As the caravan continued on, it entered the Troll Hills. The women were warned to leave the lamps lit overnight to repel the trolls that stalk this area. Zelena (elf wizard) and Thia (elf monk) take turns each night ensuring all the external lamps remain burning all night long. Every couple hours they catch a glimpse of a shadow moving at the edge of the light, but the shadow is successfully repelled by the lamps. 

After a few days, the caravan safely reaches the Trollclaws Bridge.The weather is warmer here, and is accompanied by a pleasant breeze. As the wagons crest the final hill, the wide bridge comes into view. The road down to the bridge is lined with large boulders, and directly in front of the bridge, blocking entrance to it, is a massive stone . To the left of the road is a small tent with a smoldering campfire. To the right is a large stone hut and a giant-sized vegetable garden. The door to the hut is twenty feet tall, and as they approach they notice zucchini and pumpkins six feet in diameter growing in the garden. Although it is still early afternoon, since the road is blocked the caravan pulls off to the left to make camp. 

Nimby (gnome ranger) tends to her horses. Issa (tiefling druid) wild shapes into a dog and follows Zelena over to the small tent that was already here. They find a young dwarf heating up some water. She looks up and speaks timidly, “Hello, fellow traveler.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Zelena learns the girl’s name is Tyjit and then inquires about the bridge. “Oh, yes, no one can cross the ridge while the stone is there. It is much too big.” At hearing this, Issa immediately bounds away to attempt to move the boulder herself. She wild shapes into a gorilla and attempts to push the boulder, but it does not budge. Tyjit pours some of her warm water into a mug and adds mint leaves to it. 

Zelena watches Issa struggle and turns back to the dwarf girl, “So, how do we move the boulder?”

Tyjit pokes at the mint leaves in her mug. “We don’t. Every morning a giant comes out of that house there and moves the boulder out of the way. He guards the bridge and only allows a few travelers to pass by. That is why I am here. He is terrifying! He will rip your arms off if he doesn’t like you.” She waves her arms around then takes a sip of her mint tea. 

“Oh my goodness!” Zelena gasps and grabs her staff. “How do we get him to like us? We have a whole caravan to get through as soon as possible!” 

Tyjit blows on her tea for a moment. “He asks each traveler one question. If you don’t answer honestly, he will rip off your limbs.” She nods to herself and takes another sip of the tea. Zelena thanks Tyjit for the information and returns to spread the news among the merchants. 

Meanwhile, Thia has been setting up torches along the perimeter of the camp to ensure no trolls trespass overnight. Issa returns, frustrated by the unrealistically heavy boulder. The sun begins to set and the camp quiets down for another night on the road. Thia and Zelena take turns watching the camp overnight, but all is quiet.

The following morning is greeted by a stone giant rolling the boulder to the side and taking its place. He lights a candle next to him and settles in with a pile of fresh coconuts that he slowly snacks on. One wagon at a time approaches the creature.

His voice booms out as he asks each person a different question. 

“What is your name?” “Noor, sir.” “You may pass.”

“Where are you going?” “To Neverwinter, sir.” “You may pass.” 

“What is your purpose?” “To make a profit.” “You may pass.” 

One by one, the wagons were allowed through. The questions seemed simple enough. Eventually it came to our heroines’ wagons. 

Nimby is first. He yells out, “What is your favorite color?” 

“Green. Because Snakey is green.” she responds. “You may pass.” Nimby smiles to herself and pets snakey’s head in her pocket. She leads her wagon across the bridge. 

To Zelena, “What is your age?” “128″ “You may pass.” She nods confidently and cross the bridge with Issa in her pocket wild-shaped as a kitten. 

Thia approaches the stone giant. “Whom do you serve?” it asks her. 

“I serve justice and truth.” She responds loudly, then follows this declaration with a whisper, “And the Harpers.” 

“You may pass.” Thia looks around quickly to see if anyone heard her, but none of the other merchants seems to be listening to her answer. She rushes across to join her friends on the other side of the bridge. 

Eventually the entire caravan crosses with no incidents. It takes almost the entire day so they make camp and prepare to get an early start the next day. As the sun sets, they can see the silhouette of a castle over the next hill. 

-This was a fun random encounter for the group. If they stuck around, they could have eavesdropped on the cultists for their answers and maybe gathered intel, but that did not happen.

-This episode was edited by Zelena.