STORY: The Hill Giant Chief - Nosnra's Saga Pt CCXIV (214)

[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 CCXIV

The land dropped away suddenly, the wood ran to the edge of
the cliff, trees jutting at angles, roots sticking from the steep side.
Far below, the ravine that held the entrance to the ruin could not be seen
but a wide bare strip of land pointed to it as if it were a city gate.
Gibberlings had flowed like a river from the ravine, annihilating
everything in their path, leaving only a large tree here and there amid
the desolation that had survived the stream of claws. The monster's nails
grew quickly and never stopped. They worked them down on stone or wood,
scratching away even at metal. They ate most things, leaf and fruit, root
and bark, but they preferred flesh and bone. They stripped the forest bare
even churning the ground in their passing.
Harald stood behind Telenstil and Ivo, looking over their heads
at the scene spread out below them.
"It goes on for miles." said Telenstil peering at the dark
path of destruction left by the gibberlings.
"I wish it went through Nosnra's steading." Ivo said.
"No chance of that." Harald told him. "Goes to far to the east and
the north. Probably go downhill first chance they get."
"Yes," Telenstil agreed, "unless something distracts them. Any
giants out searching would draw them."
"No chance of that, they set out before we did." said Harald
thinking about the tracks he'd seen. "They were streaming from that pit
before we'd left the steading.
"What woke them." wondered Telenstil.
"Not us." said Ivo. "That shaft up through the stone. That took
time, even for those beasts, but fate had a hand in it I do not doubt.
Some purpose... that was a close thing, if we'd been in their path..."
"We'd be dead." concluded Harald. "Wait...back, back, I see
something."
A wolf the size of a pony appeared on the dark trail below them.
It came from the south as they had, its head toward the ground. Harald
could picture its nose snuffling as it found their scent and its actions
seemed to match his thoughts. It stood and raised its head.
The cry came to them, drifting up like a cloud of smoke, a long
drawn out wail. Then it stuttered into a handful of barks. The answer came
both from the south and the east, though the cries from the east were
very near, while the call from the south was distant and faint.
"That's done it." said Harald.
"They have not found us yet." said Telenstil.
"They are on our trail." Harald nodded toward the wolf. "And they
are close."
"We are better off higher up then." said Ivo. "I don't mean some
cave, they'll starve us out or block us in. We'll have to fight them
off."
"We will talk as we move." Telenstil held his arm out inviting
them to rejoin the others at the spring.
"This place is no good." said Ivo. "There are cliffs above us,
they'll role boulders down and squash us like apples."
Harald looked toward the steep rise above them. A series of ridges
like huge steps cut into the side of the mountain.
"More than a hill isn't it." said Ivo.
"A tall hill." Harald admitted.
"Or a small mountain." countered Ivo.

Ghibelline met them as they returned. "What is wrong?" he asked
reading their expressions.
"Wolves on our trail, not wild ones either, the giant's pets
and hounds." Harald said to him.
"Come, everyone up," Telenstil called to the others, "We must be
going."
Derue was sitting with his legs folded ankles atop knees. He rose
in a single fluid motion. While they were gone he had found himself a
length of wood and with a borrowed knife had cut away the branches. Now
he had a staff, a help to walk with and in his hands a weapon to be
feared.
"Someone wake up Talberth." laughed Ivo.

* * *

(To Be Continued...)