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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5938023" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Alaria, Braddok and Fen followed their companions down the wide slope of the cavern. It was very high and arched, seemingly entirely natural stone. A few great pillars of rock had formed over the ages where the stalagmites and stalactites had met. In other areas great spires rose from the floor at different heights and various sized spikes hung from the ceiling. The entire place gave off a slight glow of iridescent orange, soft green and yellow from veins of curious minerals layered through the rock.</p><p>The feint taint of sulfur filled the air.</p><p></p><p>All of the companions (except Braddok) were reminded of the cavern in which they'd encountered the piercers and Hargak and very much hoped either of those creatures did not share the behir's lair.</p><p></p><p>They came around a bend to find the others rifling through the sack the behir had just acquired. Duor was pulling on his magic boots, Haelan was donning his chainmail shirt (no doubt too small to be of any use to the lizardmen) and rejoiced to find his helmet with the tree-patterned noseguard and front he'd taken, with great humility and respect, from one of the fallen elvin soldiers at Silver Falls.</p><p></p><p>The daelvar breathed a long sigh of relief to pull his "food bowl" out of the holding pack as well. "Thank Faerantha we still have this. I am starving! Can we have dinner now? We completely missed lunch!"</p><p></p><p>"No we cain't have dinner now, yeh daft hairfoot. We've gotta hundred feet of dragon-snake out there waitin' to eat us!" Duor snapped s he jumped to his feet, silently lamenting that his hand crossbow and small dart-sized quiver did not seem to be in the packs or sack of treasure. He did, however collect a small handful (3 more uses) firestone shards. The dwarf immediately took off further into the cavern to begin searching for an exit...preferably one that would be too small for the behir to follow.</p><p></p><p>"Here, Braddok. Here's yours!" Haelan offered the swordsman, lugging with some difficulty the large man's short-sleeved chainmail shirt. The warrior donned it quickly and grabbed up the slightly enchanted longsword from the bag of tribute treasures. His dagger and short bow did not seem to be among the booty.</p><p></p><p>Erevan recovered the odd dark-bladed hunting knife and his magic quiver. Unfortunately, only 3 of the enchanted arrows had remained within it. He recovered a total of 15 arrows, though he knew those not in the quiver would have lost their magic. He filled the Quiver of Tethyril (10 arrows), nocked one in his longbow and stuck the remaining 4 into his belt.</p><p></p><p>"We really don't have time for this. Is everyone ready? We must find a way out of here." Alaria said with alarm as the sound of hissing and bubbling stone echoed down into the chamber.</p><p></p><p>Festus and Fen had been searching other areas of the cavern out of view and all came running when they heard Duor cry out.</p><p></p><p>All of the companions came racing around a bend to see the back of the dwarf in a small crack in the cavern wall. The dwarf turned around at their alarmed approach, a huge non-too-pretty smile on the dwarf's face. His hnds were filled with shining coins and gemstones that glittered in the strange ambient light of the place.</p><p></p><p>"LOOK! Not a dragon's hoard to be sure, but a damn fine haul!" the dwarf said, elated.</p><p></p><p>"We don't have time, Duor. Grab what we can and let's find a way out of here." Alaria again warned.</p><p></p><p>"Braddok, gimme yer shield boy. Haelan, the holding pack!" the dwarf commanded and began shoveling treasure with the shield into the 'bottomless' backpack.</p><p></p><p>Alaria saw, within the shoveled treasures more than one scrollcase, but there was definitely no time to examine them now. She was so very tired. It had been a day of travel, being sucked dry by poisonous vines, captured, escaped, and now on the run from a behir. She had next to no energy left for the working of her magics, not to mention her remaining spells were of a limited defensive use. She looked to her wrist and the bracelet of forcebeads that had only one small ball of amber hanging from it. By her calculations, the Staff of Azanna had three, perhaps four, bolts of lightning left in it before it would require recharging. She was in desperate need of rest...more than one day if at all possible. </p><p></p><p>Duor stopped shoveling when he struck something rather large and began to chuckle. "Heheheheh. Ohhhh Braddok. Think yeh might have some use fer somethin' like THIS!"</p><p></p><p>The dwarf pulled out a long wide scabbard that was wrapped in threads of gold and dotted with blue gems along its length. He passed the sword to the warrior who took it, the awe apparent on his face.