Recap 20180518 - A Trio of Giants - A Slave Lord Side Adventure 11th

20180518 A Trio of Giants - After the ambush at the inn, a few heroes head toward the mountains to intercept a small group of giant raiders. The heroes get ambushed by ogres and then a beholder summoned by a slave lord. They catch up to the giants and defeat them.

Nekk - Human Fighter, Kobe
Raistlin - Elf Wizard, Arthur
Wii Pixie Leader, Ken
Iantie Githyanki Striker, Mick
Belden Leader, Chris
Walster Mul Barbarian, Ibuki

Briefer than usual recap.  After the Slave Lord ambush at the inn, a band of about a dozen refugees who are on the way to Tyr Amar tell the heroes about a large band of giant raiders and one small group of three giants who broke off from the main group to raid a nearby ranch.  The escaping Slave Lords from the inn ambush are tracked and seem to be heading back to Try Amar.  Some of the heroes head back to Tyr Amar on the heels of the Slave Lords, a couple escort the refugees and a couple, joined by some new heroes, start off after the trio of giants.

After avoiding some friendly soldiers, the group is lured into an ambush by an illusion of a dark dwarf scout.  Three Ogre soldiers, two Ogre Barbarians, and one Ogre Brute Leader with a pet Umber Hulk pop out from magically hidden pits.  Also, an Ogre Magi scouts the party and provides the Ogres some minor support.  After being weakened by Raistlin's magic, Ianti finishes off the first Ogre soldier with a pounce like a leaping tiger and then battles and with the help of Wii, downs the Umber Hulk.  Nekk pins down and quickly downs the second Ogre soldier.  Ianti rushes over and cuts down the third Ogre soldier while other heroes, who were further back move up to join the fight.  Beldin goes down but Wii rushes over to heal him.  Raistlin downs the first Barbarian while delaying the advance of the other Ogres w spells.  Ianti who is a blur of flashing steel, rapidly cuts down the other Ogre Barbarian with a pair of perfect strikes (back to back crits!).  In the meantime, Nekk prones and smashes the Ogre leader while other heroes search for the elusive Ogre Magi.

At dinner, the group is attacked by a summoned Beholder!  While Walster, Beldin and Wii, all chase after the Illusionist Slave Lord, the Beholder causes mayhem!  Ianti is nearly disintegrated and takes massive wounds and goes down.  Beldin is charmed and strikes at Nekk several times, inflicting major damage.  Raistlin has his best magic negated and resorts to magic missiles.  Nekk charges up and prones the beholder, preventing it from further neutralizing the wizard and then Nekk hits the beholder three times as the eye tyrant attempts to shoot eye beams at other party members.  Nekk then dazes the beholder, allowing other heroes to heal up and surround the beholder, keeping it prone, and slowed.  Finally, a few well place arrows by Wii finish the beholder off while the Illusionist escapes.

Finally the group catches up to the giants.  Wii, Raistlen and Beldin quickly down the initial giant.  Wii and Ianti finish off the second giant and subdue the giant owl bear pet.  Nekk prones the giant leader, allowing Walster to charge in and combining their power, the two fighters take out the giant leader with Walster striking the killing blow.  The find a map to the hill giant king's fortress.

The group returns to the inn where they started.