So it begins…

The heroes having just met with Lord Neverember Dagault raced to the docks to help stop an attack of Frost Giants attacking from a massive ship in the harbor. Seemingly doing a raid on the city, the Frost Giants disembarked and waded to the shore destroying docked smaller vessels and throwing huge boulders at the fortifications of Neverwinter's walls. Rock Band wasted no time running along the cobblestone streets, and getting set up for the onslaught. Blein took point racing in front of everyone else "Wait here! I am going to hinder their movement!"

Saying a few arcane words, Blein speaking words of magic placed a crackling thorns field in front of the approaching colossal onslaught. But in doing so, he thwarted a third of Rock Band from engaging directly.'

In the end, it didn't matter. The Frost Giants stormed the docks, nearly killing Joxur and Hemlock, the latter who dodged a blow and ran up on top of the giant destroying him from above!

Raythius positioned himself near two fallen giants unleashed a huge line of lightning that bore through both standing giants burning through their flesh and burning their padded armor! Finally, Blein fired terrible flaming arrows than landed true felling the huge creatures to the edge of the sea. The rest of the party unleashing arrows and axes and sword against their flesh while the Neverwinter army fired volley after volley of arrows against both the landing party and their huge ship, setting it ablaze!

After searching their remains for gold and gems, on board the Berg ship, Rock Band discovered a broken Mithril spear tip – still having a faint glow of magic and with strange runes drawn on it. Perhaps a clue of where to look for answers next.

Previously on STK:

'Rock Band' having found refuge in a gnomish / dwarven village near the icy Sword Coast, discovered that strange happenings were occurring all around them. Having been drinking himself into a bit of a stupor, Juxor decided to take a walk in the cold crisp air that surrounds the mining village. His walk was interrupted by a strange visual cue that appeared around the corner of a few buildings.

Walking closer, he clutched his axe to his chest as he looked to examine the strange rip in the air.  The rip was pulling in air and small debris through itself. And it looked like he could see cobblestone streets through the strange portal as well. After crying out to the others that he was going through, he tried to stick his head through the tear in space, but the surprisingly strong pull of the fissure caught him off guard as he was immediately sucked through – landing hard on a dusty bricked road near the Dock Ward of the City of Neverwinter. 

Neverwinter itself has been through cataclysm and change as recently as sixty years ago and has been slowly rebuilding since the chasm that once separated itself has been resealed by magic. But getting ahead of ourselves. A few members of Rock Band made their way to the portal – but others haven't leaving the party separated by hundreds of miles.  With the Giant threat still on-going, and other calamities afoot, hard choices will need to be made soon to ensure the safety of the Realms!

Inside an incense filled general store in the marketplace, Joxur, Blein, Draco, Alustria and Raythias were busy doing what all noble adventurers do after such success…shopping. Though their funds didn't stretch as far as they would hope, a few of the North's rare items were tucked away here for sale – almost for decoration more so than actual use. But that didn't stop Joxur and Draco from wheeling and dealing their way for greatswords and staves of magic. The proprietor, Rendaril, is a grizzled half-elf who slurs his speech and sometimes speaks in stutters did his best to make a profit here, in some cases giving away the store, he sells some needed provisions to the newcomers happily.

But their funds are not without limit. They had just arrived in Bryn Shander with little more than a mandate from an aloof Cloud Giant and unsure if their authority under the Lord's Alliance would go much further. But helping their new found friends from the battle seemed like a good place to start.

The deputy sheriff Augrek Brighthelm, a young dwarven woman has asked the new giant slayers if they would speak to her kin on her behalf to try and acquire reinforcements to come to Bryn Shander and bolster the defenses.

Another more pressing request came from Joxur's new friend Sirac. An acolyte of Torm, he came to Icewind Dale to become a fisherman and ended up finding religion. When the attack happened, and the lead female Frost Giant demanded if the citizens knew where Artus Cimber was, he knew he had to inform someone that he was Artus' forgotten son. Revealing to Joxur that he is the reason the giants attacked, he knows they are after the Ring of Winter an artifact of old that is rumored to be with his father. He doesn't believe Artus even has the ring but obviously this faction of Frost Giants do.

He relays that Artus has connections in Waterdeep with a noble family known as the Roaringhorns. He says he will accompany the company as far south as Luskan and then take a ship south to Waterdeep hoping the Frost Giants won't follow him on the open seas. As Waterdeep is several leagues south of Icewind Dale, everyone has agreed to do this request last.

Unbeknownst to the party, Duvessa, who later appeared and ended up purchasing their items and provisions is waiting to see if the adventurers will succeed at Ironmaster before approaching them with a task she needs done in Waterdeep as well.

