Medriev's FR Pyramid of Shadows - Concluded Nov 1

[Medriev]

Chapter 19 - Meeting the Master (Part 1)

The companions rested in the southern chamber of the elves’ complex where they found three beds and a table on which they could eat small amounts of the meagre rations of dried meat and trail bread that remained to them. They ate in silence as tiredness overtook them and slept in shifts, warily watching the doors to the chamber lest the Master, whatever it might be, should come looking for its fallen servants. As they made ready to leave, Thorn voiced the fear in the minds of all.

“Could this Master be another shard of Draxius?” he said as the companions crossed the ice corridor walking on bedding that they had stripped from the quarters of the winter elves.
“Perhaps but I think we face a creature of ice or snow,” Telkya said. “The elves of the north are said to sometimes serve dragons and other powerful overlords.”
“I have heard this as well,” Enlishia said. “Far to the north where the ice never melts, men, dwarves and elves are changed by the cold and the snow. Some serve any creature that can grant them protection against the enemies that surround them.”
“Then we face a dragon,” Erlmoor rumbled. “Good. I had hoped to face another of my evil kin soon.”
“We know not what we face,” Dulvarna answered. “But I agree it is likely not Draxius. The foulspawn likely guarded him which means we have to return that way once we have dealt with whatever lurks beyond this place.”

The others nodded and looked ahead into the northeast chamber where they had found the only passage onwards the night before. They drew forth their blades and wands and totems and amulets and then stepped cautiously into the hallway which was cold but free of ice on the floor. It led east a little way, still lit dimly as though from some radiance within the walls themselves and then it widened and turned north before turning back to the west. At its end stood a pair of dark, wooden doors limned with frost. As they neared the doors, the air around the companions seemed to grow colder and bite at their skin. Their breath emerged as little clouds of frost as they exhaled and when Dulvarna and Erlmoor reached out to the iron ring handles of the doors, they felt searing cold that seemed to almost burn them. Quickly, they pushed the doors opened and revealed a chamber that appeared to be a cave of ice, with two pools of freezing cold water and great columns of ice that rose to the ceiling. A great pile of treasure occupied a far corner and resting beside it was a white dragon.
“There, in that corner!” the Head of Vyrellis uttered in a piercing whisper. “That amethyst! You must get it for me.”

Lavren moved past the others and leapt down into the freezing cold water. It only came up to his knees but he felt the chilling cold penetrating to his bones and knew he could not stay in the pool for long. He waded to the far side, stepped out onto the shore and made his way to one of the ice pillars. The dragon’s lips seemed to curl and its eyes widened as it contemplated what the elf would do next. Only when the warlock raised his wand and loosed a blast of black energy did the dragon snarl as it realise it faced a threat. The blast from Lavren’s wand struck the left foreleg of the dragon and drew a roar of anger in response.

Thorn leapt into the pool next and shifted to his wolf form as he reached the shore of the second pool. He stalked around behind Lavren, seeking the best way to attack the dragon while behind him came Enlishia, an arrow nocked to her bow. She waded through the pool and stepped onto the far bank with her bow drawn back. She let fly the arrow and it plunged into the dragon’s left flank, drawing another roar of anger from the wyrm. Erlmoor and Dulvarna came through the pool next, moving left behind one of the pillars as they tried to move closer to the dragon and then Telkya came after them, following them behind the pillar to hide from the dragon’s terrible breath.
“You have chosen death then,” the dragon said in a loud voice. “So be it.”

The dragon beat its wings and took flight, sweeping forward over the centre pool. A wave of dragonfear came before the wyrm and left Thorn, Erlmoor and Dulvarna, reeling and stunned. Before they could recover, the dragon drew in a deep breath and then loosed a cloud of icy cold from its jaws that engulfed the companions. Telkya threw herself against the pillar and avoided the dragon’s terrible breath and Dulvarna recovered enough from her fear to throw herself to the ground. Lavren, Thorn and Erlmoor were seared with cold and frozen where they stood for a few, vital moments.

Lavren managed to raise his arm and loose a bolt of black energy into the dragon’s chest but the wyrm’s breath had weakened him and the creature barely faltered. Beside the warlock, Thorn stood petrified by the first dragon he had ever faught and so Enlishia came to his aid, loosing an arrow and then a second that drove into the side of the dragon’s neck, drawing another roar of anger from the creature. Erlmoor and Dulvarna similarly stood frozen with fear at the size of the dragon which surely measured forty feet from nose to tail. Next to them, Telkya circled around the pillar and raised her amulet to call down a column of divine light. The dragon banked to its left as it hovered over the pool and the prayer’s power descended next to it, leaving it unharmed. It roared again and swept to the left to land on the shore of the pool in front of Enlishia. She shrank back and the wyrm lashed out with its claws. One claw struck the ranger in the side and spun her toward the other but at the last, Enlishia ducked and the dragon’s other claw swept over her head.

Lavren shook off the effects of the dragon’s breath weapon and turned toward the creature, raising his wand as he did so. He loosed another bolt of black, eldritch power that seared into the dragon’s back leg. It roared again and turned toward the warlock and as it did, Thorn rushed at the dragon’s right flank. He leapt, his wolf claws and teeth seeking purchase on the wyrm’s side but the beast twisted around and the druid wolf slid to the floor of the cave without drawing blood from the dragon. Sensing a momentary reprieve, Enlishia scrambled backward along the shore of the first pool and then raised her bow, loosing one and then a second quickly. One glanced along the neck of the dragon, drawing blood, but the other flew over the creature and clattered into the roof of the cave.

Erlmoor roared his defiance as he finally drove away his fear and then charged at the dragon with his blade before him. As he reached the wyrm, he breathed acid from his mouth that seared the side of the creature’s neck and then he swung out with his blade, a prayer on his lips. The dragonborn’s sword drove into the side of the creature’s neck and drew a spray of blood that drenched Erlmoor and the icy floor of the cave. Dulvarna rushed forward and came at the dragon from the other side of Thorn, her blade lashing out into the back of the wyrm’s right foreleg. It staggered for a moment and then beat its wings as though it would take flight again. A searing ribbon of light leapt out from Telkya’s amulet then and struck the dragon’s back, drawing another roar of anger. Then it beat its wings more fiercely and tried to take flight. Dulvarna, Erlmoor and Thorn all leapt forward, slashing at the dragon with blade and claw but still it managed to take flight and swoop back over the wider, second pool, where it hovered.

