Medriev's FR Thunderspire Labyrinth - Concluded Apr 13

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Proving Ground (Part 1)

Litiraan woke quickly once Telkya began to use her healing prayer upon him and then she and Lavren used their fey ability to teleport to reach first the platform of the second statue and then the platforms on which rested the hilt and the blade of the knife they sought. When they returned to the centre platform, Lavren took the blade solemnly to Telkya and held it out towards her flat across his hands.

“My gift to you, my Lady,” he said with a half smile. “They had not spoken properly since the imp had visited them the night before.
“I am honoured, Lord,” she said and smiled back at him.

Taking the blade carefully, she inserted it into the hilt and found that it locked in place easily, forming and ornate and finely wrought dagger with runes that circled blade and hilt alike.
“We should rest here,” she said, her eyes fixed on Lavren. “We all need rest and time to recover from what has happened here.”
“Are we safe here?” Lavren responded. “And would it not be best if we took the items to the Proving Grounds now that we have them.”

Lavren’s heart, that had been singing as Telkya had smiled, suddenly grew cold as the elf maid’s gaze turned frosty and she turned away from him.
“Lavren is right,” said Erlmoor in his deep voice. “We have the four items now and can open the Inner Sanctum. Every moment of delay could take the slaves away from there or worse.”

Dulvarna nodded slowly and looked around at each of the companions in turn. Her eyes were sorrowful as she weighed up the courses before the company. When she finally spoke, all eyes were fixed upon her and the companions heeded every word.

“There is danger in each course,” she said grimly. “But we have known danger with every step that we have taken since first passing the Minotaur Gate. We must think of Telkya and Lavren’s kin who we came here seeking and put all thought of our own safety from our minds. We go on and return to the Proving Grounds to save the elves that remain to be saved. May the gods go with us.”

The others nodded at the last sentiment and set about gathering their belongings. The elves could pass over the blood pool unharmed using their fey powers but Erlmoor and Dulvarna knew the pain that they would have to face to escape the chamber. Grimly, Dulvarna and the dragonborn started down the steps.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Proving Ground (Part 2)

Enlishia looked over at the iron bound doors beyond the rusted-open portcullis and then lowered her gaze to the chained skeletons on the floor of the chamber. At the very least, the skeletons represented the horrible fate of some unfortunates who had gone before the companions. Beyond that, they could represent a trap or vengeful undead much as those that had lurked beneath the Keep on the Shadowfell. Nervously, she nocked an arrow to the string of her bow and began to draw the string back.
“Ready,” Dulvarna called out from the circle of runes just around the corner beyond the skeletons to the right of the iron bound doors.
“Ready,” Enlishia called out towards the double doors to the north where Telkya waited in the bloody shrine chamber.

Enlishia called out a second time towards the west where Erlmoor and Lavren waited beside their own rune circles with Litiraan relaying messages to them. Four calls of ‘ready’ came back to her and in her head she counted up towards a hundred as Dulvarna had agreed with all of them when they had entered the shrine chamber. As they reached a hundred count at the same time, the four companions at the rune circles would place the item they carried within the runes as the spirits had told them to do. Enlishia and Litiraan relaying messages was an extra precaution that allowed the companions to gather quickly if they encountered danger before they placed their items in the rune circles. Silently, Enlishia counted ninety eight, ninety nine and then, as she reached a hundred, she waited for something to happen as elsewhere, Dulvarna placed the mask, Telkya the book, Erlmoor the knife and Lavren the bell. Suddenly, all of the doors in the area banged open at the same time and from somewhere behind Enlishia to the west came a roar that echoed throughout the complex.

“Are the doors open?” Telkya asked as she rushed out into the central circle corridor where Enlishia stood.
She rushed towards Enlishia who shrugged and looked around towards the iron bound doors. They were shuddering and moving very slowly but it would be some time before they opened widely enough to allow anyone to get through.
“Not yet,” Enlishia answered. “But they are starting to move.”

The ranger turned around on the spot, drawing back her bow string and searching for enemies, particularly whatever had made the terrible roar. As she looked to the north she saw a black sphere of eldritch energy forming at the far northern end of the passageway where in turned left.
“We should move from this place,” she said to Telkya who turned and looked at the sphere before nodding her agreement.

Then, the roar sounded again, closer and from the north this time. Enlishia and Telkya turned towards the sound and watched with horror as a lithe and sleek green dragon swept around the corner on emerald wings. A crown of five horns ringed the back of its skull and a pronounced spike jutted from the tip of its narrow snout. More spikes ran down the creature’s neck and back, shrinking to a studded ridge along the top of tail that lashed back and forth behind it. Its mouth was filled with needle-like teeth, and poisonous fumes issued from its mouth and nostrils. An acrid odour surrounded the wyrm and stung the nose and eyes of the paralysed ranger and priestess. Forlornly, Enlishia raised her bow and drew back the string, wondering whether her arrows could even harm the terrible green monster.

