Mawar and the Giant
A short little story that takes place within the setting written by me and a friend.
The gnomish city of Trom, home of the legendary Quartz Tower, was almost in our grasp, our king's family, our kingdom, will finally claim what was stolen from us so long ago.
An insane king, giving that bounty of knowledge to his court wizard, a gnome at that, and not his own son, is a insult to the entire kingdom of Blarur, even years after his death.
You were in a generals tent. KING NOBLESWORN
I'd fold my arms, as I looked around at all of the noblemen. LORD VADAMIR
"We can't do this sir! They have access to every single battle tactic known to man, and they dabble with the arcane. How can our troops deal with their tricks, we lost an entire battalion of men when they walked into a river that they thought was dry land!" KING NOBLESWORN
"God dammit..."
"Dammit all, is there not one of you who has faith in our cause?"
"The capture of Trom is the quest of our kingdom."
"That is the quest that was bestowed upon you, when you were knighted by me."
"But it seems as though you do not hold that ideal close to your hearts, as I originally thought.."
I'd rub my forehead.
"If the orc tribes have failed us.."
"Then what other option do we have?"
SIR MAWAR
"Simple sir."
"Theres a creature, the gods made long ago, a soldier of their armies, designed to kill dragons with their bare hands."
"That some even claim are our ancestors."
"We need the ultimate siege weapon."
"Something with skin so tough, their spells and swords will be helpless against it!"
"Gentlemen..."
"We need to employ..."
"A giant." KING NOBLESWORN
"A giant..."
I'd start to get giddy.
"How foolish of me, to not think of such a genius plan." SIR MAWAR
I'd giggle KING NOBLESWORN
"Do any of you have a giant in your army?"
"Such beings are impossible to mount. But I have already devised such a plan as to how we could mobilize one."
LORD VADAMIR
"A giant!"
"Ha!"
"They're either abominations, or they view us as ants!" KING NOBLESWORN
"And so then, Vadamir.."
"You can guarantee that your blue shield heavy assault knights can take Trom?"
I'd raise a brow at you.
"Would you give me your word, as your king?" LORD VADAMIR
"My sir."
"I can surely take Trom, for I not only employ warrior mages, but the armor my troops wear is designed to resist the fire and lighting their troops scorch our men with." MAWAR
"You're going against creatures smarter than a human, we're not fighting orcs, or humans, gnomes are the smartest and cunning of anything! We can only beat them with what they don't have. Brute Strength." KING NOBLESWORN
"I've made a decision."
"Mawar."
"Do you swear that you will take Trom with your giants?" MAWAR
"I can sir."
"I have several ogres and trolls at the ready. They will crush their walls with ease."
KING NOBLESWORN
"Ogres and trolls are unwieldy."
"We need a purebred giant at the lead." LORD VADAMIR
"A purebred!?" KING NOBLESWORN
"With mind and body resembling that of a man."
LORD VADAMIR
"Strom, fire, air, water and stone!"
"Such giants have no reason to meddle in the affairs of men!" MAWAR
"Well..." KING NOBLESWORN
"Know you not the casualties we have faced, by employing trolls and ogres on the side of our own men?"
"They can obey simple commands, but they can't be disciplined by mere human teachings."
"They'll end up killing as many of us as they do them."
"I'll approve of your idea, Mawar."
"As long as you can get me a purebred giant to lead the fold." LORDS AND GENERALS
The men gasped KING NOBLESWORN
"I shall grant you 90 days to do this for me."
"Until then, we shall bide our time. Break siege camp, and regrow our numbers."
"We've simply lost too many, putting our faith in those useless tribes."
"Make your objections known now."
"If not, my word is absolute."
None of the men opposed you VADAMIR
"We'll become a vassal to that purebred!" KING NOBLESWORN
"My father sowed the seeds of this war with his foolish, unconventional methods. We shall undo that mistake with unconventional methods of our own."
"Gnomes are weak to the might of giants. But we are man."
"We have archives worth of tactics against giants at our disposal."
"But little archives against militarized gnomes."
"You seem more worried about your renown, and your own sake, rather than the kingdom and it's quest." VADAMIR
"Well then Mawar."
"I hope at least one of your men is a good diplomat." MAWAR
I'd gulp a little as Iooked at my king KING NOBLESWORN
"You are all dismissed."
Several days later...
Count Ryis
"MASTER MAWAR!"
I'd ride to you on my horse.
Panting. MAWAR
"Hpmmmh?"
Count Ryis
I'd take a giant gulp of water, having ridden for so long.
"Hahggh..
" "Haghghgh..."
"We've.."
"We've finally, received word.."
"On the bald mountain, lives a single purebred giant.."
"Said to be the ancestors of one of the ancients.." MAWAR
"What kind?" Count Ryis
“We don’t know…”
"He is known as Grunwald…" MAWAR
"Grunwald..." Count Ryis
"Shall we ride to the bald mountain, sir?!"
