XIV. A Deadly Meal
General Summary
After clearing the Hill Giant Stronghold of Giants, the party freed more prisoners from an area they hadn’t yet been to. Inside the cells were three adventurers: Akwele Onokankwu, a Goliath barbarian, Baui of Clan Kazemaru, a Firbolg grave cleric, and Valoryn Nightshade, a Drow assassin. The three had been imprisoned after their own adventuring party had been killed trying to challenge the giants a week before. Three members of the original party opted to leave. Shugluk Elf-Butcher, now that his tribe was free, meant to stay with them and lead them to victory in other endeavors. Tharduin offered to accompany the dwarf prisoners out of the compound and back to their home. The Valandian was going to make his way to the city of Felstadt, so Lady Kohinoor asked him to stop in Ivargrad on his way and deliver Gault Harrow’s effects and a letter to Markaya, in addition to another letter addressed to Prince Oberwerner von Offenweizen. The adventurers all said their goodbyes and departed, so the remaining party members offered to have Baui, Akwele and Valoryn accompany them on their continued quest. In pursuit of that continued quest, the new party went down to visit Chief Nosnra, who had been imprisoned in one of his own cells. With the promise that he would be delivered to the Empire alive in exchange for providing information, Nosnra told them about Alevdra and a mysterious chain that allowed the Giants to teleport between fortresses. He also mentioned that Xuom had likely fled to the Frost Giants' Fortress and would tell the leader of the Frost Giants about what had happened at the Hill Giant Stronghold. While the party questioned him, Valoryn went into the kitchen and prepared a “meal” for the Chief. Under the pretense of giving him an incentive to talk, Valoryn poisoned the food and served it to Nosnra. The giant had been continually complaining of being hungry, and immediately scarfed down the food without a second thought. Baui had been the only person to notice anything strange until Nosnra started coughing, at which point the rest of the party caught on. Akwele shook the bars of the cell, shaking with fury at Valoryn’s singizi act, while Lady Kohinoor rushed into the cell to try and save Nosnra. Valoryn cast Darkness to try and impede her, leaving Kohi to feel blindly for the Chief’s flabby body in the shadows and try to remove the poison with Lay on Hands. But it was too late: Nosnra was dead. At Kohi and Akwele’s outrage, Valoryn simply argued that he had never made such a promise.
“He killed my party members, and isn’t one of yours dead because of him as well? There’s no reason to keep him around.”The reminder hurt, enough that Kohi had nothing else to say. The rest of the group didn’t seem to care either way. As the party notified the waiting Imperial encampment of their plans to teleport to the frost giant's base, a Tiefling merchant appeared with a cart full of magical wares. Baui served her tea made from mushrooms found in the lower levels. Using the treasure they looted from the Hill Giants’ compound to trade, the party bought several magic items from the convenient clerk. Lastly, they collected furs from throughout the fortress in preparation for the cold weather to come.-Valoryn Nightshade
