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Last Stand of the Dorinthians
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<blockquote data-quote="Deuce Traveler" data-source="post: 5866750" data-attributes="member: 34958"><p>Silas looked around warily to make sure that his companions were all still standing. His worry about Kel eased when he saw that the elf was still capable of healing himself but he still helped the elf to his feet. Flooded with relief that they'd all managed to survive another dangerous incident, Silas grinned. However, noise from the chained lizard grated on Silas' nerves and he approached the raised stone area to see if he could get a better view of what was going on up there.</p><p></p><p>Scrambling up on some rock debris, Silas peered over the edge and could see that the creature was still enraged, attempting to pull the chain from the wall, and was standing over the torn body of the lizard-like humanoid.</p><p></p><p>Danica readied her everburning torch, and advanced towards the rock pile where Silas was. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: RoyalBlue">"Chalik, help Kel. Danica reload and watch that corridor. Silas, cover me in case that thing breaks loose." </span> ordered Dartis picking up his bow. He the proceeded to the platform and climbed on top of it, his naked sword still covered in saurian ichor, ready to finish the deed.</p><p></p><p>Silas nodded at Lord Kalnian's command. <span style="color: orange">"Yes, sir."</span></p><p><span style="color: YellowGreen">"Yes, milord."</span> answered Danica to Dartis' command. She stepped back from the rocks, and reloaded and raised her crossbow, pointing it down the corridor. </p><p></p><p>At her feet, she saw the corpse of one of the humanoid lizard creatures. She looked at it, and what it was wearing. <span style="color: YellowGreen">"Does any one know what these creatures are called?"</span> she asked, in curiosity.</p><p></p><p>Silas stood nearby, staff held firmly in both hands, ready to jump in should Dartis need assistance. When Danica asked about the men with lizard-like features he glanced at them briefly. Brow furrowing in thought he tried to remember if his master of the arcane mentioned such creatures or if he might have read about them somewhere. They seemed to be a mutated version of Skum. Besides the ability to climb walls and chameleon-like abilities, Silas was unsure what else they could do.</p><p></p><p>Maintaining his vigilance while Dartis dealt with the lizard, Silas spoke, </p><p><span style="color: orange">"During my apprenticeship my master would tell tales at the end of the day. I thought they were tales to entertain a young boy but I realize now that they served the purpose of education as well. I remember creatures such as these but there was little information beyond what we've already seen. They can hide themselves like a chameleon and are able to scurry up walls as well. We'll have to be extra careful."</span></p><p>Dartis heaved half a dozen or so small boulders up onto the platform. He then climbed up to the platform. While standing at respectable distance from the lizard he began heaving the boulders onto the head of the lizard. He was <em>not</em> going to waste his arrows if he could help it.</p><p></p><p>But the lizard was rewarded by its struggles when the bolts fastening its chain finally gave, sending it temporarily off balance as it skidded to a halt in the center of the raised stone corner. The party scrambled back down and prepared for combat before the creature could begin to climb down.</p><p></p><p>Having seen the nasty results of the lizard's long claws, Silas was reluctant to get in too close. However, since Dartis has been chucking rocks at it and was unready, Silas did his best to dash in yelling and whirling his staff about in order to distract it until Dartis could again arm himself. He got a lucky shot in, striking the creature firmly across its side as it scrambled off the rocky platform. </p><p></p><p>Danica whirled around and fired her crossbow at the lizard creature. <em>Pfft</em>... missing the creature, but tearing a hole through Silas' sleeve. The abjurer was surprised, but unhurt as the lizard attacked and also missed.</p><p></p><p>Chalik yelled and swung his rapier, but the creature's thick hide was too much and the blade almost snapped. Dartis moved to Chalik's side and swing his own blade, cutting deeply into the creature's flesh with a mighty cleave. It was Kel, though, that finished off the beast, his strike biting into the lizard's throat and silencing it forever.</p><p>There were no more bestial sounds, and it appeared that the party were the sole survivors of the carnage.</p><p></p><p>Silas was able to get to the top of the stone platform and searched the disgusting remains of the lizard-like humanoid that was torn apart. On the corpse he found a keyring with four black keys with curvy shaped lengths.</p><p></p><p>In a pouch by the corpse he also found a well-made sling, two small sapphires, and ten crude gold pieces with the face of a lizard-humanoid emblazoned on both ends. Also on the corpse, Silas found a silver ring with runes of an unknown language etched upon its surface.</p><p></p><p>Silas packed away the items that he had found with the intention of sharing the treasure with his companions when they returned to a place of safety. He examined the ring and jingled the keyring. Silas could see that the language on the ring was a blend between aquan and undercommon, but leaning more towards the undercommon side. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: orange">"Found some keys and a bit of stuff that may be worth some coin if we make it out of here alive."</span> He grinned. <span style="color: orange">"So. Which way now?"</span> He ambled over to check the walls near the two exits to see if they had markings similar to those they found previous.