After a few days of travel through the freezing wilderness our intrepid group found a cave with some very large reptilian foot prints. Odd considering where we are, so of course Sunny and Tiran must go have a look and so we all went happily hunting giant lizards. The Thraxian pulled pull out his enormous sword named Wyrmrender, and got all frothy and crazy eyed. I’m really unsure why he carries so many large weapons, 2 spears a great sword and some others, perhaps he covering for some inadequacies, who knows. Be that as it may, we explored the caverns until we found the beast withing. They were some type of six legged reptilian that could freeze a person with their gaze as the mighty Tiran discovered. But after a brief but intense battle we slew three of the creatures, I collected their crystal blue eyes. Found some treasure which included a rather impressive battle axe, no doubt Sunny added that to his collection, don’t know how he can walk through a doorway. Using the Solar Orb of Ardennor Schlomo thawed out Tiran, and he managed to survive, though is now probably a bit dimmer of wit.

After resting up we continued on our merry way hunting down the giant. Try as I might I haven’t been able to get Ashla to join me in my tent. Seemingly she enjoys the company of her dog team over me. No surprising as at this point they probably smell better than I do. So here is sit, by candles light shivering and writing this journal, not too likely anyone will read it. No doubt if found about my corpse it’s pages will be used to wipe their arse.

Another couple of days trudging through ice and snow, not sure if I still have toes. But we do indeed come upon the encampment of the Fat Ass Gaint, and by the gods is he a ginormous freak of nature. Not to mention that he has a small horde of orcs about him. Seemingly they’re laying siege to to a series a caves and meeting some resistance. Using my amazing obsidian figurine, Corax I can see what lies beyond the caves semi exposed from a glacier. Apparently a titanic worm like creature died upon an outcropping of jagged stone, or perhaps created it. Here is what all the local denizens are squabbling over, worm meat.

Remaining unseen we observed the giant and his horde for a day to learn there comings an goings. The next day we left Ashla behind at our camp and worked our way into one of the caves, luckily not being spotted by the battle weary orcs. The idea was to join up with the defenders and help them fight against the giants minions. Then once enough of the orcs were killed we’d make a strike against the giant. However once entering the caves we found a warren maze of passages that we wander through. There in we encountered some very angry Yetis that nearly tore us apart, but somehow the Thraxian convinced them we’re here to help… Must be that fanciful tiara he wears that allows him to speak other languages. Would be more useful if I had that, but I’m thinking he won’t part with it. From there we found the great maw of the dead worm and encountered some humanoids holed up defensively against the orc incursion. Moving into the worm we found a conclave of Ice Trolls. After parleying with both groups, neither were too eager to come to an agreement for a mutual battle engagement. As such we found a place to rest up while we waited for the next orc incursion which came with night fall. I would suggest that we follow the tracks of those Verloran Tiran spotted, we could use some fodder, err, aid.

Unfortunately we somehow managed to get stuck between three combating groups, orcs, trolls and yetis. We were hard pressed, but Sunny and Tiran of course waded into the battle with spear and blade holding their own. Schlomo protected himself with some nimbus of light, but then I lost track of him. Izul, who alerted me of the incoming trolls from behind quickly scrambled up a wall and disappeared leaving me to deal with them. Thanks so very much oh brave companion!

I of course being fearless held back the Ice Troll for as long as I could with fire and flame which worked very well against them. But there were too many and eventually I fell with fire leaping from my hands to their wickedly sharp claws. The last thing I recalled before falling was Sunny charging in and ramming his spear through one of the burning trolls. From there it’s was a bit of a blur, a four armed bearded man with beer breath asking me if I was all right. By the gods no, I’m not all right, I was just nearly killed, again.!

But yet again, managed to pull through, I do not know what to make of this Thraxian, he is at his best when happily killing things, damn near heroic really, though he now has an orc henchmen, what could possibly go wrong there.

Be that as it may, we’re all likely to die here, and then who would read my words…

Wytt Fireflinger

And so our merry group trek on into the wilds following the destructive trail of the giant and his minions. It’s bitterly cold, and I’m here dragging a along more material then I can carry. Would be great if I could get that oaf Tiran to carry some of this, my back aches my feet are frozen and yet here we go, because we are heroes…hah!

