The Order of the Dark Flame: Book 5. (story, no spam)

[thantor3]

Thantor sighed as he watched Aegis disappear. Isn't this exactly what Anicka had done? Jennabard gave Thantor a passing glance, rolled her eyes, and headed after Aegis. Thantor shook his head ruefully, thinking that maybe there were some things about Aegis being a horse that did work for him....

[dragon wench]

As she observed Aegis's sudden bolt into the dark passageway, an image of the elf equipped with a bit and bridle suddenly manifested itself in Dragon Wench's mind and she shuddered in horror, hoping that their companion would be able to successfully tackle any foes he might encounter.

The air filling the chamber was both rank and stale; every breath, instead of providing life-giving oxygen, suggested death and the creeping sensation of slowly building terror.

"You are a warrior," she reminded herself. Thus, fighting the urge to flee the unholy darkness, Dragon Wench tightened her grip on her sword and attempted to ignore the beads of sweat that gathered upon her brow.

Glancing around she noticed that a few of her comrades were also showing some unease, and remembering that she was as much mage as fighter, she quickly cast a remove fear spell, taking care to avoid Blood Stalker while directing her magic.

Feeling the calming effects of the spell, Dragon Wench glanced down at her sword, and thought back to the time she had received the deadly blade. At the memory, a brief smile of pride....followed by the shadow of something....different.... crossed her features, and resolutely she continued forward, deeply certain that this coming battle would engender ramifications that reached far beyond the grasp of mortal reckoning.

[T'lainya]

T’lainya looked at Yshania, the agitation emanating from the druid was tangible. She supposed it might be pre-battle jitters or fear of the caverns. Neither of those fit in with what she knew of the druid. Each will prepare themselves in their own way she thought.
She looked curiously around the room, noting drow handiwork and mechanical devices probably made by their slaves. The drow corpses she looked at reflecting that their suffering had just begun. They would either face the wrath of Lolth or Moander for failing in their task, neither was a pleasant prospect. T’lainya knelt by one of the bodies, seeking a clue as to the drows true allegiance. Her delicate fingers found the neck pouch commonly worn by the drow and she inspected the contents. She turned a tiny jewel around in her hand and frowned.
She invoked a name in her mind and waited for the others to choose their path.

[Yshania]

Yshania observed first Thantor, then T'lainya, reach for something from the bodies of the drow. Her own flesh crawled with the thought of getting any closer, and she shivered involuntarily...averting her eyes. Nothing they carried on their self bore any value to her, not enough that she could bring herself to even lean over them, never mind touch...she shivered again. Everything here reeked of them, from their cadavers to their rune encrusted art...flashes ...at least their dead eyes did not glow now. The redness of their intensity an attack in itself to those with elven infravision.

She watched as Thantor scraped his crude directions in the blood stained floor of the cavern...her eyes flitting between the map, the dark sticky stains, and the dagger he used. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes....

She was snapped back by a scuffle...a quick glance and she noticed one of their number was gone! Aegis! She sighed and wondered on whether he was leading or scouting for the party. Bravado was not one of her own strong points. She unsheathed her scimitars and followed Jenna and Thantor...

[Gwalchmai]

"I'm going ahead. I'll clear out any resistance I find, and maybe run into one of your lost friends." Aegis had said just as he disappeared down the long tunnel to the left. But Gwalchmai stood confusedly looking at the map Thantor had drawn.

“Thantor,” he said pointing to the right, “If I read this right, the Abomination lies that way.”

“Yes.”

“So isn’t that,” here he pointed toward the left where Aegis had gone, “where the Orc barracks and cess-pools lie?”

Thantor rubbed the stubble on his chin thoughtfully, “By Golly, Gwally! You’re right!”

Everyone paused briefly to consider what trouble Aegis’ one-eyed sense of direction had gotten him into. Shrugging, they all turned to the business at hand.

