Out In The Open

September 10, 2020

The group stares as the giant appears, the domed building breaks and shatters.  Several don't manage to get out of the way of debris flying around.  The giant repeats that he is free then looks elsewhere.  "Yes, I remember the bargain."  He spreads his fingers out and lightning shoots out, forming a net of lightning across the ruins.  Sparks fly between the lines of lightning and openings to somewhere appear.  The group doesn't know what they are seeing but then winged figures fly through.  "Now, I go to fulfill other promises," the giant's voice booms and with a flash of lightning and boom of thunder, causing a few of the group to hold their ears from it, the giant is gone.  

The winged creatures look like elves with leather wings, a tinge of red to their skin, and something else.  On a few, it might be slight horns.  A few other have fangs.  Some have tails.  One has full formed horns and she flies down to the group as the lightning net dissipates.  There are perhaps a dozen of these creatures, all with sword and bow.  

"Kneel before me, your queen," one says, flying a bit closer.  

"Who are you?" yells back Gorstag.  

"Impudent!" yells another, sending waves of force to slam into Gorstag.  It felt like a light slap.  "Kneel before your queen!"  

"No."  

"Then die!"  The winged figures start spreading out, shooting arrows, except the queen.  She uses some magic.  However, between Rolen's arrows and Kaji's magic, she is soon laid low.  The rest of the winged creatures stop and bargain.  They will leave if they can save their queen.  The group agrees and several fly down to get the queen then they fly off.

"Not sure we should have done that," someone mutters but it is done.  

"Yeah, pretty sure they will heal and be back."  

"So," Rikard starts, "what now, Dio?  If they come back and don't get that close, it's a bow and a crossbow against a dozen bows.  Have you seen enough of this place or is there more to see?"  

Dio stares at him.  "What do you mean?"  

"Well, they came here for a reason and will likely come back.  Do we stay and defend it?  Or do we go tell others what we saw?"  

"Okay," responds Dio, "but why ask me?"  

"We came here for you.  This is a place where the Hammers were.  I'm just wondering if you have seen enough or if there is more to learn?"

Dio looks around.  Does he want to open the mausoleums?  Is there anything more to find?  He shakes his head.  "We need to warn other places about the giant and these winged creatures."

"Do we go to Elkwall?" asks Rikard.  "It's closest."  

"Forget them," hisses Rolen.  "We go to Lowvale.  Besides, I have wanted to see it."  The group doesn't argue and heads south.  

They travel for a few days.  One day, they see wyverns but hide rather than have a fight.  The wyverns actually circle a fair amount until some other game comes into play and leave.  The group hurries on.  A day later, they see some giants.  Hill giants at first but then some fire giants come forward.  And they talk?  The fire gaint, Janusz, introduces himself of the fire lizards and asks if they have seen his kin but the group says only the hill giant type and only from a distance.  The fire giant nods and then wishes them well on their journey.  The group looks at each other and then starts to head around.  They are halfway around the group when the lead giant comes back for another question.  He asks if Dio worships Moradin and Dio gets shocked when Janusz says he also worships Moradin!  

"There is no finer forge master than Moradin," says Janusz, and Kaji's eyes practically roll all the way around.  Kaji mutters something about fire giants not worshiping Kossuth seems wrong.  Dio smiles and they keep going.  

When they get to Lowvale, it's surprisingly neat and clean.  The roads are well maintained and no dirt or horse droppings to be seen.  Not thinking about those before, it stands out.  Further, as they travel, they see the women are dressed well.  All look like ladies?  Is this a town of nobles?  Well to do merchants?  The women all have neat, clean dresses, although practical and still allow for work.  The ladies wear lace gloves and carry a parasol.  A parasol?  In this small town in a valley with giants, wyverns, and orc tribes?  They find the Ivory House Inn but realize it's more than they want to pay.  They ask someone for another place and get directions.  While traveling, they are asked if they are there for the games.  Apparently, it's mid summer festival, and there are races, archery, and even fighting for rewards.  They get to the Staff and the Spirits, the other place they knew about, and realize that the directions given to them were by road.  Had it been shortest route, it would have a quick cut between two buildings to get there.  They did learn about the games, though.  

The route they go takes them past the manor.  It's a large three story building atop a small rise.  There is a flat area in front of the manor house, while the back has a steep slope, and in that flat area is a croquet play area.  They see a dandy playing it with three young girls and two young boys.  All seem to be having fun.  They find the Inn but also can't help but watch the fun of the game.  They also realize that it could all be destroyed by giants or the fey'ri.  They steel themselves for what they must do.  

