Book the Second, Chapter the Eleventh: A Lengthy Trek

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

This inquiry being quickly conveyed to the stone previously addressed -- it appears, by the by, that Eliza is best able to communicate in this fashion -- answer is forthcoming.

defeat the guardian and enter

Meanwhile, one of the prodigiously sized fists of the gigantic being emerges from the ground, said appendage bearing a mere three stubby fingers, if one spare a moment to examine its curious anatomy.

[Mr. Handy]

"You were correct, Lepus," says Henry, taking out his Force Projector. "Then let us commence battle!" He fires at the giant, hoping to weaken it.

[jp1885]

Lepus attempts to hurl a stone into the giant’s eye.

[SunlessNick]

Mindful of her father's force projector, Eliza does as Lepus does, and hefts a large rock to throw into the eye.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

Force Projector automatically does 1d6 damaged6

Lepus DEX 15, Eliza DEX 182d20

Perhaps because of the suddenness of the situation, both Lepus and Eliza fail to strike the giant. Doctor North's invention, on the other hand, does not depend on being wielded by a marksman. On the other hand, its effect on its target are not entirely predictable. In this case, it appears to have done very little damage to the creature's brains, save to cause enough injury to enrage it. With a mighty roar of wrath, it seizes one of the fallen stones -- truly, its strength is prodigious! -- as hurls it at the attackers, even as it simultaneously climbs out of the ground, revealing its full greatness of size.

Spoiler:

basic dex 8 and I'll subtract 3 for the fact that it's climbing out of the ground at the same time = 5d20

The huge stone flies above the heads of the adventurers, landing on the ground with a loud thump.

[jp1885]

Cursing his poor aim, Lepus fishes around for a suitable scrap of cloth among his tattered clothing.

Fashioning this into an improvised sling, he fits in a rock, whirls it around his head and lets fly!

[Mr. Handy]

Henry activates the Force Projector again, targeting the giant's brain.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

force projectord6

The arcane beam emitted by Doctor North's invention is more effective this time, causing the giant to emit a roar of pain that makes its previous sounds seem like gentle lullabies.

Spoiler:

15 and 18 dex again2d20

Having more time to aim carefully, both the sling wielded by Lepus and the large stone hurled by Eliza strike the creature.

Spoiler:

damage2d6

The combined action of these weapons, primitive though they may be, causes blood to flow from the giant's huge forehead, staining its shaggy, pale hair and beard a deep red color.

Spoiler:

monster had 4d6 hit points4d6 down to 8

Spoiler:

dex back up to 8d20

It hurls another stone, which again merely causes a great noise to arise when it lands upon the ground.

Spoiler:

disregard that d8 roll; i meant d20, as above.

[jp1885]

Cackling, Lepus selects another rock and lets fly once again.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry fires the Force Projector at the giant a third time, hoping they can finish it off with the next volley of attacks.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

force projector, which should be out of juice by now, I'd thinkd6

Spoiler:

15 and 18 dex again2d20damage2d6

All three attacks are once again successful, and the giant collapses to the ground, causing the ground to shake. Only very slow but clearly audible breaths, one every several minutes, reveal that there is any life left in the monster at all.

[jp1885]

Lepus inspects the fallen giant, poking it with his toe.

“‘Defeat the guardian and enter’ they said. We’ll, thou art defeated, so now we must find yon entrance, yesno?”

[SunlessNick]

As she looks at the fallen giant, Eliza puts a hand up to her own inhuman face. "Will he live?" she asks. "We were called upon to fight him and we have, but must he perish from it?"

[Mr. Handy]

"He yet lives," says Henry, "though only just. I see no need to kill him. He is no longer a threat. We needed to defeat him, and defeat him we did. I could perhaps heal him, if you think it wise. As for the entrance, could it be the hole in the ground from which he emerged?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Upon examination, the hole in the ground appears to be extraordinarily deep, its interior revealed only the feeble glow of multiple pale green lights far below. They move slowly about, much like fireflies on a summer's night. From what can be seen of the opening into the depths of the Earth, the interior surface is very smooth, with no apparent irregularities.

[Mr. Handy]

"I have my Illuminator to provide light when we descend," says Henry. "We'll need a way to climb down there. We can secure some rope to one of the stones and let it down, but we may need a lot of it." He tries dropping a pebble down the shaft, listening to gauge how long it takes to hit bottom and using physics to calculate the depth of the pit.

[jp1885]

“Mayhap yon giant can provide for our needs, yesno?”

Perhaps Lepus can fashion a rope from the creature’s hair or clothing?

[SunlessNick]

Eliza tries to address herself to the fallen giant. "Can you understand my speech? The voice demanded that we fight you. I presume it made a similar demand of you. But we bear you no further malice, if you are willing to agree the same. Is there anything you can tell us of what lies below?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I have my Illuminator to provide light when we descend," says Henry. "We'll need a way to climb down there. We can secure some rope to one of the stones and let it down, but we may need a lot of it." He tries dropping a pebble down the shaft, listening to gauge how long it takes to hit bottom and using physics to calculate the depth of the pit.

This experimental technique yields the information that the pit is approximately two rods deep; a considerable distance to fall.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

dex 15d20

Shearing the giant's shaggy locks with a small knife, the nimble fingers of Lepus are able to weave a curious, but possibly effective, length of rope.