“The three doors on the other side are all shut in some way,” Cleatus walked back through the archway; wiping his paws together. Odelia had her arms crossed and glared at him as he passed. “North one is locked and stuck. South one’s stuck but a good push will open it. One in the middle will be the most trouble. It’s trapped.”

“Trapped how?” Haagut asked.

“Not too complicated,” Cleatus shrugged. “Giant rock over the door.”

“Maybe we could get the giant to trigger the trap?” Shaynen said thoughtfully.

“We can’t all just sneak past it,” Odelia snapped, ignoring Shaynen completely.

“We could if someone coaxed it to the other side of the room and kept it distracted.” Cleatus said.

“I could do that,” Shaynen said quickly. “I’m really fast, and I can fey step. I could lure it away and then just teleport right through it.” The party stared at Shaynen, Haagut turned back toward the archway.

“Could the trap be disarmed quietly?” Haagut asked.

“Probably. Just stop the door from dropping the rock.” Cleatus stroked the fur of his chin thoughtfully. “We disarm the trap, distract the giant, run.”

“We could use an illusion,” Haagut mused.

“Okay, Odelia triggers the trap, Haagut distracts the giant and stealths us, the giant gets distracted and we sneak through?” Shaynen said definitively.

“Er… no.” Haagut cleared his throat awkwardly. “I can either cast a spell to stealth us or cast to distract the giant.”

“Or one person is a distraction,” Odelia said, looking at Shaynen.

“I am really fast,” Shaynen agreed. Odelia suddenly frowned deeply.

“Wait, what door are we going through?” She walked to the arch and peeked through the door. “One’s trapped and two are stuck. Where do they even go? What’s on the other side?”

“We shatter the door open and if there is something on the other side, it’ll come into the giant room.” Shaynen reasoned. “That would tell us all we need to know.”

“But it’s a pretty strong spell, it’s more useful as an attack than just to open a door.” Odelia scoffed.

“We could do both,” Cleatus said. “If we get the giant to the door then you could do both.”

“Does it matter if we know what’s on the other side?” Shaynen asked.

“Okay. I’ll use silent image to just go over to the door, disarm the trap and open it to see what’s on the other side.” Haagut shoved the party aside and away from the arch. “All right, let’s go.”

“But I-” Shaynen started but was interrupted by Cleatus.

“It’s the safest option,” He pushed Shaynen to the back of the group. Haagut conjured up a small halfling that darted into the large room. Making it only to the center of the room before the giant turned and caught sight of it. It rumbled at it deeply, voice like the grinding of rock.

“Haagut,” Cleatus whispered. “He’s saying hello.” Haagut looked back at Cleatus for half a second before turning back to the halfling illusion and making it jump in surprise and turn to the giant. Then waving at it. The stone giant took a slow step toward the illusion, speaking more in it’s rumbling tongue.

“What’s he saying?” Haagut hissed at Cleatus.

“Hang on a minute,” Cleatus’ ears twitched. “He’s asking for food.”

“Food!?” Haagut asked incredulously.

“Do you still have some of that bear meat?” Odelia asked.

“Yeah,” Cleatus got into his backpack.

“We also have rats,” Shaynen leaned forward into the group.

“It’s not going to want rats, Shaynen.” Odelia snapped at him. “There’s a dead bear in the room, it likes bear.” Shaynen scowled and backed up; crossing his arms. Cleatus cut free a lump of flesh from inside his backpack. Cleatus held out his hand and the lump floated away and into the room. Haagut’s illusion pointed to the meat as it floated over to the giant. The giant spoke a few short sounds and took the meat and ate it. Then looking for more.

“You think we could just bribe it to let us pass?” Shaynen asked.

“Maybe…” Cleatus trailed off. Haagut’s illusion snapped soundlessly and ran back to the party. Haagut pulled the leather hat of disguise over his eyes and when he lifted it his face had changed to resemble the halfling illusion he’d created.

“Bring out the rest of the bear meat,” Haagut said. “Follow me.” Halfling Haagut led the party out into the room. The giant rumbled excitedly, Cleatus took out the mass of meat and tossed it toward the giant. Rumbling deep in his throat in the giant’s language. The giant took the meat and devoured it; then yawning and retreating to a corner. With a few last words it fell asleep.

“What was all that?” Shaynen askled.

“Not sure,” Cleatus said. “He said ‘When they leave, they all speak my name.’”

“What’s his name?” Shaynen asked.

“Garfrost,” Cleatus said. The party froze, waiting for something to happen. But nothing did.

“That’s a weird riddle,” Shaynen said. “Does Garfrost have some kind of translation? Is there another word it translates to in common?”

“No, Garfrost is the translation.” Cleatus said.

“Let’s hurry up and get out of here,” Haagut hissed. The party moved to the first door on the northern wall. Haagut knelt beside it and pulled out his lockpicking set. In only a minute of working the door gave a click and a jump. The iron door sunk down and vanished beneath the stone of the floor. A short tunnel hall ended in a slightly ajar wooden door. Through it another large room occupied with three Dreugar; one decked out in thick metal armor with heavier weapons.

“Hey, they’re friendly aren’t they?” Shaynen asked. Relaxing and speaking at his normal volume.

“Hush,” Cleatus said quietly. “Not particularly. Savant was more an exception than the rule.” Shaynen knelt back down thoughtfully.

“There’s only three of them. We could take ‘em,” he said.

“He’s got a pretty big weapon?” Haagut pointed out.

“Well then we hit him first and hardest,” Shaynen said simply. Haagut looked at him, fidgeting with the hat of disguise until his real appearance came through again.

“Okay, everyone come here then.” Haagut pushed back the cap and rubbed his hand in the dirt. He placed a smudge of dirt on the party, one by one. “There. You all have been aided,”

“Thanks,” Shaynen resisted the urge to wipe off the dirt.

“Are we ready?” Odelia asked.

“Ooh now would be a really good time for that area spell you wanted to do,” Shaynen said.

“Nah, I got something else in mind already.” Odelia replied.

“Let’s go,”