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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5928029" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Alaria summoned to mind a couple of her few remaining cantrips, as she had done before other foes before. She caused the air to circle about her, rustling her cloak and hair, and flickers of violet flames to flare from her eyes.</p><p></p><p>As Alaria was setting forth her "terms" for the company's release and demanding back Haelan's mace and holy symbol, Fen wandered over to the cowering lizardmen near the trophy wall. He took the swallowtail-hawk emblazoned shield and put it in the holding backpack he was toting.</p><p></p><p>"I believe this belongs to us." the druid said dismissively and returned to Alaria's side. He crossed his arms and smirked a smug crooked grin as Alaria laid into the chief and shaman.</p><p></p><p>"You WILL return our belongings and send us on our way..." Alaria continued.</p><p></p><p>"Uh guys...", Festus said quietly behind them.</p><p></p><p>"...and the hairfoot's mace and his goddess' holy symbol. They will avail you not..." the magess continued undeterred.</p><p></p><p>"Guys?...Uh..." Festus murmured again.</p><p></p><p>"We do not possess the means to return your lost warriors to you. But we are thoroughly sorry for the loss to you and your tribe..." the magess continued.</p><p></p><p>"Alaria?" Fen said unsure where this line was going.</p><p></p><p>"Guuuuys...problem..." Festus whispered again.</p><p></p><p>"...but if you allow us to pass into the mountain unhindered, I swear we shall return with reparations for your loss..." Alaria continued.</p><p></p><p>Fen wondered why the chief and shaman had begun to grin menacingly at them. Surely, these savages were terrified of the magess' ruse.</p><p></p><p>"GUYS!" Festus yelled.</p><p></p><p>"WHAT?!" Fen said in frustration before turning to see that Festus stood, his normal size, naked from the waist up (the satyr's sword belts had miraculously withstood the transformation into his huge form), as the last shades of orange disappeared from the goat-man's complextion. "...oh." the druid said quietly.</p><p></p><p>The chief let out a terrible roar and the six lizardmen (four guards before the chief and the two near the trophy wall) charged at the satyr, magess and druid.</p><p></p><p>Alaria, similarly made aware of Festus' return to his normal form, bolted for the double doors they had charged through a few moments before.</p><p></p><p>As soon as the three were through, Alaria turned and began weaving one of her only remaining spells to, hopefully, slow down if not entirely stop their pursuit.</p><p></p><p><em>"Arakness Aknis Arankinae!"</em> <mage spell: Web> The whole of the doorway, and the front two lizardmen guards, was entirely encased in a veritably "wall" of iridescent webbing. </p><p></p><p>The magess, druid and ranger raced down the corridors they had followed until they came to the turn off to descend to where the holding cell was with their companions.</p><p></p><p>They came around the bend to see two, thoroughly slacking off lizardmen guards. The druid and ranger made short work of them while Alaria entered the pen (swatting the locked gate open with an electrical charge of her staff).</p><p></p><p>"Alaria!" Haelan said gleefully. "Did you find them?"</p><p></p><p>Alaria began untying Braddok and "threw" her final cantrip toward Erevan. The ropes binding the elf began to untie themselves as Festus and Fen entered and hastily began unbinding the dwarf and halfling. </p><p></p><p>"Well great." Duor said as he rubbed his chafed wrists. "Now that the cavalry's here, wut're we doin'?"</p><p></p><p>Festus withdrew the rogue's ethereal dagger from the holding pack and handed it to the dwarf. "Prolly gonna be needin' this, my friend. We're far from in the woods, yet." <<em>Author's note: naturally, satyr's and other wildnerness creatures do not consider getting "out of the woods" to be the preferable place for safety.</em>> He also withdrew Haelan's returning shield and handed it off to the cleric.</p><p> </p><p>The druid tossed Braddok one of the lizard-guards spears. Erevan had taken up the other and their odd serated bone-short swords. He tossed one of those to Braddok as well. Fen also, almost forgetting, pulled out the Grinlian swordsman's shield and gave that to him.</p><p></p><p>As the party cautiously left the pen, the sounds of hissing and growling roars erupted throughout the corridor.</p><p></p><p>"Which way?!" the half-naked and unarmed Haelan said with great concern.</p><p></p><p>"Come on!" Festus said and began racing down the corridor, beyond the jail cell, that they had not explored.</p><p></p><p>"Do yeh know where yer goin'?" Duor questioned as all of the companions raced as fast as they could.</p><p></p><p>"Not a clue!" Festus answered with a smirk as he chose a side passage, at random and continued to race ahead.</p><p></p><p>"A colony this large must have more than one point of exit." Braddok reasoned...hoping to himself that he was correct.</p><p></p><p>"The warrior is correct. We just need to find it." Fen concurred.</p><p></p><p>They came to a crossroads and Festus stood, perplexed. Neither way showed any signs of the flickering torches he'd more or less been following up to then.</p><p></p><p>The sounds of pursuit were getting louder before Erevan's elvin senses came to the rescue. The slightest of cool air touched the elf's cheek and pointed ear in the direction of the leftside passage. The elf peered carefully down the passage and noted what none of the others possibly could, expect perhaps Duor, that the darkness at the edge of his vision took on the remotely lighter shade of darkness that was natural shadow as opposed to pure lightlessness.