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The Fall of Civilization
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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 4944443" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>With a roar, Vann-La charges forward. She smites the first hobgoblin a mighty blow, sending it sprawling in a splatter of blood. A <em>fireball,</em> hurled by Iggy from his <em>necklace of fireballs</em>, explodes in the thick of the enemy. </p><p></p><p>Pandemonium breaks out. Goblins scream in fear and pain, running every which way as Torinn strides into their midst, <em>splitting the sky.</em> </p><p></p><p>Bugbear overseers shout commands, rallying the Six-Fingered Hand troops, but the party presses in hard and fast. Eldritch flames blast them; hobgoblins scream, on fire, and dance briefly before they fall.</p><p></p><p>In the chaos, Cook tricks one of the bugbears with a <em>bait and switch,</em> and while the enraged goblinoid gnashes its teeth and bleeds, he slips a velvet bag from its belt, unnoticed even by the sharp-eyed elf. Then again, she is distracted by laying waste to the enemy around. </p><p></p><p>They try their best, but the Six-Fingered Hand troops are no match for the adventurers. These are foes that our heroes have battled for years- foes that they have driven away by the thousands, preserving their adoptive home city from a siege of years. Foes that they have slain in numberless hordes, foes that they know almost as well as they know themselves, after all the time that they have shared. </p><p></p><p>No small band of goblinoids has a chance against them. Not anymore. </p><p></p><p>In less than 20 seconds, Vann-La spits the last bugbear on her sword and watches as dark blood bubbles out of its mouth. The Kree elf sneers as she lets its body fall to the ground. And then the only remaining sound is our heroes’ breath. The only remaining movement to be seen is Cook, checking to ensure that the enemy is all dead.</p><p></p><p>A brief pause to catch their breath and search, and then the party turns around and starts the long ascent back to the surface of the Feywild.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>“Remember,” sighs Heimall, “back in the day, when we were fleeing Chebonnay and a single orc gave us trouble?”</p><p></p><p>Iggy smiles. “Yep. That damned orcish murderer...”</p><p></p><p>“Before my time,” comments Hkatha.</p><p></p><p>“It was when we were en route to the tunnels under the mountains,” explains Cook. “We run from the Hand when they come to squish Chebonnay. We try to get away by boat, but oi, they stop us. We had to run overland. We stopped in a village on the way, and this orc took us all on.”</p><p></p><p>“Then,” Iggy picks up the story, “we went under the mountains and through the xvart city of Xvaangensleff, where we rescued Nowhere Jones from those little blue bastards.”</p><p></p><p>Hkatha purses his lips. “Who? Oh, wait, wasn’t there a play about him?”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, or something,” mutters Vann-La. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>“You know what the most interesting part of this is?” asks Sta’Ligir. </p><p></p><p>“What’s that?” Heimall replies. </p><p></p><p>“These tunnels that we’re ascending are <em>different</em> from the ones we came down in.”</p><p></p><p>“What do you mean?” </p><p></p><p>“Just that,” Iggy nods. “They aren’t the same. They’ve <em>changed.</em>”</p><p></p><p>“He’s right,” nods Vann-La. “There are side passages that didn’t exist before, and others that were there on the way down that aren’t anymore.”</p><p></p><p>“Let’s just hope,” Cook whispers, “that we can still get out. Oi!”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>After several days of their passage upward, the party is beginning to grow weary and footsore. The pervasive wetness on their skin and in their clothing, the deep darkness, the scuttling of insects and strange cave centipede, the smell of mold and fungus- everything conspires to depress our heroes, to fill them with anxiety. </p><p></p><p>Then the noise starts. </p><p></p><p>At first only Vann-La can discern it, but as the group moves further up the tunnels, they all start to notice a strange clicking sound coming from ahead.