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Journal of the Souls of Legend (completed)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 8097521" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Sudden departures – 9/27/2020</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>You can’t plan for everything. For everything you discussed and went right, there is bound to be something you didn’t think about that went wrong. Most of the time its small stuff.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Except when it isn’t.</em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I woke with a sudden start, my heart pounding. Images of me falling into the Weeping Catacombs fading away already as my eyes took in the image of the waking world. Iesa and Daneath were already up strapping on their armor, and Beepu was flipping through pages of his spellbook on the bed across from me.</p><p></p><p>“You should have woken me,” I said feeling guilty on not doing my normal routine of a final watch.</p><p></p><p>“I told Iesa to let you rest Myr,” Daneath said. “You’ve not been resting well since we arrived, and you have been putting up with a lot.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t like it though. Feels like I am not pulling my weight,” I said frowning.</p><p></p><p>“You can make it up to us after we get out of here,” Iesa said holding open his pack and letting Mo climb inside. “We have plenty of time.”</p><p></p><p>I got off the bed and grabbed my breastplate and proceeded to strap it on myself. As I did so I looked at Beepu, “Where is Foggle by the way?”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, I set him to perch on top of the building and did not bother to move him once the drow brought us to meet Nymor,” he said not even looking up. “I assumed that the pirates above would come down here, but he has seen nothing of the sort.”</p><p></p><p>“I guess the drow are covering for us then,” I said buckling the last strap on my armor.</p><p></p><p>“Not happily,” Beepu said still not lookup up. “That one we spoke to…Tamas knocked earlier. He really wants us to get a move on.”</p><p></p><p>I buckled my rapier to my hip and adjusted it, and then grabbed my shield and strapped it to my arm. I checked to make sure my component pouch and my holy symbol were in place and took a deep breath.</p><p></p><p>“Let’s get this done,” I said and after seeing the others nod, I pulled a white strand and pulled open the door with a snap of my fingers. There outside, the two drow stood glowering at me, one of them Tamas.</p><p></p><p>“So, the princess is finally awake,” Tamas said coldly.</p><p></p><p>I sighed, “Look Tamas, don’t make this more difficult than it has to be. I don’t know, and I doubt I can properly imagine what other women from your society were like,” and I saw Tamas stiffen at the word ‘women.’ “But I…we have a job to do for you. So, it would be…appreciated that you at least pretend you aren’t going to cut my throat at the first opportunity.”</p><p></p><p>Tamas glared at me, and just barely shook his head. “No…you have no idea. And I see no reason to educate you.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, then you can lead the way, and educate me on something else,” I said resigned to the frosty response and focused on keeping things civil. “What can we expect out of Duergar. </p><p></p><p>Tamas looked at me critically and didn’t say anything. “Come on Tamas,” I pleaded. “You clearly have more experience here than I; you can at least tell me a bit about them.”</p><p></p><p>Tamas frowned and nodded. “I will tell you but let us get moving first.”</p><p></p><p>I looked at the others, and with silent assent we exited the room, and followed the drow downstairs leading us back to the main cavern. Staying close with us were Foggle flying at Beepu’s shoulder level, while Gossamer trotted, keeping his wings closed and close to his body. Once we were on our way in the main throughfare Tamas spoke again.</p><p></p><p>“They are soulgrinding dwarves. They toil and toil for their own gain, and only bargain when they are in a position of weakness. Otherwise they just take. Expect no quarter from them. Even if they did offer it, you would be worked to death,” he said with his lips curling in disgust. “In combat they are strong and fierce. And they like to ambush rather than fight straight up in their tunnels.”</p><p></p><p>“What they hide in holes and wait?