The Doomed Bastards: Reckoning (story complete)

[Lazybones]

Originally Posted by Brogarn

I'm looking forward to seeing how you incorporate the new guys, LB. I'm hoping we don't lose Varo and Dar's personalities in the shuffle.

Oh, I don't think you need to be worried about an overcrowded party.

Originally Posted by Aramis Simara

More fodder for the slaughter!

Hey, have you read ahead?

Originally Posted by jfaller

Varo's the reason I'm nearly always on the edge of my seat thinking, "What's he hiding and when's it going to be reveiled?".

I can promise some... interesting twists ahead with regards to our cleric of Dagos.

For now, another update, and a cliffhanger for Friday that those familiar with the module might see coming.

* * * * *

Chapter 33

THE RESCUERS’ STORY


They made their way back into the main cavern, and continued along the near bank of the stream, staying close to the curving, uneven wall.

“Where are we going, anyway?” Dar asked. Talen, at the front of the company with Krogan, did not acknowledge him or his question, but the fighter Argus turned to him. The man’s eyes continued to nervously scan the darkness as they walked and spoke.

“We made our way here by means of the stream, from another cavern complex a good distance away,” he said. “Aelos called upon the Shining Father to grant us the ability to walk upon the water, so we were able to follow the guidance of his spell to track the marshal’s sword.”

“Allera mentioned that you lost several members of your company,” Varo said.

The fighter, although not yet thirty, looked like a hard man who had seen his share of combat in his career. But the memories that appeared on his face made him look like a frightened child. “It was... grim,” he finally managed.

Aelos, walking further back in the marching order, heard the exchange. “A foul taint hung upon the entire area. It seeped into our bodies, threatening to steal our will. Even the simplest decision made one hesitate, paralyzed by doubt and fear. Only by working together, driving each other on, were we able to press forward at all.”

“The darkness,” Allera said, her voice coming up from behind Aelos. The healer clasped her arms against her body, as if cold. “It surrounded us, ever present, press in. Our light sources were muted... even Aelos’s flame barely allowed us to see a few feet.”

“A powerful effect,” Varo commented. “We have found evidence that the servants of Orcus still maintain a strong presence here.”

Aelos nodded. “We did not encounter any clerics, but did meet up with plentiful numbers of undead. The seeping presence of doom made it difficult for us to fight them. The taint is not as strong here, but I do not look forward to our return to the vicinity of the Well.”

“We slaughtered a pack of ghouls and ghasts, and some black skeletons that were real bastards,” Dar said.

“We fought some of those,” Argus said. “With Aelos keeping them at bay with the power of the Shining Father, we were able to destroy them. But the wights... they got Gresham and K’varon, and later, Davros was claimed by the wraiths...” The man trailed off, his face noticeably pale under his helmet.

“How did you get past Lord Sobol’s garrison?” Varo asked.

“We had a wizard with us,” Aelos said. “The Guild has thrown its lot in with the Duke, but there are still individuals who are sympathetic to the cause of justice. Loren was one such... he cloaked us in a blanket of invisibility, allowing us to sneak past. We could not follow you into the mausoleum...”

“Yeah, some of the Duke’s men found that out the hard way,” Dar interjected.

“...but we had heard the rumors that the Well offered another route of access into the dungeon. It was Talen’s decision to take the chance.”

“What happened to the wizard?” Dar asked.

“In one of the caverns were entered, we were attacked by a flight of dozens of stirges,” Allera said. “Six of them landed on Loren; he was dead within seconds.”

“It sounds like we were not the only ones who experienced difficulties,” Varo said.

“So Tiros was like... what? The leader of the rebellion against the Duke?” Dar asked.

“I would not call it a rebellion, not yet,” Aelos said. “But there are those that resist the tyranny of the Duke’s rule. Tiros, with his standing and reputation, served as a lightning rod around which those souls could rally. He is an inspiring leader.”

“Was,” Dar pointed out.

“He will be again,” Allera said. “Once we get back—”

“What?”

“Their reticence is understandable,” Varo said. “You have only just met us, and it is clear that your movement relies upon secrecy to survive.”

“The Duke’s secret police is very thorough,” Aelos admitted.

“So the government is against you, and the army, and the Guild,” Dar said. “What about the church? There was a cleric of the Shining Father with Sobol, when we were brought here. If the Duke’s such a bad guy, why are your people helping him?”

“It is not as simple as choosing sides,” Aelos began. “There are complicated—” He was interrupted by a soft whistle from Talen, who gestured for them to come forward.

The captain, Krogan, and Shay were standing ahead, at a point where the stream turned and entered an opening in the cavern wall. A rocky overhang protruded out over the opening, but as they got closer, they could see that beyond that obstacle, there was a clearance of a couple of feet or more over the fast-moving water.

“What did you do, crawl over that?” Dar asked.

“The clearance varies, but it is higher for most of the length of the stream,” Talen said. “Aelos, can you enchant us again, or do you need to pray for more spells?”

“I will need to rest before I can cast the spell once more,” the cleric said. “And I will not be able to affect everyone, not with our new members to consider.”

“I will take care of Dar and myself,” Varo said.

“Then we need to find a secure place to rest,” Talen said. “I’d prefer not to remain out here in the cavern, if there is an alternative; if there are any more of those giant worms about, we’d be in big trouble.”

“We had a fairly secure room on the upper level, but the worm collapsed the stairs up quite thoroughly,” Varo said.

