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The Doomed Bastards: Reckoning (story complete)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3492585" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>*Gives Eric a cookie* <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> </p><p></p><p>* * * * * </p><p></p><p>Chapter 157</p><p></p><p>THE DEPTHS OF THE DARK</p><p></p><p></p><p>Talen staggered, and might have fallen but for the steady hand of Shay, who was beside him in an instant, wrapping her arm around him. </p><p></p><p>“Allera, Talen needs help!” the scout exclaimed. She looked him over. “Where are you hurt?” </p><p></p><p>“I’m all right,” the knight said. “Just a little... weak...”</p><p></p><p>“The dragon drained your life energy with its breath weapon,” Varo said as he came forward to join them. “We can help you, but we should not remain here. The creature retreated, but it will almost certainly be back, and with its magical defenses back in place.”</p><p></p><p>Barakha looked extremely pale, but Shay had not been caught in the creature’s breath. “I thought I saw what looked like a tunnel entrance on the far side of these cliffs,” the scout said. “I’ll check it out.”</p><p></p><p>Talen’s expression showed his feelings at that suggestion, but he recognized the need, and after a second’s pause he nodded. “Be careful... take Kalend with you.” The rogue saluted, and the two hurried off, vanishing into the mists after just a few strides. </p><p></p><p>Allera had gone over to Dar, whle Serah tended to Bullo. “I cannot feel my legs,” Dar said, struggling to push himself up with his arms. “Damn it, I can’t move!”</p><p></p><p>“Remain still!” Allera commanded, pushing him back down. She touched her hands to the base of his spine, a potent blue glow surrounding her fingertips, seeping into his body through his armor. Dar let out a sigh as the magic eased his pain, and healed the damage wrought to his body by the dragon’s terrible attacks. “Better?” she asked, after a few moments. </p><p></p><p>He rolled over, tenuously testing his legs. “Yes. Thanks.”</p><p></p><p>Allera nodded, and hurried over to Talen and Varo. “How many <em>restorations</em> do you have available?” she asked the cleric. </p><p></p><p>“Only one in memory, at the moment.”</p><p></p><p>Allera nodded, and turned to Talen. “We can restore everyone who was drained, but after this, we will not have any of the spells remaining until we can rest.”</p><p></p><p>Talen nodded. “Do it, quickly.” </p><p></p><p>While the casters worked their magic, Talen posted Pella and Drakha to keep watch. The <em>restoration</em> spells took long seconds to cast, and those awaiting treatment watched the misty darkness warily, expecting the dragon to leap out at them at any moment. Varo, Serah, and Allera sprinkled diamond dust on Talen, Dar, and Bullo, and as soon as those three were restored, Allera turned immediately to Baraka to treat him with her second spell. </p><p></p><p>“Your... <em>friend</em> didn’t do a whole hell of a lot back there,” Talen said quietly to Varo. </p><p></p><p>“His assistance will be needed,” the cleric replied enigmatically. </p><p></p><p>“If there’s something else you know, Varo...”</p><p></p><p>“I know that we are going to face terrible dangers as we move forward,” Varo said. “This is just the first of several guardians that we will have to confront before we will reach the final temple of Orcus.”</p><p></p><p>Talen looked like he was going to say more, but Shay came back, materializing out of the fog before them. “There’s a broad tunnel that exits the cavern,” she said. “It looks like the goblin tracks head that way, and I think the steam starts to thin out in that direction as well.”</p><p></p><p>“All right, let’s get going,” Talen said. He glanced over at Allera, who nodded as she finished casting her spell. “The dragon may return at any moment, but it will have a harder time sneaking up on us in the tunnel than out here in the cavern.”</p><p></p><p>“What about Travius?” Kalend asked. </p><p></p><p>“We must leave him. There is nothing we can do for him now,” Varo said. </p><p></p><p>The company hurried after Shay and Kalend, who directed them to the tunnel entrance. It was difficult to miss; the entrance was almost sixty feet across, with a high irregular ceiling about forty feet above them. Stalagmites jutted from the ground near the walls to either side, but it was obvious even to Talen’s unschooled eyes that the center of the tunnel had been cleared. The ground became softer as they entered the tunnel, with a layer of sandy earth over the bare stone they’d covered in the cavern; runnels were evident that Shay identified as wagon traces. </p><p></p><p>“There’s also a lot of signs of foot traffic,” Shay told him. “Goblin-sized, I’d say.”</p><p></p><p>“Anything recent?” Talen asked. </p><p></p><p>“Not as far as I can tell.”</p><p></p><p>They hurried down the tunnel, but remained alert to the possibility of a goblin ambush ahead of them. They’d covered perhaps a thousand feet when Talen called a halt. The tunnel began to bend to the left, and it seemed to grow gradually broader up ahead. </p><p></p><p>“All right,” he said, “We need to...”