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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JollyDoc" data-source="post: 1045608" data-attributes="member: 9546">LAST MAN (OR IS IT HALFLING?) STANDINGTilly leaned heavily against the lever, listening as the elevator platform climbed higher up the shaft and the angry curses of the ogre retreated.  He closed his eyes and took a moment to catch his breath.  He couldn’t believe how terribly wrong everything had gone.  Could he really be the only one left alive?  Opening his eyes, he looked down where Salazar lay at his feet.  “I’m truly sorry old friend,” he whispered.  The grief he felt was stronger than he would have imagined.  Sal had been his business associate, true, but also his best friend, and on more than one occasion, his savior.  Still, Tilly was a pragmatist and a survivor.  He knew that he couldn’t stay here.  Once the platform reached the top of the shaft, the ogre would simply come back down again.  He would have gained nothing.  He had to get out of here.He reached inside Sal’s tunic and retrieved the flat keys that where hidden there.  He would need them if he ever made it back to Jzadirune.  Wishing his fellow rogue good speed on his final journey, the halfling limped back out into the deserted shaft, and then into the hallway beyond.Tilly made his way quietly down the corridor, not hearing another sound and seeing no one else living.   He passed the open door to Xukasus’ chamber, but after a quick glance inside showed no other exit, he passed by the noisome lair.  Abruptly, the passage came to a dead-end.  Tilly leaned his head against the blank wall in frustration.  He was trapped.  What would he do now?  He couldn’t hide forever.  The ogre would surely track him down eventually.  No…there had to be a way out.  The ogre had to enter the rest of the fortress by some means.  Tilly began running his hands over the malachite surface, searching for hidden seams or cracks.  Finally, at the very base of the wall, he spied a hairline fracture in the otherwise pristine stone.  He traced it inch by inch until he determined that it formed a regular, rectangular outline.  At one edge he found that a small, circular piece of the wall could be depressed.  He pushed it once, and immediately the section swung outward.The large chamber beyond the secret door was dimly lit by a stone brazier in each corner, carved in the likeness of an ovoid creature with three stubby legs, three eyes, and three spindly arms spaced equidistantly around its pebbly body.  A dark, pungent haze filled the room due to the smoke rising from the flames.Great pairs of iron doors were set into opposite facing walls, and the pair to the northwest was sealed with a heavy, iron bar.  A large stone stature of a dwarven warrior stood before the southeast set of doors.  The dwarf stared blankly forward, two glistening black gems embedded in his eyes, a spiked helmet resting atop his formidable brow.  His armor bore graven glyphs, and a shield was slung over his back.  His stony gauntlets rested on the handle of a greataxe etched with fiery patterns, its head planted firmly on the floor.  Draped over the statue was a mass of iron chains ending in nasty barbs, spikes, hooks and blades.  Some of them were coiled around the statue’s arms and legs.  However, what immediately drew Tilly's attention was the pair of hobgoblins flanking each set of doors.  As soon as they saw the hidden door open, they turned, drew their swords, and rushed towards the frightened halfling.Tilly knew this was the end.  He was badly wounded, he couldn’t run, and he had no hope of standing against four fresh warriors.  He braced himself, blades in hand.  If he had to go, it wouldn’t be without a fight.  It seemed he would be seeing Salazar again after all.Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him, “Psst!  Here!  Quickly!”He turned and saw that a previously blank section of the corridor, just beyond Xukasus’ chamber, was now open.  Standing just outside of the opening were two young men.  The first was rather pale, with crisp blue eyes and silky blonde hair pulled back in three braids, while the second was tanned with bright green eyes and curly black hair.  Both bore elven blood, as evidenced by the slight point to their ears.  They wore leather armor and had shortbows in hand.  Tilly wasted no time looking a gift horse in the mouth.  He might very well be rushing from one bad situation to another, but given his choices this seemed like the better option.  He slammed the door closed just as the hobgoblins were in striking distance.  He then limped as quickly as his injured leg would allow towards his would-be saviors.Just then, the door behind him burst open and the hobgoblins poured out.  Instantly the bows of the half-elves sang out.  The foremost of the pursuers dropped with two arrows sprouting from his chest.Tilly reached the relative safety of the hidden passage just as the remaining three hobgoblins closed the distance.  The half-elves dropped their bows and drew longswords from their scabbards.  One hobgoblin engaged each of Tilly’s newfound friends, and both managed to penetrate the defenses of the half-breeds.  