</p><p></p><p>The hilt was similarly golden and jeweled with oval sapphires. He withdrew the blade, longer than his own sword, but noticeably lighter and beautifully balanced. When it was fully draw, the blade flared with a blue light that shone in a 20 foot radius.</p><p></p><p>The warrior gave it a few test swings and believed he could use the weapon with his shield, even though the handle had room enough for him to use both hands if he chose. The Grinlian swordsman was at a loss for words at the weapons beauty.</p><p></p><p>"Niiiice blade. I don't suppose there's any armor in there?" the still unarmored, naked save for his cloak, belts and pouches, Festus said.</p><p></p><p>"Hmmm..." the dwarf said as he returned to shoveling treasure into the holding pack. "Other stuff to be sure, it goes back some ways."</p><p></p><p>"Is there a way OUT?!" Alaria burst. "Otherwise..."</p><p></p><p>"Here, magess." Fen's voice called from another bend in the cavern.</p><p></p><p>Alaria and Braddok raced to the druid's location. They found the source of the sulfur smell. A large pool that was giving off yellowy fumes and bubbling from some natural hotspring. The entire pool seemed to glow from the stone beneath it. </p><p></p><p>The humans quickly covered their noses from the noxious fumes and came to stand near the druid who was pointing at a large pile of bones against the wall. </p><p></p><p>When they looked questioningly at the druid, he pointed up the wall. About twenty feet off the floor there was a hole in the cavern wall that might have been easily missed, almost masked by the natural crenulated rock face.</p><p></p><p>It appeared to be only about four feet in diameter.</p><p></p><p>"Small enough that the behir should not be able to follow." Fen noted.</p><p></p><p>"Well done, Fen!" Braddok said with a smile. "How'd we get up there?" </p><p></p><p>Erevan and Haelan came racing to the pile of bones. "However it is, we need to do it NOW!" Erevan said in obvious urgency. "Rach'sha is almost through the cave in."</p><p></p><p>Braddok looked around the bend at the dwarf who was examining a coil of silver-white rope, while the satyr was scooping handfuls of coins into the pack he carried. "Duor! Festus! NOW!" the swordsman commanded.</p><p></p><p>"But how are we..." Haelan began to ask as Alaria, who had been murmuring, began to float up into the air. <<em>mage spell: Levitate</em>></p><p></p><p>Fen, similarly began to chant quietly and within a moment, shouldered his spear, reached up and then "stepped" onto the wall.</p><p></p><p>"Come, friend Haelan. Quickly now, up my back." the druid said to the wide-eyed daelvar.</p><p></p><p>The halfling did as asked and Fen, with a bit of difficulty (the armored Hilltender was heavier than the half-elf expected), began to climb up the wall like a spider.</p><p></p><p>"But, what about the others?" Haelan said looking down at the swordsman and elf who were, apparently waiting for their lagging greedy companions.</p><p></p><p>Alaria continued to float beside the opening. Her vision could not pierce the darkness of the small opening, but anywhere the behir was not was preferable. She looked down and heard the low rumble and hissing sounds of rocks being dissolved and toppling over. No time.</p><p></p><p>"Braddok, be ready." the magess called down and called to mind the enlarging incantation she'd used many times before. "<em>Cirenbyr Beliviara”<mage spell: Enlarge></em> </p><p></p><p>The swordsman grew to nearly the height of the opening and putting his hand down was all of the invitation Erevan needed. The elf lept up upon the giant human's thick forearm and raced up his arm, across his broad shoulders and continued up the other arm to gain access to the chamber. </p><p></p><p>Erevan set his bow, prepared to fire at the first sight of the creature.</p><p></p><p>As Fen reached the opening with Haelan on his back, it was apparent the opening was too small for the elf to block with his form.</p><p></p><p>"Inside! Everyone inside! Go! Hurry, as far in as you can! Don't look back, don't wait. We're getting out of here." Braddok deep booming voice said.</p><p></p><p>Alaria looked, concerned, at the swordsman.</p><p></p><p>"I'll be along, soon as the others are in." Braddok said to her. "You must hurry."</p><p></p><p>Alaria nodded, solemnly, and floated her way over and into the opening. Erevan and Fen were crouched some distance inside. Haelan (the only one who could actually stand in the narrow short opening) looked at the magess.</p><p></p><p>"You heard him. Move! Move! We must be away from here, the beast may be able to get partially in here...or can breathe his deadly acid. We must be away." Alaria commanded.</p><p></p><p>The others nodded seriously and began to move slowly further down...or "up" the shaft. Erevan called into being his puffball of light to lead their way and the four moved with all speed.</p><p></p><p>Shortly thereafter, they could hear Festus' hooves entering the chamber (having clambered up Braddok's large form) and finally Duor's grumbling voice about "what [they'd] left."