MAWAR
"I don't know what I could possible give such a mighty and lonely creature." Count Ryis
"You gave your word to our king."
"We must, face it, at the very least."
MAWAR
"And when I give my name to the king, I give my name to the gods that let him rule." Count Ryis
"Think of it."
"If we win or not, this siege will decide the outcome of the great war."
"Those of us who've grown accustomed to the warfare and killing, will struggle to survive in the battlefield known as the great court."
"A battlefield more dangerous than any field or fortress..."
"Your success will give you a great edge in not only winning the king's favor, but in the court as well..." MAWAR
"Then we shall ride, but I most warn you, Bald Mountain is a dangerous place. Theres reasons no civilized society can be seen there."
Count Ryis
"I've heard the stories."
"Barely anything grows there."
"Yet, it isn't graced with snow, or ice."
"Just a stark rock.."
"Such a mysterious place should not exist."
"But no matter. Let's ride." MAWAR
'Theres many places that should not exist."
I'd ride Our armies were garrisoned in our own castles.
Only a handpicked group of cavalrymen accompanied us. MAWAR
"Count Ryis."
"What is the farthest you've even been away from the city?"
Count Ryis
"Here."
I'd chuckle. “I've only been as far as our king's campaigns have brought me. I was born shortly after this war began."
"My father raised me as a knight, and soon the king took me as his vassal, and gave me rights to raise an army in his name."
"I've fought to fulfill the quest of our kingdom."
"So I've had little time for exploration beyond the castles I'd been ordered to siege, or the battlefields I've fought within." MAWAR
"I say that a man has only lived as far as he traveled." Count Ryis
"It looks to me like you've traveled far and wide, then."
I'd smirk.
"Perhaps when this war is over, I'll be able to do some traveling of my own, in respite of the king's court." MAWAR
"Oh? And where would you even travel in such a dangerous world?" Count Ryis
"Hmm.."
We'd suddenly be at the base of the bald mountain. MAWAR
"Looks like it was shorter than it was."
"Now we must be careful, mountains are full of caves and passages to the underground."
"Criminals, wildmen, monsters, and worse might lurk in these mountains."
I'd looked for a passage up Count Ryis
"It is a knight's responsibility to be prepared for every situation."
I'd hold my warhammer.
We'd slowly, and cautiously make our way up the mountain. MAWAR
I'd order my men to follow me closely
"Keep your eyes peeled."
"I'd rather not be a chimeras lunch today!" Count Ryis
"Hmmm.."
I'd point to a large, stone cave.
Though, it was shaped odd.
There were stairs laid out, by hand.
Leading up into a large mouth. MAWAR
"What is it?" Count Ryis
"It's like.."
"The mouth, of god..." MAWAR
I'd investigate it The hole was so large.
You felt heat coming from inside the cave. Count Ryis
"Men, stay here!" MAWAR
I'd examine the side of it.
Carved.
The entire mouth, had been carved. MAWAR
"Amazing..." Count Ryis
I'd dismount my horse. MAWAR
"Not even the dwarves could carve something like that." Count Ryis
"Pistol, Nerik, come with me." MAWAR
I'd walk over to the mountain Count Ryis
I'd watch as two of our knights accompanied me. MAWAR
"The heat is intense, perhaps it is a fire giant that dwells here?" Count Ryis
I'd follow you, only to join you in amazement.
MAWAR
"The stone carvings though, a stone giant?"
I'd be flabbergasted, perhaps one of the few people of Midna to bare witness to a purebreed giant, one far away from their
native lands, where they are still rare
Count Ryis
"Perhaps, this cave was made by his ancestors?"
"The scholar who taught me told me about such caves."
"Carved by hand, by the purebred giants."
"But, this is so far away from where they were discovered.."
"Could this be the only one?"
I'd start walking inside. MAWAR
I'd hold up a torch
You saw a massive, stark face, suddenly stare at you.
With large, sharp teeth coming out of its lips. MAWAR
I'd jump back, surprised
It was only a stone carving.
MAWAR
"Gods..." Protruding out of the cave wall. Count Ryis
"What is it?"
"Eek!" MAWAR
"A stone carving!" My own men shuddered. Count Ryis
"It's, creepy.." Pistol shouted.
As he saw another.
This one of a female, but with those same, strong features, and sharp teeth.
The cave was filled of the stone carvings of the giants who dwelled within it.
The ancestors of the lone Grunward.
Dozens of faces jutted out from the walls. MAWAR
"Such talent and beauty..." Count Ryis
"Magnificent.."
I'd raise a brow as I studied the female giant. MAWAR
"Grunward is a stone giant..." Count Ryis
"I wonder if there are any.."
