Medriev's FR Pyramid of Shadows - Concluded Nov 1

[Medriev]

Chapter 11 - Through Dark Waters (Part 2)

The companions decided to go north again from the pit chamber so as to keep moving away from the arboreans and their servants. A long passage led north from the room toward double doors at its far end but before it reached the doors, a passage branched off to the right and double doors opened on the left. After a moment’s indecision, Dulvarna turned aside into the right hand passage.

“We shall not take a chance on leaving enemies behind us,” Dulvarna said as she started down the side passage and the others nodded their agreement.
The passage ended after perhaps twenty feet at a staircase that descended before the companions. As Dulvarna descended the stairs, she saw that they disappeared into murky water that covered the floor of an oddly covered chamber that opened up before her. Three other stairways led out of the chamber and a platform floated atop the water on the eastern side of the chamber. A heavy door stood in the wall beside the platform and two hulking, reptilian creatures rose from the water near the middle of the room. Around them, three smaller figures swam and as Dulvarna reached the bottom of the stairway, they turned toward her and hissed.

Dulvarna raised her blade high and then waded out into the water to her left, ready to meet the blackscaled creatures in the middle of the pool. Enlishia waded into the pool behind her with her bow above the water level which came to just higher than her waist.
“Lizard folk,” she called to the others. “Fierce fighters and used to water.”
“They haven’t seen me fight yet,” Thorn called back from the steps as he came forward.

Enlishia nocked an arrow to her bow and loosed it at a greenscale lizardfolk near the north wall. The shaft drove into the creature’s shoulder and the first splashed of red blood stained the water. She loosed a second arrow but this time, the water rippled around her and threw off her aim, the arrow clattering into the wall behind the creature. The shaft splashed into the water close to her enemy and the ranger cursed that she would not be able to recover the shaft. Since entering the pyramid, she had recovered all of her spent arrows to keep her quiver full and every one lost was a blow to her.

Telkya leapt into the water next to Enlishia and loosed a bolt of golden light toward the nearest of the black-scaled creatures only for the divine fire to hiss into the water to the right of the lizardfolk warrior. It hissed its derision but a moment later, Lavren jumped into the water at the base of the steps and loosed a black bolt of energy that seared into the blackscale. The creature reared back, roaring its anger and pain at the warlock.

The lizardfolk came forward then, the greenscale to the north leading the attack despite the arrow that still protruded from its shoulder. It rushed at Dulvarna as though the water was no obstacle and stabbed out at her with its spear. She twisted to face it and slashed down with her sword to drive the greenscale’s spear into the water to her left. One of the huge blackscales came next, rushing forward and swinging a massive spiked club at Dulvarna. The warrior woman ducked under the blow and then leapt back to try to stay beyond the creature’s reach.

Thorn leapt into the water next, wading straight toward the nearest of the blackscales. He halted a little way into the pool and raised his totem stick in his left hand. He waved it before him while uttering garbled phrases in a low mutter. The incantation reached its conclusion and a howling gust of icy wind swept around the centre of the pool between the two blackscales. The one before Dulvarna leapt away but the other creature roared in pain as the terrible wind savaged it.

The greenscale in the far northwest corner seemed to hiss at the druid then before swimming forward to stand just behind the two blackscales. The creature raised its left hand and began chanting its own incantation. Suddenly, the water around the companions began to grown darker and thick, cloying mud took hold of their feet. Dulvarna leapt free of the sticky mud but the others, apart from Erlmoor who had not yet entered the water, were stuck fast.

The second blackscale surged at Dulvarna a moment later, lashing out with its club as its companion had, only for the warrior woman to duck again and avoid the blow. Erlmoor rushed into the water to meet this second blackscale, roaring as he did so. As he reached the creature, he roared again and this time, spat acid from his throat, the dark liquid searing the skin of the nearest blackscale and the greenscale shaman behind it.

Dulvarna retreated beyond the reach of the huge blackscale’s club and then lashed out to her left, slashing her blade into the hip of the greenscale next to her. The creature reeled back, more blood staining the water around it. Enlishia loosed an arrow into the blackscale to try to keep it from advancing and then fired again but her second shaft flew wide of the creature and clattered into the far wall of the chamber. Telkya loosed a golden bolt of light into the same blackscale and then Lavren loosed a crackling black bolt into the chest of the other dark coloured lizard creature. Both reeled back but recovered quickly, surging through the water at the companions.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 11 - Through Dark Waters (Part 3)

At the same time, the greenscale next to Dulvarna thrust its spear forward, driving its point into her thigh below the water. She fell back and it stabbed at her again but this time, she lashed her sword across and knocked the thrust aside. The blackscale’s club swept across at her next, striking her right shoulder hard and spinning her away from the greenscale toward Enlishia and Telkya. Then, suddenly, the water around the southern steps frothed and churned and Thorn was sucked under the water. The druid burst from the water a moment later right in front of the nearest blackscale and next to Erlmoor. Thorn rushed at the blackscale and as he did, his features warped and changed into those of a large, black bear. The bear that was Thorn rushed at the lizard creature and tore at its leg with its claws before spinning away and splashing down into the blood-stained water.

