{"id":160,"date":"2019-06-26T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-26T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/the-giants-gamble-pt-19\/"},"modified":"2022-05-19T11:02:55","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T10:02:55","slug":"the-giants-gamble-pt-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/26\/the-giants-gamble-pt-19\/","title":{"rendered":"The Giant’s Gamble Pt. 19"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 19: Bagpipes<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\u201cActually!\u201d Roon shouted as Thia and Opal made for the door to catch up with Kilian and Evelyn, \u201cI\u2019d better stay back and help the, er\u2014kid.\u201d He gestured behind them to the other room where the elderly elven man lay, barely conscious on an altar. <\/span><\/p>\n

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They nodded and Hiccup grabbed Opal\u2019s arm. \u201cYou!\u201d The goblin squeaked, \u201ccan you turn into something smaller?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUh, sure,\u201d Opal said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo it!\u201d Hiccup told her. \u201cSir Nibblesworth\u2014stay here with them!\u201d The squirrel jumped off his staff and skittered to Thia, where he crawled onto the elf\u2019s shoulder. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal flashed and transformed into a hawk, landing on the staff where the squirrel had been moments before. Hiccup put a hand on her feathery back, took a step forward, and the two of them disappeared. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGreat,\u201d Thia said sarcastically, throwing up her hands. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll just wander the sewers, then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOkay,\u201d Roon said, then jogged out of the room to heal the elf. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian and Evelyn stood in the tunnels. Evelyn\u2019s sunblade gave off a dim orange-ish glow, and they crept quietly, listening for any signs of the fleeing sorceress. The curved stone walls were wet and there were odd squeaks of fat rats moving curiously about the newcomers. <\/span><\/p>\n

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They heard an echoing footfall from behind them. Kilian threw up a hand to stop Evelyn, and they both turned back. The girl held up her sword, and Kilian shot out dancing globules of white light to float down the tunnel. \u201cAye, there you are!\u201d A voice shouted.<\/span><\/p>\n

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From around the corner stepped the short, burly figure of a dwarf. They both stepped back in surprise, but the dwarf didn\u2019t seem threatening. He stood confidently in half-plate armour and a cloak that billowed oddly despite the lack of breeze. On his back was slung a set of bagpipes and a crossbow, and the dwarf was grinning. He had coarse, ginger hair that grew in mutton chops down his cheeks and reached to the middle of his chest. The hair hung in two thick braids that connected at the end, but his chin and upper lip were bare. He wore a long, coloured kilt and his green eyes glinted in the lights. \u201cWell, isn\u2019t this a nice place for a meeting?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUh\u2026\u201d Kilian said. \u201cAre you friend or foe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cName\u2019s Flint Frostbeard,\u201d the dwarf grinned widely, showing sparkling white teeth. \u201cYou must be the giant slayer\u2019s I\u2019ve heard so much about.\u201d He gave a short bow.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTGS,\u201d Evelyn told him. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian gave the dwarf a suspicious look. \u201cHave you seen a sorceress run past here? She has curly dark hair, nice robes, and is on the mission to kill.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCan\u2019t say I have,\u201d Flint said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat are you doing down here, then?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI was looking for you. Although,\u201d the dwarf scratched his bare chin appraisingly, \u201cI did expect a bit, hm, more?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, there are more of us,\u201d Evelyn assured him. \u201cDo you want to see my bag of hearts?\u201d She lowered her blade and started rummaging in her stained pack, which was now barely holding together under the weight of the ghastly smelling internal organs she kept inside. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cPerhaps we should focus.\u201d Kilian reminded her. \u201cThis Isabell woman can\u2019t have gotten too far.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI could help,\u201d Flint offered. \u201cI\u2019m here to find you, of course, but I suppose I could help dispose of this sorceress.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCome on,\u201d Kilian said impatiently, and the dancing lights shot down the tunnel. They would have plenty of time for discussion later. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal and Hiccup appeared at the edge of a fresh stream. The stench of the sewers was still near, but this was separate. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal squawked and flew off Hiccup\u2019s shoulder, transforming back into her genasi form. \u201cThere!\u201d She shouted, pointing up the stream where Isabell was standing. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The sorceress spun, looked at them in surprise, then put her hands together and dove into the stream. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Before she could break the surface, however, a silver boomerang flew past and hit her square in the temple. She hit the water hard and began floating down the stream, facedown. \u201cMy boomerang!\u201d Hiccup squeaked as it sunk below the surface. