Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 12
Time: 8:25
Weather: 45 degrees, Cloudy
Location: Fist of the First Men (Tent of Lord Commander)
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The heroes make some long-overdue introductions, and begin to discuss the news from afar and get their heads around their next move.
As Arqos and Flambeau discuss the news received, Arqos's pendant glows warmly at the mention of taking the Rift. It is clear that the Lord's work will proceed in steps...and the next one is going to entail bringing the Light to the Cold. Their men were safe and competently proceeding in strengthening their base for the heroes' eventual (re) turn to Skane...
Computer +1 wrote:Lord Commander why are we even venturing out to this Rift? With Lord Stark's reinforcements why are we not using the advantage of the Wall itself and repelling any attempts on it? We destroyed the Stedding and eliminated the giant's supply route, why risk going out further when we can allow them to come to where we are stronger?
The Lord Commander laughs grimly and shakes his head.
My son, I understand that a certain amount of caution is necessary for a profession so painstaking and scholarly as your own. But that caution needs to be buffered by a sense of the reality at hand. Do you not think we would be standing upon the Wall right now were that our most effective strategy?
Giants have already crossed the Gorge and attacked the Shadow Tower many times, and even ventured south. The Wall is no longer secure.
Destroying the Steading was a crucial first step, yes. But forces of stronger giants have begun to assemble - and what we have learned is that this Rift is a key command point. It is time for us to go from defense to attack. Now is the time that we crush this Giant uprising. Your taking the Rift, and learning what you can from your invasion of it is our next step.
And worry not about the journey - do you not remember that chain you recovered? Our Maester and those of the Starks have tested this thing, and your theories are correct - it will teleport up to nine men to the foot of the massive glacier in which the Rift rests.
Zhym wrote:Gaerys salutes the Lord Commander, then asks his questions.
"What do we know about the rift and its occupants?" he asks. As the Lord Commander answers questions, Gaerys will offer more, one at a time:
"Did the scouts send back anything of the rift's layout?"
"Do you know how many occupy it?"
"Are the giants active during the day or night?"
"Is there anywhere nearby we can set camp unobserved?"
"How treacherous is the terrain?"
"Have any creatures been sighted about the rift other than giants, ogres, and Jotunn?"
"How much time do we have before Lord Stark's force arrives at the rift?"
The Lord Commander sighs with a slight smile. Gaerys's rapid fire questions are a little grating and demanding in the same way as the constant cry of a hungry baby crow. Nonetheless, the Commander knows that deliberateness is one of the qualities that make Gaerys so effective. He puts his arm around the ranger and presses a piece of paper into his hand.
Brother, all good questions. Our scouts did what they could - heavy blizzards blanket that part of the Frostfangs, which limited their visibility and ability to convey full information.
We know very little of the Rift's inhabitants, other than a large force of frost giants (perhaps 30) and ogres are resident in the Rift and are being joined by more frost giants, Jotuns - the larger giants who inhabit the far-flung peaks of the Frostfangs, such as Children of the Sky, and hill giants. They are active both day and night. I am sure that there are others of giantkind within, and undoubtedly slaves and pets. Whether there are more exotic and dangerous creatures therein, I do not know. The scouts report constant comings and goings from all directions, which lead us to understand the Rift is a critical juncture.
The Glacier is, of course, made of ice and very treacherous.
We have the sketch of its layout, which is what I just handed you.
Note that the entrance, at the Eastern end splits to paths on the north and south edges respectively, and there are cliffs overhanging the Rift floor. These cliffs hold the entrances to a series of caves in which giants were spotted coming and going.
And finally, yes, the scouts discovered a small but well-hidden cave approximately 1 mile from the Rift. You will be able to locate it easily when you arrive.
As I said, the scouts have disappeared, so I suspect that they've paid for this information with their lives. Use it well.
And Lord Stark is not going to the Rift. He means to strike north with a large force, which he will split at the source of the Milkwater. He will personally make his way to Thenn to negotiate an alliance with the Magnar of Thenn. He will free Thenn, then strike southward. He will send a side force, lead by Lord Cray and made up primarily of Crannogmen, into the marshes at the heart of the Haunted Forest to face a force of Marsh Giants and conduct an investigation similar to your own.
So, further questions from anyone? If not, I will leave you to prepare and recommend that you do any preparation that you wish today and depart by teleportation chain tomorrow.[/dialog]
http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Crannogmen
SORRY GW - you did arrive with the Starks, so it did not make sense for you to get a note...I am certainly going to work you into the RP, but you've gotta understand that the rest of the characters have a year++ history in this game.
