Patch halted a moment, remembering something.

"We're going to need our mounts on the other side, are we not?" The tall cleric asked his companions.

Addressing the giant he asked, "Your Largeness, what can we expect on the other side of this bridge? Can we bring our mounts across? Might we be ambushed by enemies in waiting?"

He wishes to be free of the world and all of its troubles, Neuken muses.  An understandable sentiment, if somewhat impractical.

”Indeed,” the giant replies with a nod to Greyband, ”I trust that you will remain true to your word.”

The giant continues to crouch as the damp tunnel curves first to the left, then to the right. As the party presses forward, they begin to hear the sound of rushing water.

”The bridge will bring you to a trail, one that has been unused for decades. It will lead you through a nearby forest, a journey of perhaps half a league. When you reach the edge of the woods, you will see the Denagothian village of Geron located on a slope.”

The giant pauses, looking back at Patch. ”We may go back for your mounts, unless you intend to seek fresh horses in Geron. Or, when I return  to my tower, I can send them through the tunnel after you.”

Killian thinks about the Giant's larder.

"We will need our horses." he says.

Greyband nods. "We will get our mounts. Just please keep your wolf companions away from them so they don't spook."

If the giant does not argue, the party goes to get their horses and then leads them back in to follow the giant on the way to this secret entrance!

"Appreciated," Patch thanked the giant. Though damp and cool in the tunnel, the icy chill was gone, and the old cleric had stopped shivering as frequently. He'd be glad to have his porcine mount once more.

Although he suspects they are making a horrific mistake, Neuken follows along to fetch the horses without a word.

Jarder follows the others through the tunnels.

Though he carries little love for riding, even Orin would acknowledge the distances they are covering are easier atop a horse.  So he joins the rest.

A few of the horses nicker as they are led through the giant’s foul smelling pantry and up the wide staircase to the tower’s second floor. They calm upon entering the cavern itself, the sound of their hooves clopping on the smooth stone, the noise of rushing water growing.

The giant leads the adventurers forward, the wide tunnel making another curve eastward before turning north one last time, the floor sloping downward in a gentle grade. Soon, an opening becomes visible, the pale light of an overcast morning invading the passageway, clearing away most of its looming shadows.

Continuing forward, the company soon find themselves on a wide ledge overlooking a ravine that is roughly two hundred feet in width. At its bottom, a river snakes its way through the break in the earth, its rushing waters traveling westward. To the east, the adventurers can see a towering cliff, a waterfall plummeting down its face, the falling water white as fresh snow in the muted morning light.

Stretching across the ravine is a bridge, solidly built from smooth gray stone that is the color of rainclouds. The supports for the walkway stretch all the way down to the floor of the ravine, prompting silent questions about who could have engineered such a structure. On the southern side, where the giant and the adventurers are gathered, a pair of columns, each about the height of a man, flank the bridge, marked with runes which bear no resemblance to any writing that any of the company members have ever encountered.

”You see why the Denagothians would desire it,” the giant says, ”It makes the crossing easy. And it is well hidden from prying eyes.

"What is you name, Giant?" asked Killian as he expanse before them.

Patch tugged at his worn hat brim as he looked across the bridge.

"You're a bit of a mystery Your Hugeness, how long have you been here? You're the first giant I've encountered, but you're certainly not like anything I've been led to believe..."

He scratched his huge porcine mount affectionately, while he debated whether to ride across or lead J.D. to the other side.

Neuken figures their giant ‘friend’ could probably throw them across the ravine, thus saving time.  Landing would be problematic, of course.

While the others talk Jarder looks over the bridge and pulls and prods at it a bit to ensure that it is secure.  Gaining confidence in it and tiring of talking with the giant-Jarder decides to walk across  "I'll sneak across first and see what I can find.  At least make sure that their is not an ambush on the far side.  Cheer-my friends"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:16, Mon 16 Dec 2019.

”I am called Azor,” the giant replies to Killian.

Turning his attention to Patch, he says, ”My brethren that dwell in the hills, and that make their homes in the deep places of the world, where liquid fire may be found, have an abiding love of war. They live to see those that are weaker than they conquered...or destroyed.”

“Some of us do not share their desire for conflict. We wish to be left to ourselves, to dwell in peace in the high places, unbothered by the concerns of others. If you are able to lessen Denagoth’s power, even a small amount, it will help me to remain in my home free from their harassment. From endless parties of orcs seeking passage through the mountains.”

Jarder, meanwhile, makes his way across the bridge. Renia follows several paces behind the thief, ready to lend aid at the first hint of danger. But the crossing is uneventful. Arriving at the opposite side of the ravine, Jarder finds it unoccupied. Venturing several paces away from the rocky edge of the cliff, he sights a thick pine forest at the top of a short incline, a little used trail winding through the tall trees.

Killian nodded to the Giant with respect "Well met, Azor.  I am Killian Hawkfire."

He continued "We have invaded your home and slain your pets.  In return you have treated us with courtesy and respect.  For this I would offer you an apology.  I have no weregild to give now, but know that Hawkfires pay their debts."

The elf winces at Killian's confession and tries not to make eye contact with the giant.

"We thank you Azor. We'll endeavor to keep our end of the bargain. May you find repose and may the God of Mysteries keep yours hidden."

Patch bowed with a flourish of his multi-colored cloak, mounted his hog and rode across the bridge.

Jayanti may have winced but Orin's eyes flew wide open and he spluttered, before hastily dragged his horse out onto the bridge.  "Thanks and such," he said gruffly with a quick wave over hi shoulder, urging the mount to keep up with his stocky legs that were trying to move a mile a minute.

"Please don't have caught on to that.  Please don't have caught on to that," he kept repeating under his breath and into his fulsome beard.

Greyband nods while listening to this. "Makes sense to me," he says matter-of-factly. He salutes. "Well-met, Azor. I am Greyband. And we will do our best to honor your wishes."

Neuken says nothing, and prays silently to the nameless gods of chaos that his companions stop saying so much.

Scouting out the area on the far side Jarder signals the others over the bridge.  Once all are across he points off to a thick group of pines on a nearby hill; "Up their is trail through the forest.  Its a bit old, but definitely not a game trail.  I think its the one we are supposed to take."

The giant’s features tighten with a mixture of anger and regret at Killian’s words. “The fault rests partially with me. I had presumed that any that came would be more orc scouts from the north. And so I sent my wolves to deal with them as I often do.”

He lets out a bitter sigh. ”I will be gratified if you return Killian Hawkfire, with the promised wereguild. But if you are able to strike a blow against Denagoth, to even slow their incursions to the south, it will be enough.”

Renia joins Jarder across the bridge, where she quietly studies the forest trail. Save for the stirring of the mountain breeze and the buzzing of a few hardy insects, all appears quiet. Neither adventurer perceives anything moving within the foliage ahead.

Killian regarded the Giant for a few moments as his respect grew for the creature.  Th Elf Lord bowed toward Azor before wordlessly crossing the bridge.  It was unknown then if the fates would allow for Killian to return and fulfill his promise, but his words had been true: Hawkfires paid their debts.

Greyband salutes and rides up alongside of Killian. "Nicely done. Couldn't have done better myself."