Giant Fall, The Manchineel Forest

Prologue

-Two years after the death of Celebrant-

Pronghorn staggered through the giant castle,staggering to a stop and coughing out blood every few yards. Finally making it to the throne room, he fell into a bow before the haggard figure before him.

The current Giant King was a bad-tempered Steppe giant with an ego the size of a sky giant. His name was Zalkoros. The only things good about him (in Pronghorn's eyes) were that he made sure that no other giant bothered other magical creatures, such as dragons, and that he had abolished slavery. The other giants disagreed with him, though, saying that his bad temper and ego were more 'giant' than his pity for others. Of course, opinions mattered little now since practically every giant at Titan Valley was dying from a magic plague.

"Pronghorn..." Zalkoros weakly called out, "I have a mission for you." The Giant King was looking worse than yesterday, the plague having caused him to lose his hair, make his skin peel all over, and cause green boils to appear on his nose. At least he wasn't coughing blood, like Pronghorn was.

"Your wish is my command." Pronghorn said in his cracking voice that was threatening to start coughing.

"Tigrog, my head magician..." Zalkoros broke into a coughing fit, which lasted for about ten seconds. "Before he died...Tigrog found that...the only way to cure...this plague...was to drink water that had been...soaking a statue...from the Manchineel Forest. I need you... to lead...an expedition...to save all Giant-Kind." Apparently thinking that this was enough to say, Zlakoroso sagged back into his throne, closing his eyes and taking long, deep breaths.

Pronghorn's eyes widened in surprise and he cried out, "But, my lord..." He felt bile rise up in his throat and coughed out blood. "All of the giants are sick.. with this plague, how are we supposed to... go through such a dangerous forest...and come back alive?" Pronghorn knew it was foolish to contradict the King, but the plague had affected his usually calm demeanor.

"I DO NOT..." Zalkoros coughed again for longer this time. "I do not... want to hear this. I expect... you will succeed and there will be no asking... for help from... those pesky humans...they've been snoopy enough...lately." The Giant King waved his hand at Pronghorn to leave while coughing into his fist.

As Pronghorn left, he thought to himself, "I might need to get help for this if we don't succeed, no matter what the king says."