The Return of Giants (Asterion)

[Nimue Stormson]

Along with [member="Asterion"] Nimue began to check under her sheets and all around in the tent. She poke her head outside at least once to see, not finding anything. This didn't make sense the more she thought about it and looked around. There was no way it could've gotten lost. It was in her hands when she fell asleep. It made her think back to her dream of something stalking both of them, only for it to turn into a nightmare about some hulking monster grabbing her and throwing her off the mountain. ​

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She eventually found herself standing outside the tent when Asterion asked what she was dreaming about. She looked back, trying to explain, but couldn't bring the words to actually say. She did, however, have one conclusion that was for certain. "Asterion....we're not alone on this mountain." ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Hands on hips, Asterion moved around the exterior of the tent, on the cold clearing of the mountain they were on. The town twinkled in the nightlight below and the chill was ever present. He looked around in total 360 before returning to stand in front of the Empress. A gentle hum of insects could be hear.

"Look, it’s someone who’s either followed us trying to get a head start into what we are doing, or someone simply out to make a few credits by thieving explorers and back-packers."

He knew the second was a long-shot, but there was no point worrying her. He reached out and gently squeezed her arm.

"Maybe we’re not the only ones out seeking myths of the past, and so someone who knows you and your culture has been on our case since, because they knew your book was important and they knew where it was. But, look, they didn’t take our lives so it’s someone or something who still has respect for you and the cause you seek. They just want it first."

Asterion moved forward and crouched into the tent, taking her with him.

"Try and get some sleep – broken sleep is the worst, and you need to be rested and alert. I’ll stay awake by you and keep an eye on things in case another chancer passes by, which I doubt."

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue knew he was trying to calm her down. She knew he was just trying to help her relax during what seemed like a very scary situation. Someone had come in and stolen fro them, but only took her book. Why? And one of the greater questions was how come neither of them had sensed hi in their sleep? As Force users it should've been clear even as they slept to spot him; or her. She sat there in her sheets huddled and listening as [member="Asterion"] tried to reassure her that there was nothing wrong, despite not being fully convinced otherwise. He was more calm about the whole thing, perhaps because he had only heard the stories once about the horrors of this mountain. And that had brought Nimue back to the dream. The horrible feeling of being picked up and thrown clear off the face of the mountain by what she knew was a snow giant. When Asterion told her to rest she laid back down, finding it hard to do so again. Thankfully, for her, it was a dreamless sleep after that. ​

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******​

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When morning came Nimue did her best to eat and make sure she was fully awake for the climb. She seemed a little more determined now. Whatever was going on she wanted to know, and the only answers were at the top of the mountain. She helped get everything together, made sure everything was secure, and then awaited for Asterion so they could both continue on the path upward. ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Morning broke, but neither were in a deep enough sleep to enjoy a comfortable awakening from slumber. Instead it was just the signal to get up, dress and pack their makeshift camp away which was far easier to do with warmer hands. Nimue was standing by the incline leading on across and up as Asterion threw over the sack containing the tent to the hover sled with the small heater.

"Something wants me to leave all this here for our return – it’s just going to hold us back if it gets a little tight up there."

He fixed his gloves and strap across his neck to help keep in the warmth and walked beside the Empress.

"We both are quite capable of finding that book and whatever is up there. Remember, if it gets too much, we should go. You’re not proving yourself to anyone and risking your life for a giant snowman army, ok?"

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue was looking out into the distance to the rising sun over the snowy area as she said "It's more than that, [member="Asterion"] . There's something about this place, something about whatever great secret is up at the top. I can't exactly put it into words...it's just a feeling I have. Something else at work here." ​

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She said no more about it, mainly because even she didn't know what else to say. It all seemed out of place. This whole adventured seemed as though there was some deeper secret here aside from some treasure guarded by monsters. Nimue was now determined to find that out for herself. Agreeing to leave everything behind she began to walk with Asterion back onto the path. As before it was less than sturdy. At times they would come to points where they had to stay as flat against the walls of the mountain as possible without risking to fall off. It wasn't until they got higher that it began to snow, starting off light before becoming a little more deeper. Nimue was forced to cover her face as best she could while feeling her nose grow numb. She kept looking back to see how Asterion was doing at times. ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

The biting cold wasn’t something to admire now; it was the two of them vs the natural elements of Effekt. The mountain was blanketed in frost and mist, the brown rock fighting to be seen over the dusting. Narrowing his eyes against the erratic wind that changed the direction of the snow-flakes and light rain, Asterion followed Nimue and depended on the Force to help maintain connection with her. A strong Force bond with a loved one was invaluable, and it would be something he’d need to strengthen for his security and hers.

The path was steeper now, and posture was important. When Nimue checked on him, a hand signal would suffice as reply. He had battled many dangerous elements and hostile terrain in his years, but his was the first in over 6 years and it was testing.

