Medriev's FR Pyramid of Shadows - Concluded Nov 1

[Medriev]

Chapter 16 - The Hard Way Up (Part 2)

They found their way quickly to the ice chamber and then headed north into the stairwell where a wide set of stairs rose before them into the gloom above. As they began to ascend, the companions saw that the stairs wrapped around the walls of the room, leaving a deep pit in the middle. The first landing turned right and then led to another staircase ascending to the north. Telkya moved toward the stairs, looking warily up into the darkness above by the feeble light of the torch she carried. Erlmoor moved past her and began to ascend the next flight of stairs but as soon as he did, the stairs shifted and rocked as though a giant had was shaking them. Erlmoor fell over to his left and then slid across the rocking stairs to the edge of the central pit. Desperately, he tried to hang onto the stone stairs but then they tipped again and he tumbled over the edge into the dark abyss.

A screech came from Telkya’s left and as she looked up, a grey-skinned horned creature swooped down toward her on bat-like wings. It circled over the pit and then dived at the priestess, lashing out with razor-sharp claws. Telkya ducked and the creature swept over her head, letting out another screech as it saw the remaining companions nearing the top of the first flight of stairs. Thorn strode onto the landing, uttering an incantation as he came. A blast of chill wind struck the gargoyle and it stuttered in its flight as it sought to gain height and reach the upper landing from which it had come.
Enlishia moved onto the landing and raised her bow, loosing an arrow and then a second at the gargoyle but both bounced off the creature’s stony skin. Lavren moved in front of Telkya and loosed a black bolt of energy from his wand that flew past the gargoyle and struck the side of the western staircase. Dulvarna rushed up the last few stairs and charged at the gargoyle, her blade lashing out and tearing into the creature’s leg. It screeched again and as it did, another creature answered it. A second gargoyle swept around the wall to Dulvarna’s left and bore down on her. It swooped down and lashed out with a claw toward the warrior woman but Dulvarna ducked back and the gargoyle swiped only at air.

Telkya threw down her torch and rushed to aid Dulvarna, her blade in hand. She lashed out at the second of the gargoyles, her blade cutting into the right arm of the creature as it beat its wings to take to the air again. The creature screeched and this time, another creature answered it. From the northwest corner of the stairwell came a harpy whose wings were wreathed in fire. The creature swept down and with a roar, it disgorged a cloud of burning ash from its mouth as it neared the ledge. Lavren and Thorn threw their arms over their faces as the ash clouded the ledge but Enlishia was not quick enough. Searing ash burned her face and arms while the ash clogged her eyes and blinded her. Desperately, she clawed at her eyes to clear away the ash while Lavren tried to keep her away from the treacherous edge of the pit.

The gargoyle that had attacked Telkya swept up over the pit and seemed to land out of sight on a landing high above. On the lower landing, Thorn shifted to his wolf form and rushed at the harpy and the remaining gargoyle. He leapt at the harpy and seized the creature’s left leg, trying to drag it down onto the ledge. The harpy screeched and pulled the limb free, almost dragging the druid into the pit but using the claws of his wolf form, Thorn kept his footing on the ledge. Behind the druid, Enlishia heard the harpy’s screech and loosed an arrow despite her blindness. The shaft flew wide of the harpy and clattered into the side of the western stairs but she loosed a second a moment later and this shaft flew straight and true. The arrow drove into the side of the harpy and with another screech, the creature beat its wings to get away from the companions.

At the edge of the pit, Lavren pulled a rope from his belt and tied one end around his waist while dropping the other end down into the pit for Erlmoor to climb up. He looked back to Enlishia and saw that the ranger had now wiped the ash from her eyes and was nocking another arrow to her bowstring. Satisfied that he would be defended, the elf let the rope fall and braced himself to hold the weight of the dragonborn as he began to climb up.

Dulvarna lashed out at the gargoyle that had landed before her but as she did, it beat its wings and flew backwards beyond her reach. Then, with a screech, it swept left out over the pit and climbed up to the ledge where its companion had disappeared before vanishing from sight itself. Telkya turned away from where the gargoyle had stood and moved to the bottom of the shifting stairs that had pitched Erlmoor into the pit. She turned back then and loosed a golden bolt of light at the harpy that flew just past the creature’s left wing. Cursing, she turned back to the shifting stairs and began to contemplate how she might make her way past the obstacle.

Erlmoor climbed up Lavren’s rope quickly, cresting the pit edge wearily and then looking around to see how his companions faired. Close by, the harpy lashed a claw across the back of Thorn’s wolf form and then swooped away, circling the central pit while singing a song that burned all who heard it as though it were flame.
“We have to get up the stairs,” the dragonborn called to the others. “Keep to the outer wall and move quickly.”

Thorn looked back at the dragonborn and barked his agreement but as he did, one of the gargoyles swept down from its high ledge again. It lashed out with its claws and tore wounds along the left flank of the druid’s wolf form. Thorn turned and snapped at the creature, his jaws closing on its left leg for a moment and threatening to stall its flight. The creature pulled itself free and beat its wings to rise beyond the druid but as it did, Enlishia loosed two arrows in quick succession, both driving into the gargoyle’s right thigh. The creature jerked to the left in the air but kept its wings beating to hold itself in the air. Enlishia smiled and turned away, rushing to the bottom of the shifting stairs. After a moment’s pause, she rushed up the steps, keeping her balance and making her way steadily toward the top.

Lavren threw his rope over his shoulder and then loosed a bolt of black energy at the gargoyle. It struck the creature in the chest and threw it backwards in the air. The elf turned away as Enlishia had and rushed up the steps behind the ranger. On the landing, Dulvarna looked up at her companions on the stairs and then rushed forward to aid Thorn against the gargoyle. She lashed out with her blade and tore a gash in the creature’s wing. The gargoyle beat its wings desperately to get out of her reach but as it did, another screech sounded from above. The second gargoyle swept down from the high ledge, its flight taking it over Thorn as its claws reached down and raked the druid’s back.

Telkya rushed up the steps behind her husband, passing both him and Enlishia close to the top. She kept her balance and reached the top without stumbling or falling. She turned as she reached the landing and raised her amulet to loose a bolt of golden energy at the harpy that circled in the central pit. The bolt struck the creature on its shoulder and sent it reeling downward for a moment before it recovered. Then it beat its wings and swept upward toward the ledge on which Telkya stood. As the harpy crested the ledge, it landed on its clawed feet and then, with a roar, it let forth another cloud of burning ash. Telkya and Lavren were burned and blinded but Enlishia threw herself against the right wall of the stairs and covered her face with her arms.

