The group of five and their animal companions carefully examined the remains of the owlbear. Maggots and flies could be seen over the carcass, but they were more concerned with what had killed it and how it died.
"Ugh, that stinks. I don't even want to think what it's like for those of you with stronger senses of smell." Harpy Scout grimaced as she covered her mouth and slowly backed away.
Saber Rider and Wolf Brawler were the ones who bent down to examine the body despite the smell, the rest cautiously looking about the area for any signs of this Dragon Executioner, though the footprints they saw suggested he had taken off quite some time ago.
"It's him…" Wolf Brawler coughed as she moved away from the body, trying to dispel the smell from her nose. "Not sure is he was attacked or attacked the owlbear."
"Owlbear neck broken." Saber Rider moved his hand to the different prints present in the dirt and dried blood. "Manbeast fight owlbear, not long fight. Look at body. Arm pulled off. Manbeast strong."
"And were seriously looking to go after him? I'm really worried about this, we should really try to get some help with this." Harpy Scout nervously looked around the area, not trusting that he was completely out of the area.
"Come on, let's get a better view of the area." Half-Dragon Priestess tapped her friend on the shoulder.
The two extended their wings and took to the air, moving beyond the trees into the bright sunlight and looking all around them. The girls continued to flap their wings to keep them in place, circling around them was the Talon, screeching as it too examined the rea with them.
"Priestess, I don't mind telling you I'm scared. This thing is an ancient being from the Age of the Gods and it doesn't show any signs of having weakened."
"I am too, especially since I'm a dragon myself. I have no desire to have my heart eaten, but if the five of us are smart, we can try to bring him down, hopefully save others from being killed as well." Half-Dragon Daughter could feel a cold sweat rolling down the side of her head as she continued to watch the forest. "For now, he's not here, but we sure as are not going to charge him directly, that would be suicide. Come on, let's get back down."
The two girls quickly descended back to the ground to rejoin their friends, Talon having veered off to a nearby bush.
"Any signs of our target?" Padfoot Monk moved forward with staff in hand, his nose able to detect the rotting stench of the owlbear.
"Nothing moving around, but the forest is thick making it very difficult to see too far ahead." Half-Dragon Priestess frowned but reached out to pet Specter who came to nuzzle up beside her. "Let's push ahead, if we can't stop him maybe we can at least warn others before he gets to them."
The others had a bit of a worried expression on their faces, something that could easily kill an owlbear by itself was nothing to haphazardly approach. Just as they readied themselves to move, Talon could be heard screeching overhead, he was circling around the group with a large squirrel in its talons. Talon then dropped the small body near Harpy Scout's feet much to her surprise and slight disgust; the hawk then swooped over towards Saber Rider and landed on his shoulder, his talons clawing at the fur pelt he wore.
"What the hell is this? Food?"
Talon began to screech, flapping his wings several times, before returning to his normal state.
"He say, food for mate. He claims you."
Harpy Scout was at a loss for what she heard, off to the side Half-Dragon Priestess and Wolf Brawler were covering their mouths, doing their best to stifle their laughter.
"I am not a bird! I am a harpy! Why the hell would I mate with a damn bird?"
"Bird Girl have feathers like bird."
"I already told you! I'm a Harpy! I am Scout!" Harpy Scout fumed then shot an angry glance towards her friends. "And you two, stop laughing!"
"Sorry. It's just…you got to admit it's a bit funny." Half-Dragon Priestess smiled while stopping her snickering.
"Consider me jealous. Not even a month into being an adventurer and you already found yourself a love." Wolf Brawler turned her head away, not able to stop her snickering.
"Quiet "Dog Girl"! So help me, I'll put an arrow in your ass!"
xxxx
He struggled to crawl away, both legs were broken, and even the slightest bit of movement was excruciating, but if it meant he would survive then so be it. Behind him he could hear someone begging for their lives and to his right was the bloody and broken body of one of his colleagues. He and the others were bandits looking to steal what they could from unsuspecting travelers or adventurers, there had been four in their group but now it was down to him and whoever was pleading for mercy.
"He…he's just one man. How can…he be so strong?"
The crippled bandit continued to claw at the dirt in hopes of getting away but then he heard the heavy footsteps approaching. He found his body would not move as a large shadow fell over him, off to the side he could see the massive boot of the figure they had tried to rob. He slowly panned his head upward where he could see the smiling face of the figure as he raised his war hammer high to strike. The bandit could only scream as the figure brought the weapon down, crushing his head like an overripe tomato; blood, brain matter and bone fragments clung to the rough stone weapon as the figure effortlessly placed the hammer over his shoulder.
