The Unfated Wanderers Canto 7
Tong Tasked the wily Wanderers with a more morally manageable endeavor. Shatterbone exported metal goods and a shipment was due in Twigstar.
Their cart carefully cantered through the streets of Twigstar, past more and more street side preachers. They too were selling charms and collecting donations.
The greatest gathering of curious crowds bowed below the Learned Giant. Billet and Vilerend listened to the preacher extolling the virtues of a new method of practicing Weaverism. The Children would remove horrid giants if only we abase ourselves correctly.
But their attention was lost as they reminisced. A Darkling Fomenter was summoned to this place. Kyrndizenodd appeared and fought the dragon, Marshall of Beasts. They both perished and the final ingredients of the Hammer of Souls were gathered. That day of unbearable horror still grieved the Unfated Wanderers.
They delivered their goods and found an inviting inn to sate their hunger and drown their thirst. They need not suffer when pleasant diversion was present.
Vilerend and Billet departed Twigstar with an empty cart and pouches full of money destined for Tong and his blacksmith.
Only two miles lay between them and the city when they were bombarded with a catastrophic cacophony. They halted and hurriedly looked back at Twigstar.
The bald bear-giant bustled through the outskirts of Twigstar, kicking buildings and crushing crying people with no hope of escape. A group of people from outside of the city strode forth and bravely faced the giant. Thirty was their number, but as one, they performed a magical operation.
A jagged fissure fractured the sky, like a crack spreading across a frozen lake. Silky, violet light escaped through the terrible tear. The sky-wound pulsated as the light pushed through. The gash split open to reveal a horrid sky where the clouds were racing daggers and the pale sun was wrong.
Silence spread as the sky demanded every person’s attention. The silence was sundered as the air was split by a bolt of lighting, whose color was inverted, a black, darker than night, yet brighter than light. The impossible thing shrieked like a sword blade skidding across plate armor.
The blackened bolt bit the bear bitterly, puncturing its chest and exiting its back to ground within Twigstar. Smoke billowed into the sky as silence surged anew. The Unfated Wanderers could hear faint screams and then a dull rumble of collapsing buildings. The horrid spell had hurt the innocent as well as the giant.
The newborn woe was still unfolding as the giant’s legs buckled beneath its bulk. Its body collapsed upon a portion of the city as its lolling head toppled the northern wall. The power of its passing pressed a plume of dust outwards. When all was clear, the malevolent victors cheered their victory. A giant had been slain!
The group of wizards swiftly sauntered towards the Wanderers, still cheering and sharing boasts of a deed well done. Billet and Vilerend angrily accosted them with words of woe. Though they were grateful for the giant’s demise, they were heartbroken and furious about the callous indifference towards the people of Twigstar.
The wizards jeered at the loss of life and worrisome Wanderers. They said, “We are wizards of Stormcraft! We are legendary heroes! No one else can do anything about these giants. The world will thank us when we are through. We seek more giants and more victory!” Another round of cheers further angered Vilerend and Billet.
Fury gained ground on their restraint. They felt the need to draw weapons and strike down these indifferent idiots. But they were greatly outnumbered. The two of them could not possibly defeat thirty powerful wizards.
Fortunately, they were not recognized by the Stormcrafters after infiltrating their village to confront Fern Quickstream during the Demon Plague. As this thought restrained their hands, a woman emerged from the group of wizards. It was Fern Quickstream herself. She spoke and forestalled her former foes from further fury.
“Hello again. You both look well. I want to remind you that I am truly sorry about the Demon Plague. That has not changed since last we spoke. It was never my intention, as you know. I have only ever tried to help humanity. Indeed, I am still pursuing that goal. We, the Stormcraft Cult, have discovered a method to enhance the power of our magic. I shall not reveal that secret to you. You have witnessed it yourselves. I ask that wherever your travels take you, tell the people that Stormcraft will save them.”
The Unfated Wanderers declared that the Stormcraft Cult was no friend of humanity since their method of rescue cost so many innocent lives.
Fern cared only for results. And this result was good. They felled a giant. The cultists left the Wanderers to seek more glory.
The Unfated Wanderers realized that they must find a way to stop the giants, before Stormcraft recklessly slew everyone in their pursuit of victory, glory and death.