Servants of the Swift Sword (A Kalamar campaign)
- Thread starter Wicht
- Start date
Desdichado
Hero
Wicht, are you on Windows? The Paint utility that comes with Windows should be able to convert bmps to jpgs or gifs.
Wicht
Hero
And now for a minor character update - mainly to introduce Kinshag a little better, but while I am at it, an update for Alairic.
Alairic it might be noticed has gained a magical greatsword.
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Alairic, Male Human Pal4: CR 4; Size M (5 ft. tall); hp 28; Init +5; Spd 20 ft; AC 18; Atk +8 melee (2d6+4 +1 Greatsword); SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +4; Ali LG; Str 15, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 7, Wis 16, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Ride +5, Diplomacy +4, Knowledge (religion) +4; Improved Initiative, Blind Fighting, Weapon Focus (Greatsword).
Weapons and armor: +1 Greatsword, dagger, half-plate.
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Kinshag, Male Sil-karg (Krangi) Ftr2: CR 2; Size M (6 ft.); hp 12; Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 14; Atk +5 melee (1d8+3 Longsword), +3 ranged (1d8+2 Mighty Composite Longbow); SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will -1; Ali LG; Str 16, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 9, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Handle Animal +3, Ride +6, Swim +8; Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Great-ax), Cleave.
Weapons and Armor: Greatsword, Mighty Composite Longbow (+2 str), Daggers, Longsword, Rapier, and Masterwork Studded Leather Armor.
Kinshag is not much too look at. His dark red skin is offset with yellow eyes. He has a pronounced underbite that is enhanced with large tusk like teeth, pointed ears and a mess of black hair. He is tall and muscular, with broad shoulders, a broad neck and very large hands.
Kinshag is a curious mixture of Reanaarian and Krangi cultures. His mother was a hobgoblin from the lands of Tarisato, who found the male dominated way of her clan too stiffling. She migrated to Zoa where she worked as a mercenary. Before she died in a drunken brawl, she also gave birth to half a dozen sil-kargs, all by different fathers. Her children were left to fend for themselves. Kinshag was ten when his mother died, and though she had instilled in him a need for order and discipline (as undisciplined as she sometimes was) and some skills with weapons, he found her way of life distasteful. Kinshag spent some time with both hobgoblins and humans in Zoa and then eventually he headed north into the more agricultural areas of the penninsula. He eventually settled down on the northern coast, offering his services as both a hired hand and a hired sword. His reputation for honesty and his soft heart eventually won him a place to live, despite his poor social skills and unusual heritage.
Alairic it might be noticed has gained a magical greatsword.
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Alairic, Male Human Pal4: CR 4; Size M (5 ft. tall); hp 28; Init +5; Spd 20 ft; AC 18; Atk +8 melee (2d6+4 +1 Greatsword); SV Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +4; Ali LG; Str 15, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 7, Wis 16, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Ride +5, Diplomacy +4, Knowledge (religion) +4; Improved Initiative, Blind Fighting, Weapon Focus (Greatsword).
Weapons and armor: +1 Greatsword, dagger, half-plate.
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Kinshag, Male Sil-karg (Krangi) Ftr2: CR 2; Size M (6 ft.); hp 12; Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 14; Atk +5 melee (1d8+3 Longsword), +3 ranged (1d8+2 Mighty Composite Longbow); SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will -1; Ali LG; Str 16, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 9, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Climb +8, Handle Animal +3, Ride +6, Swim +8; Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Great-ax), Cleave.
Weapons and Armor: Greatsword, Mighty Composite Longbow (+2 str), Daggers, Longsword, Rapier, and Masterwork Studded Leather Armor.
Kinshag is not much too look at. His dark red skin is offset with yellow eyes. He has a pronounced underbite that is enhanced with large tusk like teeth, pointed ears and a mess of black hair. He is tall and muscular, with broad shoulders, a broad neck and very large hands.
Kinshag is a curious mixture of Reanaarian and Krangi cultures. His mother was a hobgoblin from the lands of Tarisato, who found the male dominated way of her clan too stiffling. She migrated to Zoa where she worked as a mercenary. Before she died in a drunken brawl, she also gave birth to half a dozen sil-kargs, all by different fathers. Her children were left to fend for themselves. Kinshag was ten when his mother died, and though she had instilled in him a need for order and discipline (as undisciplined as she sometimes was) and some skills with weapons, he found her way of life distasteful. Kinshag spent some time with both hobgoblins and humans in Zoa and then eventually he headed north into the more agricultural areas of the penninsula. He eventually settled down on the northern coast, offering his services as both a hired hand and a hired sword. His reputation for honesty and his soft heart eventually won him a place to live, despite his poor social skills and unusual heritage.
Wicht
Hero
Visions
Alairic lay on the ground bleeding. Cool grass on his back contrasted with the burning agony of the many cuts on his skin. Overhead the stars spun in the velvet sky as dancing globes of light flitted amongst each other. At his head was the great altar to Naemae he had seen once before. In his hands was the sword he had taken from the corpse of the dead Defender.
A voice spoke to him.
“Arise.”
He had heard the voice before. Pushing himself to his feet, Alairic stood once more before the figure of Rowlandigo. With a nod, the messenger of Naemae reached out his hand and touched Alairic on the forehead. Immediately the Paladin’s wounds closed and the pain fled.
Without a word the golden furred being walked past Alairic and approached the altar which stood in the middle of the meadow. Behind the altar stood the great golden staute of the Knight of the gods. Alairic moved next to Rowlandigo.
“What would you offer?” asked Rowlandigo.
Though nothing had been said, the paladin understood instinctively what was expected of him. He bore only the sword. He had felt its magical power already and knew that it was no ordinary sword. For a moment doubt gnawed at him. Keeping the sword would make his fight easier. And yet, if this was what was expected, who was he to doubt? His mind said no, but his heart told him yes. Smiling suddenly at this inward turmoil, the paladin strode the step forward and laid the sword down upon the altar. Then he kneeled and bowed his head.
Rowlandigo spoke, “Its name was Talbright and its last bearer was named Renkou, a stouthearted servant who sought to fight Gilkamen, the ancient green dragon who dwells atop the mountain. He and his companions never even reached the creatures lair, it is a powerful evil. But an even worse evil lies buried within the temple of confusion and it must remain there. You and your companions must not free it nor let it be freed. Beware the vulture that lies!”
Rowlandigo grasped the paladins arm and lifted him to his feet. On the altar lay Talbright, but even as Alairic watched the altar glowed and the sword burned with a fierce flame. But even as Alairic thought the great-sword would be consumed, the fires died. The sword lay there untarnished.
