The party investigates the final locked door – and finds itself quickly embroiled in a battle with a form of beguiling and insanity-provoking undead monster. It ensnares two attackers in rapid succession, which provokes a bit of consternation among the remaining members of the party. Magic arrow and magic missiles fly and the beast is defeated quickly enough.What loot it has is taken, and the well in the room is investigated. A hidden ladder leads the group downward into an escape tunnel that deposits them in a hollow boulder near the edge of the treeline, outside the moat. Neato-keen…but the cart and horse is still inside the moat. Crap.
A new ice bridge and a rapid jog reunites the group and its gear. The elf discerns the merest hint of a wisp of smoke from the area near the inn – across the ruined expanse of oil oil-soaked courtyard. The ruins of the inn are investigated and it seems that it is being used as a blind to observe the road and castle area. The ranger tracks the occupant to a series of hidden stepping stones that lead across the moat. Someone has been watching the party for days and can come and go. Might be a ranger says the ranger. Crap.
Anyhoo – back to the horse and cart – lead same over ice bridge and bid farewell to the tower and head back towards the giant’s road. Along the way, the loot is divvied, and the group surprises and slays an ogre-mage, thanks to a few wild swings and some good luck. A day or two later, as the group breaks camp in the morning – a gorgon equipped with either magical horns or magical horn guards tears through the camp and attempts to gore the elf. It does that, and a bit of trampling, plus turns the hapless ranger Bababobo to stone before it is defeated. Anyone know how to turn people back from being stone? Crap.
Load the ranger into the cart and backtrack. A month and a half-later – after a 5 week journey to Botkinsburg and the friendly wizard – the group has returned to the same area on the giant’s causeway and heaves a few deep breaths and resumes the journey. Sigh.
A few weeks later they are near the base of a large ics and snow-shrouded mountain. This must be the residence of the elemental lord with whom they seek to speak. The villagers tell a tale of eternal life and eternal toil as they provide the lord and his armies of ogres and things with the sustenance they need. Creepy.
Some quick thinking allows the purchase of a whole lot of winter clothes and a large amount of food to both stimulate the local economy and be useful as a planned deception. Quickly, the group leaves town and heads onto the trail up the mountain. Once out of sight, they strip down – brrrr! – and dress as villagers. Weapons, packs and armor into the cart, food on top. Make sure your brass balls are firmly attached and try to bluff your way through the guardpost. Luck is with them and they succeed in getting waved on by the lone surly sentry. Up the mountain trail, and once out of sight of the guardpost – back into adventurer gear. On the road ahead lie seven towers, and in the heart of the mountain, dwells the elemental lord. Allrightythenoffwego!
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