"Purebred, female giants, still around?" MAWAR
"Their stonework and artistry can make a god shed tears." Count Ryis
I'd rub my chin, my youthful face smirking at the thought.
"It certainly is better than any stonemason's work."
"Let's continue on.." MAWAR
"Hpmh..."
I'd wonder way they had such sharp teeth
Count Ryis
"I've yet to see a purebred at all, of course."
"Their women must strike one with both fear, and intense beauty."
"Just as some orc women do."
MAWAR
"A purebred could crush you in your hands."
Count Ryis
"I doubt a giant can be as tender as an orc, though.."
My horny ramblings filled the cave. MAWAR
"Now I recommend you not to have the mighty Grunwald hear your perverted thoughts."
Chlk chlk chlk chlk..
MAWAR
"He could have met gods, help craft buildings within their realms far beyond this mortal world. He's seen men like us die thousands of times." Count Ryis
"Ind-" MAWAR
"Be humb-"
I'd freeze
Chlk-chlk-chlk-chlk.
Chlk...
The sound of tools against stone. MAWAR
I'd look at my men SOLDIER
"My lord.." This being could kill us by accident. I'd shake, as I pointed to the faint outline of...
Grunward.
His hand rubbing his face, as he carved a face into the cave. MAWAR
"He's even bigger than I thought possible." His large, glowing red eyes illuminating the wall. GRUNWARD
I'd grunt.
You estimated that I was at least 13 feet tall, if not more.
I'd suddenly stare straight at you with both of these eyes.
"Who are you?"
You could see my fiery red hair. MAWAR
"I am Sir Mawar." GRUNWARD
My sharp teeth. MAWAR
I'd bow in front of you GRUNWARD
Every one of them pointed. "..." MAWAR
"Mighty one." GRUNWARD
I'd go back to carving my own face in the wall. MAWAR
I'd look back at my men GRUNWARD
"I'm finishing up."
"Whatever you want with me.."
"Wait outside."
"I'll only say this once, for there's no way you could have known how rude it is to intrude inside the home of my ancestors."
"Go. Outside." RYIS
My knees shook, as the men laughed at how scared we were, and were confused by it as well. CARKUS
"What's wrong, little Nerik?" MAWAR
I'd see the sunlight
CARKUS
"Did you get lost, and bump into some kind of ghost?" MAWAR
"Ohhhh almighty sun!" CARKUS
"KEH!" MAWAR
I'd feel the warmth and safety from it CARKUS
"Let me go in there, I'll show you that there's no need to.." BOOM MAWAR
I'd take a deep breath, feeling calmer CARKUS
"W-worry..?"
"Ehhhhhh?!" BOOM
BOOM... BOOM... MAWAR
My fingers trembled Exiting the massive cave.
Standing at 24 feet tall.
Grunwald
GRUNWALD
I'd look down at you all.
"Thank you for leaving."
"Now what is it you want from me, Mawar?" CARKUS
I'd whimper, as did the rest of us.
"W-what the hell? I'm dreaming, right?!"
"Guys, it's all a dream, it's.."
RYIS
"Shut it!"
GRUNWALD
"Well?"
"I don't take kindly to humans disturbing me."
"Especially for no reason." MAWAR
I'd gulp
"Grunwald."
"My king is fighting a war, for his family's ancestral land. Land that his father, have given to those who fight with magic and tricks. His ancestors are buried there, and their corpses are forced to speak their secrets as if they were books." GRUNWALD
"Why should I care?" MAWAR
"We kindly ask for your help, to reclaim the land that our king rightfully owns, and we will fulfill what you seek in exchange for your awesome power." GRUNWALD
"I won't waste my time fighting in human wars."
"Watching your kind kill each other." CARKUS
"Great, now he'll probably kill us, and we'll be known as a laughingstock by the living.." MAWAR
"This is not another human war, mighty one." GRUNWALD
"Hm?" MAWAR
"King Tromulous and his gnomish forces only care about their quest for knowledge and magic. They will gather mages and forces to try and turn your ancestor's home, into something they can pull apart, dissect, and ruin so that they may try to replicate it." GRUNWALD
"Gnomes?"
"Did you say gnomes?" MAWAR
"We will promise to-"
"Yes?" GRUNWALD
"Very well."
"I'll decide on a reward later."
"I'll meet you at the base of the mountain soon."
My bright red eyes, turned a deep, orangish red.
Steam lightly coming out of my large, sharp toothed mouth. MAWAR
I'd steam back, as I turned around, walking down the mountain. GRUNWALD
You'd hear me grunt, loudly. MAWAR
"Thank you, Grunwald." GRUNWALD
As I suddenly heaved a massive boulder in front of the entrance.
To me, it was like moving a large box.
B-GOOMMMMM... CARKUS
"Christ..." RYIS
"Well, Mawar.."
"I've certainly got a lot to learn, on the diplomatic side of things."
"You must forgive the dialogue I had with you, mere moments ago."
