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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Medriev" data-source="post: 4662925" data-attributes="member: 21864">Chapter 13 - The Well of Demons (Part 5)“It was not for duty that we threw down the gates of the Horned Hold,” said Dulvarna, her voice rising. “It was not for duty that we slew Murkelmor himself. We came here to save lives and for nothing more.”“Great feats both I am sure,” answered the black bearded man. “Though the gates of the Horned Hold have been thrown down before and Murkelmor when last we saw him was balding and fat. Age has no doubt slowed him further while we have been doomed to wander this dark place.”“Age has not slowed Murkelmor and his hold was strong when we came to it,” Enlishia responded. “We faught there strongly for two days but the duergar and their orc allies were vanquished in the end. It lies empty still, I’d wager, and the duergar will not soon be coming back to it.”“Perhaps, perhaps,” mused Mendara seeming to look upon Enlishia with some form of respect. “The duergar are perhaps stronger now than we remember them. Murkelmor’s father though, was truly a mighty dwarf. We struck him down four times before he finally fell.”“Pardon me, Lady,” interrupted Erlmoor before Mendara could meander into another boast. “But we surely did not come here to share tales and you, surely, do not keep us here to learn of our exploits. We have told you why we have come here and now we would continue on our way for surely every moment delayed takes the captives we seek further away from us.”“You are right, of course,” answered the spirit of the dwarf. “But so few come as far as here and none have yet prevailed in this dark place and so we would discern whether you deceive us with your tales. If you deceive us then perhaps you mislead us about the strength of your arms and your Art. We would not see you fail as we did.”“And we shall not,” answered Lavren quickly. “I am a warlock who has studied the fey mysteries of my kind. Many have tasted the power of my eldritch assaults and fallen to them. Litiraan and Telkya are strong in Art and faith and Erlmoor, Dulvarna and Enlishia wield their arms with rare skill. We shall prevail.”“Perhaps you shall,” answered Mendara. “But we were strong as you were and had vanquished far more powerful foes when we fell here.”“Could you hurl balls of flame as I can, or grip a foe in an icy hand?” asked Litiraan. “My wand and the amulet at my neck are enchanted as is my blade. Were you as well armed and as skilled when you came here? And more than that, I seek the captives not out of duty but because they are friends and kin. I will not let them die!”“Well spoken elf lord,” answered Mendara. “Our kin are too often humble and reserved but you show the true power of the Fair Folk that raised up Myth Drannor and crafted a kingdom in fair Evermeet that I shall never see.”She looked sad then and the others found their gazes torn between the sad and proud elf maid and the elf lord who seemed to have found the determination and strength that had first set him at the head of his war band.“My brother speaks truly,” said Telkya after a pause. “And I for my part have vowed to stand beside him as we search for our kin.” Despite Mendara watching her with her cold, piercing eyes, Telkya could not help but sneak a sideways glance at Lavren. For a moment, she thought that Mendara had looked into her heart and seen the omission in what she had said. She stayed for Lavren too, she admitted to herself for the first time. She felt a faint nervous excitement in her stomach as she allowed herself the thought despite the danger of her surroundings and the chill that still held all of them. She looked up at Mendara and to her surprise, the elf’s face softened.“This place is called the Proving Grounds,” said the robed elf. “And it was a testing place for worshippers of the demon lord Baphomet when minotaurs yet ruled under the mountain. Still, some cultists come here to prove their mettle but none have passed through it since we have been here.”“You must find four items,” said the dwarf. “A knife, a mask, a bell and a book. You must place each of these items on one of the four circles of runes found within this place.”“Alas if it were only that easy,” said the black-bearded man and the companions noticed as he straightened that as well as the other cuts and gouges, his mail coat was torn in half across his waist. “The items must be placed on the runes at the exact same time.” Mendara nodded sternly.“Three of the items are held within chambers built to test Baphomet’s worshippers,” said the elf maid. “You can find these chambers to the north, west and south of where we now stand, through the eastern double doors and then through another set of doors that lead to the west. The fourth item, the book, is on an altar in a small shrine to the east.”“We wish you well,” said the dwarf, his form, along with the others, beginning to fade. “We truly do. May you prevail where we did not.”“Wait,” pleaded Dulvarna. “Is there not more you can tell us.”“We have told you all we can,” said Mendara, her voice now sounding distant and her form barely visible. “I hope it will be enough.”An instant later the spirits were gone and the chill that had heralded their appearance was lifted. The six companions shared nervous glances and then turned towards the eastern doors.Next.....Lost in the Dark</blockquote>

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