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<blockquote data-quote="Enk&amp;D'Shai" data-source="post: 494340" data-attributes="member: 7569"><p><strong>"Sorry, Wrong Door," or "RUN AWAY!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Alright, give me back my sandwich.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">No way. You know the rules: no food til turkey day.</span> </p><p></p><p>D'Shai, we went over this last year. Getting ready for turkey day does <em>not</em> mean that I have to starve myself for a week before hand.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Last year you filled up after the 17th helping. This year you're going for the record!</span> </p><p></p><p>What record?</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">I don't know. Bill Shatner's Greatest Hits?</span> </p><p></p><p>Now you're just being silly. And not in a good way. Now <em>give me back my sandwich</em>.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">No need to froth at the mouth. I'll get you a new one.</span> </p><p></p><p>What happened to the old one?</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Yoda the dog ate it.</span> </p><p></p><p>WHAT?</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Look you're obviously sufferring from malnutrition. Just like when you went on that all Grape Nuts diet and got 'regular'. Why don't you go sit down and I'll make you a new sandwich.</span> </p><p></p><p>Right now I don't feel like arguing. Just make sure the sandwich is real this time. Two slices of bread with an IOU for the bologna does not a sandwich make. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">And now it's time for the Tip O' the Day! This is one I came up with while helping Enk diet this week.</span></p><p><span style="color: skyblue"></span></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Burping creates room for more food, so drink lots of carbonated beverages.</span></p><p><span style="color: skyblue"></span></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Hmm, I don't remember bologna being green. Oh well, he's probably delerious by now and won't notice...</span> </p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>LiVeWiRe gripped his weapon and gulped as he looked over the horde of approaching goblins. The orange skinned devils grinned wide, displaying their sharp yellow teeth as they marched into the large room. Columns upon columns of the neatly lined troops filed in, stamping their feet and brandishing their weapons. “Um, are you sure this is what you guys wanted?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes it is.” Black Bard heroically answered. “Just like the heroes of Icemist, we shall prevail.”</p><p></p><p>“HULK DO ANYTHING THAT WORM DO.” The large barbarian answered as well. “HULK WISH WORM WAS HERE. NOT FRAIDY DEADWIRE.”</p><p></p><p>“I hate to be the voice of reason boys, but they do outnumber us by just a few…..thousand.” Dawn chimed in while patting the hulking green warrior on the shoulder. “How’s the lock coming Ashy?”</p><p></p><p>“It’d be fine, if these ol’ tiefer hands would stop shaking s’much. Blasted rust. Somefin ain’t right with a berk wot’ll design a dungeon with doors that automatically lock behind a blood.”</p><p></p><p>“Fear not, Ashy!” The noble Badger called. “We shall protect you as Meepo protects Aurora.”</p><p></p><p>“I agree.” The dark bard continued. “They shall lay down their lives so that your nimble fingers may open the door that allows me to take your triumphant deeds back to the masses, so that you may be remembered as heroes, just like Ander and Ashrem.”</p><p></p><p>“Doesn’t it seem odd that they all look the same?” Rel asked.</p><p></p><p>“Not exactly, Rel,” Thorntangle answered. “Actually, they all look like the goblins described in goblin interlude. See, there’s Retch, and then Retch again.”</p><p></p><p>“But, how is that possible!” LiVeWiRe’s exaclamation surprised everyone, even himself.</p><p></p><p>“Say, you’re HULK,” Rel explained, “Then say your PC broke right about the same time that the goblin interlude was posted. Then you make a wish to fight the goblin nation on some ring you found. It seems to me that all the goblins would look like ones you were familiar with.”</p><p></p><p>“Aye, make’s sense to this ol’ tiefer”</p><p></p><p>“That’s it, game over man.” Livewire started repeating. “We’re all going to die. Game over.”</p><p></p><p>“I think he’s been waiting his whole life to quote that.” Dawn remarked while rolling her eyes.</p><p></p><p>“HULK GETTING MAD! HULK NOT LIKE BILL PAXTON!”</p><p></p><p>“Guys, I think I have an idea.” Badger smiled. </p><p></p><p>TO BE CONTINUED. </p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Whoops! Wrong story! Start again...</span></p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>"Sorry, Wrong Door," or "RUN AWAY!"