D&D Session 51 - Eye of the Allfather II
Pictured here is the Antechamber in Eye of the Allfather Temple. Each of the 6 giant races are depicted here with statues, all facing the center, more larger, statue of Annam the Allfather.
The party asked their questions and solicited a few key takeaways (summarized below, feel free to add details I might have missed)
1) The conch they got from Guh is broken.
2) The oracle stated the party needs another one (in tact). They are used to teleport to Maelstrom.
3) Duke Zalto of the Fire Giants is likely headed toward, or is already at, Wave Echo Cave to forge the Vonindod – a giant slaying construct made of Adamantine.
4) King Hekaton of the Storm Giants seems to have been keeping the giants in line out of fear or power even after the Ordening was shattered. He has gone missing, as the oracle stated he cannot be seen in his foresight but is still alive.
5) The Oracle recommended the party seek out Queen Neri of the storm giants for further guidance. She is likely in Maelstrom.
6) When asked ‘Why’ the Allfather Annam shattered the Ordening, the oracle answered with “He wishes to rouse his children from their complacency”
The Oracle confirmed suspicions of dragons interfering with the recent events, to include the Ordening, but is unsure how, or tow what degree, just yet. Harshnagg revealed that they let Zariel, the daughter of Iimryth, live. Initially the Oracle was shocked, and then used his foresight to see possible outcomes as a result of this decision. The oracle then stated ‘It seems your small folk companions have a greater role to play in the events to come. Perhaps it was the right choice to let Zariel live…interesting.’
With the possibility of more information or guidance, the party elected to embark on the different giant trials. A brief synopsis of those trials went as follows;
Hill Giants – the flame of the hill giant statue was extinguished by the Oracle.
Stone Giants – Kratos entered, emerging as a stone giant in a domed room with 25 or so other stone giants all sculpting and shaping some clay and stone into an object. After many failed attempts. Kratos elected to shape it into himself. After seeing others’ creations get smashed by the overseer, a crowned male storm giant, Kratos changed it to look like the storm giant who eventually came by and crushed Kratos’ creation and him – sending him back into the material plane wallowing in defeat. The Oracle extinguished the Stone Giant’s lantern.
Frost Giants – SlapChop elected to take on the Frost trial and was instructed by the oracle to choose two comrades. She chose Ezio and Cirdan to accompany her. She was whisked away into the form of a Frost Giant Commander of Legions. Standing before her was an army of frost giants, some ten thousand strong, awaiting her inspirational speech. She fumbled, choking at being put on the spot and her lieutenant, Ezio, stepped forward and delivered an inspiring speech to the legions before marching into battle. The opposing host was a legion of Frost Giants of similar number. The two armies clashed head to head to which all three of the companions fell in battle.
Fire Giants – Yorik embarked on the trial of Fire, shifting into a Fire Giant mid swing forging a blade at the anvil. Forge fires blazed all around him, and in with him were 4 other fire giants – all forging a similar weapon. After many failed attempts, Yorik’s avatar was eventually eliminated – ending the trial in yet another loss.
Cloud Giants – Sokir and Cirdan embarked on the Trial of Clouds, a test of wit. Pelted with riddle after puzzle after riddle, Sokir and Cirdan were outsmarted by the Cloud giant Curator. With each failure to solve a riddle, Sokir, Cirdan, or the Curator would lose one of their three sashes. The party was able to only get one sash removed from the Curator before eventually succumbing to defeat , extinguishing the Cloud Giant Lantern.
Storm Giants – The entire party embarked on the Trial of Storms, even Lazimere who appeared out of nowhere. The party, now embodying storm giants, were seemingly stranded on a tropical island. Out on the raging oceanic waters was a storm giant sized vessel, many storm giants aboard waving at them. Between the party and the vessel stood 500 meters of crocodile infested waters. After some time, the party discovered that some of them possessed certain powers. Some had the power to channel lightning from the storm clouds above. Others were able to create vortexes that could carry objects, or storm giants even. After some clever plan devising, the party was able to safely move one by one to the vessel with little disturbance of the snapping crocs below.
After winning the Storm Giant trial, the party was allowed three new questions from the oracle. (see accumulated knowledge at the beginning of RECAP). The party, realizing their use of the Oracle as depleted for now, stepped back through the portal into the massive antechamber. After a few moments of digesting the new information, the party’s thoughts were interrupted as an explosion occurred and a portion of the wall was broken away revealing an Adult Blue Dragon…Iimryth. She stated ‘Finally…you have proven yourself useful. The infamous ‘seven’…soon to be seven feet under. I watched you from the clouds…used you to find this hidden temple in the mountains. And now…it will crumble because of your doing at the hands of the great Iimryth!’ And crumbled it did, but not before Harshnagg grappled the mighty dragon, holding her from casting more spells at the party as he urged them to flee before he was ultimately buried beneath the rubble as the templ came crashing down. The party narrowly escaped as a massive plume of dust burst out from the once standing temple entrance. Thei ears ringing, and their vision blurry, a new sound whirred from outside. The mechanical whirring of an Airship loomed above as several figures could be seen standing aboard. One yelled down but the party couldn’t quite make out what he said. Shortly after a rope ladder was extended down to the surface from the hovering Airship. The marvel of a ship is nothing like the party had seen before. The party climbed aboard and were greeted by Cecil and his crew who commandeered the “Starstrider Mk. III Alchemical Airship” After introductions and formalities, the party decided to head __ but not before getting more fuel for their airship…Korlaxis crystals. The party spotted a deposit of crystals on a decently flat cliff to which Cecil piloted the Starstrider down without incident. The party began to attempt and mine the crystals while some stood watch. The blizzard that was taking its toll on the mountain peaks had ceased some, but there were many threats that dwell in these mountains. One of which was trailing them, its wings spanning over 50 feet. The loud swoosh of its wings flapping alerted the party. Some stationed on the ballistae, others readied their weapons for what emerged from the thick icy mist. An adult Roc emerged and attacked the party on the deck of the boat. After a grueling battle, the party eventually emerged victorious. They ended up mining 100 pounds of raw Korlaxis before ascending into the clouds once more to head south out of the Spine of the World Mountains.
- Iron Dad
