(IC) Against the Giants PBP Group 2

[Kobold Stew]

The Colonel holds his breath, as the dwarves are rounded up. A spark dances between his eyes, and he says a prayer to the Thunderer. He makes eye contact with young Donnell, momentarily, and gives a reassuring nod.

Seconds tick by, and he feels the Bugbears have remained calm after their departure.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Doc stood back and took a pull from his flask, which was growing far closer to empty than he'd like. He took a look around. To his right was a hole in the ground that went off into darkness. Behind him was a hole in the cavern wall that appeared to lead to a dark hallway with stonework of an entirely different sort than any he had seen in the steading so far. The worked stone walls were carved with ages-worn faded murals where humanoid were clad in robes of purplish stones, but they had strange tentacles where arms and legs ought to be. The hallway seemed to beckon to him like the ladies of a saloon.

 

[Maxperson]

Kaligan remains alert for trouble, but simply waits, ready to strike if trouble comes or move on if it doesn't.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The Colonel waited for an alarm gong from the north that did not come. What were the bugbears up to? With the dwarves freed, the stone giants turned to driving the orcs to work harder. The group were to be permitted to take the dwarves back upstairs and out of the Steading.

"I trust that this satisfies our agreement?" asked Utharn.

OOC: I expect that it doesn't.

 

[Steve Gorak]

Gimlak looks at the giant straight in the eyes “We all thank you for working towards satisfying our agreement. Can we now go to Smolderheart's Smithy to gather the rest of my kin?”

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Utharn frowned. He was not stupid and had not overlooked the possibility that the smaller creatures could understand the giant language, but he had hoped to avoid this eventuality. He sighed saying, "I understand why you would want to do this, but I don't expect that there will be a way to convince Smoulderheart to let them go. He is a Fire Giant, naturally, and as he is higher on the Ordening than myself, well, he has no need to listen to anything I have to say."

Seeing the determination on Gimlak's face, he thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps I should just wait for you in the guard room at the top of the stairs."

 

[Tonguez]

The barbarian druid looked passed the slaves to the rough hole they seemed to have dug through to a natural cavern, he could not see into the darkness to what might lie within, but did wonder if this was what the giants were looking for? Behind him the clang of steel and hammer suggested that the forge lay the otherway and inside it the giant Smoulderheart.
The steinjotenen had proven honorable in there actions, and Kahru shot an incredulous glare at Gimlak when the dwarf sought to be escorted to the forge as well, it did not seem prudent for the dwarf to push his luck. Especially now when they were in the middle of a dungeon filled with bugbears and orogs. Fortunately Utharn gave a civil reply despite his frown.

”We thank you” Kahru spoke in giant “you have honoured your word and fulfilled your orders. We will deal with Smoulderheart as we can, but ask that you and your two fellows withdraw, we have no cause with the Stone Lords”

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Doc has been waiting, but despite his calm demeanor, there is always, always the unquiet storm of the souls carried within him. As he stood by contemplating his dwindling stocks of sweet release, he studied the strange figures on the murals to the hallway behind him.

And as he studied, he felt it ... the peculiar itch that arose like a gnawing in his bones and that only the whisky seemed to quiet. He wasn't always sure what it was, but he just knew that there was something in the hallway that he needed ... or that the Sheriff needed. Sometimes, Doc's wants and the Sheriffs' wants couldn't be all teased apart anyway.

Doc began walking down the hallway with the strange murals.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Utharn was leading them back the way they'd come - squeezing his massive stony form through the opening that led from the excavation site to the crypt-barracks. Gimlak was busy gathering his kin, Kaligan keeping an eye out for trouble, and Duvrael with thoughts of his own. But the Colonel and Kahru did not fail to notice when Doc slipped off on his own, going through a completely different hole in the tunnel wall.

It was not the first time that the strange fellow had disappeared on them. On the trip back to the cairn the night before, he had disappeared, only to rejoin them later. He was a mysterious figure that set most of them at unease, but he was reliable in a fight.

Utharn took no notice at all; he lingered only to see the others through the crypt-barracks, with plans to leave them once they were in the T-junction hallway.

OOC: Anyone want to object or go with Doc?

Spoiler: Map

Spoiler: (Doc)

The figures on the walls seemed to shift and writhe as he walked northward down the dark hallway. Doc wasn't sure if it was an effect of the carving, or a magic-thing, but it was disorienting either way. The hallway turned to the left and opened into a large temple-shrine. Four intricately-carved pillars supported a vaulted ceiling with faded and broken mosaic tilework, impossible to make out any distinction without proper lighting. Doc could just make out a stone-slab altar, far across the temple at the very limits of his darkvision.

Spoiler: Map

 

[Maxperson]

Kaligan keeping an eye out for trouble, spots it wandering down the hallway with the Murals. Cursing inwardly, he sets off towards Doc with a slight limp. "Wait up! I'll go with you."