The lizard folk reeled back apparently as stunned as the companions were by the druid’s transformation. The shaman eventually reacted first, circling around behind the blackscales and the greenscale that Dulvarna had wounded to stand near the northwest corner of the room. It raised its left hand again and uttered an incantation that brought forth a cloud of noxious fumes from the dark water of the chamber. Telkya and Enlishia were engulfed and as their lungs burned they staggered and bent over, coughing painfully.

As Thorn the bear resurfaced beside the blackscale, the lizard creature turned toward the druid and lashed out with its club. The huge, spiked weapon struck only the water with a splash as the bear reeled back out of reach. Erlmoor started forward to take advantage of the distraction that Thorn was providing but as he did so, the water around the southern stairs frothed and surged again, sucking the dragonborn toward it. He resisted the pull of the water with all his strength and then leapt away to the blackscale’s right. As he did, he lashed his sword out to his right and drove it into the side of the lizard creature sending it staggering away from him. The blackscale turned and the second greenscale rushed around to its left to tackle Thorn’s bear form. It stabbed its spear into the bear once and then a second time, red blood staining the water around Thorn. The bear’s only response was a roar of anger and the greenscale stepped back before the wrath of the druid’s beast form.

Dulvarna surged forward at the greenscale and the blackscale, feinting at the smaller creature and then driving her blade into the belly of the blackscale. It roared in pain and staggered backward away from the fierce warrior woman. Behind Dulvarna, Enlishia recovered enough from the fumes to raise her bow and momentarily considered wreaking revenge on the shaman before instead, taking aim at the blackscale that Erlmoor fought. She raised her bow and loosed one and then a second arrow, both of which drove into the creature’s chest just below its left shoulder. The creature staggered back again and as it did, first a golden bolt from Telkya’s amulet and then a black bolt from Lavren’s wand struck its chest. The creature reeled back another two steps and then fell backwards into the water amidst a growing stain of its own blood.

The lizardfolk roared their defiance and surged forward as one then, the greenscale stabbing its spear into Dulvarna’s side and then into her hip and sending her staggering away from it. The remaining blackscale swung its club across before the warrior woman had chance to recover and slammed her back toward Enlishia. A moment later, the water surged around the southern stairway again and Thorn’s bear form was sucked beneath the surface. The druid reappeared in human form close to another stairway in the southern wall of the south-eastern part of the chamber. He started toward the nearest of the greenscales, raising his totem as he came. He uttered an incantation and again called forth the chill wind to assail the lizardfolk. This time, though, the greenscale nearest to the wind, dived under the water and avoided its biting cold. Then Thorn saw the shaman circling around the other greenscale and the blackscale before diving under the water to swim towards him. In that moment, he knew that he would fight a battle to the death with the magic-wielding lizard creature.

Erlmoor rushed at the remaining blackscale while raising his voice in prayer. His blade glowed brightly as he swung it at the lizard creature and it drove into the blackscale’s side, cutting a deep wound. The creature roared and reeled away from the paladin but as it did, the greenscale that had attacked Thorn rushed in from the dragonborn’s right. It drove its spear into his right thigh before he had chance to react and then stabbed again but this time, the paladin met the shaft with his blade, knocking it aside. Erlmoor turned back toward the blackscale and retreated but as he did, Dulvarna surged forward behind him and plunged her blade into the belly of the blackscale. It gasped, staggered back a step and then fell back into the water with a splash.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 11 - Through Dark Waters (Part 4)

Finally fully recovered from the fumes, Enlishia raised her bow and loosed one arrow and then a second toward the greenscale that had wounded Dulvarna. Both arrows drove into the creature’s right side and sent it staggering back from the warrior woman. Telkya and Lavren both turned their attentions to the other greenscale, golden and black bolts striking the creature in the chest and driving it away from Erlmoor. The greenscale before Dulvarna smashed the butt of its spear into the side of the warrior woman’s head and then drove its point into her shoulder. She staggered back and away, her strength fading quickly.

In the southern part of the chamber, Thorn took on his bear form once more and surged at the shaman with a fierce roar. A rage took him over then and his claws grew longer as he lashed out at the lizard creature, striking its shoulder and spinning into the wall next to it. The shaman retreated along the wall and again called fumes from the water to engulf Thorn but in his bear form, he barely noticed the noxious gas. He surged forward again with a roar and the shaman retreated before him.

Erlmoor heard the bear’s roar and acknowledged it with one of his own before surging at the greenscale with a prayer on his lips. His blade glowed brightly and struck the creature’s side with a thunder clap that threw the greenscale off its feet and down into the water. There the creature flailed for a moment, its blood pooling around it but then it jabbed its spear towards Erlmoor’s legs. The dragonborn leapt back and the lizard creature rose from the water, driving its spear forward into the paladin’s right shoulder.

