[center][h2][i][color=6ecff6]Ethelred[/color][/i][/h2][/center]

Ethelred looked in horror as a cyclops emerged, right from the direction which most of the locals had fled.  The broken bodies of its victims lay all around, and Ethelred turned his head just in time to see it strike a fleeing woman with its club.  The one-eyed monster was surprisingly well-armored for a Fomorian, especially for one that was too big to wear looted armor.  He wasn't an expert on cyclops intelligence, but it seemed quite possible to him that this massive foe was the leader of this attack.

Given the Fomorians' penchant for their murderous cruelty, it was quite possible that its successful ambush of the fleeing townsfolk was pre-planned, and the smaller Fomorians had intended to herd those fleeing right into the cyclops' path.  Or perhaps it was just very bad luck on the part of the townspeople that they happened to flee right into the direction of danger.  Regardless, the sight caused the Frozen Knight's blood to boil at the sight of these innocent people being cut down.  While an ordinary person might grow warmer with rage, Ethelred's body did the opposite and grew even colder, creating a noticeable fog around him.

[color=6ecff6][i]These people were no threat.  They did nothing to you.  But I am a threat, and I will make sure you don't leave this town alive![/i][/color]

Enraged as he may have been, Ethelred wasn't a fool- if he charged in recklessly, he'd just end up being struck by the giant's massive cudgel.  Fortunately, Reinhardt and the elf stranger had already begun to draw its attention with their own taunts and attacks.  Reinhardt had attempted to distract it by throwing rocks.  Given the man's strength, it was quite possible that those rocks could cause real injury to the cyclops.  Meanwhile, the elf had thrown what looked like one of the dead Fomorians at their foe and was now employing considerable acrobatics in his attack.  Seeing the cyclops distracted, Ethelred couched his lance and charged at the distracted giant, his weapon aimed at the beast's head.  It could be a challenge to penetrate the giant's metal armor, but its head was unprotected and its eye presented a particularly large and soft target for his lance...