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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
This is a first draft of a story set in the world of Greyhawk.
It is based on a home campaign so some of the people, places and things
may be different. Any helpful comments or suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks
Jason Zavoda
Nosnra had not slept. His eyes were red, his face drawn and
pinched. White streaks ran through hair that had been black and grey
just a day before, his ruddy skin was burnt brown and the spare flesh on
his ample frame was gone.
The giant chief sat upon a rough built throne, his kindred had
raised a frame and stretched a canvas overtop his head. He had not moved
since the pyre for the dead had been lit. No one would approach him, not
Thiodolf who spoke with Nosnra's voice, nor Estrith Nosnra's wife.
A dozen warriors sat near to Nosnra's feet, they had returned with
him the night before. They were just as weary but not all had Nosnra's
strength, some collapsed, others leaned back and closed their eyes. As
one would drop others would come and take them away then another would
take their place. They were a grim spectacle.
As the sun reached its height a pair of giants came from the ruins
of the hall. They stood taller than their rural kin, broad shouldered,
thick thewed, skin like charcoal, hair orange as the embers of a blazing
fire. One carried a sword that burned with flame, it looked like a dagger
or a childs toy while it was held in the massive palm. The other giant
lead a man, the scout Edouard, he was weighted down with chains roped over
his shoulders and across his chest, but his arms were free. An iron collar
was welded closed around his throat, a smaller chain stretched from
below his chin to the giants hand. Edouard walked like a man half-asleep,
he tried to watch his step but his eyes kept drifting back to the sword
in the giants grip.
The pair of Fire Giants approached the throne, the warriors
sitting before their chief jumped up, some moved stiffly, still sore
and strained from the power that had been unleashed when their witan died.
They had taken a motley collection of weapons from the ruins the armory
left untouched by the fire within the Steading. Some held swords with
blades ten feet long, or javelins that could have been ballista bolts,
maces with heads like a blacksmith's anvil or axes that could fell a tree
in a single stroke.
"Turn back." called out one warrior
"Harthac, tell Nosnra we have brought him a gift." called back the
giant with the burning sword.
"The chief is to be left alone," said Harthac, "he will call for
you if he wishes, go back to your forge."
"It is cold out here, so I will speak to Nosnra now." the giant
said and took another step forward.
Harthac placed a spear point to the giants belt. "You will go
back."
"This is foolishness." the giant swore. "Nosnra!" he yelled,
Nosnra!!" his bellow hurt the ear.
"Speak." came a sepulchered voice. "Harthac stand aside." Nosnra
spoke but he did not rise. He turned his head and with eyes red veined
but burning with an internal light he stared at the giant who approached.
"Nosnra it is I, Suttung, son of Gilling. I have brought you
a gift. I return a treasure taken from your vault, and the one who took
it and wrecked such havoc upon you and yours."
"Suttung, I will gift you with what you seek, the blade you
desired shall be yours." said Nosnra. "Bring me this cur you have
upon the chain."
"He is enthralled by the blade we brought for you," laughed
Suttung, "It was meant for other hands." he said to Edouard. "The
dark ones did not mean for their trinkets to go to one like this."
"Hand me the blade as well." commanded Nosnra. "Give me the
chain that leads this dog."
Suttung stepped up to the throne and handed Nosnra the sword.
Edouard moaned and ran for the magic blade as it passed from the fire
giant's grasp. The other giant pulled back the chain and yanked Edouard
from off his feet,
"Ylgr watch what you are doing!" Suttung yelled. "You'll break
his neck."
"Bring him here." Nosnra told them. "I want this one to live."
Ylgr lifted the scout by the links across his shoulder and handed
him to Nosnra like a butcher passing the carcass of a chicken over a
countertop.
Nosnra held the sword before Edouard's eyes and clasped his other
hand around the mans collared neck. "You will serve me, you killed many
of my wolves, human you will take their place."
* * *
(To Be Continued)