A giant sized problem...

The Mekillot slave wagon guards had no idea what hit them. One moment the night was quiet, then they all heard a long low whistle cutting through the darkness. Within the blink of an eye there was a maul wielding Dwarf amid one group of guards, and a large beast of immense ferocity leaping out of the black to rip apart another cluster of guards. In the gloom of the slave pens the old ashik allowed a small smile to caress his face, before he continued with his tale.

As the members of the Company stare open mouthed at the horror emerging from the gloom the chaos Giant throws a boulder which lofts over the Company and smashes the skimmer cabin where they had just been sleeping. Two of the skimmer crew rush to the ballista mounted on the prow of the skimmer, but they have to lift it clear of it pintle mount in order to get a clear shot at the chaos creature. Kank steps to the side of the skimmer facing the chaos Giant and lifts Earthshaker above his head shouting;

Basaltir aid us!

A second large boulder sails over the Tattered Gull and lands harmlessly in the silt sea beyond the skimmer, as it does so the sound of the Company calling upon various magics can be heard on the wind. The remaining Dwarf crew of the skimmer produce personal heavy crossbows and start to crank their mechanisms, while Miloch nocks his bow and both Balboa and Scar arm themselves with their slings. Scar loads her sling with one of the magical Troll stones.

With a single massive stride the chaos Giant steps to the side of the Tattered Gull and sweeps it's tree-like club along the skimmer's bulwark, Arthur dives for cover as the massive weapon sails above everyone's heads and smashes into the side of the skimmer shattering part of the decking. Balboa and Scar loose their sling stones with Balboa missing but Scar finding the target. As the magical Troll stone hits the chaos Giant the magic of the Troll's ripples outwards and the beasts iron horns transform back into normal horns as the chaos power is cancelled.

The skimmer Captain utters the words of a spell as his first mate fires the ballista at the chaos Giant, as the single bolt leaves the weapon the Captain's magic takes effect and the bolt multiplies, and three blots fly at the creature. One of the bolts misses, but the other two bury themselves in the chaos Giant's chest. The chaos Giant sweeps with his gigantic club again and this time one of the Dwarf crew, Drogon Worth, is smashed from the roof of the shattered cabin, where he was aiming a heavy crossbow, and lands dead in the silt sea.

Kank swings Earthshaker at the massive form of the chaos Giant, but somehow manages to miss. The cracked remnants of the chaos Giant's first boulder pull themselves together into a rough humanoid form and steps to Kank's side, the big Mul nods in the direction of the chaos Giant and Basaltir the earth elemental steps off of the side of the skimmer and drops into the silt sea. One of the Dwarf crew hits the chaos Giant in the chest with a heavy crossbow bolt and then Miloch follows his lead and shoots the Giant in the chest with an arrow.

Arthur peaks out from behind the shattered remains of the skimmer cabin where he had dived for cover just in time to see both Balboa and Scar strike the chaos Giant with twin sling stones, but both seem to bounce off of the creatures thick skin without having any effect. The massive creature sweeps it's tree trunk at the skimmer again, narrowly missing Kank but aiming straight at Ferulah. The mountain lioness in Human form leaps gracefully into the air and easily avoids the chaos Giants clumsy attack. The chaos Giant looks down at it's feet, deep within the silt sea, as the earth elemental Basaltir strikes against it's shin.

Arthur decides to join the fray and rushes to Kank's side as the big Mul finally lands a powerful blow with Earthshaker against the chaos Giant's arm, but the massive creature just shrugs off the attack and continues to fight. Miloch looses another arrow and again hits the chaos Giant in the chest, while under the silt sea, Basaltir smashes it's fist again into the creatures shin. Ferulah leaps directly at the chaos Giant and grasps it's bestial fur in both hands and starts to climb rapidly up it's body towards it's head. The creature slaps at Ferulah but misses, the she cat in Human form reaches the chaos Giant's head and starts to smash her fist into it's horned head.

