== Fireday, Lamashan 24, 4708; Xin Shalast; late evening ==

In the end Sabin and I used rings of invisibility to creep out into the street, where he sent forth an Arcane Eye to spy out the lay of the land. Giants were still out and about in large numbers and agitated, the crag-spider patrols were looking intently into every corner and shadow, and even the lamia from Temple Row had joined in the effort to find us.

Even more giants were moving about Jottenburge, including half a dozen crag-spider patrols.

Past this, in the field where the intenerate giants had set up camp were the beginnings of a skirmish, but it had not yet developed into anything more.

It seemed a shame to let things go on in such a mundane way, and when I spied the tottering temple of the hate Lamashtu nearby, I could not resist. Using Stone Shape I caused a supporting column for the main entryway to crumble, taking down that corner of the building with it.

We then scurried back inside and set up our usual watch for the night.

== Starday, Lamashan 25, 4708; Xin Shalast; afternoon ==

In the morning we were unsure of what to do. Using Wind Walk we drifted over to the temple of Lamashtu and saw others were admiring my handiwork. A trio of lamia (two of the vulture form and one a more powerful harridan, with her regal lioness body) were poking about the ruin of the ruin, and one of the lesser lamia flew about the temple.

In the lower section of the city we were disappointed to see that the rebellion was over, and the ubiquitous crag-spider patrol giants out in force.

We then swooped down into the tunnels and found Margive, who was delighted to see us (once we resumed solid form).

“Oh, you are back my friends: it is good to see you.”

He was quite impressed by our news that we had slain two of the dragons, and confirmed that he had in fact seen three or more different dragons (at least one more to go, then).

He was aware of the giant rebellion.

“Yes, every now and then the lesser giants — those from elsewhere — become unhappy enough with their lot that they rebel against their overlords. But such things quickly come to naught. Although I must say I was surprised that last unrest night’s lasted as long as it did. Usually the patrols squash such things more quickly.”

He agreed to keep use his natural skulking talents to try and find out what was behind this particular uprising, and why it had gone on for longer than usual.

He was also pleased that we had collapsed an entrance to the temple of Lamashtu.

“Some unspeakable horror lives within… but my friends, with increase in patrols you will surely consider taking the hidden path to the mountain to avoid detection.”

Hidden path?

“Yes, once my people used the path, but after several scouts failed to return, we stopped going that way.”

Obviously we asked him to show us the way, which started in the basement of a tower at the northern end of the city, just before the Rising District.

A long and well crafted tunnel led us gradually up, until it ended in blazing sunlight. A ledge served as roof for a shelf on the side of a hill where the tunnel ended. Sabin, who was once again invisible, flew out and saw a pair of stone pillars on either side of the ledge above the entrance.

Kane also crept out, but as soon as he came out from beneath the ledge a tentacle lashed out from one of the pillars and struck him.

Avia swiftly flew out, and I cast Air Walk on Nolin so he could quickly get up to our foes.

Our counter attack was going well when one of the things dropped down from our fighters and began to raise havoc among the rest of us who were holding back in the shadows below.

And when the stony things hit, they caused a weakness in their victims that sapped strength, making it harder to damage them. But there were many of us, and only two of them. Soon the battle was over and the creatures dead.

We had to use a number of charges from our wands of Lesser Restoration to restore strength to Nolin and Sabin.

We then continued on, via Wind Walk, to the field of energy protecting the spires near the top of the mountain.

Sabin determined that the field was not just a shell and emanated from within the center (the tallest) spire, and it barred Scrying within from without, and barred any form of teleportation within the field (so much for our special attack strategy).

Both the sihedron rings and medallions allowed safe passage through the field, but the medallions were conduits for scrying.

We then flew down via WW to the top of the coliseum, from which Sabin sent an Arcane Eye to the Lamia complex. He discovered that it descended several levels beneath the surface, where he found living areas and an armory.

The harridan we had seen earlier was down there, and she was wearing a gold Sihedron Ring!

Sabin and I turned invisible, and using WW went to find her (so I could see her in detail personally, thus be better able to Scry upon her). We found her coming up from below, and talking to another lamia walking beside her.

“Mark my words, the Most High Chiptra will not be pleased if the city falls apart on my watch, and I have no intention of letting it. Go down into the city and make sure order has been restored among the giants.”

One of her attendants left to carry out her bidding while she and two others went into a building near their temple. She went upstairs into an office space, where she sat on an elegant cushion and began to read. We scanned the adjacent room and found her sleeping quarters (with a larger cushion), where we thought our team could quietly assemble, and then attack from there.

And once again our planning paid off. We all Wind Walked into her boudoir, from which Sabin used Dimension Door to set Avia, Nolin, himself, and I next to the harridan. One of her attendants was in the room with her, and we assumed the other was in the hallway.

I cast a Silence spell about the harridan to prevent the noise of combat from bringing more lamia into the fray and to block her from casting spells, but there was really no need. In a few seconds Nolin, Avia and Sabin and slain her and her attendant.

Trask, who was still in the bedroom, opened the door to the hall and upon seeing the other lamia, called out, “The lady will see you know.”

As expected she ran up and burst into the room, slapping Trask for his insolence, but quickly falling under the onslaught of Kane’s Flame Strike and Sabin’s and Avia’s blows.

We quickly looted the bodies, searched the rooms and took everything of value.

[1642] prism of magnification: +5 to perception for survival checks
while tracking
[1635] +2 dagger
[1636] +2 dagger
[1637] +2 dagger
[1638] master-work great sword
[1639] sihedron ring
[1640] thin bone knife — ceremonial, it creates a skeleton when used for a coup-de-gras (destroyed by Sabin, with Takkad’s approval)
[1641] gold necklace of beads of Fireball: 2 3d6, 2 5d6, 2 7d6, 1 9d6

37 platinum pieces
562 gold pieces

Nolin seemed really keen to set these two rooms in flames, and so while the others used WW to return to the room across the road from “our giant,” Sabin and I remained and torched the rooms.

Using our rings of invisibility plus WW, we hovered above the building as smoke belched forth and lamia ran around like ants about a kicked nest.

Their time to burn will come soon enough.

On the way back to our friends we stopped off and set the harridan’s great sword in plain sight in the middle of the road. The hope was that some giant would pick up the treasure and show it off, thus implicating the giants in a conspiracy against the lamia.

Back in our room I used Greater Crying on our giant, who was back home, and seemed far from happy.

“I swear the sooner we get rid of her the better. She thinks she can just order US around?!”

Using Sending, I said, “Your problem is solved, and she is now dead.”

He jumped up and shouted out in alarm, “Who is there?”

I think we may be able to create a serious conflict in Xin Shalast between the lamia and giants that could bring some of Karzoug’s allies hiding up in the spires down to restore order.

But first we need to take out those that appear to be maintaining order among the giants who might otherwise rebel. The crag-spider patrols must be taken out, or at least seriously impaired.

But do we have time for this strategy?