DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 3X-Leaving Calling Horns

(We know they're hundreds of years old and humanoid. In Zhu's experience, if they're not Elves they can only be Undead. Has nothing to do with Metagaming. And yes, Van Helsing knew Dracula was undead, even though he didn't know for sure what kind, without even meeting him because he'd researched and discovered how long he'd been around. I honestly don't see any way Zhu would not know at this point with almost total certainty. Now, she's given Kriv her word that as long as they're helpful and they don't attack us she will grudgingly leave them be so she's not going to attack them unprovoked.

The metaphor I used was not a good choice. Here's perhaps a better one:

I leave to go on a year-long, around the world cruise. I accidentally leave a half empty container of milk in my fridge. When I return, there it is. Still looks white. From the outside it looks normal. But I do not need to open it up and smell or taste it to know if is spoiled and foul. I know because it has passed its natural lifespan.)

Kriv

The Dragonborn's expression darkened.

"It seems all too sensible given their heinous nature that they'd seek to besmirch the good and honourable name of the Rockseeker clan."

Other than that, the information as to where Vhalak and the Weevil had gone had tallied with what they'd heard before from the elf Berris. Corroboration, but little else new.

"They defrauded your people, and your guests. The doppelganger's name is Vhalak, the Dwarf criminal is known as the Weevil. We can add your grievances to ours and earn justice for both."

Zhu

"You have lived here for a long time." she tries hard not to put too much emphasis on the word 'long'. "What can you tell us about the travel between here and Everlund?"

DM

Algar replied to Kriv, "They embarrassed our guests, but not us. We had no direct dealings with the pair and we have no grievances. But I appreciate you sharing their names with us. "

Cryx then smiles at Zhu, "We have been here a while yes. We have settled down, not seeking to travel the world any longer. Once, many, many years ago, I spent time in Everlund. The road there skirting the Evermoors has always been dangerous. All manner of nasty humanoids ... trolls, ogres, hobgoblins and the like have always preyed on anyone that decides to travel there."

Kriv

"That their calumny and fraud did not touch you is good, and it is to be hoped the next word you hear of them confirms the end of their chaotic, destabilizing acts." Kriv nodded.

DM

Algar and Cryxlaw look at each other for more than a moment in silence. Then they both look at their four visitors. The gaze in disconcerting because during it all, they don't blink. And it doesn't appear that they are breathing either. Finally, after a tense minute Algar speaks.

"You suspect that we are not what we seem. That is true, we've made a deal to continue our existence and while it may gnaw at your souls that we have done so, we are not your enemy. It was prudent that you have not raised a hand to us. You would not have survived that encounter. We tell you what we are about to tell you because this is not good for our business."

Almost seemlessly, the oration shifts from Algar to Cryxlaw. "The pair you seek are selling weapons to the giant-kin because the giants are rampaging and these humanoids are scared. The hill giants are capturing anything that lives and breathes. The stone giants are looking to kill every human, elf, dwarf and others they can find. The fire giants enslave the giant-kin, forcing them to dig for something. The frost and cloud giants are also looking for things. We are not sure what or why."

Algar picks up the conversation is an eerie continuation for Cryxlaw, in an emotionless tone "We want things to go back to the way they were before the giants resurfaced. That means stopping them. To stop them you need to know what they want and why. We have learned by asking the dead, specifically Gorog. We wondered why he and the other hill giants came this way. His answer was 'Gah is hungry'. He shared no more than that. Luckily, his death was not at our hands. It was one of our guest teams that killed him. Although he was reluctant, he did share that much with us."

Cryxlaw continues for the pair. "A long time ago a hunting party came to Noanar's Hold. One of the hunters was a frost giant. Have you heard of Harshnag? Word is that he travels the north from the Icewind Dales to the Greypeak mountains these days. Word is that he is also hunting other giants."

The sound of a loud snort, like that of a horse, but harsher, comes from beyond the closed door opposite where you entered. There are shuffling sounds where there were none before.