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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pogre" data-source="post: 1113719" data-attributes="member: 6588">Episode 21Tempting FateGathering up a few small items from the tomb the party debated on their next course of action. In short time they decided to “clean out” the remainder of the lower tomb. Backtracking they examined the Spartan lair of Morgang, finding nothing of interest. Approaching the final door of the lower level they immediately noticed two things:“Look at these strange runes,” Gjord pointed out intertwined symbols covering the door.“Listen to that,” Quarion added. “There is something huge moving around in there.”“Is it trapped?” Gerhardt asked.“I don’t think so,” Quarion answered.Gerhardt pushed his way forward. “Then get out of the way.” The fighter swung the door open. <a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0801_stone_golem.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0801_stone_golem_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>“By the goddess,” Gjord gasped. “What in Hades is that?”Gerhardt stood in fighting stance ready for a coming attack. No attack came, however, the creature just walked in a circle around the perimeter of the room. The footsteps pounded a steady rhythm like a great bass drum, jarring the adventurers with each footfall. “It looks like it is made of marble or green granite.”“A stone golem,” Hilde observed.Inga paused and then whispered to her sister, “Wouldn’t that require a higher magic?”“Very high,” Hilde answered.“He does not seem concerned that we opened the door,” Gerhardt observed. “But, look at all those corpses – entering the room is something different altogether. There is a bit of loot in there though. Say sister, can you tell if any of it is magical from here.”“I do not have that chant prepared today,” Hilde answered.“I do,” Inga interjected. The tall sister chanted shortly and then concentrated on the interior of the chamber. “There are six distinct auras coming from the chamber. One is the golem.”“The others?” Gjord asked.“Four smaller dweomers and one larger one near the back of the chamber. Concentrated on the corpses back there.”Gerhardt rattled his blade against his shield. “Five pieces of magic – I’d say that is worth fighting for.”“Certainly not,” Hilde stated. “The Golem would be unharmed by any of our efforts – its magic is far beyond us.”“But, it is slow,” Quarion added.“I like the way you think thief,” Gerhardt smiled. Calling Quarion a thief instead of an elf was quite a bit of diplomacy on his part. After all, most elves must loath themselves and their race.Gerhardt thought to himself. “A snatch and run seems in order here.”“One swing from those stone fists would crush any of us,” Hilde protested.“I could run in, but we better be prepared to retreat,” Inga offered.“Sister! I forbid it!” Hilde protested.“Yeah Inga! Now we’re talking!” Gerhardt encouraged.“This is madness,” Hilde felt her cheeks flushed full of blood.Inga stripped some of her heavier items and handed them to Gerhardt. Everyone in the group knew how fast the barbarian was, they had seen her chase down a deer on a bet weeks ago.“Please Inga,” Hilde pleaded. “Please reconsider. This is not worth the risk.”“We should wait on the other side of the pit trap,” Quarion suggested.“It will be fine,” Inga reassured Hilde.The adventurers took up their places further down the hall while Inga tensed ready to unleash a burst of speed into the chamber.“Ready,” Gerhardt whispered hoarsely.“Ready,” Quarion relayed to Inga.Inga sprinted into the chamber to the far side. She hesitated for a moment and grabbed one of the corpses and threw it over her shoulder.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0802_Inga_steals.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0802_Inga_steals_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Slowly, the Golem reacted. It moved towards the door.Even burdened, Inga was twice as fast as the construct. She sprinted towards the door. As she reached the portal’s frame she felt a terrible blow reign down on her. Inga maintained her balance, but the golem’s strike had nearly killed her. Blood was streaming down her brow into her eyes making it difficult to see.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0803_Inga_running.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0803_Inga_running_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>“Run!” she shouted.Quickly the group evacuated to behind the pit trap. They waited in silence. Hilde put her hands over Inga’s impressive wounds and said a prayer curing them.Gjord put his ear to the ground. “I don’t think it’s moving.”Gerhardt began moving down the corridor.“Where are you going?” Inga asked.“I want to see if he has come out of the chamber.” As quietly as he could Gerhardt crept back down the hall. Rounding the corner he spied the Golem standing in the doorway, still, and at guard.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0804_golem_guarding.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0804_golem_guarding_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Gerhardt moved directly out into the hallway. Still the stone golem did not move. “Hey, he’s just standing at the doorway,” Gerhardt shouted back to his companions.The golem did not move.“Just shut the door,” Hilde suggested.Gerhardt pulled his bowstring and let an arrow fly.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0805_gerhardt_potshot.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0805_gerhardt_potshot_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The golem moved. Ducking under the doorway it paced towards Gerhardt.“Run!” Gerhardt shouted.The entire group of adventurers ran back and took up places behind the open pit trap. The stone golem, motioned and the trap closed. It continued walking towards the adventurers.“Run!” several shouted.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0806_run.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0806_run_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The adventurers sprinted falling over one another in a mad dash. They reached the spiral staircase up and behind them they heard the consistent thud, thud of the approaching construct…To be continued…</blockquote>

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