The companions turned to watch the dragon retreat and as it reached the centre of the icy pool, Erlmoor saw the water swirl and reach out toward the wyrm’s body. In a heartbeat, ice crystals started to form near the dragon’s wounds and the paladin realised with horror that the freezing water was healing the dragon.
“Strike at it now!” he called to the others. “The water is healing it.”

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 19 - Meeting the Master (Part 2)

The companions needed no second bidding with Lavren loosing a bolt of black energy almost at once. It flew past the dragon but by then, Thorn had already shifted back to his human form and was uttering an evocation. Thunder and lightning flashed and rumbled around the ceiling above the dragon and a bolt of lightning flashed down to strike the wyrm. Still it hovered above the centre of the pool and the water and ice surged around it. Enlishia raised her bow and fired but her first arrow bounced off the scaly flank of the dragon. She nocked a second arrow and fired again but this missile flew over the dragon’s back into the dark recesses at the far end of the cavern. Erlmoor put up his sword and chanted a prayer while holding out his left hand. Ribbons of light burst forth but as they did, the dragon beat its wings and they flew underneath its scaled belly. Dulvarna sheathed her sword and unshouldered her bow, nocking an arrow to it quickly and firing. The arrow drove into the dragon’s chest but still it hovered above the churning water. A bolt of light from Telkya’s amulet flashed past the wyrm and then it roared in triumph as the water fell back into the pool and the worst of its wounds were healed. The dragon turned, regarded Telkya with a predatory eye and then swooped toward her.

As the dragon reached the shore of the pool it swept out its left claw and Telkya ducked under it but before she could recover, the right claw lashed in at her. She leapt back and the sword-like talons swished through the air in front of her. Lavren turned to face the dragon and loosed a bolt of black energy into its flank, drawing another roar of anger from it. Thorn shifted to his beast form and rushed around the southern side of the pool, behind one of the pillars to aid Telkya while Enlishia raised her bow and took aim. She loosed one arrow and as it drove into the back of the dragon’s neck, she loosed another that tore into its flank. Erlmoor roared and rushed around the pool and the pillar at its southern end with his sword again in both hands. He passed Thorn and rushed toward the dragon, his fear now forgotten. Behind him, Dulvarna raised her bow again and loosed an arrow into the wyrm’s side which drew the dragon’s gaze toward her. As the creature turned its head, Telkya retreated along the shore toward Lavren and raised her amulet to unleash another bolt of divine light. The blast seared into the side of the dragon’s head and drew forth a screech from its mouth that seemed to be its first sign of real pain. It beat its wings and dived forward after the elf maid.

Telkya scrambled backward until she reached the pillar behind her and then ducked as the dragon landed on the shore of the pool and lashed out with its claws. One claw struck the ice pillar above her, dislodging chunks of ice that fell down upon her but as she rose, the second claw swept in and this time, Telkya could not leap back. The huge talons tore into her side, flinging her against the pillar and with a loud crack, one Telkya’s ribs broke. She cried out and Lavren lashed his wand toward the dragon, hurling another black bolt into the creature’s chest. It roared its anger but as it did, Thorn charged around the pillar and leapt at the wyrm. It spun around and struck out with its right foreleg, smashing the druid wolf to the floor of the cave. Enlishia’s bow sang from behind the dragon and two more arrows drove into its back, drawing another roar of anger from it. It half-turned but then it saw another flash of movement as Erlmoor charged into battle beside Thorn. The dragonborn’s blade struck the creature’s right foreleg with a crash of thunder and the dragon staggered to its left. With a cry, Dulvarna shouldered her bow, drew her sword and charged along the shore to meet the dragon and as the creature reeled, trying to face all of its enemies at once, Telkya slid around the pillar toward Lavren and safety.

The dragon lunged at Dulvarna, biting at her left arm and dragging her toward it as its dagger-like teeth tore into her flesh. With a wrench that tore more of her flesh, Dulvarna pulled herself free and raised her blade. Behind her, Lavren looked toward Telkya to see that she was alright and at a nod from his wife, he raised his wand and moved away along the shore of the pool. He hurled a bolt of black energy into the dragon’s flank and the creature roared and reared back on its hind legs. A heartbeat later, Thorn leapt at its right side but the dragon landed back on all fours and turned, knocking the druid wolf away. An arrow flew past the dragon’s head and it turned to its left again just as Enlishia loosed a second shaft that drove into the wyrm’s chest. It roared and as it did, Erlmoor rushed at it from its other side and plunged his sword into its flank. Dulvarna rushed at it from the front but her blade skittered off the scales of the dragon’s foreleg and drew no blood. The dragon snarled at the warrior woman as it stepped back until its hind legs were in the water and then a bolt of light from Telkya’s amulet flashed past its head. Slowly, it turned its gaze upon the elf maid who should have died and screeched for the second time. It snapped out at Dulvarna again, who leapt away, and then it beat its wings and took the air once more. Erlmoor, Dulvarna and Thorn rushed at the dragon before it could take flight but only Dulvarna’s blade struck home and the dragon swept away over the pool once more.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 19 - Meeting the Master (Part 3)

The dragon flew to the northern edge of the pool where it met the cave wall but still the companions assailed it. A bolt of black energy from Lavren’s wand seared into its back as it retreated but at the wall it turned and after a sharp intake of breath, it unleashed more icy cold from its mouth. The freezing blast was aimed at Lavren and Telkya but the warlock leapt to his left and hurled himself to the floor to avoid the frigid dragon breath. Telkya was not so lucky and though she raised her arms to protect herself, still the ice tore at her limbs and slowed her body. She staggered and Thorn howled before starting to circle to pool to reach the dragon once more. Enlishia came forward to stand beside Telkya, firing an arrow as she did. The shaft drove into the dragon’s left foreleg and was followed by a second that bounced off the wyrm’s thick scales. Erlmoor rushed after Thorn while Dulvarna again sheathed her sword and raised her bow to let fly an arrow. The missile flew past the dragon and struck the wall behind it but still the dragon roared, sensing its own defeat. A moment later, a bolt of light from Telkya’s amulet seared its flank and it screeched for a third time. The elf maid would not die and neither would any other of these troublesome creatures, the dragon realised, and it knew then that it was doomed.

