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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Softwind" data-source="post: 1295026" data-attributes="member: 13893">Giants! The loss of a friend.  Perhaps new ones made?Twenty-third Session (May 03)  The early afternnon sun streams through the trees, softened by the leaves moving gently in the wind.  The party relaxes, enjoying a late meal, and soaking in the sun, after several days in a cold, dark, damp mine.  Their relaxation ends abruptly as the forest around them erupts in the raucous cries of birds, as hundreds take to the air in protest.  This is followed by a sub audible rhythmic rumbling under foot, and the sounds of trees being pushed aside and toppling.  The dwarves look to each other, the same thought running through their heads.  Giants.“Giants!” shouts Grimnyr, a wicked gleam in his eye.  “I’d know the signs anywhere.  Ready yerselves!”  He unsheathes his axe, eyes roaming over the forest in the direction of the disturbances.  His motions are echoed by Brynn and Genoa, with their animal companions’ fur lifting and teeth bared.  Startled by their companion’s actions, the remainder of the party is slow in reacting, but is ready when the first giant emerges from the trees.Standing four times the height of the dwarves, the large humanoid stepping out from behind the forest cover is clad in roughly tanned hides, carrying what appear to be a boulder in one hand, and a small tree in the other.  Its attention is directed behind it, as if fleeing something.  A second figure, the same size as the first follows shortly thereafter, although its gaze drops upon the Companions waiting beside the road.  “Hahmmmm,” it rumbles, “foooooood.”  It licks its monstrous lips.  It strides forward.Sharper eyes within the adventuring band notice that these creatures have seen some trouble recently, as evidenced by the numerous wounds and bloodstains covering them.  The wounds don’t seem to be slowing them any, however, as the first one takes note of his friend’s attention, and follows him towards the party.  “DARFS!” he yells, spying the dwarven members, and begins to run.Grimnyr and Brynn dart forward, rushing to engage the Hill giants, weapons in hand and feral grins on their faces.  Skylar rapidly lays shaft to string, and lets fly several arrows, laughing out loud in glee as each shaft sinks deeply into giant flesh.  Fresh gouts of blood cover already bloodied hides, and the injured giant slows in its rush towards the party.  On the heels of the mundane arrows are several arcane versions, cast by Qonos, as he too runs towards the giants.  Unerringly they strike, slowing the recipient further.Timber and Karazak, working in tandem, race each other to the newly damaged giant, preparing to harry it, allowing the Companions time to drop the creature.  Genoa, surprised by the animal’s reaction, cuts off her Entangle spell mid-cast, and instead runs forward, to get a better angle on the monsters.Tombit runs at top speed, around and behind the giants, in order to take advantage of sneak attacks.  Athena follows him, keeping a watchful eye on the impetuous Halfling.  “Whatever doesn’t kill him, usually makes him pretty unconscious,” she thinks to herself.Between Brynn and Grimnyr, and the rapid fists of Tombit, the wounded giant falls to rise no more, but not before using its club to pummel Grimnyr.  The second giant focuses on Skylar, as her arrows pepper him every chance she gets.  Genoa slows down the second by entangling its feet with magically enhanced brush and grass.  From the trees comes another complication.  This milk-white skinned giant towers over his Hill cousins, and the club it wields appears to be of stone.  Mists seem to follow it, deadening the light coming through the trees.  The air becomes damp as it approaches.  Having observed the battle before, it strides for Skylar, seeing her as the greatest threat.  Its club knocks her unconscious, and in a follow up swing, it tosses Grimnyr's body like a ragdoll, to fall crumpled in a heap some distance away.Stunned by the rapid course of events, and filled with rage, the remaining Companions fell the remaining Hill giant, and turn their attention on the newcomer.  It doesn’t have another chance to wield the club effectively before it too joins its Hill giant cousins in death.  The party does not have time to see to Grimnyr or revive Skylar before yet another interruption occurs.On horseback, five men ride towards the party, quickly but with caution.  