</p><p></p><p>Ashrem ran his gloved hand over the rough wood of the door, being very careful not to make any sounds. The feloine’s sharp hearing had detected the high-pitched whiney voices of several goblins just beyond the wooden portal, so there was no reason to suspect a trap; however, the feloine scout liked to be thorough. </p><p></p><p>He almost growled when the gloves caught on another small splinter as he tried to trace the outline of the door. The gloves made his job more difficult, yet he had become strangely accustomed to wearing them - he seemed to be in disguise all of the time since he had woke up that cold morning. </p><p></p><p>It had been a year, and yet he still struggled to piece it all together. One minute he was running through the woods as demons chased him; the next he was lying in a snowdrift barely able to move. </p><p></p><p>With a quick look over his shoulder, Ashrem realized that everyone was waiting for his signal before moving forward. He also knew that, down in these catacombs, his disguise was pointless. His companions already knew and accepted him for what he was, Meepo being the exception, but the great cat didn’t think the kobold had the social capabilities to care. The feloine removed the glove and again ran his claws over the surface of the door, looking for any indication of a trap. He didn’t find any, and he also discerned that the door was not bolted or barred in any manner. </p><p></p><p>Once again he turned and eyed his companions, but this time he held up four fingers while motioning towards the door. He paused and waited for some form of visual recognition from the group - the feloine knew that Ander understood his hand signals, but he wanted to make sure everyone else did as well before entrusting his life to them. The nodding of heads and readying of various weapons were all the indications he needed. </p><p></p><p>The feloine set his ear to the door one last time, making sure that the goblins were still unaware of their imminent peril, and then he too unsheathed his blade and pushed into the door. </p><p></p><p>Ashrem’s training kicked in as soon as he pushed against the door and the feloine took a quick account of the room as he tucked and rolled. He dodged a small cooking fire and four stunned goblins as he tumbled to the far side of the room, cutting off any easy escape through the second door now at his back. The goblins all scattered, grabbing for weapons and pieces of armor. The feloine would have been impressed at their lack of fear given the situation but he instead felt disgust because he realized that this was a watch post and that these goblins were anything but watchful. <em>A good soldier is always vigilant and never lets his guard down…</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Then why did you leave your squad when they were defenseless?</em></p><p></p><p>The sudden change in thoughts distracted the feloine as he searched for an answer: an answer that had eluded him ever since the night he had abandoned his post and let his friends die. Only Ander’s warning cry managed to drag the feloine back into the fight in enough time to deflect a spear thrust and avoid a pot of boiling water hurled his way. </p><p></p><p>Ashrem cursed himself as he saw the element of surprise was lost, for now the four armed goblins posed a significant threat in the small room. Theo and Ander fought from the doorway on the far side leaving Ashrem two of the grinning devils to handle on the near side. </p><p></p><p>The feloine felt the rage churning up inside him as the goblins’ toothy grins mocked him, reminding him of the sharp fanged demons who hunted him in the woods after slaughtering his company. Instinctively, he suppressed the boiling urge and steadied into a defensive rhythm. Block, deflect, swing, thrust, block, <em>move</em>: the feloine danced in and out of the two goblins. They seemed baffled by his intricate fencing moves, just as Ashrem guessed they would, coming from a ‘might makes right’ society. </p><p></p><p>Ashrem tested the goblins skill for a few moments more and then with practiced ease he turned his defense to offense, letting Razor’s keen edge slit each goblin’s throat as easily as it would slice fishing twine. The bodies collapsed the floor and convulsed several times before blood began to well up from the precise cuts. </p><p></p><p>“I thought they had you there, Ash.” Ander said as he stepped over the fallen bodies, examining the feloine’s handiwork. “You okay? That’s the second time I’ve seen you daze out during a fight.”</p><p></p><p>“Just a memory, Ander, nothing more. I assure you it will not happen again.” Ash replied turning away from the ranger. “I think I should scout ahead in case we were heard.”</p><p></p><p>“Right, but if you need to talk Ash...”