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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 6156683" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>The group descended the black stone staircase that led to the empty courtyard. It was curious, Pyrnion noted, that there were no guards along the walls at this “back” section of the castle. No apparent gate at the archway.</p><p></p><p>As they descended, Alaria renewed her detection cantrip, sure that there could be magic at any moment. Her instincts proved true as the party came to the courtyard and began edging along the wall toward the arch in the main building of the keep.</p><p></p><p>There were two statues, to either side of the twenty foot wide arch. Seen by the two stone scones built into the walls that bathed the courtyard in an eerie green fire, they were monstrous...swans? Or perhaps had once been. Now they each had two long necks. Their postures were obviously twisted and bent in ways no living creature could be. The necks bent backwards and curved around, their bills filled with pointed teeth and what might have once been smoothly shaped feathers and wings, were now splayed and struck out in all directions, the tips of the flailing wings with sharp dagger-like pinions. For all their unreal shape, one of each neck terminated with the head looking outward into the courtyard while the other head looked inward. </p><p></p><p>As they neared, Alaria’s glowing violet eyes perceived magic auras surrounding the statues. She halted the party with a gesture and concentrated.</p><p></p><p>A few moments later, the auras began to coalesce in her sight. A strong globe of pulsing red surrounded each..."Conjuration", Alaria knew. There was also...white just beneath the red but nearly as strong..."Divination" magic. That will be a distinct problem. What was it these stone carvings were divining? Something else...between and beneath the other two...a lesser globe of green....Transmutation! </p><p></p><p>“We’re in trouble.” Alaria whispered. “Those statues, I believe, are detection devices...possibly living or at least<em> aware</em>, as well.”</p><p></p><p>“We must cloak ourselves better.” Braddok surmised.</p><p></p><p>“We’re already invisible. Wut else’re we supposed t’do?” Duor hissed under his breath.</p><p></p><p>“Haelan?” Alaria inquired.</p><p></p><p>“We must go through. ” The daelvar closed his eyes and concentrated once more. The divine cooling breeze only he could perceive was coming directly from the arch. He pointed again at the widest tower of the fortress. “The Ihs Repahl is up there. If I invoke another blessing, I will lose my directional cues.”</p><p></p><p>“Can we, maybe... I don’t know...shut the magic off somehow?” Fen suggested.</p><p></p><p>“I have but one spell of Unmaking available to me. I would prefer not to use it at this time. Who knows what further sorceries we will encounter inside.” Alaria admitted somewhat annoyed with herself. “Can you?”</p><p></p><p>“There is such an incantation, and I have harnessed the Green for such a purpose today only once, myself. I also can not speak to its effectiveness against such potent arcane energies.” Fen admitted.</p><p></p><p><<em>Author/DM’s note: In Orea, while clerics and druids have free pick -spontaneous casting- of the 1st and 2nd level spells available to them...within their daily allotment of slots, of course...as their access to more powerful energies increases, they must specify/choose 3 level spells and higher. For those keeping track of Orean rules, clerics and druids are always partially spontaneous casters - 1st and 2nd level spells only- while mages become partially spontaneous casters as they increase in level. Just another minor tweak to further differentiate the flavor of divine, natural and arcane magics in Orea.</em>></p><p></p><p>“Well, wut’re we gonna do? Take our chances with the pixie dust or go ‘round to some other door? This stuff’s not gonna last forever.” Duor noted, looking at his (to their vision) arm with its twinkling yellow sparkles outlining his form.</p><p></p><p>The others looked at each other and it did appear that all of their “twinkles” were noticeably less vibrant than when they were originally “dusted.”</p><p></p><p>“Minstrel,” Duor said with authority. “Got any satyr tricks up those goaty sleeves?”</p><p></p><p>Jovias stepped forward and looked at the statues intently, as if he were discerning something about them. “Well, they’re magic for sure.” He looked at his boss in hopes of approval.</p><p></p><p>Duor and Braddok scowled.