Behind Erlmoor, Dulvarna retreated from her enemy, trying desperately to get her breath back. As she did, Enlishia took her chance, and loosed two more arrows into the lizard creature. It snarled its defiance and came forward after Dulvarna anyway. It had barely taken a step when a bolt of golden light from Telkya’s amulet struck it in the chest and a moment later, a black bolt from Lavren’s wand followed. The creature stopped and staggered but then roared and lunged at Dulvarna. The warrior woman had recovered enough of her strength by then to react quickly and he blade swept left and right to knock aside the greenscale’s spear thrusts. It roared again, realising that it was doomed, and then dived forward for one last attack.

Thorn rushed at the shaman again, lashing out with his claws and slamming the lizard creature into the wall again. The creature staggered back, holding a spear in its right hand to protect itself, and then it dived to its left. There was a rush of water and the shaman vanished underwater and for a moment, he thought that the creature had escaped him. Only then did he see a dark shadow beneath the surface a few feet away from him and apparently across the entrance of what he knew from bitter experience, must be one of the pipes that dotted the chamber. With a roar, he started toward the battle that his companions faught but then suddenly turned aside toward the hidden shaman.

Erlmoor roared and rushed at the greenscale before him, lashing his blade out and striking the creature’s shoulder, spinning it away to its left. The greenscale stabbed at him and he parried down and to his right but then the creature thrust its spear forward again and drove it into the dragonborn’s right leg. He staggered but did not fall and as he glanced back to see how Dulvarna fared, the warrior woman swept her blade up high and drove it into the side of the greenscale she faced, just below the creature’s armpit. It hissed its last breath and then collapsed sideways into the water. An arrow drove into the last greenscale as Erlmoor turned back to face it and then a golden bolt followed by a black, crackling bolt struck the creature. It looked down at its seared and wounded chest for a moment and then fell over backwards into the water.

The shaman realised that it had been found as Thorn shifted back from bear from into his not-dissimilar human shape. The druid raised his totem stick and uttered an incantation just as the lizard creature broke the surface to breathe. A chill whirlwind engulfed it then, bitter cold tearing at its head and forcing it to break the surface of the water fully. The shaman raised its left hand to respond with an evocation of its own but as it did, the water surged around it and sucked it under for a few moments. It surfaced in the same place and, realising its mistake, it swam away toward the northern steps. Only then did it turn and call forth the now familiar noxious fumes from the water around Thorn. The druid held his breath and ignored the burning in his eyes while staring defiantly at the shaman. It retreated another step towards the northern stairway but it was already too late for it.

Erlmoor waded through the water as quickly as he could and managed to reach the northern steps ahead of the shaman. Behind him came Dulvarna with her sword and Enlishia with her bow raised and an arrow nocked. The ranger let fly and the arrow drove into the greenscale’s chest. A second arrow followed a moment later, this one driving into the creature’s side. The shaman staggered, hissing its pain and anger but as it did, Telkya uttered a prayer to Corellon. A golden bolt of light seared out from the elf-maid’s amulet and tore into the greenscale’s side before bursting out of its chest. With a final gasp, it collapsed into the water.

Next......A Measure of Revenge

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 12 - A Measure of Revenge (Part 1)

After hearing from Thorn that the southern ways out of the chamber were blocked by water pipes, the companions decided the take the northern stairway out of the chamber. They rested for a moment on the steps and tended to their wounds before continuing on their way and as they did, some voiced questions that all had in their minds after Thorn’s display in battle.

“I had heard rumours that druids could change shape,” Erlmoor rumbled as the companions gathered up their belongings to move on. “But I had never seen it. Truly you are a fierce warrior in battle.”
“My beast from grants power but my bloodline gives more power still,” answered Thorn. “My line is descended from werewolves and it is this that grants me a fury in battle when I am wounded.”
“And does it ever possess you?” Enlishia asked. “As the wolf form possesses those cursed with it.”
“I always have control over my actions,” Thorn answered as he picked up his scythe from where it rested against the stairway wall. “But the battle fury is fierce in me as it is in all warriors.”
The druid started up the stairs and the others followed him, more puzzled now by their new companion, than they had been before.

At the top of the stairs, double doors opened into an L-shaped room that bent around to the right and ended at another set of doors. Dulvarna and Erlmoor led the group forward to this next set of doors and as they reached them, they held their weapons against their shoulders in a now familiar routine and each reached for an iron ring handle. They pulled open the doors together and revealed a great hall with five massive pillars lining its walls. Three heavy double doors led out, as well as two narrow passages but one set of double doors was almost entirely hidden behind a pile of rubble and debris. Several figures stood arrayed around the hall, steeling themselves for battle and a few moments after the companions had opened the doors, the centre set of double doors opened. An impressive looking dragonborn in a mail coat and with a large sword in his right hand stood framed in the doorway.
“So we have visitors,” he sneered.