“Take it servant of the Evil Slayer, and use its holy power to strike down evil in all its forms, but remember the words of the saint, ‘A weapon is only as strong as the arm that weilds it.’ Choose your battles well.”
“I will.”
“Let Naemae guide you and remember that kindness is its own reward. There is more than one way to destroy evil.”
And with that the vision faded, but as it did, Alairic felt a new awareness, a closer spiritual connection to his deity.
Alairic lay on the ground bleeding. Cool grass on his back contrasted with the burning agony of the many cuts on his skin. Overhead the stars spun in the velvet sky as dancing globes of light flitted amongst each other. At his head was the great altar to Naemae he had seen once before. In his hands was the sword he had taken from the corpse of the dead Defender.
A voice spoke to him.
“Arise.”
He had heard the voice before. Pushing himself to his feet, Alairic stood once more before the figure of Rowlandigo. With a nod, the messenger of Naemae reached out his hand and touched Alairic on the forehead. Immediately the Paladin’s wounds closed and the pain fled.
Without a word the golden furred being walked past Alairic and approached the altar which stood in the middle of the meadow. Behind the altar stood the great golden staute of the Knight of the gods. Alairic moved next to Rowlandigo.
“What would you offer?” asked Rowlandigo.
Though nothing had been said, the paladin understood instinctively what was expected of him. He bore only the sword. He had felt its magical power already and knew that it was no ordinary sword. For a moment doubt gnawed at him. Keeping the sword would make his fight easier. And yet, if this was what was expected, who was he to doubt? His mind said no, but his heart told him yes. Smiling suddenly at this inward turmoil, the paladin strode the step forward and laid the sword down upon the altar. Then he kneeled and bowed his head.
Rowlandigo spoke, “Its name was Talbright and its last bearer was named Renkou, a stouthearted servant who sought to fight Gilkamen, the ancient green dragon who dwells atop the mountain. He and his companions never even reached the creatures lair, it is a powerful evil. But an even worse evil lies buried within the temple of confusion and it must remain there. You and your companions must not free it nor let it be freed. Beware the vulture that lies!”
Rowlandigo grasped the paladins arm and lifted him to his feet. On the altar lay Talbright, but even as Alairic watched the altar glowed and the sword burned with a fierce flame. But even as Alairic thought the great-sword would be consumed, the fires died. The sword lay there untarnished.
“Take it servant of the Evil Slayer, and use its holy power to strike down evil in all its forms, but remember the words of the saint, ‘A weapon is only as strong as the arm that weilds it.’ Choose your battles well.”
“I will.”
“Let Naemae guide you and remember that kindness is its own reward. There is more than one way to destroy evil.”
And with that the vision faded, but as it did, Alairic felt a new awareness, a closer spiritual connection to his deity.
Desdichado
Hero
I can do it with my older computer that uses Windows98. In fact, my newer version of Paint doesn't seem to be any differet. But I don't have a really new version of windows anywhere.Wicht said:
Wicht
Hero
Dreams
Tilliana lay in her crib, fussing at her father over her. Nearby, Tilliana’s mother was working with something at the stove and on the floor by the crib, her brother was playing with a toy sword. Despite the close presence of her family, Tilliana felt anxious, alone and scared. She felt trapped and frightened.
“Hush,” said her Father, sticking something into her hands. She looked at it closely. It was a pure white feather. Stroking it she cooed and felt a little better.
“A swan feather for my little princess. Would you like to hear a song little one?”
Tilliana smiled up at her father. He smiled back and tickling her face with the feather he sang her a song with a curious tune.
“When you stand upon the sand,
with a feather in your hand,
say oldama…
say oldama
“When the dangers fill the night
And the dragon takes to flight
Then you stand upon the sand
and take the feather in your hand
and say oldama…
say oldama…
“Oldama is a word to note
Oldamas what the elves call boat
And the feather turns to wood
And takes you where you can be good
So when the dangers fill the night
And the dragon takes to flight
Then you stand upon the sand
and take the feather in your hand
and say oldama…
Say oldama…”
Tilliana lay in her crib, fussing at her father over her. Nearby, Tilliana’s mother was working with something at the stove and on the floor by the crib, her brother was playing with a toy sword. Despite the close presence of her family, Tilliana felt anxious, alone and scared. She felt trapped and frightened.
“Hush,” said her Father, sticking something into her hands. She looked at it closely. It was a pure white feather. Stroking it she cooed and felt a little better.
“A swan feather for my little princess. Would you like to hear a song little one?”
Tilliana smiled up at her father. He smiled back and tickling her face with the feather he sang her a song with a curious tune.
“When you stand upon the sand,
with a feather in your hand,
say oldama…
say oldama
“When the dangers fill the night
And the dragon takes to flight
Then you stand upon the sand
and take the feather in your hand
and say oldama…
say oldama…
“Oldama is a word to note
Oldamas what the elves call boat
And the feather turns to wood
And takes you where you can be good
So when the dangers fill the night
And the dragon takes to flight
Then you stand upon the sand
and take the feather in your hand
and say oldama…
Say oldama…”
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Wicht
Hero
Chapter 10 Temple of Confusion
The sunlight began to stream through the opening above them, waking all five of the sleeping inhabitants in the ancient cellar. Without exception they had all fallen asleep, even Alairic, who had been supposed to be standing guard. As they stretched and began moving, their sleep-fogged minds gradually began to register that they had been healed while asleep. All of them except for Reshk, who was still tied and who was still asleep.
“How?” asked Niccolo as he examined where his wounds had been.
“I had a vision,” stated Alairic simply.
“What was it of?” asked Tilliana.
“I was visited by Rowlandigo. He said that the sword I found was named Talbright and that its last owner had been named Renkou. He said to remember that a weapon was only as good as its wielder and that we were to choose our battles wisely. Also that kindness was its own reward and that there was more than one way to defeat evil.”
“We need to get out of this hole,” said Niccolo eyeing the corpses stacked in the far corner. His eyes drifted to the rope tied outside. It still dangled down into the hole. “We left the rope up. Noone remembered to take care of that.”
Reshk began waking up. He immediately began complaining of his wounds and of being tied up.
“Deal with it,” said Niccolo to the kobold.
“We need a muzzle,” said Alairic.
After they had gathered up their belongings, Alairic scooted quickly up the rope. Soon he was pulling himself up and out of the opening above them.
“Thank goodness you are awake,” said a soft, hissing voice from behind the Paladin. Stumbling to his feet, Alairic turned quickly. He saw the reptilian head first. It had dark green scales, small horns and intelligent eyes of yellow. His eyes soon took in the batlike wings and fierce claws. It was a small dragon, standing about six or seven feet high, though with its tail it was actually longer then it looked at first.
“I was just about to have to come down there after you,” said the dragon.
