5e: Fire Giants, Hippogriffs, and Treants! Oh My!

From: Sir Fulhoff of Clan Balderk, Knight of Hawk’s Nest
To: Helja and Adrik of Clan Balderk


Mother and Father:

Having a moment before the giants spotted us was crucial. Rin drank the potion of growth, and I enchanted him with Flight. We then spread out, and Journey summoned an ice storm around the giants. The hissing of the frozen rain off their hot skin, and the burning hides of the hellhounds could be heard even over the sound of the sleet. Arrows flew mostly blind into the storm, though a few hit. Rin flew into the storm, swinging the giantslayer.



I summoned forth a pair of lightning bolts, threading the path between my companions to within a hair. The ringing in everyone's ears eventually eased off. Remarkably, neither the hellhound or the giant fell from my spells. Would that I could have summoned the Witchbolt, but I had to maintain Rin’s enchantment.





Thorin by this time had reached the edge of the storm, and his ax made short work of the first of the hellhounds, and then badly injured the second. Rin found the armor of the giants tough to chop through, and himself was batted out of the storm. Shaking his head, and applying some healing magic, he charged right back in, knocking the first giant down.



Journey began to cast fireball, but seeing this I yelled “No Fire Magics!” She made a rude gesture, but then wove a Sleep Spell which sent the injured hellhound and the giant Rin was fighting to the Land of Nod. They did not return from their trip. Rin charged the remaining giant, as did Thorin while Journey let the storm end. I called forth my Witchbolt, but the magic merely sparked, while Journey did the same. Her bolt struck with such force that the giant staggered back, shaking with the shock, and dropping his sword! Taking advantage of the stunned giant, Thorin and Rin cleaved into him, ending the giant.
RIn collapsed from exhaustion, and took a little while to recover himself. Meanwhile we recovered the gold the giants had stolen, along with some minor treasure of the giants, and then we all returned to Hawks Nest.

In honor of our deeds, the lord of the keep bestowed upon us knighthood. I am now known as Sir Fulhoff of Clan Balderk, Knight of Hawk’s Nest. However, more than the title, with the honorific came a more tangible benefit. We were all provided with hippogriffs! My mount (She’s named Krila) seems sturdy enough. Rin and his seem to have a soulbond of some sort. It’s a very intense relationship.

Not wanting to overstay the lord’s hospitality, we continued on our way, heading toward the Shadowtop Cathedral, looking for Eraglass the Sage. We arrived at the natural cathedral, and found it empty. While a stunning site, we were feeling anxious being here alone and uninvited. A satyr, rather despondent over the loss of a lover. He told us that Eraglass wasn’t here, but that his treant friend Turlong should be arriving shortly.

Shortly turned out to be 2 full days later.

Unfortunately the tree was unable to tell us where his friend might be. He did offer us a pair of awakened shrubs. Thankfully they didn’t freak out the hippogriffs.

The druid Thara, who has been with us most of this time, asked that we drop her off on our way back to the nearest teleportation circle, though where we would go from there was still something of an open question. We did, and met with Quinn the Eskimo retired ranger, who apparently has a thing for Thara. For bringing her safely to him, he dumped his old adventuring stuff onto us. Amazingly it contained a few useful items, including bracers of archery and a mask of water breathing! When I questioned his generosity to strangers, there was a twinkle in his eye, and a smile on his lips while he confirmed that we were indeed unknown to him. Meanwhile Journey elbowed me, and Bran was profuse with his thanks.

The Great Digger works in strange ways, but caution is always advised.

Next Stop: Mirabar.


******
Outstanding Rumors/Plot Points:
Eye of the Allfather in the Valley of Kadroon
Frost Giant w/ White Dragon Helm
Fire Giants attacked Tribor and took a rod from the center of town.
Gua - Hill Giant Matriarch - Grug-Hug Village location generally described
Eraglass the Sage - Missing?


Minor Loose Threads:
Jeff the guard, abandoned in Everland
Yartar - Lady Italia, Bat-weirdos (Kella & Zopin), Paw-Ming, Lord Dryland