The town always seemed forlorn and frozen, but now even with the warmer spring weather the houses are nearly encased in ice. Perhaps it is the magic of the tower, or of the devils, or perhaps even due to the nature of the frost giants inhabiting the place.
The frost giants...
It takes the companions a moment to notice that some of the large shapes ahead are not more houses, but the towering bodies of a dozen frost giants. That is not the rumble of thunder, or of a distant avalanche, but the murmuring of the Giant tongue.
One of the giants, a brute of glacial brawn, seems to be directing the others, forming them up in a defensive line complete with cover behind the nearest houses and stockpiles of boulders for ammunition.
The giants do not seem to have noticed the companions yet, but getting through them unnoticed to the tower beyond will certainly be difficult.