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The blade of grass broke the shackles of the ice and snow and stretched toward the sun. Spring was coming and soon the snows of the Spine would melt and the nearby river would be gorged with churning water. A well muscled chestnut stallion wandered over and ripped a mouth full of the newly born grass from the ground and chewed gratefully. Fresh greens had been long hidden on the journey from the Wastelands.
Upon the steed sat Shavas one of the most seasoned Elf rangers of the wasteland tundra. His stark white hair and pale skin gave away his heritage upon first glance. The white Elves of Madra were avoided by most and respected by all. Their skill with bow and blade were second to none and it was said that even the dreaded blood hunters stayed clear of their path. Shavas waited patiently for the fur wrapped human to approach as his chestnut grazed. The four dwarves behind him took the short break to raise their skins of ale and rip off a chunk of dried meat and stale bread.
“Greetings ranger, what brings you to this bleak and desolate place?” The human was large by all measure and his voice was strong and confident. He knew of the white elves and he respected them as they were do but he wasn’t custom to fear. To live this close to the chasm and the Spine you had to be tough.
“We seek passage into the chasm. I am Shavas Fourwinds of house Madra. Who might you be?”
“Names Agrus, been trapping in the spine for nearly ten years. Tis my first time meeting a White Elf but sadly not the first time I’ve met someone fool enough to enter Jagsra’s chasm.. Ya know what’s down there do ya?”
“Yes Agrus I am well aware of the Titan king of the chasm. We seek his counsel and if refused, we seek his blood.”
Agrus’ brow furrowed deeply. He then looked past the White Elf at the dwarves beyond. It was plain to see that they were hardened by many battles and their gear shone brightly in spots and glowed lowly in others. These were not just any adventures, they were rightly trained and death gleamed in their eyes. Still Agrus could not help a doubtful shake of his head.
“Ya got a serious look in your eye friend and your companions look as though they could slay a thousand Orcs but it would be against my good nature not to try to get ya to think of someth’n better then going down to the Titan lair.”
“Consider us warned friend. Now, how about showing us the way down the chasm?”
“One more question first. Why would a wasteland Elf be a come’n through the Spine? The dark lord of Grim Dragas ain’t one for folks traveling through his mountains and I’m thinking a white elf in particular would set a hot coal under his foot.”
“The dark lord, as you call him, is no bother to me. I travel as a light wind, neither kicking up dust nor drawing a wandering eye. Besides, my friends here have been hardened by the Spine and fit the task at hand well. Let’s just say their skills are especially fine tuned for dealing with a titan.”
“Aye, I see you’re meaning Shavas Fourwinds. Now let’s discuss the worth of what I’m about to show ya’s.”
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Grutt had been spurting out curses since the last attack. His arm had been broken in three places and he was none too happy about it. The Chasm giants they had encountered did not fight like typical giants. Their strength and size was a match to their above land brothers but they moved with a quickness that at first had taken the dwarves by surprise.
The human, Agrus, had led them to a hidden entrance to the chasm that would have taken months for them to find on their own. They had left their horses behind and begun the difficult travel through the uneven tunnels down into the chasm. Shavas had let Grutt lead the way as a Dwarf's eyes were better suited for the nearly complete darkness in which they traveled.
It was Drin that first smelled the giants and gave warning, nearly too late mind you, but a warning it was.
“We got trouble lads, on your axes and keep you wits about yas!”
Three giants came rushing in from the side halls that intersected the path. The giants wore no armor but they had great agility, using large hands and feet to grip rock as if they were empowered with spider climb. Grutt turned with his axe just as one of the giants flew in, feet first. The massive feet grabbed Grutt by his arm and shoulder as easily has his father might back when he was a small one in the clan. The momentum of the giant slammed Grutt to the ground there was a loud snap as his arm broke and twisted in a gruesome unnatural way.
Magis and Krod had readied themselves and were facing the western hall. The giant coming towards them had missed the timing just a bit and had lost the element of surprise. Still both dwarves stared in disbelief as the large giant both ran and pulled himself along the wall with amazing speed; alternating between his feet and his free hand to fly along the floor and walls. The giant’s style was more like that of an ape than a giant but the dwarves supposed it bled the same color red as every other giant they had killed in their long careers.
The giant caught Magis’ axe in the shoulder as he rushed in and that was quickly followed by a glancing blow from Krod that nearly missed altogether. Magis dodged skillfully as the giant tried to knock him to the ground with his feet much like what had happened to Grutt.
…
From the path straight away came the third giant. His skin was much darker than the others and he spit curses as he raced down the hall. He grabbed the wall with his feet near Grutt and the giant now standing on top of him and launched himself ahead towards Drin and Shavas. Shavas fired three arrows at once, connecting twice with great precision. The giant seemed not to notice. Drin had been ready too and connected a solid blow with his axe into the giants’ chest. Not many naturally living things could have taken the combination of damage and lived, but this giant seemed none the worse for it. He had pushed off the wall with a mighty surge of strength and came down with an over-head swing of his great club and smashed Drin in the shoulder. Drin’s magic armor took most of the blow but the damage was still substantial.
…
The giant’s feet held Grutt in a vice, the great club slammed into his already broken arm and again the arm buckled breaking in two more places. Grutt cursed loudly and slammed the back of his head on the stone floor in anger and frustration. The giant grinned with delight as the dwarf remained helpless, held firm by the giant’s weight.
