Standing in shock being nose to nose to a dragon.
He then hears the noise.
"The little ones are in trouble."
He then turns to the noise and takes off running.
Bhoors, Dacknar and Unmei dash back up the spiral staircase into the entry chamber where it leads back out onto the crumbling span across the large temple foyer below. Carefully moving onto the weak stone span, Unmei is the first to hear the voices speaking softly in the dark.
"I don't get it, what in the nine hells happened to Krebbyg? He's just keeps standing there staring at that stupid wall with all the paint smeared on it."
"He fell for some stupid dwarven magic. Didn't you feel anything?" A second voice. Harsh, deeper. "Lolth's lobs, you probably didn't. Sometimes it must be nice to have nothing in your head to ensorcell."
That's right...hey wait a minute."
"Quiet! Both of you. We're nearly to the top and I think I may have heard something." A third voice. Calm, controlled. Thoughtful and clearly in command. "Ready blades."
Moments after that hushed command, the rasp of several steel blades slipping free echoes from the hallway and landing on the other side of the broken span.
Bhoors moves to a spot where he can take a peak discretely.
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Dacknar gets excited that a whole mug set is coming to him. As he gets a tight grip on his sword and tries to find a good spot to ambush the drow.
Bhoors and Dacknar duck back into the shadows of the room with the suits of armor and secret staircase down to the main vault. At the same time Unmei suddenly becomes the spitting image of the drow killed several days ago in the alley.
Stepping out onto the crumbling bridge she calls out to the dark elves who arrive from below.
"Wha?!" The one in the lead exclaims, obviously startled to find one of their own here. "Therex, is that you? What the hell are you doing here boy? Boss is gonna have your hide for not reporting in for over three days."
Spouting off something about being told not to let the targets out of his sight and sticking with them no matter what. And there was no way in all the pits of the Underdark that he was going to cross the boss on those instructions.
"In fact where in the Nine Hells have you wastes of spider food been lurking for three days while I track those surface dwelling losers all the way to the bloody gold?" She adds in her best affronted male dark elf voice which actually ends up being much more believable than either of her companions would have expected. This perhaps raises other questions, but those are best saved for a time when not facing dangerous enemies, slash potential dinnerware, in a dark dank abandoned underground temple full of stolen gold.
At the mention of the gold, the lead drow smiles and nods happily as he waves aside the questioning of his own whereabouts. "Haha...well none of that matters if you've found the gold. That'll put us all in the boss's favor for sure."
"Yeah, if all we've got to do it take down the old woman, the dandy, and that green skinned lout, let's do it. Marissa said she'd make me spider-blood pudding tonight, if I got back in time." Says the big fellow in the back.
"Oh...fer Lloth's sake, Soluun." Pipes a fourth drow who rounds the corner and joins the others. The ones dressed in loose fitting robes and carries a gnarled staff topped with a softly gleaming ruby. "Can't you keep your mind of your stomach and Marissa's cooking skills for more than two bells?"
"Heh. Don't take out your frustrations on me spell spinner. Just because I've found love, and all you've got is your moldy books. Isn't my fault."
Rolling his eyes, the drow in the lead waves everyone quiet again and then points across the crumbling span to Unmei.
"I take it the enemy and the gold is across the span and through there." He says pointing his sword toward the dark room and stairwell behind Unmei. "Ke'Fret if you'd be so kind as to help the others across."
He then makes a gesture and suddenly begins to levitate a few inches above the stone bridge and begins walking across. Moments later the one in robes and staff begins to chant and gesture over the two others in preparation for them to safely cross the open chasm.
The leader frowns as he levitates across the chasm. "No gold? They've left?" He says hands forming into frustrated fists. "Impossible. We've been watching above for more than a day. No one has come or gone.
His eyes flick toward Unmei. "As for how we found you. After you didn't check in, every man and contact was sent to scour the city. Especially anyone associated with old Neverember." He waves a hand up above. "That led one of the bosses associates to that crazy artist up above. Apparently her work was all the rage back in the day."
"Anyway, he staked out the place and saw the old lady leave and come back in one night. He sent word and we arrived not long after. Since then we've had the place under watch constantly. No one in or out except a pack of orphans now and then." He spits in disgust.
"Damned surface dwellers. Letting their children run loose and undisciplined like that. It's uncivilized."
"So if they didn't come out, there's either another exit you failed to find or they've holed up and hidden from you." He peers closer at Unmei. "Or you're lying to me..."
"But no...that's impossible. You'd never do something as foolish and dangerous as that now would you." He says with a laugh, leaning back and waving the others back. "No they probably slipped away through some secret door or maybe they purchased some invisibility potions. Maybe that's what the old woman actually stole from that merchant."
