Dungeon RaidThe final calls were made by a few acolytes around town. In moments a small crowd gathered around the Laanx temple. Saggi looked through them meticulously, selecting those he wanted with a careful hand. by the end he had picked all that he needed, 4 members of the crowd filled behind him. The rest we thanked before having the acolytes send them off. "We start with the basics, your names," Saggi asked.
One by one each of them stepped forward, answering. In the end the group consisted of Zephan, Shangshi, Rulek, and Megheraine. Saggi gave a small nod to each before briefing them on the goal at hand.
"We will be exploring the inside of the Laanx well. This journey is not one usually made at all, most no doubt thinking it foolish to even bother. But I simply want to check a few things to make sure my suspicions are wrong." With that said he lead them into the temple, letting down a rope into the well. Slowly each one of them climbed down the rope, Rulek having the most trouble but even kra made it down successfully. Zephan removed a torch from his pack, lighting it and illuminating the way. Together, the group travelled deep into what appeared to be an underground system of halls. All was quiet, only the sound of their own feet heard against the floor until clacking sounds echoed in the halls, light but heard quickly by the group. As they reached a staircase they saw at the bottom a figure in heavy black garb, swords already drawn.
Saggi frowned slightly, "I think theres a thief lurking down there...." Zephan quickly raised the torch to shine light upon the figure and the stairs below. Unfortunately with the comming of the light the man rushed at the group, daggers sliding from his sleeves and spiraling toward the 5. The daggers missed, Zephan being the closest to the man swinging his blade and cracking the mans skull, making him fall to the ground. Black liquid oozed from his wound as his body fell back down the stairs.
Rulek, curious, touched the substance for a moment, trying to find out what it was. However, in haste kra ignored it, following the rest of the group onward. As they came to another passing three more black figures stood in their way.
Megheraine spoke quietly "Quick lets go before they come this way." Everyone seemed to nod in agreement, deciding to avoid a fight altogether. They turned, quietly sneaking the back the other way and up the stairs before quickening their pace away. They slowly approached an open room, and to their horror dead bodies covered the floor. These bodies were decayed beyond reason, flesh barely clinging to bone on some of them, scattered around.
Saggi stepped into the room with disgust in his eyes, "What maddness is this?" He took a look around, a frown on his face, "Dark men live in these tunnels..." The others nodded before Rulek and Zephan turned their faces to the entrance, alerted by the light sound of footsteps in the tunnel.
Megheraine muttered lightly before saying a bit louder, "I hear something.. come on come on. Let's move it." Saggi quickly nodded in agreement, both of them taking to the next flight of stairs downward.
Rulek stood his ground near the entrance, "Go on ahead, I'll watch for them...I'm not fast enough." Shangshi and Zephan decided to stay in the room as well, to help Rulek if kra were in need of aid. A man in black ran up, surprised as he looked up at Rulek but acting quicker than the kran, slicing kra at kra's shoulder. Shangshi tried to stab the figure while he was distracted, the man quickly moving away before counter attacking. Shangshi too was quick, jumping back to avoid the blade, before Zeaphan's sword moved in, piercing the figure in the chest and making him fall, the same black ooze coming from his body. The three hurried to catch up with Meg and Saggi, louder clacking sounds starting to come from far in the tunnel. The suddenly the sound of massive footsteps started to echo through as well, screeching heard, creating a maddening cacophony.
Saggi's eyes widened, "Yes, lets make haste, quickly everyone!" They all started to run through the halls moving as fast as possible. As they reached a much larger room than before Saggi was suddenly ambushed this time the man in robes seeming much thinner than the others, the cloth holding tightly to him. The man's sword pierced the left of Saggi's chest, making him fall to the ground. Quickly, Shangshi slashed his sword at the man, blade hitting his chest and suddenly multiple cracking sounds were heard as he collapsed. Megheraine kicked the the robes off the body, revealing it to be absent of flesh and skin, only bone underneath. She let out a scream before glaring at Saggi, "What have you gotten us into?" Rulek looked at the corpse with the same confusion and fear in kra's eyes.
Saggi, barely able to stand, looked horrified at the skeleton, his face completely sickened, "This maddness.....Forgive me friends but my suspicions have been confirmed...We must leave immediately. What we face may be beyond us." Before they could take another step forward though, the battle was upon them. From behind 6 of the strange skeletal creatures they just encountered stood, swords drawn. Then from in front, light burst into the area, a large flame on wheels, dragged by a huge grendol, chained to it, and 3 more of the skeleton warriors. Immediately the 4 Saggi brought with him were engulfed in battle, Shangshi and Megheraine taking the 6 from behind, Zephan and Rulek taking the 3 and the grendol in the front.
Rulek picked up Zephan, throwing him into the enemies, the elf twisting his swords in circles, cutting through two two of the the skeletons, putting him face to face with the third. Megheraine grabbed at stones on the ground, throwing them into the skulls of their opponents, cracking heads and ribs, bones splitting and bursting all around. Shangshi swung his swords in close combat, slicing through bone and cartilage, making foes collapse before him. As Zephan defeated the final skeleton, he was slammed into the wall by the grendol, leaving him up to Rulek to deal with. In a shot of white energy, the kran send a crystal arrow into the grendol's chest, bringing him down once and for all. The battle left them drained, the air finally quiet. Quickly they helped each other get together before rushing for the set of stairs closet to them. They stopped, frozen in their tracks as in front of them stood a man, black robes covering his body and a strange mask covering his face.
Saggi looked the man over, shouting in anger and also in fear, "Who are you? What are you doing in this temple!" The only answer he received was the man jumping down, back to the ground where their fight had just be won, running off quickly. They all stood in silence for a few moments before Saggi spoke again, his words barely audible, "Let us depart."
(Sorry for the wait. Yes, I have more to come, things with this will continue. Yes, that final battle was much longer than I wrote but I like it better that way. Makes everyone look good. I thank all who joined in one last time and now I prepare for what happens next.
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