</p><p></p><p>“We know that. Alaria’s magic sight has never let us down.” Duor said. “Anything else?”</p><p></p><p>“Wellll...” Jovias face became serious for a moment. “It <em>might</em> be possible for me to sing the Song of Silence...But I’ve never done it before...and it would require the limit of my spellsongs for the day.”</p><p></p><p><Author/DM's note: As I recall, this was a purely DM fiat "let's get this show on the road" thing. Jovias is a 3rd level bard which, by Orean standard, does not permit him 2nd tier spells. I ruled that, though we don't do "mana points" or anything like that, if he wanted to use up his 1st tier slots, I would allow the second level spell. But it was the party's desicion to proceed.></p><p></p><p>The companions looked to each other for in silent conference.</p><p></p><p>“Do it.” Braddok said. “We will skirt through as quickly as possible. Once on the other side, try to get out of view of the things at our first opportunity.”</p><p></p><p>All nodded in understanding.</p><p></p><p>“Yer up, bard.” Duor said.</p><p></p><p>“Wait! The spellsong itself won’t make any noise will it?” Pyrnion asked.</p><p></p><p>“It is the Song of <em>Silence</em>, master Pyrnion.” Jovias said, as if this answered the question.</p><p></p><p>“Proceed.” Alaria said.</p><p></p><p>The satyr slunk around the wall until he was within twenty feet of the statues, “behind” one of the statues. Carefully, he unslung his lyre from his shoulder. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.</p><p></p><p>All of the companions winced to see his fingers go to the strings and his mouth open wide. The satyr plucked a particular chord.</p><p></p><p>No sound emanated from the instrument or the satyr’s mouth.</p><p></p><p>Alaria could see, with her arcane vision, a wash of centric waves of pale yellow light extend from the minstrel and pass over the one swan statue, but not the other.</p><p></p><p>“Stay to the right.” Alaria informed the others.</p><p></p><p>Quickly as they could, they ducked beneath the outward facing serpentine neck and monstrous looking swan head.</p><p></p><p>Once inside, the hall widened a bit and they all struck close to the right wall. Shortly inside the arch a doorway with stairs leading up opened into the broad open corridor. They could see the other side opened into another courtyard.</p><p></p><p>Buttercream bristled and a low growl rumbled from her innards. *<em>Goblins. The big ones. The whole place reeks of them. I don't like it...and they’re making me hungry.*</em></p><p></p><p>Haelan relayed this to the others. Nothing to really do but accept it. </p><p></p><p>At silent gestures from Braddok, the party began climbing the stairs.</p><p></p><p>They came to the first floor. It was a simple round with a stair case opposite that continued up. There was a simple table and a few stools. A pile of spears leaned in one corner, a crossbow and bucket of crossbow bolts against another. A few shields piled up beside the spears. Two arrow slits let in the green glow from the courtyard they’d just left. It seemed to be a simple guard room. Thankfully, unmanned for the moment.</p><p></p><p>They continued up to the second story, this floor was a similarly round chamber with two sets of bunk beds and a few coffers. One of the bunks contained a slumbering hobgoblin. Another, awake, sat upon a stool, sharpening his long sword. There was a door at the other end of the chamber, but no obvious other stair or exit. The door was closed with a large iron padlock.</p><p></p><p>The party returned to the floor below.</p><p></p><p>“This isn’t the right tower.” Haelan said in concern.</p><p></p><p>“Should we go back down and try to get through the other next courtyard?” Fen questioned.</p><p> </p><p>“The breeze tells me we can still go through that door and get to where we’re going.” Haelan answered.</p><p></p><p>“I did not notice any statues at the far archway.” Pyrnion asserted. </p><p></p><p>“Master?” Jovias ‘called’ softly.</p><p></p><p>The others looked around. The dwarf was not with them.</p><p></p><p>“Damn that dwarf.” Braddok cursed under his breath. The warrior ran up the stairs, followed closely by Pyrnion.</p><p></p><p>The hobgoblin who had been sharpening his sword sat in the chair. Its throat cut and oozing greenish black blood down into his heavy breast plate. Examination of the sleeping hobgoblin revealed he too was dead. Throat cut, large hobgoblin ear to large hobgoblin ear.</p><p></p><p>Duor, fully visible, stood be the pad lock of the door, twirling a large iron ring that held four keys around one finger.