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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spider_Jerusalem" data-source="post: 2430793" data-attributes="member: 5507">“I’m sorry my friends, I have led you astray”The thunder of the frost giants filled the cave. Deep, wide rivers of sound rushed past the cowered figures that crouched cold and silent in the shadows. A stretching whine from the domed ceiling heralded the birth of a thick crack that struck like lightning across the ragged stone. Commands were called and prayers intoned, but the sound melted each voice into the terrifying cacophany.A child-sized slab of rock thudded heavily onto the smoking remains of the fire, sending a curtain of dust pouring to the floor below. The young villagers screamed then, their guardians unable to keep the fear from escaping, though the roar from above drowned the wails out.Thalin stood shakily in front of the villagers, his whole body vibrating as he shouted and motioned to the back of the cave. Mikka grasped the arm of the child holding onto his leg and ran towards the cave rear, his other arm waving for the other children to follow. They did so in a flurry of shrieks and whimpers, dragging anyone near them with them as dust continued to fall. Dariel swooped to the back of the cave, his frightened calls joining with the cries of the children. Isplit was crouched next to the owl, gauging whether there was time enough for just one last biscuit.Torious watched as the townsfolk were herded to the rear of the cave and away from the widening cracks. With a sickening realisation, Torious knew if the ceiling was to collapse, then they would all be trapped. As the villagers moved, a large slab broke loose with a grating screech. Reacting almost immediately, the aasimar dove forwards and smashed into the falling slab with his shield. Torious heaved under the weight of the slab and crunched to the floor, pushing the heavy rock just enough to avoid the cowering villager beneath it. Torious rocked backwards in pain. A scythe of agony burrowed up through his shield hand and the aasimar involuntarily flared his scars in a burst of blinding light.Thalin turned away from the villagers as the scar-light faded, his face drawn and haggard with defeat as another shower of dusted ice billowed over him, “I’m sorry my friends, I have led you astray”Vaerana pushed the last of the townsfolk into the recesses of the cave, where Errilinth stroked the children’s heads and spoke soothing words to them, which seemed to calm them almost immediately. Vaerana pointed an accusing finger at Thalin as another rumble of footsteps shook overhead, “Don’t you dare! This is not over yet.”Torious stood slowly up to his full height, his left arm knitting back into place with a ripple of muscle and a wet crunch. Snarling through the pain as his fingers began to flex again, he looked over the assembled men, women, halflings and thieves before him. “We do not die here Thalin. None of us do. Tyr’s justice does not fell the worthy”Thalin whirled in a rage at the aasimar, “Listen to yourself you idiot child! WHERE IS YOUR DAMNED GOD NOW?!”As Thalin’s words died away another jagged crack raced across the dome of the cave. The villager’s screams echoed off the walls as the weight of the ice above them began to give way with an ominous grinding. Thalin, Torious and Vaerana all turned in confusion as the voices of Milo and Mikka, now stood directly under the creaking ice, were mirroring each others arcane gestures with intense concentration, their fingers slicing through the air and words chanted in unison. Thalin’s brow furrowed as he raced to decipher the incantations.With a shout of the exertion, Milo and Mikka ended the summoning with an opportune high-five. Arcane power pulsed through the cave as small chunks of ice slowed in mid air and slotted neatly back into the ceiling of the cave. The sorcerous duo’s face exploded in triumph as they guided their invisible helpers over the ceiling, but they both knew it would not last long.With a final thrash of thunder, the footsteps above them began to recede. But the damage had branched too wide and the spells were already spread too thin. The cracks on the ceiling spidered out suddenly and a heart-stopping shudder lowered the ceiling an arms length."Fly you fools!” cried Milo.</blockquote>

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