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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 3969211" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Terror in Freeport - Part 8b: The Serpent’s Nest</strong></p><p></p><p>The room at the end of the hall was a good hundred feet high and at least as wide, dripping with stalactites, its walls formed of stone that seems to bend impossibly in upon itself—perhaps a trick of the light, perhaps a result of the abhorrent evil that was transplanted there. </p><p></p><p>Looming before them, at the other end of the chamber of horrors, was a gargantuan statue of the Unspeakable One.</p><p></p><p>Kham was invisible, thanks to another one of the Emerald Society’s invisibility potions. His Society contacts were always happy to provide him with the latest magical concoctions for a fee, but seemed strangely silent on the subject of Fleshripper. Kham was starting to think they wanted to see what he did with it…or what Fleshripper did with him.</p><p></p><p>He recognized some of the items on the altar, remnants of the original temple they had wiped out before. Unfortunately, one of them included Egil.</p><p></p><p>Egil was strapped to the altar. A hooded figure lifted a dagger over him while four ssanu chanted, their tails and heads swaying in unison. Egil also stood in the corner, cleaning his nails. The impostor.</p><p></p><p>“We sacrifice this priest to you, Unspeakable One!” shouted the cultist. </p><p></p><p>BLAM! BLAM!</p><p></p><p>The cultist’s headless body slumped to the floor. </p><p></p><p>Kham winced as he turned visible. Fleshripper got him so caught up in the thrill of battle that Kham sometimes forgot to worry about his own safety. </p><p></p><p>Ilmarė skidded into the room. “There you are!”</p><p></p><p>“Took you long enough,” said Kham. “Didn’t you hear the signal?”</p><p></p><p>“What signal?”</p><p></p><p>The fake Egil spun on Kham with drawn blades. He faced two more of Kham’s pistols.</p><p></p><p>BLAM! BLAM! </p><p></p><p>“That signal,” said Kham. He holstered his pistols and drew Fleshripper. </p><p></p><p>Beldin and Vlad charged into the fray, facing the ssanu head on. </p><p></p><p>Kham dodged the swipe of one of the ssanu’s curved blades and hopped up onto the altar. “You okay Egil?”</p><p></p><p>Egil moaned, barely conscious. The Altherian priest was bruised all over.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll take that as a yes.” He jumped over another ssanu’s slash; the blade just missed Egil’s nose. With a flick of his wrist, Kham sliced Egil’s bindings apart. </p><p></p><p>“Be right back.” Kham hopped over another ssanu. It spun to face him, but Vlad intervened. </p><p></p><p>“Pick on someone your own size,” snarled Vlad.</p><p></p><p>The ssanu obliged and Kham hopped back onto the altar. He rolled Egil off of it and popped open another vial with one hand. He lifted it to Egil’s lips. “Drink,” he said.</p><p></p><p>Egil swallowed the contents as the sounds of hisses and metal echoed behind them. His eyes fluttered open. </p><p></p><p>“Better?”</p><p></p><p>Egil nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”</p><p></p><p>“What happened?”</p><p></p><p>“They ambushed me,” said Egil. “I think they were planning to brand me, but I’m not sure why. The only thing I remember clearly was a voice saying: After tonight, your kind will be out of the way for good.”</p><p></p><p>The sounds of combat stopped. Kham peeked over the altar. </p><p></p><p>All the ssanu were dead. </p><p></p><p>“So does that mean all of humankind? Or all of the Brothers of Althares?”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t like either choice,” said Vlad.</p><p></p><p>“That’s odd,” said Ilmarė.</p><p></p><p>Vlad looked around. “What?”</p><p></p><p>“The incense smoke.” Ilmarė pointed at the sputtering candles and smoking brazier. “It’s flickering. There’s an opening to the surface around here somewhere.”</p><p></p><p>Beldin grunted. “Yep.” He pressed one of the screaming faces on the statue of the Unspeakable One. A door slid open behind the statue. A ramp led up into darkness.</p><p></p><p>“You’d think with these two on our side, we wouldn’t fall into any traps,” said Kham, shaking his head.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 3969211, member: 3285"] [b]Terror in Freeport - Part 8b: The Serpent’s Nest[/b] The room at the end of the hall was a good hundred feet high and at least as wide, dripping with stalactites, its walls formed of stone that seems to bend impossibly in upon itself—perhaps a trick of the light, perhaps a result of the abhorrent evil that was transplanted there. Looming before them, at the other end of the chamber of horrors, was a gargantuan statue of the Unspeakable One. Kham was invisible, thanks to another one of the Emerald Society’s invisibility potions. His Society contacts were always happy to provide him with the latest magical concoctions for a fee, but seemed strangely silent on the subject of Fleshripper. Kham was starting to think they wanted to see what he did with it…or what Fleshripper did with him. He recognized some of the items on the altar, remnants of the original temple they had wiped out before. Unfortunately, one of them included Egil. Egil was strapped to the altar. A hooded figure lifted a dagger over him while four ssanu chanted, their tails and heads swaying in unison. Egil also stood in the corner, cleaning his nails. The impostor. “We sacrifice this priest to you, Unspeakable One!” shouted the cultist. BLAM! BLAM! The cultist’s headless body slumped to the floor. Kham winced as he turned visible. Fleshripper got him so caught up in the thrill of battle that Kham sometimes forgot to worry about his own safety. Ilmarė skidded into the room. “There you are!” “Took you long enough,” said Kham. “Didn’t you hear the signal?” “What signal?” The fake Egil spun on Kham with drawn blades. He faced two more of Kham’s pistols. BLAM! BLAM! “That signal,” said Kham. He holstered his pistols and drew Fleshripper. Beldin and Vlad charged into the fray, facing the ssanu head on. Kham dodged the swipe of one of the ssanu’s curved blades and hopped up onto the altar. “You okay Egil?” Egil moaned, barely conscious. The Altherian priest was bruised all over. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He jumped over another ssanu’s slash; the blade just missed Egil’s nose. With a flick of his wrist, Kham sliced Egil’s bindings apart. “Be right back.” Kham hopped over another ssanu. It spun to face him, but Vlad intervened. “Pick on someone your own size,” snarled Vlad. The ssanu obliged and Kham hopped back onto the altar. He rolled Egil off of it and popped open another vial with one hand. He lifted it to Egil’s lips. “Drink,” he said. Egil swallowed the contents as the sounds of hisses and metal echoed behind them. His eyes fluttered open. “Better?” Egil nodded. “Yes. Thank you.” “What happened?” “They ambushed me,” said Egil. “I think they were planning to brand me, but I’m not sure why. The only thing I remember clearly was a voice saying: After tonight, your kind will be out of the way for good.” The sounds of combat stopped. Kham peeked over the altar. All the ssanu were dead. “So does that mean all of humankind? Or all of the Brothers of Althares?” “I don’t like either choice,” said Vlad. “That’s odd,” said Ilmarė. Vlad looked around. “What?” “The incense smoke.” Ilmarė pointed at the sputtering candles and smoking brazier. “It’s flickering. There’s an opening to the surface around here somewhere.” Beldin grunted. “Yep.” He pressed one of the screaming faces on the statue of the Unspeakable One. A door slid open behind the statue. A ramp led up into darkness. “You’d think with these two on our side, we wouldn’t fall into any traps,” said Kham, shaking his head. [/QUOTE]
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