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The Friday Knights in Thunderspire Labyrinth (with Pics).
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 4848141" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p>LOL, and thanks for reading.</p><p></p><p>It gets a little darker.</p><p></p><p>The Friday Knights in Sellswords of Fallcrest</p><p></p><p>Part 16: Rats!</p><p></p><p>The chest is thoroughly ransacked, it offers up all manner of goodies- Cathal sports a new cloak- some sort of protective device Ignaran confirms. The Drow-made spider pendant which previously secured it is quickly discarded [1]. </p><p></p><p>There are poison vials, marked with skull & crossbones, and full of darkly oozing gunk- Kullervo nervously looks over them; working up the courage to open one. [2] </p><p></p><p>Also a well-made dagger, which Ignaran confirms is magical also - and plenty of other spoils, money and things to sell.</p><p></p><p>Fully rested the Friday Knights stalk up the stairs to the Dog Brothers' ex-lair. Further searching there reveals a smattering of coin- not nearly as much as they had expected to find, less than five gold in total.</p><p></p><p>Cathal looks put out- little reward for his just efforts. “Search the place, thoroughly,” he spits.</p><p>“Sarge” Astaroth nods, betraying a sliver of his past.</p><p></p><p>The Knights do as they're told, filthy bedrolls are toed-over, Irocar's cot is smashed and heaved aside, the unlit brazier is tipped over- nothing, it gets frustrating rather quickly, until...</p><p></p><p>“Here it is.” Kullervo declares. Upstairs in Irocar's loft area is a sliding panel, and what do you know...</p><p></p><p>“Hang on, it's trapped.” Kullervo states, which is enough to send all of the Knights scampering back down the ladder and out of the loft.</p><p></p><p>Alone, Kullervo flexes his fingers, hands and wrists; draws out his tools and sets to work, and this time, for no special reason, it's easy. It takes him perhaps thirty seconds to find the two well concealed holes in the hidden door. Another thirty to discern the two short spears that are designed to fire out from the door- this place is a nightmare he thinks, and then chuckles a little to himself.</p><p></p><p>Thirty more seconds and the trap mechanism is located, a minute more, and... well- he checks again, “it's safe,” Kullervo calls out.</p><p></p><p>Back on the lower level Cathal stares at Ignaran, who stares back; eventually the pair shrug at each other. Astaroth meanwhile slowly, and with a grin, counts his fingers- he's got the same number twice in a row now, he chuckles a little at the thought of a third success.</p><p></p><p>Cathal starts up the ladder, stops a while, starts again- decides.</p><p></p><p>“Are you sure?”</p><p></p><p>The sound of footsteps, Kullervo heads over, till he's stood above the ladder, looking down on Cathal.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, I'm sure.” The young Rogue smiles and waves the warrior of Kord on.</p><p></p><p>Up top, the once-hidden door opens into a dark storeroom, Cathal draws his sword and heads on in. Ignaran chuckles and gently punches Kullervo on the arm and follows on. Astaroth is examining the back of his right hand with great care and attention- it seems he's a finger light- he mooches forward, concerned.</p><p></p><p>The chamber is a mess, Cathal stands on a narrow rickety balcony, about five feet from the actual floor, a short flight of decayed wooden steps lead down. The floor of the chamber is taken up by sacks, barrels, crates and the like... oh and rats, lots of rats.</p><p></p><p>The rats take note of the new arrivals, run hither and thither, every now and then stop to wobble up on to their hind legs to chitter and stare at Cathal and the other Knights with their flashing eyes.</p><p></p><p>“Rats.” Astaroth stops and points, like he's just found the Philosopher's Stone.</p><p></p><p>There's a door on the far side of the chamber, Cathal leads them over, or at least to the bottom of the stairs, the warrior of Kord hesitates.</p><p></p><p>In his mind he remembers seeing them, the rats... next to the bodies- he's lying to himself; Cathal shakes his head, tries to clear the thought. </p><p></p><p>On the bodies, they were on the bodies- eating...</p><p></p><p>Cathal leans hard against the ancient wooden railings; his knuckles pale as he grips tight.</p><p></p><p>The rats were on the bodies, eating them- his mother, his brother; the rats were... He remembers getting closer, edging forward, past his father- gripped tight in a ball on the road, clenched inside- outside, the sound of his screams. Creeping closer, closer- his feet on the cobbles, a fragment of her shirt, her hair- tears now, a tuft of her hair- MOTHER. He wants to scream, but he doesn't, only edges closer, closer... </p><p></p><p>He can touch her, reach down and... but for the rats- eating her.