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Al-Qarin: Into the Desert (3-1-24)
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<blockquote data-quote="EternalNewbie" data-source="post: 9061879" data-attributes="member: 6489"><p>“I'm guessing them devils didn't take up forging,” Azarek rasped.</p><p></p><p>“Ah, this place was supposed to be abandoned, yes, quite,” Khalid whispered in frustration, as they stopped the lift.</p><p></p><p>“Well it ain't,” Gorak growled. “Now what?”</p><p></p><p>“The forge is what we're looking for,” Shayla pointed out. “And if there's Dwerro here to man it, so much the better. We can deal with them.” Her tone left little doubt to her indifference on how, but Khalid felt the look in her eyes belied the bravado in her voice. Their last dealings with Dwerro hadn't ended well for any of them, least of all Shayla.</p><p></p><p>“It's gonna be noisy as hell down there,” Gorak grunted. “We can get a bit closer and then I'll go have a look.”</p><p></p><p>Slowly and quietly, they continued their descent down the shaft. The temperature continued to rise until beads of sweat were rolling down Khalid's face into his beard. Gorak wasn't wrong about the noise, which continued unabated. While it eased the risk of their passage, so relentless were the sounds emanating from below, Khalid couldn't help but think that either there was either a lone smith with supernatural stamina or the forges were manned by dozen of Dwerro.</p><p></p><p>Soon after, the dark passage beneath began to lighten with a ruddy orange glow. “Close enough,” Gorak grunted. He shifted form, mimicking one of the giant bat-like creatures they had encounter earlier and dropped down below. A few moments later he returned. “There's a tunnel at the bottom. It's pretty well lit so I couldn't risk getting too close. There's a bunch of 'em down there by the sounds of it, but it's hard to tell with the noise bouncing around off the walls.”</p><p></p><p>“The fact that they allowed the devils and other creatures free reign above, suggests that they are few in number, yes, quite.” Khalid offered. “Ah, and they can't cut the lift from beneath us, so we should be able to retreat back to the upper levels if need be.” Finally reached the bottom of the lift, Gorak led the way, with the others close behind. They quickly moved to the only exit to the room, the tunnel leading further in toward the forges. Gusts of hot air blasted from the entrance, while they waited to see if their arrival had been detected. When it seemed safe, they continued into the tunnel, following the glow and sounds ahead.</p><p></p><p>The room beyond the tunnel was long and rectangular with the entrance on the shorter side, opposite another on the far end. Workbenches lined the walls, with dozens of Dwerro bustling about at tasks that ranged from forging ingots, to hammering out molten metal, to scroll work on blades and weapon hilts. Running the almost the length of the room was a conveyor belt several feet wide, driven by some unseen engine. At its midpoint was a huge square contraption that bulged with pipes and dials, hissing and groaning as plumes of steam jetted out. Its purpose became immediately apparent when several black skinned Dwerro rolled a mining cart in from the back of the room and hooked it to a series of winches. Raising it up, the cart tipped over, dumping a load of ore into a funnel at the top. A deafening grinding sound followed as the rock was crushed between huge gears inside. Dwerro picked though rock shards that emerged from the other side, tossing hunks of black ore into baskets at their feet while allowing the remaining gangue to tumble off the edge of the belt into a pit below.</p><p></p><p>While the watched, a creature emerged from the back tunnel that he was sure would haunt his nightmares for days to come. For a second, he thought it was some sort of devil, until he made sense of the strange sight. A Dwerro with bulging arms and muscled shoulders covered with old scars and burns was suspended ten feet in the air. Around his waist was a thick metal ring, some three feet across, from which emerged eight spider-like metallic appendages that carried him swiftly around the room. Khalid could see the Dwerro's own legs, twisted and shrunken in proportion to the rest of him, dangling freely underneath. The Dwerro blew out his long white moustache and shouted in a thunderous voice that cut through the cacophony of noise in the room, gesturing with what Khalid realized was the magical Dwerro hammer they'd abandoned in the falling elevator. Pulling various levers on a control panel mounted on the disc at his waist, he scuttled over to a workbench and lowered himself down to inspect one of the smith's work.