"I was hoping for at least some challenge, but so far I am very disappointed." Dragon Executioner made his way over to the last surviving bandit. "Be thankful that I've only broken your arm, you comrades were not so fortunate."
"You monster! The gods damn you!"
"They've been doing that for centuries, hasn't really slowed me down yet." Dragon Executioner calmly set his hammer down and removed his skull mask before squatting down to speak with the bandit. "Now, what can you tell me about this age?"
"This age? What are you talking about?"
"You see, I've been a sleep for quite some time and the last person I had a chance to talk to only ended up screaming…until I broke her." Dragon Executioner extended his arm and with his massive hand took hold of the bandit's neck. "So, tell me what I need to know or I'll start tearing your limbs off one by one."
"No! I'll tell you anything!"
"Good. Now, what of the Demon Lord or current events? Are there any heroes in this world? What about the other races?"
"Yes, uh…seven, maybe eight years ago the Demon Lord was defeated by the most recent hero, some young woman!"
"A woman? How old?"
"About 20 or so, I think. I know she is the 16th Platinum ranked adventurer."
"The 16th platinum ranked adventurer huh? So now they're using ranks to determine adequacy. What else?"
"There, there was this man, the Necromancer who tried to take over the Capital five years ago…the King, and legendary Heroes stopped him. Elves, dwarves and lizardmen all joined forces to help fight this evil."
"So, there are still Heroes in this world." Dragon Executioner frowned as he thought about this new information. "The temple they had entombed me in was not a broken ruin when I was imprisoned. Many centuries have passed then, and this world has gone through some 16 heroes…how pitiful."
"There, I've told you everything you wanted, please spare me!"
"Hmm…no."
Dragon Executioner quickly snapped the bandit's neck, he would at least be merciful enough to grant him a quick death as compared to the others. With his prey dealt with, he retrieved his gear before continuing forward, off in the distance he could see smoke slowly rising into the air, possibly another camp or a small village.
"Hmm, in my haste, I forgot to inquire if there were any dragons still left in this world. Perhaps the next people I encounter will be able to answer my questions, at least until I kill them."
xxxx
After practically running for the full day, and discovering the bodies of the bandits, Half-Dragon Priestess and the others decided the best thing to do now was to camp for the night and rest. Over the crackling fire was a small pot in which vegetables and meat stewed; around the fire itself were the bodies of birds roasting as their bodies turned golden brown.
"Food smell good. I very hungry."
Saber Rider was rubbing his hands together just before reaching out to help himself to one of the pheasants only to have Half-Dragon Priestess slap at his hands.
"Why Lizard Girl hit hand? That my food."
"Like I keep telling you every time we go for a meal, wait until it's thoroughly cooked. There's plenty for everyone and we have stew to add to it." Half-Dragon Priestess smiled as she tossed in some wild garlic she collected to the stew.
"Want food now. Why they get to eat first?"
Saber Rider gestured to his side where Specter and Fang were already eating their meals, crunching the bones ever so loudly as they did. Up in the nearby tree, Talon was tearing at a rat carcass, every now and then looking around while screeching. The others around the fire and chuckled as it almost appeared that Saber Rider was no different than a pouting child.
"Calm yourself Rider, the food is nearly ready. No need to be so childish." Wolf Brawler teased as she too looked toward the roasting birds. "Though I too am growing quite hungry."
"I not child. I…" Saber Rider paused as he tried to think about the numbers he had been taught. "I…two ten and one years old."
" "Two ten and one"…oh you mean 21 years old." Padfoot Monk smiled as he figured out what his colleague was referring to.
"I not all that good with numbers. But I not child." Saber Rider frowned as he looked toward the fire. "I not weak anymore."
Their smiles faded as they looked toward Saber Rider, the wildman silent as he placed a hand on the worn pelt on his back.
"We really hadn't had a chance to talk have we? Most of the time is just looking for this Dragon Executioner." Half-Dragon Priestess sighed but did offer a small smile as she looked toward her new comrades. "Thank you both for coming with us."
"It was no trouble. I am honored to fight alongside other capable adventurers." Padfoot Monk smiled and bowed his head toward the others.
"I not adventurer. I want keep forest safe." Saber Rider was a bit brisque in his response but eventually nodded his head. "I happy to have others with me. Fang and Talon been only friends for long time."