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“No. They can vanish from sight, and when they do reappear, they frequently are larger than most. It doesn't last long, but while so enlarged they are strong opponents. You would do well to be wary.”</p><p></p><p><em>Hey Goss?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--I caught that. I can see most things hidden by spells. I should be able to see them.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I hope so. I’m counting on you.</em></p><p></p><p>“Well…that’s something. Thanks, Tamas.” I said and saw him curtly nod.</p><p></p><p>We were led through the cavern and took a tunnel that branched off the main cavern. This one started leading downwards, but just as it did so, we pass through a garrison of some type, with a wooden gate its sides pierced with slits and a team of drow at the ready. They unbarricaded a large double door and motioned us through. As we all passed beyond, the door was shut and barricaded behind us.</p><p></p><p>I took a moment to flex and lit Daneath’s shield with a dim red light. Tamas shook his head in disapproval. “Your surfacer eyes are weak. Even the gnome can barely see in front of him.”</p><p></p><p>“I can see far enough!” Beepu said indignantly.</p><p></p><p>“And you can see the chasm ahead of us then?” Tamas challenged.</p><p></p><p>“Ah…well…ah no.” Beepu admitted.</p><p></p><p>But looking ahead, I saw something quite different. “That’s not nice Tamas. Its an opening to a large cavern with an open set of iron doors,” Tamas whirled around in surprise.</p><p></p><p>“You should not be able to—”</p><p></p><p>“—I can see just fine. I probably can see better than you, as I can actually read in darkness.” I said. “But tell me this; why are the doors even open?”</p><p></p><p>Tamas looked side to side a moment and leaned closer to me. “Because they do not suspect an attack. You truly only have one shot at this. If the doors close with you on the outside, breaking them down will be a very difficult task. Nymor will consider it a failure. And I need not say what that means for you.”</p><p></p><p>“No…you don’t,” I said. We stopped in the cavern, at least fifty paces away.</p><p></p><p>“Myr you aren’t kidding right? The doors are open?” Iesa said questioningly.</p><p></p><p>I nodded, “An open set of…iron doors, and I see no guards.”</p><p></p><p>“Well Foggle can look for them,” Beepu volunteered.</p><p></p><p>“No…in this case, Foggle isn’t the right way to do this,” and I looked at Gossamer. Gossamer simply trotted off towards the entryway, and I could see him crouch and slowly and stealthily make his way on the ground towards it.</p><p></p><p><em>--Well, I don’t see anything or anyone on the outside.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Alright. We’ll be there in a moment.</em></p><p></p><p>“Goss sees nothing, so I guess its up to us now.”</p><p></p><p>Tamas nodded curtly. “Don’t come back to the gate unless you have a pile of dwarf heads. Otherwise, its your death.” And with that, Tamas turned around and retreated down the passageway, back to the drow barricade.</p><p></p><p>“So, this seems too easy,” Daneath whispered. “Why are the doors open?”</p><p></p><p>“Because, the drow are betraying them,” Iesa hissed back. “Otherwise there would be a guard or something.”</p><p></p><p>I shook my head, “No…its because they don’t need them.”</p><p></p><p>Beepu’s eyes lit up. “A trap!”</p><p></p><p>“Well in that case…let’s go find it,” Iesa said with a grin.</p><p></p><p>--</p><p></p><p>We snuck up to the entrance to the Duergar’s lair. With the entrance being dark, this meant that Daneath’s shield was still needed to light the way for the brothers. So, while we crept quietly, we were fearful that the light would give us away and warn the denizens within. </p><p></p><p>However, luck seemed to be with us. While up close the stone entrance looked grim and foreboding, it seemed to be all for show. The solid stone around the entrance was dour and grey, but it also lacked windows or arrow slits. It wasn’t a strong defensive structure; just an imposing one. Deeper within, past the great iron doors, I could see the light from fires in cages of iron on the ground. The passage as Gossamer reported, seemed devoid of anyone. </p><p></p><p>Iesa moved up toward the entrance, quietly. He placed his ear to the ground and looked down the passage carefully. He then moved forward a couple of feet and then moved to the side wall. He then pulled out an arrow and held it about a foot off the ground, its length perpendicular to the passageway. He then twirled and twisted it, and then with a pair of snips, cut a barely visible wire. The arrow shaft was now pulled to the wall, while a thread of thin wire now was tangled on the shaft, preventing it from being retracted inside the wall.