On the lower landing, Erlmoor roared and sprayed acid at the gargoyles but both beat their wings to retreat out of reach of the noxious liquid. The gargoyles snarled and came forward again but as they did, the paladin lashed out with his blade, a prayer on his lips. The sword glowed brightly and clove into the hip of the nearest gargoyle, hurling the creature to the right and into its companion. Both creatures screeched and Erlmoor moved along the ledge toward the shifting stairs. One of the gargoyles twisted in the air and swept away across the pit, climbing up the ledge from which it had descended, vanishing from sight.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 16 - The Hard Way Up (Part 3)

Thorn snarled and lunged at the other gargoyle, his wolf teeth tearing at the creature’s leg and dragging it back toward the ledge. The creature screeched again, pulling its leg free, and as it did, Thorn turned away from the edge to follow Erlmoor. Dulvarna lashed out at the creature with her blade and as it flew back beyond her reach, she darted past Erlmoor to the bottom of the second shifting staircase.

Enlishia reached the upper landing as the ash cloud dispersed and fired two arrows quickly at the harpy, both flying wide of the creature. Lavren stumbled onto the landing behind the ranger and loosed a bolt of black energy blindly at the harpy. It too flew wide of the mark and the creature let out a screech of defiance amidst its song of fire. The gargoyle rose from the lower landing, passing behind the harpy and rising up to a ledge that Enlishia decided was at the top of the stairs that rose to the west from the landing on which she stood. Boldly, she started forward, hoping they were not trapped as the lower stairs were while behind her, Telkya loosed a bolt of light from her amulet blindly while wiping her eyes with the back of her other hand. The bolt missed the harpy and with another screech, the creature leapt from the ledge to circle the pit once more.

Erlmoor rushed up the shifting stairs, keeping his balance as he did so and reaching the upper landing. He looked around at the others and at a nod from Enlishia, he started up the westward-leading steps. No sooner had he stepped onto the staircase than the step on which he stood gave way, catching his foot in a hole beneath it. The dragonborn staggered forward but his left foot was caught on the next step and he stumbled.
Behind him, Thorn’s wolf form bounded up the shifting stairs without falling and then leapt forward onto the next staircase. Again, individual steps gave way beneath the druid-wolf and he stumbled, his paws trapped as Erlmoor’s feet were. Seeing her companions trapped, Enlishia moved to the edge of the pit and began firing arrows at the harpy as it circled. One shaft tore into the creature’s wing and drew another screech from it but another missed, clattering down into the pit, lost to the ranger. Lavren stumbled toward the western staircase and climbed up beside Erlmoor and Thorn before the stairs below him gave way too and trapped him with his companions. Still, the ash blinded him and he cursed his ill luck.

On the lower landing, Dulvarna steeled herself to ascend the shifting staircase but as she heard a screech from a ledge above, she started forward. She rushed up the stairs, keeping her balance and making the higher landing just as one of the gargoyles swept down the western staircase and lashed out with its claws at Thorn. The claw tore open the side of the druid’s wolf form and he slumped down on the stairs, his blood flowing down the steps toward Dulvarna. Telkya loosed a bolt of light from her amulet toward the gargoyle but without her sight to guide it, it flew past the creature. The priestess finally wiped the ash from her eyes a few moments later and rushed to the edge beside Enlishia, to defend her husband and friends.

The harpy swept around the pit and as it drew near to Enlishia and Telkya again, it roared once more and disgorged yet more hot ash. Both fell back from the edge, blinded and burned as the ash engulfed them. Erlmoor roared his anger and turned on the stairs to face the harpy. He raised his voice in prayer, extended one hand while using his sword in the other to lever himself up on the stairs. Ribbons of flame seared out and tore into the harpy sending it spinning away around the pit. The dragonborn turned back and raised his blade as the second gargoyle dove down the stairs toward him. Its claws lashed out and struck him across the face sending him reeling clumsily around on his trapped lower limbs. With another roar, the paladin pulled his feet free of the trapped steps and raised his blade defiantly, determined not to be caught off balance by the gargoyles a second time.

At the edge of the pit, Enlishia decided to ignore her blindness for a few moments and drew two more arrows from her quiver. Nocking both to her bow, she drew back the string and aimed carefully, judging where her enemies using only the sound of their wing beats and the occasional screech. She let fly both arrows and as they left her bow, they split, one heading toward the harpy and the other toward the gargoyle that just wounded Erlmoor. She heard both strike their targets with reassuring thuds and as she wiped the ash from her eyes, she saw the harpy plummeting downward into the pit with a shaft through its chest. The gargoyle banked to the right, the arrow having driven into its left side, and as it did, a bolt of black from Lavren’s wand flew just over its head.

“Gods damn it,” he cursed as he wiped the ash from his eyes and saw that his spell had missed. He pulled his feet from the trapped stairway and turned to start down it.
“Maybe I can disarm this thing,” he said, reaching for his sword.

Dulvarna rushed up the western stairs as delicately as she could and as the steps collapsed, she leapt to new ones until she stood close to where one of the gargoyles circled. As it drew close to her, she lashed out with her blade, almost toppling into the pit as she did. The sword drove into the creature’s belly and with a screech, the gargoyle tumbled into the darkness after the harpy. The other gargoyle swept away toward the top of the collapsing stairs, disappearing from sight again and giving the companions a momentary reprieve.
“Thorn is wounded,” Dulvarna called to Telkya.

The priestess began a healing prayer despite her blindness and a few moments later, the druid’s wolf form opened its eyes. Telkya wiped the ash from her eyes and smiled at the druid who bowed his wolf head in thanks. Beside the druid, Erlmoor started up the steps again but he did not get far before more steps collapsed and trapped his feet again. Behind him, Enlishia started up the stairs but she barely got to Thorn before her feet became trapped in the collapsing steps.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 16 - The Hard Way Up (Part 4)

“I said I might be able to disarm this,” said Lavren. “Give me a chance.”

With that, the elf vanished in a shower of light only to reappear atop the steps. He looked around and saw that the remaining gargoyle stood as a statue in the middle of this upper landing and so, with a wary eye on it, Lavren knelt beside the steps and began probing with his sword for a mechanism that would disable the trap.

