DerianCypher
First Post
Updated Part VIII
I shouted out to everyone, “RUN! FARTHER INTO THE CASTLE!” With that I turned and darted off into the center of the castle, towards the great shining tree followed by the entire group.
We skidded to a halt at the tree and I stood looking it over. It had silver glowing flowers hanging from its limbs. I pulled a branch down and pulled a flower off the tree. As soon as I touched the tree a rush of emotions flooded into my mind. Hate, Jealousy, Anger, Envy, Love, Joy, Compassion. As I pulled the flower off, the emotions subsided and Osbourne and Kinoc began touching the trunk of the tree, examining it. We all jumped as the sounds of battle began off towards the gate. I scanned the area around and saw a gaping hole in the back of the fort, leading into darkness.
I said, “Follow me!” and we all charged off towards the hole and into the darkness. Into the darkness that would change my life forever.
We charged into the darkness and into what appeared to be a cave in the back of the castle. The cave had a steep incline down and switched back on itself heading into the hill. We went down and down and down. Eventually, we came to a cross in the pathway. We decided to continue heading down and so we carefully trudged on. Then we all heard a chittering coming from a pathway that we were passing on our right.
Suddenly,a huge sectioned body flew from the room and hit me square in the chest, sending me flying into the wall opposite the hallway. I groaned and staggered to my feet, clenching my fists as I entered. I charged into the room and attacked.
The room opened up into a 15-foot by 10-foot room. Inside were 2 giant centipedes hissing and coiling their bodies. I shouted and charged forward to attack. Instead of attacking the head I ran towards it then jumped into a flip that sent me flying over it. I came down straddling the body and began slashing away at the section of body that held the head. I opened up holes in the carapace of the creature, ichor flying onto my gauntlets and armor.
As I was attacking one of the creatures Wedge ran into the room pulling several axes from his belt and chucking them at the other centipede. The axes imbedded themselves into the side of the creature and it let out a horrible scream. I continued hacking at the creatures’ neck and head as well as holding on for dear life with my legs as the creature tried to buck me off.
As quickly as it all started it ended. The creature under me fell lifeless as enough of its lifeblood finally oozed from the gaping hole in its neck. I slowly dismounted the creature and staggered over to Kinoc and Osbourne. I slowly knelt at my pack and began rummaging around for my blanket. I found it and used it to wipe the horrible smelling ichor from my body and weapons.
I stood up and said, “We had better get going. I have no idea how many more of these there are.” Everyone nodded slowly in agreement, and we continued on the pathway.
We continued on and eventually the pathway we were following opened up into a huge cavern. Webbing was all around the cavern and I was just thinking how many spiders it would take to make this many webs when I saw it.
A Spider that stood about 25-feet tall was in the middle of the room. Its body was bloated from something and it was hissing at us. I clenched my fists, readying myself for anything. The thing charged forth and attacked me, but I was fortunately able to dodge its horribly large leg. I flipped forward through its legs and under its body and slashed upward. The thing screeched in pain as I rended its soft underbelly. Wedge pulled his axes from his belt and tossed them at the creature's bloated body.
To my horror, smaller spiders began pouring from the mother spiders’ wounds. I continued slashing at the creature for all I was worth. Osbourne had his crossbow in hand and was firing at the creature. I could tell because more than once bolts flew just past my face. The creature slashed at Wedge with its wicked leg and connected with the small man. He went flying against the wall and slumped against it with an enormous gash opened in his chest.
I slashed one more time, and the creature began staggering. Finally, it fell over, nearly catching me under it. I was fortunately able to dive out from under it. I picked myself up and began checking myself for wounds. There were no apparent wounds and the halfling was doing better because Kinoc has called upon Pelor to heal him.
I nodded and said, “Lets get the hell out of here. This place is not safe.”
Everyone followed as I jogged down the cavern and down the pathway on the other end. I stopped short as the pathway turned into a staircase. Carefully, I walked down the staircase watching for anything. Eventually it led into a large hallway. On the far end was a large wall worked into the stone. Columns stood before a large doorway the stood behind a set of 5 or 6 stairs. We walked forward and up the stairs and through the already open door.
Beyond the door was an enormous library with tomes in languages none of us had seen before. We made our way to the center of the library and there on a pedestal was a large iron bound tome. In front of the tome stood a man that I recognized immediately as an elf. He turned quickly drawing his blade as he heard my blades sliding from my gauntlets.
“What are you doing here?” He demanded.
“I could ask you the same question.” I snapped.
Finally, after neither of us said anything for a moment I offered, “We were forced down here by a battle in the ruins. We’re tired and injured and just trying to find the way out.”
He looked he dead in the eye and slowly put his weapon away. I followed suit and he said, “This place is safe. You can rest here for the night; I’ll watch over you.”
I was very tense by this point and nodded to the rest of the party. They began setting a camp up. I walked to the elf and held out my hand and said, “My name is Artimus Al’Ulfgar. Who are you?”
He looked at my hand and continued reading the book, “ My identity is of no importance.”
I dropped my hand and turned to set out my bedroll. I remained awake for a few hours and then finally went to sleep hoping that my trust in the elf was not misplaced.