Alairic began to draw Talbright.
The dragon reared back a bit, arching its neck, “Are you sure you want to do that?”
Alairic could sense that the dragon was evil, but he doubted his ability to take it on himself. He slid his sword back into its sheath.
“No, I guess not,” said Alairic.
“Good.”
“What do you want?” asked the Paladin. Behind him, Kinshag was crawling out of the hole.
“My father, the powerful Gilkamen, sent me to keep an eye on you, “ said the dragon slyly, “And in the meantime, I thought it would be best if I remembered to make sure that you paid your toll. You after all are trespassing. It is only right that you pay for the privilege of sleeping here.”
Tilliana was now climbing out of the hole with her eye was on the dragon.
“How much do you want?” asked Alairic.
“How much do you have?” asked the dragon.
“How much do you want?”
The dragon moved a bit closer to Alairic. Niccolo was now out. He had left Reshk tied up at the bottom of the rope.
“I want all your gold!”
“Listen,” said Niccolo, “We are here to keep a demon imprisoned, one that if released even your father won’t be able to handle. We are in fact doing him a favor.”
The dragon merely smiled wickedly at Niccolo’s suggestion of a weakness in her father and said, “I fully intend on letting you go into this old temple again, but first you will pay your rent.”
At the bottom of the rope Reshk began to holler.
“We don’t have to give you our gold!” said Kinshag fiercely and foolishly.
Swiftly the small dragon turned her head towards the half-hobgoblin. She reared back and opened her mouth and breathed a stream of acidic gas at the sil-karg. He went down in a howl of pain, his flesh bubbling and melting. For a moment the other three stared dumbfounded and then in a flash Tilliana was at the unfortunate fighter’s side. Divine energy flowed through her, easing the pain. Alairic went tot he other side, laying his hands on Kinshag’s head. The wounds healed.
Alairic turned to the dragon frustrated.
“We’ll give you our gold,” he said.
“Don’t try and cheat me, I can smell gold, I will know if you are holding back.”
Without a word, the four companions piled the money they had with them upon the forest floor. The dragon smiled, revealing many sharp teeth.
“Excellent.”
She trotted past the four and looked down the hole. “And do you plan on leaving this little person here for me,” she licked her lips.
“We’ll take him with us,” said Tilliana.
“What is your name?” asked Niccolo.
“I am sorry, forgive my rudeness, I am Goshaken, daughter of Gilkamen.”
They helped Reshk out of the hole, untying him and then tying him again. He seemed none too happy, but as the old kobold eyed the dragon, he grew silent and clammed up. They entered through the vines on the cliff wall into the entrance to the underground temple once more. The small dragon watched them carefully as they went in, her claws running absentmindedly through the small pile of gold coins.
Again they entered through the broken door and as they went down the strange hallway, they again seemed to grow in size. This time however Tilliana and Niccolo both noticed that there was no magic involved, the hallway grew smaller, they did not grow taller. It was a perfectly executed optical illusion. As they entered through the small door, Tilliana casts Naemae’s Strength upon the sil-karg, making him temporarily stronger.
They entered again into the vast hallway, where the day before they had fought with the deadly flying reptiles, Reshk’s “babies.” Alairic walked to the edge of the floor overlooking the altar below and then he and the others went down the stairs to the right. They heard no movement and saw nothing that threatened.
Alairic, once they had reached the bottom of the steps walked over to the altar. It was atop a raised circular platform. There were benches of stone on all four sides of the altar, though on the side across from where they had entered the room there were more stone benches than anywhere else. Alairic examined the altar. There was little doubt it was desecrated to evil. No only did it have an evil aura, but there were fell signs on it. A raised carving of stone on the side of the altar was fashioned into a curious and impossible geometric shape that confused the eye when watched. Alairic knew this to be the sign of the Creator of Strife, the god for whom the temple had originally been built. Niccolo connected it with the altar in the woods. The design was the same. However, painted in blood atop the stone carving was another sign. Neither Alairic nor Tilliana recognized it, though they knew it to be evil.
“What do you know about this altar?” Alairic asked Reshk.
The kobold however was pouting and did not want to speak.
“There is still a dragon out there,” said Niccolo.
“The priest uses the altar,” said Reshk.
“A human priest?” asked Alairic.
“No! A proper person.”
“A kobold priest.”
“Who is he the Preist of?” asked Tilliana.
“The overlord.”
The overlord, Tilliana knew was the name given to the god of slavery and domination.
“Does this priest have a name?”
“His name is Disshak.”
They went to the far end of the room. There was a door on both the east and west wall.
“Where do these doors lead?” asked Alairic
“The hallways,” said the kobold sourly.
“Give us a proper answer and we will be nice to you,” said Niccolo.
The kobold snorted. “I told you they lead to the hallways.”
“And where do the hallways go?” asked Tilliana
“They all go to the same place.”
“Where do they go,” asked Niccolo.
“They go to the hallways,” said the kobold frustrated. “All the hallways lead to the same place!”
“And where do the hallways lead?” asked Tilliana
“They lead here!”
A light dawned in Tilliana’s eyes. “I see,”
“It’s a labyrinth,” said Niccolo.
“How do we get to the priest?” asked Tilliana.
“You want to go see Disshak?” asked Reshk slyly.
“Yes, we have to stop him,” said Tilliana.
“If you untie me and heal me,” said Reshk, “I will lead you to Disshak and you can kill him and then I will keep the others from attacking you, they will listen to me if Disshak is dead.”
“Don’t you like Disshak?” asked Niccolo.
Reshk just smiled wickedly.
Tilliana, deciding to trust the kobold, healed him of some of his wounds.
“Will you untie me?” asked Reshk.
“I am against it,” said Alairic.
“I make a promise,” said Reshk, “I won’t break it.”
Niccolo went ahead and untied the small kobold.
“Very good!” said Reshk, “It’s the door on the left, all the way to the end of the hall.”
They went through the door and entered into a ten foot wide hallway that was quite long. They passed a couple of doors on the left and then a short hall on the right before finally coming to a door at the end of the hallway.
“Shall we go in?” asked Niccolo.
Reshk opened the door for them.
Kinshag was in front and could see the room clearly. There was no need even for his darkvision. A kobold was sitting at a table eating a meal. There were some chests and other odds and ends in the room, including a bed.
