The heroes headed south and were ferried over the Vingaard, as no bridge crossed the river. A total of eight individuals. Five of them called by the king, one replacing another, and two accompanying others.

And though Sir Owain had the same social standing as Ward Master Erethriel, he rode unacompanied by servant or squire.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:42, Tue 10 Aug 2010.

Having crossed the river, the heroes started moving east towards the Lyceum.

D'aden looks, somewhat longingly, at the river, then attempts to get the ferry's handlers to tell him what kind of fish they catch from it. Even after they cross, he sends wistful glances back at the water until it is out of sight.

Olven notices the other man's wistfulness.  Laughing, he says, "Cheer up, D'aden.  Perhaps you'll have a better opportunity for fishing when we stop this evening."

As they travel, Olven keeps his crossbow at the ready, just in case.  He constantly surveys the road, expecting bandits or worse to waylay the expedition.

The heroes traveled the rest of the day without incident. The two moons of Krynn had risen in the night sky. The white Solinari that was halfway between first quarter and full and the red Lunitari that was on its first night as a full moon.

As they were about to make camp, they noticed, some distance to the south, an approaching giant, about 20' tall, clearly coming their way.

[Moonlight gives -5 vision modifier]

"Have any of you ever met a giant, before? I would imagine they could tell fascinating stories. At the least, they would have a different perspective."
In as close to a surreptitious fashion as possible, D'aden insures that both his bow, and his mandolin, are near to hand.

"I have not," Tarhall said. And neither Kar or Sarah had either.

"Nor have I, he is clearly a traveller.  Perhaps we should go introduce ourselves."

D'aden continues the business of making camp. "Perhaps it would be more prudent to light a fire, I'm not sure the gods would welcome us home if we met death under the heels of a giant that failed to notice us."

"Somehow, I doubt he's going to be the friendly type," Olven Wolf says, as he takes out his axe and straps on his shield.  "Building a fire sounds like an excellent idea, if we have time."

OOC:  Ready axe and shield.

The giant continued to come closer, traveling faster than the heroes had done during the day. He was armed with a morning star, sized to fit a creature about twice his own size, but it was still hanging from his belt.

As the heroes discussed this, Olven readied his axe and shield. Sarah and Kar stepped a little to the side and she readied a short staff. And Tarhall seemed to be ready to cast a spell at any moment.

As the heroes moved, the giant noticed them.

"Greetings, traveller!"  Jarlianthas yells, as the giant notices the party.  "You must have come on a long journey, would you care to share our fire?"

As a precautionary measure he also prepares a spell.

"Wouldn't mind if I do," the giant replied. His voice carrying further that Jarl's yell had. As he continued to come closer, the ground started to shake with each of his steps. But as he noticed it, his steps gentled and the shaking stopped.

He was about four times taller than the heroes and the rest of him of the same proportions. He was dressed much like the average farmer, though with more patches.

As he sat down as close as he dared to the fire, without sitting on the heroes or taking up too much space close to the fire for their needs, he wiped some snot from his nose with the edge of his sleeve.

[OOC: Lets assume that you've got a fire going then. Perhaps D'aden started it.]

"Where are you going, friend?  If you don't mind my asking, why do you travel this way?"

"I'm here to catch fish," the giant said pointing towards the water. "What about yourselves?"

His face downcast, D'aden speaks to the large creature, "We're travelling, parallel to the river, because I'm fond of catching fish."
"But if the fish are large enough to give you sport, I fear my poor line will be inadequate to the task."

"Indeed, your kind must need many fish to fill your bellies."

"As you say, the fish I'm looking for is larger than the fish most humans look for." the giant said and with his hands he showed that the fish he was looking for was about three feet long.

“It has been a bad year for us. Several bad years really. Since the war began. Our wealth is spent. Our stockpiles gone. And I’m not sure we will have enough for all of us to survive the winter.” The giant sighed deeply.

Olven Wolf relaxes a bit when the giant seems friendly.  Taking a seat and laying his axe nearby, he sympathetically nods his head.  "The war has been difficult for all of us," he says.  "I'm sorry to hear of your people's suffering, too.  We're seeking out resources for Kalaman to aid in its rebuilding efforts.  Perhaps we could do something to help your folk, as well."

"Surely our peoples can all benefit from assisting one another."

"Is there much work in Kalaman then," the giant asked.

"Is there much work in Kalaman then," the giant asked.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:57, Tue 07 Sept 2010.

"Certainly, there is much to be done and strong hands like yours would be most welcome.  Tell the gatekeepers that you met Ward Master Erethriel on the road and are seeking work.  If you have any trouble you may have my letter of introduction.  I can't guarantee appropriate size accomadations; however, since no giants currently live in Kalaman."

Jarlianthas take a piece of parchment and quill out of his travel bag and writes a letter to whom it may concern introducing the giant as an appointed laborer in the Vingaard Ward and to be paid the standard rate.

"That is wonderful," the giant said and a small tear trailed down his cheek as he put the letter of introduction into one of his pockets. "I'll check this out as soon as I've brought the fish back to my family."

Olven Wolf allows himself a small smile.  And here he thought this encounter would devolve into a needless bloodbath.

"Sounds like a win-win situation all around," he says.  He continues to watch the giant, however.  Something seems a little strange here.