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: RoyalBlue">"Let's try that tunnel"</span> said Dartis pointing to the tunnel to the north.</p><p></p><p>Danica smiled at Silas, a coquettish grin which acknowledged the danger she had put him in. <span style="color: YellowGreen">"I'll aim for the lizard, next time,"</span> she offered, looking down at his sleeve as she reloaded, and glancing up again quickly to see if he was still watching her. </p><p></p><p>Still grinning, Silas shrugged. <span style="color: orange">"It's just a hole. The bears did worse."</span> Truly, his clothes did look a little worse for wear. He turned away and quickly retrieved his lantern still sitting on the floor near the cavern wall.</p><p></p><p>She added in apology: <span style="color: YellowGreen">"I can try and mend that for you later, if you wish."</span> And with that she headed down the tunnel, lifting her everburning torch to help illuminate the passage. With her hair cut short, Danica was missing the strands with which she used to habitually play. As she walked, she did so with a grace that she knew would appear feminine to most, and she winced at the thought that, such a short time ago, she actually hoped to disguise herself as a boy. The memory ached, but she fought back the embarassment. <em>But are all my secrets this transparent to the others?</em> she asked herself.</p><p></p><p>The smooth, circular corridor Danica led the group through went for 40 more feet, with a slight decline that made it impossible to see the next chamber at first. As the heroes neared the end of the tunnel it did come into sight. They were just before the entrance of a very large chamber, about 90 feet from east to west, and another 40 feet from south to north. Two large pools of water stretched from the west and stopped at a large statue in the east.</p><p></p><p>The statue was in the shape of one of the humanoid creatures, but showed only its torso and higher, the rest of the body submerged in another pool of water. It stood 40 feet above the water, its head just barely touching the ceiling. On the forehead was what looked to be a large gem, while two outstretched hands with palms up were held 10 feet over the strip of earth that formed a path between the pools. Another tunnel was in the north.</p><p></p><p>Silas stopped as they arrived at the next cavern. <span style="color: orange">"Ai! That thing's huge. At least there's no bloody alters. Think they're lurking just under the water waiting for us to pass?"</span> His grin had faded into a smile that, coupled with his eyes that darted about the cavern, seemed more strained than jovial.</p><p></p><p>Danica grunted approval at Silas's idea--it did seem likely that something awaited in the water. Still, as the party began to enter the room she was looking up, at the ceiling and the walls, looking for places of potential ambush. With her back to the wall of the new room, she side-stepped her way 10 to 20 feet along to the right. She was not going in the water, yet.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: RoyalBlue">"There is only one way to find out. Stay here and cover me until I cross so we know it's safe. Silas, do we know what this shield looks like? That gem couldn't be it could it?"</span> asked Dartis as he drew his sword and began to walk down the path between the two pools. Danica covered Dartis with her crossbow.</p><p></p><p>Dartis crossed the path without any difficulties, and Danica found that there was no target for her to plug holes into. From his vantage point, Dartis could see that the gem is simply that... a large and cut green stone, but unlikely to be a shield.</p><p></p><p>Assured that there is no threat of arial assault, Danica moved forward to stay close to Dartis, her eyes scanning the surface of the water. Dartis beckoned the rest of the group over and examined the corrider out.</p><p></p><p>From his vantage point he could see that the corridor continued for 30 feet, before bending to the right. At the bend, he believed he could see signs of rubble.</p><p></p><p>Silas approached Dartis. <span style="color: orange">"No, that's not the shield."</span> He went on to relate what information that he received from the dwarves that he spoke to prior to coming into the tunnels. Holding his lantern a little higher, Silas looked over towards the rubble. <span style="color: orange">"Looks like a bit of shaky footing over there..."</span></p><p>Danica advanced carefully, to test the footing of the ground. The ground seemed steady enough. </p><p></p><p>As the heroes approached the bend to take a closer look, they saw it was a part of the ceiling that had collapsed. Axe-marks scarred the surface of the wall and ceiling near the collapsed section. Both the rubble and the scarred surfaces looked very old, and it seemed that little travel actually occured through this area. They could only marvel at what might be on the other side.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Blue">"Well our way is blocked. Chalik do these axe marks look to have been made from this side to intentionally collapse the tunnel?"</span> Asked Dartis as he headed back down the corridor to the room with the statue.</p><p></p><p>After a few moments, Chalik answered in the affirmative. <span style="color: SandyBrown">"Hmmm... yes, I would say they do. And the marks look to be quite old. From the amount of rubble, however, I think that we could try to clear some of it out with 30 minutes or so of work. Maybe it will let us see what's on the other side."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: RoyalBlue">"Well, let's set to it stout dwarf"</span> said Dartis with a grin, clapping Chalik on the shoulder. <span style="color: RoyalBlue">"Danica, would you hold my bow please and help keep watch?"