Vigan, Rixton, Andor, and Ladrian hope to add to the damage caused by Harshnag. Vigan stands directly beneath the remorhaz's head, slashing away with his glaive; three times his blade gashes the monstrosity that looms over him. The size of the remorhaz makes it an easy target for Rixton, Andor, and Ladrian, but each of their ranged attacks is met by the monster's scaly hide that does not yield to their ammunition. The arrow and bolts bounce off the remorhaz and fall harmlessly to the stone floor.
Everyone in the room can see that the remorhaz's wounds are severe as Carrow prepares for his next attack...
(Carrow's round 4 action remains; then the remorhaz will act)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Carrow
Not seeing any weaknesses in the beast defences he quickly launches himself into another attack. Stringing an arrow he fires again. +1 Arrow Bonus Action: Hunters Mark.
Firing two more arrows from his position atop one of the granite tables, Carrow strikes the remorhaz twice. The monster's head sways right then left before crashing violently to the ground just a few feet from Vigan. A weird, guttural noise erupts from its throat, and then the creature becomes completely lifeless.
Harshnag turns to face the rest of the group and with a bit of a grin on his blue frost giant face, he says, "Not a scratch on any of us."
He then strides across the room to fetch Thrym's axe. As he prepares to enter the main temple room with it, he asks (with an even larger grin on his face), "Shall we trigger another ice storm?"
Remaining behind a few moments Carrow inspects the creature "Resistance to heat and cold damage, fascinating" captivated by the creature and the place it resided carrow investigates further.
Investigation: 15
Nature: 12
OOC: Can Carrow learn anything about fighting these in future, any loot from the corpse or its nest, any bodily fluids/parts can be used ?
As the head of the monster crashes to the floor next to him, the goliath drives the blade of his glaive into the back of the creature’s head and twists it, making sure it stays down.
”Ha! Excellent shot Carrow!”, he says as Harshnag grabs the axe. “We should be lucky if we only get an ice storm!”
Carrow checks the alcove where the remorhaz was first seen but finds nothing of interest. As the ranger approaches the remorhaz's corpse, he can feel the tremendous heat that still emanates from its massive body. Touching the creature with a bare hand would likely lead to being burned. There is, however, nothing useful to be taken from the remorhaz's remains.
"The heat it gives off is incredible, I do not know if I'd fancy my chances alone" a shiver ran up his spine at the thought of encountering it without the aid of the others.
"I do very much like these particular arrows" he chuckles, securing his gear he cast one last look at the slain beast, satisfied with his killing blow he jogs to catch up with the others.
"Well," I say, musing over the options. "I see several immediate possibilities. One, try touching the Ise rune while wielding the ax. Two, touching the Ise rune while holding the rune in this shard of ice here. Three, place the ax back in the hands of the statue and see if completing the set opens the door. Let's start with option three, since that has the lowest risk of pelting us with an ice storm."
Harshnag nods in agreement and places the newly-found greataxe in the hands of Thrym's statue. Nothing happens. He then takes up the greataxe and approaches the mist-filled arch. Before reaching out to place his hand on the Ise rune, he looks at the five adventurers to see if anyone has a disapproving look on his face. With Thrym's axe in his left hand, the frost giant touches the rune...
...and the glowing mist within the arch suddenly transforms into churning thunderclouds lit by flashing but harmless lightning. Everyone can vaguely see another room beyond the clouds. Additionally, the sound of rolling thunder fills the temple, loudly enough to be heard throughout the entire Eye of the All-Father.
"The way to the Oracle," says Harshnag softly to himself.
Beyond the thundering archway lies a hexagonal chamber whose walls rise 50 feet before tapering to a 90-foot-high apex. Standing in each corner of the room is a life-size statue of a giant holding up a heavy, iron lantern with one raised arm. Each type of giant is represented: hill, stone, frost, fire, cloud, and storm. A cold, magical light radiates from each lantern, illuminating a giant corpse lying on the floor beneath a shroud of frost in the middle of the room. The corpse looks like it has been here for some time, preserved by the cold. Next to the body rests a giant, frost-covered morningstar.