Erlmoor heard roars to the north and west and turned towards the eastern doors of the chamber. Following the sound, he turned right and saw Enlishia raising her bow towards an enemy that remained out of sight for the dragonborn. Then he heard the creature roar again and he knew what enemy they faced.
“Dragon!” he called out loudly to any who could hear. “To me, Defenders of Winterhaven, to me!”

Litiraan heard Erlmoor’s call and looked towards Lavren who stood over the still-glowing runes of the circle from which the bell had vanished a few moments earlier. The warlock nodded to the wizard and Litiraan started southward along the circular corridor to where he had heard the dragonborn’s call. Lavren rushed out of the rune circle chamber and followed Litiraan southward down the corridor. Ahead of him, Litiraan rounded the corner and then Lavren heard him cry out. A moment later, a huge sphere of black force energy with spikes protruding from every direction rounded the corner and Lavren pulled up short. Desperately he looked around for some way to dodge the terrible weapon and started towards a western side passage, hoping he could reach it in time.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Proving Ground (Part 3)

Dulvarna heard Erlmoor’s shout followed by pained cries from her companions and started towards them. She passed the iron bound doors and saw that they were opening painfully slowly. As she rounded the corner, she saw that Telkya had been thrown to the floor in the corridor while Enlishia had ducked into a gap in the rusted portcullis. Beyond her, Litiraan and Erlmoor had been slammed against the walls of the corridor by the black, spiked sphere that was now rolling around the western corner to turn back to the north.

Dulvarna rushed to join Enlishia but as she started forward, one of the chained skeletons, lashed out with an arm and grabbed her leg. Ragged fingernails dug into the flesh of Dulvarna’s leg but she twisted to the left and dragged her leg free, leaping beyond the reach of the skeleton. Another of the skeletons reached out from the floor close to the right wall but Dulvarna skipped over its arm and took another step towards the portcullis. Just as she thought she would reach it, she stumbled and the questing skeletons reached out for her once more.

Telkya rose and reached out with her left hand. She uttered a prayer that unleashed a blast of golden light into the chest of the green dragon as it hovered close to the ceiling of the corridor where it had been forced to evade the black sphere. Desperately, she scrambled back along the corridor and ducked through the portcullis. She saw Dulvarna struggling through the skeletons and kept close to the rusted stubs of the bars themselves so that she was beyond the reach of the undead. Enlishia looked back over her shoulder and saw Telkya’s intention. She raised her bow and loosed an arrow that flew past the dragon and then reached back to her quiver to draw another arrow. She nocked this, aimed and fired, the shaft driving into the dragon’s foreleg. It roared again and then, as Enlishia retreated through the portcullis, the dragon dived toward with its teeth bared. The dragon swept past the portcullis with a rush of air and as it past, it craned its neck through the bars to bite at Enlishia. The ranger leapt back and the teeth snapped shut on empty air as the dragon turned the corner and swept towards Erlmoor and Litiraan.

Erlmoor pressed himself against the south wall of the corridor as the dragon swept towards him and then, as it turned northward through an archway that led to the central chamber of the complex, the dragonborn lashed out with his blade. He drew blood from the dragon’s back leg as his blade pierced the flesh and again the dragon roared. Erlmoor roared his own response and slid left along the south wall towards the passage entrance from which he had emerged, seeking shelter from the terrible black sphere that would surely pass this way again. He looked to the left and saw Litiraan stab his blade at the dragon’s tail as it swished past before retreating the same way as Erlmoor intended, towards the southern passage.

Around the corner, Lavren darted across the corridor in front of the rolling black sphere. He rushed down the western passage and turned south through the open doors of the chamber in which Erlmoor had placed the knife on the circle of runes. As soon as he entered the chamber he realised his mistake for inside the room where four stone-rimmed pools. One, against the west wall bubbled and swirled while tendrils of animated, elemental water reached out blindly from its surface as though seeking prey. Lavren steeled himself for a moment and then called on his fey ability to move from place to place. He vanished into a cloud of light motes and then reappeared next to a pool of pale green liquid on the far side of the room. He looked back and saw a tendril of water turning towards him. Turning his back on it, Lavren started around the green pool towards the eastern doors of the chambers, hoping he could escape in time.

