Chapter Twenty Nine

The Joint Is Smokin'!

While all this has been happening to Yaz and Jihan, the others have been oblivious to the fact that the two of them have been captured.

Immediately upon realizing that the worgs are not going to enter the grotto,Winnacer asks Faewen'il to bandage his shoulder which she does after finishing attending to Darius' wounds.

Remembering that he left his shortbow with its broken string outside, Winnacer then asks Darius whether he can borrow his. Darius smiles weakly and lends him his bow and quiver.

Winnacer turns to the two mages and says:

"While we have found sanctuary in this grotto, it is but temporary. Two of the worg riders rode off, so reinforcements can be expected tomorrow. We must put these riders down in order to escape. Is there any more magical powers you can summon, and how long until can conjure up the magicks you have already spent?"

Corrow shakes his head sadly.

"I'm afraid I'm going to be of little use to you. Before I can get back into action I need some rest. A number of hours at least. And unfortunately my spellbook is not down here. I stupidly left it in my pack that I stowed in the cart before we spotted the worgs coming. I didn't think to retrieve it.

"I'm afraid I can contribute nothing magical to any escape solution. We may have to wait here and hope that Jihan and Yaz don't get eaten up. There's no way I'm sticking my head out that door until someone I know sticks their head in from the outside."

He lies back and gazes at the low earth ceiling, his head resting on his hands. Tapping his toes together restlessly, he says:

"I need to settle down, I can't think straight."

He breathes deeply and slowly, trying to slow down the racing of his heart and mind.

Faewen'il also shakes her head in response to Winnacer's question:

'Sar Winnacer, I be in the same situation as Corrow here, although I do have ma spellbook with me, I'm glad to say. However, I cannae be usin' ma spells until the morrow. I think I best be stayin' here for the while. I'd only be a liability to you were I to come with you.'

Winnacer then approaches Xavier who is still looks like he is in pretty bad state:

"Xavier, how are you faring? This fight is not over, albeit we must now keep the fight at long distance. Let you and I sneak out and slay the remaining Nyemetz, for I believe our horses are already lost. Slaying the remaining Nyemetz will keep our equipment intact, and our friends safe in this grotto."

The Saxon looks up at him.

'If you think that it is best that I come with you, then I will accompany you, although my arm is weak. Yet I worry about Corrow and Faewen'il if they stay here alone. Were just one of those hellbeasts to enter, then I fear they would perish as they are without their witchery.'

''You're right' agrees Winnacer. ' should stay here and guard our mages.'

Then Darius' eyes flicker and he moans. His eyes glance around and he sees no sign of Jihan or Yaz. Words shouted in the fry and received during the periods of consciousness come back to him and he staggers to his feet, his hands grabbing at his short sword. He ambles off down the grotto's passage, moaning and grasping his side, muttering:

"Must help Yaz, Jihan..."

He then exits the grotto, still in some pain.

Winnacer sighs as he sees the goblin stumbling out of the door, knowing that his bravado alone is not going to save him should he encounter a worg. With Darius' bow in hand, he follows behind the limping goblin, looking around him cautiously as he follows him out of the grotto.

First they listen to see if they can hear the baying of wolves. But there is no sound, just a hush that makes them nervous after the noise and chaos of the battle. Then they go outside, half-expecting to be pounced on by a stealthy worg, but no attack comes.

They check out the top of the hillock above them, seeing the debris of the battle, but no live worgs. Winnacer comes across the body of Felibarr, which has been nibbled at by worgs now in addition to the bite taken out of the halfling's throat. The knight bows slightly, his eyes transfixed upon Felibarr's staring eyes and the smile on his lips. Winnacer closes his eyes, brings his right hand up to the mark of Spravedelna etched upon the armor covering his heart and murmurs a few words to the God of Justice.

They walk to the top of the hillock that allows them to see most of the surrounding area. They see no sign of life anywhere, even as they scan the horizon.

Then, to the east, they see Caelli, Wisenose and the spare horse galloping away from the copse where they had been tethered, with Giselle plodding behind them. They wait a split second, expecting to see worgs charging after them, intent upon killing the animals. But there are none.

Without needing to speak, both Darius and Winnacer head off in the direction of the copse. Winnacer wants to get there as quickly as possible, but Darius can hardly walk, let alone run, so they end up half walking, half jogging there. They reach the edge of the copse and are both alarmed to hear the sound of chanting …in Nyemetz.

Darius draws his sword, although he can hardly hold it upright, let alone conduct much of a melee and starts to dash into the copse suspecting a Nyemetz shaman at work. Winnacer grabs him before he makes off, however.

*Control yourself, Darius* Winnacer whispers. *The only advantage that we've probably got is surprise, don't let us lose that one as well*

Darius nods, understanding the truth that Winnacer is speaking. As stealthily as they can, they creep through the copse in the direction of the chanting. When they are just a few yards away from the sound of the chanting, it stops.