“When I was initially scouting about, I thought I saw some openings in the cavern wall on the far side of the stream,” Shaylara said. “One of them might be a corridor exit.”

“All right, let’s check it out,” Talen said. “But everyone, keep your eyes open.”

Shaylara took off her pack and removed a light silk rope. Sliding the pack back on, she retreated from the stream, clearly marking off a running start.

“That’s a pretty good leap,” Dar said. Even at its narrowest, the stream was nearly ten feet across, and the woman was carrying both weapons and gear in addition to her armor.

“Shay’s a pretty good jumper,” Allera said. As they watched, she shot forward, leaping over the water... and landing at least another ten feet beyond it on the far side.

Seeing Dar’s mouth dangling open, she added, “And a bit of a show-off,” with a slight smile.

The scout fixed an end of the rope to a nearby stone column, and tossed the rest back over to the others. Krogan caught the rope, and attached his end to a stalagmite. With the rope securely anchored on both ends, they were all able to cross the stream with little risk other than a moderate dousing. Shaylara leapt over and back to recover the rope, and within a few minutes they were continuing in their exploration of the cavern.

The first cleft that they encountered rapidly narrowed into a dead-end, but the second widened into a navigable passageway. The rough corridor twisted for about fifty feet before culminating in one of the familiar iron-shod wooden doors.

“Be ready for anything,” Dar said. “We’ve learned that doors are trouble, in this place.”

Talen nodded. The passageway was crowded, but Argus and Shaylara unlimbered compact bows and readied arrows, while the captain took up a position beside the door. When the others nodded that they were ready, he thrust the door open and drew back to give the archers a clear line of fire. Behind them, Aelos held his staff up to provide light.

A long, empty hall lay beyond the door. Deep alcoves extended to either side down the length of the hall, and they could see at least two doors from their current vantage. A faint squeaking greeted their entry, but no rats were visible as they warily made their way forward. Some stone fragments and a couple of broken, scattered bones were the only notable additions to the room.

“There’s another door at the far end,” Krogan reported.

“Footprints,” Shay added, bending to examine the floor. “Booted humanoids... not very old.”

“Which way?” Talen asked.

The scout pointed to the nearest of the doors. “They went that way. Came from down the hall.”

“How many?” Dar asked.

Shaylara studied the tracks for a few more seconds. “Five or six,” she said, finally.

Dar looked at Talen. “Well, what do you say, general? Want to crack some heads?”

The captain scowled. He turned to the dwarf. “What do you think, Krogan?”

“Four doors... not a good tactical position. Intruder could come from any direction.”

Talen nodded. “Shay?”

“If we go another way, this party could come up behind us. Might be a good idea to see who they are, anyway.”

Talen nodded. “All right. But I do not want to get too far from the cavern and the stream; remember that our objective is to get out of here. If we run into something we can’t handle, we fall back to the cavern.”

“Run screaming like little girls. Got it, captain,” Dar said. Talen didn’t rise to the bait, instead directing Argus and Shaylara to take up their ready positions in front of the first door.

As the others readied at the door, Allera whispered to Varo, “Is he always such a jerk?”

“On the contrary, I think he’s on good behavior around you women,” the cleric replied. “But he is good in a fight.”

The door opened to reveal another corridor, which continued straight ahead for about thirty feet before ending in a small, irregular room. Shaylara and Krogan went ahead to search, gesturing that the way was clear after just a few seconds. The companions followed to find another door set in the wall to their right just inside the small room. Shaylara indicated that the footprints led directly to that door, using a few simple hand gestures.

Talen nodded, and with his own gestures he set them up again before the door. Dar, hanging back a bit, whispered to Varo, “Several of these guys are military, or former military. Talen, definitely, and most of the others as well. Well, not the girl,” he added, watching Allera standing out of the line of fire, her hands wrapped tightly around the shaft of her shortspear.

“I am not surprised,” Varo said. “Likely they developed their attachment to the marshal during their service together.”

Talen opened the door quietly, revealing a narrow, slightly curving corridor that vanished out of sight to the left. Almost at once, they could hear soft voices from somewhere beyond.

Talen made a few quick gestures. Krogan came forward, creeping silently, while Aelos dropped a small bag over the top of his staff, dousing the light. Varo thrust his torch into a nearby mound of dirt, extinguishing it. A complete darkness enveloped them, and even though they could no longer see the walls, they could feel them pressing in close around them. The room was silent save for the sound of their breathing, and the occasional soft creak of leather.

They waited what seemed like an eternity. When the dwarf’s gravelly voice whispered softly, Dar couldn’t restrain a surprised jump.

“Quiet!” Talen hissed. “Report.”

The others had to strain to hear the dwarf’s soft voice. “Four of them,” he said. “Orcs, clerics by the look of them. Wore robes, but I’d wager there was armor underneath. They’re camping out up in a big room around the bend of the passage, two doors on the far wall. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but they seemed nervous about something.”

“Clerics, eh?” Dar whispered. “I have a few words to say to the goons of the Big Bad Nasty.” He came forward, colliding with Argus.

“Hold your ground,” Talen’s voice came from the dark. “We’re not here to kill clerics.”

“If they should learn of our presence here, and escape to share word with their superiors, then we will have a serious problem to contend with,” Aelos said.

Dar was thinking of a gravestone in the valley above, but he said nothing.

“If we can capture one of them, we might be able to learn more about this place,” Shaylara said.

There was a pause. “Well, we doing this, or not?” Dar asked.

