Hall of the Fire Giant King
Exerpt from a Live
tabletop role-playing game of AD&D
Played online via voip on Mplayer.com
1999-2000
After playing for several hours, the following is a summary of events
written by the DM immediately after each session.
Session
2:
A
plea for help across the
The
Great King Kimbertos Skotti calls for their audience and Requests his Ranger
Lord, the mighty Lord Bancroft V to enlist their aid in their battle against
storming Giant attacks on their border.
An abandoned outpost created to flank the Giants was cutoff by a river
of lava and one of Bancroft’s precious Rangers, Thobicus Sheerwind was stranded
behind enemy lines. Ranger scouts
searching for Thobicus under the bright sun, retrieved a clue believed to be
left by Thobicus, engraved in a molten rock, saying “Searching...I need help”.
The
party is dispatched at once to find Thobicus’s whereabouts and bring him safely
to Sterich. It is certain that his
information on the enemies movements will be vital to
the success of the King. Accompanied
only by a mute guide called Zolak, the party crosses the treacherous lava gorge
and discovers the desolate outpost, known as #8. After scourering through the abundant
supplies, the group decides to split into two groups of two to find Thobicus.
After a full day of tedious searching the party comes up
empty handed, only finding a small black ornate kitchen knife of strange origin
some three miles east of the outpost.
With
cuts and bruises from the untamed Mountains, the group establishes their first
base camp. It is when the sun descends
and the Moon enlightens the land, that the rescuers
discover what they were searching for....
From
the middle of the outpost ...up the mountain toward the south they discover a
long trail of glowing dust that eminates from the moons light. It is strongly believed that this is Thobicus’s
sign of his whereabouts. Arming their
weapons the party commences without rest.
The mountain proves to be testing with it’s
steep climbs and dangerous hot gases, yet they continue on relentlessly. It is then that they discover
.....The Court of a different King.....
Session
3 1/14/00
It
is decided by the group , that considering the size of
the well-hidden establishment, more help would be needed to explore it’s
mystery. All but Joth Highwind decide it
best to climb back down the mountain and find help from Sterich.
During
Joth’s wait outside the Hall of the Fire Giant King, he befriends a renegade
Gnome who happened to be hunting for food.
Joth becomes impatient and decides to take a look into the fortress. The gnome agrees to watch his back and
together, they opened the great vault.
Peering
down a dark and massive corridor, Joth Highwind enters.....
Session
4:
Rumor
is out in Sterich that the King Snurre himself, Lord of the Fire Giants, is set
up a command fortress close to the maruading Giant attacks front. These words has sent
fear among the hearts of the Sterichs.
Rumors have become out of control, however, one fact remains...A Ranger
known as Joth Highwind awaits the assistance from King Kimbertos Skotti way
atop the Jotens Mountain Range. It is
believed that Joth has found the missing Partisan Ranger, Thobicus Sheerwind or
his whereabouts and is awaiting assistance outside King Snurre’s fortress. Meanwhile in the local taverns, talk is
robust as daring fools boast of taking arms against
Snurre, however, no one yet as stepped forward in bravery. King Scotti has issued orders to Supreme
Ranger Knight Bancroft V to send a reconnaisance group at once. News of recent developments have reached as far as the Theocracy of the Pale.
Session
5:
It
wasn’t long before Lord Bancroft V charged one his supreme
It
was less than 18 hours before the first horse-drawn wagon full of supplies
rounded the corner of the great wall of Sterich, heading for one direction,
King Snurre’s Fortress. The wagon slowly
churned up the mountain,
followed by a group of partisans, with the help of Zolak , the
guide. In this party, Cornelius himself
prone upon his horse leaded the group of specialists, thieves, clerics,
magic-users and fighters. The travel was
gruelly and time was surely of the essence.
There was an uneasy feeling in each of the brave men’s stomach, as
uncertainty had won the upperhand.