"Well common then. Best we report back to the boss and start the search all over again." He turns and gestures back across the collapsed bridge. "You first. After all a good leader makes sure all of his people get out first."
Soluun suddenly stumbles and shakes his head for a short moment. Looking up at the disguised Unmei he frowns and then angrily shouts a pointed warning. "He just tried to mess with my mind."
The others all turn and look back toward Unmei. Frowns and anger growing on each of their faces.
"You're right. Leaving here probably isn't the right thing to do." The leader says raising his blade once again and stepping forward. "Just like trying to magic one of your own isn't the right thing to do. Especially magic that the boy you are trying to impersonate never had the ability to do."
The other drow next to Soluun raises his blade and levitates over to stand beside the leader while the wizard begins chanting softly.
As the drow float into a bunch. Bhoors sings, "Going off the rails on the crazy train." Casting a spell on the toughest looking of the drow.
The big drow, Soluun also shrugs off Bhoors' attempt at invading his mind. Perhaps, his companion's comment about not having anything there to magic is quite true. Regardless the four dark elves start to recover from the initial surprise and turn their blades and their anger upon you.
Dacknar steps out, throwing a javelin at the drow spell caster and roars "Ah more drow for me to kill!" and rages.
Dacknar wades into the drow, swinging his great sword in a wide arc to keep his companions safe from the drow blades.
"Insanity. Trying the same thing expecting different results."
The bard sings the same lick again.
Dacknar's javelin flies past the lead drow and can be heard several moments later clattering to on the stone floor far below. Hurrying up to fill the narrow doors of the antechamber, Dacknar thrusts out with his mighty blade. But the lead drow, experienced and perhaps ready for such a strike simply steps aside and easily avoids the blow. He then brings his own short blade up, fades to his right drawing Dacknar's parry. But the real threat to the half orc is the riposte which whips back too fast for the barbarians heavy blade to defend. Dark elf steel finds its mark and slips through the thick leather of Dacknar's armor enraging the barbarian even further as his dinnerware bites back.
The big drow two back from the leader shakes his head once again as Bhoors weaves a song of control and confusion upon the dark elf. Once again the elf's natural resistance kicks in and defeats the bards magic.
"I'm gonna put that lute right where it belongs ya blasted singer." The big drow shouts. "Hurry up and deal with that green-skinned brute Fel'Rekt, so I can have some fun with the dandy."
Following Bhoors' attempt, Unmei calls forth a celestial blade of glory. The brilliant golden sword of truth, justice, and law wings across the chamber. For a moment all can hear horns blaring in triumphant magnificence. The blade whirls and dances toward the drow, a true threat to all evil in its many forms. With grace and awe inspiring grace it strikes for the dark elf's heart....and clatters harmlessly against the wall. This causes more than a few snickers among the hardened mercenaries who continue to press their attack as Unmei slips back toward the stairs spiraling back down into the dragon's vault.
The wizard finishes an incantation and suddenly he is wearing a suite of armor crafted from darkness and shadow. Having seen to his own defense, his gaze turns to those casting magic against his companions.
Bhoors curses and moves forward to support Dak. His blades looking for drow flesh.
Taking a cut and seeing that his blade is still clean, continues to fuel his rage. Dacknar swings his blade over head to split his foe in two.
Bhoors steps next to Dacknar for just a moment and manages to slip his blade through the lead drows defenses. Moments later, Unmei calls up the blessing of her mysterious god in this time of desperation. Ever fickle her deity denies his acolyte any real aid as the golden sword of justice once again misses badly. Instead the god's favor shines more brightly upon Dacknar. Distracted by the bard's swift strike, and perhaps a bit of divine intervention, the drow misses the parry against Dacknar's powerful blow. The greatsword catches the dark elf in the side leaving a long bloody gash behind as its wielder brings it back to ready another blow.
Not a stranger to wounds in battle, the drow fights on with a determination and fury. Although not as big or as powerful as the big half-orc, the drow is lightning quick. A feint high to the left somehow reverses itself and turns into a pair of strikes low and to Dacknar's leading leg. The half orc tries to twist away, but he feels the enemy blade cut through armor and into flesh.
Eldritch power bursts forth from the finger tips of the wizard and strikes Unmei's double who still hovers just beyond Dacknar's other shoulder. Cursing in frustration as the energy passes harmlessly through the illusion, the wizard begins to ready another lethal remedy to those who would deny his goal.
Drow 1 HP: 38/60
Drow 2 HP: 60/60
Drow 3 HP: 60/60
Drow Wizard HP: 45/45
Bhoors sends his blades in again hoping to put an end to the drow.
Roaring in pain. Dacknar shifts his stance and swings the sword to lob off one of the arms of the drow.