On the stairs, Dulvarna moved on after Erlmoor but two steps collapsed beneath her soon after and she became trapped. Then, with a screech, the remaining gargoyle swept down the stairs toward her and Erlmoor. The dragonborn ducked as it swooped down on him and Dulvarna ducked to one side, avoiding the creature’s terrible claws. A bolt of light from Telkya’s amulet flashed past in front of the creature and Erlmoor roared his defiance despite being powerless to strike at the creature. Thorn bounded toward the gargoyle but the steps trapped him again Dulvarna lashed out at the creature as it passed her but her blade struck only air and again the creature circled back toward a higher ledge. The creature swept across the pit and up another flight of stairs to the south of Lavren to an even higher ledge beyond the sight of the companions.

Telkya moved to the edge of the pit to watch for the gargoyle’s return while the others struggled with the stairs. Finally, Lavren called down from the top of the staircase.
“Found the mechanism,” he called. “It should be disarmed now.”

Telkya, with total faith in her husband, rushed up the steps and found he was right. No steps gave way and she reached the top quickly, embracing Lavren with a broad smile on her face. Erlmoor climbed the steps behind the priestess, passing the two elves on the landing and then starting up the long flight of stairs to the south. No traps activated on this staircase and steadily he climbed toward where they had all seen the gargoyle disappear. Thorn bounded up the stairs behind the dragonborn and behind him came Enlishia, Lavren and Dulvarna, all with weapons and spells ready for when the gargoyle reappeared.

The gargoyle swept down the stairs like a whirlwind a few moments later, lashing its claws across Erlmoor’s shoulders and sending him reeling back down the steps. Telkya called a column of light down on it as it swept out over the pit but the divine fire missed its target and the gargoyle circled around to come back at the companions. Erlmoor met it on the edge of the stairs, his blade slashing out and striking it in the side, sending it spinning away. Healing magic burst from his sword and mended some of the companions’ worst hurts as Thorn rushed to the edge of the steps, still in wolf form and lunged forward. He seized the gargoyle’s left leg in his jaws and dragged it back toward the stairway. Enlishia’s bow sang and two arrows flew past the creature but then Lavren loosed a bolt of black energy that seared into the gargoyle’s side. It fell limp and Thorn let go with his jaws, allowing the creature to plummet into the darkness of the pit after its kin.

Next.....Demonic Faces

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 17 - Demonic Faces (Part 1)

At the top of the stairs a wide corridor stretched away in front of the companions to the south and another branch led to the east, ending in double doors. The southern corridor also ended in a set of double doors but just north of the corridor’s end, another set of double doors led to the east. Seven leering, demonic faces hung on the walls, two flanking each door and another three evenly spaced along the western wall across from the door to the east. The idols were vaguely humanoid, with long horns and mouths that were agape, revealing darkness beyond. Each face was perhaps the height of a man’s breastbone with the mouth making up most of its height.
“I don’t like the look of those faces,” said Dulvarna. “We go east.”

She turned away from the demonic faces of the southern hall and made her way eastward. Thorn hurried after her, reaching the double doors ahead of the warrior woman as she made her way warily down the corridor with her blade held before her. The druid held his scythe up in one hand and, putting down the torch he held, he opened one of the doors with his left hand revealing a narrower north-south hallway beyond. Suddenly, the remaining companions saw a humanoid creature leap from the nearest demon face on the western wall. It had grey skin with purple blotches and wore a jerking of scaly hide as armour. Its left shoulder was protected by the top jaw of a toothed beast while its head was bald with sharp ears and jagged teeth. In its hands, it held a huge sword and as the companions watched, it turned toward them and snarled.

Behind the creature, the demonic face became animate suddenly and with a hiss and a snarl, it bit at the hindquarters of the monster, forcing it to leap away from the wall. From a face on the opposite wall emerged another creature, similar in appearance but smaller and with bluish skin. This newcomer had four arms and in each hand it held a dagger of sharpened bone. The face behind it growled and snapped at it, forcing it into the middle of the corridor. From the same face another creature emerged, appearing just behind the first and this thing was smaller still. It had bluish skin as its companion had but it had only two long, spindly arms and carried no weapons. Its hands bore sharp claws though and as it looked toward the companions it seemed to be muttering to itself as though touched by madness.

Erlmoor roared to alert Dulvarna and Thorn and then charged the creatures, loosing acid from his mouth as he reached them and then lashing out with his sword. The creatures shrank back from the spray of acid and shielded themselves with their arms but as the paladin’s blade sang out there was no defence and the nearest creature, a sword-wielder, reeled away as the sword bit into its right shoulder.
“Foulspawn!” Enlishia called out as she recognised the creatures. “They are said to be clannish creatures corrupted by contact with the Far Realm.”

She loosed an arrow and then a second but both flew past the creature that Erlmoor had wounded as it recovered its balance. Telkya came forward to stand beside the ranger and threw down the torch she carried before loosing a bolt of light from her amulet into the chest of the wounded creature, throwing it back. Another of the four-armed foulspawn appeared next to the first as Lavren loosed a bolt of black energy from his wand that flashed past all of the monsters. A third of the four-armed creatures appeared behind the others and then together, the foulspawn hissed angrily at their enemies.

Dulvarna turned away from the doors as soon as she heard the shouts of her companions and rushed to aid Erlmoor. Thorn followed a moment later, shifting into his wolf form as he ran to join the battle. Dulvarna clashed blades with the wounded foulspawn sword-wielder while one of the dagger-wielders danced forward, slashing at Erlmoor and Thorn with each of their weapons. Wounds were slashed across Erlmoor’s arms while Thorn the wolf leapt back as his snout was torn by the vicious blades. Beyond the dagger-wielders, the unarmed foulspawn pointed at Erlmoor and raised its voice in an unintelligible babble. The paladin reeled back for a moment as the voice seemed to reach into his mind but then he forced discipline upon his thoughts and drove the babble back. With a roar, he lashed out with his blade at the dagger wielder and struck it in the side, sending it staggering away into the corridor wall in front of Thorn.

Enlishia came forward behind the others and loosed an arrow into the shoulder of the sword-wielder. It staggered back a step and she fired again but this time, the arrow bounced off its scaly armour and clattered into the floor. Telkya rushed into battle beside Dulvarna, clashing blades with the sword-wielding foulspawn but as she did, another of the creatures emerged from the demon face before her and lashed out with its blade. Telkya raised her blade to parry but she was too slow and the creature’s sword lashed into the top of her right arm, spinning her away. The demonic faced snarled and tore at her wrist before snapping at Dulvarna and the foulspawn that surrounded it, wounding each in turn and forcing them away from it.
“We have to pull back,” Lavren called from behind the others. “Fall back so that Enlishia and I can aid you.”

