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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Medriev" data-source="post: 4497019" data-attributes="member: 21864">Chapter 6 - Death at the Keep (Part 3)They descended the stairs with weapons drawn and spells ready and found that the stairway consisted of finely crafted stone, perhaps the work of dwarves. A breeze chilled the companions to the bone as they took each step down and at the bottom of the stairs, the flicker of torchlight spilled from a wide chamber with four pillars supporting its ceiling. From across the room a goblin began taunting the group almost at once, making obscene gestures and waving the spear it held at them.Mandratan strode into the room, circling to the right and hurling silver bolts of energy as he went. Gevarn rushed after the wizard but instead of circling to the right, he strode straight at the goblin, drawing his morningstar as he advanced. He had barely walked a dozen spaces when the floor beneath him, which was merely a stone coloured canvas, gave way and he plunged into a pit below. Loud squeaks came from the pit then as rats surged from the walls to seek out the new food that had landed in their domain. Gevarn lay prone and stunned as the rats scuttled towards him. Enlishia strode to the edge of the pit and started firing arrows at the goblin at the far side of the room. Lavren circled the pit to the left and hurled crackling black energy at the goblin. It shrank back and began to look around nervously as though seeking allies. Dulvarna crossed the room behind Lavren, her sword in her hands and the goblin grew more desperate. A crossbow bolt flew out of the corridor behind the goblin then and drove into Lavren’s shoulder. The goblin beamed, leveled its spear and charged the elf, driving the point into Lavren’s thigh. He staggered and teetered on the edge of the pit behind him.More crossbows flew out of the corridor to the south and Dulvarna fell back wounded. Mandratan strode up to the goblin who had taunted them all and held forth his wand, loosing flames that filled the corridor and sent the goblins back, reeling and burned. Dulvarna also fell back, burned as well as wounded by a crossbow bolt and she glared at Mandratan angrily. Gevarn scrambled desperately out of the pit and immediately began to pray softly. Pale white light emanated from him then and bathed each of the companions except Erlmoor who was beyond its reach. Gevarn came forward then and struck the taunting goblin huge blow with his morningstar that split its skull with a bright burst of radiance. He uttered a prayer and the power of the blow healed Dulvarna even as the goblin fell before him. Arrows and black and silver bolts flew down the corridor, keeping the goblins crouched against the wall and then Dulvarna charged them, her blade scything left and right. The goblins fell back before her, firing their crossbows still but no bolts struck her and she followed the retreating enemies.Mandratan filled the corridor with flame and drove the goblins back further and then Gevarn surged past him and struck down one with the large morningstar he wielded. Behind him, Enlishia rushed to aid Erlmoor, shouldering her bow and drawing forth her sword. Lavren rushed past Dulvarna, drawing his sword and slashing at the last goblin in the corridor. He drew blood and the goblin shrank back, fear in its eyes. The goblin retreated further and fired its crossbow again, driving a bolt into Lavren’s thigh. The elf staggered and Dulvarna came past him, her sword swinging out. She struck the goblin through its shoulder and it fell at her feet with a cry of pain and despair.Mandratan moved into the chamber at the end of the corridor and found it to be a barracks with two beds. He looked around quickly as he heard a shrill shriek from the last of the goblins. Unseen by the wizard, the goblin before Erlmoor broke and ran, fleeing to a door at the eastern end of the corridor and opening it. The goblin darted through the doorway and disappeared into the darkness beyond.“One flees,” called Erlmoor. “We must pursue as soon as we may.” The six companions rested, tended their wounds and examined the goblin lair for a few minutes before starting after the fleeing goblin as Erlmoor had urged.</blockquote>

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