Session 9
Pre game notes: They will probably need a rest at this point, and they'll need to figure out what to do about poor Sai. Will they teleport back to Pellak?
Either way, the Oni did double back and escaped deeper into the giant caves.
The Jarl and his remaining giants are prepping a hell of an ambush for the party. Hopefully they will finally meet Laurali, the captive storm giant. Likely they will need her help with the coming ambush.
I've decided to have the Oni (his name is, Luka) ransom at least Sai's spellbook back to the party. He will ask for 10,000gp since he knows there is at least that in the dragon's horde. He will have to be careful about it though. First, he'll recover his health, which should only take a few minutes. Second, he'll want to make contact with the party before they have a chance to rest and return to full strength. If the PC's decide to teleport out, have him contact them before they go. If they stay in the lair, he'll have a little more time. Either way, he will send an ogre with a message.
The Session
What a night! Had probably the toughest fight of this entire campaign.
They start out in the dragon's lair, still searching and deciding whether or not to rest there. And then Jef showed up.
Jef is an extremely good natured, extremely dim ogre, and waved a white flag as he approaches the party with the Oni's letter.
The Letter
If this book that I've so recently procured is what I think it is, I'm sure you'll be wanting it back. I've no use for it, but rather than destroy it I feel that, as reasonable folk in an unreasonable situation, it is in both of our interests that we come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
I'm certain that you are all seething with anger just now at having been unable to secure total victory in your most recent soiree. If your capabilities that I've personally witnessed, not to mention your having bested so many giants, are any indication, I'm guessing the impasse that we now find ourselves at is unusual for you.
But fear not! Humility is as valuable a trait as courage. I, myself, am not so possessed of hubris that I am not well aware that I am indeed fortunate to still be alive to pen this letter. You are fearsome foes indeed!
The long and the short of it is, I have something you want, and you have something I want. I have nothing personally against you, and if you will set aside your wounded pride for a moment, I'm sure that you'll find no personal grievance towards me. Circumstance finds us on opposite sides of a battle. Rest assured that I have no stake in it beyond my own gain. Your reasons for being here are yours, and I have little interest in them. I would also remind you that I could have just as easily slit your wizard's throat rather than help myself to a few of his trinkets. I don't expect your gratitude for that, only that you consider it.
So, now that you understand my intentions, all that is left is to work out the details. I suggest a quick meeting between myself and a single member of your group. I fear it will have to be on my terms, but I can only offer you my word as assurance of your agent's safety.
Please understand, my intention is to talk; to work out a trade that we can both walk away happy with. During this discussion I will not have the book, or indeed, any of your possessions. They will be in the hands of an ogre who has specific instructions to destroy the lot of it should our meeting end in treachery. Ogres aren't good at much, but, credit where it is due, they are excellent at destroying things. So let us enter into our tete-a-tete with pure intentions and honor.
If this is acceptable to you, have your priest make his mark on this letter and return it to my messenger. I will take that as an agreement to the terms and a vow of honorable motive.
Obviously, if this is not to your liking, I will take either your silence or the murder of my messenger as sign of such and you will never see me again.
Yours, L
After reading it they decide to meet with the Oni to find out what it want's, and to my great surprise, Thoradin nominates Edran to be their agent! To my still greater surprise, the rest of the party agrees!To my total bafflement, Edran handles the exchange like a champ, bartering Sai's spellbook and staff back, and even some valuable information in return for 20,000gp. When they eventually claim their goods, it is in the room with the captive storm giant, Laurali. They free the giantess and she joins them in the dragon's lair as they take their much needed rest. They have to stay put for fifteen hours, during which time Krote gets to know Laurali better, Jef wanders in, lonely and hungry after having been deserted by the Oni, and Edran gets acquainted with Whisper, a fine new dagger found in the dragon's horde. Edran also slips off during his watch and does a bit of scouting, following a map drawn by the Oni (part of their deal with him) that shows the location of the ambush being set by the frost giant Jarl. Edran gets a pretty good idea of what awaits them before returning to his friends.
It might also be noted at this point that Edran is not endearing himself to Selendra, taking every opportunity to be snarky to her. The elf knight finally has enough and tells Edran exactly what she thinks of him. On top of that, Edran takes a dislike to poor Jef, and it is only Thoradin and Krote who keep Edran from killing the oblivious ogre.
Also, when their rest is complete, Thoradin rids Selendra and Sai of the curse placed on them by the foul armor.
They talk strategy as to how to deal with the giant ambush awaiting them, and decide on a direct approach, simply charging in after some serious buffing.
