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: 2827822" data-attributes="member: 143">Thanks for the bump/post!* * * * * Chapter 590“There was a clay golem in here last time… remember?” Dannel nodded in response to Mole’s question.  “I remember,” he said.  He and Arun had escaped serious damage in that encounter, but Morgan and Hodge had taken a beating from the construct, before Kaurophon’s magic helped them overcome it. The chamber was much the way they remembered it, save for the new skin of iron plates that covered the floor, walls, and ceiling.  There were even some clay fragments scattered along the perimeter of the chamber that might have been remnants of that battle.  The later celestial inhabitants had apparently not made any efforts to rehabilitate this part of the citadel.  There were plentiful signs of the new owners, however, including a layer of disgusting ooze that gathered in clumps about the floor, and a stench that was almost thick enough to see. “This way,” Mole said, directing them toward the spiral stair that rose upward at the far side of the room. “Hold on,” Arun said.  “No rushing off ahead.  This is serious stuff, Mole.” The gnome looked back at him.  “Just because I don’t act scared, doesn’t mean I’m not.”  She shrugged.  “I’m the scout… I’ll go scout.” The others followed her, making their way to the stair, then starting up.  “There is a nexus of dark power within the chamber above,” Dannel reported.  “Last time, we confronted a lich there, which took shelter within it.”“Let us hope that it currently stands as empty as this chamber,” Cal said.  “The main chamber is the next one after that, correct?”Dannel nodded.  “Then he’ll be there, most likely,” Umbar said, pausing momentarily to adjust the straps holding one of his greaves in place. “He must know we are here,” Lok said.  “I wonder why he has not taken action against us?”“Are you forgetting the legion of fiends that we just slaughtered?” Umbar asked. “No, Lok’s right,” Cal said.  “We’ve faced the Prince before… he’s tricky, be ready for anything…. Look, Mole’s signaling.”They looked up to see the gnome at the top of the stairs, stepping into the light cast by their weapons and items for a moment to wave an all-clear, then she vanished from view. “Well, here we go again,” Dannel said, bringing up the rear as their column wound its way up the stair. The dark cavern at the top of the stair was dark, and there was something malevolent about the darkness, as though the shadows around the edges of the uneven chamber were actively resisting the press of their light.  The nexus that had dominated the center of the room was gone now, and Mole stood in the middle of the room near where it had been, facing away from them.  She did not turn as they entered, nor did she move forward, just standing there as if her boots had suddenly become rooted to that particular spot. “What is it, Mole?” Cal asked, sensing at once that something was wrong.  But before the rogue could reply, Arun and the Voice both shouted, “Taint!” and “A foulness is here!” The companions tensed, weapons and spells at the ready, as something moved in the shadows at the far end of the room.  The darkness seemed to bleed away slightly, revealing a quintet of individuals regarding them.  They were an unusual group.  Some were immediately familiar to the companions, such as the sleek, bat-winged succubus, or the leonine and sinister lamia.  A woman that was obviously a tiefling was clad in armor of black laquer that seemed more seductive than protective, revealing as much as it warded.  The woman beside her wore almost nothing save for an intricate costume of beads, metal strands, and bangles, which almost certainly contained various magical enhancements.  Her skin was blue, her eyes a solid aqua, and she was likely a genasi, or some similar alien elemental being.  The last of the group, however, defied description.  She was so slender as to suggest that a casual gust would catch her up and bear her away.  Faint wings of the lightest gossamer drifted from her back, and her hair likewise fluttered loosely around her head, although there was no breeze in the chamber.  But her face belied the soft grace of her form, with blood-red eyes that shone with malevolence, and slightly pointed teeth that protruded noticeably from her pouting lips.  All five were beautiful beyond belief, radiating a seductive air that gave all of them, even the celestials, pause.  But then the Voice lifted a hand in warning. “Your foulness gives your appearance the lie, deceivers!” the sword archon intoned.  “Let the Light reveal the truth of you!”The archon’s power rippled through the chamber, a shimmering glow that tore through the magical shadows, and with them the illusions that covered the five women.  Their identities remained unchanged, but where there had been beauty, now there was utter corruption.  All five of the women were disfigured, their faces ruined, bearing marks of acid, fire, the blade, or a combination of all three.  The lamia unleashed a readied spell.  The iron walls within the recessed opening that led back to the spiral stairs began to swell, closing and coming together to form a solid wall blocking the exit.  The companions were quick to act; Dannel lifted his bow and took aim, while the dwarves were already starting forward, their weapons at the ready.  But the half-fey thing whispered, and a cold swirl of air stirred through the room, bearing with it sinister whispers that drifted deep into the consciousness of everyone present. You cannot succeed… there is no hope… throw down your weapons… submit to the Master…That sinuous call was echoed by the others, who added their own power to the weaving of the first.  no hope… submit…Someone cried out.  A loud clatter of metal on stone echoed in the room, as Lok’s heavy axe landed on the floor.  Dannel and Callendes dropped their bows, while Alakast fumbled from Umbar’s grasp.  The Voice staggered, its magical sword dissipating.  Even Arun stumbled to one knee, his hammer trembling in his hand, although he did not release his grip upon the weapon.  Beorna’s response was rather more direct.  Snarling, she shouted, “For Helm!” and she charged, lifting Aludrial’s Shard high.  The succubus smiled.  She lifted a clawed hand, which held a small metal orb.  With a casual flick of her wrist she tossed it at the onrushing templar.  Before Beorna could react, the ball exploded into a cascade of iron rings, which descended over the body of the dwarf woman.  The iron bands of binding instantly tightened around her, clasping her arms against her body, and locking her legs together.  Aludrial’s Shard fell from her grasp as she fell hard to the ground, helpless. The succubus chuckled and drew out a long whip; as it uncoiled dozens of tiny barbs in the weave began to twist eagerly, as if they could sense the distress of their victim.</blockquote>

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