Expedition 91: Rocks Fall, No One Dies

The party left the Nestle before dawn, taking advantage of Phantom Steed from Clarity and Gonerton to pick up the pace and meet En'Kidar in the Greying Desert. The party is able to pass through the Felwood without incident, and manages to find a cache of food in a sealed barrel as they entered the Savannah. The materials were identified as non-perishable field rations. Clarity discovers that under the rations is a magical decanter, four shortswords, and a breastplate. Clarity determines that the cache has not been used in a long time, and the group decides to take everything but the rations.

While entering the Desert, the group encounters a pair of noonwraiths that left the Far Hills in search of victims. They began circle to circle above the group, waiting to strike. However, they were circling within bowshot of Nexrin who immediately began to fire on them. The wraiths attempted to close on the party, but they were destroyed before they could hurt anyone. The group moved on to the meeting place and waited for En'Kidar. Gonerton took the time to examine the graffiti we found last time, and the tubes that make up the structure were moving, and the graffiti has shifted places. In addition, Gonerton noted that the construction seemed to have some kind of arcane purpose.

En'Kidar arrived later, and Nexrin reapplied Nondetection and Valorie gave him a cloth enchanted with Antipathy against Frost Giants while Clarity prepared Teleportation Circle. The party teleported to the established circle in the Fungal Caverns, and rushed to the rendevous, though they were briefly slowed getting En'Kidar through the too-small doorway via a Blink spell.

The group makes a plan of action, with Clarity coming up with a tactical plan, Nexrin keeping the party out of sight, and Valorie keeping an eye out for Ur'Hammish. Valorie plans to lie to the giants and say that a bug in a bottle is En'Kidar while the rest of the party gets in position to ambush them.

The plan executes smoothly and Valorie manages to subdue three of the four giants in Ur'Hammish's party via Hypnotic Pattern. Libit made his save for it, as well as Tasha's Hideous Laughter from Nexrin and Gonerton. Luckily Damian was able to make it stick. Ur'Hammish hit the party with an ice blast, then ran after Valorie. However, after casting Enlarge Person, En'Kidar levelled his challenge against Ur'Hammish as Valorie used Dimension Door to escape from Ur'Hammish.

Nexrin casts Plant Growth on the ground around his retinue, impairing their movement. Ur'Hammish is able to Dispel the Hypnotic Pattern affecting his tribe, although the three Frost Giants retreat due to the Antipathy on En'Kidar's person, but not without hurling boulders at the party. The Stone Giant remains loyal, and begins shooting his bow at En'Kidar.

As Valorie Hastes her way back to the battle, the group attempts to draw the fire of the Frost Giants as they retreat and Ur'Hammish remains locked in combat with En'Kidar. Gonerton and Clarity begin targetting the giant's bowstring as Nexrin returns fire to draw his attention. After an onslaught of Disintegrate and Flesh to Ash from En'Kidar, Valorie makes it back to the fight and makes an impassioned plea for Ur'Hammish to surrender, who wavers under the wonderful speech and yields to En'Kidar (Persuasion 32).

En'Kidar tells the giants to lay down their weapons and go home, telling them to cease any hostilities with Kiore or Vrall, and telling them to stop committing infanticide against Fire Giants. Valorie, in turn, is able to deal with a host of angry farmers who object to the damage that was wrought on their property during the fight. Luckily, Valorie manages to talk them down to only twelve silver worth of damages.

En'Kidar thanks Valorie for his help, and is eager to continue learning under him as well as Xovreme. Valorie organizes with him to meet Auldrox and bring them together into joint Dream sessions. In addition, En'Kidar gives the group a magical signal that can be broken to alert En'Kidar they are in need of aid. And with that, En'Kidar runs of towards the Burning Hills.