</p><p></p><p>Ashrem did not bother to respond: he had no words to tell his story. He did not have them the day the woodsman, his closest friend, found him in the snowdrift, and he did not have them now. In any event, he was best to leave the past in the past. All he could do now was make certain that his debt was repaid to the village that had healed him. Maybe there was still time for him to do some good before he faced his own kind and the swift retribution due to one who had deserted their King’s ranks. </p><p></p><p>Lost in thought, the scout pulled open the new door and drifted silently into the hallway. Once lost in the shadows beyond Aurora’s light spell and Pack’s torch, he turned his attention back on the task at hand, losing himself in his actions as he searched for any signs of the thieving goblins or the lost dragon. </p><p></p><p>The feloine found himself in a short hallway that ended in another door, and even in the dim lighting his sharp eyes made out clearly the crude symbol of Meepo’s kobold clan, etched deeply into the aged wood. Ashrem stared at the symbol in disbelief for several moments; soon he felt the familiar bubblings of the rage building inside himself yet again. With a sudden twist he turned and stepped back into the room where his companions rested, and more importantly where Meepo sat. </p><p></p><p>“Meepo what is beyond this hallway?” The feloine growled coldly, staring right at the kobold. </p><p></p><p>“What’s the matter, Ash?” Ander asked, stepping in front of the fuming scout. </p><p></p><p>Ashrem sidestepped his friend and stared at the sorceress. “Aurora, ask ‘Meepo’ where this passage leads.”</p><p></p><p>“Not if you don’t calm down and ask nicely.” She quipped back, shoving the confused kobold behind her.</p><p></p><p>“Aurora, please.” This time the feloine left the ice off his tone. “I need to know where we are.”</p><p></p><p>Aurora glared at him for several heartbeats but then turned and spoke to the confused kobold. The kobold responded to the Sorceress’ words and this time Aurora looked confused. “He says that his clan is on the other side of the door.”</p><p></p><p>“What?” Pack, Theo and Ander all seemed to say at the same time. “How?”</p><p></p><p>“We have traveled in a circle.” Ashrem eyed the kobold as he talked and moved closer to the creature. “Maybe another ‘test’ from the queen? Or perhaps there is no dragon to be saved and they are just trying to get us killed while we eliminate some of their enemies too?”</p><p></p><p>Ashrem knew that Aurora could see the look in his eyes because she hastily turned and began blabbering to the scaly warrior. Meepo nodded his head and answered both with words and a visual demonstration that consisted of smacking his head and falling on the floor in an imitated death scene. The feloine stared hard at the sorceress and her pet, and he could see that Aurora was biting her cheek to avoid laughing. Ashrem could feel the rage boiling again until she responded. </p><p></p><p>“Meepo says that they don’t use that hallway anymore: not since the accident.” The lady was literally holding back a laugh at this point. “Neither do the goblins. It is the most trapped passage in the entire keep and both clans are scared witless by it.”</p><p></p><p>“Explains why they weren’t really on guard over here.” Pack remarked as he kicked one of the lifeless goblin corpses.</p><p></p><p> “Still, this would have been much easier than trying to go over that wall.” Theo rubbed his belly where the crossbow wounds had been. “Maybe we need to phrase our questions differently for our guide, to take into account his own superstitions and experiences?”</p><p></p><p>“I agree.” Ander started in, but the feloine had heard enough and he quickly crossed the room to exit out of the original door looking for signs that might get them done with this damnable quest and away from the cursed kobolds. </p><p></p><p>Ashrem sulked down the hallway until it filled out into a larger chamber lined with ornate marble pillars leading to a large metal door. Torches sat comfortably in sconces on each pillar, though only a trio of them still flickered and smoked. The feloine’s warning senses sprang into action and he silently slid into the shadows of the pillars to gauge his next action. </p><p></p><p>With just a brief hesitation, Ashrem slid silently up to the door, hoping to get a good listen before reporting back to Ander and the others. The feloine closed his eyes and listened once he was hidden close enough to the large door. A constant rumble emanated from the other side, the kind of rumbling that often springs from a large group of individuals moving around in an enclosed space. </p><p></p><p>“Ashrem?” The feloine’s eyes shot open at the slight whisper of Pack’s voice, and the scout was surprised to see that the small bard had made it up to the large door without him noticing. The halfling had left behind his torch, and somehow crept past the scout. </p><p></p><p>The feloine padded quietly toward the halfling in case there were alert guards on the other side of the portal. He kept silent until he realized that Pack was going to open the door. </p><p></p><p>“Hold!” He