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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arknath" data-source="post: 158299" data-attributes="member: 2850">Wilder, Thomas and Ktharssiss ran through the streets darting here and there to avoid the grips of the awaiting fiends.  When they came too close, Thomas and Wilder would slash them with blades and run on, unlike the foolish others who would stay and fight.  If a creature was in their way at a distance, the wizard Ktharssiss would blast them with a spell or confuse them just long enough for the three to run past.  The heroes were running towards the eastern gate, trying to get through to the outside world.  Passing guardsmen and citizens alike, they realized that the city was lost and needed outside help if it was to be regained.  A scene near the eastern gate stopped all three of them in their tracks.A contingent of soldiers stood back to back with swords drawn, eyes searching frantically around them.  Suddenly, one of the soldiers cried out just before his arm was ripped from it’s socket followed by a loud roar.  “Lion”, Ktharssis yelled at the other two, “Invissible lion.”  They looked at each other in dismay and then the full realization of what the wizard had just said hit them.  They frantically scanned the area and came on their guard.  Ktharssiss stepped close behind the two warriors and eyed the rear of the group.  It was he who spotted their salvation.“Sssewersss,” he said to himself more than anyone else.  “Sssewersss!!” he screamed at the other two who had turned to regard him at his first words.  Wilder and Thomas looked where the wizard was pointing and nodded.  Sheathing their swords – Thomas with practiced ease – the three endangered adventurers ran for the grating that led to the sewage system of the city.  When they arrived, Wilder reached down and pulled the grating up in one motion and helped the wizard down.  Thomas, just as easily as before, had pulled his sword out and was watching for pursuit. “Go on,” Wilder said to Thomas in a hurried voice, “we haven’t much time.”“You first,” said Thomas not even turning his eyes to look at his fellow warrior, “my blade is already drawn and I can sheath it faster than you.”Wilder nodded agreeably and jumped down to the sewer floor with ease.  Ktharssis had already produced a spell that created light on a piece of wood he had found on the sewer floor.  Wilder looked about at the underground tunnels that handled the city’s waste materials.  He was happy about finding his way down here, that is…until the smell hit his nose.  This caused Wilder to wretch and put his hands on his knees.“You will get usssed to it after a bit.” Ktharssiss hissed still looking around.“That’s…easy for you to say…you smell with your tongue.”  The thought of smelling this place through his tongue – at least the only way he knew how to smell through his tongue – made Wilder loose control of his faculties and he managed to get his head over the lip of the walkway in which they stood.  Ktharssiss regarded him with a disgusted look.“It’sss not asss if it’sss unpleasssant enough down here without you making a donation.” the lizard remarked.Thomas came down a few moments later and closed the grating behind them.  Just as he did, the limb of some unfortunate creature landed atop the grating and dripped blood down onto the floors.  “Let’s leave,” Thomas said grimly, “and quickly.”  Then he noticed that the smell was abhorrent down here something that made him want to faint.  He did not show it to the other two he was with, but he did not like the smell of it and wished to be out of there as quickly as possible.The three heroes decided to head east, since that was the closest way out of the city.  They trudged on through the sewers, blades and spells ready to cast at the first thing that tried to stop them from their progress.  They heard the screams and cries of the people up on the surface and they had to keep telling themselves that there was nothing that they could do to save them.  The world needed to know about what happened this day in Sallineth and the three of them took it upon themselves, unknown to each other, to tell Ersadia what happened to her magical city.As they moved on, they quickened their pace and covered a great deal of ground in a short time.  When they had gone several blocks past the original spot in which they had entered the sewers, they noticed that one scream in particular was raising above the rest.  Wilder and Ktharssiss looked at each other as if to ask the question without saying a word, but Thomas did not hesitate to begin moving in that direction.Thomas ran towards the sound a few steps and then realized he needed the wizard’s light in order to see in the blackness.  Ktharssiss and Wilder looked at Thomas with inquisitive eyes.“We must try to save at least one soul  from this tragedy,” he said evenly without turning to look at them, “or if you choose to go on, then good luck to you on your journeys.”He took a few more steps.  As an afterthought, he turned and spoke to his companions again. “I am Thomas of Skye, and I would know your names ere I die.”“Wilder, from the lands of Andoarioan in the east,” said Wilder in a formal tone, as if he were some member of a royal court. “Ktharssssissssss, and I hail from no land save that which suits me at a given time,” the lizard hissed in a deep resonating voice.Thomas bowed low and spoke one final time, “I am pleased to have made your acquaintance,” he said respectfully, “but I must go now, I have a task to attend to.  Good speed on the future road.”The samurai turned and ran into the darkness, counting on his warrior instincts and intellect to see him through this time of his life.  Possibly the last breaths he will ever take.Wilder and Ktharssiss looked at each other a third time then looked towards the east, and then towards the west after Thomas.  Simultaneously they both took a cautious step in the direction the human man had run.“We can’t sssstick with him much longer,” Ktharssiss mused to Wilder as they were running down the corridor, “he’sss going to get usss killed.”</blockquote>

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