[Aegis]

Aegis didn't have to travel far before he saw the faint glow of a torch in the passages ahead. Fang made a move forward, but was quickly stopped by Aegis. The ranger leaned against the wall, and began to creep along the rough edges, trying to make as little noise as he could. He approached the bend, and knelt down, and leaned around the corner to see what was there. He could smell something foul. Orcs, he thought to himself. He glanced back at Fang, who was twitching his noise, and pawing at the ground, eager for combat. Aegis turned back, looked into the room. His eyes went wide with shock. The room had been devestated! Several Orc corpses littered the ground, each with a fetid pool of blood circling them. Slowly, Aegis stood, his sword held so tightly, that his knuckles were turning white. He motioned with his free hand for Fang to come to him.

Stalking slowly into the centre of the room, he began to realize just how many dead orcs there were. Seven corpses were on the ground. the smell was terrible, and it was everything Aegis could do not to wretch. Ahead of him was another passage, leading further in the twisting passages. He took a few cautious steps forward, and entered the passage. It, like the room before, was dimly lit. The smell of death permeated the walls. He inched forward slightly more. As he moved down the tunnel, his ears began to pick up on a crude, gutteral language. It seemed that there was some Orcs up ahead, in the next room. He heard several deep laughs, and a slight whimpering. he couldn't place the second sound. He edged forward, not wanting to attract any attention before he knew what exactly he would be facing. The voices suddenly changed, and laughing turned to a whelp of pain. The whelp was follwed by several more, and then a loud gurgling noise, and several thuds. Somthing else was up there, the ranger knew it. For a few moments, it was completly quick up ahead, but that soon changed as the tunnels were pierced with the shirll yelling of someone. Aegis couldn't pick out the words, knowing them only to be Drow. It continued for a few minutes. He was about to sprint forward, and see for himself what was happening, but he stopped dead in his tracks as he heard the screams turn to that of the arcane tongue of magic. He recognized those words. He spun on his heel, and dived backwards, pushing Fang back with him. Just as he tunred, a large fiery blast burst down the tunnel, the tips of the flame licking the trail of his cloak. Aegis hit the ground with a heavy thud. Using his shoulder to roll to his back, he looked to see what had happened, waiting for the thick plumes of smoke to clear...

[Mysteria]

Mysteria shifted her weight and bumped into something with her foot which brought a rattling sound. Looking down, she noticed that she'd bumped into a drow quiver, half buried under his previous owners. Bending down, she pushed the corpse out of her way so she could get at the arrows, pausing a moment to look at the drow. His throat had been viciously slashed and dried blood covered his torso, but ever since she'd seen the massacre drow had left behind at a small mountain village, their fate left her cold. Automatically, she looked up to see if the vultures had already found the corpse, then shook her head as she was reminded that they were in a dungeon. Dragons and dungeons ... now why did she get the feeling that it should be the other way round? ( ) Looking closer at the arrows, she determined that they were not poisoned and only half were still usable, but she took those. Taking a lookaaround, she noticed that some of them had obviously some problems with the death all around them, and presently T'Lainya cast a resist fear spell, making her feel positively eager for battle.

She unconsciuosly drifted over to Thantor, somehow she felt more comfortable with him by her side to watch over her magic. As Aegis had disappeared into the tunnels, she remarked, "Aegis is a strange elf, isn't he? I wonder why he's acting that way... You know, I wouldn't have been surprised if he had told me that not only his eyesight but also his scent and hearing were just as keen as Fang's.", she stiffled a laugh as this conjured up the image of the elf crouching on all fours, tracking by scent. Her laugh died upon Gwally's remark, she looked alarmed, but then she shook her head, quite certain that the ranger wouldn't be dumb enough to stumble right into an orc barrack. So, she let others lead the way, still feeling too much of a newcomer to take an initiative and somehow reluctant to leave Thantor's reassuring presence.

(ooc: Fang isn't dumb either .. )

[Gwalchmai]

Thantor and Mysteria soundlessly led the way, attempting to blend into their surroundings and remain hidden as much as they were able. It was obviously difficult going for them – a ranger’s stealth abilities are founded in their understanding of natural environs, and there was nothing ‘natural’ about the way these tunnels had been hacked out of the rock. Gwalchmai ran his fingers along one of the damp walls and shuddered at the mutilation of Nature (yes, Nature even exists underground) that had occurred. Natural fault lines had been breached, the stratigraphy assailed in a single minded manner. No wonder these caverns were unstable. “Nature could never find a home here,” he muttered, “no matter how much cleansing and balancing were done.”