</p><p></p><p>“Duor!” Braddok whispered. “What are you doing?!”</p><p></p><p>“What I do best! Sneakin’ and finding ways into places.” the dwarvish rogue answered the empty air.</p><p></p><p>Pyrnion made himself visible within the room. “I told you not ten minutes ago...” he pulled his axe from his belt.</p><p></p><p>“This is not putting anyone in jeopardy, my good birdie bird. This is getting things done and doing what I am trained to do, better than any of you.” Duor said without a hint of remorse or defense.</p><p></p><p>“He’s right, Pyrnion. Stand down.” Braddok’s voice sounded again in the room.</p><p></p><p>With a derisive snort and piercing glare, the zephari wrapped his golden feathered wings around his shoulders, assuming the appearance of a great feathered cloak, and made himself unseen, again, with a thought.</p><p></p><p>The rest of the party again ascended to see the dwarf applying something to the hinged side of the door. He had a curious small rubber bulb in his hand and used it to shoot lamp oil into the crease of the door, where he had determined the hinges to be.</p><p></p><p>“What is that?” Fen’s voice sounded close to Duor’s shoulder.</p><p></p><p>“Oil. We don’t need to be making any more noise than necessary. Especially since, if it locked from this side, who knows what’s one the other side.” Duor explained and then returned the small flask of oil and small rubber bulb to one of the many pouches on his belt.</p><p></p><p>A simple tirn to the right and a click opened the padlock and Braddok, with Duor out of view to the side of the door, urged the door open. It swung fairly easily and by Duor’s oil or not, did not make any discernable creak.</p><p></p><p>The other side revealed another brief curve of stairs going up.</p><p></p><p>Coming to the third floor, they were in an empty chamber. An archway without a door led out from the tower to a narrow bridge connecting to the larger wider “central” tower of the fortress. There was a door at the other side. No lock was apparent from their position.</p><p></p><p>First Alaria, then Haelan and Fen each, in turn, seemed to waver into a semi-transparent form for an instant before returning to an invisible state.</p><p></p><p>“We must hurry. The dust is wearing off.” Alaria voiced the obvious.</p><p> </p><p>“What about Duor?” Haelan asked, always worried for others as was his way.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t worry ‘bout me. I can make myself scarce when I want.” the dwarf boasted.</p><p></p><p>A quick peek out revealed two hobgoblin guards upon the outer wall, in easy view of the bridge. It seemed there was another stone bridge on that side of the fortress, like the one they had used to get from the mountain perimeter ledges to the castle wall. Thankfully, they seemed intent on looking “outward” along the expanse of stone that led back to the mountain’s inner edge.</p><p></p><p>To the left, and down, the second courtyard. There were two lengths of reflecting pools, gleaming black [presumably] water and the walls facing the courtyard completely lined with mirrors. At the far side, connecting to the base of the large tower, was the large rectangular section of the castle.</p><p></p><p>The companions each felt a shudder of fear filled them as each assumed that area to be the great hall/throne room which they had found themselves in on their last visit...where Erevan and Festus were lost to the acid breath of the black behir, Rach’Sha.</p><p></p><p>“Let’s go. Duor, stay here until we get that door opened. We don’t need those guards noticing you tinkering around on the bridge.” Braddok said. There was no room in his tone for debate.</p><p></p><p>On a silent cue, the companions raced for the other side of the inter-tower walkway. It was only wide enough for single file. Alaria went first, the spell of Opening upon at the forefront of her mind. </p><p></p><p>No sooner had she whispered the opening spell than her sparkling dust seemed to flicker and fall from her shoulder and she was completely visible to any eye.</p><p></p><p>The spell worked without incident and the party raced into another empty open chamber like the one they had just left. Much broader/wider across, but suitably empty of guards or apparent threat. One staircase leading further up. One at the opposite side twining down to the lower floors.</p><p></p><p>One by one the companions entered the chamber and exhaled in relief as they too, other than Pyrnion of course, came flickering back into normal sight.