We picked up with our heroes
again as they sought entrance into the Hidden Greens oasis of the Wastelands to
trade for food and information from the nomads there. Four scouts on white beasts halted the
party with the customary nomad greeting to foreigners, "Go
away." But Dorgon parleyed
with them and his mention of your hunt for the "moon man" Nolantor
provoked them to seek out one of their elders, Allani the Swift, an old impala
rider. Allani shared water and
boasts with Dorgon, then gave him the choice of an archery contest with him, or
the party besting the four tribes in 3/5 contests in order to gain access to
the crowded oasis. Dorgon accepted, and the party was challenged to tests of
beast versus beast, man over beast, man versus man, conformance with the
covenant, and the party's choice of an arrow shooting and dodging
competition. Lukaros gleefully
volunteered to be one of the five judges.
Dorgon bought a fine bison from the nomads for the first contest,
but lost that head-butting contest with the famed bison Sablestomper and his
rider Mangrule. Dorgon then tried his luck at riding an impala through an
obstacle course, but lost that contest (in the biased judges' eyes) to an
impala rider. Elohwyn soundly
defeated a rhino rider in the "joust" (with her on foot), knocking
him clean off his charging beast after sidestepping his lance, and the judges
were quite impressed so our band won their first contest, and had to win the
next two to get the food theyneeded. Dorgon was worried about beating Allani in
the impala roping and butchery competition, but did well on the first animal
and after he saw Allani do a fine job on the second, he orated that the loss of
life was wasteful and it would be best to save the calf until it was larger and
meatier. The judges were marginally
impressed by his words, so he won.
Then, oddly, Greyskinned Grik the rhino rider elder and judge passed out
(too much kvass [fermented milk drink] and excitement?). For the last contest,
Elohwyn challenged Lurgan Limberlegs of the High Llama tribe to dodging each
other's arrow shots. Lurgan added a
rule that no magics or armor could be used, and that nearly cost Elohwyn the
match as she was wounded twice, but the judges remained impressed by the woman
warrior's skills and voted for her 3-1!
Bitterly, Allani took his impala riders and left the oasis southwest for
the river valley. But the other
nomads were impressed enough that Nikkolai made good trading and left happily,
although with signs of late pursuit that Lukaros was nervous about.
That night our heroes camped under the stars in the desert and
quietly contemplated their next steps.
It seemed to Lukaros that they were headed north into Giantland, and he
told stories of the evil Wolfs Head of Canis Chaos, and the mountain Dolog that
kept it pinned down under rock.
[I forgot to mention this, but something odd happened that night:
Lukaros and Elohwyn woke up at the same moment from their sleep, each yelling
out "The Ring of Orlanth!" in surprise. Elohwyn was left thoughtfully gazing off
at the western stars for the night, whereas Lukaros was left shivering under
his blankets. Lukaros says nothing
of the event, but Elohwyn later confides that she "had a nice
dream." Chris will get the
scoop later.]
The next day brought our band of travelers from hot desert into
frigid foggy mountains, with more excited talk of the myths of the
Rockwoods. Two griffins dove down
and grabbed pack beasts; one was shot down by nice aiming from Dorgon and
others, whereas the other flew free with a mule [and some food, I should add].
At night, Lukaros contemplated a "castle haunted with ghosts of dead
Lunars" atop the cliffs around the entrance to the Valley of Avalanches,
but was sure Nolantor was not there. Lukaros then deduced Nolantor's plan: to
head to Gonn Orta's castle and trade for something to help him complete his
mission. Lukaros admitted that he'd
help train Nolantor in some summoning rituals, and Nolantor had many items that
might help him pull off some bad mojo summons. He hinted that you might come
back to this castle.
In the misty Valley of Avalanches the next day our friends met
hungry giants Slappy and Grins, who knocked the wind out of Ji before Elohwyn
and Dorgon smacked Grins down, making Slappy very sad. The giants consoled each other and
offered the group a choice out of their sacks; Nikkolai got a nice brown spiky
orb of 8MP power, and Dorgon got a big diamond that was later said to be
flawed.
Another day our adventurers came across an odd black glass
monolith embedded in the valley floor, and saw Nolantor's bison tracks, then
footprints leading close to it and away, followed by other exotic footprints
that appeared out of nowhere by the stone.
Dorgon saw a powerful Warding around it, so the intrepid explorers
ventured no closer, preferring to keep chasing their quarry.
Wind Children led by Wodrykk Cradleguide flew down to inspect
these odd foreigners the next day, and made trade of a fine map and ice whistle
to Nikkolai in return for silver coins and griffin feathers, with promise of
future trade. An odd aerial race
they were, aloof and finicky but refined and noble. They gave disturbing news, that Nolantor
traded among their people recently, giving his "special sylph" for a
ride into the mountains. Wodrykk
was upset to hear of Nolantor's chaotic affiliations and set off to warn his
feathered kindred.