“All right,” Talen replied. “Shay, you and Krogan will open with your bows; Dar, Argus, and I will then move in and take them out. The rest of you, follow and give us support. Try to take one alive, if you can. Aelos?”

“I can hold one of them,” the cleric said.

“Right. If you see one stop moving, he’s the prisoner... knock him out and tie him up.”

“What about light?” Shay asked. “Krogan can see fine in the dark, but if Aelos shows his staff, they’ll see us coming from far off.”

“I can cast a light spell on a small object, like a coin,” Varo said. “You can keep it hidden until you are ready to attack, Shaylara, and then toss it into the room. That should surprise them for a moment or two, giving us an added advantage.”

The scout nodded. Talen said, “All right, everyone clear on the plan? Let’s get moving, then. Slow and quiet.”

After Varo cast his spell and gave the glowing silver coin to Shaylara, they moved into the curving passage. Krogan, able to see with his darkvision, helped guide the others, lining them up so that they touched the wall adjacent to the open door. There was a soft click as the dwarf loaded a quarrel into place in his crossbow, then he moved into the corridor, Shaylara right behind him, touching the dwarf’s shoulder. The passage was smooth and narrow. Shaylara and Krogan crept forward, their bows at the ready, the warriors only a few paces behind them.

The corridor straightened out; Krogan could see the room up ahead. But as they moved into position, and Shaylara reached into her pouch for the enchanted coin, they heard sounds of movement.

“We’ve lingered long enough. Let us get this over with,” came a rough voice from ahead, a moment before its owner stepped into view.

Even clad in a flowing black robe, it was obvious that he was lean to the point of being emaciated. His tusks jutted out wide from his elongated jaw; one was broken off a few inches short. His attention was focused away from the corridor, as he talked to his followers.

Krogan touched Shaylara’s hand. The scout closed her hand around the coin, keeping it in the pouch to shield the light from view.

Unfortunately, at that moment, a loud scrape of metal on stone sounded from down the corridor. The cleric’s head came around at the noise, and with his darkvision, could clearly see the two scouts not more than twenty feet away.

“Intruders!” the orc shrieked, clutching at a morningstar hanging under his robes.

[Brogarn]

Bah @ Allera!! Dar is not a jerk. He's funny! Damn uptight party members and their lack of senses of humour. They wouldn't know comedy if it ran screaming from them like a little girl.

[Ximix]

Wonderful !

[Lazybones]

Thanks for the posts. I'll update the Rogues' Gallery thread with the stats for the newcomers shortly after I update...

* * * * *

Chapter 34

THE BEST LAID PLANS


The coin went skittering into the room, filling the place with a warm glow of magical light.

Krogan and Shay fired their bows in rapid succession, their missiles knifing into the evil cleric. One penetrated his robes but hit something hard underneath, glancing away. The second caught the man in the shoulder, sending him staggering back a step, a look of fury on his face.

“Slay them! Slay them!” he shouted.

The warriors came surging forward, and Shay and Krogan stepped forward and to the side, flanking the entrance, letting them in. Talen was in the lead, but as he charged into the room, the cleric leader presented his holy symbol, a small metal object shaped like a ram’s head. The captain froze in mid step, falling forward to clatter heavily to the ground.

“Talen!” Shay yelled, dropping her bow. She’d left her spear behind, to avoid getting it snagged in the narrow corridor, but she drew her shortsword and moved forward to shield the captain from the two clerics that were rushing forward to finish him off. The last one was casting a spell, moving his ugly green hands in a complicated series of gestures

But before either side could reach him, Dar exploded out of the passage with the force of a boulder from a trebuchet. As he emerged, his war club came up and around, intersecting with the face of one of the clerics with the full force of his momentum and strength behind it. The cleric was knocked back, his head crumpled into a ruined mess. The second cleric lifted his morningstar, but Dar continued his swing, and as he spun around, he slammed the club into the man’s hip. The orc screamed and went down, clutching at his side as shards of shattered bone shredded his organs from within.

The last cleric finished his spell, invoking the dread power of his evil patron. Argus burst from the passage and ran toward him, his longsword held out before him like a spear. The acolyte completed his magic, protecting himself from good, but it didn’t help him much as the fighter thrust half of the length of his sword into the orc’s gut, driving him back against the wall. The cleric, critically hurt, reached out and touched Argus on the side of his face. The fighter yelled in pain as bloody red wounds appeared where the cleric’s fingers brushed his cheek. He staggered back, leaving the orc clutching his bloody stomach, smiling through lips flecked with his own blood. The creature was clearly dying, but he staggered forward to deliver another deadly touch attack upon the fighter, not caring whether he died, as long as he took a foe with him.

That plan came to an abrupt end as Krogan’s adamantine urgosh came flying end-over-end at him. The axe-head of the weapon struck the cleric solidly in the center of his forehead, and he crumpled backward, his head split near in two.

The leader of the clerics regarded Dar with a hateful look as the fighter stepped over the bodies of his acolytes. “The Great Master will claim your souls,” he hissed.

“Maybe, but he’ll get yours first, porky,” Dar said. He lifted his club and came at the evil priest, wary of a desperate counterattack. The cleric did not lift his morningstar, however, instead reaching out suddenly with his other hand. Dar, having seen Varo unleash numerous touch attacks, expected something like that, but even though he drew back he could not avoid the orc’s hand as it brushed his arm, that brief touch enough to let it pour a surge of negative energy into him.