</span></p><p></p><p>The men began digging as Danica stood watch closer to the room with the pools of water. The four of them formed a line, Dartis and Chalik passing rocks and rubble to Kel and Silas to place along the ground. The four of them worked up a sweat, until their clothes and skin were covered in a thin layer of dust, but within 30 minutes a hole was made on the top of the pile of rubble that was large enough to allow a human or even a dwarf. Chalik stopped the party for a moment, lest the opened passage become too unstable. The dwarf climbed up the pile of loose rock and stuck Silas' lantern into the next room. The heroes heard him gasp, as he scrambled over the rubble and inside the next room.</p><p><span style="color: SandyBrown">"Gods!"</span> They heard the dwarf gasp and the scraping of metal against stone. <span style="color: SandyBrown">"We've found it!"</span> They heard him struggling with something in the darkness.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Danica stared into the room with the pools, hearing the sound of something scraping upon the stones. It seemed to be coming from the direction of the tunnels that her party had come from. As she concentrated her vision in that area, she believed for a moment that she could see a flicker of movement, then the sound seemed to get slightly closer, but then the movement came from the ceiling, and in many directions. She backed away in fear, as she also watched the pools of water begin to move in noticeable waves, as if something or somethings swam quickly beneath its depths.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: YellowGreen">"Whatever we've found, can it wait?"</span> asked Danica, as she leaned the bow against the wall and raised her own crossbow instead. Her voice squeaked a bit as she asked, and in her mind she didn't sound serious enough. So she added, <span style="color: YellowGreen">"There is something moving in the room with the pools. In the water, and on the ceiling. I think we need to prepare ourselves." </span></p><p></p><p>With her left hand, she threw her everburning torch twenty feet in front of her. Perhaps her action would catch some creature, like a deer in Dancing Lights. After she threw, she raised her crossbow and aimed...</p><p></p><p><span style="color: SandyBrown">"What did she say? Someone throw me a rope and take this shield!"</span> Chalik shouted, as something metallic was pushed against the lip of the cleared opening.</p><p></p><p>Silas grabbed the shield from Challik pulling it up through the crevice created by their excavations. <span style="color: orange">"She said that something's moving around up here. Possibly a lot of somethings. How much room is there in there? Might be wiser for us to retreat in there and limit their options in surrounding us..."</span> He looked over at Dartis to see what he would suggest.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: RoyalBlue">"Not unless there's another way out of there. Let's arm and see what's out there. Now that we have the shield, or at least a shield (and Silas check it out to make sure it's the one we want). we can leave here. I would prefer to fight our way back out. At the least make sure one of us gets out with the shield to free our people. Come let us see what we are up against" </span> said Dartis grabbing his bow and drawing an arrow.</p><p></p><p>Silas grabbed the shield, and with a quick glance could see ancient writing and the molded features of a male human on its surface. It definitely looked to be what they were after, but before he could take a closer look Danica fired her crossbow as the sounds of crawling creatures came nearer. Her bolt missed, but the party could hear the hissing chattering of agitated humanoids, sounding like the ones recently fought. From the sounds of it they were almost on top of the tunnel opening now...</p><p></p><p>Danica reloaded, and prepared to fire again. The illumination only lit the area enough to show shadows flitting ahead. She hugged the right side against the wall, taking steps to avoid chargers, firing bolts -- </p><p></p><p>Silas stood directly in front of the cave entrance. He slid the shield a little towards Dartis in case he should need to grab it up and use it. <span style="color: orange">"It certainly looks like the shield we were told about."</span> Quickly he knelt and slid his pack from his shoulders, trusting Dartis and Danica to keep whatever is out there off his back. He unstrapped the rope he had and tossed one end down to Challik and affixed the other end to himself to use his own strength to help Challik out of the hole.</p><p></p><p>It was Dartis and Kel who handled the first charge, as several figures fell from the ceiling near the cave opening. Kel moved first, but missed the skum that dropped in front of him. Dartis followed, with two shots at point blank range from his bow that killed another creature dropping in front of him.</p><p></p><p>Danica attempted to help Kel, firing a crossbow bolt that injured the creature in front of him. At the same time, Silas helped Chalik, who took the opportunity to crawl over the tunnel's opening and drop on the other side, weapon drawn.</p><p></p><p>The lizard-like creature in front of Kel slashed at the elf with its claw, but missed him. At the same time, two more scum dropped behind him from the ceiling, while another three erupted 30 feet behind those, from the pool. Chalik took a moment during the confusion to move himself into the front ranks.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: RoyalBlue">"Silas, some oil set ablaze on top of one of those pools may slow them down, or at least keep more from coming out"</span> suggested Dartis as he fired another pair of arrows at one of the new creatures.</p><p></p><p>Silas heard Dartis' suggestion about the oil but wasn't really certain how to go about implementing the idea. Instead he stepped up between those fighting in the front and, waiting for a moment when he could catch more than one of the creatures in its effect, cast <em>Burning Hands.