Our plan set, our courage summoned and our minds focused on the destruction of the dragon, we set off across the snow covered landscape towards our destination. A secret tunnel leading into the back of the Goliath city would be our entry into the lair of the Ogres.
It was only a few hours before dark began to set upon the mountains. The full moon lit our way as we trudged through the snow. Suddenly, by a mere chance of a glance, I saw the shadow of a giant beast move across the glowing moon. Thinking it to be the dragon I immediately warned Rurik, who informed the others and we began to discuss how to keep the dragon away from the Goliath city while we attacked it. Our plans were being developed when suddenly, Rorrin gave a cry and pointed to a great hulking bird flying directly towards us.
Its wings were one hundred feet across, its gaping mouth could easily swallow up a dwarf, and I doubt not that if given the opportunity it could have carried us all alway in its talons. What happened as the beast descended upon us was all a blur to me as I was quite enraged at the sight.
I do know it took Groehl in its clutches, and Rorrin, upon seeing his brother helpless to the beasts whim (which some of the party believed to be covertly sexual), fired a grappling hook that caught onto the bird, then by means of a rope Rorrin literally attached himself to the Roc and allowed himself to drug through the air.
I took the time to encourage the Goliath archers who were along side us to bring the beast down with their arrows. The few rangers that missed were threatened by me with their lives, but this only made them miss more as I found them not to work well when under fear of gruesome death.
With Rorrin and Groehl suspended in the air and fighting the beast, Rurick and Myself were left to do nothing but shake our fists in anger at the bird, until, it decided to drop Groehl and Rorrin let go of his rope and shot to the ground. The Roc flew over top us several times before swooping down and trying to take Rurick to its lair. As the beast passed close by I manged to nick it with my sword, and the others in the party did some damage to the thing as well.
But it was on the beasts second pass that I didst slay it. It flew low, too low it proved, directly over top my head. With a mighty shout I raised my great sword into the air, stretching with all of my might to touched blade to skin though the Roc was a full six feet above the ground. The frosted blade plunged into the birds chest and tore through flesh as the bird slashed its own belly open by flying overhead. A rain of blood, feathers, and guts fell down upon the party as the bird was robbed of all by the gaping wound.
Mortally wounded the bird crashed to the ground and I rushed over to finish the beast. With screams and shouts I happily put my sword to the Rocs neck and severed its avian head from its body. Dancing about in victory I sought to encourage the Goliaths by this trophy but it seems they have weaker stomachs than I imagined and they were not impressed, but gave strange looks of fear to me instead.
Of all the events of the battle, none were so strange as the arrival of the Goblin Wizard, whom I did not notice until the end of battle, but who swore to have been there all along. He must have, for he had stolen a knife of Rorrins, and had already exchanged words with Groehl. I am indeed happy to find a wizard here as we are in need of such skills if we are to slay the dragon. |