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 17 - Demonic Faces (Part 2)

He waited with his wand in hand as the second of the four armed creatures rushed at Erlmoor, lashing out with one of its daggers at the dragonborn. The paladin ducked back but the blade still tore across the front of his left shoulder and drew blood. Dulvarna looked back toward Lavren and nodded to him before lashing her blade low into the left leg of the foulspawn before her. The creature staggered back and away and as it did, she retreated toward the elf. He reacted at once, rushing forward and levelling his wand at the wounded sword-wielder. He loosed a blast of black energy toward the creature that flew over its head and struck the west wall of the corridor. The elf grimaced and Dulvarna threw him a stony look as the foulspawn recovered and came forward again.

On the left of the line, Thorn snarled at the four armed creature before him and then leapt, his claws and teeth tearing at the creature’s chest and driving it back a few steps. The wolf druid landed on his four paws and with another snarl, retreated around the corner, leaving room for Erlmoor to follow him. With a maniacal snarl, the four armed foulspawn rushed after the wolf, lashing out with one of its daggers but Thorn was too quick for it and ducked under the swing. The unarmed foulspawn followed its companion and raised its hand toward Erlmoor again. It began uttering mumbled phrases that drove into the dragonborn’s mind but he was ready for the attack this time and banished the creature’s voice as soon as he heard it. With a roar of defiance, he raised his blade and turned away from the foulspawn, a prayer coming to his lips as he did so. He lashed out at the four armed creature that now fought Thorn beside him and, as the creature ducked under the swing, he retreated to fight beside the wolf druid.

Enlishia raised her bow and loosed one arrow and then a second into the body of the sword-wielder before Dulvarna and then she danced backward so that Telkya could retreat after her. The priestess lashed out wildly with her blade and then fell back but her sword-wielding foe came after her with a growl. The horrible creature lashed out with its blade at the elf maid’s head but Telkya was quick enough this time and ducked under the blow while raising her blade to defend herself. Another of the four-armed creatures rushed forward next, following the retreating line and coming at Lavren and Dulvarna in a frenzy. It danced back and forth before the elf and the warrior woman, lashing out with its blades in a whirlwind of sharpened bone. Lavren reeled back as a dagger tore across his chest and Dulvarna spun away as one of the creature’s weapons cut her left shoulder. When its dance was done, the creature stopped in front of Lavren, snarling and salivating, its blood-stained daggers promising more pain to the elf. Lavren shrugged at the creature and retreated, raising his wand as he did so. He loosed a bolt of black energy that flew past the creature and grimaced again at his poor aim. The four armed creature snarled in response and raised one of its daggers to its lips, licking off the elf’s blood with a sharp, pointed tongue.

The third of the four armed creatures rushed forward next, leaping between its companions and slashing at Dulvarna with one of its daggers and nicking her across the top of her chest. It spun away between her and Erlmoor, stabbing at her hip as it did so, but she twisted aside and avoided the blow. It spun away again and slashed yet another blade into Enlishia’s side before dancing past the ranger and lashing its fourth blade across Lavren’s back. It spun to face the backs of the companions close to the entrance to the corridor which led back to the staircase that had brought them up from the level below.
“Deal with it,” Dulvarna snarled at the others and then surged at the nearest of the sword-wielders.

The warrior woman’s blade danced left and right but each time it was met by the sword of the foulspawn. She gritted her teeth in anger and came at the creature in a new fury but still it met each of her blows with its own blade. To her left, Thorn barked his answer to her command, snapping at the four armed creature before him and then darting away toward the foulspawn that had broken through the companions’ lines. Dulvarna glanced to her left as she saw the druid wolf move and then turned back toward her enemies as the other sword wielder, the more wounded of the two, came forward in a rush. The creature feinted to the left and as Dulvarna moved her blade to parry it reversed the swing and with all of its weight behind the blow, it drove its sword into the warrior woman’s left hip. She gasped as pain lanced down her leg and up her side, spinning away to avoid the killing blow that was sure to follow. It did, missing her head by mere inches and leaving Dulvarna gasping for breath as she tried to fight through the pain that assailed her. In that moment, one of the four-armed foulspawn leapt between her and Erlmoor and drove its blade into her left arm. Dulvarna cried out and fell back, blood pouring down her left side.

Erlmoor glanced to his right as Dulvarna cried out but as he did, the unarmed foulspawn’s voice crept into his mind again, whispering a terrible babble of madness. Again he fought inwardly, roaring his defiance and drove the voice out, lashing out to his right at the four-armed creature that had struck Dulvarna. His blade drove into its right leg and spun it toward the warrior woman but she fended it off and the creature reeled back a step away from both companions. Behind Dulvarna, Enlishia leapt back toward the western wall of the passage junction and loosed an arrow quickly that narrowly missed the foulspawn that had broken through. She fired again but this arrow also flew wide, clattering into the wall behind the creature and disappearing into the darkness of the stairwell to the left. Telkya also drew herself back from the battle, uttering a healing prayer as she did so and raising her left hand towards Dulvarna. White light covered the warrior woman and the blood pouring down her side slowed and then stopped. She turned and nodded her thanks to Telkya but the elf maid had already turned her gaze on the foulspawn that Enlishia had loosed arrows at. The priestess reached out with her hand and a column of light descended from the ceiling to engulf the four-armed creature, searing its flesh with divine fire. It snarled and hissed at the pain, raising two of its daggers as it fixed the elf with a gaze of pure hatred.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 17 - Demonic Faces (Part 3)

Dulvarna turned back to the battle then, her strength renewed, just as one of the sword wielders rushed at her. It lashed out with its blade and Dulvarna parried, driving the sword downward so that it only nicked her right knee instead of driving into her side. She grimaced at this new pain but then raised her blade again as a four armed creature came at her from the left. It feinted left and then lashed a dagger in with one of its right arms only for it to be met by the hard, unyielding steel of Aecris.

