"If indeed your death was unjust, we can certainly try to bring your betrayer to justice. Please, tell us what transpired here when you sought the oracle?"
Eigeron's ghost cries out vehemently, "Unjust, yes!"
The ghost then rises in the air, hovering well over the heads of everyone but Harshnag. "Like many giants before us, my father Blagothkus and I came to the Eye of Annam seeking wisdom. The divine oracle revealed that a great upheaval would upset the balance of power in the world, giving all giants the opportunity to win the respect of their gods and bring glory to their race. The oracle told my father outright that he could never impress the gods enough to earn their favor, then urged me to step out from beneath my father’s dark shadow."
The look of anguish on the ghost's face turns to anger. "My father Blagothkus was overcome with despair and envy. A terrible fight between father and son ensued, in which I was slain. There will be no rest for me while Blagothkus lives."
Harshnag shakes his head. "I do not know him, Rixton. The airborne castles of the cloud giants keep them aloof from the rest of us."
The frost giant steps toward Eigeron's ghost. "The vengeance you seek seems fitting, Eigeron, and I, Harshnag the Grim, might pursue it on your behalf. It must wait, however. The upheaval has come; a shadow of chaos and confusion is spreading among the giants and across the North. We labor to end this upheaval and unrest; that is why we stand here this day."
"I see,"remarks the ghost as it begins to grow dim and sink toward the floor. As it fades away, sinking into the frozen giant corpse, it utters a few more faint words."And so I shall wait, Harshnag the Grim."
"Does this Eye frequently set those who travel to it against each other, Harshnag? We should phrase our question carefully, lest we give this Eye the chance to misdirect us."
He walks over to the over-sized morningstar lying on the ground. With a grin, he says "It would be fitting if this weapon was used to kill the father. Maybe he would recognise it as it traveled towards his face?"
"Vigan, at every turn I seem to face questions I cannot answer with certainty," responds Harshnag. "I have only heard that Annam's Eye tells the truth, never that it sets one man against another. But the truth can be too strong a drink for some to swallow. Possibly Blagothkus is such a man."
"Filicide cannot go unpunished" the Half-Orc mutters under his breath angrily. Talking to him self now he continues to mutter under his breath whilst pacing "what do we need to know, where is Hekaton?, why is he not holding his giants to account for the attacks?, what is our part in all of this"
Carrow stops and steps forward "Eye of the All-Father" he shouts in Giant "Why does Hekaton forsake his duty, why does the Ordning stand broken?"
"Maybe just one of us could risk the crazy spell traps and everyone else waits in the dining room? Or I wait in the dining room, and you all risk pummelling from ice storm?" despite this Andor stays where he is and awaits any answer to Carrow's very intelligent question.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Carrow's questions echo off the walls of the hexagonal chamber and a thundering answer, spoken in the Giant tongue, rumbles through the room...
HEKATON THE KING FORSAKES HIS DUTY BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN MISLED BY MIRRAN AND NYM, HIS ELDEST DAUGHTERS.
Immediately after the answer to Carrow's first question, one of the six lanterns held aloft by the statues in the room is extinguished. The Oracle then answers the second question posited by the ranger...
THE ORDNING HAS BEEN BROKEN BY ANNAM THE ALL-FATHER, THE GREATEST OF GODS.
A second lantern is then extinguished. The room is eerily quiet.
Relieved not to be pelted once again, the ranger stands in awe at actually being answered. Turning to the group he addresses them "I fear the voice may not be a conversationalist we might only have four more questions"
FIRST, YOU MUST PROVE YOURSELVES! WHEN HUMAN BARBARIANS CAME TO THESE LANDS, THEY FOUGHT OUR KIND AND STOLE OUR RELICS, BURYING THEM IN THE GROUND. THE HUMANS BUILT ALTARS TO UTHGAR, THEIR GOD-KING, ATOP THESE RELICS AND SURROUNDED THEIR ALTARS WITH BURIAL MOUNDS. GO TO THESE MOUNDS, RETRIEVE ONE OR MORE OF OUR LOST RELICS AND BRING THEM HERE AS TRIBUTE. DO THIS, AND YOUR PATH WILL BE MADE CLEAR. MANY PATHS EXIST. DELIVER MORE RELICS AND MORE PATHS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU. SEVERAL EVIL GIANT LORDS STAND READY TO OPPOSE YOU, BUT BY DEFEATING JUST ONE OF THEM YOU CAN RUIN ALL THEIR PLANS. WHICH ONE THAT IS REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
A fourth lantern goes dark. Harshnag says quietly, "I know where these burial mounds lie."