They charge into the Jarl's hall and quickly become overwhelmed by the sheer numbers against them. There are eight frost giants, eight fire giant servants (hill giants), four giant polar bears, the Jarl himself, his wife, Estia, and their giant winter wolf pet.
Fights don't get much harder than this one. As much damage as the party dishes out, the giants are relentless, and pile it right back. Laurali, Sai, Jef, Selendra, and Joshua all go down multiple times. Most of them have at least four levels of exhaustion. Edran goes down at least once. The giants are brutal and their hits do an average of thirty points, rarely missing. They press the attack, and it is all Thoradin can do to keep the party on their feet. But at last, a tipping point is reached, and the heroes dig in and keep swinging, killing giant after giant. The Jarl goes down. Then Estia. Finally, only a single frost giant is on his feet, and he runs. The party is in such bad shape that they gladly let him go.
But, just as the giant is about to get away, Edran draws down on him with his bow...and then shifts his aim, putting an arrow into Jef, dropping the ogre.
Thoradin is appalled and furious. Selendra is disgusted. Krote is not happy either. As Thoradin rushes to heal Jef, he promises a very uncomfortable discussion with Edran. Jef, once back on his feet, is happy as ever, and returns Edran's arrow to him. I've decided, at this point, that Jef only gets one death save before he dies for good. He is, after all, only an ogre NPC.
It is just after 10:00am, Harvester 9th.
Notes: This whole session went off very well, and was one of the most enjoyable we've had.
The back and forth with the Oni to buy Sai's belongings back was quite fun, and again, I was shocked, not only that Thoradin suggested Edran as their go-between, but that Edran didn't completely hash the whole business up by attempting some trickery.
Using Jef as the Oni's messenger proved to be an impulse of good fortune. I basically played Jef as utterly stupid, and far too good natured to be much good as an ogre. He enjoys eating and bashing stuff with his club, but he just can't muster the hate in his heart that makes for a really good ogre. Consequently, after the Oni deserted him, Jef wandered back over to the party and they just didn't have the heart to kill him or shoo him away. Edran, for whatever reason, decided he didn't like him, but Jef absolutely adores Edran since Edran makes a lot of puns, and puns are considered the highest form of ogre humor. The rest of the party take a liking to Jef and they now have an ogre tag-along.
The big fight in the Jarl's throne room was brutal! Even with Laurali, the storm giantess, it was all they could do to deal with so many giants.
This is the last session we've played. I'll update after this Sunday's game.
Pre game notes: They will probably need a rest at this point, and they'll need to figure out what to do about poor Sai. Will they teleport back to Pellak?
Either way, the Oni did double back and escaped deeper into the giant caves.
The Jarl and his remaining giants are prepping a hell of an ambush for the party. Hopefully they will finally meet Laurali, the captive storm giant. Likely they will need her help with the coming ambush.
I've decided to have the Oni (his name is, Luka) ransom at least Sai's spellbook back to the party. He will ask for 10,000gp since he knows there is at least that in the dragon's horde. He will have to be careful about it though. First, he'll recover his health, which should only take a few minutes. Second, he'll want to make contact with the party before they have a chance to rest and return to full strength. If the PC's decide to teleport out, have him contact them before they go. If they stay in the lair, he'll have a little more time. Either way, he will send an ogre with a message.
The Session
What a night! Had probably the toughest fight of this entire campaign.
They start out in the dragon's lair, still searching and deciding whether or not to rest there. And then Jef showed up.
Jef is an extremely good natured, extremely dim ogre, and waved a white flag as he approaches the party with the Oni's letter.
The Letter
If this book that I've so recently procured is what I think it is, I'm sure you'll be wanting it back. I've no use for it, but rather than destroy it I feel that, as reasonable folk in an unreasonable situation, it is in both of our interests that we come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
I'm certain that you are all seething with anger just now at having been unable to secure total victory in your most recent soiree. If your capabilities that I've personally witnessed, not to mention your having bested so many giants, are any indication, I'm guessing the impasse that we now find ourselves at is unusual for you.
But fear not! Humility is as valuable a trait as courage. I, myself, am not so possessed of hubris that I am not well aware that I am indeed fortunate to still be alive to pen this letter. You are fearsome foes indeed!
The long and the short of it is, I have something you want, and you have something I want. I have nothing personally against you, and if you will set aside your wounded pride for a moment, I'm sure that you'll find no personal grievance towards me. Circumstance finds us on opposite sides of a battle. Rest assured that I have no stake in it beyond my own gain. Your reasons for being here are yours, and I have little interest in them. I would also remind you that I could have just as easily slit your wizard's throat rather than help myself to a few of his trinkets. I don't expect your gratitude for that, only that you consider it.