"I meant to ask, why do you say Fang is your brother even though he is a saber cat?" Harpy Scout looked over toward the saber cat who opened its jaws wide to let out a yawn.
"His mother save me. Take me in." Saber Rider clenched his fists as he closed his eyes and sighed. "When I small, little green men attack my people."
"Little green…you mean goblins?" Half-Dragon Priestess immediately thought about her older brother back in Frontier Town.
"That is what dwarves say. Green men…goblins attack when I six, human mother say run. They kill her and others." Saber Rider continued to stare at the fire, the flames reminded him of the blaze that was his village. "Goblins chase me and almost catch me, but new mother save me. She came and kill them. Thought she would attack me but she come and lick my face. I follow her and met Fang, they accept me."
The others looked at him and saw the way he clutched at the pelt and made the connection.
"That pelt, that's your mother isn't it?" Harpy Scout was shocked by this idea, wondering how he came into possession of it.
"Yes. This second mother."
"You didn't…I mean, you didn't kill her for it did you?" Wolf Brawler did not want to believe that Rider would kill someone who saved him.
"No. I love both mothers! I never do anything to hurt her!" Saber Rider had a scowl on his face from their accusations. "I live with mother and Fang for three years. Then hunters came and found her. I make sure Fang safe then try to save mother. I got captured."
Saber Rider slowly remove pelt from atop his head and place it on ground next to him, the others could see he was saddened by recalling this memory, but still he continued.
"I spend five days in cage. Other animals captured. I look for mother but not see her. I escape when hunters asleep and free others. I search camp but find mother skin…she dead." Saber Rider look at leather gauntlet and knife made from her tooth. "They make trophy of her. I take with me and go find Fang. I make promise to keep Fang safe. Hunters make trophy of mother, I keep so that mother always with us."
"I am deeply sorry for what you had to go through. Both of your mothers sound like they really cared for you." Half-Dragon Priestess smiled as she reached for two of the cooked pheasants and passed them to him. "How did you meet up with Talon?"
"Thanks." Saber Rider eagerly ate into the meat continuing to talk even with his mouth stuffed full of food. "Save him from trap, few years ago. He tell me he grateful and stay with us."
"I meant to ask, how are you able to communicate with animals? Is it some type of magic spell or use of an item?" Padfoot Monk joined in with the feast as he helped himself to a bowl of stew.
"No magic. Fang and me help save dwarves from strange creature. Big black cat, had six legs, and…strange, long arms with teeth."
"What kind of creature is that? Six legs and strange arms with teeth?" Wolf Brawler mulled over how this creature would appear as she chewed on her meat.
"I believe Rider is referring to a Displacer Beast." Padfoot Monk replied as he continued to eat his stew.
"You've seen…I mean heard of it before?" Wolf Brawler cleared her throat, hoping that she had not said something insulting.
"You need not apologize Huntress, prior to my injury, part of my education was studying and becoming familiar with the various species. The creature he's describing it resembles a Displacer Beast, an animal similar to a saber cat but possessing six limbs and two tentacles along its back."
"Name not important. Beast attack dwarves so Fang and I help. Dwarves thankful so gave me special stone axe." Saber Rider held the axe in his hand, not knowing it was made of adamant, a stone just as durable as steel. "They teach me how to talk with animals. It hard at first but get easier as I practice."
"Very interesting. Maybe I should have asked grandpa if he could do the same thing." Half-Dragon Priestess smiled then felt Specter nuzzle up against her. "Hey, this is my meat, you had yours already. Would be nice to be able to have him understand me a bit better."
"That and I'd be able to tell this damn flying chicken over here to stop considering me as its mate!" Harpy Scout shot an ugly look towards Talon up in the tree.
"I meant to ask Monk, if it isn't a bother, you mentioned an injury, how did you get that wound?" Wolf Brawler turned toward the taller padfoot while eating her stew.
"It is no trouble at all Huntress."
Padfoot Monk placed his hands on either side of his golden visor and carefully removed it. The others could see a deep scar that ran across his eyes, his own eyes were now a dull white yet there was a gentleness in his expression.
"My tribe is far to the south, beyond the desert, there my people have thrived for generations. Our people believe that everyone serves a purpose, from providing wisdom to protecting others. I was training with the other children, a sparring session when I was struck across the face." Padfoot Monk smiled as he traced a finger across his brow.
"I'm hopeful it was an accident." Half-Dragon Priestess frowned as she remembered the minor injuries she incurred when she began her own training.
