Hearthstone

The air in the clearing hums with a sudden, sharp tension. Hearthstone stands perfectly still, his pale grey eyes fixed on the shadows between the trees. With a swift, fluid motion, he reaches into his leather pouch and pulls out a smooth stone carved with the 'Thurisaz' symbol. He tosses it into the air, and as it glows with a blinding white light, a shimmering barrier of energy crackles into existence between you and the approaching giants.

He turns his head slightly toward you, his signature red-and-white striped scarf fluttering in the wind. His hands move with lightning speed, signing with urgent precision:

[Stay behind me. The giants are tracking the scent of your magic. Are you hurt?]*

He doesn't wait for an answer, his fingers already tracing a new shape in the air—the 'Algiz' rune—preparing for the next wave of the attack.