Tagaern - The lumbering war giant at the top of the bulwark and his ferocious looking companion were all I saw as we assembled closer to the edge of cover offered by the great tree. I had my bearings back with me…the experience of traveling worlds was disconcerting, like falling while walking. Our purpose lay up at the top. As Sig made Danin vanish into thin air, banner in hand, my purpose was clear to me: be the front line and try to give Danin as large an opportunity as possible. How appropriate for him as a Red Shield — this time along with Hakaar — to hold an opening for others to make the objective no matter what. Duncan, soon you can rest in peace.
Suddenly the beast had detected us…perhaps our smell or sound betrayed our position…and came flying down the slope, levitating above the ground. I could feel cold tingles of fear grip at my chest as its dark visage closed on me. By the Shield Maidens, I shall not rout. I held my ground but could feel the influence of its magical effect.
I needed to take the brunt of this thing and give my companions opening around it to the alerted giant. I charged forward, thankful for the magical boots of striding that helped me bound up the steep side of trampled earth. Hakaar seemed shaken a moment then jarred himself to move forward. Floki must have fallen under the hound’s attack for he fell back with Tenner with him. The magical beast and I raced towards each other, and I raised my sword, swiping to one side when it pounced then upon me, knocking me back to the ground. Bromm was to the side within 30 feet, taking cover behind a large rock and aiming his firearm. Despite being on the ground, I would not yield. Bromm fired and seemed to strike along the side of the beast over me. Ordinarily, someone firing hot lead so close to me would make me question whose side he was on, but I had seen his aim before. Like Floki’s arrows, it was a gamble well worth it. I hoped Danin was invisibly scaling the perimeter as I fought to keep it from mauling me — I managed to get my sword under it and give an awkward strike. It returned the favor, sinking its teeth into arm with an unearthly snarl.
I dislodged my arm from it with a shout. Over the back of the thing I could see Hakaar bounding up to the giant. If not for his own great size, it would have looked even more absurd. Damn it, beast! Die! I must join in the fight! Bromm had switched over to his pistol and Sig was beside him, hovering low. I kicked to the side of the hound, could see the trickle of dark blood from Bromm’s shot. I brought my sword around and managed to block off another lunging attempt. Bromm’s next shot was true and opened up the old wound perfectly. Now! I swung to stab my sword up into the wound and it gurgled, gushing blood and finally going lifeless between our attacks. I maneuvered out from the fallen creature, standing with a quick nod toward Bromm who was reloading and looking up the bulwark. I stood and scanned. Hakaar was exchanging strikes at the top of the bulwark with the giant warrior and though at a distance I could see he was taking vicious strikes in exchange for what he was delivering. Worse, another armored giant, this one a horned female bearing one of those enormous ballista-like bows, ascended the wall from the other side to equally protect the space where Kols banner belonged.
Damn! I judged the distance and the height. There were only seconds perhaps left for Hakaar considering how long it must have been that they were fighting… Even if I just ran as fast as I could up the side I doubted I could make it in time, even with the boots. The giant archer seemed distracted from behind a moment…could it be Danin? I couldn’t see him. There was no time. The heavy composite bow came to mind. I dropped my blade Fury at my feet to draw the bow and an arrow. I drew back to fire up the hillside. I wanted to get her attention, allow Hakaar and Bromm to focus on the first bloody giant. My arrow clattered uselessly off the armor of the giant archer though. She almost seemed to scoff as I cursed under my breath, going for another arrow. Where the hell was Floki? Surely the thing now dead would mean its grip would be gone...
No sooner had I thought it then arrows sang from the bulwark to the side to strike at the giant archer and Tenner was at her feet! By Qinnah, the tide shall stay in our favor this day! The giants stood almost back to back and then I could see a man’s figure try to run between them and get struck down by the giant as he did. I couldn’t recognize who it was but knew it wasn’t one of our team. Bromm fired up to hit the giant and Sig cast magic up as well, but at the top of the bulwark it was seemingly Hakaar and the giant facing off that would determine the opening for the banner to be placed. I released another notched arrow and this one managed to strike the archer. Then a moment later I saw Hakaar struck down, falling backwards to the earth under a ferocious overhand strike by the giant.
“No!” I cried out, tossing down the bow and running up the wall, drawing Duncan’s sword.