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly she turns to face him- her eyes are gone, gone, black holes; her face is... there's no word, no phrase- her face... eaten; and then she speaks, says his name.</p><p></p><p>“... Cathal?” Ignaran's voice comes again.</p><p>“What?” Cathal snaps back.</p><p>“Nothing I...”</p><p>“Well come on then.” Cathal snaps again and sets off for the door.</p><p></p><p>That's when the rats attack, but he knew that was going to happen- they come for the dead.</p><p></p><p>It's a slaughter.</p><p></p><p>Cathal attacks with a fury, Ignaran conjures fire and lightning, Kullervo settles for a ring side seat and hurling his dagger, which as soon as it strikes disappears and swiftly reappears in his hand. Astaroth is the least adept, his greataxe a poor choice of weapon for this close work.</p><p></p><p>The rats flee, or what few are left.</p><p></p><p>Twenty seconds, that's all it takes. The fracas leaves Cathal fuming.</p><p></p><p>“That was easy.” Ignaran half-grunts half-smirks.</p><p>Kullervo sidles over with a lopsided grin- an easy victory for once, the Knights are getting into the swing of things.</p><p>“This adventuring lark... Not so dif...” Kullervo starts, all smiles.</p><p>“Shut up. Come on.” Cathal bites off, as if it were a curse, and wrenches the door ahead open. A long thin, equally decrepit candlelit chamber lies beyond- the warrior of Kord, bathed for a moment in a sickening yellow glow, seethes slightly- bites at his beard and marches in.</p><p></p><p>Astaroth follows on, ducking beneath the low lintel.</p><p></p><p>A moment or two.</p><p></p><p>“Did you see him?” Kullervo whispers.</p><p>Ignaran has yet to look away.</p><p>“Yes.”</p><p>“There's something not... right.” Kullervo adds, and frets a little.</p><p>“Yes.” Ignaran fires back.</p><p></p><p>“What...” Kullervo eventually breaks the silence, the two have still not moved.</p><p>“He's suffering.” Ignaran offers.</p><p></p><p>The two look on until Astaroth appears again in the doorway, looks hard at the pair for a good while, and then with one huge black hand- indicates that they should definitely come in now.</p><p></p><p>Later, when Ignaran thinks back to this moment, he will finally work out the emotion that lingered on Astaroth's face- it was fear. Fear of Cathal.</p><p></p><p></p><p>[1] The Drow manufactured Spider pendant is a product of Phaervorul, a splendid Drow enclave of advanced and enlightened (for Drow) thinking. It's a shame no one bothered to pick it up... more of this later; much, much later.</p><p></p><p>[2] The Poison in the vials is Stormclaw Scorpion Venom, a favourite of the 'The Slayers' a perhaps mythical - at the very least greatly exaggerated - organisation. The Slayers motto is unknown, their lair likewise, their members... well, the same. They are the best kept secret in the Nentir Vale, and if you tell anyone that- they'll kill you.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 4848141, member: 16069"] LOL, and thanks for reading. It gets a little darker. The Friday Knights in Sellswords of Fallcrest Part 16: Rats! The chest is thoroughly ransacked, it offers up all manner of goodies- Cathal sports a new cloak- some sort of protective device Ignaran confirms. The Drow-made spider pendant which previously secured it is quickly discarded [1]. There are poison vials, marked with skull & crossbones, and full of darkly oozing gunk- Kullervo nervously looks over them; working up the courage to open one. [2] Also a well-made dagger, which Ignaran confirms is magical also - and plenty of other spoils, money and things to sell. Fully rested the Friday Knights stalk up the stairs to the Dog Brothers' ex-lair. Further searching there reveals a smattering of coin- not nearly as much as they had expected to find, less than five gold in total. Cathal looks put out- little reward for his just efforts. “Search the place, thoroughly,” he spits. “Sarge” Astaroth nods, betraying a sliver of his past. The Knights do as they're told, filthy bedrolls are toed-over, Irocar's cot is smashed and heaved aside, the unlit brazier is tipped over- nothing, it gets frustrating rather quickly, until... “Here it is.” Kullervo declares. Upstairs in Irocar's loft area is a sliding panel, and what do you know... “Hang on, it's trapped.” Kullervo states, which is enough to send all of the Knights scampering back down the ladder and out of the loft. Alone, Kullervo flexes his fingers, hands and wrists; draws out his tools and sets to work, and this time, for no special reason, it's easy. It takes him perhaps thirty seconds to find the two well concealed holes in the hidden door. Another thirty to discern the two short spears that are designed to fire out from the door- this place is a nightmare he thinks, and then chuckles a little to himself. Thirty more seconds and the trap mechanism is located, a minute more, and... well- he checks again, “it's safe,” Kullervo calls out. Back on the lower