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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 4617511" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 65The heavy iron-banded doors at the foot of the stairs creaked open.  Ahead of them, the companions could see stone walls to the left and right that partitioned off a small landing, but they could see that it was just part of a much larger space further ahead.  A sick stink that was one part rot and one part the coppery tang of fresh blood filled the air, filling the space like a miasma.  The landing was unlit, but from the space beyond a steady blue glow issued, giving the shadows coming off the walls an odd, surreal look. A noise greeted them; a rasping of metal on stone, and a faint but diffuse chant, distorted by the odd configuration of walls until it was not clear if its origin was in fact a human throat.  The companions shared a grim look; it was obvious that they had come to the right place.  Devrem led them forward.  The priest of the Raven Queen did not hesitate, and his step betrayed no doubt.  Bits of something that was perhaps best not identified crunched under the hard soles of his boots. Beyond the walls the chamber opened up onto a large central space.  Three intact crystalline pillars forming an incomplete square around the center of the room were the source of the blue glow; the fourth lay on its side, broken into jagged shards.  A platform topped by a massive statue of the demon-god Orcus stood opposite them, the unholy stone visage staring down at them with malevolence captured in its lifeless eyes.  Trails of fluid, black in the odd light, ran across the floor, gathering in the middle of the room, where an open pit gaped in the center of the floor.  Long chains set into the ceiling sank into the pit.  The chamber was occupied.  A pair of hulking human warriors armed with greataxes stood flanking the pit, adjacent to the nearer set of pillars.  Their vacant stares noted the intruders but they did not react.  A third man knelt before the demon statue on the far side of the room.  He was clad in loose robes that were drawn back from his raised arms, revealing flesh marked either with scars or tattoos, it was impossible to tell which in the weird light.  His back was to the entry, but as the companions passed into the place he rose slowly, and turned to face them.  He was bald, and they could see that a design of a horned skull had been graven upon his features.  Even thirty feet distant they could all see the madness in his eyes. “We have come to put an end to you and your evil plans, Kalarel,” Devrem said, raising his staff to punctuate his words. The marked man laughed.  “You face Drathek, fools!  Even now, my master opens the doorway to the shadow realm.  He awaits your coming, but first, you must get past me!”“So be it!” Devrem shouted.  Silver fire flared around the head of his staff, but before he could unleash his power, several things happened.  Perhaps it was the underpriest’s challenge, or Devrem’s reply, but the two human berserkers suddenly came alive, lifting their axes above their heads as they went from quiescence to full-on charge in a matter of two steps.  Jaron had an arrow readied and lifted his bow to fire, but before he could shoot, he caught a hint of movement out of the corner of his eye. “Look out!” he yelled, as he looked up to see several dark-shrouded forms, clinging to the walls like bugs, creeping swiftly toward them.  On being seen, they snarled and leapt to the attack, the blue light shining on the long fangs that protruded from pale faces, the faces of the one-peasants transformed into the hideous visages of vampires.</blockquote>

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