"I tend to not think about what I say, in such unusual circumstances.."
"Right now I don't know whether I should still feel fear, or excitement."
"You managed to get the beast to leave his cave."
"A quite impressive one, at that.." MAWAR
"That is no beast Ryis." RYIS
"A pureblood giant, in the flesh. A man of pure.. myth!" MAWAR
"He's not a man either. He's beyond it." RYIS
"Hm?" MAWAR
"Imagine, all that he's seen in his long life, perhaps watching his entire clan die, unable to save them."
"And he cares about our pathetic kingdom, why?" RYIS "Perhaps, after a surplus of cruel jokes from Orver himself…"
MAWAR
"We're nothing but second, in his centuries." RYIS
"He's decided we are worthy of his blessings." MAWAR
"Although, I must confess."
"Isn't that what the gnomes sought too? To finally have a kingdom of their own, to protect scared knowledge from the likes of men and races they said would bring about their own destruction?"
"Perhaps I should have been a wandering hermit, instead of a soldier. I feel as if I am a victim to my guilt sometimes." RYIS
"You would have made a better poet, than a hermit."
I'd chuckle. MAWAR
I'd chuckle back RYIS
"The best we can hope for, is an armistace."
"The gnomes have killed many of us. But we have killed many of them."
"This conquest for power is enough to corrupt any righteous soul, though."
"Tromulous was once a wise leader. But it's obvious this war has brought out the worst in him."
"As for our king.. I feel it wise to not say."
"Right now we should be contemplating how much it will cost for us to brandish our newest ally."
"Not the politics, and state of things." MAWAR
"Well." RYIS
I'd rub my head.
"We have but two months to commission full plate and weapon for him." MAWAR
"It's funny."
"I'd thought I'd know what kind of giant he was if I saw him."
"I thought I was an expert, but storm, fire, stone, water and air, I don't know what powers he could have, if any.
"And yet, with what little I knew about him, I've convinced him to join us."
"Ryis."
"Do you think mankind is worthy of being the rulers of the world, as we always dreamed of being, that one day man shall gaze upon subjects that once thought lowly of him?"
"And if so, would the gnomes, who've suffered far worse than us, be our equals, or are we entitled for far greater?"
"Will we truly, one day, be like the giants of old?"
"And if so, are we destined to be like Grunwald, nothing left but a rumor?"
I'd watch from afar, it was obvious I wasn't asking these to you, but to myself
I just needed your help in answering them, the mighty giant walking down the mountain
RYIS
"It is an old dream for us to one day rule this land, with any and all others under our thumb."
"The great ones, like the one who follows us now, perhaps shared those same dreams."
"Their history is shrouded in complete mystery, but I imagine there was a time where even they were looking for miracles to save them from their conflicts."
"However.."
"I don't think we humans will end up as he."
"As our king said."
"Mankind will persist above all else."
"History has proven that to be true, time and time again."
"We outlived the Firbolgs, when their empire threatened to crush any and all who would oppose them."
"The archives say that humanity came close to total extinction during that ancient time."
"But still, we remained."
"We struggled on, and endured." MAWAR
"I wander how much of our own history has been lost, and what our own ancestors have built."
"Perhaps we shall see for ourselves, what secrets the Quartz Tower holds." KH-BOOM...
You'd see Grunwald going down the mountain.
Fully dressed, in what seemed to be ancient stone plating his entire body.
Iron chainmail dangled from his body, each link the size of a human head.
There were so many engravings in the stone armor he bore.
Each step made the ground shake. GRUNWALD
I'd turn and looked at my home.
"MAWAR!" MAWAR
I'd stand at attention GRUNWALD
You saw the massive armor I wore. MAWAR
"Incredible..." GRUNWALD
It was as if you were staring at a stone knight.
Every plate folded and layered perfectly. My entire body was covered.
"Lead me to your kingdom."
"What you need of me I will do."
"I have only ever known the comfort of a hammer in my grasp. That will be my weapon."
"To smash the insects infecting your home." MAWAR
"Right this way."
I'd got on my horse, riding back to the kingdom GRUNWALD
Every massive step I took managed to keep up with the horsemen with ease.
Villagers stared up at me.
Men in awe. Women in fear.
Children in amazement.
As if I was some kind of god. RYIS
"Geez.."
"Forget the armor, then.."
"I don't think even the ancient dragons could make a dent in that thing..."
The stone plates grinded as they shuffled on the giant's body. MAWAR
"We could very well be the last of anyone to see such a sight." RYIS
"I know."
"He is both a mighty, and a sad sight to behold."
"Knowing that one day, even he will die. And that will be the last of him."
"I feel sorry."
"Perhaps we could reunite him with his kinsmen."
"Maybe that's the only thing we humans could hope to achieve, to repay him." MAWAR
"Perhaps we should." RYIS
"Solely so that he knows he is not alone, and that his kind does not have to die."