</em></p><p></p><p>Chalik and Kel block the entrance to the tunnel, which only allowed two of these mutated skum to attack in melee at a time. There were five skum in front of the party, with one being wounded and directly in front of Kel. Another uninjured one closed with Chalik. The two others that jumped from the pool were halfway to the group.</p><p></p><p>Chalik attacked first, slicing at the creature in front of him with his rapier, and was able to penetrate the creature's tough hide. The creature howled as it was wounded, then Danica's crossbow bolt flew passed its head, and misses its companion behind it.</p><p></p><p>One skum counterattacked against Chalik, but was unable to bite into the dextrous dwarf. Kel was not so lucky, as the wounded creature in front of him unsuccessfully raked his armor with two clawed hands, but then bit into the elf's arm.</p><p></p><p>Silas attacked next, his hands outstretched inbetween his two companions in the front row as an arcane cone of fire erupted from his hands, hitting the first five skum and killing off the two in front of Kel and Chalik, turning them into screaming masses of charred flesh.</p><p>The other three also screamed, and in retaliation their heads reared backwards and then lunged forward as they each spit a green wad that exploded on the ground in the midst of the party. The greenish gel flew in every direction, some of it splashing on the bodies of each of the heroes. Where it touched clothes, holes were made, and what they realized was the acid took some skin with the fabric. All were hurt, and Kel nearly incapacited again. </p><p></p><p>Despite the pain, Kel stopped his bleeding with a prayer for healing. Dartis fired in retaliation, hitting and felling another skum, but breaking his bowstring on the next shot. The human fighter would need time to pull out another string and restring his weapon.</p><p></p><p>There were four skum left, two injured ones that had just spit, and two that had now closed the distance from the pools and were behind the first two.</p><p></p><p>Silas looked grimly out over the battle. He struggled not to rub the acid burns fearing he'd injure himself further. With a look of grim determination he hefted his staff and prepared to step forward to give Dartis the time needed to restring his bow should it appear that he would do so.</p><p></p><p>But Dartis tossed down his bow in disgust, and ran towards the front line, drawing his sword as he did, pausing only long enough to grab the Shield from Silas, as a mate to his sword.</p><p></p><p>Chalik and Kel moved forward and out of the tunnel to attack, both targeting opponents that were already injured. Chalik's rapier moved swiftly, his hand a blur as he feinted in one direction, then sliced his blade to the other, leaving a thin trail of green blood across one skum's throat, which choaked and fell. Kel missed the other, but Danica's shot flew true, critically hitting into the second skum in between the eyes and throwing it backwards five feet right before it struck the elf down. The elf turned back towards the sorceress in both surprise and appreciation.</p><p></p><p>Silas stepped forward to meet the next two skum, but the piles of skum bodies around them served to drive them into fleeing. The pair headed for the pools of water, but not before the party unloaded with their missile weapons. Danica, Kel, and Chalik all struck one at the same time, bringing him down. Dartis took his restrung bow and fired two more salvoes, but couldn't tell if they had struck, as the creature dived into the water as the arrows reached his vicinity. No body came up to the surface, and Dartis believed that although this skum might be injured, it was probably still alive and swimming quickly elsewhere.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: RoyalBlue">"Let us move quickly before more come back!" </span> shouted Dartis urging group along.</p><p></p><p>Danica reloaded, and scanned the water, looking for a target. <span style="color: YellowGreen">"You cross first. I can follow."</span> She said with the confidence of command; an authority that seemed to be her true inner nature suddenly emerging from the shy persona she normally exuded. But then she remembered her place, <span style="color: YellowGreen">"Er. Sir. If that's alright."</span> She offered a coy smile.</p><p></p><p>Dartis paused to give Danica a wry smile of his own.<span style="color: RoyalBlue"> "How kind of you. NOW MOVE! And that's an order. I'm last out. Danica, Chalik, Silas then Kel. now GO!"</span> ordered Dartis almost pushing his small band across the bridge.</p><p></p><p>Silas bent to recover the shield, then hurried after the party. The group's flight was a harrowing and frightful affair. These mutated skum camouflaged with their surroundings, and they would pose a great threat if they were allowed to form into larger formations. But they were only able to attack in ones and twos, trying desperately to impede the party from escaping. Chalik's keen eye discovers several, which he points out to Dartis who was able to send such would-be ambushers back into hiding. The braver skum were made quick work of, although Dartis was taken by surprise once, and some invisible force around Danica seemed to divert a clawed strike from another dark niche.</p><p></p><p>The pursuers become more aggressive as they realized that the party was heading for one forgotten direction: the way into the dwarven kingdom. The heroes disappeared past the dwarven seal just as a dozen skum appeared down one tunnel, but the dwarves acted fast, firing crossbow bolts and throwing axes to disrupt the beasts while others worked their backs into closing the great seal. Finally, with a loud creak, the seal slammed shut, causing the sounds of the party's pursuers to cease reaching their ears, as if they had never existed.