The Frost Giant Jarl Part 2
Leo glanced around the room quickly. A large chamber; several mounds of rubble in corners the giants had been excavating. A crude altar against one wall and a primitive throne against another. There were also several frayed tapestries adorning the room. No doubt very old loot from a forgotten raid. Also corpses. Many, many corpses: The Frost Giant Jarl, Heracules, an ogre magus of the Sato clan and numerous Frost Giants, orcs and ogres; and Archduke Ulfius, Master of the Thrinnian Knights, Protector of the Realm etc.
Leo noted that the others were organising themselves. They were just as aware as he was that there were other inhabitants in this complex. After quickly discussing the situation, the group decided that this was the most defensible position. True there was another exit out of this room but the logic was that if there were any more giants in that part of the complex, they would have already come to the aid of the Jarl.
By Leo’s calculations the wall spell holding the other giants at bay should be just about finishing. He put a different type of wall spell, a permanent one there also, but he did not expect it to hold the giants for long. They did have a few moments before the walls came down. Everyone readied themselves. Tarquin dispensed a few minor healing spells, Raven and Xiang stood in the main doorway with Ramu nearby. Fjorent stood back in the room, watching both exits. Suddenly, there was a shimmering in the air. Cailin appeared on top of a mound of frost giant corpses. At the same time, Ramu disappeared. Cailin was a welcome addition although it was sad to lose Ramu. The scout quickly explained that her absence from the Congress was due to a mysterious illness, a strange effect on her physical body. To demonstrate, she concentrated briefly and winked out of sight. Leo could still see her but that was due to his magically aided perception. It was strange. Somehow she was able to will this. At the same time she explained that urgent summons had come from Arypt commanding Ramu to return at once. Dovistar had obliged.
While this was happening, movement was spotted in the unexplored exit. It was too quick to be identified but it was definitely a creature of some sort. Fjorent summoned one of her elementals to deal with it. The foe was seen running into a room. The elemental was sent after it. There was sound of battle and the elemental did not come out. By this stage, there were also sounds of the walls giving way and more frost giants running to aid their Jarl. Hastily, Fjorent summoned another elemental, this one purely to guard the corridor while the group dealt with the more immediate threat.
Leo had glimpsed four other giants. There could be more. He hoped that they would basically rush the group. This was a standard giant tactic. Thankfully this was the case and as the giants came rushing one by one, they were bombarded with spells from Leo and Fjorent. The width of the corridor also worked against them. They could only attack one by one. Therefore, each time a giant reached the warriors, they were severely weakened. Then, against the warriors who had also been bolstered by priestly magic from Tarquin, the giants stood little chance. They were killed one by one. Thankfully there didn’t seem to be any more creatures coming from that direction.
With spells and powers still in effect, the group readied themselves to explore the rest of the complex. Keeping a lookout behind them, the group pushed forward to the occupied room. It was opened to reveal a group of ogres. The brutish creatures had been blocked by the elemental and the group then made short work of them. With the help of Cailin, the group then opened a small collection of doors, which led to the Jarl’s living quarters. He had a trophy room, a couple of bedrooms, there was a barracks for the ogres and the corridor then turned a corner. As Cailin opened the last door before the corner she found it inhabited. A comely young giantess in a revealing fur costume crouched in the far end of the room with her hand on the collar of a large white bear. Xiang, standing next to Cailin, made ready to strike at the foe when they approached. Not a minute too soon as the giantess loosed the bear which charged forward. Fjorent and Leo positioned themselves near behind the warrior and bespelled the bear and giantess, weakening them. Then, behind them, from a door at the end of the corridor, they heard an almighty crash. Leo and Fjorent the bat looked at each other and quickly moved out of sight, around the corner. The giantess and the bear were quickly dealt with but there were still large crashes heard from the other side of the door. The group got themselves into position and carefully maneuvered forward only to be met with a shower of splinters as a large black sword cut its way through the heavy wooden door. Xiang advanced and carefully looked into the entrance.
Then the group heard a voice. The voice was young, plaintive, adolescent.
“ You have slain my father. You have freed me. Thank you. Who are you?”
Xiang answered. “Who are you? Who was your father. Who was your mother? Where is she?”
Xiang was the only one able to see into the room and look at the owner of the voice.
It answered. “My father was the Jarl. My mother was a great white dragon. When I was born she called me abomination and brought me here. My father kept me in this room.”
Leo wasn’t quite sure of the point of this conversation and was about to ask when he saw Xiang raise his spear and heard the familiar noise of the acid gush from the tip. There was an angry shriek followed by a hiss. This signaled the group to move forward to destroy this creature. When Leo moved up and saw the thing, he gaped. The chest, head and arms of a frost giant swayed on the large draconic tail of a reptilian beast. Spells and blows smashed into the creature and it moved drunkenly, unable to land a blow against its enemies. In a brief time, it was dead. Leo felt a brief regret. The creature had obviously been young and unwanted. Neither of its parents knew what to do with it. He also hoped mother was far away.