Winnacer readies his bow, and puts his finger to his lips to remind Darius to be totally quiet. Then he steps forwards.

*crack* - Winnacer has trodden on a dry twig.

Too late to turn back, they burst through into the small clearing. In front of them they see the goblin standard bearer aiming a shortbow at them. Five worgs are lying peacefully not far from it. They look towards the newcomers without reaction. Then they see the familiar forms of Yaz and Jihan - alive! However, standing over them is the burly form of the orc sargeant, with a broadsword poised over their heads.

The sargeant shouts out to them in broken Bohavian:

'Stop or die they. You too. One word me and worgs kill.'

Winnacer and Darius look at Yaz and Jihan. They appear to have been disarmed, but are not bound. It is hard to read the expressions on their faces. They look both surprised and relieved to see them, not surprisingly. They don't seem to be in any pain and are not quivering in fear.

To the Orc, Darius speaks, rising upright and straight, the pain pushed back in his mind in the manner he learned at the fists of his master, the short sword balanced a little better:

"You kill us any time want to, why then must Darius be afraid? Why big orc need wolf to kill dying goblin? Come self. Be not afraid of human here. He will let be. Leave friends of mine. Let wolf watch them. You , me, we fight. If win I, let friends go. If lose. Then you let human go. He take body mine to bury. Come ugly one. Or are not Orc? Come to Darius, or are you child of dwarf and gnome?"

The orc looks at Darius for an instance and then starts laughing. Not the evil, patronizing laugh that Darius could perhaps have expected, but rather the deep belly laugh of someone who has just seen something wonderfully unbelievable.

'Ha, ha, ha! Spirit strong like Sklad no see before in goblin!'

The goblin standard bearer, stood aiming his shortbow at Darius, is somewhat annoyed at that statement.

'Come join with company Sklad. Goblin many die this day. Need I spirit strong like you. Teach you ride worg good I.'

Sklad sees that Darius is not exactly rushing to join up with his company.

'Why want more hurt? No dead enough this day? I no want kill .you I no want you kill me.'

The orc thinks for a moment, then bends to his knees and picks up a three-foot stick off the floor.

'If fight with Sklad mad goblin want, Sklad will fight, but fight with wood not metal. No want kill you. You much fun. First to ground no win. If win you and friends free be. If Sklad win, you come me no trouble make. Is fair? Sklad word good. Mad goblin word good?'

He looks around at the other three.

'No trick play when fight we. I know worg word, so do Skrin' he says nodding towards the standard bearer.

'Yes, it be…'

'SAY IT NOT!' screams Sklad.

*Sorry!* mumbles Skrin.

'So mad goblin want fight?' says Sklad, sheathing his broadsword 'or just words you say?'

While Sklad is talking to Darius, Winnacer and Jihan are signaling something with their eyes, probably trying to work out a way of getting out of this situation without having to combat the worgs. Winnacer notices that several of the worgs have been injured. However, seeing that all save Winnacer are still just a whisker away from death, the odds are very firmly on the worgriders side.

Winnacer notes that Yaz looks tired, severely beat-up, bleeding in several places, but somehow not beyond hope. He stands with his hands clasped in front of him, eyes blazing but obviously resigned to capture, for now. He responds to Winnacer's motions by slowly bringing both hands up to his bloody chest, cupping them like a bowl, peering into its emptiness sadly. He lets his hands drop to his sides, wiggling his fingers to simulate spilled water. He looks back at Winnacer, noting his new motions regarding the standard-bearer, then looks at the weapons, then back to the fighter...

and swallows hard.

Before Darius has a chance to answer Sklad's challenge, Winnacer steps forwards. Both his voice and his facial expression seem foreign to him, instead of a tenor he speaks in a deep bass and his normally friendly features are tight and threatening. Even as the words start to pour from his mouth, those who have known him realize that he's doing a character out of his own family, by the way he has described them. He then places his hand on Darius' shoulder, squeezing appropriately at the parts that would make Darius a bit tense.

"Orc, we both know that thrashing a half-dead goblin with a stick is much fun. But it is a coward's act when a true challenge stands right next to him. Let me champion the goblin's cause. It will keep your newest rider intact and it will let me find the arms of Smurt open and waiting. Fight me, alone or with your standard-bearer together, but let me die from the bites of the sword instead of from the teeth of wolves. Or are you too cowardly to fight without the wolves guarding your back? C'mon fight me!"

