The maul of the glacial heights is one of the destiny arms, crafted by Hibyrntic, a frost giant cleric of Banor the Bloody Spear (a variation of Balinor). Using the power of the maul, Hibyrntic survived the quori onslaught and passed the artifact down to his descendants after the war’s end.
The last descendant of Hibyrntic to possess the maul was Eskelia, leader of a small tribe of intelligent and mostly peaceful frost giants. Their peace was shattered, however, when a rival giant band attacked. These frost giant savages slew Eskelia and her tribe, then claimed the maul for themselves. Now Eskelia’s ghost searches for a champion to avenge her. Will the PCs take up her cause?
Eskelia is deeply ashamed at being taken unawares and killed in the ambush. Her ghost haunts the place of her death and will do so until her murder is avenged. She asks the PCs to slay her killer and bring back the maul of the glacial heights as proof of the deed. Eskelia’s ghost cannot leave the remains of the village, but she can provide estimates of the savage giants’ numbers and their location.
If the PCs successfully defeat the giants and recover the maul, Eskelia’s ghost rewards them with information and a blessing (as well as allowing them to keep the maul) before dissipating.
Eskelia appears as a transparent blue figure with waistlength white hair, wearing blood-soaked armor. She tells the PCs of her death at the hands of the savages and begs their aid. If one of the PCs bears the symbol of Balinor, she appeals directly to that character as a fellow faithful of the god of the hunt. She promises the PCs the blessing of her bloodline, and hints at great rewards if they aid her.
Sryklin, the frost giant jarl of the savage tribe, is not all he seems. A mysterious backer who wishes to possess the maul of the glacial heights goaded Sryklin into attacking Eskelia’s tribe.
If the PCs tangled with the Inspired in the Staff of the Magma Falls adventure (see page 120), they could find one of the surviving Inspired now manipulating Sryklin. Alternatively, whether the PCs were hired by Riganalt Sarso or not, they might discover that the scholar promised Sryklin a bag of impressive-looking (but ultimately mundane) giant artifacts in exchange for the maul.