Dar grimaced and weathered the rush of agony that tore through the limb. “You’ll have to do better than that,” he grunted, smashing the head of the club into the cleric’s gut. The servant of Orcus was knocked back a step, bending over as the air was blasted from his lungs by the force of the impact. The evil priest snarled and lifted a hand to strike again, but before he could act, Dar brought the club around again, smashing the cleric just above his left ear. The orc went down like a sack of bricks, and he didn’t get up.

Dar lowered the club, and rubbed at his arm. “Damned clerics.” He turned to see Talen, who was being helped up by Shaylara, and who didn’t look happy.

“I thought we agreed we were going to take one alive,” he said.

Dar looked down at the string of bodies between him and the passage mouth. He pointed to the one he’d side-swiped. “I didn’t hit that one that hard... he should have lived.”

Allera came from where she’d been helping Argus, and knelt beside the dead cleric. She examined his injuries, and ran her hands above his face and chest.

“This creature took his own life,” she said, looking up at Talen.

“It would seem that whatever secrets he possessed, he did not want to share them with us,” Varo commented.

Krogan had recovered his urgosh, and had moved to check the two doors from the room. “All quiet,” he said.

Dar checked the body of the cleric leader he had killed. The orc’s equipment was of superior manufacture, including two weapons, a morningstar and a light mace that both were of obvious masterwork quality. Probably magical as well; he’d have to have Varo confirm that later. He took both weapons, sticking them through the straps of his backpack.

When he stood back up, he saw Allera watching him.

“What? Don’t tell me you guys don’t loot bodies.”

“You are injured,” the woman said. “That orc cleric hit you with an inflict wounds spell.”

“I didn’t know the name of it, but yeah, it hurt like somebody had stuck a knife in my arm.”

She came up to him. “Give me your hand.”

With a grin that was not quite a leer, he held it out to her. Ignoring him, she grasped the arm at the wrist and elbow.

Dar shuddered as a cold rush swept through him, as though he’d been doused in ice water. That was replaced almost immediately by a soft warmth that flowed out from his arm, suffusing him with a sense of well-being. It was nothing like what Varo’s spells and wands had felt like, and he found himself filled with regret as the sensations faded.

“Um... wow.”

She looked at him with a cocked eyebrow. “You’re welcome.” Releasing him, she walked over where Talen, Shaylara, and Krogan had gathered by one of the doors.

“I don’t make out any signs that anybody came this way recently,” Shaylara was saying.

“I still don’t like the idea of us resting here, until we’ve cleared the area,” Talen said. “We’ll take a quick look, but don’t go starting a fight if one can be avoided.” He was looking at Dar as he said the last sentence.

“This guy’s worse than the marshal,” Dar said in an aside to Varo, as the cleric walked past him.

“Just remember, we share a common enemy,” the cleric replied.

The door they chose led into a small triangular room with one other exit. They quickly found that the rooms they’d entered were part of a small complex of interlocking rooms, alternating between small triangular rooms and larger six-sided chambers. Most of the rooms were empty save for dirt, refuse, and occasional debris that might have once been furnishings. One of the room had a wall that was dotted with small tunnel openings; almost as soon as they’d entered, a dozen giant rats had come surging out to attack. The companions slew five of the creatures in as many seconds, and the rest fled, chittering loudly as they vanished into the dark holes.

“I vote we don’t camp in this room,” Dar said.

Pressing on, they finally came to a last hexagonal chamber. This one was thick with debris around the perimeter, but the center of the room had been cleared to leave space for a large pentagram that had been etched into the floor. Floating in the middle of the pentagram, hovering a few feet off the floor, was a faintly glowing skull.

“What in name of the Father...” Talen breathed.

“I would presume that this is the reason for the clerics’ visit,” Varo said. “I would strongly caution against you breaking the circle.”

“Noted,” Shaylara said, keeping her distance from the edge of the inscribed pattern.

“What is it?” Argus asked. Aelos opened his mouth to speak, but before he could respond, the glow around the skull flickered, and they each heard a voice speak in their minds.

I am the Oracle, possessor of all knowledge. You may ask one question of me. Ask what you wish, and if you can meet the price, you shall learn the answer you seek.

“Well now,” Dar said.

[Rabelais]

“Well now,” Dar said.

I heart Dar.

[Brogarn]

Here's a hint: DON'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS!! *looks specifically at Dar* Not even to be funny!

I've never seen this module, but I typically have an aversion to asking questions of skulls floating above pentagrams. Most especially when they make mention of meeting a price. Thanks, but no thanks. Have a nice day. I'll be far over that way.

[jfaller]

"I am the Oracle, possessor of all knowledge. You may ask one question of me. Ask what you wish, and if you can meet the price, you shall learn the answer you seek.
"

Methinks that this might be something that Varo would find a use for.... and the price? Pfah!

So can you see Dar falling for Allera? Uh, I suppose I ought to define "fall" in this case. ;-)

[Poky]

Floating skull? First thing that comes to mind is a demilich.

[Richard Rawen]

Originally Posted by Brogarn

Here's a hint: DON'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS!! *looks specifically at Dar* Not even to be funny!

I've never seen this module, but I typically have an aversion to asking questions of skulls floating above pentagrams. Most especially when they make mention of meeting a price. Thanks, but no thanks. Have a nice day. I'll be far over that way.

What Brogarn said.
There are times when turning around, closing the door behind you, and only speaking about what you saw when you are half a league away is clearly the best course.
This is one of those times I think...
and I also think someone will not be able to resist asking a question!

