The Most Unfortunate Khatun Part 2

The next day, Bo-Jing, Tetsukichi, and Bangqiu met members of the Eagle Clans who explained the horrors of what they had experienced over the past several months. A group of beastmen, led by a sizeable number of giants, broke off from the larger force of invaders to pillage the lands of the Eagle Clan. They had invaded the khan’s stronghold, killing him and many of his people, driving away the rest. The heroes agreed that before proceeding to Khanbaliq, they should plan a sneak attack against the giants.

The Eagle Clan, together with the combined forces of Bo-Jing and Tetsukichi would give each other mutual protection while an elite number would find a secret way into the hall of the hill giants and make a sudden strike to compromise their ability to terrorize the Eagle Clan. Naransetseng of course would stay behind, under the protection of her brother.

The Eagle Clan had provided helpful directions and the heroes found the Eagle stronghold that had been overrun by the hill giants. The attack was very successful. They quickly and quietly eliminated the two giants who guarding the entrance and then began searching through the stronghold. An advance party of invisible scouts, including Bangqiu and Bo-Jing located and entered the central hall, where a large number of giants were gathered, feasting on the animals they’d stolen from the Eagle Clan. Making use of the Coin of the East, Bo-Jing created an atmosphere of confusion while Bangqiu trapped them in a wall of fire. While the majority of the giants fought each other in a confused rage, Tetsukichi led the rest of the party in a coordinated attack against the rest of the giants.

Next, the party found the smaller hall where the chief giant was in council. Using a similar combination of explosive magic, subterfuge, and expert swordsmanship, the chief giant and his strongest warriors were also killed. The party found their way to the dungeons below the stronghold and freed several dozen captives.

The heroes led the captives to safety and made an overnight camp outside the stronghold. The next morning, they broke camp and reunited with the Eagle Clan. They were of course glad to be reunited with their people, but they had some disturbing news. Two nights after the heroes set out to attack the stronghold, they were themselves, discovered by the evil flying deer and then attacked by hundreds of beastmen. Batzorig and Bo-Jing’s troops were ready to die to defend Naransetseng, but she would have none of it. She slipped out of her brother’s tent and then ran down to surrender herself to the beastmen. Batzorig, after surving many grievous wounds fighting waves of beastmen in front of his tent, did not understand the reason for their sudden retreat; he staggered into his tent and collapsed in exhaustion, not understanding his mistake until morning.