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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Funeris" data-source="post: 2016543" data-attributes="member: 22792">Chapter 8: Into the Deep Concluded“We need to go to Andorric’s Steps, however, I think we take Buric to Dun Moor.”  Tobias face was still shadowed with pain.  “I know I haven’t told you of all of the details of my past.  Its time I shed a little light on the subject.“I ran away from Andorric’s Steps when I was only nine.  I’ve been running for six long years now.  And, quite honestly, I’m afraid to return.  My father was executed for treason on the day I left.”  Tobias’ visage reddens in hue as he breathes slowly.“My father was a Captain of the guard and quite the devoted worshipper of Morduk.  Six years ago he was in charge of the soldiers and engineers building the new keep.  I was so young at the time that I don’t remember much.  He used to talk about work on occasion at home and I know the keep was to have secret exits.“These passageways ran underneath the castle, deep under the earth and out a safe distance from the town.  My father was accused of leaking the designs.”  Tears began to leak from Tobias’ eyes.  His face was fully flushed by this point, and he seemed to not want to continue.  “I didn’t believe it.  Couldn’t.  My father was the most honorable man I have ever known.  He lived and would have died for the King.  I guess in a way he did.“So, I ran.  I was just a child.  And I fled.  I was scared that the same might have happened to me.  So I left.  And I vowed to earn back the honor of my family.  Even if that means returning to prove my father’s innocence.  And dying, if need be.“Buric disappeared from Andorric’s Steps years and years ago.  Taken as a slave.  This makes me think that perhaps the two events are connected somehow.  Maybe I’m grasping at straws.  Probably.  But, we will have to go to Andorric’s Steps sometime.“That being said, I say we take him to Dun Moor.  We can give him some money so he can live out the rest of his life in safety.  Then we need to finish what we’ve started here.  And from there, maybe we go to Andorric’s Steps.”The rest of the Heroes had maintained a respectful silence during Tobias’ recounting.  Magnus shifted uneasily and walked over to the warrior, a comforting hand on his shoulder.“I’m sure we’ll make it there soon.  Let’s go to Dun Moor tomorrow.  We have some contacts there to equip and sell whatever we’ve come across.  Then we’ll decide our next steps.”  A quick nod from the rest of the party sealed the plans.“Ok then,” Magnus said, “Let’s decide on watch for the night.”  After watches were chosen, the party disbanded to their own personal routines.  But before Tobias could get away, Motega grabbed him by the shoulder.“You’re honorable.  I like you.  We don’t fault you for you past.”  Tobias nodded accepting the praise graciously.  “Is there anything else you want to tell us?”  Motega’s demeanor had changed with the question, a pointed look on his face.Tobias shirked back slightly, in awe of the erratic and sudden change.  “Um…well no.  That was it.”  Motega’s hand grasped a little tighter, his look dark and then he released his hold and walked away.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tobias had again taken the third shift of watch.  The graveyard shift it was called.  The eerie shadows of the abandoned castle only enhanced that definition.  He struggled to keep his eyes open and his mind active.  The late hours were always the worse, yet he always accepted the shift as if he was paying penance for some past wrong.As his lids drifted again, a sharp scratching sound punctuated the air.  He stood and withdrew his greatsword.  Quickly he darted around the well, waking the other members.  As they wiped the sleep from their eyes, the thousand-pound door exploded into fragments of wood.Clambering out of the defiled well was a large beast, stone gray in color.  It appeared to be carved from stone, its reptile-like scales a granite color and texture.  Black beady eyes burned in its sockets, eyeing the party viciously, hungrily.  The beast let out a shrill roar as it stepped toward the Heroes.Behind it, two of the naked tribal warriors climbed up, stone blades in hand.  Wicked grins of malevolence split their blind countenances.  The beast paused, sensing moving behind itself.  With a quick spin, its claws tore through the tribal warriors with ease.  Their malevolent grins turned to agony.Tobias took the brief respite to charge the beast, slamming his sword across its great scales.  His blade dug in barely and then skidded off the beast.  A very thin line of dark blood bubbled from within its body and it growled again.As the drake lurched toward Tobias, Motega released a few futile arrows.  One arrow thudded dully before falling useless and shattered to the ground.  The other flew wide, but it was enough of a distraction that the beast only had one attack at Tobias.  The beast missed and Fitz wadded in with his scythes.The silver crescent blades of the Goddess Ceria had little effect against the stone hide of the creature.  Magnus’ crossbow bolts also, for the most part, bounced harmlessly off the hide.  Motega dropped his bow and drew his longsword, charging the beast and attempting to flank it with Tobias.Motega’s attack pierced the rough hide and the beast shrieked, loosing an idle swipe at the Rorn.  As the beast pivoted Tobias greatsword danced in a long arc, driven onward by his feral cry.  The blade slipped through the posterior and downward, nearly severing the beast’s rear leg.  It uttered another cry as it spun and slammed Tobias with its great claws.  The beast tried to close its salivating maw over Tobias’ face but Motega’s blade elongated the gash on its rear.  Magnus’ bolts now found entry through the arterial gash as well and the beast had to keep spinning to protect itself.  As it spun, Tobias’ sword lurched downward again and again finding its target over and over.The beast roared and turned, slamming into Tobias and knocking the sword from his hand.  Tobias stumbled back as the beast leapt, its powerful jaws open wide and targeting his throat.Motega’s sword slammed downward and a sharp crack drove the beast into the ground.  Dirt sprayed upward from the force of the beast.  When the air cleared, the beast lay growling inches from Tobias, it’s spine severed.Tobias stood and drove his retrieved blade through the drake’s thick skull.  For the remaining five hours of darkness, not one of the Heroes slept.</blockquote>

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