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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Medriev" data-source="post: 4851725" data-attributes="member: 21864">Chapter 16 - The Hard Way Up (Part 4)“I said I might be able to disarm this,” said Lavren. “Give me a chance.”With that, the elf vanished in a shower of light only to reappear atop the steps. He looked around and saw that the remaining gargoyle stood as a statue in the middle of this upper landing and so, with a wary eye on it, Lavren knelt beside the steps and began probing with his sword for a mechanism that would disable the trap.On the stairs, Dulvarna moved on after Erlmoor but two steps collapsed beneath her soon after and she became trapped. Then, with a screech, the remaining gargoyle swept down the stairs toward her and Erlmoor. The dragonborn ducked as it swooped down on him and Dulvarna ducked to one side, avoiding the creature’s terrible claws. A bolt of light from Telkya’s amulet flashed past in front of the creature and Erlmoor roared his defiance despite being powerless to strike at the creature. Thorn bounded toward the gargoyle but the steps trapped him again  Dulvarna lashed out at the creature as it passed her but her blade struck only air and again the creature circled back toward a higher ledge. The creature swept across the pit and up another flight of stairs to the south of Lavren to an even higher ledge beyond the sight of the companions.Telkya moved to the edge of the pit to watch for the gargoyle’s return while the others struggled with the stairs. Finally, Lavren called down from the top of the staircase.“Found the mechanism,” he called. “It should be disarmed now.”Telkya, with total faith in her husband, rushed up the steps and found he was right. No steps gave way and she reached the top quickly, embracing Lavren with a broad smile on her face. Erlmoor climbed the steps behind the priestess, passing the two elves on the landing and then starting up the long flight of stairs to the south. No traps activated on this staircase and steadily he climbed toward where they had all seen the gargoyle disappear. Thorn bounded up the stairs behind the dragonborn and behind him came Enlishia, Lavren and Dulvarna, all with weapons and spells ready for when the gargoyle reappeared.The gargoyle swept down the stairs like a whirlwind a few moments later, lashing its claws across Erlmoor’s shoulders and sending him reeling back down the steps. Telkya called a column of light down on it as it swept out over the pit but the divine fire missed its target and the gargoyle circled around to come back at the companions. Erlmoor met it on the edge of the stairs, his blade slashing out and striking it in the side, sending it spinning away. Healing magic burst from his sword and mended some of the companions’ worst hurts as Thorn rushed to the edge of the steps, still in wolf form and lunged forward. He seized the gargoyle’s left leg in his jaws and dragged it back toward the stairway. Enlishia’s bow sang and two arrows flew past the creature but then Lavren loosed a bolt of black energy that seared into the gargoyle’s side. It fell limp and Thorn let go with his jaws, allowing the creature to plummet into the darkness of the pit after its kin.Next.....Demonic Faces</blockquote>

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