...Where The Company of Heroes Gather and Bond

Wealsun 2, CY 576
Two weeks ago, you were resting comfortably in one of the many inns located in the city of Istivin, the capital of the March of Sterich. Drink flowed freely, food was plentiful and the roaring fires dried the early morning dew off of walls and windows and even brought some relief to the aching bones of old and young alike. Leisure activity became a sport, to the point where your adventuring life seemed almost a dream in some unwelcomed, fitful sleep. Unfortunately, however, food, drink and especially warm beds take coin, and your purse had been growing lighter by the day.

When word came up from Mittleberg about raiders sweeping down from the Jotens, your ears perked up. The fact that they were giants gave you pause, but after giving Querchard, Earl of Sterich a bit of time to explain, your ears perked once again.

It was true, giants had swept down from the Jotens and sacked a small number of towns, but it was not the intention of Earl Querchard to eradicate the giants, though that would be a grand endeavor indeed, his concern lies in the fact that not only have Hill Giants been seen, but Stone and Frost as well! These attacks seem highly coordinated, and it is the task of those chosen to go and investigate the giants and determine their strength of number as well as who is guiding the attacks.

Of course, as part of the assignment, any and all treasure you find may be kept as payment for your service. If successful, and the true mastermind of the giants banding is found out, a full 5,000 gold coins awaits you when you return (or it may be given to your nearest kin, should your party succeed but you fail to survive).

With the agreement in hand, you each gathered your gear and set out south from Istivin and toward the site of the attacks. Several days ago, you left the last, true settings of civilization and began to climb upward into the mountains, guided by a map given to you by the Earl himself. The Hill giants are led by a grotesquely fat and thoroughly evil king, Nosnra. His strength is almost as legendary as his penchant for human flesh, but his being the one behind the raids is highly doubtful.

So it was that you have climbed higher and higher into the Jotens. While nowhere near as high or rugged as the western Crystalmist Mountains, their height brings you high enough that the grass becomes coarse brush, and the trees more coniferous and able to handle the hardy winters of blowing wind and snow. Even this time of year, late summer, the nights tend to be cool while the heat of the sun is carried away by the light winds blowing across the open landscape.

Finally, cresting the last hill, your target comes into site. A long valley, perhaps one or two miles long and almost as wide, lies before you. Small copes of trees dot the landscape, but what catches your attention more is the huge structure centered in the valley. A large compound, built with thick logs and soaring some thirty feet tall, sits like a fortress daring you to breech its walls. A winding trail makes its way to an entry gate at the southeast corner, while two other gates can be seen standing along the east and north walls. Those gates look like they lead to an open compound, while the main gate leads to the interior. A single guard tower, standing as high as the central, peaked roof, sits along part of the south wall.

Julian
These mountains are different than those you have traveled in before. Rather than sharp, craggy edifices, they are more rounded and hill-like than true soaring peaks. Regardless, from the look of the surrounding hills, if there were to be any such caves to make a base camp, it would be along the edges of the valley somewhere.

While Julian flies away, Aelfric focuses on the steading below.

Aelfric
The sun is just beginning to make its way past the high peaks to the west, casting long shadows across the valley below. A small stream winds its way through the valley's center, and it looks to come within about 20 yards or so of the east side of the giant structure. You can see that the far side of the steading is an open compound, perhaps a training area, with a separate building that just up against the northeast corner.

Your sharp eyes depict a lot of shadows moving around in the open area, which seems to have firelight illuminating the compound. Similarly, the tower on the south end looks like a guard tower. While no light is present, it is logical to assume there are guards posted, and the height of the tower gives it a good view of the surrounding landscape.

Julian
It takes you perhaps 20 minutes of searching, but you spy what looks to be a cave opening along the north side of the valley, on a side of the hill away from the valley.

Gurtrek had always prided himself of his ability to sleep while on horseback, disregarding the part that a rather strong concoction he brewed himself to breathe fire for pennies in the cities was usually the main catalyst. The was of little interest to Gurtrek, as his ofputting behaviour as a cussing drunkard had probably shut down most civil conversation with his newly found companions. He had always found the gentle sway of the horse, gathered with the clattering of his plate armour and wooden alchemists packs in which bottles clinked and clanked together quite soothing. His armour also helped him sleep, it was well padded and insulated so that the cold winds didn’t get to him as much. Gurtrek also wore an ornate mask, covered in runes and flame motives with a mouth that alone would scare many-a-child. The tufts of scorched beard sticking out from underneath it allowed him to rather comfortably rest his head on his gorget. The wind would only herass his bald scalp, but luckily his long overcoat had a hood attached that had since an hour of riding had blown off under the acoustic guidance of Gurtrek’s snoring.


"Hair on me balls! That’s the buggers home innit?"

The stopping of all the aforementioned sounds of riding had woken Gurtrek and his question was followed by a load throat scrape and a glob of phlegm being spit out of the mask’s large mouth. Noticing that they missed Julian and Ælfric and not really expecting and answer on his previous question he spoke on:

"The two nancies have left us now that danger is in sight?"

He figured it a joke, but even Gurtrek knew he was a poor comedian. Another look at the fort did make him anxious of what was to come though. He needed the coin as his drinking away the coin of his work as well as the actual tools of the trade of a firebreather and pyrotechnic had left him rather empty-pursed. It was truly a poor line of work nowadays, with mages doing a better and better job of replacing his trickery in the theatre and circuses. Gurtrek subconsciously reached for the flail on his back. All that was left for Gurtrek was fighting now and there would be much of it soon...

Julian
A quick examination reveals a small cave, odd-shaped, but perhaps 20 feet deep and a little wider at its most wide point. Shrubs and small trees give the mouth a bit of cover when viewed from the left side.

Long legged Fernal, throws back her mess of black hair, "Not so far as make our scouts search for us." On the way here, she hasn't proven herself to be too social.