</p><p></p><p>"This way. There's an exit up here around this bend." the elf said and without waiting for a consensus took off down the leftside passage. The other followed with all speed.</p><p></p><p>Sure enough, the party raced around the passage bend and out a large opening before them. They all celebrated the fact they were outside before realizing they were inside a narrow (about 30 feet across) crevace of stone, not earth, lined on each side twenty foot high sheer walls of normal stone.</p><p></p><p>The outdoor alley extended nearly 100 yards before them to a natural-looking opening in the base of the mountain that towered before them, as far as they could see. About half way down the alley was a crudely formed long stone table or altar. Upon the stone was a large sack.</p><p></p><p>Erevan immediately recognized his bow and arrows sticking out of it and a sword hilt. It had to be the rest of their stuff!</p><p></p><p>The party began moving forward toward the stone table when a loud *CLACK!* sounded behind them. They turned to see a wooden portcullis had dropped before the archway they'd just exited.</p><p></p><p>Then the drums started.</p><p></p><p>"Aw, bollux. Way to take the blade offa the anvil n' into the fire...stupid point-ear." the dwarf grumbled. With the fading day, the whole of the corridor was bathed in shadow, though there was still a slight glow in the sky. Duor wasted no time to make his way to one of the walls and crouch down in the first shadow he could find. </p><p></p><p>"Hurry." Braddok commanded. "Get our things."</p><p></p><p>The rest of the group, en masse, began again to race for the stone altar/table.</p><p></p><p>Then a peculiar rhymic hissing intoned and their eyes went up to the rim of the stone alley.</p><p></p><p>Lizardfolk were appeared at the edge, in ever increasing numbers. Some were armed, some not. Some beat on drums and the cacophony of voices continued to rise in a repetitive chant.</p><p></p><p>"Oo-Hoo-hoo-<*thump*>Hrrrraaaaathsaaaa-Oo.<*thump*>Oo-Hoo-Hoo-Hrrraaaaathsaaaa-Oo <*thump*>"</p><p></p><p>The chanting became louder as Haelan reached the table and large sack. The daelvar frantically searched through the contents, unconcerned about the weapons or their coins, gems and other trinkets. He pulled out one jacket of chainmail but it was too big to be his, he just tossed it back in the bag. Where was it?! the daelvar Hilltender thought in panic.</p><p></p><p>"Oo-hoo-hoo<*thump*>Hrrraaaathsaaa-Oo.<*thump*>" the voices continued to intone until a single voice rose above the rest.</p><p></p><p>"Hrrrathsaaa, lord of lizards, mighty sssshadowsss. Your peoplesss implore your prrresssensssse." cried Hisses-to-Spirits from a balcony about ten feet above the blocked archway. His arms were stretched high, one holding Haelan's mace, the other another rattle-gourd wrapped in feathers.</p><p></p><p>"HEY! That's mine!" called Haelan up to the shaman. The lizard-spirit-man did not seem to hear.</p><p></p><p>Then, as Braddok and Erevan, broken from their observations, reached the table and began to hastily grab whatever weapons they could.</p><p></p><p>"To me, friends. Form up here, on me." Braddok commanded.</p><p></p><p>What were they going to do? Alaria wondered in panic. "Braddok, I've all but exhausted mind and body today. I do not know how much more magic I can muster. I suspect Fen is similarly short on power. We MUST find some way out of here and someplace secure to recuperate." the magess whispered to the swordsman.</p><p></p><p>"I fear you may have to wait a bit for that, magess." Braddok said stoically. Then he thought for a moment. He took in the lizardfolk around the edge of the crevace. None of them got any closerto the mountain than where the stone table sat in the alley below. Braddok looked to the large "circle" in the base of the mountain...50 yards away...with some luck, perhaps at least some of them could make it without spears in their backs.</p><p></p><p>"On my mark, we make for the mountain. It might not let out anywhere, but the lizardfolk do not seme to get near it." the swordsman reasoned.</p><p></p><p>Alaria turned to look at the mountain opening. Erevan also. It seemed like natural stone, but around the base looked odd. Like the stone had once been liquid and then solidified. Great drooping..."drops" for lack of a better term hung from the top of the roughly circular opening. Alaria was reminded of ice that had melted and then refrozen.</p><p></p><p>"Lord Hrrrathsaaa, heed your peoplesss pleasss. We offer tributesss of great pleashhhhurrrre." the shaman called. From somewhere the party could not see a loud gong sounded.</p><p></p><p>Alaria, still watching the opening and waiting for Braddok's "mark" gasped as two large narrow violet eyes began to glow from within the darkness at the end of the long stone alleyway.</p><p></p><p>"HERE it is!" Haelan cried in happiness as he pulled the silver chain which held, at its end, the silver pinecone symbol of Faernatha. "Thank the Hillmother." he smiled before turning and taking in the whole situation. His eyes widened at the site of the balcony with the shaman, the great gauntlet-clawed chief behind him, the multitude of lizardfolks above their heads and, finally, turning toward the cave opening, the giant purple eyes that stared out, directly toward them.</p><p></p><p>"Aw bullox." the daelvar said.</p><p></p><p>"Oo-hoo-hoo-Hrrraaathsaaa-Oo." the congregated lizards intoned again as a ginat head exited the shadows of the cave.</p><p></p><p>"Why do you call us, lizard-priest? Tributes, you say? So near the winter-sleep?" a curious voice bombed from the cave...in Common?!