heard himself cry, but it was too late. Ashrem watched as Pack turned to face him, a smile growing on his cherubic face, but the halfling’s ever busy hands continued to pull the metal door open as if they had a mind of their own. The agile feloine threw himself forward, bowling the small bard over as he slammed the door closed before it could be opened more than a few hands wide. </p><p></p><p> Ashrem continued his tumble, carrying Pack with him, until he was behind the pillars on the opposite side of the room. The feloine slapped one hand over the dazed halfling’s mouth to stop any barrage of questions before they started. With the other hand he silently shushed the bard. </p><p></p><p>The metal door creaked open, and Ashrem suddenly realized he was holding his breath. A pair of steel shod boots clanked over the stone floor into the middle of the chamber and stopped on the other side of the pillar the scout was hiding behind. Then a goblin voice called out, as if searching for something or someone. After a handful of thudding heartbeats, the boots clanked back toward the heavy door. Just as the door began squeaking and creaking closed, Ashrem saw a growing glow from down the hall. An overloud whisper accompanied the light, “Pack! Ashrem! Where are you?”</p><p></p><p>That slight sound was all it took for the door to open instead of close.</p><p></p><p>“Goblins!” Ashrem shouted, running back toward the light, now plainly held high by Theo. Ander and Aurora stood beside him, with Meepo a pace behind. Ander was the first of the three to react to the scout’s warning, and moved quickly past the feloine, covering both his and Pack’s retreat. </p><p></p><p>“How many,” he said as he passed his friend.</p><p></p><p>“More than one.” The feloine stopped and reversed direction, following the ranger back toward the door, now spewing a quartet of goblins: unarmored, but armed with wicked looking hand weapons. Seconds later, he and the woodsman were thick in the fight. </p><p></p><p>Razor slid over the ribs of one goblin, laying the flesh wide, as Ashrem ducked under a wild swing by the goblin next to his target. Ander seemed likewise busy, as he parried their clumsy attacks and struck blow after blow. Then Brother Theo rushed into the fray, swinging crushing blows into their foes. </p><p></p><p>Two dozen heartbeats later, three of the goblins lay in a mangled heap: some with cuts, some with breaks, and some with the telltale signs of Aurora’s dragon headed missiles. The last suddenly broke and ran, moving quickly toward the door. Ashrem watched in amazement at the speed with which Ander dropped his staff and slipped his already strung bow off his shoulder into his waiting hand. Then, continuing the motion, the woodsman drew an arrow, nocked it, and sent it on a fatal errand. It lodged deeply in the retreating goblin’s neck as it yanked open the door, and with a loud gurgling sound, the creature fell dead in the doorway. </p><p></p><p>Through the door, Ashrem could see the shadows of a horde of the beasts cavorting around some unseen bonfire. Then, closer to the opening, he heard the clanging of steel on steel as a huge armored figure stepped through the entry…</p><p></p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Next Time:</p><p></p><p>"Old Flames Reunited," or "Lucy, I'm Home!"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Enk&D'Shai, post: 494340, member: 7569"] [b]"Sorry, Wrong Door," or "RUN AWAY!"[/b] Alright, give me back my sandwich. [COLOR=skyblue]No way. You know the rules: no food til turkey day.[/COLOR] D'Shai, we went over this last year. Getting ready for turkey day does [I]not[/I] mean that I have to starve myself for a week before hand. [COLOR=skyblue]Last year you filled up after the 17th helping. This year you're going for the record![/COLOR] What record? [COLOR=skyblue]I don't know. Bill Shatner's Greatest Hits?[/COLOR] Now you're just being silly. And not in a good way. Now [I]give me back my sandwich[/I]. [COLOR=skyblue]No need to froth at the mouth. I'll get you a new one.[/COLOR] What happened to the old one? [COLOR=skyblue]Yoda the dog ate it.[/COLOR] WHAT? [COLOR=skyblue]Look you're obviously sufferring from malnutrition. Just like when you went on that all Grape Nuts diet and got 'regular'. Why don't you go sit down and I'll make you a new sandwich.[/COLOR] Right now I don't feel like arguing. Just make sure the sandwich is real this time. Two slices of bread with an IOU for the bologna does not a sandwich make. [COLOR=skyblue]And now it's time for the Tip O' the Day! This is one I came up with while helping Enk diet this week. Burping creates room for more food, so drink lots of carbonated beverages. Hmm, I don't remember bologna being green. Oh well, he's probably delerious by now and won't notice...