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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 762188" data-attributes="member: 7737">Note: the above "Interlude: Dellarocca Imprisoned" is actually a flash-forward of sorts. Brogun still has quite a bit of adventuring to do before he catches up to that part of the time-line. So, back to everyone's favorite dwarven cleric."… up the coast a ways. Probably Ice Barbarians who got separated from their fellows during the retreat. Find out what the hell they're up to, and wipe them out."Brogun nodded at Baron da Silva and asked, "Will any of your men be joining me for support?"The Baron assented. "Sergeant Tomás and Corporal Guillermo are at your disposal."Brogun bowed and departed.= = =Their small boat made good time on its way north, and Brogun listened intently as Tomás discussed the region. The map found on the Sea Ghost ship indicated that the rendezvous point was about 15 miles from Lof, in a region of hot springs and other geological phenomena. No one lived there, except some strange reptile-men, and even they hadn't been seen in a few years.The boat slowed as it came near the outflow of the River Dor. Brogun wrinkled his nose in disgust; the sulfur from the hot springs was quite noticeable, even over the sea air. Directing the men to put ashore, Brogun announced that he would reconnoiter the area ahead on foot.A large hill stood straight ahead, covered with scrubby trees. As Brogun advanced, he could make out two faint trails. One headed up the hill, while the other circled around its side. Hefting his axe, he took the nearer of the two trails to where it ended, smack dab in the middle of a group of shrubs."There's got to be a secret entrance around here somewhere," Brogun muttered to himself. Resigning himself to a lengthy search, he poked around the bushes until he found what he was looking for: a concealed doorway. Brogun tested it gingerly with his hands, but it was either barred from the inside or simply stuck, so the dwarf lowered his shoulder and plowed into it.And bounced off. Rubbing his shoulder, Brogun charged again, this time bursting the door open and almost running into a figure standing inside it.The creature wasn't very big – maybe five feet tall – but it was covered with green scales and had a long, pointed snout. Just now that snout was open in surprise, revealing its crooked teeth. The creature's right hand gripped a shortspear, while its left was raised as if to ward off the interloper.The two stared at each other for a moment, until Brogun had the presence of mind to speak. "I have come from Lof. I mean you no harm." He wasn't sure why he said that, but it seemed like the right move.The creature cocked its head at Brogun, but its blank expression remained. Brogun tried again in dwarven, but to no avail. Just then, another reptilian came walking around a bend in the hillside tunnel. It too stared at Brogun in alarm, then gave a yell and disappeared back around the bend.Brogun swore under his breath. He invoked a sanctuary spell and stepped forward, hands held loosely around his axe. The first creature tried to advance towards Brogun, but was rebuffed by his divine protection, and stepped back, eyes wide in awe. It yelled something down the passageway to its left, and several more creatures appeared. But none of them could muster the willpower to attack through Brogun's sanctuary, so the dwarf strode boldly into the passage ahead of him.It bent to the right, and Brogun moved along. Behind him, the reptilian creatures were trailing along, afraid to come too close, but not willing to let this intruder out of their sight.There – a door on the right-hand wall. Brogun opened it a crack and peered inside. What the … ? A kitchen of some sort, filled with what could only be female reptilians cooking. Brogun eased the door shut and continued onwards. If he could just get one of the creatures to understand him –Up ahead, another group of reptilians approached Brogun. It looked like one of those from the entrance had gathered reinforcements and cut off his approach. The dwarf couldn't suppress a sense of admiration for these creatures; whatever they were, they were well trained. His spell would be wearing off soon, and in the face of a dozen reptilians, Brogun thought he had better leave.He turned around and spoke slowly to the creatures behind him. "I am leaving now. Please excuse my intrusion." Striding forward, Brogun passed by the creatures and out of the hidden door, which was immediately slammed shut behind him.= = ="The problem," Brogun explained to Tomás, "is that my spell will only allow me to understand them, and not the other way around. So we've got to penetrate their lair deep enough to find one of them that speaks Durenese."Tomás frowned. "What if none of them do?" he inquired."Then we'll use hand gestures. Now come on."This time, Brogun led the way around the side of the hill, following the path he had noticed earlier. It ended at a large cave, into which Brogun peered with his darkvision."What do you see?" Tomás asked, too loudly."Quiet!" Brogun hissed. "There are two – no, three – large creatures inside the cave. Let's sneak past them. Stay close to me!"With that, Brogun cast a silence spell, and entered the cave. The creatures appeared to be giant lizards; they were sleeping soundly. Praying that their sense of smell wouldn't alert them, Brogun picked his way across the mud of the cave floor and across to wear a worked stone archway marked the presence of another tunnel.Heaving a (silent) sigh of relief, the dwarf quickly entered the tunnel. It twisted and turned. Wait. Were Tomás and Guillermo still behind him? Normally Brogun would've been able to hear their footfalls, but under the effects of the silence, he couldn't. Why couldn't the spell be dismissed at will? Brogun grumbled (silently). Of course, he was the idiot who had cast it on himself, instead of on something portable like a rock.Aha! A door. No need for quiet – just crack the thing open and take a look. Ack! A bunch of reptilians forming up under some kind of officer.Blast! They've seen us. What does Tomás want? He's waving his arms like – oh. Another passageway. Go, go, go!T-junction up ahead. We'll go left. No – wait – I said LEFT. Argh! They can't hear me, of course. Can't even hear –"– myself," Brogun said out loud. "Uh oh."The spell's duration had expired, and Brogun could now hear the many sets of feet behind him. He whirled around to see an entire patrol of reptilians, heavily armed, bearing down on him."Wait!" the dwarf called out. "I am here on a peaceful mission from Lof."One of the creatures held up its hand, halting the others. "Ssstop," it spoke to its troops, and Brogun realized that his comprehend languages spell was letting him understand.The creature turned to Brogun and spoke slowly in surprisingly good Durenese. "You will come withhh usss to the chiefff." The dwarf had no choice but to comply.</blockquote>

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