Page 186 - Tales from the Yawning Portal

Treasure. Hidden among the pile of s
is a jeweled platinum crown (worth 3.000 ~
stone giants intend to give to the jar! a
pears to be doing well.
26. SPECIAL VISITORS' CAVE
This location is warmed somewhat by rnlca~ic acchi
and lit by dim reddish light. In it are a fire gianc mes-
senger and his fire giant servant (as a hill giant wi h
fire immunity) who have delivered their me age and
are about to depart for their own land. There are r,1,0
piles of furs and skins in the place, a rude table. a bench.
three stools, a large brazier, and two sacks.
Treasure. One giant's sack contains 1,500 gp and the
other 500 gp, in addition to the usual contents. In a pad-
ded bag at his belt, the messenger carries a symbol of
the jarl's fealty to King Snurre: a solid silver statue of a
bear, rampant, with topaz eyes (worth 1,500 gp).
27. WINTER WOLF PACK
Along the western side of the rift floor is the lair of a
pack of five winter wolves. The wolves are encouraged
to roam the place by the frost giants.
28. SNOW-COVERED DOME OF ICE
This hollowed-out ice formation has been created by the
creature that lairs inside- a remorhaz that has recently
which indicates a random encounter, choose from the
moved into the rift. A number of charred skeletons are
following possibilities:
strewn around its icy den.
• One frost giant, a guard making the rounds
29. WHITE PUDDINGS ld4 + 1 ogres on an errand for the jar!
The two spots marked with numbers along the east One frost giant and two ogre servants out for a walk
edge of the rift floor are the locations of a pair of Huge If the giants know intruders are about, one frost giant
white puddings. A white pudding uses the statistics and three winter wolves search for those intruders.
for a black pudding, and its coloration gives it perfect
camouflage in these icy conditions. While a white pud- LOCATIONS ON THE LOWER LEVEL
ding remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a The following locations are identified on map 6.4.
mound of snow.
1. GRAND ENTRY CAVERN
LOWER LEVEL: GENERAL FEATURES
The entrance to the lower level is obviously meant to
Map 6.4 shows the layout of the lower level of the glacial be impressive, as its walls bear carvings of battle and
rift. This area has basically natural formations, with hunting scenes in bas-relief. These carved scenes show
some rough-hewn connecting passages and enlarge- giants slaying enemies, hunting dragons and other
ments made here and there. fearsome monsters, and engaged in similar activities.
Boulders. Some passageways on this level are Torches burn at intervals along the length of the cavern.
blocked by huge boulders (at the places adjacent to Survivors of attacks on the level above will most likely
boulders that are marked B on the map). For Medium make a stand in the grand entry cavern if they are still in
or smaller creatures, moving these obstructions out of relatively good shape.
the way requires a successful DC 20 Strength (Athlet- Secret Exits. The boulders that close off the passages
ics) check. to the east and west are well concealed and look much
Ceilings. Passages have ceilings that are about 25 like the normal cavern walls, so each must be discov-
feet high. Ceilings of small caverns are 30 to 40 feet ered by characters as though it were a secret door.
high, and those of the large caves 45 to 60 feet.
Illumination. Light in this area comes from torches 2. VAULTED CAVERN
and from cressets that are actually cages for giant The noise of moving the boulder that closes the place
fire beetles (the latter mostly in the part inhabited by off from the rest of the complex awakens a mated pair
the jar!). of young white dragons that are kept here, along with a
great pile of treasure. If they have enough warning, both
RANDOM ENCOUNTERS the dragons hide and wait to see who enters.
On the lower level of the frost giant stronghold, the The only intruders that the dragons do not object to
chance of a random encounter occurs on an hourly are frost giants coming to feed them or bearing treasure
basis. At the end of each hour, roll a dlO. On a roll of 1, to add to the dragons' hoard. Unless the male dragon is
hiding, he sits proudly atop a heap of valuable items in

CHAPTER 6 AGAINST THE GIANTS