Tales of the Hyborian Age (Updated 1/14/04)

[Alcareru]

III. Darkness and Moonlight


Yalla studied the stone trapdoor that stood open like the yawning jaw of some beast. "These Corinthians devise clever ways to dispose of prisoners do they not? Drop and drown, or perhaps something lurks in the water. I wonder why they did not employ this on us?"

Grimir shrugged. Verrus gazed into the black pit, his wide dusky face turning pale.

Emily shouted to those above,"I believe theres a water passage leading out!"

The flame haired giant looked at the flickering torch dying in Yalla's hand."If something is down there it did eat the woman. We move." Without a further word, he scooped up the prison key, placed the key ring around his wrist and jumped into the darkness.

After a splash, Yalla put down the the torch. With a wry look to the leather corslet on the floor, he too plunged onto the water.

Verrus stood in the chamber alone. "Xarra's teet! To Zamora I'll go and never leave!" Placing the dagger blade between his gritted teeth he jumped, feet first.

The four figure swam slowly, groping along the wall, until they found the tunnel opening. Grimir led, feeling along in the darkness. The passage was wide enough for two to swim side by side and the ceiling seemed to be high enough that one could not touch it with an extended hand. But despite the apparent room the tunnel gave, the pitch darkness made it feel oppresive and enclosed. In silence they swam on.

An indeterminate amount of time passed. The four could discern no real direction the course took. The sides of the tunnel were straight and rough, with no place to raise oneself out of the water. The water in the tunnel was deep as well. Grimir made a half hearted attempt to plumb its depth, but unsuccessful, abandoned the task.

From time to time the group stopped grabbing at the wall to rest. "Lets not linger" said Verrus in a shaken voice the third time they stopped," Theres no current here- Ill wager this is no natural stream. Its too dark.." his voice echoed in the darkness "I do not like it."

They continued blindly onward until finally they could feel stone beneath their feet. The group bounced along until the water level began to lower-first at chin level, the neck, then finally waist deep. As the party waded they felt along the walls looking for an opening, conscious of the risks they took, lumbering in the dark. It was quiet save for the sound of splashing water and labored breathing.

Then ahead, Grimir spotted a sliver of pale blue light amidst the inky shroud. It fell upon a wall through an arched opening at the top of a narrow landing. The light shone down into the doorway splashing enough to reveal the landing and stone steps leading down from the doorway into the water.

"We are saved!" Verus exclaimed, nearly dropping his dagger. "Moonlight shines from above-it is an opening out of this dark hell! Hurry!" The squat thief splashed ahead, falling once but driving forward.The others saw his dark outline obscure the beam of moonlight and motion back to them. "Hurry!"

From the darkness, something rose out of the water. Grimir sensed it and heard the low growl, a rumble of sorts, reptillan. The clomp of teeth upon jaw followed.

"Something is in the water! Out of the tunnel!" the Vanir barked, as his shining eyes tried to locate the source of the noise. Yalla and Emily ran toward the pillar of moonlight at the command. Verrus placed a foot upon one of the steps as something breached the water with a rushing noise and headed for the Nemedian.

 

[Alcareru]

The long dark shape snapped its great jaw down upon Verrus's right arm. The thief grunted in pain and surprise, falling backward into the water. Emily shrieked in horror as the moonlight revealed a large crocodile thrusting out of the water, pulling on the Nemedian's limb.

Like a panther, Grimir dived atop the creature, closing his great arms around the beast's scaly body. With a cry, Yalla also fell upon the crocodile near its tail. The crocodile thrashed and jumped as the two attempted to restrain it.

Verrus fell backwards, stabbing with the dagger in his free hand. The croc's tail struck Yalla throwing the young man into the water. The animal released it grip on Verrus as it jumped to escape the clutches of the Vanir.

With bestial ferocity Grimir struck the crocodile with his fist upon the head and eye. The reptile spun away from Grimir and turned; as it did Verrus stabbed with all his strength. The dagger plunged into the crocodile's head up to the hilt. With a snap of its jaws, the wounded animal dived beneath the water to escape.

Verrus sat in the water, groaning in pain. Yalla helped his friend up on the landing into the moonlight. The Nemedian's arm was ringed with crimson stripes from elbow to wrist.

"Damnable thing" Verrus grunted, "beast of Stygia and its rivers curse them all. I am lucky to still have the arm. Its cracked but not broken I think." He wiggled his fingers hopefully. "Lost the dagger" he noted.

Yalla removed his tunic and began tearing it to bandage the bleeding wound. Emily assissted, averting her eyes from Yalla who stood now dressed only in a loincloth.

"We'll need something better soon,but this will have to do for now" Yalla commented. "That crocodile must have been old and feeble not to catch you Verrus, or perhaps it didnt like the taste of you." The younger man forced a smile toward his older friend.

Grimir stood still as a statue in the water looking into the darkness, almost as if challenging the animal to return. Satisfied it would not, he strode up the steps pausing only to inspect the arm of Verrus. "You will survive" he commented, entering the archway.

Inside the doorway on the side wall the barbarian found foot and handholds that lead upward toward the moonlight. Without looking back he climbed.

Fifteen feet later, Grimir's head emerged from a square opening in the stone floor of a room. Moonlight shone through several holes in the roof; bits of masonry and wood littered the floor. Only a single chair occupied the room. The room had but a single closed heavy door, flanked by two round porthole like windows that had neither pane or shutter.

With only his head exposed he remained at the top of the ladder, alert, his body tensed for action. He listened and heard the wind rustle through trees outside and the call of night birds. He took a deep breath through his nose, then slowly descended to the others.

"We have come out at a blockhouse. I'll wager we are in the old canal gardens between the Outer and Inner Citadel."

Emily looked up."Did you look? Is it safe here?"

"No need. I smelled the stench of the canal and the tiger plants." He replied. "I have been here before-this is as safe a place as any in the Citadel. Patrols rarely come around the canals. The temple lies beyond the wall in the Inner Citadel. Mitra's Temple, where Catallus lives." He smiled. "Beyond that is the Royal Compound."

Yalla stood."We cannot leave yet. Verrus must rest."

Grimir nodded. "We rest in the blockhouse today and tonight. Then we visit the priest." Grimir's smile broadened. "I would like to have words with him without bars between us. We should not be missed from the cells at any rate for a long time- I doubt the Coritinhians will waste labor to rescue prisoners from a dungeon."

Verrus sat back. "Sounds good to me. But then we'll need food-and weapons."

"Rest then," Grimir added. "I'll keep first watch. Unless Emily Brightwell possesses any magics to conjure those things..." the Vanir's words trailed off as he looked at Emily. The woman saw a look of fear flash in the man's eyes for a spilt second.

Quietly he ascended the ladder.

 

[Alcareru]

(More to come if I can find my game notes...)