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal dashed after the body, which was being carried off, and grabbed her by the robes, hauling her to the bank. She threw the woman down. Hiccup ran behind her, wheezing, and retrieved his boomerang with a triumphant whoop. \u201cYou had a lot of pent up anger against her, didn\u2019t you, Hiccup? What do we do now?\u201d Opal asked quickly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Hiccup stared at the water-logged body. \u201cShe killed Sir Nibblesworth the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRight,\u201d Opal nodded. \u201cWhat should I do with the body?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhatever you want,\u201d the goblin said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShe\u2019s still breathing,\u201d Opal realized, noticing the subtle rise and fall of her chest. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Hiccup reached into a pocket and slowly pulled out a dagger, staring cross-eyed at the body. \u201cDon\u2019t forget to take the wand,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal searched her robes, pulling up the carved stick with a gem at the base. She stood and studied it, then jumped at the angry shout of the little goblin. Hiccup was repeatedly stabbing the sorceress in the chest, his clothing quickly blooming with red splatter. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cEr, right,\u201d Opal said awkwardly as Hiccup stepped back, heaving and happy, to go wash his dagger. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The sorceress was very dead, now. Opal traced a few drawings of flowers into the mud around the woman, then washed her hands in the stream. Satisfied with her work, she said, \u201ccan we get back to the others?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ll have to walk!\u201d Hiccup declared.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The group converged in the room of the smashed stone gnomes, and Opal quickly told them about Isabell. Roon came leading Lee, who was looking healthier, but still elderly. Kilian and Evelyn smiled awkwardly at the group as they introduced the dwarf, and Thia gave him an imperious look. \u201cA dwarf,\u201d she said, nostrils flaring with dislike.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAn elf,\u201d Flint said, equally unhappy. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Evelyn reached into her bag and pulled out her dwarf\u2019s skull, facing it toward the newcomer. Flint raised an eyebrow as Evelyn slipped it away. \u201cWas that a dwarf skull?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUhuh,\u201d Evelyn said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cEvelyn collects weird things,\u201d Roon explained. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTeenage girls and their things,\u201d the dwarf said, shaking his head. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHere\u2019s the wand,\u201d Opal offered it to Thia, who took it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe might be able to use it to reverse what happened to Lee,\u201d the wizard said, examining the stick with interest. <\/span><\/p>\n

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They all walked back to the room with the altar and began searching it for clues. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s something here,\u201d Thia said, pointing to a darkened stone gnome statue on the ground. \u201cIt has a necromantic energy coming from it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat does it do?\u201d Roon asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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She stepped closer and bent to look at it. \u201cI\u2019m not sure. Can we put it in the bag of holding for now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIf I touch it, will my arms fall off?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia arched an eyebrow. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon took a few steps back. \u201cHow about you pick up the creepy statue, and I\u2019ll hold the bag open. You can throw it in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia shrugged and grabbed the statue, and suddenly her bronze skin paled and she gasped, falling back and dropping the statue, then scrambling to her feet. Her veins had darkened momentarily. \u201cWoah,\u201d she said, shivering. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI suggest we destroy it,\u201d Flint said, taking a square hammer from his belt and holding it up. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Hiccup moved in and poked it with his staff, and nothing happened. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHiccup,\u201d Kilian said, \u201chow did Isabell steal the life from the elves?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShe used a crystal,\u201d the goblin said, wide-eyed. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat crystal could be inside the statue,\u201d the sailor said thoughtfully. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, then we should smash it and find out,\u201d Flint told him. When no one objected, he smashed the hammer down.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The hammer recoiled on the stone, but it was unharmed. Kilian said, \u201callow me,\u201d and held up a hand toward it. With a high-pitched tone, the thing shattered, and stone flew in all directions. They all jumped back with yelps, then saw a large obsidian, crystalline piece the size of a fist lying on the ground, unscathed. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a phylactery,\u201d Thia breathed. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d Evelyn asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cA sort of arcane focus,\u201d the elf said. \u201cBut it\u2019s incredibly evil. Only a vile person would use it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo we destroy it?\u201d Roon asked her. \u201cOr use it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes,\u201d Flint said. \u201cDestroy it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, sorry to say you\u2019re not in the group, so you don\u2019t get to make those decisions,\u201d Thia snapped.