Gauntlheim & giants!

Vandal takes the first watch as the group are still recovering from their climb in our last session. In the distance Vandal can see the lights of Gauntlheim. As he watches it, he begins to hear the heavy step footsteps of something in the snow coming towards our camp. He jumps up quickly to wake the rest of the group who move to hide their whereabouts. In the camp appears a female Dragonborn who is not attempting to conceal herself from us. The group had not hidden well and she takes no time in making it known to us. We are fairly curious and somewhat wary of why she would be alone in these treacherous mountains but she does not threaten us in anyway. She introduces herself as Mushu, she has tracked the Cult of the Dragon to these parts and is looking for them. We have had dealings with them before. We introduce ourselves and ask her to join us as we relight the fire and return to rest. Thraback seems content enough with her arrival, his test of new people we meet usually stands as a good indicator as to whether they are trustworthy, it seemed Mushu passed the test. We wake up after a restful but cold sleep. Vorn feeling colder and lighter than the rest of the group… He notices instantly that his long, dark, striking hair, has been completely shaved off. He questions the group erratically. Agrippiana is irate that someone would do this. As Vorn questions the group, Vandal is instantly suspicious as he seems to be stroking his beard nervously; Vorn does suspect Aralon but is not sure at this stage. Vorn will not take this lying down it seems. After this drama we manage to move on towards the entrance of Gauntlheim. We find ahead of us, two large doors carved into the side of the mountain, they are covered in inscriptions, but also in a layer of ice which Mushu is able to melt easily. Aralon reads out the inscription to us, “Behold the conquests of Jarl Frostburn, and kneel before my magnificence.” Thraback blows the horn which signals the monstrous doors to open with the splitting crack of the ice surrounding it. It is clear they haven’t been open in many a year. We stare into a dimly lit hall emanating a foul air. It appears there is a thin layer of ice across the floor and we must move slowly. Vorn lights up the area with his Dancing Lights and we move inside. As we enter, we are greeted with a horrific sight. Along both sides of the huge corridor are the frozen remains of Frostburn’s victims. Humans and orcs, all in frozen states of injury, from no ordinary person or weapon. Vandal, being Vandal, is interested in their valuables but finds that there is nothing of real interest. The two clerics take the time to pray for the souls of the dead. Vorn, not in the mood to wait, makes his way up the passage, fining anther large door, but this one made of ice. Vorn manages to reach the handle and open the door as we catch up to him. The door swings open and we find a shocking sight. It appears we are in the remnants of a mess hall used by giants. There are six giants in this room, 4 at the tables and one at the bar. However it seems they have been all brutally killed and are also covered in a thin layer of ice. These have been left as trophies by potential challengers it seems.

As the group look at the giants, Lukas and Agrippiana notice a curtain at the back of the room and move towards it. Vandal and Aralon spend their time here trying to thaw the ale brewed by the giants… Lukas pulls back the frozen curtain and we are faced with a huge archway leading into a chasm with a massive bridge connection the two sides. Around the bridge there is the skeleton of a huge beast. As we are looking, we hear the echo of a booming voice. “Such honoured guests, I am Frostburn. It has been a long time since I have had a good battle. I am old now but I have one fight left in me.” He moves the cross the bridge towards us. He stands around 18 – 20 feet tall with blue icy skin. His white hair and beard covers a huge portion of his shoulders and back. He carries a huge axe and it is clear now that the frozen dead where the victims of this axe. He moves half way across the bridge and marks a line with his axe and calls to us, “Come and honour your destiny!” Agippiana calls for Thraback and the others, who eventually join them in the cavern. Thraback and Vandal are ready to take charge. Thraback goes into berserk mode almost instantly. The giant is able to do massive damage to Vorn but we all unleash attacks, needing to gain the upper hand quickly. Vandal is able to knock the giant down, while Aralon is able to blind him with magic, allowing the rest of the group better scope to deal massive damage. As we gain the upper hand, Mountain Dwarves, those who were sent to guard the giant, appear to aid him. The four of them have used their ability to grow in size. Vandal is brought down by one, but Agrippiana is able to quickly heal him and he is brought back in to the fray. As the chaos ensues, Vorn makes a decisive strike with his rapier, leaping to stab the giant in the heart and killing him in style. The dwarves are quickly picked off until there is only one left and as Vandal is about to end it, the dwarf cries – “Please don’t kill me, I will tell you all you need to know!”

Until next week!