(053) Moonshine

[Tonneau]

The most pressing question is: Do you plan to use the magic-beans to grow to giant size (and double your pace), and if so... how many? (Let's assume that a strong man enlarged to giant-size could carry two others without being encumbered).

OOC: Gustave is of the view that one, normal sized, Gustave is enough for the world, with no need of duplication or augmentation, so will prefer to remain 'normal' (that is, exceptional).

"Elves is it", he says, in Elvish, deliberately not looking at Wen.

"Well at least the cooking will be satisfactory. Just don't expect any roast boar", he finishes in the common tongue.

[Olroda]

"Who said that? Who is new among us?" Desmond asks, after the noggins are covered.

"It would be an ill deed to spurn one who came selflessly to our defence. Welcome, friend. I am Josiane. How are you called?"

"I am Beringar", says the scrawny man while leaning on his shield. "I came here to find my fortune, but so far, it has eluded me." He spits. "You lot sure are a motley crew. Handy with them pig-stickers too, I see."

[verhaden]

Torben

Torben looks over at Beringar and smiles faintly. 'I too came to the Hinterlands seeking coin,' he says, stowing his shield and hefting his spear. 'But what the next day brings only the wind can say.' He gazes over the dead and at the rising smoke steadily rising off in the distance.

[waysoftheearth]

Very well.

Greetings are exchanged, and plans constructed.

Meanwhile Dieter skins, guts, bones and hacks off enough warg meat for a dozen--a nasty procedure leaving him and his gear sodden with red-black gore--the company hikes back the short distance (1/8th mile) back to the ruin.

Dusk is settling over the land as they arrive among the fallen rocks and overgrowing grasses.

Dorgan sets about making a largish fire--fueled partly by old dried timbers from the tumbled down ruin-- and soon the warg flesh is searing and scorching on the back of a dinged goblin shield over the fire. It is a tough and grey a meat as ever anyone has seen, and it shrivels tightly as it is fired, having hardly a drop of oil within it.
Dieter cleans up as best he can in a nearby pool, and by the time he returns Beringar has retrieved his gear, and the warg meat is... "cooked".

It's tough fare, for sure. But it beats an empty stomach--particularly when planning to make a forced march through the night. It's hard, chewy, and sinewy. The company work stoically on their portions, not saying overly much. No-one wants to be the first to say it, but everyone is thinking it. The meat tastes like ash and has the general texture of tree bark.

Still, it is a meal...

And by the time night has fallen, it's all been devoured--every scrap.

[mushgnome]

Appalled at being forced to eat goblin dog, Highbough prepares himself for the further indignity of being hauled around like a sack of potatoes.

[ehiker133]

"Mmmmm... Ashy tree dog," Desmond mutters as he swallows the last of his dinner.

"Honestly, I'm glad I can't see right about now..."

Then, as best they can, Desmond/Mondes prepares for a nighttime journey with a corpse in the arms of a giant.

[waysoftheearth]

Travel arrangements for the nigh march are discussed.

Everyone will be fatigued for lack of proper rest; but as haste is of the utmost importance it cannot be helped.

There are 14 bodies present, including one live and one deceased hobbit; Beringar, Olaf, Highbough, Torben, Ulric, Dieter, Josiane, Dorgan, Gustave, Armando, Desmond, Wen, Guntram, and Rufus (deceased).

Therefore, Guntram is convinced to (grudingly) hand over three of his magic beans, one each to Beringar, Torben, Armando. He takes the fourth one himself.

The four men swallow the magic-beans dubiously... and then stand there for a moment looking at each other foolishly. "Nuthin's happening!" Guntram declares when, after half a minute or so, nothing has happened. But then the four get a sudden rush of vertigo as the world seems to fall away from them!

The others see them suddenly surge to GIANT size, towering over them as adults tower over small children.

"Aahhhh!" booms Giant Guntram with a smug grin. "That's more like it!"

Giant Beringar, Giant Torben, and Giant Armando all stand marvelling at their new perspective for a moment.

They can see for miles around!

They feel like TITANS!

There is nothing! they can't reach or lift or smash!!

[waysoftheearth]

It's time to set out.

Giant Guntram carries Ulric, Gustave, and Highbough.
Giant Beringar carries Olaf and Dieter.
Giant Torben carries Josiane and Dorgan.
Giant Armando carries Desmond, Rufus, and Wen.

And then they go striding off with their enormous, shuddering paces--trampling the thick heath as though it were naught but a fine lawn!

The Giant Quartet set a steady pace that they should be able to maintain for a good long while, marveling at the ease with which the miles pass them by. Those riding in the giant packs and sacks grow accustomed to the steady cadence of thumping foot-falls, and the accompanying juddering they receive. It is not a restful mode of travel by any stretch of the imagination, despite their not having to march themselves.

The night is clear, and the moon is only just shy of full so there is enough light for the Giant foursome to navigate by and avoid any Giant sized obstacles...

| The ref checks thrice during the night for encounters...3d6=5,5,1, so "imperial entanglements" are avoided, for now... |

[mgtremaine]

Wen would try to get some sleep once they were under way.

[waysoftheearth]

The night passes steadily by.

The passengers drift wearily into and out of sleep; constantly being awoken by an unkind bump or thump... and our Giants trudge doggedly eastward, growing ever more weary as the night progresses.

They pause only to drink pools or small stream dry as they pass, and occasionally glimpse the rough trail of crushed vegetation behind them--there is nothing subtle about their passing. Those with a head for figures reckon that the wargs could have reached Ket well before midnight and then--given an hour or so to marshal a response--could have returned once more to the ruins by the small hours of the morning. If they were keen to track the giants' trial, there could well catch up by dawn...

With this in mind, they press on as quickly as they are able...turning north while the night is still black and the Wildwood is just a shadow on the horizon.