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Flint glared at her. \u201cI don\u2019t answer to elves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt could be useful to have,\u201d Roon admitted. \u201cIt might help Lee if we can figure out how to use it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMaybe if we break the crystal, the stolen life forces will return to the bodies,\u201d Flint suggested, looking over to the strewn elven corpses beneath the altar. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt couldn\u2019t hurt to try,\u201d Kilian said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Without any more argument, Flint smashed it with his hammer. This time, it cracked. A bunch of white lights shot up and floated around the room. One sunk into Thia\u2019s chest and her skin resumed its normal colour. Another disappeared into Lee\u2019s chest, and the elf\u2019s hair darkened and the lines around his face vanished. The rest went into the corpses on the ground, and they watched in awe as each of them stirred and stood, looking young and fully alive. There were six elven boys in all.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t believe it!\u201d Roon said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Flint grinned and hooked his hammer back to his belt with a flourish. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat happened?\u201d One of the boys asked, rubbing his eyes wearily.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou\u2019ve just been saved by the Giant Slayers,\u201d Flint declared.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTGS,\u201d Evelyn clarified. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAny of you kids have rich parents?\u201d Roon asked curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRoon!\u201d Thia admonished, \u201cthey just came back from the dead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYeah, Roon,\u201d Evelyn agreed, \u201cthey\u2019re probably traumatized. Hey, kids, want to see a rakshasa hand?\u201d With that, she rifled through her bag and pulled out the severed and rather rotted hand of the gamemaster they\u2019d met in Everlund. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWoah!\u201d All the boys said excitedly, rushing in to get a closer look. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Their travels back out of the sewers took longer as they helped the boys, who were still a bit unsteady on their feet, out of the dark maze of slimy tunnels. When they reached the surface, many of the boys ran off and Roon offered to take Lee back to his grandmother. They all agreed to meet back at the inn and speak with Flint once they were there. <\/span><\/p>\n

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An hour later, Roon returned with a tin filled with tea from Lee\u2019s grandmother and sat with the rest. Kilian used a quick prestidigitation spell to remove the stench off each of them, then they looked at Flint expectantly. Hiccup sat next to them in an invisibility guise, but Roon occasionally caught a glimpse of the food slipping off someone\u2019s plate and disappearing into an invisible mouth. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, who are you, then?\u201d Kilian finally asked. \u201cAnd how did you hear about us?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou\u2019re not exactly subtle, are you?\u201d Flint said jokingly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUm, mister Flint?\u201d Evelyn said quietly. \u201cSince you\u2019re going to be part of our group now, I\u2019m going to give you a present.\u201d She turned and dug through her bag.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh no,\u201d Roon sighed. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat do you mean,\u201d Thia snapped to attention, \u201cpart of the group, now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Evelyn took out a small figurine of a humanoid creature with tentacles on its face and handed it over to the confused dwarf. \u201cHe gives me nightmares, but you can have him now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSorry,\u201d Flint smiled, taking it, \u201cit will give me nightmares?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She nodded shyly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAh\u2014thank you,\u201d the dwarf tucked it away, looking more surprised. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSo, what\u2019s your story Flint?\u201d Opal asked curiously. \u201cHow did you find out about us?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, it started with my problem with the giants. They killed my clan, see, and then I heard about a group calling themselves the Giant Slayers, travelling about Faerun and making a big deal of themselves. So, I decided to look for you. I thought perhaps I could help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe could use any help offered,\u201d Roon said happily, and Thia huffed. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhere are you from?\u201d Opal asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe village of Thornwall. Listen,\u201d Flint added, taking out a large book and slamming it on the table, \u201cdo you mind if I get your signatures? I\u2019m a bard, see. I record stories and retell them, so they\u2019re never forgotten.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGladly.\u201d Roon reached for the book and the dwarf gave him a bottle of ink and a quill. \u201cThis page here?\u201d The dwarf nodded, and Roon drew a fine depiction of male genitalia with his name scribbled inside. \u201cThere you are. That\u2019s my signature.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLovely,\u201d Flint beamed, then passed the book to Evelyn, who refused to take the ink.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI prefer blood,\u201d the girl said, and to Flint\u2019s surprise, she drew a bit from her scarred arm and used it to draw an X in crimson. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cVery nice\u2026\u201d Now the bard was looking rather uncomfortable as he passed it to Opal next. <\/span><\/p>\n

