[Game Thread] Chapter 1 | +ULFBERH+T

[Digorig]

Current Data Location: Jötunheimr Date: Tyrs Day, Ostara 16 Time: noon Weather: Quite cold, but clear.

Taking their skiff across the river was a bit harder than anticipated as the current wanted to draw them south and not west. But they did make it to a pier that clearly had not been used in some time; no Dock master and no other ships. It would seem giants don’t get many visitors.

Gathering their packs the troupe moved through the plane easily on the first day. After a while the cool, crisp air became a friend as they trudged forward. By days end they had come to the foothills and ahead they could see the snowcapped mountains Jötunheimr; the land of the Giants. They had no problem finding an area suitable for a camp and were settled in no time. With the skies clear they had a pleasant if not frigid evening, finding their water skins frozen in the morning.

After breaking camp and a bite to eat they were ready to resume their trek. As the trails became snow covered there was no longer a path to follow and it was a steady uphill climb. They would not make anywhere as far in these conditions as they had yesterday. It was about noon time when Savriel stopped and pointed ahead of them; giants. Three of them seemed to be ambling up the mountain with ease, your group seemingly unnoticed.

OOC Go ahead and make appropriate rolls. You are not in combat – yet.

 

[mountainbound]

It's Kjersti's first time ever seeing a giant, and when she sees the three brutes heading up the hillside, she can't help but exclaim, "Holy Fjorgyn! Giants!" Surprise and excitement at the wonder of it all are quickly replaced by dread.

Unconsciously she cowers, finding a nearby rock jutting from the snow to hide behind. But in another instant she remembers their quest... they needed to engage with the giants, and by some shred of grace convince them to help. "Maybe this isn't the best idea," the paladin says, still behind the rock.

OOC Sense Motive on the giants: 9 Stealth: 13

[Jeigh]

Orjan Erlandson Just as surprised as his companions, Orjan immediately jumped for cover. Breathing rapidly, he gripped his shortbow tightly, steadying his shaky hands as he whispered, "Three? What do we do with three of them?" Processing his surroundings with blinding speed, the veteran half listened for responses as he considered the possibilities himself. A hunter himself, one though stuck out in his mind, Have we left tracks. Actions Orjan is ducking for cover with Kjersti and hoping to avoid notice by the giants altogether. Stealth total = 19

[Darkling]

Savriel an Ael'syl At the sight of the giants, Savriel is almost taken aback, blinking rapidly. "Never seen three at the same time..." She whispers harshly, quickly ducking down beside the others, waving for Sven to take cover too. The plan was to deal with one giant, not a trio, any more than one and they'd be completely at the mercy of the things in a battle. "...let's just keep quiet..." The girl suggests strongly, but the girl unlimbers her longbow all the same, even though she seems rather hopeful she'll not have to use it. Hells, they don't even have the shiny rocks they were meant to keep an eye out for, so maybe it'd be best if they just let the giants pass them by regardless! Dice Stealth: d20+10 (11)+10 Total = 21

[Numen Wraith]

Sven stares up the slope at the Giants, something burning behind his eyes, but he doesn't move at first. As his companions make their way behind the outcropping, he watches the giants as he finally begins to move to join them. He's clearly restless as he Stealth = 12crouches, but he's not going to drag his friends into a fight if he can help it. Still, anyone that looks at his face can see how tempting the challenge is. There's something deeper in his eyes, but whatever is going on, he has the same look a well trained dog would have while whimpering and straining against its conditioning.

[Digorig]

Current Data Location: Jötunheimr Date: Tyrs Day, Ostara 16 Time: Afternoon Weather: Cold & cloudy

The group quickly huddles down to avoid being spotted by the trio. The three giants suddenly stop, perhaps drawn by the sound of Kjersti’s voice echoing through the hills. But after looking your direction for a few tense moments, they resume their trek up the mountainside. Wanting to understand more of these huge creatures, the Paladin tries carefully to observe them but she is unable to tell anything useful except that they are really big and furry.

After several minutes while the coast seems clear, the team is able to move again. They can easily see the large tracks in the snow should they want to follow them; or perhaps it’s best to look for a single giant.

As the day moved on and the group continued their sojourn, clouds began to increase in the higher mountains. It was still a few hours before nightfall when they spotted their goal; a single frost giant near a snow covered tree.

 

[Numen Wraith]

The challenged look doesn't overcome Sven this time; he simply looks at his teammates to see what they want to do. "I think we should surround him in case things go sour."

[mountainbound]

Seeing the huge giant reclining under the nearby tree, Kjersti tries to steel her nerves. After all, she had faced villains before with this group, and they prevailed. How they had prevailed, she wasn't sure, since she never seemed to remember. This giant was not a villain though, and that thought was reassuring. As Kjersti gazes over the snow at the enormous blue-skinned creature, she tries to push all the stories of their brutality from her mind, and see him as a future friend.

"Fjorgyn, please grant us courage and strength should we need it," the paladin whispers. Her words are loud enough for her three companions to hear, and instantly they feel a little lighter. Magnbjorn shakes the snow from his fur and fidgets -- unused to being kept so near, but Kjersti couldn't risk letting the dog stray out and blow their cover. "Stay Magnbjorn, you may get to run soon enough."

As the group huddles behind the icy rocks, looking out at the giant, Kjersti has a thought. "Since Savi has the fruit, and she's best at talking, she should probably be the one to engage with the giant. I... I can go with her. I've protected her before... somehow... and my faith is that I'll be able to do so again if needed. Sven and Orjan, you don't need to hide, but if you at least stay back, it might seem less threatening." She surveys the giant again, then continues in a whisper. "Not that we could ever threaten something like that. We're meaning to befriend this creature though, so I think we should take care not to send the wrong message up front. Two viking warriors in full battle gear may send the wrong message, but two women..."

