The Seige of Jarvenol - 15/10
Nov 28, 2019 23:50:56 GMT
Varis/G'Lorth/Sundilar, BB, and 2 more like this
Post by Markas Virnala on Nov 28, 2019 23:50:56 GMT
"The Seige of Jarvenol"
21st Entry in the journal of Markas Virnala
Another request for mercenaries in Jarvenol this week, the site or most of the conflict in the war in K'ul Goran. Scouts had been out into the mountains and reported back on a hoard of giants preparing to attack the city in a fee days time. The main army was already being assembled in Zot Goran to mar h forward to Jarvenol but I guess they thought some extra trained hands would always be helpful. Sheryl and Pieni managed to heal up most of my injuries but I still have a some pretty bad bruising on my side even now.
A small group of us were sent out first to arrive early and help prepare for the coming attack. Pieni, Serpentine & Monty, Sheryl - a Halfling wearing fairy wings, Ghesh, sporting the usual Trilby and myself. We made it in good time and were posted about the city, helping barricade the gates, setting spikes outside, keeping watch on the walls. More adventurer's were due in a day or two, as well as the main army of K'ul Goran. But in the early hours of our second day the alarms went out and we were called to the wall. The Giants had arrived early.
We were posted on the East wall, were the majority of the attacks have come from. Climbing up, we could already see the blood of the soldiers running and hear the crushing as the giants assaulted the walls. Reaching the top it was when the magnitude of the situation actually hit us though. In the distance, hundreds of Giants, Ogres and 2x headed creatures called Ettins (a lot like the ogres in appearance) had gathered and where on the attack. Thankfully, they didnt seem to be moving as one unit. A few Stone giants were barking orders, sending small groups of Hill giants and Ogres to break the walls. The ones that didnt trip on the spike traps or get pinned down in the volley of arrows and bolts were being picked off by the us and a few of the errant guard posted on the wall. The first wave coming in was pretty easy to handle, but soon enough, the spikes where broken and more were making it through. Occasionally a club would slam the top of the wall, crushing the people around us, or an ogre would take swipes at us and send a few people falling from the wall. It was relentless and after hours of fighting and avoiding the debris we were pretty worn out, yet the encroaching hoard looked no smaller than when we started.
Three or four hours in, having just put down the last wave, we were sent off the wall for a rest. The stone Giants had started to move in as well and on reaching the walls, were bracing themselves against them, acting as a ladder for the ogres to climb up to us. We managed to take them down pretty quickly but not without losing more than a few lives in the process. We had a few familiar faces with us. Raxus Highwatch, the minotaur in command had assigned Torven, Zeph and Chlorus to our group, as well as Ventria, a storm sorceror Air Genassi and Kain, a massive minotaur sporting an equally big crossbow. Raxus was on the wall with us but was constantly on the move, healing where he could, barking instructions the whole time. it was clear we were Not going to be able to handle the entire hoard, we just needed to buy the city some time until the main force arrived. In the meantime, the civilians were being evacuated and maybe, if they continued to attack in small groups we could hold out.
We had maybe an hour of rest before being called back to the wall, not that we could rest well anyway. Between the chaos in the streets and the sounds of fighting on the walls, none of us slept really rested. Not that anyone was complaining of course. Even Hoop was oddly quiet through all this.
Back on the wall and we could see the remnants of the last attack. Parts of the wall were beginning to crumble and there were noticeable gaps in the forces there. Meanwhile the Giants still seemed impossibly numbered, even with the field of exsanguinatIt was Sheryl who spotted it first and pointed out the turning point in the siege. Through the ranks of giants there was a shuffling as eight even larger figures stepped through the masses. Even from this distance it was easy to make them out, especially after being chased by one last week: Fire Giants. Each clad in black armour, towing a massive great sword behind them. As we watched, the approached the front line and collectively began shouting to the others, the , as one, the entire hoard rushed the wall.
We all prepared to try to hold the wall as best we could when from behind us a messenger came crying out that the South wall had fallen! Fire Giants had also surrounded the city and began attacking the lesser defended walls finally punching through while most of us were distracted on the East wall. Looking back over the city, we could actually see a couple of Fire giants looming over the buildings and beginning to tear them apart. The city still being evacuated, Raxus ordered Torv to take our group to the Hall of Learning near the centre of town, help them get packed up and get them out of the city.
