Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Medriev" data-source="post: 4783443" data-attributes="member: 21864">Chapter 6 - The Chamber of Ice (Part 1)“You suffered badly in that battle and yet you stood firm,” said Vyrellis as Lavren examined the orb in a corner of the wooden platform on which the companions had uncomfortably spent the night. “Truly you are the hero I have been seeking to save me.”Lavren looked up to see Telkya watching him from the far side of the platform where she tended to the wounds of the others and ensured that each was ready to go on. They had decided to head north from this chamber and Vyrellis had offered no contradictory advice.“My life force is scattered throughout the pyramid,” Vyrellis went on. “My life force was splintered by the pyramid when Draxius slew me and you must find the three gemstones that contain it. If they are reunited I will have rest at least or perhaps life will return to me.”“And do you where these gemstones are?” Lavren asked although he suspected that he knew the answer.“I do not,” Vyrellis answered. “They are scattered in the pyramid and my memory of this place has faded in the centuries that have passed since I came here.”“Then we go on,” Lavren replied. “And I will find the gemstones so that you can be free.”The elf rose then as the others did and together they gathered their belongings before starting off across the northern bridge. The double doors at the end opened easily onto a staircase that climbed upwards into the darkness. Raising her blade, Dulvarna started to climb and Erlmoor walked behind her. At the top of the stairs the passage opened into a wide hall with three more passageways leading west, north and east from it.“Ah, I remember this place,” said Vyrellis loudly enough for all to hear. “There are many enchanted items in the chamber to the east. Look to the door covered in frost and beyond are items that might prove useful to you but beware the icy guardians that await you.”“How do we know that such items are still there,” said Litiraan. “How long have you been imprisoned here and how much has changed since you have been here?”“I was imprisoned with Draxius for I was his queen,” Vyrellis answered. “He beheaded me in rage once we were imprisoned here, though I had borne him a son and ensured that his line would go on. I seek only his death which will free you from this place. I would not lead you astray.”“And from you we have learned more of this place already than we could ever learn by wandering its halls for weeks,” said Enlishia. “We should try the eastern door.”“I agree,” rumbled Erlmoor. “If a queen of Cormyr speaks from that orb then we must obey her.”The others nodded their agreement and even Litiraan accepted the decision. Dulvarna and Erlmoor started forward toward the eastern doors with their blades raised. They were indeed limned with ice but they opened easily as Dulvarna pulled on the iron rings that served as handles. A blast of cold air exploded from within as the door was opened and beyond, the companions saw a room covered in ice. It coated the floor, the walls and the ceiling while four large ice pillars ran from floor to ceiling. To the south stood a metal door, covered in frost.Enlishia started into the chamber, nocking an arrow to her bow as she did so. She moved to the centre of the chamber slowly as the chill of the room seemed to pierce her bones. As she reached the heart of the room, she raised her bow and looked around the room, seeking the enemies that Vyrellis had said were there.“The pillars are starting to melt,” she called back to the others as she saw water began to drip onto the frost-covered floor.The others followed the ranger into the chamber, Lavren moving towards the southern door with Telkya to examine it while the others moved into the centre of the room with weapons and wands raised to deal with any threat that might appear.Suddenly, the melting pillars collapsed and from them staggered zombies limned with frost and icicles. Vapour rose from their half-frozen limbs as they stepped from the ice that had held them and slowly, they turned towards the nearest of the companions. Enlishia turned on the nearest one and loosed an arrow that bounced off the icy skin of the creature. She fired again and this arrow flew wide to clatter into the wall beyond the zombie. Lavren turned away from the southern door and uttered a curse that loosed black, crackling energy into the nearest zombie. It lurched and staggered but did not fall. Another zombie lashed out at Erlmoor who ducked under the clumsy swing as Telkya turned away from the southern door. She raised her amulet and sent a bolt of golden light toward the zombie before Erlmoor but the bolt flew wide and struck the wall next to the creature. Erlmoor roared and lashed out at the zombie, slashing his blade into its leg and sending it lurching to its right but again the creature did not fall.</blockquote>

Verification