Adventure 4 - Against the Giants

The party headed toward the Black Hills Mines, with Neelan scouting ahead for signs of trouble.

About 20 minutes from their destination, a dense cluster of bushes exploded and a 10-foot-tall giant bounded out, clearing lying in wait to ambush passers-by. The creature wore rudimentary armour made from skins and hides, a large ill-kept iron helmet, and wielded a massive greatclub. Abel was knocked unconscious with a single blow as he attempted to attack the creature, nearly dying in the first seconds of the battle. With a few well-placed blows, however, Hamish and Keigan were able to kill the beast.

This giant was the first sign of intelligent, monsterous life on the Frontier. Keigan severed its head for a trophy, and hung it from a tree in a sack to keep scavengers away while the party investigated the mines.

When they arrived at the clearing before the mine entrance, things were obviously amiss. Large trees had been uprooted and thrown down around the entrance to the mine, providing a barrier and cover to creatures within. Glimpses of movement within the stockade suggested the presence of another giant, apparently busy with some unseen task.

Neelan and Abel used the forest for cover, and scouted around the sides of the mine and up the hill beyond. Intending to take position above the cave entrance and possibly launch an attack down upon the unsuspecting foe, their plans were interrupted by the presence of a second giant on the hill slope. It too was busily working, collecting rocks and boulders of all sizes and placing them on the slope above the cave entrance. At first glance, it appeared as if the second giant was collecting ammunition to hurl at the party. The group wondered if the giants had been alerted of the party's arrival somehow.

John Henry followed Neelan up the northern side of the hill, and the two hastily made plans to attack the nearby giant. Unfortunately, John Henry's armour alerted the giant of their presence and the battle was joined without complete preparation.

Neelan and John Henry attacked the giant topside in melee combat, while Abel used his skills to wound the club-arm of the giant in the stockade, hampering his ability to fight. Hamish and Keigan charged forward from their position at the far end of the clearing, Hamish in a battle-rage and Keigan brandishing a canteen of whiskey. With a quick spray and liberal use of a torch, Keigan set fire to the leafy barricade as Hamish burst through, ready to combat the giant single-handedly.

Neelan and John Henry made short work of the giant on the hillside, and rushed down to help dispatch the second one. With the combined efforts of the party, both beasts lay slain within a minute of battle.

Venturing inside, the party found several of the support beams crushed by powerful blows near the entrance to the mine. Further on, a group of 18 miners had barricaded themselves against further attack (about 150' within the mine). Quentin, a miner in good health and apparent spokesman for the group, related that the mine was attacked by "a dozen! two dozen!" giants shortly after the ore wagons had left for town, and that the miners ran off, were killed, or retreated into the mine for safety. The giants, he said, never ventured into the mine proper, but were busy doing something near the mine entrance.

The party guarded the miners in their immediate return to Creek City, and brought them to the church for medical attention. Father Samuel was still deathly ill, of course, but Father Lucas from Blanchard and Samuel's clerical staff tended to the wounded. John Henry alerted the watch to the party's successful return, and Watch Captain Ducal arrived shortly thereafter to discuss the situation at the mine and the party's further plans.

The group returned the next day to find nothing changed at the mine: no corpses were disturbed, the barricades were left in place, and there was no evidence that anyone visited the site during the evening. Neelan scouted the hilltop above, finding no trace of an encampment or further giant presence, although he began to wonder if the giant's actions were intended to collapse the mine rather than defend themselves against the party. The group speculated that the giants were either "ordered" to attack the mine by some unknown quantity, or that they were enraged, possibly by the miners encroaching upon their terrority. The group contemplated performing a sweep of the surrounding countryside for other mines or caves over the coming weeks.

The miners were encouraged to return to the mines and repair the damaged support beams. Before they could resume production, however, the group insisted that they were given a chance to explore the mines and verify that no giants or other dangers lurked within. Armed with a map, the group quickly visited each ore deposit and pronounced the mines safe and clear, but not before John Henry collected a sample of the new, cobalt-blue iron-like ore that had been discovered.

Back in town that evening, Watch Captain Ducal informed the party that he'd post watchmen at the mine to keep an eye open for future dangers and alert both the miners and the town if any more giants were spotted. He told the group that Burgomaster Graves wanted to thank them personally, and also mentioned that he'd like them to speak with Patrick Harris (cousin of the rancher Jon Harris) at the watchhouse after their meeting.

The party commented surreptitiously that PATRICK BEGINS WITH P.

The burgomaster was once again impressed that the party could handle itself against such mortal danger, and offered to reward them with his (and the town's) gratitude. He provided them with a very rare vintage cask of wine from a famous winery in the old country, as well as the use of the old Estin estate, recently vacated by settlers headed away from the frontier. The party thanked the burgomaster, and headed to the watchhouse.

They met with Patrick Harris who impored them to investigate the incident of the destroyed stagecoach. While the story of a band of vicious and murderous criminals was being gossiped, Patrick was suspicious of that claim. The coach was destroyed completely by fire, and one of the passengers on board was Osmund Harris, a young man from Pottersfield, travelling to Lugton to marry Gina Laster ("beautiful girl - bit of a squint, but a beautiful girl nonetheless"). As far as Patrick was concerned, the fact that this coach was destroyed carrying his kinsman who was bound to be wed... it was heartbreaking and he couldn't believe it was merely bad luck or timing.

The party asked about payment, and Patrick promised to find something to pay with. The group then promised Patrick an answer by morning, and Patrick rode off to his cousin's farm for lodging for the night with the intention of returning to Lugton on the morrow. The party was left to discuss their options...

Experience Awards

Defeating the Giant Sentry: 900XP / 5 = 180XP each
Defeating the Giants at the Mine: 1800XP / 5 = 360XP each
(Apparently) Securing the Mine and Surroundings for the Burgomaster: 1000XP / 5 = 200XP each

RPing and Personal Goal awards:
Abel (2), for use of Hindering Cut and, Sense Motive like the suspicious bastard you should be (+300XP)
Hamish (2), for the persistent RPing accent and mystery-pursing inquiries (+300XP)
John Henry (2), for consistently doing the IC thing of informing the sherriff, and collecting the ore (+200XP)
Keigan (2), for the persistent and consistent RPing of a distinctive character, including the trophy (+200XP)
Neelan (2), for excellent, consistent skill use and RPing a distinctive character (+200XP)

Player Chits: Neelan (2; +200XP), Hamish (1; +150XP), Keigan (1; +100XP), John Henry (1; +100XP)

TOTALS:
Abel: 3300 + 740 + 300 = 4340 XP
Hamish: 3400 + 740 + 300 + 150 = 4930 XP
John Henry: 3100 + 740 + 200 + 100 = 4140 XP (level up)
Keigan: 3100 + 740 + 200 + 100 = 4140 XP (level up)
Neelan: 3100 + 740 + 200 + 200 = 4240 XP (level up)