</p><p></p><p>Duor raced across, though completely silent with his magical boots and, luckily, was not seen by the well disciplined hobgoblin guards.</p><p></p><p>“Now what? How much more dust yeh got?” the dwarf said.</p><p></p><p>“Not enough.” Fen admitted.</p><p></p><p>“We must use extra care.” Braddok said. “We’ve made it this far. We should collect the Ihs Repahl, what riches we may come across, and make for the throne room with the teleport disc to get us back to Bridgetower.”</p><p></p><p>The companions agreed, accept for Duor, who insisted that any castle anywhere kept its treasure vaults beneath the castle. And that after coming here twice, he was not leaving without the treasure. Engaging the dragon or not, not being the natural preference, he was going to get that treasure.</p><p></p><p>“You do realize, up to now, we have only been presuming a great treasure hoard?” Fen pointed out.</p><p></p><p>“Killjoy.” Duor grumbled. “It’s a dragon. It’s been here, what was it...four hundred years? Four thousand? Came here when those weird witchy women’s dad ruled Grath...Gor...Greyhard...”</p><p></p><p>“Gorathgraard.” Alaria corrected.</p><p></p><p>“Whatever...<em>here!</em> There’s a trove, make no mistake. There’s gotta be.” the dwarf argued.</p><p></p><p>“Fine. Fine. But the Ihs Repahl first.” Alaria injected. “My power will be much increased with it in my possession and we will stand a much higher chance of success in all of our goals...as well as a potential additional mode of escape.”</p><p></p><p>“No arguments there, boss lady.” Duor said with a smirk.</p><p></p><p>Alaria’s mood lightened some to hear Duor refer to her as such. It had been what seemed an eternity since she had been their official “boss”, though in reality a matter of a few months.</p><p></p><p>“So...'up’ it is then, Hilltender?” Braddok asked Haelan.</p><p></p><p>“Up.” Haelan said looking distractedly at the ceiling. Something was cold here...not the temperature...something dark...pressing upon his soul. Like he had felt before in the Dunrician shrine at Shafton. A dark presence...he could feel it.</p><p></p><p>“I feel like we are being watched.” the daelvar cleric said softly.</p><p></p><p>Alaria immediately renewed, again, her visionary cantrip. There was a power that pulsed all around them...but there was no specific aura she could discern. Fen did the same with his own detection incantation.</p><p></p><p>“There is certainly nothing of a divinatory nature.” Alaria said. “No immediate auras I can see.”</p><p></p><p>“Though a power cascades throughout this place. That can not be denied.” Fen added.</p><p></p><p>Alaria concurred and said, what might have been obvious, “The longer we are here, the more likely we will be discovered. We must make haste for the orb.”</p><p></p><p>The companions took their [marching order] positions and ascended the staircase to what [they presumed] would be the fourth level of the tower.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 6156683, member: 92511"] The group descended the black stone staircase that led to the empty courtyard. It was curious, Pyrnion noted, that there were no guards along the walls at this “back” section of the castle. No apparent gate at the archway. As they descended, Alaria renewed her detection cantrip, sure that there could be magic at any moment. Her instincts proved true as the party came to the courtyard and began edging along the wall toward the arch in the main building of the keep. There were two statues, to either side of the twenty foot wide arch. Seen by the two stone scones built into the walls that bathed the courtyard in an eerie green fire, they were monstrous...swans? Or perhaps had once been. Now they each had two long necks. Their postures were obviously twisted and bent in ways no living creature could be. The necks bent backwards and curved around, their bills filled with pointed teeth and what might have once been smoothly shaped feathers and wings, were now splayed and struck out in all directions, the tips of the flailing wings with sharp dagger-like pinions. For all their unreal shape, one of each neck terminated with the head looking outward into the courtyard while the other head looked inward. As they neared, Alaria’s glowing violet eyes perceived magic auras surrounding the statues. She halted the party with a gesture and concentrated. A few moments later, the auras began to coalesce in her sight. A strong globe of pulsing red surrounded each..."Conjuration", Alaria knew. There was also...white just beneath the red but nearly as strong..."Divination" magic. That will be a distinct