Adam’s sleep was filled with same voidful nothingness. Yet, in the walls of the giant village, he was coddled in a blanket of safety. He awoke in the morning feeling far more refreshed than the previous days. He hopped onto his feet and then sauntered outside into the cool air.

He could see the giants were already beginning their day, moving about to go and farm and scout around. He could see a small group of them beginning to leave the village, each of them heavily armoured, carrying with them thick sacks, each filled half way. He could not see what was in the sacks, but assumed them to be food stuffs, as well as items for their travel.

However, it was not the giant folk which interested him today, as there was an itchy feeling within his skin, one that could only be scratched by the effort of hard labour. Kara approached his way, noticing him, before she then nodded.

“Good morning,” she said.

“Good morning. Rather lovely weather, isn’t it?” Adam asked, looking up to the white-blue sky above.

Kara raised her brow in confusion, but nodded her head. “It is fine weather,” she replied. “Fine for crafting.”

“Let’s head on up.” Adam approached her side before following her towards the centre of the town where the blue fire raged.

“We will eat before we enchant,” Kara said. “It will fuel us for the day, in the same way our Runeforge fuels the enchanting with its ice.”

Adam joined her for breakfast, sitting down beside her, and then waiting patiently for the food. Again he was offered some meat, as well as some light soup. Joti sat down next to the half-elf and then began to eat as well.

“Are you ready for the enchanting?” Joti asked.

Adam nodded his head, and then took a moment to check one of his abilities.

Omen: 20, 19

He was surprised to see such an almost perfect Omen ready for him this morning. “I have never been readier,” Adam said. “It feels as though it’s a once a year kind of day.” Adam smiled at his little joke. Joti did not seem to understand, but he returned to eating.

“Good,” Kara said. “If we are lucky, we may even complete our enchanting today.”

“Can we do it all in one day?” Adam asked.

“We will need luck, stamina, and strength.” Kara bowed her head as she finished her bowl of soup. She was finished with her breakfast, but patiently waited for Adam.

Insight

D20 + 1 = 16 (15)

Adam kept an eye on her and could see her deep into her thoughts. Her face was contorted into an intense expression, as though she was studying the theory of the world, and her entire body seemed on edge. She was nervous, that was for sure, but she was also eager for the challenge. Adam smiled and then finished his meal, hopping onto his feet.

Kara then guided the half-elf up the long steps towards the Rune forge. With each step Adam could see more of the Runeforge and its surroundings. The stones were much larger than he expected and were covered in deep engravings. The runes were in giant, but Adam was certain there was a little elven influence too.

Nature. Chaos. Wild. Strength.

The four words stood out to him particularly. There was something about the four words which sent a shudder through his spine.

“There’s elven in the runes?” Adam asked.

“The snow elves,” Kara replied back, simply.

“Snow elves?” Adam asked.

“We haven’t seen from them in almost five centuries, but they had once assisted in creating the runestones, as did the dwarves, though they did not mark them with their runes.”

Though he wanted to ask more about the runestones, Adam noticed the large pool set in the earth. It was outlined by something similar to marble, though veins of ice flowed through them. The pool was filled with a glowing liquid, not water, but something more like jelly. It looked like it was thick, though Adam wasn’t entirely certain. All around the pool were runes in giant, and even a few in dwarven.

Here lays stones of the Winterdotr Maem, born into the earth with the assistance of Master Smith Rockheart.

There were a few more runes of dwarven all around, but his eyes were then drawn to the approaching Gotorsmith, who was almost entirely nude save for some fur around his waist.

“You’re early,” the giant said, stretching out his neck. Then he walked over to one of the runestones and rubbed the top of it, his giant hands working the stone as though it was a baby’s head.

“We’re eager.” Adam shrugged his shoulders and then he looked down towards the Runeforge. “So this is the Runeforge?” Adam assumed.

“Isn’t she a beauty?” Gotorsmith grinned wide. “Our pride and joy.” He looked down at it with his twinkling eyes towards the Runeforge. He reached down and then rubbed the runes tenderly.

Adam’s eyes snapped towards Kara, who was stripping down to her fur. Did enchanting require them to be nude? Adam looked down at his furs and then back up towards the pair, who shook hands with one another. They grunted something in giant to one another before they turned to Adam.

“Are you ready, Adam?” Gotorsmith asked.

“I’m ready when you are,” Adam replied. “I’m feeling lucky today.”

“Good.” Gotorsmith then reached out with a hand.

