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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 2116171" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 352The black streams of liquid energy coruscated into a flare of gray as they impacted the deva’s chest, intersecting her defensive wards in a chaotic storm of energy. The rays only lasted a second, but even as they faded, and the celestial staggered back, she cried, “The door!  Quickly!”Mole was already moving, leaping into a twisting cartwheel that wove a sinuous line up to the portal, an evading course just in case the guardian had any more tricks up its sleeve. It took her just another two seconds to complete the journey, and as she snapped back up into a ready crouch, she lifted her hands to reveal a small object that she pointed at the implacable adamantine barrier. The clear note of her chime of opening sounded loud in the confines of the subterranean chamber.  The waves of magical energy released from the item sank into the door, and the portal opened, swinging ponderously wide on recessed hinges to reveal a dark passageway beyond. “Come on,” she urged, standing in the doorway, gesturing for the others to follow.  Shooting a cursory glance down the passage—it seemed empty—she returned her efforts to urging her companions forward. The adventurers quickly passed through the door and out of the line of sight of the warding statue above the portal exterior.  In all, maybe six seconds had passed since Nidrama had been hit, and no further blasts had been forthcoming in that quick interval.  The light of Nidrama’s sword revealed that the corridor, a rough-hewn shaft maybe twelve feet across, continued straight ahead for as far as they could see.  There was just enough irregularity to the passageway to suggest that it had its origins in volcanic action, although it had obviously been crafted by intelligent hands to accommodate the door. The door started to swing shut, but Arun grasped hold of it, and Hodge was quick to secure the jam with a pair of hastily driven spikes.  Despite their commitment to braving the defenses of the Cagewrights, none of them wanted their escape route blocked if it came to a retreat. “Oh, damn,” Mole said. The others turned.  “What is it?” Dannel asked. Mole held up the magical chime, clearly revealing the crack that ran through its length.  “Fellian said its power was limited, but I was really hoping that it had a few more charges left.”“Well, if we come to another door like this one, we’ll have to improvise,” the elf said.  “Come.  Remain alert,” Nidrama said, leading them down the passage. “Who put ‘er in charge?” Hodge growled to Arun, but the paladin only shrugged and followed the celestial deeper into the complex. They hadn’t gone far when the tunnel began to curve slightly to the right.  Shortly thereafter, they came to a fork, with a side tunnel jutting off at a right angle to their right.  Ahead, they could see that the main corridor began to veer right once again, perhaps following parallel to the side passage. “Which way?” Dannel asked, glancing down both passages. “This seems like the main tunnel,” Nidrama said, pointing forward, but she glanced down the side passage, adding, “Though I like not the possibility of leaving a foe behind to catch us unawares.”“What’s that smell?” Mole asked. “What?” Hodge said.  “I don’t smell anythin’.”“Based on past experience, I’d be shocked if your olfactory senses were functioning normally,” Dannel said dryly. “Which way, Mole?” Arun asked. “Side passage, I think,” the gnome reported.  She sniffed at the tunnel, and wrinkled her nose.  “Yuck. Smells kinda oily, I think.”The elf archer and dwarf paladin shared a look.  “Demodands?” Dannel suggested. “Like as not,” the paladin replied.  “Nidrama’s right; we don’t want them coming up on us from behind.  We’d better check it out, but carefully.” “I’ll go on ahead,” Mole said.  She disappeared into the shadows, vanishing within five paces.  The others followed slowly, wary of any danger. The tunnel continued for perhaps fifty feet, before appearing to end in a blank stone wall. “Mole?” Dannel asked. “I’m here,” came the gnome’s voice, softly, from somewhere nearby.  “There’s somethin’ not right ‘bout that there wall,” Hodge said, clanking as he moved forward.  The dwarf had never mastered the art of being quiet in armor, and every movement he made seemed to resound down the length of the passage. “It’s a curtain, designed to look like a stone wall,” Mole said.  “Be quiet, there’s…”But they never got to hear what she was going to say, for the dark curtain was roughly drawn aside by an oily claw, revealing the unpleasant visage of a farastu demodand beyond.</blockquote>

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