[/COLOR] ***** LiVeWiRe gripped his weapon and gulped as he looked over the horde of approaching goblins. The orange skinned devils grinned wide, displaying their sharp yellow teeth as they marched into the large room. Columns upon columns of the neatly lined troops filed in, stamping their feet and brandishing their weapons. “Um, are you sure this is what you guys wanted?” “Yes it is.” Black Bard heroically answered. “Just like the heroes of Icemist, we shall prevail.” “HULK DO ANYTHING THAT WORM DO.” The large barbarian answered as well. “HULK WISH WORM WAS HERE. NOT FRAIDY DEADWIRE.” “I hate to be the voice of reason boys, but they do outnumber us by just a few…..thousand.” Dawn chimed in while patting the hulking green warrior on the shoulder. “How’s the lock coming Ashy?” “It’d be fine, if these ol’ tiefer hands would stop shaking s’much. Blasted rust. Somefin ain’t right with a berk wot’ll design a dungeon with doors that automatically lock behind a blood.” “Fear not, Ashy!” The noble Badger called. “We shall protect you as Meepo protects Aurora.” “I agree.” The dark bard continued. “They shall lay down their lives so that your nimble fingers may open the door that allows me to take your triumphant deeds back to the masses, so that you may be remembered as heroes, just like Ander and Ashrem.” “Doesn’t it seem odd that they all look the same?” Rel asked. “Not exactly, Rel,” Thorntangle answered. “Actually, they all look like the goblins described in goblin interlude. See, there’s Retch, and then Retch again.” “But, how is that possible!” LiVeWiRe’s exaclamation surprised everyone, even himself. “Say, you’re HULK,” Rel explained, “Then say your PC broke right about the same time that the goblin interlude was posted. Then you make a wish to fight the goblin nation on some ring you found. It seems to me that all the goblins would look like ones you were familiar with.” “Aye, make’s sense to this ol’ tiefer” “That’s it, game over man.” Livewire started repeating. “We’re all going to die. Game over.” “I think he’s been waiting his whole life to quote that.” Dawn remarked while rolling her eyes. “HULK GETTING MAD! HULK NOT LIKE BILL PAXTON!” “Guys, I think I have an idea.” Badger smiled. TO BE CONTINUED. ***** [COLOR=skyblue]Whoops! Wrong story! Start again...[/COLOR] ***** "Sorry, Wrong Door," or "RUN AWAY!" Ashrem ran his gloved hand over the rough wood of the door, being very careful not to make any sounds. The feloine’s sharp hearing had detected the high-pitched whiney voices of several goblins just beyond the wooden portal, so there was no reason to suspect a trap; however, the feloine scout liked to be thorough. He almost growled when the gloves caught on another small splinter as he tried to trace the outline of the door. The gloves made his job more difficult, yet he had become strangely accustomed to wearing them - he seemed to be in disguise all of the time since he had woke up that cold morning. It had been a year, and yet he still struggled to piece it all together. One minute he was running through the woods as demons chased him; the next he was lying in a snowdrift barely able to move. With a quick look over his shoulder, Ashrem realized that everyone was waiting for his signal before moving forward. He also knew that, down in these catacombs, his disguise was pointless. His companions already knew and accepted him for what he was, Meepo being the exception, but the great cat didn’t think the kobold had the social capabilities to care. The feloine removed the glove and again ran his claws over the surface of the door, looking for any indication of a trap. He didn’t find any, and he also discerned that the door was not bolted or barred in any manner. Once again he turned and eyed his companions, but this time he held up four fingers while motioning towards the door. He paused and waited for some form of visual recognition from the group - the feloine knew that Ander understood his hand signals, but he wanted to make sure everyone else did as well before entrusting his life to them. The nodding of heads and readying of various weapons were all the indications he needed. The feloine set his ear to the door one last time, making sure that the goblins were still unaware of their imminent peril, and then he too unsheathed his blade and pushed into the door. Ashrem’s training kicked in as soon as he pushed against the door and the feloine took a quick account of the room as he tucked and rolled. He dodged a small cooking fire and four stunned goblins as he tumbled to the far side of the room, cutting off any easy escape through the second door now at his back. The goblins all scattered, grabbing for weapons and pieces of armor. The feloine would have been impressed at their lack of fear given the situation but he instead felt disgust because he realized that this was a watch post and that these goblins were anything but watchful. [I]A good soldier is always vigilant and never lets his guard down… Then why did you leave your squad when they were defenseless?