The dragon turned for what it knew would be a last attack and swept along the pool toward its southern shore. As it reached the end of the pool, it turned toward the eastern shore and let loose it icy breath again. Dulvarna, Telkya, Lavren and Enlishia all staggered back with the force of the icy blast and felt their limbs stiffen as the fierce cold took hold of them. Still, Lavren raised his wand and loosed a bolt of black energy that seared past the dragon and still, as Thorn leapt at the dragon’s back legs, Enlishia raised her bow to let fly an arrow. One shaft and then another drove into the dragon’s flank but they lacked the power of Enlishia’s full strength as she struggled to make her cold-numbed limbs obey her. Erlmoor rushed around the pool behind the dragon following Thorn and with a huge swing, he slashed his blade into the side of the wyrm’s back. It roared again and as it did, Dulvarna rushed at it from the front, lashing out with her blade with as much strength as her freezing arms could muster. Her sword drove into the dragon’s left foreleg but still the dragon hovered above the pool, sorely wounded but defiant. A bolt of light flashed past the wyrm’s head from Telkya’s amulet and again the creature turned toward the elf maid, amazed that she still lived. With a roar, it beat its wings and turned away from the others but as it did, they surged forward and Erlmoor plunged his blade into the creature’s flank. It screeched again but still managed to fly out over the pool, determined to finish Telkya before it died.

The dragon swept down on Telkya and lunged with its neck, taking the elf maid in its jaws and biting down on her. She cried out and as she did, the dragon threw her down on the shore where she lay unmoving. Lavren cried out and lashed his wand toward the creature, hurling a bolt of black energy that flashed past the wyrm. A blur of black fur passed in front of Lavren then as Thorn rushed at the dragon’s flank and leapt, only to be swatted aside by the desperate creature. The dragon roared in triumph this time and Enlishia retreated before it, firing arrows as she did, none of which hit the creature. Erlmoor roared his own anger as he rushed to aid Telkya, kneeling beside the elf maid and uttering a healing prayer. Dulvarna let out her own guttural cry and rushed around to face the dragon again. As she reached the wyrm, it surged forward and she raised her blade, bracing it with both her hands. As the dragon reached her, she lunged, driving the blade into the creature’s chest and finding its heart. The creature screeched for the last time and as Dulvarna spun aside and tore her blade free, the creature swept low over Telkya and then plunged head first into the shallow pool close before the doors to the chamber.

Next......Gates of Agony

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Gates of Agony (Part 1)

The companions made their way back westward from the dragon’s lair, through the ice chambers of the elves and then they turned south down the passageway they had previously passed. It ended after a little way at double doors that opened into another long hallway that widened a little way in and then ended in arched double doors with vigilant sentinels carved into the archways beside the portals. As Dulvarna and Erlmoor drew close to the arched doors, they transformed before their eyes into the gaping maw of a devil or demon and the sentinels suddenly came to life as demonic warriors with vicious spears. One stabbed at Dulvarna but as she lashed her blade out to parry, it passed through the creature’s weapon.
“The sentinels are illusions,” she called out to the others. “But the maw I am not certain of. We should go back and try another way.”
“If the maw is an illusion then we can pass through,” Enlishia said. “We should go on.”
“Agreed,” said Lavren. “We should go on.”
“We cannot,” Dulvarna said firmly. “We go back and seek the way southward from the foulspawn chamber.”

When the companions came to the chamber of the demonic faces they found the corpses of the foulspawn lying where they had fallen and the mouths of the faces silent and motionless once more. The double doors at the southern end of the hall led into another chamber with two doors that led southward. Dulvarna opened the western most door and revealed a chamber holding three statues. The closest statue was of a tiefling in plate armour and carrying a greatsword while the other two statues depicted orcs. One wore the robes of a shaman or wizard and the other carried a two handed axe and wore armour of metal scales. To the south, the companions all heard the ragged breath of some large creature.

Suddenly, an arrow shot out of the shadows behind one the statues and drove into Dulvarna’s thigh. She staggered back and as numbness began to spread around the wound, she came to the horrible realisation that she had been poisoned. Dulvarna reached down and yanked the shaft from her leg despite the searing pain and then raised her sword before rushing into the chamber. She saw her enemy almost at once, a robed figure with a bow in her hands and a quiver at her belt. Writhing snakes were her hair and her eyes were a pale yellow. Dulvarna rushed at the creature, lashing out her blade as she reached her, but the creature leapt back beyond the blow. Erlmoor came into the chamber next and circled left behind one of the statues to come at the creature from the other side. Enlishia came in behind the dragonborn and as she did, she saw the archer’s companion, a huge humanoid with pale brown skin wearing only a loincloth and wielding a huge, spiked flail. It was just stirring into motion as the ranger entered the room and she recognised it at once.
“An ogre warhulk!” she called to the others. “Beware its flail for it has terrible strength.”

Enlishia raised her bow and loosed an arrow that drove into one of the ogre’s huge arms and then fired again. Her second arrow clattered off the ogre’s thick hide and fell to the floor as the lumbering giant slowly raised the heavy chain and spiked ball of its flail. Behind Enlishia, Telkya rushed into the chamber and moved to aid Dulvarna, stepping between two of the statues and loosing a bolt of divine light at the archer. The bolt flashed past the creature and seared into the wall of the chamber next to it. Lavren moved past Enlishia to block the ogre’s path to the ranger and then loosed his own bolt of energy at the archer. The black blast of eldritch power seared into the archer’s side and hurled her back against the wall but she hissed her defiance in response.
“The archer is a medusa,” he called out. “Beware her gaze for that is how these statues were made.”

A moment later, the ogre burst forth from the far end of the chamber, smashing apart one of the statues as it lumbered forward. It lashed out with its flail at Dulvarna who ducked under the heavy weapon and the spiked ball smashed into the statue behind her. Stone splintered and fell down on Telkya and Dulvarna and as it did, the medusa’s eyes seared with golden light. Thorn came into the chamber and immediately recognised the peril, ducking behind the statue that Erlmoor stood behind. Lavren, Telkya and Dulvarna could not avert their eyes in time and felt their limbs begin to slow a moment later. Dulvarna roared her defiance and slashed her blade across the front of the medusa’s legs, forcing the creature back against the wall again. The medusa hissed again, its snake hair joining it defiantly, and Dulvarna felt her limbs stiffen even more as the effect of the creature’s terrible gaze took hold. Still the warrior woman faught on and from around the statue came Erlmoor with his blade before him.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Gates of Agony (Part 2)

The dragonborn roared and sprayed acid over the medusa and the ogre before lashing out with his blade to keep the medusa at bay. Enlishia crossed the room and circled behind the paladin before raising her bow and firing at the medusa. An arrow drove into the creature’s side and then a second followed, finding its mark an inch away from the first. The medusa gasped and lurched to the left as though seeking the protection of the ogre. Then Telkya raised her amulet again and called forth a searing blast of light that lanced out and struck the eyes of the medusa. Suddenly blinded, the creature staggered and fumbled with its bow as it tried desperately to reach the ogre and the protection of its huge flail. Lavren loosed another bolt of black energy from his wand that seared into the ogre’s chest and in response, the creature roared, turning its attention toward the warlock. It raised its flail over its head and brought it down overhand toward the elf but at the last, Lavren leapt back and the spiked ball smashed into the stone floor of the chamber where he had stood a moment before.

