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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Medriev" data-source="post: 4512962" data-attributes="member: 21864">Chapter 12 - Revelations and Reckonings (Part 3)“If you have already travelled to the east then we should go that way again,” said Thira as she surveyed the pit trap at the centre of the entrance chamber by the light of her staff. “Part of the way is explored and known to us.”“And defeated,” put in Kel. “The southern passage may offer a way to the deeper threats that lurk in this dark place.” Unconsciously she touched the hoof symbol about her neck and sudden images of shambling undead much as they had fought in the Ashen Tower leapt unbidden to her mind. They had haunted her dreams since then and the dark elf was wondering now whether just the fierce battles of her first adventure were to blame for the visions.“There are doors off the goblin guard room to the south,” said Dulvarna then. “They lead into the unknown as surely as the western way does. We will retrace our steps to the place where….” She paused, not wanting to recall to the others the deaths of Brother Gevarn and Mandratan. “Where last we faught.” She finished finally and started off towards the eastern passage, drawing her sword from her back as she went.When they reached the cavern where Gevarn had fallen they faced another choice as double doors led out of the maze to the west and a passage led away into the darkness to the south. Dulvarna led them to the western doors, reasoning that they should explore the dungeons one place at a time. All six paused at the doors, though, for the bronze double doors were green with age and stained blue and purple with a thick layer of fungus. Scratched into the fungus in rough Thorass runes was the message Stay Out. Really.“Something is hidden within,” said Lavren. “Ignore it.”The others merely shrugged and so Dulvarna pushed open the doors. Within, fungus-coated stairs led down into a natural cavern. Much of the chamber was filled with a stagnant pool of brackish water. A patch of land rose from the foul water at the pool’s centre and on this small island, bones, spilled coins, and other small objects could be seen amongst the carpet of fungus. Dulvarna started down the steps and then stopped, holding out her arm to halt the others. She had seen ripples stir the calm water as if something moved beneath its surface.“I saw it too,” whispered Kel. “Something lurks in the water.”Lavren pushed past Dulvarna and rushed down the steps, cursing the dark mass of the creature that he could now see as well as the others. He turned left along the shore of the pool and leveled his wand at the water. Black, crackling energy lanced out and seared into the water with a hiss of steam. The creature, whatever it was, seemed to recoil and so Enlishia darted forward, her bow already in hand and an arrow nocked to the string. She loosed the arrow as she moved along the shore of the pool but it clattered against the far wall of the cavern.The dank water then disgorged a blob of blue slime. The amorphous mass poured forward, extruding long pseudopods that ended in appendages of dripping goo. The slime creature surged to the edge of the pool and exuded a foul, overpowering musty, wet stench that assailed the senses of all the companions, even Kel, Erlmoor and Thira who were still beyond the doors. Lavren staggered and retched, as did Dulvarna on the steps and Kel beyond the door. The others held their breaths and pushed themselves past the nausea that they felt. Kel pushed herself away from the wall of the outer cavern, reminding herself that her people, and her House were stronger than this. She started into the room and unsteadily made her way down the stairs to face this new enemy. As she reached the bottom of the steps, she stood upright and held her morning star before her. The nausea was banished to the pit of her stomach and silently, she thanked her goddess for giving her the strength to shake off the effect. Dulvarna moved past the dark elf, fighting her own battle until she too stood upright with her blade held ready as she neared the blue slime creature. Thira moved to the shore of the pool alongside both and levelled her staff. She uttered a phrase and flame burst from her stave to engulf the slime creature. With a roar, Erlmoor came last down the steps, his sword slashing at the creature and his acid breath bursting from his mouth. The slime creature shrank back for a moment but then came forward again with fierce speed.</blockquote>

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