Expedition 51: Ice Giants and Illithids

### Summary

We visit the giants, who want our help imprisoning Enkidar, a fire giant who may be the reincarnation of Gilgamesh. On the way home, we stop by to visit Auldrox, who is being attacked by Illithids.

### Detailed Writeup

The party discusses if they should go through the swamp and the unknown forest to the north, or on the lower flanks of frost stone, they decide not to venture into unknown territory.

On the lower north slopes of Frost Stone is a tall butte that the party presumes is Sabbath rock. 3 bipedial figures are seen moving onto it from a distance, the party approaches the butte, and Nexrin climbs to the top and throws down a rope.

On top are 3 frost giants, a hunted alligator and the starts of a campfire beside them. We attempt various languages, but eventually Uzmir casts tongues. As he does, the energy is channeled down through the stone, and spread onto every other member.

The tallest frost giant speaks “I am Urhamish, shaman and first maker, with my sons Libit and Suusander.” They have heard of our recent escapades, and they wish us to They want Enkidar the fire giant returned to their home in Frost Stone.

Enkidar has a spark of power that Gilgamesh once had, He killed a brother as he escaped.

Urhamish, I was the first, I have been reforging new giants.

They do not want him dead, as his soul would be returned to the ordening, they want him incapacitated. He has the spark of the same power Gilgamesh had.

The party diplomatically explains they have similar interests, but as they have just killed Kazreme

We have heard great things about your capabilities, from the people on the north.

Tolyr asks about Bruuxvalos the white dragon, he is no ally of the giants, but there is currently peace, though it has been tested. Sabbath rock is the place where there is peace. (it seems to be hallowed or warded in some way)

A curious Yezra decides to test how the rock enforces peace, she pokes Nexrin lightly, nothing happens, then pokes him harder with a clawed finger, and then hard enough to draw blood, which Nexrin quickly catches before it touches the rock. Tolyr advises they don’t experiment in the current conditions.

He’s been here 4 ½ years, the first giant that reformed after Gilgamesh’s fall. He now creates more giants and other creatures out of rock and ice.

The Pines are to the North of here, they are claimed by the folk of the North. They are humanoid, many are of the lesser variety (undead), some are still alive. They were very interested in the giant’s arrival (Tolyr suspects because Giants would make good large meat puppets after death…).

The clans (races) of giants take their names from the primary material they work with, but many use stone.

There are four gates to elemental realms in the east, controlled by different factions: Water: Broken lands (possibly in the sunken city) Air: Dragons Stone: Giants Fire: Xovreme

They are interested in having a forge master, we might bring Calliope next time.

On our way back, we find Everburn Lichen on the side of frost stone.

We come across the image of a woman caved into the side of the mountain, beside her are an apple, a tree branch, a squirrel, it’s a relief of Maevra. Some kind of Sanctum with some magical energy. Tolyr marks it accurately in his map for Marzipan to look at later.

We get lost in the swamp for a while until we finally find the entrance to Auldox the bronze dragon’s lair.

Yezra has a bit of trouble getting tangled in vines, but before long we enter into the cave.

We pass the dragon riddle statue, and enter the main chamber Auldox is missing. After a moment we hear a roar from a back room, Tolyr calls out to ask if he needs help, and after confirmation they rush down a side tunnel filled with spikes, and spill out into a water-logged cavern. In the back, Auldox is battling with two mind flayers, a strange mechanical device is in the middle of the room, and a third Mindflayer awaits us, and uses Mind Blast to incapacitate the entire party.

As the party struggles to regain control, the mind flayer pulls Nexrin in and begins to bite into his head, but Auldox blasts them with lightning.

The rest of us struggle against the effect, Yugmela and Uzmir going down at points, as we fight off an Otyugh, Auldox finishes the other two off as he rips apart their device. Yezra finally recovers after a full minute.

We make our way back to the main chamber, and discuss with Auldox. This wasn’t the first time mindflayers had tried to infiltrate his lair. Once we are better prepared, he will offer a great bounty for anyone who travels deep underground to stop their upward expansion.

Xovreme was a great dragon that used to live in the west, at the time he was only red and had a single head, he must have been blessed by Tiamat.

Uzmir and Auldox begin discussing a city of refuge, and what happened to this mysterious city that disappeared? Auldox had heard it had vanished completely. Showing Auldox an illusion of the sunken city, he says it could be the city but he is unsure.

The party travels back to the Nestle.