We set out along a mountain path that brought us out above a passing patrol. From a distance we could make out a small number of goliaths and one bigger creature, its heavy furs made it impossible to tell what it was. After a quick discussion I drew out three potions of invisibility for Sarge, Groehl, and myself. We would drink them and wait. Gim, as a bear, and Kodan would lure them to us so we could ambush them. I was amazed when Groehl agreed with this plan, perhaps I have been to hard on my brother.
The plan worked partly well, half of the goliaths pursued Gim while the other remained with their large friend. I felt we couldnt wait and began to approach the one who had held back. As I moved, the goliath who appeared to be the senior turned to look in my direction. I knew he had seen something and decided I had to act now. I ran right at the large fellow hoping to bring him down quickly and spare the goliaths. Just before I reached him I saw a shadow on the snow, something was in the air above me. I croached throw my cloak over my head as a blast of cold slammed into the snow around me. I didnt wait but leaped right back up throwing the ice on my cloak off. The ogre mage who had been invisible and flying above us couldnt react before I sank my axe into the large creatures side.
The large creature turned out to be a stone giant and I knew i was in for it. I was fortunate because as the giant turned towards me sarge charged straight into it from the other side burying his long sword into the giant. In pain the giant attacked me, and I can only guess that Sarges presence and it wounds helped but only once did the giant managed to hit me and I was lucky indeed. The goliaths attacked us but their skills in combat are lacking proper training. I was able to avoid them and continue to attack the giant. Sarge beheaded the beast in the end and we concentrated on the mage.
Unfortunately the mage fled before we could lay our hands on him. This was bad because the goliaths knew if they returned they and their families would be killed. I suggested we make it look like we killed all of them and then threw their bodies off the cliff. We spread blood from the giant around the area and the goliaths spilled some of their own blood to make it look convincing, what they lack in combat they make up for as hunters. Once the scene was complete they followed up back to the gnomes erasing our tracks as we went.
It took a few moments to convince the gnomes they could trust the goliaths but in the end they accepted them. It was now that we had some real information to work with. With the hunters knowledge of the area we came up with a plan, I have admit I suggested a great deal of it, to approach through the caves and free the goliaths. They would then retreat into the caves with us, preventing the dragon from following and limiting the room the giants and ogres could move. Once we all had agreed we prepared to rest the rest of the day and night. In the morning we would act for time was running out for the goliaths and the dragons by now knows we are here. |