They rein up a fair distance from the company, eyeing the remains of the giants, and the bloodied weapons and armor of the adventurers.  They bear upon their tabards the symbol of a tower overhung by a crescent moon, a symbol vaguely familiar to the party.  With a rush, Brynn realizes a similar symbol was on the Guild guard’s uniforms.  He tenses, ready for action, yet is put off balance by the band leader’s next actions.The leader prods his horse closer, right hand hovering over his blade, but relaxes suddenly with a laugh.  “Do you realize how long we have been chasing this group? Ahah!  We own you a debt, then.”The Companions are puzzled.  Brynn moves away from the body of Grimnyr and strides forward, to look up at the half-elven face of the band’s leader.  “I don’t gather your meaning.  Were you after these?” gesturing at the fallen giants.“Indeed, yes, friend dwarf.  Ah, but introductions are in order, for by your expressions, I can tell you know not who we are.”  He dismounts, then points to himself.  “I am Captain Kendu, of the Argent Legion from Everlund.  My men are Cea, Avo, Tharimis, and Morgan.  We are tasked with keeping the trade roads clear.  Those three represent the last of a group of giants that had come down from the mountains to threaten the caravans.  When the rest of their party was killed, they fled eastward.  We have been following for days.  So, we owe you a debt of gratitude.  By what names are you called, and from whence do you come?” he inquires.Brynn introduces the rest of the party, warily, sidestepping the question about their homeland, and inquires about Everlund, particularly regarding the Guild of Miners and Merchants.  He tenses again when he hears the Captain admit that they are familiar with the Guild, but relaxes when the Captain goes on to explain that the Guild is just one of many within the town, and they are not directly connected to it.In the background, Skylar is brought back to consciousness by Athena.  As the gnome moves towards Grimnyr, she realizes that the gruff old dwarf’s body is too damaged to contain life still.  Her stifled cry is heard by Brynn, and the dwarf turns to check as well.  He knows that their mentor and friend is gone, but is gentle in prying rapidly cooling hands from their grip on the axe, and is just as gentle in closing eyes that see no longer.  He notes that the old dwarf went happy, from the grin upon his face.  “Rest well, old timer,” he whispers.“Nooooo!  There must be something we can do.  We can’t let him go like this!” wails the healer.“He went in the best way a dwarf could,” Brynn tries to console Athena.  “He died, axe in hand, fighting giants.  He couldn’t ask for better.”Athena pushes Brynn’s comforting hand aside.  “No, I refuse to let him go.  He has so much more to do in this life!  We still need to find out what happened to our kinfolk and friends in the Valley.”  The rest of the party remains silent, watching and waiting.  Athena starts to walk away, and then whirls around to face Brynn again.  “The helmet!  I can take him to the priestess in Merikest!  She can help, I’m sure.”“Athena, we don’t know if Grimnyr *wants* to come back.  He died as he wanted to.  We should let him enjoy his reward!  He’s probably already drinking and supping with Clangeddin in the Halls of our fathers.” His voice trails off as he sees the determination in Athena’s face.  “All right, all right,” he sighs, and pulls the helmet from the magical sack Genoa carries.  “We shall wait here, to rest and heal.  Please hurry back if you can.”  He turns to the Legion soldiers, who have been silent, respecting the Companion’s grief.  “We need to make camp here, for rest and food.  You are welcome to join us, if you desire.”  As Captain Kendu nods agreement, Brynn places gentle hands upon Athena’s shoulders.  “Hurry back, lass.  We’ll wait for you here.”Athena’s tear-streaked face nods, and disappears beneath the stylized helm as she moves to the corpse of Lieutenant Grimnyr, Guardsmen of Rivenwall, hero, friend.  The two disappear in a blink and a rush of air.  Brynn sighs.  “All right, let’s get busy.  We’ve got a camp to make.”  The Companions notice that his eyes never rest more than a moment on the bloodstained ground where Grimnyr fell, although none can say if the shininess in his eyes is from the dust of the road, or some other reason.</blockquote>

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