Rise of the Runelords

After defeating Mokmurian and thoroughly looting his study, you decided it was time to finally get to rescuing the captives. There was some debate about the best way to proceed.  Pirozzi thought it best to cut Mokmurian's head off and carry it in front of you in order to create fear in any remaining denizens that you might meet.  Sounded like a good plan until Wolfgar did some math.  "You realize that head probably weighs over 60 pounds.  Pirozzi, you can barely even lift it.  Who's gonna actually carry it anywhere?"  "We could wrap it in his robe." was Pirozzi's reply.  Malloric piped in, "It's not a matter of what we wrap it in."  D'Argo then pointed out that the giants robe looks like nothing anyone had seen before. Maybe it alone would be enough to let other giants know you defeated Mokmurian.   So, the front of the party carried the robe over their arms and youe headed back up and out.

The Runeslave Cauldron gave you a few problems as the first couple dispel magics did were ineffectual.  Eventually, you used a scroll penned at a high level to do the job.  You hurried through the chamber of reduction but some of the group were caught by the trap and were reduced by the time you reached the far end.  Again, some opted to stay small.  You continued up to the main giant level.  Just before getting there, you were stopped by a barricade of very large boulders that was not there when you last came this way.  They were too large to effectively move.  You figured it would have taken giants to even put them here.  The good news was that the barricade was not insurmountable, at least not for those 'normal-sized' folks.  You listened and heard some movement from the darkness in front of you. Malloric peeked over and saw nothing and no one in the hall where you first encountered the two trolls.  He threw a torch as far as he could to illuminate the area and still nothing. A few climbed cautiously over the barricade while the others who were still reduced got help.  Malloric spotted a glint in one of the side passages and warned the group.  The fight began with an arrow.  The one giant was quickly put down.  Malloric popped in to check on the other room when he was resoundingly thumped by a waiting giant.  This one refused to come out and it took some maneuvering to get the right personnel into the room, but this one too was defeated.  Just as it fell, you all heard a chilling scream echo through the halls.  It was not pain or fear, but anger.  You cast a few cures and braced yourselves.

Soon another giant came into view and you engaged.  It was followed by Galenmir, the stone giant general you had been told about.  His veins were clearly visible under his thick gray skin.  He wore armor and a large steel shield sized for a medium creature.  He also wielded a normal longsword in one hand.  It looked a little awkward for him, but you soon found he was quite proficient with it. As the group dealt with the regular giant some moved up to meet the general.  Balros gave it his all in an attempt to disarm him.  Galenmir shrugged off the attempt.  "You have got to be shitting me!" was Balros' disheartened reply.  Moments later, one of the lamia priestesses you had been warned to avoid came into view.  Golian headed to attack and she struck him with her flail, causing him to reel from the Wisdom damage.  He with drew thinking the giant might be easier.  D'Argo, nearly completely out of spells moved up and considered getting into melee range (which he did for a few moments until remembering what happened the last time he did that).

The lamia started with spells, blinding Pirozzi.  Malloric held out an arrow and asked if Pirozzi had any silences.  Pirozzi felt around and cast on the arrow and Malloric stuck it and others in the lamia.  Unable to cast, she forcible removed the arrows and threw them over here shoulder to get rid of the silence.  This game went on a for a couple rounds as others battled the giant.  She eventually retreated into the darkness.

Golain withdrew from the fight with Galenmir to get any of the few remaining cures that might be had.  Wolfgar filled in.  Balros, still angry with his failed disarm attempt tried once more. This time with success.  This infuriated the giant even more.  Golain, sensing and opportunity ran up and approached the giant's weapon.  "You pick that up and I will kill you first!" was the giants reply.  Golain did it anyway and ran.

The lamia returned only to be pin cushioned with another silence arrow.  This time, instead of throwing it away,  threw it into the group.  Golian, fearing the giant, returned to the lamia only to suffer more wisdom damage.  The group had taken a beating and the giant showed few signs of slowing. Everyone was quite hurt even though the giant had resorted to using its giant sized dagger. from the damage you took it wasn't a significant difference. Malloric, actually starting to run low on arrows, took a bead on the lamia and dropped her.  His last arrow he redirected at the giant.  It was the final blow.

You cast what remaining curatives you had and debated about continuing. You figured you should at least get to the captives.  You found them alone and beaten.  They told you that all hell broke loose some time ago.  For some reason, many of the giants started fighting amongst themselves with the other denizens taking sides.  The captives were worried they were going to be killed but the infighting actually saved them as the giants seemed to quickly forget about them.  You released them and headed to Conna's room.  You found here head on the floor outside the shrine.  Worried about the ghost, you paused and discussed next steps.  Edwin, grabbed Mokmurian's robe and when in.  You saw the ghost manifest and quickly dissipate as Edwin held up the robes for it to see.

The carnage continued up on the mesa.  Scores of bodies littered the ground and you could occasionally see a fleeing figure off in the far distance.  The trip to Wraithkeep was slow but uneventful.  There you learned that they already knew about the dissipation of the giant army. You debriefed the leaders, cleaned up and fed and clothed the captives. Some were local. They thanked you and took their leave to get back home. You bought some additional horses and carts for the trip back to Radigast.  Several uneventful days later you arrived.  The news of the fallen giant army preceded you.

You took a few days to identify and prepare for a magic split.  Malloric secured passage on a ship for himself and those freed captives from Ardinn.  In Ardrinn he met Henrik who had some news of odd local events.  Some discussion later and all determined things were stable enough for the two to return to Radigast City for a few days.

.

You pulled open the double door and stared through a short hall into a large room with an even higher ceiling.  It was very poorly lit and the shadows made seeing to the far wall difficult, but you could tell it was about 60' deep.  You could not immediately tell the width.  As you eyes were adjusting a wall of fog appeared in front of you blocking sight into the room.  Balros, Wolfgar and Malloric headed in and found the fog to be solid.  As they pushed through a dispel was cast, clearing the fog.  Balros ran along the left wall to the far end of the room and readied himself at the bottom of some stairs for the giant. Others moved slightly into the room and spread out some.  The stone giant on the landing cast a few spells and stood his ground.  The party continued to prepare.  Mokmurian climbed down the stairs and took a position in the center of the room.  Some charged only to run into an area of reverse gravity.  Suspended in the air they struggled to gain any purchase they could.  The giant started casting damaging spells, but thanks to Edwin's protections, no or vary little damage was actually delivered. Once past the reverse gravity, some found the room further divided by a wall of force.  It took several rounds to maneuver enough for all to be on Mokmurian's side of the battle.  Your magic missiles proved ineffective against his shield and he seemed prepared for D'Argo's acid spells as they were mostly absorbed by protective spells. Mokmurian lashed out at Wolfgar with a disintegrate. His dwarven constitution prevented that spell from having full effect. The giant tried other elemental spells to little effect.  Eventually the fight turned to a melee brawl as magic was proving unreliable.  Mokmurian covered himself with a fire shield and melee began.  Balros periodically disarmed the giant, who took the time to grab his weapon each time.  It took some time, but Mokmurian was beaten down.

Just as the killing blow landed, the giant's body stiffened and his mouth began opening and closing but did not quite match the words of the voice that eminated.  It said:

So these are the heroes of the age. More like gasping worms to me, soon to be crushed back into the earth when I awaken the armies of Xin-Shalast, when the name Karzoug is again spoken with fear and awe. Know that the deaths of those marked by the  Sihedron—the giants you have so conveniently slain for me—hasten my return, just as yours soon will. Fools, all of you. Is this all you could manage in ten thousand years?

Then Mokmurian crumpled.