As the group examined the goblin's map they could not help but notice how similar it seemed to the map related to them by Eilian the Elder.
It looked similar to the group's map but had more terrain features listed and most disturbingly of all seemed to be quilled by Douven's very hand.
Fielin: "I would know that scrawl anywhere."
Travis: "Once Mardok rouses and we've collected the kobold's booty we can try this location."...."It's only listed on the goblin's copy."
Fielin: "Douven's copy you mean."
Travis: "Yes, that's what I meant to say."...."I will, however, get the nine hells outta this cave....what IS that smell?"
Shaster: "I am not sure you want to know the answer to that."
Travis: "Point taken."
Thanking all that is good just, for small mercies, the night passes uneventfully.
Hardly but a two hour walk from the Lair of the Kobolds, the assembled heros come across a curious feature in the terrain.
A steep sided crater punctures the wilderness and unable to see the bottom from where they stand the group moves up cautiously to see what awaits them.
Near the centre of the depression, several humanoid figures cluster around a collection of dragon bones.
As they approach, two small dragon-like guardians stand alert and begin to growl at the group.
Gorshak: "HAH, Gorshak sees all!"
Although lead by the goliath, upon seeing the Guard Drakes, the barbarian charges forth without a moments notice.
Travis: "Aw, damn it all...here we go again."
A hail of stones falls upon the groups from a halfling as does a shaft from the crossbow of a Skulker named Agrid, eager to unleash pain upon the newcomers, but luckily they are too far away to strike effectively.
Gorshak squints his eyes searching the horizon; "What the hell is shooting at us?"
Charging into the combat with a hidious Howling war cry, the barbarian puts himself between the two Guard Drakes but the loose ground from the dig site makes him lose his footing and he swings wide.
One of the Drakes manages to flank the barbarian.
Charging up from the pit area, a group of underpaid and underwashed rabble join the mele.
As Shaster positions himself to better tactical advantage, he is struck by a bolt from Agrid the Snipish.
In responce to the act, Shaster makes utterances to the ancestral insect spirit and releases his bowstring and notched arrow at the biting swarm which follows the shafts path from weapon to target and strikes the brokentoothed Drake.
Fielin draws his handbow and spins it around his finger before firing it at the nearby Guard Drake but is unable to hit anything....more to the point...at least he doesn't hit Mardok.
Gorshak looks at the brokentoothed Drake and charges with his weapon held high.
Upon striking his foe Valiantly, he issues a challenge to the beast with a promise of swift vengence.
As the assorted Rabble that pass for hireling charge up upon the heros, the situation undergoes a dramatic shift as holy light streams from the devan cleric and scorch the charging attackers before they can even get close to striking him.
Mardok's charge has put him in considerable peril and Bloodfanged Drake land a ferocious attack on the half orc that tears a large chuck of flesh from the barbarian as its frenzy almost seems to be heightened by the presance of its mate.
Travis seing the situation has become dire calls out to the paladin; "GORSHAK.....(save us)"
The responce from the goliath is a haphazard swing that misses his reptilian foe.
Travis cusses at the reversal of fortune.
Feeling emboldened by his last strike, the Mighty Quinn calls out; "FEAR THE BLUE RADIANCE!"
The gnome Skulker, obviously the leader motions to liam the halfling but in the process of delivering a rain of stones upon the heros, the sling gets caught and is ripped by the centrifugal force of his shot.
Agrid the gnome sighs at his allies folly and takes aim with his crossbow once more.
Agrid: "MUST I do EVERYTHING myself?" he says as he aims at Quinn "EAT BOLT YA BIG BLUE FREAK!" and in the next instant, Quinn is struck by the Skulker's attack.
Agrid: "Y'see?"...."THAT'S where I wanted it!"
Liam the Dark, his halfling cohort chuckles deviously at the deva's pain.
Mardok tries to press his attack but his wounds have slowed his body and bloodloss has dulled his sences so the Drake easily avoids his blow.
Seeing Mardok in danger of falling, the eladrin steps into the Fey and re-emerges to flank the Brokentooth the Drake.
His strike could not have been more fortuitously times or executed and he very nearly slays the beast with the primary thrust of his Sneaky Riposte Strike.
Gorshak nods approvingly.
Fielin: "Now THAT'S more like it."
Gorshak turns to the other Drake with the Bloodfangs and lands a mighty swing with his khopesh that slices through both scale and bone but he is unable to drop the fell beast.
