Session 439 - The Giant and the Troll

 

The Story So Far

Ash - An expert in the occult and a skilled monster hunter. Ash uses his talents and budding alchemical expertise to battle what people fear most for a price.

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Ryobi - A monk of the embattled Order of the Warriors of Mameka. Ryobi is given an important mission: retrieve the holy blades containing the souls of his brother knights, which were lost in the recent Rethemi civil war.

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They are joined by Vinzent, a bard with a morbid demeanor and a haunted past.

This is the continuation of Session 436 – The Bard's Curse.

20^th of Peonu (Spring) 729TR

The heroes are planning to slay the mighty three-headed sea serpent, the Karkanos, a powerful Aegesir that resides in a bay between Erzinsan and Gazentel Islands. Using the legendary Horn of Tarcines, they plan to summon the epic monster and slay it.

However, they need to do this on land away from civilization. They hire a small boat and explore the inhabited island around the bay, searching for an optimal battleground.

Location: On the road near the City-state of Varv.

Part 1 – Dangerous Plants

The first inlet looks promising, with an excellent shoreline between two rocky, vegetation-covered outcrops. Unfortunately, the plants are carnivorous and hazardous, attempting to strangle the heroes. Vinzent is caught and needs rescuing. These vicious vines are quite a handful, but the heroes eradicate them. This location has potential as an ambush point; however, the trio continues searching. There may be better options.

Part 2 – The Giant

Another small island bay also shows promise; it has a 50-foot cliff overlooking the beach. After the heroes land, a rock suddenly tumbles from above, nearly smashing Remy’s skull. A 12-foot grey-skinned giant looks down upon them from above the cliff face.

Tuktec, art by Antonio J. Manzanedo

The giant introduces himself as Tuktec and is impressed with Ash's meal and amiably decides not to eat him. Ryobi, who was concealed in the boat, sneaks up behind Tuktec, giving the giant a start; however, he takes it with good humour, calling Ryobi The Shadow. Ash attempts to enlist Tuktec's help; such a huge warrior would be a great assistance in battling the Karkanos. However, despite being offered more good food, Tuktec remains resistant. The mighty Aegesir is too formidable a foe. However, after paying to the giant’s ego, Ash and Vinzent turn his view around. If he wins, he will be a hero among his oversized kin. He will help them if they help him recover his brother's club.

The club in question, Tuktec, says fondly that he used to smash the brains of his brother after a squabble. However, it was stolen by a troll, and the troll's cave is too tight for him to squeeze in. If the heroes retrieve his club, he will join them in the battle against the Karkanos.

Part 3 – The Troll’s Lair.

The troll lair is on the other side of the small island, and the entrance is a comfortable squeeze for a human but way too tight for a giant. The heroes enter and start searching from the dank chambers, Vinzent’s Light spell causing the crystalline deposits they pass to glow and scatter the light in beautiful patterns.

The troll is nearby, a tall, ugly humanoid, covered in rubbery, warty green skin, who rushed in from a side passage, catching the heroes off guard. Its oversized claws rake into the startled Vinzent, who rapidly backs off. The troll tears onto Ryobi, whose agile manoeuvring narrowly avoids being disembowelled. Eventually, Ash identifies the Troll's weakness to acid and fire and instructs Ryobi how to utilise these to the hero's advantage. After a close run fight, the Troll is vanquished, but there is no sign of the club.

Part 3 – A Giant’s Club

A winding side passage opens into a small cave with abundant crystals, and at the rear rests the club, it is a huge, very heavy 10ft long, reinforced with metal and bone spikes and dried blood stains. They cautiously approach, suspecting a trap. Suddenly, the crystals move, and two large crystalline entities attack. Their crystal sharp limbs jab at the heroes, cleanly cut into flesh, and they absorb and emit light, which dazzles the dungeon delvers.

However, the heroes are made of sterner stuff and, swapping to bludgeoning attacks, soon shatter the crystals. They are of little threat to these seasoned monster hunters.

The heroes drag the club to Tuktac, and he is ecstatic to have his brother's club back in his hands. He keeps his word; he will join the party and claim a share of the glory, defeat the mighty Aegesir.

Created Content

Nothing this week.

Related Reports

Nothing this week.

Player Characters

Ryobi - Human - L14 Monk

Background - Temple Guard.

Archetypes - Barbarian/Fighter.

Ash - Human - L14 Thaumaturge

Background - Weaponcrafter.

Archetypes - Alchemist/Vestige Hunter.

NPC Companion

Vinzent - Human - L14 Bard

Background - Cursed.

Archetypes - Blessed/Disciple of Thalia.

Next Session

Session 442 - The Karkanos.