</p><p></p><p>It was huge, gleaming black, and dragon-like. The two violet eyes glowed menacingly at the party as a long serpentine neck stretched forward. It had curved black horns, like a ram, to each side of its head. A clawed black leg appeared, then two...then two more directly behind it...</p><p></p><p>"Ooooohoohoo!" the creature said when it saw the party. "PINK-flesh! Why didn't you say so!?"</p><p></p><p>The head and eyes did not shift from the party as the legs climbed the left side of the cave-opening, then four, then six moving the body across the top of the cave and down the right side again. The body, also gleaming in black with the occasional band of violet scales kind of "cork-screwed" its way out of the cave.</p><p></p><p>How many legs did this thing have? Alaria wondered. It was like no dragon she had ever seen a picture of. She'd counted eight and still the thing was not, entirely out of the cave and showed no signs of ending. It was, easily, from what she could see 40 feet long, and gods knew how much more of it was behind, still in the cave.</p><p></p><p>The creature reared up so it's first four legs were off of the ground and "sat" rather like a rearing serpent with its four clawed "fore-arms" (?) clapping together like a child at Candlemas in...was it...glee?</p><p></p><p>"Ooooohoohoohoo!" the creature seemed to be giggling.</p><p></p><p>"Do you know..." the dragon-centipede-thing seemed now to be addressing the party, "how long it's been since you brought me pink-flesh, lizard-priest?"</p><p></p><p>"Thisss prey hass done great wrongsss to your peoplesss, my lord. We givesss itsss gold and magicsss in tribute and beg you return our sssonsss to usss." the shaman replied, contritely.</p><p></p><p>The creature seemed to wave off the shaman's statements. "Gold and magic, you say?"</p><p></p><p>The creatures legs were pulled up close to its massive body and it "slithered" side to side, like a snake. In a blur it had raced passed the party's position on one side and coiled around them and the alter on the other. About a quarter of its full length towered over the speechless Stormriders.</p><p></p><p>Alaria was striken, paralyzed in fear, with the image from her spell sleep. A giant shadow snake had enwrapped her...what was the rest? Had it changed to a gold dragon? Or had it been gold first and turned black? What was it about this instant...she knew...she knew SOMEthing...</p><p></p><p>"Ooooohoohoohoo. Magics and gold." the creature said as one of its many many limbs picked up the sack and the rest of the party's things and passed it, limb to limb until the sack disappeared back into the cave. "You do know how I love treasure. Well done, lizard-priest."</p><p></p><p>The shaman bowed and again stared with menace down at the party, awaiting the creature to take its first victim.</p><p></p><p>"And soooo many to choooose from! Ooooohooohooohoo." the creature giggled again. "A feast of flavors you've brought me." It's face lowered and came near to Haelan. "And what is this lil' morsel?"</p><p></p><p>"Morsel?! Not bloody likely!" Haelan said as the creature's snout got a bit close for comfort. "I'm a daelvar, thank you very much. A Hilltender at that! You'd best not eat me or my goddess will SMITE you!" </p><p></p><p>The creature quickly reared back up and clapped its first four legs together again. "Oooohoohoo! And they talk! I can have company for weeks as I dine on one or two at a time! Excellent. EXCELLENT!" the entire length of the creature seemed to quiver with excitement.</p><p></p><p>Its draconic head again lowered near to the company's level and it said quietly, "Do you know how long its been since I've had someone to talk to? Lizard-priest's the only one that speaks passable Common." The creatures eyes went to the shaman. "And as you can see, his speech is somewhat...impeded. It's always 'tribute this' and 'gimme that.' Oooohoohoo. This will be WONderful!"</p><p></p><p>Bradok could hardly contain his awe of this snake-dragon-many-legged-chuckling-thing. Then Erevan nudged him in the side. He followed the elf's eyes to see a squat darkly cloaked figure edging its way toward the cave mouth. Duor! He was slinking away. He was almost there.</p><p></p><p>"<em>Can you detain this creature, killi?</em>" Erevan whispered to Fen in elvish. "<em>We must make for the cave</em>."</p><p></p><p>Fen nodded almost imperceptibly before the creature boomed.</p><p></p><p>"OOOOHOOHOOHOOOOO! They speak many things?! What was that? Ooo, elvish I suppose." Hrrrathsssa said toward Erevan. His head turned toward Alaria, "Never much cared for elves, you know? Taste like march-deer meat. Aren't you a lovely little thing?" </p><p></p><p>"My dear...um...Hrrathsssa, my companions and I would love to keep you company...if we could just..." Alaria figured the talkative creature might enjoy being addressed by someone other than the shaman.</p><p></p><p>"PLEASE! Please please...call me by my correct name, if you please. I am Rach'sha...As you've no doubt noted, lovely little thing, the lizards have certain impediments." the creature responded.</p><p></p><p>"Uh...well, yes...um, Rach'sha. I must say...in all of my years of study I've never encountered a creature of your...umm...elegant and very efficient design before. What species of dragon are you?" Alaria said as calmly as her quivering insides could muster.</p><p></p><p>"Dragon?!" Rach'sha recoiled. Its top/front two limbs pressed into its serpent-like neck, as if in offense.</p><p></p><p>"Oooohoohoo. No. No no, my dear. I am what is called a <em>Behir</em>. Though I shall admit..." it leaned down very close to Alaria and proceeded in what Alaria presumed to be a whisper, though it was still quite loud, "...I am <em>part</em> dragon...on my mother's side." the creature winked at the magess.