problem. What was it these stone carvings were divining? Something else...between and beneath the other two...a lesser globe of green....Transmutation! “We’re in trouble.” Alaria whispered. “Those statues, I believe, are detection devices...possibly living or at least[I] aware[/I], as well.” “We must cloak ourselves better.” Braddok surmised. “We’re already invisible. Wut else’re we supposed t’do?” Duor hissed under his breath. “Haelan?” Alaria inquired. “We must go through. ” The daelvar closed his eyes and concentrated once more. The divine cooling breeze only he could perceive was coming directly from the arch. He pointed again at the widest tower of the fortress. “The Ihs Repahl is up there. If I invoke another blessing, I will lose my directional cues.” “Can we, maybe... I don’t know...shut the magic off somehow?” Fen suggested. “I have but one spell of Unmaking available to me. I would prefer not to use it at this time. Who knows what further sorceries we will encounter inside.” Alaria admitted somewhat annoyed with herself. “Can you?” “There is such an incantation, and I have harnessed the Green for such a purpose today only once, myself. I also can not speak to its effectiveness against such potent arcane energies.” Fen admitted. <[I]Author/DM’s note: In Orea, while clerics and druids have free pick -spontaneous casting- of the 1st and 2nd level spells available to them...within their daily allotment of slots, of course...as their access to more powerful energies increases, they must specify/choose 3 level spells and higher. For those keeping track of Orean rules, clerics and druids are always partially spontaneous casters - 1st and 2nd level spells only- while mages become partially spontaneous casters as they increase in level. Just another minor tweak to further differentiate the flavor of divine, natural and arcane magics in Orea.[/I]> “Well, wut’re we gonna do? Take our chances with the pixie dust or go ‘round to some other door? This stuff’s not gonna last forever.” Duor noted, looking at his (to their vision) arm with its twinkling yellow sparkles outlining his form. The others looked at each other and it did appear that all of their “twinkles” were noticeably less vibrant than when they were originally “dusted.” “Minstrel,” Duor said with authority. “Got any satyr tricks up those goaty sleeves?” Jovias stepped forward and looked at the statues intently, as if he were discerning something about them. “Well, they’re magic for sure.” He looked at his boss in hopes of approval. Duor and Braddok scowled. “We know that. Alaria’s magic sight has never let us down.” Duor said. “Anything else?” “Wellll...” Jovias face became serious for a moment. “It [I]might[/I] be possible for me to sing the Song of Silence...But I’ve never done it before...and it would require the limit of my spellsongs for the day.” <Author/DM's note: As I recall, this was a purely DM fiat "let's get this show on the road" thing. Jovias is a 3rd level bard which, by Orean standard, does not permit him 2nd tier spells. I ruled that, though we don't do "mana points" or anything like that, if he wanted to use up his 1st tier slots, I would allow the second level spell. But it was the party's desicion to proceed.> The companions looked to each other for in silent conference. “Do it.” Braddok said. “We will skirt through as quickly as possible. Once on the other side, try to get out of view of the things at our first opportunity.” All nodded in understanding. “Yer up, bard.” Duor said. “Wait! The spellsong itself won’t make any noise will it?” Pyrnion asked. “It is the Song of [I]Silence[/I], master Pyrnion.” Jovias said, as if this answered the question. “Proceed.” Alaria said. The satyr slunk around the wall until he was within twenty feet of the statues, “behind” one of the statues. Carefully, he unslung his lyre from his shoulder. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. All of the companions winced to see his fingers go to the strings and his mouth open wide. The satyr plucked a particular chord. No sound emanated from the instrument or the satyr’s mouth. Alaria could see, with her arcane vision, a wash of centric waves of pale yellow light extend from the minstrel and pass over the one swan statue, but not the other. “Stay to the right.” Alaria informed the others. Quickly as they could, they ducked beneath the outward facing serpentine neck and monstrous looking swan head. Once inside, the hall widened a bit and they all struck close to the right wall. Shortly inside the arch a doorway with stairs leading up opened into the broad open corridor. They could see the other side opened into another courtyard. Buttercream bristled and a low growl rumbled from her innards. *[I]Goblins. The big ones. The whole place reeks of them. I don't like it...and they’re making me hungry.