</p><p></p><p>A familiar feeling drew Khalid's eyes upwards to a curious square of rock hanging from chains above the machine in the centre of the room. Eyes widening as he felt the charge building, he looked to his companions, about to motion them back away from the danger he knew was coming. The Dwerro must have felt it too, pausing in their work to look up at the ceiling. A second later, a crackling blue flash lit the room, followed by the smell of sulphur and ash. What Khalid didn't expect, was what happened next.</p><p></p><p>Whatever caste they were, Khalid had no chance to discern as the hapless devils appeared directly above the funnel of the machine and immediately fell into the gears below before they could recover from the disorientation of the summoning. Dwerro around the base of the contraption spun valves and pulled levers, causing it to shuddered and buck, belching steam and smoke. Khalid clapped his hands over his ears in a futile attempt to block out the hideous cacophony of grinding metal and screams of dying devils. Dwerro at the end of the conveyor picked up wicked looking axes from the floor and proceeded to hack the still twitching clumps of flesh that emerged into even smaller pieces before they vanished into the slag pit below. As the last of the gore tumbled off the edge, the Dwerro let up a collective cheer in their rumbling voices and then returned to work as though they hadn't just carved up a bunch of planar monstrosities into a fine paste.</p><p></p><p>After the grim spectacle was over, Gorak motioned the back down the tunnel.</p><p></p><p><em>What should we do?</em></p><p></p><p>“There aren't that many of them,” Shayla whispered. “We can take them.”</p><p></p><p>Perhaps. But we might not need to. They are few in number but you saw how they handled those devils. And who knows how many more there could further in. They have found our packs we lost when we entered and obviously that glyph didn't fall on its own. We can possibly use that to our advantage.</p><p></p><p>“And we still need to figure out how to get out of here,” Gorak rumbled. “There's no guarantee we can leave the same way we came in, and not get cursed.”</p><p></p><p><em>We still don't know everything we need to about adamantite. It's possible we can deal with them. We forgo the element of surprise but the area works to our advantage.</em></p><p></p><p>“I'm not really looking forward to finding out what that spider thing can do,” Shayla admitted. “We try it your way. It'll be pretty obvious which way it's gonna go in the first few seconds.”</p><p></p><p><em>We are agreed then. I suppose I should lead the discussion, to ensure they understand us.</em></p><p></p><p>They prepared their defences as quietly as they could, timing their casting with the sounds from the forges ahead. Khalid sprinkled diamond dust over Azarek's, hardening his skin, while Gorak muttered a few words causing his skin to thicken and take on the craggy appearance of bark. After Khalid and Shayla girded themselves in bands of magical armour, they returned to their positions outside the archway of the workshop. Gorak and Shayla took up positions on either side, while Azarek lingered a few paces behind, so as not to risk tipping off the Dwerro with the clanking of his armour. Khalid, suddenly cold despite the heat surrounding them, recognized all too well how this meeting would play out rested almost entirely on his actions in the next few moments. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he stepped into the room.</p><p></p><p><em>We do not wish to fight you. Let us talk so we might both profit. If any of you leave this room, we will take that as a rejection of our offer. </em>Khalid sent the missive to all the Dwerro in the room, injecting as much menace as he could into the statement. The effect on the Dwerro was instantaneous. With barely a moment's shock, they began sweeping items off the workbenches, or covering them up with blankets and rags. The abomination circled around the machine to approach them, flanked by several Dwerro wielding hammers. Azarek moved up beside Khalid, covering him slightly with his shield. Despite their actions, Khalid noted that none of them left the room.</p><p></p><p><em>We removed that from the upper levels.</em> Khalid pointed at the slab of rock suspended from the ceiling. <em>We have killed dozens of the beasts upstairs. </em> He pulled the displacer beast's pelt from his back and held it up as proof. The crippled Dwerro motioned to one of his men, who walked over cautiously and pulled the pelt from Khalid's hand to inspect it. Satisfied, he nodded to the leader, who motioned to bring it closer. Annoyed, Khalid suspected he wasn't going to get it back, but figured it would be a small price to pay if he succeeded. And the hammer, he gestured at the abomination's waist. We returned that as well.