</p><p></p><p>One dwarven sergeant saw the prize in Silas' arms and said, "Good job, lad. I'll send a runner to the king, who will inform the Imperials that we're ready to barter. I must say, I'm glad to see this thing is nearly at an end, although 'tis a shame to have to give up such a treasure."</p><p></p><p>Upon saying that, Silas turned the prize over for the party to see. The shield was round, and small; something fit for a warrior on horseback. Around the edges, in script amazingly similar to that used by ancient Dorinthians, were the words: 'The King of All Men' along with engraved laurels. A portrait of a man wearing a breastplate and furs had been hammered into the center of the shield, the exact bearing of a willful and handsome warrior-king from the old barbarian times before Dorinth was ever established. What is more stunning is that the face is an exact twin of Commander Sassarius.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Deuce Traveler, post: 5866750, member: 34958"] Silas looked around warily to make sure that his companions were all still standing. His worry about Kel eased when he saw that the elf was still capable of healing himself but he still helped the elf to his feet. Flooded with relief that they'd all managed to survive another dangerous incident, Silas grinned. However, noise from the chained lizard grated on Silas' nerves and he approached the raised stone area to see if he could get a better view of what was going on up there. Scrambling up on some rock debris, Silas peered over the edge and could see that the creature was still enraged, attempting to pull the chain from the wall, and was standing over the torn body of the lizard-like humanoid. Danica readied her everburning torch, and advanced towards the rock pile where Silas was. [COLOR=RoyalBlue]"Chalik, help Kel. Danica reload and watch that corridor. Silas, cover me in case that thing breaks loose." [/COLOR] ordered Dartis picking up his bow. He the proceeded to the platform and climbed on top of it, his naked sword still covered in saurian ichor, ready to finish the deed. Silas nodded at Lord Kalnian's command. [color=orange]"Yes, sir."[/color] [COLOR=YellowGreen]"Yes, milord."[/COLOR] answered Danica to Dartis' command. She stepped back from the rocks, and reloaded and raised her crossbow, pointing it down the corridor. At her feet, she saw the corpse of one of the humanoid lizard creatures. She looked at it, and what it was wearing. [COLOR=YellowGreen]"Does any one know what these creatures are called?"[/COLOR] she asked, in curiosity. Silas stood nearby, staff held firmly in both hands, ready to jump in should Dartis need assistance. When Danica asked about the men with lizard-like features he glanced at them briefly. Brow furrowing in thought he tried to remember if his master of the arcane mentioned such creatures or if he might have read about them somewhere. They seemed to be a mutated version of Skum. Besides the ability to climb walls and chameleon-like abilities, Silas was unsure what else they could do. Maintaining his vigilance while Dartis dealt with the lizard, Silas spoke, [color=orange]"During my apprenticeship my master would tell tales at the end of the day. I thought they were tales to entertain a young boy but I realize now that they served the purpose of education as well. I remember creatures such as these but there was little information beyond what we've already seen. They can hide themselves like a chameleon and are able to scurry up walls as well. We'll have to be extra careful."[/color] Dartis heaved half a dozen or so small boulders up onto the platform. He then climbed up to the platform. While standing at respectable distance from the lizard he began heaving the boulders onto the head of the lizard. He was [i]not[/i] going to waste his arrows if he could help it. But the lizard was rewarded by its struggles when the bolts fastening its chain finally gave, sending it temporarily off balance as it skidded to a halt in the center of the raised stone corner. The party scrambled back down and prepared for combat before the creature could begin to climb down. Having seen the nasty results of the lizard's long claws, Silas was reluctant to get in too close. However, since Dartis has been chucking rocks at it and was unready, Silas did his best to dash in yelling and whirling his staff about in order to distract it until Dartis could again arm himself. He got a lucky shot in, striking the creature firmly across its side as it scrambled off the rocky platform. Danica whirled around and fired her crossbow at the lizard creature. [i]Pfft[/i]... missing the creature, but tearing a hole through Silas' sleeve. The abjurer was surprised, but unhurt as the lizard attacked and also missed. Chalik yelled and swung his rapier, but the creature's thick hide was too much and the blade almost snapped. Dartis moved to Chalik's side and swing his own blade, cutting deeply into the creature's flesh with a mighty cleave. It was Kel, though, that finished off the beast, his strike biting into the lizard's throat and silencing it forever. There were no more bestial sounds, and it appeared that the party were the sole survivors of the carnage. Silas was able to get to the top of the stone platform and searched the disgusting remains of the lizard-like humanoid that was torn apart. On the corpse he found a keyring with four black keys with curvy shaped lengths. In a pouch by the corpse he also found a well-made sling, two small sapphires, and ten crude gold pieces with the face of a lizard-humanoid emblazoned on both ends. Also on the corpse, Silas found a silver ring with runes of an unknown language etched upon its surface. Silas packed away the items that he had found with the intention of sharing the treasure with his companions when they returned to a place of safety. He examined the ring and jingled the keyring. Silas could see that the language on the ring was a blend between aquan and undercommon, but leaning more towards the undercommon side. [color=orange]"Found some keys and a bit of stuff that may be worth some coin if we make it out of here alive."