</p><p></p><p>"Hrrrathsssa! Heed my pleasss and sssslay the prey that my thief'sss sssonsss be returned to usss, yesss?"</p><p></p><p>"RoohooHOOD! I'm having a conversation, here, lizard-priest!" Rach'sha rebuked and again, in a flash, slithered and reared up before the balcony on which the shaman and chief stood.</p><p></p><p>Both lizardmen recoiled in fear.</p><p></p><p>This brought the behir entirely out of the cave, so that only its tail end still passed the stone table. Bradok silently nudged Alaria and Erevan and the company, or most of them, began to slowly make their way around the stone.</p><p> </p><p>"Ummm, Mister Rach'sha, sir?" Haelan called. "Could you get my mace from the shaman...uh...please. That's mine, there." the daelvar implored.</p><p></p><p>All of the companions eyes went wide in disbelief. Fen even smacked his forward at the daelvar's completely awe-inspiring gall.</p><p></p><p>"Huh? Your what?" The behir said in confusion.</p><p></p><p>Haelan pointed with a broad smile toward the white mace with the pinecone shaped head. </p><p></p><p>"This?" the behir said, apparently unsure. The things great clawed forearm snatched the pace from the shaman's grip. It looked like little more than a white match in the monster's claws. "This is <em>yours?</em>"</p><p></p><p>"My lord!" Hisses-to-Spirits began in protest.</p><p></p><p>"SILENCE!" the behir boomed. All of the lizardfolk cowered at the thundering sound. "If this belongs to the lil' morsel, than shouldn't it be in the sack with my tribute of their magics?" the behir growled as its face moved ever closer to the balcony.</p><p></p><p>"Yesss. Yesss, my lord. But the prey sssaysss it needsss it to return the thampionsss to usss."</p><p></p><p>"Here." Rach'sha casually tossed the mace down in the direction of the daelvar. "MY prey. MY tributes. Do not forget your place, lizard-priest." the behir growled.</p><p></p><p>Haelan quickly scooped up the mace and smiled broadly at the rest of the group. "He's a bloody nice behir, whatever that is, isn't he? THANK YOU MIStER RACH'SHA!" the halfling priest called.</p><p></p><p>"You see there," Rach'sha's two right "arms" indicated the halfling as he continued to address the shaman. "Manners. Is it really so hard?"</p><p></p><p>"Haelan..." Braddok said in some exasperation. "MOVE!"</p><p></p><p>The party took off toward the cave mouth.</p><p></p><p>"My lord! Your prey!" the shaman protested.</p><p></p><p>The behir turned lazily to watch the party running as fast as they could toward HIS cave. </p><p></p><p>Behind them, they heard the behir's voice echoing through the alley of stone, "OOOOhoohoohoo! A hunt too! Pink flesh and HUNT? How FABulous!"</p><p></p><p>"My lord, the thamptions." Hisses-to-spirits implored.</p><p></p><p>"'The thampions. The thampions.' is that really all you can say?!" the behir argued.</p><p></p><p>Now, the chief pushed passed the shaman, violently and began hissing and roaring indignantly at the behir.</p><p></p><p>Reaching the edge of the cave, Alaria, Fen and Braddok turned to see the behir rear back from the balcony and take a deep inhale. There were folds of skin in its neck, below its jaw that expanded (like a pelican's pouch). The creature's draconic maw opened wide and a stream of orange liquid flew forth, bathing the lizardman chief.</p><p></p><p>The powerful chieftain roared in pain and slumped down out of view as the stone balcony on which he and shaman stood seemed to melt and bubble wherever the orange liquid splattered. </p><p></p><p>Alaria now realized why the stone about the cave face seemed to have been "melted." The creature breathed acid...of, apparently, an alarming causticity.</p><p></p><p>Cries of panic went up among the assembled liardfolk as they all raced away from the edges of the ceremonial crevace.</p><p></p><p>"Heed me, lizard priest, and heed it well " Rach'sha hissed behind closed sharp teeth, "MY power over the Lands of the Dead are a one-way door. Your champions are lost to you. GET OVER IT!"</p><p></p><p>The shaman was too busy cowering and bowing to take note of the behir turning and clapping its front four legs together.</p><p></p><p>"Now," said Rach'sha "a HUNT toooo?! Ooooohoohoohoo." The creature giggled as it slid, from side to side, approaching the cave mouth with incredible speed.</p><p></p><p>Fen raised voice in the sacred tongue. Alaria and Braddok covered their ears from the assault.</p><p></p><p>Roots and vines broke forth from the stone walls and ground and thoroughly entangled many of the behir's legs and much of its body.</p><p></p><p>"Oooohoohoohoo! And magic too. This will be such FUN!" Rach'sha thundered through the alley as he seemed to easily snap one leg free then another...and another.</p><p></p><p>"Come on!" Braddok said grabbing Fen and Alaria by their cloaks.</p><p></p><p>Alaria turned, she plucked one of her <em>two</em> remaining beads from her bracelet. This had to work. It <em>had</em> to!</p><p></p><p>The behir was free and again racing toward the cave.</p><p></p><p>Alaria waited as long as she dared and threw the force bead to where the cave mouth arched from a side to the top.</p><p></p><p>The bead burst with its amber light and knocked several of the rock "droplets" from their silent hanging place. Following that, the entire entrance began to rumble and rocks began crashing down all across the cave mouth. </p><p></p><p>Alaria and Braddok and Fen could see, through the raining boulders that the behir had easily reared up some tens of feet from the cave mouth and wasn't struck by any of them.</p><p></p><p>But when the rumbling stopped and the dust settled, the whole of the entrance, save a rather small space at the top, was thoroughly caved in.</p><p></p><p>"Learn that from some kobolds did you?" Braddok smiled at the magess.