Telkya moved past her companions and went into the chamber ahead of them, moving right to stand next to one of the pillars. She raised her amulet in her left hand and her sword in the other and uttered a prayer that loosed a bolt of golden fire into the chest of the nearest man. It seared through his ribs, and burst out of his back. The man’s mouth opened agape and he fell back onto the stone floor, dead. Dulvarna rushed at the man nearest her as he fumbled with the club in his hand. Her sword swept out high, clove through his neck and his head rolled to the floor. His body followed a moment later.

Erlmoor followed Telkya and Dulvarna into the chamber, rushing at the last of the three men who stood near the door. His blade swept out from right to left and clove into the man’s side before driving through his body and bursting out in a shower of blood on the other side. The man’s body fell to the floor of the chamber in two halves both of which were rapidly surrounded by pools of blood and gore.
“An impressive start, but no one has yet defeated Gharesh Vren,” the dragonborn snarled.

With that, he charged at Dulvarna and as he reached her, he roared, spewing lightning from his mouth. Dulvarna turned away but Erlmoor was struck in the side and sent reeling away towards Telkya. Vren lashed out with his sword then, slashing it high towards Dulvarna’s throat as she recovered from evading his breath weapon. She brought her blade up at the last moment and parried the blade over her head. Behind Dulvarna, Enlishia rushed into the chamber and stopped in front of the pillar that Telkya stood next to. She raised her bow, aimed and loosed an arrow that flew straight and true to drive into the shoulder of the dragonborn. It reeled back and staggered and as it did, it inadvertently avoided the second arrow that the ranger had loosed, which flew past its right shoulder. Then, a low growl came from the corridor from which the companions had emerged and Enlishia knew that Thorn was coming for the bandit that he hunted.

Thorn burst from the side corridor as a black wolf the size of a small pony and rushed at Vren in a fury of teeth and claws. He leapt as he reached the bandit and seized its left arm in his jaws, tearing at the flesh and refusing to let go. Lavren emerged from the side corridor behind the druid and moved to stand beside Erlmoor. He turned, raised his wand, and then cursed the bandit in elven. Black, crackling energy burst forth from his wand and seared into the dragonborn’s left side as he tried desperately to shake himself free of Thorn. The dragonborn lurched and staggered and finally, the druid in wolf form fell free of his enemy’s arm and the bandit raised his blade again.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 12 - A Measure of Revenge (Part 2)

Telkya moved to stand beside her husband, uttering a prayer as she came. Golden light lanced forth from her amulet and struck the dragonborn in his left side driving him back another step away from Dulvarna and Thorn. Dulvarna surged forward after the dragonborn and lashed her blade into the side of his left leg. He limped back a step but then raised his blade again and as he did so, the door to the north behind him opened as did another somewhere else in the wide hall.
“You should have finished me while you had the chance,” the dragonborn sneered. “My allies are coming.”

A man appeared to the right of the companions with a club in his hand but Erlmoor paid him no mind and rushed at the bandit. He chanted a prayer as he charged and as his blade glowed brightly, he swung it out from right to left and drove it into the side of the blue-skinned dragonborn. Again the bandit staggered and lurched back but this time, his armour seemed to glow and as it did, it mended itself. Vren smiled at the paladin and then raised his blade above his head to bring it down on Dulvarna. The warrior woman brought her own blade up and met the dragonborn’s sword, holding it just above her head. The bandit snarled at her and then reeled away.
“To me, men!” he called out. “Your leader still stands and fights here. Rally to me!”

From the northern door came a man with a crossbow in his hands and a club on his belt. He rushed to the nearest pillar and took cover there while loading his weapon. Another man with a club circled around to the north and moved to aid his dragonborn leader. Enlishia saw his approach and circled around to the right to stand just in front and to the side of Telkya. She raised her bow and loosed one arrow toward Vren that flew wide and struck the wall but then she turned her bow on the newcomer. She aimed and loosed an arrow toward the man with the club, the shaft driving through the man’s throat. He staggered back, reached up toward the shaft that had pierced him and then fell dead to the stone floor.

Thorn leapt at the dragonborn but the bandit leader seemed to have regained much of his strength. He leapt to one side and the druid in wolf form landed clumsily next to him. Another man emerged from the northern room a moment later with a bolt already loaded in the crossbow he carried. He raised the weapon, aimed and let fly, the bolt driving into Erlmoor’s right arm. The dragonborn roared in pain and turned his gaze to regard this new threat. Lavren loosed a bolt of black energy at Vren but this, too, flew wide of the mark and the dragonborn snarled his derision at the efforts of the companions. More club-wielding men came from the north and from the east and for the first time in the battle, all the companions feared that it was turning against them.