A couple of days in we are beset upon by a group of hungry barbarians. Seemingly they just walked right into our camp as no one took third watch. Apparently I’ll need to assign that to some one. Be that as it may, they wanted to take our rations, I told them know but both Sunny of all people, and of course Tiran gave them some of our rations. Apparently they couldn’t deduce that these great Bear Clan warriors were starving for a reason, and so sure let’s give up our few rations.

Be that as it may, we didn’t have to fight them so it turned out well enough. After we told them we’re seeking out the giant to slay him they gave us one of their warrior woman and a dog sled. At least now I can get someone to carry all this gear I took from the corpse of Aden and some treasures. Seems this Verloren lady is rather pleasant looking, perhaps she’d like to be warmed in my tent. Just need that bothersome gnome to give me a nights peace..

Either way, it’s not too likely we’ll survive the next day, so might as well try to enjoy the night.

An old Rhonian expression. “Today I shall drink my wine, for tomorrow I may be without.”

Hmm…perhaps I should go visit Schlomo, no doubt he’ll bless me with some of this ale.

Wytt,

Amazingly and quite surprisingly I Wytt still live to continue writing this journal of our misadventures.

After finally encountering some of the last defenders we were forced to fall back and rest. From there it was decided to proceed with eradicating the remainder of the Cryoptera with a frontal assault as we couldn’t seem to find any other way into their hold out. However once we finally got there Sunny decided to parley with the creatures. Which may or may not have worked out well for us, Most of us thought it was just a ruse to get them close. As such Izul used his strange magic and sent Skuuz through a portal just behind the guard who was left watching us. And so a battle ensued. However Sunny was angered buy our chaotic actions and retreated without engaging the foes. So the rest of us had to do a fighting withdrawal as well. The creatures only pursued us so far then retreated giving us a warning to leave.

Surrounded by fools I am, one must wonder at the changing of plans and the inability of the rest not following along. Be that as it may, Sunny was no longer interested in leading the party into combat. After a short rest we returned to where the creatures were holding out. They left the corpses as a distraction, I animated some of them using the Demon Skull, we then ported them to the final entry area, with the idea of using them as fodder. Climbing the short ridge we began the assault. However as half our party engaged defenders on high the rest were beset upon by a group from another passage. Both groups were let by the risen elders and we were hard pressed. Especially so as Sunny decided at that point to leave us to our own means and fled away from the battle. But our enemy had magic of there own and sent creatures after him. Those of us up on the ridge got caught up into an icy spell which I was able to avoid. Using the Demon Skull I blinded one hulking insect and sent the zombies after it. Tiran also engaged it, while Skuz used his bow, but Wylma was frozen in a sphere of ice. Below the battle was going poorly, Schlomo stood alone so I cast Darkness to cover him and us from their casters. It was a battle of Ice , flame and darkness. Cries echoed about the passages, I eventually fell but came too for a short time by the helpful hands of Izul. But the battle still raged on with the final two creatures, a spell casting adult and a powerful Elder, but I passed out again.

When I was awoken by the blessings of Skollgrymm we had won but lost the mighty Skuuz, mostly due to the total lack of aid by the Thraxian priest. He may even have been working on some deal with the Elder, but it didn’t play through due to the stalwart Schlomo. But the party was in no shape to challenge him with nothing more that a confrontation of words. Seemingly now the party has a better understanding of each other and we venture on together once again. We returned to the Beaver Clan village, said some final words over Skuz and sent Wylma off to Coppercore to warn them of the Bloody Rock Orc army and to the Sun Temple to tell them of our eventual victory.

So now we hunt a giant, assuredly we’ll all die…

Wytt,

I am Wytt, and here I write our tales, for assuredly we’ll all be dead soon. The Beaver Clan village was burned, ransacked and slaves taken by the Bloody Rock Orcs and some behemoth of a giant. But before we track them down, we’ve decided to go exterminate the hive of Cyroptera, and so we journey forth making it to their caves. Our new companions 2 of whom are from the Beaver clan decided to proceed with us, along with the immensely strong Tiran Searching high and low they’ve seem to retreated behind collapsed tunnels and icy wall. But we found a passage through along an icy stream. There were met by some large insectoid guards who hurled icy javelins at us. Sunny and Tiran charged foward to engage, Skuz shot arrows at the creatures while Wylma threw axes. The gnome disappeared while the drunken dwarf priest moved forward. I however being the only member of the group with a bit of foresight decided to be wary of what else may be lurking about. And in so doing perceived the massive lumpy shape of a snow pudding surging toward us from behind. Using my spells of fire I held it at bay for a short time, but as the party battled the cyroptera, the pudding surged through the tunnel pressing me back. Though I burned it with my fire, it felled me. Only the blessing of Skollgrym restored me to consciousness, by which time the party had won the battle and used oil and fire to destroy the ice pudding. And so we retreated to rest. And as I write this, the annoying little gnome has chosen to bother me further by sitting in close proximity peering at me over is overly large nose. Seemingly one of the creature got away to war the remnants of their hive, but we weren’t bothered during our rest, but we were certainly observed and told to leave by one of their scouts. And so we decided to exterminate these bugs once we recovered. But this Izul decided to play a prank upon me, somehow managing to tie my lock of blond hair to my nether regions, he’s the right height for it I suppose, moderately amusing I must admit, I shall return the favor. We discussed other ways in to their final lair, but couldn’t work it out and so we’re pressing forward, should prove to be, interesting…