The kobold, seeing strangers at his door immediately began to yell. Then with a wave of his hand and a muttering of foul words he motioned at Kinshag and the young fighter felt his limbs lock in place. He could still breath but he could not otherwise move. Pushing aside the motionless sil-karg, Niccolo raced into the room, greatax at the ready. He swung and the nimble kobold ducked out of the way, scooting out of his chair and picking up a mace with a stone head. Tilliana also charged in. Her sword more easily found its mark and the kobold priest was bleeding. Alairic moved in just past Tilliana and avoiding a blow from the stone weapon, the paladin swung. His aim was off and the sword went harmlessly over the kobolds head. With another loud yell, the kobold swung at Niccolo. Niccolo stepped back and out of the way and then with a well placed swing and a step back towards the kobold, the half-elf brought his ax down in the small reptilian head, splitting it open.
The fight was over.
“Good job,” said Reshk, looking in from the doorway.
Niccolo began to search the body and Tilliana the room. Alairic moved back to the door. The sound of the fight had brought attention to them and armed kobolds soon began to move into the hallway.
Niccolo found a scroll on the kobold’s body and some gold. There was a curious box, engraven with symbols tied to the kobold’s head. Tilliana ascertained that there was food on the table, a bed and two locked chests. The food smelled good and the priestess was tempted to try some of it. It was mostly roasted meat. Niccolo pocketed the gold and slipped the scroll into his backpack and then taking his ax he cleaved open the chests. They were filled with coins of copper and gold.
The hall outside was filling up with kobolds, many of them armed. Alairic saw that some of them had nets and the rest of them had clubs. Reshk was talking to them rapidly in some language unknown to any of the others. Tilliana listened attentively, trying to pick up some of the words. Meanwhile, Kinshag started to move again.
Reshk motioned to the kobolds, and the kobolds motioned at the companions. Reshk motioned back at the companions, all the while talking. Finally he turned and said to Alairic, “They want to know why you are here?”
“There is a demon buried here?” said Niccolo.
He talked again to the other kobolds.
“Where?” asked Reshk.
“Somewhere in this temple.”
Some more talk ensued.
“They say and I agree that perhaps you are after the other group like you.”
“Other group?”
“They made a deal with Disshak and then they went down the bottomless stairs.”
“That’s probably where we want to go then,” said Niccolo. The others agreed.
“What about the coins?” asked Niccolo to his companions.
“Leave them,” said Alairic, “They belong to these kobolds.”
“Come with us,” said Tilliana to the kobolds and Reshk in particular, “Be brave and help us stop these men.”
“None of them will go down the bottomless stairs,” said Reshk, “Though I might, if you will heal me and give me a part of what you find.”
“Ok,” said Alairic, warming up to the kobold slightly, though not really trusting him.
Tilliana and Alairic both healed some more of the small warriors wounds. As Reshk walked with them down the hall and towards the entrance to the stairs, Tilliana explained to the kobold about some of the benefits of serving Naemae.
The bottomless stairs, as the kobolds called them, were found at the end of the small tunnel the party had already passed. They went through a door and found themselves on a small landing. Stairs went up to their left and down to their right. Going up, they went up for about fifteen feet and then turned to the right. Going down, they went about fifteen feet and turned to the left.
“Up or down?” asked Alairic.
“I bet up leads us to the dragon,” said Niccolo.
“I say down too,” said Tilliana. Kinshag agreed.
They went down the stairs and made the turn to the left. The stairs stretched down and forward another thirty feet or so and then turned again to the left. They went further down and made the turn. The stairs again went down and forward another thirty feet, turning again to the left, only about halfway down was a small landing on the right with a closed door. They went to the door.
“Should I open it?” asked Alairic.
“If we open the door will we free the demon?” asked Tilliana.
“The demon is supposed to be buried,” said Niccolo.
“Well we are underground,” said Alairic, “thus its technically buried, and you call me dumb!”
“Open it,” said Kinshag.
Alairic opened it. It opened up on a hallway, perhaps six feet wide. It went about fifteen feet to another hallway which ran crossways to it.
“Too many hallways,” said Alairic, closing the door, “Let’s keep going down.”
They went down turned left, went another thirty feet down and turned left again. There was another doorway on the right about halfway down the stairs and the stairs went past the door before eventually turning to the left again.
They went down and Alairic opened the door. A small crowd of kobolds stared at them through the door. Alairic closed the door quickly.
“Let’s keep moving.”
They went down to the turn again and then down another thirty feet and then turned left once more and again, halfway down the stairs was a doorway.
“I am not opening this one,” said Alairic.
“I’ll open it,” said Kinshag. He strode down the steps and pulled the door open. It revealed a hallway, perhaps six feet wide and fifteen feet long, ending in another hallway which ran crossways to it.
“Wait a moment…” said Alairic, as he stared through the door, “This is like that first door I opened. We are going…”
“in circles,” finished Niccolo.
“Are you sure?” asked Tilliana, not quite buying it, “ If you think so one of us could stay here, or two of us, and two others could go down.”
But Alairic and Niccolo were already convinced.
“That would explain why those kobolds did not attack,” said Alairic.
“Why they just stood there,” said Niccolo.
“They were the same kobolds we had just left,” concluded the Paladin, his mind working overtime.
Reshk nodded and smiled, “Endless stairs… they always go back to where you start.”
“Let’s just go through here then,” said Alairic.
They followed him through the door and into the hall. At the end of the hallway the first thing they heard was snores from their left. The hallway opened up into a room. To their right the hallway continued on, with a branch going up to the left and further on, a branch to the right.
They went into the room from which they heard the snores. There were four men sound asleep on the floor. Around them was rubble and the broken remains of statues.
As they stared at the sleeping men, Alairic heard a sound from outside the room. He turned to investigate just as a crossbow bolt flew through the door and into Niccolo. Another one followed it. In an instant Alairic was out the door charging down the hall. Reshk followed behind him, stone warhammer at the ready. There were four men in the hallway, each armed with a crossbow and rapier. Alairic and Reshk both charged into them. One of the men, dropping his crossbow , cut Alairic slightly on the arm. Alairic, swung and his sword connected. There was a flash of light from the impact and the man fell to the ground dying.
In the room, Niccolo, shrugged off the pain from the crossbow bolts stuck in him and went swiftly to one of the sleepers, intending to bash him on the head and keep him from waking. His first blow missed the man’s head though and the flat end of his ax rang loudly off the floor. Tilliana, puzzled what to do about sleeping enemies decided to try and wake one of them up so she could kill him in a fair fight. She pulled one up and started to shake him awake. Kinshag meanwhile walked over and cut one of the sleepers in half.
Outside, Reshk had wounded one of the attackers and Alairic was holding the other two at bay.
Niccolo lifted his ax and tried to rap the man in front of him on the head again. This time the ax head connected and the man, woke up, his eyes flying open, his hands going to his now throbbing head. Tilliana had woken her man up and was just standing him on his feet when Kinshag rushed up to him and pounded him on the head with the pummel of his sword. He had noticed that the other two were not killing the sleepers and so had decided to knock them all out instead. The man Tilliana had just woken fell to the ground, out like a light. Sighing, Tilliana walked over to the last man and pounded him hard on the head, ensuring he would not wake up anytime soon.