Telkya turned her attention to the newcomers in the chamber and raised her voice in prayer to call down a column of light to burn the nearest crossbowman. The light descended from the ceiling of the chamber and engulfed the man, searing his skin and sending him reeling back behind the pillar with his companion. Dulvarna surged forward at the same time, her blade dancing back and forth before her. She lunged forward to strike at the dragonborn’s hip but at the last moment, he lashed his sword across and drove hers aside. To the left, a man with a club rushed at Erlmoor but the paladin was ready and leapt back, slashing his blade across where he had been standing to meet the clumsy swing. He lashed out with his blade to cut the man down but with surprising skill, the bandit leapt back and parried with his club. Erlmoor snarled his own derision then but then Vren came forward once more.

The bandit leader came at Dulvarna with a furious assault but the warrior woman met each blow with her own blade and held the dragonborn at bay. One of the crossbowmen moved from the pillar to the north to another further east and then fired his weapon, the bold driving into Lavren’s thigh. The elf cried out and staggered back and as he did, a man with a club rushed at Enlishia from the right. The ranger retreated, raised her bow and loosed an arrow that drove into the man’s chest, piercing his heart. He fell back and collapsed onto the stone floor, his blood pooling around him. Enlishia raised her bow again and loosed another arrow, this shaft driving into the side of the head of another of the club-wielding bandits. He too, collapsed to the stone floor, dead beside his companions.

To Enlishia’s left, Thorn retreated from the battle, his wolf form rising to its back legs and then shifting until the druid stood where the wolf had, scythe and totem stick in hand. He raised the totem stick high above his head and uttered an incantation. As he did, thunder seemed to roll from just behind Gharesh Vren and the bandits that now faught beside him. The thunder boomed and as it did, lightning lanced out toward the bandits. Two of the club wielders were struck and hurled across the floor to lie unmoving amogst their companions. Vren and one of the crossbowmen leapt back as the lightning lanced out and avoided the terrible wrath of nature. The crossbowman let loose his weapon a moment later, the bolt nicking Erlmoor’s cheek and momentarily dazing him. He took a step back and as he did, a bolt of black energy seared across in front of him and struck the side of the bandit leader. As Vren reeled and staggered, Telkya came forward and loosed a golden bolt of light that flew past the dragonborn and struck the wall next to him. He roared his defiance and then Dulvarna rushed at him.

The warrior woman came in at the bandit leader with renewed fury, her blade darting left and right and for each parry that the dragonborn managed, another blow crept through. Dulvarna’s blade slashed into the bandit’s right hip and his left thigh while nicking his flesh in several other places to leave him bleeding and weakened once more. Erlmoor rushed at Vren next, feinting to the left and then bringing his sword in low from the right to drive into the dragonborn’s shoulder. As the bandit leader spun away, the paladin spun on the spot himself and slashed his blade into his enemy’s side. Vren roared and lashed out wildly with his own sword but Dulvarna met it with her sword, bare inches from her face, and then forced the dragonborn away. From somewhere a crossbow clicked and Lavren cried out again as a bolt drove into his hip. Enlishia’s bow sang and two arrows flew past Vren to clatter into the wall but beyond it all, Thorn’s voice was raised in another incantation. A chill, icy wind rose up around the dragonborn and Gharesh Vren staggered to his right. The wind gusted again, slamming him into the wall and he fell to the stone floor, his head trailing blood down the wall.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 12 - A Measure of Revenge (Part 3)

Another crossbow clicked and a bolt flew out to drive into the top of Erlmoor’s chest. The dragonborn gasped and reeled backwards, dazed and wounded. Lavren picked out the man who had fired the bolt and raised his wand, loosing a bolt of black energy toward the man that struck the pillar next to him. Telkya rushed at the man, slashing her blade at his head but he ducked and the sword struck the stone of the pillar as Lavren’s spell had done. Dulvarna rushed at the man in a fury, her sword plunging forward and driving into his shoulder. He fell back, throwing down his crossbow and fumbling for the club at his belt. Only then did the others hear Erlmoor’s voice raised in prayer. Dulvarna and Telkya both looked back at the dragonborn as he held his blade before him and down the blade flowed ribbons of light. They burst from the tip of the sword and seared into the crossbowman, tearing open his chest and bursting forth from his back. He crumpled to the floor of the chamber and died as his companions had.

There was a burst of sudden movement from behind the pillar to the east as the last of the bandits seemed to be fleeing. He rushed to the eastern set of double doors and pounded on them with his fist. Then the man began moving the rubble in front of the door frantically as though desperately trying to clear the floor before the doors.
“We have to stop him,” Enlishia said at once, raising her bow and firing at the man.

An arrow and then a second drove into the man’s back but still he kept working frantically. Then, a moment later, something slammed against the double doors and they fell outwards over the rouble, snapping in two as they did so. Onto the top of the sundered doors, leapt a huge, grey wolf creature that crouched on all fours but seemed otherwise man-like in shape. It turned to the right to the man who had freed it and snapped at his arm, tearing at the limb and dragging him toward it.
“Ignore the man,” Thorn called as he rushed forward. “The werewolf is a far greater threat.”