I am Wytt, once a raven familiar to my mistress Evara Priestess of Akasha, but now a man once again as she is dead. I found the journal the priest Aden had been keeping. I shall continue with this folly.

My mistress and I joined the party after meeting them at the Beaver clan village. We would help them in their endeavors to exterminate the Cyroptera and stop them from raising their demon god. Many battles ensued against these strange creatures and others. Finally the party led by the skald Valbraun decided to make a stand. We were beset upon from two directions. My mistress held off their onslaught from one direction, while the others held the other. But in the end our defensive lines were breached and their spells entrapped us. I watched the bright priest Aden die slowly being torn apart by the insectoids, one must wonder where his god was in his time of need. My mistress fell with her spell fires burning the enemy before she succumbed. In the end the party was victorious, letting my mistress bleed out while they looted the bodies. The mighty dwarf Mudreck fell in battle as well, I’m sure no one will be singing for him..

Most of the party retreated to safety, but the dark warrior priest Sunny stayed back, it was while he gathered the corpses of the enemy to make a shrine to his god the I returned to my human self. Fortunately he decided not to offer me up to his god so I gathered what I could from the corpse of my mistress, she was lovely even in death. But then Sunny decided to have a bit of a feast upon her corpse, so I fled from his dark hunger and joined the others in their sanctuary, introducing myself as a humble servant of Evara.

After resting in a temple of Ardennor the party pressed on from there, discovering one remaining Ice Needle hanging from the water fall. But they set off a trap of sonic resonance and the icy block began to crumble. The party fled in all directions, some foolishly going deeper into the needle as it disintegrated. But some odd magic held an icy sarcophagus afloat. With further odd magics the gnome and skald somehow managed to get within the icy tomb while the entirety of the Ice needle crumbled into the river 300ft below. The all chaos ensued. The creature within awakened and began shredding the gnome and skald, but of course the gnome escaped. Sunny leapt from the precipice and drove his spear into the icy block, joined by Wilma, insanity at it’s best. Then Schlomo called upon his drunken god and dispelled the magic holding the the icy block now coated in the blood of the skald in place and so it began to fall. The creature within broke free, and it and Sunny grapped as it flew above the great ravine. However Valrbraun, Wilma and eventually Sunny all fell as well. But the drunken dwarf used his wand to create a fog to slow their decent. At which point the rest of us became aware of another wave to insectoids rushing in, so we all jumped into the magical fog, allowing us to fall slowly into the river below.

After a bit of frigid turmoil we rejoined but soon realized we were missing our Skald, but were in no shape to go find him as assuredly he was somewhere in the river. So we rested once more to gather our strength. Using magical means the group discerned Valbraun had been consumed by some massive turtle like creature. As such they baited the creature and and killed it. Oddly the insectoids left us alone while the group dissected the creature pulling out the remains of Valbraun and then not surprisingly looted his corpse. Though some things may have been lost to the river, he had certainly gathered quite a few items of power. The band of heroes didn’t bother to do any last rites or even a few words over who was once their leader and left this body there, laying next to the dead turtle thing. Just as they did with the priest Aden and my mistress… So I must wonder, why should I stay with such a group.? And yet I am drawn into their folly, like a moth to a flame.

From here we retreat back to Coppercore to recover from our trials. Hopefully the Cryoptera will not have awoken their demon god before we return, if indeed we do. Seems it would make more sense for the local lord here do step up and do what needs to be done, but apparently he’s off battling some orchish horde..

