Game-Summaries:11/17/2018 Recollections

Recollections by Ci

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 Giants, the other of a clan of 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 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 Giants as possible, reasoning that the 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 tomorrow brings I cannot hope to guess, as today has been wholly unexpected and strange. I know however that I will face it with with my friends, and that with faith and luck we may yet prevail.