Like a Really Big Troll

First the ground was trembling just a bit. In the few spots where there was some water in puddles, the film of the water just barely shivered. Their faces grim, the party marched on. The khan, however, seemed downright joyous, inhaling the scent of the smoking ruins and blood. Peri and Sarevok wondered whether she felt like they had when the taint was eating their own souls away, or whether she simply anticipated a glorious battle. There was a subtle difference they both were aware of. When Bhaal held sway of their souls, it was the death itself, murder, bloodshed, and destruction that filled their mind with the insatiable lust. When you were a natural born warrior, you loved the battle, not the death.

- "It is there," Yun-Men said, pointing with her sword.

Indeed. Kusatte Iru loomed in the horizon, trampling everything under its feet. Several story buildings collapsed like nothing, the unfortunate people who hadn't been able to run for their lives screamed in despair until their voices were cut short. The ruins were ablaze, the wood sizzling and shooting smoke and cinders in the evening air.

The beast seemed to rip the city apart for just the heck of it. At the moment it was crushing a beautiful temple in its feet.

- "I do hope most of the people are gone," Jelena said, shivering.

- "They are. We rode through these lands not long before the beast emerged," Yun-Men said. "I told the civilians to flee to safety until the battles are over. But there were some who did not want to leave. And others, not fit to travel, were left behind. They will be dead now."

So matter-of-fact, so even-tempered. Yes, she really unnerved Jelena. But she had led a harsh life and developed harsh beliefs - and if they wished to emerge as the victors from this one, they needed her.

As the party approached Kusatte Iru, it was harder and harder to keep on their feet. The warriors kept their balance with relative ease yet, as did Imoen, but Jelena and Winski found it hard. The ground was positively shaking, as if there was an earthquake. Kusatte Iru slammed its tremendous fists on everything vaguely moving. Its muscles, as if sculpted, were the same color as a magician covered by the Stoneskin spell.

- "It is just..." Peri panted, "just like a really big troll. Not even as smart as one. Think of it like that. Just really... big."

- "It is time," Sarevok said. His eyes flashed, his jaw strong with determination.

The khan dodged a shattering beam from a burning house. It landed with a loud thud. The fire was so hot, their skins started to bristle. The khan was smiling. She really looked like a wolf now. Curious, and intent on its prey.

The spellcasters launched all the protective and enhancing spells at their disposal at the three warriors. Coming up with the exact scene of the spell triggers, contingencies and the order of casting had been no mean feat and taken a lot of planning.

Sarevok felt how his body was encased in the weave, how his muscles surged, how he was fast, hot and irritable as a bolt of lightning. He recalled, somewhat ruefully, the time when he had been naturally resistant to magic. All this fuss around the power of weave had seemed like the needless toil of the weak. Oh, youth and arrogance, he smiled bitterly.

The khan was squealing like a child, delighted. She caught herself doing that and tried for a more sombre expression, but just couldn't help melting into a smile again.

- "Such strange feeling!" she said. "It is as if I'm invincible! Or immortal!"

- "You are not," Winski warned. "Just protected to the best of our ability, and your natural abilities have been enhanced. Remember that."

Yun-Men nodded, but didn't really pay attention.

- "This is now it," Sarevok said. "I thank you all for sharing my fight - and as for you Khan, know that you have the respect of a fellow warrior, even though our causes are not the same. Forward, for the children of Bhaal can not be stopped!"

He was bellowing now, running at the rampaging beast, his voice booming over the rumble of the giant oni's footsteps. Peri and Yun-Men followed, the other's hair swirling in the wind, the other's plait whipping ferociously.

Imoen tried to fire a few arrows at the Kusatte Iru, but the beast didn't even notice, and the arrows never penetrated its hide.

She and Winski recited the syllables of magic, the gestures intensive, their eyes large, concentrating hard not to miscast. Jelena's chant was eerie above the noise of destruction and battle.

So far the casting did no good. The beast seemed to be aware of the attackers now, and slammed at the warriors. With supernatural speed they rolled out of way. It felt as if someone was trying to drop huge statues on top of them.

Jelena finished calling an elemental storm that rained all forms of natural elements on the beast. It made a horrible sound like shrieking, except it was low and rumbling, as if stones were ground together. Some of the elements apparently was harming it, but there was no way to tell which.

With all his might, Sarevok struck his greatsword at the beast. It shrieked again, enraged. Peri had also scored a hit with hers, panting from the effort to evade the murderous strength of the slams.

After each slam Yun-Men approached and cut a low, sweeping arch where the approximate neck of the beast seemed to be. It didn't like that at all - the wounds made by the magical katana sizzled and burned it like acid, not healing rapidly before the eyes like the ones cut by Peri and Sarevok. This time the khan's foolhardy attack went awry, however. The beast managed to swallow her and rose on its hindlegs, making a horrible gurgling sound. Sarevok and Peri frantically approached, slashing through its abdomen.