As our heroes neared the end of the Valley of Avalanches, they
could see the thin mouth of Toothsome Gap which Wodrykk had said was the only
pass leading to Gonn Orta's Castle.
One night from the spiiny peaks around the Gap, the earth shuddered and
people scrambled to calm frightened beasts, then the stars went black and a
gigantic hand descended to scoop the band up and carry them for many
hours! Everyone fell asleep in its
clutches and awoke outside the gates of Gonn Orta's!
There a well-dressed and articulate trollkin named Paneye came
out of the huge gate, peering around the edge of a giant bronze shield at these
odd traders from afar. He nervously
asked them their business as one giant's head peered over the 12m walls of the
castle, and a second much larger giant could be seen sitting on one side of the
valley. The smaller giant came out
of the fort, introducing himself as Boshbisil, Trader Prince of Issaries and
friend of Gonn Orta. He welcomed
the party in, saying that they were expected and an "Elder One" was
sent to bring them. [Note: you
later find out that it was not an actual giant that brought you, but an Elder
One Hand, a magical spell cast by Gonn Orta!]
Boshbisil explained that Gonn Orta was seeking these travelers to
"even the odds" and might want to speak to them. He presented a brief tour of the complex
en route to the feet of the great giant Gonn Orta. Most buildings were made by dwarves and
Orlanthi for their folk; the three smaller giants (Boshbisil, Hen Cik the
gambler, and Sa Mita the giantess) had their own flat stretches of valley floor
for homes. Mostly trollkin lived here, in huts under Gonn Orta's shadowy
shelter. Boshbisil guided the party to Gonn Orta's feet and seemed to be locked
in trance with Gonn Orta for a moment, then said that he might speak to them
but it would take time. He took this time to tell the history of Gonn Orta, the
mountains, and Boshbisil, and then warned our heroes that Gonn Orta would now
be mindspeeching to them. The power
of the spell and connecting with Gonn Orta's mind knocked everyone down in
convulsions and left Groloday helpless for hours. Let's see what Gonn Orta said:
"My castle is a place of trade.
No harm shall come to those here.
The Lunar Nolantor leaves tonight.
He preserves his lead; you leave tomorrow."
Pause. These sentences must have taken an hour to say.
Gonn Orta picks up Elohwyn and looks at her. Another half hour
passes, and then:
"The conflict is clarified to me.
The bull struggles in chains as two red moons rise over Prax.
Souls scream in torment, I hear them suffer.
The cauldron bubbles, calling my hungry children.
Soon river, wind, and sand flow free.
Lost Child, then you find peace."
And he set Elohwyn down, returning to rest as dusk fell on Gonn
Orta's castle.
Boshbisil was impressed that Gonn Orta had such interest in these
punies, but knew that his words were important. The party had to stay 12 hours
after the Lunar left that night, and as usual had to leave their weapons with
the constable, the trollkin Glockmoor. During that time they were free guests
of Gonn Orta, allowed to roam as they wished and but only trade with Boshbisil.
Paneye gave the guests a tour of the compound, with giant green
stone dice near a pit for rolling them in craps games, old dwarven silos capped
with boulders, fine Orlanthi and Mostali homes for residents, a temple to rent,
a huge stone pillow hollowed out into rooms, a corral for visitors' beasts, a
"snack pen" with other beasts, and then you met Scree. Scree is an intelligent chimpanzee and
master chef who Boshbisil freed from slavery to a volcano god in Esrolia, and
now Scree acts as master chef and "extra small hands" for
Boshbisil. After our heroes had tea
at Paneye's fine home, they were brought to Greatness Hall. There the morokanth-with-delusions-of-grandeur
Mr. Greatness and his thumb regaled them with tedious tales of his greatness,
and bought himself many beers on their tab. Nolantor was there too, jolly with
drink and toasting their arrival.
He said that Lukaros had evil plans for the party and Nolantor could not
be stopped from "ending the world" anyway, and then kept trying to
turn the conversation back to Mr. Greatness. Beside them sat a curious blue bear
named Slang who wore a paper mache mask of a human. Slang didn't drink but seemed to like
the company.
And so you tried to get information out of Nolantor and Lukaros,
who was fuming silently and could speak of little but his eagerness to kill
Nolantor. Nolantor said that he was leaving with his "new friends"
the snow trolls that night, and had already set traps for you. Lukaros just said Nolantor was a liar
and would soon be dead, foiled before his plot came to fruition.