| Session Date | December 30, 2022 |
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| Base XP Gained | Carry Over |
| Player Notes | ZZ's Notes |
The party spent two days in the Dwarf city, during which time they rearranged their residence and made provisions for expansion to accommodate the growth of the party. This accomplished, they left the city, exiting to the surface above to take the High Road towards the Ice Wizard’s palace. The journey was cold and uneventful except for a sudden attack by Ice Spiders which was disrupted by a fireball from Hans.
Arriving in the vicinity of the palace and the Zir Wood, where they found many downed trees. Leaving their horses under the care of the six dwarves and Dane’s squire, an invisible ZZ made a reconnaissance of the Stone Giant lair, which the party thought would make a good base from which to operate. There he found smoke issuing from the cave entrance, showing that it remained occupied. Before it were four heads staked as a warning, a bear, Dwarf, Troglodyte, and barbaric looking human. ZZ waited until night fell then took the Dwarf head back to the party.
Using the Spirit Vessel, the party interrogated the head, which proved to be quite talkative. It told them that the Giants had killed him because they were at war with the Dwarves and always had been, more or less, though the Ice Wizard had apparently ordered them to be more aggressive. He believed there was some sort of relationship between them, though he was unsure of the details. The poor Petty Dwarf had simply been captured, beheaded, and the rest of him baked into a pie. The Giant clan numbered about 10 or so males, though he was not terribly sure of that number. There were at least that many females and young. He was unaware of any other ways into the Giant’s caves.
The party now returned to their horses and henchmen. At one point they spotted a number of fliers, blue Wyverns with small riders who seemed to be following the High Road as if patrolling it from above. That night, the party’s camp was attacked by a band of Yeti. They were speedily dispatched and the night passed without further incident.
The next day dawned very cold and snowy. ZZ once again questioned the Petty Dwarf head with the Spirit Vessel. The head dutifully reported that it had been killed during the summer (such as it was) near the “standing stones” (when asked, he noted these had no real function and were merely an ancient ruin or marking at the crossroads). The Giant attacks had increased dramatically after the party’s last visit as apparently the Ice Wizard believed the Petty Dwarves had aided the party in their raid on his palace. He was unaware of any return visits by the Hooded One who had set all this mess in motion some time back.
The party now moved to surveil the Giant’s Cave, all invisible once again. Finally, a pair of Stone Giants emerged and began to move into the Zir Wood below. The party followed, with HelgaVinka, Dane and Deaglan staying close on the flying carpet. The Giants were apparently hunting with great rocks as missiles, but with little luck. Alerting the rest of the party as to where they were moving, Deaglan was dropped off along their path into a tree where he hoped to jump and backstab one as the signal for an ambush. While waiting, he caught snatches of conversation in their language. The words were unclear but the Giants were clearly unhappy and frustrated by something.
Finally, as one passed close to the tree he lurked in, Deaglan struck…and missed! The rest of the party rushed to aid him as the Giants moved to attack the half elf, the missed one smashing him and the second throwing a boulder to great effect. Burt weakened one with a ray of enfeeblement, but the second began to pound down Deaglan who for the moment stood alone. A darkness spell from Hans helped him from being pounded to goo while a slow spell from Sirius ensured the second giant was unable to reach him quickly. More spells followed but, fearing for Deaglan’s life, ZZ hit one with a wand of wonder, causing it to grow wings (being weakened by Burt, it could not fly, fortunately). Finally, the others reached the melee and were able to extricate Deaglan before he was slain. When both Giants were at last cut down, they were found to be carrying sacks with some treasure. (it was an interesting melee, to be sure)
Restoring the party’s invisibility, they made their way back to the caves in the hope of catching more giants in small groups in order to attrite them before taking the caves…