</p><p></p><p>The Dwerro smirked at the last half-truth and Khalid allowed himself to relax slightly. Things didn't appear to be immediately heading toward violence. “You intrude upon domain of Martok,” he said, in halting Western. It was as much a question as a statement.</p><p></p><p>“Ah, yes, well, we had thought the place abandoned. We meant, no, yes, no disrespect.”</p><p></p><p>“Why?” The Dwerro asked again, his expression darkening.</p><p></p><p>“We sought, yes, sought the secret to forging adamantite. Yes, quite,” Khalid replied.</p><p></p><p>“Martok does not share his secrets with the faithless,” the Dwerro. “Come, worship him. You will learn many truths.” The Dwerro smiled disconcertingly, revealing a mouthful of cracked and stained teeth.”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, yes, well, we are not Dwerro,” Khalid demurred.</p><p></p><p>The fervour rising in his eyes, the Dwerro pressed. “Martok accepts all who grovel at his feet. You have helped us end the foulness that tainted the upper halls. He will reward you.”</p><p></p><p>Khalid, acutely aware they were also likely the cause of the devils arrival, had absolutely no desire to prostrate himself before an all knowing divinity, even if he was powerless. “Ah, we are not worthy to serve the great Martok, yes, quite. But in exchange for our service, we ask two things. If you will not share with us the secret of forging adamantite perhaps, yes, perhaps we may trade? If we brought you plans for a device, you could, yes, supply us with the admantite and you crafting skill, yes?</p><p></p><p>“We do not sell godsteel to non-believers.” Khalid began to think of his next ploy when the Dwerro continued. “But for you, we will listen to the request when you make it. Martok may permit it,” the Dwerro replied, his smile widening greedily. “Know that the price will be dear. What else?”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, yes, the other request, is that you show us the way out.”</p><p></p><p>The Dwerro raised an eyebrow. “Return the way you came,” he suggested.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, well, you see,” Khalid stammered, unsure of how to proceed. “The thing is, we heard, yes, heard there was a curse...”</p><p></p><p>“You did not pay Martok's price.” the Dwerro interrupted, his expression darkening. “Those scum that live in the shadow of Martok's greatness have aided you. You are right, you are not worthy to worship at the feet of Martok.”</p><p></p><p>“If we hadn't,” Gorak growled, “you'd be up to your arse in devils right now.”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, yes, quite,” Khalid interjected, trying to keep the conflict from escalating. “Suffice it to say that we want to leave, and you would have us gone. If there is another way, we would take it. Yes, quite.”</p><p></p><p>The Dwerro grinned again, but this time it was tinged with malice. “Oh there is another way, Westman. But perhaps you reconsider. It is not too late to make your offering to Martok. It may end up costing you less and the glory will last for eternity.”</p><p></p><p>“Thanks for the offer,” Shayla replied dryly. “But we'll take the path that doesn't involve a lifetime of servitude, if that's okay with you.”</p><p></p><p>The Dwerro grunted in disgust, “Then we will show you the only path that does not bear Martok's toll. But that does not mean Martok is not watching.”</p><p></p><p>Again, Khalid felt as though there was some nuance he was missing, a subtle inflection to the way the Dwerro said the name. “Ah what do you mean? I thought Martok was your god, absent like all the others, yes quite.”</p><p></p><p>“Martok is our god. Martok is the mountain, and Martok is all that dwells beneath it. We are the children of Martok, and Martok is us,” the Dwerro replied.</p><p></p><p>Frustrated, but realizing he was unlikely to get a better response, Khalid let the matter drop. “Ah, yes, very well then. Show us the way out and we will leave you in peace.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, in peace.” The Dwerro said something in his native tongue, and the rest of the men laughed. “These men will take you.” He gestured at two men close to the door on the opposite side of the room. Follow them through the mines and they will lead you to the path you seek.”