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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 3964389" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Terror in Freeport - Part 7b: Rocks and a Hard Place</strong></p><p></p><p>As if on cue, the floor began to tip and the hinged wall hung partially open. Beyond the hinged wall were two grinding cylinders, mechanically pounding up and down. </p><p></p><p>“Everyone!” shouted Beldin. “Grab hold of something!” He lifted his axe high overhead and then slammed it into the floor. The floor of the crushing machine was no match for Elabac’s superior craftsmanship. The blade bit deeply and held. </p><p></p><p>Vlad did the same with Grungronazharr, which pierced the metal like butter. Kham speared the ground with Fleshripper. Cal and Bijoux dug in with their claws.</p><p></p><p>Rock heaps started to slide downward into the crushers. They were pounded into dust.</p><p></p><p>“I see something!” shouted Sebastian. He could make out a small opening where a man’s silhouette stood in front of a lever. He pointed his palms forward. “Fuco aspergo!” </p><p></p><p>The coruscating cone of light struck the opening. The figure slumped forward, but the machinery continued to grind away.</p><p></p><p>The floor tipped to a 45-degree angle. Rocks slammed into Sebastian. He plunged into the void towards the crushers…and then stopped as his forked tail wrapped around Kham’s leg.</p><p></p><p>“So that’s why you always wear those robes!” shouted Kham. “You have a forked tail!”</p><p></p><p>“Now is really not the time!” Sebastian shouted back.</p><p></p><p>Beldin pulled the lajatang off of his back and hurled it down into the mechanism. The polearm bounced around inside the gears and then caught. There was a horrible shrieking noise as metal and bit into metal. The polearm’s magic resisted the irresistible force.</p><p></p><p>“Bijoux!” shouted Beldin. “You have to get to the—“</p><p></p><p>Then the lajatang cracked in half and was engulfed in the machine. The noise became deafening. Large masses of rocks bounced around in the crushers and all over the bin. A steady pile of rocks and debris slammed into Calactyte’s snout. He turned his head, but the rocks kept piling up. A small mountain piled up in his face.</p><p></p><p>“Cal!” shouted Bijoux, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. “Hold on!”</p><p></p><p>Cal clawed desperately for purchase. His hind claws tore furrows in the floor, but it was no use. A huge boulder as large as a man slammed into him and he disappeared into the crushers.</p><p></p><p>Vlad was shouting something to her and pointing at the opening. Bijoux couldn’t make out what he said; the infernal pounding was rattling her teeth. It was so loud that it was becoming impossible to think.</p><p></p><p>Then a pile of rocks smashed into Vlad and he disappeared, flailing, into the machine’s maw.</p><p></p><p>Bijoux blinked back tears. It was hopeless…</p><p></p><p>Or was it? She could jump further than any of them. </p><p></p><p>Bijoux crouched as a pile of rocks slid towards her. She dove to one side and spread her wing flaps. She passed Sebastian, who was dangling helplessly from Kham’s leg.</p><p></p><p>She hopped forward again. A big gray stone bounced to one side, just missing her head. Bijoux passed Kham, clinging to Fleshripper.</p><p></p><p>A pile of gravel pelted her in a swarm. She turned her face away; shielding her eyes with one of her arms would drop her back into the bottom of the machine. Bijoux passed Beldin. He couldn’t spare the time to look at her—he was starting to lose his grip.</p><p></p><p>Finally, she reached the small opening. The operator was unconscious, so there was no one to stop her. But she couldn’t fit through the hole. A lever was barely visible through the opening. If she could just reach it…</p><p></p><p>She stretched out her fingertips. The bin began to shudder violently. Bijoux knew why. The machine was shaking loose any remaining rocks.</p><p></p><p>Her fingertips brushed the edge of the lever. She couldn’t reach it! Unless…</p><p></p><p>Bijoux extended one claw and hooked the lever. Then she yanked back with all her might.</p><p></p><p>The machine slowly righted itself and ground to a stop. Bijoux collapsed in relief.</p><p></p><p>“Remind me to take you everywhere, cat girl,” said Kham.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 3964389, member: 3285"] [b]Terror in Freeport - Part 7b: Rocks and a Hard Place[/b] As if on cue, the floor began to tip and the hinged wall hung partially open. Beyond the hinged wall were two grinding cylinders, mechanically pounding up and down. “Everyone!” shouted Beldin. “Grab hold of something!” He lifted his axe high overhead and then slammed it into the floor. The floor of the crushing machine was no match for Elabac’s superior craftsmanship. The blade bit deeply and held. Vlad did the same with Grungronazharr, which pierced the metal like butter. Kham speared the ground with Fleshripper. Cal and Bijoux dug in with their claws. Rock heaps started to slide downward into the crushers. They were pounded into dust. “I see something!” shouted Sebastian. He could make out a small opening where a man’s silhouette stood in front of a lever. He pointed his palms forward. “Fuco aspergo!” The coruscating cone of light struck the opening. The figure slumped forward, but the machinery continued to grind away. The floor tipped to a 45-degree angle. Rocks slammed into Sebastian. He plunged into the void towards the crushers…and then stopped as his forked tail wrapped around Kham’s leg. “So that’s why you always wear those robes!” shouted Kham. “You have a forked tail!” “Now is really not the time!” Sebastian shouted back. Beldin pulled the lajatang off of his back and hurled it down into the mechanism. The polearm bounced around inside the gears and then caught. There was a horrible shrieking noise as metal and bit into metal. The polearm’s magic resisted the irresistible force. “Bijoux!” shouted Beldin. “You have to get to the—“ Then the lajatang cracked in half and was engulfed in the machine. The noise became deafening. Large masses of rocks bounced around in the crushers and all over the bin. A steady pile of rocks and debris slammed into Calactyte’s snout. He turned his head, but the rocks kept piling up. A small mountain piled up in his face. “Cal!” shouted Bijoux, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. “Hold on!” Cal clawed desperately for purchase. His hind claws tore furrows in the floor, but it was no use. A huge boulder as large as a man slammed into him and he disappeared into the crushers. Vlad was shouting something to her and pointing at the opening. Bijoux couldn’t make out what he said; the infernal pounding was rattling her teeth. It was so loud that it was becoming impossible to think. Then a pile of rocks smashed into Vlad and he disappeared, flailing, into the machine’s maw. Bijoux blinked back tears. It was hopeless… Or was it? She could jump further than any of them. Bijoux crouched as a pile of rocks slid towards her. She dove to one side and spread her wing flaps. She passed Sebastian, who was dangling helplessly from Kham’s leg. She hopped forward again. A big gray stone bounced to one side, just missing her head. Bijoux passed Kham, clinging to Fleshripper. A pile of gravel pelted her in a swarm. She turned her face away; shielding her eyes with one of her arms would drop her back into the bottom of the machine. Bijoux passed Beldin. He couldn’t spare the time to look at her—he was starting to lose his grip. Finally, she reached the small opening. The operator was unconscious, so there was no one to stop her. But she couldn’t fit through the hole. A lever was barely visible through the opening. If she could just reach it… She stretched out her fingertips. The bin began to shudder violently. Bijoux knew why. The machine was shaking loose any remaining rocks. Her fingertips brushed the edge of the lever. She couldn’t reach it! Unless… Bijoux extended one claw and hooked the lever. Then she yanked back with all her might. The machine slowly righted itself and ground to a stop. Bijoux collapsed in relief. “Remind me to take you everywhere, cat girl,” said Kham. [/QUOTE]
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