</p><p></p><p>We moved up closer, standing by a door and out of view of the passage as Iesa continued his work. Moving slowly forward, he stopped when the rock turned to dusty gravel. Pulling out a small blade, he pushed the blade into the slurry, prodding at different spots. At first the dagger sunk deep into the ground, but on the left side he found a spot the dagger didn’t sink deeply at all. Poking more carefully, he sketched out a narrow pathway along the left side. </p><p></p><p>I gulped and my heart pounded as I watched him, slowly treading on that side, with his back pressed against the wall, looking down. As he slowly shuffled down the passage, he suddenly stopped and cocked his head. Squatting down he took the small blade and jammed it at an angle in the earth. He then scooted down farther, and then stood at an intersection going left and right, motioning us to follow.</p><p></p><p>I raised up my hand, and stopped everyone from following his instructions, while I twirled the copper wire and used a strand to send him a whisper.</p><p></p><p>“Iesa, what should we be watching for?”</p><p></p><p>“The tripwire is disabled. If you stay left, you will be on a narrow ledge. The right is just thick dust on a cloth frame, probably covering a pit. Don’t step on the plate where I left a blade; I’m not sure what will happen, but I bet it will hurt.”</p><p></p><p>“Come on, stay left, and don’t step on the blade on the ground,”</p><p></p><p>“I hope that’s all of the traps,” Daneath grimaced.</p><p></p><p>“We will know soon enough,” said Beepu who took the lead on the treacherous path, with myself and Daneath close behind. I found myself sweating as I shuffled down the passage, my back leaning against the wall. I only breathed easier, when we all stood next to Iesa at the lower leg of a T intersection. Once there, I doused the light on Daneath’s shield, letting the distant torches provide us light.</p><p></p><p>“Now what?” Daneath whispered. Beepu quickly moved his hands and then waved them at Foggle, who quickly faded from sight. I only barely heard his wings beat in the air as he left us to scout ahead. Before long Beepu said, “We can go to the right. It turns a corner, but there is a small room with barrels and crates. We can hide there while Foggle looks around.”</p><p></p><p><em>Goss…just meow if something appears.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--'Meow?’ What <strong>don’t</strong> send you a message in your head?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Goss…the others can <strong>hear</strong> you meow.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--Oh. You do have a point.</em></p><p></p><p>“Listen for Goss, if he sees something, he’ll say something.”</p><p></p><p>“What, he’ll start purring?” Daneath said smirking, to which I jabbed him in the ribs.</p><p></p><p>“Hah hah. You and Goss are a barrel of laughs.”</p><p></p><p>We crept along the right-hand passage and found the small room that Beepu told us about. It wasn’t much, more like an opportunistic space to store unimportant things. We took positions with Iesa and me looking back the way we came, and Daneath and Beepu looking around the corner, as we waited for Foggle’s return.</p><p></p><p>It seemed to take forever, but Beepu never seemed concerned. I took solace knowing if something did happen to Foggle, Beepu would be aware of it instantly. Finally, Beepu got our attention.</p><p></p><p>“Well, just ahead of us, there is a large room that looks like a barrack of some sort. There are four dwarves in there. Next to it is another larger room with two exits, one leading deeper with another four dwarves, which I didn’t explore yet. But the other direction circles around to guard room with another six or seven dwarves—”</p><p></p><p>“—Is it six or is it seven?” Iesa said impatiently.</p><p></p><p>“I have endeavored to teach Foggle to count. Unfortunately, numbers past three are still problematic.” Beepu said exasperated.</p><p></p><p>“Never mind that, keep going,” Daneath said.</p><p></p><p>“Anyway, past that room, there is a pit with a narrow bridge that leads to the intersection we were just at, and then we arrive here.”</p><p></p><p>“Over a dozen at least,” I said. “If they all come at us at once, we’re dead.”