</p><p></p><p>Wary they were being led into a trap, Gorak trailed at the rear of the group, keeping a careful eye behind. Azarek followed the two Dwerro closely, making sure they couldn't dart away, while Khalid and Shayla took up positions in the middle. The Dwerro led them deeper into the earth for a time, before taking a small side passage that began to climb upwards, almost imperceptibly at first and then with enough incline to make walking exhausting. Soon the reached the end of the mine shaft and into more natural cave, with no supporting stonework and rough walls. Eventually the Dwerro stopped. “Go,” one of them said, pointing further down the passage.</p><p></p><p>“This don't look like out,” Gorak growled.</p><p></p><p>“You go,” the Dwerro repeated. “Out.”</p><p></p><p>Despite their instance, it was clear their Dwerro guides would go no further, simply pointing further down the passage, before turning back.</p><p></p><p>“Well that's just great,” Shayla muttered. “Now what?”</p><p></p><p>“Let me have a look,” Gorak rumbled. Shifting his form into that of a rat, he scurried away down the path. They waited for him anxiously, scanning the path behind to make sure they weren't being set up. After a length of time that was almost too much to bear, he returned, and resumed his Orcish form.</p><p></p><p>“It's hot as hell up there,” Gorak grunted. “And there are guards that look like lizardmen. A whole room of them, but they're, I dunno, asleep maybe? Not moving and didn't react when I got close. And you're gonna love this,” he growled, looking at Khalid.</p><p></p><p>“Ah, what else?” Khalid asked.</p><p></p><p>“I think I saw an egg.” A chill went down Khalid's spine. “Maybe more than one, and it looked damn familiar. Maybe not quite as big, reddish colour, kinda scaly. ”</p><p></p><p>“Did they lead us into a trap?” Shayla asked with scowl.</p><p></p><p>“Possible.” Gorak grunted. “But there is a way out of the room at least. On the other side past all the lizards. It's midway up the wall though, so it'll be out of reach unless we're flying. And it's narrow. Single file.”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, we'll need time to prepare,” Khalid suggested, and they retreated back down the tunnel out of earshot and considered their options. “Ah, did you see any signs of a dragon within the room?”</p><p></p><p>“No,” Gorak grunted. “But it sure as hell seems like there's one around someplace.” Khalid tried to dredge up what little he remembered about dragons from his time at the White Tower, but even there, dragons were viewed as almost legendary creatures. From their encounter in the mountains, they decided the most likely risk in this case was fire, and Gorak protected them accordingly. Khalid granted flight to himself and Azarek, and then hurried to catch up with Gorak and Shayla, already further down the tunnel. Shayla pulled her cloak tight, the feathers rippling up to cover her head as she shrank down into the form of a raven. Forgoing stealth in favour of speed, they hurtled down the path past the two immobile guards at the entrance.</p><p></p><p>The cavernous room was as Gorak had described, with slumbering lizard-like humanoids spread evenly around. In his haste, Khalid couldn't quite be certain but they seemed different than the lizardmen he'd seen fight in the arena of Gem-Sharad; taller with broader shoulders, and somehow, more regal looking, with ridged crests running from the crown of their forehead down their backs and tails. Standing at attention, but clearly unaware, he noted that several of them sported wings wrapped around their body.</p><p></p><p>At first it seemed like the mad rush had achieved its objective and they entered the room unhindered, rising up into the air. A flicker of motion caught Khalid's eye as he sailed through the room and with mounting concern he realized their presence had indeed disturbed the catatonic guards. Flying over top one, its head turned to follow his passage, slitted eyes blinking in confusion.</p><p></p><p><em>We must hurry! The guards awaken! </em> Khalid warned, somewhat unhelpfully given that they were already travelling at the limit of their abilities.</p><p></p><p>It wasn't, however, the guards they needed to be concerned with.</p><p></p><p>Along the far edge of the room an enormous red scaled, serpentine head emerged from the darkness. A huge yellow eye, larger than Khalid was tall, tracked their passage through the air. Shaking loose dust and shale, accumulated over what Khalid guessed was a centuries long slumber, a powerful taloned claw reached out and pulled the dragon's huge body out of a long crevice hidden along the base of the wall. Ahead, Gorak vanished into a cramped tube near the ceiling with Shayla right on his tail.