It didnt take long to reach the Hall with torv leading us, sprinting down packed streets packed with people still trying to evacuate. As we came closer to the Hall, the crowds finally dispersed a little and we found a large wagon by the door, piled high with an assortment of books, artefacts and curious objects. A steady stream of people were rushing out and showing different objects to an Aarakocra who was filtering them quickly into items being saved and others being abandoned. He barely looked at us as Torv made the quick introductions, pausing briefly at Pieni. When we asked how we can help, almost as if on cue, one of the fire giants rounded the corner down the street and started making it's way towards us.
I wasnt sure how well we would fair against a fire giant. They appeared stronger and smarter than the Stone giants we faced before. We did at least have numbers on our side. As we charged in, Ghesh and me taking the front offence and the others opting to attack from a distance with Torv. Before we could reach it, the giant actually tore off the entire roof of a building and hurled it at us. Luckily, most of us managed to get out of the way. Except for Pieni. Pieni took it straight to the face. They came up out the rubble pretty quick, thankfully but the beak did look kinda scuffed for it.
Other than the roof, we managed to bring it down quite quickly. Pieni summoned a massive swarm of bees, Torv threw his boomerang with deadly accuracy, Ghesh began carving into his legs and the magic users were firing it at him with full force too. Thankfully, being so big, it was actually easy for me to find one of the ki points in his body and stun him, leaving him easy pickings for the rest.
Almost too quickly, it was over and the giant came crashing down in the street. We could hear what sounded like fighting in the next street. Feeling a bit ambitious after bring down one, most of us wanted to try and tackle the second that was wandering around but Torv sent us instead back to the Hall. "Get the history and people to safety", as he ran off to help the soldiers in the streets.
Back at the Hall, Sarc, the archivist Aarkocra we met before was just finishing up and instructed us to help him out the city. The ox on the wagon were whipped into a run and we joined the throngs of people heading for the gates to the south. I managed to get a few quick glimpses of the Eastern wall as we passed by streets. The flashes I could see was enough to know it wasnt going well... multiple ogres and giants were on the wall. Flashes of fire from the great swords of the fire giants could be seen lighting up the taller buildings even where we were, and I'm sure down one long street there was a very large hole in the wall now. It couldn't have been more than 5 minutes after we left before we started hearing loud grunts behind us, turning only to see a group of ogres prowling the city had spotted us. And, for the second time in as many weeks, I found myself trying to outrun someone with Ghesh
We actually managed to get away pretty easily in the end, Ogres not being the smartest creatures. Ghesh and I were taking pot shots at them (literally in Ghesh's case, as he was literally throwing pots and anything else he could grab at them), while the others collectively coerced the drivers and Ox to move quicker. Sheryl cast a spell that collapsed a building and slowed them down a little and before we knew it we were rolling through one of the gates to see it be barricaded behind us. I felt bad as we heard the soldiers on the other side begin to fight the ogres but Torv told us to protect the wagon and the people so we stuck with them as they piled out the city.
A large gathering of the people had gathered on a plain outside the city and as we approached, Sarc thanked us for helping him get out the city, still more concerned with their history than their people. And with that, we were outside the fighting, away from the invading forces, watching the city burn. Most of the people were milling around, tired and terrified. The conversation soon turned to what we should do next. Most of the group, especially Serpentine, was keen to get back into the city and help. I pointed out that we should probably stick with the refugees though, which I'm glad we did in the end. We were sent to Jarvenol to help the people. While defending the city was important, if the people died out in the plains while heading to the safety of Zot Goran, it would make defending the city pointless.
We explained to Sarc we intended to stick it with them until they reached safety, whether that was Zot Goran or the approaching army that was supposed to be due today. Someone decided to see if they could squeeze some extra pay out of sarc for helping them but when he asked me what I would like, I just asked if he could give me a gift for Hoop. He was of course, immediately confused about who Hoop was so I introduced him and he looked like he was going to have a fit. Thinking on it now, he worked as an Archivist. The chance to talk to Hoop, who is filled with all kinds of old treasures must have been like a dream come true to him! He agreed anyway, merely asking if he could have a chat with Hoop while we travelled. I asked Hoop and they, of course, loved the idea of someone wanting to pay them attention!
