Session 333 - The Giants Keep

General Summary

Spring 727TR

The Story So Far

The King is dead. Long live the King.

King Minigath, after ruling the Kingdom of Kaldor well for thirty-three years, has been assassinated. Sir Conwan Elendsa has been crowned King, but this has been contested by the former King's bastard sons. Meanwhile, in the background, the mysterious Esoterical Order of Lothrim is up to no good.

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The heroes have rescued Ursuli, a Human female Psionicist who, through some mishap, is trapped in a male Orc’s body.

She psionically possessed a Foulspawn during a scouting mission in the western Sorkin Mountains and has been unable to return to her body. To complicate matters, at the time her body was located in Noron’s Keep, an outpost held by the immortal giant who hates Orcs with a murderous passion and would likely kill her on sight.

This is the continuation of Session 332 - A Keg and a Curse.

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Location - Foothills of the Northern Sorkin Mountains.

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20^th Peonu 727TR

Part 1 – The Road to the Giants Keep

Lascath, art by Dreamlike.art

While Ursuli stays hidden in the woods, the party approaches the isolated settlement of Noron’s Keep. The ford along the River Kald is guarded by two of Noron’s sons, both 7ft tall, the gregarious and burly Lascath, and the more solemn Carack.

Carack and Jorith, art by Artflow

They look the travelers over and determine what toll they can extort from the heroes. Also the pair want an explanation as to who the characters are and why they should be allowed to travel through their fathers’ lands. Fortunately, Dryueh convinces them that he is a skilled physician, and Rycon looks like a poor traveling knight. Both are allowed, though, with a minimal toll. Valeria concocts an elaborate scheme with her hawk companion and bird droppings being a source of good luck, which amuses the sentries, and she is let in with the toll forgotten about.

Part 2- Noron the Giant

Not long after the ford, the party entered a small village with a tall keep surrounded by a sturdy wooden wall.

Fodorin, art by Artflow

Noron’s Keep has an enormous square tower surrounded by a palisade, a dozen houses, and some recently tilled fields. In the town square, the party is assailed by one of Noron’s sons, Fodorin, another unusually tall man juggling balls, a chicken, and various objects to amuse the local children. He asks the party to add to the display, so the party throws him a lit torch and a knife, which he expertly adds to his performance.

Meanwhile, Dryueh discreetly moves among the locals, offering his healing talents and asking questions about Ursuli. He learns she was last seen arguing with another of Noron’s sons, Jorith, who appears to be Carack's identical twin. Druyeh is also warned never to lie to Noron.

The man himself, Noron, arrives to greet and question the visitors. The giant is an impressive figure, over 8 feet tall and muscled, and his mannerisms are both friendly and intimidating. The party makes a good impression, and they are invited to dine with the giant and his family tonight.

Part 3 – Dinner

Noron, art by Richard Luschek

Dinner with Noron and his sons is a pretty entertaining experience. The food is good, and the drink is outstanding. Noron is a generous host but expects his guests to contribute. He demands that each of the characters entertain him with their stories. Dryueh and Valaria provided highly edited summaries of their life and accomplishments, adequately describing some entertaining events. The giant is especially interested in Rycon’s achievements and appears remarkably well-informed about the founding of the Order of The Knights of Redemption and his involvement. Wisely, Rycon does not brag but impresses Noron, who gifts him with a sturdy shield from his extensive treasury.

After the meal, the party talks to Jorith and discreetly learns the cause of his argument with Ursuli. Apparently, the lady confused him with his twin brother, which annoyed him. Strangely she had no trouble in the past telling the brothers apart. He declares he last saw her storming off toward Eneyje, the village carpenter.

Part 4 – The Capenter

The following day, the party visits Eneyje, the wood crafter. The man is of Jarinese origin and is quite refined. He talks and acts like a noble and is out of place in such an isolated settlement. He is also unwell and confused, having no memory of meeting with Ursuli, but has, for the last several weeks, eaten and slept poorly due to frequent nightmares. Valeria believes he is under a curse and quickly uses sorcery to remove it. Unfortunately, he is of little help.

Searching around the hut and the woods to the north, Dryueh finds something unusual; burnt grass and vegetation in the shape of giant hoof prints. These lead north along the foothills to the nearby Arone Marshes.

Part 5 - A Ruined Village

As the party follows the trail, they are assaulted by a sudden change in weather. It becomes blustery, and a storm suddenly appears. Air Elementals are playing games and must be destroyed.

Not long after, they enter the dismal Arone Marshes, and the trail leads to a small collection of ruined buildings. In the center of the destroyed Hamlet is a clearing containing a grim sight, a corpse, a horrific figure impaled on a stake. Suddenly, the corpse twitches and then screams; its pain and anguish seriously disturb the heroes, and then it pulls itself from the stake and attacks. Shaken, the characters fight back, trying their best to ignore open wounds suddenly appearing all over their bodies and the undead's demented screams of agony. Rycon and Dryueh collapse from pain, leaving Valeria, teeth gritted, to finish the undead with a full-power Force Barrage.

Ursuli, art by Artbreeder

The party takes a moment to recover and catch their breath. Valeria's Bird companion starts swirling frantically. Something even worse is coming: a black, flaming demonic horse being ridden by a woman, Ursuli, with something very evil possessing her body or taking her shape.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Ursuli - the White Hand agent currently in an orc's body.

Noron the Giant and his sons Lascath, Fodorin, Carack, and Jorith.

Eneyje - the wood crafter.

Related Reports

Order of the White Hand.

Player Characters

Valeria - Human - L13 Shadow Sorcerer

Background - Magical Experiment.

Archetype - Beastmaster.

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Rycon - Human - L13 Fighter

Background - Rebel Knight.

Archetypes - Liberator Champion/Dual Weapon Warrior/Swashbuckler.

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Dryueh - 1/2 Elf - L13 Thief Rogue

Background - Scout.

Archetypes - Vigilante/Medic/Shadowdancer/Wizard.

Next Session

Session 334 - The Hag and the Flaming Horse.

Campaign

Legacy of the Foulspawner - Campain Complete

Protagonists

Rycon

Dryueh

Valeria

Report Date

15 Feb 2024