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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 2734434" data-attributes="member: 3285">All That Glitters - Part 5f: The Hidden CaveCalactyte never had a chance. The lizard only had enough time to turn in surprise before his attacker batted him sideways as if Cal didn’t weigh over 300 pounds.   The ss’ressen skidded across the cave floor, unconscious.Two large black bears bellowed as they charged into the center of the cavern.  One pointed a paw at Ilmarė.  The other turned with a feral intelligence towards Sebastian.  “Those are NOT normal bears,” said Ilmarė, drawing her bow. “I think we’ve made them angry,” said Bijoux, drawing her own bow.Beldin picked up his axe and lifted his shield.  “I know how to deal with these things.”  He lifted his axe.  “There’s no fog to protect you now!” shouted the dwarf.The larger black bear reared back on its hind legs and roared.  Then it landed on all four paws and a stream of flames burst forth from its snout.“What the…?” was all Beldin got out before the flames washed over his shield.  The force of the blast rattled him, but he held his ground.The other bear stumped towards Ilmarė.  “Faer ned I amar, im canam!”A spider the size of a man landed on top of the second bear with all eight legs.  It had bright red legs and mandibles and a reddish-yellow thorax. The spider sank its fangs, dripping with poison, into the beast.Bijoux recoiled in horror.  “What have you summoned?  That thing…it has the taint of the infernal about it!”“It’s saving our lives,” snarled Ilmarė.  “Quiet, or you’ll hurt its feelings.”The second black bear turned and dug its two claws into joints in the spider’s chitin.  Then it tore the arachnid in half, spraying black ichor everywhere.  When the bear turned to pursue Ilmarė, it stumbled…the poison was taking effect.“Like fighting Nierites,” muttered Beldin.  “Sebastian, catch!”  He tossed a red and black vial to Sebastian as the first bear advanced on him.Sebastian uncorked the potion with one hand and gulped down its contents.  The bear stretched its maw and flames washed over Sebastian.  The dark-kin reflexively held up one arm, but the fire had no effect.  “Let’s see if you can take as good as you give,” said Sebastian.  He pointed his wand at the beast. Flames spiraled out of the ruby tip and struck the bear.  The black bear howled as its fur caught on fire.Beldin buried his axe deep in the distracted bear’s side.  It fell over with a thud.  Ilmarė fired an arrow into the second bear’s skull.  Then it too, lay still.They all stood over the corpse of the first bear as it morphed and shrank.  When it finally stopped moving, all that was left was the body of a burnt and battered gnome.  “He was just defending his home,” said Bijoux, with tears in her eyes.  “He didn’t deserve this death.”“He was trying to kill us,” said Ilmarė.  “So we killed him first.  That is the way of things.”“It is not the right way,” said Bijoux.“Get used to it,” said Ilmarė.  “It’s the Onaran way.”</blockquote>

Verification