We set off to Zot Goran. Sarc in back of the wagon, deeply engrossed in Hoop's ego. The few scatterings of guards with us taking turns to patrol the long line of refugees on the road. The adventuring party, stuck with the wagon but kept in touch with the news from the guards in case we needed to move along the line at all. As we broached one of the nearby hilltops we all got a good look at jarvenol. Smoke filled the air from all over the city now. The walls were riddled with holes and Giants could be seen throughout the entire city, aimlessly wandering and destroying everything. A few looked like they were locked in fighting still, most noticeably by the occasional magical explosions we were still seeing, but it looked like the soldiers had lost this fight already. With all the destruction they were causing, Conquest clearly wasn't on their agenda, why would they just be attacking the buildings if that were the case? We are still none the wiser as to why this war is even happening.
Another short rest on the wagon, barely 30 minutes and just as distrubed as our last break back on the wall. No Giants were spotted on the roads or Plains around Jarvenol, other than those stilll attacking the walls, so we felt fairly safe but not so safe to assume we would get away without further fighting. In that, we were right.
Cresting one of the larger hills, we heard a scream from further up the line. A woman had been the first to spot them, two ogres climbing up over the nearby cliff edge from the hill before it opened up int flat plains. We jumped off the wagon and rushed them, seeing a third come up too. We took up a similar approach to our last encounter, Ghesh taking the Ogre to the Right, me taking the one to the left and Serpentine summoning that large monkey-like Demon again to tackle the central one, while staying back with Pieni and Sheryl to provide ranged support. Although we were split up now into smaller sections, we still felt pretty confident in taking them down, yelling for the guard to keep the people on the move. away from the fighting. I wasn't too worried about Ghesh, since seeing him mow down an entire hoard of skeletons, I was sure he would be fine, and the others were out of the way, so I could focus on the Ogre in front of me. Until another three climbed over the ridge to join them!
Distracted by the new and even uglier face climbing the wall and glaring at me, I gave the one I was fighting a chance to step past me only to have him shove me, trying to send me over the edge. If it hadn't been for my training, I'm sure I would have gone flying then. I caught a glimpse of Ghesh nearly being pushed over as well but he managed to beat his ogre back. Regaining my footing, I spun and continued to attack, finally managing to catch another Ki point on this ogre and stopping him, just in time to find myself surrounded by the other one. Leaving him stunned, i began attacking the new comer and pretty quickly cut him to ribbons with the Dragon Slayer scimitar, only to see a surge of magical energy from Serpentine hit him and dim the last of the light from his eyes. I spun around in time to see the first Ogre had come round and managed to side step his club.
Suddenly, with a deafening crash, a massive axe cratered into the floor next to me. As I stepped away from the dust flying out from it, I didn't see the second club coming in from the side as it connected with me, rattling my head. I just barely managed to keep my footing, spinning on the spot again to see another creature had climbed the wall behind me all the fighting, an Ettin!
Now i knew he was there, I knew to keep my wits about me, and I was able to step out of his next swing, spinning again to catch sight of the ogre taking another swing too. Ducking under his arm, I spun back to see the Ettin distracted by a large sound over to my right. Seeing my chance, I darted to the Ettin at the cliff edge, slashing under his arm and leg, dropping him to one side so I could focus on the Ogre. With the Ettin temporarily immobilised, dealing with this ogre was much simpler. With a few flurries of my sword, a well placed palm and the now expected blast from Serpentine, The Ettin was brought down to the ground without managing to hit me again. Getting tired but seeing the chance to check on the others, the Ettinn still standing up from the deep cuts I had already given him, I looked along the ridge to the others.
Ghesh was battling it out with the ogres still and was just rounding on the last one, all the while as a swarm of bees were swooping around it. Serpentine's demon had gotten into a wrestling match with the a second Ettin that had just emerged from behind Ghesh. I managed to look just in time to see the two clash as the floor beneath them gave way, sending them both crashing down the cliff to the floor below. It turned out the loud noise was Sheryl casting that spell again that demolished a building on the way out, only now it had destroyed the floor and, with the weight of the Ettin and the Demon, simply gave way. We didnt need to check on how they were doing. For a short while afterwards, even from where we were, we could here thems till fighting and, soon enough, only the Demon could be heard. rampaging at the base of the clif and soon enough, even that stopped.