It
had been several days now, and Joth was becoming ill-faded, would the King send
help? Joth had spent most of the days
spying and tracking the movements of the giants and humanoid types. Having perched himself high atop a tree, his
lookout was quite superior, and it was from this vantage point that Joth could
see the approaching caravan. The King
had sent help. At
last.
Within
a matter of minutes, Cornelius had gathered the party among Joth with quick and
silent introductions hastened. Joth was
glad to see his new friend Bootes, the gnome accompanying the group. His eyes and ears were highly keen, and his
observations would help the party immensly.
The
sun had begun to drop, and the doors to the Hall of the Fire Giant King were
once again opened. The sound of battle
could be heard far down the mountain on the borders of Sterich as the giant
hordes engrossed the Sterich militia, yet upon this rock, amidst the great
vault of this horror lied a dark passageway into a
battle yet to begin.
Session
6:
The
corridors of the massive giant fortress were tall and forboding, strewn with
bloody tapestries depicting Fire Giants in war.
The leader of the party, Joth cautioned all to move quietly and stay
together. Bootes scouted ahead of the
party using his keen sense of sight, and it wasn’t long before he was rushing
back to the party with warnings of approaching danger. It was too late, Fire Giants sentries rushed
to the instruders with intent to capture or kill. Thanks to Bootes’ warnings, however, the
party was well prepared. The Fire Giants
at the entrance were slain, except one who surrendered as immediately as the
melee at began. There was no one who
could understand the pathetic giants’ plea for mercy. Cornelius simply ordered him to be tied and
gagged.
The
party found themselves almost immediately in the main chamber of King Snurre’s
audience. It was clear by the massive
throne upon the far wall, that the King was near. The fact that the throne room was empty could
only mean one thing,... that the party was in the
heart of evil. Even though an alarm had
not sounded, and the Giants may be busy in their day to day routine, finding
Thobicus was going to be no easy task.
Joth looked at Cornelius, as if....Are we ready for this.?..
Cornelius immediately dispatched Mahalith to bring the others who were guarding
the caravan outside. Wounds from the
first engagement were mended and the party starting down one of the massive
hallways. Everyone tried desperately to
keep their weapons and armaments from making noise as they crept further within
the fortress. Joth led the group as
Bootes scouted ahead. Cornelius Astaband
held his Holy Avenger out in front of him to lighten the area with it’s gleam. Argent, a
dragon-blooded human cleric and an oriental priest named Chang brought up the
rear. Hours had passed with only a minor
scuffle with Hell Hounds, when the group found themselves within the Queen’s
chamber. The element of surprise was
with the party as Joth burst the door to her place. The Queen of the Fire Giants was totally
surprised but her escort, a noble-looking giant, was able to let out a cry for
help. Topped by a huge mass of yellow
orange hair which looked like a fright wig, the Queen was a mass of jowls and
wrinkles. Her body, lumpy and gross, and
her skin was covered with bristles the color of her hair. Done in Black Dragon Hides, the Queen armed a
large Iron sceptre as the party gazed in horror. Her bishop was quickly silenced by Joth, and
as the Queen lunged haphazardly into battle, Cornelius would find himself
holding her severed head in the end. But
now, the King knew they were here.
Session
#6, Mar.16, 2000
With
the Queen of the fire giants lying headless on the floor and the far off sounds
of clammer, it was evident that Joth’s intrusion into the giants
domain was known. Joth raised his sword
exclaiming that the party move in haste. When they exited the chamber and started
farther within the complex, Cornelius ordered the oriental, Chang and his
henchmen Argent back to the caravan to bring up more supplies. Cornelius insisted that one known only as
Bocephus Bilgewater bring up the materials, for his
Strength and hardiness would be much needed.
