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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1095077" data-attributes="member: 143">Indeed.  In fact, I could have easily changed a few rolls here and there and had multiple casualties.  As it was...* * * * * Chapter 32“Mole!” Zenna cried again, feeling something wrench deep inside of her as she watched the animated chain-creature wrap around her friend, crushing and tearing her diminutive form.The companions leapt into action with Zenna’s first shout of warning.  Ruphos ran forward and leapt up atop the statue’s base, trying to reach the trapped gnome, but staggered as one of the strands of chain whipped out across his face.  Blood erupted into the air as the jagged edges caught and tore the flesh across his jaw, and he fell back, dazed from the force of the impact.  The young cleric, however, shook his head and with determination in his blood-streaked face he hefted his mace and waded in again.  He smashed at the creature, but only struck sparks as his blow glanced off the links and smashed against the black malachite of the statue’s chest.  The half-elves were quick to act, charging together toward the statue, spreading out to come at it from both sides.  Fellian fired an arrow, careful to avoid targeting any part of the thing near Mole, and while the steel arrowhead slammed full-force into a link of chain, shattering it, the rest of the creature seemed barely affected.  Fario dodged a slashing strand of chain and hacked at it with his sword after it shot past.  The result of his efforts was merely a notch on his masterwork blade, and he quite nearly lost his grip on the weapon.  Arun did not hesitate, rushing straight for the statue.  The mass of chains had dragged Mole up near the head of the statue, out of the easy reach of the adventurers.  The gnome’s struggles grew fainter as they watched, which seemed to drive the dwarf even more strongly into action.  As he ran he shrugged off his heavy shield, which clattered noisily to the floor, and hefted his hammer in both hands.  With a cry to his stern god he leapt up and slammed the hammer two-handed square into the densest part of the mass of chains that he could reach.  The entire network quivered with the force of the impact, and the statue itself seemed to shake.  Mole let out a piteous moan as the chain-creature seemed to tighten its grip in retaliation, but the trapped girl fell limp, slipping into the grasp of unconsciousness. Zenna rushed at the statue, frustration written clearly on her face, but Ruphos caught hold of her and drew her roughly back.  “No, Zenna!” “It’s killing her!” she cried. “You won’t help her by joining her!” Ruphos shouted roughly, pushing her back before turning to rush back into the fray.  Fellian had advanced to just outside the chain-thing’s reach, and fired another arrow into its form, shattering another link of chain with a direct hit.  Fario continued his assault from the far side of the statue, although his longsword wasn’t well-suited to harming such a creature.  The mass of chains had drawn itself up higher around the bulk of the statue, wrapped around its neck and barrel chest, clutching Mole like a child holding to a prized toy.A visceral growl built in Arun’s chest.  A chain lashed across his arm, trying to grab hold of his hammer.  He dropped the weapon before the chain could grab hold, and hurled himself forward at the statue.  Another chain lashed him like a whip across the back and shoulders, but he shrugged off the pain of the impact.  The dwarf hurled himself up with a surprising burst of strength and speed, and while he could not reach anywhere near Mole, he dug his hands into the mass of the construct.  Ignoring the pain as sharp points tore into his thick hands, he pulled himself up bodily, planted his feet against the stone shield slung across the back of the statue, and pulled.  The animated mass of chains lashed out with a terrible and chaotic frenzy.  A stray length caught Arun in the face, drawing a vicious gash across his forehead that trailed blood down in multiple streams through his eyes and into his beard.  But the dwarf maintained his grip, his face tightening with the effort as his thick arms and legs strained with all of his strength against the metal links of the construct.  On the other side of the statue, Fellian and Ruphos both attacked, the cleric sundering one of the chains anchoring the creature with a solid blow from his mace.  With a suddenness that caught them all off guard the chains suddenly gave way, the entire mass tumbling down upon the dwarf as both plummeted to the ground.  Fario was there in an instant, ready to strike, but the chains had stopped moving, their animating force sundered by the damage wrought upon it.  Zenna and Ruphos arrived just a heartbeat later, both quickly digging through the mess of links and hooks and sharp edges to try and free the small figure trapped in their embrace. Mole wasn’t moving, and her body was a mess of cuts and punctures, the hooks digging into her flesh, the chains drawn tight against her body in a fatal embrace.  Tears fell down Zenna’s face in a torrent as she pulled her friend free, heedless of the cuts to her own hands in the process.  “Mole, don’t,” she cried.  “Don’t leave me, please...”Ruphos had drawn out his wand, and as the tiefling pulled her friend into her embrace he activated its power, pouring healing energy into the ravaged body of the gnome girl.  But she did not stir.  Fario helped Arun to his feet, the dwarf barely standing himself in the face of the battering he’d taken.  The dwarf joined the others, standing around the kneeling woman and the friend she clutched to her.  “Is she...” Fario asked, unable to put it into words.“Damn it!” Ruphos cursed, pouring more healing energy from the wand into the stricken rogue.  But the girl remained limp, unmoving...And then, her body trembled, and Mole stirred, gasping as she drank in a deep draught of air that turned into a wracking cough.  Her eyes opened, blinking in confusion and the lingering memory of pain. “Oh gods, that hurt,” she said weakly. “Oh, Mole,” Zenna said, wiping the tears from her face. “Thanks, guys,” she said, looking up at all of them, and the smiles that accompanied the multiple sighs of relief that came from the circle of her companions.   * * * * * I must be getting soft, ending a week with a feel-good close shave rather than a nasty cliffhanger.  I'm off to Portland for an extended-weekend mini-vacation; back on Tuesday.  Have a great weekend, readers!</blockquote>

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