Action Bless on the group +1 to attack rolls and Saves v fear

[Darkling]

Savriel an Ael'syl "One giant. Alright, that's more manageable..." The girl murmurs, sounding a mixture of pure apprehension and confidence, a self-contradiction if there ever was one. As Kjersti offers to take a place at her side, the half-elf hesitates, mulling over the thoughts as she looks the woman over. "Are you sure, Kjersti? I'm fine to speak with him alone. I feel like we should risk as few of us as possible, is all. Guess that's your call." The bardess speaks with a smile, perhaps reassured by the fact that the norsewoman is willing to follow her into the danger, even if her words do claim otherwise. Savriel turns to look at Orjan, seeking his counsel. "What do you think? Kjersti and I go, you and Sven ready for a fight? I'm sure there won't be one, but, y'know..." The girl gives another uneasy smile, adjusting her pack, getting ready to pull out the bundles of fruit. She also seems to make a note of checking her longbow, just in case, though it's clear she doesn't want it to come to that.

[Digorig]

NPC for Orjan "I agree with Sav. Just her, but we all need to stay close and ready. If something happens to her, well I could not for...." his words trailed off. The Viking was not quite ready to continue with his thoughts, at least not aloud.

[mountainbound]

Her companions seemed to want Savi to go alone, and so despite serious reservations... "OK ja. But Savi, be careful."

The paladin then lays a hand on her wolfhound's head and says, "Go with her in my stead, Magnbjorn. Keep her safe."

[Darkling]

Savriel an Ael'syl Savriel seems like she might've just been putting on a brave face when Kjersti says she'll let her go alone, looking a bit pale, but then she nods and gives a weak smile. "I've got this. I'm sure." Her words come a little flat, and one wonders whether she's convincing her allies or herself, but after a few deep breaths the bardess steps forward out of cover. Magnbjorn's presence is a small comfort, at least, and she's sure to stay close to the dog as she treads lightly. Taking a few steps and waiting until she's a reasonable distance from her allies, the half-breed stops, and calls out a greeting in the giant's tongue. "Hello, friend!" The girl calls, the words sounding harsh and cumbersome, like gravel in the halfbreed's mouth. She has a tendency to make most language sound beautiful when she sings or spins stories, but the language of the giants is a coarse one, like roughly hewn stone tumbling down a mountainside. "I wish to parley! Uh, talk! I come with gifts," she reaches into her pack, withdrawing one of her pieces of fruit she's taken with her, offering the giant a smile from where she stands as she lifts it up a bit for him to see. It's been a long time since she's spoken with a giant, and perhaps her grasp of the language isn't as precise as it could be, but it seems she's making do. "I brought...enough for meal or two. My intentions are peaceful. My name is Savriel, may I have yours?" The halfbreed asks, Dice Diplomacy: d20+14 (2)+14 Total = 16 ...Hero Point to reroll that... x.x' Dice Diplomacy: d20+14 (18)+14 Total = 32 trying her best to speak with an air of deference and respect, hoping the offering of fresh fruit is enough to placate the giant. She reaches into her pack again to withdraw more, to indicate that she's indeed not lying, watching the tall one with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

[Digorig]

Current Data Location: Jötunheimr Date: Tyrs Day, Ostara 16 Time: Afternoon Weather: Cold & Cloudy

As the other’s watch from a distance, the Bardess slowly moves forward, trying to not approach the giant from behind or to startle him – or her. When Sav gets close enough she calls out.

The blue-furred beast stands, towering high above the Half-Elf and looks angry, but as Savriel speaks, he- or she – seems to perhaps be a bit less annoyed with the little one. Then she speaks, and though loud and deep, the voice does seem feminine.

“Puny thing bother me? Must be brave. You Saaa…Sarrr…” The giant seems to have a hard time with the Bardess’s name in the Giant language. “You speak good giant and have fruit? Me called Chatara. Me listen. What Saaaavvvvarrr want with Chatara?” it finally asks.

The giant has yet to move from her location.

 

[Numen Wraith]

Sven watched the situation with his hands wrapped around his sword's pommel. His knuckles turned the colour of the snow around them as he wrang and wrothe the leather against his palms. There wasn't much he could do, and that was the part that irritated him the most. He was nervous for his companion, and he wanted to be out there to protect her. He should be protecting her. It was for his goal that she was out there. Then again, him being out there would only make it harder for her to succeed. He grunted softly as he balanced his back against the rock they were resting, as it were, behind. He couldn't look at the scene, so he looked at the paladin and tried to read her face.

[Darkling]

Savriel an Ael'syl Savriel smiles at the giant, or giantess as it might be, and from what little her companions can see the half-elf has noticeably relaxed. Given the towering blue humanoid has yet to move towards their ally, they can safely say she's alright for the time being, however long that might last. "Just call me 'Sav', Chatara, a lot of people call me that. I'm a skald, you see, looking for a story." The girl speaks respectfully, smiling at Chatara, though she doesn't approach any closer for now. In fact, this distance seems more than acceptable for the halfbreed, and she doesn't seem eager to change that any time soon. "And I heard tell of a story that some men found a rare kind of ore in the hills of Jötunheimr, and from it they forged a sword, a very well-crafted and powerful sword." The girl goes on, shifting her weight from foot to foot in an effort to keep herself warm, wishing it wasn't so damn cold. She continues smiling at Chatara, not wishing to break eye contact for even a moment, and searches for the words to continue. "Have you heard of the iron, Chatara?" Savriel continues, though doesn't wish to presume anything as far as bartering or the giantess acting as a guide just yet, for she's not certain of the significance the material may hold to the natives of Jötunheimr.