Telkya extended her hand and loosed another bolt of light at the disappearing hindquarters of the dragon and watched with satisfaction as the bold seared a hind foot. Beside her, Enlishia loosed an arrow and then a second into the same leg and then the dragon vanished into the centre chamber for a few heartbeats. Then, with a roar, it came forth again through the southern entrance and swept over Erlmoor and Litiraan. As it passed over the elf, it swept its jaws down and seized the elf’s arm, throwing him against the south wall of the corridor. He cried out and fell back against the stone as the dragon swept around the corner to the north and vanished from view.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Proving Ground (Part 4)

Erlmoor roared himself and then rushed after the dragon, rounding the corner and catching up to it as it slowed to turn. He breathed out and sprayed acid upon the hindquarters of the dragon before lashing out with his blade as he prayed to Lathander. His sword glowed brightly for a moment and then tore into the flesh of the dragon’s tail, drawing a screech of pain from the wyrm. Litiraan rushed to the corner behind the dragonborn and reached out with the wand in his left hand. He uttered a spell and a silver bolt of energy lanced out but the dragon twisted in the air as it started to turn and the missile flew harmlessly past the wyrm as it did so.

Lavren looked back again and as he did so, a tendril of elemental water lashed out at him. He ducked forward and ran for the door and by some miracle, the tendril lashed at the air above his head. He rushed out into the corridor and turned left towards the circular passage around the central chamber, slowing as he reached it. He looked left and saw the dragon starting to turn while Erlmoor and Litiraan challenged its might. Raising his wand in his left hand, he loosed a blast of black, crackling energy that flew past the dragon’s left wing and blasted into the stone close to the corridor ceiling. A heartbeat later, the terrible black sphere rolled around the corner to the right and forced Lavren to duck back into the southern passage entrance. He looked out once it had passed and saw Erlmoor throw himself against the wall to his left and avoid the sphere. Litiraan threw himself into the corner of the passage and the sphere rolled past him around the corner, missing him by barely a hands-breadth. As the sphere blocked his view of the dragon, Lavren heard it screech either in alarm or pain as the sphere rolled towards it.

Another hand grasped Dulvarna’s right leg as she tried to reach the portcullis and again, claw-like nails dug into her flesh. She twisted her leg free and strode forward but the skeleton reached out with its other arm to try to grab her. She leapt over this limb and reached the portcullis beside Enlishia. She looked back for a moment to be sure that she was beyond the reach of the undead and when she was satisfied, she turned to Enlishia and smiled.
“How do we defeat the dragon?” Telkya asked, looking to Dulvarna for an answer.
“We wait for it to come to us,” Dulvarna answered.
“Agreed,” said Telkya with a nod.

Erlmoor pushed himself away from the corridor wall and turned back to look at Lavren. The dragonborn gestured towards the entrance to the central chamber in the northern wall of the corridor and started towards it intending to wait for the dragon to pass again. As soon as he reached the archway into the central chamber, he realised that fate had chosen a different course for him. As Erlmoor reached the southern entrance, the dragon swept through the northern one and flew towards him. He roared in defiance and raised his blade before him, waiting for the inevitable attack.
“It comes through here,” he called out to the others.

Litiraan heard Erlmoor call out but as he started forward, he realised that the wound in his arm was bleeding more seriously than he had first thought. His arm down to his hand was soaked in blood while the wound had turned black as though it were poisoned. As he felt a numbness spread from the wound, he realised that he had to take care of the wound before he could attack the dragon again. He ducked into the southern passage where Lavren stood and reached to his belt for the strips of cloth that he kept in his pouch to dress wounds. He pulled one forth and began to bind it around his arm. Lavren looked to him and realised the pain he was in. With a nod, he crossed the corridor to where Erlmoor stood and raised his wand to conjure fey beasts that would tear at the dragon from their own realm. He uttered the curse but the dragon slowed and the fangs that appeared, snapped on nothing but air. Dissatisfied, they vanished quickly and the dragon swept across the chamber towards the elf and the dragonborn.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Proving Ground (Part 5)

Dulvarna heard Erlmoor’s call and ducked through the portcullis. Looking right, she saw the black, spiked sphere roll around the north-western corner of the circular central corridor and begin to roll down towards her. She rushed across to the southern entrance to the central chamber and ducked inside, squeezing between Lavren and Erlmoor and rushing over to take up position against the western wall. She raised her blade and braced her feet as the dragon swept down the chamber.

Telkya rushed across the central corridor and ducked past Lavren into the central chamber. She raised her left hand and brought down a column of light onto the dragon as it passed over the pit in the middle of the chamber. Telkya’s prayer was too slow and the column descended behind the dragon as it swept forward. Enlishia ducked into the chamber on the other side and raised her bow, loosing an arrow towards the dragon. The shaft flew wide and clattered into the far wall beyond the wyrm. The dragon beat its wings to slow its flight over the pit and as it did it drew in a deep breath. When it let the breath out, it came as noxious fumes but the companions had already turned away from the dragon and covered their mouths and noses with their cloaks.