Behind the others, Thorn shifted into his wolf form and bounded forward between Erlmoor and Dulvarna. As he reached the archer, he leapt and seized the creature’s arm in his mouth, tearing at the flesh with his teeth and claws before letting go. The blinded medusa hissed again and retreated to stand beside the ogre before raising her bow to loose another arrow. With unerring aim despite her lack of sight, the medusa let fly the shaft and it drove into Dulvarna’s shoulder, throwing her back into Telkya who stood behind her. Again the numbness spread from the wound but Dulvarna roared a second time, voicing a defiance that she no longer felt. She lashed her blade to her right into the ogre’s leg as she faught the stiffness in her limbs and the poison in her blood. As her blade struck the ogre the creature roared and Dulvarna felt a new strength flow through her. Her arms and legs seemed to free themselves from the influence of the medusa’s gaze and her courage returned.

Erlmoor rushed to Dulvarna’s side as her saw Telkya and Lavren shaking off the effects of the medusa’s gaze. He lashed out with his sword but the medusa ducked instinctively and the sword struck the stone wall above her head. Behind the others, Telkya ducked back behind the nearest statue and loosed another bolt of divine light into the ogre’s side as it raised its flail again. It cast about for the enemy that had struck it and instead settled its gaze on Dulvarna. A bolt of black energy from Lavren’s wand flashed past the huge creature and then it swung its huge flail out toward the warrior woman. Dulvarna ducked and the spiked ball struck the tiefling statue for the second time, smashing the stone greatsword in two. Thorn bounded forward before the ogre could recover and leapt at the creature only for it to swat him aside with its elbow.

The medusa retreated again away from Erlmoor’s blade, its blindness gone and with its aim as true as it ever had been, it raised its bow and loosed an arrow. The shaft drove into Dulvarna’s hip and threw her back a step before, a moment later, the now familiar numbness began to spread from the wound. The warrior woman staggered and swung a huge blow at the ogre. The creature stepped back and Aecris clove through nothing but air while Dulvarna tried desperately to recover from her latest wound. Meanwhile, Erlmoor stepped around the corner into the southern alcove that the medusa had retreated into and lashed out with his blade. The medusa ducked again and again, the paladin’s blade struck the stone wall next to the snake-haired creature. Behind the dragonborn, Enlishia loosed an arrow and then a second at the ogre but both clattered harmlessly off its thick hide. Telkya circled around the statues to stand beside the ranger and called down a beam of light that seared the ogre’s back and shoulders. It roared and raised its flail and as it did, Lavren loosed another bolt of black energy that tore past the creature’s head. The ogre lashed out with its flail toward Dulvarna and again the warrior woman ducked. The spiked ball smashed into the tiefling statue for the third time shattering part of the statue’s leg into shards of masonry.

Thorn snarled and leapt at the ogre for a second time, seizing its arm for a few moments before being shaken free. He fell with a yelp and rolled onto his legs as the ogre raised its flail above its head. Behind the huge creature, the medusa retreated further into the southern alcove and loosed an arrow into Erlmoor’s shoulder. The dragonborn roared in response and then lashed out with his blade, channelling all of his strength into the sword. It clove into the medusa’s left side and spun her against the wall beside her. Still she hissed her defiance in chorus with the snakes on her head but still the dragonborn pressed forward.

Behind the paladin, Enlishia loosed more arrows and this time, two found their marks in the ogre’s flesh, driving into its side and drawing another roar of anger. Telkya hurled another bolt of divine light into the creature a moment later and then Lavren hurled a black bolt of energy into the creature’s shoulder that drove it back a step. Again it roared and again it lashed out toward Dulvarna but this time, the warrior woman was not quick enough. She tried to duck but the flail came in lower and slammed into her side, smashing her back into the tiefling statue. Her head exploded in paid as it struck the stone of the statue and as she heaved in a ragged breath, Dulvarna felt the agonising pain of several cracked ribs. Thorn growled and leapt at the creature to distract it, tearing at its legs with his teeth and claws but he could not help Dulvarna. Slowly, the warrior woman raised her blade and, with wheezing breaths, she stepped forward to attack the ogre one last time.

In the alcove, the medusa retreated further until her back was against the south wall of the chamber and she had nowhere else to go. Desperately, she hissed at Erlmoor and her eyes glowed again with the golden fire that had nearly finished Dulvarna. Erlmoor raised his arms to shield his eyes and behind him, Dulvarna managed to do the same. Thorn dodged to the right behind the ogre and the huge creature itself, instinctively shielded its eyes.
“Curse you all,” the medusa snarled as she realised that her gaze had had no effect.
“And curse you too,” Erlmoor answered as he stepped forward to finish the creature.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Gates of Agony (Part 3)

In the main chamber, Dulvarna summoned what strength she had left and lashed out with her blade toward the ogre’s side. At the last, it brought its flail down and turned Aecris aside with the weapon’s handle. Next to Dulvarna, Enlishia’s bow sang out and an arrow drove into the ogre’s leg. A second followed but this clattered off the creature’s thick hide and fell to the floor of the chamber. The creature roared and raised its flail as a bolt from Telkya’s amulet seared into the its side and then a black bolt flew past it to strike the southern wall. The ogre brought its flail down toward Dulvarna a moment later and, though the warrior woman raised her blade to parry, the strength had fled from her limbs and the spiked ball smashed Aecris aside. The ball smashed down onto the side of her head and then crashed onto her shoulder, smashing her collar bone as it did. Dulvarna cried out and then collapsed to the floor, Aecris falling beside her.

Thorn snarled and leapt at the creature, seizing its arm again and tearing at the flesh until the ogre swung the limb and flung the druid wolf against the tiefling statue. Enlishia loosed an arrow and then a second into the ogre’s chest with a furious look of anger on her face while beside her, Telkya held up her sword and charged at the ogre but as she did, she glanced down at Dulvarna. Her friend’s eyes were open and with an obvious effort, the warrior woman flashed the elf maid a smile. Telkya smiled back and then rushed onward at the ogre, determined to buy her companion time enough to recover.

