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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 495372" data-attributes="member: 6294">"Unearthing the Past" by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 10As the lift sinks into its shaft, the group cannot help but feel nervous.  They are heading into an unknown area, and the noise of the device on which they are travelling will surely alert anyone below them of their approach, just as it had alerted them, earlier."Think we'll get ambushed?" Twinkle asks the group at large."Yup." Macwood doesn't even hesitate.As they speak, the base of the lift clears the stone shaft, and they catch a glimpse of a dimly lit room below them.It's about then that the first crossbow bolt speeds into the lift, passing directly between Ulfgar and Twinkle.  Moments later, a second bolt clatters off the iron bars of the cage, just in front of Briar.Thanking every god that's listening for the cover provided by those bars, the young rogue drops to one knee and tries to get a proper view of the room.  It's a smart move, as the slow-moving lift has now descended far enough for him to see under the level of the roof.He quickly spots a group of three figures standing a short distance down a corridor.  Two of them are frantically reloading crossbows while the third, middle figure is surround by glowing patterns of light."Magic." Ming Li sniffs disdainfully.  It seems the monk has seen their opponents as well.Despite the poor angle, Briar snaps his own weapon into the firing position and looses a bolt.  It's an awkward, hurried shot, but it flies true: the bolt punches into the central figure's shoulder, staggering it back slightly."Damn, I'm good." Briar pauses just long enough to gloat before setting the crossbow aside and drawing his shortsword.  "Lucky shot." snipes Twinkle, loosing a shot of her own at the ambushers.  Unfortunately, her physical barb is less accurate than her verbal one.As the lift lowers the last few feet to the floor, the group readies themselves to go on to the offensive.  They have to weather another volley of bolts in the mean time, but neither shot causes any harm.  The first clatters off the iron cage again, while the second speeds through, but strikes only Ulfgar's shield.At the same moment, the man who was injured by Briar's bolt reaches up and places his hand on the wound.  Within moments, the bolt dissolves and the wound seals over.  Ming Li purses her lips in disapproval."Cleric." Ulfgar growls."Human, too." Twinkle's sharp eyes have allowed her to get a better look at their foes, "The ones with the crossbows are both orcs."As soon as the lift clangs into place, Briar lifts the barrier and runs across the room, ducking up against the wall near the entrance to the corridor.  Anyone passing too close to that corner will be in danger of feeling the rogue's sneak attack.One of the two orcs casts aside his crossbow and, drawing his great axe, charges toward Twinkle.  The grey-skinned humanoid is on the opposite side of the corridor to Briar, well out of the rogue's reach, and it seems nothing can stop the creature from burying its blade in the young gnome.Clang.  The iron cage comes to the party's rescue once again as the orc's mighty blade catches on one of the bars, deflecting the blow safely away.The second orc also changes weapons and moves forward, but it does so more cautiously, rounding the corner on Briar's side with considerable care.The cleric casts again, pointing at Ulfgar, who is obviously the biggest physical danger to the orcs."Fear the touch of the Dark Lady!" the man intones, and the dwarf feels the icy grip of terror clutch his heart.  Despite his best efforts to fight the impulse, the usually fierce warrior turns and flees into the back corner of the lift cage, cowering and hiding in panic.Ming Li is undaunted.  Steeping up to the orc that threatens Twinkle, she lashes out with her quarterstaff.  The battle between the slight, slender monk and the hulking humanoid appears completely unbalanced.  And indeed it is: the monk smashes her opponent to her ground with a single deadly strike.Macwood has his longsword at the ready, but surprises his companions by gesturing and speaking a short fragment of arcane words.  A glowing shape flies from his outstretched hand, making straight for the middle of the three enemy figures.  The man instinctively swipes at the figure with his mace, and the lights blink out."Fooled you." Macwood chuckles in satisfaction.Briar, as physically overmatched by his opponent as Ming Li was by hers, proves to be just as deadly.  The rogue drops beneath the orc's swinging greataxe and stabs the creature in the thigh, opening the femoral artery.  The beast-like humanoid bellows in pain and rage as its leg collapses beneath it.Buoyed by his kill, Briar moves up to engage the sole remaining enemy, and pays for it when the man strikes him a hefty blow with his mace.  The young rogue falls back a step, biting back a cry of pain.This is the man's last hostile action, however, as the other group members swarm up to assist Briar: first Macwood and then Ming Li strike solid blows, with Twinkle also slashing at their foe.  Flanked on all sides, the cleric cannot adequately defend himself and Briar steps up to slide his shortsword home, avenging the wound he has just suffered.With their opponents defeated, the group occupy themselves with checking the bodies for treasure, then turn their attention to coaxing Ulfgar out of his corner.  Eventually, the effects of the dark magic wear off, and the dwarf rather shamefacedly rejoins his companion."Definitely a cleric of some kind." Briar confirms, showing the dwarf a holy symbol they found on the body.  It depicts an almost demonic face, with a protruding forked tongue.  None of the group recognises the device, but they wrap it in cloth and stow it in their growing pile of loot, intending to show it to the Padre when they return to town."That mace is fine work." Ulfgar points to the cleric's weapon. "Should fetch a good price at the Festival market, if we can find a buyer.""We also found this." Ming Li displays a roll of parchment, "But it seems like gibberish to me.  Probably magical."Macwood takes the scroll and examines it, muttering a few arcane phrases as he does so."It is indeed." He confirms, "A scroll of healing, it seems.  I'd like to take it for study, if I may."  Seeing there are no objections, the halfling tucks the scroll inside his shirt."Right." Ulfgar hefts his axe. "Let's see if there's anyone else down here who needs a taste of my axe." The fighter glares fiercely as he speaks, daring any of his companions to make a comment about the absence of his axe in the last fight.  Wisely, they choose not to.At least, not to his face ...</blockquote>

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