Erlmoor roared and charged the dragon with his blade before him but as he reached it, it beat its wings and took itself back beyond his reach. Litiraan came into the chamber behind the others and loosed a silver bolt from his wand that seared past the dragon. Lavren loosed black, crackling energy towards the dragon but this too flew wide of the mark. The sphere rolled past the archway behind him and he glanced back for a moment as Dulvarna rushed forward to join Erlmoor before the dragon. She weaved her blade before her as she reached the wyrm, drawing it towards her and then she lashed out. Aecris tore across the dragon’s nose and drew blood but the wyrm paid the wound little mind as it beat its wings and hovered over the pit.

Telkya loosed a bolt of light that flew wide of the dragon and then Enlishia loosed two arrows quickly. One flew wide but the second drive into the dragon’s shoulder and drew a shriek of pain from the wyrm. The dragon beat its wings back once more and then swept forward, diving for the archway that led out of the room. As it reached the portal, it reached down with its jaws and tore at Lavren’s left shoulder, spinning him into the wall next to him. The elf looked left to follow the dragon’s path and saw the wyrm, gracefully turn right and then left to swoop into the southern passageway from which he and Litiraan had come. No sooner had it turned into the passage than it banked left sharply and turned through the eastern doors of the southern passage that led to the circle of runes where Dulvarna had stood with the mask a scant few moments ago.
“Where did it go?” Erlmoor roared as he turned around towards the southern archway.
“Into the prison where the skeletons lie,” answered Lavren.
“Then we meet it at the portcullis,” Erlmoor snarled and rushed past his companions and out into the circular corridor.

Behind the dragonborn, Litiraan and Lavren raised their wands and turned to face the portcullis from the archway where they stood. Dulvarna rushed past them and overtook Erlmoor to duck through the portcullis and raise her blade for when the dragon came around the corner towards her. She glanced left as the black sphere rounded the north western corner once more and rolled down towards the portcullis just as she ducked through it. Behind the others, Telkya darted across the corridor and ducked into the southern passageway ready to attack the dragon as it swept though the portcullis. Enlishia rushed across the central corridor to join her just as the dragon swept around the corner past the iron bound doors and bore down on Dulvarna and Erlmoor.

For the first time, the dragon landed, setting down midst the litter of bones that surrounded the chained skeletons. It lashed out at Dulvarna with its right claw but she ducked under the swing only to be caught by the wyrm’s left claw as it swept in and cuffed her shoulder. She spun to the left and threw her momentum into the turn to spin on the spot. She rose with her blade in her hands before her and stepped towards the dragon. Erlmoor surged past her with a roar and charged into the midst of the twitching skeletons that lay on the floor. A skeleton reached out and grabbed his right leg but he paid it no mind and lashed out at the dragon. The wyrm screeched and reared back to evade the blow but as it did so, Litiraan ducked through the portcullis behind Erlmoor. He raised his wand and loosed a silver bolt into the dragon’s chest. It screeched and reared back again raising its head to the high ceiling of the chamber. Lavren rushed into the room beside Dulvarna and loosed a bolt of black energy that struck the ceiling behind the dragon. The wyrm roared and lowered its front feet to the floor once again. It began beating its wings as though it intended to take flight once more and as it did so, Dulvarna charged. A skeleton reached out and grabbed the leg of the warrior woman but she drove her blade forward despite the hindrance and the pain. Aecris pierced the right foreleg of the dragon at the mid-joint and drew another screech of pain from the creature. Then, as the screech ended, the dragon loosed its terrible noxious breath for a second time.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 20 - Proving Ground (Part 6)

Litiraan, Lavren and Erlmoor all covered their faces but Dulvarna was not fast enough. As she breathed in, burning, searing poison tore at her chest and she staggered, her blade faltering in her hands before her. The dragon leapt forward then and swooped over Dulvarna and Erlmoor, snapping at the warrior woman as it passed overhead. Dulvarna ducked down and raised her blade, recovering her strength and her senses just in time to evade the dragon’s attack. The green wyrm dipped through the gap in the portcullis and flew down the central corridor before dipping right into the pit chamber. Telkya and Enlishia watched it pass and then darted forward across the corridor in pursuit of the dragon.

Telkya stopped short of the pit and watched as the dragon turned easily at the far end of the chamber. Enlishia came into the room behind her and loosed an arrow towards the dragon that tore through its left wing. She reached over her shoulder and drew another shaft from her quiver, nocked it to her bowstring and let fly again. The dragon screeched and dipped as this arrow streaked towards it and the shaft flew over its body to clatter into the far northern archway.

Another skeleton reached out for Erlmoor but he leapt back and turned away, rushing after the dragon. He crossed the central corridor quickly and then turned right into the pit chamber, passing Enlishia and Telkya as he rushed towards the dragon. Litiraan came into the chamber behind the dragonborn and loosed a silver bolt from his wand, held in his left hand. It struck the dragon in the shoulder and drew another pained screeched from the wyrm. Lavren came into the chamber next and loosed black, crackling energy towards the dragon. The wyrm swooped downwards and ducked under the bolt before beating its wings to dive at the companions.