The goliath, silent for the first four questions while ruminating on his own thoughts, now steps forward and shouts in giantish.
"Oracle, giants have been raiding settlements across north-west Faerûn. They have taken a large chunk of obsidian from one village, a large band of adamantine from a town, and attempted to abduct a dwarf known as the Weevil from another. What is the purpose of these attacks?
THESE ACTS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN WAYS TO SEEK POWER, GLORY, AND THE FAVOR OF THEIR GODS SO THAT WHEN THE ORDNING IS REMADE, THE GIANTS ARE ELEVATED TO THE TOP.
As expected, a fifth lantern goes dark. Only one light remains.
Pacing a bit and tries to recapitulate with the team what information they have and what they should ask for the final question "So, we have the what, where and why and how. Ww only have one question more, I feel we should make the most of it. Be careful not to make a question among ourselves or it might count as the final one."
The Ranger turns to face Harshnag laying a hand on his forearm "My friend, Rixton said it earlier but you may never get another chance, take this opportunity to speak with one of your gods"
Eigeron's ghost listens to Carrow as he explains the meaning of the words to the others. "Yes, you merely need to ask."
The ghost then changes topics suddenly. "Avenge my death, heroes. For the help I have given, slay the one who betrayed me here!"
Rixton:
"If indeed your death was unjust, we can certainly try to bring your betrayer to justice. Please, tell us what transpired here when you sought the oracle?"
Eigeron's ghost cries out vehemently, "Unjust, yes!"
The ghost then rises in the air, hovering well over the heads of everyone but Harshnag. "Like many giants before us, my father Blagothkus and I came to the Eye of Annam seeking wisdom. The divine oracle revealed that a great upheaval would upset the balance of power in the world, giving all giants the opportunity to win the respect of their gods and bring glory to their race. The oracle told my father outright that he could never impress the gods enough to earn their favor, then urged me to step out from beneath my father’s dark shadow."
The look of anguish on the ghost's face turns to anger. "My father Blagothkus was overcome with despair and envy. A terrible fight between father and son ensued, in which I was slain. There will be no rest for me while Blagothkus lives."
Rixton:
"Harshnag?" I say, looking to the giant for a reaction. "Do you know of Blagothkus?"
Harshnag shakes his head. "I do not know him, Rixton. The airborne castles of the cloud giants keep them aloof from the rest of us."
The frost giant steps toward Eigeron's ghost. "The vengeance you seek seems fitting, Eigeron, and I, Harshnag the Grim, might pursue it on your behalf. It must wait, however. The upheaval has come; a shadow of chaos and confusion is spreading among the giants and across the North. We labor to end this upheaval and unrest; that is why we stand here this day."
"I see," remarks the ghost as it begins to grow dim and sink toward the floor. As it fades away, sinking into the frozen giant corpse, it utters a few more faint words. "And so I shall wait, Harshnag the Grim."
Vigan
"Does this Eye frequently set those who travel to it against each other, Harshnag? We should phrase our question carefully, lest we give this Eye the chance to misdirect us."
He walks over to the over-sized morningstar lying on the ground. With a grin, he says "It would be fitting if this weapon was used to kill the father. Maybe he would recognise it as it traveled towards his face?"
"Vigan, at every turn I seem to face questions I cannot answer with certainty," responds Harshnag. "I have only heard that Annam's Eye tells the truth, never that it sets one man against another. But the truth can be too strong a drink for some to swallow. Possibly Blagothkus is such a man."
Carrow
"Filicide cannot go unpunished" the Half-Orc mutters under his breath angrily. Talking to him self now he continues to mutter under his breath whilst pacing "what do we need to know, where is Hekaton?, why is he not holding his giants to account for the attacks?, what is our part in all of this"
Carrow stops and steps forward "Eye of the All-Father" he shouts in Giant "Why does Hekaton forsake his duty, why does the Ordning stand broken?"
