(IC) Against the Giants PBP Group 2

[Snarf Zagyg]

Doc stares hard at his companions discussing plans. Finally, he interjects with a slow drawl.

Reckon we got too much tumbleweed in our blood to settle down now.

Doc begins to walk purposefully back toward the action.

OOC: Let's get a move on this- there will be rescuing and information and, I am quite sure, a few souls to harvest ahead of us.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The "deal" with the Stone Giants, executed by Utharn but made with his master, Laerthar, who (at least in his own head) seemed to have taken command of the Steading, now that the chief was dead, was to free the dwarves. Nothing else had been discussed (other than to gather information).

Utharn that the others were holding back and he said, "Our truce has so far borne out, but I ask that you leave now with these dwarves. Escort them to their mountain, or what you will. Unfortunately I cannot let you return to the cellars."

By this time he had opened a door to the front courtyard, where ogres guarded the main gate (and, it was very likey a hill giant or two occupied the watchtower). The dwarves had bunched together into a group, for safety. They were very nearly free.

OOC: It'll probably take a fight, unless you want to make a show of leaving and return later.

Spoiler: Map of Front Exit

 

[Tonguez]

Ultnarn decided things in the barbarians mind, the steinjotunen had honoured the deal and now were escorting them out.
“We can always return” Kahru gave his surreptitious answer to the colonel as he started moving towards the dwarves and the open door.

He had spotted the Watch tower when they first entered, seen the hated ogres and now felt Waythes insistent call for action beating against the inside of his head, a rush of adrenaline, eyes dilating, temples pulsing…

 

[Kobold Stew]

The Colonel did not like this, but he understood. He would return.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Doc gave a slight shrug. There's a bottle o whisky, somewhere, that needs drinkin'.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Utharn held his hand up to the ogres who guarded the front gate. He declared, ::Laerthar the Stone Emissary has granted these small-folk their leave. With Chief Nosnra dead, the Ordning must be respected. Laerthar is currently in charge, and you must do as he says.::

The ogres murmured their objections, but Utharn raised himself to his full height and bellowed, ::There will be no debate!::

They quieted down, but stared begrudging daggers at the group as they made their way out into the hills. It was only evening - something around supper time, and the group was starting to feel it. There was an hour's walk back to Culligan's Cairn. With tired and weak dwarves in tow, it would probably take close to twice that time.

As they made to leave, Utharn spoke once more with them, saying, "I ask you: Do not return. There is no reason for more bloodshed. I do not know his mind, but I expect Laerthar to order our return to the Howling Craig within a day or two."

 

[Steve Gorak]

OOC: Hey @FitzTheRuke, I can't seem to remember what the Howling Craig is. Is it something that was already mentioned or something are characters know? BTW, glad the game is continuing! Thanks and cheers, SG PS: hope you're enjoying your vacation!

 

[FitzTheRuke]

OOC: It was mentioned before. It is the home of the stone giants in the nearby mountains. Their Thane Arnak has kept the peace with your Dwarf clan (that live nearby) in spite of both making claim to the title of King of the Crystalmist Mountains. Usually the stone giants are pretty reasonableas giants go (like Utharn here.)

 

[Steve Gorak]

Before leaving, Gimlak solemnly says to the giant "Thank you Utharn, you honor your kind, and the Dwarves of the Mountain will know that Thane Arnak and his emissary Laerthar helped bring our lost brothers home. We will remember this, and the Dwarves of the mountain will know your name Utharn."

Gimlack also understood Utarn's message. They were not to return while the stone giants remained at the steading as they would need to get involved. It is clear that he will be heading back, to see if they can rescue Harmock the "insolent", and perhaps other innocents.

As they head back to the Cairn, Gimlak makes sure his kin are comfortable and offers encouragement "Rejoice brothers, tonight you are sleeping in a dwarven Cairn!"

OOC: I Say we rest a couple of days, and return to the steading. Sentries could confirm the departure of the Stone Giants

 

[FitzTheRuke]

OOC: A correction: Arnak is the Stone Giant Thane. Laerthar is his emissary here at the steading, and while he allowed Utharn to release the dwarves to you, he didn't strike anyone as particularly reasonable.

 

[Steve Gorak]

OOC: A correction: Arnak is the Stone Giant Thane. Laerthar is his emissary here at the steading, and while he allowed Utharn to release the dwarves to you, he didn't strike anyone as particularly reasonable.

OOC: Sorry, the weeks have flown so the information wasn't fresh in my memory - one of the drawbacks of PBP I've edited the post to reflect this.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

While a cairn wasn't a usual place for the living to sleep, the dwarves were glad to be free and particularly pleased to be heading toward a familiar location. They gave a small cheer, and marched across the rocky, grassy terrain with renewed vigor.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Doc moseyed along the group in silence for a while, smoking his dwindling supply of tobacco. Finally, he gave a low whistle between his thin lips and remarked, as if to himself, but loud enough for the others to hear ... Sounds like the big man told us not to return, but then made sure to tell us to come back in one or two days.

Doc figured he could replenish his smokes and likker at the cairn in the meantime.

 

[Kobold Stew]

The Colonel is relieved that so many of the dwarves are free, but he knows that within himself he is unwilling to let the others remain in captivity. A day or two delay, after the escape they had just accomplished, risks their lives.

