Book the Second, Chapter the Fifth: After the Catastrophe

[Mr. Handy]

"I truly hope that will not be necessary," says Henry. "Cave systems usually have multiple entrances and exits, so there may yet be another way out of here. If we cannot go back, we must go forward."

[SunlessNick]

"Your life is worth more than that creature's whims," says William flatly.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“‘‘twas the agreement, was it not, that neither would play each other false?” Lepus asks the doll. “Say what must be done.”

He turns to the others.

“The way back be blocked. The doll will have old Lepus make a sacrifice in return for freeing the twins from her influence. If these be my final moments, the it has been a pleasure to know thee.”

He bows deeply.

Spoiler:

I spake not of thy life, little as that be worth, but of the service thou must perform. Gaze upon yon pool of darkness, across which bridge doth run. It must be appeased with such creature as doth dwell herein. Find such a one, defeat it, and send it living into the waters! Then shall thou be rid of me.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

After this brief discussion, heavy slow footsteps, as of something of great size walking deeper within the cavern, echo throughout the chamber. In a moment, the far side of the cave to the right, at the point marked on the map with another S, shudders in time with the sound of mighty blows, as if a being of great strength were beating upon the stone wall from the other side, wishing to enter.

[jp1885]

“Old Lepus’ life may be worthless to thee, fae lady...” the hedge wizard chuckles.

He looks up as the cave in wall shudders under mighty blows.

“Poppy says whatever ‘tis that breaketh through must be bested and thrown living into the abyss under yonder bridge. We should make haste to prepare.”

Muttering various protective charms to himself, he inspects the stalagmites, keeping an eye out for any sandy patches on the floor.

[Rooter]

"I will create an Obscuring Mist around us in hope to confuse ze beast's sight," Vincent says and mutters an incantation to this effect.

[SunlessNick]

William draws his sword.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry, who had been unable to bring his pistols into the cave because the water would have ruined the powder, grips his cane and checks his devices. "In that case, we must retreat to the chasm's edge and get it to follow us," he says.

[SunlessNick]

"A sensible thought, Your Lordship," says William. "Perhaps you three should go now and find places to wait. I shall follow when the thing comes through the wall - with luck it will believe I am its only adversary until it reaches the dangerous ground."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

As his three companions make haste to withdraw as agreed, William witnesses the stone wall ahead of him break apart, as if it were no more than a child's castle of sand washed away by the tide. Standing in the opening, gazing about, is what appears to me a man of great size; perhaps eight or nine feet tall, barely able to stand in the cavern hunched over. His skin is pale wherever it is not darkened with filth. His only garment is a rag wrapped about his loins, such as savage dwellers in the tropical parts of the world are said to wear. His face is nearly hidden behind long, tangled hair that droops over his forehead and hangs down his back, as well as a beard reaching nearly to his belly. These hirsute growths are of a blazing red color, where not caked with dirt. Peeking out between hair and a large nose, obviously broken more than once in the past, are a pair of startlingly blue eyes. The fellow's limbs are in proportion to his great height, and his fingernails are long and sharp. His catches sight of William and speaks in a voice of thunder.

"Who. You."

[jp1885]

Lepus watches from his hiding place as the huge man lumbers forward. He searches the labyrinthine passages and seldom-visited chambers of his memory in an attempt to identify the fellow (red-bearded troglodyte giants being somewhat uncommon no doubt!)

INT 15 (+3 occult knowledge possibly?),[dice]0[/dice]

[SunlessNick]

"I am Captain William Palliser. And with whom do I speak?"" William begins backing away slowly, in the hopes of luring the giant to where the others wait.

[Mr. Handy]

"He might have been dosed with the enlargement potion," whispers Henry. "Whether or not he was, the diminution potion would bring him down to size if we could get him to drink it. If we truly need to make him fall in the chasm, we could always pour water on the ground on the way to the edge to make him slide off of it, but I do not trust that doll."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I am Captain William Palliser. And with whom do I speak?"" William begins backing away slowly, in the hopes of luring the giant to where the others wait.

"Me. Gog," the fellow replies, thumping his chest with a massive fist, producing a sound not unlike of a bass drum. He squints at the new arrival.

"You. Bring. Food? Woman?"

The time that Lepus spends on meditating upon the huge man produces a single piece of knowledge, to wit: that the name claimed by him is a derivative of Gogmagog, the designation of a legendary giant said to dwell in Albion millenia ago. For whatever it might be worth to know, that mythical being was said to be of much greater size than the self-named Gog; besides, according to the noted Historia Regum Britanniae of Geoffrey of Monmouth, Gogmagog was slain in ancient times, not long after Aeneas fled Troy.

[jp1885]

“Can this really be the Gogmagog of yore?” Lepus wonders.

“Fae lady, how came this brute to be thine enemie?”

[SunlessNick]

"I fear I did not," says William. "I did not expect to find anyone here. Is this place your home?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Somehow I thought he would be taller," muses Henry. "Perhaps he's already had a diminution potion. Or perhaps the legends exaggerated his height. Goliath was easily a span taller than him."

[Rooter]

At the mention of food Vincent searches his pockets. The nearest he has among his equipment is a small skin of wine which he proffers as either an offering should the capitaine require it or bait for the docteur's suggestion.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“Can this really be the Gogmagog of yore?” Lepus wonders.

“Fae lady, how came this brute to be thine enemie?”

Spoiler:

The Dweller in the Waters cares not for such as he or thee, only that It be paid tribute! What finer gift than flesh and blood of one so great? Send him living into the Waters and free me, if thou wouldst fancy reward.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I fear I did not," says William. "I did not expect to find anyone here. Is this place your home?"

The giant nods slowly.

"Live. Here. No. Can. Leave."