Chapter Forty-Seven

April 14, 2012

 

12th of Saltmonth

 

            As we ride further into the cave, a sudden mist rises up and surrounds us, obscuring our vision to the point that we can each only see the person immediately to either side.  It is clearly supernatural in nature.  A large winged creature swoops from the mist to attack Briggette.  The vrock continues to wail on her, but after a few back and forths, as well as some attacks by the rest of us, he meets his fate.
            The next cavern over has two nests in it.  To the other side, there is a room with a portcullis, which Finn and Ulric manage to lift open.  In the darkness on the other side, I can make out a large shape that might be a giant.  As we move under the portcullis, a bright burst of light begins glowing from the center of the room, revealing two giants standing there. 
            One of them speaks, "Leave and you will be allowed to live."
            We attack.
            We maim.
            We kill.
            We slaughter.
            We move on to the next room which is behind another portcullis.  Without any help from any of us, it begins to rise.
            Inside, we see an extraordinarily large giant flanked by three ogres and two hill giants.  Behind the large one, we see an enormous alter, on top of which sits a large glowing white orb.
            Ulric dismounts, steps forward and proclaims, 'By the order of St. Cuthbert and my father, the Count Zurwald of Grozney, I order you to relinquish the eye of winter or suffer the penalty of death!"
            They begin to move toward us, and we fight a fierce battle.  The leader picks up the orb and places it in his chest before joining the fray.  In a brilliant charge, Briggette runs him through and he falls.  I run up, slam the Tear of the Sun into the Orb of Winter, and am thrown backwards in the explosion that ensues.  The temperature in the room is fluctuating between cold and hot rapidly.