![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
It has been less time than I expected since we defeated the alliance of giants in the steading, but King Roland seems unduly anxious to see us on our way. Most of the treasure has been spent as we equipped ourselves for a likely one-way trip to the frost giant steading shown on the map.
Gimble has departed but we have three new companions who have chosen or been directed to accompany us.
Oscar is a mad dwarven warrior who is everything Moriana is not - undisciplined, unkempt and with no care for clan or culture. The dynamic between them makes for interesting viewing, as Moriana attempts to reconcile loyalty to her race with Oscar's rejection of values she holds dear.
Azarel [Azeral?] is a another gnomish wizard, although the rapier and buckler he carry mark his path as something other than the pure study of magic. He also thinks the name on the letter we have may be drow, rather than human as we thought, which adds yet another worrying dimension to the whole affair.
Heldig [?] is a dwarven cleric accompanying Azarel. He rarely has much to say, but his abilities will be welcome.
~~~
All prepared, we followed the instructions in the letter to lay out the chain which would apparently teleport us to the North and stepped inside. There was a moment's pause, and just as we wondered if it was working the warm surrounds of the courtyard were abruptly replaced with bitter cold and blinding snow. Although most of us are protected from the worst of the cold by magical means as well as heavy clothing continuing to stand in the open was not a good plan.
Nothing living seemed to be about, and Wengus and Perry rapidly located both a discrete ice cave which may serve as a base camp, and a giant-trod trail leading to a dark patch in the glacier. Once we divested of excess firewood and other supplies in the cave we set off along the trail.
The 'dark patch' proved to be a chasm split deep into the glacier. Poor visibility makes it impossible to gauge length or depth. The trail leads narrowly down the side as a ledge - very narrowly, considering giants must use it. This may be to our advantage later on. It is also very slippery, and I was more than once glad for the sure footing provided by recently acquired 'Boots of the Winterlands'.
A split in the side of the chasm led to an ice-cave system. Here we encountered our first frost giants - a pair of sentries who seeing the dwarves leading the party attacked immediately. (I'm not sure that they would have not attacked if there had not been dwarves). They were quickly killed, which may well make the task of finding out who is behind the giants harder as they will doubtless be less inclined to negotiate once the bodies are found. Killing giants is not supposed to be our main mission, although I know Wengus, Moriana and Oscar disagree.
Pressing deeper into the caves we passed some storage areas and then stumbled on a group of young ogres. They were asleep, but Wengus' attempt to kill one immediately was not successful and beyond the silenced area Azarel has created. It's cry of pain woke the others who fell to our combined attacks almost as fast as they jumped to their feet - all but one who had the uncommon sense (or perhaps instructions) to run immediately, doubtless for help.
