Emperor of Ice - Sellswords Campaign Chapter 3

Our heroes wearily tramp up the hillside approaching the pass.
Gunnar: "So definitely no orcs here then?"
Sintamo: "They never come here. Sometimes you get the odd rock goblin."
Eduardo: "Watzat?"
Sintamo: "Just like normal goblins, but without their low cunning. They tend to ambush you by jumping off rocks, usually a quick step to the side is enough to deal with them. Stupid....but fast, they can shin up a rock face like a spider up a web."
"There's spiders?" Eddie muttered.

As the crest the last ridgeline, they see Giant Pass stretched out before them. It was as if a giant axe had split the mountain range, leaving a narrow cleft between the peaks. The narrow valley was filled with a jumbled mess of  huge rocks and boulders.
Brother Christos: "It's a maze!"
Sintamo: "It shouldn't be too difficult to find a way through. I can see three gaps in the rocks from here."
Eldarondo: "Four, elf eyes."
Sintamo: "According to legend, the pass was formed by Storm Giants throwing rocks at each other across the pass. Poor throws fell into the valley and formed the strange rock formations. Of course that's just a fairy story."

A bellowing shout echoed amount the mountain peaks and a huge rock arced from the mountains to the east, to crash into the pass, sending up a cloud of dust and rock splinters. Jeering laughter could be heard from the peaks to the west.
Everyone glared at Sintamo.
Sir Robin "Fairy story?"
Gunnar: "Are we just going to stand here or what?"
"Stand here." Eduardo squeeked muttered.

Chapter 3 – Giant Pass

 (4XP per player).

The first part of the coded directions led the party top cross the forbidding Black Crags. There are only two known routes; the southern pass is occupied by a fierce tribe of orcs so the PCs decide to use the northern pass, which the orcs strangely avoid.

The whole table is a narrow mountain pass that is a maze of small outcrops and large free-standing rocks. In the mountains above the Storm Giants can be heard bellowing at each like thunder and throwing huge stones at one another.

 

Deployment: The party enter South East (square 9) from the South edge.

When entering a square generate the path (as seen from the entry point)

1	Turn Left
2	Turn Right
3	Straight with junction on left
4	Straight with junction on Right
5	T Junction (left and right, no straight on)
6	Crossroads

If result means absolutely no way through to exit, even by back tracking roll again.

Traps:  There are no traps.

Foes:

None starting.

Rock Goblin.

Small, fast goblinoids who have a knack for blending into the surroundings.

DL 9, Missile DL11 (inc effects of spells)

Dodge, if hit in melee roll 1d6, 5+ they dodge the blow – place them 1” away from the PC.

When the AMBUSH! card is drawn, 1 rock goblin leaps from the nearest rock.

Reinforcements: 1d6 Rock Goblins.

Complications: The first time the Things Could get Worse card is drawn, a Troll appears in centre of random square. Moves randomly unless in same square as PCs, can cross all boundaries (climb over rocks). Roll 1d10 for placement square, if a 0 then 2 trolls appear in separate squares (reroll any further 0).

Scenario Event: A stray rock lands on the table, hurled by a Storm Giant. Roll for a random placement, the rock covers an area 3” diameter. Any foe within the area takes 2DAM and are knocked to the ground (no armour/shield save allowed). PCs may attempt to dodge DL 13, if successful move them to just outside the area and they take 1DAM from flying rock splinters.

Wandering Monster: If a wandering monster card is drawn, roll a d6.

1-2 – Ogre

3 – Stone Elemental

4 – Stone Giant

5 – Fire Giant

6 – Ice Giant

Wandering monsters appear in the centre of a random square and can cross all boundaries (climb over/walk through rocks).

If 3-6 is rolled a second time replace with an Ogre.

Victory Conditions: The PCs must cross the table and exit from the North edge of the North West (square 1)

Other individual rewards: A PC carrying an out-of-action PC off the table gains 1 XP. Killing an elemental or giant gains 1XP.

Things did not go well!

First activation, Sintamo stepped on a scorpion!

Fortunately he managed to avoid it's sting in retaliation.

"How does he do it? Even trees don't grow at this altitude, where's a scorpion come from?"

"I think he keeps them in his pocket!"

Keeping with the plan (not) Christos rushes off ahead to scout the way and Sir Robin thought he had better follow and keep an eye on him.

Eddie stands still, peering around to see if he can spot Sintamo's scorpion (failed activations) when a giant turns up!

Eduardo: "Eeek, it's a storm giant!"

Gunnar: "No Laddie, it's an ice giant. Storm giants are much bigger than this."

Eldarondo: "Well he looks big enough to me!"

Robin rushes back to support the rest of the party, whilst Sintamo draws his bow.
His first arrow buries itself in the monster's shoulder, causing the giant to look around for the bitting insect.
He draws his second arrow....Twang! bowstring snaps, oh bugger!

"Eddie, Fireball, now!"
Eduardo gestures dramatically at the giant....Phut! a small shower of sparks emits from his fingers.
The giant lumbers forward to see the pretty lights.
The wizard tries again, this time a single glowing ember drifts upwards and lands on the giant's nose.
Letting out a bellow of paint, the giant brushes the ember off, then charges at Eddie and Eldarondo!
Desperately trying to draw his sword, Eddie catches a glancing blow from the giant's club which knocks the wind out of him.

Gunnar and Sir Robin pile in to the fray, the dwarf hacks a deep cut into the giant's thigh and Robin deftly avoids a blow with the club and stabs into the giants arm.
Suddenly there is a sickening Crunch!
"What was that?"
"The giant just stepped on Sir Robin."
"That must have hurt."
"There's blood coming out his nose and ears, is that bad?"

 This time the elf is the target of the giant's attack and he is knocked to his knees from a viscous blow with the club. Restringing his bow, Sintamo sticks two more arrows into the monster's chest and Gunnar hacks at the giant's knee. The giant falls to the ground and the dwarf leaps forward and brings his axe down on it's head!

"Good shot Gunnar!"
"It's nothing" said the dwarf, smugly "Easy when it's your cultural enemy".
"I thought orcs were his cultural enemy?"
"Yeah and trolls, ogres, anything taller than him really".
"Oi, I heard that!"

Brother Christos rushed back around the corner.
"Come on you lot, what's keeping you? Oh, that is!"

Eldarondo used his healing skills to bring Sir Robin around and helps him to his feet.
"How are you feeling? You look a bit grey"
"I'm fine" said Robin as he took one step then collapsed, yelling in pain.
"You probably shouldn't put any weight in that ankle."

With one of their best fighters unable to walk, two others injured and given they hadn't actually entered the pass yet, the party decided to carry Robin back to the tavern they had stayed in the night before and try their luck again once his leg was better.

I'll post our second attempt at traversing Giant Pass over the weekend.