</p><p></p><p>Alaria chuckled out loud despite herself. The warrior's humor was returning and she found herself blushing and thoroughly exhilerated by their narrow escape from death. That was, of course, until a large draconic violet eye was seen in the small open space and she heard from the other side of the cave in.</p><p></p><p>"Ooohoohoohoo! Well played, pink-flesh. Well played. I shall be along shortly. There is, of course, no escape from Nor Gorthok. We shall play again...very very soon."</p><p></p><p>Then the swordsman, the magess and the druid heard a large intake of air and then a sizzling bubbling hissing sound on the other side of the rocks.</p><p></p><p>"Let's go! Let's go!" Braddok said, snapping the druid and magess from their horrified distraction.</p><p> </p><p>The heroes raced after their fellows deeper down into the very large high arching cavern.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5928029, member: 92511"] Alaria summoned to mind a couple of her few remaining cantrips, as she had done before other foes before. She caused the air to circle about her, rustling her cloak and hair, and flickers of violet flames to flare from her eyes. As Alaria was setting forth her "terms" for the company's release and demanding back Haelan's mace and holy symbol, Fen wandered over to the cowering lizardmen near the trophy wall. He took the swallowtail-hawk emblazoned shield and put it in the holding backpack he was toting. "I believe this belongs to us." the druid said dismissively and returned to Alaria's side. He crossed his arms and smirked a smug crooked grin as Alaria laid into the chief and shaman. "You WILL return our belongings and send us on our way..." Alaria continued. "Uh guys...", Festus said quietly behind them. "...and the hairfoot's mace and his goddess' holy symbol. They will avail you not..." the magess continued undeterred. "Guys?...Uh..." Festus murmured again. "We do not possess the means to return your lost warriors to you. But we are thoroughly sorry for the loss to you and your tribe..." the magess continued. "Alaria?" Fen said unsure where this line was going. "Guuuuys...problem..." Festus whispered again. "...but if you allow us to pass into the mountain unhindered, I swear we shall return with reparations for your loss..." Alaria continued. Fen wondered why the chief and shaman had begun to grin menacingly at them. Surely, these savages were terrified of the magess' ruse. "GUYS!" Festus yelled. "WHAT?!" Fen said in frustration before turning to see that Festus stood, his normal size, naked from the waist up (the satyr's sword belts had miraculously withstood the transformation into his huge form), as the last shades of orange disappeared from the goat-man's complextion. "...oh." the druid said quietly. The chief let out a terrible roar and the six lizardmen (four guards before the chief and the two near the trophy wall) charged at the satyr, magess and druid. Alaria, similarly made aware of Festus' return to his normal form, bolted for the double doors they had charged through a few moments before. As soon as the three were through, Alaria turned and began weaving one of her only remaining spells to, hopefully, slow down if not entirely stop their pursuit. [I]"Arakness Aknis Arankinae!"[/I] <mage spell: Web> The whole of the doorway, and the front two lizardmen guards, was entirely encased in a veritably "wall" of iridescent webbing. The magess, druid and ranger raced down the corridors they had followed until they came to the turn off to descend to where the holding cell was with their companions. They came around the bend to see two, thoroughly slacking off lizardmen guards. The druid and ranger made short work of them while Alaria entered the pen (swatting the locked gate open with an electrical charge of her staff). "Alaria!" Haelan said gleefully. "Did you find them?" Alaria began untying Braddok and "threw" her final cantrip toward Erevan. The ropes binding the elf began to untie themselves as Festus and Fen entered and hastily began unbinding the dwarf and halfling. "Well great." Duor said as he rubbed his chafed wrists. "Now that the cavalry's here, wut're we doin'?" Festus withdrew the rogue's ethereal dagger from the holding pack and handed it to the dwarf. "Prolly gonna be needin' this, my friend. We're far from in the woods, yet." <[I]Author's note: naturally, satyr's and other wildnerness creatures do not consider getting "out of the woods" to be the preferable place for safety.[/I]> He also withdrew Haelan's returning shield and handed it off to the cleric. The druid tossed Braddok one of the lizard-guards spears. Erevan had taken up the other and their odd serated bone-short swords. He tossed one of those to Braddok as well. Fen also, almost forgetting, pulled out the Grinlian swordsman's shield and gave that to him. As the party cautiously left the pen, the sounds of hissing and growling roars erupted throughout the corridor. "Which way?!" the half-naked and unarmed Haelan said with great concern. "Come on!" Festus said and began racing down the corridor, beyond the jail cell, that they had not explored. "Do yeh know where yer goin'?" Duor questioned as all of the companions raced as fast as they could. "Not a clue!" Festus answered with a smirk as he chose a side passage, at random and continued to race ahead. "A colony this large must have more than one point of exit." Braddok reasoned...hoping to himself that he was correct. "The warrior is correct. We just need to find it." Fen concurred. They came to a crossroads and Festus stood, perplexed. Neither way showed any signs of the flickering torches he'd more or less been following up to then. The sounds of pursuit were getting louder before Erevan's