NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fiasco" data-source="post: 2845500" data-attributes="member: 15187">Chapter 5Stravarius descended the steps with his sword held tensely in front of him, ready to parry any sudden attack. Behind him came Argonne, large axe held one handed near its head while the other hand trailed along the limestone wall. The others followed; Morgan, then Gerard, then Mortec, Moxadder, and finally Kuruul. They moved silently, by and large, but the occasional scuffle or clink of unguarded metal was enough to fray nerves. The darkness herded them close together, those with keen night vision guiding their less perceptive comrades through the winding dark.After progressing two turns round the stairs Stravarius saw a flickering light which washed colour through the interminable blacks and greys his night vision was limited to. Slowing his pace even further, he edged round the curved wall until he saw the torch burning silently in its sconce. He stopped, then held out an arm behind him, halting Argonne with his palm. Stravarius held his breath and listened. He heard the distant murmur of the sea, the click of Kuruul’s paw as it ticked a step, the scrape of a pack against a wall and the thrum of the blood pounding in his ears. Nothing hinted at the presence of more pirates. The Black Elf was not reassured. Sensing the line behind him beginning to compress, he forced himself to keep moving. The Hydra coiled round three more loops of the stairway before they reached the bottom. A four way intersection confronted them, its passageways carved from the soft rock of the cliff. Another torch burned against the wall on their left.With the stairs at their backs and ten feet short of the intersection, they could see the way ahead led to what looked like a storage room. Several crates were stacked haphazardly within sight and various objects littered the ground. Stravarius walked forward, glancing left and right down the intersection but seeing only unadorned corridors to either side. He waved for the others to join him and stepped into the store room. The only light came from the torch behind them but it was enough to confirm the chamber’s purpose and to reassure themselves they were alone. With Argonne keeping watch, the rest of the Hydra squatted in a rough semi circle and conferred. “This definitely looks like the Blood Sail’s lair”, whispered Mortec, gesturing at clutter of supplies about them. The smell of oil, brine and leather settled upon the group. “Should we leave before being discovered and report to the Baron?”“No. We should explore this place thoroughly”, Gerard opinioned. Stravarius was noncommittal, content with the strenuous work of arming his crossbow.“I agree”, said Morgan. “We only saw one boat in the harbour, there can’t be many more of them left.” Argonne turned his attention away from the doorway and joined the conversation. “Ah think that we hav’na killed enough o’ the bastards yet. Tha knaws what they done in t’Ravenswood”. Indeed, all of them did remember the day they’d walked out of the morning mists and into tragedy. The woodsman’s words were enough to decide them. Stravarius led the party out of the room and down the passageway to their right. The way broadened, and the companions walked in loose pairs, weapons readied for any outcome. The corridor wound alternatively left and right until they reached a longer section with the far end continuing past the range of even the Black Elf’s vision. An opening on the left provided subdued light for the nearer section of the passage. Cautiously, they approached the opening, Argonne and Morgan pressing close to Stravarius’ back to get a better look.Their eyes contracted painfully as they gazed at the outside world. Sunlight dazzled upon the gently rippling waters of the cove. The stone of the passageway abutted the wooden deck that surrounded the water. Squinting, they looked about, hoping to catch sight of any pirates that might inhabit the complex. Almost directly opposite them a narrow channel lead East to the Cursed Sea, the longboat they had seen from above bobbed gently near its entrance. Around the Northern side of the harbour another passage led into the pirates lair while to the West, two such passageways could be seen. There was no sign of anyone, and only the muted lap of water against the boat and the distant crash of waves disturbed the silence. Disliking the exposure of walking around the decking, they turned back the way they came and continued to explore the main corridor to the West.The way continued for over one hundred paces before light once again alerted them to an approaching opening. The Black Elf breasted the turn to the East and entered a large hall. Immediately, a crossbow bolt flashed at his chest, driving great sparks off his breastplate and knocking him back half a stride. Stravarius saw two openings to the cove on his left and a makeshift barricade cutting South-East across the room. Four heads were visible behind the fortifications and his instinctive response drove a feathered shaft through one of them. The Black Elf shouted his defiance at the three remaining Blood Sails manning the barricade.</blockquote>

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