With a furious roar, Ergas spins around and lunges toward the elemental, attacking with both axe and shield.
The axe swing nearly clips the elemental. Though the shield bash isn't as accurate, it is clear that Ergas was just inches from smashing the elemental into bits of rock.
Following the lead of his Dwarven comrade, Iron Sprocket turns and calmly dashes behind Egras and then towards the elemental. He then smashes the elemental with his morning star, unleashing his full force into the blow.
Rheynold's morning star glances off the rocky surface of the elemental, leaving it unharmed. Thomas, seeing that the elemental is nearly surrounded draws his shortsword and joins the fight. Much better with the crossbow, the guard's strike fails to land.
Round Four: Jenya and Tamayra now acting.
Seeing the elemental at the cart still somehow alive Jenya grits her teeth and steps back to get the persistent creature back in her range, aims carefully, feeling the calm of her allies blessing, and does everything in her power to make her shot count.
Preparing for the next oncoming enemy Jenya reloads with another paper cartridge to end her action.
The shot flies amid the combatants, weapons just missing the rocky creature. Easily avoiding the fray of weapons the shot hits the elemental. As the sizzle of the projectile sinking into the elemental quiets, it looses it's cohesiveness. Cooling almost immediately, all that remains is a pile of rock and solidifying lava - smooth and steaming.
As the others work to stop the attacking elemental, Tamayra focuses on the approaching one, calmly releasing her shot in between breaths as the creature enters her ideal range.
Another blast sounds throughout the corridor. The projectile finds it's mark, hitting the elemental solidly. Though it continues forward, it seems to merge into the bedrock below - soon completely beneath it. Stephen follows Tamayra's example, loosing a bolt that manages to hit the elemental solidly just before it disappears beneath the bedrock completely.
Round Four: Rheynold and Ergas now acting. Stephen reloading and Thomas returning to his post near Stephen while sheathing his short sword.
Tairn barks further orders, "Seal it up. The repairs are complete. Tend to the goat. We must continue on."
"Stay on the other side of the cart with your crossbow Thomas" Jenya calls. "We need both sides of the cart covered. Sand blasted monster pop up anywhere but they will not kill anything on our watch. Not even a goat."
"Tricky bastards! I'm waiting for ya! Come on!"
Iron sprocket moves closer to the cart and prepares to defend it from the surfacing elemental.
As the dwarves finish sealing up the repaired area the light begins to glow more brightly. Satisfied with the work, Tairn gives the order to move on.
"Stow the tools. Collapse the scaffolding. Do what you can for the goat, we must move one."
As the others stow tools and begin collapsing the scaffolding, the driver tends to the goat. The cart will be ready to go shortly.
Round Five: Jenya and Tamayra now acting.
Jenya takes a five foot step further in front of the cart to get better coverage around it as it seems obvious that the elementals are trying to converge on the cart. She readies an act to blast anything that pops up though, just like last time, she will go after anybody else has had a go in order to conserve ammunition.
Tamayra reloads, her body carrying out the much practiced motions without through as her eyes scan the area for activity,
As the cart moves forward there seems to be no sign of the elemental.
As Tairn examines the tiles above a rumble is felt through the tunnel, "That isn't right. Halt the wagon. Without a word he pulls a bit of folded parchment from a small satchel the rest near the dwarf who is handling the goats. Jotting a quick note, he hands it to one of the dwarves. Take the health goat and return to the guard post quickly. Something has happened ahead - let us hope it wasn't the mines." The dwarf quickly unharnesses the goat, hops atop it and rides quickly back toward the corridor entrance.
"How many more repairs need to be made?" Jenya asks Tairn as she lowers her weapon. The ominous rumbling from ahead has her feeling uneasy.
Tairn shakes his head, "We'll have to hold off on the repairs until we figure out what that rumbling was."
"I doubt it was a cave-in. The source of the sound wasn't too far off. Taim, can Stephen and Thomas keep watch for your men on their way back to the guard while our group scouts ahead?"
"It could be more of those things. Keep your eyes open"
"I agree with Ergas. We should scout ahead, see what that rumbling was"
'I don't necessarily feel splitting up is the best idea, but right now it doesn't seem like we have any better option. If you honestly can't continue with the repairs until we find out what the rumbling is, then we'll just have to find out."
"I should take point a few paces ahead. Let whatever's out there come at me. Rheynold, watch my back and be ready to support. Ladies, fan out behind Rheynold and be ready to take aim. We've no time to spare. Let's do this."
Jenya nods at Ergas and falls in behind Rheynold
"Then let's make haste."
Tairn nods, "They can keep watch. It's likely the noise will have scared off the elemental."
The sounds of rock crashing upon rock can be heard far ahead.
As he sees Jenya and Rheynold falling into formation, Ergas strides boldly in the direction of the sounds up ahead.
As the group heads forward the flickering lights provide just enough illumination to see the billowing dust in the distance settling. Much of the dust is on the left side of the corridor. A dim, but steady light can be made out beyond the dust on the right side of the corridor.
Tamayra advances slowly, a bit behind the others, occasionally glancing back to ensure that the cart is still unharmed.
"Looks like the corridor itself has been compromised... stay behind me, all. I'm going in."
Ergas raises his axe and shield, and steps toward the light.
Jenya stays in formation, following Rheynold
Iron Sprocket raises his shield, and glances behind him to make sure that Jenya and Tamayra are still behind him.
The rock dust makes it tough to see, but even the clouded air does not obscure the flaming glow of the elemental as it rises behind several piles of rock. Two strange voices are heard, almost as if the earth itself is speaking.
"What language is that" Jenya whispers to the rest of the group. "What are they saying?"
Iron sprocket responds, whispering, "There are two of them. Apparently the elemental that we destroyed was a quarry mate. We are heading into something called a vent, and apparently, the elementals don't want us here. I'm inclined to heed their wisdom."
"And I'm inclined to bash them into rubble! If they are nesting this close to the corridor, they need to be cleared out. Ladies, what say you?"
If you can talk to them Rheynold then maybe we can come to some arrangement. Find out what this 'vent' is. It's worth a shot and if they do not cooperate we can drive them off
"Give it a try I suppose but be ready to put them down!"
"Alright Rheynold, you take point. I'll be right behind you mate. Be ready with those fire arms, ladies." Ergas says to Rheynold with a rough pat on the back and he gestures toward the creatures.
Iron Sprocket steps forward sightly and begins to speak at the same volume as the elementals.
There is silence and then the strange voices are heard again, the tempo of the words starts slowly, but then becomes like gravel, suddenly and quickly shifting.
The glowing among the dust becomes more intense and quickly begins to close.