</p><p></p><p>Tossing out a litany of silent prayers to gods he didn't believe in, Khalid fought down his morbid curiosity and refused to look back, desperately hoping the tunnel was wide enough for him to fly through unhindered. Whether divine intervention or sheer luck, his was wish granted. He might, however, have spared a prayer for Azarek in his plate, who judging from the squeals of metal on rock coming from behind, wasn't faring as nearly as well. Twisting and rolling with the bends in the passage, Khalid almost dared to believe they were free as the tunnel seemed to lighten up ahead.</p><p></p><p>Luck, however, was never a friend to Khalid. Behind, the dragon drew in a mighty breath and an instant later, the whole world turned red.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="EternalNewbie, post: 9061879, member: 6489"] “I'm guessing them devils didn't take up forging,” Azarek rasped. “Ah, this place was supposed to be abandoned, yes, quite,” Khalid whispered in frustration, as they stopped the lift. “Well it ain't,” Gorak growled. “Now what?” “The forge is what we're looking for,” Shayla pointed out. “And if there's Dwerro here to man it, so much the better. We can deal with them.” Her tone left little doubt to her indifference on how, but Khalid felt the look in her eyes belied the bravado in her voice. Their last dealings with Dwerro hadn't ended well for any of them, least of all Shayla. “It's gonna be noisy as hell down there,” Gorak grunted. “We can get a bit closer and then I'll go have a look.” Slowly and quietly, they continued their descent down the shaft. The temperature continued to rise until beads of sweat were rolling down Khalid's face into his beard. Gorak wasn't wrong about the noise, which continued unabated. While it eased the risk of their passage, so relentless were the sounds emanating from below, Khalid couldn't help but think that either there was either a lone smith with supernatural stamina or the forges were manned by dozen of Dwerro. Soon after, the dark passage beneath began to lighten with a ruddy orange glow. “Close enough,” Gorak grunted. He shifted form, mimicking one of the giant bat-like creatures they had encounter earlier and dropped down below. A few moments later he returned. “There's a tunnel at the bottom. It's pretty well lit so I couldn't risk getting too close. There's a bunch of 'em down there by the sounds of it, but it's hard to tell with the noise bouncing around off the walls.” “The fact that they allowed the devils and other creatures free reign above, suggests that they are few in number, yes, quite.” Khalid offered. “Ah, and they can't cut the lift from beneath us, so we should be able to retreat back to the upper levels if need be.” Finally reached the bottom of the lift, Gorak led the way, with the others close behind. They quickly moved to the only exit to the room, the tunnel leading further in toward the forges. Gusts of hot air blasted from the entrance, while they waited to see if their arrival had been detected. When it seemed safe, they continued into the tunnel, following the glow and sounds ahead. The room beyond the tunnel was long and rectangular with the entrance on the shorter side, opposite another on the far end. Workbenches lined the walls, with dozens of Dwerro bustling about at tasks that ranged from forging ingots, to hammering out molten metal, to scroll work on blades and weapon hilts. Running the almost the length of the room was a conveyor belt several feet wide, driven by some unseen engine. At its midpoint was a huge square contraption that bulged with pipes and dials, hissing and groaning as plumes of steam jetted out. Its purpose became immediately apparent when several black skinned Dwerro rolled a mining cart in from the back of the room and hooked it to a series of winches. Raising it up, the cart tipped over, dumping a load of ore into a funnel at the top. A deafening grinding sound followed as the rock was crushed between huge gears inside. Dwerro picked though rock shards that emerged from the other side, tossing hunks of black ore into baskets at their feet while allowing the remaining gangue to tumble off the edge of the belt into a pit below. While the watched, a creature emerged from the back tunnel that he was sure would haunt his nightmares for days to come. For a second, he thought it was some sort of devil, until he made sense of the strange sight. A Dwerro with bulging arms and muscled shoulders covered with old scars and burns was suspended ten feet in the air. Around his waist was a thick metal ring, some three feet across, from which emerged eight spider-like metallic appendages that carried him swiftly around the room. Khalid could see the Dwerro's own legs, twisted and shrunken in proportion to the rest of him, dangling freely underneath. The Dwerro blew out his long white moustache and shouted in a thunderous voice that cut through the cacophony of noise in the