Adam looked down at it for a moment before he then realised. He grabbed onto his blade and then offered it to the large smith, who handed it over to Kara. Kara stared at it for a moment, whispering a prayer to herself before chanting. She stepped towards the forge, and with each passing moment, the runes on the ground began to glow. First only those around the corners glowed, but they then slowly began to spread along the sides.

Her chanting grew louder, the runes brighter. Then the runes began to dim, while the jelly within the Runeforge started to shudder and sparkle. Gotorsmith slowly walked towards the Runeforge and stepped into the jelly, his movement becoming slow as he did. He looked up to Adam expectantly.

Adam swallowed as he slowly walked towards the edge and then reached down with his boot to step into it, his boot slowly sinking into the jelly. He felt how cool it was. It wasn’t cold, not entirely, it was a gentle coolness, like the refreshing feeling of mint. As he slowly sunk into the jelly, the coolness flooding all over his body. He fell in until half of his body was inside the jelly, the pool seemingly having an endless bottom.

“Uuuh… can I-”

“Hah!” Gotorsmith gasped out and then placed a finger up to his lips and then shook his head.

Adam’s brows raised in alarm as he looked up at Gotorsmith and then he nodded his head. He assumed there would be no making noises considering the giant’s reaction.

Kara then reached down with the blade as she continued to hum and chant, the blade beginning to brighten with a magical aura, the ice within the blade beginning to expand all around it. She hovered the blade over the pool by a hair’s breadth and her muscles tensed.

Gotorsmith reached down towards the jelly and then lifted the jelly up, his muscles straining as he began to cover the blade with the jelly.

Adam reached down towards the jelly, squirming under the touch as he felt the coolness between his fingers. He pulled up, but the jelly did not stir.

Athletics

D20 + 8 = 11 (3)

Omen: 20, 19 -> 20

19 + 8 = 27

Tough Save

D20 + 7 = 18 (11)

Athletics

D20 + 8 = 17 (9)

Omen: 20 -> 0

20 + 8 = 28

Tough Save

D20 + 7 = 21 (14)

He struggled for a moment before his entire body began to shudder. His muscles tensed and he growled before he forced the jelly upwards, his arms screaming with pain as he covered the blade with the oozing liquid. The sword remained still within the giant woman’s grasp, her words continuing to flow out to cover the blade. It was as though the pool was listening to her words, her chanting serenading it to enchant the blade. Perhaps that was how the blade was being enchanted?

Adam continued to pour the jelly over the blade, and Kara made sure it did not sink into the pool, her muscles bulging and straining. She eventually began to shake, but she did not budge from her spot. Gotorsmith struggled to pull some of the jelly, though Adam reached over to assist him.

Hours passed by as the trio worked the blade. Adam’s body was beginning to burn with the pain of effort, but he refused to let up. His breathing was heavy within his chest, his heart pounding as he forced the blood through himself. They coated the blade until almost the entirety of it was covered in the slimy liquid. Before they could finish, Gotorsmith fell against the pool, landing against the soft slime. His chest was heaving and his breaths were heavy, as though he had just finished a marathon. In some ways they had, but Adam did not stop. Kara’s arms began to shake as her words became louder and louder, soon rumbling through the village.

All of a sudden she dropped the blade into the pool, the sword sinking deep into it. Adam pulled back in alarm, his eyes flashing up towards her. She dropped down to a knee and then gathered some snow before then slowly padding the top of the jelly with it. Gotorsmith did the same, his eyes falling to Adam expectantly.

Adam grabbed some snow and assisted them, following Gotorsmith in leaving the pool of jelly. As he left, he could feel his body began to ache, but then quickly heal. He looked down towards his arms, which no longer were red with soreness, but rather as pale as he expected his arms to be. He looked over to Gotorsmith, watching the giant continue to pad the pool with snow. They continued until every inch of the pool was covered in the snow.

The runes bathed them in their gentle glow as they stood together to stare down at their work.

“Now we wait,” Kara said.

“In the morning we will see what magic has taken hold to it,” Gotorsmith said.

Adam was about to say something, but then a gentle humming tickled his ears. He looked down to the Runeforge and then furrowed his brows.

“You can hear it, can’t you?” Kara asked.

Adam nodded. “Yes,” he whispered.

“What does it say to you?”

“I don’t know… I don’t understand it.”

Kara bowed her head and then fell silent. She remained standing there, staring at the pool. Her muscles were twitching as Gotorsmith then covered her with some snow before motioning with his head.

“We should leave her be.”