Lots of fun LB, thanks for the great post schedule!

[Lazybones]

Heh, you guys got my characters down, it would seem.

* * * * *

Chapter 35

THE ORACLE


Talen gestured for them to return to the room they’d just left, indicating that Shaylara should remain at the door to keep an eye on the skull.

“This could be an excellent opportunity for us,” Varo said.

“If you trust that thing, you deserve whatever you’ll get,” Krogan said.

“Agreed,” Aelos said. “It is an undead thing, and in league with the forces of Darkness.”

“Perhaps,” Varo replied. “Do you think it can do what it claims?”

“I could sense that it possesses incredible power,” the other cleric replied. “But it is bound by the circle, and may just be seeking some fool to release it from its bondage.”

“I do not agree,” Varo said. “If it was some evil undead, why wouldn’t the priests of Orcus have freed it earlier? I would wager that the priests come to it for information... information that we could use to our benefit as well as they.”

“It spoke of a price,” Allera said. “I don’t imagine it’s talking about a sack of gold coins.”

“And even if it was, it wouldn’t get them,” Dar said. “I’m not giving up my treasure to some creepy talking skull.”

“It is a risk we do not need to take,” Talen said. “We passed several rooms here that would suffice for an encampment. Let’s go and set up our defenses.”

“Captain,” Varo said. “I intend to address the skull, and see what its offer entails.”

The soldier frowned. “The decision has been made, cleric. You agreed to follow my orders.”

Varo nodded in deference. “With all due respect, this matter lies outside of the scope of our current agreement. I will go alone; whatever risk I undertake will be mine alone. I give you my word that I will not undertake any actions that jeopardize your team or your mission, and I will not take any actions that might free the creature, if in fact it is bound, as Aelos suggests.”

“The word of a priest of the Dark Creeper!” Aelos exclaimed. For the first time since the two groups had met, the priest of the Shining Father looked agitated.

“Whatever your assurance, it is too great a risk,” Talen said.

“Nevertheless, my intent remains unchanged. I would urge you not to stand in my way; I bear neither you nor your people any ill will, but this is something I feel compelled to do.”

The others looked to their captain. Talen, in turn, fixed Varo with a hard stare, which the cleric returned calmly.

“Go then, and traffic with your dark powers, priest,” Talen finally said. “Were we in different circumstances, I would sooner see you in irons, but as long as we are in Rappan Athuk, I will not risk the lives of my people to hinder you. Go, but if you return, do not expect a warm welcome.”

Varo nodded, and started toward the door. Dar stopped him, putting a hand on his arm.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” he said quietly.

“No, I am not,” Varo replied. “But it must be done.”

Dar looked at the others, who were regarding them with expressions ranging from ambivalence to hostility. “You want me to go with you?”

“No. Go with the others. I will be back shortly.”

Dar nodded, and let him go.

The seven companions were quiet as they retraced their steps to one of the larger empty room. They set up camp in one corner. The six that had come for marshal Tiros moved quickly and efficiently; they worked well together and seemed to have defined roles to play. Shaylara set up simple snares designed to catch anyone rushing through either of the two doors that exited the room, while Krogan drove several iron spikes into one, leaving the second unsecured. Talen and Argos started cleaning and sharpening weapons. Allera took out a satchel of supplies and began preparing a meal; Aelos took out a basin and magically filled it with cold, pure water, catching the overflow in two leather bottles that he stoppered and put aside for later.

Dar occupied himself mostly by staying out of their way.

The tension of the earlier discussion hung over the group, and there was little conversation as they took their meal. Talen asked Dar about what they had encountered in Rappan Athuk thus far. Dar told his tale, interrupted by occasional questions that focused on marshal Tiros.

“It sounds like you were close to getting out of here on a few occasions,” Shaylara said, as the fighter finished his tale.

“We came damned close to getting wiped out on a few occasions too. Damn, this food tastes good compared to that crap that Sobol issued us.” He pointed to Allera, who had only eaten half of her serving. The healer, distracted, handed the food to him.

“I had thought that we had faced the worst of what Rappan Athuk had to offer,” Argus said. The fighter looked younger without his armor and weapons about his person, but he kept the latter always within easy reach. “But this ‘dung monster’... it sounds like a true horror.”

“Damned thing’s invincible, as far as we could tell,” he said. “Would have killed all of us, but for the quick thinking of your marshal.”

Talen finished the last of his food and brushed his hands. “Better get some sleep. Shay, you and Argus on first watch. Keep an eye out for that cleric. Wake me and Krogan in four hours.”

“Don’t trust me enough to join your watch?” Dar asked.

“Would you?” Talen asked.

Dar shrugged. “I could use a good night’s sleep,” he said. He folded his tunic up and laid it over his leather vest to serve as a pillow, and wrapped himself up in his tattered blanket.

That’s when Varo returned.

The cleric looked haggard, and Shaylara had to help him into the room and around her snares.

“What in the hells happened to you?” Dar asked.

Varo straightened, and shambled over to the edge of the camp. “Do not fear, captain, the monster is yet contained, and your circumstances have not changed.”

“What did it tell you?” Allera asked.

“I am not sure I know myself,” the cleric said. He shrugged out of his pack and breastplate, and lay down on the ground, not even bothering with his blanket.

“What about the price?” Talen asked.

The cleric looked up at the captain. “The price was high.”

“Was it worth it?”

“I suppose only time will tell, captain.”