level Cathal stares at Ignaran, who stares back; eventually the pair shrug at each other. Astaroth meanwhile slowly, and with a grin, counts his fingers- he's got the same number twice in a row now, he chuckles a little at the thought of a third success. Cathal starts up the ladder, stops a while, starts again- decides. “Are you sure?” The sound of footsteps, Kullervo heads over, till he's stood above the ladder, looking down on Cathal. “Yes, I'm sure.” The young Rogue smiles and waves the warrior of Kord on. Up top, the once-hidden door opens into a dark storeroom, Cathal draws his sword and heads on in. Ignaran chuckles and gently punches Kullervo on the arm and follows on. Astaroth is examining the back of his right hand with great care and attention- it seems he's a finger light- he mooches forward, concerned. The chamber is a mess, Cathal stands on a narrow rickety balcony, about five feet from the actual floor, a short flight of decayed wooden steps lead down. The floor of the chamber is taken up by sacks, barrels, crates and the like... oh and rats, lots of rats. The rats take note of the new arrivals, run hither and thither, every now and then stop to wobble up on to their hind legs to chitter and stare at Cathal and the other Knights with their flashing eyes. “Rats.” Astaroth stops and points, like he's just found the Philosopher's Stone. There's a door on the far side of the chamber, Cathal leads them over, or at least to the bottom of the stairs, the warrior of Kord hesitates. In his mind he remembers seeing them, the rats... next to the bodies- he's lying to himself; Cathal shakes his head, tries to clear the thought. On the bodies, they were on the bodies- eating... Cathal leans hard against the ancient wooden railings; his knuckles pale as he grips tight. The rats were on the bodies, eating them- his mother, his brother; the rats were... He remembers getting closer, edging forward, past his father- gripped tight in a ball on the road, clenched inside- outside, the sound of his screams. Creeping closer, closer- his feet on the cobbles, a fragment of her shirt, her hair- tears now, a tuft of her hair- MOTHER. He wants to scream, but he doesn't, only edges closer, closer... He can touch her, reach down and... but for the rats- eating her. Suddenly she turns to face him- her eyes are gone, gone, black holes; her face is... there's no word, no phrase- her face... eaten; and then she speaks, says his name. “... Cathal?” Ignaran's voice comes again. “What?” Cathal snaps back. “Nothing I...” “Well come on then.” Cathal snaps again and sets off for the door. That's when the rats attack, but he knew that was going to happen- they come for the dead. It's a slaughter. Cathal attacks with a fury, Ignaran conjures fire and lightning, Kullervo settles for a ring side seat and hurling his dagger, which as soon as it strikes disappears and swiftly reappears in his hand. Astaroth is the least adept, his greataxe a poor choice of weapon for this close work. The rats flee, or what few are left. Twenty seconds, that's all it takes. The fracas leaves Cathal fuming. “That was easy.” Ignaran half-grunts half-smirks. Kullervo sidles over with a lopsided grin- an easy victory for once, the Knights are getting into the swing of things. “This adventuring lark... Not so dif...” Kullervo starts, all smiles. “Shut up. Come on.” Cathal bites off, as if it were a curse, and wrenches the door ahead open. A long thin, equally decrepit candlelit chamber lies beyond- the warrior of Kord, bathed for a moment in a sickening yellow glow, seethes slightly- bites at his beard and marches in. Astaroth follows on, ducking beneath the low lintel. A moment or two. “Did you see him?” Kullervo whispers. Ignaran has yet to look away. “Yes.” “There's something not... right.” Kullervo adds, and frets a little. “Yes.” Ignaran fires back. “What...” Kullervo eventually breaks the silence, the two have still not moved. “He's suffering.” Ignaran offers. The two look on until Astaroth appears again in the doorway, looks hard at the pair for a good while, and then with one huge black hand- indicates that they should definitely come in now. Later, when Ignaran thinks back to this moment, he will finally work out the emotion that lingered on Astaroth's face- it was fear. Fear of Cathal. [1] The Drow manufactured Spider pendant is a product of Phaervorul, a splendid Drow enclave of advanced and enlightened (for Drow) thinking. It's a shame no one bothered to pick it up... more of this later; much, much later. [2] The Poison in the vials is Stormclaw Scorpion Venom, a favourite of the 'The Slayers' a perhaps mythical - at the very least greatly exaggerated - organisation. The Slayers motto is unknown, their lair likewise, their members... well, the same. They are the best kept secret in the Nentir Vale, and if you tell anyone that- they'll kill you. [/QUOTE]
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