They fell back towards Tilly, favoring deep gashes.  The third hobgoblin tried to circle around towards Tilly himself.  The halfling knew that he had to try and help.  It would do him no good if these fine young gentlemen were killed while attempting to rescue him.The little rogue gripped his blades tightly, and waited for the hobgoblin to rush in.  As he did, Tilly ducked clumsily under an equally clumsy strike.  He came up on the creature’s left side, where he firmly embedded one blade in its abdomen, and the other between its ribs.  The hobgoblin wheezed and collapsed heavily to the floor.As Tilly turned to assist the half-elves, he saw that they already had the situation well in hand.  The other two hobgoblins lay in a heap.  “Come on,” the blonde one said, “help us drag them inside.  The elevator is returning.”  Indeed, Tilly could now hear the platform beginning its descent.The trio dragged the bodies of the hobgoblins into the concealed hallway, and pulled the door tightly shut.  Tilly then collapsed to the floor, breathing heavily.“You’re wounded,” the dark-haired youth said, bending to examine the rogue’s injuries.  He laid his hands flat against the cuts and began chanting quietly.  Soon, his fingers glowed with a soft yellow light, and Tilly could feel his pain ease as his lacerations began to seal shut.“You’re a priest!” he gasped.“More of a devotee you could say,” the man replied.  “Perhaps some brief introductions are in order.  I am Fellian Shard, and my partner in crime here is Fario Ellegoth.”“Fellian and Fario,” Tilly mused for a moment, then his eyes brightened in comprehension, “Ah!  You two are the other investigators that Gretchyn spoke of.  The two that came to the orphanage after the Lord Mayor’s men.”“The same,” Fellian said, “but as you have probably surmised, we do not work for the Lord Mayor.  We are looking for a friend…a wizard by the name of Elethor Ashstaff.  He was abducted about three weeks ago from his home.  We thought that the kidnappings at the orphanage might be related.  Then we learned that you and your friends had been hired as investigators by the church of Tyr.  We thought by following you, we might find information about Elethor’s whereabouts.  Unfortunately, we seemed to have gotten a bit ahead of you, and found our way down here.  We had just discovered this passage when your comrade made his ghostly appearance and alerted the ogre.  I’m sorry we couldn’t be of more assistance during the battle, but I’m afraid that one is a bit out of our league.”“Well, I guess in hindsight, I’d have to agree with you there,” Tilly said glumly, “He was certainly out of ours.  Speaking of which, do you two have a plan for getting out of here?  I’m sure he’s not just going to let us pass by saying please.”“Funny you should ask…” Fario grinned.The trio waited several long minutes, hoping to give the ogre time to pass by and, with any luck, move on to check his hobgoblin lackeys.  Then, both of the half-elves drew small flasks from their belts.  Each took a sip, and promptly faded from view.  Tilly then felt a flask pushed into his hand.  Following their example, he drank quickly and vanished as well.  He saw the secret entrance to the passage open a crack, and then heard Fario’s sharp intake of breath.  “Run!” he shouted, and the door was thrown open wide.  Tilly heard footsteps running into the hall, and as he hurried to the doorway, he saw why.  The statue was back in place in the center of the corridor, and it had noticed the door opening and was heading his way.  Tilly bolted to the right, towards the door to the elevator shaft at the end of the passage.  The statue heard him a fraction too late, swinging its stone arms wildly about, but connecting with nothing.Tilly rushed onto the platform, slamming the door behind him.  “Brace yourself,” Fario’s voice said from nearby, “Going up!”  The elevator lurched into motion, clanking inexorably upward.  “Where’s Fellian?” Tilly shouted over the noise.  “Don’t worry about him,” Fario answered, “He’ll meet us at the top.”Sure enough, when the platform reached Jzadirune again, Fellian was there.  He offered no explanation of how he’d managed it, and Tilly felt it best not to pry.  The three of them made their way quickly back through the deserted ruins, and up to Keygan’s shop.  “Here is where we part company, little friend,” Fellian said as they stepped out into the street.  “What will you do now?”“I’m going back to the temple to report our failure,” Tilly said in resignation, but then his face hardened, “Then I’m coming back here.  I’m going down there to find out what happened to Pez and Rusty.  I owe them both my life, and if there is any chance they are still alive, then I’m going to help them.”“Brave sentiments,” Fario laughed, “Foolish, but brave.  Well, since we still haven’t found Elethor, I imagine we will be returning as well.  Meet us here in the morning, and we will accompany you…at least until our paths part.”  Tilly nodded in agreement, thankful for the offer.  He shook hands with his newfound friends and then turned for home.</blockquote>

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