Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for June 28, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Ardel Blueback (dwarf fighter), Crularin Gellantara (druid), and Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user) and present henchmen included Rowena Starblaze (magic-user).

The party followed the trail left by the hill giants fought earlier until night.  Then, Ardel crafted a shelter for the evening to keep out the storm predicted by Crularin.  After the rains, a mixed group of orcs, ogrillons, and ogres attacked.  The group had little trouble defeating this rabble, but they lost a horse in the exchange.  The following morning, Crularin shifted into horse form and was saddled and mounted by Rowena.  Thus arrayed, the group moved on into the day.

Eventually, the team came across a rock clearing in the foothills where they were ambushed by half a dozen bugbears and a fire giant.  The giant hurled rocks while the bugbears charged in.  Emeran was badly wounded, and Rowena was knocked out after being thrown for Crularin’s back.  Ardel attacked the giant but was injured as well.  Emeran tried his wand of wonder twice, once launching a lightning bolt falling short of the giant.  Next, he conjured a shimmering sheet of light that blinded his horse and drove it off in a panic.  Despite their setbacks, the team brought down the marauders and found a scrimshaw map leading to a point in the Jotuns.

The group traveled for days into the mountains and finally discovered a massive log homestead.  The moved to the side door where they seemed to be detected by over a dozen dog-sounding creatures.  As the group prepared to try and knock down the doors, a giant looked over the wall and screamed out, “elves and dwarves!” alerting the keep!

Game summary for June 21, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Ardel Blueback (dwarf fighter), Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (half-elf cleric/magic-user), and Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user) and present henchmen included Rowena Starblaze (magic-user).

The Swords of Greyhawk continued their travel over sea and river to the March of Sterich and the city of Istivin.  Within, they discovered giants were marauding and taking caravans and towns.  Several adventurers had already set out to kill the giants and failed.  Scouts had discovered the giants, led by Chief Nosnra, were holed up in the Jotun mountains.  The team agreed to seek the giants and return with the head of Nosnra and disperse the giants.

The group headed overland toward the mountains on horseback followed by Crularin in dog form.  Soon they discovered some ruins and went to investigate some burning blazers.  From beneath camouflaged pits, nearly half a dozen hill giants leapt up and attacked!  Ardel dove into action—face first into the ground tripping over his pony’s stirrups.  Crularin surrounded himself with a ringed wall of fire while Emeran unleashed a lightning bolt.  Drake, goaded by his giant-hating warhammer Whelm, launched headlong into the fray.  Rowena attempted to weaken a giant with ray of enfeeblement to no avail, and the party flesh golem, Frank, attacked.

Following the initial assault by the party, the giants responded, pounding the team with trunk-sized clubs.  The fighting was fierce, with Emeran forced into invisible retreat.  However, the team overcame and slaughtered the giants after several tense moments.

The team nursed their wounds and set out again toward the Jotun peaks.

Game summary for June 7, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, S2: White Plume Mountain adventure; present PCs included Althion Whiteoak (fighter), Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (half-elf cleric/magic-user), Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user), and Marcus Godse (half-orc assassin/fighter).

The party began discussions with the plump halfling and tried to speak with him in his native tongue.  Oddly enough, he didn’t seem to speak halfling.  Marcus ordered Frank to pick up the halfling while the rest searched the room.  A moment later, the halfling’s flesh melted and swirled, and he grew into the shape of a massive ogre mage!  He spoke charming words to Althion, clouding his mind!  Fortunately, Crularin realized what happened and cast dispel magic to bring him back to his right mind.

Drake smashed his flail into the ogre, and Crularin caught him in a wall of fire.  Marcus finished him off with a well-placed sword thrust.  The team then searched the room and discovered the mystical blade Blackrazor!  Marcus and the blade seemed to bond.

The team split up on the way out, with Crularin and Drake slipping out on their own while Althion, Emeran, Marcus, and Frank the flesh golem running into twin efreeti, Nix and Nox!  The pair tried to convince the party to come along peacefully for indoctrination, but they refused.  A brutal fight ensued, with walls of fire and vicious sword wounds being dished out.  Althion landed some great axe blows, Emeran sank an arrow, and Marcus drove one back with the stinging kiss of Blackrazor.  However, Nix’ and Nox’ magic proved devastating, badly injuring Althion and forcing Marcus to turn his back and get cut down by Nox!  Althion and Emeran fled back up the hallway and hid with invisibility potions while Frank beat the efreeti in battle.

The last two Swords of Greyhawk, along with Frank the flesh golem, left White Plume Mountain with the three weapons of power.  They then stopped by a roadside tavern and hired on mercenary Rowena Starblaze to join in their travels.