Stopping for a moment, he heard something – it sounded through the rock they were back up against, and echoed out in the air. It was slight, and sounded like a freighter had passed through the mountain itself; a low, rumbling roar.

A sharp pain ran through his right temple, and Asterion tensed his body to shake the feeling that he couldn’t shake.

"Nimue!" was all he could shout to try and stop her.

Flicking his eyes upwards against the flurry of light snow, a dark shadow passed overhead.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Upon hearing the noise first Nimue stopped, looking around as if expecting a fighter to have passed by given the noise. It became apparent that wasn't the case [member="Asterion"] had called to her. She looked only to see something eclipse them fro above. Looking up Nimue realized whatever it was had been looming over the side of a platform above them; similar to the spot where they'd camped earlier. A horrifyingly familiar shape looked down at them with two deep blue hollow eyes. Upon seeing Nimue it reached down for her with a large white, clawed hand. She screamed as she jumped away, landing on the other side of the path from where Asterion was. ​

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Getting a better look she screamed and declared "SNOW GIANT!"​

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The great white beast of snow roared before trying to reach for her again, Nimue scrambling to back away before trying to find her weapon. ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Pushing back onto the mountain face as the rock shook behind him, Asterion simply stood in disbelief for a moment as the looming figure of the Snow Giant appeared over them both. A body formed out of snow, ice and rock that was way over 10ft tool. Like a large, fearsome mutated Wampa fused by the Force and acting on nothing but dark magic. Hollow blue eyes looked down on them; more specifically on Nimue.

Asterion scrambled sideways against the mountain to get nearer to the threat as it swiped for Nimue, he vaulted out of the way. Hearing her in danger enraged him – more so for the fact he hadn’t really believed that there could be anything like this on the mountain. How wrong he was, and foolish.

While the Snow Giant was seemingly after the strong source of Force Magic coming from Nimue, Asterion turned and started to claw away at the rock to climb up the face, avoiding a number of inclines to reach the domain of the Giant a little quicker but more dangerously.

Gritted teeth gnawed down with a faint crunch of enamel as the rock shook and the roars echoed to his side as he climbed. It took seconds for him to reach the fresh clearing, rolling into the snow and leaning against the steady wind blowing hard across the mountain. The Snow Giant was at the other side, swiping down over where he stood. He couldn’t see Nimue.

"Hey!!"

An old distraction method, coupled with the snap-hiss of his crimson lightsaber that illuminated the snow, was all Asterion could do. The fact he hadn’t used the saber in combat for many years disturbed him, but leaning into the bitter wind watching the lumbering Giant, he didn’t have a choice.

He swung back his hilt and launched the blade towards the Giant, and it passed straight through the body, forming a nice hole that singed with steam as the blade returned to Asterion’s hand thanks to simple focus of the Force to keep the saber active in an arc. The Snow Giant roared, and his body slightly changed posture to fill the hole left by the blade.

"Oh shit," he mumbled.

A large claw emerged from the side of the Giant and slammed onto the ground, causing loose rock and snow to fall from above and also down below, shaking Asterion on his feet.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue had managed to her feet by the time [member="Asterion"] engaged the snow giant. She admired her bravery as he got the beast's attention before trying to attack it. However she was as shocked as Asterion when the giant managed to reform the hole in it's body. She noted, however, that some of it's posture had changed. Whatever other amount of snow was within this magical construct it was only a limited amount. That's when Niue had a plan, finally finding her lightsaber within her pack. ​

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She turned, only to see Asterion about to be crushed by a boulder. She shouted in portest before reaching out with the Force and given him a push away from it. He was lucky not to fall off the side when he landed, Nimue was careful with that. The giant still looked ready to attack him before Nimue activated her blade, the dark violet light buzzing out from the top and then both smaller sides.​

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"No! It's me you want!" she shouted. "Come and get me!"​

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That got it's attention as it's hollow eyes looked to her now. It grubled a roar before trying to reach for her, only for the empress to slice at it's icicle claws. It shrieked away in pain before seeing what damaged she'd done. They didn't grow back but that only served to make it angrier now. ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

The ground shuddered around him, and Asterion was swept back by a shockwave that got him out of the way of a large mound of boulders that shook the snow down as they crashed open to the ground. He grunted and caught his breath as he clawed the ground to stop him letting gravity pull him over the edge of the mountain side.

Another roar echoed out along with a recognisable lightsaber blade activation, which snapped his head up to see the impressive sight of Nimue with her cross-guarded hilt in action. The snow whipped down them as he pushed up and raced forward, picking up some of the rock rubble on the ground and threw it up to the Snow Giant, working to batter the body and formation that was surlely giving it a strong posture.

The rocks passed through the Giant’s torso and neck, spitting out chunks of snow and ice as the Dark Magic tried to recuperate lost snow bound together.