</p><p></p><p>He was interrupted by a loud roar that sounded from down the dark tunnel they had just traversed. </p><p></p><p>“The guardian returns,” Drakha said, unnecessarily. </p><p></p><p>“All right, everyone, spread out, take cover!” Talen ordered. He remained in the middle of the tunnel, and drew out <em>Beatus Incendia</em>, although he did not command it to take flame. </p><p></p><p>Dar lingered as well. “Going to draw it, general?” </p><p></p><p>“Take cover,” he said. “When it dives, we’ll hit it from all sides.”</p><p></p><p>“A good plan. But the one standing here is going to be in a world of hurt.”</p><p></p><p>Talen met his gaze. “Don’t think I can take it?”</p><p></p><p>Dar let out a chuckle. “I suppose we’ll see.”</p><p></p><p>Allera ran up to them. “I can protect you... one of you... from the effects of its breath. The ward will only last a short time, less than a minute...”</p><p></p><p>“Hit the knight,” Dar said. He saluted Talen with <em>Valor</em>, and then drew back toward a cluster of stalagmites along the edge of the tunnel about thirty feet away. </p><p></p><p>While Allera summoned her <em>death ward</em> upon Talen, the others took up positions along the sides of the tunnel. There was plenty of cover there, stalagmites and uneven heaps of debris that had been cleared from the middle of the tunnel by the goblins. </p><p></p><p>Allera finished her spell, and withdrew. Shay was now the only one left in the center of the passage with Talen. </p><p></p><p>“Get into cover,” he said. “I’ll be all right.”</p><p></p><p>She nodded. The scout didn’t say anything, but there was a lot of meaning in the look they shared, then she darted back to the side of the tunnel. </p><p></p><p>Talen lifted his holy sword, which flared into life. He stared into the darkness, and held his ground. </p><p></p><p>Varo, lingering about thirty feet back along the side of the tunnel, looked also into the darkness and frowned. </p><p></p><p>“You are troubled?” Drakha asked him. </p><p></p><p>“Why would it have announced its presence with that bellow?” the cleric said. “It must have known that we would be ready for it...”</p><p></p><p>He trailed off, as the answer came to him. <em>It can </em>teleport...</p><p></p><p>“Behind us!” he yelled in warning. </p><p></p><p>Talen turned. Brightness flared from his sword...</p><p></p><p>The suddenly brilliant glow revealed a <em>pair</em> of shadow dragons, the one they had battled before, still bearing the wounds from their first battle, accompanied by a second that was only slightly smaller. Both were surrounded by <em>mirror images</em> and protected by translucent <em>shields</em>. They swooped down silently out of the darkness behind them. </p><p></p><p>But Varo’s warning came too late. Even as the radiance of the knight’s sword revealed the foe, the dragons opened their jaws, and unleashed storms of pure darkness into the tunnel.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 3492585, member: 143"] *Gives Eric a cookie* :D * * * * * Chapter 157 THE DEPTHS OF THE DARK Talen staggered, and might have fallen but for the steady hand of Shay, who was beside him in an instant, wrapping her arm around him. “Allera, Talen needs help!” the scout exclaimed. She looked him over. “Where are you hurt?” “I’m all right,” the knight said. “Just a little... weak...” “The dragon drained your life energy with its breath weapon,” Varo said as he came forward to join them. “We can help you, but we should not remain here. The creature retreated, but it will almost certainly be back, and with its magical defenses back in place.” Barakha looked extremely pale, but Shay had not been caught in the creature’s breath. “I thought I saw what looked like a tunnel entrance on the far side of these cliffs,” the scout said. “I’ll check it out.” Talen’s expression showed his feelings at that suggestion, but he recognized the need, and after a second’s pause he nodded. “Be careful... take Kalend with you.” The rogue saluted, and the two hurried off, vanishing into the mists after just a few strides. Allera had gone over to Dar, whle Serah tended to Bullo. “I cannot feel my legs,” Dar said, struggling to push himself up with his arms. “Damn it, I can’t move!” “Remain still!” Allera commanded, pushing him back down. She touched her hands to the base of his spine, a potent blue glow surrounding her fingertips, seeping into his body through his armor. Dar let out a sigh as the magic eased his pain, and healed the damage wrought to his body by the dragon’s terrible attacks. “Better?” she asked, after a few moments. He rolled over, tenuously testing his legs. “Yes. Thanks.” Allera nodded, and hurried over to Talen and Varo. “How many [i]restorations[/i] do you have available?” she asked the cleric. “Only one in memory, at the moment.” Allera nodded, and turned to Talen. “We can restore everyone who was drained, but after this, we will not have any of the spells remaining until we can rest.” Talen nodded. “Do it, quickly.” While the casters worked