The cleric closed his eyes. Within a few moments, he was asleep.

[Rabelais]

Great googly moogly... Monday evening cliffhangers?

[Rabelais]

Great googly moogly... Monday evening cliffhangers?

[Brogarn]

I'm with Dar again. You don't trust me to take watch? SWEET! Extra sleep for me. *gets comfy*

As far as Varo goes, it's not surprising that he was tempted by the dark side ... yet again ... I gotta wonder what he's gotten himself into. This is why I'd never make a good evil overlord guy. I'm not willing to pay the price. In fact, I don't even find the power worth it.

I remain, however, very interested in Varo and finding out what path lays before him. Hopefully the dungeon doesn't kill him before it gets interesting.

[Jon Potter]

Originally Posted by Brogarn

I remain, however, very interested in Varo and finding out what path lays before him. Hopefully the dungeon doesn't kill him before it gets interesting.

What? Like it's not interesting already?

[Brogarn]

Just meant finding out more about his overarching plans for world domination.

[Lazybones]

Originally Posted by Rabelais

Great googly moogly... Monday evening cliffhangers?

Heh, check out my custom nick. Plenty of cliffhangers to go around. One of the more entertaining thing about the serial format, actually; had I lived in the 1950s I probably would have been writing for one of those campy movie serials. With maybe a mote more internal consistency.

I'm heading out of town on Thursday, so the "week-ending cliffhanger" (as opposed to your daily run-of-the-mill cliffhanger) will be posted then.

Today update includes one of those situations where you just can't think that it can get any worse...

And then it does.

* * * * *

Chapter 36

RETURN TO ZELKOR’S LAIR


Dar woke feeling miserable, his guts clenching, bringing back memories of a bout with dysentery when he was in the army. Refusing to show weakness in front of the others, he forced himself up and through a series of warm-up exercises. Throughout the brief exertion he felt as though his stomach was about to explode. The would-be rescue party might have been fooled, but Varo saw through his charade and noted his distress.

“It is the advance of the crystal death," he said.

“You don’t seem to be all that affected.”

“The advancement of the illness varies with each victim,” the priest explained. “And in any case, there is no need to prolong our suffering. The healer should be able to purge our bodies of the substance.”

Dar nodded, although for some reason he felt oddly reluctant at the thought of subjecting himself to the healer’s touch again. But Varo took the initiative, and Allera agreed to work the magic on their behalf. After all of the worry about a slow, lingering death, the cure was remarkably anticlimactic; once she had prepared her spells for the day, it took only a few seconds of mental focus, and a momentary surge of tingling power, before she pronounced both of them fully healed.

They did not linger long in their camp. Talen and Argus efficiently broke camp while Varo and Aelos prayed to their respective gods, separated by the full breadth of the room. The captain warned that they might encounter additional servants of Orcus searching for the missing party of clerics, but the bodies were still were they had stashed them in one of the smaller side rooms, and they encountered no other threats as they made their way back into the large cavern of the purple worms. They clung to the wall and retraced their steps to the stream without incident.

“What exactly can we expect to find ahead?” Varo asked.

“The stream goes on for a long distance... not quite a mile, but it’ll feel like it,” Talen said. “Your magic, if it is the same as Aelos’s spell, will keep you above the water, so the current should not affect you, but there are places where the roof juts low and it will take some time to slip past.”

“If the current is going our way, why not just float down with it?” Dar asked.

“It’s a rough ride,” Shaylara said. “At places, the tunnel bends, twists through tight spots, and the water is churned into a nasty froth. No matter how good a swimmer you may be, I wouldn’t recommend it, let alone with a pack and full gear.”

“What about beyond?”

“The stream opens out onto a large cavern with a high ceiling,” Talen said. “The stream pours into a large recessed pool in the middle of the room. There’s a raised stone bier in the middle; we fought a pair of wraiths there when we came through.”

Varo nodded. “And the well?”

“Accessed through a series of tight tunnels that pass through several additional rooms. It wasn’t difficult to navigate, but the dark power of the place will steal your resolve. Try to focus on the objective, getting out. We got through by helping each other, last time. Don’t leave anyone behind.”

“There’s a lot of sudden ups and downs,” Krogan said. “Watch where you put your hands and feet. And keep an eye out for things lurking around the bends.”

“The well itself is located over a deep pool,” Shaylara added. “We left a rope attached just below the opening. If it’s still there, it will be a tough climb, but I think all of us can manage it.”

“And if it’s not there?” Dar asked.

“Then we find out if Shay’s as good a climber as she claims,” Talen said. The scout smiled at him.

“Are you ready, Aelos?” Talen asked. At the cleric’s nod, the companions gathered beside the overhang where the fast-moving stream vanished into the cavern wall. Dar came over to Varo, who was readying his own spell.

“Are you sure this will work?” the fighter asked.

“Have faith, mercenary,” the priest replied, invoking the power of Dagos, and touching his golden focus to the fighter’s forehead briefly.

“I don’t feel any different.”

“Look.” The cleric pointed at Talen, who was already edging under the overhang, his boots hovering a finger’s breadth over the rushing water.

The eight of them made their way through the narrow space, and followed the stream down the low passage beyond. As Talen had noted, the fit was tight at places, forcing them to bend low or even crawl over the surface of the water. But for the most part, the tunnel roof was about five feet above the stream, allowing them to made decent progress ahead.

After a time, a dark passage opened to the right, where a branch of the stream split off and headed off into another direction. “What’s that way?” Dar asked.

