Giantslayer: Battle of Bloodmarch Hill [IC]

[Admyral]

"Fine work, Ostayd Shay'akhar, your knowledge of the obscure never disappoints.", Gharmez says to the Grey Ghul.

"I agree we should haul these treasures back to town with haste!", she says to the party, then as she looks at the size of the weapons and armor, "well... with as much haste as we can muster..."

Spoiler: Translation

Show

Ostayd = Professor

[lostsole31]

There is way too much to haul back in one go, but the party will get some of the big ticket items for now and then exit the cave, where they are greeted by Kurst Grath and a contingent of Trunaun militia that was just about to brave the freezing waters in front of the cave's entrance to look for the PCs now that Trunau is finally secure.

Now that the PCs have defeated Skreed Gorewillow, the orc threat to Trunau is truly ended—for now. But there are still questions remaining to be answered: why did the orcs attack, and what was their interest in the giant’s tomb beneath Bloodmarch Hill? The PCs were able to learn some of the plot details from the evidence left behind, and Abenor is the one that offers that Skreed and the other half-orc (whom later willl be identified as a ne'er-do-well as Daktani) were likely behind Rodrik Grath's murder, and the hill giant Grenseldek’s interest in the hammer Agrimmosh and the geode “treasure map” in Uskroth’s tomb.

The party is escorted to the Long House to give the town council a full debriefing, which is mainly to impart that a giant was behind the attack on Trunau, that she was seeking specific items from the tomb beneath the town, and that she leads a combined tribe of orcs and giants from a lair to the north.

The people of Trunau hail the PCs as heroes, not only for their brave deeds during the orc raid, but also for their diligence in solving the murder of Rodrik Grath and unraveling the mysteries of the Plague House and the tomb beneath Bloodmarch Hill. The treasure the PCs liberated from fallen orcs, from the Plague House foray, or from Uskroth's Tomb are theirs to keep, tax-free, with the thanks of the people of Trunau.

Kurst and Jagrin Grath and the rest of Trunau’s militia are glad to receive closure over the death of Rodrik. Although Trunau has weathered many orc raids in the past, the Twisted Nails’ attack was by far the most devastating in recent history, and left the inner quarter largely in ruins. Skreed Gorewillow’s half-orc saboteurs dealt a terrible blow to the town’s morale that will likely heighten tensions between Trunau’s human and half-orc residents for some time. Trunauans are nothing if not perseverant, however, and the efforts to rebuild the town begin the day after the raid. Trunau’s leaders order Uskroth’s tomb sealed once more (after the heroes remove their treasures, of course!), and the ruins of the Plague House are consecrated and ritually cleansed with fire to put the structure to rest once and for all.

The heroes are each asked how they wish to be announced and presented in an awards ceremony in front of the town.

"Abenor Quentras, of the Ilverani of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords," says the elf.

"Clemency Larosière, of Trunau," says Cici, who is sure to help them spell her last name and the accent mark.

"Bariswort Littlefox," says the halfling simply.

"Imrijka, Inquisitor of Pharasma and Curate of the Holy Museum of Antiquities in Lepidstadt, and member of the Pathfinder Society in good standing," quoth the half-orc.

Aasgar and Gharmez, how do you wish to be entered into the rolls officially for your heroism?

[Admyral]

"Gharmez al'Demirah Shkear Tla, Abadar's Seeker of Lost Treasures, Holder of the First Vault Key", Gharmez says proudly.

She turns to Shay and says, "Please Shay, make no mention of slavery or servitude for this official record. Like so many times during our travels, you have proven yourself again worthy of equal praise. You are not xedmatgozār, but truly duust. The choice is yours, of course."

Spoiler: Translation

Show

xedmatgozār = servant
duust = friend

[lostsole31]

"The funny foreign bits is a really long name," says the cantankerous Patrol Leader Jagrin Grath to Gharmez. "I need to know how to spell it. Also, is it all a name, or is some of that a title that we can translate to Taldane?"

[Admyral]

Gharmez gives the patrol leader a puzzled look, then smiles.

"In Taldane, I can be called 'Scarlet Goldseeker of Demirah'. It is spelled S... C... A... R... L... E... T...". She pauses briefly to make sure he is writing the letters down correctly.

"G... O... L... D... S... E... E... K... E... R...", she says watching Jagrin pen the letters.

"of D... E... M... I... R... A... H...", she continues.

She adds, "Shkear Tla translates to Goldseeker and is part of my name, and it was given to me by the priests of the temple of Abadar that was in...", she trails of as she notices Jagrin's disinterested expression.

"I apologize for any confusion.", she says, somewhat embarrassed, bowing her head slightly. She makes a small quick gesture with hand drawing a small circle in the air, grabbing the imagined coin, and putting it in her pocket, while saying "Abadar's grace and interest".

She turns to rejoin the rest of the group.

[lostsole31]

"Well, now I have nothing but a title, and no name, as 'of Demirah' seems to be .... a place name?" says Jagrin, a little annoyed. "What is your core ... name?"

[Admyral]

With an annoyed tone to match Jagrin's, Gharmez says, "You asked for a translation, and that is what I provided. The 'Place Name', as you call it, is part of my name and is the location of my birth."

She pauses, and says, "Very well, my full name is Gharmez al'Demirah Shkear Tla." She proceeds to slowly spell out the four words in detail to the patrol leader.

She continues, "My titles are 'Abadar's Seeker of Lost Treasures' and 'Holder of the First Vault Key'. "

[lostsole31]

"Gharmez Goldseeker of al'Demirah, thank you," he notes, and then looks at the dwarf.

[BuckGodot]

"Aasgar Axewielder will suffice for me, thank you."

