Aotearoa - Rime of the Frostmaiden - Caer Dineval
Muad Chiselbone’s true form is revealed to the adventurers and her horrible visage strikes terror into the very hearts of the characters. Maud’s gaze is colder than a mother-in-law’s disapproval and it strikes genuine fear into the Ice spider form of Shajyre , Bugz and Cal. Bugz bolts and runs straight into ever elusive Twitch and both begin bombarding the waking Ice giant with blows, as it struggles to free itself from the ice.
Meanwhile Maud’s deathly stare saps all Cal’s life force and he is incapacitated. The stalwart Skar, Tarvin and wolfish Malumak are undeterred and all bravely Confront Maud and the glowing ball of evil that lurks in her shadow. As the sparks fly Maud lashes out with viscous claws and she endeavours to add more “adventurous” flavours to her stew.
Malumak’s used the glowing fiend as a chew toy as Tarvin and Skar landed telling blows. Skar laid hands on Cal bringing him around, Fearing for his Life Cal called in a Magical favour summoning an Orcish Spirit to aid the Party. Skar successfully added Maud to the Cauldron contents. Sensing her luck might be about to run out Maud pleaded for quarter and promised the Treasure from Lac Dinshere if the adventurers will spare her life. The wary Tarvin agreed upon condition of calling off the attacking glowing fiend and the waking Ice Giant. However the truce was not to last with another electrifying attack from Maud’s floating companion.
Reverting to Orcish form Malumak’s mighty Quarterstaff shatters the glowing entity into smouldering smithereens and he pivoted and followed through a sweeping smash (two Natural 20’s no less) to deliver the coup de grace against Maud.
The party is not out of the woods yet (in fact they are in a cave) with a increasingly angry Ice Giant stirring, Cal and his summoned Orcish retainer Dashed to assist Twitch and Bugz. Freed from the ice the Giant flattened Bugz with a single mighty axe blow and Cal rushed to the fray only to instantly be struck down by a frosty blast. Cal’s Orc continues to hack at the giant, while the morale of the adventurers wavers as they wonder if they should flee for their lives. With both Bugz and Cal at deaths door the parties resolve holds and a critical Head shot from Tarvin skewered the Giants eye and proved that Headshots are the only true stopper. With the Ice giant threat neutralised the remainder of the party set about reviving Cal and Bugz.
Investigating Maud’s Cauldron reveals it has two special properties; one it contains the remains of the unfortunate fishermen and two the Cauldron is magically enchanted and can provide nutritious stew to feed many. After investigating the remainder of the cave a the adventurers discovered 3 pages Dwarvish Journal that Cal Roughly translated as:
“Dese caves are sacred Tae yon frost giants. Och aye the carvings on the sae that the frosted giants came here to druwn themselves. Using yon hot spring as a sacrificial pool
The wind soonds like a wailing woman. Ya Ken easily go mad inna place like dis.
I dinnae think I’m alone, dere is someone else living in dese caves. After discovering the hot spring, I heard what soonded like a granny singing. When the song ended with a shrill laugh, dread sunk its teeth in tae me. Crivens, dat horrible cackle! I shall leave dese caves in the morning, never tae return
The Party debated what to do with the Magical Cauldron and how best to alleviate the plight of the Ten Towns. Cal’s Suggestion of setting up a KFC (Knucklebone Fried Cauldron) outlet was passed over in favour of returning the cauldron to the relatively trustworthy hands of the Speaker of Easthaven if he could assure the adventurers that if would charitably be used to feed the town. While other members of the party were hoping there might be a “financial boon” they had to settle for a guarantee of free board and food whenever in town and an end to the human sacrifices (considering the discovery of the Cold-light walkers). After a well-deserved long rest, the party examined its options and elected to investigate the rumours emanating from Caer Dineval.
Remounting the Axebeaks, the crew set off. Caer Dineval has been harder hit than the other towns visited. Dinev’s rest has been abandoned and the uphill climb has no shelter to offer (but do have a special on Knucklebone fish) there is little option but to visit the somewhat ominous Castle. Initially the guards are uninterested in the party’s plea for entry until Tarvin is recognised escorted to a nearby room. Tarvin converses with a thiefling Kadroth who seems to be in charge but is not the towns speaker. Ever curious Bugz listens in to the goings on, but the rest of the party is in the dark. Is this something to do with the mysterious ailment afflicting Tarvin. Only time will tell.
What has happened in town and what has befallen the speaker and how does it have anything to do with Tarvin….