The druid raised his totem stick and uttered an incantation before raising the implement before him. A white blast of icy air shot out from the end of the stick and struck the werewolf in the chest but the beast paid the blow no mind. Lavren moved past the druid and loosed a black bolt from his wand that also struck the werewolf but still it concentrated its fury on the bandit that had freed it.

Telkya came forward next, calling forth a searing beam of light from her amulet that flashed past the werewolf and into the chamber behind it. Erlmoor and Dulvarna came forward with their blades raised but both held back, wondering how the battle with the crossbowman would end. Both paused to get their breath back while the werewolf faught the man that had released it. The crossbowman, meanwhile, retreated and then turned and fled toward the southern door beside Lavren. The elf lashed out wish his sword, cutting a wound across the man’s back but still he fled into the chamber beyond the door to the south and the werewolf began sniffing the air, seeking another victim.

Enlishia moved forward to stand beside Erlmoor and loosed one arrow and then a second into the fierce creature but still it seemed not to heed the wounds. Instead, it snarled and leapt across the chamber lunge at Lavren. Its teeth seized the elf’s right arm and dragged him toward it until he shook his arm free, tearing open a deep wound in the limb as he did so. Thorn called forth an icy wind behind the creature but it leapt at Lavren again and avoided the blast of frosty air. Lavren leapt back into the passageway that the crossbowman had fled down and loosed a blast of black energy from his wand wildly. It flew over the head of the werewolf and the creature paused, sniffing at the air as though deciding whether to pursue the warlock. Telkya loosed a bolt of golden light from her amulet that also flew over the head of the werewolf and it turned its head toward her for a moment before turning back towards Lavren and letting out a low growl.

Dulvarna charged at the creature then, raising her sword above her head and bringing it down on the werewolf’s back. It roared in pain and turned around to face the warrior woman. Erlmoor charged in behind Dulvarna, chanting a prayer as he came and thrusting his blade forward. It drove into the creature’s side with a thunder clap and the werewolf was thrown to its right to land on its side on the floor. To the south, the fleeing crossbowman opened another set of doors and slammed them shut behind him and was gone from the battle but still the werewolf faught on, struggling to get back to its feet.

Enlishia circled around to the double doors from which the werewolf and loosed two arrows at close range into its struggling form. Still it rolled to its feet and lashed out with its claws at Dulvarna and Erlmoor. The warrior woman ducked under the flailing limb of the werewolf but Erlmoor was struck in the side and sent reeling into his companion. Behind the others, Thorn shifted form again into a black wolf and leapt forward to meet the werewolf. He bounded at the creature but it leapt back out of the way and the druid’s wolf form landed beside the were wolf. As Thorn landed, Lavren loosed a bolt of black energy over him that seared into the werewolf’s side but still it focused its rage on Dulvarna and Erlmoor.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 12 - A Measure of Revenge (Part 4)

Telkya circled around to the left to stand beside Dulvarna and from there, she loosed a golden bolt of light into the werewolf’s arm. Still the creature paid no mind to any of the companions other than Dulvarna and Erlmoor. Dulvarna danced in at the creature but as she lashed out with her blade in a mighty swing, the werewolf reared back out of her reached. As it came down onto all fours again, Erlmoor charged in and with a huge overhead blow, drove a deep wound into the beast’s back. It roared and turned toward him but as it did, Enlishia loosed an arrow from where she stood next to the rubble pile and the shaft drove into the werewolf’s side. The arrow splintered as it pierced the creature’s body and the roared again in pain. It lashed out with both its claws and swatted both Erlmoor and Dulvarna away, sending them reeling. As the two companions staggered away, the werewolf raised its muzzle to the ceiling and let out a mournful howl. Then Thorn in his own wolf form leapt at the beast and it turned its attention back to the battle.

Lavren cursed at the creature from the southern passage and called forth invisible spectral beasts that snapped at the werewolf from behind with vicious, snapping jaws. Again the beast roared as more and more wounds were inflicted upon it. Telkya loosed another bolt of golden light into the creature and then Dulvarna and Erlmoor charged at it again. Dulvarna drove her blade into the beast’s side and for the first time it reeled unsteadily. Erlmoor drove his own blade into the creature’s left side and as he did, a burst of white light erupted from his sword. New strength flowed through him and Lavren but still the werewolf sensed that the dragonborn was wounded and rushed at him. It snapped out with its jaws but the paladin leapt back beyond its reach and as he did, two arrows drove into the beast’s right shoulder form Enlishia’s bow. It reared, snarled and then danced to the right as Thorn rushed in and snapped at the beat with his own canine jaws. The two beasts faced each other for a moment and seemed to share a sadness but then a black bolt from Lavren’s wand seared into the werewolf’s side and the moment was gone.