[/color] He grinned. [color=orange]"So. Which way now?"[/color] He ambled over to check the walls near the two exits to see if they had markings similar to those they found previous. [COLOR=RoyalBlue]"Let's try that tunnel"[/COLOR] said Dartis pointing to the tunnel to the north. Danica smiled at Silas, a coquettish grin which acknowledged the danger she had put him in. [COLOR=YellowGreen]"I'll aim for the lizard, next time,"[/COLOR] she offered, looking down at his sleeve as she reloaded, and glancing up again quickly to see if he was still watching her. Still grinning, Silas shrugged. [color=orange]"It's just a hole. The bears did worse."[/color] Truly, his clothes did look a little worse for wear. He turned away and quickly retrieved his lantern still sitting on the floor near the cavern wall. She added in apology: [COLOR=YellowGreen]"I can try and mend that for you later, if you wish."[/COLOR] And with that she headed down the tunnel, lifting her everburning torch to help illuminate the passage. With her hair cut short, Danica was missing the strands with which she used to habitually play. As she walked, she did so with a grace that she knew would appear feminine to most, and she winced at the thought that, such a short time ago, she actually hoped to disguise herself as a boy. The memory ached, but she fought back the embarassment. [I]But are all my secrets this transparent to the others?[/I] she asked herself. The smooth, circular corridor Danica led the group through went for 40 more feet, with a slight decline that made it impossible to see the next chamber at first. As the heroes neared the end of the tunnel it did come into sight. They were just before the entrance of a very large chamber, about 90 feet from east to west, and another 40 feet from south to north. Two large pools of water stretched from the west and stopped at a large statue in the east. The statue was in the shape of one of the humanoid creatures, but showed only its torso and higher, the rest of the body submerged in another pool of water. It stood 40 feet above the water, its head just barely touching the ceiling. On the forehead was what looked to be a large gem, while two outstretched hands with palms up were held 10 feet over the strip of earth that formed a path between the pools. Another tunnel was in the north. Silas stopped as they arrived at the next cavern. [color=orange]"Ai! That thing's huge. At least there's no bloody alters. Think they're lurking just under the water waiting for us to pass?"[/color] His grin had faded into a smile that, coupled with his eyes that darted about the cavern, seemed more strained than jovial. Danica grunted approval at Silas's idea--it did seem likely that something awaited in the water. Still, as the party began to enter the room she was looking up, at the ceiling and the walls, looking for places of potential ambush. With her back to the wall of the new room, she side-stepped her way 10 to 20 feet along to the right. She was not going in the water, yet. [COLOR=RoyalBlue]"There is only one way to find out. Stay here and cover me until I cross so we know it's safe. Silas, do we know what this shield looks like? That gem couldn't be it could it?"[/COLOR] asked Dartis as he drew his sword and began to walk down the path between the two pools. Danica covered Dartis with her crossbow. Dartis crossed the path without any difficulties, and Danica found that there was no target for her to plug holes into. From his vantage point, Dartis could see that the gem is simply that... a large and cut green stone, but unlikely to be a shield. Assured that there is no threat of arial assault, Danica moved forward to stay close to Dartis, her eyes scanning the surface of the water. Dartis beckoned the rest of the group over and examined the corrider out. From his vantage point he could see that the corridor continued for 30 feet, before bending to the right. At the bend, he believed he could see signs of rubble. Silas approached Dartis. [color=orange]"No, that's not the shield."[/color] He went on to relate what information that he received from the dwarves that he spoke to prior to coming into the tunnels. Holding his lantern a little higher, Silas looked over towards the rubble. [color=orange]"Looks like a bit of shaky footing over there..."[/color] Danica advanced carefully, to test the footing of the ground. The ground seemed steady enough. As the heroes approached the bend to take a closer look, they saw it was a part of the ceiling that had collapsed. Axe-marks scarred the surface of the wall and ceiling near the collapsed section. Both the rubble and the scarred surfaces looked very old, and it seemed that little travel actually occured through this area. They could only marvel at what might be on the other side. [COLOR=Blue]"Well our way is blocked. Chalik do these axe marks look to have been made from this side to intentionally collapse the tunnel?"[/COLOR] Asked Dartis as he headed back down the corridor to the room with the statue. After a few moments, Chalik answered in the affirmative. [Color=SandyBrown]"Hmmm... yes, I would say they do. And the marks look to be quite old. From the amount of rubble, however, I think that we could try to clear some of it out with 30 minutes or so of work. Maybe it will let us see what's on the other side."[/Color] [COLOR=RoyalBlue]"Well, let's set to it stout dwarf"[/COLOR] said Dartis with a grin, clapping Chalik on the shoulder. [COLOR=RoyalBlue]"Danica, would you hold my bow please and help keep watch?"