Session 14: A Visit From the Belt Bros
General Summary
I. A Routine Day
On another routine day at the Wyrm's Oven, it is the day Nyxek had set aside to have an audience with the Emperor with Vox Empyreal Seijuro. Tad is spending a large amount of time near his librarian avoiding asking her either on a date or why she looks so mammalian. Vutha spent the early part of the day among his newest spawn. Kal is acting as assistant instructor to Jackstraw's lessons to the monolith engineers. The kind of day you wouldn't care if some nasty undead tortle sucked away your memories of it.
The Godeater had just put some half-dragons down for a nap and was heading to the stables to see his mate when Usk stopped him. He mentioned struggling with running the fighting pit, noting that a fair amount of the proceeds were just turning back into prize purses to attract greater challengers for fight nights. Vutha nodded acceptance — growing the reputation of the pit was suitable as long as the fights weren't losing money. Usk was pleased. "Yes, we will attract famed warriors from across the Empire!" Just then there is a huge thudding on the door of the stronghold like the crashing of a maul beating its way through a wall. Three strikes, then silence, then a loud greeting in accented Draconic.
II. The Belt Bros
Kal has Bob the Crocodile open the door. Outside are three Cloud Giants, one well dressed and better spoken than his oversized buddies. "Hey there! Allow me to introduce ourselves — we are the Belt Bros! I have heard this is a place of thrilling contests and delicious pizza, and we would wager our powerful magical items against yours in contests of skill and combat... and... uh, pizza eating!" The Gambler opens a chest glowing with magic items. The Claw is intrigued. "Yes, come in. Show us your wares for wager."
The Gambler demures. They know the Storm Princess, but they are from outside and wanted to know if it is ok. Vutha replies, "The only problem here would be if Draxelas was around and he tried to confiscate your treasures. Haven't seen him around for a bit. Probably got his snout up some merchant's tail extorting them over threats of contraband." The Cloud Giants duck into the courtyard. "Oh cool. Man that pizza smells good, but first, let's check out the magic items."
The Bros brought some belts and other gear. They have a Belt of Storm Giant Strength, but none of the Claw had anything of equivalent value to wager for it. They eventually settle on Tad's bow for the Bow of the Healing Hearth, Vutha's Ioun Stone of Fortitude for the Belt of Fire Giant Strength, and Kal's handwraps for a figurine that turns into a rideable triceratops. Tad looks at Kal. Really? Kal's like, what? Riding a triceratops is gonna be awesome.
III. Hide and Seek
The Gambler declares the contest of skill is a game of hide and seek — all the giants will seek, but only one of the Claw is the hider, and the others can try to slow down the giants. Tad becomes the hider. The giants close their eyes and Kal whisks Tad underground where he dives into a pool and hides in an invisible interdimensional pocket. Vutha walks up to the giants to slow them down with dragon fear and empty threats.
Two giants open their eyes, but the Gambler simply pulls a mask over his eyes with a cloud rune on it. "The salamander thingy is below in a pool hidden in an invisible interdimensional pocket. Go!" The giants all misty-step down toward the pool. Vutha's fear only partially works, sending one giant to wreck the kitchen instead. "Not cool!" shouts Kal. "We'll fix it later," responds the Gambler.
The giants are moving in far too quick and will get Tad before the time is up. Kal swings down to give Tad an out. Tad wavers, seeing the giants coming but hoping his hideyhole is invisible enough. Three giants clouding their way downstairs is enough for him to blink, and he quickly swims to Kal. Kal calls on his broom and the wind to ferry them both from the underground pool up to the roof of the stronghold. Vutha rushes down the stairs to try and interfere with the giants, but they are already staring at where the tortle and dula-dulas disappeared with their jaws on the floor. The Claw has won tag. The giants magick the kitchen back into working shape.
IV. Pizza Time
All three of the Claw versus one Cloud Giant, with the others just tasting the pizzas to make sure they were all legit. The pie eating commences! The Cloud Giant, Kal, and Vutha all start polishing off pizzas. Tad eats a little, but secretly slides most of his pizza into Bob the Crocodile's waiting maw. Vutha blinks first on the third pie, but draws on his draconic power and devouring experience to keep going. The Cloud Giants mock him a little, but one lets out a belch himself.
The next round finds Bob barfing up pizza, at which point the Gambler discovers Tad's tricks and gets him out of the game. The Gambler notes he is not so mad at the deception — but if you want to win, you can't get caught. It is the next round where the Cloud Giant hits his limit and upchucks his latest pizza. Vutha still struggles but maintains eye contact with Kal, who has been enjoying pizza time and not even worrying about the contest. Vutha demands there be a winner and asks for another pie. Kal responds, "More pizzas, what could go wrong with that?" His question was a curse, because he couldn't keep all of the next pie in his stomach. Vutha continues to draw on draconic power to muscle more into his gullet. The black dragon-lizard smiles at proving the Godeater's devouring prowess.
The Claw collects their new gear and closes down the Wyrm's Oven after a raucous good time.