Nippy had volunteered to take the rear position in the troupe, wishing to provide protection from possible surprise attacks. Bloodstalker had joined him, though he was uncomfortable traveling too close to the Simbul. The rest were in the middle, trying their best not to make noise.

They headed toward the lair of the Abomination, unsure what they would find. Their direction had been determined during a short argument between Thantor and T’lainya. Thantor had restated his desire to seek out Anicka and any other innocents who might be trapped in this maze, but T’lainya had insisted that the greater evil was a priority for the Dark Flames, and the Abomination should be addressed while they were at their strongest. Gwalchmai had agreed, saying, “Anicka can take care of herself. I’m sure she is alright.”

“Or she is already dead,” Dragon Wench had muttered to herself. Only Gwalchmai had heard her.

Thus it was with a sense of purpose that they headed toward the Abomination and whatever fate had in store for them. Gwalchmai had a feeling that this was perhaps one of the most important things he had ever done in his life. Their actions here could have far-reaching ramifications. They each felt the weight of the world on their shoulders, as their encounter with history drew near.

[Ned Flanders]

this belongs back on 36, where the gang is entering the portal

Flanders propped up from his meditative state and began to head towards the surface; the temptation from Uther certainly signifying night had fallen. He felt revitaized and prepared for the evening. Accompanying him were thoughts of companionship and hope, two emotions that had evaded his soul for many years. He found great pleasure in battling the hordes of the underdark with the group earlier in the day, and now held high the light they may be able to relieve him of his curse. Off in his psyche, he could envision the pit of despair should they refuse to help him. It was not a place he wished to visit.

Upon reaching the entrance to the surface, he sublimed to a gaseous form and began to carry with the wind, gaining altitude, towards the keep. The irony of his actions in lieu of Uther's projected vision affected him so profoundly he almost changed his course of action. Dismissing such notions as nonsense, he reached an altitude that gave him a wide view of the keep and its' surroundings so he could evaluate the battle which he heard at dusk.

Dragons!!! Whatever was standing in the way of the completion of these rituals was very powerful indeed. Half of the forest north of the keep had been laid waste and the ramparts had been damaged. Strange that the group was already mobilizing towards their next course of action. He fully expected a little rest and relaxation out the group. Their goals imbue them with amazing fortitude.

He floated down to investigate the groups next course of action. He immediately recognized Thantor, brandishing a wand, and directing traffic towards a portal, as one of the members prepared to make the ethereal jump. “This coming battle I undertake willingly to serve the greater balance and to help my friends. The danger is great, and the outcome is not guaranteed. None of you should feel compelled to accompany us, and there will be no recriminations against those who choose not to step through this portal.”

Where, indeed, were they off too. he pondered, guessing the encounters of the day were coming to a finale. The next in line was a woman he recognized from the grove this afternoon. She cast a protective spell, stoneskin perhaps, and ventured through the portal. Only one way to find out he mused with a smile and followed her through the portal a safe distance behind.

It was a very quick ride given his semi-ethereal state prior to entering the portal. It was quite amusing to exit the portal on the other end before the woman whom he followed through. Scanning the room, he noticed piles of dead drow brutally massacred. Is there a finer sight in all of faerun? Cursing his morbidity, he still viewed it as a good omen on what proved to be an interesting night.

[Aegis]

Aegis hit the ground hard, knockiong the wind from his lungs, causing him to take in a deep breath of the deust that covered the rocky ground. He coughed violently, and rolled himself over, onto his back. He raised his head off the ground to see the effects of the fireball spell. He looked at the pile of rubble and debris that now blocked his way down the corridor. Figures, he thought to himself. That was one powerful spell, strong enough to have shaken the walls enough to shatter them. He glanced off to the side, making sure Fang was alright. He was casually scratching himself behind his ear, looking at the winded elf. Aegis smirked. He pushed himself to his feet, steading himself against the wall until he regained his balance. He was covered in dust, and stiff.