"I feel as though that is the reward he truly wants..."
An insane king, giving that bounty of knowledge to his court wizard, a gnome at that, and not his own son, is a insult to the entire kingdom of Blarur, even years after his death.
You were in a generals tent. KING NOBLESWORN
I'd fold my arms, as I looked around at all of the noblemen. LORD VADAMIR
"We can't do this sir! They have access to every single battle tactic known to man, and they dabble with the arcane. How can our troops deal with their tricks, we lost an entire battalion of men when they walked into a river that they thought was dry land!" KING NOBLESWORN
"God dammit..."
"Dammit all, is there not one of you who has faith in our cause?"
"The capture of Trom is the quest of our kingdom."
"That is the quest that was bestowed upon you, when you were knighted by me."
"But it seems as though you do not hold that ideal close to your hearts, as I originally thought.."
I'd rub my forehead.
"If the orc tribes have failed us.."
"Then what other option do we have?"
SIR MAWAR
"Simple sir."
"Theres a creature, the gods made long ago, a soldier of their armies, designed to kill dragons with their bare hands."
"That some even claim are our ancestors."
"We need the ultimate siege weapon."
"Something with skin so tough, their spells and swords will be helpless against it!"
"Gentlemen..."
"We need to employ..."
"A giant." KING NOBLESWORN
"A giant..."
I'd start to get giddy.
"How foolish of me, to not think of such a genius plan." SIR MAWAR
I'd giggle KING NOBLESWORN
"Do any of you have a giant in your army?"
"Such beings are impossible to mount. But I have already devised such a plan as to how we could mobilize one."
LORD VADAMIR
"A giant!"
"Ha!"
"They're either abominations, or they view us as ants!" KING NOBLESWORN
"And so then, Vadamir.."
"You can guarantee that your blue shield heavy assault knights can take Trom?"
I'd raise a brow at you.
"Would you give me your word, as your king?" LORD VADAMIR
"My sir."
"I can surely take Trom, for I not only employ warrior mages, but the armor my troops wear is designed to resist the fire and lighting their troops scorch our men with." MAWAR
"You're going against creatures smarter than a human, we're not fighting orcs, or humans, gnomes are the smartest and cunning of anything! We can only beat them with what they don't have. Brute Strength." KING NOBLESWORN
"I've made a decision."
"Mawar."
"Do you swear that you will take Trom with your giants?" MAWAR
"I can sir."
"I have several ogres and trolls at the ready. They will crush their walls with ease."
KING NOBLESWORN
"Ogres and trolls are unwieldy."
"We need a purebred giant at the lead." LORD VADAMIR
"A purebred!?" KING NOBLESWORN
"With mind and body resembling that of a man."
LORD VADAMIR
"Strom, fire, air, water and stone!"
"Such giants have no reason to meddle in the affairs of men!" MAWAR
"Well..." KING NOBLESWORN
"Know you not the casualties we have faced, by employing trolls and ogres on the side of our own men?"
"They can obey simple commands, but they can't be disciplined by mere human teachings."
"They'll end up killing as many of us as they do them."
"I'll approve of your idea, Mawar."
"As long as you can get me a purebred giant to lead the fold." LORDS AND GENERALS
The men gasped KING NOBLESWORN
"I shall grant you 90 days to do this for me."
"Until then, we shall bide our time. Break siege camp, and regrow our numbers."
"We've simply lost too many, putting our faith in those useless tribes."
"Make your objections known now."
"If not, my word is absolute."
None of the men opposed you VADAMIR
"We'll become a vassal to that purebred!" KING NOBLESWORN
"My father sowed the seeds of this war with his foolish, unconventional methods. We shall undo that mistake with unconventional methods of our own."
"Gnomes are weak to the might of giants. But we are man."
"We have archives worth of tactics against giants at our disposal."
"But little archives against militarized gnomes."
"You seem more worried about your renown, and your own sake, rather than the kingdom and it's quest." VADAMIR
"Well then Mawar."
"I hope at least one of your men is a good diplomat." MAWAR
I'd gulp a little as Iooked at my king KING NOBLESWORN
"You are all dismissed."
Several days later...
Count Ryis
"MASTER MAWAR!"
I'd ride to you on my horse.
Panting. MAWAR
"Hpmmmh?"
Count Ryis
I'd take a giant gulp of water, having ridden for so long.
"Hahggh..
" "Haghghgh..."
"We've.."
"We've finally, received word.."
"On the bald mountain, lives a single purebred giant.."
"Said to be the ancestors of one of the ancients.." MAWAR
"What kind?" Count Ryis
“We don’t know…”
"He is known as Grunwald…" MAWAR
"Grunwald..." Count Ryis
"Shall we ride to the bald mountain, sir?!"
