Editing Game-Summaries:11/17/2018 Recollections (section)

==Recollections by Ci==
===Day 1===I write these quick notes in the early morning from a hasty campsite in the frigid wastes near [[Frostgorge Sound]]. Later today, we will step into the icy unknown, so before we rush again headlong into danger, I wanted to get a few notes down about what brought us here. It all began yesterday morning when a mysterious figure approached us at the Keep while we were training. After confirming that we were a part of the group that had faced [[Imphraezl]] at [[Fort Malto]], and survived, this stranger identified himself as Wizard named [[Steel]]. He stated that he had been sent to find us by a [[Seer]]. This [[Seer]] believed that we were destined to avert a terrible alliance between giants. [[Steel]] also told us that doing us would bring us closer to our goal of finding [[Imphraezl]], though he was unsure how exactly that would be achieved. Feeling confident that [[Steel]] at least believed that he was telling us the truth, and hopeful at the prospect of finding [[Imphraezl]] again, we accepted his offer of transportation to [[Frostlands]].

[[Steel]]'s help came in the form of a Teleport spell that immediately transported us to a nearly featureless landscape of ice and snow. The wizard [[Steel]] then informed us that this was the anticipated location of a meeting between two giant kings, one of a clan of [[Stone Giant|Stone Giants]], the other of a clan of [[Frost Giant|Frost Giants]]. Obviously, this alliance would be devastating for this region, and it was for this reason that the [[Seer]] had [[Steel]] seek us out. We knew precious little of the specifics, other than when, where, and who would be meeting, and thus after some short discussion we ruled out a diplomatic solution, It seemed the only sure way to prevent this alliance was to eliminate the parties when they arrived to negotiate. [[Steel]]'s intelligence suggested that this would mean facing 10 giants and their respective Kings in less than 24 hours, a prospect that gave even brave [[Cassio]] pause.

In order to gain any advantage possible, [[Ember]] and I, being the fastest in this terrain, left to each scout one of the approaching parties while the others stayed to prepare the battlefield, with [[Steel]]'s help. [[Steel]]  it turns out, is Wizard of some considerable talent, and his help would be invaluable in the coming battle, though less so than we originally anticipated. When [[Ember]] and I returned with useful information we barely had time to form a plan and prepare ourselves.

As the giants approached, we had hidden ourselves behind some illusory terrain at the center of the meeting spot.  We sprang from hiding and attacked before the Giants were aware of our presence. I had been able to spy a weak spot in the armor of one of the [[Frost Giant King]]'s retinue, and was able to pierce his heart with an arrow from my [[Siyah]] killing him instantly. Ember had identified a Stone Giant with a previous wound, and was able to target that wound with a fire bolt, taking him out of the fight immediately as well. The others focused on luring as many of the [[Stone Giant|Stone Giants]] as we could into pit traps that we had dug about the area and covered with illusory terrain. In this way were able to trap or eliminate 7 of the giants before they could respond. [[Steel]] also proved his power by casting Disintegrate at the [[Frost Giant King]] and nearly destroying him outright.  Though the sight of his grievous wounds beginning to heal almost immediately was our first hint that our well laid plans might not be enough. The second happened not long after when The [[Stone Giant King]] reached out gently and touched [{Steel]] turning him immediately to stone ''and then picking him up and sticking him to his body!'' We had focused on taking out as many of the [[Stone Giant|Stone Giants]] as possible, reasoning that the [[Frost Giant|Frost Giants]] would be easier targets as they were vulnerable to our ample fire magic. We did not anticipate our wizard [[Steel]] being so quickly and so permanently being taken out the battle.

However we fought on, with the Divine power of [[Cassio]] flowing freely, with [[Jeroy]]'s soulmate digging great gouges into Giant flesh with our casters raining fire and thorns upon the giants formations all the while offering healing where able, and I moved about, burying arrows into huge targets and attempting to stay out of reach of their huge axes and clubs. Garnet fluttered about spewing great gouts of flame, while the giants hurled boulders around the battlefield with abandon. one even managed to grab and throw [[Pearl]] when she got to close to one, nearly taking out both her and [[Ember]] with one toss! [[Cassio]] nearly fell time and again, only to be healed, while the [[Frost Giant King]], under some enchantment of Necromancy, did indeed fall and rise again many times.

We were finally able to kill both kings and and the remaining free giants on the battlefield. [[Ember]] was able to restore [[Steel]] to the flesh, and we began to discuss what to do with the giants trapped in our pits. At this moment, a giant red dragon appeared and seared the entire area with his breath of fiery doom. While [[Steel]] was able to shield us from the blast, but the trapped giants, as was the dragon's intention, died violently in the conflagration. The dragon gave his thanks for killing the rest of the giants (I gathered there is no love lost between these monsters) and flew away. As he departed however he used his breath to uncover another patch of snow in the distance, apparently as a final thank you. [[Steel]] supposed this would be where we might find our answers to the [[Imphraezl]] mystery, and so we resolved to find out what the strange draconic visitor uncovered, but only after some well needed rest. So we rest. What the next day was to bring, we could not have hoped to guess. It turned out to be more unexpected and strange than the even the day before.