“Who are you?” snarled Niccolo at the man he had rudely awaken.
“We’re just here for the gold!” said the man frantically, no fight in him.
Outside, Alairic dodged a sword blade and sliced into another of the men fighting him. Again his sword flashed white and the man was dead. Reshk swung and hit his opponent once more and the man fell to the ground, his ribs crushed from the massive weight of the stone warhammer. Alairic dodged another blow and then with another swing and another flash laid the last man out.
The kobold and the paladin walked back into the room. Niccolo was fussing over how to tie up their three prisoners.
“Rope! We left the rope tied to that tree out there!”
Finally the ranger decided to try and use the strings the men had tied their bedrolls together with. When all four were securely bound, they searched through prisoners and dead alike. Besides weapons, there were gold coins on all of them.
“What do we do with these?” asked Tilliana
“Take them all with us!” said Niccolo
“Let’s leave them here,” said Alairic.
They ended up leaving the three men tied up in the room. They went and investigated the room the other four men had come out of. It was mostly empty, bedrolls in one corner, tied. There was a table in the middle of the room. It was stone and had strange writing around the edges of the table. There were playing cards on the table and chairs around the table. Tilliana for the first time noticed that three of her companions were badly wounded. She healed Reshk, Niccolo and Alairic as well as she could. The action seemed to please the kobold.
The left that room and went back out into the hall. As they walked down the hall, Tilliana spoke words of encouragement. “Let us be brave,” she said, “Take courage and let the swords of Naemae strike down whatever evil is down here.” Her attitude did much to encourage them, kobold included, but no sooner had she spoken then crossbow bolts flew out of the darkness and ricocheted off of the floor and walls. None hit, but it was clear they were under attack. Again Alairic was the first to react. Pushing the others aside he raced down the hall. In the dim light he could just make out a man standing in a doorway and Alairic made straight for this, sword at the ready. His greatsword swung down and into the man, who staggered from the impact and from the burning light flashed from the connection. There were two men to either side of the one Alairic had attacked and one of these managed to plunge a rapier into Alairic. A fourth man, standing just behind the other three, fidgetted with his crossbow, looking for an opportunity to fight The man Alairic had cut swung his longsword and managed to connect with the paladin’s side. Kinshag raced up behind the paladin but could find no place from which to attack. Tilliana, seeing she could do no good there, noticed a hallway to the right and took up a defensive position in case reinforcements should come from that direction. Niccolo moved in to where he could see both ways. Reshk merely held back for a moment and watched.
Alairic missed with his next blow but was again stabbed multiple times. He stumbled backwards, allowing Kinshag to move forward. The sil-karg fighter stabbed the injured attacker. His attack did not go unanswered and as three blades stabbed into him, he gave a cry and fell backwards. Alairic took a defensive stance, daring the men to rush him even as Niccolo bent to pull Kinshag away from the battle.
“Crossbows men,” said the injured man and the other three in the doorway began to load there weapons.
Tilliana’s foresight proved effective and in the hallway Tilliana she was guarding, two men turned a corner and rushed at her rapiers at the ready. She swung at them and missed, but they faltered in their charge.
Alairic, realizing the men would not move to fight him in the narrow confines of the hallway snarled and rushed forward. His sword cleaved the man in the middle and at last the man fell dead. Alairic swung at one of the other men and missed, but as one of the other’s went to fire, Alairic turned swiftly and with an upswinging blade ripped through the crossbow and into the man’s chest. The man fell dead. The other one, at point blank range fired and the crossbow slammed into Alairic. The paladin collapsed to the ground, the fight out of him.
In the hallway where Tilliana was fighting, a third man ran around the corner. He was a tall, fair-skinned red head. He had a mace in one hand and as he turned the corner he swung once and then twice and laid one of the men attacking Tilliana out. Tilliana was thankful for the help, though she wondered who her new ally was. Niccolo, having stabilized Kinshag, drew out his ax and rushed into the room where the two men with crossbows were reloading. Reshk followed him. Reshk missed but Niccolo, with a mighty heave of the ax, ripped one man’s neck open. In just a few seconds, the ranger had the other one dead as well.
Still Tilliana fought with the remaining attacker. The red-head from behind clubbed the man with his mace and then Tillian swung her sword down on his head. The man was dead.
“Who are you?” asked Tilliana panting.
“My names Nearum,” said the man, “These pirates had me locked up, but fortunately for you I managed to get loose just in time to help you. Come let us tend to your companions and then there is much we need to do down here and not much time to loose.”
Tilliana and Niccolo tended to the parties wounds and then searched the bodies. One of the men, the one Alairic had fought in the doorway, was dressed in better equipment and clothing. He had a potion on his belt. Niccolo and Tilliana decided to let Alairic drink this, over the protests of Kinshag who was also badly wounded. It was, fortunately, indeed a potion of healing and the paladin soon felt a little better. The pirate also had a snow white swans feather in his pouch and Tilliana grabbed this. It reminded her of the vivid dream that she had had just the night before. Tilliana used the rest of her meager abilities to partially heal Kinshag and then they decided they needed a rest.
Nearum protested this.
“We need to hurry.”
“We need to heal,” said Niccolo.
“I have a scroll with a healing spell on it,” said the strange Nearum.
He went and retrieved it, but Tilliana did not have the energy to yet try to read it and thanking him for the gift, she slipped it into her pack and settled down with the others to rest in one of the rooms the pirates had occupied. As she slipped out her copy of “To serve” to study, Nearum fumed and stomped off.
“I’ll be back…” he said and slipped off down the dark hallway.
“What’s with all the red-heads,” asked Niccolo.
“I’m not sure I trust him,” said Alairic.
The sunlight began to stream through the opening above them, waking all five of the sleeping inhabitants in the ancient cellar. Without exception they had all fallen asleep, even Alairic, who had been supposed to be standing guard. As they stretched and began moving, their sleep-fogged minds gradually began to register that they had been healed while asleep. All of them except for Reshk, who was still tied and who was still asleep.
“How?” asked Niccolo as he examined where his wounds had been.
“I had a vision,” stated Alairic simply.
“What was it of?” asked Tilliana.
“I was visited by Rowlandigo. He said that the sword I found was named Talbright and that its last owner had been named Renkou. He said to remember that a weapon was only as good as its wielder and that we were to choose our battles wisely. Also that kindness was its own reward and that there was more than one way to defeat evil.”