MAWAR
"I don't know what I could possible give such a mighty and lonely creature." Count Ryis
"You gave your word to our king."
"We must, face it, at the very least."
MAWAR
"And when I give my name to the king, I give my name to the gods that let him rule." Count Ryis
"Think of it."
"If we win or not, this siege will decide the outcome of the great war."
"Those of us who've grown accustomed to the warfare and killing, will struggle to survive in the battlefield known as the great court."
"A battlefield more dangerous than any field or fortress..."
"Your success will give you a great edge in not only winning the king's favor, but in the court as well..." MAWAR
"Then we shall ride, but I most warn you, Bald Mountain is a dangerous place. Theres reasons no civilized society can be seen there."
Count Ryis
"I've heard the stories."
"Barely anything grows there."
"Yet, it isn't graced with snow, or ice."
"Just a stark rock.."
"Such a mysterious place should not exist."
"But no matter. Let's ride." MAWAR
'Theres many places that should not exist."
I'd ride Our armies were garrisoned in our own castles.
Only a handpicked group of cavalrymen accompanied us. MAWAR
"Count Ryis."
"What is the farthest you've even been away from the city?"
Count Ryis
"Here."
I'd chuckle. “I've only been as far as our king's campaigns have brought me. I was born shortly after this war began."
"My father raised me as a knight, and soon the king took me as his vassal, and gave me rights to raise an army in his name."
"I've fought to fulfill the quest of our kingdom."
"So I've had little time for exploration beyond the castles I'd been ordered to siege, or the battlefields I've fought within." MAWAR
"I say that a man has only lived as far as he traveled." Count Ryis
"It looks to me like you've traveled far and wide, then."
I'd smirk.
"Perhaps when this war is over, I'll be able to do some traveling of my own, in respite of the king's court." MAWAR
"Oh? And where would you even travel in such a dangerous world?" Count Ryis
"Hmm.."
We'd suddenly be at the base of the bald mountain. MAWAR
"Looks like it was shorter than it was."
"Now we must be careful, mountains are full of caves and passages to the underground."
"Criminals, wildmen, monsters, and worse might lurk in these mountains."
I'd looked for a passage up Count Ryis
"It is a knight's responsibility to be prepared for every situation."
I'd hold my warhammer.
We'd slowly, and cautiously make our way up the mountain. MAWAR
I'd order my men to follow me closely
"Keep your eyes peeled."
"I'd rather not be a chimeras lunch today!" Count Ryis
"Hmmm.."
I'd point to a large, stone cave.
Though, it was shaped odd.
There were stairs laid out, by hand.
Leading up into a large mouth. MAWAR
"What is it?" Count Ryis
"It's like.."
"The mouth, of god..." MAWAR
I'd investigate it The hole was so large.
You felt heat coming from inside the cave. Count Ryis
"Men, stay here!" MAWAR
I'd examine the side of it.
Carved.
The entire mouth, had been carved. MAWAR
"Amazing..." Count Ryis
I'd dismount my horse. MAWAR
"Not even the dwarves could carve something like that." Count Ryis
"Pistol, Nerik, come with me." MAWAR
I'd walk over to the mountain Count Ryis
I'd watch as two of our knights accompanied me. MAWAR
"The heat is intense, perhaps it is a fire giant that dwells here?" Count Ryis
I'd follow you, only to join you in amazement.
MAWAR
"The stone carvings though, a stone giant?"
I'd be flabbergasted, perhaps one of the few people of Midna to bare witness to a purebreed giant, one far away from their
native lands, where they are still rare
Count Ryis
"Perhaps, this cave was made by his ancestors?"
"The scholar who taught me told me about such caves."
"Carved by hand, by the purebred giants."
"But, this is so far away from where they were discovered.."
"Could this be the only one?"
I'd start walking inside. MAWAR
I'd hold up a torch
You saw a massive, stark face, suddenly stare at you.
With large, sharp teeth coming out of its lips. MAWAR
I'd jump back, surprised
It was only a stone carving.
MAWAR
"Gods..." Protruding out of the cave wall. Count Ryis
"What is it?"
"Eek!" MAWAR
"A stone carving!" My own men shuddered. Count Ryis
"It's, creepy.." Pistol shouted.
As he saw another.
This one of a female, but with those same, strong features, and sharp teeth.
The cave was filled of the stone carvings of the giants who dwelled within it.
The ancestors of the lone Grunward.
Dozens of faces jutted out from the walls. MAWAR
"Such talent and beauty..." Count Ryis
"Magnificent.."
I'd raise a brow as I studied the female giant. MAWAR
"Grunward is a stone giant..." Count Ryis
"I wonder if there are any.."
"Purebred, female giants, still around?" MAWAR
"Their stonework and artistry can make a god shed tears." Count Ryis
I'd rub my chin, my youthful face smirking at the thought.
"It certainly is better than any stonemason's work."
