Session 63

=April 22nd, 2021 - The Giant Representative=

A Bittersweet Victory
The session began as the battle continued to rage against the set of ice trolls that swarmed the party. Old White Death was flying in a wide arc keeping distance from the group, and Kiruna let go and flew back to help her master when it appeared as if the dragon was going to flee. The massive cavernous space was still brightly lit up by the sunlight coming from Cadmus’ dawn spell. Between Alburt’s fire breath in his young red dragon form, and Rachen’s giantslayer greatsword, the trolls fell quickly.

Old White Death summoned a new ice wall to try and block all the arrows and bolts flying at him from Rufus and Thia, but it was really the dawn column of fire that shielded him. Cadmus then conjured a deadly insect plague around the dragon as it continued to fly. This resulted in him dropping concentration on the dawn, and thus the cavern was plunged into darkness. The party could hear the dragon bellowing in pain and then a massive icy splash. Soon, the bone chilling lair was silent, and the party relaxed as it appeared the dragon had fled his lair.

There was a single female dwarven warrior that was alive at the end of the battle, and she insisted on giving her brethren a proper send off. The group then piled up the dead troll and dwarven corpses and burned them in a large funeral pyre bonfire, which warmed them while they rested. While all of this was happening, Rufus explored the rest of the lair while Alburt and Lachlan used their fire magic (Alburt was still polymorphed for the first hour) and two hours to melt and remove treasure from the ice. They gathered thousands of coins, mostly gold, silver and platinum. There were a number of magical potions and scrolls, but not a lot of valuable magical items - it appeared as if this was not the largest hoard of the dragon.

There was some rumbling and shaking about halfway through the group’s efforts, but it subsided relatively fast. Some thought the dragon may be returning, but perhaps it was just a tremor. Once the party had collected as much treasure as they could manage in the freezing space, the wizards used their magic to help the party back up the ice shaft that led down into the lair and rejoined Maccath. She was certainly ready to go, but insisted the group take the dragon’s collection of magical books and scrolls back for the Alliance, which Cadmus helped load into their bag of holding.

She also suggested the party try and take the ice toads many tablets, as the draconic lore and knowledge stored on them would certainly fetch a nice price to the right collector in the Arcane Alliance. The group made their way back to the ice toad’s chamber, and spoke with the lead toad, the one that could actually speak draconic. It was named Marfulb, and once it learned the dragon had only fled, it insisted on staying to complete their work. The party quickly debated on trying to take the objects by force, but they agreed it was unnecessary. They would have to bring Marfulb with them, as the writing on the tablets was some toad language that no one else could read, and without its cooperation there wasn’t much hope of a payday.

As the group returned to the topmost chamber with the ladder leading up to the ice staircase out of the glacier, they realized something bad had happened. Mend-nets was cowering in the corner, gently sobbing, and there were two frozen corpses collapsed at the bottom of the ladder. Alburt sent his newly resummoned familiar, The Breeze 5 (or 4?), up to the surface to look around. It was the middle of the night, cloudy, snowing, and the only sounds were of the wind blowing fiercely. The entire village lay destroyed, frozen and broken pieces were strewn about among dozens of dead and frozen bodies. In addition, their airship was also frozen and destroyed and no crew gnomes were seen.

The Giant Representative
The party went out into the night snowstorm and spent about an hour investigating around the village for survivors or any signs of Old White Death waiting for them. Afterwards, when they found none alive and no dragon, the group prepared to leave. The surviving dwarf questioned how she would get home, and the party reassured her they would get her there, but first they had a stop or two to make. With only a handful of days remaining until the next Lord’s Accord Council session, the group needed to meet with the Giant Queen Serissa, and hopefully return to Ironbay with a representative for the council.

Maccath and the dwarf each touched one of the party members as they each blew their magical conch shells, which transported them to the storm giant’s undersea lair of Maelstrom. The group was quickly led to the audience chamber where the Queen sat upon her throne. Imperator Uthor was there by her side as always, but also present was their friend Harshnag. They greeted and spoke with the giants, learning how Harshnag has spent his time since the killing of Iymrith here with the storm giants. He and Serissa had spoken in length about smallfolk, Harshnag’s experiences, and their common desire to see the evil dragons stopped. The Queen had been working on re-affirming fealty from the various clans and factions, and while she did not yet have the commitment of the forces she wanted, she was confident more would come around.

When Rachen asked who the Queen could assign as a representative for the giants, Serissa replied asking the battle master who he thought would do best? Rachen was quick to say Harshnag, his oldest giant friend, and very trusted among the humans of House Silverhand in Ironbay. The Queen could not agree any more. It wasn’t long until the party wizards had drawn out the teleportation circle back to Ironaby and they all stepped through - including Harshnag, Maccatch, and the single surviving dwarf - back to their homebase.

They returned to the Silverhand Estate's portal room, and found the stone room was now blocked by a massive iron gate and multiple guards on the other side. Confused, the Champions asked to be released or to see Lady Silverhand, and that is when they learned what was going on. The guards knew who they were of course, but were under orders from the now High Lady Silverhand. Moments later, the new ruler of Ironaby came down from her sleep and ordered the group freed. It seems while they were away the previous High Lord Vonner was found to be abusing his position, and was voted out of power by the group of Ironbay Lords.

High Lady Silverhand was pleased to see the red-haired wizard Maccath, and told the group that the second special session of the Lord’s Accord Council on the Cult of the Dragon would commence in just a few days. The party looked forward to a few days of rest and leisure ahead.

And that is where the session ended, it was late in the night of the two hundred sixtieth day since the raid on Greenest (,or early in the day of the two hundred and sixty first day). The party was also granted a new level at this point, up to thirteen.

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