Behind Dulvarna and Erlmoor, Lavren retreated before the four armed foulspawn that had dodged between the warrior woman and the dragonborn. Turning beside Thorn, he raised his wand and loosed bolts of purple energy that seared out toward that foulspawn and its companion that had already broken the line. One bolt flew over its target but the other struck the foulspawn near the passage entrance in the chest and threw it backward. The creature turned and hissed at the warlock but then turned back toward Telkya and hurled bones daggers from two of its hands at the priestess. One clattered into the wall next to Telkya but the other drove into her thigh, just above the knee. The elf maid gasped, looked down at the dagger and then, with a snarl of her own, pulled it from her flesh and tossed it aside. With a steely determination, she raised her blade and brought forth her amulet to face the foulspawn and the creature stopped its hissing, knowing that it faced a battle to the death.

Dulvarna surged forward with her renewed strength, lashing her blade across the belly of the creature before her. It fell back a step and she took the chance to glance behind her just as Thorn circled behind Lavren and then rushed at the four armed creature at the top of the stairs. The druid wolf leapt and seized one of the creature’s arms in his powerful jaws, dragging the creature toward him as he did. The creature shrieked and tried to pull its arm free but found the wolf’s grip too strong. Dulvarna turned back toward her own enemies, satisfied that her companions were dealing with the foulspawn just as the sword wielder before her rushed at her again. She parried once and then a second time but the creature’s third swing came in low and drove painfully into her left thigh. With a grunt, Dulvarna fell back a step and as she did the four armed creature to her left, leapt forward and drove a blade into her arm. It spun away behind her and plunged another dagger into her back before moving away again to attack Telkya and Enlishia. Both were slashed by daggers across their arms as they tried to defend themselves. It leapt away from them as quickly as it hand come and turned as it reached the top of the staircase. Another foulspawn now stood behind Dulvarna and Erlmoor.

Erlmoor looked around as the foulspawn spun past him and as he did, the unarmed creature attacked again. This time, the dragonborn was not ready and the terrible voice filled his mind, distracting and slowing him. He roared and lashed out at the remaining four armed creature, his blade cutting into the foulspawn’s side and spinning it away from him. The paladin retreated a few steps toward Lavren, hoping to draw his enemies onward and fight only one battle rather than the two that had been forced upon the companions.
Behind Erlmoor, Enlishia’s bow sang again and again an arrow clattered off the wall behind the foulspawn. The ranger raised her bow and aimed again before letting fly and this time, the arrow flew true, driving into the chest of one of the four armed creatures and throwing it back toward Thorn who still held its arm in his jaws. Telkya hurled ribbons of divine light at the creature that flew past it and struck the wall behind it while desperately, it tried to free itself from Thorn’s wolf jaws.

To Telkya’s right, Dulvarna fell back another step as one of the sword wielders came at her furiously. She parried each blow with her own sword but as she did, the four armed creature to her left darted forward and drove a dagger into her left leg again before darting away. She gasped and staggered, taking another step back toward her companions, knowing that she could not last much longer against three foes. Suddenly, a bolt of black energy seared into one of the sword wielders, hurling it away from Dulvarna toward the demon face. It staggered and fell dying while the face flicked a forked tongue from its mouth regarded the creature’s flesh with ravenous eyes. Dulvarna glanced to her left and nodded her thanks to Lavren. Two against one was much fairer, she mused wryly.

The four armed foulspawn that Thorn fought wriggled its arm free of the druid’s jaws and twisted away, slashing out at the wolf form as it did so. The dagger tore across the druid wolf’s snout and he twisted away, bloodied and wounded. Meanwhile, the creature danced to the wolf’s right and drove another dagger into his flank before leaping back in front of him and slashing the side of his head. It leapt to the side again and this time, Thorn leapt away, evading the fourth dagger but leaving him sorely wounded. The druid wolf snarled and then leapt at the creature again but the foulspawn danced back beyond the reach of the wolf’s jaws. With bared teeth, the wolf moved left and right before his enemy while the foulspawn hissed its defiance.

Dulvarna retreated again to gather what remained of her strength but her enemies granted her no rest. The four armed creature that had so plagued her hurled two daggers toward her a heartbeat apart and while the warrior woman dodged to the right to avoid one, the other drove into her arm. Her mind filled with the babbling voices called forth by the unarmed creature and as confusion reigned, the remaining sword wielder came forward. Parrying desperately, the warrior woman held the creature at bay while giving ground a step at a time.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 17 - Demonic Faces (Part 4)

To her left, Erlmoor saw Dulvarna’s plight but knew that he had to aid the others before he could aid her. He leapt back to where Thorn stood and twisted on the spot, throwing all of his weight into a huge blow aimed at the four armed creature before the druid. His sword clove into the foulspawn’s side and drove through into its chest until it seemed as if he had cloven the creature in two. The foulspawn hissed its last breath and then collapsed to the floor in a growing pool of its own blood. Seeing the creature fall, Enlishia loosed an arrow and then a second at the remaining creature, both shafts driving into the creature’s chest. It staggered back toward the top of the stairs and as it reached them, Telkya hurled a bolt light that seared into it and sent it tumbling down the staircase into the darkness below.

Dulvarna halted her retreat then and surged forward, parrying the fierce attacks of the foulspawn she fought while slashing Aecris left and right, seeking an opening in the creature’s defences. A bolt of black energy from Lavren’s wand seared past the creature’s back to strike the stone wall and as the foulspawn glanced to its left, Dulvarna took her chance and rushed forward. She lashed her blade into the creature’s side and moved to her left forcing it to put its back to the wall and face her. Enlishia, Telkya and Lavren all came forward to aid their leader while Thorn rushed at the last of the four armed creatures.

The druid wolf leapt as he reached the creature and forced it back a step while his teeth tore at one of its arms. The unarmed creature rushed to aid its kin but Thorn had regained his feet by the time the creature reached the battle and he danced away, beyond the foulspawn’s reach. Erlmoor rushed to aid the druid, forcing the unarmed creature back with his blade while behind the pair, Enlishia and Telkya began to loose arrows and divine fire at the warrior that Dulvarna faught. Still it faught on fiercely, lashing out with its blade and gouging a deep wound in Dulvarna’s left shoulder that forced her to lurch to her right. The four armed creature surged forward as well, lashing its blade across the back of Thorn’s wolf form. For a moment, the foulspawn pushed the companions back but then Lavren loosed a bolt of black energy into the four armed creature and it reeled back, giving Thorn time to recover. The druid crouched low and growled at his enemy while to his right, Dulvarna regained her balance and rushed at her enemy again.

