs) are killed in an instant.

The Giantkillers are beginning to suspect that they are screwed, and that the whole of the lair is at present making its way to their position.

I'm only surprised it took them this long to work it out.

The winter wolf suffers, however moments later another arrives-

The second winter wolf kills Barnard and also puts a crimp in Thunderpants, the dwarven smith come veteran warrior.

The fightback begins-

Thugg kills a winter wolf just as a third beast arrives on the scene- note, all three of these creatures are adults (and with about a hundred hit points each).

And then the fourth winter wolf arrives, along with its handler (maybe).

Thugg and Yen both get iced (but make their saves). The Giantkillers can hear more shouts and calls in giantish- more ogre guards they think are on the way. Note- Tosser is the last of the Army of Nun/None, the last orc to be called up, all of the others are dead.

Moments later and things are getting desperate.

DCI Bawg throws his last Fireball bead into the mix. Note Yen's save- '33', the Monk evades all damage.

But the winter wolves suffer in the blast.

And the ogres are arriving, also winter wolf #31 is the fifth to the encounter.

This is getting scary is the consensus from the players.

And so...

Webbo!

Followed by-

Thugg rampage- three more hits, seventy-three points of damage, and another winter wolf falls.

And then...

And then another- Thugg's final attack is a Crit (and massive overkill). Why wouldn't it be? Thugg gets a Bonus Action Attack if he manages to kill a creature or else Crit on his turn. Bugger!

It gets no better for me-

Yen leaves the second to last winter wolf barely clinging on to life.

The badly wounded wolf recharges its icy breath and kills Tosser (the last orc standing), and wounds Phreakalus some more.

And then the rest of the encounter (actually two encounters rolled into one) makes it to the fight.

That's Snorri the frost giant with five ogre guards and with five winter wolves leading the way.

So, plenty still to go at, although of the two remaining winter wolves one is at death's door, while the other is unharmed.

Save for Thunderpants (and maybe Piniccarus) the PCs have no-one left to hide behind.

The end is nigh- for someone.

You'd think.

That however is the end of the session.

Although, one last picture-

No, not the DM gloating and showing you (the reader) what's next in store for the PCs, I'm getting caught up (no game last week) and so- this is the lay of the land. The Giantkillers route so far, although they've been mostly fighting to occupy the small (by giant standards) barracks they at present inhabit, at least for the last five or so sessions, or so it seems to me.

It's worth noting at this point that the PCs have a way to get out of the lair if they need to- in a rush- the figure of '8' teleport chain (they found in the Steading and used to get here) will take them back to Waterdeep, should they choose to employ it. However it takes three PCs three turns to set out the teleportation device correctly, with one of the three holding a picture of their destination (in Waterdeep) and chanting the necessary magic words.

The PCs however are of the opinion that retreat to the winter cave they found outside of the lair during their recon would be their best bet at the moment, they don't want to go home empty handed. They're further convinced that there may be many more frost giants (and friends) left to vanquish. The DM isn't giving anything away.

A decision will (need to) get made should they survive the present encounter. That's the talk atm.

That then is the end of the 20th session of giant-killing.

Book of the Dead.
Egil & Arne- Frost Giants.
Winter Wolf (adults) x5.
Winter Wolf (pups- as Dire Wolves) x3.

Until next time.

Cheers goonalan.