The party, understanding that they couldn’t realistically carry a 250 pound dragon egg with them as they continued the search for The Codicil of White, left the egg in the roc’s nest and returned to the lower levels of Grimskalle. Talion and Thoradaen’s disappointment was palpable, as the druid had hoped to see its hatching and the dwarf thought it would be something to impress his gnomish god-children back in Waterdeep.
Anyway.
Moving down to the lowest level of the castle, they came upon a large icy floor where a giant walrus entertained itself by sliding back and forth. To the party’s surprise (again), the walrus – Ukuma – engaged in conversation (like Angajuk the whale, the walrus had been awakened) and explained it was there to guard the area, but really had no interest in doing so. The somewhat friendly mammal would chuckle at some of his jokes, leading his tusks to tap against the icy floor, and was able to point the party in the right direction of the treasure room.
Coming to the entrance to the vault, a disembodied voice let them know that only those who underwent the tests of cruelty, endurance, isolation and preservation would be allowed in. The group recognized that there were four doors in the previous room, each with an inscription identifying the test the room held. Thinking it important that they undertake the tests in the order the voice listed them (it wasn’t), they found the cruelty door and entered.
Time saver:
Cruelty: Hawlkrin and Vellynne murdered some elderly tribal members of the Bear tribe that were to be sacrificed to stave off starvation.
Endurance: the party accompanied the Elk tribe on a three hour trek through a raging blizzard
Isolation: Ferus and Haryk suffered a long term madness due to the horrific whispers and horrors faced waiting hours in the darkness. Some in-fighting also occurred due to this madness.
Preservation: a straight-forward fight to protect a young Wolf tribe boy who survived the slaughter of his people.
Returning to the vault, the characters came to the chamber of the Codicil and grabbed the book. Knowing the frost giantess must be near, the party ran back to the dock and as they boarded the whale, Geluvicken returned, infuriated. Seeing it was too late to stop the adventurers, the zealot offered up her body to her goddess, who consumed her with ice.
The last thing they saw as the whale submerged was the giantess’ body exploding in icy shards, and a disembodied voice on the wind: “I see you...”