"My fellow combatant had been trying to go for my side with his staff but I believed he would go for my head so I instinctively crouched down and…well the rest speaks for itself." Padfoot Monk smiled as he recalled the mistake that was made.
"So what happened after that?" Wolf Brawler anxiously waited for him to continue his story.
"I collapsed to the ground, placing a hand over my injury as the blood spilled through my fingers. I tried to open my eyes but could all I could see was red, and there was great pain. I could hear the others around me; some voiced concern while others were mocking."
"Surely the instructors came to aid." Harpy Scout was also concerned, as both High Elf Archer and Half-Demon Thief worried about her safety when they trained.
"Our teacher did come to check on me and instructed me to get back on my feet to continue my training. I tried to tell him of my injury, and he said to me: "A dead man is of no use to anyone! So long as you are alive, you can still fight. You've only lost your eyes, a padfoot still has his ears and nose, now get back up!". So, I tore off a strip of my pants wrapped it around my wound and got back on my feet."
The three girls were shocked by this tale, an injured trainee being forced to keep fighting, in a way it reminded Wolf Brawler of her own sparring with her older sister.
"You win against other guy?" Saber Rider only curious if this padfoot had won.
"Heh heh…no. I got my ass handed to me. My opponent did not go easy on me." Padfoot Monk chuckled before placing the visor back upon his face. "My teacher was very strict, forcing me to learn to fight based on my hearing and sense of smell. When I was not training to handle a staff, I was memorizing verbal descriptions of creatures and reading objects based on indentions."
"You survive injury and grow stronger. I like you Dog Face. Maybe we fight again?"
"Perhaps when this ordeal is over, you and I can spar again." Padfoot Monk laughed before finishing off his stew to then reach for a roasted pheasant.
"Are all padfoot tribes that strict with their teachings?" Half-Dragon Priestess looked toward Wolf Brawler. "The padfoot village I had visited some time ago didn't seem so stern in their practice."
"Each tribe is different, just how padfoots can have canine or human appearances. Our animal instincts do lead many of us to seek challenges, but also makes us very close to our people. You've seen how my sister and our pack are very close knit, but each of us is expected to contribute." Wolf Brawler smiled proudly, always happy to speak highly of her people.
"What she says is true. There may have been concern that with my injury I would be a burden to my people, so I was pushed to overcome it." Padfoot Monk too smiled as he continued to tear into his pheasant.
While the party happily enjoyed their meal, they were blissfully unaware of what horror lay ahead of them.
xxxx
They watched from the forest, their bright yellow eyes evilly watching the coming and goings of the people in the settlement. The goblins anxiously waited for their chance to attack, imagining killing the males and children, assaulting the women over and over until they eventually broke, and feasting upon all that flesh. The settlement wasn't very large four houses and their small fields to support themselves in addition to the hunting they did. With twenty in their number and a hobgoblin leading them, they would quickly take care of the hunters then they could take their time with the villagers. The hobgoblin chuckled to himself, club in hand as waited for the right opportunity to order the other goblins to charge in for the attack.
He was unaware of the massive figure coming up behind him, the figure leaned his war hammer along a nearby tree as he approached the hobgoblin. The hobgoblin suddenly became aware of heavy footsteps but before he could turn, a hand covered his mouth while another clutched the top of his head; he struggled to break free as whatever had taken hold of him began to apply pressure. The figure smiled as he could hear the crunching of bone, blood and saliva on his hands, and eventually saw the hobgoblin's eyes pop out of their sockets. The hobgoblins thrashing finally stopped and he fell forward with a heavy thud which immediately drew the attention of the other goblins.
"Now then…" Dragon Executioner went to retrieve his war hammer before turning towards the goblins. "…which one of you is next?"
xxxx
There was a horrid cry that pierced the calmness of the night, as Half-Dragon Priestess and the other immediately stood with weapons ready. They stood with their backs to the fire while nervously looking around to either find the source of the noise or the direction it was coming from. Specter and Fang were also up growling and snarling as their eyes focused on a direction before them. The others eventually focused on the same direction Fang and Specter were looking, the cries continuing to echo.
"What the hell is that?" Harpy Scout slowly lowered her bow and arrow upon realizing that the threat was not in their immediate area.
"Screaming. Something or someone is screaming." Wolf Brawler nervously looked ahead into the darkness unsure of what was causing the screams.
"We go!"
Saber Rider started to rush ahead but Fang leapt in front of him and stopped him from going any further. Saber Rider grunted as he stopped in his tracks, the large saber cat hissing at him but not moving any further.