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They all signed the page, and Flint assured them he would gather great tales from their adventures. Then, they all excused themselves and went to bed with the decision to stay in Mirabar for a few days while Opal waited for her new breastplate to be completed. That, and they needed a map to the yak folk. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Over the course of the next few days, they listened to stories from Flint, and travelled about the city to purchase supplies and a map indicating the location of the iron slag mines, atop which the yak folk supposedly lived. There, they would hopefully find Duke Zolto, who held the conch and the key to their finding Hecaton. Roon set about putting his name to a few shop keepers to find a buyer for two of their adamantium staves, and on the second night, he received two notes from messengers. The first note offered him twenty-five hundred gold for each staff. The second letter said the offer was not trustworthy and the staves were worth more, and told him to meet in the alley behind the inn that evening. After some nervous discussion, they decided to meet the person and see why they wanted the staves. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon disguised himself as a halfling man and Flint stood behind him, invisible and watching carefully. Thia had changed her appearance using Bran\u2019s disguise hat, and now appeared to be a plain human woman. Everyone else sat on the two rooves over them, watching the exchange and ready to jump into the fight if necessary. The man appeared only a few minutes after them. He was tall and barrel chested, with a bushy unkempt beard and a scar across one eye. The eye was milky white, but the other was green and searching. \u201cDid Roon send you, then?\u201d The man asked in a growling voice. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes,\u201d Roon said in a false accent. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd you have the staves?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe don\u2019t have them on us,\u201d Thia said in a strong voice. \u201cWe wanted to talk to you first and see what you meant by your message.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI would like to offer five thousand gold per staff,\u201d the man said evenly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd what would you do with them?\u201d She asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUse them,\u201d he said simply. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTo find the adamantium?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia and Roon shared a look. \u201cWhy are you looking for adamantium?\u201d Roon asked in his false accent.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAre you working with the giants?\u201d Thia added.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat is my business.\u201d The man\u2019s posture visibly stiffened. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI think it\u2019s our business,\u201d Roon said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt can be very dangerous in the wrong hands,\u201d Thia explained, crossing her arms. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt can be used for shields, weapons, armour,\u201d the man listed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIs that what you\u2019re going to use it for?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man smirked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t think we want to sell to someone if we don\u2019t know their purposes\u2026\u201d Thia started to say, and Roon subtly whispered an incantation under his breath.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man\u2019s workable eye went soft and his body relaxed. The charm spell had done its work. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFriend,\u201d Roon smiled, dropping the accent, \u201ctell us what we need to know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI was hired to retrieve the staves,\u201d he said dully.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey didn\u2019t give me a name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat didn\u2019t bother you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s in my line of work\u2014getting things for people, no questions asked. I\u2019m a mercenary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo you know anything about the ordening?\u201d Thia asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe\u2014what, now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOkay, just checking,\u201d she said, and looked again at Roon. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe don\u2019t have the staves right now,\u201d Roon said, \u201cbut I can grab them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLead on,\u201d he said, gesturing ahead. Roon and the man passed Thia and went toward the front of the inn. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian landed in front of them, and stood up, gazing at the mercenary imperiously. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo we have a problem?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo,\u201d Roon sighed, then turned to them. \u201cI\u2019ll pop inside for a moment and grab them. Wait here.\u201d And he did just that. He went into the inn, took the two adamantium staves from their bag of holding, and returned carrying them. The money was exchanged, and the man gave a gruff farewell.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFollow him,\u201d Roon said, and Kilian nodded and flew up with Evelyn. He heard Flint pass by them, still invisible. Roon, Opal and Thia returned to the inn and sat together, waiting to hear back from their friends. