Scene IV: Battle in the Great Hall

    One female hill giant is alive, and pissed off, but cautious of Blade since he just gutted her cohort. She is backing off, since the males have arrived. They see you all and move to attack, one heading toward either side of the fire pit. They yell at the female, "Round up help! We'll take care o' these 'ere!"

Combat summary:

    In Round 2, Bruce hits once and misses once, and Ghotu hits, killing the first hill giant. Blade fumbles his second attack and misses his third. Mog hits the giant with a magic missile spell. The giant misses its second attack.

Combat Results

    The hill giant, still standing, swings a mightly overhead blow with its great mace at Ghotu. Too late to dodge, the warrior raises his magic shield to absorb the blow. He is driven to his knees, his own shield bashing against his helmet and dazing him slightly. Bruce leaps to his defense, slashing the giant's arm with one hack and nearly decapitating him (but missing) with the next. Ghotu stands and delivers the deathblow, splitting the giant's belly open with a horizontal slash. The giant folds over, eyes glazing as his entrails spill from the great wound like a tangled gout of bloody snakes. An awful stench immediately assaults their senses.

    The female hill giant lopes toward the west double doors in her wool dress and apron, bellowing "Hargnar! Goff! Intruders!" Just before she reaches the doors, they slam shut with a bang and momentarily glow with a dim blue dwoemer. She pulls and pushes on the great oaken double doors, but to no avial.

    The other hill giant advances on Blade, and the fighter keeps his perch atop the fire pit wall. As the giant raises his massive axe (at least seven feet long, double bladed), Blade's long sword flickers forth, opening a bloody slash on one of the giant's forearms. The wound, however, does not phase the giant and he continues his swing at Blade. The broad axe head actually glances off Blade's right shoulder as he ducks under the arc of the cut, and he stumbles. His foot slips unexpectedly off the edge of the wall, and Blade falls flat on his back to the stone floor, the wind bursting from his lungs. He sees the hill giant standing over him.

    The hill giant raises its axe again, this time intending to cut Blade in two."You buggers are gonna wish you never got in 'ere!" he snarls. But before he can strike, several bright white bolts from Mog's outstretched and tattooed left hand (what he calls his "spell hand")strike the giant in the face, causing him to stagger backward. Blinded and face blackened from the magic missile spell, the hill giant staggers backward, and Blade snags one of his feet with a kick. The hill giant topples into the fire pit, howling as he is engulfed in the molten embers. Bruce steps to the side of the pit and silences the giant as he struggles to rise. [Freebie attack to end the battle.]

    The two hill giants are dead, and the female hill giant is still struggling with the west door. The orc servant also still cowers in the southwest corner watching all. The characters listen briefly, and though sounds can be heard distantly in the steading, no immediate approachers can be heard. The female hill giant, realizing she cannot open the door, turns and puts her back to it, holding the skillet before her threateningly. She is quite ugly by human standards, with several hairy moles protruding from her great bulbous nose. She does not appear to be attacking at the moment.

    Mog attempts to speak to the orc slave. The two can apparently understand one another in their gutteral language, as the slave jabbers quietly, motioning with his hands. Mog mutters more words, then turns to the party.

    "His name is Krulek, and he is one of the giants many slaves. He says there is a rebellion in the caverns below the steading, where many orc slaves have escaped the giants and live in nearby caves." Mog listens more to Krulek, then speaks again. "There are stairs down, but the way is guarded. But he will guide us if we want to try." Krulek indicates that the way to the stairs is through the west door, where the female hill giant is.

Epilog