"Fang what you doing? Move!" Saber Rider raised his axe, he of course would not use it but hoped it would scare the big cat away.
Fang would not move and continued to growl and hiss, it turned its body to look back in the direction of the screams then back to Saber Rider. The others saw this as well then noticed Specter also come up towards Half-Dragon Priestess and stand in front.
"Is, is he purposely blocking my path?" Half-Dragon Priestess curiously looked toward her dire wolf then back to Saber Rider and Fang.
Saber Rider growled in frustration before tucking his axe into the side of his belt and moving back toward the campfire, Fang also moving to rejoin him.
"Wait, wait, wait. What's going on?" Harpy Scout looked toward Saber Rider then back towards the sounds of the screams. "I thought you were all fired up to charge ahead."
"No. I not go. Fang scared."
"I don't blame him, those cries are quite terrifying." Wolf Brawler's ears twitched as with every new scream that echoed in the forest. "But we shouldn't just ignore…"
"Fang scared for me. Say if I go, I die." Saber Rider sighed before reaching out to pet the saber cat then looked toward the others. "He say we not know what makes noise. If we go in dark, will end up dead."
"I believe Fang is right, my own instinct are warning me not to move past this campfire." Padfoot Monk involuntarily flinched with the screams continuing.
"I get you Specter. We won't charge ahead with knowing." Half-Dragon Priestess went to pet the dire wolf before returning to the campfire with the others. "Ancestors, please let it be another wild animal fighting with the Dragon Executioner."
That night was restless for the adventurers as the cries continued for nearly an hour before all finally had gone quiet. The Dragon Executioner smiled as he observed his handy work, his war hammer and much of his body stained in blood before he readied himself to continue on, but off in the distance he could see a faint light.
"So I was right, there is someone following me…how fun."
xxxx
As soon as light broke, the party immediately rushed ahead to investigate the direction of the cries from last, the same direction of the Dragon Executioner's foul scent. It took several hours but the group finally came upon the gore remains of the goblins; the little monsters lay strewn around the area as flies swarmed the over the corpses while scavengers already picked at the rotting flesh.
"Tell me, how bad? I can only guess by the scent and sounds." Padfoot Monk scrunched his nose as he moved forward his staff along the ground to avoid stepping on any bodies.
"Trust me, it's better you can't see. The goblins have been completely destroyed." Harpy Scout frowned as she looked at the destroyed bodies around her.
"Hard to tell how many goblins there were; some of the bodies had been smashed into mush while other look like they were torn apart." Half-Dragon Priestess looked down at one of the few bodies that was in still intact, a hobgoblin. "I don't feel bad for these goblins, but I am worried about what they were targeting. Goblins are always targeting something they think they can steal."
The group's attention was suddenly drawn to the sky as talon could be heard screeching as he circled overhead.
"Talon say there village nearby."
There was an immediate worry that Dragon Executioner had also reached this village as well so once again the party rushed ahead, following the hawk overhead, until they came upon the remains of the settlement.
"Ancestors…no."
The small village had been completely destroyed, smashed and burned buildings all around them as well as the remains of the villagers. The party slowly dispersed through the ruined settlement, checking for any signs of survivors or trying to discover some reason for all this destruction.
"Huntress…this place is so silent. I can only hear the crackling of weak fires around us."
"Yeah, I'm not finding any survivors." Wolf Brawler looked over the scene and the broken bodies around them. "Not even the children were spared."
Padfoot Monk was careful as he moved staff around when he tapped something off to his side; he knelt down and began to feel, his frown growing deeper as he could tell it was the body of a young child.
"Goddess of Youth, may you take this and other children in your warm embrace until they find their gods." Padfoot Monk gently placed his hand atop the child's head. "Rest young one, you will not be alone in death."
"I don't believe I've heard of the Goddess of Youth." Wolf Brawler looked toward the Padfoot Monk who had risen back to his feet.
"Each padfoot people are different in their beliefs. Some adopt the practices of the Earth Mother or Supreme God. My tribe pray to different god and goddesses for various needs. They offer us guidance, wisdom and patience." Padfoot Monk sighed as he finished his prayers before tightening his grip on his staff. "…and fuel our wrath when need be. These innocents shall not have died for nothing."
"Agreed. I will not sit idly by while that monster harms those who cannot yet defend themselves."
Harpy Scout, Saber Rider and Fang were nearby also investigating the devastation left behind by the Dragon Executioner.
