Private Tales The Giant's Playground

[Orandyr Ironsoul]

The wilderness of Falwood wasn't for the faint of heart. It was an untapped stretch of thick, rolling forests, all with its own dangers, both living and inanimate. It was a haven for the survivalist types, and a sure way to die for those that entered unprepared. Orandyr Ironsoul was far from unprepared. In fact, the giant had been preparing for many years to brave such a place, and he reveled in the thick forest stench as he strode past the tall trees and dense shrubs. The massive individual was easily spotted in a crowd, and almost matched some of the smaller trees here in size. He'd always been told that he had a treelike figure, so if he fit in anywhere, it was here.

The gargantuan axe known as Mooncleaver dragged the ground behind him, scraping the soil loudly and leaving a long trail behind him as he scanned his surroundings. Besides the occasional bird or squirrel, nothing interested him. The fauna here was too small, too insignificant for his tastes. It disappointed him... Were the stories about the big game that resided here merely rumors that held little truth? He was determined. He'd comb the whole forest, if need be. As long as he could find just one worthy foe, one that could give him a good workout, or even a proper challenge. He'd keep going.

This was the life of the giantkin. He had no home, no real hobbies or talents, besides his on-again, off-again smithing. He scoured the known world in search of people and things to fight, hoping that the next opponent would be harder than the last. Of course, these wishes were fairly unrealistic, but his simple mind just couldn't comprehend that few things could match the might of a giant. Even one such as he, a giantkin that had no real formal cmbat training could likely take out a skilled knight in one hefty blow, with a lucky enough swing.

After what seemed to be two hours or so of walking and searching, the giant grumbled in annoyance, taking a seat against a nearby stump and digging through his belt pouch. Pulling free some tightly-wrapped dried beef, he hoisted Mooncleaver up to eye-level, examining the thick hunk of iron that made up the axehead. "Well, my friend... A little lunch, and then we'll find a nice stream, eh? No ale this far out, I'm afraid. River water'll have to do." He murmured. It wasn't like he had too many good friends, so his axe often became his only real companion at times. Still, one would find it crazy that he talked to the damned thing.

Unwrapping the meat slowly, he hummed, hunched over a bit as he prepared to eat. Little did he know, he was about to be caught off-guard by a nearby predator that lurked in the shady overgrowth. Taking a bite of his sorry vagabond's meal, he paused, looking up as he heard leaves rustle somewhere behind him. Another squirrel? A pesky bird, or-?

SMACK!

Almost having the wind knocked out of him, Orandyr only had enough time to take a firm grip of Mooncleaver as a horned head struck him in the gut, sending him from his feet and tumbling down the slight hill, barely missing trees in his descent. He didn't even have time to pick himself up before a shadow loomed over his form, Orandyr gritting his teeth as he lifted Mooncleaver with all of his strength. He was knocked onto his back, pinned under the weight of his attacker as what looked to be a lion's head sank its teeth into the polearm, snarling mere inches from Orandyr's face. A pair of massive, matching lion's paws swung wildly at his torso, and below that, two hooved back legs. He looked over, spotting a goat's head right next to the lion's batting at the hands holding his axe, a long, jet-black snake rising from the creature's backside, bearing its fangs and readying to strike.

"A chimera... That's more like it!" He spoke in a jovial, pumped up fashion, grunting as he tossed the beast over his head, sending it rolling behind him as he quickly moved to his feet. "Let's dance, then!" As the beast got back up and charged, the swings of Mooncleaver were just as devastating as one would think. Though the chimera managed to avoid the slow, heavy swings, full chunks were cleaved out of nearby trees, massive clouds of dirt were kicked up, and nearby rocks sparked before being splintered apart by the weapon. The blows rang out like thunder, likely shaking the forest for a half mile as Orandyr carelessly caused destruction. Whoever didn't know that a madman was walking through these woods before, they certainly knew now.

Zarra Bundyth

 

[Zarra Bundyth]

She was stupid, really, really very stupid. She knew it was a bad idea to go towards the earth-shaking sounds, she knew it probably meant death. But, she simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to see something amazing. And see something she did.

Zarra had been in Falwood for a little while, taking a quick break from traveling and taking that time off to properly compose the couple of ballads she'd been working on. They were near completion, so she'd be back on the road soon enough, but, she had to see this first.

Luckily for her, she had a sunhat, that made it significantly easier to see in the daytime, but she'd still much rather move about at night. But, whatever. She also carried a rapier at her hip just in case the people she met were hostile.

She saw the chimera, and immediately scrambled up one of the trees to watch, then she saw him, the giant. Battling the monster. Oh this was the stuff of legends. She took out her notebook and began to write down the event at a fevered pace. She had to watch, she had to see and recount this.