"Let's continue on.." MAWAR
"Hpmh..."
I'd wonder way they had such sharp teeth
Count Ryis
"I've yet to see a purebred at all, of course."
"Their women must strike one with both fear, and intense beauty."
"Just as some orc women do."
MAWAR
"A purebred could crush you in your hands."
Count Ryis
"I doubt a giant can be as tender as an orc, though.."
My horny ramblings filled the cave. MAWAR
"Now I recommend you not to have the mighty Grunwald hear your perverted thoughts."
Chlk chlk chlk chlk..
MAWAR
"He could have met gods, help craft buildings within their realms far beyond this mortal world. He's seen men like us die thousands of times." Count Ryis
"Ind-" MAWAR
"Be humb-"
I'd freeze
Chlk-chlk-chlk-chlk.
Chlk...
The sound of tools against stone. MAWAR
I'd look at my men SOLDIER
"My lord.." This being could kill us by accident. I'd shake, as I pointed to the faint outline of...
Grunward.
His hand rubbing his face, as he carved a face into the cave. MAWAR
"He's even bigger than I thought possible." His large, glowing red eyes illuminating the wall. GRUNWARD
I'd grunt.
You estimated that I was at least 13 feet tall, if not more.
I'd suddenly stare straight at you with both of these eyes.
"Who are you?"
You could see my fiery red hair. MAWAR
"I am Sir Mawar." GRUNWARD
My sharp teeth. MAWAR
I'd bow in front of you GRUNWARD
Every one of them pointed. "..." MAWAR
"Mighty one." GRUNWARD
I'd go back to carving my own face in the wall. MAWAR
I'd look back at my men GRUNWARD
"I'm finishing up."
"Whatever you want with me.."
"Wait outside."
"I'll only say this once, for there's no way you could have known how rude it is to intrude inside the home of my ancestors."
"Go. Outside." RYIS
My knees shook, as the men laughed at how scared we were, and were confused by it as well. CARKUS
"What's wrong, little Nerik?" MAWAR
I'd see the sunlight
CARKUS
"Did you get lost, and bump into some kind of ghost?" MAWAR
"Ohhhh almighty sun!" CARKUS
"KEH!" MAWAR
I'd feel the warmth and safety from it CARKUS
"Let me go in there, I'll show you that there's no need to.." BOOM MAWAR
I'd take a deep breath, feeling calmer CARKUS
"W-worry..?"
"Ehhhhhh?!" BOOM
BOOM... BOOM... MAWAR
My fingers trembled Exiting the massive cave.
Standing at 24 feet tall.
Grunwald
GRUNWALD
I'd look down at you all.
"Thank you for leaving."
"Now what is it you want from me, Mawar?" CARKUS
I'd whimper, as did the rest of us.
"W-what the hell? I'm dreaming, right?!"
"Guys, it's all a dream, it's.."
RYIS
"Shut it!"
GRUNWALD
"Well?"
"I don't take kindly to humans disturbing me."
"Especially for no reason." MAWAR
I'd gulp
"Grunwald."
"My king is fighting a war, for his family's ancestral land. Land that his father, have given to those who fight with magic and tricks. His ancestors are buried there, and their corpses are forced to speak their secrets as if they were books." GRUNWALD
"Why should I care?" MAWAR
"We kindly ask for your help, to reclaim the land that our king rightfully owns, and we will fulfill what you seek in exchange for your awesome power." GRUNWALD
"I won't waste my time fighting in human wars."
"Watching your kind kill each other." CARKUS
"Great, now he'll probably kill us, and we'll be known as a laughingstock by the living.." MAWAR
"This is not another human war, mighty one." GRUNWALD
"Hm?" MAWAR
"King Tromulous and his gnomish forces only care about their quest for knowledge and magic. They will gather mages and forces to try and turn your ancestor's home, into something they can pull apart, dissect, and ruin so that they may try to replicate it." GRUNWALD
"Gnomes?"
"Did you say gnomes?" MAWAR
"We will promise to-"
"Yes?" GRUNWALD
"Very well."
"I'll decide on a reward later."
"I'll meet you at the base of the mountain soon."
My bright red eyes, turned a deep, orangish red.
Steam lightly coming out of my large, sharp toothed mouth. MAWAR
I'd steam back, as I turned around, walking down the mountain. GRUNWALD
You'd hear me grunt, loudly. MAWAR
"Thank you, Grunwald." GRUNWALD
As I suddenly heaved a massive boulder in front of the entrance.
To me, it was like moving a large box.
B-GOOMMMMM... CARKUS
"Christ..." RYIS
"Well, Mawar.."
"I've certainly got a lot to learn, on the diplomatic side of things."
"You must forgive the dialogue I had with you, mere moments ago."
"I tend to not think about what I say, in such unusual circumstances.."
"Right now I don't know whether I should still feel fear, or excitement."
