D&D 5E [IC] Creamsteak's Storm King's Thunder: Waterdeep

[Creamsteak]

OOC: Insert montage of the party traveling side by side with the good-natured frost giant Harshnag as they banter back and forth and gradually make their way to the SPine of the World Mountains while do-gooding and wrecking the occasional evil giants.

Mountains of ice and black rock form a sky-scraping wall of frigid peaks across the far north, which few creatures have the ability to surmount. Brutally cold winds, avalanches, and icy rifts are the least of a traveler’s problems in the Spine of the World. Tribes of giants, goblinoids, and orcs dwell there, holding every cavern or abandoned dwarven delve but those claimed by dragons.

To get to the Eye of the All-Father you must pass through Valley of Khedrun. The frozen vale on the southern fringe of the Spine of the World is named for a legendary dwarf hero who used his axe to carve out the homeland of the dwarves in the North from lands dark with wolves, orcs, and goblinoids. The Valley of Khedrun is haunted by the Great Worm tribe of Uthgardt barbarians.The frozen vale on the southern fringe of the Spine of the World is named for a legendary dwarf hero who used his axe to carve out the homeland of the dwarves in the North from lands dark with wolves, orcs, and goblinoids.

After two days traversing the desolate valley, Harshnag finds the pass. A 40-foot-wide, naturally formed stone causeway leads to the entrance of the Eye of the All-Father. Sheer cliffs plunge hundreds of feet on both sides of the route. The causeway is covered with a foot of snow.

OOC: Take some time to update characters to 7th level and check in.

 

[Yavathol]

OOC: Gul checking in: Warlock 2 Evoker 5 => Fireball !! Dah di dah duh duh da!!

 

[Kobold Stew]

There's a crispness on the surface of the ground that gives way with each step, a thin layer of ice that falls away into the powdered snow beneath, making the gait of the travellers uneven. Snowshoes would help, of course, but they don't have them. Nevertheless, the small halfling leads the way. She's squinting, which makes her eyes look funny, but it keeps the snow from blinding her. Beside her, Whistler takes the bulk of the direct wind, as she travels in his lee. Even with the adverse weather, though, she is able to lead her companions and they make much better time than anyone expects.

OOC: Bellalalalinda now level 7 (woo hoo; thanks). Natural explorer means the group isn't slowed when travelling, and can't be lost non-magically.

 

[Steve Gorak]

OOC: Also checking in. Really hesitating about going level paladin 7, or Paladin6/sorcerer 1 for shield and absorb elements... [MENTION=552]Creamsteak[/MENTION], I was wondering, Davaros never uses his paladin oath features. Would it be ok if he became an oath of the ancients vs oath of vengence? This would skew my decision towards paladin 7 for the cool resistance against spells 10ft aura. Now, if you are open to this, would the magic resistance against spells work with his sword's fire damage? It's similar to a heat metal effect, so I wanted to check. Thanks!

 

[Creamsteak]

OOC: Um. Sure on the oath switch and the elemental resistance type change to fire from cold.

A 40-foot-wide, naturally formed stone causeway leads to the entrance of the Eye of the All-Father. Sheer cliffs plunge hundreds of feet on both sides of the route. The causeway is covered with a foot of snow, in which the characters can see fresh tracks heading toward the mountainside.

The causeway ends before a stone dome carved from the mountainside. Six 30-foot-tall stone pillars support the dome, which is in no danger of collapse, even if the pillars were to be toppled. Each pillar is carved with a wraparound bas-relief. From north to south, the pillars depict the following scenes:

A hill giant lifting a rock above its head
A frost giant chopping down a great pine
A cloud giant flying among birds in the sky
A flying storm giant hurling lightning bolts at a ship
A stone giant climbing a mountain
A fire giant with chained dwarf prisoners in a cavern

At the back of the dome, a 40-foot-wide, 40-foot-high hallway heads into the mountain. Wind has blown the snow far into the hallway. The snow thins out and disappears after about 100 feet. The tracks continue east into the dungeon complex.

 

[Yavathol]

 "Astonishing!" Gul muttered as he gazed upon the massive pillars, "Do you know how old this place is, Harshnag?"
With nary a pause in his pace, he proceeded towards the entrance into the mountainside, stopping a short distance in and peering on, looking for lights.

OOC: Note: Gul will cast Shield with a warlock slot as a reaction if he is hit by an attack (+5 to AC) Gul has darkvision 120'. [MENTION=1727]kobold[/MENTION]Stew, can Bella identify what made the tracks, do you think?

 

[sblock=status]Gul hp 40/40 Temp.hp 7

Str +0 Dex +2, Con +1, Int +4, Wis +0(+3 Saves), Cha +2(+5 Saves)

Arcana +7, Religion +7, Investigation +7, Stealth +5 (disadvantage), Survival +3, Concentration +1

AC 18

Inspiration: no
Concentrating: no
 

Spells/day: 4/4 3/3 2/2

Pact Magic(1st): 2/2

HD: 4d6+2d8/4d6+2d8

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...ng-s-Thunder&p=6897185&viewfull=1#post6897185
[/sblock]

 

[Kobold Stew]

When Gul points out the tracks, Whistler makes his way over to them, as the small gnome sits proudly on his back. Her back is straight, and Whistler's large fists provide a steady gait through the fresh snow as he positions himself over the tracks.

From her perch, she examines the tracks, and the direction they head. She tells her companions what she sees.

OOC: Wisdom: Survival [roll0] to track, or (if they are humanoid or giant tracks) there's advantage, so it's the better of that roll and [roll1] to track and recall knowledge about the quarry.

 

[Creamsteak]

To Gul, Harshnag replies, "Old. I don't even know if the Storm King could tell you quite how old."

Bell is able to determine that the tracks are those of 8 humans, likely local barbarians.

 

[Kobold Stew]

"The tracks go in, but there's no signs of departure," the small voice of the gnome says. "And they're recent -- within the past day, given the amount of snowfall in the impressions."

She's comfortable with her assessment, and sounds more professional than she often does, when she's not distracted.

 

[Yavathol]

"I think the local barbarians are called Uthgardt", Gul said, "They're meant to be savages, with a bad reputation."

OOC: Is the hallway dark up ahead, or is it open enough to the elements that we can see for some distance?