He nods to the Stone giant. "We are grateful for your help. No one wants more bloodshed. You have freed the enslaved, and that is a virtue." He is sincere in his thanks, but noncommital about his promises. Anything else he says to the giant is intended to close off discussion and say farewell.

To the dwarves he offers them good wishes. "You are free. I know some of your kin are still inside. Tell me where you are heading and I will do what I can to see they catch up to you."

Then to the group: "Donnell and I shall stay here, within sight of the fort, but not close; there, by that copse. Any may remain with us if you wish. I would see what reinforcements come, if any, to this fort, or whether, as we hope, the Hill giants leave this place for good."

 

[Tonguez]

The Barbarian took a deep breath, scowling at the ogres while fighting the urge to draw his sword and slaughter them all in a mad rage. But that would probably meaning fighting the steinjotenen too and Kahru did not think that honorable.

So as their Prince lead the newly freed dwarfs out the gate and the Colonel took care of niceties, he scanned each of the ogres, trying to spot the eagle-bone whistle, and then got the lay of the courtyard and watchtower in his head.

Kahru also intended to remain and watch the Hill giants fort for the next couple of days. But even moreso the druid intended to stalk the ogres, any would be raiding party, or lone wanderer out to relieve its bowels might find itself a victim of a bear attack, or a vipers poison, or Waythes thirsty blade…

 

[FitzTheRuke]

It was a simple thing for Gimlak to escort the dwarves to the cairn, where he could chose to return with Lord Faldur's night watch (likely to be Siersha or Cromby). Duvrael went with him, still puzzled by his interaction with the strange altar.

When they arrived, the Cairn was in good spirits. Word had reached Lord Faldur that they could expect a company of 30 soldiers to arrive the following day (though probably not early). Between that news, and Gimlak's report of the group's recent successes, Lord Faldur was in high spirits.

At the Steading, the Colonel, Donnell, and Kahru watched from the rocky Tor. At one point, the Fire Giant, Smolderheart, came out the front gate. He appeared to be angry, and his fiery eyes scanned the hills as if he expected to spot some sign of where they had gone. He smoked a gnarled metal pipe for a while, and then turned back into the steading.

The armored hill giants that had patrolled outside the walls were recalled, to man posts about the doors and the watchtower. Overall, the steading was placed in a tight lockdown - no longer concerned with identifying their enemy, but making a greater attempt to keep undesirables out.

No patrols arrived (or exited) the steading as night fell.

OOC: I'm not sure where to place @Snarf Zagyg Doc or @Maxperson Kaligan here, so feel free to throw yourself in with either group.

 

[Kobold Stew]

The Colonel, at a distance, watches the patrols begin again at the fortification. "See that, Donnell? They're regrouping again. Giving them time like this always makes it harder, but it's also demoralizing for them. We're eroding their resources, and they don't have reinforcements coming. Everyone inside will be getting less sleep in the coming days." He's talking to Donnell, but also planning as he does so. "What do you notice about their patrols? See the holes there? And last night, did you notice they're no longer manning the watchtower? That could change, of course, but it's getting better for us."

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Donnell nodded and listened to what the Colonel was teaching him. It had been a taxing couple of days - he had gone from an inexperienced but well-trained youth to having dealt several killing blows to dangerous foes. He had yet to wrap his head around it. It dawned on him, as he gazed down from the darkened hilltop to what little could be seen in the growing gloom of the enormous steading below, that the high-energy excitement that had kept him going was starting to calm, and that he was weary. Perhaps more weary than he had ever experienced before.

Determined not to let the Colonel down, he patted his leg where it had started to cramp up, wedged between two rocks, and he looked toward the watchtower, which was dark (unlike the day before when a giant had been shining a beacon-lantern across the hilltops).

"Better for us." he repeated after the Colonel, nodding.

 

[Tonguez]

The Barbarian Druid offered some good berries to the Colonel and the Squire before hunkering down by the Rocky Tor. Crouching out in the wilds was no great hardship for him, and Kahru watched the steading intently, listening in when the Colonel gave his lesson to the boy and nodding at the assessment of holes in the patrol and the increasing tension that would be brewing behind the walls.

He had paid attention when the hulking Fire Giant came out to scan the horizon, it was Kahrus first chance to study such a creature, since it had been banished from their last encounter, and the northman was still curious about the legendary hard coal skin and fiery hair. Still smoking its iron pipe and retreating back into the steading, it did not seem quite so formidable as his imagination had conjectured.

”I’m going to fly up to the watch tower” Kahru whispered to let his companions know his intentions “maybe get a better idea of whats happening within”

He considered the form of a black fly to better sneak amongst the stinking ogres and fat bellied giants, but the distance to the steading might be too great for a tiny insect. So first calling the shadows of night to help him pass without trace, he opted to wildshape into his hawk form once more and rising up made his way to the dark watch tower …

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Kahru dipped under the thatched rooftop of the watchtower and landed softly on a rafter. They had been wrong that the tower was unguarded: A lone giant sat in the dark next to the alarm gong, mallet in hand. She hadn't noticed the hawk, and wasn't particularly watching outside the tower, but she seemed alert and ready to sound the alarm if she heard any cries or sounds of battle from anywhere within or around the steading.

OOC: @Tonguez - You can dive down the stairs that lead into the gatehouse (you suspect there's ogres down there!), but you'll have to beat a dc14 stealth check (a case could be made for rolling with advantage due to being on silent wings).