{"id":169,"date":"2019-09-16T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/the-giants-gamble-pt-28\/"},"modified":"2022-05-22T14:19:43","modified_gmt":"2022-05-22T13:19:43","slug":"the-giants-gamble-pt-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/16\/the-giants-gamble-pt-28\/","title":{"rendered":"The Giant’s Gamble Pt. 28"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 28: The Wooden Squid<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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They met briefly with Queen Sarissa and told her what they\u2019d found on the ship. Roon noticed she did not sit on the throne, but made no mention of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Krakens, you say?\u201d The giantess said thoughtfully. \u201cI\u2019ve never heard of the group.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSo, you don\u2019t know why they\u2019d be after your father?\u201d Kilian asked, disappointed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She shook her head. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThis Drylum fellow said they were in the Trackless Sea,\u201d Roon added.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s a very large area,\u201d Sarissa said, \u201cbut I suppose you\u2019ve come to the right place, seeing as we\u2019re in<\/em> the Trackless Sea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat does help,\u201d Thia said, \u201cthough I am a bit surprised these Kraken people didn\u2019t take your father further away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cPerhaps they couldn\u2019t,\u201d the Queen said darkly. \u201cIt\u2019s not so easy to kidnap a storm giant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat about the airship?\u201d Kilian wondered. \u201cThey\u2019re still back in Yartar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI suppose I can send you back to them,\u201d Sarissa suggested.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI guess we\u2019ll have to,\u201d the sailor nodded. \u201cWe\u2019ll let you know if we find your father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She nodded, then led them into the room behind the thrones. Moments later, they were back on the deck of the airship on the outskirts of Yartar. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou really need to send some sort of warning,\u201d Marteen admonished, holding his chest in surprise as they appeared.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHow\u2019s Beatrice?\u201d Roon asked, trotting toward the tressym.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYour winged cat is fine,\u201d the captain assured him. \u201cWell, do we have a destination in mind?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian nodded. \u201cThe Trackless Sea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat is a very large expanse,\u201d the captain said uncertainly. \u201cHave you nothing else to go on?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNot yet,\u201d Thia said. \u201cWe\u2019ll need to do a lot of searching.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Marteen nodded, then turned back to his men and gave the orders. Soon, the airship was lifting higher into the sky, leaving the city of Yartar far behind. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The trip took several days which was helpfully sped along by Kilian\u2019s control over the winds. Flint spent most of the time writing their adventures in a large, leather-bound book, which he occasionally set aside to blow a few squeaking notes into his bagpipes, only to return frantically to scratching quill on paper. The rest of them kept busy with various activities aboard the ship. Kilian helped the crewmen, Roon and Thia read their books, Opal spoke to the birds, and Evelyn played with her collection of oddities and trinkets.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Finally, the expanse of blue appeared on the horizon. Roon tried several times to sit cross-legged on the deck holding a small mirror in his palms so he could scry on Hekaton, but every time he felt his magic was blocked. \u201cThere\u2019s something around him,\u201d Roon told the rest. \u201cSomething that\u2019s keeping me out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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As they passed over the sea, Opal and Roon transformed into beasts of flight and took to searching the skies, which were luckily clear and free of storms. The rest scanned the waters with spyglasses. \u201cWhat if they\u2019re invisible?\u201d Opal wondered one evening as they sat down for supper, it being too dark to continue their search.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey would need to be incredibly powerful to keep an entire ship, perhaps a fleet of ships, and<\/em> a storm giant invisible,\u201d Thia said wisely. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIf that\u2019s true,\u201d Roon said, pushing his potatoes away with a fork, \u201cthen we\u2019ll never find them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGreat,\u201d Evelyn said, and they spent the rest of the meal in depressed silence. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The following morning, Marteen\u2019s men pointed to a cluster of islands. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAre they populated?\u201d Kilian asked the captain, scanning the islands as they flew toward them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Marteen shrugged. \u201cNot much. A few miners, perhaps some trade business. I\u2019m not all that familiar with the area.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The party agreed to fly around the islands in search of ships. If nothing else, Opal offered to land on one of the islands and speak to the wildlife to see if they\u2019d spotted anything unusual. They scanned the islands for half a day and saw nothing, so Kilian asked Marteen to land. Soon enough, the ship dipped from the skies into the water, and their group took a rowboat to the island. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian and Thia rowed them in. The island\u2019s beach was small, and the green jungle behind it looked dense and uninviting. As their boat hit the sandy shore, something shimmered and changed. Kilian hopped out and began dragging them in, and Roon noticed a slightly larger boat appear next to theirs. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWh\u2014?\u201d Kilian jumped back and held up two electrified hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhere did that come from?\u201d Opal gasped, staring at it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt must have been under an illusion,\u201d Roon said admiringly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s empty,\u201d Thia said suspiciously, though they could all see it for themselves. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLet\u2019s tread carefully,\u201d Kilian cautioned, dragging their boat further onto the shore.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal walked past him and bent to the jungle floor, speaking her weird, airy language to the plants. They all stood around their druid friend, watching the boat, the jungle, and their airship where it sat in the sea. Roon noticed the plants around Opal were moving subtly, waving this way and that. Then, they all seemed to point in one direction toward the sea. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHO THERE!\u201d A man\u2019s voice shouted from the trees. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal stood quickly and they all stared at the man as he came rushing out of the jungle with a shovel. He had scraggly black hair and a long beard, and through his stained shirt showed a portly belly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cStop right there,\u201d Thia warned, drawing her sword.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man eyed them all with glowering eyes. \u201cWhat are you all doing here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat are you<\/em> doing here?\u201d Evelyn demanded, both swords out. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI work in the mines,\u201d the man said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThis is your boat?\u201d Kilian asked, pointing to it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAye,\u201d the man said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cInteresting spell you have over it,\u201d Roon said, arching an eyebrow.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man looked genuinely confused. \u201cAint\u2019 got no use for spells.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cPerhaps it\u2019s something to do with the island,\u201d Thia whispered. \u201cLike some sort of natural protective magic to keep people away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2019s that, then?\u201d The man shouted, squinting at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNothing,\u201d Thia said, maintaining the grip on her sword. \u201cHave you seen any large ships in this area? Perhaps with a giant aboard?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man shook his head stupidly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe stopped here to resupply,\u201d Flint told him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWon\u2019t find much here,\u201d the man replied, \u201cexcept grumpy miners and a whole mess of trees.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian nodded. \u201cThank you. We will take our leave.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man, seeming to find it not worth his effort, nodded and backed a few steps away, watching them cautiously get back into their boat and push off the shore. He stood as they rowed out, then turned back into the jungle, shaking his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat was strange,\u201d Roon said. \u201cI didn\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, but the plants told me where we need to go!\u201d Opal said quickly, as if just remembering. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhere?\u201d Kilian and Thia asked simultaneously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey saw a giant wooden squid headed south.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat could be the ship,\u201d Kilian said, looking more excited than any of them had felt in days. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have a lead,\u201d Flint grinned, then began humming a cheery sailor\u2019s tune as Thia and Kilian rowed them back to the ship. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Marteen steered the airship southward and Roon kept a keen eye out, using his spyglass to scan the horizon. It wasn\u2019t more than a few hours before he spotted white sails in the distance. \u201cI found them!\u201d The gnome shouted, pointing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They all turned with their own eyepieces and searched. \u201cYou\u2019re right!\u201d Kilian grinned. \u201cWe\u2019ve got them!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHa ha!\u201d Flint threw a victorious fist in the air, then waved to Opal to return. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal flew down and landed on deck, transforming back into her genasi form. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2019s our play, here?\u201d Roon asked. \u201cPerhaps we should approach the ship as friends. One of us could disguise themselves as Castier Drylum.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOoh, I could make myself an octopus,\u201d Opal offered. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI like that idea,\u201d Thia said approvingly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat do we tell them?\u201d Flint asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe could tell them, as Castier, that we\u2019ve met some adventurers who somehow found out about them and are looking for Hekaton.\u201d Roon said. \u201cWe just need to improvise enough that we make them trust us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI could sneak around,\u201d Flint said, \u201cand look for signs of Hekaton.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a good plan,\u201d Kilian agreed, and they all nodded. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The sailor walked to Marteen to explain their plan, when suddenly something slammed into the bottom of the airship. It rocked dangerously in the air. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMAN THE BALLISTAE\u2019S!\u201d Marteen shouted, \u201cWE\u2019RE UNDER ATTACK!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2014?\u201d They all rushed over to the edge.<\/span><\/p>\n

