(IC) Against the Giants PBP Group 1

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Quinn curses as Valda is dragged off their feet by the bear. He is about to cast a ball of fire to deal with it when Jack's bolt takes the creature in the throat. With the bear taken care of Quinn calls on the healing light of the stars to help Valda with the injured foot.

After healing the fighter Quinn conjured a ball of fire in his hand and hurled it at the giant still engaged with Valda. The Flame struck but wasn't enough to finish off the opponent.

Quinn then shouts trying to end the conflict without anymore killing.

"Your chief is dead. Lay down your weapons and no one else has to die."

OOC: Bonus action: Healing word on Valda.: 2d4+5 10 Because I cast a spell with a spell slot I get my Chalice Healing on Valda. Chalice healing: 2d8+5 9 Action: Produce Flame at the Hill Giant Servant.: 1d20+10 14 2d8 3 Damn that damage roll sucked. Was hoping to drop the giant on Valda so she could move next round.

 

[Hriston]

Bible emits a low "Oof!" as she stands unmoved in front of Cordit, absorbing the blows of the giants' stones with her solid and enlarged form. Summoning all her strength, she steels herself for one last stand.

OOC: She uses her bonus action to regain hit points. Second Wind : 1D10+10 = [6]+10 = 16

She strides purposefully across the chamber, holding Waythe cocked in a high and forward position, and stands face to face (or as close as she can get) with the stone giant. Using the highest Giant-speech she knows, she says, ::You heard the man. The chief is dead. There ain't no alliansk, but if you walk away now, you jus' might live.::

OOC: Charisma (Persuasion): 1D20+3 = [14]+3 = 17 Bible takes the Ready action. If the stone giant makes any motion to attack, she uses her reaction to attack. Bible AC18 HP 58/94 HD 10/10 PP16 2W 0/1 AS 0/1 Ind 1/1 (Sz:Lg 10min; STR:23 1hour)

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Looking around the room at the carnage, the stone giant held up both hands and said, ::By right of the Ordning, I declare myself, Laerthar of Howling Crag, to be highest! Drop your rocks! Cease fighting! We will speak!::

The hill giants were slow to do as they were commanded, but they had never faced so formidable a group of 'smalls' as these, and many of them were more afraid than they had ever known in their lives. They held off and backed their way to the west, standing behind the stone giant where they could and eyeing the group with awe, fear, and suspicion.

When the unruly hill giants were gathered, standing down, the stone giant said, ::What now, then, do you propose?::

 

[Hriston]

Bible shoulders Waythe and looks up at the stone giant.

::I propose the giank raids cease and desisk,:: she says boldly, ::and the gianks enter into good faith negoshkiations with a represen'akive of the smalls, appointed by Lord Falldur, and find an amicable reskolution so that everyone can get along together, no matter the size!:: She looks back at Cordit and gives her little friend a wink.

::In short (because how could I be otherwise?),:: she says, pausing for any giants who might laugh at her self referential aside, ::I propose a cessation of hoskilikies and that the land be troubled no more for the benefik and mutual proskeriky of all! What say you?::

She watches Laerthar warily as she gives over the floor to glean what she can of his motivations.

OOC: Wisdom: 1D20+2 = [10]+2 = 12

 

[Lidgar]

Jack lowered his crossbow but still kept it loaded as Bible spoke in giantish to the stone giant. While he didn't understand what they were saying, he got the gist of it, and appreciated the tact Bible was taking.

Nevertheless, he kept one eye on the other giants and exits to make sure no one got any funny ideas.

OOC: Perception check: 1D20+10 = [14]+10 = 24

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Laerthar's stony face was hard to read, but Bible thought that he seemed honestly regretful when he said, ::I cannot make an such assurances. The alliance of giants travels up the Ordning; though perhaps the Clouds have abandoned us. And right they should. As you say, this venture is pointless animosity, and for what? I do not know. I do not think that my Thane, Arnak knows. We Stones may be involved, but we do not orchestrate it.::

He switched to awkward common to add, "And the Hill Giants are hapless thugs, as usual."