 

[Orandyr Ironsoul]

Orandyr didn't notice the figure scrambling up the tree. He was too busy dealing with the crazed beast to turn his attention anywhere else, watching closely as the creature sprinted around him, attempting to attack from behind. Grinning, he turned Mooncleaver around to the hammer side, sending the weapon careening down to strike the chimera's spine. As the creature roared in pain, slammed back down to the earth, Orandyr laughed, raising Mooncleaver once more to finish his opponent.

Suddenly, while the giant was distracted by his own successful blow, the black snake protruding from the chimera's backside shot up, latching onto the giant's arm with its fangs. The giant grunted in pain, forcefully pulling the snake loose with a massive hand, just as the chimera shot up with its claws, digging into his face and shoulder. "You're one clever bastard, aren't ya!?" He said in amusement through the pain, shoulder-blocking the beast away from him.

The chimera reared back, digging its back hooves into the soil as its goat head snarled, preparing to charge. Orandyr, taking a sturdy stance, watched as the beast rushed forward, horns displayed as it put every ounce of momentum into the attack. Orandyr suddenly side-stepped, watching as the goat head managed to embed itself into the tree behind him. As it struggled, fighting to pull its head free, he wasted no time, reeling back Mooncleaver in a deadly, earth-shattering blow that took both of the monster's ravenous heads off, and sent the tree tilting from the severing of some of its roots.

Pulling free his now bloodied axe, he panted, resting a foot on top of the beast's corpse. "Finally! A win for the strongest creature in this forest! Took you long enough, mother nature!" He boomed happily, shaking his fist at the sky. His eye wandered, catching a glimpse of her in the tree. He tilted his head, frowning and leaning against his axe in exhaustion. "Hey, you up there! Do you wish to meet me in armed combat as well?" He asked, his femeanor far too kind for such a question, or for someone who had a currently bleeding pair of puncture wounds on his arm, no doubt laced with deadly venom.

Zarra Bundyth

 

[Zarra Bundyth]

Orandyr didn't notice the figure scrambling up the tree. He was too busy dealing with the crazed beast to turn his attention anywhere else, watching closely as the creature sprinted around him, attempting to attack from behind. Grinning, he turned Mooncleaver around to the hammer side, sending the weapon careening down to strike the chimera's spine. As the creature roared in pain, slammed back down to the earth, Orandyr laughed, raising Mooncleaver once more to finish his opponent.

Suddenly, while the giant was distracted by his own successful blow, the black snake protruding from the chimera's backside shot up, latching onto the giant's arm with its fangs. The giant grunted in pain, forcefully pulling the snake loose with a massive hand, just as the chimera shot up with its claws, digging into his face and shoulder. "You're one clever bastard, aren't ya!?" He said in amusement through the pain, shoulder-blocking the beast away from him.

The chimera reared back, digging its back hooves into the soil as its goat head snarled, preparing to charge. Orandyr, taking a sturdy stance, watched as the beast rushed forward, horns displayed as it put every ounce of momentum into the attack. Orandyr suddenly side-stepped, watching as the goat head managed to embed itself into the tree behind him. As it struggled, fighting to pull its head free, he wasted no time, reeling back Mooncleaver in a deadly, earth-shattering blow that took both of the monster's ravenous heads off, and sent the tree tilting from the severing of some of its roots.

Pulling free his now bloodied axe, he panted, resting a foot on top of the beast's corpse. "Finally! A win for the strongest creature in this forest! Took you long enough, mother nature!" He boomed happily, shaking his fist at the sky.

She was writing everything down like a madwoman, this was pretty good. Maybe not as prime ballad material, this wasn't like a hero's quest, but it was still worthy of song. So she wrote it, and she made sure not to miss a single detail. It was wonderful really, how it turned out, it was a true battle. And she felt blessed to have observed it.

His eye wandered, catching a glimpse of her in the tree. He tilted his head, frowning and leaning against his axe in exhaustion. "Hey, you up there! Do you wish to meet me in armed combat as well?" He asked, his femeanor far too kind for such a question, or for someone who had a currently bleeding pair of puncture wounds on his arm, no doubt laced with deadly venom.

She immediately raised her hands in non-aggression, "No, no I do not. Besides I doubt one such as yourself would find me a challenging opponent. No I was just observing, I hope I am not intruding."

She climbed down from the tree, making sure to do it slowly and in a way that made sure he knew she had no intention of fighting him. She came over and said, "But those injuries look pretty bad. I'm no healer but I know a couple of things if you'd allow me to give your wounds some attention."