elvin senses came to the rescue. The slightest of cool air touched the elf's cheek and pointed ear in the direction of the leftside passage. The elf peered carefully down the passage and noted what none of the others possibly could, expect perhaps Duor, that the darkness at the edge of his vision took on the remotely lighter shade of darkness that was natural shadow as opposed to pure lightlessness. "This way. There's an exit up here around this bend." the elf said and without waiting for a consensus took off down the leftside passage. The other followed with all speed. Sure enough, the party raced around the passage bend and out a large opening before them. They all celebrated the fact they were outside before realizing they were inside a narrow (about 30 feet across) crevace of stone, not earth, lined on each side twenty foot high sheer walls of normal stone. The outdoor alley extended nearly 100 yards before them to a natural-looking opening in the base of the mountain that towered before them, as far as they could see. About half way down the alley was a crudely formed long stone table or altar. Upon the stone was a large sack. Erevan immediately recognized his bow and arrows sticking out of it and a sword hilt. It had to be the rest of their stuff! The party began moving forward toward the stone table when a loud *CLACK!* sounded behind them. They turned to see a wooden portcullis had dropped before the archway they'd just exited. Then the drums started. "Aw, bollux. Way to take the blade offa the anvil n' into the fire...stupid point-ear." the dwarf grumbled. With the fading day, the whole of the corridor was bathed in shadow, though there was still a slight glow in the sky. Duor wasted no time to make his way to one of the walls and crouch down in the first shadow he could find. "Hurry." Braddok commanded. "Get our things." The rest of the group, en masse, began again to race for the stone altar/table. Then a peculiar rhymic hissing intoned and their eyes went up to the rim of the stone alley. Lizardfolk were appeared at the edge, in ever increasing numbers. Some were armed, some not. Some beat on drums and the cacophony of voices continued to rise in a repetitive chant. "Oo-Hoo-hoo-<*thump*>Hrrrraaaaathsaaaa-Oo.<*thump*>Oo-Hoo-Hoo-Hrrraaaaathsaaaa-Oo <*thump*>" The chanting became louder as Haelan reached the table and large sack. The daelvar frantically searched through the contents, unconcerned about the weapons or their coins, gems and other trinkets. He pulled out one jacket of chainmail but it was too big to be his, he just tossed it back in the bag. Where was it?! the daelvar Hilltender thought in panic. "Oo-hoo-hoo<*thump*>Hrrraaaathsaaa-Oo.<*thump*>" the voices continued to intone until a single voice rose above the rest. "Hrrrathsaaa, lord of lizards, mighty sssshadowsss. Your peoplesss implore your prrresssensssse." cried Hisses-to-Spirits from a balcony about ten feet above the blocked archway. His arms were stretched high, one holding Haelan's mace, the other another rattle-gourd wrapped in feathers. "HEY! That's mine!" called Haelan up to the shaman. The lizard-spirit-man did not seem to hear. Then, as Braddok and Erevan, broken from their observations, reached the table and began to hastily grab whatever weapons they could. "To me, friends. Form up here, on me." Braddok commanded. What were they going to do? Alaria wondered in panic. "Braddok, I've all but exhausted mind and body today. I do not know how much more magic I can muster. I suspect Fen is similarly short on power. We MUST find some way out of here and someplace secure to recuperate." the magess whispered to the swordsman. "I fear you may have to wait a bit for that, magess." Braddok said stoically. Then he thought for a moment. He took in the lizardfolk around the edge of the crevace. None of them got any closerto the mountain than where the stone table sat in the alley below. Braddok looked to the large "circle" in the base of the mountain...50 yards away...with some luck, perhaps at least some of them could make it without spears in their backs. "On my mark, we make for the mountain. It might not let out anywhere, but the lizardfolk do not seme to get near it." the swordsman reasoned. Alaria turned to look at the mountain opening. Erevan also. It seemed like natural stone, but around the base looked odd. Like the stone had once been liquid and then solidified. Great drooping..."drops" for lack of a better term hung from the top of the roughly circular opening. Alaria was reminded of ice that had melted and then refrozen. "Lord Hrrrathsaaa, heed your peoplesss pleasss. We offer tributesss of great pleashhhhurrrre." the shaman called. From somewhere the party could not see a loud gong sounded. Alaria, still watching the opening and waiting for Braddok's "mark" gasped as two large narrow violet eyes began to glow from within the darkness at the end of the long stone alleyway. "HERE it is!" Haelan cried in happiness as he pulled the silver chain which held, at its end, the silver pinecone symbol of Faernatha. "Thank the Hillmother." he smiled before turning and taking in the whole situation. His eyes widened at the site of the balcony with the shaman, the great gauntlet-clawed chief behind him, the multitude of lizardfolks above their heads and, finally, turning toward the cave opening, the giant purple eyes that stared out, directly toward them. "Aw bullox." the daelvar said. "Oo-hoo-hoo-Hrrraaathsaaa-Oo." the congregated lizards intoned again as a ginat head exited the shadows of the cave. "Why do you call us, lizard-priest? Tributes, you say? So near the winter-sleep?" a curious voice bombed from the cave...in Common?! It was huge, gleaming black, and dragon-like. The two violet eyes glowed