Episode 11
Half Successes Are Full Failures
“Let’s go have a look in that pit,” Gerhardt announced. The fighter moved over to the edge of the pit and ancient runes were activated below his feet. A flash of blue lightning snaked out and struck Gerhardt in the leg, arced off and a skeleton appeared next to him.
The adventurers rushed into action and Quarion stepped up to support. As the elf moved another blue arc of lightning struck forth, crashing into the rogue and summoned a ghoul.
“Stay away from the edge of the pit,” Hilde yelled. “There are summoning runes all around it.”
Carefully maneuvering the party managed to eliminate both undead.
“I wonder what would be next if we stepped on another one of the stones?” Inga mused. “A shadow perhaps?”
“Let’s not find out please,” Hilde replied.
“Where’s the elf?” Gjord asked.
“Over here,” Quarion whispered back from the darkness across the room. “This door is not trapped.”
“You’re like a hound on the hunt Quarion,” Gjord remarked.
“He keeps us moving,” Gerhardt said. “I like that.” The fighter moved over to the door and opened it. The smell that issued forth from beyond the door was almost over powering. Rotten flesh, vegetation, and foul fungi combined to make an odor so bad Gerhardt gagged a bit. “It’s a dead end or collapsed corridor to be more correct.”
“I will search through the pile,” Quarion announced and commenced moving into the foul smelling stuff.
As the rogue began sifting through the offal, the pile shifted. Then it moved. Quarion quickly found himself under attack.
“What is it?” Gerhardt asked.
“I do not know,” Quarion answered. “Ouch! My leg!” Quarion pulled his leg back and found a huge beetle attached to it.
Gerhardt waded in to attack the beetle and another burst forth from the pile at the fighter.
The beetle’s pincer mouth dug into the elf again and he howled in protest. The rest of the adventurers hung back from the dead end, plinking the insects with their bows as opportunities presented. Finally, the fighter managed to smash the beetle attacking him and the combined efforts of Quarion and he ended the other. Quarion emerged from the garbage and melee with a badly mangled leg.
Inga attended to Quarion’s wounds with a prayer to Opheria. “That’s it,” she stated. “I have no more supplications.”
“I only have a couple of minor chants myself,” Hilde stated.
“We’re in fair shape and a child’s life is in danger,” Gjord argued.
“I agree,” Gerhardt nodded. “We should press on.”
“Another serious encounter will probably kill one of us,” Hilde argued. “Let’s retire and report what we have found.”
“Let’s just check out the next door,” Gjord pleaded. “If we run into anything we get out of here.”
“The door is free of any traps,” Quarion called to the group from across the room.
“See there,” Gjord smiled. “The hound is on it.”
“Very well,” Hilde frowned. “I can see you all wish to move on.”
Gerhardt moved to the door and opened it. It revealed a 30-foot long hallway with two more doors.
“This does not count,” Gjord insisted. “We have to go forward.”
Hilde rolled her shoulders.
The door on the left side of the hallway immediately caught the group’s attention. The portal was constructed of the same black material as the initial chamber in the tomb. Ancient disturbing illustrations covered the blackness in dark gray. Most disturbing of all however, were the five triangles that move in a large oval around the door’s surface. The triangles appeared to be silver, but chiseled into the surface – yet they moved silently across the surface like feathers floating across a puddle in the breeze.
“Quarion don’t” Hilde warned.
Quarion was thrown backwards from the black door. A large blackish wound appeared on his palms and oozed yellow pus. “It is trapped,” he smiled. “Warded really.”
“Obviously,” Gerhardt agreed.
“I wonder if this has anything to do with the offering plate in Olfader’s temple?” Inga asked.
“Not likely. Why?” Hilde answered.
“The plate had five silver pieces and this door has five silver triangles,” Inga said.
“That is interesting, but this seems like an ancient ward to me,” Hilde postulated. “And if I am correct about that. The child is not beyond.”
“There are kobolds beyond this door,” Quarion announced from the door at the end of the hall.
“How many?” Gjord asked.
“I am not sure,” Quarion answered. “At least three.”
“We should rest…” Hilde began to say. She was interrupted by Gerhardt opening the door.
Quarion had anticipated Gerhardt’s move and rushed into the chamber beyond. He struck at the group of kobolds, but missed wildly. The kobolds must have expected trouble for they were fully ready for combat. The lone elf soon found himself surrounded by kobolds. The draconian mites dug their weapons into Quarion and his blood soon covered the floor.
Inga and Gjord quickly moved up to help Quarion, but the rogue had no room to maneuver. The kobolds did not relent, concentrating their attacks on the rogue. Gerhardt, frustrated, pushed his way past Gjord lowered his shoulder and ran into one of the kobolds. The force of the blow knocked the kobold back ten feet. A grateful Quarion slipped out the newly formed corridor created by Gerhardt’s bullrush.
Gerhardt and Gjord smashed their way through the little menaces, but Inga was taking wounds as she attempted to hit her enemy with the flat of her sword. Soon the foe before Inga was the only one left in the chamber. The barbarian/cleric was finally able to knock the kobold out. Quarion, barely standing, moved over to bind the unconscious reptilian.
A quick exploration of the chamber led to the discovery of a steeply sloped passage leading down.
“Now we must rest,” Hilde insisted. No one argued.
…..
The audience before the lord was brief and intense. Every piece of information was wrung out of the group before they were led to bedrooms to rest. The kobold was taken in its bindings to a separate area. The next morning the group reported to the Lord Noble’s meeting room.
They were shocked to see Lord Helmall with a young boy in his lap. “Good morning,” Lord Helmall beamed at the group. “This is Lance.” The toe-headed youth with sparkling blue eyes waved at the adventurers.
“Forgive us if we appear confused,” Hilde said.
“Your information and the information provided by the prisoner you brought proved to be vital,” Lord Helmall began. “A second rescue force was launched last night and thanks to your expert scouting, they were successful.”
“Damnit,” Gerhardt muttered below his breath.
“I am very thankful for your service,” Lord Helmall motioned to a man-at-arms. The man-at-arms picked up five purses of coins and gave one to each of the adventurers. The adventurers thanked Helmall and left the audience chamber stunned.
…..
“35 gold,” Gerhardt complained. “A total of 165 gold.”
“175 gold,” Gjord corrected him.
“Yeah, 175,” Gerhardt corrected. “Just think of what we could have gotten if we would have rescued that brat.”
“At least we are alive,” Hilde smiled. “Besides the Lord was very kind in giving us something for our service.”
“I wonder what he gave the group who saved that little turd,” Gerhardt grumped.
“Probably at least a 100 each,” Quarion offered.
“Now that’s real money,” Gerhardt slapped his hands together and rubbed them. “What if we were to say remove a certain young chap and send a note saying we knew how to rescue him for the right price?”
“That’s kidnapping,” Inga said accusingly.
“Of course, I would insist a full twenty-five percent be donated to the temple of Opheria,” Gerhardt replied.
“Forget it Gerhardt,” Quarion stated.
“You’re a mercy killing,” Hilde added. “Be happy with what we have received. Come sister let us take a portion of our share to the temple.”
“Ah well sisters,” Gerhardt shrugged. “The temple’s loss I suppose – they could have received some real coin. My temple has a whole lot of ale in it. That’s where I’m making my donations,” Gerhardt laughed and walked towards the Tabard Inn. Gjord and Quarion followed the fighter not knowing they would get to drink no ale in the tavern tonight.
To be continued…