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Less than an hour passed and all three of them returned, looking unhappy. \u201cHe saw us,\u201d Kilian explained in annoyance. \u201cHe\u2019s more observant than we gave him credit for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, let\u2019s hope this doesn\u2019t come back to haunt us,\u201d Roon said quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI think we made the right decision,\u201d Kilian said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo use worrying about it now. Let\u2019s get drunk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The next day they picked up Opal\u2019s new breastplate, then went with the new members, Hiccup and Flint, to Marteen\u2019s airship. Soon, they were back aboard, the wind rustling their hair as they flew to the Iron Slag Mines. A silver dragon passed them on their flight and landed aboard for a short while. The dragon was young and surprisingly friendly, just a curious passerby who was interested in the ship. They conversed for a short time, Marteen\u2019s men nervously standing near the ballistae just in case, and the dragon introduced himself as Dalinare. Then, he flew off and wished them luck in their journeys. <\/span><\/p>\n

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It was another day, nearing nightfall, when they neared the town of yak folk. Marteen was the one who pointed it out, and Roon used his spyglass to look closer. The town was lit but sleepy. It was built within the midsection of a large mountain, and there were giant steps leading from the valley upwards. As they neared, they contemplated how to approach the town, and decided to wait until morning to ask questions. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Marteen\u2019s men began to anchor the flying ship. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Suddenly, there was a rumble from within the mountain and something burst from the darkness on large wings and flapped straight toward them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat is that?\u201d Thia squinted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Roon brought up the spyglass. \u201cSome sort of winged creature with three heads\u2026\u201d he muttered, then added, \u201ceach head is different. Lion, goat, and I think that lizard one is a dragon\u2019s head\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s coming this way!\u201d Marteen shouted to his men to prepare for an attack. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t look friendly,\u201d Roon agreed, sliding the spyglass into his pocket just as the beast\u2019s three heads roared horribly, and it spun toward them, a gust of flame shooting over the deck of the ship.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They all attacked at once. Flint shot his crossbow and a bolt hit, then seemed to explode out of its body, leaving a gaping hole. Hiccup was casting some sort of spells with his squirrel-topped staff. Thia and Opal were working together, casting energies to pull the lifeforce from the creature. Kilian swirled up like a storm and lightning shot from his fingertips. Evelyn had blurred into many forms and both arms were bleeding. Her swords were licked with black magic, waiting for the beast to come nearer. Roon bolstered his friend\u2019s strength with light magic and shot a few sacred flames as the creature landed on the bow of the ship, causing it to shudder momentarily. Marteen\u2019s men shot and before the creature could get off another breath of fire, it was felled by well-placed bolt of fire from their goblin friend. It collapsed, its many heads twitching and then going still. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou can expect a lot of this, travelling with us,\u201d Roon assured Flint.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The dwarf looked pleased. \u201cA celebratory song!\u201d He announced, pulling out his bagpipes and blowing out a tune of quick victory. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Thia cringed at the music and kicked the goat\u2019s head with a toe. \u201cWhere do you think this came from?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSomewhere in the mountain,\u201d Kilian frowned. \u201cIt\u2019s a chimera.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Evelyn was already hacking off bits of the creature and stuffing them into her over-full bag.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The companions find themselves in the sewers of Mirabar trying to stop an evil sorceress from sucking the lives out of elven children. Along the way they meet a bard who wishes to spread their tales to the world, and they continue their journey to the Iron Slag Mines beneath the town of yak folk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":788,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[18,19,17,14,15,16,23,20],"series":[],"class_list":["post-160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-giants-gamble-dungeons-and-dragons-series","tag-campaign","tag-cult-of-the-dragon","tag-dnd","tag-dungeons-and-dragons","tag-fantasy","tag-series","tag-the-giants-gamble","tag-wizards-of-the-coast"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Giants-Gamble-Blog-Photos10-copy-10.png","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"amazon":{"key":"amazon","url":"https:\/\/music.amazon.ca\/podcasts\/09c34bbc-b359-49af-a286-31830ed5634c\/short-stories","label":"Amazon","class":"amazon","icon":"amazon.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_play":{"key":"google_play","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Play","class":"google_play","icon":"google-play.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0lcQCRs52MfYlKs35lVX4K","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"itunes":{"key":"itunes","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"iTunes","class":"itunes","icon":"itunes.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"

The Giant’s Gamble Pt. 19<\/a><\/blockquote>