"Well," He said to Fang, but more to himself, "I guess we can't go that way." He turned around and began to walk back down the tunnel. After passing through the first room, and around the Orc bodies, he came to an intersection. As he was about to head down the left path, and back to the Dark Flames, he heard loud, gutteral shouts, and several snorts. More orcs were headed this way. they had obviously heard the fireball erupt, and were coming to investigate. It sounded like it was maybe ten, maybe fifteen of them coming his way. He glanced to Fang again, then to the right tunnel. They had no choice. The two of them plunged into the darkness of the tunnel, moving away from the orcs, debris, and the Dark Flames. He could only hope that the tunnels would eventually turn and twist around in a way that would lead them back to the Dark Flames...

[Gwalchmai]

The journey took longer than expected. Several times, the party had to re-route around recent cave-ins, and their way became circuitous and confused. Gwalchmai had the feeling that they were walking in circles, but Thantor always seemed sure of himself. Twice, they came across orcish patrols, who were easily and silently dispatched. The orcs had seemed tired and overworked. They didn’t put up much fight.

Gradually, the air gained a musty, fetid scent, and the rough walls dripped with slime and tepid water. Then, they came upon a part of the tunnel strewn with rubble, and Gwalchmai thought that they would end up turning back yet again to find a new path. But the tunnel opened wider, and Thantor slowed his pace. Rubbing his chin, he was heard to mutter, “This wasn’t here before…”

As silently as possible, the party approached the rocks and scrambled up to positions where they could survey the situation. T’lainya, in quiet tones, described to the humans what she could see with her half-elven eyes. “It looks like we are at the bottom of a large cavern…. no, it’s a pit! I can see night sky above. We seem to have come out just beside a large ramp that leads up to the surface. It looks like we’re about fifty meters below ground level, and the pit is huge. On the other side, there is a large tunnel; it look like the ramp leads right to it…”

A noise above them caused them to freeze and hold their breaths. Soon, a voice called out, “Bring the meat this way!” The cavern filled with noises – the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, as well as gruff voices cursing and goading the animals. They soon concluded from the noise that a troop of orcs was herding a large number of farm animals into the pit down the ramp above their heads. The orcs were also complaining in loud voices that they were warriors, damnit, and shouldn’t be relegated to dong slave’s work. The first voice called for silence, “The slaves had already been fed to it, but it needs more! Tonight of all nights!” The higher, smoother voice came from the sole Drow among them.

Wordlessly, the heroes glanced at one and other, unsure what they should do. T’lainya thought for a moment, then whispered her fears to the others, her words covered by the sounds of the cattle drive above, “Evidently, the Abomination needs bio-mass to grow, especially since some of the power it had tapped into has been diverted once we completed the rituals.”

“What should we do?” Mysteria asked nervously.

T’lainya did not get the chance to respond, since a cow fell on Nippy and Bloodstalker.

[Obsidian]

Sitting quietly to the side, contemplating his situation, Farscape was lost in thought, reliving moments of his past, choices he had made that brought him here. He overlooked his armour, crafted elegantly from multiple dragon scales he had found in his years as a ranger.
He was playing with Retribution when Aegis disapeared down the hallway. Seeing the archer vanish, Farscape was not too happy about letting him go first, infra vision or not. Rising, he made his way down the hallway, concealed in the shadows, following the tracks of the Wolf as best he could. As it turned out, the trail was not difficult. An explosion wracked the corridor, tossing debris out, and in the flicker of light Farscape could just make out the silhouette of the Ranger and Fang in the hallway. Paying no heed to stealth, Farscape ran hard and fast, only to find them gone, leaving no trace. At least they were alive.
Intent on finding their trail, he barely reacted in time to hear the orc's coming, turning just in time to face their leader rounding the corner.
"Damnit" Muttered the warrior, Farscape lunged, knocking the leader back into his group, and ran down the nearest hallway, desperately looking for a spot to re enter the darkness, confused orcs rallying to search as he ran deeper into the abyss. With any luck, Aegis went this way too.

[Nippy]

Nippy and BS were stuck in the worst situation that could possibly be fathomed. A massive cow had proceeded to land on them and Nippy grunted with the weight that had landed on him.

"This is possibly just as bad as having Gwalchmai sit on us, it's massive!"

"No, I don't think so, Gwal smells worse." Nippy replied. "On three lets push and lift it up. Ready? 1, 2, 3!"

Nippy and Bloodstalker heaved and lifted the cow up. It then sat down on Gwalchmai's foot and cut the biggest block of cheese that could ever be imagined.

