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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jeremy" data-source="post: 1394276" data-attributes="member: 4036">Cormanthor, Galath's Roost16th of Deepwinter in the Year of Wild Magic The company spread out, searching for signs of their quarry or danger in the cavern beneath Galath’s Roost.  Making their way around stalagmites and over the stream that flowed through most of the cavern they made their way collectively around to the east side, where Revan thought the short alcove into the wall was a little suspicious.  Sure enough, it was a clumsily hidden door, little more than just a boulder pushed up against the wall from the outside to conceal it.  He moved to investigate it when with a groan a metal grate, spiked on the forward side swung down sideways out of the ceiling slamming shut and pinning him, spiked to the wall, through his shoulder.  The gate made an effective barrier, shutting off all access to the secret door, though Revan had prevented it from locking into place. “Well that’s one way to keep a door open.  Hang on, have you out in a jiff.”  Titus said, not really bothered by the look of the wound, but not dwelling on it either.  He took a firm handle the bars of the gate and tried to lift it and rotate it back up into the roof.  The sucking and popping sound of the spike being withdrawn from Revan was enough to make Elayne turn away and head a little deeper into the cave away from the others. Revan slumped down against the wall as Titus pulled the gate clear and held it up for Galdur to check on Revan.  “Good work that,” he muttered of the stonework as he ducked underneath the trap.  “Try an’ hold still.  This gonna hurt.”  Galdur channeled some of the spell energy Dugmaren had granted him this morning, changing it into positive energy as he was taught and mending most of the wound.  He looked disappointed at how much of the wound remained, but Revan placed a hand on his shoulder before making his way to his feet. The elf and the dwarf quickly ascertained that the secret door was in fact a secondary entrance from outside hidden in an overgrown thicket and headed back to Titus who was still holding up the grate.  After everyone was back inside the cave and clear of whatever triggered the trap, they pushed the gate back up until it was felt to lock into place, cleverly disguised among the stalactites. “Well that was,” Revan was interrupted by Elayne’s scream from the south. “Whose turn was it to watch the princess?”  Titus complained as they rushed around the corner. “Figures.  First giant insects,” Galdur said as they all pulled up short staring at the writhing plants among the stalagmites in the shaft of sunlight pouring down from the sinkhole in the courtyard above, “Why not giant killer vines too?”  Galdur hadn’t been in the North for long, but he was learning fast how to sound like a fatalistic shield dwarf. His words didn’t stop his actions though, taking up his axe he started cutting a swath through the animated vines trying to get to Elayne who was wrapped up in a thick knot of vines that seemed to have hand-like leaves that were tightly holding her.  Her scream was cut short as the vines began choking off her air.  Galdur didn’t get very far though before he too was wrapped up and he was forced to spend most of his time cutting himself free, and even then was only able to make precious little progress. Titus also ran into the area, planting his long staff at the base of a stalagmite and pole-vaulting into the chaos, leaping left and right trying to avoid being ensnared.  Arrows shot by him as Revan, perceiving some distinct form to the vines holding Elayne began making pinpoint strikes against it while staying clear of Elayne.  Titus managed to get a hand around Elayne’s ankle before the vines could pull her out of his reach up towards the ceiling they were also wrapped around.  He tried to pull her free but the vines would grip was too tight.  Elayne’s struggling suddenly stopped and after a moment she went limp. The vines deposited her with a thump near their collective base and suddenly lurched out several tentacle-like lengths at Titus.  Revan managed to shoot two of them out of the air but another managed to wrap around Titus’s ankles and upended him.  Galdur continued hacking his way through the vines that continued to thrash about but he could do little to move towards his endangered friends. Revan meanwhile, continued, utterly focused, snapping off arrow after arrow with deadly aim striking the vine in multiple locations and never once harming its prey.  After one last shaft slammed into place on the vine it’s strength gave out and it fell, sagging and inanimate to the ground around Titus.  He gasped for air as the now free Galdur hurried to Elayne.  She was unconscious but still alive. Galdur and Titus looked at the sickly elf in wordless thanks, both impressed by his incredible feat.</blockquote>

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