Grungir's Decision

SESSION 17 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 7th level Conjurer
Dubner Ogrebane, 5th/6th level dwarf Fighter / Cleric (Champion)
Eswin, 6th/6th level elven Thief/Fighter
Shaw Ashcroft 6th level Ranger (Justifier)
Brendel, 6th level half-elf Fighter (Archer)

 

NPCs

Brundhilde, a Frost Giant Princess

From the Wars of Empire Chapter XXXVII: The Mad King's War

With the Stone of A Thousand Winters Destroyed and the unnatural blizzard at an end, King Leonis' army began preparations to march on Caer Terma and end Althyria's invasion of Beltigost. Having warned the king of the prophecy given to them by the Three Sisters of Fate and the Mad King's secret alliance with the Frost Giant King Grungir, it was decided that the companions would travel ahead of the army into the northern mountains to return the Grungir's daughter Brunhilde to him and hopefully break the alliance. Leonis' army would split into two and follow a day behind. The main force would march straight on Caer Terma, while the smaller force would circle through the mountains and flank the Althyrian force.

It was decided that Lady Tyra and the druid Kieren would stay behind at Northax while the others pushed ahead. A troupe of rangers had gone into the mountains three days prior to scout out the pass, but had not returned. The companions were tasked with finding out what happened to the Rangers and then somehow making contact with Grungir.

About a day into their march, they discovered the slaughtered remains of the rangers and their horses. As Eswin went up to investigate the scene, the snow exploded around him and ten Yetis ambushed the party. After recovering from their initial surprise, the companions made quick work of the savage brutes however and they were once again on their way.

Grungir, King of the Frost Giants

After that, it was not long before they located the mountain pass. As they traversed the pass, they were once again ambushed, this time by a band of mercenaries sent by Ragan Doon to prevent them from  making contact with Grungir. The leader of the mercenaries, an Iskal berserker by the name of Rolf Greybeard, was accompanied by two ice bears, and shadow mage, two archers and a winter elf assassin. The battle was treacherous along the narrow moutain pass and Rolf's savage attacks reined down on the dwarf champion Dubner, as the Icebears tore into Shaw and his new winter wolf companion. Talos squared off with the shadow mage, while Brendel made short work of the archers and then set to battle with the elusive winter elf who had a cloak that allowed him to turn into a gust of whirling snow to escape attack. In the end however, the wild Rolf, despite his savage prowess, fell to the ancient hammer of Dubner, as Shaw severed the limbs off of the ice bears. Once again, the companions proved vicorious.

With the assassination attempt foiled, Brunhilde then led them to her father's camp. A tense negotiation ensued. Grungir agreed to quit the field of battle while the companions tried to convince him to join their cause. In the end, Grungir decided it would be settled by combat. If the heroes could defeat his champions, he would agree to aid them.

In a large icy chamber, the heroes faced off against Hakon, a Frost Giant champion and his mate, Sheldira, a Frost Giant Witch Doctor. The battle proved to be less climactic than anticipated, as Talos summoned black tentacles to wrap up the Witch Doctor, while the remaining companions reined blow after blow upon Hakon, felling him without too much trouble, Though once again the sturdy dwarf Dubner took quite a beating. With the companions victorious, Grungir severed the heads of his champions and declared that he would aid them in the coming battle. Together they would make a desperate assualt on the Mad King himself at Caer Tema, the Fortress of Endings.

 

The Stone of a Thousand Winters

SESSION 16 RECAP

PCs

Talos Redwand, 6th level Conjurer
Dubner Ogrebane, 4th/5th level dwarf Fighter / Cleric (Champion)
Eswin, 6th/5th level elven Thief/Fighter
Shaw Ashcroft 5th level Ranger (Justifier)
Kieren, 7th level Druid
Brendel, 6th level half-elf Fighter (Archer)

NPCs

Lady Tyra, a noble from Samarra with a mysterious past
Brundhilde, a Frost Giant Princess

 

From the Wars of Empire Chapter XXXVII: The Mad King's War

Having secured the release of the Frost Giant Princess Brunhilde and a new mysterious ally in Lady Tyra of Samarra, the companions made haste to the castle of Northax where King Leonis and his army were camped out. A Thulian elder informed them that the mad king and his army had taken control of the northern border fort of Caer Terma and that his armies were laying in wait for Leonis' troops. To make matters worse an unnatural blizzard had arisen making troop movement all but impossible for the time being.

Movement was slowed by the blizzard and the companions were forced to march at a snail's pace. On the way to Northax, they were accosted by a Grueshach savant and several snow wraiths, which they easily overcame. The next night, they were attacked by a force of Blood Knight scouts mounted on Basilisks. The battle with the Blood Knights was only slightly more difficult, as Eswin used his medallion to charm six of the basilisks and a well timed slow spell by Talos made the Blood Knights easy pickings for the other heavy hitters of the group.

After two and a half days of hard travel, the companions finally reached Northax. There, they apprised the king of the prophecy of his death and of the secret alliance between the Frost Giants and the mad king. From there, it was determined that the unnatural blizzard needed to end before any troop movement could be made. Leonis' scouts and wizards had picked up a magical flux to the east and guessed that the source of the blizzard was in that direction.

 

Leaving Bunhilde and Tyra at Northax, the companions set out to end the blizzard. A day's travel north and east brought them to an old crag, atop which stood a rune-carved obelisk pulsing with frigid magic. Around the obelisk, five Grueshach savants and a Grueshach elder savant were chanting magical spells. The base of the hillock was guarded by two winter wolves. The battle was met, and Dubner charged into the midst of the Grueshachs around the spire swinging his mighty hammer. Eswin, with his basilisks, managed to turn two of the Grueshachs, to stone, but the rest remained unharmed. While most of the companions dealt with the remaining Grueshach savants, Shaw managed to tame one of the winter wolves, as Dubner went toe-to-toe with the Grueshach elder, supported by the magical arrows from Brendel's mighty bow.

The Remorhaz Emerges from the Snow

Just when it seemed as though the battle would be a cakewalk, the Grueshach elder summoned a Remorhaz from below the frozen ground. It burst forth behind Brendel and immediately tried to swallow the half-elf whole. Eswin sent his basilisks in to turn it to stone, to no avail. The mighty Remorhaz continued pounding merciliessly on the back ranks of the companions, and the fear of defeat began to creep into their minds. Just then, Kieren summoned mighty bolts of lightning from the sky, severely wounding the Remorhaz, but in the process killing all of Eswin's new basilisks. As lightning bolts continued to rain down on the Remorhaz, it finally fell. Moments later, Dubner put his hammer upside the head of the Grueshach elder and the day was won. After defeating the Grueshachs, the companions easily destroyed the Stone of a Thousand Winters and the magical blizzard came to an end. With their quest complete, the companions headed back to Northax to discuss their next steps with the king.