room, gesturing with what Khalid realized was the magical Dwerro hammer they'd abandoned in the falling elevator. Pulling various levers on a control panel mounted on the disc at his waist, he scuttled over to a workbench and lowered himself down to inspect one of the smith's work. A familiar feeling drew Khalid's eyes upwards to a curious square of rock hanging from chains above the machine in the centre of the room. Eyes widening as he felt the charge building, he looked to his companions, about to motion them back away from the danger he knew was coming. The Dwerro must have felt it too, pausing in their work to look up at the ceiling. A second later, a crackling blue flash lit the room, followed by the smell of sulphur and ash. What Khalid didn't expect, was what happened next. Whatever caste they were, Khalid had no chance to discern as the hapless devils appeared directly above the funnel of the machine and immediately fell into the gears below before they could recover from the disorientation of the summoning. Dwerro around the base of the contraption spun valves and pulled levers, causing it to shuddered and buck, belching steam and smoke. Khalid clapped his hands over his ears in a futile attempt to block out the hideous cacophony of grinding metal and screams of dying devils. Dwerro at the end of the conveyor picked up wicked looking axes from the floor and proceeded to hack the still twitching clumps of flesh that emerged into even smaller pieces before they vanished into the slag pit below. As the last of the gore tumbled off the edge, the Dwerro let up a collective cheer in their rumbling voices and then returned to work as though they hadn't just carved up a bunch of planar monstrosities into a fine paste. After the grim spectacle was over, Gorak motioned the back down the tunnel. [I]What should we do?[/I] “There aren't that many of them,” Shayla whispered. “We can take them.” Perhaps. But we might not need to. They are few in number but you saw how they handled those devils. And who knows how many more there could further in. They have found our packs we lost when we entered and obviously that glyph didn't fall on its own. We can possibly use that to our advantage. “And we still need to figure out how to get out of here,” Gorak rumbled. “There's no guarantee we can leave the same way we came in, and not get cursed.” [I]We still don't know everything we need to about adamantite. It's possible we can deal with them. We forgo the element of surprise but the area works to our advantage.[/I] “I'm not really looking forward to finding out what that spider thing can do,” Shayla admitted. “We try it your way. It'll be pretty obvious which way it's gonna go in the first few seconds.” [I]We are agreed then. I suppose I should lead the discussion, to ensure they understand us.[/I] They prepared their defences as quietly as they could, timing their casting with the sounds from the forges ahead. Khalid sprinkled diamond dust over Azarek's, hardening his skin, while Gorak muttered a few words causing his skin to thicken and take on the craggy appearance of bark. After Khalid and Shayla girded themselves in bands of magical armour, they returned to their positions outside the archway of the workshop. Gorak and Shayla took up positions on either side, while Azarek lingered a few paces behind, so as not to risk tipping off the Dwerro with the clanking of his armour. Khalid, suddenly cold despite the heat surrounding them, recognized all too well how this meeting would play out rested almost entirely on his actions in the next few moments. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he stepped into the room. [I]We do not wish to fight you. Let us talk so we might both profit. If any of you leave this room, we will take that as a rejection of our offer. [/I]Khalid sent the missive to all the Dwerro in the room, injecting as much menace as he could into the statement. The effect on the Dwerro was instantaneous. With barely a moment's shock, they began sweeping items off the workbenches, or covering them up with blankets and rags. The abomination circled around the machine to approach them, flanked by several Dwerro wielding hammers. Azarek moved up beside Khalid, covering him slightly with his shield. Despite their actions, Khalid noted that none of them left the room. [I]We removed that from the upper levels.