He can not.
With a really nasty gurgling sound and the splash of blood onto rock floor he staggers for a few more steps, arms wide to embrace the Drow in a death-mans grip before going down for good.
So, this is the end of the path, Sajid.
The dark tunnel beneath a Quadiran town filled with unspeakable horrors?
How fitting.
At least I saved the fire-lady of this end.
It was not her paths end...
Hadha hears the scuffle and appears around the corner. His ray is invisible in the darkness, but it streaks toward the Drow nonetheless!
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Brave Amari's body falls in the tunnel, bleeding from the neck. The Drow looks to make his escape but a vengeful ray shoots through the darkness.
You open your eyes to see nothing but blue above you. You blink at the brightness of the sky and look around, finding yourself in the desert. Some distance in front of you, it seems you can make out your old Al-Fahd monastery. Confused, you walk forward and notice some things are different. Gorgeous fig trees and flowers are sprinkled around the monastery. Birds sing throughout the gardens, songs that are comforting and haunting at the same time. Haunting because of how deep inside you they reach. Bees buzz through the garden. The stone itself looks old and new at the same time. Every crack or corner worn by sandstorms comes together to add to the majesty of the edifice. Out of the front arch steps your first mentor, a wise and kind monk of great age. He walks with a spring in his step and a warm smile, his eyes crinkled at the corners. Looking at him, you grow more confused, unsure if he is your age or extremely old. He extends his hand and signs Welcome home.
Hadha surprises the Drow and pins him to the wall. Jackdaw also has a momentary window to seize.
Hadha puts his full force behind his next ray! If Amari is to be saved they have to eliminate this Drow, and NOW!
Jackdaw misses while Hadha lands one ray
but his second ray misses! The angry and desperate drow has no more hostages to exploit. He whirls and jabs his rapier at Jackdaw!
He should be secured to the wall! Hadah says as he does another ray.
Hadha's ray misses! The drow struggles to break free of the entanglement.
He rips himself free and sidesteps slightly.
Hadha follows the sound of his steps and fires another binding ray, trying to limit the Drow against Jackdaw!
The drow sneers and begins to retort but then Hadha's ray catches him while Jackdaw runs him through. The sneer frozen on his face, he slumps forward onto the Jackdaw's spear.
Amari feels a deep calm as he approaches the monk and a total lack of surprise.
He does not walk mind you, he appraoches him in the curious way common to dreams.
<Greetings, Ma'z'ama. Today is a good day, is it not?>
The old monk nods, smiling. <It is indeed. Come in. It is meal time.> He beckons welcomingly and turns to walk back into the monastery himself.
Hahda works his way there a little slower.
He tries to check for vitals.
Jackdaw. I can't see in here. Run and get help.
Hadha sighs. You're right. Let's go.
Even in the dark, Hadha can tell that Amari's spirit has moved on. Jackdaw retrieves the body back to be with the others.
Your handler sees you dragging Amari back and shakes her head slightly in sadness. Once she confirms that you killed the drow, she nods. "Good. He won't report to others then. We will likely have time undisturbed so that we can wait for Zatinya to rouse."
You wait for an hour but no Drow interrupt. Slowly, Zaza comes to.
This chamber you are in currently is large with only one column supporting a high ceiling. It would serve.
He died so that you would live, Zaza. He traded a certain death for a merely probable one. And the odds caught up with us. If it is any comfort, the Drow is dead. We made sure of that.
Hadha points out the column dispassionately. He mourns quietly, seemingly drained of enthusiasm though he still moves swiftly and with purpose.
Shalazat nods quietly and steps back with the others. At first, Zaza fumbles with the spell then a thin green ray springs from her finger and hits the large support column, removing a massive chunk from it. The column falls and the ceiling begins crumbling...
Shalazat does not bother to state the obvious but begins running back the way you came.
Hadha doesn't need telling twice and books it.
You rush through the tunnels, hearing crumbling and crashing all behind you, carrying Amari's corpse. Then you reach the second shaft that you climbed down, your rope still tied to it.
Give him to me! Hadha takes the body, then casts a power and proceeds to simply walk up the wall, though he does so slower than Jackdaw because of the strain of carrying 160 lbs. of dead weight straight up. Every step leaves a slightly glowing footprint of ectoplasm that quickly evaporates back into it's home plane.
Shalazat scrambles rapidly up the rope and pulls Zaza up.
Hadha repeats his trick and gets the unconscious Lo'laan up the shaft. But the extra delay costs you as rubble continues to fall, striking everyone.
You rush through the sewer and climb slowly up the well but make it back into the marketplace in the dead of night. Serenity the cheetah slinks over and sniffs and licks Lo, her unique bond with him bringing him back to consciousness.
Shalazat turns to you and bows slightly. "Well done, Shadows. And Taldane friend. You've stopped the Drow threat, for a while. Perhaps we can maintain peace along our border."
|
Jackdaw removes his mask, making it clear that he is Saul, though it is something everyone had probably figured out by then.
"I believe I get two treasure shares, but it appears our haul is zero. So I will chalk this one up to good graces on behalf of my country. Neither of us wanted drow beneath our feet. I will keep my eyes open though, for more signs of them."
Saul starts to walk away but he half turns and says. "Most interesting case I've had in quite some time. Better than searching for cats and missing fidelity. Look for my office if you need help in the future. It's the one with my name on it. Sorry about your friend."
And he leaves.
Hadha returns the bow with a little more depth, as is appropriate. All for the Shadows, mistress.
Shalazat nods as the Taldane walks off. "He served is country like you did yours." Then she turns to the damaged but resilient and well-trained group of Shadows. "Now, are you ready for your next task?"