Thorn leapt a heartbeat later, his claws and teeth tearing at the arms of the foulspawn he faced and forcing it back a step. The other foulspawn clawed at his flanks, tearing through fur and flesh until he regained his feet to dart away from his enemies and Erlmoor came forward to drive the second creature back with his blade. Behind the dragonborn, Enlishia’s bow sang again and two arrows drove themselves, one after the other into the chest of the foulspawn warrior that Dulvarna fought. It staggered and as it did, a bolt of light lanced out from Telkya’s amulet and seared into the creature’s face. Its face blackened and smoked as the divine fire burned it and then with a final hiss of anger, it collapsed on the floor.

The four-armed creature shrieked and in a fury, lashed a dagger across Thorn’s wolf-form muzzle. He yelped and the creature leapt past him to the left before lashing another dagger down his flank. Then it spun behind the wolf druid and slashed out at Thorn’s back, the dagger missing by a hand span, before the creature leapt toward Enlishia. It turned back toward Thorn quickly and plunged its fourth dagger into the druid’s back leg, drawing another yelp from his wolf form and forcing him to dart away toward the other foulspawn. Lavren quickly loosed a bolt of black energy that flew past the creature to strike the wall next to Telkya and as the creature turned its gaze on the warlock, Enlishia leapt away, raising her bow as she did so.

Dulvarna spun on the spot and swung her sword around in a wide arc, cleaving it into the side of the unarmed foulspawn. Blood spewed from the creature and it spin back and away from Erlmoor. Thorn leapt at the creature but it stepped back beyond its reach and then lashed its clawed hands across the wolf’s muzzle to keep him at bay. Erlmoor stepped forward and thrust his blade into the foulspawn’s right leg, forcing it back a step while behind him, Enlishia let fly an arrow from her bow. The shaft drove into the chest of the four armed foulspawn and as it staggered backwards, Enlishia nocked another arrow and loosed it to drive into the creature’s throat. The foulspawn gurgled, spewing blood from its mouth and then fell to its knees before collapsing, face down on the stone floor.

Beside the ranger, Telkya loosed a bolt of light that flashed past the remaining foulspawn while Lavren circled around the battle to stand before one of the demonic faces. It hissed at him, begging him to feed it but he paid it no mind and raised his wand to loose another bolt of black energy. The blast seared past the creature and struck the eastern wall of the passage but as the creature cringed, Dulvarna stepped forward and drove her blade into its hip. Thorn leapt at the creature and seized its right arm in his teeth, tearing at it until the creature lashed a claw across the side of his head and forced him to let go. It leapt back as Erlmoor slashed his blade at it but Enlishia was already raising her bow and as she did, the foulspawn realised that it was doomed. An arrow and then another flew, driving into its belly and forcing it back another step. A bolt of light from Telkya’s amulet struck it in the chest and then Dulvarna plunged her blade into its chest. With a gasp, the last foulspawn fell to the blood stained floor beside its kin.

Next.....The Hall of Blizzards

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 18 - The Hall of Blizzards (Part 1)

“We take the eastern door as we had planned then,” Dulvarna said once the companions had tended to their wounds. “But we must remember this place as a safe place to rest.”

The double doors halfway down the corridor had led to a large side room with a smaller one off it that held two beds where the foulspawn had apparently been quartered. Two more demonic faces on the walls of the larger chamber seemed to allow a way to quickly get out of the chamber to the corridor as the foulspawn had.

“And what of the southern doors,” Erlmoor rumbled. “These foul creatures were surely placed to guard something that way else they would not have fought us so fiercely.”

“Perhaps,” answered Dulvarna. “But if there is an easier way to defeat Draxius here then I for one wish to take it. We have little food left and the quicker we escape this prison the better. We go east for now but we will come back this way if we cannot find Draxius that way.”

The north-south corridor beyond the eastern doors dead-ended a little way to the north and so Dulvarna led the companions to the south until a wide hallway opened up to the east. Ahead, the corridor continued southward into darkness but Dulvarna turned aside, determined to avoid confronting for now whatever the foulspawn guarded. An opening to the right halfway down the passage revealed a staircase that led upwards but the companions barely paused beside it, knowing that they had to defeat another form of Draxius before they could ascend further up the pyramid. The wide passage ended in a set of double doors limned with ice. Dulvarna pushed on them and they failed to move but when Erlmoor lent his strength to the effort, the doors reluctantly swung open, releasing a blast of freezing air that assailed the companions like a winter wind. The floor of the hall ahead was covered with a thick sheet of ice that looked dangerously slick while frost coated the walls and the five other sets of doors leading out of the hallway.

Dulvarna stepped forward cautiously onto the icy floor, picking ice that looked to offer her the most grip as she set her feet down. Despite this, she had barely gone a few feet into the hall when she slipped and fell painfully onto her back. She tried to get up but fell back again, jarring her back for a second time. Telkya followed Dulvarna into the room, stepping even more softly than the warrior woman had and for a moment, it seemed as if she might make progress. She passed Dulvarna with sword and amulet in hand, picking her way forward by the dim light that seemed to emanate from spots in the walls of the hallway. No sooner had she passed Dulvarna, she slipped and fell as her friend had, crying out as she jarred her arm painfully beneath her body. She tried to rise but she, too, fell back to lie beside the warrior woman.

Lavren half-smiled at the problems that his wife and friend were encountering and closed his eyes, vanishing into a cloud of light motes. He reappeared beside Telkya and after taking a moment to steady himself, he sheathed his sword and reached a hand down to help his wife up. Suddenly, he heard a noise from the north and looked up to see the double doors across from him open. In the doorway stood an elf lord with very pale skin and white hair. His eyes were icy blue and the chainmail he wore seemed frosted from the cold. On one arm he wore a small, teardrop shaped shield and in the other hand, he held a slender longsword. The elf looked down at Dulvarna, who lay helpless a few feet away, and strode toward her.
“To arms, to arms!” the warrior called out in elven and then stabbed his blade down into Dulvarna’s left arm.

Erlmoor tried to rush to Dulvarna’s aid but he slipped and fell before he reached the elf. Still, he stabbed out with his blade, driving its point into the elf’s calf and forcing it back from Dulvarna.
“Why do winter knights attack us?” he called to Lavren and Telkya, recognising the elves from a history he had read at the temple of Lathander in Eveningstar.
“I know not,” Lavren called back.