[/I] Khalid pointed at the slab of rock suspended from the ceiling. [I]We have killed dozens of the beasts upstairs. [/I] He pulled the displacer beast's pelt from his back and held it up as proof. The crippled Dwerro motioned to one of his men, who walked over cautiously and pulled the pelt from Khalid's hand to inspect it. Satisfied, he nodded to the leader, who motioned to bring it closer. Annoyed, Khalid suspected he wasn't going to get it back, but figured it would be a small price to pay if he succeeded. And the hammer, he gestured at the abomination's waist. We returned that as well. The Dwerro smirked at the last half-truth and Khalid allowed himself to relax slightly. Things didn't appear to be immediately heading toward violence. “You intrude upon domain of Martok,” he said, in halting Western. It was as much a question as a statement. “Ah, yes, well, we had thought the place abandoned. We meant, no, yes, no disrespect.” “Why?” The Dwerro asked again, his expression darkening. “We sought, yes, sought the secret to forging adamantite. Yes, quite,” Khalid replied. “Martok does not share his secrets with the faithless,” the Dwerro. “Come, worship him. You will learn many truths.” The Dwerro smiled disconcertingly, revealing a mouthful of cracked and stained teeth.” “Ah, yes, well, we are not Dwerro,” Khalid demurred. The fervour rising in his eyes, the Dwerro pressed. “Martok accepts all who grovel at his feet. You have helped us end the foulness that tainted the upper halls. He will reward you.” Khalid, acutely aware they were also likely the cause of the devils arrival, had absolutely no desire to prostrate himself before an all knowing divinity, even if he was powerless. “Ah, we are not worthy to serve the great Martok, yes, quite. But in exchange for our service, we ask two things. If you will not share with us the secret of forging adamantite perhaps, yes, perhaps we may trade? If we brought you plans for a device, you could, yes, supply us with the admantite and you crafting skill, yes? “We do not sell godsteel to non-believers.” Khalid began to think of his next ploy when the Dwerro continued. “But for you, we will listen to the request when you make it. Martok may permit it,” the Dwerro replied, his smile widening greedily. “Know that the price will be dear. What else?” “Ah, yes, the other request, is that you show us the way out.” The Dwerro raised an eyebrow. “Return the way you came,” he suggested. “Yes, well, you see,” Khalid stammered, unsure of how to proceed. “The thing is, we heard, yes, heard there was a curse...” “You did not pay Martok's price.” the Dwerro interrupted, his expression darkening. “Those scum that live in the shadow of Martok's greatness have aided you. You are right, you are not worthy to worship at the feet of Martok.” “If we hadn't,” Gorak growled, “you'd be up to your arse in devils right now.” “Ah, yes, quite,” Khalid interjected, trying to keep the conflict from escalating. “Suffice it to say that we want to leave, and you would have us gone. If there is another way, we would take it. Yes, quite.” The Dwerro grinned again, but this time it was tinged with malice. “Oh there is another way, Westman. But perhaps you reconsider. It is not too late to make your offering to Martok. It may end up costing you less and the glory will last for eternity.” “Thanks for the offer,” Shayla replied dryly. “But we'll take the path that doesn't involve a lifetime of servitude, if that's okay with you.” The Dwerro grunted in disgust, “Then we will show you the only path that does not bear Martok's toll. But that does not mean Martok is not watching.” Again, Khalid felt as though there was some nuance he was missing, a subtle inflection to the way the Dwerro said the name. “Ah what do you mean? I thought Martok was your god, absent like all the others, yes quite.” “Martok is our god. Martok is the mountain, and Martok is all that dwells beneath it. We are the children of Martok, and Martok is us,” the Dwerro replied. Frustrated, but realizing he was unlikely to get a better response, Khalid let the matter drop. “Ah, yes, very well then. Show us the way out and we will leave you in peace.” “Yes, in peace.” The Dwerro said something in his native tongue, and the rest of the men laughed. “These men will take you.” He gestured at two men close to the door on the opposite side of the room. Follow them through the mines and they will lead you to the path you seek.” Wary they were being led into a trap, Gorak trailed at the rear of the group, keeping a careful eye behind. Azarek followed the two Dwerro closely, making sure they couldn't dart away, while Khalid and Shayla took up positions in the middle. The Dwerro led them deeper into the earth for a time, before taking a small side passage that began to climb upwards, almost imperceptibly at first and then with enough incline to make walking exhausting. Soon the reached the end of the mine shaft and into more natural cave, with no supporting stonework and rough walls. Eventually the Dwerro stopped. “Go,” one of them said, pointing further