Joth was to wander who this Bocephus was... It wasn’t long before a huge , ghastly pirate approached the party exclaiming,
“Aaaaaargh, me planks be wormed over!”, “ Like a dwarf at a urinal, I'll have
ta be on me toes.” Joth and the others
were even more puzzled at this grizzly man before them wielding a hefty
scimitar. But most instantly, Bootes
rounded the corner with news once again of Fire Giants! This time according to Bootes, the giants
were beginning to set up defensive positions against the intruding
Sterichs. Just ahead, giant tables were
overturned and were protecting a host of giants. As the party approached, Hell Hounds were
once again unleased to feed, but Cornelius’s and Joth’s quick reflexes would
not allow them to be surprised and the fire dogs were slain. It was at this time, that the Giants unleased
a barrage of boulders, and Cornelius was hit squarly in the back of the
head. As he focused on what had
happened, his hireling, Bocephus had already charged the group with his sword
flingling wildly! Joth followed suit and
charged the giants as well. This most
foolhardy move had surprised the entrenchment as it wasn’t long before it too
succumbed to the swords of the Rangers.
Bootes had issued a Web spell to aid in the defeat of the Giantkind, and
as Joth and Cornelius rushed after a fleeing giant, Bocephus gladly finished off
the giants and helped himself to their wine.
The party had followed a fleeing Giant to two large double doors with
Flaming Skulls adorned. What could be
within?
Session
#7 ,
The huge flaming skull
doors were opened and the party would feel a rush of cold damp air upon them as
they peered down a steep slope of molten rock.
The brilliant holy sword of Cornelius Astaband would once again light
the way, as Bootes scouted ahead. The
previous rest had allowed Bootes to study his magic and Joth had sent for the
assistance of a stealth oriental from the caravan outside. A Samuari named Oni would be called to
duty. The tunnel stretched far down into
darkness when it finally leveled out to a huge, mist-filled cavern. Bootes, the gnome stopped in his tracks to
survey the area as the rest of the party filed in behind Joth Highwind. The place was huge and the eerie smoke that
covered the floor was forboding to say the least. The party moved slowly on. Oni slithered along the wall parallel to the
party movements. Suddenly, a large
grumbling could be heard as a fierce ten headed hydra emerged from a pit
ahead! The party was not surprised but
was expected the fiend to unleash a barrag of firebreath. Bootes was engulfed in flames as he ran
away. "Drop and Roll!, exclaimed the Pirate as he pulled his large scimitar from
his belt. Oni was behind the creatured
and rushed at it with his Katana, but one of the many heads would swing around
and let out another fireball. The party
surrounded the creature and dodged its sharp teeth and fire attacks as they
would take each head one on one.
Cornelius body blows were obviously doing no damaged and as the majority
of the group began to take wounds, shouted, "Attack their heads!, it's our only hope!"
Soon, the heads of the hydra were being knocked off one at a time and
the great creature fell back into the pit as it's last
head fell victim to the group. The party
found themselves within the treasure room of the great place and their efforts
were handsomely awarded. Although many
of the found trunks and coffers were trapped, Bootes and Cornelius were
successful in opening all successfully.
Besides near death experiences with deadly invisible aps, the party was
found rejoicing in the gold. The pirate,
Bocephus was espiacially esthatic, and his spirits were hard to control. Joth felt it was time to feel to rejoice but
even he would wonder on Thobicus's well-being as well as himself and the party
he had entrothed.
Session
#8,
Great
magic from a particular ring found in the King’s treasure room gave Joth
Highwind divine knowledge of Thobicus’s whereabouts. Joth spoke to the group, “Thobicus is in a
prison cell on the second level of this place, he is in good well being but uncertain for how
long.” All was in agreement that the party move in haste to find the entrance to the next
level. Having come to a dead end on this
section of the Hall of the Fire Giant King, there was no choice but to
backtrack. The party
found themselves once again in the king’s audience and throne room, however,
this time, the two main corridors to the west were blocked by very large
rock boulders. Bootes immediately cast
Passwall, a powerful spell written by Wizard Zygag many decades earlier. Magnificently, a perfect doorway was formed
into the rocks, as
Mahalith appeared from the main entrance. Mahalith was summoned by Cornelius so the
group now was escorted by two magic-users.