Back up on the ridge, Ghesh and the Bees finally toppled the last Ogre and before I could finish off the Ettin behind me, Pieni transformed it into a tiny two-headed dog. I grabbed it before it could go anywhere, narrowly avoiding the stream of piss (dogs!) and we carried it over to the others. Apparently, one of the Ogres didn't like whatever Sheryl had been doing to him and was dead on the floor in front of her, falling just before actually managing to hit her and other than the now growing bruise up one side of my body and a few injuries on Ghesh, we made it out ok. he was looking pretty tired now though.Those rages he goes into really take it out of him.
We decided to catch up with the caravan, two-headed dog in tow and called for the guards. They could see the Ogres had been dealt with but were keen to keep moving in case more showed up. We handed over the dog explaining it was anEttin and would need to be contained when Pieni's magic wore off but it might provide some info on what has been going on. Sure enough, with some persistant questioning, we got a few more answers. The Giants were not interested in land or conquest, as we gathered from the attack but were just doing what they were told.The Etting-dog was reluctant to say more than that but eventualy they let slip that the big giant had told them to do it. The big giant, being a Storm Giant. He was holed up in the mountains somewhere and was orchestrating this whole war from their. Though we still had no idea why, at least we had an indication of who was behind it now.
About 10 minutes after this, we finally caught sight of the main army heading in from Zot Goran. They were expecting people to be on the road to avoid the conflict but the concern on the captains face quickly turned to horror as we recounted what had happened. The army wasted no-time in rushing to jarvenol after that, providing a small force to help guard the refugees on the way back, but I dont expect they will find much in that city now beyond death and destruction.
The remainder of our journey back to Zot Goran was pretty quiet. we managed to get some actual rest finally, now there was a small force with us. Sarc and Hoop seemed to have become fast friends during the trip, mostly because of his intense interest in everything Hoop had to say no doubt.He kept his promise though and gave Hoop an aretfact from their Histroy for their collection, a primitive looking Minotaur Statue. Once back, we were paid, fed and sent by portal back to Daring. Aurelia wasn't too happy with our report on what happened but then, hearing of a city being lost isn't going to be the best news. Still, we saved a lot of lives. That's what really matters here.
21st Entry in the journal of Markas Virnala
Another request for mercenaries in Jarvenol this week, the site or most of the conflict in the war in K'ul Goran. Scouts had been out into the mountains and reported back on a hoard of giants preparing to attack the city in a fee days time. The main army was already being assembled in Zot Goran to mar h forward to Jarvenol but I guess they thought some extra trained hands would always be helpful. Sheryl and Pieni managed to heal up most of my injuries but I still have a some pretty bad bruising on my side even now.
A small group of us were sent out first to arrive early and help prepare for the coming attack. Pieni, Serpentine & Monty, Sheryl - a Halfling wearing fairy wings, Ghesh, sporting the usual Trilby and myself. We made it in good time and were posted about the city, helping barricade the gates, setting spikes outside, keeping watch on the walls. More adventurer's were due in a day or two, as well as the main army of K'ul Goran. But in the early hours of our second day the alarms went out and we were called to the wall. The Giants had arrived early.
We were posted on the East wall, were the majority of the attacks have come from. Climbing up, we could already see the blood of the soldiers running and hear the crushing as the giants assaulted the walls. Reaching the top it was when the magnitude of the situation actually hit us though. In the distance, hundreds of Giants, Ogres and 2x headed creatures called Ettins (a lot like the ogres in appearance) had gathered and where on the attack. Thankfully, they didnt seem to be moving as one unit. A few Stone giants were barking orders, sending small groups of Hill giants and Ogres to break the walls. The ones that didnt trip on the spike traps or get pinned down in the volley of arrows and bolts were being picked off by the us and a few of the errant guard posted on the wall. The first wave coming in was pretty easy to handle, but soon enough, the spikes where broken and more were making it through. Occasionally a club would slam the top of the wall, crushing the people around us, or an ogre would take swipes at us and send a few people falling from the wall. It was relentless and after hours of fighting and avoiding the debris we were pretty worn out, yet the encroaching hoard looked no smaller than when we started.