"You managed to get the beast to leave his cave."
"A quite impressive one, at that.." MAWAR
"That is no beast Ryis." RYIS
"A pureblood giant, in the flesh. A man of pure.. myth!" MAWAR
"He's not a man either. He's beyond it." RYIS
"Hm?" MAWAR
"Imagine, all that he's seen in his long life, perhaps watching his entire clan die, unable to save them."
"And he cares about our pathetic kingdom, why?" RYIS "Perhaps, after a surplus of cruel jokes from Orver himself…"
MAWAR
"We're nothing but second, in his centuries." RYIS
"He's decided we are worthy of his blessings." MAWAR
"Although, I must confess."
"Isn't that what the gnomes sought too? To finally have a kingdom of their own, to protect scared knowledge from the likes of men and races they said would bring about their own destruction?"
"Perhaps I should have been a wandering hermit, instead of a soldier. I feel as if I am a victim to my guilt sometimes." RYIS
"You would have made a better poet, than a hermit."
I'd chuckle. MAWAR
I'd chuckle back RYIS
"The best we can hope for, is an armistace."
"The gnomes have killed many of us. But we have killed many of them."
"This conquest for power is enough to corrupt any righteous soul, though."
"Tromulous was once a wise leader. But it's obvious this war has brought out the worst in him."
"As for our king.. I feel it wise to not say."
"Right now we should be contemplating how much it will cost for us to brandish our newest ally."
"Not the politics, and state of things." MAWAR
"Well." RYIS
I'd rub my head.
"We have but two months to commission full plate and weapon for him." MAWAR
"It's funny."
"I'd thought I'd know what kind of giant he was if I saw him."
"I thought I was an expert, but storm, fire, stone, water and air, I don't know what powers he could have, if any.
"And yet, with what little I knew about him, I've convinced him to join us."
"Ryis."
"Do you think mankind is worthy of being the rulers of the world, as we always dreamed of being, that one day man shall gaze upon subjects that once thought lowly of him?"
"And if so, would the gnomes, who've suffered far worse than us, be our equals, or are we entitled for far greater?"
"Will we truly, one day, be like the giants of old?"
"And if so, are we destined to be like Grunwald, nothing left but a rumor?"
I'd watch from afar, it was obvious I wasn't asking these to you, but to myself
I just needed your help in answering them, the mighty giant walking down the mountain
RYIS
"It is an old dream for us to one day rule this land, with any and all others under our thumb."
"The great ones, like the one who follows us now, perhaps shared those same dreams."
"Their history is shrouded in complete mystery, but I imagine there was a time where even they were looking for miracles to save them from their conflicts."
"However.."
"I don't think we humans will end up as he."
"As our king said."
"Mankind will persist above all else."
"History has proven that to be true, time and time again."
"We outlived the Firbolgs, when their empire threatened to crush any and all who would oppose them."
"The archives say that humanity came close to total extinction during that ancient time."
"But still, we remained."
"We struggled on, and endured." MAWAR
"I wander how much of our own history has been lost, and what our own ancestors have built."
"Perhaps we shall see for ourselves, what secrets the Quartz Tower holds." KH-BOOM...
You'd see Grunwald going down the mountain.
Fully dressed, in what seemed to be ancient stone plating his entire body.
Iron chainmail dangled from his body, each link the size of a human head.
There were so many engravings in the stone armor he bore.
Each step made the ground shake. GRUNWALD
I'd turn and looked at my home.
"MAWAR!" MAWAR
I'd stand at attention GRUNWALD
You saw the massive armor I wore. MAWAR
"Incredible..." GRUNWALD
It was as if you were staring at a stone knight.
Every plate folded and layered perfectly. My entire body was covered.
"Lead me to your kingdom."
"What you need of me I will do."
"I have only ever known the comfort of a hammer in my grasp. That will be my weapon."
"To smash the insects infecting your home." MAWAR
"Right this way."
I'd got on my horse, riding back to the kingdom GRUNWALD
Every massive step I took managed to keep up with the horsemen with ease.
Villagers stared up at me.
Men in awe. Women in fear.
Children in amazement.
As if I was some kind of god. RYIS
"Geez.."
"Forget the armor, then.."
"I don't think even the ancient dragons could make a dent in that thing..."
The stone plates grinded as they shuffled on the giant's body. MAWAR
"We could very well be the last of anyone to see such a sight." RYIS
"I know."
"He is both a mighty, and a sad sight to behold."
"Knowing that one day, even he will die. And that will be the last of him."
"I feel sorry."
"Perhaps we could reunite him with his kinsmen."
"Maybe that's the only thing we humans could hope to achieve, to repay him." MAWAR
"Perhaps we should." RYIS
"Solely so that he knows he is not alone, and that his kind does not have to die."
"I feel as though that is the reward he truly wants..."
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