Episode 27: Strange Visitations.

Shandar was gone, carnage lay all around on the frozen ground and the disturbing sounds of giant vultures feeding on the bodies of the deceased pierced the now heavy silence. 

Grom and Tor set about securing the whaling station. Energy depleted and badly injured, a rest was needed, but they couldn't chance allowing further dangers to assail them at the whaling station. 

Having now managed to calm the hostage, Aldrick and Shayde questioned Jendren on the recent events that had transpired at the Whaling Station. Jendren told them about the arrival of the Zhentarim and how the rest of the whalers had been ruthlessly executed. Jendren cared not when Aldrick and Shayde started to rifle through the various documents and papers scattered about. Most seemed to be ledgers referring to trade but there was a journal too belonging to Shandar that contained a collection of letters signed by someone called RAT SHADOW. Written in some sort of code Shayde was able to interpret it through the use of her Thieves Can't language skill. 

The content of the letter did not sit well with Aldrick. Just who is this Rat Shadow and how does he know about Aldrick's family secret? The "Black Network", as the Zhentarim are more commonly known, were now focused on Aldrick and his companions it seemed which no doubt meant there would be more trouble for them to come. They would have to tread carefully and be more guarded in their dealings with others. Aldrick was starting to wonder if they had been rash in their actions about the 10 towns!? But then again they had made allies amongst the town leadership. 

Aldrick's thoughts were broken by the sudden sound of voices from without. Surely this couldn't be the reinforcements alluded to in Rat Shaow's letter to Shandar. Shayde was already at the window staring out into the dim light of the day. Soon it would be totally dark again. Aldrick stepped to Shayde's shoulder. "What it is?" he asked. "Hmm looks like travellers, possibly mercenaries, hard to tell at this distance but I only count two of them. There could be more hiding back behind the trees" Shayde surmised.

"Hello! Anybody there!?" came the shout again. 

Aldrick pulled open the shutter. Shayde nocked an arrow to her bow. "Who are you, and what do you want here?" Aldrick shouted from inside the building making sure that he remained hidden from view. 

"We are but seeking shelter. We have travelled for days in the tundra. We are cold and short of supplies. Please", the voice responded. 

Extremely wary of the situation but also aware that their dogs and sleds needed to be brought in, it was decided that Grom and Tor would go and get a closer look at these new arrivals. Shayde and Aldrick kept a close eye on proceedings from the upstairs windows. 

After a few exchanges whereby Grom made clear that all of the corpses littering the ground between them and the whaling station was of their making and that these new comers were well outnumbered should they try anything untoward they all made their way back to the safety of the station. 

These two individuals were very thankful to be inside in the warm. They introduced themselves as Dishani Vael and Talden Arannis. Over dinner, which Tor had helped Jendren to prepare from the stores, the newcomers explained that they had recently parted ways with their employer much to their employers distain. Being quite cagey about their employer and what it was they had been up to out on the tundra. 

As night came and the darkness descended once again, an uneasy trust had settled on the whaling station between our two groups. They all took to their rooms to rest, taking it in turns to keep watch both inside and out. And from the windows all were able to watch as the nightly spectacle of the neverending rime lit up the skies above Icewindale as the Frost Maiden Auril cast her nightly ritual. 

That night Tor was presented with a vision as she slept. Her dreams took her to an ancient place. Somewhere near. Somewhere familiar. 7 huge thrones carved of stone atop a landscape of rock that rises up out of the ice and snow. A place of Testing. A place of Giants! 

Grom had risen early to help Jendren prepare breakfast. The others arrived and took a seat at the table. The newcomers seemingly eager for another hot meal. Their conversation revolved around a strange dream one of them had experienced the past night. Overhearing this Tor stated that she took had experienced a similar visitation. Through their recounting the others remarked how strange that two of them should have such similar dreams. And both seemed adamant that their dream was indeed sending a message that this place needed to be found. That it was pulling them to go there. Though neither had ever been both seemed to know how to get there. Grom took out his map. Based on where Tor and Dishani believed this place to be located it was agreed that it would only be a small detour from their current destination and so they would all go together to check it out. 