“We need to get out of this hole,” said Niccolo eyeing the corpses stacked in the far corner. His eyes drifted to the rope tied outside. It still dangled down into the hole. “We left the rope up. Noone remembered to take care of that.”
Reshk began waking up. He immediately began complaining of his wounds and of being tied up.
“Deal with it,” said Niccolo to the kobold.
“We need a muzzle,” said Alairic.
After they had gathered up their belongings, Alairic scooted quickly up the rope. Soon he was pulling himself up and out of the opening above them.
“Thank goodness you are awake,” said a soft, hissing voice from behind the Paladin. Stumbling to his feet, Alairic turned quickly. He saw the reptilian head first. It had dark green scales, small horns and intelligent eyes of yellow. His eyes soon took in the batlike wings and fierce claws. It was a small dragon, standing about six or seven feet high, though with its tail it was actually longer then it looked at first.
“I was just about to have to come down there after you,” said the dragon.
Alairic began to draw Talbright.
The dragon reared back a bit, arching its neck, “Are you sure you want to do that?”
Alairic could sense that the dragon was evil, but he doubted his ability to take it on himself. He slid his sword back into its sheath.
“No, I guess not,” said Alairic.
“Good.”
“What do you want?” asked the Paladin. Behind him, Kinshag was crawling out of the hole.
“My father, the powerful Gilkamen, sent me to keep an eye on you, “ said the dragon slyly, “And in the meantime, I thought it would be best if I remembered to make sure that you paid your toll. You after all are trespassing. It is only right that you pay for the privilege of sleeping here.”
Tilliana was now climbing out of the hole with her eye was on the dragon.
“How much do you want?” asked Alairic.
“How much do you have?” asked the dragon.
“How much do you want?”
The dragon moved a bit closer to Alairic. Niccolo was now out. He had left Reshk tied up at the bottom of the rope.
“I want all your gold!”
“Listen,” said Niccolo, “We are here to keep a demon imprisoned, one that if released even your father won’t be able to handle. We are in fact doing him a favor.”
The dragon merely smiled wickedly at Niccolo’s suggestion of a weakness in her father and said, “I fully intend on letting you go into this old temple again, but first you will pay your rent.”
At the bottom of the rope Reshk began to holler.
“We don’t have to give you our gold!” said Kinshag fiercely and foolishly.
Swiftly the small dragon turned her head towards the half-hobgoblin. She reared back and opened her mouth and breathed a stream of acidic gas at the sil-karg. He went down in a howl of pain, his flesh bubbling and melting. For a moment the other three stared dumbfounded and then in a flash Tilliana was at the unfortunate fighter’s side. Divine energy flowed through her, easing the pain. Alairic went tot he other side, laying his hands on Kinshag’s head. The wounds healed.
Alairic turned to the dragon frustrated.
“We’ll give you our gold,” he said.
“Don’t try and cheat me, I can smell gold, I will know if you are holding back.”
Without a word, the four companions piled the money they had with them upon the forest floor. The dragon smiled, revealing many sharp teeth.
“Excellent.”
She trotted past the four and looked down the hole. “And do you plan on leaving this little person here for me,” she licked her lips.
“We’ll take him with us,” said Tilliana.
“What is your name?” asked Niccolo.
“I am sorry, forgive my rudeness, I am Goshaken, daughter of Gilkamen.”
They helped Reshk out of the hole, untying him and then tying him again. He seemed none too happy, but as the old kobold eyed the dragon, he grew silent and clammed up. They entered through the vines on the cliff wall into the entrance to the underground temple once more. The small dragon watched them carefully as they went in, her claws running absentmindedly through the small pile of gold coins.
Again they entered through the broken door and as they went down the strange hallway, they again seemed to grow in size. This time however Tilliana and Niccolo both noticed that there was no magic involved, the hallway grew smaller, they did not grow taller. It was a perfectly executed optical illusion. As they entered through the small door, Tilliana casts Naemae’s Strength upon the sil-karg, making him temporarily stronger.
They entered again into the vast hallway, where the day before they had fought with the deadly flying reptiles, Reshk’s “babies.” Alairic walked to the edge of the floor overlooking the altar below and then he and the others went down the stairs to the right. They heard no movement and saw nothing that threatened.
Alairic, once they had reached the bottom of the steps walked over to the altar. It was atop a raised circular platform. There were benches of stone on all four sides of the altar, though on the side across from where they had entered the room there were more stone benches than anywhere else. Alairic examined the altar. There was little doubt it was desecrated to evil. No only did it have an evil aura, but there were fell signs on it. A raised carving of stone on the side of the altar was fashioned into a curious and impossible geometric shape that confused the eye when watched. Alairic knew this to be the sign of the Creator of Strife, the god for whom the temple had originally been built. Niccolo connected it with the altar in the woods. The design was the same. However, painted in blood atop the stone carving was another sign. Neither Alairic nor Tilliana recognized it, though they knew it to be evil.
“What do you know about this altar?” Alairic asked Reshk.
The kobold however was pouting and did not want to speak.
“There is still a dragon out there,” said Niccolo.
“The priest uses the altar,” said Reshk.
“A human priest?” asked Alairic.
“No! A proper person.”
“A kobold priest.”
“Who is he the Preist of?” asked Tilliana.
“The overlord.”
The overlord, Tilliana knew was the name given to the god of slavery and domination.
“Does this priest have a name?”
“His name is Disshak.”
They went to the far end of the room. There was a door on both the east and west wall.
“Where do these doors lead?” asked Alairic
“The hallways,” said the kobold sourly.
“Give us a proper answer and we will be nice to you,” said Niccolo.
The kobold snorted. “I told you they lead to the hallways.”
“And where do the hallways go?” asked Tilliana
“They all go to the same place.”
“Where do they go,” asked Niccolo.
“They go to the hallways,” said the kobold frustrated. “All the hallways lead to the same place!”
“And where do the hallways lead?” asked Tilliana
“They lead here!”
A light dawned in Tilliana’s eyes. “I see,”
“It’s a labyrinth,” said Niccolo.
“How do we get to the priest?” asked Tilliana.
“You want to go see Disshak?” asked Reshk slyly.
“Yes, we have to stop him,” said Tilliana.
“If you untie me and heal me,” said Reshk, “I will lead you to Disshak and you can kill him and then I will keep the others from attacking you, they will listen to me if Disshak is dead.”
“Don’t you like Disshak?” asked Niccolo.
Reshk just smiled wickedly.
Tilliana, deciding to trust the kobold, healed him of some of his wounds.
“Will you untie me?” asked Reshk.
“I am against it,” said Alairic.
“I make a promise,” said Reshk, “I won’t break it.”
Niccolo went ahead and untied the small kobold.
“Very good!” said Reshk, “It’s the door on the left, all the way to the end of the hall.”