Oni the Samuari would remain also for his fighting prowess. Instantly, two Fire Giant guards were seen on
the other side of the portal, yet their backs were turned from the wall. Joth charged in as the rest followed. The melee with the guards was brief and as
the bodies were searched, a doorway was found on the south wall of the hallway. Joth busted the door ajar and entered
surprising numerous dog-like humanoid creatures as they worked. They appeared to be slaves by their actions,
sweeping, dusting and generally housekeeping the area. When the rest of the men entered with swords
in hand, the creatures immediately raised their arms in the air to surrender.
It
was decided that these creatures should be freed, and the samuari was requested
to escort them outside. Oni did so at
once and when he reached the entrance said, “Go! ...and be free!” Yet, oddly enough the creatures merely
stood outside gazing at themselves and began wandering in circles about the
entranceway, kicking dust. Oni felt he
did what he could and shut the entrance door and returned to the party. The members of the caravan outside was
perplexed at these eight or so humanoids...., and as the door shut, Bocephus
the pirate shrugged, pulled out his scimitar, and walked towards the creatures.
Meanwhile
as Oni was returning, the group discovered a dwarf hiding in an adjacent
room. After much interrogation, the
dwarf said his name was Obmi and that he was a prisoner of the giants. He went on the say that he had been
imprisoned for some ten years made to scribe the scrolls and design the various
layouts of the complex. His story was in
doubt and Cornelius became very cautious of his behavior. At any rate the dwarf was asked to get his
gear and come along with the party. But
with much trickery the dwarf, having doned a magic ring... went invisible and
tried to escape! There was immediate
panic and everyone scrambled to reach out and grab at every wisp of air. Cornelius was fortunate as he felt someone
stumble into his backside and at once he bearhugged and captured the
mischievous dwarf. Joth ordered him tied
and gagged. Bootes used his magic once
again and charmed the dwarf. It was then
that the group realized who they had caught.....the King’s own Advisor. “We will force this one known as Obmi, to
make us maps so that we may find Thobicus swiftly.” So it would be done.
Session#9,
The
maps proved to be very helpful and by closely examining it’s
fine details, Cornelius, Mahalith, Joth and Bootes were able to deduct the
location of the prison cells. Yet the entrance
to the lower level was uncertain, and further exploration was in order. They decided to first begin by investigating
rooms that seemed important on the map, which led them to a large ‘kitchen’
full of Gnolls and a Fire Giantess matron.
The matron was slain as she made an offensive attack on the group with a
butcher knife and her Gnoll slaves were escorted to freedom by Mahalith. What appeared at first to be a tunnel to the
lower level on the map, became just a large garbage
disposal for food waste for the cooks.
Mahalith explored briefly, but was most positive that it led to a lava
pit due to the extreme tempatures. The
party turned around and started back towards the west portion of the hall.
As
they rounded a corner, at last, a large corridor descending rapidly into the
earth was found. “This must be the way”,
exclaimed Cornelius. After several
minutes of descent, it was certain they were on the second level of the place
and sure enough, the map indicated so with the hallway patterns. Once they reached the area, Joth motioned for
all to speedily make their way to the cells.
The cells were cramp and dungy, and littered with straw and
bones. Shackles, chains and food pans
adorned the corners. The first cell
contained a group of elvish men, all weak and fibble. The bars to the cell were bent by Cornelius
as he helped them up one at a time.
One
of the elves spoke up and stated that they were escorts to the Elvish Queen of
the
They
had found Thobicus Sheerwind.
End
of Part I of this two part series. Join
us for the beginning of Part II on April 20.
Thobicus
was one of five elite scouts sent out to spy on the movements of the Giants who
were attacking the borders of Sterich.
When they departed to the
Thobicus
had reached Outpost #8 when a lava surge broke apart the trail he had followed
behind him. He began searching unknown
territory far up the Jotens when he found an entrance to a large
structure. The tracks were of all Giant
types, Ogre, Gnolls, Trolls, and Horses.