Finally, Draco's drinking buddy from the Kelvin's Comfort Inn, Sir Baric Nylef, is determined to find a criminal dwarf that goes by the name Weevil. At this point, however, he fears that the trail has gone cold. He plans to remain in Bryn Shander a couple more days before searching elsewhere and he didn't want to waste Draco or his compatriot's time in what could be a futile hunt for the dwarf. Instead, he has asked that the Order of the Gauntlet be informed of his whereabouts and intentions. To that end – he has asked that Draco to seek out another member of the order and report on Baric's status by seeking out Sir Lanniver Strayl, a devout follower of Tyr who lives in Neverwinter.  As Neverwinter is just south of Luskan and on the way to Waterdeep, Sir Baric knows this shouldn't cause a delay for his new friend and allies.

Leaving through the now decimated southern gate, the giant slayers of Icewind Dale have set off for Ironmaster to speak with the Brighthelm clan and ask for reinforcements. After a brief skirmish with a Fire Giant and some ogres, the company has set up camp for the night near a frozen lake, ever watchful for those that wish them harm!

Not long after dispatching the orcs and rescuing the townfolk of Nightstone, the company was surprised by screams coming from the public square of the ransacked town they just liberated.  A floating tower of immense size was approaching from the north.  Settling above the Inn, nearly a thousand feet up, firm cloud like steps formed reaching the ground as if to extend an invitation to come.

Never one to back down from such invites, Blein, Draco, Rathias and the other proceeded carefully up the cloud steps, trying hard not to look down.

Once on "solid" ground, they walked through the main open air entrance of this vast tower to find a cloud giant smiling benevolently at them.

"Hail and well met my young travelers!" he boomed.  "I am Zephyros and I have come to ask you for aid.  I have come in peace and wish no ill will or harm on you or those below! Please, lower your weapons and hear me out."

Cautiously, the heroes of Nightstone did as he asked and he began to spin a fantastic tale of how Giant-kind has been thrown into physical and divine chaos. Something called the Ordening has been shattered – with rumors being said that the current Storm Giant King has gone missing and that their god has revoked the favoritism of the Storm Giants throwing all the other species underneath them into a political and civil mess.

As such, some of taken to flight – others have begun raiding the lands of the small folk, hoping to curry favor.  Zephyros tells you all that if something isn't done. The Sword Coast and beyond will never be safe.

Thinking it over the party accepted and as a reward, Zephyros flew his tower toward Bryn Shander – their destination far far away towards Icewind Dale. 

During the journey they encountered an evil elemental cult that wanted Zephyros' help in freeing their master.  He politely declined once he discerned their intentions and that he was opposed to them.  Next the Lord's Alliance dispatched a small battalion of dwarves via a silver dragon to destroy cloud giant castle navigational orbs and send them crashing to the ground! 

But the heroes were very persuasive in letting the LA know that THIS particular giant was no threat and to not destroy him.  

Some days later, they arrived in the cold north of Bryn Shander…. snow covered the walled city battlements and crisp northern air began to chill your bones.  Reaching the Southern Gate – you met a deputy sheriff of the city, a dwarf woman, who polite enough but stern to make sure you knew common sense laws and courtesy is expected to be followed here.

Taking her advice about the Inn and Tavern in the city, you all headed there to get out of the cold and assess the situation.  Your drinks and food were cut short, however, when news of frost giants attacking the city walls reaches your ears!

Springing into action, you once again head toward the southern gate of the city, were 10 frost giants have descended from the Spine of the World to destroy this city of small folk! 

After searching for survivors in Nightstone and defeating a small orc army, the deputized Lords Alliance party buried their new friend Garuuk and set off to find the hiding remaining villagers in the Dripping Caves.  Searching through knee high saw grass and muck they arrived at the base of a large hill, with several tunnels leading into it. Draco decided to take a look above to see what else he could find and happened upon a covered 5 foot hole in the ground that descended 50 feet to the cavern depths below.

After some creative rope climbing antics, the group managed to get down the narrow shaft and immediately slaughter the goblin boss Hark and his lieutenants, saving the lady in waiting to Lady Velrosa of Nightstone and stopping a horrible alliance between the goblins and nearby ogres.  

Getting her off to safety, the party then marched onward through the cavern and defeated the remaining goblins and ogres after a pitched battle that nearly had done everyone in! Confident they had destroyed everyone, they ventured onward exploring a tunnel that led to a large pit filled with sleeping bats.  Above on ledges, the thirty or so remaining villagers that had not yet been killed or eaten! 

Relieved that most were still alive, Draco, Alustria and the others rescued and escorted them back to Nightstone where they took a good night's rest before deciding where to go next in investigating the original attack on the village.

Character Creation

 

During the first session, the DM will review character selections, back stories, and goals so that each of you will have some major part in the adventure that will advance you toward your goal.  This campaign will take you to level 10 – however, I have two other adventures that will tie-in to take you potentially to level 20 after Storm King's Thunder completes. Make certain of your decisions and goals!