menacingly at the party as a long serpentine neck stretched forward. It had curved black horns, like a ram, to each side of its head. A clawed black leg appeared, then two...then two more directly behind it... "Ooooohoohoo!" the creature said when it saw the party. "PINK-flesh! Why didn't you say so!?" The head and eyes did not shift from the party as the legs climbed the left side of the cave-opening, then four, then six moving the body across the top of the cave and down the right side again. The body, also gleaming in black with the occasional band of violet scales kind of "cork-screwed" its way out of the cave. How many legs did this thing have? Alaria wondered. It was like no dragon she had ever seen a picture of. She'd counted eight and still the thing was not, entirely out of the cave and showed no signs of ending. It was, easily, from what she could see 40 feet long, and gods knew how much more of it was behind, still in the cave. The creature reared up so it's first four legs were off of the ground and "sat" rather like a rearing serpent with its four clawed "fore-arms" (?) clapping together like a child at Candlemas in...was it...glee? "Ooooohoohoohoo!" the creature seemed to be giggling. "Do you know..." the dragon-centipede-thing seemed now to be addressing the party, "how long it's been since you brought me pink-flesh, lizard-priest?" "Thisss prey hass done great wrongsss to your peoplesss, my lord. We givesss itsss gold and magicsss in tribute and beg you return our sssonsss to usss." the shaman replied, contritely. The creature seemed to wave off the shaman's statements. "Gold and magic, you say?" The creatures legs were pulled up close to its massive body and it "slithered" side to side, like a snake. In a blur it had raced passed the party's position on one side and coiled around them and the alter on the other. About a quarter of its full length towered over the speechless Stormriders. Alaria was striken, paralyzed in fear, with the image from her spell sleep. A giant shadow snake had enwrapped her...what was the rest? Had it changed to a gold dragon? Or had it been gold first and turned black? What was it about this instant...she knew...she knew SOMEthing... "Ooooohoohoohoo. Magics and gold." the creature said as one of its many many limbs picked up the sack and the rest of the party's things and passed it, limb to limb until the sack disappeared back into the cave. "You do know how I love treasure. Well done, lizard-priest." The shaman bowed and again stared with menace down at the party, awaiting the creature to take its first victim. "And soooo many to choooose from! Ooooohooohooohoo." the creature giggled again. "A feast of flavors you've brought me." It's face lowered and came near to Haelan. "And what is this lil' morsel?" "Morsel?! Not bloody likely!" Haelan said as the creature's snout got a bit close for comfort. "I'm a daelvar, thank you very much. A Hilltender at that! You'd best not eat me or my goddess will SMITE you!" The creature quickly reared back up and clapped its first four legs together again. "Oooohoohoo! And they talk! I can have company for weeks as I dine on one or two at a time! Excellent. EXCELLENT!" the entire length of the creature seemed to quiver with excitement. Its draconic head again lowered near to the company's level and it said quietly, "Do you know how long its been since I've had someone to talk to? Lizard-priest's the only one that speaks passable Common." The creatures eyes went to the shaman. "And as you can see, his speech is somewhat...impeded. It's always 'tribute this' and 'gimme that.' Oooohoohoo. This will be WONderful!" Bradok could hardly contain his awe of this snake-dragon-many-legged-chuckling-thing. Then Erevan nudged him in the side. He followed the elf's eyes to see a squat darkly cloaked figure edging its way toward the cave mouth. Duor! He was slinking away. He was almost there. "[I]Can you detain this creature, killi?[/I]" Erevan whispered to Fen in elvish. "[I]We must make for the cave[/I]." Fen nodded almost imperceptibly before the creature boomed. "OOOOHOOHOOHOOOOO! They speak many things?! What was that? Ooo, elvish I suppose." Hrrrathsssa said toward Erevan. His head turned toward Alaria, "Never much cared for elves, you know? Taste like march-deer meat. Aren't you a lovely little thing?" "My dear...um...Hrrathsssa, my companions and I would love to keep you company...if we could just..." Alaria figured the talkative creature might enjoy being addressed by someone other than the shaman. "PLEASE! Please please...call me by my correct name, if you please. I am Rach'sha...As you've no doubt noted, lovely little thing, the lizards have certain impediments." the creature responded. "Uh...well, yes...um, Rach'sha. I must say...in all of my years of study I've never encountered a creature of your...umm...elegant and very efficient design before. What species of dragon are you?" Alaria said as calmly as her quivering insides could muster. "Dragon?!" Rach'sha recoiled. Its top/front two limbs pressed into its serpent-like neck, as if in offense. "Oooohoohoo. No. No no, my dear. I am what is called a [I]Behir[/I]. Though I shall admit..." it leaned down very close to Alaria and proceeded in what Alaria presumed to be a whisper, though it was still quite loud, "...I am [I]part[/I] dragon...on my mother's side." the creature winked at the magess. "Hrrrathsssa! Heed my pleasss and sssslay the prey that my thief'sss sssonsss be returned to usss, yesss?" "RoohooHOOD! I'm having a conversation, here, lizard-priest!" Rach'sha rebuked and again, in a flash, slithered and reared up before the balcony on which the shaman and chief stood. Both lizardmen recoiled in fear. This brought the behir entirely out of the cave, so that only its tail end still passed the stone table. Bradok silently nudged Alaria and Erevan and the company, or most of them, began to slowly make their way around the stone. "Ummm, Mister Rach'sha, sir?" Haelan called. "Could you get my mace from the shaman...uh...please. That's mine, there." the daelvar implored. All of the companions eyes went wide in disbelief. Fen even smacked his forward at the daelvar's completely awe-inspiring gall. "Huh? Your what?" The behir said in confusion. Haelan pointed with a broad smile toward the white mace with the pinecone shaped head. "This?" the behir said, apparently unsure. The things great clawed forearm snatched the pace from the shaman's grip. It looked like little more than a white match in the monster's claws. "This is [I]yours?