Thobicus immediately ran back to the outpost and used Moondust to mark
the entrance of the Giant Hall. He then
found it necessary to find out as much information ‘within’ the hall as
possible.
The
following is Thobicus’s account of those events and the information he found
prior to his capture........
“A group of Ogres, maybe seven or more, had pulled up to the front
of the fortress with a horse-drawn wagon.
Most of the Ogres entered the complex while two conversed with a Fire
Giant sentry. Having spent most the
afternoon spying on the movements prior to these ogres arrival, I felt this was
my best chance to enter the complex. I
snuck up and slipped inside the wagon and waited. The wagon was full of human heads, presumably
from the fighting down the mountain. I
tried desperately not to gag as I heard the sentry approaching the wagon. I quickly burried myself in the carnage, yet
my head was still exposed. It was too
late, the tarp of the wagon was lifted and I froze. A large Fire Giant starred right down at me
as I lay motionless. He mumbled
something in giant-tongue and closed the tarp.
I was very lucky. Before long the cart started moving and the air became hot and
thick. It was also much darker
and there was a unusual smell mixed with burnt
ash. The cart moved for some twenty
minutes before coming to a halt. I heard
many voices and movements. At times,
there was much clamor and ear-splittering screams. A dog’s barking could strangely be heard at
times also. I waited patiently for hours
before making my move. After a period of
silence, I lifted myself out of the heads and peaked out of the wagon
tarp. I was in some kind of horse
stable. I saw no one as I climbed out of
the wagon. I was covered in blood and
tried briefly to clean myself. I removed
my tunic and shirt and armed my darts about my waist. I had stuffed my hat within my trousers so it
was all I had that was untarnished. The
hat gave me comfort. I
proceded down a hallway. Time
stood still as I crept ever slowly down the massive corridors. Fire Giant sentries were everywhere, but I
slipped past them as they nodded or dozed.
I would crouch in corners at times as several walked past me. Most were heading in the same general
direction, so I hazardly followed. I
came to a large set of double doors that were closed. There was much conversation on the inside. Mostly giant-tongue. There was large weapons
hung on a rack beside the entrance and a few large sacks. I briefly looked in the sacks. There were grains, beans, rices and other
food items. Suddenly the door started to
open! I flung myself within the sack
filled with beans as fast as I could
I
felt large hands grasp the sack openings above me and I was lifted straight
into the air. I felt as though I was
being carried into the room. It was much
brighter in this area and I could see somewhat through the mesh of the
sack. Talking was constant as I was put
down upon a table. Through the mesh I
could see a large table with intricate chairs.
There were many Giants around the table, Frost, Fire, Cloud, Stone and
Hill types...and there was an Ogre magi and a dark
female figure with an elvish appearance.
I would later find out that this person was a Drow. I thought these to be mythical creatures only
Slyvan Elves would make up in stories and tales. I no nothing of Giant
languages, but I am highly fluent in elvish tongue, and when the Drow spoke, I
understood every word clearly. As
a matter of fact, the Drow tongue had very little slang and the words were
pronounced clearly and lingered. When I
spoke with Slyvan Elves in the valley, I would have a hard time catching every
detail and they would somtimes make fun of me, I still don’t know what they
were calling me at times,...’cqzyiuta or cqzyoota’. Not sure at all what that meant, but would
bring great laughter to them. At any
rate I began squenching to hear every detail of this conversation. I was amazed that I was unfrightened. I imagine the possibility of learning more
about this place and the existence of Drow inspired me. Having heard the discussions and examing
various letters, maps and various parchments, I have been able to deduct the following
account” :
There
dwells a race deep within the recesses of the Oerth, a race that shuns the
light of day and follows fell beings such as Lolth, the spider demon. These are the dark elves called Drow. The largest Drow community lies somewhere beneath
the Cyrstalmist mountains and is called Erelhei-Cinlu. This great Drow city, the largest of it’s type, is located in the beneath the Hellfurnaces, but
the plots spun within its walls threaten to draw in all the overworld nations
and their peoples.
