And so the Party continued the only way they could; deeper into the Darkness. They paused a moment as they again heard the deep thud of some great creature’s footsteps trembling the caverns. They continued to follow the emerald’s beam. They followed the passage for some time, until they came to what appeared to be an opening into a chamber. Monk held up his hand for the others to wait, and peered around the corner of the entryway. There, roaming in the chamber, was an enormous beast as tall as three Ulbernauts shoulders to feet. It hardly seemed it should be living at all, with a great gaping hole in its chest, and rotten flesh and ribs protruding from it. Monk recoiled back into the passage way and slumped against the wall in despair.
Esseda, reading Monk’s reaction, decided her destiny was upon her. She leapt past the Party before anyone could stop her, and charged into the room.
As Monk sat leaning against the wall he felt an evil presence growing in his mind. Like before, but stronger this time; surer. The growing sense of fate struck a tune in Monk’s heart. He began to understand what was coming.
Tensed for a mighty blow, Esseda leapt at the creature. She sliced upwards with all her might, with a dangerous bloody attack. The mighty beast looked down at her in surprise. Esseda waited to die, expecting to be struck flat any moment. The creature moved as if to reach for her, then stumbled, and its might form tipped backwards and fell to the ground with a mighty thud. The party rushed into the chamber, and stood gaping at Esseda.
“Egads...”, exclaimed Anfa, “The peace weapons are poison to them!
Esseda shrugged, “Tricks is all this shadow has...”
Anfa shivered as she felt the darkness try to connect to the taint within her again.
They continued into the passage way at the opposite side of the chamber, and followed the tunnel. As they emerged into a large room, hooded figures suddenly closed in on them.
“Ambush!”, Peacer shouted! A scuffled ensued as the party engaged with the attackers.
Esseda smirked as they beat them off, “Next time they need to try harder.”
Monk noticed a side passage, “We should check down here.. there may be more. We don't want them to come up behind us”. They beat off anther dark figure as they went down the passage. At the end of the short tunnel, Monk half stumbled over an object in the dark. They examined what was unmistakeably a chest.
Monk looked at Esseda, “Esseda.. you have thief skills do you not? Perhaps you could check it for traps.”
Esseda grinned, “Sure... ask the Oja girl”.
“Can you pick the lock?”
“...no need, that's a trap.”
Esseda examined the chest and carefully ran her hand along the back and sides. Anfa reached forward to poke the chest with her sword. Esseda looked at it carefully. More dark assailants materialised from the shadows behind them and the Party worked to cover Esseda’s back. Esseda popped out the back of the chest, “There you go!”
Monk, Esseda and Peacer examined the items within with interest. An Ancient Tablet and an Old Musical Instrument that looked not unlike a panflute. Monk looked at the strange writings on the tablet.
“Entulae.. experitas”, Monk began to read, “..numos.. barathus”.
“Can you decipher them, Monk?”, Esseda listened to the strange words.
“It seems to be a magic spell,” Monk told Peacer, “I can read the old writings for you. Perhaps you can understand the magical language?”
“Krymani tenthula, arabaci thalun nicarsis talamaine”, Monk continued as Peacer memorized the words, “Talaman shentuthi, barak”.
Anfa glanced around feeling the darkness gathering again for an attack, “Janner?”
Janner reappeared in the gloom of the tunnel, “I was cornered for a few minutes.”
Anfa listened to Monk and Peacer as she continued to feel the pressure building around her mind.
“I've never seen anything like it”, Monk said, “We should take it with us.”
Anfa looked again at the treasures and shrugged.
“Well, we should get going...”, said Peacer. Anfa nodded her agreement. Janner smiled and headed back down the passageway, slaying more hooded warriors, with the party closely following.
The party stood back in the large room, confronted with a large staircase winding down even further into the thick darkness.
“We must move on. It is getting dangerous to stay in one place too long”, warned Janner.
“Let us continue”, agreed Anfa.
Monk held out the emerald before him. Once again they trusted their lives to the guidance of the beam, and descended into the gloom. Anfa heard a voice calling from the bottom of the stone stairs.
With tired legs and tired spirits, the party finally approached the bottom of the great staircase. Immediately they had to brace themselves for action again, as they were confronted with dark, shimmering creatures below them, barring their way. Esseda rushed forward to fulfil her role again. Her blades wove skilfully in her hands, but to her shock they passed right through them like mist, availing nothing. She was barely able to escape unscathed, quickly retreating to the Party.
Esseda held out her swords, “...they are becoming impervious.”
“Immune to ordinary weapons!”, exclaimed Monk.
“Peacer!”, Monk decided it was time to use the underdark dwellers’ own powers against them.
Peacer nodded, "Yes, Monk?"
“Try that spell from the tablet!”, urged Monk.
“I have no idea how to do it”, Peacer warned, “Please let me concentrate for a moment.”
Anfa glanced about her at shadowy forms shifting amongst them, wondering if she was the only one to see them. She blinked and shivered; shook her head, trying to clear the visions. One of the shades materialized more clearly before her. Anfa growled a warning and the others glanced at her questioningly, their focus on the monsters below. Anfa tightened her grip on her sword.
“What is this?”, Anfa demanded. Zorbels looked with concern at Anfa, who seemed to be looking at Chavem.
Peacer kneeled, focusing to harness the ancient magic of the tablet.