Three or four hours in, having just put down the last wave, we were sent off the wall for a rest. The stone Giants had started to move in as well and on reaching the walls, were bracing themselves against them, acting as a ladder for the ogres to climb up to us. We managed to take them down pretty quickly but not without losing more than a few lives in the process. We had a few familiar faces with us. Raxus Highwatch, the minotaur in command had assigned Torven, Zeph and Chlorus to our group, as well as Ventria, a storm sorceror Air Genassi and Kain, a massive minotaur sporting an equally big crossbow. Raxus was on the wall with us but was constantly on the move, healing where he could, barking instructions the whole time. it was clear we were Not going to be able to handle the entire hoard, we just needed to buy the city some time until the main force arrived. In the meantime, the civilians were being evacuated and maybe, if they continued to attack in small groups we could hold out.
We had maybe an hour of rest before being called back to the wall, not that we could rest well anyway. Between the chaos in the streets and the sounds of fighting on the walls, none of us slept really rested. Not that anyone was complaining of course. Even Hoop was oddly quiet through all this.
Back on the wall and we could see the remnants of the last attack. Parts of the wall were beginning to crumble and there were noticeable gaps in the forces there. Meanwhile the Giants still seemed impossibly numbered, even with the field of exsanguinatIt was Sheryl who spotted it first and pointed out the turning point in the siege. Through the ranks of giants there was a shuffling as eight even larger figures stepped through the masses. Even from this distance it was easy to make them out, especially after being chased by one last week: Fire Giants. Each clad in black armour, towing a massive great sword behind them. As we watched, the approached the front line and collectively began shouting to the others, the , as one, the entire hoard rushed the wall.
We all prepared to try to hold the wall as best we could when from behind us a messenger came crying out that the South wall had fallen! Fire Giants had also surrounded the city and began attacking the lesser defended walls finally punching through while most of us were distracted on the East wall. Looking back over the city, we could actually see a couple of Fire giants looming over the buildings and beginning to tear them apart. The city still being evacuated, Raxus ordered Torv to take our group to the Hall of Learning near the centre of town, help them get packed up and get them out of the city.
It didnt take long to reach the Hall with torv leading us, sprinting down packed streets packed with people still trying to evacuate. As we came closer to the Hall, the crowds finally dispersed a little and we found a large wagon by the door, piled high with an assortment of books, artefacts and curious objects. A steady stream of people were rushing out and showing different objects to an Aarakocra who was filtering them quickly into items being saved and others being abandoned. He barely looked at us as Torv made the quick introductions, pausing briefly at Pieni. When we asked how we can help, almost as if on cue, one of the fire giants rounded the corner down the street and started making it's way towards us.
I wasnt sure how well we would fair against a fire giant. They appeared stronger and smarter than the Stone giants we faced before. We did at least have numbers on our side. As we charged in, Ghesh and me taking the front offence and the others opting to attack from a distance with Torv. Before we could reach it, the giant actually tore off the entire roof of a building and hurled it at us. Luckily, most of us managed to get out of the way. Except for Pieni. Pieni took it straight to the face. They came up out the rubble pretty quick, thankfully but the beak did look kinda scuffed for it.
Other than the roof, we managed to bring it down quite quickly. Pieni summoned a massive swarm of bees, Torv threw his boomerang with deadly accuracy, Ghesh began carving into his legs and the magic users were firing it at him with full force too. Thankfully, being so big, it was actually easy for me to find one of the ki points in his body and stun him, leaving him easy pickings for the rest.
Almost too quickly, it was over and the giant came crashing down in the street. We could hear what sounded like fighting in the next street. Feeling a bit ambitious after bring down one, most of us wanted to try and tackle the second that was wandering around but Torv sent us instead back to the Hall. "Get the history and people to safety", as he ran off to help the soldiers in the streets.