“We don’t know,” Argus said. “We weren’t exploring when we came this way; the divine miracle only lasts about an hour, according to Aelos.”

Varo paused briefly to look down the side tunnel, but then proceeded after the others.

As they made their way deeper down the stream, each of them began to feel a cold chill settle upon them. They’d all been splashed with the bracingly cold water numerous times, until their clothes were soaked through, but this was something deeper, a cold that seeped through their skins to cool the very bone. The light coming from Aelos’s staff dimmed slightly, drawing out the shadows that stretched along the tunnel walls.

“Focus on the goal,” Talen said. “We are getting out of here.”

Finally, after another few tight places that slowed their passage, they could see the stream tunnel opening into a wider space ahead. Wary, readying weapons, they moved forward.

“The entrance to the passage is to the left,” Talen said quietly. “Do not linger.”

Argus leaned against the side of the tunnel, but Allera was there immediately, drawing him back into line. Dar felt the same oppressive sense of ennui, an emptiness that whispered into his mind, urging him to surrender everything in the face of the inevitability of their doom. He too wanted to give up, to sit down or to throw himself into the water, letting the current carry him away. His jaw tightened until he felt pain in his teeth from the pressure, but he kept going.

“There is a powerful evil infusing this place,” Varo said.

“I’m no priest, but even I could have told you that,” Krogan said. The dwarf’s teeth were chattering.

“Come on,” Talen’s voice came from up ahead, a sharp command that drew them forward.

The light from Aelos’s staff—truly feeble now—spilled out into a cavern that was truly majestic in scope. The roar of the stream as it spilled out into the broad T-shaped pool was deafening, echoing off the distant walls all around them. For a moment, the companions stood there and took it all in, struggling with the lethargy that continued to pound away at their consciousness. Then Talen’s voice drew them again, forced them back to the immediacy of the moment.

“Over here!”

They followed him away from the stream, making an easy transition from striding across the water to solid ground. But as the cleric’s light reached the north wall of the cavern, they froze.

“I take it this was the way out?” Dar asked.

They stared at a massive heap of rubble, stones piled into a mound almost fifteen feet, high, spilling out into a trace that jutted into the cavern like a long tongue. Talen, a stricken look on his face, reached down and picked up a rock the size of his fist. For a moment he stared at it, and then he hurled it off into the darkness with an angry shout.

There was a clang.

“That doesn’t sound good,” Shaylara said, shifting her longspear in that direction.

The noise came again, this time louder and longer, a creaking noise of metal shifting. It was followed by a heavy clod upon stone, and then another.

“Something’s coming,” Argus said. The fighter was as pale as death; he reached for his sword, and then hesitated, his hand falling forgotten to his side.

Something resolved out of the darkness, a massive form that took form at the edges of Aelos’s light. It was formed like a man, but no mere man stood twelve feet tall, or made the noises that continued to come from it, the sound of metal bending in a most unnatural way. The fragments of light that reached it glinted off of an emerald skin, alien and terrible.

“An iron golem!” Varo cried.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Dar said, as the massive terror continued to lumber forward, bringing with it the promise of death.

[Aramis Simara]

Well the new party was fun to have around for a little bit. No wait, this is the Iron Golem of lollipops and sunshine sent here to save the day! Right LB?

[jfaller]

This might be a stupid question but, Dagos...who is he? Looked it up and he appears to be from Hell. Some kind of uber-pit fiend? Never heard of him.

Orcus is from the Abyss and Dagos is from Hell...don't imagine that those two get along all that well.

Hmmmm...and Varos, how'd he collapse this escape route? Maybe via the skull? And more importantly, why?

[Ximix]

jfaller I think you are on to something there . . . but the method involved is not important, although dropping an Iron Golem through the well shaft might do it *chuckles* or perhaps the golem simply tore it apart from below... and then waited.
In any case, I think Varo needs these warm bodies for his goal... whatever the heck it is, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep them available.

Sooner or later he'll have to take out Aelos though... that'll be a nifty trick too.
Assuming he has some way of staying alive through This nifty 'trick'.

[Lazybones]

Originally Posted by jfaller

This might be a stupid question but, Dagos...who is he? Looked it up and he appears to be from Hell. Some kind of uber-pit fiend? Never heard of him.

Dagos and the Shining Father are both my own creations for this setting; don't read anything too much into other sources. More about both will be revealed in the course of the story.

* * * * *

Chapter 37

EMERALD DEATH


“We cannot stand before this foe,” Varo said to Dar, who was already edging back from the approaching creature.

But Talen had already raised his sword, the magical steel shining against the encroaching darkness. “Defend yourselves!” he shouted, surging ahead. Shaylara and Argus went with him, meeting the creature’s approach.

The golem’s fist came sweeping around. Talen saw it coming and dodged aside, but it still clipped him hard on the shoulder, spinning him around. The veteran soldier narrowly kept his footing and countered with a powerful swing of his sword, but the weapon merely bounced off the golem’s metal thigh, ringing loudly as it sent a painful jolt up Talen’s arm.

Shaylara and Argus came at the golem from its flanks. Their attacks likewise struck the creature hard, but without any apparent effect. It swept its arms around in low arcs. Talen was hit again, his darkwood buckler shattering under the force of the blow. The shield saved his arm from being broken, but the fighter’s face still twisted in agony as he staggered back, trying to recover. Argus was hit by its second attack, the younger fighter’s shoulder hit so hard that it was dislocated by the force of the impact. The soldier screamed and dropped his sword, his arm hanging limply at his side.