The group then made its way back. Cailin, moved forward, scouting, followed by Xiang. Suddenly she gave a shout that she had spotted something and ran down the corridor. Both Leo and Fjorent had the ability to fly and they quickly followed after her but the rogue was very quick. A few seconds later they found her next to a large ogre corpse. Although burnt, this corpse was more richly adorned and dressed than the average ogre they had found in the complex. It seemed to be some sort of ogre leader. So, the corpse was dragged by every one to the Jarl’s throne room while Cailin then went to search the Jarl’s living quarters. It took a little time, especially as Cailin fell victim to several magical and mechanical traps but finally various bits of treasure were put together. Heracules was found to posess a small piece of folding cloth that could store a miraculous amount of goods so most of the treasure went in there. Finally, Clarendon was called into the cavern where he was shown Ulfius’s corpse. He looked shocked but then he gathered it and disappeared, promising to stay in touch. The group also left via a transport spell, arriving back in Gaxmoor.
Leo reported to Dovistar, who promptly told Leo that the White Way was moving back to Imarr. Leo just nodded. This didn’t come as a great surprise to him. The group then left most of their loot in the tower and with Fjorent’s “tree stepping” ability, she together with Leo, Cailin and Tarquin went to Scornel. There they reported to Kanor. He seemed preoccupied with the negotiations with the Overkingdom and also visibly relieved to hear that the cambion was finally dead. Certain rituals were performed on Heracules’s body and his ashes were scattered over the lake.
Arriving back in Gaxmoor, the group first split the monies and items they had gained from their latest foray. A few of the items were dangerous, including a Tome of Ultimate Evil and two swords but these were destroyed. Then the split was made. After that, Fjorent and Cailin went to Beskarn and that was the last Leo saw of them. He was busy working on his spellbook, adding new spells and learning about a marvellous new phenomenum called the magical flux about which he had never heard before.
After he had finished, Leo called on Dovistar and had a long conversation with the old mage. They discussed many things. The future of the White Way and its role in the coming war; the sway of the Blue Light Society in Imarr; the need to put internal squabbles to rest while facing the threat of the Mongali; and finally Leo’s own future role especially after certain events in Scornel.
Finally, Leo made an appointment to see Kanor.
Leo glanced around the room quickly. A large chamber; several mounds of rubble in corners the giants had been excavating. A crude altar against one wall and a primitive throne against another. There were also several frayed tapestries adorning the room. No doubt very old loot from a forgotten raid. Also corpses. Many, many corpses: The Frost Giant Jarl, Heracules, an ogre magus of the Sato clan and numerous Frost Giants, orcs and ogres; and Archduke Ulfius, Master of the Thrinnian Knights, Protector of the Realm etc.
Leo noted that the others were organising themselves. They were just as aware as he was that there were other inhabitants in this complex. After quickly discussing the situation, the group decided that this was the most defensible position. True there was another exit out of this room but the logic was that if there were any more giants in that part of the complex, they would have already come to the aid of the Jarl.
By Leo’s calculations the wall spell holding the other giants at bay should be just about finishing. He put a different type of wall spell, a permanent one there also, but he did not expect it to hold the giants for long. They did have a few moments before the walls came down. Everyone readied themselves. Tarquin dispensed a few minor healing spells, Raven and Xiang stood in the main doorway with Ramu nearby. Fjorent stood back in the room, watching both exits. Suddenly, there was a shimmering in the air. Cailin appeared on top of a mound of frost giant corpses. At the same time, Ramu disappeared. Cailin was a welcome addition although it was sad to lose Ramu. The scout quickly explained that her absence from the Congress was due to a mysterious illness, a strange effect on her physical body. To demonstrate, she concentrated briefly and winked out of sight. Leo could still see her but that was due to his magically aided perception. It was strange. Somehow she was able to will this. At the same time she explained that urgent summons had come from Arypt commanding Ramu to return at once. Dovistar had obliged.
While this was happening, movement was spotted in the unexplored exit. It was too quick to be identified but it was definitely a creature of some sort. Fjorent summoned one of her elementals to deal with it. The foe was seen running into a room. The elemental was sent after it. There was sound of battle and the elemental did not come out. By this stage, there were also sounds of the walls giving way and more frost giants running to aid their Jarl. Hastily, Fjorent summoned another elemental, this one purely to guard the corridor while the group dealt with the more immediate threat.
