So now, the party had the axe Gore in their possession,
but could not stay in the stronghold, and would be forced to cover a distance
of a mile before getting to the safety of the mountain caves. Even running full speed, the chances they
could make shelter before being attacked by dragons or worse was nil. After discussing the issue, the party decided
the main goal should be to keep the deadly axe out of the hands of the frost
giants. To this end, Arcus was told to use his teleport scroll given to him by
Basia and bring the axe to the safety of the Citadel, where the dwarves would
be able to guard the artifact deep in the earth. The rest of the group would trick whoever
followed them into attacking, but the axe would not be found even if they were
killed in the battle that would follow!
After much deliberations, it was
decided that the priest Phyloe would accompany Arcus and the Axe, and the rest
of the party would appear to be fleeing across the frozen wastes. There were no illusions this might be their
last battle, especially once the forms of two white dragons were seen flying
far up in the sky!
Goodbyes were said, and luck was
wished upon the party and the reluctantly fleeing Arcus and Phyloe. The spell was cast and both (plus the axe
Gore) disappeared, leaving the rest of the grim party to their fate. Healign up and loading the wagon, they got
ready to make the dash from the stronghold to the caves. To maximize their
chances of survival, the party split into several groups, with the druid
turning into an animal, the bard turning invisible along with Ephros, and the
two rangers, half orc and priest riding the wagon with a large wrapped bundle
(hopefully confusing whoever would attack them).
As they rushed across the tundra, two white dragons
dove to the attack…one was ridden by a frost giant, while the other by the half
giant priestess Enoki! As they swooped
to the attack, everyone dove off the wagon except for the Waqsted who dowsed
himself with oil and lit himself on fire to attract the attention of at least
one of the dragons! The rangers Argois
and Vaerlon rolled past the wagon (as did Chitlin and Chester) and the dragon
carrying Enoki swooped low enough to breathe on the half orc, instantly
freezing him in a giant pile of ice, destroying the wagon and draft animals as
well as sending the half orc unconious. As the other white dragon ridden by the
frost giant swooped low, Galgadayle cast a spell that caused a forest of trees
to instantly spring up in front of him! Hitting the trees at an insane speed,
the dragon dug up nearly 100 yards of soil as it crashed and tumbeld, tearing a
wing and grounding it with injuries…the giant who rode the dragon was not as
lucky, he bounced across the tundra at a frightful speed, snapping his neck and
killing him instantly!
Magical arrows from the rangers feathered the other
dragon, as Enoki jumped off to rush to the destroyed wagon to try to retrieve
the false axe. Suddenly, the Korgaard
appeared before her and began attacking with his sword, protected by both
Stoneskin and Mirror Image, as the ranger Argois and Galadayle joined in on the
attack. However, the giantess had also
apparently cast Stoneskin and other spells as the attacks bounced off her, and
she was able to hit Argois with a Frost Strike and then cast a spell that
caused a long, magical frozen whip to appear in her hand, which whipped out at
the party. Meanwhile, the dragon injured
by the trees was cut down by Ephros and Angles, while the other dragon was
battled one on one by Vaerlon, who endured a frozen blast before hacking the
dragon to pieces with his sword.
Suddenly, what looked like a certain death had turned
around! Enoki was hurting them but now
they outnumbered her and her allies were dead.
Korgaard, Argois and Galgadayle circled her looking for an opening and
trying to avoid her huge ice axe. Then,
Korgaard’s magical sword of sharpness found an opening,and chopped off Enoki’s
right arm at the elbow, causing her to scream in pain and drop her axe (as the
hand that had been cut off held the weapon). Bleeding from the wound, she began
to weaken and looked desperate. Grasping the medallion around her neck and
speaking a word, the circular gate the party had seen before formed behind the
giantess and she stepped or fell back through, and then the circle closed. The party had triumphed and forced Enoki to
retreat! Gathering themselves, along
with Enoki’s arm and the axe (and the frozen body of Waqsted), they trudged to
the dwarven cave and were greeted by what seemed to be a division of heavily
armored dwarves with orders to bring them to their captain. The dwarves could scarely believe the carnage
the party had left behind, and looked at them either fearfully or worshipfully,
as they stared at the still warm bodies of the dead white dragons and frost giant
on the plains outside the cave. Ephros insulted the dwarves while referring to
the sacrifice Gan had made battling the Rhemoraz, implying they had been
cowards not only for not entering the stronghold but for allowing them to
battle the white dragons and their riders alone. Predictably, the dwarven
warriors were not amused.
The dwarves, however, were civilized enough to bind
the wounds of the party before taking them before their leader. While interested in their story, he wanted
no part of them, refused to heal the half orc warrior Waqsted who barely clung
to life and was suspicious of the flaming skull Chester….he wanted them on
their way, despite their claims to have seized the axe Gore, destroyed the
frostmourn of Jarl Turakhan, and whatever other insanity they spewed. Giving
them food and drink in the form of rations and wine, the party was dismissed
and pointed on their way….a long tunnel through the mountains that, after many
miles, would end up at The Citadel and their friend Arcus. Grumbling at the frankly crappy treatment
they had received, the now depleted but proud party began the long journey down
the tunnels to The Citadel.
