INTO THE RIFT!!! (G2 - Part 1)

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 13
Time: 9:00
Weather: 12 degrees, moderate wind, visibility 150'
Location: Overlooking the GLACIAL RIFT OF THE FROST GIANT JARL

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The party made good use of the magical chain and map recovered from the HILL GIANT CHIEF, as well as the information provided by the lost scouting party by way of the Lord Commander. They had transported themselves to the general vicinity of the RIFT, quickly located a small but well-hidden shelter cave (which held several weeks of provisions and a couple of suits of cold-weather gear), and begun the several mile hike up the side of the mountain and eventually upon an enormous icy glacier. The party made good use of their winter and mountaineering gear, efficiently making their way towards their objective.

The bitter cold wind is bracing - even with the various magical protections the party possesses. Such protections are life-saving, but (apart from perhaps the Ring of Warmth) do not guarantee comfort. Snow swirls around the faces of the party - limiting visibility somewhat.

And so it was that heroes stood before the gaping maw of the GLACIAL RIFT.

These photos are for general inspiration/visualization, and NOT intended to serve as a map, etc.

http://livasperiklis.com/2012/07/29/sci ... -american/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fringefoc ... otostream/
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/glac ... quist.html

The very glacier itself cracked before them, revealing a deep canyon below (the bottom cannot be seen), perhaps 150' or so feet wide, and much longer than 150' feet -- the other end cannot be seen due to the swirling snow. However, from what the party can tell (they can see to about the half-way point of the Rift), the sketch provided by the Lord Commander is accurate.

G2 Rear cover.jpg (70.97 KiB) Viewed 1414 times

The party is at the SE tip

There are two icy ledges along either face of the Rift. Both slope slightly downward, with occasional high steps which combine to make the paths progress from 250' above the bottom of the Rift at their beginnings to about 150' above at their far ends to the south. The dark outline is the Rift, and the openings along it are the entrances to the caves and tunnels in its face. The party may continue to travel on the surface of the glacier (over the ledges and caves) to circumvent the whole Rift or somehow gain the ledges below—from 50' to about 150' below depending on position. As the rim and the ledges are covered by ice and snow, and slope slightly, further progress around the Rift is treacherous at best, though still perhaps tempting.

The map the party has shows only the entrance to the Rift (and the sketch gives only a sense of its general terrain), but you have no idea as to which path you should follow or what you will encounter (other than the certainty of frost giants). Other than a few traces of giant footprints, the ice and wind-driven snow hide all traces of who or what use the ledges to gain access to the caves. The party must learn for themselves what lies in store. And within the stronghold of the Jarl, surely there are many perils to be faced. The evil root is deeply grown here, far worse than among the hill giants. WINTER had long ago taken this land, and her servants sought only to bring its oppression upon the lands of Men.

The party is left to make their first move...

[GreyWolfVT]

Rommel "Hmm well this is certainly within the enemies lair. This terrain is not something I am overly experienced in I'd defer to you more experienced if we have anyone amongst us to call them selves that. My best idea is scout out for the best approached paths to go deeper into the rift."

[saalaria]

Hollis surveys the landscape before him.
"I would say, based on what we have seen already, it makes no matter which way we go. SSomething far baser and more evil is the power behind the giants and has bent them to its will. The Gods will protect us in this endeavour!"

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin really misses the warmth of Valeryia right now. Although the ring is keeping him relatively comfortable there is something about the cold frozen landscape which puts a chill deep into his heart. Staring at the Rift does not make him feel any better. I am without any knowledge or experience of a frozen wasteland such as this. Gaerys, which path would you recommend us take?

[Zhym]

Arqos shudders despite the relative warmth provided by his boots. "We have traveled to Hell itself," he says. "The Lord of Light's warmth is sorely need in this place."

[OGRE MAGE]

Flambeau the Chosen

I too will defer logistics to the men of the North. I must say, I feel like a fish out of water in these frozen lands but, the sooner we lay waste to this evil encampment, the sooner we get home and warmed.

[GreyWolfVT]

Rommel "To hell we are indeed. It would appear that hell truly has frozen over."

[Zhym]

"Hell has always been cold," answers Arqos. "Hell is the total absence of the Lord, thus it follows that it cannot have any of his warmth. Hell is the domain of the Other."

The holy warrior makes the sign of the flame.

[GreyWolfVT]

Rommel looks intrigued "You know I have never looked at it that way before. Hmm very interesting I shall remember that. It fits better from the stories I know hell is full of flame in the bowels of the earth run by demons." pausing for a moment then finishing with "I do think I like your variation better." the knight then gives a friendly smile.

[Magnus]

so...left (SW) or right (NE)?

[GreyWolfVT]

some once said

"always go left"

[Zhym]

Gaerys examines the snow for any information he might gain from tracks. If the tell him nothing, he shrugs.

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 13
Time: 9:10
Weather: 12 degrees, moderate wind, visibility 150'
Location: Overlooking the GLACIAL RIFT OF THE FROST GIANT JARL

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The party stands at the entrance to the Rift. As the snow drifts to and fro and the way forward becomes more visible, it becomes clear to the party that they have a choice between a left and right hand path, which each lead to a ledge overhanging the Rift. Those ledges lead to cave openings in the walls of the Rift. The size and number are difficult to tell.

Gaerys smartly looks at the ground to get a sense of the tracks in and out of the Rift. Other than a few traces of giant footprints, the ice and wind-driven snow hide all traces of who or what uses the ledges to gain access to the caves.

The party scratches its collective head regarding the best way to proceed. Upon further peering through the snow, however, one difference in the paths becomes clear -- the ledge accessible via the right-hand path eventually forks, with one branch of the fork leading to the bottom of the Rift. In other words, the right-hand path offers more options - and possibly more dangers.

It is time for the party to move, or use other means to gain more information about the best way to proceed...

[Cwreando]

Lorath looks at the Rift saying, "Of the two I'd choose the safest path that will be the easiest for us to get down and explore it further."

If Lorath can judge the safest route he expresses that to the group.

[Magnus]

Both ledges are somewhat treacherous but passable with due care. Neither is apparently safer than the other.


Seeing that we are not connecting as to the exact layout of the Rift, I looked for a better map. This is very helpful!

http://randomwizard.blogspot.com/2013/0 ... ndout.html

OTHER PAGES CONTAIN MASSIVE SPOILERS, so please resist the temptation to look at the maps related to the G/D/Q series.

[GreyWolfVT]

I'm good with going right.

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin takes a long look at the two paths before saying To the right. He honestly has no idea if that way is indeed better but standing on the edge of the Rift is seeming increasingly silly.

[GreyWolfVT]

Rommel takes a moment to pray to the old gods for a sense of direction. He stands up after a few moments and says "The old gods told me to go to the right."

[OGRE MAGE]

Flambeau

Shaking his head at the talk of old gods Flam simply says lets go to the right then, it's freezing out here. Let's find some evil to vanquish before we all become part of this wretched glacier.

[Zhym]

"Somehow it seems like we should be doing something other than just walking down to the first entrance we can reach," says Gaerys. "We still know little about the occupants of this place. If we stumble into a large group of giants and they are able to alert the others, this will be a very short trip. If we're spotted on the ledge, the giants wouldn't need to do any more to kill us than push us off the ledge."

"I think stealthy observation is called for, at least as a start. We could hang back for a day and watch the giants' comings and goings, if they have any. Remember, we didn't charge straight into the Steading. The first thing we did was gather information. That's probably an even better idea here than it was there."