</p><p></p><p>Alaria turned back as a booming roar shook through the cavern and passageway. Dirt and small pieces of rock shook loose all around them. She could see back passed the silhouettes of the satyr and dwarf (who could also stand in the passage) to see Braddok's huge form block all of the light of the cavern.</p><p></p><p>"Alaria! We're clear!" Braddok's voice boomed in return.</p><p></p><p>The magess released the enchantment on the swordsman who had placed a giant hand on the lip of the passage, as he shrunk he, more or less, climbed and shrank his was into the passage, though the man's large form was cramped in the small space.</p><p></p><p>"Noooooohoohoo!" Rach'sha's voice again thundered through the rocks. "Pink FLESHHHH! You disappoint me, pink-flesh. Like boiling fish in a pond. I will dissolve you all and sip you like soup!"</p><p></p><p>The behir's large head appeared at the edge of the opening. </p><p></p><p>"Festus, Duor, to one side!" Alaria cried, hearing the behir's large intake of breath. The magess realized in this tiny tube they were, in fact, sitting ducks. </p><p></p><p>She summoned the last of her elementary spells with as much of her energy as she could muster. She knew, in the depths of her mind and spirit, that she would not be able to extend herself much further without risking the spell-sleep. </p><p></p><p><em>"Beriz theran!"<mage spell: Shield</em>> Alaria called even as the behir began to exhale.</p><p></p><p>A field of pale blue light burst into being just behind Braddok's shape. Through the translucent light, the splattering and flowing of liquid was quite evident. A caustic odor assaulted all of the companions in the small narrow space. Several of them became physically ill from the nasal onslaught.</p><p></p><p>The hissing and smouldering of the surrounding rocks began to melt and collapse around and through the mystic shield even as a crying boom of a lament from the behir echoed around them.</p><p></p><p>When the sizzling and smouldering had subsided, Alaria dispeled the magical shield to see that the whole of the passage had been dissolved and melted...completely closed off.</p><p></p><p>"No worries about pursuit, at least. acheh." Festus attempted to smile as he wiped the last of some sick from his goateed chin.</p><p></p><p>A short distance further and the companions came to a small, but open chamber. The air was stale, but not filled with nauseating fumes. A quick survey of the near empty chamber revealed a circular opening in the ceiling, beneath which sat an obviously old iron mining cart. There was also a passageway that led off the chamber, and unlit torches in sconces to each side of the passage. </p><p></p><p>Alaria floated out of the slanted "chute" of a passage and hovered in midair for a moment as Festus, Duor and finally Braddok exited into the chamber. Then, she simply collapsed upon the chamber floor.</p><p></p><p>Braddok and Haelan rushed to her side. Fearful that the magess might again slip into her catatonia.</p><p></p><p>"I am...alright." Alaria replied to their queries, though the exhaustion was evident in her voice. "But I simply can not continue. We must rest here. We must. I simply can't." Alaria's final sentence sounded apologetic.</p><p></p><p>"The magess is correct." Fen added stoically. "I am sorely tired from the day's activities."</p><p></p><p>"Nothing to apologize for, Alaria. Or you Fen...OR Festus! We finally have a moment to thank you for the save from those awful lizard-men." Haelan said cheerily.</p><p></p><p>"We seem to be out of harm's way for the moment. I concur, it's been a bloody long day! We should rest here."</p><p></p><p>Noone argued and everyone more or less collapsed where they stood.</p><p></p><p>The daelvar wasted no time withdrawing the grey and red-flecked magical food-producing bowl. "And it's passed time for dinner AND lunch. What do we fancy?" he smiled to the group at large. </p><p></p><p>"Could give me a lizardman steak for all I care." Festus joked. "I'm starving!"</p><p></p><p>"Mutton pasties it is then." Haelan replied with a grin. </p><p></p><p>Festus was able to withdraw only two wineskins from Imgulg's magic packs. They rationed carefully and ate and drank in near silence. Alaria passed out on the dirt floor, wrapped only in her cloak, before most of the rest had finished eating.</p><p></p><p>Braddok finally noted, as the others set about watches and settling in, that the wizard was barely covered by the remains of her traveling gown. The man found his eyes lingering upon her mud and dirt smudged skin and the near alabaster where the wear and muck of the day had not yet found.</p><p></p><p>The swordsman took it upon himself to search for her purple gown in the holding packs and was delighted to find it.</p><p></p><p>Erevan silently came up behind him and touched his shoulder. With an unspoken look, he told the man to get his rest. Braddok nodded in reply and quite easily fell into a deep slumber.