===Day 2===
The night before we had constructed what we believed to be a solid plan. We agreed that I would scout ahead and we would proceed cautiously. Above all else we did not want to find ourselves surrounded by enemies in the heart of what we could only assume was [[Imphraezl]]'s lair. We approached the spot that had been the target of the dragon's fire the day before, and spotted what appeared to be a forge, deep below us, powered by dragon' fire. We surmised that there must be some way down to that forge and began to scout the surrounding area. We eventually found a chasm that looked promising. My friends let me down on a rope and discovered a holdfast of some kind cut into the side of the ice, with well paths well worn by the tracks of dwarves. I discovered no immediate danger, and encouraged my companions to join me. Our sturdy dwarf [[Jeroy]], could not identify the clan or allegiance of these dwarves from their construction, so we decided to proceed with caution. All except [[Amon]] apparently, who decided to open the first door he came upon!

As one might have suspected, he was fired upon immediately! He managed to survive the volley of crossbow bolts and was hailed by the hold's occupants and challenged. What followed was a bizarre scene of talking and drinking and negotiating with unknown dwarves (for dwarves indeed they were, though of an unfamiliar race known as grey dwarves or [[Duergar]]). I managed to hold their attention in the entrance, while [[Jeroy]] negotiated from behind. He managed to convince them that we were no threat, and indeed were here to trade. We also managed to ascertain that our quarry, [[Imphraezl]] was possibly within. Over [[Cassio]]'s objections, and with little knowledge of what lay ahead, we were led into the fortress, ostensibly toward a meeting with [[Imphraezl]] himself. As we were led deeper into the complex, we began do despair of ever getting out again. We were outnumbered, and would have to pass a number of fortifications on the return trip. We were to door and asked to wait. We concocted a hasty plan to ambush the dwarves outside with us, rather than face whatever awaited us that room. thanks to [[Amon]] we were made aware of a number of invisible dwarves who were watching us, as well as the two guards we could see. Using a combination of surprise, haste,  and faerie fire we were able to quickly dispatch both our seen  and unseen guards. We quickly decided upon a two pronged attack, rather than a frontal assault, so [[Cassio]] and I made our way to a second door. Before we could act however, the hunters became the hunted! Our prey appeared, threw  down a staff of some kind, and quickly blinked away. I recognized our danger immediately, in the form of the Staff of the Magi we had recently sold! If [[Imphraezl]] could somehow manage to break that item now lying in our midst, here might be nothing left but cinders where [[The Eternal Order]] once stood! Indeed, that seemed to be the damnable [[Drow]]'s very plan! He began to fire off bolts of magical energy aimed at the staff! The fates as yet remained ever in our favor, however, and we were able to distract and deflect his attacks long enough for [[Jeroy]] and [[Pearl]] to grab the staff and retreat into the adjacent room. We would have to keep that staff away from [[Imphraezl]] at all costs! 

For the moment we lived however, and [[Imphraezl]] was revealed! We all closed the distance as quickly as we could, determined to not let him escape again! As most of us focused on talking down the [[Drow]], we could here [[Jeroy]]'s voice from the next room... "Hey! The Forge is in here! And a whole bunch of dwarves!" [[Amon]], nearest to [[Jeroy]], recognized our opportunity! "Quickly! The Staff!!! Throw it into the Forge!" he shouted. "The Forge? Really?" [[Jeroy]] asked, as he and [[Pearl]] shared a quizzical look. "Yes damn you!" answered [[Amon]], "and then RUN!!!" Moments later [[Jeroy]] and [[Pearl]] emerged at a sprint followed by the deep rumble of an explosion that seemed to shake the very earth to its core! Even [[Imphraezl]] seemed shaken for a moment and the look for confidence that had graced his face moments ago, seemed to fade. Despite my best efforts however, and that of [[Ember]]'s animal companion and trusty dragon, we were unable to kill that slippery elf. He managed to teleport away, just as [[Cassio]] closed for what surely would have been a death blow. What followed, though dangerous, was as inevitable as it was anticlimactic. Made aware of our presence by the destruction of their forge, we were quickly beset by a number of dwarves from all directions. To the northwest, [[Garnet]], [[Ember]], the bear and I dispatched a dozen or more dwarves, some clad in [[Duergar Screamer|whirling dervish]] suits of spinning blades and steam. To the northeast, [[Cassio]] stood his ground against a small horde of dwarves with surprising ability to grow to more than twice their height. To the southwest, [[Pearl]]'s wall of thorns shredded an approaching [[Duergar]] and his companions quickly gave flight. In the devastation that had been the forge to the southeast, [[Jeroy]] finished off the few [[Duergar]] who remained. After a short, but intense melee, we were able to defeat and drive off all the remaining defenders. They even set fire to their fortress as they fled, presumably to prevent us from learning anything of the nature of their association with [[Imphraezl]]. 

Since our way out was blocked by fire, we gathered what loot we could, including a great number of magical discs, as well as a metal golem that the discs seemed destined to power, and made our way further into the fortress. In the deeper levels we, we stumbled upon a lone vault. It was inscribed with strange sigils, and we were unable to gain entry. As we descended we came upon a subterranean river. At dick was a contraption I could only have dreamed of... It seemed to be a vessel of some kind, but the form of some kind of crustacean, with  claws and tail. [[Pearl]] and I braved it's metal interior, and in short order, determined the purpose and function of it's many levers. We realized this could be our way out! We all piled into its shining interior and [[Pearl]] drove us out through the river, and into the sea! I write these words from atop our mechanical beast, our home for next few months, as we make our back to [[Solace]]. We have named our vessel [[C.L.A.W.]] (Crustaceous Lethal Assault Weapon). Though the quarters are cramped, especially with [[Jeroy]]'s ancestors showing up every time he loses his temper, we know we are bringing back a valuable weapon in our war against Chaos. I still think of [[Imphraezl]]'s parting words however: "You cannot stop me! I have already released the Curse!" we can only hope that [[Solace]] still stands when we make it back!