But the cuts on his leg causes him to loose balance and his swing goes wide
Having grown weary of its joke, Unmei's deity decides to actually join the fray and the golden sword pulses with light and drives itself into the lead drow's shoulder. Bhoors manages to catch the dark elf from the other side. A glancing blow that draws blood, but causes little real damage.
The two strikes cause the drow to revert to the defensive just in time as Dacknar's wicked strike flies wide when the half-orc's leg doesn't quite hold his weight properly. The drow's defensive posture causes his first riposte to miss, but a second driving thrust catches Dacknar again, and another cut opens up along his arm.
From behind the other two drow draw small crossbows and take aim while the wizard finishes another incantation. This time a trio of barbed eldritch orbs streak toward Bhoors and slam into the bard pummeling and ripping flesh as they strike.
Drow 1 HP: 18/60
Drow 2 HP: 60/60
Drow 3 HP: 60/60
Drow Wizard HP: 45/45
Having released the barrage of missiles against the bard, the wizard's eyes suddenly glaze over for just a moment. With a wave of his hand he disappears in a burst of shadow. A moment later the shadows coalesce and the wizard now stands next to Unmei.
Being hit tree times to his one. Dacknar realizes that these foes new more focus on his strikes. So if that think that he is just a block head, he will use that to his advantage.
Dacknar roars a challenge and moves like his his going to do another wide arc swing throwing all his strength into the swing, but at the moment he pivots to thrust the sword into the drow instead.
Bhoors strikes out at the drop before him.
Bhoors looks Dack's way, "Keep at it."
Unmei slides her dagger into the surprised drow wizard. The blades pierces magical armor and thin robes cutting deep into the spellslinger's vitals. After providing Dacknar a bit of encouragement and vitality, Bhoors attempts to follow up on Unmei's attack. But his blade twists upon the shadow armor protecting the drow's midsection and the blow bounces harmlessly aside.
Not completely lost in rage, Dacknar practices a little deception and his feint catches the lead drow flatfooted. Heavy steel parts soft flesh and the dark elf staggers back, clinging to life.
Realizing if he doesn't make a change, he's doomed, the dark elf devotes he remaining energy to escape. He tumbles away from Dacknar, waving big Soluun forward.
"Finally!" Hollers the drow and pushes forward switching back to his short blade. He hits Dacknar and his defensive position at the door. This time it is the big dark elf's frenzy and abandoned way of fighting that catches Dacknar off guard. Before he can recover, the half orc is sporting two more wounds upon his increasingly battered frame.
The third drow lines up his crossbow and fires at Bhoors. But the bard's earlier flourish carries him away from the attack and the bolt clatters harmlessly against the wall.
The wizard finally recovers himself. With a flick of his delicate hands and a mumble of arcane verbage, the drow sprays a burst of poisonous liquid all over Unmei.
Drow 1 HP: 4/60
Drow 2 HP: 60/60
Drow 3 HP: 60/60
Drow Wizard HP: 38/45
Bhoors continues to keep his swords in play.
As the Drow sneaks away like a coward. Dacknar yells "Com back ye goblin, I will drink wine from your skull yet!"
Then the new comer steps up.
"Ye must be part dwarf to have some meat on yer bones."
Reeling from the attacks Dacknar burst into a frenzy. His sword moving faster and faster.
The big dark elf chuckles at Dacknar's mention of dwarves. "Aye, their heads make fine drinking mugs. Big and hard as stone." He says with a chuckle as he parries Dacknar's first blow and then grumbles when the half orc's second slices across his shoulder.
Leaving Unmei to handle the wizard, Bhoors moves to help Dacknar, slipping in catching the big enemy in the thigh before slipping away once again.
Having spent many a day lurking in the sewers, tanneries, and other lower places of Waterdeep, Unmei shrugs off the spray of poison and retaliates first with a blow from her golden sword and a second from the wicked dagger. Shadow armor proves of little help this time as both strikes penetrate the drow's protective field causing him to wince in pain as he readies another arcane attack of his own.
The badly wounded leader levitates back across the collapsed area of the bridge. As he moves he pulls a potion bottle from his belt and swills the contents. Moments later a bit of the bleeding stops as he catches his breath on the opposite side of the collapsed bridge.
Soluun matches Dacknar's fury blow for blow. Although the driving blows of his shorter blade aren't as powerful, the combination of quickness and strength still take their toll of the powerful barbarian.
The third drow launches another crossbow bolt at Bhoors. This time the bard's defensive retreat doesn't work and the wicked bolt hits Bhoors in the side with a sharp thwack.
On the other side of the door, the wizard sends a ray of frost streaking toward the old woman. The icy beam hits her right in the chest sucking heat and life from her frail frame as she stares into the burning hate filled eyes of the drow.
Drow 1 HP: 12/60
Drow 2 HP: 32/60
Drow 3 HP: 60/60
Drow Wizard HP: 26/45