Saralas: Session 64

13 Elient

• The sharks keep swimming
• The orb judges us to be a bunch of lowlife degenerates.
  • Shouldn't we be more interesting in Ythryn than two-bit treasures located in these wrecks
  • It seems to be disappointed.
• We are kind of waiting for nightfall so Auril is casting her magic rather than sitting around on the Island
• The ice mephit is starting to look suspicous
• If we are going to gain access to Ythryn then we need access to a spell that Auril has on a scroll
• The orb seems angry that Resda named it Smokey. Resda asks his actual name. It is Professor Skant.
  • It has always been an orb as far as it knows
  • It has dedicated itself to the study of Netherese and Ythryn
• The orb does not worship Auril, absolutely not
• Why doesn't Resda just leave "these losers" and it can connect her with the Arcane Brotherhood.
• Saralas stalks off. Karthos follows.
• We find our way back towards where we entered the island, and find the path again. We can clearly see the mountain, and on top of the mountain is a huge skull.
• Karthos recognizes this as Grimskalle, an ancient frost-giant keep that is hundreds of years old. It was hewn from stone by frost giants.
• This would also explain why the stone steps are so large. The architecture is reminiscent of Jarlmoot.
• We see Resda and the others coming back north to join us. The mephit is still following, a little more warily.
• We wander for a little why and come to a series of ice statues. We see a grand assembly of ice sculptures. They are completely faithful to their subjects. All sorts of creatures of the north. No mortal hand could create such wonderous creations. The mephit looks quite please, and points out the beauty of the Frostmaiden's hand
• They are ice statues, unlike the frozen people in the other location.
• We travel farther north, and find another shipwreck. This ship is reasonably intact, and as we approach we see an indistinct shape disappear into the hold.
• The mephit says merrow live there. Merrow were sent to this plane by the demigorgon to terrorize and harrass the living. They typically live in packs of not fewer than four. They are as vicious as they are quick in the water, and they love to drown their prey. They are quite skilled with a harpoon.
• Resda and Sopo walk slowly, the rest of us hang back and talk about what we are going to do. Some want to go talk to Auril. This is crazy pants. I am very not OK with this.
• Sopo points out a bunch of Yeti caves "that's where Auril keeps the Yeti"
• The others won't let go of "let's go talk to Auril". This is nuts.
• Resda is apparently asking Sopo how to not piss off Auril
• Also apparently there were more Yeti but food can get scarce
• We find our way back to the path. Resda calls back that we should hurry up
• The others still want to talk to Auril. Saralas is not pleased but does not want to hang around alone outside on this island.
• We start heading up the path. As we approach, rising above us is a 600-foot tall mountain of glacier ice, and on its peak is the gigantic skull wearing a crown.
• At the top of the huge stairs are a set of doors. Carved in the lintel is a single word in Dwarvish, which says Grimskalle. The mephit bids farewell.
• Baerwin thanks it, and it bows and takes its leave.
• "Good riddance" the orb says from within Resda's bag.
• "Are you going to offend Auril?" Resda asks. "Of course not, I wish to live."
• Korag and Karthos work together to open the door. It seems to be resisting quite a lot but eventually it opens on its frozen hinges.
• We enter, finding a hallway
• I open the door to my left and look around the room. It is a long, rectangular guard room, strewn with rusted metal and junk. It is filled with large items, all rusty and crappy. Nothing in the room appears salvageable. I tell the others.
• There are two more doors to the east, and an open passageway to the northwest.
• Karthos opens the southern door on the east side of the hallway. A withered old frost giant, leaning heavily on a great axe, sits in front of a tall door on the far wall. The giant wooden stool he sits on creaks under his weight. He turns to stare at Karthos with cloudy eyes.
• He might be blind, he might not see Karthos. Karthos speaks giant. "I can hear you, you know" he says. Karthos says "Hi" back.
• "What brings you to Grimskelle?" "Auril, of course, why else would anyone come here?"
• "The treasure," he says, pointing to the door behind him. He opens the door, and looking past him Karthos can see quite a mound of gold and other objects. He says he got bored and passed the time by gathering up the treasure from around the island.
• The giant's name is Ertgard and apparently he offers Karthos to look around.
• The treasure is a big pile of gold, four large gold rings sized for giants, a giant sized shield made of white dragon scales, and a 50 lb chipped statuette of Thurm, and an alchemy jug. Karthos takes the job.
• Min, with her passive perception and lifelong obsession with gold. It is at least 7800 gold. We split up the gold between the party. The frost giant drifts off to sleep, snoring loudly.
• There is a big argument about just how worthless the shield is. To the north is a cold mist, and a room to the west, and another door to the east.
• Karthos opens the second door to the east. Frost covers a bloated trestle table that stands amidst rotting barrels and casks in what used to be a kitchen. Everything seems to be falling apart. A roasting spit lined with icicles is above a frozen brazier. Nothing of value remains here.
• To the west is a large hall, with a 30 foot long, 10 foot tall, and 10 foot high dining table made of ice. There are a pair of 14-foot long bugles made of hollowed out mammoth tusks. A staircase up in the southwest corner has mist rolling down it.
• The mammoth tusk bugles, one is intact and the other is cracked and no longer works. Saralas is certain that these were used for entertainment, and he goes on a long talk about how they must have been used. Korag shakes his head and says no they were used to call the giants to dinner.
• From here we have the option to go up or down. We choose to go down.
• We find ourselves in a vaulted chamber, a 9 foot high railing of sculpted ice hugs the staircase. A walrus as big as an elephant is having a grand old time rolling and sliding on the ice, paying the party no mind.
• "This is a goat situation, the yetis probably come here".
• "The yetis don't come here" the walrus says. "Do you know Carl?" "Of course, he's my brother."
• The walrus name is Akuma. He's just hanging out, having fun. Karthos joins him in sliding around the ice rink.
• Baerwin asks if Auril is on the higher levels. "Could be, who's asking?"
• "This time of day she's probably getting ready to fly the Roc"
• The walrus tells us that in the various chambers of this place, Auril keeps her greatest treasures. He keeps an eye on the place. He's not really allowed in the rooms though.
• He says from time to time Auril's followers visit, carrying sacks and chests which they leave in the rooms. "Who would be dumb enough to rob the Frost Maiden?" it asks.
• Min's just here for the treasure. "Well, her greatest treasure is to the south"
• Karthos offers him 2 gallons of mayonnaise
• Baerwin wanders off to the south. The passage leads into an anvil-shaped room with a door set in the far wall. Flanking the door are two frost giant statues which have been defaced. New carvings are above the door, an owl, a wolf and a goat
• A voice rings out "This way is shut to all but those who are worthy". Karthos recognizes the voice as Auril.
• To the north a passageway leads to an anvil shaped room, flanking the doors are two carvings of frost giants.
• Engraved above the doors is a giant poem about their great queen. I recognize the name, she was the last queen of the unified frost giants, before the wars, when they were one people.