Dulvarna made to follow the others but as she did, a skeleton lunged at her and seized her with two hands around the thigh. She cried out as claws dug into her flesh and turned back towards the undead creature. Twisting to her left, she pulled her leg free but tore her flesh painfully as she did so. She rushed toward the entrance to the pit chamber with her blade before her but the pain in her legs slowed her and she knew she would not reach the room before the dragon turned. Raising her blade, she prepared for the moment when the dragon would emerge and prayed that her companions could hurt it sorely in her absence.

Inside the central chamber, Telkya rushed forward, turning right to circle the pit. As the dragon dove forward, she raised her holy symbol and unleashed a bolt of light towards the wyrm. It struck the creature in the side and forced it to lurch to its right as it swept down towards the companions. The dragon was almost upon Enlishia when she loosed an arrow from her bow and it flew wildly past the dragon. She nocked and loosed another quickly but this clattered off the dragon’s scales as it veered to the left and landed beside Erlmoor. The dragon lashed out with its claws but the dragon born ducked left and then right to evade both huge weapons and then roared his defiance. He lashed out with his sword but the dragon reared back and evaded the blow. Dragon and dragonborn roared together then in challenge before rushing at each other once more.

As the dragon surged towards Erlmoor, Litiraan loosed another silver bolt form his wand that seared into the wyrm’s left flank, burning into its chest. It screeched and reared back before turning towards the elf that had so wounded it. Lavren raised his own wand and loosed another blast of black, crackling energy into the dragon’s chest, drawing a roar of defiance from the wyrm.

In the corridor outside, Dulvarna heard the roar and started forward again but as she did, the terrible black sphere rolled around the corner behind her. She looked back and froze for the precious moment she needed to dive to one side. The sphere struck her and hurled her into the wall. Dulvarna felt her head slam into the stone and then saw blinding light, followed by peaceful, merciful, blackness.

Telkya loosed another bolt of light at the dragon but it flew wide and struck the wall behind the wyrm. Enlishia let fly another arrow towards the dragon that drove into the creature’s chest. It screeched again and she released another shaft only for this to fly high and clatter into the ceiling above the wyrm. The dragon drew in its breath and then roared more loudly than it had ever done before, sending a shiver of fear through the companions. Enlishia, Erlmoor and Lavren fell back against the walls of the chamber, stunned by the power of the dragon. Litiraan raised his wand with a shaking hand and uttered the words of a spell to again unleash a silver bolt towards the dragon. The arcane fire seared into the dragon’s throat and as it did, a great booming came from the south east where the iron bound doors stood. The dragon screeched again and began to beat its wings, clearly intending to take flight once more.

Telkya stepped towards the dragon and raised her amulet to unleash another bolt of light but again her divine fire flew past the wyrm and struck the stonework of the western wall. Enlishia raised her bow them and loosed an arrow into the dragon’s neck. It reared and screeched as it beat its wings and she loosed a second shaft into its throat behind its jaws. Again the dragon screeched and now it did take flight, swooping towards the southern archway to leave the room. Litiraan raised his blade in his right hand and as the dragon swept over him, he drove the sword forward into the wyrm’s throat. The creature’s momentum carried it onward and dragged Litiraan’s sword along its neck. Blood gushed out, covering Litiraan and Enlishia and the dragon opened its mouth to screech but no sound came forth. Instead, the dragon careened across the central hallway and crashed into the southern wall where it collapsed in an ungainly heap. The wyrm twitched once and then lay still.

Next......The Inner Sanctum

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - The Inner Sanctum (Part 1)

Erlmoor rushed out of the central chamber and knelt beside Dulvarna, praying fervently to Lathander. He laid a hand on the shoulder of the warrior woman and as divine light glowed in his palm, her eyes opened. Only then did the dragonborn look up and see that the iron bound doors were what had made the booming noise a few moments before. They stood wide open while the twitching skeletons slowly grew still before them.
“The doors are open,” Erlmoor called out. “But Dulvarna for one needs rest. We will stay in the central chamber for a few hours and then pass through the doors.”

The companions did as he bade and rested in the central chamber while they watched in pairs from the southern and northern archways. Nothing disturbed their rest and the terrible, spiked black ball of force never passed the middle chamber while they rested. When they set off after a meagre meal, they drew near to the skeletons cautiously but as Dulvarna stepped amongst them, they remained unmoving. A thick grey mist obscured the passageway beyond the iron bound doors blocking all sight and seeming to eerily muffle the sounds of the companions’ footfalls. They followed Dulvarna into the mist, blinded by it for a moments until they emerged at another set of double doors. Dulvarna and Erlmoor pushed these open and strode boldly into the chamber beyond.

