Here is part 3 in the series.
Corran kneels on the ground behind a small bush and rummages through his pack for his lantern and tinderbox. You hear a scratching noise as he works on lighting the lantern.
All of the adventurers who are outside the cave notice a large creature (8'+) heading out of some nearby trees. It wears the skin of at least one bear and wields an old 6' long by 1' diameter log as a club. The club looks well worn. Upon seeing the party, a toothy grin is exposed on its face.
"Look out! We surrounded," yells Zoltan. "Anyone else have a bow. I have a plan."
Corran moves to the wall outside the cave mouth, his back to the wall. "Okay guys get ready to attack the giant, he's our main concern listen to Zoltan." He then turns his head to the cave mouth and yells into the cave "Hey idiot get the hell out hear now!"
Hearing Corran yelling, and guessing Corran was talking to him, Grendel responded "Love to, friend but I have company of my own in here", perhaps when I am done wiping the walls with, these pale devils, I will join ye" with that Grendel speaks not another word.
Zoltan gestures towards the group a "take it easy sign" and points to the giant. "Shhhh, let him worry about the cave thing. Perhaps he can lure it out here in the open", Zoltan whispers.
Durin pulls forth his crossbow and fires at the giant, his crossbow bolt misses the giant and sticks into his club.
Ereptor pulls forth his bow and fires at the giant, unfortunately, his arrow is far from the mark, flying into the canopy of foliage above the beast, and sending several black birds to flight.
Taking careful aim with his bow, Zoltan aims for the giant. He releases the bowstring to see his arrow hurtle towards the giant and stick into his belly. The monster screams in pain as he tears the arrow from his now bleeding flesh and breaks in his hand.
The giant charges forth, club raised, to be met by the mighty warrior Durin, who has dropped his crossbow and is charging with his battle-axe. A blood-curdling scream has just come from the cave.
Zoltan screams to the party members. "Corran, get out and fight you! Durin, get out of the way so I can get another clean shot. Let's fire weapons, not swing!"
Corran steps forth from behind the bush, lantern on the ground. He pulls his hands out of his robes and begins chanting. Magical words and shapes begin to take shape in the air around him. You feel a slight charge in the air and a slight wind picks up. A magical bolt of light leaves the mage's hand and travels forth to strike the giant squarely in the chest!
Zoltan pulls back his bowstring yet again, taking a bead on the giant fighting against Durin. Letting the arrow take flight he sees it fly straight towards the back of Durin's head! The warrior narrowly misses being struck by the flying arrow.
Of Ereptor there is no sign. Durin is locked in hand to hand combat with the monster, neither one able to land a telling blow.
Durin dodges a mighty blow delivered by the giant and in turn lands a solid blow with his axe. The giant howls in pain but continues the fight.
Grendel rushes out of the cave and steps into the massive battle. With an angered charge, Grendel rushes toward the massive giant, he grips his sword tightly, attacking the giant with all his rage. A good solid hit ensues as the giant's blood spatters both combatants.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere fly's an arrow. Straight and true it lands between the giants eyes. The creature falls limply to the ground. All five men turn to see the approach of two persons. One a cleric in chain mail armor, holy symbol shinning brightly upon his chest. The other is an elf, holding a bow in one hand dressed in leather armor.
"Greetings," speaks the cleric. "My name is Juda, this is my compatriot Gwynth. I am a cleric of the gods of good and she, as you can see, is an elf. We have tried to catch up to you since the gate guards told us of your departure but, as you can see, it took us a while."
"That was not a giant," Grendel says, "That was an ogre. Can't you see the resemblance?" He says the last part while showing a toothy grin.
"Greetings new friends, thanks for the assistance back there, Grendel are you hurt, and what was it, that you fought in the cave? Well guys, my magic is used, I cannot be of much use until we rest again." so speaks Corran.
"I am fine my friend", replied Grendel, to Corran, "the creatures in the cave, were some sort of goblinoids, cut one down and sent the rest runnin' wit there tails between thar legs", Grendel smiled from ear to ear, Welcome to you both, said, Grendel, as he turned to face Juda, and Gwynth, "eh! Corran, spoke Grendel again "The goblinoid I cut down is sprawled out in dat there cavern, perhaps we should check it out ta see, what it is exactly, we are up against".
Gwynth walks over to the fallen ogre and pulls her arrow from the body, taking a moment to clean it off, she returns it to her quiver. "Hey! Can someone give me a hand searching this body? By the way where did this thing come from anyway?"
Zoltan jumps down from over the cave mouth. He runs to the fallen foe, searching for anything that might be of use to him. " Greetings newcomers", says Zoltan, flashing a quick smile to them. " I am Zoltan of Burgesses, and these are my associates."
The search of the fallen ogre nets not more then one oversized club, and one oversmelly bearskin.
Zoltan tries to pull out his arrow from the ogre to see if he can reuse it. After pulling out a broken shaft he starts towards the nearest tree, looking for something.
It is currently mid-morning in the ravine. About 5 minutes have passed since the demise of the ogre. The seven of you stand about amidst the trees and shrubs that grow in this area discussing your next move.