I shouted out to everyone, “RUN! FARTHER INTO THE CASTLE!” With that I turned and darted off into the center of the castle, towards the great shining tree followed by the entire group.
We skidded to a halt at the tree and I stood looking it over. It had silver glowing flowers hanging from its limbs. I pulled a branch down and pulled a flower off the tree. As soon as I touched the tree a rush of emotions flooded into my mind. Hate, Jealousy, Anger, Envy, Love, Joy, Compassion. As I pulled the flower off, the emotions subsided and Osbourne and Kinoc began touching the trunk of the tree, examining it. We all jumped as the sounds of battle began off towards the gate. I scanned the area around and saw a gaping hole in the back of the fort, leading into darkness.
I said, “Follow me!” and we all charged off towards the hole and into the darkness. Into the darkness that would change my life forever.
We charged into the darkness and into what appeared to be a cave in the back of the castle. The cave had a steep incline down and switched back on itself heading into the hill. We went down and down and down. Eventually, we came to a cross in the pathway. We decided to continue heading down and so we carefully trudged on. Then we all heard a chittering coming from a pathway that we were passing on our right.
Suddenly,a huge sectioned body flew from the room and hit me square in the chest, sending me flying into the wall opposite the hallway. I groaned and staggered to my feet, clenching my fists as I entered. I charged into the room and attacked.
The room opened up into a 15-foot by 10-foot room. Inside were 2 giant centipedes hissing and coiling their bodies. I shouted and charged forward to attack. Instead of attacking the head I ran towards it then jumped into a flip that sent me flying over it. I came down straddling the body and began slashing away at the section of body that held the head. I opened up holes in the carapace of the creature, ichor flying onto my gauntlets and armor.
As I was attacking one of the creatures Wedge ran into the room pulling several axes from his belt and chucking them at the other centipede. The axes imbedded themselves into the side of the creature and it let out a horrible scream. I continued hacking at the creatures’ neck and head as well as holding on for dear life with my legs as the creature tried to buck me off.
As quickly as it all started it ended. The creature under me fell lifeless as enough of its lifeblood finally oozed from the gaping hole in its neck. I slowly dismounted the creature and staggered over to Kinoc and Osbourne. I slowly knelt at my pack and began rummaging around for my blanket. I found it and used it to wipe the horrible smelling ichor from my body and weapons.
I stood up and said, “We had better get going. I have no idea how many more of these there are.” Everyone nodded slowly in agreement, and we continued on the pathway.
We continued on and eventually the pathway we were following opened up into a huge cavern. Webbing was all around the cavern and I was just thinking how many spiders it would take to make this many webs when I saw it.
A Spider that stood about 25-feet tall was in the middle of the room. Its body was bloated from something and it was hissing at us. I clenched my fists, readying myself for anything. The thing charged forth and attacked me, but I was fortunately able to dodge its horribly large leg. I flipped forward through its legs and under its body and slashed upward. The thing screeched in pain as I rended its soft underbelly. Wedge pulled his axes from his belt and tossed them at the creature's bloated body.
To my horror, smaller spiders began pouring from the mother spiders’ wounds. I continued slashing at the creature for all I was worth. Osbourne had his crossbow in hand and was firing at the creature. I could tell because more than once bolts flew just past my face. The creature slashed at Wedge with its wicked leg and connected with the small man. He went flying against the wall and slumped against it with an enormous gash opened in his chest.
I slashed one more time, and the creature began staggering. Finally, it fell over, nearly catching me under it. I was fortunately able to dive out from under it. I picked myself up and began checking myself for wounds. There were no apparent wounds and the halfling was doing better because Kinoc has called upon Pelor to heal him.
I nodded and said, “Lets get the hell out of here. This place is not safe.”
Everyone followed as I jogged down the cavern and down the pathway on the other end. I stopped short as the pathway turned into a staircase. Carefully, I walked down the staircase watching for anything. Eventually it led into a large hallway. On the far end was a large wall worked into the stone. Columns stood before a large doorway the stood behind a set of 5 or 6 stairs. We walked forward and up the stairs and through the already open door.
Beyond the door was an enormous library with tomes in languages none of us had seen before. We made our way to the center of the library and there on a pedestal was a large iron bound tome. In front of the tome stood a man that I recognized immediately as an elf. He turned quickly drawing his blade as he heard my blades sliding from my gauntlets.
“What are you doing here?” He demanded.
“I could ask you the same question.” I snapped.
Finally, after neither of us said anything for a moment I offered, “We were forced down here by a battle in the ruins. We’re tired and injured and just trying to find the way out.”
He looked he dead in the eye and slowly put his weapon away. I followed suit and he said, “This place is safe. You can rest here for the night; I’ll watch over you.”
I was very tense by this point and nodded to the rest of the party. They began setting a camp up. I walked to the elf and held out my hand and said, “My name is Artimus Al’Ulfgar. Who are you?”
He looked at my hand and continued reading the book, “ My identity is of no importance.”
I dropped my hand and turned to set out my bedroll. I remained awake for a few hours and then finally went to sleep hoping that my trust in the elf was not misplaced.
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