The hall within was dominated by a leering idol that depicted a howling minotaur warrior armed with a massive axe. Before the idol was an iron cauldron filled with a bubbling liquid that gave off a thick mist. A short staircase led to a raised area that overlooked the idol and three more cauldrons were set on this upper area along with a stone altar. To the east of the altar, a series of green, ghostly runes had been scribed into the floor. Two elves stood within the glowing runes apparently in some sort of trance.
A gnoll with large bat wings and curved horns stood behind the altar, grasping a rod in one hand and a sheaf of parchment in the others. A massive ape-like demon stood beside him while a small pack of red-skinned carnage demons snarled at the intruders from atop the raised platform. Looming over all was a massive skeleton if a minotaur clutching a greataxe. With a shrill howl from the gnoll, the monsters moved to attack.
Enlishia darted right and began firing arrows, loosing two into one of the red-skinned demons on the raised platform. Litiraan followed her, raising his wand in his left hand and uttering a spell as he ran. An orange ball of flame flew forth from the wand and darted towards the skeleton before bursting into a shower of searing flame. The fire charred black the ribs and left arm of the skeletons but the demons and the gnoll threw themselves away and avoided the fireball. Erlmoor roared and sprayed acid, but this time the skeleton lurched to the left to avoid harm. The gnoll ducked down beside the altar but one of the red skinned demons was burned by the deadly spray. The dragonborn called out a challenge and charged then, rushing up the steps to meet the skeleton at the top. His blade sang out and smashed into the side of the skeleton’s leg, chipping the bone but scarcely slowing the terrible creature.

The ape demon roared its response to Erlmoor then and leapt over the cauldron next to it and landed on the floor below the ledge. It rushed at Erlmoor’s back as the paladin tried to turn to meet this new threat. A huge arm swung out and struck the dragonborn, spinning him towards the demon just as the other arm came up and slammed him under the chin, He reeled back and fell back, sprawling on the steps at the feet of the minotaur skeleton. Telkya saw Erlmoor’s plight and raised her amulet high while raising her blade in her other hand. She called on Corellon and brought down a column of searing light to engulf the ape demon. The creature roared its anger as the divine light seared its flesh and staggered back a step from Erlmoor, giving the dragonborn chance to get up. Telkya saw a flash of movement from the left then and as she looked, the gnoll raised its left hand and loosed a bolt of black, crackling energy towards her. She dodged to the left and the bolt struck the wall beside her but she gained no satisfaction from her escape. The gnoll would try again to strike her down if it was not dealt with quickly.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - The Inner Sanctum (Part 2)

One of the carnage demons leapt down from the ledge to land in front of Dulvarna but she lashed out at it as it jumped and tore a gash along its right thigh with her blade. It landed and turned with a snarl to lash out at her with a backhand but Dulvarna was ready and ducked under the swipe easily. She rose with her blade in hand and slammed the hilt of Aecris into the face of the demon to drive it away from her. She looked up then and saw a second demon land on the steps next to Erlmoor. The dragonborn ducked under its first wild swing but the paladin needed help, Dulvarna knew. Now if only she could get the troublesome demon from her path, she could aid him.

Lavren joined Litiraan and Enlishia against the west wall of the chamber with wand and blade in hand. He raised his wand and loosed black, crackling energy into the back of the ape demon, distracting it for a moment and buying Erlmoor a few more moments as he battled his three foes. Lavren saw a flash of movement beyond the huge ape demon then and looking up, he saw the third red-skinned carnage demon leap from the ledge in front of a cauldron and rush across the floor towards he and Litiraan. The demon lashed out with its clawed hand and struck the wizard across the face spinning him around and slamming him into the stone wall. Enlishia leapt away from the demon and raised her bow, loosing first one arrow and then a second into the side of the demon. Litiraan raised his blade and lashed out at the demon. The demon leapt back to evade the sword and snarled at Litiraan before leaping forward again.
“Taste the blade of Dragonbane,” Litiraan cried out as the demon came forward with a ferocity that the others had rarely heard from him.

Erlmoor lashed out at the skeleton while calling out to Lathander and then, as his blade clove into the creature’s ribs, he leapt down from the steps to face the ape demon. The demon lashed out at him with one claw and he ducked under it but the other smashed into his left arm and spun him towards the carnage demon that Dulvarna faced. The dragonborn roared his defiance and Telkya reached out her left hand towards him while uttering a healing prayer. Golden light cascade over Erlmoor for a moment and new strength filled him. He nodded his thanks to the priestess and then turned around to face the ape demon once more. Erlmoor smiled for a moment but then a bolt of black energy unleashed by the gnoll struck the wall above her head and she returned her mind to the battle before her.