Before the battered combatants could recover from the construct’s powerful attacks, the golem bent forward. Its mouth opened wide, and it unleashed a gout of ugly brown gas onto Talen and Argus.

Allera started to rush forward, but Aelos grabbed her arm, forestalling her. “No, child!”

Dar and Varo were already back at the stream. The sounds of the golem’s movements were echoing throughout the room, but as they reached the water’s edge, they could hear a distinct noise, not an echo, from out in the darkness ahead.

“There’s another one on the far side of the room!” Varo yelled back at the others. “Return to the stream... now!”

The first golem’s toxic cloud dissipated to show the two soldiers in bad shape. Argus staggered and fell, while Talen, momentarily blinded, swung his sword in a wild arc that failed to connect with anything. Shaylara stabbed at its flank with her spear, trying to draw its attention, but it seemed focused on Talen as it lifted its arms, clasping its fists together into a deadly iron bludgeon.

“Talen, run!” Shaylara shouted. The golem stepped forward, poised to deliver a killing blow to the nearly defenseless soldier.

Another loud impact resounded from the golem’s leg. The huge construct shifted to the side, momentarily off balance; its attack aborted. It turned to face Krogan, steam hissing from the crack in its knee that the dwarf’s adamantine urgosh had wrought.

Talen saw the dwarf. He tried to say something, but could only cough the golem’s poison from his lungs.

“Get Argus out!” the dwarf yelled, lifting his weapon to strike again. But before he could attack, the golem’s fists came down, driving with finality into the dwarf’s head.

“Krogan!” Talen yelled, his voice hoarse.

“Talen, get out!” Shaylara repeated, as the golem slowly turned toward him, blood dripping from its locked fists. There was nothing left of Krogan Deepshaft but a mangled heap of crushed flesh.

Talen grabbed Argus, dragging the nearly-helpless fighter to his feet. The golem lurched forward and smashed its fists down again, intending to crush them both, but at the last instant its damaged leg twisted, and the blow narrowly missed. It hit the floor with enough force to crack the stone, and the two fighters nearly went down as the ground shook under their boots.

Allera and Aelos were there to meet them, helping the wounded men as they tried to get away. The golem was only a step behind them, slow but inevitable, ready to kill them at the slightest stumble. Shaylara was still thrusting her spear at its back, and finally she seemed to draw its attention, as it stopped and started to turn toward her.

“Shay!” Talen yelled. “Get out of there!”

But the scout was already running, not toward them, but back toward the slain dwarf. The golem followed, steam hissing from the rent in its leg with every step it took.

Talen started after her, but Aelos forestalled him. “Captain! We’ve got to get out... there’s another one moving to block the exit!”

“I won’t leave her!”

“She can move faster alone!” the cleric insisted. “Captain... Argus isn’t going to make it without help!” he said, as he and Allera dragged the semiconscious fighter between them. “If that second golem blocks the stream exit, we’re all dead!”

The first golem was already fading at the edge of their light; there was no sign of Shaylara. “Shay, we’re getting out!” he yelled, frustration clear in his voice.

Shaylara had reached the crushed body of Krogan. With the light of Aelos’s staff and Talen’s sword retreating fast, she had to search his body by touch, all too aware of the heavy footsteps of the fast-approaching golem.

She found what she was looking for just as the golem reached her, and she rolled away a split second before a huge iron fist came crashing down onto the ground where she’d been kneeling.

She could see the other golem now, silhouetted in the light of Aelos’s staff. Her companions had reached the stream, and were making their way across the water to the exit. The golem apparently wasn’t going to let a little water stop it; as she watched the big creature stepped into the fast-moving stream, the water splashing up in a white froth around it.

The first golem blocked her way back to the others, and while she could easily outrun it, she wasn’t up to chancing a dash in total darkness across a floor that she knew was scattered with debris from the rockfall. Instead, she ran forward out onto the T-shaped pool, her boots treading lightly over the surface of the water. The low waterfall from where the stream entered the pool announced itself through noise and the spray of water across her face. Running into the spray, she sprang and leapt, easily clearing the low barrier, landing on the stream. The maneuver would have been impossible had Aelos’s spell not allowed her to avoid the rushing current, but each step barely disturbed the surface of the water as she ran after the others.

Of course, there was the small matter of the golem blocking her way.

The creature seemed to sense her coming, even though her rush across the water made barely a whisper, certainly not audible over the rush of the waterfall behind her. She could see it clearly, highlighted in the light cast by the staff in the tunnel beyond it. She focused on that light, and as the golem’s fist came around she dove, the water walk keeping her hovering an inch above the water, her momentum carrying her past the golem. The creature tried to grab her with its other hand, but before it could react she was up and gone, charging after the departing light.

The golem did not follow.

Neither Shay nor any of her companions had spotted the shadowy figure that had hung in the air high above the cavern floor, silently watching during the encounter. As the last lingering remains of light faded, and the cavern returned to utter darkness, the insubstantial form drifted back to the ground. As it made its way to the south, the golems came lumbering after it.

It had been difficult for Zelkor to resist the urge to taste the life energy of those poor, pathetic, struggling mortals. The woman, in particular, had felt particularly... tasty. But Zelkor was bound to a greater power, and in this instance, at least, there were commands that must be obeyed.

Later, perhaps, an acolyte would serve as an appropriate compensation for its sacrifice.