marsden_online | Armexis Journal: To catch a King (Reply)

The lever was as expected a teleport activation. We arrived in a rocky wasteland, near impassable terrain on foot except for the cleared road we stood upon. Before us stood an imposing fortress of piled boulders with only one apparent entrance, a gigantic pair of dark stone doors. We approached with caution, expecting a trap.

On investigation the doors were heavy, but not locked or barred. The giant-scale corridor beyond was magically lit, and hung with tapestries. We proceeded with caution checking behind each for concealed chambers, and I was the first to discover one containing a lone sentry, our first encounter with a fire giant.

He had a horn with which to sound the alarm but Azarel acted first to silence the area. One swing with his tremendous greatsword provided some indication of just how much hurt they could inflict (more again than the frost giants) while the rest of us found out way into positions from which we could safely attack, but then Wengus reached him and wrought his usual bloody destruction.

A second guard position at the end of the corridor was alerted. This contained ettin, a two-headed variety of giant of lesser stature to the fire giants. The were dealt with quickly, but the several fire giants in the great hall ahead were alerted. This battle took longer.

I will take a moment here to mention how valuable Azarel's Slow spell has been in practically every battle against these giants, severely reducing the amount of attacks they can make and therefore the amount of damage we (mostly Oscar, these giants seem to have a particular hatred for dwarves, and Wengus, always in the danger zone) have suffered.

The Great Hall had several corridors off it, and a massive obsidian throne at one end. Behind the throne we found a secret door and elected to follow the passage beyond which led to what we presume to be King Snurr's bedchamber. It was unoccupied but in searching we attracted the attention of a pack of nearby hellhounds which poured into the room, climbing over each other in their eagerness to attack. We are all well protected from fire at the moment by one of Heldig's spells so their fiery breath had no effect and they were no challenge to dispatch, except for everyone trying to get into the fight in relatively close quarters.

A Detect Magic spell cast as part of the search alerted us to a magical affect back down the passageway. We managed to discern the outline of a door, but it took a different spell to reveal how to open it. Beyond was a natural cavern, dark and deep. It was decided that this was probably not where what we were seeking lay, and instead left the bedchamber by the main corridor.

Another of doors opened onto a corridor containing a cluster of armed giants. Naturally everyone fell into rush and attack mode. Azarel used a wand to cast an Enlargement spell on me, giving me the stature of a (small) giant for a short time, an interesting experience and one which requires a shift in tactics.

As the giants responded the equipment and leadership of one marked him as King Snurr. Seeing my chance as the first of his guards fell I was able to throw the Bead of Force I have been carrying around for ages, and he was captured in an impenetrable bubble. At about the same time a door behind us (overlooked in the rush to attack) burst open and more giants started to attack - splitting the party. One of the spellcasters - I'm not sure if it was Perry or Azarel summoned a solid bank of fog around them, meaning the could only emerge one or two at a time. As the last of the giants around the king were killed Oscar and Wengus fell back and slaughtered the newcomers as they emerged from the fog.

I chose to stay near the king, as there was another door which might also open with reinforcements. Looking through it I saw armed and armoured giantesses, they held thier weapond threateningly but did not leave their posts. Closing the door I then scribed on the wall our mission (I know Wengus and Oscar disagree) - to find information of this person 'Eclavdra'. He read it slowly - obviously better with tactics than words, and flinched at the name.

While we waited for the bubble to expire Wengus also decided to look through the door, an action which sent King Snurr into frantic pounding on the wall. Seeing more giants both Wengus and Oscar set to charge. I was able to dissuade Wengus by reminding him of the agreement we reached in the hill giant steading, about not attacking the womenfolk unless they attacked first. Oscar was not party to this agreement, and the subtleties of negotiation were lost. Instead Perry transformed into a dire bear and grappled with Oscar - the struggle heaving back and forth on the stone floor until it reached a point where the door could be closed.

As the bubble expired King Snurr readied to attack. So did Oscar, renewing the struggle with Perry. Fortunately I was able to persuade him to at least listen to our position. Tense negotiations followed, we quickly learnt that Eclavdra is a drow priestess, and has chambers on a lower level. King Snurr initially refused to tell us exactly where, being more afraid of what she could do to him after his death than we could do to him before it, but I persuaded him that if we went our separate ways now he could rally more of his warriors and gain favour by coming to her rescue rather than facing now his death and the death of his queen (guarded by the giantesses through the door).

He reluctantly gave us directions, and a password to get past any fire giant guards we meet on the way. Once we reach the drow area we are on our own again. I think it is better that we face Eclavdra now while we are at relatively full strength and fight out way out if necessary than fight our way in and have to deal with the drow with resources depleted.