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[howandwhy99]

Three large rats ran out of the idol room and start biting at the lead walkers. The creatures did not seem a dire threat and only a few members at first pulled out weapons to repel these vermin. Darius swung at one hitting its side, but it did not fall. Dalin, Dram, and Mirel moved in with swords and dagger. The creatures did not seem easily damaged even when a blow was landed. In retaliation the rats soundlessly bit back at the four and each hero was bitten at least once. The damage was minimal, but the four swayed in place feeling nauseated from the wounds. Dram shook off the feeling pressing forward to attack again. Darius shook off the feeling too, but Dalin and Mirel had both succombed to the poison. Quick words were exchanged over who Darius would cure as he could only save one. Mirel was chosen as she was younger and probably more susceptible. Calming light poured out of Darius's hands when he laid them on her brow.

Igor then started screaming, "They're dead! they're dead! The dead have risen! We're all going to die". Unsure of what to do next he slumped to the floor paralyzed in fear and babbling to himself. Kayla and Brother Ben grabbed Mirel and Dalin pulling them back from the combat. Darius smashed one of the rats to pieces with is hammer and virtually no blood squirted out. The creatures were dead like the humanoid body wrapped in bandages first found in the pool room. The other two rats ran back into the idol room and Dram chased after. "Could these be the original three rats we fought when first entering Quesquaton?", Kayla thought. Brother Ben backed away preparing to defend those in the rear. Dalin wheezed and turned even paler. Darius followed after Dram and saw him beating at a 10" inch crack in the floor of the wall where a rat head was darting out of. Both made to guard the opening carefully keeping their hands clear from another bite attack. It was then Igor screamed once more.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhh! The kobolds! The kobolds are dead too!" Igor was shrieking while jerkily pointing his finger down the passageway. Kayla, Ben, Mirel, and Dalin looked up. Advancing towards them in the torchlight was the first row of skeletal kobold forms. Wall to wall the undead walked forwards with easily a dozen or more swarming in from the shadows behind. Dalin strained to stand up and walked towards them bravely attacking with his sword. Darius ran out of the idol room hammer already held high and lowered it onto one of the monsters. Ben grabbed his flail to help as Mirel and Kayla backed down the hallway to fire over their heads. Dram could hear the commotion, but continued to slash at the rat hole and the elusive rats within.

Swiftly marching forward the creatures mired those in front in a swamp of undead kobold. Dalin continued to swing trying to hold back the flow from Kayla and Mirel. Darius swung furiously at all the short little creatures around him as they scratched in vain to get through his plate mail armor. Dram assiduously stayed put even as two skeletons ran into the idol room and flanked him with the rat hole. Ben held the left side of those trying to stem the flow out in the hallway. "These are the same fallen foes we left in the caves from the level below!" yelled Ben. Were they unaffected by the archway because they are now dead? That was strange. Wait a minute... Brother Ben swivelled to his right putting his back to the wall behind him. A kobold attempted to scoot past him, but Ben grabbed his own chainmail shirt and held one hand high. "Get thee back to the grave vile dead," he said. Power shone out from his form and several of the creatures retreated. Even the foes near Dram cowered giving him a chance to focus on them as well.

More kobolds swept over those backing away. Dalin and Darius swung with Dalin hitting off Darius's armor. Kayla and Mirel kept raining sling stones onto the oncoming kobolds while Igor shivered in fright. "What evil lurks before me?" quoted Ben as light continued to shine out from his form. Kobolds swarmed forward and back. Over the next several minutes the battle proceeded at a slow crawl. The creatures swarmed in mass confusion as Dalin and Dram stood like pillars in the sea. Mirel's and Kayla's stones flew doing what damage they could while Dram held off the dead rats and Igor babbled. Ben stepped back while his allies moved forward to where the wave of undead crested at the edge of his divine light.