I am surrounded by fools and vagabonds who would be heroes…

They took Lorgen before be could come to an agreement on how to escape. May the Light of the Lord guide him on his journey. I chose to take the path through which others haven’t returned. Climbing a short rise and down a dark passage I came to a chamber. I cast the glory of Ardennor within to reveal a large chamber with other exits. Moving through the chamber a fell spirit rose from the very ice, a banngeist I think. It evaded the blinding light I cast upon it and attacked. Others came charging into the chamber, as I attempted to Turn the creature by the glory of Ardennor, but it rebuked my an my heart filled with dread, and so I shamefully fled blindly from back from where I came. I hear a horn blowing and shortly the familiar faces of my allies Schlomo and gnome brought me back to my senses. Returning to the chamber my other companions and some others were just finishing the battle with the banngeist, which has somehow sunk one of the new warriors into the ice. Soon we dispatched the creature with fire and blade.

Blessed am I to have such companions to come searching for me. But we had onlya few moments of greeting and recovery before we were attacked from two directions by the demon spawn. It was a fierce battle, having no weapons, I was only able to pull a couple of our companions to safety after they were paralyzed by some fell means, while the others battled on. Sunny was savage fury among the enemy leaping through flames conjured by some dark woman with the group. Mudreck held the line at the opposing passage but took heavy damage, but of course charged in to aid the priest of Thraxus after slaying his opponents.

By the Glory of Ardennor I am rejoined with my companions, and some others. But what an odd group we are now. Once again led by the skald Valbraun, with the slayers Sunny and Mudreck at his side, the stalwart Schlomo and the odd little gnome. With them came a warrior of the Beaver Clan and a strange woman of perhaps the Raven clan. Apparently they had already lost another warrior before finding me. They bestowed upon me a shimmering flail and an ancient holy symbol. We did what we could with the bodies to hide our presence and then began our retreat to a temple they had previously found.

May the Ardennor’s Light guide our way…

Amazingly by the Grace of Ardennor I live. Having awoken in an icy chamber with blurred memories of what came before ending with the screaming of a woman which pulled me to consciousness. The Light guides my hand, and with such I heal the wounds upon my fellow prisoner Loreg and myself to some degree. We are destined to be sacrificed to some demon god by these insectoid creatures. But my faith is strong, the Lord of Light shall not abandon us. We must find our way out, either through combat, or through a passage that has led others to their doom, or down a icy river to an uncertain demise. May the Light shine upon us..

Apparently these insectoid creatures have various forms, though I am unsure we have me them all. Some are small viscous creatures that shoot spikes from their tail or jab you with a sharp horn. Others are lager multi legged biting with mandibles and a stinging tail, and still others are humanoid in size and stance wielding primitive weapons and with a keener intelligence. My concern is that these are indeed the creatures our order though may be attempting to resurrect their fallen god. It that Ardennor in all this glory cast down ages ago. We’ve battled our way through the warrens on this side of a great ravine, killing many of these creatures, some however can paralyze you with their stinging tails.

We then decided to cross the icy bridge, both Sunny and I made it across well enough, though the drop was perhaps a few hundred feet into icy water, a precarious march. But when Schlomo attempted to cross he was beset upon by malign spirits. I attempted to aid him, but he was driven from the side of the icy bridge and fell into the mist. I then had to fight my own way back to solid ground. During this time more insectoid defenders came and attacked, we were hard pressed. Somehow, the Valbraun, Mudrek and the odd gnome make it across the ravine by some magical means. The Skald sprouted great black wings and dove bravely into the ravine after the fallen dwarf. Mudrek charged into the melee hacking anything that came within range. More odd magics caused some of our opponents to go careening into the ravine as well. Eventually we managed to survive the battle against both the spirits and the cryoptera, even to the point of Schlomo reappearing battered but hale upon the cliff. So I say to whom ever may read this the Gods walk with us this day.

We chose to retreat carefully back across the bridge, to find a place to heal and recoup for everyone was wounded and well spent. I advised that we do something with all the bodies, but no one wanted to bother. As such, once we got situated and secured our positing hoping to rest we heard a great thrumming alarm being sounded, we had awoken the hive..

We quickly gather up hoping to stop them at the bridge, but what we saw when we left the cave gave us pause. Already there were may creatures making their way across and many, many more behind them of various kinds and some few had wings flying over the rest seemingly commanding them,

May Ardennor’s Light protect us, this may be my last entry,

Yours in the Light, Aden.