</p><p></p><p>“There is only one other passage going deeper. If we can prevent them from going in there, we can prevent them from getting more help,” Iesa pointed out.</p><p></p><p>“We might be able to,” Beepu asserted. “The ones in the back rooms are asleep, that leaves the pack near us that is a problem.”</p><p></p><p>“Was there a door or something blocking the way deeper?” I asked.</p><p></p><p>“There is, but it is open right now.” Beepu answered after thinking a moment.</p><p></p><p>I thought a moment, and then said, “Sneak there, close the door and jam it shut. Then start killing the sleeping dwarves.”</p><p></p><p>“What about the <em>awake ones</em>?” Daneath said.</p><p></p><p>“Well…Beepu and I can draw them here. The bridge is a chokepoint, if we can keep them clustered on it, then we have a chance.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, are the rooms lit it lit?” Iesa asked.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, it is. Torches or braziers in all the rooms.” Beepu confirmed.</p><p></p><p>“Ok, have Foggle follow me, and he can tell you when the door is locked. Then…do something big.” Iesa said.</p><p></p><p>“’Do something big.’” Beepu frowned. “I am not a charlatan at Shieldmeet!”</p><p></p><p>“Beepu…” I said soothingly. “Worry about it later. Let’s go to that corner and do something…smart.”</p><p></p><p>Beepu was about to object, when he nodded. “Yes, that is a better idea.”</p><p></p><p>“Good luck you two,” Daneath clasped me on the shoulder and I responded by pulling the pair of brothers close and quickly hugging them. “May Kelemvor protect you both.” I whispered. They then nodded and started to make their way quietly down the hall, while Beepu and I crept to the first intersection and waited.</p><p></p><p>We stood in the passageway peeking around the corner, with Gossamer at my feet and waited. Finally, Beepu spoke, “He has blocked it. Any suggestions?”</p><p></p><p>I thought a moment, “Well, can you cast something through Foggle?”</p><p></p><p>Beepu’s eyes lit up, “Yes. Yes, I can. Get ready to run back to the corner.”</p><p></p><p>We both peered around the corner and waited. Beyond the narrow bridge over a pit, I could barely see their faces, other than the gray complexion and shock of white hair on their heads. But they all seemed heavily armored. A couple of them were sitting, while the others stood around looking bored.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly in the middle of them, there was a flash of gold as Foggle materialized out of nowhere. I frowned and wondered why would Beepu do that when I saw blue white tendrils of energy erupt from Foggle’s beak, striking many of the Duergar. I heard shouts of alarms and growls of pain, as Foggle flew to us and turned the corner seeking refuge.</p><p></p><p>“That’ll get their attention al—oh crap,” As I looked down the hall, I could see them all disappear from sight.</p><p></p><p>“Not unsurprising, we should move,” Beepu said and he ran back to the crates in the corner, with me close behind.</p><p></p><p>I reached the crates and took cover and looked down the ‘empty’ hallway. Still by the intersection, Goss pressed himself against the wall, and peered around the corner. As I watched, I saw Beepu prepared another incantation. I could feel the pull on the weave as I realized whatever he had in mind was going to be large.</p><p></p><p><em>--They are in a line crossing the bridge!</em></p><p></p><p>“Now Bee—” I didn’t even finish, when I was almost blinded by a blueish white light, as a bolt of crackling energy streaked down the passage. I could then see the outlines of multiple dwarves, sheathed in crackling energy were lit up. The flash was only an instant, but the effect was instantaneous. I could see four dwarves, collapse falling into the pit, while three others reappeared, their invisibility broken.</p><p></p><p>I smiled, and quickly pulled on a dark strand, and started to choke the life out of a pair of dwarves. I could hear them growl and shout, and they clambered over the bridge. Beepu and Foggle, ran around the corner making haste as I stood my ground behind the crates. On the ground in front of me, Gossamer was running as fast as he could seeking safety. It was then, when I saw it.</p><p></p><p>It was nothing more than bright flash at first, when I realized it was a bead of fiery light streaking towards where I hid behind the crates. I felt the color drain from my cheeks as I realized what was about to happen. I reached out in front of me in a silent shout of terror towards Gossamer, still streaking on all fours to my position. At the same time, I could hear Beepu’s voice, just at the edge of perception:</p><p></p><p>“Myr! No!”