They went through the door and entered into a ten foot wide hallway that was quite long. They passed a couple of doors on the left and then a short hall on the right before finally coming to a door at the end of the hallway.
“Shall we go in?” asked Niccolo.
Reshk opened the door for them.
Kinshag was in front and could see the room clearly. There was no need even for his darkvision. A kobold was sitting at a table eating a meal. There were some chests and other odds and ends in the room, including a bed.
The kobold, seeing strangers at his door immediately began to yell. Then with a wave of his hand and a muttering of foul words he motioned at Kinshag and the young fighter felt his limbs lock in place. He could still breath but he could not otherwise move. Pushing aside the motionless sil-karg, Niccolo raced into the room, greatax at the ready. He swung and the nimble kobold ducked out of the way, scooting out of his chair and picking up a mace with a stone head. Tilliana also charged in. Her sword more easily found its mark and the kobold priest was bleeding. Alairic moved in just past Tilliana and avoiding a blow from the stone weapon, the paladin swung. His aim was off and the sword went harmlessly over the kobolds head. With another loud yell, the kobold swung at Niccolo. Niccolo stepped back and out of the way and then with a well placed swing and a step back towards the kobold, the half-elf brought his ax down in the small reptilian head, splitting it open.
The fight was over.
“Good job,” said Reshk, looking in from the doorway.
Niccolo began to search the body and Tilliana the room. Alairic moved back to the door. The sound of the fight had brought attention to them and armed kobolds soon began to move into the hallway.
Niccolo found a scroll on the kobold’s body and some gold. There was a curious box, engraven with symbols tied to the kobold’s head. Tilliana ascertained that there was food on the table, a bed and two locked chests. The food smelled good and the priestess was tempted to try some of it. It was mostly roasted meat. Niccolo pocketed the gold and slipped the scroll into his backpack and then taking his ax he cleaved open the chests. They were filled with coins of copper and gold.
The hall outside was filling up with kobolds, many of them armed. Alairic saw that some of them had nets and the rest of them had clubs. Reshk was talking to them rapidly in some language unknown to any of the others. Tilliana listened attentively, trying to pick up some of the words. Meanwhile, Kinshag started to move again.
Reshk motioned to the kobolds, and the kobolds motioned at the companions. Reshk motioned back at the companions, all the while talking. Finally he turned and said to Alairic, “They want to know why you are here?”
“There is a demon buried here?” said Niccolo.
He talked again to the other kobolds.
“Where?” asked Reshk.
“Somewhere in this temple.”
Some more talk ensued.
“They say and I agree that perhaps you are after the other group like you.”
“Other group?”
“They made a deal with Disshak and then they went down the bottomless stairs.”
“That’s probably where we want to go then,” said Niccolo. The others agreed.
“What about the coins?” asked Niccolo to his companions.
“Leave them,” said Alairic, “They belong to these kobolds.”
“Come with us,” said Tilliana to the kobolds and Reshk in particular, “Be brave and help us stop these men.”
“None of them will go down the bottomless stairs,” said Reshk, “Though I might, if you will heal me and give me a part of what you find.”
“Ok,” said Alairic, warming up to the kobold slightly, though not really trusting him.
Tilliana and Alairic both healed some more of the small warriors wounds. As Reshk walked with them down the hall and towards the entrance to the stairs, Tilliana explained to the kobold about some of the benefits of serving Naemae.
The bottomless stairs, as the kobolds called them, were found at the end of the small tunnel the party had already passed. They went through a door and found themselves on a small landing. Stairs went up to their left and down to their right. Going up, they went up for about fifteen feet and then turned to the right. Going down, they went about fifteen feet and turned to the left.
“Up or down?” asked Alairic.
“I bet up leads us to the dragon,” said Niccolo.
“I say down too,” said Tilliana. Kinshag agreed.
They went down the stairs and made the turn to the left. The stairs stretched down and forward another thirty feet or so and then turned again to the left. They went further down and made the turn. The stairs again went down and forward another thirty feet, turning again to the left, only about halfway down was a small landing on the right with a closed door. They went to the door.
“Should I open it?” asked Alairic.
“If we open the door will we free the demon?” asked Tilliana.
“The demon is supposed to be buried,” said Niccolo.
“Well we are underground,” said Alairic, “thus its technically buried, and you call me dumb!”
“Open it,” said Kinshag.
Alairic opened it. It opened up on a hallway, perhaps six feet wide. It went about fifteen feet to another hallway which ran crossways to it.
“Too many hallways,” said Alairic, closing the door, “Let’s keep going down.”
They went down turned left, went another thirty feet down and turned left again. There was another doorway on the right about halfway down the stairs and the stairs went past the door before eventually turning to the left again.
They went down and Alairic opened the door. A small crowd of kobolds stared at them through the door. Alairic closed the door quickly.
“Let’s keep moving.”
They went down to the turn again and then down another thirty feet and then turned left once more and again, halfway down the stairs was a doorway.
“I am not opening this one,” said Alairic.
“I’ll open it,” said Kinshag. He strode down the steps and pulled the door open. It revealed a hallway, perhaps six feet wide and fifteen feet long, ending in another hallway which ran crossways to it.
“Wait a moment…” said Alairic, as he stared through the door, “This is like that first door I opened. We are going…”
“in circles,” finished Niccolo.
“Are you sure?” asked Tilliana, not quite buying it, “ If you think so one of us could stay here, or two of us, and two others could go down.”
But Alairic and Niccolo were already convinced.
“That would explain why those kobolds did not attack,” said Alairic.
“Why they just stood there,” said Niccolo.
“They were the same kobolds we had just left,” concluded the Paladin, his mind working overtime.
Reshk nodded and smiled, “Endless stairs… they always go back to where you start.”
“Let’s just go through here then,” said Alairic.
They followed him through the door and into the hall. At the end of the hallway the first thing they heard was snores from their left. The hallway opened up into a room. To their right the hallway continued on, with a branch going up to the left and further on, a branch to the right.
They went into the room from which they heard the snores. There were four men sound asleep on the floor. Around them was rubble and the broken remains of statues.
As they stared at the sleeping men, Alairic heard a sound from outside the room. He turned to investigate just as a crossbow bolt flew through the door and into Niccolo. Another one followed it. In an instant Alairic was out the door charging down the hall. Reshk followed behind him, stone warhammer at the ready. There were four men in the hallway, each armed with a crossbow and rapier. Alairic and Reshk both charged into them. One of the men, dropping his crossbow , cut Alairic slightly on the arm. Alairic, swung and his sword connected. There was a flash of light from the impact and the man fell to the ground dying.
