Bolgriths eyes go wide at the sight of the creature before him. He knew they faced the possibility, but he'd hoped they wouldn't encounter such a beast. Nevertheless those same eyes quickly narrow in determination. Wiping a sweaty brow with the back of a gauntleted hand, itself nearly steaming from the heat of the cavern, the Priest begins rapping out a familiar tok tok tok-tok on his battered old shield. Whispering the required words he feels the familiar blue flames gathering and then flowing from his person, the fire almost cool in comparison to the magmas radiant heat.
Rolg unlimbers his flail as he steps inside the creature's reach. He crouches behind his shield and swings for the monster's legs.
Rolg's attempt glances off the magma elemental's sturdy leg.
Logan's pupils dilate from the adrenaline as his hands grasp the haft of his falchion. It's a good thing I did not sheath my blade... It's certainly a big beastie, though.
Logan runs to get close enough to swing his blade.
The creature of molten rock and stone brings down a heavy arm as Logan steps in.
The lieutenant avoids the swing, but is too off-balance for his own attack to connect.
Jamie rushes in alongside Logan, bringing her spinning flail to bear.
The flail head whiffs as her misjudged swing misses, almost comically off-target. The pit-fighter growls in frustration.
Simon hangs back, and aims at the great monster’s chest with the longspear.
The tip punctures into the lava creature, but the opening fills again with magma, the thrust seemingly ineffective.
“Flank! Attack it from both sides!” he calls.
Aladdin throws water at the elemental. "It's getting steamy in here!" he screamed.
The billowing steam enveloping the magma spirit makes the giant elemental difficult to see!
Roaring like a raging fire, the towering magma elemental slams both arms forward -one at Rolg, and one at Logan.
The raw mass and force aimed at the hobgoblin batters his defenses, as Logan deftly dodges the other arm.
"Agh!"
Rolg hunkers behind his shield and moves behind the monster, trying to give his more heavy hitting allies a better chance.
Molten and hardened rock resounds loudly against the shield of the mercenary, and Rolg is unharmed by the elemental.
Logan snarls as he dodges the lava creature's attack. He swings his falchion in response.
Stubbing along behind the group Bolgrith reaches Rolg's side. Raising his shield he again attempts to aid the fighter.
Simon attacks the tower of roaring magma and billowing steam.
His longspear sounds like it connected with the elemental, but it is difficult to see if the lordling damage it at all.
Jamie whirls her flail overhead.
But her weapon clangs against hard stone.
Aladdin stares at the steamy giant. "Oh my, that's not what I was intending." Aladdin waves his hand to fire magic missiles.
Logan’s blade connects, but the hard stone and thick magma reduces the damage to the towering spirit of fire and stone. Battered by Aladdin’s missiles, the magma elemental brings down his heavy arms onto Logan and Rolg.
The hobgoblin is ready for the attack, but the Stonebit is walloped on the head with scorching rock. Fortunately, the young man's reflexes save him from burns over his hair and face.
Sparks dance across Logan's vision, but he shakes his head and quickly tries to find the creature with his blade.
"Oh my, that was a close one Logan," Aladdin waves his hand and summons another friendly cloud to follow Logan.
Logan's blade cuts through lava and stone again, but the monstrous spirit stands!
Once again failing to lift his shield high enough to help Rolg, Bolgrith changes tactic. Sidling in closer behind the fighter the dwarf raps out a steady beat on his shield with his free hand, in a low chant that almost sounds like a hum, he speaks the ancient words of his faith. A sharp blue energy field, almost painful to look at, forms around his arm, twining down into the palm of his gnarled hand. Reaching up, he grasps Rolg's shoulder and finishes the prayer. The electric blue energy shoots from his palm and engulfs the goblin, resting lightly over arms and armor, seemingly concentrated on the hand holding the flail.
The elemental drops a heavy arm as the dwarf passes by.
Hardened and molten rock clobber Bolgrith, but the priest was already lit ablaze once today, and he avoids the lingering flames.
Jamie’s flail whiffs again through roiling steam. The pit-fighter begins to fume in frustration.
Simon jabs again at the lava monster.
The thrust is dangerously efficient, but it pierces nothing but mist.
"Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. I hate this place!"
Exasperated, Rolg swings at the molten creature.
Rolg’s sword whiffs through steam. The magma elemental drops crushing blows onto Logan and Rolg.
The hobgoblin angrily turns away the attack, but Logan fully suffers the beating.
Logan curses, but doggedly hefts his blade and swings again.
Aladdin waves his hand to remove the cloud above the elemental.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The lieutenant carves a great horizonal gash in the magma spirit, only marginally mended by the goopy lava within. His falchion comes away glowing a dull orange.
Jamie, maddened by her lack of prowess, flies into a reckless rage.
Her savage swing hits below Logan’s cut, and the bottom half of the great elemental goes flying off the bridge in chunks. The remaining top half thuds and rolls off the causeway as the light behind the eyes fades, splashing into the surface of magma below.
Panting from the exertion, Jamie flashes a jeering grin at Logan and Rolg. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it? Let’s get outta here.”