Back at the Hall, Sarc, the archivist Aarkocra we met before was just finishing up and instructed us to help him out the city. The ox on the wagon were whipped into a run and we joined the throngs of people heading for the gates to the south. I managed to get a few quick glimpses of the Eastern wall as we passed by streets. The flashes I could see was enough to know it wasnt going well... multiple ogres and giants were on the wall. Flashes of fire from the great swords of the fire giants could be seen lighting up the taller buildings even where we were, and I'm sure down one long street there was a very large hole in the wall now. It couldn't have been more than 5 minutes after we left before we started hearing loud grunts behind us, turning only to see a group of ogres prowling the city had spotted us. And, for the second time in as many weeks, I found myself trying to outrun someone with Ghesh
We actually managed to get away pretty easily in the end, Ogres not being the smartest creatures. Ghesh and I were taking pot shots at them (literally in Ghesh's case, as he was literally throwing pots and anything else he could grab at them), while the others collectively coerced the drivers and Ox to move quicker. Sheryl cast a spell that collapsed a building and slowed them down a little and before we knew it we were rolling through one of the gates to see it be barricaded behind us. I felt bad as we heard the soldiers on the other side begin to fight the ogres but Torv told us to protect the wagon and the people so we stuck with them as they piled out the city.
A large gathering of the people had gathered on a plain outside the city and as we approached, Sarc thanked us for helping him get out the city, still more concerned with their history than their people. And with that, we were outside the fighting, away from the invading forces, watching the city burn. Most of the people were milling around, tired and terrified. The conversation soon turned to what we should do next. Most of the group, especially Serpentine, was keen to get back into the city and help. I pointed out that we should probably stick with the refugees though, which I'm glad we did in the end. We were sent to Jarvenol to help the people. While defending the city was important, if the people died out in the plains while heading to the safety of Zot Goran, it would make defending the city pointless.
We explained to Sarc we intended to stick it with them until they reached safety, whether that was Zot Goran or the approaching army that was supposed to be due today. Someone decided to see if they could squeeze some extra pay out of sarc for helping them but when he asked me what I would like, I just asked if he could give me a gift for Hoop. He was of course, immediately confused about who Hoop was so I introduced him and he looked like he was going to have a fit. Thinking on it now, he worked as an Archivist. The chance to talk to Hoop, who is filled with all kinds of old treasures must have been like a dream come true to him! He agreed anyway, merely asking if he could have a chat with Hoop while we travelled. I asked Hoop and they, of course, loved the idea of someone wanting to pay them attention!
We set off to Zot Goran. Sarc in back of the wagon, deeply engrossed in Hoop's ego. The few scatterings of guards with us taking turns to patrol the long line of refugees on the road. The adventuring party, stuck with the wagon but kept in touch with the news from the guards in case we needed to move along the line at all. As we broached one of the nearby hilltops we all got a good look at jarvenol. Smoke filled the air from all over the city now. The walls were riddled with holes and Giants could be seen throughout the entire city, aimlessly wandering and destroying everything. A few looked like they were locked in fighting still, most noticeably by the occasional magical explosions we were still seeing, but it looked like the soldiers had lost this fight already. With all the destruction they were causing, Conquest clearly wasn't on their agenda, why would they just be attacking the buildings if that were the case? We are still none the wiser as to why this war is even happening.
Another short rest on the wagon, barely 30 minutes and just as distrubed as our last break back on the wall. No Giants were spotted on the roads or Plains around Jarvenol, other than those stilll attacking the walls, so we felt fairly safe but not so safe to assume we would get away without further fighting. In that, we were right.
Cresting one of the larger hills, we heard a scream from further up the line. A woman had been the first to spot them, two ogres climbing up over the nearby cliff edge from the hill before it opened up int flat plains. We jumped off the wagon and rushed them, seeing a third come up too. We took up a similar approach to our last encounter, Ghesh taking the Ogre to the Right, me taking the one to the left and Serpentine summoning that large monkey-like Demon again to tackle the central one, while staying back with Pieni and Sheryl to provide ranged support. Although we were split up now into smaller sections, we still felt pretty confident in taking them down, yelling for the guard to keep the people on the move. away from the fighting. I wasn't too worried about Ghesh, since seeing him mow down an entire hoard of skeletons, I was sure he would be fine, and the others were out of the way, so I could focus on the Ogre in front of me. Until another three climbed over the ridge to join them!