down the passage. “This don't look like out,” Gorak growled. “You go,” the Dwerro repeated. “Out.” Despite their instance, it was clear their Dwerro guides would go no further, simply pointing further down the passage, before turning back. “Well that's just great,” Shayla muttered. “Now what?” “Let me have a look,” Gorak rumbled. Shifting his form into that of a rat, he scurried away down the path. They waited for him anxiously, scanning the path behind to make sure they weren't being set up. After a length of time that was almost too much to bear, he returned, and resumed his Orcish form. “It's hot as hell up there,” Gorak grunted. “And there are guards that look like lizardmen. A whole room of them, but they're, I dunno, asleep maybe? Not moving and didn't react when I got close. And you're gonna love this,” he growled, looking at Khalid. “Ah, what else?” Khalid asked. “I think I saw an egg.” A chill went down Khalid's spine. “Maybe more than one, and it looked damn familiar. Maybe not quite as big, reddish colour, kinda scaly. ” “Did they lead us into a trap?” Shayla asked with scowl. “Possible.” Gorak grunted. “But there is a way out of the room at least. On the other side past all the lizards. It's midway up the wall though, so it'll be out of reach unless we're flying. And it's narrow. Single file.” “Ah, we'll need time to prepare,” Khalid suggested, and they retreated back down the tunnel out of earshot and considered their options. “Ah, did you see any signs of a dragon within the room?” “No,” Gorak grunted. “But it sure as hell seems like there's one around someplace.” Khalid tried to dredge up what little he remembered about dragons from his time at the White Tower, but even there, dragons were viewed as almost legendary creatures. From their encounter in the mountains, they decided the most likely risk in this case was fire, and Gorak protected them accordingly. Khalid granted flight to himself and Azarek, and then hurried to catch up with Gorak and Shayla, already further down the tunnel. Shayla pulled her cloak tight, the feathers rippling up to cover her head as she shrank down into the form of a raven. Forgoing stealth in favour of speed, they hurtled down the path past the two immobile guards at the entrance. The cavernous room was as Gorak had described, with slumbering lizard-like humanoids spread evenly around. In his haste, Khalid couldn't quite be certain but they seemed different than the lizardmen he'd seen fight in the arena of Gem-Sharad; taller with broader shoulders, and somehow, more regal looking, with ridged crests running from the crown of their forehead down their backs and tails. Standing at attention, but clearly unaware, he noted that several of them sported wings wrapped around their body. At first it seemed like the mad rush had achieved its objective and they entered the room unhindered, rising up into the air. A flicker of motion caught Khalid's eye as he sailed through the room and with mounting concern he realized their presence had indeed disturbed the catatonic guards. Flying over top one, its head turned to follow his passage, slitted eyes blinking in confusion. [I]We must hurry! The guards awaken! [/I] Khalid warned, somewhat unhelpfully given that they were already travelling at the limit of their abilities. It wasn't, however, the guards they needed to be concerned with. Along the far edge of the room an enormous red scaled, serpentine head emerged from the darkness. A huge yellow eye, larger than Khalid was tall, tracked their passage through the air. Shaking loose dust and shale, accumulated over what Khalid guessed was a centuries long slumber, a powerful taloned claw reached out and pulled the dragon's huge body out of a long crevice hidden along the base of the wall. Ahead, Gorak vanished into a cramped tube near the ceiling with Shayla right on his tail. Tossing out a litany of silent prayers to gods he didn't believe in, Khalid fought down his morbid curiosity and refused to look back, desperately hoping the tunnel was wide enough for him to fly through unhindered. Whether divine intervention or sheer luck, his was wish granted. He might, however, have spared a prayer for Azarek in his plate, who judging from the squeals of metal on rock coming from behind, wasn't faring as nearly as well. Twisting and rolling with the bends in the passage, Khalid almost dared to believe they were free as the tunnel seemed to lighten up ahead. Luck, however, was never a friend to Khalid. Behind, the dragon drew in a mighty breath and an instant later, the whole world turned red. [/QUOTE]
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Al-Qarin: Into the Desert (3-1-24)
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