"Manbeast smash through building. He must be strong."
"You enjoy fighting strong creatures, right? Then this will probably be a good fight for you." Harpy Scout frowned a bit that Saber Rider might be only focusing on enjoying the fight.
"No. I like battle with challenging fighter, but no enjoy picking on weak. Strong should defend weak." Saber Rider growled as he looked at the bodies around him. "Second mother protect me from goblins. Could have eat me but didn't. Manbeast enjoy hurting others, he must die."
"When we find him, we'll stop him." Harpy Scout smiled, now understanding that she had misjudged this wildman. "You're not quite like I pictured."
"I strong, but I no like hurt others for fun Bird Girl."
Half-Dragon Priestess and Specter continued to investigate the destroyed village, her heart sinking as she took in all the destruction around them.
"Those screams last night, it wasn't just the goblins but these poor people. We should have gone ahead last night, maybe we could have…no, there's no way of knowing for sure if we could have stopped this. All we can do now is stop him from harming anyone else." Half-Dragon Priestess found herself clenching her fist but was soon pulled out of her thoughts at the sound of Specter whining. "What's wrong Specter?"
Specter was whining as he continuously scratched at some of the debris nearby. Half-Dragon Priestess at first confused gasped when she realized it may yet be someone alive. She rushed ahead to what would have been the roof of a building and began to sift through the broken bits of wood, a faint whimper could be heard beneath.
"Over here!"
The others heard the shout and saw their friend furiously moving the large beams aside and moved to join her. After a few moments, they could see the face of a young girl, blood on the side of her face.
"Don't you worry, we'll get you out of…" Half-Dragon Priestess moved aside a final piece of wood and saw a large, jagged piece of wood in the young girl's stomach. "Ancestors! She is not long for this world."
Half-Dragon Priestess reached down to carefully move the young girl away, taking care not to cause any further harm.
"My stomach…it hurts." The Young girl weakly groaned in the arms of the half-dragon.
"I know little one, I'm so sorry. Can you tell us what happened?"
"It…it was a man…a huge man with a big hammer. Mama and Papa…told me to stay inside…I hid…heard screaming, then a big boom and…the house fell."
Half-Dragon Priestess could feel the young girl's body getting colder; she took the small right hand in hers and squeezed tightly.
"I'm cold…where is mama…and papa?"
"I…I don't know, but we'll look for them." Half-Dragon Priestess could feel tears running down her face as she continued to hold the child.
"Mama…mama…mam…"
The little girl let out one final sigh before her body went limp; Half-Dragon Priestess found herself crying as she continued to hold the little girl's hand. Harpy Scout and Wolf Brawler were also in tears, Padfoot Monk sighed as he bowed his head while Saber Rider growled in frustration, tears present on his face too.
"We find manbeast and kill him." Saber Rider wiped his arms across his face to remove his tears, and angry expression on his face as he looked around the forest.
"Yes, you're right…but first, we must bury these people." Half-Dragon Priestess set the young girl down, closing her eyes before looking around at the debris. "These people deserve a proper burial."
The five of them went to work, digging holes and gathering up the bodies of the dead. After a few hours, the dirt mounds were visible with a rock serving as a marker for the dead. Their prayers were finished, they would find this Dragon Executioner and stop him before he could claim any other victims. The continued through the forest, constantly checking their surroundings for this massive figure unaware that he too was watching them. It was late in the afternoon as the group had finished taking their break when both Specter and Fang tensed up and began to growl.
"What is it? Is it him?" Harpy Scout stood ready with bow and arrow already drawn.
"Has to be. Now where the hell is he?" Wolf Brawler nervously looked around the forest.
Talon began screeching once again as he flew down towards the group before swooping back up into the air.
"He say watch out for tree. What tree?"
There was a heavy thud followed by the sound of cracking wood, the party looked up and to their right could see a tree falling toward them, gaining speed as it drew closer.
"Look out!"
Everyone away and to their left to avoid the tree which shook the ground and raised dust as it fell. The party was coughing as they slowly got back to their feet, looking back to see the massive tree lying at the spot they had been moments ago.
"And here I was hoping to have crushed at least one of you."
The adventurers saw the outline of a figure moving through the dust before it came to rest, standing upon the fallen tree. They were in awe at the sheer size and build of this figure, his bone armored covered in various blood stains, and a massive war hammer effortlessly rest on his shoulder.
"I believe you have been searching for me, well…here I am."