The barbarian returns her weapon to her belt and continues toward the end of the bridge.
Logan cocks his right eyebrow with his mouth open, closes his mouth, and nods while sheathing his blade and continues on.
"Well struck, Jamie."
Simon gasps and suddenly stands digging through his pack. At length, he holds up a headband of two entwined silver snakes, with both jaws holding half of a large ruby, that rests on the brow when worn. “I forgot to tell you, Aladdin. This is for you. Bolgrith suggested it would be best utilized by your talents. I think it has magic in it.”
He holds it out for Aladdin to take.
As the six reach the other end of the bridge, great metal doors like those they entered on the other side block the way out. In large goblin characters, writes:
Numai cei puternici și viclenia supraviețui burta de război
Only the strong and cunning survive the great maw of war
The only difference in these doors are the large handles at the center, designed to be pulled inward. Any close hands to the doors know that the metal is searing hot, and will likely burn.
Approaching the big doors Bolgrith examines the words and heated metal. Quietly he draws his Aspergillum, hooks it's haft through a handle, and gently tugs.
"By the great gatsby! I've been wanting a fire star of pigs! I shall treasure this forever." Aladdin murmurs as he takes the headband. He straps it on. "By the power of grayskull, I feel invincible!"
Rolg frowns at the writing. "Of course it is."
Calmly, the hobgoblin wraps his hands in spare bits of cloth and leather from his pack. "Aladdin, drench these for me."
Rolg walks up to the door. Strong and cunning...
He grabs the blisteringly hot handle and strains.
Logan sighs inwardly and sternly looks at the handles.
Frowning, he pulls out his bedroll, wraps his hands in it, grabs the nobs and pulls.
Aladdin drenches the rags with a cloud.
At first, the wet cloth between the handles and the hands of Logan and Rolg cool the searing effects of the metal door. But the water steams away as the two exert themselves, and begins burning through the cloth as one of the double doors open.
Bolgrith, pulling the shaft of the aspergillum, is able to drag the other door open harmlessly, albeit much slower than the two warriors. The great double doors, like their counterparts on the other side of the bridge, were built to fall to the closed position when released. Simon and Jamie hurry through, into another dark stone corridor.
“Hurry!” Simon urges Aladdin as the three strain their muscles.
When everyone else is safely through, Rolg rushes through the door.
All too happy to release the scalding door handle, Logan follows after Rolg, grabbing and drinking a few potions as he goes.
The great metal door booms closed behind the last of the six. Logan’s armor help’s Simon light another torch, and together the adventurers survey the walls within view. The walls are once more covered in the depictions of goblin history. Ranks upon ranks of goblin march under the command of a foul looking elf, joining battle with other elves and strange, unfamiliar figures. The elves and strange ones appear to also be led by an elf, with different words carved around his head than the foul-looking elf. The nasty elf is also shown to perform spells over the fallen goblins, and they rise to look just as foul. This time, the befouled goblin bodies march against elves and dragons.
Those who understand goblin can piece together that the foul-looking elf leader is Malegste, commanding armies of goblin slaves. The elf leader of elves and the strange figures is labeled Honfogalas, and the leader among the elves and dragons is called Karajhin.
The unfamiliar figures in the carvings resemble golems, lifeless creatures of formerly inanimate material, spurred to animation by magical means. The most commonly used materials for golem-making are stone, or wood, or iron, but if the mage was capable and creative, they could be crafted from any material.
Bolgrith and Rolg can see that the corridor only stretches for thirty feet before opening into a room. Three life-like stone statues of point-eared elves stand abreast of the room, each five feet apart. On the far end of the room, another pair of great doors are closed.
Anyone with a keen eye can see that no traps lie in wait in the floors or walls of the corridor.
"Karajhin? Our employer is one of these foul slave-masters?"
With a heavy sigh, Rolg says, "I'm not sure what we're into, but the sooner we're out of here the better. Let's go."
Rolg takes point up to the next large door.
Simon follows, stopping at the beginning of the room, raising his torch at the three statues.
Logan walks beside Simon and observes the statues. It's fascinating how I had never heard of this race of beings...
Bolgrith examines the stone work, his dark-seeing eyes naturally adjusting to the gloom. With keen interest he studies the bits of lore and artwork. His feet take him idly forward until he nearly bumps into the young lordling.
"Hmm, either that or someone who is using the name. If it is the same elf from these murals, I think he was leading forces in opposition to the slave master. Malegste." He says this almost absentmindedly as he too examines the statues.
"I just can't think in this place. I haven't been this mad since I caught a troope of hobgoblins trying to force themselves on a little human lass back home."
"I say we get out, then recap."
"Agreed. Let us find this Key of Honfogalas an be away from this shrine of misery!" With renewed vigor Bolgrith casts about the stone hall, searching for any clue into their next move. As an aside he mutters over his shoulder to the group; "Remember, the key was described as being made of a purplish crystal, keep your eyes open."
Aladdin summons the lanterns to help clear the darkness.