*[/I] Haelan relayed this to the others. Nothing to really do but accept it. At silent gestures from Braddok, the party began climbing the stairs. They came to the first floor. It was a simple round with a stair case opposite that continued up. There was a simple table and a few stools. A pile of spears leaned in one corner, a crossbow and bucket of crossbow bolts against another. A few shields piled up beside the spears. Two arrow slits let in the green glow from the courtyard they’d just left. It seemed to be a simple guard room. Thankfully, unmanned for the moment. They continued up to the second story, this floor was a similarly round chamber with two sets of bunk beds and a few coffers. One of the bunks contained a slumbering hobgoblin. Another, awake, sat upon a stool, sharpening his long sword. There was a door at the other end of the chamber, but no obvious other stair or exit. The door was closed with a large iron padlock. The party returned to the floor below. “This isn’t the right tower.” Haelan said in concern. “Should we go back down and try to get through the other next courtyard?” Fen questioned. “The breeze tells me we can still go through that door and get to where we’re going.” Haelan answered. “I did not notice any statues at the far archway.” Pyrnion asserted. “Master?” Jovias ‘called’ softly. The others looked around. The dwarf was not with them. “Damn that dwarf.” Braddok cursed under his breath. The warrior ran up the stairs, followed closely by Pyrnion. The hobgoblin who had been sharpening his sword sat in the chair. Its throat cut and oozing greenish black blood down into his heavy breast plate. Examination of the sleeping hobgoblin revealed he too was dead. Throat cut, large hobgoblin ear to large hobgoblin ear. Duor, fully visible, stood be the pad lock of the door, twirling a large iron ring that held four keys around one finger. “Duor!” Braddok whispered. “What are you doing?!” “What I do best! Sneakin’ and finding ways into places.” the dwarvish rogue answered the empty air. Pyrnion made himself visible within the room. “I told you not ten minutes ago...” he pulled his axe from his belt. “This is not putting anyone in jeopardy, my good birdie bird. This is getting things done and doing what I am trained to do, better than any of you.” Duor said without a hint of remorse or defense. “He’s right, Pyrnion. Stand down.” Braddok’s voice sounded again in the room. With a derisive snort and piercing glare, the zephari wrapped his golden feathered wings around his shoulders, assuming the appearance of a great feathered cloak, and made himself unseen, again, with a thought. The rest of the party again ascended to see the dwarf applying something to the hinged side of the door. He had a curious small rubber bulb in his hand and used it to shoot lamp oil into the crease of the door, where he had determined the hinges to be. “What is that?” Fen’s voice sounded close to Duor’s shoulder. “Oil. We don’t need to be making any more noise than necessary. Especially since, if it locked from this side, who knows what’s one the other side.” Duor explained and then returned the small flask of oil and small rubber bulb to one of the many pouches on his belt. A simple tirn to the right and a click opened the padlock and Braddok, with Duor out of view to the side of the door, urged the door open. It swung fairly easily and by Duor’s oil or not, did not make any discernable creak. The other side revealed another brief curve of stairs going up. Coming to the third floor, they were in an empty chamber. An archway without a door led out from the tower to a narrow bridge connecting to the larger wider “central” tower of the fortress. There was a door at the other side. No lock was apparent from their position. First Alaria, then Haelan and Fen each, in turn, seemed to waver into a semi-transparent form for an instant before returning to an invisible state. “We must hurry. The dust is wearing off.” Alaria voiced the obvious. “What about Duor?” Haelan asked, always worried for others as was his way. “Don’t worry ‘bout me. I can make myself scarce when I want.” the dwarf boasted. A quick peek out revealed two hobgoblin guards upon the outer wall, in easy view of the bridge. It seemed there was another stone bridge on that side of the fortress, like the