So, now that you understand my intentions, all that is left is to work out the details. I suggest a quick meeting between myself and a single member of your group. I fear it will have to be on my terms, but I can only offer you my word as assurance of your agent's safety.
Please understand, my intention is to talk; to work out a trade that we can both walk away happy with. During this discussion I will not have the book, or indeed, any of your possessions. They will be in the hands of an ogre who has specific instructions to destroy the lot of it should our meeting end in treachery. Ogres aren't good at much, but, credit where it is due, they are excellent at destroying things. So let us enter into our tete-a-tete with pure intentions and honor.
If this is acceptable to you, have your priest make his mark on this letter and return it to my messenger. I will take that as an agreement to the terms and a vow of honorable motive.
Obviously, if this is not to your liking, I will take either your silence or the murder of my messenger as sign of such and you will never see me again.
Yours, L
After reading it they decide to meet with the Oni to find out what it want's, and to my great surprise, Thoradin nominates Edran to be their agent! To my still greater surprise, the rest of the party agrees!To my total bafflement, Edran handles the exchange like a champ, bartering Sai's spellbook and staff back, and even some valuable information in return for 20,000gp. When they eventually claim their goods, it is in the room with the captive storm giant, Laurali. They free the giantess and she joins them in the dragon's lair as they take their much needed rest. They have to stay put for fifteen hours, during which time Krote gets to know Laurali better, Jef wanders in, lonely and hungry after having been deserted by the Oni, and Edran gets acquainted with Whisper, a fine new dagger found in the dragon's horde. Edran also slips off during his watch and does a bit of scouting, following a map drawn by the Oni (part of their deal with him) that shows the location of the ambush being set by the frost giant Jarl. Edran gets a pretty good idea of what awaits them before returning to his friends.
It might also be noted at this point that Edran is not endearing himself to Selendra, taking every opportunity to be snarky to her. The elf knight finally has enough and tells Edran exactly what she thinks of him. On top of that, Edran takes a dislike to poor Jef, and it is only Thoradin and Krote who keep Edran from killing the oblivious ogre.
Also, when their rest is complete, Thoradin rids Selendra and Sai of the curse placed on them by the foul armor.
They talk strategy as to how to deal with the giant ambush awaiting them, and decide on a direct approach, simply charging in after some serious buffing.
They charge into the Jarl's hall and quickly become overwhelmed by the sheer numbers against them. There are eight frost giants, eight fire giant servants (hill giants), four giant polar bears, the Jarl himself, his wife, Estia, and their giant winter wolf pet.
Fights don't get much harder than this one. As much damage as the party dishes out, the giants are relentless, and pile it right back. Laurali, Sai, Jef, Selendra, and Joshua all go down multiple times. Most of them have at least four levels of exhaustion. Edran goes down at least once. The giants are brutal and their hits do an average of thirty points, rarely missing. They press the attack, and it is all Thoradin can do to keep the party on their feet. But at last, a tipping point is reached, and the heroes dig in and keep swinging, killing giant after giant. The Jarl goes down. Then Estia. Finally, only a single frost giant is on his feet, and he runs. The party is in such bad shape that they gladly let him go.
But, just as the giant is about to get away, Edran draws down on him with his bow...and then shifts his aim, putting an arrow into Jef, dropping the ogre.
Thoradin is appalled and furious. Selendra is disgusted. Krote is not happy either. As Thoradin rushes to heal Jef, he promises a very uncomfortable discussion with Edran. Jef, once back on his feet, is happy as ever, and returns Edran's arrow to him. I've decided, at this point, that Jef only gets one death save before he dies for good. He is, after all, only an ogre NPC.
It is just after 10:00am, Harvester 9th.
Notes: This whole session went off very well, and was one of the most enjoyable we've had.
The back and forth with the Oni to buy Sai's belongings back was quite fun, and again, I was shocked, not only that Thoradin suggested Edran as their go-between, but that Edran didn't completely hash the whole business up by attempting some trickery.
Using Jef as the Oni's messenger proved to be an impulse of good fortune. I basically played Jef as utterly stupid, and far too good natured to be much good as an ogre. He enjoys eating and bashing stuff with his club, but he just can't muster the hate in his heart that makes for a really good ogre. Consequently, after the Oni deserted him, Jef wandered back over to the party and they just didn't have the heart to kill him or shoo him away. Edran, for whatever reason, decided he didn't like him, but Jef absolutely adores Edran since Edran makes a lot of puns, and puns are considered the highest form of ogre humor. The rest of the party take a liking to Jef and they now have an ogre tag-along.
The big fight in the Jarl's throne room was brutal! Even with Laurali, the storm giantess, it was all they could do to deal with so many giants.
This is the last session we've played. I'll update after this Sunday's game.