In the alcove, Erlmoor heard Dulvarna cry out but he dared not turn away from the medusa to see the fate of his friend. Instead, he stepped forward after the medusa as the creature raised her bow and loosed another arrow that drove into his hip. He faltered but then slashed his sword across into the archer’s leg, spinning her away to her right. The dragonborn felt no poison in this wound and wondered if the medusa’s supply of venom had run out. Then the medusa threw back her hood and shook loose the snakes on her head and the paladin snapped his mind back to the foe before him. She hissed at him and then the snakes began coiling forward, their forked tongues tasting the air and their needle-sharp teeth questing for his flesh.

Telkya rushed at the ogre with a prayer on her lips and as the sword in her right hand glowed brightly, she slashed it at the creature’s arm. The ogre turned toward her and lashed out with its flail entangling her sword in the weapon’s chain for a moment and throwing it aside. The huge creature snarled through yellowed teeth at the elf maid and raised the flail to strike down this new troublesome foe. At that moment, a black bolt of searing energy tore into the ogre’s back and with a roar of anger, it spun around, lashing its flail out at all who surrounded it. Telkya was smashed back into the wall behind her as the spiked ball struck her in the side and then swept around toward Enlishia and Thorn. The ranger ducked low and avoided the swing while Thorn leapt back and Lavren threw himself behind the tiefling statue. Again, the spiked ball smashed into the statue and the head of the stone warrior splintered into a thousand pieces. Thorn leapt an instant later, his jaws tearing at the ogre’s groin and drawing a terrible howl of pain from the creature. The wolf druid let go before the ogre could swat him away but the damage was done and the huge creature staggered back as blood poured down its legs.

In the alcove, the medusa darted to its left, trying desperately to gain the protection of its ogre guardian once more. As it did, the snakes on its head snapped out at Erlmoor and as he raised his arms to protect himself, two sunk their teeth into his flesh. He felt the numbness of the poison at once from these wounds and knew her had to strike down the terrible creature as quickly as he could. He spun on the spot and lashed out with his blade but, with seemingly renewed agility, the medusa ducked and the paladin’s sword swung over her head. Erlmoor cursed and turned to face his enemy as the numbness in his arms subsided but despite this, he knew he could not fight on for much longer.

With a guttural roar and a surge of strength that she mustered from the deepest recesses of her soul, Dulvarna leapt to her feet and plunged her blade into the ogre’s side as it still reeled from the wound that Thorn had inflicted. It roared but then an arrow from Enlishia’s bow drove into its throat and the sound became a gurgle of blood that gushed from the creature’s mouth and neck. It staggered again and then fell backwards atop the ruins of the orc statue that it had smashed to reach the companions. A final gasp escaped its lips and then the ogre died.

The companions surged toward the medusa then, Telkya hurling a bolt of light from her left hand that flashed past the creature’s head. Lavren loosed a bolt from his wand that seared into the medusa’s side and threw her toward the southern wall and then Thorn leapt over the ogre’s body to rush at the creature from behind. Desperately, the medusa retreated to the southern wall, her eyes glowing brightly once again. Only Dulvarna threw her arms in front of her face in time while Lavren threw himself against the tiefling statue to protect himself. The others felt their limbs stiffen almost at once but still they fought on.

Dulvarna rushed to aid Erlmoor, her blade above her head as she reached the medusa. She brought Aecris down and the sword clove into the medusa’s shoulder, shattering her collar bone. Erlmoor plunged his blade into the creature’s side and as the medusa staggered, Enlishia’s bow sang again. An arrow drove into the creature’s chest and as the medusa gasped, another followed. With a final hiss, the archer fell back against the wall and then slid down to end in a sitting position at its foot. One by one, the snakes on the medusa’s head fell still limp and as the last one stopped moving, the medusa died as her ogre guardian had.

Dulvarna looked to her left once the creature had died and there, she saw another pair of arched doorways with carved snakes beside them as guardians. A problem for later, she decided at once.

Next......Halls of Madness

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - Halls of Madness (Part 1)

The companions rested before the second gate for several hours, tending to their wounds and eating small portions of the meagre rations that remained to them. When they were ready to go on, they stepped forward and examined the arched gate in more detail. Dulvarna approached the doors warily, expecting some form of attack but when none came, she reached out and touched the portals. As she did so, a great voice boomed out.
“Let those who embrace the darkness of ignorance walk forward,” it said. “Heedless of all knowledge. The blind and deaf fear no danger, for the Keeper of the Way shall guide their steps.”
“Close your eyes and cover your ears,” Thorn said. “Then you will pass through the gate.”

Dulvarna did as she was bade and kicked out at the doors with her foot. As she did so, the others saw the carved snakes come to life and poise themselves to strike at the warrior woman.
“They are illusions,” Enlishia whispered to the others. “We cannot warn her lest she not pass through.”

Sure enough, Dulvarna’s booted foot passed through the apparently solid doors and, though she stumbled, she stepped through the portals as though they were not there. The others put away their weapons and implements and closed their own eyes while covering their ears with their hands. They walked through in turn and each passed to the other side. Beyond the gate was a long chamber with two sets of double doors leading north and another set leading south. Dulvarna and Erlmoor tried the northern doors but found them unyielding and so the companions turned south, pushing open the doors there with ease. Drawing their weapons, the band made their way south into a corridor that led east to west. A little way to the west, the passage bent south and, after stopping for a few moments, Dulvarna took this path.

After a short way, the southern passage led them into a scene that could come only from a fevered dream or a madman’s imagination. The stone passage ahead merged with a grey material that glistened wetly as though the walls, floor and ceiling ahead were made of flesh. A trail of thick, sludge-like violet slime puddled on the floor while several side passages branched off the main one, each seemingly made of the same, grey flesh.
“There is danger here,” said Lavren as he made his way forward past the others.

The elf turned to the right to avoid the slime on the floor ahead of the companions and found that the western passage turned south again quickly. Cautiously, he raised his wand and rounded the corner while from somewhere ahead he heard voices. Behind him, the others started forward warily into the flesh-like tunnels but they had barely taken a step when from around a corner ahead came a large lizard-like creature with a pointed head and no eyes. Its skin was tan with black stripes and it stood up on powerful back legs while sharp claws tipped its forelegs. It opened its toothed mouth and let forth a howling bellow that threw the companions back on their heels and tore through their heads like a thunder clap. All but Enlishia and Lavren were left staggered and dazed.
“A destrachan,” Enlishia announced from behind the others. “A beast that can imitate sounds or use them as weapons.”