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There was movement on the ship beneath them. Somehow, it had come under them, moving quicker than Roon would have thought possible. \u201cThey have a magic user aboard!\u201d Roon shouted, and as soon as he said it, he was sure.<\/span><\/p>\n

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On the deck of the very large ship lay the unconscious, chained-down form of a gray-skinned storm giant. \u201cIt\u2019s Hekaton!\u201d Opal gasped. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Another shot rocked the ship and they heard wood splinter as a massive bolt stuck into the bottom of the airship. Roon saw ropes stringing the two ships together. The ship below them had a large wooden kraken on the front of it, but it was too far to make out the name painted on the side. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCut those ropes!\u201d Kilian shouted, shooting bolts of electricity from his hands at the tethers. Thia quickly did the same, and Flint loaded his crossbow. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon closed his eyes and began muttering a spell. He heard an explosion. \u201cGood shot, Kilian!\u201d Flint shouted. Roon peeked and saw one of the ballistae\u2019s in flames. Men were screaming aboard the ship. He felt the deck shift as Marteen angled the airship down.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Focus, Roon. Focus.<\/em> He closed his eyes again and muttered the spell, feeling the energy rush up beneath him. He threw open his eyes and pressed his hands out, and felt the weight spreading in his fingertips. He gritted his teeth and pushed<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A great wave rose up from the sea, higher and higher until it reached the peak of the ship\u2019s sails. Men screamed and shouted commands. Roon forced the water up until he could no longer hold it. Then, he shoved<\/em>, and the wave crashed over the Kraken\u2019s ship. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Wood splintered and cracked and, when the water cleared, the ship had been overturned, revealing its barnacle encrusted underbelly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Flint whooped in victory. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHow did you do that!?\u201d Kilian asked, aghast.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNice work, Roon!\u201d Thia grabbed him and shook him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUh, shouldn\u2019t we save the King?\u201d Evelyn asked curiously, watching the shipwreck. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRight!\u201d Roon squeaked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cStormgiant\u2019s can breathe underwater, luckily,\u201d Thia assured him. \u201cBut we should probably still help him out of those chains.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHere,\u201d Opal turned to them all, touching a finger to each of their foreheads. When she touched Roon, he felt a strange, airy cough choking his lungs. \u201cWater breathing!\u201d She declared. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMarteen,\u201d Kilian said in a strangled voice, \u201cdrop lower. We\u2019re going in!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Although Roon could still breath air, it felt uncomfortably hot and dry. It was a relief, then, when they broke the surface of the salty water and swam toward the upended ship. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon controlled the water around them, propelling them toward the ship where Hekaton was chained and unmoving. They passed drowning men but paid them no mind. It was the King they wanted. <\/span><\/p>\n