The Staff and the Spirits is nice and clean and the couple they heard that owns it, Sofia and Tomas, are there.  Sofia is also wearing a similar dress to other women they saw but no parasol.  She is indoors!  They talk a bit and get some food and drink.  The surprises of Lowvale continue for the cuts of meat they receive, the vegetables, steamed or in a stew, and the bread pudding are excellent!  These two could own a place in Sundabar, nay Silverymoon, and do well!  The couple takes the compliments well but say they are happy here.  Even the whiskey they make themselves is excellent.  The group is quite happy, although Rikard wonders what Ivory House would have offered.  From Sofia, they that to join the games they must sign up at the manor.  They can't go until morning, so get a good night's rest, well stuffed from their meal.  

The next morning, they head up to the manor.  They were told Seth, the doorman, would announce them and Seth does come forward, introduce himself, and asks how they want to be introduce.  They were warned that the Countess in Court is particular and would only want one to speak for a group.  Otherwise, they have to petition individually and should have something ready to say.  The group decide Dio will talk for them.  They are introduced as the Sundabar Wolves.  

Before they go into the Countess' presence, Sister Dani appears.  She is in the house but Rikard notices that she isn't in the room where the Countess holds court.  Perhaps the sister's haven't had as much luck here as in other places?  Dani merely smiles at them and taunts them a bit too politely.  They merely nod and keep going to court while Dani herself leaves.   

Rikard wasn't sure what he expected from the Countess.  Given that the women in town had a dress code and from what they heard, the Countess wanted this to be a proper County.  However, Rikard soon took to the Countess.  She was polite, hospitable, and received Dio's warning about the fey'ri well.  Rikard was taken aback to find that she dealt with the fire giants?  They had a smith but if they wanted something in armor or weapons, she would get the giants to make it.  Rikard regarded her closer and wondered if she was more formidable than she first seemed.  Dio asks about the smith, and John Parr, and hopes to talk to him but the Countess seems to indicate that the smith might help with horseshoes or nails but not armor.  That did explain the giants, Rikard thought.  Dio finds out about an herbalist, Alexandra, in town and he also gets Rolen and Gorstag signed up for the games.  

It turns out that Countess Tamara has two ladies in waiting.  Both are quite smitten by the group and one, Rosemary, takes to Rolen, even going so far to give him a token.  Karen takes to Kaji and speaks with him.  Rikard kicks himself for overstepping.  He jokingly says that Kaji might be considered a prince where he is from, and Kaji realizes that the ladies are looking for suitors.  Kaji politely declines and smiles when Rolen accepts the token, wondering if Rolen knows what that means.  

Dio meanwhile finds out that it is the Countess herself who deals in most sales.  The Countess says they do have a general store for most goods that the farmers and ranchers need but anything more expensive, she takes care of herself.  Dio asks what they have and the Countess says she has a magical short bow and short sword but to also send a list over of what they want.  She says she hasn't checked her inventory in a while.  Dio says he will do so and then all leave.  Rikard thinks it went quite well.  

Dio goes and speaks to Alexandra, the herbalist, and finds she does not have healing potions.  However, after some banter, and Dio name dropping Siobhan from Ashriver, Alexandra says she might have some personal items she might sell, if Dio is okay with that.  Dio agrees and buys all of her personal healing potions from her.  Dio finds out she has a Staff of Fire and a magical die but doesn't know much about the die itself.  The staff is five hundred crowns and Dio isn't so sure they have that but thanks her for the potions and leaves.

Dio goes back to the Inn and talks to the group, telling what he found from Alexandra.  Rolen, wanting to help, asks, "Think these will help?"  He pulls out several gems he has.  

"Where did you get those," bursts Rikard, eyes bulging at the emeralds and sapphires.  

"I found them in the wall of the domed building that held the giant.  I saw more but only managed to pry out these few."  

"These few?  How many did you see," asks Rikard.  

"Perhaps twenty?  And a few more that were smashed to pieces.  Those were the diamonds but there was barely dust left."  

Rikard groans at the thought of lost diamond dust but says, "Well, those are all probably worth five hundred crowns each.  Here's hoping Alexandra takes them for coin."  