"Gwalchmai! Keep yourself under control!" The girls blushed and admonished Gwalchmai for his terrible manners.

"Yeah Gwal! Keep yourself under control." Nippy and Bloodstalker stood snickering at the red-faced Druid.

p)

[Yshania]

The evil here was palpable. Placing her hand on the cold rock wall she felt the vibration she had sensed in the stone of the keep, and the cold winter soil it stood on...only here it was so much more powerful, on contact the force hit her almost throwing her to the ground. A cacophany of voices, elven talk... of screams of anguish, images...projected or reminded? …images of infants snatched from their mother’s breast…of a sacrificial pyre 'No!' but she was unaware as to whether she had cried out, or whether she was mentally trying to deny this horror. A distant - almost gleeful - laughter tore into her mind, this was deliberate!! He was taking their weakness and using it against them! A flash of concern for Aegis and Farscape...divided they were weakened! The laughter increased as it aknowledged her realisation that his efforts could come to fruition...'Never!'

On the edge of her consciousness she felt a creeping sensation...an attempt to communicate... 'No!' she denied him, desperately trying to throw up a mental block, to his images, to his derision...but she was useless here, his powers were so strong, so nurtured, and she was only so recently taught the skill of denial...whatever strengths she had acquired from her possession of Thantor, something of a sensitivity had stayed with her, something she could not yet temper...

Dark words...clear and taunting ‘You reap what you sow, put your face to the ground, here come the marching men, your colours wrapped around’

‘No!'

The ‘marching men’ had wrapped her colours, they had wrapped the colours of friends she had made in the camp. They had snatched and controlled. They had taken the beauty and created a sepia afterthought, a bled tapestry, a cast off apparition of what could have been…fury welled, and the laughter took on a new pitch...'Never again!'

Yet the sensation continued 'Thantor?' She hoped...but no...not Thantor...another mind, darkened...but not of evil intent?...it was curious, but sad, so very sad...and it was helping her!, it was fighting the images with her...she ached...she wanted to reach out and touch this conscience, but she was so afraid. But the laughter was fading...More flashes...of burning villages, of drow running - their clothing and hair on fire...their screaming features melting...then the visions were gone, snatched away...reclaimed? Yes, he would reclaim them!! he would not want her to see vulnerability, unless it was their own...

'No, not his' ...wavering, but clear...

[thantor3]

Yshania felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into Thantor's worried eyes. "It's the atmosphere of this place, isn't it? Bringing back old memories…" he said, crouching down next to her.

"Is it that obvious?" she asked, still unsettled but attempting to focus.

"No. Only to someone whose body you invaded," he said gently, trying to lighten the mood. She did not smile back but did feel calmer in his presence. "Can you help me?" she asked. "I… cannot be like this. Not now."

"Do you remember what I taught you?" he asked. She nodded. "Ok, take a deep breath and I will help you with your technique." She did as he instructed, closing her eyes and taking slow deep breaths. Slowly, she began to feel him inside her mind, not comforting her exactly but strengthening her will… helping to put things into perspective. She was thankful for the strange events had allowed them to communicate in this way and once again she felt a warm sense of gratitude for their friendship. Feeling better, she opened her eyes and was about to tell him about her experiences when they were interrupted by a loud thud as a cow landed on Nippy and Bloodstalker. She suppressed a grin at the comical sight but when she turned back to Thantor, he wasn't looking at her. He was looking up at the cattle drive above them, which had intensified at the urging of the Drow warrior. "Sweet Mielikki …" he whispered, alarmed.

**********************
Shaking her head disapprovingly at the cowed Nippy and Bloodstalker, Simbul floated back to the rear guard position where she could better monitor the ephemeral presence that followed them. She had been aware of him entering the portal, but had said nothing, trusting her own sense of both intuition and destiny. Apparently, this being was somehow part of the equation and she had learned from long experience to trust the organic nature of such things. You are starting to sound like a druid, she chided herself mockingly. Looking down at Gwally's rather gaseous predicament, this seemed even less appealing than usual.