Shaster takes aim upon the closest Drake with his bow and unleashes the fury of the Ancestral Insect Spirit but upon seeing the hideous visage of their intended target, they choose instead to flee rather than strike.
Invoking the ancient energies of the Ancestors, he calls forth the Inevitability of Fate and redirects the phantasmal swarm towards the Drakes mate, Bloodfang and he is rewarded with the agonized howl of his enemy.
Quinn lends his strength to the battle and summons a lance of pure radiant light that sears the Bloodfanged Drake but is incapable of putting it down for good.
Travis noticing the Drake attempting to leap at Mardok, issues a warning and brings the assailant to the barbarian's attention but his wounds have slowed him too much and he is unable to land his attack as the DRake closes for the kill.
Liam has produced another sling from his pack and prepares to unleash a volley of stones.
Agrid who sees that one of his Drakes has been wounded badly takes aim on the one who hurts them, and owing to the barbarian's distracted nature, the Skulker prepares to heap untold sufferings upon the half orc.
Fielin tries to call out but is too late and the crossbow bolt strikes Mardok in the chest and he falls to the ground lifelessly from the gnome's superb marksmanship.
Liam cackles with glee at the barbarian's sufferings.
Distracted by their fallen comrade, both Fielin and Travis are struck....Fielin by the bite of a Drake and Travis by the club of the Human Rabble known only as Poxis the Lonely.
Angered by the Drake's bite, Fielin resolves not to let that occur again and he lands a Riposte against the dragon-like creature.
Gorshak charges passed Poxis and runs straight at one of the savage Guardian Drakes and is rewarded for his Valiance with the flow of his foes lifes blood and the great beast is finally showing signs of slowing to its wounds.
Gambling all...he presses his advantage and ignoring the attack made by Poxis, with the true resiliance of stone, he contines to charge at the Gnome skulker even as he draws a bead on the charging paladin.
Keeping to the outside of the conflict, Shaster attempts to flank the opposing ranged attacker while they are distracted by the charging goliath.
He unleashes the ghostly Biting Swarm once more but the diminutive attackers fly right over Liam the Darks head.
Quinn attempts to use his faith to protect him from the approaching Guard Drake but the creature easily avoids the deva's clumbsy efforts and the light of his lance is eclipsed by the light of day.
Travis looks to the fallen Mardok as he holds Poxis at bay; "GET UP...YOU HEARD ME, GET UP NOW MARDOK....NOW!!!"
Ever so slowly the towering half orc begins to stir and at once rises to his feet where he had fallen much to the disdain of Agrid and Liam.
The paladin runs up on the Skulker but before he can close the distance to his sworn foe the gnome taunts him; "Gonna challenge me, boy?"
Before the Gorshak can reply he is struck by a bolt, but he pulls it out and laughs derisively at Agrid's attempt.
Liam lets out a war cry and lets fly once more with a rain of stones upon the besieged heros.
Mardok collects his wits and looks to the Gnome; "Your gonna pay for that cheap shot you miserable meatstain!"
Unfortunately his Howling Strike lacks the conviction of his vengence and he summons forth the will to continue action.
Fielin: "Just not today is all..."
Summoning the Rage of a Tyrant, the barbarian begins his Furious Assault and draws blood from the Skulker.
In that instant, much to the suprise of the barbarian, the gnome disappears with a wink after being struck by his axe blade.
Gorshak: "What th-!?!"..."Where did he go!?!"
Fielin: "Oh, I get it....so, if all else fails just froth at the mouth and swing away?" he continued "Even I could do THAT."
Fielin then performs a flawless sword kata with trademark eladrin flair and manages to land a Sly Flourish that slays the Bloodfang which collapses in a quivering bloody heap on the ground.
Fielin: "See?"
Gorshak roars and charges upon Liam the halfling.
Summoning all his strength he lands not one but two Valiant Strikes upon the tiny target that send him reeling bloodied and nearly slain by the savagery of the assault.
Gorshak: "HA, not so tough NOW are you, ya lil' bastich?"
Notching up an arrow, Shaster summons Spirits to Possess his enemy but even though he lands his infused strike, the halfling has not the strength to do anything except fall over lifeless.
Upon falling before his enemy, Agrid is hacked into tiny pieces by Mardok who unwittingly destroys an item of arcane interest as a result of his (needlessly redundant) rage.
Gorshak: "Maybe we should try taking a prisoner or two one of these days."...the only responce is the nearly endless stream of axe strikes that turn the gnomes body into a paste like residue...."Or not, just a thought is all."
TO BE CONTINUED.....
