The fields of Shagaroth were a vast plain dotted with the cities of the damned. It was barren, blasted black and desolate. It was hot, the air thick and gray in all directions. Random piles of rubble and polished bones littered the ground, slowing travel to a crawl.
The crater still steamed hot white on the plains, a pale pillar of cloud reaching to the murmuring darkness above. In its center a figure lay, obscured by the ash and smoke. Coughing could be heard, and abruptly a hand reached up and outwards, pulling a powerful figure free of the bowl.
The man was giant, with thick corded muscles that drew him straightly out. He knelt for a moment, gasping for breath. His hair was pure white and his naked skin pale, and a light seemed to emanate from him, pure against the oppressive fog, foreign to the empty darkness. He raised his head, startling clear eyes in a young face, much too young for such hair. Looking all around him, the young stranger could see only darkness.
An enormous creature was hunting him. Despite being large enough to be mistaken for a small hill, it moved like a shadow, just beyond the edge of vision in the heavy fog. It snorted its acrid breath as it circled. A great horn crowned its ghastly head, and it loped along on its front knuckles like some demented ape-god. Its fore-claws were long like thorns, and its hind quarters stomped on cruel hooves. Row upon row of quills rattled along its spine.
The stranger peered into the darkness, but could not seem to pinpoint the creature.
Snarling in rage and savage joy, the beast lunged forward, rending talons raised, jaws gaping wide to reveal three rows of serrated teeth.
The stranger was quick to avoid its grasp. The monstrosity snarled in frustration, for the small white being that so tormented its vision had eluded its grasp. Howling it whirled, seeking its prey. It barely registering the small presence atop its back.
The stranger crouched low among sharpened spines that ridged the beasts' humped spine. He hadn't quite been fast enough, and the spines pressed razor sharp around him. He bled from a dozen shallow wounds. Wincing, he grasped one of the spines by its base and pulled. With a sickening lurch the spine came free, dangling gobbets of flesh on its end. The monster howled in agony and reached up to its back, horrid claws grasping, but the stranger had already dropped to the ground, directly below the belly of the beast.
The pale stranger slashed upward with his stolen spine, grimacing as the the rancid entrails dropped around him. The monster howled and trampled around, catching the stranger a glancing blow that sent him sprawling. He barely avoided the huge hoofed feet. A few quick slashes at the trampling limbs, and once again the beast squealed in pain and rage.
Snorting, the huge beast retreated for a moment and whirled, its jaws working furiously, spines rattling, eyes burning red in the gloom. Clicking its talons together, it regarded its prey balefully, seemingly unconcerned by its putrid bowels trailing the ashen earth. It howled once more, a painful echoing scream that rattled through the air, and rushed forward, its great, rhino-like horn lowered.
The stranger met the creature head-on, sliding by the cruel horn like water, somehow avoiding the slavering jaws. He ran up the outstretched arms of the monster and plunging the spine-weapon into one of its eyes.
Its howl before could not match the tremulous wail that erupted from it now, and the pale stranger leaped away, hands pressed to his ears. The beast shuddered once and slumped to the earth. Slowly the burning fire in its eyes faded to black.
After a moments rest, the stranger sighed and walked towards the body of the creature. He touched it gently, murmuring. After a few moments, the corpse began to glow faintly. An image formed of light rose, beautiful as the monster had been grotesque, though it was evident they were the same beast. The image finally faded away to leave only bones.
The great skull, with its prominent horn, some of the smaller ribs and cords of tendon, all could be used to create a passable suit of armor. The weary stranger set to work, before any other monstrosities, perhaps drawn by the sound of the dying titan, could arrive.
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