Leo had glimpsed four other giants. There could be more. He hoped that they would basically rush the group. This was a standard giant tactic. Thankfully this was the case and as the giants came rushing one by one, they were bombarded with spells from Leo and Fjorent. The width of the corridor also worked against them. They could only attack one by one. Therefore, each time a giant reached the warriors, they were severely weakened. Then, against the warriors who had also been bolstered by priestly magic from Tarquin, the giants stood little chance. They were killed one by one. Thankfully there didn’t seem to be any more creatures coming from that direction.
With spells and powers still in effect, the group readied themselves to explore the rest of the complex. Keeping a lookout behind them, the group pushed forward to the occupied room. It was opened to reveal a group of ogres. The brutish creatures had been blocked by the elemental and the group then made short work of them. With the help of Cailin, the group then opened a small collection of doors, which led to the Jarl’s living quarters. He had a trophy room, a couple of bedrooms, there was a barracks for the ogres and the corridor then turned a corner. As Cailin opened the last door before the corner she found it inhabited. A comely young giantess in a revealing fur costume crouched in the far end of the room with her hand on the collar of a large white bear. Xiang, standing next to Cailin, made ready to strike at the foe when they approached. Not a minute too soon as the giantess loosed the bear which charged forward. Fjorent and Leo positioned themselves near behind the warrior and bespelled the bear and giantess, weakening them. Then, behind them, from a door at the end of the corridor, they heard an almighty crash. Leo and Fjorent the bat looked at each other and quickly moved out of sight, around the corner. The giantess and the bear were quickly dealt with but there were still large crashes heard from the other side of the door. The group got themselves into position and carefully maneuvered forward only to be met with a shower of splinters as a large black sword cut its way through the heavy wooden door. Xiang advanced and carefully looked into the entrance.
Then the group heard a voice. The voice was young, plaintive, adolescent.
“ You have slain my father. You have freed me. Thank you. Who are you?”
Xiang answered. “Who are you? Who was your father. Who was your mother? Where is she?”
Xiang was the only one able to see into the room and look at the owner of the voice.
It answered. “My father was the Jarl. My mother was a great white dragon. When I was born she called me abomination and brought me here. My father kept me in this room.”
Leo wasn’t quite sure of the point of this conversation and was about to ask when he saw Xiang raise his spear and heard the familiar noise of the acid gush from the tip. There was an angry shriek followed by a hiss. This signaled the group to move forward to destroy this creature. When Leo moved up and saw the thing, he gaped. The chest, head and arms of a frost giant swayed on the large draconic tail of a reptilian beast. Spells and blows smashed into the creature and it moved drunkenly, unable to land a blow against its enemies. In a brief time, it was dead. Leo felt a brief regret. The creature had obviously been young and unwanted. Neither of its parents knew what to do with it. He also hoped mother was far away.
The group then made its way back. Cailin, moved forward, scouting, followed by Xiang. Suddenly she gave a shout that she had spotted something and ran down the corridor. Both Leo and Fjorent had the ability to fly and they quickly followed after her but the rogue was very quick. A few seconds later they found her next to a large ogre corpse. Although burnt, this corpse was more richly adorned and dressed than the average ogre they had found in the complex. It seemed to be some sort of ogre leader. So, the corpse was dragged by every one to the Jarl’s throne room while Cailin then went to search the Jarl’s living quarters. It took a little time, especially as Cailin fell victim to several magical and mechanical traps but finally various bits of treasure were put together. Heracules was found to posess a small piece of folding cloth that could store a miraculous amount of goods so most of the treasure went in there. Finally, Clarendon was called into the cavern where he was shown Ulfius’s corpse. He looked shocked but then he gathered it and disappeared, promising to stay in touch. The group also left via a transport spell, arriving back in Gaxmoor.
Leo reported to Dovistar, who promptly told Leo that the White Way was moving back to Imarr. Leo just nodded. This didn’t come as a great surprise to him. The group then left most of their loot in the tower and with Fjorent’s “tree stepping” ability, she together with Leo, Cailin and Tarquin went to Scornel. There they reported to Kanor. He seemed preoccupied with the negotiations with the Overkingdom and also visibly relieved to hear that the cambion was finally dead. Certain rituals were performed on Heracules’s body and his ashes were scattered over the lake.
Arriving back in Gaxmoor, the group first split the monies and items they had gained from their latest foray. A few of the items were dangerous, including a Tome of Ultimate Evil and two swords but these were destroyed. Then the split was made. After that, Fjorent and Cailin went to Beskarn and that was the last Leo saw of them. He was busy working on his spellbook, adding new spells and learning about a marvellous new phenomenum called the magical flux about which he had never heard before.
After he had finished, Leo called on Dovistar and had a long conversation with the old mage. They discussed many things. The future of the White Way and its role in the coming war; the sway of the Blue Light Society in Imarr; the need to put internal squabbles to rest while facing the threat of the Mongali; and finally Leo’s own future role especially after certain events in Scornel.
Finally, Leo made an appointment to see Kanor.