[/I] The sudden change in thoughts distracted the feloine as he searched for an answer: an answer that had eluded him ever since the night he had abandoned his post and let his friends die. Only Ander’s warning cry managed to drag the feloine back into the fight in enough time to deflect a spear thrust and avoid a pot of boiling water hurled his way. Ashrem cursed himself as he saw the element of surprise was lost, for now the four armed goblins posed a significant threat in the small room. Theo and Ander fought from the doorway on the far side leaving Ashrem two of the grinning devils to handle on the near side. The feloine felt the rage churning up inside him as the goblins’ toothy grins mocked him, reminding him of the sharp fanged demons who hunted him in the woods after slaughtering his company. Instinctively, he suppressed the boiling urge and steadied into a defensive rhythm. Block, deflect, swing, thrust, block, [I]move[/I]: the feloine danced in and out of the two goblins. They seemed baffled by his intricate fencing moves, just as Ashrem guessed they would, coming from a ‘might makes right’ society. Ashrem tested the goblins skill for a few moments more and then with practiced ease he turned his defense to offense, letting Razor’s keen edge slit each goblin’s throat as easily as it would slice fishing twine. The bodies collapsed the floor and convulsed several times before blood began to well up from the precise cuts. “I thought they had you there, Ash.” Ander said as he stepped over the fallen bodies, examining the feloine’s handiwork. “You okay? That’s the second time I’ve seen you daze out during a fight.” “Just a memory, Ander, nothing more. I assure you it will not happen again.” Ash replied turning away from the ranger. “I think I should scout ahead in case we were heard.” “Right, but if you need to talk Ash...” Ashrem did not bother to respond: he had no words to tell his story. He did not have them the day the woodsman, his closest friend, found him in the snowdrift, and he did not have them now. In any event, he was best to leave the past in the past. All he could do now was make certain that his debt was repaid to the village that had healed him. Maybe there was still time for him to do some good before he faced his own kind and the swift retribution due to one who had deserted their King’s ranks. Lost in thought, the scout pulled open the new door and drifted silently into the hallway. Once lost in the shadows beyond Aurora’s light spell and Pack’s torch, he turned his attention back on the task at hand, losing himself in his actions as he searched for any signs of the thieving goblins or the lost dragon. The feloine found himself in a short hallway that ended in another door, and even in the dim lighting his sharp eyes made out clearly the crude symbol of Meepo’s kobold clan, etched deeply into the aged wood. Ashrem stared at the symbol in disbelief for several moments; soon he felt the familiar bubblings of the rage building inside himself yet again. With a sudden twist he turned and stepped back into the room where his companions rested, and more importantly where Meepo sat. “Meepo what is beyond this hallway?” The feloine growled coldly, staring right at the kobold. “What’s the matter, Ash?” Ander asked, stepping in front of the fuming scout. Ashrem sidestepped his friend and stared at the sorceress. “Aurora, ask ‘Meepo’ where this passage leads.” “Not if you don’t calm down and ask nicely.” She quipped back, shoving the confused kobold behind her. “Aurora, please.” This time the feloine left the ice off his tone. “I need to know where we are.” Aurora glared at him for several heartbeats but then turned and spoke to the confused kobold. The kobold responded to the Sorceress’ words and this time Aurora looked confused. “He says that his clan is on the other side of the door.” “What?” Pack, Theo and Ander all seemed to say at the same time. “How?” “We have traveled in a circle.” Ashrem eyed the kobold as he talked and moved closer to the creature. “Maybe another ‘test’ from the queen? Or perhaps there is no dragon to be saved and they are just trying to get us killed while we eliminate some of their enemies too?” Ashrem knew that Aurora could see the look in his eyes because she hastily turned and began blabbering to the scaly warrior. Meepo nodded his head and answered both with words and a visual demonstration that consisted of smacking his head and falling on the floor in an imitated death scene. The feloine stared hard at the sorceress and her pet, and he could see that Aurora was biting her cheek to avoid laughing. Ashrem could feel the rage boiling again until she responded. “Meepo says that they don’t use that hallway anymore: not since the accident.” The lady was literally holding back a laugh at this point. “Neither do the goblins. It is the most trapped passage in the entire keep and both clans are scared witless by it.” “Explains why they weren’t really on guard over here.” Pack remarked