…
Magis and Krod seemed to be having the most success. They moved in unison as they danced skillfully around the giant, flanking him as they swung their great axes. The giant was proving difficult to get a solid blow on as his quickness was unlike any creature of this size they had seen before. The giant’s club found its mark once in Krod’s stomach and then twice against Magis’ right leg. The last blow was brutal and Magis grimaced as his leg armor buckled and cut deeply into his thigh.
…
Drin met the darker giant’s chin with the spike in the middle of his axe blade with his signature uppercut maneuver. The six inch spike drove through the soft skin below his jaw and blood shot from his mouth. The skilled dwarf then swung low and was shocked as the giant gracefully leapt above the arc of the blade unscathed. Back to back retaliatory blows sent Drin back three feet in his stance, something that had not happened to him since his was a youngling.
Shavas had surmised that a divided approach would simply result in the death of them all. The dark giant fighting Drin was obviously the most skilled and seemed the most able to take damage and a lot of it. Drin could hold his own; at least for another moment or two. The best thing Shavas could do was try to free up some help. It was obvious Grutt would be of little use so the white elf focused his efforts on the Giant in west hall fighting Magis and Krod.
One after another his arrows flew true and struck the giant with a great thud. One especially well placed shaft drove deep under his arm pit and caused the critically damaged giant to howl in pain. Still the giant would not fall and Shavas started to think it all over as he reached back for yet another arrow. This one gleamed a pale green light and its head sparkled with magic.
…
Grutt was near death. Once again the blood thirsty giant on top of him slammed him with his club. Twice in the shoulder and one devastating blow to the side of his head, his helmet flew from his head and skittered across the floor. Grutt could do little more than curse his assailant as blurred dizziness filled his eyes and the room began to fade.
…
The giant fighting Magis and Krod instinctively turned as Shavas had fired arrows into his side and Krod took full advantage of his momentary lapse. Krod’s massive arms brought the axe in a full arc from near the ground up around his head and full into the giant’s back. He made contact with the chasm giant’s spine between his shoulder blades and buried his axe deep. Spinal cord severed the giant dropped into a lifeless heap.
Magis wasted no time as he leapt forward to help Drin. The giant’s long reach caught him by surprise as he took a blow to the ribs as he rushed in. Off balance, he missed the dark skinned giant completely. Shavas was yelling above the fray, “Drin, you must get to Grutt and be quick about it!”
The dark giant wheeled on Magis and Drin took the opportunity to break away and rush to Grutt’s aid. Meanwhile Krod stepped in and took his place opposite Magis against the giant leader.
…
As Drin rushed in the giant standing on top of Grutt took one last swing landing a solid blow against the Dwarf’s unprotected head. Satisfied the Dwarf was dead he turned to face the charging Drin. Drin presumed that Grutt was dead and fury filled him as he leapt into the air, axe arcing over his head as he came upon the giant. The axe hit the chasm giant squarely in the chest and his sternum shattered with the impact and the blade severed his heart. Blood shot forth in waves completely covering both Drin and the fallen Grutt. Glassy eyed the giant fell back his head cracking loudly against the wall.
The tide was now fully turned. Skilled or not, one giant was no match for the white Elf archer and three skilled Dwarves. The dark giant managed another solid blow to Magis and a parting shot to Krod before he finally fell to a volley of arrows closely grouped around his neck and face. The entire battle had lasted less than thirty seconds but the bloodshed and damage was massive.
Shavas quickly ran to the battered and presumed dead Grutt. He quickly rummaged through his backpack whispering a prayer to Corellian has he did so. He pulled out a potion of blue liquid and poured it down the Dwarf’s throat. A few tense seconds past by before Grutt’s eyes blinked and then opened wide. His arm was already repairing itself and his cracked skull was mended.
“Ah tis good to see you live my friend. Much too close for my liking and yours too to be sure. I had hoped to not need the potion until we were much further along in our journey. The stakes have gone up considerably.”
Drin spoke up having finally caught his breath, “We need rest Shavas. Tonight we rest and in the morning we can continue the search for this Titan you speak of.”
Shavas’ expression gave away his concern, “Hmm yes, quite right Drin. Tomorrow.”
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Agrus saw the staggering white elf from a distance. His armor was badly damaged and his right arm hung loosely by his side. His mouth filled with tabac, Agrus spit a wad of brown into the melting snow. Pulling his donkey behind him he approached the elf, gently shaking his head as he approached.
Shavas gave no appearance of noticing the mountain man but as he approached he dropped to his knees. Up close the truly horrific nature of the elf’s wounds could be seen. Several large gashes could be seen through his no tattered chain armor. Blood trickled slowly from a few and one had caked over with puss from infection. One hand was mutilated as if crushed in a vice and covering of bruises disguised is otherwise albino features.
The white elf held his bow in his good hand though there appeared to be no arrows left in his quiver. Starting blankly ahead Shavas mumbled enough for Agrus to make out that the Dwarves had all been killed.
“I’m frightfully sorry to see ya in such shape good elf. The chasm is a place of death to be sure. I’ll be sure to say a word or two for your dwarven friends in my prayers.”
Shavas said nothing.
“Did you at least find the Titan?”
“No. We never even got close.”
Agrus said nothing else as he carefully lifted the white elf onto the back of his donkey and turned west toward the spine.
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