Nimue worked with her blade, and Asterion had to do more – he took up his saber and activated the blade once more and ran towards the Giant and swung across the back where its legs would be, seemingly just a large mound of snow and ice and rock that carried it forward.

After the hit, Asterion let out a roar and swung again in the opposite direction, noting his lover leading the attack at the front working away at the beast, the Force not being an option for fear of hurting her.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Her attack had proven a good distraction against the snow giant, allowing [member="Asterion"] to make a strike she'd not expected. First the rock had gone through, which only seemed to annoy the beast, before he'd sliced one of it's legs off. The monster roared before trying to balance on only one leg, failing it's arms back and trying to smack Asterion away. In the confusion Nimue saw her opportunity. She could see where the giant was steadying himself and, with a right push of the Force, had caused the rocks below it's feet to sway. The result was the monster losing balance before falling off the side of the mountain with a resounding roar. She looked over and watched as it hit the side as it tumbled, eventually crumbling into nothing but snow and ice the rest of the way down. ​

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She stood and turned her lightsaber off before hurrying to where Asterion was. She made she he was alright before hugging him close. In that moment she began to laugh, for both having survived and for realizing she was right. A terrifying moment indeed, but at least they were goth safe. That was until Nimue began to feel more rumbling...​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Killing his blade, Asterion sighed in relief as Nimue saw the Snow Giant tumble over in a monstrous roar of defeat. He hung his head in relief, smiling as she came to embrace him and resting their heads on each other. The adrenalin was pumping, and he stroked the back of her head gently and relished the fact they were both alive.

But they both turned sideways as their feet shook under the ground tremor signalling what could only be a revenge attack from more Snow Giants. Asterion turned to Nimue and brushed the hair from her face, cheeks and nosy pink from the bitter cold.

"Baby can you remember how these things are formed after that book? If it’s from the elements then there’s an endless supply of that and they can keep on coming. Can you do it? Can you create one, or at least control one when it gets here?"

It was a crazy idea – but he had faith in the Empress. She had shown so much bravery in combat and advanced skills that he didn’t know she had, this was foolish but could work in their favour.

"If not – we better run, and fast."

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

She looked around as the rumbling grew louder before looking to [member="Asterion"] at his suggestion. She shook her head while saying "I...I don't know how. No one does." After his suggestion to run she nodded before helping him to his feet. She tried taking him back down the path, the intent to get off the mountain, before a sudden shudder made her say "You've got to be kidding."​

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Sure enough the path back was blocked. A snow giant came tromping up the side before seeing the two of them. As they would try to back up another would be in front of the path. They were surrounded, even by a third that appeared above like the one before. Nimue drew her saber but knew it wouldn't be enough. Far too many and not enough of a lucky shot like last time. They needed to do something and fast. Nimue, looking up, had a very crazy idea.​

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"How good is your force barrier?" she asked him. "Because...I'm about to do something real foolish."​

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Withdrawing her saber Nimue reached out with the force, raising her hands up. She was reaching above for the rocks and snow at the upper portion of the mountain. With enough of a pull she tried unbalancing them, just as all three giants reached down for them. With a final pull Nimue had done it, an avalanche had started. The giants all looked with surprise at this while Nimue huddled with Asterion again.​

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"HANG ON!" she screamed at the snow began to fall towards them. ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Resigning himself to simply act and survive, something he’d been doing for years, Asterion rooted his boots into the frost rock beneath him and held his palms upwards at Nimue’s command.

"Crouch down and hold onto me!"

The Knight closed his eyes and cut himself off from the danger of the mountain – blanking out the rumbling and the approaching avalanche from the top of the mountain, raging down the rock face pulling up trees and boulders and ice into one lethal force coming down. He pulled the Force from life around the mountain and from Nimue whom he felt on his body.

The Force was a natural power and it radiated from Asterion in the urgency of life or death depending on his focus. He didn’t open his eyes, and he pushed outwards with everything he had but remained calm and saw the energy around them, a Force barrier that would protect them in the space they stood – a repulsion of anything that came to penetrate it, the Force would be firm around them.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue had done so, hanging onto [member="Asterion"] while also trying to focus on her own Force barrier. Given how much she'd exerted from herself she knew her own barrier would not be as strong. She just prayed to all the gods above that it would work as the snow and rock and rubble all finally began to fall down around them. Nimue had huddled and closed her eyes but could hear the sounds of the giants roaring as they were forcible pushed off the side, tumbling down with the rest of the snow all the way down. As just as the last one they fought the sounds of the roars echoed all the way down until they were destroyed by the impact against the face of the mountain. ​

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When it was over Nimue still kept her eyes closed and held Asterion tightly. She didn't want to risk seeing or doing anything that would mean their barriers failed and the snow and whatever else was above the would fall down. All she knew for certian was that they were alive and the plan had worked, but now it was a matter of making sure they didn't botch it themselves.​

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"Asterion....can we move now?"​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Having done this once before in his life to protect himself whilst injured from a snowstorm on Teth, something Nimue didn’t need to know, he was nervous. Were they dead? Falling? Asterion gradually opened his eyes and kept concentration. The avalanche had subsided, and around the barrier was a cocoon of snow and fauna, about half way up to their bodies.