</p><p></p><p>Then the bead unfurled like a flower blooming in the sun. Petals of flame unfolded and then blew apart as a conflagration of fire erupted in front of me. I watched in horror, as the flames expanded, rushing to cover everything in devastation. The flames ran along the walls and ceiling, and then leap over the tressym, surrounding it completely in flame. Loose fur flew from his coat, and then were incinerated completely.</p><p></p><p>I screamed in the sudden horror of what I saw, and yet felt nothing…the connection between Gossamer and I was severed. The warmth of his thoughts suddenly was quenched, leaving behind an empty void where his presence had once lurked. Where once my hand was outstretched wishfully trying to grab him now turned upwards in a vain attempt to shield me from the roaring inferno that was going to consume me.</p><p></p><p><strong>Session Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>Kaboom Rico. Kaboom.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 8097521, member: 6971069"] [CENTER][B]Sudden departures – 9/27/2020[/B] [I]You can’t plan for everything. For everything you discussed and went right, there is bound to be something you didn’t think about that went wrong. Most of the time its small stuff. Except when it isn’t.[/I][/CENTER] I woke with a sudden start, my heart pounding. Images of me falling into the Weeping Catacombs fading away already as my eyes took in the image of the waking world. Iesa and Daneath were already up strapping on their armor, and Beepu was flipping through pages of his spellbook on the bed across from me. “You should have woken me,” I said feeling guilty on not doing my normal routine of a final watch. “I told Iesa to let you rest Myr,” Daneath said. “You’ve not been resting well since we arrived, and you have been putting up with a lot.” “I don’t like it though. Feels like I am not pulling my weight,” I said frowning. “You can make it up to us after we get out of here,” Iesa said holding open his pack and letting Mo climb inside. “We have plenty of time.” I got off the bed and grabbed my breastplate and proceeded to strap it on myself. As I did so I looked at Beepu, “Where is Foggle by the way?” “Oh, I set him to perch on top of the building and did not bother to move him once the drow brought us to meet Nymor,” he said not even looking up. “I assumed that the pirates above would come down here, but he has seen nothing of the sort.” “I guess the drow are covering for us then,” I said buckling the last strap on my armor. “Not happily,” Beepu said still not lookup up. “That one we spoke to…Tamas knocked earlier. He really wants us to get a move on.” I buckled my rapier to my hip and adjusted it, and then grabbed my shield and strapped it to my arm. I checked to make sure my component pouch and my holy symbol were in place and took a deep breath. “Let’s get this done,” I said and after seeing the others nod, I pulled a white strand and pulled open the door with a snap of my fingers. There outside, the two drow stood glowering at me, one of them Tamas. “So, the princess is finally awake,” Tamas said coldly. I sighed, “Look Tamas, don’t make this more difficult than it has to be. I don’t know, and I doubt I can properly imagine what other women from your society were like,” and I saw Tamas stiffen at the word ‘women.’ “But I…we have a job to do for you. So, it would be…appreciated that you at least pretend you aren’t going to cut my throat at the first opportunity.” Tamas glared at me, and just barely shook his head. “No…you have no idea. And I see no reason to educate you.” “Well, then you can lead the way, and educate me on something else,” I said resigned to the frosty response and focused on keeping things civil. “What can we expect out of Duergar. Tamas looked at me critically and didn’t say anything. “Come on Tamas,” I pleaded. “You clearly have more experience here than I; you can at least tell me a bit about them.” Tamas frowned and nodded. “I will tell you but let us get moving first.” I looked at the others, and with silent assent we exited the room, and followed the drow downstairs leading us back to the main cavern. Staying close with us were Foggle flying at Beepu’s shoulder level, while Gossamer trotted, keeping his wings closed and close to his body. Once we were on our way in the main throughfare Tamas spoke again. “They are soulgrinding dwarves. They toil and toil for their own gain, and