</p><p></p><p>”What the hell is that?” mutters Heimall. </p><p></p><p>Ligir grimaces. “I’ve never heard it before,” he states, “but I’ve heard of it. That clicking...” He trails off for a moment, then finishes: “It sounds like hook horrors.”</p><p></p><p>Vann-La glances his way. “What,” the Kree asks, “is a hook horror?”</p><p></p><p>The wizard sighs. “Trouble,” he says.</p><p></p><p>And he’s right. About two hours later, the party is descending a fairly steep slope. A passage to the side seems to be the source of the clicking. The party edges as far away from it as they can as they move, but clearly they aren’t far enough away.</p><p></p><p>Three hook horrors emerge as the party is halfway past their cave.</p><p></p><p>“Oh crap!” exclaims Iggy. </p><p></p><p>His reflexes have grown acute with months of practice. Before anyone has a chance to react, his sunpowder pistol is in his hand and he <em>shoots from the hip.</em> The weapon’s report is monstrously loud in the confines of the Feydark, and the lead horror staggers from the blow. </p><p></p><p>“Get them!” screams Iggy. “They’re coming right for me!!” He yanks a bead from his <em>necklace of fireballs</em> and hurls it. An explosion of fire catches all three of them. </p><p></p><p>The front ranks of the party are turning, and Vann-La is already rushing up the slope to engage the horrors. “COME AND GET IT!!” she bellows, and two of them lurch towards her. She swings her blade, but it bites only carapace on the first monster. </p><p></p><p>The horrors respond with alacrity and sincerity.</p><p></p><p>They are strange, almost beetle-like humanoid things with long, vicious hooks at the end of their ‘arms’. One swings both into Vann-La and then hurls her bodily away. She gives a surprised shout and she skids and slides down the slope. Another hooks Torinn and jerks him towards the beasts. The third one sinks a hook deep into Heimall’s side. He screams in pain as buckets of blood begin to pour from him. </p><p></p><p>The one that tossed Vann-La away advances towards Iggy.</p><p></p><p>And while our heroes are focused on the horrors, they fail to note the new combatant coming- drawn in, perhaps by the noise and the light. But when it finally comes close enough, Iggy’s eyes grow wide. </p><p></p><p>It’s a lizard, but it is huge- as tall as a dwarf, though not so broad, with long ears. Sparks dance around it. </p><p></p><p>It is bright yellow. </p><p></p><p><em>Oh no,</em> thinks Iggy. <em>It’s one of the legendary giant yellow shocker lizards!</em></p><p></p><p><strong>“PIKA!!!”</strong> the lizard cries. And-</p><p></p><p><strong>ZOT!!</strong> </p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> Will our heroes escape the Feydark?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 4944443, member: 1210"] With a roar, Vann-La charges forward. She smites the first hobgoblin a mighty blow, sending it sprawling in a splatter of blood. A [i]fireball,[/i] hurled by Iggy from his [i]necklace of fireballs[/i], explodes in the thick of the enemy. Pandemonium breaks out. Goblins scream in fear and pain, running every which way as Torinn strides into their midst, [i]splitting the sky.[/i] Bugbear overseers shout commands, rallying the Six-Fingered Hand troops, but the party presses in hard and fast. Eldritch flames blast them; hobgoblins scream, on fire, and dance briefly before they fall. In the chaos, Cook tricks one of the bugbears with a [i]bait and switch,[/i] and while the enraged goblinoid gnashes its teeth and bleeds, he slips a velvet bag from its belt, unnoticed even by the sharp-eyed elf. Then again, she is distracted by laying waste to the enemy around. They try their best, but the Six-Fingered Hand troops are no match for the adventurers. These are foes that our heroes have battled for years- foes that they have driven away by the thousands, preserving their adoptive home city from a siege of years. Foes that they have slain in numberless hordes, foes that they know almost as well as they know themselves, after all the time that they have shared. No small band of goblinoids has a chance against them. Not anymore. In less than 20 seconds, Vann-La spits the last bugbear on her sword and watches as dark blood bubbles out of its mouth. The Kree elf sneers as she lets its body fall to the ground. And then the only remaining sound is our heroes’ breath. The only remaining movement to be seen is Cook, checking to ensure that the enemy is all dead. A brief pause to