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

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1236719" data-attributes="member: 1210">Seperated and ScaredCaptain Cavedwarf pokes his head out of the copper bathtub he’s hiding in to hazard a glance in the direction of the secret entrance.  Closed.  The kobold crushed beneath his chest squirms, and the dwarven druid pushes himself up, cautiously glancing around for any signs of danger.  The floor itself seems to be covered with tarnished copper plates.  Nervously Captain Cavedwarf and Federico stand up.“I’m scared,” whimpers the dog.***Brother He examines his chances, his unconscious friend, the fact that the others could be through the secret passage or down any of the many other tunnels they found.  They could even be on their way out.  It might be utterly futile to try to make for the secret passage.  But then again...If his friends are beyond the passage, might they not find a way to reopen it?  And if they aren’t, and something dangerous is, might Brother He not find himself in over his head?He settles down to meditate.***The only exit from the large chamber with the copper floors is a curving, ascending tunnel.  Soon it becomes a sheer shaft, but again, whoever has come before them has left a rope.  Federico whimpers, his arms already aching from the climbing he’s already done.  He’s weak.*  But our heroes scale the rope, and then continue up another winding tunnel.  As they advance, Captain Cavedwarf notes a breeze coming from up ahead, as well as a rumbling noise.  Water, he surmises, and soon our heroes emerge in a misty area.  A waterfall thunders down from above, the waters strangely luminescent.  A stone barrier prevents the water from flowing down the tunnel towards the pair, and clouds of water vapor fog the air. A strange singing wafts through the air.“What’s that?” Federico whispers, awestruck by the beauty of the voice.  Captain Cavedwarf can only shake his head.Emerging from the mist comes a beauteous form, a gorgeous elfin female without a stitch of clothing on.  “She’s so beautiful,” the kobold moans, and Captain Cavedwarf glances sharply in his direction.  Before he can speak, the kobold cries a greeting.***The other two of our group are nervously waiting near the entrance to the mines.  Resting, healing, preparing to attempt a rescue... or body retrieval.  They are grim.  Ed is crying, her face marred by rivers of tears.  Thelonious says nothing, laying with his eyes closed, trying to recoup some of his strength.  Soon, he groans inwardly.  I’ll go looking soon.  Maybe they’ll make it out on their own...  He descends into feverish dreams.He’s sick, Airhead Ed thinks miserably as she looks at the exhausted big ranger.  I hope he throws it off.  Bad things are happening here... we need everyone we’ve got left...  As she starts to think of her dead friends, the tears start again, even without anyone to see her performance.***“Velea,” says the gorgeous woman, shaking Federico’s paw.  “And you?”  She smiles sweetly at them. The dwarf is cautious but hopeful.  She seems to be some sort of fey; hopefully they can help each other out.  The talk is respectful, and soon turns to the dragon.  “Old Copperdeath,” muses the fey.  She sounds both fearful and respectful as she speaks of him.  “I’ve been hearing his voice lately, as if he’s somehow returned... I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’ve been bound here for so long now... I must be free!  You must help me!”Captain Cavedwarf frowns but holds his tongue as Federico gladly agrees to everything she suggests.“Have you seen another band of adventurers come through here?” the dwarf suddenly asks.  “Oh, ah, well...”  She looks momentarily pensive.  “Yes, two of them came to visit me.  I think they were seeking Copperdeath as well...”  She trails off.  “I’m afraid I grew too impatient to get their aid.”“Do you have any food?” Federico interrupts.  “I’m hungry.”  “Of course, my little friend!”  She stoops down and kisses his on his scaly forehead.  “Anything for you!”  She dives into the pool the waterfall pounds into, and a few moments later emerges with something in her hand.  The dwarven druid watches with interest as she tosses it- a bone, looks like a femur- to the dog, who immediately starts slavering on it, enjoying the tattered bits of meat that remain on it. “We need the others,” Captain Cavedwarf says, almost to himself.He and Federico return to the copper-floored room, assuring the fey woman that they’ll be back to help her very shortly.  It takes a great deal of effort to persuade Federico to turn back, which Captain Cavedwarf would no doubt have thought very odd, if only he’d known the little kobold well enough to recognize his utter lack of courage.***Brother He’s eyes crack open.  He’s sitting cross-legged on the floor about twenty feet from the stone dragon.  That sound- just like before, he thinks sickly.In an instant, Brother He is backpedaling away from it.  He knows one blow from it will likely kill him, and he dares not stand around waiting for that blow.  But it doesn’t attack him; instead it steps aside, and the passage is revealed; and standing before it are the dwarf and the kobold.  “Let’s flee!” cries Federico.“What’s back there?” Brother He asks.“Come quickly, lad!” Captain Cavedwarf barks.  He steps out, seizing Sandy’s unconscious form beneath the arms and dragging him through the momentarily-opened passage.  Brother He doesn’t hesitate at all; he steps through.  Mere moments later, the statue returns to its former resting place and settles back down, sealing them in the passage. *Federico’s strength is a 1.Next Time: What comes out of a dragon’s mouth?  Plus- the fate of the missing children!</blockquote>

Verification