In
Erelhei-Cinlu, the choatic Drow have asemblance of order in that they are ruled
by eight great noble families who preside over 16
merchant clans. The city maintains male
and female fighting societies to keep rivalries between families and clans in
check. A seperate clerical organization,
worshipping the spider-demoness Lolth, maintains a loose control over all of
the above. Such as been the way things
have been in Erelhei-Cinlu for centuries.
The Drow clergy have encouraged the worship of the spider-demoness
Lolth, and the demoness gained great power in this plane as a result.
Recently
however, there has been a split in the noble families of Erelhei-Cinlu. Two noble families, House Eilserv and the
lesser House Tormtor, have sought to extend their power over the surface world
through actively encouraging evil agents in the lands above. It is the house Eilserv that provided the
support and funding for the slave-lords of the Pomarj, and have been rallying
the giants of the Jotens to raid the human lands.
This sudden increase in activity brought those two houses into
conflict with the other noble houses of the vault. The other six houses felt that Eilserv and
Tormtor were acting in an unseeminly fashion and appealed to the clerical
followers of Lolth. The priests
attempted to bring Eilserv and its ally back in line, but the houses pulled
away from the worship of Lolth entirely, instead offering their veneration to a
nameless Elder Elemental. The Eilserv
are unaware of Lolth’s exact plans, only that she has great interest in
Oerth. Eclavdra, leader of House
Eilserv, is concerned that any plan by Lolth will reduce her own temporal
power, and so is encouraging the giants to step up their attacks on the lands
of the Yeomancry and Sterich.
Thobicus interrupts...”my throat is parched,
may I have some water please?” At this
time you all get up to take a break...
17th
Session:
Several
days after Thobicus’s return, the fealess adventurers
who had mustered the courage of freeing Thobicus were in need of R&R. The King granted them full pardon of the
city’s tariffs and began speaking with his advisors on the news they had
discovered of the giants. When the day
came for the group to speak with the king, the situation had become grim. The King spoke, “I am once again thankful for
you completing your mission and for that, you all
deserve this reward of 10,000 gps.
Though I feel a need to rejoice, I know that there is a darkening amongst
our city walls, and that are people are not yet safe. As long as Snurre is on this land, we may not
once again live in peace and harmony under the protectors of Keoland. Our forces on the front battlelines are
weakining by the day, and I feel we are being outnumbered by forces to which I
am unsure. Political jurisdiction as
left Furyondy out of the struggle and Keoland forces are split with their
battles against the
Joth
looks at Cornelius and with a nod the group yells “Yes!,
we shall end this strife!”. Joth himself
ponders what has transpired, but poses no doubts in his quest. The King speaks, we
have had several visitors from far away lands, particularly this dwarf with
whom I am pleased. The name is
Dylani. Perhaps the dwarf can be of
assistance.
There
was less than 24 hours before the arrival of the great Heward. So the group split up to prepare. Mahalith work extensively
on his magic books and scrolls.
Bootes found time to relax in his natural habitat and converse with the
fowl. Cornelius mended his armor and the
like while Joth rested in the local tavern.
Bocephus and Dylani however, celebrated their own bravery by several
mugs of spirits. Bocephus was never far
from the rum.
The
following day, the party was ready and awaited the arrival of the mages. Bocephus and Dylani were still tipsy from the
night before but boasted of defeating slimy giants. Heward and his mages arrived and were
escorted to the King. After several
minutes of interrogaton, the necromancer spoke, ‘We have nothing to fear, and nothing to glory, we are to close the vault of
these evil creatures and we hold no quarter for those who stand in our
way.” As brief of
comment from the mage was, it rallied all and the horses were immediately
summoned. Joth mounted his steed
once again, and surveyed the mountains slopes again. “Then we are off!”,
yelled Joth Highwind.
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