The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 011

Game summary for September 13, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (human cleric/magic-user), Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user), Jorr Brainmangle (orc fighter) along with henchman Mara Woodstride (elf fighter/magic-user).

The team mustered the ragtag orc troops and gave them encouraging words and demonstrations of their mighty magic.  After whipping the creatures into a frenzy, they lead them up through the hidden stairway and into the steading!

A full day of horribly violent war followed with light losses on both sides.  The orcs had the upper hand and secured part of the halls despite losing over two dozen troops.  Overnight, the PCs tended the wounded and planned for the next day.

The second day of fighting was far more intense with over 40 orcs slain over the course of the day.  However, a dozen giants and a couple ogres paid their lives in defense of the halls!  At the end of two days, the giants were fatigued and badly outnumbered.

The third day, the party decided to push to take control of the pantry and kitchen and help starve the giants if this turned into a long term endeavor.  The team drove the orcs to great feats, but exhaustion won out, leaving most giants dead but the orcs nearly collapsed on the floor.

The final contingent of giants, two hill giants, a cloud giant, and Chief Nosnra himself went toe-to-toe with the Swords of Greyhawk in an epic final battle for control of the steading!  The giants charged but could not seem to land solid blows.  Crularin turned into a lion and tore into the chief.  Mara unleashed a barrage of magic missiles rivaled in effectiveness only by the twin lightning bolts of Drake Spellking!  Emeran used the wand of wonder several times, once sending a stream of bruising damaging gems bursting forth.  Mara was brought low by a giant club and then killed in the path of Emeran’s lightning bolt.  Drake was clubbed unconscious too.  Finally, Jorr, using the devastating Blackrazor, waded in and dropped the last of the giants and killed Chief Nosnra!

The Swords of Greyhawk turned over the steading to the orcs and had them agree not to raid in Sterich for some time.  Once back in Istivin, they collected their reward and made a temporary truce between the lands of men and the orcs of the mountain.

With the great foes vanquished, new adventures await.  Where shall the Swords next venture?  Only time will tell.

The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief – Game Session – 010

Game summary for September 6, 2012, Priscus Venatus campaign, G1: The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief adventure; present PCs included Crularin Gellantara (druid), Drake Spellking (human cleric/magic-user), Emeran Galathar (elf fighter/magic-user), Jorr Brainmangle (orc fighter) along with henchman Mara Woodstride (elf fighter/magic-user).

The team, joined by Jorr Brainmangle of the orcs, moved through the underhalls looking for more weapons.  They had armed Jorr with Blackrazor, and bloodlust had him rushing ahead looking for giants.  They discovered a secret stairwell and sent Crularin up too look around.  He found a map room, and they decided this would be the perfect entranceway to the upper level for their orc troops.

The team continued searching around and discovered three hostile stone giants!  One giant smashed a brazier of coals into the party’s faces while the others hurled rocks!  Crularin unleashed a wall of fire, Drake fired off spiritual hammer, and Mara used magic missile.  Brutal melee ensued with lightning bolts and magic going all over!  Crularin discovered he has a wand of wonder and quickly used it to blast himself and the giants with a fireball!  Soon, the fight was over with the Swords of Greyhawk victorious.

Satisfied they had found all the items and weapons they could, they returned to the caves to rally the orcs.