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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
"ome! usshhh!" moaned Fjolver. The giant had his eyes locked on
Ivo but he lashed out and struck down Talberth as casually as a man would
slap away a beggar's hand.
The mage had dropped Harald's shoulder and fumbled for his
lightning-wand. He'd not been able to draw it before the back of the
Fjolver's hand cracked against his chest. Knocked aside, Talberth fell as
he struggled for balance. He stumbled over a giant's lifeless arm, his own
wrapped about his ribs, and crashed in a flurry of motion as he tried to
brace himself for the fall.
Ivo stood perfectly still as the giant reached for him. The
monster's hand engulfed the old gnome and lifted him from the ground.
Fjolver raised Ivo to his face, the burnt fingers of the giant's hand
gripping him around the middle. Fjolver smiled, his huge, yellow teeth
soot-stained, but silhouetted amid the horror of his face.
There was a broad, silver buckle on Ivo's belt. Its front embossed
with a symbol of a moon over a hill. Ivo slid two small clasps aside with
his hand and pulled the buckle free. A pair of silver needles were
revealed, the buckle a square shaped hilt. The old gnome smiled back into
the giant's face and jabbed the needles deep into Fjolver's wrist where
the veins showed beneath the blackened skin.
Fjolver opened his mouth to howl, but the giant froze in place,
even his eyes were stopped and glazed. Opposite the symbol of moon and
hill, a spider was carved into the silver of the buckle, the two needles
were its fangs. The outline of the spider bulged. A head rose from the
metal, bent down, pushed into the giant's wrist. One by one the legs
pulled themselves free, then at last the bloated body. The metal liquefied
and ran like quicksilver into the spider, then through the needle fangs
into Fjolver's veins. In an eyeblink the metal was gone and then the
silver spider followed, turning into a stream of metal venom, rushing
through its own fangs till nothing was left but two dripping holes in the
giant's wrist.
"Death take you!" hissed Ivo. The gnome looked old and grim. He
drew a small dagger from his belt, one sided and razor sharp. Ivo climbed
up the giant's arm and cut Fjolver's throat, then threw his knife away.
The giant's broke. They'd swept the first elemental apart with
their blows, but the mad fire-beast had hurt them all. When a second
appeared with a third behind it, the giant's said enough and peeled away.
A young warrior, his hair burnt down to a greasy smudge, was the
first to run. Then an older giant with his fist and arm blistered all
along its length. The last six, all warriors of Fjolver's band, turned and
ran for the path, the elemental in hot pursuit.
One living giant stood within the camp. His left arm was
half-numbed, but he fought on with his right. Derue circled him, weaving
closer in a spiraling dance that kept the giant pivoting, trying to keep
its injured arm away from the human who struck with the power of a hammer
behind his feet and hands.
* * *
(To Be Continued...)