Episode 1: The Salvaged Job

The thumping noise pauses momentarily after the whistle, which is enough to wake anyone that's asleep in the camp. Then it resumes, and Coda notices that it is a pace quicker this time, and definitely approaching.

In the quiet night air, the thump-thump sounds roughly 160 feet away now, and closing. Despite the steady pacing of the sound, you can tell that it is approaching rather quickly.

The fire emits a warm light around your camp for approximately 20 feet, although shadows from lumpy bedrolls, packs, and standing party members limit the amount of illumination. Unfortunately, the thing that approaches is still beyond the range of Maenor's keen eyes.

As the sounds continues, it becomes a bit louder. It definitely calls to mind heavy footfalls of something large. You estimate it is now 120 feet away.

Maenor and Geno are the first to see the creature, thanks to their darkvision. Standing 9 feet tall, a pot-bellied giant of a humanoid strides purposefully toward the campsite. Thick ropy muscles shift under a layer of fat, and a large head sits upon a tree trunk of a neck with tusks and crooked teeth visible from a slack and open jaw. It is dressed in animal hide covering only its immense girth and stumpy legs, and it hoists a bulging sack over its bare shoulder.

The others, without benefit of being able to see in the dark, can feel the earth vibrate with each step as it approaches. And then the footsteps halt, 60 feet away. There is a snuffling sound, like congested sniffing, then a grunt. Maenor and Geno see that the creature has indeed stopped its progress and simply stands there, squinting towards the fire and those gathered around.