as he kicked one of the lifeless goblin corpses. “Still, this would have been much easier than trying to go over that wall.” Theo rubbed his belly where the crossbow wounds had been. “Maybe we need to phrase our questions differently for our guide, to take into account his own superstitions and experiences?” “I agree.” Ander started in, but the feloine had heard enough and he quickly crossed the room to exit out of the original door looking for signs that might get them done with this damnable quest and away from the cursed kobolds. Ashrem sulked down the hallway until it filled out into a larger chamber lined with ornate marble pillars leading to a large metal door. Torches sat comfortably in sconces on each pillar, though only a trio of them still flickered and smoked. The feloine’s warning senses sprang into action and he silently slid into the shadows of the pillars to gauge his next action. With just a brief hesitation, Ashrem slid silently up to the door, hoping to get a good listen before reporting back to Ander and the others. The feloine closed his eyes and listened once he was hidden close enough to the large door. A constant rumble emanated from the other side, the kind of rumbling that often springs from a large group of individuals moving around in an enclosed space. “Ashrem?” The feloine’s eyes shot open at the slight whisper of Pack’s voice, and the scout was surprised to see that the small bard had made it up to the large door without him noticing. The halfling had left behind his torch, and somehow crept past the scout. The feloine padded quietly toward the halfling in case there were alert guards on the other side of the portal. He kept silent until he realized that Pack was going to open the door. “Hold!” He heard himself cry, but it was too late. Ashrem watched as Pack turned to face him, a smile growing on his cherubic face, but the halfling’s ever busy hands continued to pull the metal door open as if they had a mind of their own. The agile feloine threw himself forward, bowling the small bard over as he slammed the door closed before it could be opened more than a few hands wide. Ashrem continued his tumble, carrying Pack with him, until he was behind the pillars on the opposite side of the room. The feloine slapped one hand over the dazed halfling’s mouth to stop any barrage of questions before they started. With the other hand he silently shushed the bard. The metal door creaked open, and Ashrem suddenly realized he was holding his breath. A pair of steel shod boots clanked over the stone floor into the middle of the chamber and stopped on the other side of the pillar the scout was hiding behind. Then a goblin voice called out, as if searching for something or someone. After a handful of thudding heartbeats, the boots clanked back toward the heavy door. Just as the door began squeaking and creaking closed, Ashrem saw a growing glow from down the hall. An overloud whisper accompanied the light, “Pack! Ashrem! Where are you?” That slight sound was all it took for the door to open instead of close. “Goblins!” Ashrem shouted, running back toward the light, now plainly held high by Theo. Ander and Aurora stood beside him, with Meepo a pace behind. Ander was the first of the three to react to the scout’s warning, and moved quickly past the feloine, covering both his and Pack’s retreat. “How many,” he said as he passed his friend. “More than one.” The feloine stopped and reversed direction, following the ranger back toward the door, now spewing a quartet of goblins: unarmored, but armed with wicked looking hand weapons. Seconds later, he and the woodsman were thick in the fight. Razor slid over the ribs of one goblin, laying the flesh wide, as Ashrem ducked under a wild swing by the goblin next to his target. Ander seemed likewise busy, as he parried their clumsy attacks and struck blow after blow. Then Brother Theo rushed into the fray, swinging crushing blows into their foes. Two dozen heartbeats later, three of the goblins lay in a mangled heap: some with cuts, some with breaks, and some with the telltale signs of Aurora’s dragon headed missiles. The last suddenly broke and ran, moving quickly toward the door. Ashrem watched in amazement at the speed with which Ander dropped his staff and slipped his already strung bow off his shoulder into his waiting hand. Then, continuing the motion, the woodsman drew an arrow, nocked it, and sent it on a fatal errand. It lodged deeply in the retreating goblin’s neck as it yanked open the door, and with a loud gurgling sound, the creature fell dead in the doorway. Through the door, Ashrem could see the shadows of a horde of the beasts cavorting around some unseen bonfire. Then, closer to the opening, he heard the clanging of steel on steel as a huge armored figure stepped through the entry… ***** Next Time: "Old Flames Reunited," or "Lucy, I'm Home!" [/QUOTE]
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