**********************
Jennabard had hung toward the back of the group, feeling badly that she had not been quick enough to follow Aegis. While she hoped that he and Farscape would come to no harm, she was preoccupied with her own thoughts at the moment. Concerns about Georgi and Anicka floated on the periphery, but more central was her unease about confronting the Shadow Master. Would she be able to control her rage, her hatred? There were also hints… whispers… that she was still in some way bonded to him. The thought that he could control her was terrifying, yet she was at loss with how to fight something she couldn't even perceived. Perhaps Thantor… she reflexively looked at him and saw him crouched down by Yshania. Concerned, she carefully made her way over to them, reaching them as Yshania asked, "What is it, Thantor?" But by this time it was all too obvious what it was that caused his alarm. The vibration of the swelling cattle herd was beginning to degrade the already unstable integrity of the rock around them and trickles of sand began to hemorrhage from the walls. "Fall back!" Thantor barked, barely audible over the mooing and the shouts of alarm from the toiling orcs. The party scattered, looking for cover wherever they could find it.

[Gwalchmai]

The cow’s fall was cushioned by Nippy’s and Bloodstalker’s bodies, but it was alarmed and lowed loudly. “Hey!” one of the orcs called, “One of ‘em’s tryin’ to get away!” There was mixed laughter and chortling among the orcs, but one, evidently a captain, shouted angrily, “Well, go fetch it! We can’t have a cow wandering around down here!” Two of the guards began scrambling down the rubble slope beside the ramp toward the cow – and toward the Dark Flames.

Demonstrating astonishing strength, Nippy and Bloodstalker lifted the cow bodily, only to drop it again on Gwalchmai’s foot, somehow causing the cow to release huge amounts of methane. Gwalchmai shot a panicked look at Vivien and Dragon Wench, silently begging them not to launch any type of fire-based spells at the approaching orcs. Nippy and Bloodstalker, oblivious to the danger of being discovered, made a couple of infantile remarks and snickered like schoolgirls. Fortunately, they were not heard by the orcs over the hoarse mooing of the cow.

“It’s over here!” shouted one of the guards.

Bloodstalker soon realized their situation and tapped Nippy on the shoulder, pointing silently to the orcs. As one, Nippy, Bloodstalker, and Gwalchmai lifted the cow up and over the rocks and pushed it toward the orcs.

“Hey, look! Its coming back all by itself!”

“That’s weird. Things never go our way so easily. What’s going on?” One orc peered into the darkness suspiciously.

“Ah, fergeddaboudit, Sid!” the other orc said, tugging on Sid’s elbow, “C’mon, let’s get Bessie back with the others. Here, girl! Someone has invited you to dinner!”

**********

Crouching behind the rocks, Gwalchmai breathed a sigh of relief, but soon wished he hadn’t taken such a deep breath, thanks to the cow. Glancing at the others, he wondered why Simbul was giving him that funny look. Before Gwalchmai could consider her thoughts, a small pebble hit him on the shoulder. He looked around, and saw Thantor, with Yshania, staring wide-eyed at the ramp above them and the herd of livestock that traveled down it. Jennabard was approaching Thantor, just as he shouted, “Fall back!”

Landslide! Rocks and boulders shifted under the burgeoning weight of the livestock, causing portions of the pit to crumble and fall. Gwalchmai bolted for the tunnel from which they had come, catching Dragon Wench by her hand and pulling her along with him. He ran headlong into Simbul, who at first looked perturbed, but then pointed back over Gwalchmai’s shoulder. Turning, he saw that Mysteria had fallen, and the black monolithic shape of a tall boulder loomed over her, teetering, as it was about to fall.

“No!” Gwalchmai shouted, and started to run toward her, but Simbul’s surprisingly firm grip on his shoulder held him back for just a second. “Wait,” she said, then spoke three, quick eldrich words, touched his cheek, and released him. “Go.”

Gwalchmai ran the ten paces back to Mysteria faster than he had ever gone before. His muscles bunched and screamed at him, begging to be put to use. He felt like his legs were made of oak, and his arms of iron. Strength coursed through him in an explosion of power. In mighty exultation, he caught the tilting monolith, and pistoned it back up to a standing position, even as cobbles and sand rained down around him. Then, with blinding speed, he scooped up Mysteria, and ran back toward the tunnel.