The ranger pushed past the others as they recovered form the terrible howl and raised her bow, loosing an arrow and then a second. The first clattered into the corridor wall beyond the destrachan but the second drove into its foreleg, drawing a pained whimper from the creature. Dulvarna raised her blade and staggered forward unsteadily to meet the destrachan, shaking her head as she did to rid herself of the ringing in her ears. Erlmoor followed but he too was unsteady and still too dazed to attach the creature when he reached it. Suddenly, from behind the two warriors, Lavren cried out as a huge, slithering, snake-like creature rounded the corner to the south of him and made its way forward. Its mouth was a huge beak and around this terrible maw, four tentacles were arrayed, each tipped with a vicious hook-like claw.
“A grick comes this way,” Enlishia called to Dulvarna and Erlmoor. “We are outflanked.”

Thorn shifted to his wolf form but he too remained dazed by the destrachan’s bellow and could only stand and shake his black-furred head instead of bounding to meet the grick. Telkya staggered forward, blade and amulet in hand to protect Enlishia from this new enemy but as she reached Lavren, another creature burst past the snake-like monster. This newcomer was humanoid and wielded a greatsword and Telkya had fought its like before.
“Foulspawn!” she called out. “There are foulspawn here as well.”

The foulspawn warrior leapt at Lavren and lashed out with his blade, cutting into the elf’s right shoulder and spinning him away along the passage wall. Another of the creatures leapt past the grick after the first and thrust its blade into Lavren’s thigh forcing him back another step along the wall of the passage. He cried out and retreated but raised his wand as he did so. With a shouted incantation, he hurled two purple bolts at the foulspawn, one striking each of the creatures in the chest and hurling them back a step. They recovered quickly, though, snarling their derision at the elf before coming forward again.

In the main corridor, the destrachan howled again, throwing Erlmoor back while Dulvarna threw her arms over her head to protect her ears. The others were also thrown off balance as they felt the sound sear through their heads like hot knives. Dulvarna glanced back at the others and then slashed her blade low beneath the destrachan’s body and cut across its back legs, drawing another whimper of pain from the creature. Beside Dulvarna, Erlmoor swung his blade clumsily at the creature but it leapt back and avoided the blow. The paladin cursed but as he did, the ringing in his head stopped and he raised his blade to attack the destrachan again, hoping against hope that it would not howl again.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - Halls of Madness (Part 2)

In the western corridor, the grick slithered forward across the slime on the floor and then lunged at Telkya. She leapt back but one of the creature’s tentacles wrapped around her and dragged her toward the beak-like maw. Behind her, Thorn bounded forward but even in wolf form, the druid was still stunned by the howls of the destrachan and could only watch the grick, seeking an opportune time to strike at the creature. Enlishia raised her bow, seeking a clear shot at the grick or the foulspawn but Lavren, Thorn and Telkya blocked her aim.
“We have to fall back,” she called to the others but as she said the words, she realised that Telkya was helpless in the grasp of the grick and she could only hope that Thorn heeded her words.

The foulspawn warriors came on in a fury then, lashing their blades across Lavren’s belly and chest and forcing the elf back and away from his wife. He retreated as Enlishia had bade him with tears in his eyes as he saw Telkya struggling in the tentacles of the grick. He waited for the howling of the destrachan again, fearing that he and his companions were doomed in this place of madness but the howling did not come.

The destrachan leapt at Dulvarna, lashing out with its claws but she leapt back in turn and avoided the viciously sharp weapons. She stabbed her sword at the creature in response, driving the blade into the creature’s shoulder before it could leap away. It staggered and as it did, Erlmoor brought his blade down on the creature’s back. A thunder clap sounded as the sword struck the destrachan and the creature fell forward onto the slimy floor. Erlmoor retreated then and Enlishia stepped forward, finally able to aim at one of her enemies. The ranger let fly one arrow that flew over the prone destrachan and clattered into the wall but her second shaft drove into its side, drawing a screech of pain from the monster. Still it struggled to rise and so Dulvarna moved forward to strike it down. As she did, she saw a panel in the eastern wall of the passage beyond the destrachan slide aside and from it emerged another foulspawn warrior. The battle here was far from over.

In the western corridor, the grick dragged Telkya toward its fiercesome mouth and bit down on her arm. She cried out and Lavren started to go forward to aid her again. Thorn snarled at the elf and then leapt at the grick, seizing one of its tentacles in his jaws, tearing at it until his muzzle was covered in blood. He dropped to the floor then, shaking his head as the ringing in his ears assailed him once more but he had done enough. The grick’s grip loosened and Telkya twisted her body and dropped free of the tentacle that held her. She smiled for a moment but then the foulspawn surged forward, their blades slashing at her from her right. The elf maid raised her sword and parried one high blow but as she did, the sword of the second foulspawn lashed in low and cut her above the kneecap. She cried out again and staggered away from her enemies.

“Follow me,” Lavren cried, reaching out for his wife’s arm but the destrachan’s howl still dazed her and her hand fell limply from his grasp.
The elf retreated anyway but lashed out with his wand, shouting another incantation that hurled a black bolt of power at the nearest of the foulspawn. It flashed past the creature and struck the wall behind it. The foulspawn warriors hissed and snarled at Telkya, who stood as defiantly as she was able, before three enemies. Then the grick and the two warriors surged forward to finish the troublesome elf.

In the main corridor, the destrachan awkwardly climbed to its feet and then lashed out with a claw at Dulvarna as she came forward. The warrior woman raised her arms to protect herself and the creature’s claw lashed across her forearm. She raised her blade to finish the destrachan but at that moment, the third foulspawn leapt at her, driving its blade forward and into her thigh. She gasped and fell back a step and Enlishia’s bow sang behind her. An arrow flew past the destrachan and then a second flew forth, driving into the creature’s throat. It let out a long gasp and then fell dead at Dulvarna’s feet. The warrior woman turned from the lizard-like creature as it quickly began to disintegrate into slime and lashed her blade across at the foulspawn. The warrior brought its blade down and met Aecris with his own sword pointing toward the floor, keeping the enchanted blade at bay. Dulvarna drew her sword back and retreated a step, sizing up her enemy as he raised its own blade to come at her again.