Another knight emerged from the northern chamber a moment later and strode easily across the ice to where Telkya lay. It stabbed out with its blade as the elf maid tried to scrambled backwards across the slippery surface. The sword nicked the side of her leg and Telkya’s blood, flowing freely in the cold chamber, stained the ice beside her. Enlishia came forward as quickly as she could but she too slipped as she neared the battle, falling to the ice but managing to keep her bow from falling beneath her. She loosed an arrow wildly that flew past the nearest knight but her second shaft drove into the shoulder of the elf warrior. As the elf recovered its balance and reached up to snap the arrow from the wound, a set of doors in the southern wall of the hallway opened. Another elf lord emerged from these doors, wielding the same longsword but seeming more slender and frail than the knights. This warrior wore chain mail but carried no shield and moved lightly across the ice towards Lavren, like a cloud of breath in wintry air.

Behind the companions, Thorn moved into the doorway but did not step onto the icy floor. Instead, he unshouldered his crossbow and loaded a bolt before raising it to his shoulder and waiting for a clear shot at one of the elves. As he watched, more of the slender elves that he recognised as blades of winter emerged from the southern room until five filled the hallway and another knight emerged from the northern room to advance on Enlishia. Only Lavren remained standing while the others struggled to rise and keep the elves at bay at the same time. Thorn knew that the situation was desperate, but he knew too that he could do little to aid his companions.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 18 - The Hall of Blizzards (Part 2)

Dulvarna managed to scramble to her feet a few moments later, lashing her blade across into the left leg of one of the knights as she did so. She held her footing but beside her, Telkya struggled to rise, floundering on the slippery surface. Another blade of winter emerged from the southern room to join the battle and Lavren retreated before the onslaught, falling to the floor as he did so. He loosed a bolt of black energy from his wand even as he fell that seared into the chest of the nearest blade of winter. The elf flinched but as he did, the attack seemed to dissipate only for a nearby knight to cry out as though he had been wounded in his companion’s stead. The blade smiled and advanced while the knights came forward as one.

One of the knights stepped toward Dulvarna and feinted to the right before driving his blade into the warrior woman’s shoulder. She cried out as a cold pain lanced through her body and tendrils of ice leapt from the wound to envelop her body. Dulvarna staggered and almost fell but then Erlmoor rose to his feet, lashing his blade across the chest of the elf lord as he did so, a prayer on his lips. The knight cried out and fell back while Dulvarna struggled with her bonds.

Another knight stepped toward Telkya who still struggled on the floor and plunged his blade down into her side. She too cried out and again, the tendrils of ice shot from the wound and enveloped the elf maid. Behind Telkya, Enlishia scrambled to her feet and retreated out of the hallway and through the doorway, turning as she reached the safe ground of the corridor outside. She raised her bow and took aim at the nearest knight, before loosing an arrow that drove into the shoulder of the elf. She nocked another and let fly but this time the knight was ready and ducked to the left, letting the arrow fly past and on down the hallway.

The blades of winter came forward next, one advancing toward Lavren and then stabbing downward to his right at Telkya. The blade pierced the elf maid’s thigh and drew another cry of pain from her as she lay helpless on the blood-stained ice. Thorn saw Telkya’s peril and fired his crossbow, the bolt flying straight and true into the chest of the blade of winter. Again, the elf flinched and again the nearest knight staggered back as though he himself had been wounded. Another elf plunged his blade downward at Telkya but this time she managed to roll aside and the sword struck only ice. Still, the elves came forward fiercely and the companions seemed to stand little chance against them.

Another knight stepped toward Dulvarna and plunged his blade into her side just above her hip as she struggled with the icy bonds of her earlier wound. Yet more ice tendrils leapt out from this new wound to envelop and hinder her. Another blade stabbed down at Telkya but this sword snagged on the chainmail jerkin she wore and failed to reach her flesh beneath. Still she struggled, lashing out with her sword as best she could and trying desperately to free herself from the bonds of ice that enveloped her. Then, at the far end of the hallway, another elf emerged from a side passage to the south, this one an elf maid with snow white skin and pale blue hair. Her eyes were like ice and the point of the spear she held seemed to be made of ice as well.

“A sorceress,” Telkya hissed as she recognised the garb of the newcomer. “A blizzard speaker from the northern lands.”
“Kill them all,” snarled the blizzard speaker in Common so that the companions could hear her command. The elves looked back at their leader and surged forward with unquestioning obedience.

One of the blades of winter circled around to the north and leapt into the doorway to the northern chamber, stabbing his sword at Erlmoor as he did so. The dragonborn brought his blade down and parried the blow with his own sword before shoving the newcomer back into the chamber. Another came up behind the first and together they pressed forward again. Dulvarna meanwhile summoned what remained of her strength and lashed out with her blade toward the nearest knight. The elf brought his blade down to parry but Aecris clove though the sword, knocking it aside and then driving deep into the elf’s belly. The knight gasped and then fell to his knees, his sword clattering to the ice as he clutched at the blood and entrails pouring from the mortal wound he had suffered. He looked up plaintively at Dulvarna and then fell forward on the ice, a pool of blood growing around him.

Telkya uttered a healing prayer where she lay, restoring some of her strength and then she leapt to her feet, lashing out with her sword as she did so. Her blade slashed across the back of the nearest of the blades of winter but for the third time, the elven warrior flinched while one of the knights cried out in pain. The blades roared their defiance and rushed at the companions, one leaping over the fallen knight and stabbing his sword at Erlmoor. Again the dragonborn parried the blow but as he did, he slipped and fell to the ice again. Still he lashed out with his blade and as his sword struck the side of the elf before him, a crack of thunder sounded. The elf flinched and lurched to his right but it was the knight beside him who cried out, blood erupting from an unseen wound in his side and flowing down his mail and the cloak he wore over it.
“The knights are keeping the others alive,” Erlmoor roared. “Kill them first.”

