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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1442381" data-attributes="member: 9744">chapter 4 For Whom does it toll?The earth genasi stared at the human intently, waiting to see if he could spot when Andrew would disappear from sight. After several long minutes of staring at the position that the Indep was standing in, Caleb came to the realisation that he might actually be looking at an Andrew shaped piece of rock. This thought was confirmed when he heard the others whisper about Andrew's progress towards the tower.The Indep snuck along the side of the canyon walls quieter than an owl in flight, making best use of the terrain to blend in as much as possible. Andrew was more used to travelling unobserved in urban settings, but even the eagle-eyed seer was having difficulty spotting him.When Andrew got to the door to the tower and saw the lock he almost laughed. Grimthar's Ultimate in Protection and Theft Deterrence mark II was so out of date that the Indep felt a moment of anger at the lack of money spent on keeping the buildings secure. He'd been able to open such a lock many years ago and felt it a little beneath him to do so now. Instead of simply opening the lock, he also fixed it a little so that it would be more difficult for the next gentleman adventurer to come along.The Indep moved up the stairs as silently as he'd glided across the terrain towards the tower. The mice did not hear his passing. Once he had reached the top he could hear the gruff voices of the Anakharim knights arguing about the stakes for a game of chance. The amount of noise that they made as they moved around in their black plate armour made Andrew regret a little how much effort he'd made to move silently up the stairs. He could smell metal polish and recently oiled leathers. Through a crack in the door he could see that their swords were in good repair, standing ready in case of attack.Ready when you are gentlemen, Andrew sent to the others along the link that Serena was sustaining.Cade hummed a quick ditty that would allow him to move at faster than normal speed should a hasty retreat be called for. When Serena raised an eyebrow at him, the halfling motioned with his hands that it could be used to advance as well as retreat.Now Andrew! Cade confirmed with his friends. Now would be a good time, Andrew agreed as he saw one of the guards moving towards the trap door. The Indep stepped away from the ladder and in to the shadow so as to remain hidden, but he knew that it would not last long.Suddenly all was silent in the tower and Andrew realised that someone had magically dampened all sound within the top of the tower. He could see the guards looking around in confusion and surprise. It was at that point that Andrew chose to strike.In a single motion his sword was in his hand as he rushed through the trap door and slashed at one of the dark knights with his weapon. The knight cried out silently in fear and fumbled for his own weapon. As he clutched his wound with his other hand, his clothes became soaked with dark fluid and he collapsed to the ground.The wooden roof of the tower burst apart as a shining warrior of light flew through the slats with his great sword ready to do battle. Sir Osbourne folded his shining white wings in time to land athletically and proceeded to launch an attack against one of the dark knights. The bright light pouring in through the broken roof, silent dance of death and sudden appearance of armed foes left the remaining guards reeling with shock. Sir Osbourne struck down his opponent in a single blow.Now would be a good time! Andrew sent out the mental call again for the others to attack the base, this time his thoughts were more emphatic and urgent.The dwarven scholar hovered above the opening in the watch-tower roof and wove an enchantment that he cast at the remaining knight. The Anakharim knight shrugged off the fell curse that would have robbed him off his sight and struck his weapon against the side of the large bell. On his second blow he realised that the whole area was blanketed in silence and he turned to face the advancing foes who had broken in to the tower.Caleb sent out a mental command for his mephits to join the attack as he'd received a message from Littleby that the fight had begun. However, the mephits were caught in the middle of an intense philosophical debate and were slow to respond to the commands of their master.“There is no bell,” the earth mephit stated.“It's not tolling therefore there is no bell,” the mineral mephit agreed.“If the bell is really ringing," the ooze mephit asked, enjoying playing the role of devil's advocate. "Then for whom does it toll?”“Argh, don't say that.” The mineral mephit was about to whap the ooze mephit, when Caleb grabbed it and flung it in the direction of the watch tower.“IT TOLLS FOR THEE, IF YOU SAY THAT AGAIN." Before the earth genasi had a chance to throw any of his remaining servants towards the fight, they flew off in the direction of the tower reluctantly.“Red leader this is Blue Leader,” the ooze mephit shouted as his oily bubble-like wings flapped hard, trying to catch up with the mineral mephit.“Huh, oh." The earth mephit joined them, flying clumsily. Amazingly it had figured out what the other two mephits were on about and decided to join in. “Blue Leader, this is Orange leader, Red is coming in at different attack vector.”“Orange leader, this is Purple leader we are joining Red in attack run.” The mineral mephit's laughter sounded like breaking pottery and the three creatures flew erratically to the tower.The halfling cleared his throat, getting ready to start singing loudly in case the yeth hounds should make an appearance and start their terrifying howling. Caleb hefted his hammer and began to advance, joined by the hound archon who was wielding a great sword forged in the celestial smithies of Mount Celestia.Littleby swooped down towards the kennels next to the stables and tossed a small ball of flame through the window. As he made his pass the low building exploded in a rain of flaming wood and death. The yeth hounds slumbering within were caught completely off guard and most were incinerated in the first volley. The wooden structure caught fire and only two of the black hounds made it out alive. The others howled in agony as they were burnt alive.Seeing a flash of orange light outside through the broken roof, the last guard lowered his sword in surrender. After he'd dropped his sword Andrew tried to knock the man unconscious, but the knight managed to side-step the attack. The Indep jumped his opponent in a second attempt to incapacitate the man, but the knight proved to be the stronger of the two. As the two combatants rolled across the floor over the splinter and broken slats, Andrew looked up to Sir Osbourne for some help. “Hey, large angel. Some help here?” he shouted.Zakar and Caleb were all that stood between Cade and two enraged yeth hounds, with possible reinforcements coming out of the main building or from elsewhere. They'd had the element of surprise on their side right up until the point that Littleby had set the kennels ablaze. He sent out a mental summons for his champion and Sir Osbourne took flight out of the tower to land in front of his halfling charge in a but a few wing-beats.Sinner, thought Caleb, these dark hounds do not even touch the earth when the run. By the power of Grumbar grant me the strength to drive them in to the ground. The earth genasi felt strength flow in to his body and he began shouting insults at them. The two surviving hounds responded by howling and charging the intruders in a berserk rage. Caleb, Zakar and Sir Osbourne stood in a line, ready to hold back the darkness descending upon them.Meanwhile up in the watch tower the knight had broken free of Andrew and sprinted over to the ladder. The young knight began to descend the ladder in the hopes of raising the alarm before all was lost. The Indep sighed silently and chased after him.Realising that they'd lost the element of surprise and not wanting any of their foes to escape, Littleby quickly crafted a spell that would prevent all dimensional travel within the bounds of the canyon.</blockquote>

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