Behind Dulvarna, Erlmoor decided that his friend did not need his aid at the moment and turned away, moving between Enlishia and Lavren to meet the foulspawn in the western passageway. He uttered a prayer as he lashed his blade across and as it began to glow, it clove into the side of one of the warriors. The creature fell to its left against the wall, winded and weakened for a moment but as Erlmoor moved to strike at it again, the other warrior interceded, blocking the dragonborn with parry after parry. Beside the foulspawn, the grick lunged again and lashed a tentacle around Telkya, driving the hook at the end of it into her back. She cried out and Thorn leapt at the creature, trying to prize the tentacle from the elf maid. His teeth and claws tore at the limb but the grick turned and shook the druid wolf free. As Thorn landed on all fours, Telkya twisted in the grick’s grasp and dropped free of its tentacle again but the destrachan’s howl still rang in her head and for a few moments she could only stagger away from the serpentine creature. A foulspawn leapt at her from the right, plunging its sword toward her side and Telkya lowered her blade and parried. Suddenly, the ringing in her head vanished and she backed away from the grick and the foulspawn warriors. The other foulspawn lunged at her and again Telkya parried with her sword while Erlmoor lunged at it. The dragonborn’s sword plunged into the creature’s shoulder and it fell back from the elf and the paladin, wounded and bleeding.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - Halls of Madness (Part 3)

Seeing his wife holding her own at last, Lavren retreated into the main hallway and raised his wand toward the warrior that Dulvarna faught. Shouting out a curse and then a spell, he unleashed a blast of black, eldritch energy at the foulspawn. The bolt seared into the creature’s chest and threw it back a step but it came back with a fierce snarl a moment later, lashing its blade from left to right at Dulvarna. The sword cut into the side of the warrior woman’s thigh and she staggered back and away from the creature. Behind her, Enlishia’s bow sang out again and two arrows clattered off the scaly armour the creature wore and landed on the floor at its feet. The foulspawn stamped on the shafts with a sneer of derision but the distraction was enough for Dulvarna, who lashed her blade across the creature’s belly to cut open a shallow wound there. The warrior growled in response and raised its blade as it came forward once again.
In the western hall, the foulspawn came forward at Erlmoor with renewed ferocity, forcing the dragonborn back, step by step. He countered once, lashing his blade low at the foe before him but the creature met his sword with its own and held him at bay. Refusing to be denied its prey, the grick lunged at Telkya for a third time and lashed a tentacle around her, driving the hook at the end into the middle of her back. She cried out and then fell limp in the creature’s grasp as blood poured down her back. Lavren cried out in grief and Thorn leapt at the creature, tearing at its body but still it held onto the dying elf maid. The foulspawn roared in triumph and surged at Erlmoor, forcing him back another step. He parried a thrust from one but the other drove its blade into his hip and almost took his left leg from under him. The paladin staggered and retreated further while behind him, Lavren looked from Dulvarna to Telkya and back again as indecision seized him.
At last, the warlock made up his mind, deciding that to help Dulvarna was to help Telkya and with furious anger, he loosed another blast of black, eldritch energy at the foulspawn. The creature moved to its right and the bolt flashed past it and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor beyond. The warrior snarled at the elf in derision and then rushed at Dulvarna with its blade before it. It brought the sword up over its head and down toward the warrior woman but Aecris met the blow and turned it aside. Two arrows drove into the foulspawn’s belly as it wrestled blade to blade with Dulvarna and as it staggered from the missiles, the warrior woman threw her enemy back. She lashed her blade across, tearing another wound in the creature’s belly before it could react and the foulspawn fell back another step, bleeding and stunned.
In the western passage, Erlmoor parried high and low with a prayer on his lips before twisting the blade of the warrior before him aside. He plunged his sword forward into the belly of the creature and as it cried out, the sword glowed brightly and healing energy flowed into Erlmoor from it. Lavren and Telkya also glowed for a moment and in the grick’s grasp, Telkya’s eyes flicked open. She began to try and wriggle free but as she did, the creature dragged her closer and bit down on her throat with its beak-like mouth. Blood sprayed forth and Telkya fell limp in the creature’s grasp once more. Thorn growled and leapt at the creature but it lashed out a tentacle and slammed the druid wolf into the wall before he reached its body. The foulspawn roared in triumph again and together they rushed at Erlmoor, each feinting one way and then slashing its blade into the dragonborn’s sides. He gasped and staggered back another step, blood pouring from him, but still he let forth his own roar of defiance, reminding the foulspawn that he was not yet beaten.
Lavren hurled another bolt from his wand that flashed past the foulspawn and as he did, he heard an odd sucking sound from behind him. He looked over his shoulder and saw that a wall of the grey flesh had formed seemingly in an instant across the passage which the companions had followed to the terrible place where they now faught.
“We’re trapped here,” he called to the others as they fought desperately.
“Then we’d best fight our way out,” Enlishia answered as she looked over at the newly-formed fleshy wall.
She raised her bow but as she did, a green vapour began to seep from the grey wall next to her and she stopped to cough as the burning gas entered her lungs. As her coughing subsided, the ranger raised her bow and took aim at the foulspawn before loosing an arrow. The shaft flew wide of the mark and drove into the fleshy wall of the corridor beyond the creature but Enlishia had already nocked another arrow and let fly. The second shaft drove into the creature’s shoulder as Dulvarna another flurry of attacks. The foulspawn staggered back a step and Dulvarna raised her blade over her head and brought it down toward her enemy. At the last, the creature raised its own sword and parried Aecris bare inches from the top of its skull. Its knees bent and it took another step back but still it forced the sword aside.
In the western corridor, Erlmoor followed his roar by rushing at the foulspawn with his blade above his head. He brought it down on the enemy before him, the sword tearing down the side of the creature’s head and severing an ear before smashing into the shoulder of the foulspawn. The creature fell to its knees and Erlmoor swept his blade across and decapitated it where it knelt. Despite the searing vapour that surrounded him and burned his throat, Erlmoor roared and sprayed acid on the remaining foulspawn and the grick, forcing both to shrink back from him.
The grick turned way, dragging Telkya with it and plunging its terrible beak into the elf maid’s belly. Thorn growled and leapt, tearing at the creature’s flank but still it refused to release its prey. Telkya’s blood cascaded to the floor and tears flowed freely down Lavren’s cheeks as he watched his wife die. Angrily, he lashed out with his wand and again a black bolt flashed past the foulspawn that Dulvarna fought, barely aimed by the warlock. The warrior lashed out wildly with his blade, cutting into Dulvarna’s shoulder and slamming her into the flesh wall beside her. Enlishia’s bow sang and two arrows drove one after the other into the foulspawn’s chest. The creature staggered back with the force of the missiles and as it did, Dulvarna pushed herself away from the soft, grey wall. She lashed out high with her blade before the foulspawn could recover and clove through its neck, taking its head from its shoulders. It collapsed beside the destrachan and Dulvarna started down the corridor, seeking another way to aid her friends.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - Halls of Madness (Part 4)

