Three aspiring monarchs- lords Bradford, Maestri, and Balrog- travel south, in search of the heart of the nearby giant problem.  They reach their southernmost outpost; a guard post with a few on-site forges processing ore.  The mood is uneasy with the giants so close, as the populace begins to realize just how edible they really are.  So far, casualties have been few, as the giants are still quite distant, but already some scouts have been eaten.<br/><br/>The scout captain makes himself available to give what little information they have.  According to him, the giant's forces have formed a relatively stable camp, rather simple in structure; trolls are concentrated to the east, ogres to the west, smaller servant races farther south- mainly goblins, only recently spotted- with the leader and close attendants in the center.  If they don't move on, they're liable to run out of viable non-human food sources in a week, tops.  Less, more likely.  They've only managed to see the giant himself at a great distance of late, but he seems to sleep in a bed that is literally on fire, engulfing him as he rests.  Even in his sleep, he regularly slays his own followers, ostensibly as punishment for misbehaving, to keep the rest in line.<br/><br/>Evening is beginning to fall, at this point, and night will soon fall.  Tonight is a new moon, and visibility will be poor.