one they had used to get from the mountain perimeter ledges to the castle wall. Thankfully, they seemed intent on looking “outward” along the expanse of stone that led back to the mountain’s inner edge. To the left, and down, the second courtyard. There were two lengths of reflecting pools, gleaming black [presumably] water and the walls facing the courtyard completely lined with mirrors. At the far side, connecting to the base of the large tower, was the large rectangular section of the castle. The companions each felt a shudder of fear filled them as each assumed that area to be the great hall/throne room which they had found themselves in on their last visit...where Erevan and Festus were lost to the acid breath of the black behir, Rach’Sha. “Let’s go. Duor, stay here until we get that door opened. We don’t need those guards noticing you tinkering around on the bridge.” Braddok said. There was no room in his tone for debate. On a silent cue, the companions raced for the other side of the inter-tower walkway. It was only wide enough for single file. Alaria went first, the spell of Opening upon at the forefront of her mind. No sooner had she whispered the opening spell than her sparkling dust seemed to flicker and fall from her shoulder and she was completely visible to any eye. The spell worked without incident and the party raced into another empty open chamber like the one they had just left. Much broader/wider across, but suitably empty of guards or apparent threat. One staircase leading further up. One at the opposite side twining down to the lower floors. One by one the companions entered the chamber and exhaled in relief as they too, other than Pyrnion of course, came flickering back into normal sight. Duor raced across, though completely silent with his magical boots and, luckily, was not seen by the well disciplined hobgoblin guards. “Now what? How much more dust yeh got?” the dwarf said. “Not enough.” Fen admitted. “We must use extra care.” Braddok said. “We’ve made it this far. We should collect the Ihs Repahl, what riches we may come across, and make for the throne room with the teleport disc to get us back to Bridgetower.” The companions agreed, accept for Duor, who insisted that any castle anywhere kept its treasure vaults beneath the castle. And that after coming here twice, he was not leaving without the treasure. Engaging the dragon or not, not being the natural preference, he was going to get that treasure. “You do realize, up to now, we have only been presuming a great treasure hoard?” Fen pointed out. “Killjoy.” Duor grumbled. “It’s a dragon. It’s been here, what was it...four hundred years? Four thousand? Came here when those weird witchy women’s dad ruled Grath...Gor...Greyhard...” “Gorathgraard.” Alaria corrected. “Whatever...[I]here![/I] There’s a trove, make no mistake. There’s gotta be.” the dwarf argued. “Fine. Fine. But the Ihs Repahl first.” Alaria injected. “My power will be much increased with it in my possession and we will stand a much higher chance of success in all of our goals...as well as a potential additional mode of escape.” “No arguments there, boss lady.” Duor said with a smirk. Alaria’s mood lightened some to hear Duor refer to her as such. It had been what seemed an eternity since she had been their official “boss”, though in reality a matter of a few months. “So...'up’ it is then, Hilltender?” Braddok asked Haelan. “Up.” Haelan said looking distractedly at the ceiling. Something was cold here...not the temperature...something dark...pressing upon his soul. Like he had felt before in the Dunrician shrine at Shafton. A dark presence...he could feel it. “I feel like we are being watched.” the daelvar cleric said softly. Alaria immediately renewed, again, her visionary cantrip. There was a power that pulsed all around them...but there was no specific aura she could discern. Fen did the same with his own detection incantation. “There is certainly nothing of a divinatory nature.” Alaria said. “No immediate auras I can see.” “Though a power cascades throughout this place. That can not be denied.” Fen added. Alaria concurred and said, what might have been obvious, “The longer we are here, the more likely we will be discovered. We must make haste for the orb.” The companions took their [marching order] positions and ascended the staircase to what [they presumed] would be the fourth level of the tower. [/QUOTE]
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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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