Stone Soules Summary XIc: Clarifications on a Theme
Let me clarify the following points a little:
>The caravan the Earl was with was carrying weapons for the fire giants
>around the End area (enough for 200). These giants were the unfriendly
>ones which besieged the fire giant city near middle. This city rebelled
>against the central fire giant clan rule and the latter wishes to attack
>and defeat the city. They also may have hostile intentions against End and
>Middle and 200 of them can definitly do alot of damage (Middle would be
>overrun, probably End as well)
>The Earl decided to fake a kidnapping and sell the weapons to someone
>else. He did not have the proper payments for Borglin, who took the Earl,
>his bodyguard, the weapons, and the head merchant, which may have
>important political ties and may be of great help to political enemies of
>the Earl.
The giantish weapons were of Realmish make, supplied to the giants of
Cromwell during the war. These were captured and fell into other hands.
Ultimately, the fell to the Earl who decided to sell them illicitly to some
folks who could use them.
Well, the Fire Giants are in a funny situation. The Fire Giant Colony, near
End (what we call the Fire Giant City) is in rebellion against the Fire
Giant Empire (Central Fire Giant Government). This rebellion was to be
squashed by the group of Fire Giants that attacked the City and marauded
near Middle. When we assisted the City, the attackers were repelled.
Neither of these groups likes the humans who live nearby, but the Fire Giant
City (rebels) appear to be (more) willing to coexist. Basically, if the
weapons fall into the Central FG Government's hands, they will come to
attack the city again, which may eventually fall, and then those Giants will
attack End and Middle, without a doubt, at some point. If the attack is
repelled or never advanced because the weapons are destroyed or captured,
then the FG City will not (at least right away) attack us.
These Fire Giants we encountered near Borglin's (the ones who we joined)
were familiar with us from the siege incident or other incidents and
enlisted our aid. They wished to prevent the Central Govt FG from getting
the weapons and were prepared to destroy them if necessary (they have a
mining outpost and can make weapons). In return for our help, we would get
all the booty from the adventure and would help prevent the destruction of
Middle and End.
>From a standpoint of other matters, if we left them alone they would
probably die or not fully accomplish their goal, the merchant (who was the
one person who could testify against the treasonous Earl) would be dead, and
all correspondence about the deal with the FG destroyed, leaving us with one
expensive, disloyal but irreproachable Earl and nothing to show for it. We
didn't have much of a choice, actually, despite the safe passage the FG
promised us.
>but were unable/unwilling to pay the 8,000 gp he requested.
This was an initial haggling price, mind you! :)
>The area near the lair of Borglin is infested with undead at night.
According to Borglin, if we remained past dusk, we would fairly
instantanously become "permanent residents of Ashen Rock." Ashen Rock is a
tomb of an ancient civilization of grand proportions. Also, the "Haunted
Place" of which the Fool spoke. You can "feel" the unnaturalness.
>The Earl believed that he was being rescued from Borglin's lair. He
>doesn't know about the transfer at Stone Palace.
Yup. Are there two bandit/ransomer groups or one? We'll find out next week!
>We were completely successful. We killed the fire giant Shaman, the
>party mage and cleric during the first few segments. Attacking them from
>the rear as well as the distraction of Borglin's pets in the lair proved
>to be decisive. One of the four fire giants helping us is unconscious, and
>claude was badly wounded as well as the other three fire giants. All ten
>enemy giants was well as the humanoid party were killed.
Let's just say a few things:
Theo and Claude ripped the giants apart. It was quite humorous. Theo was
blinded, but had blindfighting and the benefit of a _Prayer_ and so was
virtually unaffected by the blindness.
Surprise was the decisive factor here.
Note: None of the Central Govt FG or helpers got beyond the central
entranceway, which indicates that further resistance may be found inside.
Perhaps leaving the Merchant wouldn't be bad if we could ransom her safely
later without risking Borglin's wrath. Otherwise, I suggest we take all the
booty we can carry and HIT THE ROAD! (only hours before Borglin arrives home).
BTW, We could also help the FG destroy the weapons/carry them and bargain a
mutually beneficial guard for the trek out of the Jungle. If they stay too
long, though, we have got to leave.
[We later determined that the GOOD adventuring party we had destroyed was called the Twisters. Oops.]
Kyle/Alegra