Telkya hurled another bolt of light into the creature from its right and then Dulvarna and Erlmoor charged at the creature, their blades slashing into its flesh. The werewolf snapped out at both but they leapt back beyond its reach only for it to leap at Erlmoor and seize his arm in its jaws. The creature shook the dragonborn to the left and then let go, hurling him into Thorn’s wolf form as it crouched next to the paladin. Enlishia raised her bow and fired one arrow after another, both clattering into the wall beyond the werewolf. Thorn leapt at the creature seized its left foreleg in his wolf jaws for a moment only for the savage creature to lash out with the limb and throw him aside. He rolled over on his back and the werewolf lunged forward, tearing at his legs with its own jaws. Only when a bolt of black energy struck the werewolf did it let go of the druid’s wolf form and then the creature snarled in wrath. It cast about left and right, desperately seeking some way to defeat the enemies that were killing it.

A bolt of golden light from Telkya’s amulet struck the creature next and sent it reeling to its left. As it staggered, Dulvarna and Erlmoor rushed at it again, their blades singing out and cleaving into the flesh of the werewolf. Enlishia loosed more arrows, one driving into the werewolf’s shoulder and another flying past its head. It turned and roared, rushing at Erlmoor but the dragonborn leapt back beyond its reach. Thorn came in at it from the opposite side, his wolf teeth seizing its left back leg and digging in. The creature snarled and turned to face this new threat but before it could bite at him, the druid danced back out of its reach. A bolt of black energy from Lavren’s wand flashed past the beast’s head and it staggered as its many wounds weakened it. Then, Dulvarna and Erlmoor charged in at the creature in one, final onslaught.

The warrior woman and the dragonborn drove their blades into the werewolf’s right side and though it turned to bite at them, it was slowing now and they leapt quickly back beyond its reach. The creature snarled at them but as it did, Enlishia’s bow sang out and an arrow drove into the beast’s throat. It gasped and let out a whimper just as a second shaft followed the first and buried itself in the werewolf’s neck. The creature reeled, staggered and then fell to the floor, dead.

Next.....The Inner Chambers

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 13 - The Inner Chambers (Part 1)

“We have to chase down the bandit who escaped lest he bring more enemies down upon us,” said Thorn as the companions tended to their wounds and he began cutting off the head of the dragonborn bandit, determined to provide that the man had been slain as he had promised.
“Agreed,” rumbled Erlmoor. “There may be more bandits lurking beyond these rooms and if we rest here, they could come upon us unawares.”
“You are both right, though I mislike going after a fleeing enemy when we are wounded,” Dulvarna said. “Still, we have little choice.”
“Well I for one think that we can defend this place,” Telkya said, as she examined the fine suit of mail that Gharash Vren wore. “We need rest and should take it.”

“Agreed,” Lavren spoke up unsurprisingly as he started to remove the mail coat from the fallen dragonborn bandit. “We rest here and go on when our strength has returned.”
“Without wishing to deadlock us, I have to agree with Lavren and Telkya,” Enlishia said. “I am unwounded but the rest of you are, especially you, Erlmoor. We should not risk defeat by going into battle at less than our full strength.”
“Very well then,” Dulvarna said finally. “We will not argue over this. We rest here and go on as soon as we are able but we set watches out here and secure ourselves in the two western rooms.”

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 13 - The Inner Chambers (Part 2)

They rested for what they guessed was the remainder of the day with Lavren and Erlmoor sleeping poorly, their rest disturbed by dreams and fever. Despite this, the companions had no choice but to head south when they woke and so they entered the southern chamber warily. The double doors in the south wall of the chamber opened onto a short hallway that opened out into a wide hall that held four statues. The carvings depicted armoured heroes, standing in poses that suggested their prowess but as the companions entered the hall, they began chanting, such as might be heard as part of a divine ritual or a prayer service.
“We go through here as quickly as we can,” said Dulvarna.

She crossed the room and opened double doors in the south wall to reveal another short hallway that opened into another wide hall. Behind her, the others hesitated and Lavren, thinking the statues harmless, moved over to one that stood against the south wall.
“My servant is held by devils in my chapel,” the statue said, interrupting its chant. “Free her!”

Lavren leapt back in surprise and then rushed after Dulvarna. As he rushed down the southern hallway, he called out to the warrior woman.
“One of the statues spoke of its servant being held by devils in a chapel,” he called out. “We have to free her!”
“They chant an ode of praise to Torm, Ilmater and Bahamut,” Erlmoor called out as he started after the others. “Any who serves them is worthy of rescue.”

He rushed past Dulvarna into the southern hallway and saw a passageway leading east from the room.
“There!” he called. “The chapel must lie that way.”

Enlishia, Telkya and Thorn joined the others in the southern hall and together, they made their way warily to the east. The passage passed by a southern passageway and had double doors in the north wall before it ended abruptly in a stone wall to the east.
“There are doors here,” Dulvarna called out as she rushed toward the northern double doors. “Make ready!”