only bargain when they are in a position of weakness. Otherwise they just take. Expect no quarter from them. Even if they did offer it, you would be worked to death,” he said with his lips curling in disgust. “In combat they are strong and fierce. And they like to ambush rather than fight straight up in their tunnels.” “What they hide in holes and wait?” I asked. “No. They can vanish from sight, and when they do reappear, they frequently are larger than most. It doesn't last long, but while so enlarged they are strong opponents. You would do well to be wary.” [I]Hey Goss? --I caught that. I can see most things hidden by spells. I should be able to see them. I hope so. I’m counting on you.[/I] “Well…that’s something. Thanks, Tamas.” I said and saw him curtly nod. We were led through the cavern and took a tunnel that branched off the main cavern. This one started leading downwards, but just as it did so, we pass through a garrison of some type, with a wooden gate its sides pierced with slits and a team of drow at the ready. They unbarricaded a large double door and motioned us through. As we all passed beyond, the door was shut and barricaded behind us. I took a moment to flex and lit Daneath’s shield with a dim red light. Tamas shook his head in disapproval. “Your surfacer eyes are weak. Even the gnome can barely see in front of him.” “I can see far enough!” Beepu said indignantly. “And you can see the chasm ahead of us then?” Tamas challenged. “Ah…well…ah no.” Beepu admitted. But looking ahead, I saw something quite different. “That’s not nice Tamas. Its an opening to a large cavern with an open set of iron doors,” Tamas whirled around in surprise. “You should not be able to—” “—I can see just fine. I probably can see better than you, as I can actually read in darkness.” I said. “But tell me this; why are the doors even open?” Tamas looked side to side a moment and leaned closer to me. “Because they do not suspect an attack. You truly only have one shot at this. If the doors close with you on the outside, breaking them down will be a very difficult task. Nymor will consider it a failure. And I need not say what that means for you.” “No…you don’t,” I said. We stopped in the cavern, at least fifty paces away. “Myr you aren’t kidding right? The doors are open?” Iesa said questioningly. I nodded, “An open set of…iron doors, and I see no guards.” “Well Foggle can look for them,” Beepu volunteered. “No…in this case, Foggle isn’t the right way to do this,” and I looked at Gossamer. Gossamer simply trotted off towards the entryway, and I could see him crouch and slowly and stealthily make his way on the ground towards it. [I]--Well, I don’t see anything or anyone on the outside. Alright. We’ll be there in a moment.[/I] “Goss sees nothing, so I guess its up to us now.” Tamas nodded curtly. “Don’t come back to the gate unless you have a pile of dwarf heads. Otherwise, its your death.” And with that, Tamas turned around and retreated down the passageway, back to the drow barricade. “So, this seems too easy,” Daneath whispered. “Why are the doors open?” “Because, the drow are betraying them,” Iesa hissed back. “Otherwise there would be a guard or something.” I shook my head, “No…its because they don’t need them.” Beepu’s eyes lit up. “A trap!” “Well in that case…let’s go find it,” Iesa said with a grin. -- We snuck up to the entrance to the Duergar’s lair. With the entrance being dark, this meant that Daneath’s shield was still needed to light the way for the brothers. So, while we crept quietly, we were fearful that the light would give us away and warn the denizens within. However, luck seemed to be with us. While up close the stone entrance looked grim and foreboding, it seemed to be all for show. The solid stone around the entrance was dour and grey, but it also lacked windows or arrow slits. It wasn’t a strong defensive structure; just an imposing one. Deeper within, past the great iron doors, I could see the light from fires in cages of iron on the ground. The passage as Gossamer reported, seemed devoid of anyone. Iesa moved up toward the entrance, quietly. He placed his ear to the ground and looked down the passage carefully. He then moved forward a couple of feet and then moved to the side wall. He then pulled out an arrow and held it about a foot off the ground, its length perpendicular to the passageway. He then twirled and twisted it, and then with a pair of snips, cut a barely visible wire. The arrow shaft was now pulled to the wall, while a thread of thin wire now