[/I]" "My lord!" Hisses-to-Spirits began in protest. "SILENCE!" the behir boomed. All of the lizardfolk cowered at the thundering sound. "If this belongs to the lil' morsel, than shouldn't it be in the sack with my tribute of their magics?" the behir growled as its face moved ever closer to the balcony. "Yesss. Yesss, my lord. But the prey sssaysss it needsss it to return the thampionsss to usss." "Here." Rach'sha casually tossed the mace down in the direction of the daelvar. "MY prey. MY tributes. Do not forget your place, lizard-priest." the behir growled. Haelan quickly scooped up the mace and smiled broadly at the rest of the group. "He's a bloody nice behir, whatever that is, isn't he? THANK YOU MIStER RACH'SHA!" the halfling priest called. "You see there," Rach'sha's two right "arms" indicated the halfling as he continued to address the shaman. "Manners. Is it really so hard?" "Haelan..." Braddok said in some exasperation. "MOVE!" The party took off toward the cave mouth. "My lord! Your prey!" the shaman protested. The behir turned lazily to watch the party running as fast as they could toward HIS cave. Behind them, they heard the behir's voice echoing through the alley of stone, "OOOOhoohoohoo! A hunt too! Pink flesh and HUNT? How FABulous!" "My lord, the thamptions." Hisses-to-spirits implored. "'The thampions. The thampions.' is that really all you can say?!" the behir argued. Now, the chief pushed passed the shaman, violently and began hissing and roaring indignantly at the behir. Reaching the edge of the cave, Alaria, Fen and Braddok turned to see the behir rear back from the balcony and take a deep inhale. There were folds of skin in its neck, below its jaw that expanded (like a pelican's pouch). The creature's draconic maw opened wide and a stream of orange liquid flew forth, bathing the lizardman chief. The powerful chieftain roared in pain and slumped down out of view as the stone balcony on which he and shaman stood seemed to melt and bubble wherever the orange liquid splattered. Alaria now realized why the stone about the cave face seemed to have been "melted." The creature breathed acid...of, apparently, an alarming causticity. Cries of panic went up among the assembled liardfolk as they all raced away from the edges of the ceremonial crevace. "Heed me, lizard priest, and heed it well " Rach'sha hissed behind closed sharp teeth, "MY power over the Lands of the Dead are a one-way door. Your champions are lost to you. GET OVER IT!" The shaman was too busy cowering and bowing to take note of the behir turning and clapping its front four legs together. "Now," said Rach'sha "a HUNT toooo?! Ooooohoohoohoo." The creature giggled as it slid, from side to side, approaching the cave mouth with incredible speed. Fen raised voice in the sacred tongue. Alaria and Braddok covered their ears from the assault. Roots and vines broke forth from the stone walls and ground and thoroughly entangled many of the behir's legs and much of its body. "Oooohoohoohoo! And magic too. This will be such FUN!" Rach'sha thundered through the alley as he seemed to easily snap one leg free then another...and another. "Come on!" Braddok said grabbing Fen and Alaria by their cloaks. Alaria turned, she plucked one of her [I]two[/I] remaining beads from her bracelet. This had to work. It [I]had[/I] to! The behir was free and again racing toward the cave. Alaria waited as long as she dared and threw the force bead to where the cave mouth arched from a side to the top. The bead burst with its amber light and knocked several of the rock "droplets" from their silent hanging place. Following that, the entire entrance began to rumble and rocks began crashing down all across the cave mouth. Alaria and Braddok and Fen could see, through the raining boulders that the behir had easily reared up some tens of feet from the cave mouth and wasn't struck by any of them. But when the rumbling stopped and the dust settled, the whole of the entrance, save a rather small space at the top, was thoroughly caved in. "Learn that from some kobolds did you?" Braddok smiled at the magess. Alaria chuckled out loud despite herself. The warrior's humor was returning and she found herself blushing and thoroughly exhilerated by their narrow escape from death. That was, of course, until a large draconic violet eye was seen in the small open space and she heard from the other side of the cave in. "Ooohoohoohoo! Well played, pink-flesh. Well played. I shall be along shortly. There is, of course, no escape from Nor Gorthok. We shall play again...very very soon." Then the swordsman, the magess and the druid heard a large intake of air and then a sizzling bubbling hissing sound on the other side of the rocks. "Let's go! Let's go!" Braddok said, snapping the druid and magess from their horrified distraction. The heroes raced after their fellows deeper down into the very large high arching cavern. [/QUOTE]
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