The Grove

Stellara, through Trella's telepathy, just told us every member of this crew is carrying Drow poison. I think I'm going to skip dessert. Tyaa did too.

No one has passed out. Sounds like the Captain is going to give us the gem.

Later . . .

We left the Hellraiser without raising any hell . . . haha . . . . the Captain just gave us the gem and we left.

Back at the Coldwater's estate, Inirva thanked us and gave us Duvessa'a inheritance. A large chest.

When we got back to the Inn, Skylar identified the magic items for us.

Items in Inheritance Chest: Potion of Clairvoyance, Scroll- Level 5 Fireball, Eyes of Minute Seeing, Circlet of Blasting, Headband of Intellect

With the rescue of Inirva out of the way, we then turned our attention to Black Root and the Grove.

Small aside: this is when Siroc gave us his thanks for protecting him on his trip to Luskin. He said he would now head south, away from Frost Giants. He gave us back the Amulet he borrowed and went on his way. Good luck!!

Skylar again used her identifying magic and determined a few things about the blue gem. It is part of a larger enchantment or ritual that is connected to the land. It protects the land from giants and also helps to make Arrows of Giant Slaying.

The next day we headed for the Grove with every intention to free Aerglas. When we arrived we were surprised to find Shakar there. Black Root had apparently arranged a duel between him and Winter, much to Winter's surprise.

Of course, she did not back down. The two fought inside a sacred circle. During the fight, we could see Shakar's hand begin to turn skeletal and grow tendrils reminiscent of Slar Krethal. Hideous.

The fight did give us a distraction though; everyone in the Grove watched, oblivious to what we were doing. Benu sidled over to the Aerglas statue, and in a moment when Winter collapsed to the ground, Benu restored Aerglas.

That is when things got hairy (haha - werewolves). Stellara woke up Winter, then we fought. And fought.

Victorious! Again! Black Root died along with a few of her werewolves.

After we told Aerglas who we were, and that Lifferlas has been looking for her, it became apparent she only thought a few months had passed. We broke the news gently; thirty years had gone by.

This had once been her Grove. She told us that a few months . . . .no, thirty years ago, Elacrimalicros came here to her Grove. They fought, she was petrified. He had said there was a power here he wanted, but she never found out what that power was.

We rested there that evening. We filled her in on the situations in the world. The remaining werewolves, led by Crinos, pledged themselves to Aerglas.

Items: Aerglas gave us 10 arrows of Giant Slaying and a small bag of 8 berries with silver flecks (8 Potions of Invisibility)

Also: I believe my Wand of Conquest absorbed a spell when Black Root died. Entangle

We didn't waste time. We travelled to Mirabar to drop off the Weevil and collect the bounty: 5000 gold. Also, the Weevil confessed he sold the item he stole from the Fire Giants to The Dwarves at Ironmaster.

Back at Brynshander, Aubric met us at the gates. She told us Harsh Nag is here!! She brought us to a home (barn) he was staying in. Finally, we met Harsh Nag! He has a long white beard, steel plate armour with a dragon skull from a white dragon as a helm. He uses a single axe for a weapon.

We fill him in with our information, he fills us in with his:

Now that the Stone Giant King is gone, this is the time all the other giants can come back into his good graces - this we knew. What we didn't know is that there is a place, a temple, high in the Spine of the World that is sacred to giants. It has been there since Astoria, 10,000 years. An oracle, The Eye of the All Father, might have an answer for us. He said for those who travel there, their path may be shown to them.

He also told us his story, how he saw the courage of the "little folk" and decided to join and help them. He talked fondly of the Yawning Portal in Waterdeep. And mentioned that the other Frost Giants hate him. He has killed many of them.

Then he showed us a map of where we need to go - the Valley of Kadrun.

We travelled from Brynshander. We have stabled our horses in Mirabar (they can't go where we are going) and are now on the road, on foot, to the Valley of Kudrun.

It's cold up here in the North and I think it is going to get colder.