was tangled on the shaft, preventing it from being retracted inside the wall. We moved up closer, standing by a door and out of view of the passage as Iesa continued his work. Moving slowly forward, he stopped when the rock turned to dusty gravel. Pulling out a small blade, he pushed the blade into the slurry, prodding at different spots. At first the dagger sunk deep into the ground, but on the left side he found a spot the dagger didn’t sink deeply at all. Poking more carefully, he sketched out a narrow pathway along the left side. I gulped and my heart pounded as I watched him, slowly treading on that side, with his back pressed against the wall, looking down. As he slowly shuffled down the passage, he suddenly stopped and cocked his head. Squatting down he took the small blade and jammed it at an angle in the earth. He then scooted down farther, and then stood at an intersection going left and right, motioning us to follow. I raised up my hand, and stopped everyone from following his instructions, while I twirled the copper wire and used a strand to send him a whisper. “Iesa, what should we be watching for?” “The tripwire is disabled. If you stay left, you will be on a narrow ledge. The right is just thick dust on a cloth frame, probably covering a pit. Don’t step on the plate where I left a blade; I’m not sure what will happen, but I bet it will hurt.” “Come on, stay left, and don’t step on the blade on the ground,” “I hope that’s all of the traps,” Daneath grimaced. “We will know soon enough,” said Beepu who took the lead on the treacherous path, with myself and Daneath close behind. I found myself sweating as I shuffled down the passage, my back leaning against the wall. I only breathed easier, when we all stood next to Iesa at the lower leg of a T intersection. Once there, I doused the light on Daneath’s shield, letting the distant torches provide us light. “Now what?” Daneath whispered. Beepu quickly moved his hands and then waved them at Foggle, who quickly faded from sight. I only barely heard his wings beat in the air as he left us to scout ahead. Before long Beepu said, “We can go to the right. It turns a corner, but there is a small room with barrels and crates. We can hide there while Foggle looks around.” [I]Goss…just meow if something appears. --'Meow?’ What [B]don’t[/B] send you a message in your head? Goss…the others can [B]hear[/B] you meow. --Oh. You do have a point.[/I] “Listen for Goss, if he sees something, he’ll say something.” “What, he’ll start purring?” Daneath said smirking, to which I jabbed him in the ribs. “Hah hah. You and Goss are a barrel of laughs.” We crept along the right-hand passage and found the small room that Beepu told us about. It wasn’t much, more like an opportunistic space to store unimportant things. We took positions with Iesa and me looking back the way we came, and Daneath and Beepu looking around the corner, as we waited for Foggle’s return. It seemed to take forever, but Beepu never seemed concerned. I took solace knowing if something did happen to Foggle, Beepu would be aware of it instantly. Finally, Beepu got our attention. “Well, just ahead of us, there is a large room that looks like a barrack of some sort. There are four dwarves in there. Next to it is another larger room with two exits, one leading deeper with another four dwarves, which I didn’t explore yet. But the other direction circles around to guard room with another six or seven dwarves—” “—Is it six or is it seven?” Iesa said impatiently. “I have endeavored to teach Foggle to count. Unfortunately, numbers past three are still problematic.” Beepu said exasperated. “Never mind that, keep going,” Daneath said. “Anyway, past that room, there is a pit with a narrow bridge that leads to the intersection we were just at, and then we arrive here.” “Over a dozen at least,” I said. “If they all come at us at once, we’re dead.” “There is only one other passage going deeper. If we can prevent them from going in there, we can prevent them from getting more help,” Iesa pointed out. “We might be able to,” Beepu asserted. “The ones in the back rooms are asleep, that leaves the pack near us that is a problem.” “Was there a door or something blocking the way deeper?” I asked. “There is, but it is open right now.” Beepu answered after thinking a moment. I thought a moment, and then said, “Sneak there, close the door and jam it shut. Then start killing the sleeping dwarves.” “What about the [I]awake ones[/I]?” Daneath said. “Well…Beepu and I can draw them here. The bridge