</p><p></p><p>Duor was already out cold and mumbling to himself in his sleep about "riches" and "coin" and "take that!".</p><p></p><p>Erevan took a position beside the open passageway. His elvin sight allowed him a good amount of vision down the dark corridor. He set aside his bow and placed the few un-quivered arrows on the floor beside him. He took out his spellbook and quietly began to study, keeping his astute pointed ears open for any warning of approach.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5938023, member: 92511"] Alaria, Braddok and Fen followed their companions down the wide slope of the cavern. It was very high and arched, seemingly entirely natural stone. A few great pillars of rock had formed over the ages where the stalagmites and stalactites had met. In other areas great spires rose from the floor at different heights and various sized spikes hung from the ceiling. The entire place gave off a slight glow of iridescent orange, soft green and yellow from veins of curious minerals layered through the rock. The feint taint of sulfur filled the air. All of the companions (except Braddok) were reminded of the cavern in which they'd encountered the piercers and Hargak and very much hoped either of those creatures did not share the behir's lair. They came around a bend to find the others rifling through the sack the behir had just acquired. Duor was pulling on his magic boots, Haelan was donning his chainmail shirt (no doubt too small to be of any use to the lizardmen) and rejoiced to find his helmet with the tree-patterned noseguard and front he'd taken, with great humility and respect, from one of the fallen elvin soldiers at Silver Falls. The daelvar breathed a long sigh of relief to pull his "food bowl" out of the holding pack as well. "Thank Faerantha we still have this. I am starving! Can we have dinner now? We completely missed lunch!" "No we cain't have dinner now, yeh daft hairfoot. We've gotta hundred feet of dragon-snake out there waitin' to eat us!" Duor snapped s he jumped to his feet, silently lamenting that his hand crossbow and small dart-sized quiver did not seem to be in the packs or sack of treasure. He did, however collect a small handful (3 more uses) firestone shards. The dwarf immediately took off further into the cavern to begin searching for an exit...preferably one that would be too small for the behir to follow. "Here, Braddok. Here's yours!" Haelan offered the swordsman, lugging with some difficulty the large man's short-sleeved chainmail shirt. The warrior donned it quickly and grabbed up the slightly enchanted longsword from the bag of tribute treasures. His dagger and short bow did not seem to be among the booty. Erevan recovered the odd dark-bladed hunting knife and his magic quiver. Unfortunately, only 3 of the enchanted arrows had remained within it. He recovered a total of 15 arrows, though he knew those not in the quiver would have lost their magic. He filled the Quiver of Tethyril (10 arrows), nocked one in his longbow and stuck the remaining 4 into his belt. "We really don't have time for this. Is everyone ready? We must find a way out of here." Alaria said with alarm as the sound of hissing and bubbling stone echoed down into the chamber. Festus and Fen had been searching other areas of the cavern out of view and all came running when they heard Duor cry out. All of the companions came racing around a bend to see the back of the dwarf in a small crack in the cavern wall. The dwarf turned around at their alarmed approach, a huge non-too-pretty smile on the dwarf's face. His hnds were filled with shining coins and gemstones that glittered in the strange ambient light of the place. "LOOK! Not a dragon's hoard to be sure, but a damn fine haul!" the dwarf said, elated. "We don't have time, Duor. Grab what we can and let's find a way out of here." Alaria again warned. "Braddok, gimme yer shield boy. Haelan, the holding pack!" the dwarf commanded and began shoveling treasure with the shield into the 'bottomless' backpack. Alaria saw, within the shoveled treasures more than one scrollcase, but there was definitely no time to examine them now. She was so very tired. It had been a day of travel, being sucked dry by poisonous vines, captured, escaped, and now on the run from a behir. She had next to no energy left for the working of her magics, not to mention her remaining spells were of a limited defensive use. She looked to her wrist and the bracelet of forcebeads that had only one small ball of amber hanging from it. By her calculations, the Staff of Azanna had three, perhaps four, bolts of lightning left in it before it would require recharging. She was in desperate need of rest...more than one day if at all possible. Duor stopped shoveling when he struck something rather large and began to chuckle. "Heheheheh. Ohhhh Braddok. Think yeh might have some use fer somethin' like THIS!" The dwarf pulled out a long