The group talks about more options and walks around the town.  Rolen and Kaji have hostesses in the ladies but the rest show themselves around town.  Rolen tries to get a feel for the land for the race and Rosemary shows him some older paths that were used.  If they are going to be used this year, he can't tell.  Rosemary says that the Countess wants it to be fair and won't mark it out until the hours before it starts, to make the route part of the race.  Kaji is polite with Karen but still maintains that he is not looking to court someone but Karen seems fine with his company.  

The next morning, the fighting has begun.  Given Gorstag's appearance and obvious ease with weapons, although sixteen had signed up for the fight, Gorstag doesn't need to fight until the it is reduced to eight.  His first fight ends up being someone he knows.  He didn't get the name of the men with the sisters at either of the orc camps but finds he will fight one, a man named Troy.  Troy uses a long sword, dulled for the fight, while Gorstag has a dulled glaive.  Gorstag is happy to see what he can do.  Troy comes up and cheerily says that it should be interesting.  

"Why are you with the Sisters," Gorstag asks.  

"Ah," responds Troy, nodding.  "Yes, the sisters are more well known but there are brothers in the order as well."

"Brothers and sisters to who?"  

"Well, defeat me and I will tell you," responds Troy.  He nods and goes back to get the sword while Gorstag readies the glaive.  It's not as nice or worn as his, and the balance is off a bit, but Gorstag thinks he can compensate for it.  

They cross weapons a few times, circling, each trying to get a measure of the other.  It's obvious that Troy is also getting used to his borrowed sword.  They swing and parry back and forth several times with no real attempt to hit the other.  After circling a few times, Troy nods at Gorstag, as if signaling he is ready.  Gorstag didn't know what to make of that.  Honor?  In a quick few attacks, Gorstag slams the haft into Troy's stomach and slaps him with the dulled blade.  Troy backs off, then comes in close, hitting Gorstag with the sword and even using a backhand in the fight!  Gorstag pushes forward, hitting Troy once, twice, and then a third time with the haft of the glaive, and knocks Troy back.  He's not bleeding out and might have been able to fight but signals his surrender.  Gorstag nods and Troy does as well.  

Troy moves forward and offers his hand in a clasp.  Gorstag takes it and Troy leans in and says, "We are followers of Shar."  Then Troy nods again and lets go and heads back to Dani, who heals him.  Rikard heals Gorstag, although it doesn't take much compared to full cuts or hits.  

Gorstag tells the others what Troy said and they discuss it.  Rikard offers that Shar is the goddess of darkness, but also of night, dark places like caves, and forgotten things.  Rikard says that if any could find an old ritual or know that a storm giant was imprisoned, it would be a follower of Shar.  The group ponders this as more fights happen.  

3000 xp

GM Notes

• This is the tough part of GMing, what is dramatic in my head versus what will actually happen.
• I saw the fey'ri as asking who was in charge and if the group said themselves, the fey'ri would correct it and say they were, or their queen was.  It's the difference between writing it and having it happen.
• I also think that when something big happens like that, it puts the players on edge and high alert.  Would the characters be?  I don't know if it's fair to distinguish at that moment. 
• Travel times have been interesting and something I have to remember.
• While they aren't traveling far, it's not the distance but how easy it is.  All rough terrain and no roads make it tough to go what I think of as the full distance of twenty miles.  So, they are slowed by at least half, and it takes longer to get around.
• I always find it fun to ask what the players want for their characters when it comes to magic items.  Sometimes they know but more often, they want a list of what is available, like a menu to choose from.
• I did push for the ending fight a bit to have some action at the end. 
• One of the things that I prefer is to blur the lines a bit with alignment.  I don't like any mortal creature being pinned to a particular type. 
• Even though dragons are "color coded for adventurer's convenience" I like to shake that up. 
• I don't mind outer planar creatures always being a particular type, though. 
• I also like finding ways the traditional evil gods could be revered in a polytheistic society.   
• Shar is evil but could be worshiped by those wanting to find secrets or keep them.   That makes her appeal to a broader group.  I like that over it being as simple as good or evil.
• I do have to watch that, though, because at the same time, having it be a fight of good versus evil makes it easy.  I don't want players to play moody people who doubt what they did most of the time.  I want them to know most fights are righteous.  I merely want options
• I liked the fight between Troy and Gorstag because it seemed to go about how fast it would be in real life.  Three or four quick hits plus a big hit or two and the fight is over.  Not something that is drawn out.   

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