Chavem took a step towards Anfa, a questioning look on his face. Anfa narrowed her eyes in mistrust, as the apparition appeared to close on her. She drew her swords, ready to kill the shade if it moved another inch. Zorbels watched in horror as Anfa appeared ready to slay Chavem at any moment. Zorbels begged Anfa to stop.
Peacer started glowing a white colour around his body, as he whispered under his breath. Zorbels’ eyes widened as Esseda seemed to be caught up in the same vision as Anfa.
“Let me kill ‘it’ Anfa”, Esseda grinned, seeming also to be looking at Chavem. Chavem gulped, not daring to move a muscle. Instinctively, Zorbels reached into her back where she had stored the Old Musical Instrument. She lifted it to her lips and began to play.
A strange, beautiful music began emanating from her. The tune seemed to catch up all the sound and chaos about them, and weave it into a single clear and haunting tune. Anfa and Esseda began to blink and glance about them. Peacer smiled with closed eyes as he spoke forth the words, “Krymani tenthula, arabaci thalun nicarsis talamaine”.
All at once Janner and Monk hit the deck as a rush of energy burst forth from Peacer and was absorbed by the monsters below. Esseda snapped out of it and rushed to attack the monsters again as they fully materialized into hackable flesh. Anfa rubbed her eyes and looked at the nervous Chavem before her in astonishment. The last creature thudded to the floor under Esseda’s rapid blows. Janner rolled and caught Zorbels as she nearly swooned the ground, and the music stopped. The Party joined Chavem in a unified sigh of relief, as they sat a moment in the darkness.
The diamonds vials glinting around Peacer’s neck in the gloom caught Monk’s attention. He realised that if his blood went into the portal closing spell, it would not close until he had gone through. “May I see my vial of blood?”, He asked Peacer.
“Sure..”, Peacer shrugged. Monk idly examined the diamond vial. He chose his opportunity and secretly switched it for the extra vial of Anfa’s blood which Peacer had given him in Hydlaa to test for purity. He casually handed Peacer the vial.
Peacer examined Monk’s eyes curiously for a moment, then shrugged, “Let's just go.”
One by one they picked themselves up. Tired, Anfa growled, feeling the Underdark beginning to wear on her temper. Zorbels placed a hand on Anfa’s shoulder, trying to reassure her.
“Anfa! we can't stay here!!”, Monk said. With a growl she looked to Monk. Monk frowned in confusion; the darkness wearing him thin too.
“Wait...I know this place,” Anfa said, “This way.”
Monk pulled out his daggers, looking suspiciously at Anfa, “No! She'll lead us the wrong way.”
Anfa began growing excited. Monk began feeling confused about who was the enemy. Esseda’s eyes grew wild, trying to keep her composure.
“You could all be possessed!!”, Monk panicked.
“I am not possessed!”, argued Peacer.
Esseda glanced about, “What is this place...”
“You ask me to lead.”, growled Anfa, “Who is possessed, Monk?”
Monk gripped Janner’s shoulders, “Janner.. you are immune.”
Janner looked about at the confused faces “Yes, Monk.”
“Who.. tell me who is who. Is Anfa possessed?”, Monk’s eyes were wild, “Am I?”
Esseda grinned madly, “I am tired of this shadow toying with me and my friends.”
“Esseda!!!”, yelled Peacer.
Janner looked closely at the members of the group.
“We go this way”, Anfa insisted Angrily.
Monk shook, “Janner! Can I trust Anfa!?”
“Janner!”, Anfa shouted.
“Yes”, Janner assured Monk. Monk clenched his eyes trying to regain the same calm. He opened his eyes and saw the emerald sputter into life. The guiding beam lit up and shone the way Anfa was suggesting. The group fell quiet a moment, staring at the faint beam in the darkness.
Anfa paused, “Beware the spiders. Seems the underdark has been playing with the species”.
Monk sighed, “I hope it’s not too much further.”
Esseda chuckled a little, and the group ambled forth.
For what seemed like an eternity the group wandered forth through the stone tunnels and eerie corridors, always following the emerald’s beam. Finally, as time wore on and the group was beginning to falter, the emerald’s green glow began pulsating.
“We’re getting close now..”, Monk observed, “Be wary.”
“I can feel it too,” said Peacer, “the darkness...”
Monk could swear he heard a voice in the darkness, welcoming him to age old destiny.
“Yes...”, agreed Anfa, “The portal is near. I can feel its vibrations.”
“Lets go...”, suggested Esseda, “...lets all go together.”
“There is sure to be a guardian...”, Monk warned, “Be ready, we must all use our abilities to the fullest.”
“Lets go!”, Anfa laughed. Esseda grinned. They all rushed up the small flight of steps where the beam pointed. Then Monk leapt through the doorway only to be clothes-lined by a steeled arm. He fell on his back, stunned. He looked up to see a black-armoured knight thrusting a blade down towards his chest. Esseda jumped in before the knights sword could fall, glancing the blow. Chavem followed swiftly with his Axe, cleaving towards the guardian’s chest. Janner follow suit and the guardian was scissored by the two blows. He trashed about, gashing Chavem’s arm. The party cast arrows, surrounded him, and slashed until he moved no more. Monk climbed to his feet, gripping his burning chest.
Just as they were beginning to think the guardian wasn’t so bad, Esseda yelled. “They are everywhere...!”
What appeared to be statues in the corners began to stir. Elsewhere red eyes began to advance from dark crevices. Janner, Zorbels, Anfa and Esseda stood back to back, surrounding the other three members.