Continuing in the giant tongue he said, indicating the dead chief, ::Nosnra knew more, but I doubt even he understood our goals. If you want peace, I suggest you ask Jarl Grugnor in his Glacial Rift, or if you are very brave, King Snurre in his Iron Hall. Though Grugnor is known to be the more... reasonable of the two.::

::I can offer only this: I will surrender the Steading to you and retreat into the mountains. I will take these with me.:: he said, indicating the remaining Hill Giants with a note of disdain, ::And I will ask Thane Arnak to reconsider the Stones' participation. Or at least to bide awhile, to give you time to negotiate with Grugnor or Snurre. This is the best I can do.::

* * *

During this discussion, while Waythe whined in Bible's head that the murdering had stopped, Jack watched the other Giants. Most stood around dumb-faced and exhausted from the efforts of battle, (it was no surprise that Hill Giants found battle tiring. It must be quite a feat to move around their great bulk at any rushed speed). The youths cried over the dead bear more than the deaths of their parents. But the servant backed toward a nearby wall and suddenly shoved at a wooden beam. The wall pivoted inward, revealing a secret door, and the giant attempted to make his escape.

OOC: He only has 5 HP, so I suspect that Jack can just shoot him in the back before he disappears into the hallway beyond.

 

[Lidgar]

Jacked noted the servant's movement out of the corner of his eye, quickly pivoted while raising Darling, and fired.

"Fool," he muttered. Then, more loudly so the others could hear, "The rest of you stay put! We'll have none of that."

Looking at Valda and Quinn, he mouthed ~watch my back~ while moving towards the secret door. Once there he peered inside and reloaded his crossbow.

OOC: Jack attacks the servant trying to escape. Attack with light crossbow: 1D20+10 = [5]+10 = 15 1D8+6 = [4]+6 = 10

 

[FitzTheRuke]

After Jack shot the escaping servant, there was a tense moment where it looked as if many of the Hill Giants would resume throwing rocks. But as Valda, Bible, and Quinn looked ready to resume their giant-slaying if they had to (much to Waythe's momentary delight), and with Laerthar holding up a hand to them, they quickly de-escalated, returning to a depressed state.

Jack hopped over to the secret door, where his latest "victim" lay with an arrow in his back. The secret door led to a short, empty hallway that had two doors. By his calculations, the closest on his left would lead back to the dorms. The other at the far end appeared to lead outside, or at least, to the southern courtyard.

Spoiler: Map

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Quinn stares at the remaining giants. He did not speak their tongue and was not sure of what the stone giant said. When the one giant fled he turned to cast a spell but Jack was quicker and dropped the creature with a well placed crossbow bolt. Quinn turns to the others.

"Valda, Bible do you have any idea what he just said? From their actions I'm guessing they surrender but it sounded like there was much more to it than that."

OOC: I'm good with the terms proposed but Quinn doesn't speak giant so he has no idea what is going on at the moment.

 

[Hriston]

::Yes, speak with Thane Arnak,:: Bible continues, ::and let him know the Clouds have indeed abandoned the alliansk. I bear the giant-slaying sword Waythe, the Chief-killer, as a token from their Prinsk this is so.::

Bible briefly displays the sword to the giants as proof.

::And although I'd much rather sail the Seven Seas in search of my losk Cap'n, I will go and speak myself with the giank-lords you mention, Grugnor and Snurre, and persuade them to turn back from madness and be at peask onced again with the world of the smalls.::

Bible bows to the stone giant and gives him leave to depart.

Turning in response to Quinn's question, she says, "Yes, Quinn my love, they not only surrender, but they're givin' usk thisk enormous caskle for our home base! We oughta let Lord Falldur know right away in case he wants to bring the garriskon!"