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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Henry" data-source="post: 2252744" data-attributes="member: 158">Black Eyes of the Demon Scorpion, Pt. 4Brandis picked the second door with ease. Beyond was something the invaders were definitely not prepared for.A marble-tiled room, some 30 feet wide, stretched back into darkness beyond his lamp. Two massive pillars, about 15 feet in, supported the ceiling, but what struck Brandis’ eye was that these two columns glittered with gems; rubies, to be specific.Varus’s voice, requesting a status report from the previous room, snapped him back into the here and now. Success now, gems later. Brandis strained with his lamp to note details on the far side of the hall, and fairly skipped into the middle of the room when he caught a similar glint from two additional glittering columns on the far side, as well as another, larger, iron door. His keen eye, however, brought him to a screeching halt.Say, what are those black circular stains on the tiles?...Gems from the two near columns flickered to life, and Brandis moved faster than a branded calf as a streak of light bloomed into a roiling fireball, incinerating where he stood less than a second prior. Brandis was almost back to the door by the time he slowed down. No more fireblasts --No more fireblasts?“Don’t go near the pillars!” Brandis cried as the rest of the group stormed in, seeking the source of commotion. Vercinius and Antonius strode forth to examine as Brandis filled them in.“Magical trap,” both agreed. Antonius admitted he had no capability to diffuse magical traps. Vercinius offered, “I might be able to temporarily dispel ONE of these things. But FOUR…” he trailed off. There was no way.Antonius regarded Rashad the Turncoat. “Was this your Fire Witch’s trap, Sythian?”Rashad countered, “As I told you, I do not know. But it would seem true.”Brandis chimed in, pointing out a few facts. “Look here  -- see all those black marks? Not only has this thing been here, frying the incautious for a long time, but the black marks are all the way from north to south – meaning they guard the whole width of the room, not just between the pillars.”“Why aren’t we ash?” Varus asked irritatedly.“They stop right at the pillars. As long as we’re over here, or on the far sides, next to the doors, we’re safe. And note all these dull, cracked gems? These things seem to burn out as they are used. They’re not infinite, but I don’t fancy my chances trying to burn through the ten THOUSAND gems on each of these pillars!”“Pry them out?” Varus asked.“No good,” Brandis replied sullenly. “They’re almost certain to be trapped to explode from that, too.”“We need more information,” said Vercinius.Brandis warned them, and tossed a pebble into the center with the pillars. No reaction came.Varus grumbled, “We WASTE TIME. Our troops falter in the Demon Wastes. We need a way past. War Wizards!” He commanded, totally ignoring Antonius. “Have you any fire protections?”One timid wizard, named Junius, spoke. “Yes, sir! It is a small charm, but somewhat effective.” He offered an almost apologetic side glance at Antonius, who fixed him with a stare. Antonius was known as a competent wizard, but he was known even more for exacting cold revenge on those who showed him up at magic, or who treated him as an inferior. What this boded for Junius or Varus, the younger war wizard was afraid to think about beyond the here and now.Varus grunted satisfaction. “We need a volunteer.” Legionnaires silently swallowed.Straws were drawn, and a legionnaire was ordered forward.</blockquote>

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