wide scabbard that was wrapped in threads of gold and dotted with blue gems along its length. He passed the sword to the warrior who took it, the awe apparent on his face. The hilt was similarly golden and jeweled with oval sapphires. He withdrew the blade, longer than his own sword, but noticeably lighter and beautifully balanced. When it was fully draw, the blade flared with a blue light that shone in a 20 foot radius. The warrior gave it a few test swings and believed he could use the weapon with his shield, even though the handle had room enough for him to use both hands if he chose. The Grinlian swordsman was at a loss for words at the weapons beauty. "Niiiice blade. I don't suppose there's any armor in there?" the still unarmored, naked save for his cloak, belts and pouches, Festus said. "Hmmm..." the dwarf said as he returned to shoveling treasure into the holding pack. "Other stuff to be sure, it goes back some ways." "Is there a way OUT?!" Alaria burst. "Otherwise..." "Here, magess." Fen's voice called from another bend in the cavern. Alaria and Braddok raced to the druid's location. They found the source of the sulfur smell. A large pool that was giving off yellowy fumes and bubbling from some natural hotspring. The entire pool seemed to glow from the stone beneath it. The humans quickly covered their noses from the noxious fumes and came to stand near the druid who was pointing at a large pile of bones against the wall. When they looked questioningly at the druid, he pointed up the wall. About twenty feet off the floor there was a hole in the cavern wall that might have been easily missed, almost masked by the natural crenulated rock face. It appeared to be only about four feet in diameter. "Small enough that the behir should not be able to follow." Fen noted. "Well done, Fen!" Braddok said with a smile. "How'd we get up there?" Erevan and Haelan came racing to the pile of bones. "However it is, we need to do it NOW!" Erevan said in obvious urgency. "Rach'sha is almost through the cave in." Braddok looked around the bend at the dwarf who was examining a coil of silver-white rope, while the satyr was scooping handfuls of coins into the pack he carried. "Duor! Festus! NOW!" the swordsman commanded. "But how are we..." Haelan began to ask as Alaria, who had been murmuring, began to float up into the air. <[I]mage spell: Levitate[/I]> Fen, similarly began to chant quietly and within a moment, shouldered his spear, reached up and then "stepped" onto the wall. "Come, friend Haelan. Quickly now, up my back." the druid said to the wide-eyed daelvar. The halfling did as asked and Fen, with a bit of difficulty (the armored Hilltender was heavier than the half-elf expected), began to climb up the wall like a spider. "But, what about the others?" Haelan said looking down at the swordsman and elf who were, apparently waiting for their lagging greedy companions. Alaria continued to float beside the opening. Her vision could not pierce the darkness of the small opening, but anywhere the behir was not was preferable. She looked down and heard the low rumble and hissing sounds of rocks being dissolved and toppling over. No time. "Braddok, be ready." the magess called down and called to mind the enlarging incantation she'd used many times before. "[I]Cirenbyr Beliviara”<mage spell: Enlarge>[/I] The swordsman grew to nearly the height of the opening and putting his hand down was all of the invitation Erevan needed. The elf lept up upon the giant human's thick forearm and raced up his arm, across his broad shoulders and continued up the other arm to gain access to the chamber. Erevan set his bow, prepared to fire at the first sight of the creature. As Fen reached the opening with Haelan on his back, it was apparent the opening was too small for the elf to block with his form. "Inside! Everyone inside! Go! Hurry, as far in as you can! Don't look back, don't wait. We're getting out of here." Braddok deep booming voice said. Alaria looked, concerned, at the swordsman. "I'll be along, soon as the others are in." Braddok said to her. "You must hurry." Alaria nodded, solemnly, and floated her way over and into the opening. Erevan and Fen were crouched some distance inside. Haelan (the only one who could actually stand in the narrow short opening) looked at the magess. "You heard him. Move! Move! We must be away from here, the beast may be able to get partially in here...or can breathe his deadly acid. We must be away." Alaria commanded. The others nodded seriously and began to move slowly further down...or "up" the shaft. Erevan called into being his puffball of light to lead their way and the four moved with all speed. Shortly thereafter, they could hear Festus' hooves entering the chamber (having clambered up Braddok's large form) and finally Duor's grumbling voice about "what [they'd] left." Alaria turned back as a booming roar shook through the cavern and passageway. Dirt and small pieces of rock shook loose all around