The grick finally threw down Telkya and lashed out a tentacle toward Thorn. The appendage wrapped around the druid wolf and raised him from the ground while the hook at its end, drove painfully into his flank. He growled and twisted in the creature’s grasp while biting and clawing at it but it would not let go of its new prey. The remaining foulspawn sensed victory and with a roar, surged at Erlmoor, feinting left and then slashing its blade in from the right to cleave into the dragonborn’s side. He grunted and fell against the flesh wall beside him as the noxious vapour seared his body from the inside.
Lavren rushed to Erlmoor’s side helping him up from the wall and then lashing out his wand with his left hand. A bolt of black energy lanced out to the foulspawn’s shoulder and threw it back a step but it barely stopped its attacks, coming back a moment later, snarling and hissing. Behind the others, Enlishia realised that she could not aid them with her bow and instead rushed off after Dulvarna, determined to find another way from which to attack the grick and its companion. She passed Dulvarna a little way down the corridor and turned right into another westward leading passage which she felt sure would lead them around behind their enemies. Dulvarna followed but more slowly, binding a strip of cloth around her wounded body as she limped over the slime and into the side passage. The two companions heard the sounds of battle almost at once and knew that they had found the right way.

Erlmoor raised his blade wearily as the foulspawn came at him once again, parrying its attacks with what he knew to be the last of his strength. As he fought, he prayed and then looked down at Telkya with satisfaction as he body glowed with divine light. As Telkya’s eyes flicked open, the dragonborn smiled and then rushed at his enemy, clashing blade on blade two keep the creature away from the wounded elf maid. Dimly, he heard Thorn cry out as the grick tore at him with its beak but he knew he could not help the druid directly. All he could do was to fight until he fell and buy Dulvarna a little more time to come to their aid. With a growl, Thorn dropped to the floor beside Erlmoor and the dragonborn nodded his appreciation of the druid wolf’s efforts before driving his foe back another step. Then Telkya rose beside Erlmoor, lashing her blade out at the foulspawn before ducking past the two combatants to get away from the grick. She uttered a healing prayer with her back against the wall and her blade before her and then she leapt forward to join the paladin in his desperate battle. Erlmoor smiled and roared hin his own triumph then but as he did, his strength finally failed him. The foulspawn drove his blade toward the dragonborn’s chest and Erlmoor’s parry was too slow. He knocked aside the creature’s blade but only drove it downward into his belly. He felt searing pain as the blade pierced his flesh and dimly, knew that his sword had fallen from his spent grasp. He staggered back from his enemy, fell into the wall and then collapsed at Lavren’s feet as blackness took him.

Lavren cried out as Erlmoor fell, lashing out with his wand and hurling a bolt of black energy into the chest of the foulspawn. It staggered back and from somewhere behind it, a bow sang out. An arrow thudded into the creature’s chest and it lurched forward. Another arrow flashed past its head and drove into the flesh wall next to Telkya and a guttural cry that the companions knew could only be Dulvarna erupted behind the grick. Blood sprayed from the creature’s back as Dulvarna lashed her blade into the monster’s body and Thorn, Telkya and Lavren felt their spirits soar.

Desperately, the grick lashed a tentacle around Thorn again and dragged him toward it. The druid wolf clawed and bit at the appendage, tearing at the flesh of the creature and slowly loosening its grip. Behind him, Telkya rushed at the foulspawn and plunged her blade into its side with a prayer on her lips. She reached out the amulet in her left hand toward Erlmoor and a burst of divine light reached out to touch the dragonborn. His eyes flicked open and more divine light bathed him, healing his wounds and restoring his strength. The foulspawn, realising its peril, turned on Telkya fiercely, lashing out left and right with his sword only to find an apparently delicate elven blade blocking each huge blow. A moment later, a bolt of black light seared into the creature’s side and its sword fell from suddenly lifeless hands. The foulspawn let out one last hiss and then collapsed beside its companion.
Dulvarna rushed at the grick, lashing her blade into its back and with a roar, Erlmoor rose before it and drove his own sword into the front of its snake-like body. Still it bit at Thorn with a ferocious appetite, tearing at the wolf druid’s flank with its beak mouth. Thorn’s strength began to face though he still clawed and bit at the creature but Telkya came to his aid as he had come to hers. She raised her amulet and loosed a bolt of light into the grick’s head, driving it back and loosening its grip on Thorn. Its serpentine body weaved unsteadily and then a bolt of black energy tore into it and it fell forward onto the slimy floor.
“The hidden door back in the corridor offers a way out,” Enlishia called to the others having seen the door that the foulspawn had used as she ran to catch up with Dulvarna.

Enlishia turned away from her slain enemies and rushed back to the main hallway. She crossed into a short corridor beyond the hidden door that the foulspawn had used and began to run her fingers along the far wall seeking a trigger for the second hidden door that she knew had to be there. She found the trigger within a few heartbeats and pushed the stone stud that caused the far wall of the passage to slide open. Dulvarna rushed into the passageway a few moments later and the two companions paused, waiting for the others to follow.
“I thank you for saving me,” said Erlmoor to Telkya before starting after the others but no sooner had he rounded the corner into the main passage than Thorn and Lavren began coughing again. An instant later, both collapsed on the floor of the western passageway.

Telkya knelt beside Thorn and uttered a healing prayer that mended some of the damage to the druid’s seared lungs and as he woke, she moved to tend to Lavren, despite the burning in her own throat and chest. Thorn shifted into his human form and rose, looking down at the husband and wife with real concern. His face had half-shifted into the sharpened features that betrayed this werewolf ancestry but still he regarded his new friends with a worried look.
“Go after them,” Telkya said. “We will come after you.”

Thorn did as he was bade and behind him, Telkya uttered another healing prayer. Thorn reached the hidden side passage and stepped inside, waiting for the two elves to follow. They came after what had seemed like a few minutes but was in fact barely a few seconds. As Telkya entered the passageway, she pressed a stud protruding from the wall and the stone slid back into place, sealing out the noxious vapours beyond. Thorn smiled at the two elves and together, the three companions went to join the others.

Next......Howls From Beyond