After breakfast the six of them packed their gear, loaded their sleds and readied themselves to depart. Tor had seen to the dogs who were all itching to be outside again. They didn't like being couped up indoors. The sun had risen but the darkness remained, a dim twilight. It was enough. All were ready and so they set off. The weather was calm. The dogs pushed on. Every hour they rested. Come mid day the horizon was pierced by a huge lonely outcrop of black rock. It's summit a plateau of frost and ice. 

The sleds came to halt near the base of the outcrop. Looking up at its shear cliff like sides the party were able to determine that there were in fact giant sized steps hewn into the rock. These would be their way up. Grom ascended first using his climbing gear and throwing a rope down to allow the others to make the ascent of the icy rock with ease. Before they reached the summit Aldrick summoned forth Lookout his trusty snowy owl familiar to scout the plateau above. 

There was someone else on the plateau! A lone figure. Tall and muscular it seemed despite being wrapped against the cold. She seemed to be searching for something. Lookout settled on one of the giant stone seats unnoticed by the figure. Grom continued to climb. He reached the plateau, tied of the rope for the others and ventured along the edge of the plateau. "Hey there Lass, what ya doing up here all by yourself?" Grom called out. The figure gave no more than a grunt in response and carried on it's frantic searching amongst the carved stone seats. She seemed to be systematically clearing frost and ice from each one. 

By now the rest of the party had finished their ascent. They all moved on to the plateau. "So, what now then?" asked Aldrick. "Any idea who this is ?" Tor shook her head. "No one else was in my vision. But this is the place. This is where the Earth Mother wanted me to be". Aldrick glanced at their new companions. Talden was writing in his book again. It was all the half elf seemed to do. 

"Look here", Aldrick addressed the stranger. "Maybe we can help you find what you're searching for!" The stranger stopped, turned and strode toward the group. She was indeed tall. She towered above everyone except Tor who looked down on her with a quizzical expression. 

"Maybe we could start with introductions?", my name is Aldrick Meadow...", but before he could finish the Stranger spoke. "I am Ueko....... what are you doing here? What do you want here? It then became clear to Ueko that there were in fact six people all staring at her watching, waiting for her to provide an explanation. Shayde's hand resting firmly on the hilt of her swords. Eventually Ueko engaged in conversation and she explained that she had been visited by visions to come to this place to seek what could be found here. She couldn't really explain why or even what it was she was looking for but just the overriding need to do so. 

They all agreed to help Ueko search the plateau for any clues as to what could have possibly bought them all to this place. On searching the largest stone seat at the far end of the plateau they discovered runes carved into the stone of a giant dialect. 

"Should you believe you are worthy, speak my name to accept the challenge"

"Reggaryarva"

Having read the words Tor realised where they were standing. "This is Jarlmoot, a meeting place of Frost Giants. Reggaryarva was once called the “Jarl of Jarls”. 

And so Ueko spoke the name of Reggaryarva. And in doing so had invoked the challenge of the long dead Jarl of the Frost Giants. The ground beneath their sheet shook and trembled. The air stilled then swirled, black clouds and purple lightning crackled amongst the swirling snow and ice as two hulking skeletal figures appeared. Within seconds the swirling wind and ice had stilled and the skeleton Ice Giants eye sockets lit up with cold blue light. 

Our heroes were quick to react. 

Arrows flew, fire bolts were hurled and swords were swung. The Barbarian raged, the Rogue used her sneak attack and the ranger cast his Hunter's Mark. The confined area of the hilltop and the proximity of the stone seats allowed the party to effectively prevent the giant skeletons from advancing and so the combination of ranged and spell attacks did good amounts of damage early on. 

The Giant skeletons did manage to strike back though, and Both Uecko and Tor took the brunt of their attacks. The blue glow that shimmered within them grew brighter and a blast of freezing cold energy rushed forth to engulf our heroes. Despite this our heroes were able to quickly overcome these two undead giants. 

And so Reggaryarva was pleased with the small people's performance and for their triumph were admitted into the vault beneath the plateau where this encounter would continue.................