He shifted his position and lowered his hands, relaxing, and letting out a breath. The snow began to shift around them as the barrier weakened, but it would simply fall on them up to their thighs at the highest.

"We’re not dead, which is good," he said, placing a hand on Nimue’s shoulder.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Gradually Nimue began to open her eyes, looking around and seeing the snow. Thankfully there was nothing dangerous around them anymore. The avalanche did away with the Snow Giants and now provided a little more weight and mass to the paths ahead of them. She could see they were still alive, eventually looking back to [member="Asterion"] and starting to laugh at their survival. She brought him in for a hug, thanking everything above that they were alive, before kissing him.​

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Afterwards she said "We're close. We have to be." starting to dig herself out of the snow, a little easier than she thought, she insisted "Come on. They were protecting whatever's up here. We need to see." ​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Her kiss was cold –weather inflicted – but her hold was warm. Rubbing her back gently, Asterion smiled and helped pull themselves up and out onto the soft snow, dotted with greens and browns from the rubble and vegetation it had plowed through.

However, after nearly losing their lives twice now and exerting their Force ability under great pressure, the Knight was dubious as to what exactly was worth risking their lives for. Time was pressing on, and recently there had been a great drive in Nimue for greatness, but…Asterion couldn’t work out why.

There was something….

Snapping out of it, he sighed and shook his head, before looking around at the fresh snow and clicking his fingers.

"This is the last chance we get, sweetheart – our kit is thousands of feet below us now."

It was just the two of them, the weapons on their hips and the small kit on their back.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]

 

[Nimue Stormson]

Nimue pushed herself further and further up the path with [member="Asterion"] behind. She made sure he was still fit enough to keep climbing as they continued onward, no further obstacles trying to hinder them. No more giants, no more avalanches or anything. Even the snow had stopped. It was as if whatever force was trying to push them off the mountain had failed enough times to where it simply gave up. Further and further up they went with the remaining hours of the day starting to fade. It wasn't until nightfall that they would final reach the top. ​

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Upon turning one corner Nimue gasped as a monstrous figure loomed on the path ahead. She packed up, ready to draw her weapon, when she realized it wasn't moving. It was in fact a statue of a great six-armed ogre like creature. It was a little faded with age and snow, even two of the six arms missing, but the image itself was clear. The area behind it was far more spacious and proved the top of the mountain was no just a sharp or jagged point. ​

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Looking at the statue Nimue said to herself "Hexerion...?" She looked back to Asterion, almost dumbfounded, before pointing out "This is a statue of the Dwergi King.....punished by the gods and forced to act as a sentinel for them. Cursed to forever protect..." ​

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The way she spoke indicated more and more of a revelation in her tone. Quickly she walked past the statue, finding another small path leading to what was later revealed as a gateway. An old stone gateway that's doors were broken. Now the empress was more cautious, careful walking over before pushing it open. On the other side was a sight that made her gasp to the point where she'd nearly fainted. A large castle-like fortress, almost large enough to be it's own town, stood there. It was practically a ruin yet everything seemed so intact. Snow and ice covered some area while others were clear enough to see the stone underneath. One of the main sources of light was the norther lights above and the moons of Effekt shining above all. Nimue's hand held her chest, feeling her heart race as she realized what this was.​

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"Valagard.....kingdom of the gods..."​

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Following Nimue, Asterion kept his senses more alert and focused for danger. The terrain was getting more stable and the weather was calming. The fact they were going higher but also far wider around the mountain was dizzying – this seemed to be a mountain that was more than just a mountain, and it felt at times like the inclines were a physical trick and the two were going down rather than up.

Stopping beside her as she came before the giant statue, he failed to recollect anything about the lore of the giant, eyes flicking up to the creature imposingly stood above them and then across to Nimue, watching her face twinkle in wonder as she moved on respectfully.

Asterion looked back up at the beast.

"Hexerion? We could be related, pal."

The Knight followed carefully behind Nimue as she led them through to come out before an awesome sight that took his breath away. Standing beside the Empress, Asterion felt like they had come to a secret kingdom just for them.

"Now that’s impressive – Valagard, nothing springs to mind with that name."

He left Nimue as she was transfixed on the sight, and stepped down a few paces to look around the valley before them. Wiping his stubble with his hand, it seemed that this was a kingdom built into the mountain – which meant the mountain range itself was nothing more than a huge dam; a barrier, to protect the place they had just discovered.

[member="Nimue Stormson"]