From a distance (nearly 40'), Rixton isn't able to discern much information about the dead giant other than the fact that it's wearing a breastplate and seems to be clutching something in its right hand. The layer of frost that covers the corpse makes it very difficult to see much else.
Harshnag shakes his head. "I do not know him. He has the appearance of a cloud giant, I believe."
Harshnag seems lost in thought; he offers no response to Rixton but walks toward the center of the room. When he's within 10' of the giant's corpse, a ghost slowly rises from the dead body. The expression on the spectral face indicates it is aware of the presence of the six creatures who now stand in the room.
"Ah...you seek the Oracle as my father and I once did! Long have I lain in this place!"
"Greetings, gentle spirit. I am Rixton Pendrift. My companions and I are here at the behest of our large friend here, Harshnag." I give a slight bow. "Did your father find any success in seeking the Oracle?"
Rixton's question causes a look of anguish to pass across the ghost's face momentarily. The spirit then looks upon the frozen corpse from which it just arose. "Yes, the Oracle answered, Rixton Pendrift! I am Eigeron, or...I was at one time."
Eigeron's ghost then makes a circular motion with its arm, pointing toward the floor. "Look beneath the frost that covers this floor. Can you see it?"
By stepping into the center of the hexagonal chamber and peering carefully through the icy layer that covers the stone floor, everyone can see a Giant rune etched into the floor and inlaid with mithral.
In a clockwise circle around this rune, in Dethek script, are words that only Carrow, Vigan, and Harshnag can decipher: "Ask your question and know truth."
Vigan, Rixton, Andor, and Ladrian hope to add to the damage caused by Harshnag. Vigan stands directly beneath the remorhaz's head, slashing away with his glaive; three times his blade gashes the monstrosity that looms over him. The size of the remorhaz makes it an easy target for Rixton, Andor, and Ladrian, but each of their ranged attacks is met by the monster's scaly hide that does not yield to their ammunition. The arrow and bolts bounce off the remorhaz and fall harmlessly to the stone floor.
Everyone in the room can see that the remorhaz's wounds are severe as Carrow prepares for his next attack...
(Carrow's round 4 action remains; then the remorhaz will act)
Carrow
Not seeing any weaknesses in the beast defences he quickly launches himself into another attack. Stringing an arrow he fires again. +1 Arrow Bonus Action: Hunters Mark.
Attack: 21
Damage: 9
Slayers Prey: 1
Hunters Mark: 6
AttacAt: 22
Damage2: 6
Hunters Mark: 6
Firing two more arrows from his position atop one of the granite tables, Carrow strikes the remorhaz twice. The monster's head sways right then left before crashing violently to the ground just a few feet from Vigan. A weird, guttural noise erupts from its throat, and then the creature becomes completely lifeless.
Harshnag turns to face the rest of the group and with a bit of a grin on his blue frost giant face, he says, "Not a scratch on any of us."
He then strides across the room to fetch Thrym's axe. As he prepares to enter the main temple room with it, he asks (with an even larger grin on his face), "Shall we trigger another ice storm?"
Carrow
Remaining behind a few moments Carrow inspects the creature "Resistance to heat and cold damage, fascinating" captivated by the creature and the place it resided carrow investigates further.
Investigation: 15
Nature: 12
OOC: Can Carrow learn anything about fighting these in future, any loot from the corpse or its nest, any bodily fluids/parts can be used ?
Vigan
As the head of the monster crashes to the floor next to him, the goliath drives the blade of his glaive into the back of the creature’s head and twists it, making sure it stays down.
”Ha! Excellent shot Carrow!”, he says as Harshnag grabs the axe. “We should be lucky if we only get an ice storm!”
Carrow checks the alcove where the remorhaz was first seen but finds nothing of interest. As the ranger approaches the remorhaz's corpse, he can feel the tremendous heat that still emanates from its massive body. Touching the creature with a bare hand would likely lead to being burned. There is, however, nothing useful to be taken from the remorhaz's remains.
Rixton:
"Alright, let's see if having this ax helps us somehow."
