Day Three of the Odinsleep (The Plains of Vígríðr) Part Two

DAY ONE (Day Three of the Odinsleep), 9:30 am 

As the giants stalk forward, the sounds of battle erupt on either side of the adventurers’ troop.  Oddvar and his men are fully engaged in a brawl against a squad of trolls.  The half-faced wizard’s orbiting stones rip and shred the trolls as they close on him, flaying them down to the bone and his berserk warriors leap onto the fallen bodies with axes, dismembering limbs and applying torches to the twitching stumps.  The man with four spears stuck through him is struck down but the others continue thrashing against the onrushing tide of foes.

Then everything beyond our immediate vicinity vanishes in the focus of our own battle.  Ra’ziir shouts “Ignis Pila!” as he kneads a ball of guano between the fingers of his right hand before hurling a fireball into the two trolls at the fore of the advancing force.  An orange bead streaks from his hand and detonates with a low roar, engulfing the green-skinned monsters in white-hot flames.  Both stumble out of the flames a moment later, singed and burning but continue on, wicked claws flexing drool escaping from the slavering jaws.

Cedron calls out to his god, “Malazzarr, our path of progress is blocked by these vile enemies.  I call upon Your aid now to clear our way and bring HELL TO ASGARD!”  A pillar of flame pours down from the heavens, striking the one of the trolls already flash-fried by Ra’ziir’s spell.  The beast howls in pain and staggers out of the fire, his body burned and his flesh flaking away in sheets.

Raven reaches back and pulls Nightwatcher from its sheath with his left hand.  His fingers hover above the hilt of Thorgrim unsteadily.  He knows that drawing the blade will commit him to this fight until all of the giants have been slain or until he falls against them.

Shadow, still floating scant inches above the ground chants “Σώμα σιδήρου” and his flesh hardens, becoming as strong as steel, armoring him against all but the most powerful of blows.

In the momentary distraction provided by the fiery attacks, Desmond darts to one side, crouching low behind one of the few bushes in sight and readies his weapons, preparing to strike from ambush when the opportunity presents itself.

As the explosions die away, the massive giant gestures to the ogres to either side of him and says, “Döda trollkarlarna.” The ogres roar and charge forward, rushing straight toward Ra’ziir and Cedron, their massive mauls and axes held high.

Raven, Nightwatcher in hand, steps into the path of two of the onrushing brutes and puts every ounce of strength into his swings.  His black blade flashes crimson as he slices the first two foes to reach him across the abdomen.  Blood sprays but neither the ogre nor the troll slows as they bear down on the bladesinger and priest of Malazzarr.

Hansuke shifts into his human form and rushes up alongside Raven, meeting the troll the elf struck on the way.  The tattooed monk shouts, ” Daburu Samaasoroto” and unleashes a blistering flurry of strikes against the beast, pounding its chest and face with iron-hard fists.  The troll collapses beneath the monk’s onslaught and falls to the ground.

Then the ground shakes as the Jotun takes a single step forward, placing itself directly in front of the elf.  The giant is unbelievably huge - taller than most buildings Raven has ever seen.  He is swallowed completely in the shade cast by the blue-skinned giant’s massive body.  The elf growls and steps in closer to the titanic giant and brings his blade crashing down on its ankle with a resounding ”CHOP!”  The giant howls in surprise and jerks its foot back, plants itself and brings its axe down in a whistling blow that barely clips the elf as he dodges aside.  The elf staggers, shocked by the power even a grazing blow of the giant carries.

Kysek falls back a pair of steps and reaches into the pouch by his side.  He whispers the words, “Каменная кожа” and his skin instantly takes on the consistency of rock.  The spell spreads to encompass his owl familiar Bubo as well and both brace themselves to meet the rushing forces of Loki’s army.

Arthur draws Lawbringer and raises his shield, stares into the face of the enemy and says “Malazzarr, give us strength.”

Morn uncoils his silver whip and lets it hang at his side.  He glances around at each of his companions and begins to recite an old Harper ballad that brings to mind the battle before us and those who have fought alongside us during our journeys.

“Don’t look back

Just draw your blade

Down dark track

The kill is made! 

Don’t shout out yet

Just follow the cries

Time enow to laugh and bet

After the foe snarls and dies! 

Run and wave blade blood-wet

Down the trail of dancing bone

To the place where death is met

We all rush – and come there alone! 

Don’t, no, don’t look back

There’s never time for that

Just add more meat to the sack

And grow old and wise and fat 

Until the day the death is thine

And you face the gods alone

Few folk find enough time

To take their wanted throne 

So raise now the sparkling wine

Drink it deep, while you can

Gods grant you smiles at its shine

Remembering the hunt you ran!” 

The bard’s words ring out over the field, cutting beneath the dine of steel on steel and the thump of giant’s feet stamping the ground, emboldening the hearts of those nearest to him – Arthur, Drax and Niklas.

Niklas drifts to the left, placing himself in a line that will give him clear shots at the ogres battling Ra’ziir and Cedron, his eyes glancing from one ally to the next to ensure that they are not surrounded by the onrushing horde.

The lead ogre reaches Ra’ziir and raises it maul to strike.  The bladsinger is faster and slices it across the belly with his fiery sword, Deathblossom, eliciting a pained howl from the monster.  The monster’s two-handed hammer narrowly misses caving in Ra’ziir’s head as the elf twists aside to avoid the blow as the battle is fully joined.

= = = = = =

• Inspire Courage (+2 hit/dmg/save vs charm/fear) from Morn: Arthur, Drax, Morn, Niklas (as long as Morn performs +5 rounds)

• Arthur: 100% health;

• Bubo: 100% health;

• Cedron: 100% health;

• Desmond 100% health;

• Drax: 100% health;

• Grotto: 100% health;

• Hansuke: 100% health;

• Korbin: 100% health;

• Kysek: 100% health; Stoneskin (80 of 80; 89 minutes, 9 rounds remaining)

• Morn: 100% health;

• Niklas: 100% health;

• Raven: 85% health;

• Ra’ziir: 100% health;

• Shadow: 100% health; Overland Flight (14 hours, 49 minutes, 9 rounds remaining); Iron Body (DR15/adam, immune to blindness/critical hit/deafness/disease/drowning/electricity/poison/stunning and effects that affect physiology or respiration, Str 21 (+5)/Dex 16 (+3) attack bonus/penalty cancel out, gains +3 damage, ASF 50%, -8ACP, 14 minutes, 0 rounds remaining)

• Spewer: 100 % health