NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1389991" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 110The journey back to the cavern was uneventful, and before too long they stood at the entrance to the huge cavern where Bhal-Hamatugn was situated.  The place was as they had left it, and while they could make out the outlines of the fortress through the omnipresent mists, there was no indicator of anyone or anything moving about.  “Well, here we are again,” Dannel said simply.  The five of them remained crouched in the tunnel, concealed from casual view by the stones that framed the uneven entrance to the Underdark passageway.  “If they’ve got any kind of watch at all, they’ll see us making our way down to the lake,” Zenna said.  “And with the mists blocking our view at the level of the cavern floor, they could slip into the lake and assault the canoe at any point, without us being able to see them coming.”Dannel nodded, and sighed.  “Again, if you have an alternative plan, I’d be happy to hear it,” he said.  Arun rose.  “Give me a moment,” he said.  Before any of the others could comment, he turned and walked a short distance back down the tunnel.  Reaching a flat spot a stone’s throw distant, he knelt, removing his helmet and placing his hammer shaft-down on the stone before him.  Holding the hammer with both hands to balance it, he pressed his forehead to its cold metal head.  “Great All-father,” he said, his voice a low rumble, not carrying more than a few paces away, “your servant calls upon your aid.  We face a potent evil, here in the deep places...”“What’s he doing?” Mole asked, as she and the others watched him from the mouth of the tunnel. “Praying, I think,” Dannel said. “Oh?  Does that help?” the gnome asked.  “I’d offer one to Garl, but he’d probably be just as likely to sink the canoe, for a laugh.”“Hsst!” Zenna said.  “Something’s coming!”  She pointed down the tunnel, where she’d caught sight of a dark form that had seemingly seeped out of the very stones of the tunnel wall, and now approached Arun.“I can’t see it!” Dannel said, but he set an arrow to his bowstring anyway.  He considered a light cantrip, but even as the thought appeared he glanced over his shoulder at the kuo-toa cavern; the spell would give away their position like a beacon.“What in the blazes!” Hodge said.  He’d raised his crossbow, but the loaded bolt had fallen free, making a small noise as the steel head hit the stone floor and clattered about. The words of a spell came to Zenna’s mind, but even as she considered which magic to hurl at the newcomer, realization washed over her.  She held up a hand to forestall the others.  “Wait,” she said, stepping forward toward Arun. “Zenna!” Dannel said, in alarm.They followed her as she approached.  The dark shadow had moved to a position directly above the paladin, who now slowly rose up, looking up in amazement.  As they drew nearer, they could see that the creature was a massive lizard, its limbs articulated in slender but muscular claws that gripped the wall of the tunnel, holding it in place as if the sheer surface were a floor.  Its scaled hide was flawless, burnished with a faintly golden sheen that was lost in the darkness of the tunnel, and there was an intelligence in the dark golden orbs of its eyes.  A ridge across its back formed a sort of saddle, and it looked strong enough to support any of them with ease.  It regarded Arun with clear deference, awaiting his command. “Arun...” Zenna said, staring up in wonder at the giant lizard.  “Where did this come from?”“Moradin sent him,” the paladin replied.  “The Sacred Creepers are rarely sent to any but the most devoted and powerful members of my order, the champions of the Deep Halls.  I... I did not believe that one would come to me, but our need was great...”Zenna laid a hand on the dwarf’s armored shoulder.  “It does not surprise me,” she said softly.  “I know of no greater champion against evil, and no man of greater conviction.”Arun laid a hand upon the celestial lizard’s flank, and its long forked tongue darted out to caress his bare face.  “With your ally, we can come at Bhal-Hamatugn in a way that our foes are not expecting, perhaps,” Dannel offered. Arun nodded in agreement.  But Hodge shook his head.  “Well, it be nice to have a pack animal, but how’s that thing gonna help us get across the lake...”  His eyes widened in sudden realization.  “Nay, yer don’t be thinkin’...”  The dwarf paled.  “Yer all touched, yer are!”“Oh, this’ll be fun!” Mole said, hopping up into the air in her excitement.</blockquote>

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