I follow Harshnag back into the room of statues.
Carrow
"The heat it gives off is incredible, I do not know if I'd fancy my chances alone" a shiver ran up his spine at the thought of encountering it without the aid of the others.
"I do very much like these particular arrows" he chuckles, securing his gear he cast one last look at the slain beast, satisfied with his killing blow he jogs to catch up with the others.
"I touched the Ise rune while wielding the spear of Memnor; that brought about the ice storm," remarks Harshnag. "What now?"
Rixton:
"Well," I say, musing over the options. "I see several immediate possibilities. One, try touching the Ise rune while wielding the ax. Two, touching the Ise rune while holding the rune in this shard of ice here. Three, place the ax back in the hands of the statue and see if completing the set opens the door. Let's start with option three, since that has the lowest risk of pelting us with an ice storm."
Harshnag nods in agreement and places the newly-found greataxe in the hands of Thrym's statue. Nothing happens. He then takes up the greataxe and approaches the mist-filled arch. Before reaching out to place his hand on the Ise rune, he looks at the five adventurers to see if anyone has a disapproving look on his face. With Thrym's axe in his left hand, the frost giant touches the rune...
...and the glowing mist within the arch suddenly transforms into churning thunderclouds lit by flashing but harmless lightning. Everyone can vaguely see another room beyond the clouds. Additionally, the sound of rolling thunder fills the temple, loudly enough to be heard throughout the entire Eye of the All-Father.
"The way to the Oracle," says Harshnag softly to himself.
Rixton:
I cringe expecting another hail of ice to pummel us. Instead, the path reveals itself. "Okay. Onward, then."
Beyond the thundering archway lies a hexagonal chamber whose walls rise 50 feet before tapering to a 90-foot-high apex. Standing in each corner of the room is a life-size statue of a giant holding up a heavy, iron lantern with one raised arm. Each type of giant is represented: hill, stone, frost, fire, cloud, and storm. A cold, magical light radiates from each lantern, illuminating a giant corpse lying on the floor beneath a shroud of frost in the middle of the room. The corpse looks like it has been here for some time, preserved by the cold. Next to the body rests a giant, frost-covered morningstar.
Rixton:
Keeping outside the circle of statues, I look at the scene to try to determine how the giant died. Investigation: 21
"Was this anyone you knew, Harshnag?" I say, off-handedly.
From a distance (nearly 40'), Rixton isn't able to discern much information about the dead giant other than the fact that it's wearing a breastplate and seems to be clutching something in its right hand. The layer of frost that covers the corpse makes it very difficult to see much else.
Harshnag shakes his head. "I do not know him. He has the appearance of a cloud giant, I believe."
Rixton:
I nod, still lost in thought. "Is this what you expected to find, Harshnag? Is there a ritual we must complete to continue?"
Harshnag seems lost in thought; he offers no response to Rixton but walks toward the center of the room. When he's within 10' of the giant's corpse, a ghost slowly rises from the dead body. The expression on the spectral face indicates it is aware of the presence of the six creatures who now stand in the room.
"Ah...you seek the Oracle as my father and I once did! Long have I lain in this place!"
Rixton:
"Greetings, gentle spirit. I am Rixton Pendrift. My companions and I are here at the behest of our large friend here, Harshnag." I give a slight bow. "Did your father find any success in seeking the Oracle?"
Rixton's question causes a look of anguish to pass across the ghost's face momentarily. The spirit then looks upon the frozen corpse from which it just arose. "Yes, the Oracle answered, Rixton Pendrift! I am Eigeron, or...I was at one time."
Eigeron's ghost then makes a circular motion with its arm, pointing toward the floor. "Look beneath the frost that covers this floor. Can you see it?"
By stepping into the center of the hexagonal chamber and peering carefully through the icy layer that covers the stone floor, everyone can see a Giant rune etched into the floor and inlaid with mithral.
In a clockwise circle around this rune, in Dethek script, are words that only Carrow, Vigan, and Harshnag can decipher: "Ask your question and know truth."
Carrow
The Half-Orc translates the writing to the others, pondering what his own question could be.