29 The Third Ogre (1/2)

The guards assign watch schedules to everyone — including the adventurers.

The guards would take the first two shifts and the last — leaving the third and fourth shift to Brushfire and you.

While the shift schedules aren't a problem, you don't really trust the people around you that much — especially the guards.

You approach Marco and the rest of Brushfire.

”I'll be heading out for a while,” you say, gesturing to the darkness, ”I'll be back before midnight.”

He seems confused at first — but he eventually nods in understanding.

”Be safe,” he warns.

You give him a wave in farewell.

Your eyes adjust to the darkness as you move away from the camp.

100 yards — then 200 yards. You walk until you deem it safe to rest.

You lie on the ground and close your eyes knowing that you'll wake up if anyone — or anything — comes anywhere near you.

You sleep undisturbed and wake up after three hours.

You glance at the camp and see fewer fires lit. You consider going back — but the thought of having uncomfortable conversations with the guards dissuades you.

You decide to wait until midnight.

Slight vibrations from the ground alert you of an incoming presence.

You scan the surroundings and see movement coming from the direction of the forest.

A lone figure runs towards the caravan — an ogre, bigger than the two ones you fought. Behind him is a mass of flying creatures.

You ready your crossbow and wait until the ogre closes in to 200 yards before shooting.

Tasstk!

A bat dives forward, impaling itself on the loosed bolt and making it miss the ogre.

You plant your crossbow on the ground, ready to load another bolt — when a massive javelin of ice starts hurtling towards you.

”Damn!”

You roll to the right making sure to keep your crossbow protected. You place it on the ground and grab your shield.

A swarm of bats separates from the cloud and dives towards you.

While holding the shield, you rub your forefinger and thumb — recreating the ultrasonic sounds of the bats, with the shield serving as an amplifier.

Dagk! Thudt! Katilk!

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A few of the bats crash into each other or dive into the ground. A handful of bats that manage to keep their bearings crash into your shield or the metal head of Skybreaker.

You see another javelin of ice hurtling towards you — this one you avoid with ease by taking a few quick steps to the right.

The ice javelin pierces the ground sending tendrils of frost across the surface until it freezes.

The ogre closes in.

Apparently, the wolves weren't the only denizens of the forest that benefitted from the obelisk. This 10-foot ogre has icy protrusions covering its body and a shield of ice on its left hand.

It starts forming another javelin of ice in its right hand — just as another swarm of bats dives towards you.

You charge towards the ogre, disregarding the diving bats.

The continuous ultrasonic noise coming from your shield serves as a confusing fog for the echolocating bats.

It wasn't a javelin.

The ogre formed a massive 5-foot sword of ice and it gladly meets your charge with its own.

It strikes you with an overhead blow meant to cut you in half.

Inefficient.

You veer a few inches to the right to avoid the blow.

You dash to the left — avoiding the ogre's ice shield — and smash Skybreaker into the ogre's right foreleg.

Katring!

It shatters – no! The ice enclosing the ogre's leg shatters — protecting the ogre to a certain degree.

It falls to its knees shaken by the vicious strike.

”Gyaaargh!” it lets out a massive roar as it stands. Ice forms on its unguarded leg, protecting it once more.

The blinded bats continue to fly in confusion — some of them crashing into the ogre or into your shield.

The ogre strikes once again forcing you to fall back.

Its massive shield provides excellent cover — giving you very few opportunities to attack.

Another swarm of bats dives to attack you — this time, all of the bats seem to be flying in a straight path.

These bats were being directed.

No matter.

You ready Skybreaker to strike the leading bat as it descends.

Kastichkag!

A glowing Skybreaker — crushes the bat to a pulp — unleashing a massive shockwave.

The surrounding bats fall to the ground, their fragile wings damaged by the concussive explosion.

The ogre rushes towards you and slams down with its shield — if it couldn't hit you with its sword, then it would crush you with its massive shield.

Instead of evading, you meet the enormous shield with your own.

A deeper darkness emanates where the two shields meet.

You block the ogre's shield and in that split second before it can comprehend what happened — you strike its exposed legs with a powerful sweeping strike.

Kaghag!

Skybreaker glows with demonfire as it strikes the ogres leg.

The ice armor shatters and your hammer maintains its momentum — crushing the ogre's leg before releasing an explosive shockwave.

The ogre starts to fall, swept by the force of Skybreaker — but another hammer strike meets its descending body.

Kakdatk!

The ogre gets oddly-bent as a glowing Skybreaker smashes into its waist just as it was falling.

The concussive force sends the ogre spinning, with the ensuing explosion damaging most of its armor.

Kadhag!

Sky breaker descends on the off-balanced ogre — crushing its skull and sending it crashing to the ground.

The ogre is dead.

Its ice powers would have been problematic if it knew how to use them properly.