Lavren heard the dragonborn’s cry and tried to stand but he fell back to the ice, stunned for a moment. As he recovered, he saw one of the knights hiss a challenge to Telkya and then stab his blade down into the elf maid’s shoulder. She cried out again and Lavren cried out himself as he felt the crushing weight of helplessness descend upon him. Then he heard Enlishia’s bow sing behind him and two arrows flew over his head one after the other. Both drove into the knight that had wounded Telkya and with a gasp, the elf fell back, blood pouring down his chest and arm. Lavren felt a measure of hope return for a moment but then he felt a blade stab into his leg and knew that he had problems of his own.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 18 - The Hall of Blizzards (Part 3)

Thorn saw the elf wound Lavren and fired his crossbow, the bolt driving into the elf’s leg. Again, the warrior only flinched but elsewhere, the knight that faught Dulvarna staggered back as though the quarrel had struck him. On the ground, Telkya continued to roll back and forth as the elves around her stabbed at her and miraculously, she survived for a few moments longer. Another of the knights stabbed down with his blade to the left and then shifted the thrust as Telkya moved, the blade driving into the elf maid’s belly. She cried out and Lavren roared his own frustration and agony in answer. Then, Telkya’s bonds seemed to melt away and her arms were free again. More of the elves came forward but she scrambled away and as she did, Dulvarna swept her blade out and beheaded the knight that Enlishia had wounded. The elves hesitated for a moment and as they did, Telkya vanished in a shower of light motes. A bolt of light flashed from the doorway, seared through the chest of one of the blades of winter and the elf fell beside the slain knights. The elves hesitated again but then the blizzard speaker called out a command in elven and the warriors surged forward once more.

An elf rushed at Erlmoor and stabbed its longsword beneath his guard and into his thigh. The dragonborn roared, conscious now that Telkya had escaped the elves and that he could spray acid on his enemies. As he rose from the ice and drew in a deep breath, Lavren loosed two purple bolts toward the elves from where he lay on the floor. Both flashed past the elves but before they could resume their attack, the paladin roared and spewed acid from his mouth that engulfed the elves. Only the knight showed any pain, crying out and shrinking back from the terrible spray of liquid. Erlmoor roared again and lashed out with his blade, another prayer on his lips. His sword clove into the belly of the nearest elf with a flash of light that sent new strength surging through Erlmoor and Telkya who stood in the doorway behind him. The paladin’s sword clove through to the elf’s spine and in a spray of blood and gore, the warrior collapsed to the ground beside its companions. The last knight levelled his blade at the dragonborn in challenge and rushed easily across the ice to meet him in battle. The elf slashed his sword in from the dragonborn’s left but Erlmoor parried, driving the blade downward. Still, the elf’s icy sword cut across the front of the paladin’s knee, forcing Erlmoor to stagger and nearly slip on the treacherous ice.

In the doorway, Enlishia loosed one arrow and then a second toward the elves in front of Lavren. One drove into the chest of a warrior and the other pierced the second elf through his throat. Both gasped and fell back onto the blood stained ice. Thorn loosed a crossbow bolt at another of the warriors but the quarrel flew wide and clattered into the wall beyond the elf. Only then did the companions realise the peril that the defeat of the elves had put them in. The blizzard speaker began chanting an incantation while raising her left hand. A bolt of ice lanced out and struck the wall beside Lavren, missing the warlock by an arm’s length.

The elf warriors and the last of the knights drew strength from this and with a roar of defiance they charged at Dulvarna and Erlmoor, forcing them back a step. Dulvarna recovered quickly, holding an elf warrior at bay and then twisting her blade under his guard to drive it up into his belly. The elf gasped as blood gushed from the wound, dropping his sword in the doorway of the northern chamber. A moment later he collapsed on the floor to die beside his kin. Lavren loosed a bolt of black energy into the side of the knight, throwing the elf into the doorway and allowing Erlmoor to recover and advance himself. The knight lashed out wildly to defend himself and the paladin ducked under the reckless attack.

From the doorway, Telkya surveyed the scene as Enlishia raised her bow and took aim at the blizzard speaker at the far end of the hallway. She loosed and arrow and then a second, both driving into the elf maid’s left leg and throwing her back a step. She hissed something under her breath in elven and raised her hand as she began another incantation. Thorn loosed a crossbow bolt that nicked the sorceress’s shoulder and then a furious icy wind erupted in front of the doorway. Telkya, Enlishia and Thorn shrank back from the wind and from the curses of the elf maid deduced that the spell had not landed where she had planned. They raised their weapons and moved back into the doorway with smiles upon their faces as the elf witch fixed them with a furious gaze.

Dulvarna kept her footing as the elves fell back and stepped forward, weaving her blade before her. The elven knight watched her movements and as she darted forward, he tried to parry to his left only to find that the warrior woman had reversed her swing. Aecris plunged into the right side of his chest and clove through to his heart without stopping. The elf gasped and collapsed to the ice, dead before he hit the ground. Dulvarna stepped over him and started toward the blizzard speaker only to slip and fall a few steps beyond the fallen elf. Behind her, Telkya stepped out from the doorway and fell herself but Lavren kept his footing and loosed a bolt of black energy at the sorceress. The eldritch blast struck the elf maid in the shoulder and spun her back a step but still she did not fall.

In the northern doorway, Erlmoor feinted to the left and then plunged his blade in from the other side, driving it through the chest of the last elf warrior until it pierced his back. The elf fell and the dragonborn stepped into the northern chamber to find firmer footing. From the end of the hallway, Enlishia’s bow sang again and again, sending two more arrows into the elf sorceress and driving her back step after step. Thorn loosed another crossbow bolt that drove into the elf maid’s leg and desperately, the sorceress began another incantation. A bolt of ice lanced out from her hand and struck Dulvarna in the chest, freezing the warrior woman where she had fallen for a few moments but still she managed to regain her feet. Telkya rose and then fell again and Lavren slipped and fell but still a bolt of black energy seared past the sorceress, missing her by less than an arm’s length.

The elf maid looked toward Lavren and as she did, Erlmoor leapt from the northern doorway and made his way quickly along the left wall of the hallway. As he reached the sorceress, he lashed out with his blade, forcing what remained of his strength into the blow. His sword clove into the sorceress’s side and spun her to her left, blood gushing from the terrible wound the paladin had inflicted. An arrow thudded into the elf maid’s belly and she staggered back, spitting blood from her mouth.

Another arrow and a crossbow bolt flashed past the elf maid and desperately, she stabbed out with her spear. Erlmoor parried the thrust but still the weapon nicked the paladin’s leg and filled him with an icy chill. He raised his blade again but as he did, a bolt of light from Telkya’s amulet flashed past the blizzard speaker. She flinched but it was already too late. A bolt of black energy flashed out from Lavren’s wand and seared into her chest, throwing her several feet down the corridor where she landed in a sitting position.
“The Master will kill you and eat you,” she hissed and then fell back dead.

Next.....Meeting the Master