The demon before Dulvarna lashed out with a clawed hand and tore at her forearm but she faught through the pain and lashed out with her blade again. The demon ducked back but Dulvarna followed up, lunging forward to drive her blade into the demon’s knee. It roared its pain and lurched back from her, beyond the reach of Aecris. She looked up to where Erlmoor was desperately trying to retreat towards her and saw that the dragonborn had not yet escaped the reach of the skeleton. The minotaur raised its huge axe and brought it down towards the paladin who parried to drive the blade away from his head. The axe still tore down the side of Erlmoor’s right arm and the dragonborn let forth his own roar of pain. Dulvarna decided then to dispose of the foe before her more quickly so that she could move to aid her friend. As she looked, the carnage demon on the steps, rushed across the stairway and lashed out with a clawed fist at Erlmoor, striking the dragonborn across the cheek. As he reeled away, the demon leapt but Erlmoor raised his blade and both arms to fend it off and send it tumbling back onto the steps. Erlmoor stopped for a moment, breathing heavily, and then he raised his blade once more.

Lavren leapt back from the demon that had come at Litiraan and raised his wand while uttering another curse. He called forth fire within the demon to burn it but rather than the bursts of searing flame from the creature’s skin, instead only small motes appeared and they died quickly. The demon snarled towards Lavren and then leapt forward at Litiraan once again. The demon lashed out with its right hand this time and struck the elf’s left arm, tearing several ragged wounds in it above the elbow. Litiraan reeled away as Enlishia loosed more arrows, one driving into the demon’s shoulder. Litiraan lashed out wildly once he had recovered from the blow and only succeeded in striking the stone wall beside him as the demon leapt back. The creature snarled again at the elf, promising a gruesome death, before rushing at him once more.

Erlmoor retreated a few more steps until he was beside the demon that Dulvarna faught. He called out a challenge to this new foe and then stabbed his blade into the demon’s hip. It hissed and snarled at him but he paid it no mind for the ape demon had taken another step forward after him. The first blow struck him in the left shoulder and spun him away from the carnage demon beside him. He ducked then as the left arm swung out at him at the limit of the ape demon’s reach. The clawed hand missed the top of the dragonborn’s head by a hand’s breadth and the paladin rose quickly, stepping back again. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Telkya loose a bolt of light towards the demon that her brother faught and as he turned his gaze back to the enemies before him, a dark bolt of crackling energy flashed in from his left and struck him in the side. Erlmoor grunted and gasped as the eldritch energy tore into his ribs. He staggered to the right and almost fell. Sensing his weakness, the carnage demon that Dulvarna faught turned aside and leapt on the dragonborn. Its claws tore at his face while its vicious questing teeth tore open his throat. With a final, strangled roar, Erlmoor fell beneath the demon as his blood spread out in a pool around him.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - The Inner Sanctum (Part 3)

Dulvarna cried out and rushed at the demon in a wild fury. She slashed her blade across the demon’s side and as it turned to face her, she raised her sword above her head and brought it down in a huge blow. Aecris split open the skull of the carnage demon, spilling blood and brains over poor, fallen Erlmoor before the creature crumpled and collapsed to lie atop the paladin. Dulvarna desperately wanted to move the demon aside but she had no time as its red-skinned companion leapt from the steps and rushed at her. It swung out with its right hand and she ducked under the blow before raising her blade and lashing out to keep the creature at bay. Dulvarna looked down sadly at Erlmoor for a moment and then turned her attention back to the foe before her.

Lavren loosed a black, crackling bolt into the side of the demon that Litiraan faught. It reeled and staggered back fro a moment before lashing out at the elf wizard. He ducked under the wild swing and rose just as Enlishia let fly from her bow once more. One shaft and then a second drove into the demon’s side, forcing it to lurch back to its right unsteadily. Before it had chance to recover, Litiraan came at the demon ina furious rage, his blade slashing left and right and tearing deep wounds across the creature’s chest. It staggered again and fell backwards this time, sorely wounded. Litiraan followed with the blade he had named Dragonbane in hand. The demon snarled its defiance but it knew in its black heart that it was doomed.

The ape demon leapt forward and lashed out with a backhand swing towards Dulvarna. She Ducked back to evade the blow and then ducked under the forehand swing of the demon’s left arm. Telkya began to pray again while reaching out towards Erlmoor. Pale motes of divine light rained down on the dragonborn and, though he lay beneath the gore-covered carnage demon, he opened his eyes and began to breath more strongly. Telkya smiled again and the dragonborn winked at her without attracting the notice of the demons that fought around him. From the high platform, the gnoll loosed another dark blast of crackling energy and this time, he found a target. The blast seared into Dulvarna’s left shoulder and hurled her back towards Telkya. The huge minotaur skeleton lumbered forward then until it stood beside the ape demon. Its huge axe swung out over the head of the carnage demon before Dulvarna and slammed her away from Telkya, smashing her into the wall of the entry passageway. She cried out as her shoulder slammed into the stone but lashed out with her blade nonetheless to draw blood from the hip of the demon before her. The creature snarled, hissed and leapt at Dulvarna, tearing at her with claws and needle-like teeth as its companion had done to Erlmoor.