In the room, Niccolo, shrugged off the pain from the crossbow bolts stuck in him and went swiftly to one of the sleepers, intending to bash him on the head and keep him from waking. His first blow missed the man’s head though and the flat end of his ax rang loudly off the floor. Tilliana, puzzled what to do about sleeping enemies decided to try and wake one of them up so she could kill him in a fair fight. She pulled one up and started to shake him awake. Kinshag meanwhile walked over and cut one of the sleepers in half.
Outside, Reshk had wounded one of the attackers and Alairic was holding the other two at bay.
Niccolo lifted his ax and tried to rap the man in front of him on the head again. This time the ax head connected and the man, woke up, his eyes flying open, his hands going to his now throbbing head. Tilliana had woken her man up and was just standing him on his feet when Kinshag rushed up to him and pounded him on the head with the pummel of his sword. He had noticed that the other two were not killing the sleepers and so had decided to knock them all out instead. The man Tilliana had just woken fell to the ground, out like a light. Sighing, Tilliana walked over to the last man and pounded him hard on the head, ensuring he would not wake up anytime soon.
“Who are you?” snarled Niccolo at the man he had rudely awaken.
“We’re just here for the gold!” said the man frantically, no fight in him.
Outside, Alairic dodged a sword blade and sliced into another of the men fighting him. Again his sword flashed white and the man was dead. Reshk swung and hit his opponent once more and the man fell to the ground, his ribs crushed from the massive weight of the stone warhammer. Alairic dodged another blow and then with another swing and another flash laid the last man out.
The kobold and the paladin walked back into the room. Niccolo was fussing over how to tie up their three prisoners.
“Rope! We left the rope tied to that tree out there!”
Finally the ranger decided to try and use the strings the men had tied their bedrolls together with. When all four were securely bound, they searched through prisoners and dead alike. Besides weapons, there were gold coins on all of them.
“What do we do with these?” asked Tilliana
“Take them all with us!” said Niccolo
“Let’s leave them here,” said Alairic.
They ended up leaving the three men tied up in the room. They went and investigated the room the other four men had come out of. It was mostly empty, bedrolls in one corner, tied. There was a table in the middle of the room. It was stone and had strange writing around the edges of the table. There were playing cards on the table and chairs around the table. Tilliana for the first time noticed that three of her companions were badly wounded. She healed Reshk, Niccolo and Alairic as well as she could. The action seemed to please the kobold.
The left that room and went back out into the hall. As they walked down the hall, Tilliana spoke words of encouragement. “Let us be brave,” she said, “Take courage and let the swords of Naemae strike down whatever evil is down here.” Her attitude did much to encourage them, kobold included, but no sooner had she spoken then crossbow bolts flew out of the darkness and ricocheted off of the floor and walls. None hit, but it was clear they were under attack. Again Alairic was the first to react. Pushing the others aside he raced down the hall. In the dim light he could just make out a man standing in a doorway and Alairic made straight for this, sword at the ready. His greatsword swung down and into the man, who staggered from the impact and from the burning light flashed from the connection. There were two men to either side of the one Alairic had attacked and one of these managed to plunge a rapier into Alairic. A fourth man, standing just behind the other three, fidgetted with his crossbow, looking for an opportunity to fight The man Alairic had cut swung his longsword and managed to connect with the paladin’s side. Kinshag raced up behind the paladin but could find no place from which to attack. Tilliana, seeing she could do no good there, noticed a hallway to the right and took up a defensive position in case reinforcements should come from that direction. Niccolo moved in to where he could see both ways. Reshk merely held back for a moment and watched.
Alairic missed with his next blow but was again stabbed multiple times. He stumbled backwards, allowing Kinshag to move forward. The sil-karg fighter stabbed the injured attacker. His attack did not go unanswered and as three blades stabbed into him, he gave a cry and fell backwards. Alairic took a defensive stance, daring the men to rush him even as Niccolo bent to pull Kinshag away from the battle.
“Crossbows men,” said the injured man and the other three in the doorway began to load there weapons.
Tilliana’s foresight proved effective and in the hallway Tilliana she was guarding, two men turned a corner and rushed at her rapiers at the ready. She swung at them and missed, but they faltered in their charge.
Alairic, realizing the men would not move to fight him in the narrow confines of the hallway snarled and rushed forward. His sword cleaved the man in the middle and at last the man fell dead. Alairic swung at one of the other men and missed, but as one of the other’s went to fire, Alairic turned swiftly and with an upswinging blade ripped through the crossbow and into the man’s chest. The man fell dead. The other one, at point blank range fired and the crossbow slammed into Alairic. The paladin collapsed to the ground, the fight out of him.
In the hallway where Tilliana was fighting, a third man ran around the corner. He was a tall, fair-skinned red head. He had a mace in one hand and as he turned the corner he swung once and then twice and laid one of the men attacking Tilliana out. Tilliana was thankful for the help, though she wondered who her new ally was. Niccolo, having stabilized Kinshag, drew out his ax and rushed into the room where the two men with crossbows were reloading. Reshk followed him. Reshk missed but Niccolo, with a mighty heave of the ax, ripped one man’s neck open. In just a few seconds, the ranger had the other one dead as well.
Still Tilliana fought with the remaining attacker. The red-head from behind clubbed the man with his mace and then Tillian swung her sword down on his head. The man was dead.
“Who are you?” asked Tilliana panting.
“My names Nearum,” said the man, “These pirates had me locked up, but fortunately for you I managed to get loose just in time to help you. Come let us tend to your companions and then there is much we need to do down here and not much time to loose.”
Tilliana and Niccolo tended to the parties wounds and then searched the bodies. One of the men, the one Alairic had fought in the doorway, was dressed in better equipment and clothing. He had a potion on his belt. Niccolo and Tilliana decided to let Alairic drink this, over the protests of Kinshag who was also badly wounded. It was, fortunately, indeed a potion of healing and the paladin soon felt a little better. The pirate also had a snow white swans feather in his pouch and Tilliana grabbed this. It reminded her of the vivid dream that she had had just the night before. Tilliana used the rest of her meager abilities to partially heal Kinshag and then they decided they needed a rest.
Nearum protested this.
“We need to hurry.”
“We need to heal,” said Niccolo.
“I have a scroll with a healing spell on it,” said the strange Nearum.
He went and retrieved it, but Tilliana did not have the energy to yet try to read it and thanking him for the gift, she slipped it into her pack and settled down with the others to rest in one of the rooms the pirates had occupied. As she slipped out her copy of “To serve” to study, Nearum fumed and stomped off.
“I’ll be back…” he said and slipped off down the dark hallway.
“What’s with all the red-heads,” asked Niccolo.
“I’m not sure I trust him,” said Alairic.
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