[lostsole31]

Patrol Leader Jagrin Grath wipes a faint bit of wetness from his eye. "Of course, Aasgar Axewielder. You and Abenor were there right at the beginning, even before our own Cici or the half-breed Imrijka. Thank you again for giving me closure and killing the bastard that murdered my boy."

Eyes settle upon the graybeard. And wait patiently. Jagrin clears his throat, and Shay'akhar begins with a start, "Oh, me! Sorry. I am the Dunsage; the accursed Grey Ghul Shay'akhar."

Some looks of confusion, and Patrol Leader Grath says, "Let's take that bit by bit, shall we? I am not quite sure I heard all of that. What was that first part?"

"Some have referred to me as the Dunsage," he offers.

"What does that mean? That you were a teacher or something, but no longer?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You said 'done-sage.' So, you were a sage, but you're done?"

"No," offers a clerk, "I think he does sage? Like he smokes it? He's doing-sage?"

Shay'akhar holds up his hands. "No, DUN-SAGE. Dun is a color, a pale one similar to beige, but devoid of orange values so as to be a very weak, pale gray."

"So, the 'Gray Sage?'" asks Jagrin. "But then you'd be gray twice. Oh, wait, like a grayed sagebrush ... all sort of old and spindly and brittle?"

Shay'akhar bites his lip and says, "You know what? Honestly? That is more of a title I'd given myself to get people to stop focusing on the Grey Ghul part. So, we can do away with 'Dunsage' entirely."

Jagrin very noticeably strikes something out on what he's writing. "So, 'Grey Gull?' like a gray seabird?"

"No, the word is 'Ghul.'"

"Gull."

"Ghul."

"Gull."

"Ghul, it eans 'accursed,' or 'untouchable.'"

"Ah, okay, gull."

"No, listen, ghul."

"Gull."

"Ghul."

"Gull."

"Ghul."

"Gull."

"Ghul."

"Gull."

"Ghul."

"OOHHH, you mean GHOUL!" Jagrin says in alarm. There is movement in the room as holy symbols are clasped, weapon hilts are gripped, and the odd hand fumbles in a pouch for holy water.

"NO, no, no, WAIT!" cries Shay'akhar. "The Kelish word is, listen to the nuance, 'Ghul,' and not the Taldane word, 'ghoul,' though it is very possible that linguistic cross-pollination led to that very similarity. No, no, a person in my culture who is called a 'ghul' is either an untouchable socially, or in my particular case, has been cursed."

The room settles some.

"Okay," says Jagrin, regaining control. "So what is the manner of this curse?"

"I have been made a magical slave to this lady's family ... oh, no, you heard her, she would rather I not be, but a compulsion is just that. But, also, I am no longer quite human. Thus 'ghul.'"

"So, no longer quite human ... like .... a ghoul."

"But I'm not a ghoul, I'm a ghul."

"Which is...?"

"Something else, which brings me to my name--"

"Wait, so, you're a gray sage and a grey ghoul. With a grey beard, and grey clothing," says Jagrin with a chortle, and the assemblage of councilors follow suit in laughter at Shay'akhar's expense, and then tries to follow on by playing it up, "Do I sense a theme here?"

"Sure," says Shay'akhar exasperatedly.

"'Shea A-car,' was it?" asks Jagrin.

"There you go!" Shay'akhar brightens.

"So, your first name is odd for a Keleshyte man, but would be fine for a Kellid man," observes Jagrin.

"My only name," corrects Shay'akhar.

"Well, that and your surname." Shay'akhar is about to interrupt when Jagrin continues. "I mean, you don't look like a Shea!" (More laughter.)

"What's a Shay look like?"

"It's a solid Kellid nickname, short for 'Seamus,' or even the older 'Séaghdha,' meaning 'fine .. good ... favourable ... learned.'"

"Huh, well, that's not my name and not what it means, but I do like it."

"What does your name mean?"

"Well, my whole name means Something Else."

"What?"

"What?"

"What does your name mean?"

"It's not my birth name, because that's ridiculous, but part of my curse is forgetting my birth name, so my accursed name is something else."

"So, it's not this ... Shea A-car?"

"No, it is."

"It's what?

"It's Shay'akhar."

"Which means?"

"Something Else."

At this point, Jagrin has lost his mid-interaction mirth and is getting hot under the colllar. "Listen, you twit. What does your name mean, or are we to barbaric here in Trunau to get to know?"

"I told you!"

"And?"

"It means Something--"

"What else!"

"Exactly! Now you follow."

"ENOUGH!" shouts Halgra of the Blackened Blades, her voice shutting down all side chatter. She steps down from her seat and looks at Jagrin's confusing and desperate notes, looks at Shay'akhar and writes something down before looking back up.

"Thank you, heroes," says Halgra. "Rest what remains of this night and the morrow. There will be a banquet in your honor thrown by the town. Please do not let false modesty cause an absence, for we need our heroes honored to inspire the next generation. I will have business to conduct with you at that time."

---

Fast forward to the next night's banquet, where each of the group is called up in order of some type of perceived precedence as follows ...

• Aasgar Axewielder
• Abenor Quentrias, of the Ilverani of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords
• Imrijka, Inquisitor of Pharasma and Curate of the Holy Museum of Antiquities in Lepidstadt
• Clemency Larosière, of Trunau
  
• Bariswort Littlewanderer
  
• Gharmez Goldseeker of al-Demirah
  
• Galakhar the Grey

"Stupid name," the last of the celebrated mutters, "and a complete mauling of my name and the Kelish language in one barbaric swoop. Savages."

---

And with that, we have ended Book 1 of the Giantslayer AP:
"Battle of Bloodmarch Hill!"
Please make no more posts in this thread, and next month we continue the adventure with Book 2, "The Hill Giant's Pledge!"