She pulled open the doors as Lavren reached her side and sure enough, revealed a chapel with two plain benches set across the room in front of the two companions, before a plain altar adorned with candles. A palpable air of divine power radiated from the room and before the altar knelt a young woman with long, auburn hair. She wheeled in surprise as the doors opened, her eyes wide with fear. At the same time, the Head of Vyrellis whispered to Lavren from the pouch at his belt.
“It’s here, somewhere,” the elven princess said quietly. “I can feel it.”

Erlmoor and Enlishia moved past Dulvarna and Lavren into the chapel, moving left and right, respectively along the outside of the two benches. Thorn and Telkya followed, each warily holding weapons and implements at the ready lest the woman prove to be a threat.
“Help me,” the woman pleased suddenly, rising to her feet. “Bandits brought me here as a prisoner and I escaped from them but now I am trapped her. If I go near the doors, devils appear and force me back.”
“It’s alright,” said Dulvarna as she moved into the chapel to stand close to Erlmoor. “We’ll get you out of here.”

The warrior woman looked around the chapel at the walls and at the altar, sensing the powerful magic in the room. As she glanced around, each time, her attention was drawn back to the doors through which she had just entered.
“Even I can sense the powerful magic here,” Dulvarna said at last. “The doors are the focus of the ward.”

Lavren stepped into the chamber and closed on of the double doors behind him. The woman at the altar gave a whimper of fear and he glanced over his shoulder to smile at her reassuringly. Then he turned back to the door he had closed to examine it.
“There are runes carved here that I may be able to dispel,” he said. “If not, smashing the doors will break the spell just as easily.”

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 13 - The Inner Chambers (Part 3)

Then, with his wand in his hand, the warlock began chanting in ancient elven as he stood in front of the closed door. Behind him, Erlmoor moved back toward the doors and pulled shut the other portal before raising his sword and smashing at the runes with the hilt of the weapon. The runes on the portal flared brightly as he struck them and then some of them vanished. Enlishia joined Lavren at the other door and began picking at the lower runes with her sword while the warlock worked his spells on the runes higher up.
“The altar may have some effect here as well,” said Telkya as she moved toward the plain stone block.

As she drew near to it, she began uttering a prayer to Corellon but before she had spoken more than half of the entreaty, a loud bang sounded from the doors, throwing Lavren and Erlmoor back. There, before the two companions, stood two red-skinned devils with bare, scaled heads, two wavy horns trailing back from their skulls and a sword and shield in hand. They wore black plate armour and snarled at the companions who had dared to summon them to this place.

Thorn raised his loaded crossbow from his belt and loosed a bolt that clattered into the stone beside the doorway while Dulvarna raised her sword and charged forward to aid Erlmoor. The warrior woman plunged her sword into the devil’s belly and the creature fell back against the doors with a gasp, to lie there unmoving. Lavren lashed out with his sword at the other creature but it parried skilfully and then reversed its blade to slash it across the top of the elf’s chest. The warlock cried out and fell back as Erlmoor came at the creature from its left. It parried again and again but as it did, Enlishia retreated, raised her bow and loosed an arrow. The shaft drove into the creature’s neck, just below its chin and the devil fell back dead beside its companion. At the altar, Telkya began chanting again but as she did, the same bang sounded and two more devils appeared, standing over their companions.
“Whatever it is you’re trying to do,” Thorn called to Telkya. “Don’t try it again.”

With that, the druid loosed another crossbow bolt toward the newly arrived devils but again the missile clattered into the stone. One of the creature lashed its sword into Lavren’s arm and sent him reeling back from the doors but the other fell quickly as Dulvarna plunged her sword into its chest. It fell atop its fallen kin while Lavren clambered atop one of the benches and loosed a bolt of black energy into the other devil. The blast seared through the creature’s chest and felled it atop the others.

Erlmoor stepped forward and hurled two of the devil corpses out of his way before starting to hammer on the runes once more. This time there was no flare of light and no runes disappeared but no devils were summoned either. As the dragonborn looked at the runes with a bemused expression, Enlishia came forward and began scraping off more with the tip of one of her arrows. Behind the others, Telkya began to chant softly and as she did, the flames of the candles guttered and died.
“That should make things easier,” she announced but the others paid her no mind, thinking that she had heeded Thorn’s advice.
“Thank you,” said the young woman as she moved over toward Telkya. “I am Danna.”
“And I am Telkya Strongbow,” the elf maid answered with a smile.

Dulvarna and Erlmoor held their blades ready as Lavren and Enlishia worked away at the remaining runes until suddenly, the remaining runes flared and vanished, leaving the doors unmarked. Lavren pushed them open cautiously but no devils appeared and he turned back toward the altar to announce his success to Danna. As he did, the young girl shifted form, wings appearing from her back and her plain woollen dress falling away to reveal a leather corset and underwear as her only other items of clothing. The revealed creature smiled in a leery way as it regarded the companions.
“I truly thank you for freeing me,” she said, and then vanished, leaving behind a faint smell of brimstone.