The Mammoths and Valdeholm Giants

It was an awesome sight, a herd of mammoths guarding the gates to Valdeholm, massive and passive protectors of the entry to the home of the giants. And the fort itself was an intimidating sight, clearly a home designed for beings much larger then ourselves. Massive blocks of stone made up the walls, and the metal bars in the gate were as big around as I was, covered in ice and rime. Briars burned brightly on the ramparts, but the fire did nothing to warm our fears.

We made our camp in the snow and ice just up the hill from the gates; our little party of healers and fighters. This was going to be a tricky fight. The mammoths were docile enough, until you hit one of them and they noticed you. It was going to take some tricky tactics to engage the giants without angering the mammoths as well. As the campfire cast its meager warmth, a strategy was decided upon. The pets would bear the brunt of the damage, and we would sneak into the fort invisibly, grab a citizen, and bring him carefully out through the mammoths to our group.

We hunkered down in the snow and sent our magician into danger. In the distance we could see him carefully pass through the gates and come up behind a citizen, standing there on this fine Sunday morning. With a surprising bit of finess (for a magician) he got the citizen's attention, and began his retreat, the giant following behind. I'm sure the citizen saw an easy meal in the making, until he came face to face with our forces. His mammoths were not going to protect him now.

And indeed they did not. The arrows flew, the magical bonds trapped his feet. Spell after spell hit the Valdeholm giant full force. With percision and not a single stray lightning bolt, the giant was brought to his knees, until he fell face down and bleeding in the snow. He was to be first of many who fell to our will and might. Raznaq, Uandiiniu, Sugok, Saldaien, Eumdyinea and myself laid waste to the denizens of the fort.

As night fell, we made camp for the night, rolling up in the looted giants clothing as protection against the snow. As I stoked the fire, I reflected on a good day with friends and comrades.

Donilla Deverry

Ranger of Surefall

Norrathian Citizen