catch their breath and search, and then the party turns around and starts the long ascent back to the surface of the Feywild. *** “Remember,” sighs Heimall, “back in the day, when we were fleeing Chebonnay and a single orc gave us trouble?” Iggy smiles. “Yep. That damned orcish murderer...” “Before my time,” comments Hkatha. “It was when we were en route to the tunnels under the mountains,” explains Cook. “We run from the Hand when they come to squish Chebonnay. We try to get away by boat, but oi, they stop us. We had to run overland. We stopped in a village on the way, and this orc took us all on.” “Then,” Iggy picks up the story, “we went under the mountains and through the xvart city of Xvaangensleff, where we rescued Nowhere Jones from those little blue bastards.” Hkatha purses his lips. “Who? Oh, wait, wasn’t there a play about him?” “Yeah, or something,” mutters Vann-La. *** “You know what the most interesting part of this is?” asks Sta’Ligir. “What’s that?” Heimall replies. “These tunnels that we’re ascending are [i]different[/i] from the ones we came down in.” “What do you mean?” “Just that,” Iggy nods. “They aren’t the same. They’ve [i]changed.[/i]” “He’s right,” nods Vann-La. “There are side passages that didn’t exist before, and others that were there on the way down that aren’t anymore.” “Let’s just hope,” Cook whispers, “that we can still get out. Oi!” *** After several days of their passage upward, the party is beginning to grow weary and footsore. The pervasive wetness on their skin and in their clothing, the deep darkness, the scuttling of insects and strange cave centipede, the smell of mold and fungus- everything conspires to depress our heroes, to fill them with anxiety. Then the noise starts. At first only Vann-La can discern it, but as the group moves further up the tunnels, they all start to notice a strange clicking sound coming from ahead. ”What the hell is that?” mutters Heimall. Ligir grimaces. “I’ve never heard it before,” he states, “but I’ve heard of it. That clicking...” He trails off for a moment, then finishes: “It sounds like hook horrors.” Vann-La glances his way. “What,” the Kree asks, “is a hook horror?” The wizard sighs. “Trouble,” he says. And he’s right. About two hours later, the party is descending a fairly steep slope. A passage to the side seems to be the source of the clicking. The party edges as far away from it as they can as they move, but clearly they aren’t far enough away. Three hook horrors emerge as the party is halfway past their cave. “Oh crap!” exclaims Iggy. His reflexes have grown acute with months of practice. Before anyone has a chance to react, his sunpowder pistol is in his hand and he [i]shoots from the hip.[/i] The weapon’s report is monstrously loud in the confines of the Feydark, and the lead horror staggers from the blow. “Get them!” screams Iggy. “They’re coming right for me!!” He yanks a bead from his [i]necklace of fireballs[/i] and hurls it. An explosion of fire catches all three of them. The front ranks of the party are turning, and Vann-La is already rushing up the slope to engage the horrors. “COME AND GET IT!!” she bellows, and two of them lurch towards her. She swings her blade, but it bites only carapace on the first monster. The horrors respond with alacrity and sincerity. They are strange, almost beetle-like humanoid things with long, vicious hooks at the end of their ‘arms’. One swings both into Vann-La and then hurls her bodily away. She gives a surprised shout and she skids and slides down the slope. Another hooks Torinn and jerks him towards the beasts. The third one sinks a hook deep into Heimall’s side. He screams in pain as buckets of blood begin to pour from him. The one that tossed Vann-La away advances towards Iggy. And while our heroes are focused on the horrors, they fail to note the new combatant coming- drawn in, perhaps by the noise and the light. But when it finally comes close enough, Iggy’s eyes grow wide. It’s a lizard, but it is huge- as tall as a dwarf, though not so broad, with long ears. Sparks dance around it. It is bright yellow. [i]Oh no,[/i] thinks Iggy. [i]It’s one of the legendary giant yellow shocker lizards![/i] [b]“PIKA!!!”[/b] the lizard cries. And- [b]ZOT!![/B] [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] Will our heroes escape the Feydark? [/QUOTE]
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