them. She could see back passed the silhouettes of the satyr and dwarf (who could also stand in the passage) to see Braddok's huge form block all of the light of the cavern. "Alaria! We're clear!" Braddok's voice boomed in return. The magess released the enchantment on the swordsman who had placed a giant hand on the lip of the passage, as he shrunk he, more or less, climbed and shrank his was into the passage, though the man's large form was cramped in the small space. "Noooooohoohoo!" Rach'sha's voice again thundered through the rocks. "Pink FLESHHHH! You disappoint me, pink-flesh. Like boiling fish in a pond. I will dissolve you all and sip you like soup!" The behir's large head appeared at the edge of the opening. "Festus, Duor, to one side!" Alaria cried, hearing the behir's large intake of breath. The magess realized in this tiny tube they were, in fact, sitting ducks. She summoned the last of her elementary spells with as much of her energy as she could muster. She knew, in the depths of her mind and spirit, that she would not be able to extend herself much further without risking the spell-sleep. [I]"Beriz theran!"<mage spell: Shield[/I]> Alaria called even as the behir began to exhale. A field of pale blue light burst into being just behind Braddok's shape. Through the translucent light, the splattering and flowing of liquid was quite evident. A caustic odor assaulted all of the companions in the small narrow space. Several of them became physically ill from the nasal onslaught. The hissing and smouldering of the surrounding rocks began to melt and collapse around and through the mystic shield even as a crying boom of a lament from the behir echoed around them. When the sizzling and smouldering had subsided, Alaria dispeled the magical shield to see that the whole of the passage had been dissolved and melted...completely closed off. "No worries about pursuit, at least. acheh." Festus attempted to smile as he wiped the last of some sick from his goateed chin. A short distance further and the companions came to a small, but open chamber. The air was stale, but not filled with nauseating fumes. A quick survey of the near empty chamber revealed a circular opening in the ceiling, beneath which sat an obviously old iron mining cart. There was also a passageway that led off the chamber, and unlit torches in sconces to each side of the passage. Alaria floated out of the slanted "chute" of a passage and hovered in midair for a moment as Festus, Duor and finally Braddok exited into the chamber. Then, she simply collapsed upon the chamber floor. Braddok and Haelan rushed to her side. Fearful that the magess might again slip into her catatonia. "I am...alright." Alaria replied to their queries, though the exhaustion was evident in her voice. "But I simply can not continue. We must rest here. We must. I simply can't." Alaria's final sentence sounded apologetic. "The magess is correct." Fen added stoically. "I am sorely tired from the day's activities." "Nothing to apologize for, Alaria. Or you Fen...OR Festus! We finally have a moment to thank you for the save from those awful lizard-men." Haelan said cheerily. "We seem to be out of harm's way for the moment. I concur, it's been a bloody long day! We should rest here." Noone argued and everyone more or less collapsed where they stood. The daelvar wasted no time withdrawing the grey and red-flecked magical food-producing bowl. "And it's passed time for dinner AND lunch. What do we fancy?" he smiled to the group at large. "Could give me a lizardman steak for all I care." Festus joked. "I'm starving!" "Mutton pasties it is then." Haelan replied with a grin. Festus was able to withdraw only two wineskins from Imgulg's magic packs. They rationed carefully and ate and drank in near silence. Alaria passed out on the dirt floor, wrapped only in her cloak, before most of the rest had finished eating. Braddok finally noted, as the others set about watches and settling in, that the wizard was barely covered by the remains of her traveling gown. The man found his eyes lingering upon her mud and dirt smudged skin and the near alabaster where the wear and muck of the day had not yet found. The swordsman took it upon himself to search for her purple gown in the holding packs and was delighted to find it. Erevan silently came up behind him and touched his shoulder. With an unspoken look, he told the man to get his rest. Braddok nodded in reply and quite easily fell into a deep slumber. Duor was already out cold and mumbling to himself in his sleep about "riches" and "coin" and "take that!". Erevan took a position beside the open passageway. His elvin sight allowed him a good amount of vision down the dark corridor. He set aside his bow and placed the few un-quivered arrows on the floor beside him. He took out his spellbook and quietly began to study, keeping his astute pointed ears open for any warning of approach. [/QUOTE]
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