Recap 20191018 - Against the Giants - Steading of the Hill Giant Chief - Team 2

20191018 Against the Giants – The Steading of the Hill Giant Chief

Team 2 – Session 1
Mick - Tin - Defender
Arthur - Raistlen - Controller
Chris - Krizdev - Controller
Ross, Kazoo! - Controller/ Striker
Kobe, Ezio - Striker
Art - Pax – Striker
Steve - "Axlexia" Barbarian Striker

Leaving Istivin, the group heads toward the mountains.  For a number of days you see only more refugees and small groups of retreating soldiers and mercenaries.  Finding a small hill to make camp, the group also finds a small covered spot with good cover and a clear view of the lower plain.   The group spots a couple groups of hill giants, a pair of stone giants, a group of orcs, and a man with a mule and let them all pass by.  The group also spots a group of dwarves and speaks with them briefly and determine that they are hunting giants and let them pass on their way.

After a few more days, the party wanders about in the heart of the giant lands and after a time, determine that they are quite close to the hill giant steading.  Kazoo! and Ezio spot a couple of orc look outs up ahead and easily take them out.  After a time, the group finds signs that they are even closer to the steading as there are more tracks, and even a couple of large warning signs (which Kazoo! defaces).  The group hears a group of orcs up ahead and get the jump on them.  Pax quickly takes out four of the leading orcs and runs over to the edge of the waterfall and is attacked and wounded by three more orcs near the base of the small waterfall who stab at the ranger with long spears.  Ezio rushes up the other flank and takes down an orc.  The spells of Raistlin and Krizdev each take down two orcs and wound a few others.  A second wave of ten more orcs reinforces the initial orc warriors with two ogres in the center.  Tin and Axlexia engage the ogres and the heavier orcs.  Raistlin and Krizdev each take down two additional orcs, bringing their count to four each while Pax continues to rain arrows at the orc horde, taking down three more.  Ezio takes on an armored orc one on one and cuts the pig headed warrior down with a trio of slicing blows.  The barbarian and the battlemind continue to trade blows with the ogres and with some help from Raistlin, the first ogre is down.  Pax takes down two of the orc spearmen that are stabbing at her and the ranger backs over the water so that the remaining spearmen cannot attack.  Still fighting in the center, Axlexia and Tin flank and slay an armored orc while being pressed by the second ogre.  Kazoo! deals a serious wound to the ogre and runs headlong into an armored orc and after exchanging a few blows, the Halfling slices the orc warrior in both ankles, and both armpits.  Pax takes down one of the orcs pressing the rouge and the ranger then takes out the last orc spearman in front of her.   Krizdev takes out one of the few remaining orc archers.  Kazoo and Tin wound one of the orc sub-commanders who retreats toward Ezio who cuts down the orc leader with a slicing blow across the back of the neck.  Axlexia seriously wounds the other orc sub-commander who battles and is finally downed by Kazoo.  Axlexia downs the wounded Orc Commander and finally Pax shoots the last ogre through the neck, ending the battle.

After a short rest, the group moves on in the direction which is their best guess as to where the giant’s complex is.  As they near the complex, they are ambushed by a squad of bugbears, backup up by two squads of orcs.  Krizdev blasts the entire front line of hairy goblins, dazing them.  The rest of the group unleashes on the bugbears, Pax, Ezio, and Kazoo each quickly take down one of the dazed and wounded bugbears.  Krizdev follows up and downs one himself.  Raistlin moves across the battlefield to escape the ambush while Axlexia cuts off the ones chasing the wizard.  Tin engages the leader and wounds it enough so that a crossbow bolt from the rogue takes the bugbear down.  Raistlin takes down one fighting the barbarian and then the party hears all the orcs retreating.

It is not long before the party climbs a wooded slope and is overlooking the valley of the hill giant chief.  The valley is more than a half mile wide and in the center is a huge four building complex.  The outer walls are sixteen feet tall and the center of the higher buildings is more than thirty two feet high.  A fifty foot watch tower which has a clear view to the south and east is in the southeast corner of the largest building.  The roof is covered with a thick layer of damp moss.  In front of the group is a rocky slope and below that, the main road leading to the main gate.  To the north are some crops, to the west is a wooded sloped with a dry creek bed leading across a brushy field toward the complex.  In the south, there a field of tall grass with a couple dozen giant cows and a huge herd dog, actually a dire wolf the size of a pony.  The group observes the complex from cover, with the rogue and ranger making observations of what each of the buildings might be.    Kazoo moves across the side of the valley and locates a safe cave where they can rest.  Kazoo also scouts out the complex itself and located the grand hall of the giants, finding about three dozen of them feasting in the hall, including the Hill Giant Chief, the Chief’s wife, and a visiting Cloud Giant.  After an hour, everyone except Kazoo and Ezio move to rest at the cave.  After another hour, the party has gathered quite a bit of information on the movements of their enemy and a heavy fog sets in.  The group approaches what they believe to be the giant’s quarters and gain entry via the roof.  Raistlin shrinks everyone and Kazoo bends the bars so they can get through without squeezing.

At Kazoo!’s suggestion, the group decides to set an ambush for the Hill Giant Chief in the chief’s bedroom.  Kazoo reasons that the heavily drunk chief will stagger back to his bedroom alone and the party should be able to easily take him down.  Wanting to impress his Cloud Giant guest, the chief takes his guest to his trophy room which is next to his bedroom.  Since it is always more impressive to have some arm candy, the chief took his wife with him, as well as his pet cave bear “Ripper” (potential to deliver 72 to 90 hits of damage in one round).  Ezio shoots the Chief in the throat (40 hits) but is spotted by the Cloud Giant.  Pax shoots true with a solid shot to the Chief’s chest (20 hits).  The barbarian slices open the Chief’s leg (45 hits) while Tin scores a hit on the other leg (17 hits).  The Cloud Giant teleports into the center of the room, dealing a serious wound to both the barbarian and the battle-mind.  The Chief slams his foot into the earth, shaking the ground violently, dazing Kazoo, Ezio, and Tin.  Kazoo quickly recovers and falls back.  The Chief then catches his breath but Pax punishes him by aiming carefully and hitting right near the heart (70 hits).  Kazoo casts a sleep spell on the Cloud Giant, knocking him out.  The cave bear rips the rogue and downs him.  Raisten blasts the Chief in the head and he falls, stone cold dead.  The chief’s wife runs down the hall, screaming while the party drinks ghost form potions and run through the wall.  Axlexia grabs the unconscious rogue and heads out.  Once outside the party rallies and move about three miles, just as fast as they can and take refuge in a hidden cave until the heat is off.