their magic, Talen posted Pella and Drakha to keep watch. The [i]restoration[/i] spells took long seconds to cast, and those awaiting treatment watched the misty darkness warily, expecting the dragon to leap out at them at any moment. Varo, Serah, and Allera sprinkled diamond dust on Talen, Dar, and Bullo, and as soon as those three were restored, Allera turned immediately to Baraka to treat him with her second spell. “Your... [i]friend[/i] didn’t do a whole hell of a lot back there,” Talen said quietly to Varo. “His assistance will be needed,” the cleric replied enigmatically. “If there’s something else you know, Varo...” “I know that we are going to face terrible dangers as we move forward,” Varo said. “This is just the first of several guardians that we will have to confront before we will reach the final temple of Orcus.” Talen looked like he was going to say more, but Shay came back, materializing out of the fog before them. “There’s a broad tunnel that exits the cavern,” she said. “It looks like the goblin tracks head that way, and I think the steam starts to thin out in that direction as well.” “All right, let’s get going,” Talen said. He glanced over at Allera, who nodded as she finished casting her spell. “The dragon may return at any moment, but it will have a harder time sneaking up on us in the tunnel than out here in the cavern.” “What about Travius?” Kalend asked. “We must leave him. There is nothing we can do for him now,” Varo said. The company hurried after Shay and Kalend, who directed them to the tunnel entrance. It was difficult to miss; the entrance was almost sixty feet across, with a high irregular ceiling about forty feet above them. Stalagmites jutted from the ground near the walls to either side, but it was obvious even to Talen’s unschooled eyes that the center of the tunnel had been cleared. The ground became softer as they entered the tunnel, with a layer of sandy earth over the bare stone they’d covered in the cavern; runnels were evident that Shay identified as wagon traces. “There’s also a lot of signs of foot traffic,” Shay told him. “Goblin-sized, I’d say.” “Anything recent?” Talen asked. “Not as far as I can tell.” They hurried down the tunnel, but remained alert to the possibility of a goblin ambush ahead of them. They’d covered perhaps a thousand feet when Talen called a halt. The tunnel began to bend to the left, and it seemed to grow gradually broader up ahead. “All right,” he said, “We need to...” He was interrupted by a loud roar that sounded from down the dark tunnel they had just traversed. “The guardian returns,” Drakha said, unnecessarily. “All right, everyone, spread out, take cover!” Talen ordered. He remained in the middle of the tunnel, and drew out [i]Beatus Incendia[/i], although he did not command it to take flame. Dar lingered as well. “Going to draw it, general?” “Take cover,” he said. “When it dives, we’ll hit it from all sides.” “A good plan. But the one standing here is going to be in a world of hurt.” Talen met his gaze. “Don’t think I can take it?” Dar let out a chuckle. “I suppose we’ll see.” Allera ran up to them. “I can protect you... one of you... from the effects of its breath. The ward will only last a short time, less than a minute...” “Hit the knight,” Dar said. He saluted Talen with [i]Valor[/i], and then drew back toward a cluster of stalagmites along the edge of the tunnel about thirty feet away. While Allera summoned her [i]death ward[/i] upon Talen, the others took up positions along the sides of the tunnel. There was plenty of cover there, stalagmites and uneven heaps of debris that had been cleared from the middle of the tunnel by the goblins. Allera finished her spell, and withdrew. Shay was now the only one left in the center of the passage with Talen. “Get into cover,” he said. “I’ll be all right.” She nodded. The scout didn’t say anything, but there was a lot of meaning in the look they shared, then she darted back to the side of the tunnel. Talen lifted his holy sword, which flared into life. He stared into the darkness, and held his ground. Varo, lingering about thirty feet back along the side of the tunnel, looked also into the darkness and frowned. “You are troubled?” Drakha asked him. “Why would it have announced its presence with that bellow?” the cleric said. “It must have known that we would be ready for it...” He trailed off, as the answer came to him. [i]It can [/i]teleport... “Behind us!” he yelled in warning. Talen turned. Brightness flared from his sword... The suddenly brilliant glow revealed a [i]pair[/i] of shadow dragons, the one they had battled before, still bearing the wounds from their first battle, accompanied by a second that was only slightly smaller. Both were surrounded by [i]mirror images[/i] and protected by translucent [i]shields[/i]. They swooped down silently out of the darkness behind them. But Varo’s warning came too late. Even as the radiance of the knight’s sword revealed the foe, the dragons opened their jaws, and unleashed storms of pure darkness into the tunnel. [/QUOTE]
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