Session 274 - The Giant Noron
General Summary
21th to 27th of Peonu (Second Month of Spring) 726TRThe Story So Far
The rugged bounty hunter Cassius and his sidekick Salvador, a cleric of Ilvir, have brought the notorious bandit Reinwald Three Finger to justice. Unfortunately, one of his gang escaped and is tracking the heroes, and he has friends.
The heroes have decided to help Berda, a young dwarven woman from a wealthy family, on a quest to find a husband in the faraway dwarven Kingdom of Kuzjera. The pair decide to help her as her escorts have been murdered.
The trio and Cassius’s pet Bear are now making their way through the wilderness north, along Noron’s Way trade route, with their first stop being the keep of the legendary Giant Noron.
This is the continuation of Session 272 - The Busted Nut.
Location - In the Wilderness along Noron's Trail in the Kingdom of Kaldor.
Part 1 – Night Stalkers
Cassius, Salvador, and Berda make camp; however, their rest is rudely interrupted. The bandit who escaped Cassius a week ago has sneaked up on the campsite. This time he will be the attacker hiding in the darkness. Unfortunately, his two hastily gathered accomplices are not as stealthy and are detected. Cassius is on watch and injures the bandit with a well-placed arrow shot, and the Bear charges in to finish him. Berda, grumpy from being woken from a bad dream, deals with the other two; she knows how to wield a dwarven waraxe. This time none of the bandits escape alive.
However, Berda’s nightmares return later that night, and the Bear senses something unnatural nearby and growls angrily. Salvador is on watch and lights a torch, and investigates. He can just make out a sinister patch of darkness obscured in the bushes, a shadow without a body. Whatever it is, the shade retreats and evades the heroes.
Salvador thinks he knows what the malicious entity may be. Disturbingly, it matches what he has read in various holy texts. It could be a Gytevsha, a minion of the god of assassin Naveh, probably one of the weaker kinds used as spies and scouts. But what would a servant of the god of Naveh want with the travelers?
Part 2- Eye Eaters
The next day, the characters leave the woodlands and enter a series of low-lying hills. A pack of Vlasta notice the travelers and ambush them, leaping down the rocky walls of the pathway, scratching and stabbing at the heroes' faces. Lacerations and blood temporarily blind Salvador; nevertheless, the fragile aggressive little Ivashi are soon killed.
Location - Noron's Keep between the Kingdoms of Orbaal and Kaldor.
Part 3- Noron's Keep
The travelers approach a huge stone building overlooking a small village. This is the famous Noron’s Keep. Berda becomes excited and tells Cassius she met the so-called Giant Noron when he visited her father some years ago and is very fond of him.
The travelers are escorted to the keep. Bursting out of the impressive structure, a huge, burly black-bearded giant of a man, almost eight foot tall, appears and greets her enthusiastically in the dwarven tongue. The imposing giant Noron warmly welcomes the party to his home.
Berda will stay in the keep's guest quarters, while Salvador and Cassius can lodge in the settlement's enormous and comfortable barn.
Part 3 - Wrestling Match
The revelry moves outside onto the riverbank, and Lascath easily wraps his arms around the bear, lifts him up, and dumps him into the river. On best behavior, the Bear plays the fool until Lascath jumps into the river to rescue him. A good time was had by all.
The travelers stay several days while Berda and Noron confer, and he offers advice on her mission north. He would like to provide more assistance but remarks that he has not visited the Ivinian northlands for a very long time. He and the Ivinian god of the Icy Wind, Sarajin, have issues, he remarks.
Part 4 - Farewell Gift
Before the heroes depart, Noron suddenly becomes serious and tells Cassius that he "WILL keep Berda safe." With this implied threat over, he returns to his affable self, offers the party provisions, and gives Cassius a weapon, an enchanted composite short bow he calls Whispering Wind. He casually states that he picked this elven-made relic after the Battle of Sorrows. It is made from peach wood and glimmers slightly in direct sunlight. More importantly, it is a potent weapon against the undead; it may be useful if that shadow creature reappears.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Noron the Giant.
Lascath Noronson.
Some of Noron's sons.
Challenges Overcome
3 x Bandits.
8 x Vlasta - the Eater of Eyes.
Befriended Noron and Lascath.
Rewards
Kurgan is given Whispering Wind.
Created Content
Vlasta - the Eater of Eyes - updated for Pathfinder 2E.
Lesser Gytevsha - updated for Pathfinder 2E.
Related Reports
Player Characters
Cassius - Human - L1 Ranger.
Salvador - Human - L1 Cleric of Ilvir (Change).
NPC Character Status
Berda - Dwarf - L1 Fighter.
Next Session
Berda
The inquisitive and idealistic daughter of a wealthy Dwarf.
Vlasta - the Eater of Eyes
Small Ivashu who have an appetite for eyes.
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