Dust choked the air as Gwalchmai reached relative safety. Here, he sagged, feeling drained and weak. Mysteria, who had been being carried by him, soon ended up supporting him. The spell had been powerful, but of amazingly short duration.

[Aegis]

Aegis and Fang made their way through the twisting caves slowly. They didn't dare rush it, not knowing who or what they would run into. The subterraning combs echoed with the harsh language of orc kind, a foul and replusive language. The more the elven ranger remained down, the more he was begining to hate the orcs, and what they were up to. Every now and then, he would glance towards Fang, who seemed reletivly unscathed, or even bothered by the current predicament, almost as if he knew exactly where Mysteria was at this moment. Aegis a grin as he thoguht about the notion. It hadn't been long since the cave in the tunnel, and the he knew the orc patrols were more than likely on high alert now, being sent out in droves to find the intruders in their caves. What was their connection with the Drow, and more importantly, with the Abomination? It didn't make sense the elf. He had lived for over a century, and he had never seen such cooperation over the two evil races.

He was suddenly shaken from his thoughts from the low sound of metal. Something had made contact with the stone wall, and gave the chink noise of metal hitting it. The ranger immedaitly hugged the side of the tunnel, his sword hidden from sight, as to not give his position away. He waited for a few moments. The figure eventually came around the corner, his own weapon drawn. Aegis sprung on him, Sunfang drawn, and poised to strike. The man raised his own blade to defend himself, but it was, in fact, pointless to do so. Before either blades came in contact with each other, both men realized that the opposite was neither Drow, nor Orc. The man Aegis looked upon was Farscape. Slightly shocked, but more relieved than anything, Aegis lowered his blade. Farscape did the same.

[Yshania]

She was thankful for Thantor's intervention...she had felt drawn to this other presence, but she was struggling to sever the dark she knew from this new intensity...that was knowing but not demanding...that was aware but questioning nothing of her but her accidental visit into this inbetween and beyond...and she had sensed from Thantor that he already knew...

How Thantor reminded her of Mael, his calming and unassuming presence, his acceptance of things...she almost told him what she had seen...then suddenly they were running, the trickles of dust becoming cascades. Barely were they around the corner before the tunnel collapsed behind them. Coughing in the cloud of dust, she raised her hand to her mouth...her eyes gritty...and surveyed their surroundings. There were two tunnels open to them, the one from where they had come and their only remaining option...

[T'lainya]

T’lainya watched the situation with growing concern. She could feel the presence of evil weighing on her like a stone. She could feel the oppressiveness of the air and the dank smell of rotting vegetation mingling with the thick smell of blood. The sense of power was strong and she could feel it in her veins roaring like a stormy ocean. Her heightened senses were attuned to the essence here; the spark of infernal evil that beckoned the Shadow Master and fueled the abomination. She tasted the rot and the greed, the lust for power, the ambitions of a dead God. She sensed the drow too. The priestess felt the stirring of anger, a righteous anger stemming from the God she served. The energy she channeled from the Protector of the Tel’Quessar jolted her. With a shiver she looked around, homing in on the great pit.

The priestess saw the cow incident and bit her lip at the close call. She thought of the tiny spider shaped gem she had found on the dead drow and frowned. The symbol of Lolths hand was clear. T’lainya dodged a small pebble that fell from above. As she instinctively looked up she heard Thantor say “Landslide!” Muttering a curse at orcs in general and this band in particular T’lainya followed the others down the tunnel.

[Yshania]

The party regrouped, dusty and a little shaken...there was only one way forward. Then Ysh heard Vivien mumble the familiar incantation that would provide Farsight...the group listened intently as she softly relayed what lay ahead. She described the layout of the tunnels, they split a way ahead...one route appeared to be a dead end, occupied by livestock (she shuddered, visibly upset) and a number of orcs. A second route appeared to lead straight into the heart of Thantor's map with various small passages leading off, but it disappeared into darkness - reaching beyond her vision...she would need to get closer to determine whether there was any life, all she could detect were dead orcs, and a great many of them. The final option she described as seemingly little used, and possibly as unstable as the one they had just ran from...though there did appear to be some small caverns leading off this passage, one a library she thought - perhaps containing discarded scrolls? or forgotten evidence?

She turned to the others with a tentative smile 'we could take the orcs first? Free the cows?'