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They reached the ship and saw the chains binding his legs, arms and torso were thick. Evelyn took out her crowbar and tried breaking through the band around his wrists. Flint swam over to help. In their urgency, Roon saw Thia and Kilian trying to use magic to break the other chains, but nothing happened. Roon tried to cast polymorph on the King to reform him temporarily into a smaller creature, but his magic was blocked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s something blocking our spells,\u201d Kilian said in a gargled, underwater voice just as Roon thought it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHow do we break it?\u201d Opal asked frantically. \u201cI tried to dispel the magic around him, but it won\u2019t work!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe chains won\u2019t be broken!\u201d Flint said through gritted teeth, swimming back and trying to hammer against the chains with his axe. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Kilian swam up to Hekaton\u2019s peaceful face and tried shaking him awake, though his movements made very little impact while fighting against the resistance of the water. He pulled out a dagger and cut the King\u2019s face. The skin split open and red spilled out, but still he did not wake. <\/span><\/p>\n

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There\u2019s something keeping him asleep,<\/em> Roon thought, then swam to the giant and pressed a hand to his chest. He sent a restoring magic through the giant\u2019s huge form, but it was ineffective.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt must be the chains keeping him unconscious!\u201d Roon gargled.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey\u2019re<\/em> magical,\u201d Kilian realized. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon\u2019s eyes widened and he reached into his hilt, pulling out Nightmare. It was the dagger his god handed to him. \u201cYou will know when to use it,\u201d Baravar had said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon nudged Evelyn aside where her crowbar was wedged into the chain. He dug the sharp edge of his blade against the metal, and it cut through it like butter. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHa!\u201d Flint shouted, \u201cvery clever!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia drew her sword and sang into it until it glowed, then pressed the blade against the chain locking Hekaton\u2019s other wrist. It cut through it easily. Evelyn was already slicing through one of the leg chains with her glowing sunblade, and Roon had moved down to the last one. As Nightmare seared through the metal, Hekaton\u2019s eyes flew open and he roared. His voice was not muted in the water as theirs was. It was deafening. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re on your side!\u201d Flint shouted, swimming out of the giant\u2019s aggressive swing. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe saved you!\u201d Roon shouted.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSarissa sent us!\u201d Thia said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Hekaton stopped and blinked, floating there. He stared at them. \u201cMy daughter sent you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re The Giant Saviours!\u201d Roon yelled. \u201cWe\u2019ve been looking for you for a while.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hekaton turned and looked up at the overturned ship where he\u2019d been tethered, then down at the floating chains. With three great strokes, he swam up and broke the surface of the water to survey the wreckage. The rest of them followed cautiously, and Kilian shouted up to Marteen in the airship, which hovered ten feet over the water. \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Marteen!\u201d the sailor declared. \u201cWe got him! We saved the King!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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They left the Kraken\u2019s ship and all the men who clung to the bottom of it, coughing. A well-dressed wizard was amongst them, waterlogged and looking helpless as he treaded water. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShould we help them?\u201d Opal asked, ringing water out of her colourful hair. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey are kidnappers and thieves,\u201d Hekaton declared in a low, rolling voice, then turned and walked to the bow of the ship. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe islands aren\u2019t far,\u201d Roon whispered to Opal. \u201cWith that wizard to help them, I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell,\u201d Kilian said, looking around at his friends, \u201cI suppose we should return.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The airship was again high in the clouds, moving toward the mainland. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Opal reached into her bag and pulled out the conch. \u201cReady?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon set Beatrice on the deck and the tressym trotted off indignantly to stand at Marteen\u2019s side. Opal looked up at the storm giant, who nodded his assent. Then, she pressed her lips to the conch and blew a low tone. The bubble formed around them, and they were once more transported to the palace under the Trackless Sea.\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<\/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

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The Giant Saviours travel to the Trackless Sea in search of the kidnapped King Hekaton. They search fruitlessly for days before finally finding the society known as The Krakens, and the ship holding the Giant King captive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":779,"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-169","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-19.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. 28<\/a><\/blockquote>