is a chokepoint, if we can keep them clustered on it, then we have a chance.” “Oh, are the rooms lit it lit?” Iesa asked. “Yes, it is. Torches or braziers in all the rooms.” Beepu confirmed. “Ok, have Foggle follow me, and he can tell you when the door is locked. Then…do something big.” Iesa said. “’Do something big.’” Beepu frowned. “I am not a charlatan at Shieldmeet!” “Beepu…” I said soothingly. “Worry about it later. Let’s go to that corner and do something…smart.” Beepu was about to object, when he nodded. “Yes, that is a better idea.” “Good luck you two,” Daneath clasped me on the shoulder and I responded by pulling the pair of brothers close and quickly hugging them. “May Kelemvor protect you both.” I whispered. They then nodded and started to make their way quietly down the hall, while Beepu and I crept to the first intersection and waited. We stood in the passageway peeking around the corner, with Gossamer at my feet and waited. Finally, Beepu spoke, “He has blocked it. Any suggestions?” I thought a moment, “Well, can you cast something through Foggle?” Beepu’s eyes lit up, “Yes. Yes, I can. Get ready to run back to the corner.” We both peered around the corner and waited. Beyond the narrow bridge over a pit, I could barely see their faces, other than the gray complexion and shock of white hair on their heads. But they all seemed heavily armored. A couple of them were sitting, while the others stood around looking bored. Suddenly in the middle of them, there was a flash of gold as Foggle materialized out of nowhere. I frowned and wondered why would Beepu do that when I saw blue white tendrils of energy erupt from Foggle’s beak, striking many of the Duergar. I heard shouts of alarms and growls of pain, as Foggle flew to us and turned the corner seeking refuge. “That’ll get their attention al—oh crap,” As I looked down the hall, I could see them all disappear from sight. “Not unsurprising, we should move,” Beepu said and he ran back to the crates in the corner, with me close behind. I reached the crates and took cover and looked down the ‘empty’ hallway. Still by the intersection, Goss pressed himself against the wall, and peered around the corner. As I watched, I saw Beepu prepared another incantation. I could feel the pull on the weave as I realized whatever he had in mind was going to be large. [I]--They are in a line crossing the bridge![/I] “Now Bee—” I didn’t even finish, when I was almost blinded by a blueish white light, as a bolt of crackling energy streaked down the passage. I could then see the outlines of multiple dwarves, sheathed in crackling energy were lit up. The flash was only an instant, but the effect was instantaneous. I could see four dwarves, collapse falling into the pit, while three others reappeared, their invisibility broken. I smiled, and quickly pulled on a dark strand, and started to choke the life out of a pair of dwarves. I could hear them growl and shout, and they clambered over the bridge. Beepu and Foggle, ran around the corner making haste as I stood my ground behind the crates. On the ground in front of me, Gossamer was running as fast as he could seeking safety. It was then, when I saw it. It was nothing more than bright flash at first, when I realized it was a bead of fiery light streaking towards where I hid behind the crates. I felt the color drain from my cheeks as I realized what was about to happen. I reached out in front of me in a silent shout of terror towards Gossamer, still streaking on all fours to my position. At the same time, I could hear Beepu’s voice, just at the edge of perception: “Myr! No!” Then the bead unfurled like a flower blooming in the sun. Petals of flame unfolded and then blew apart as a conflagration of fire erupted in front of me. I watched in horror, as the flames expanded, rushing to cover everything in devastation. The flames ran along the walls and ceiling, and then leap over the tressym, surrounding it completely in flame. Loose fur flew from his coat, and then were incinerated completely. I screamed in the sudden horror of what I saw, and yet felt nothing…the connection between Gossamer and I was severed. The warmth of his thoughts suddenly was quenched, leaving behind an empty void where his presence had once lurked. Where once my hand was outstretched wishfully trying to grab him now turned upwards in a vain attempt to shield me from the roaring inferno that was going to consume me. [B]Session Notes:[/B] Kaboom Rico. Kaboom. [/QUOTE]
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