Distracted by the new and even uglier face climbing the wall and glaring at me, I gave the one I was fighting a chance to step past me only to have him shove me, trying to send me over the edge. If it hadn't been for my training, I'm sure I would have gone flying then. I caught a glimpse of Ghesh nearly being pushed over as well but he managed to beat his ogre back. Regaining my footing, I spun and continued to attack, finally managing to catch another Ki point on this ogre and stopping him, just in time to find myself surrounded by the other one. Leaving him stunned, i began attacking the new comer and pretty quickly cut him to ribbons with the Dragon Slayer scimitar, only to see a surge of magical energy from Serpentine hit him and dim the last of the light from his eyes. I spun around in time to see the first Ogre had come round and managed to side step his club.
Suddenly, with a deafening crash, a massive axe cratered into the floor next to me. As I stepped away from the dust flying out from it, I didn't see the second club coming in from the side as it connected with me, rattling my head. I just barely managed to keep my footing, spinning on the spot again to see another creature had climbed the wall behind me all the fighting, an Ettin!
Now i knew he was there, I knew to keep my wits about me, and I was able to step out of his next swing, spinning again to catch sight of the ogre taking another swing too. Ducking under his arm, I spun back to see the Ettin distracted by a large sound over to my right. Seeing my chance, I darted to the Ettin at the cliff edge, slashing under his arm and leg, dropping him to one side so I could focus on the Ogre. With the Ettin temporarily immobilised, dealing with this ogre was much simpler. With a few flurries of my sword, a well placed palm and the now expected blast from Serpentine, The Ettin was brought down to the ground without managing to hit me again. Getting tired but seeing the chance to check on the others, the Ettinn still standing up from the deep cuts I had already given him, I looked along the ridge to the others.
Ghesh was battling it out with the ogres still and was just rounding on the last one, all the while as a swarm of bees were swooping around it. Serpentine's demon had gotten into a wrestling match with the a second Ettin that had just emerged from behind Ghesh. I managed to look just in time to see the two clash as the floor beneath them gave way, sending them both crashing down the cliff to the floor below. It turned out the loud noise was Sheryl casting that spell again that demolished a building on the way out, only now it had destroyed the floor and, with the weight of the Ettin and the Demon, simply gave way. We didnt need to check on how they were doing. For a short while afterwards, even from where we were, we could here thems till fighting and, soon enough, only the Demon could be heard. rampaging at the base of the clif and soon enough, even that stopped.
Back up on the ridge, Ghesh and the Bees finally toppled the last Ogre and before I could finish off the Ettin behind me, Pieni transformed it into a tiny two-headed dog. I grabbed it before it could go anywhere, narrowly avoiding the stream of piss (dogs!) and we carried it over to the others. Apparently, one of the Ogres didn't like whatever Sheryl had been doing to him and was dead on the floor in front of her, falling just before actually managing to hit her and other than the now growing bruise up one side of my body and a few injuries on Ghesh, we made it out ok. he was looking pretty tired now though.Those rages he goes into really take it out of him.
We decided to catch up with the caravan, two-headed dog in tow and called for the guards. They could see the Ogres had been dealt with but were keen to keep moving in case more showed up. We handed over the dog explaining it was anEttin and would need to be contained when Pieni's magic wore off but it might provide some info on what has been going on. Sure enough, with some persistant questioning, we got a few more answers. The Giants were not interested in land or conquest, as we gathered from the attack but were just doing what they were told.The Etting-dog was reluctant to say more than that but eventualy they let slip that the big giant had told them to do it. The big giant, being a Storm Giant. He was holed up in the mountains somewhere and was orchestrating this whole war from their. Though we still had no idea why, at least we had an indication of who was behind it now.
About 10 minutes after this, we finally caught sight of the main army heading in from Zot Goran. They were expecting people to be on the road to avoid the conflict but the concern on the captains face quickly turned to horror as we recounted what had happened. The army wasted no-time in rushing to jarvenol after that, providing a small force to help guard the refugees on the way back, but I dont expect they will find much in that city now beyond death and destruction.
The remainder of our journey back to Zot Goran was pretty quiet. we managed to get some actual rest finally, now there was a small force with us. Sarc and Hoop seemed to have become fast friends during the trip, mostly because of his intense interest in everything Hoop had to say no doubt.He kept his promise though and gave Hoop an aretfact from their Histroy for their collection, a primitive looking Minotaur Statue. Once back, we were paid, fed and sent by portal back to Daring. Aurelia wasn't too happy with our report on what happened but then, hearing of a city being lost isn't going to be the best news. Still, we saved a lot of lives. That's what really matters here.