[/COLOR] The men began digging as Danica stood watch closer to the room with the pools of water. The four of them formed a line, Dartis and Chalik passing rocks and rubble to Kel and Silas to place along the ground. The four of them worked up a sweat, until their clothes and skin were covered in a thin layer of dust, but within 30 minutes a hole was made on the top of the pile of rubble that was large enough to allow a human or even a dwarf. Chalik stopped the party for a moment, lest the opened passage become too unstable. The dwarf climbed up the pile of loose rock and stuck Silas' lantern into the next room. The heroes heard him gasp, as he scrambled over the rubble and inside the next room. [Color=SandyBrown]"Gods!"[/Color] They heard the dwarf gasp and the scraping of metal against stone. [Color=SandyBrown]"We've found it!"[/Color] They heard him struggling with something in the darkness. Meanwhile, Danica stared into the room with the pools, hearing the sound of something scraping upon the stones. It seemed to be coming from the direction of the tunnels that her party had come from. As she concentrated her vision in that area, she believed for a moment that she could see a flicker of movement, then the sound seemed to get slightly closer, but then the movement came from the ceiling, and in many directions. She backed away in fear, as she also watched the pools of water begin to move in noticeable waves, as if something or somethings swam quickly beneath its depths. [COLOR=YellowGreen]"Whatever we've found, can it wait?"[/COLOR] asked Danica, as she leaned the bow against the wall and raised her own crossbow instead. Her voice squeaked a bit as she asked, and in her mind she didn't sound serious enough. So she added, [COLOR=YellowGreen]"There is something moving in the room with the pools. In the water, and on the ceiling. I think we need to prepare ourselves." [/COLOR] With her left hand, she threw her everburning torch twenty feet in front of her. Perhaps her action would catch some creature, like a deer in Dancing Lights. After she threw, she raised her crossbow and aimed... [Color=SandyBrown]"What did she say? Someone throw me a rope and take this shield!"[/Color] Chalik shouted, as something metallic was pushed against the lip of the cleared opening. Silas grabbed the shield from Challik pulling it up through the crevice created by their excavations. [color=orange]"She said that something's moving around up here. Possibly a lot of somethings. How much room is there in there? Might be wiser for us to retreat in there and limit their options in surrounding us..."[/color] He looked over at Dartis to see what he would suggest. [COLOR=RoyalBlue]"Not unless there's another way out of there. Let's arm and see what's out there. Now that we have the shield, or at least a shield (and Silas check it out to make sure it's the one we want). we can leave here. I would prefer to fight our way back out. At the least make sure one of us gets out with the shield to free our people. Come let us see what we are up against" [/COLOR] said Dartis grabbing his bow and drawing an arrow. Silas grabbed the shield, and with a quick glance could see ancient writing and the molded features of a male human on its surface. It definitely looked to be what they were after, but before he could take a closer look Danica fired her crossbow as the sounds of crawling creatures came nearer. Her bolt missed, but the party could hear the hissing chattering of agitated humanoids, sounding like the ones recently fought. From the sounds of it they were almost on top of the tunnel opening now... Danica reloaded, and prepared to fire again. The illumination only lit the area enough to show shadows flitting ahead. She hugged the right side against the wall, taking steps to avoid chargers, firing bolts -- Silas stood directly in front of the cave entrance. He slid the shield a little towards Dartis in case he should need to grab it up and use it. [color=orange]"It certainly looks like the shield we were told about."[/color] Quickly he knelt and slid his pack from his shoulders, trusting Dartis and Danica to keep whatever is out there off his back. He unstrapped the rope he had and tossed one end down to Challik and affixed the other end to himself to use his own strength to help Challik out of the hole. It was Dartis and Kel who handled the first charge, as several figures fell from the ceiling near the cave opening. Kel moved first, but missed the skum that dropped in front of him. Dartis followed, with two shots at point blank range from his bow that killed another creature dropping in front of him. Danica attempted to help Kel, firing a crossbow bolt that injured the creature in front of him. At the same time, Silas helped Chalik, who took the opportunity to crawl over the tunnel's opening and drop on the other side, weapon drawn. The lizard-like creature in front of Kel slashed at the elf with its claw, but missed him. At the same time, two more scum dropped behind him from the ceiling, while another three erupted 30 feet behind those, from the pool. Chalik took a moment during the confusion to move himself into the front ranks. [COLOR=RoyalBlue]"Silas, some oil set ablaze on top of one of those pools may slow them down, or at least keep more from coming out"[/COLOR] suggested Dartis as he fired another pair of arrows at one of the new creatures. Silas heard Dartis' suggestion about the oil but wasn't really certain how to go about implementing the idea. Instead he stepped up between those fighting in the front and, waiting for a moment when he could catch more than one of the creatures in its effect, cast [i]Burning Hands.