Now earning his proficiency with the scimitar, Axel quickly attunes to the weapon he has been carrying with him for some time, since the hoard of Shockstorm was looted.  He feels a presence accompany the weapon, sure, strong, but mysterious. A change to the hilt is also revealed, revealing 4 dials, each containing four pairs of letters. Each dial can be turned to align with the others to create words or other combinations. To what end, has yet to be revealed.

Jednar, the Cloud Giant, navigates his floating castle towards a valley among the jagged peaks of the northern Cyrios mountains. Matthias mounts Khrusor, his spell-induced winged lion. and flies off to recon the area, only to find a collection of human footprints heading across a causeway towards a dome-shaped, pillared entrance.

As the rest of the team arrive, they, along with Jednar, step across the causeway and discover a band of barbarians belonging to the Great Worm clan, complete with a white dragon wyrmling and some sort of shaman, who refuse to even converse with Invictus, seeing them as intruders and turn to fight. Invictus makes quick work of the band of marauders, by demonstrating newfound abilities–the Paladin’s spear transforming into radiant energy and branching off to pierce multiple creatures in a single strike, and Barrax burning an 8th level chain lightning spell, killing all but the chieftan who was quickly finished off by the Sorcerer’s booming blade.

With the benefit of the belt of cloud giant strength, Matthias, frees the massive, frost-jammed doors to the temple of the All-Father. Inside these giant-sized gates, Invictus discovers seven statues, six along the North and South of a chasmic room, kneeling to an 80 foot statue in the middle, a cloaked figure, its face hidden by a dark cowl. The smaller, penitent statues each hold out their hands and all but one seem to be offering a weapon unto the larger statue in the middle. The cloud giant appears hold out her hands, but nothing within it.

Behind the larger statue (Jednar says it represents Annam, the All-Father) is a 40 foot archway, inscribed with runes, which only one Jednar recognizes as representing each of the giant clans. After discussing it for a while. Jednar pulls the Axe from the Frost Giant and touches it to the corresponding rune, only to see nothing happen. He throws it down in disgust and says, “I am not a frost giant.”

Of course the cloud giant’s weapon is missing, so as the group discusses what else might work, or if they should hunt for the missing weapon, Barrax suggests Olo try touching the weapon to one of the runes. Donning the belt of cloud giant strength, Olo attempts to heft the ice giant’s axe and touch it to the rune.

The archway immediately comes to life with a glowing greenish portal. And with no hesitation, all members step inside to be immediately transported to a hexagonal chamber whose walls rise 50 feet before tapering to a 90-foot-high apex. Standing in each corner of the room is a life-size statue of a giant holding up a heavy, iron lantern with one raised arm. Each type of giant is represented: hill, stone, frost, fire, cloud, and storm. A cold, magical light radiates from each lantern, illuminating a giant corpse lying on the floor beneath a shroud of frost in the middle of the room. The corpse looks like it has been here for some time, preserved by the cold. Next to the body rests a giant, frost-covered morningstar.

Ullrich’s Detect Magic spell reveals an aura of divination. Axel is the first to explore the area, coming within 10 feet of the frozen corpse when an ethereal light grows from the corpse a huge ghost rising within. A bearded, pale, translucent figure, eyes sad and tired gaze at you all.

“Have you come to end the shadow hanging over us?”