Balboa hits with another sling stone, and seeing his mentor succeed with a ranged weapon, Kank changes tactic and pulls Earthshaker above his head and throws with all of his might. The blessed weapon of Gnoriath flies true and smashes the chaos Giant in it's chest with sparks rippling around the impact. The chaos Giant reaches forwards but all that does is allow Arthur to smash it with his metal Troll maul. The Tattered Gull's ballista fires again and the bolt buries itself in the flesh of the chaos Giant's leg, Miloch also strikes once more with his accurate bow shots. The chaos Giant staggers slightly and bends down towards the skimmer, the mighty Dwarf Arthur quickly swings again with his metal Troll maul and hits with a powerful strike against the chaos Giant's chest.

That is enough for the chaos creature and it starts to back away from the skimmer. Ferulah leaps from the chaos Giant's shoulders and lands with cat like grace upon the deck of the Tattered Gull. Kank reaches his hand out and catches the returning Earthshaker, in one motion he spins on his heel and launches the greathammer again at the chaos Giant, the blessed weapon of Gnoriath strikes the creature in the arm and the chaos Giant's limb drops limp to it's side as it disappears into the darkness of the silt cloud.

The crew of the skimmer instantly leap to repairing the vessel, assisted by Arthur, as the Captain of the Tattered Gull steers for South Ledopolus. Just after midday the skimmer Tattered Gull limps into the docks of South Ledopolus, once they are tied up and disembark Arthur pays the crew for the extra days work and makes sure that the dead crew members family will receive his share. Next, Arthur seeks out the Harbour Master and asks if he wishes to buy back the Tattered Gull. The Harbour Master looks the skimmer over and asks what caused the damage, Arthur tells him and the Harbour Master replies;

I did tell you that there were Giants on the island!

A smile crosses the Harbour Master's face and he agrees to give Arthur one hundred and forty gold for the Tattered Gull, Arthur agrees and with the money in hand the Company of the Cloaked Inix head for the Beaded Dwarf inn. After a few hours of well needed rest the Company head back down to the bar to see if they can find Sabertine. The Dwarf archaeologist is in her usual spot at the bar and actually seems please to see the Company, she asks what happened and Kank looks to Balboa to relay the story, but the earth priest just looks silently back at Kank and nods for him to carry on.

The big Mul, feeling uncomfortable taking the lead, tells Sabertine a very abridged version of the Company's adventures. The female Dwarf asks;

Did you retrieve the artifact?

Kank nods, and Sabertine asks if she can see it. Kank shakes his head;

Not here. But in the morning at the temple.

Sabertine agrees, and says that Kank can inform Grovac of what has happened in the morning as well. With everything agreed the Company discuss the attack on the bridge with Sabertine and have a couple of drinks with her before retiring back to their rooms.

The following morning Balboa and Kank head for the earth temple where they join the other earth worshipers in prayer before Kank is asked to relay the full story once again. This time Kank tells them everything, being careful to avoid any mention of the Troll stones, but making sure to inform them of the Nurkel-Malia worshipers and the chaos Giant. When he mentions chaos, Sabertine cuts in and tells them of the arrival of House Söttir in South Ledopolus six days previously, they were looking to set up a trading station, but remembering what the Company had told her of them, Sabertine convinced the elders to refuse the request.

Kank asked them where they headed and Sabertine told them;

They were lead by someone called Wong something or other, it was a two Inix caravan with a dozen men-at-arms. Two of which were Half-giants. They packed up the following morning and headed north towards Grak's Pool.

Kank thanks her for the information and then finishes his tale. When they leave, Kank tells Balboa that he is going to walk the streets and make sure that they are clear of chaos, when he leaves Sabertine asks Balboa to remain within the temple and she tells him that he has done very well in leading this mission. She hands him a sealed scroll tube and tells him to hand it to his high priest. Kank returns to the Bearded Dwarf that afternoon, having discovered no sign of taint, and sits down with the rest of the Company of the Cloaked Inix to discuss what they are going to do next. He finds himself uncomfortable once again when he realises that they are mostly looking to him to make the decision. He takes his time, but eventually suggests that they rest for a couple of days before heading out to find the House Söttir caravan to see if they can find any information on where the high priest of Nurkel-Malia is to be found.

And so, on the forth morning the Company of the Cloaked Inix head out of South Ledopolus in the company of a dozen Dwarf stone quarry workers and their Mekillot wagon heading north towards Grak's Pool.