STORY: The Hill Giant Chief - Nosnra's Saga Pt CCXII (212)
Jason Zavoda
This is a first draft of a story set in the world of Greyhawk.
It is based on a home campaign so some of the people, places and things
may be different. Any helpful comments or suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks
Jason Zavoda
The Hill Giant Chief - Nosnra's Saga Part CCXII
They looked like balls of fur, no sign of head, or legs, or
even life. These gibberlings carpeted across the floor of the passage,
they were mere pups, but they would claw and bite if even the tiniest
spark of life remained. Light was the only thing they feared. A torch
would make them cower and run, and brighter light would freeze them in
their tracks, drop them into motionless huddled shapes that would not move
to save their lives.
Ivo and Telenstil were the last to leave. The elven mage had sent
the others ahead to wait by the opening that had been clawed through the
ceiling by the pack of gibberling adults. There had been forceful words
spoken to Talberth, the young wizard hemmed and hawed and dragged his
feet, not wanting to leave his friends, but desiring to stay and explore
the ancient ruin. At the last Talberth turned his back on the chamber
of pillars and monstrous golems then marched sullenly away.
"Look at them, the wee beasts." said Ivo.
"Amazing." said Telenstil. "At a different time I would stay
here with Talberth and explore."
"I'd send for my cousins back home and look through this place
properly." Ivo chuckled. "The things you find when you can't do anything
about them. It reminds me of when I was young, long time ago now." He
held a torch in his hand and lowered it to a pile a sticks and rags as
he spoke. The flame leapt and danced among the tinder bursting into
a blaze then dying low.
"That should hold them." said Ivo. He left the torch atop
the fire and retrieved a magic stone from the floor. "Don't want to
leave this behind."
"We had best join the others." Telenstil said.
As Ivo put the magic stone away, placing it back within a metal
sphere that he snapped shut with a loud click, the hall dimmed. Instantly
the gibberling young began to move. Those furthest from the fire were
partially hidden from its light. Some disappeared back into the
pillared hall, most shifted but the flickering light from the fire was
enough to hold them still.
Ivo and Telenstil beat a hasty retreat down the passage and
rejoined the rest of their companions. The fire would burn for some time,
more than long enough for all of them to escape back to the forested hills
above.
* * *
"There you are." Ghibelline was the first to see their approach.
"Is everyone ready." Telenstil asked.
"As we will ever be." said Gytha. "Harald has been arguing with
his little twin the whole time. We are going to abandon the orcs?"
"It is too late for them, as I said." Talberth spoke sharply.
"But did you see them..." Gytha went on.
"They wouldn't have survived, I wouldn't have either if I hadn't
known the words to say and the language to say them in." said Talberth.
"They're gone."
"Let us be off then." said Telenstil. "Harald, can you climb up,
is the rope in place?"
"I told you." the ranger said. He seemed to speak to all the
others at once. "I can climb it, but I've been waiting here. Gytha
insisted."
"She was right." Telenstil said quickly before Gytha could reply.
The elf felt the tension which radiated from one to another. They
had not found rest within the ancient ruins, and leaving it seemed to
have brought out the strain that their flight from the giants hall had
put upon them. "I want us to stay together and not to break off into
smaller groups or disappear one by one." he looked at each of them.
"Harald you are our scout, but more caution is needed, and that means
lesser distance."
"A scout is best left on his own." said Harald. "What good can I
do if we all walk into a trap together."
"Any warning will be of a help." Telenstil replied. "We will
face any traps together, and our strength combined will overcome them.
If a trap takes you, as this place almost did, then you will not
be able to help us. I know you are used to scouting for your wildland
patrols, but this is different, we are not scouts or soldiers, and
we do not wish to lose you even to save ourselves."
* * *
(To Be Continued...)