[/i] Chalik and Kel block the entrance to the tunnel, which only allowed two of these mutated skum to attack in melee at a time. There were five skum in front of the party, with one being wounded and directly in front of Kel. Another uninjured one closed with Chalik. The two others that jumped from the pool were halfway to the group. Chalik attacked first, slicing at the creature in front of him with his rapier, and was able to penetrate the creature's tough hide. The creature howled as it was wounded, then Danica's crossbow bolt flew passed its head, and misses its companion behind it. One skum counterattacked against Chalik, but was unable to bite into the dextrous dwarf. Kel was not so lucky, as the wounded creature in front of him unsuccessfully raked his armor with two clawed hands, but then bit into the elf's arm. Silas attacked next, his hands outstretched inbetween his two companions in the front row as an arcane cone of fire erupted from his hands, hitting the first five skum and killing off the two in front of Kel and Chalik, turning them into screaming masses of charred flesh. The other three also screamed, and in retaliation their heads reared backwards and then lunged forward as they each spit a green wad that exploded on the ground in the midst of the party. The greenish gel flew in every direction, some of it splashing on the bodies of each of the heroes. Where it touched clothes, holes were made, and what they realized was the acid took some skin with the fabric. All were hurt, and Kel nearly incapacited again. Despite the pain, Kel stopped his bleeding with a prayer for healing. Dartis fired in retaliation, hitting and felling another skum, but breaking his bowstring on the next shot. The human fighter would need time to pull out another string and restring his weapon. There were four skum left, two injured ones that had just spit, and two that had now closed the distance from the pools and were behind the first two. Silas looked grimly out over the battle. He struggled not to rub the acid burns fearing he'd injure himself further. With a look of grim determination he hefted his staff and prepared to step forward to give Dartis the time needed to restring his bow should it appear that he would do so. But Dartis tossed down his bow in disgust, and ran towards the front line, drawing his sword as he did, pausing only long enough to grab the Shield from Silas, as a mate to his sword. Chalik and Kel moved forward and out of the tunnel to attack, both targeting opponents that were already injured. Chalik's rapier moved swiftly, his hand a blur as he feinted in one direction, then sliced his blade to the other, leaving a thin trail of green blood across one skum's throat, which choaked and fell. Kel missed the other, but Danica's shot flew true, critically hitting into the second skum in between the eyes and throwing it backwards five feet right before it struck the elf down. The elf turned back towards the sorceress in both surprise and appreciation. Silas stepped forward to meet the next two skum, but the piles of skum bodies around them served to drive them into fleeing. The pair headed for the pools of water, but not before the party unloaded with their missile weapons. Danica, Kel, and Chalik all struck one at the same time, bringing him down. Dartis took his restrung bow and fired two more salvoes, but couldn't tell if they had struck, as the creature dived into the water as the arrows reached his vicinity. No body came up to the surface, and Dartis believed that although this skum might be injured, it was probably still alive and swimming quickly elsewhere. [COLOR=RoyalBlue]"Let us move quickly before more come back!" [/COLOR] shouted Dartis urging group along. Danica reloaded, and scanned the water, looking for a target. [COLOR=YellowGreen]"You cross first. I can follow."[/COLOR] She said with the confidence of command; an authority that seemed to be her true inner nature suddenly emerging from the shy persona she normally exuded. But then she remembered her place, [COLOR=YellowGreen]"Er. Sir. If that's alright."[/COLOR] She offered a coy smile. Dartis paused to give Danica a wry smile of his own.[COLOR=RoyalBlue] "How kind of you. NOW MOVE! And that's an order. I'm last out. Danica, Chalik, Silas then Kel. now GO!"[/COLOR] ordered Dartis almost pushing his small band across the bridge. Silas bent to recover the shield, then hurried after the party. The group's flight was a harrowing and frightful affair. These mutated skum camouflaged with their surroundings, and they would pose a great threat if they were allowed to form into larger formations. But they were only able to attack in ones and twos, trying desperately to impede the party from escaping. Chalik's keen eye discovers several, which he points out to Dartis who was able to send such would-be ambushers back into hiding. The braver skum were made quick work of, although Dartis was taken by surprise once, and some invisible force around Danica seemed to divert a clawed strike from another dark niche. The pursuers become more aggressive as they realized that the party was heading for one forgotten direction: the way into the dwarven kingdom. The heroes disappeared past the dwarven seal just as a dozen skum appeared down one tunnel, but the dwarves acted fast, firing crossbow bolts and throwing axes to disrupt the beasts while others worked their backs into closing the great seal. Finally, with a loud creak, the seal slammed shut, causing the sounds of the party's pursuers to cease reaching their ears, as if they had never existed. One dwarven sergeant saw the prize in Silas' arms and said, "Good job, lad. I'll send a runner to the king, who will inform the Imperials that we're ready to barter. I must say, I'm glad to see this thing is nearly at an end, although 'tis a shame to have to give up such a treasure." Upon saying that, Silas turned the prize over for the party to see. The shield was round, and small; something fit for a warrior on horseback. Around the edges, in script amazingly similar to that used by ancient Dorinthians, were the words: 'The King of All Men' along with engraved laurels. A portrait of a man wearing a breastplate and furs had been hammered into the center of the shield, the exact bearing of a willful and handsome warrior-king from the old barbarian times before Dorinth was ever established. What is more stunning is that the face is an exact twin of Commander Sassarius. [/QUOTE]
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