He tenses up awaiting another ice storm.
Andor
"Maybe just one of us could risk the crazy spell traps and everyone else waits in the dining room? Or I wait in the dining room, and you all risk pummelling from ice storm?" despite this Andor stays where he is and awaits any answer to Carrow's very intelligent question.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Carrow's questions echo off the walls of the hexagonal chamber and a thundering answer, spoken in the Giant tongue, rumbles through the room...
HEKATON THE KING FORSAKES HIS DUTY BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN MISLED BY MIRRAN AND NYM, HIS ELDEST DAUGHTERS.
Immediately after the answer to Carrow's first question, one of the six lanterns held aloft by the statues in the room is extinguished. The Oracle then answers the second question posited by the ranger...
THE ORDNING HAS BEEN BROKEN BY ANNAM THE ALL-FATHER, THE GREATEST OF GODS.
A second lantern is then extinguished. The room is eerily quiet.
Carrow
Relieved not to be pelted once again, the ranger stands in awe at actually being answered. Turning to the group he addresses them "I fear the voice may not be a conversationalist we might only have four more questions"
Andor
"What is he saying? Don't waste the questions." Andor says stating the obvious somewhat.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Rixton:
I turn to Harshnag and whisper to him, "If you have a question, ask it now. You shan't have an opportunity like this again."
Harshnag nods. "A fine tale this will make," he remarks softly.
He then calls aloud, "We wish to stop the destruction and violence caused by the giants. Oracle, how can this be done?"
For a third time, the chamber reverberates with the sound of the Oracle's thundering voice...
FIND A MAGIC CONCH OF THE STORM GIANT KING; WITH IT, VISIT HEKATON'S COURT AND ROOT OUT THE EVIL THEREIN.
Another lantern is extinguished. Only three remain.
Rixton:
I step forward and ask the obvious next question. "Oracle, where can we most easily obtain a magic conch of the storm king giant?"
FIRST, YOU MUST PROVE YOURSELVES! WHEN HUMAN BARBARIANS CAME TO THESE LANDS, THEY FOUGHT OUR KIND AND STOLE OUR RELICS, BURYING THEM IN THE GROUND. THE HUMANS BUILT ALTARS TO UTHGAR, THEIR GOD-KING, ATOP THESE RELICS AND SURROUNDED THEIR ALTARS WITH BURIAL MOUNDS. GO TO THESE MOUNDS, RETRIEVE ONE OR MORE OF OUR LOST RELICS AND BRING THEM HERE AS TRIBUTE. DO THIS, AND YOUR PATH WILL BE MADE CLEAR. MANY PATHS EXIST. DELIVER MORE RELICS AND MORE PATHS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU. SEVERAL EVIL GIANT LORDS STAND READY TO OPPOSE YOU, BUT BY DEFEATING JUST ONE OF THEM YOU CAN RUIN ALL THEIR PLANS. WHICH ONE THAT IS REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
A fourth lantern goes dark. Harshnag says quietly, "I know where these burial mounds lie."
Vigan
The goliath, silent for the first four questions while ruminating on his own thoughts, now steps forward and shouts in giantish.
"Oracle, giants have been raiding settlements across north-west Faerûn. They have taken a large chunk of obsidian from one village, a large band of adamantine from a town, and attempted to abduct a dwarf known as the Weevil from another. What is the purpose of these attacks?
THESE ACTS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN WAYS TO SEEK POWER, GLORY, AND THE FAVOR OF THEIR GODS SO THAT WHEN THE ORDNING IS REMADE, THE GIANTS ARE ELEVATED TO THE TOP.
As expected, a fifth lantern goes dark. Only one light remains.
Ladrian
Pacing a bit and tries to recapitulate with the team what information they have and what they should ask for the final question "So, we have the what, where and why and how. Ww only have one question more, I feel we should make the most of it. Be careful not to make a question among ourselves or it might count as the final one."
Carrow
The Ranger turns to face Harshnag laying a hand on his forearm "My friend, Rixton said it earlier but you may never get another chance, take this opportunity to speak with one of your gods"