Lavren loosed a bolt of black eldritch energy into the staggering demon that pierced its chest and threw it back from Litiraan. The creature staggered again and then fell to its knees before pitching forward on its front, its face on the stone floor. Enlishia nodded to the elf and then raised her bow. She loosed an arrow and then a second almost at once into the ape demon, driving it back a step and away from Dulvarna and Erlmoor. Litiraan raised his wand and loosed a curtain of flames to engulf the ape demon but the creature ducked left behind the cauldron it stood next to and evaded the fire. Litiraan cursed but then he heard a familiar roar and his heart sang. He looked to his left and saw Erlmoor rise to his feet with a song to Lathander on his lips. He raised his deep baritone voice to the ceiling of the chamber and then, as his blade glowed brightly, he slashed it into the hip of the skeleton. The huge minotaur skeleton staggered and the risen dragonborn roared in triumph.

The ape demon roared its own response to the return of the dragonborn and then lashed out with its right hand to backhand Erlmoor in the chest. The paladin reeled and staggered to his left as the creature lashed the same hand back across forehand and struck Erlmoor in the face, spinning him back around to his right. He staggered and almost fell as his strength faded again. Telkya rushed forward, seeing the plight of her companion again and raised her holy symbol towards the minotaur skeleton.
“Begone foul undead!” she cried out and as her symbol glowed brightly, light lanced out to strike the skeleton.

It staggered and raised its arms before its skull as it staggered back and away from the priestess’ terrible light. The gnoll watched as the skeleton retreated up the steps and past the altar and then he reached out with his left hand towards Dulvarna. A black bolt lanced out and struck the warrior woman in the side but though it seared her flesh it did not vanish then. As the gnoll held out his hand, he lifted it and the black lightning lifted Dulvarna until she was almost her own height off the ground and there she was held.

 

[Medriev]

Chapter 21 - The Inner Sanctum (Part 4)

The lightning died and though she remained suspended in the air, Dulvarna managed to raise her blade and keep the carnage demon at bay for a few moments. She summoned all her strength and concentrated on the moment that she was sure would come when she would fall to the floor where her enemies fought once more. The demon leapt and tore at her right leg with its teeth but Dulvarna slashed down with her blade and forced it away from her. She cursed her fate and prayed to Lathander that she would be freed from her terrible suspension before the demon below her tore her apart.

Lavren stepped forward beside Telkya and levelled his wand at the ape demon. He called forth one of his most powerful curses and as he finished it, terrible teeth appeared around the demon and snapped at it, tearing at its flesh. The demon staggered and began to howl as the teeth snapped at it. Enlishia took careful aim with her bow and then loosed an arrow that shattered as it drove into the ape demon’s chest sending splinters of wood though the creature’s body. It staggered again and seemed about to fall. Litiraan loosed a silver bolt of light past the creature’s head and then Erlmoor turned towards it, his blade held before him. He sang a hymn to Lathander as he lashed out at the demon and cut open the demon’s belly with a blow that struck with a clap of thunder. The creature staggered back a step and then fell backwards to land on its rump. It looked down at its cloven belly and its guts that it held in its hands and then fell over on its back, unmoving.

Telkya rushed at the demon before Dulvarna, praying to Corellon as she did so. Her sword glowed brightly as she lashed out and the blade clove into the arm of the red-skinned demon. As it did so, a tendril of light reached up to touch Dulvarna and heal the worst of her wounds. Even as the healing took effect, the gnoll reached out his hand and sent a bolt of black, crackling energy forth to strike Dulvarna in the side. She cried out and spun in mid air before dropping to the ground heavily as the enchantment of the previous bolt ended.

Dulvarna looked up as the enchantment ended and saw that the skeleton was coming forward again. The huge undead creature lumbered down the steps and lashed out with its axe to strike Erlmoor in the chest and send the dragonborn flying back towards Lavren. The paladin landed hard at the warlock’s feet and lay still, blood pooling once more around him. Dulvarna roared her defiance and grief as she charged forward and lashed out with her blade. Aecris clove into the side of the creature, tearing into its ribs and throwing it to the right. The demon staggered but then righted itself suddenly to leap at Dulvarna. It lashed out with a claw and tore open her throat, spinning her around on the spot and felling her beside Erlmoor.

Lavren stepped past Telkya and moved back to stand against the western wall as he raised his wand and cursed the minotaur skeleton. He loosed a bolt of black energy that struck the creature in the chest and shattered its rib cage before driving into its spine and cleaving it in two. The skeleton collapsed in a clatter of shattered bones. Enlishia stepped forward and turned her bow on the demon that had felled Dulvarna, loosing two arrows quickly that flew past the red-skinned creature and clattered into the stone of the raised area. The demon turned its blood-stained mouth towards the ranger and snarled as though promising her the same fate as her companions had suffered.