Sklad's jovial expression changes when he hears the hatred in Winnacer's voice and the fury burning in his eyes. He drops the stick and puts his hand upon the pommel of his broadsword before answering Winnacer:

'Bohavian, hear me bad you do. I say I no want fight mad goblin. I no want hurt him with stick. I say more than plenty death on hills today. My company and our friends both. Hurt for no point no is my way. Fight to survive and fight for to be boss are only reason for fight, Turlik say. My friend worgs, they no fight for fun. Fight to eat, fight to lead pack. No more. I want only show power over goblin so he be calm, not him to hurt.'

'Fight, fight, die, die, Smurt, say you. Death god follow must you to want see death so bad. No coward be I to fight with wolves. It is Turlik's way. Would young wolf use only one paw to fight with old wolf to lead pack? To have power then not to use is not Her way.'

'This day my pack fight with your pack. My pack has more power. It is Her way that I now lead your pack and my pack. Not that I kill all your pack.'

Winnacer and Sklad stay looking at each other without saying a word for a long while.

Winnacer, realizing that being somebody else is not going to get them out of danger, suddenly softens. His face relaxes from the scowl he was forcing and his voice raises back into his more comfortable tenor. He takes a deep breath, looking at each of his friends for a burst of inspiration, and replies to the orc after handing Darius back his bow.

"I am sorry. You are right, pack leader. We both saw much death today. I do not worship Smurt. But you threaten my pack, you not say you wish to talk. I would be glad to talk."

'Talk is good. Talk is gift from Turlik to Nyemetz, to humans. Use gift of Turlik must we all.'

"We, like you, fight to survive. But, unlike you, we are our own bosses. Each one of us. Your boss tells to do something, you have no choice.'

'Choice HAS Sklad. If think Sklad more strong than Captain, Captain would Sklad fight. If Sklad win, new Captain would Sklad be and sargeant would be old captain. It is the way of Turlik and way of Nyemetz. But Captain more strong than Sklad be, but Sklad more strong than goblins be. It is order that Turlik chose for me.'

'Even if you think the idea is bad. We have a choice and fight as we choose. If we do not agree, we don't fight. Why did many of your pack die today? Trying to kill strangers that have never done any harm to you. Your pack suffers because of your boss. Your boss suffers not at all. Your boss cares not about you."

'If some fight, some die. The weak die and strong live. It is Turlik's way. Choice makes weak. I see that much strong you are. We beat you only because you no follow way of Turlik. Sklad let all live because you are strong and so worthy of life. If weak were, then kill you would have Sklad.'

"Your boss tells that we are your enemy. That men and elves are bad. That my pack hates your pack. That is not true.'

'Wolves do not horses hate. Hate no is way of Turlik. no my enemy. no bad. Good or bad have no place in law of Turlik, only weak and strong. I no hate you. I like you for you strong. Join my pack you should and together more strong shall we be.'

Winnacer puts his hand on Darius' shoulder

'He is from your pack, but is accepted in my pack. He just wants to be his own boss, not toady to other packs. I care for Darius a lot. I would fight to keep him from getting hurt. Would your boss fight for you if you were where we are? Your boss cares not about you."

'Goblin yours join pack to power get. More power than if alone. But if to join my pack would, then more strong would be. If wants to join weak pack, then die will he. It is Her way.'

'Boss care of Sklad and all pack. He know as Sklad know that pack must fight with pack to be more strong. I care for goblins and worgs. Boss care for Sklad and all in his pack.'

"You seem like a smart orc. You do not need a boss to survive. Your pack spills its blood so your boss can survive. Be like us. Do not fight for boss. Fight for yourself. Fight with us, not against us, and your pack will grow strong."

'I fight for most strong pack. Nyemetz pack is strong. Bohavia pack is weak. Nyemetz like wolf. Bohavia like horse. Why wolf would fight with horse when wolves more strong?'

Sklad looks up towards the sun, which is nearly overhead.

'Time now is for us to go. Talk more on way to Dvur Kralovye can we. Talk with you I like. Teach you to see that way of Turlik is only way.'

'Strong are you which Sklad respect. Sklad not want you wear chains like animals. But if trouble make then wear chains must you.'

Sklad walks over amongst the worgs and mounts the largest of them. Then he watches carefully while the standard bearer mounts the second largest.

'Come we walk to morning sun.'

They make last ditch attempts following Sklad's insistence that it is time to move on.

Winnacer tries to talk Sklad into believing that they are mercenaries who have come after gnomish gold, intimating that they could lead Sklad to the grottos where he would be able to help himself to the Gnome's treasure.

Sklad is not so easily swayed:

'Hero Sklad will be for you to bring back. Much reward for Sklad will there be. Tell Sklad of gold to boss. Will return new day to take all gold for all pack.'

Seeing that Winnacer's approach is not working, Yaz tries his final idea. He tells Sklad that he is the one responsible for the party's physical well being and that the party is in such a bad state that their wounds would surely re-open should they attempt a long march in their current condition. Yaz suggests that it would be wiser to rest for the next day and return the next morning.

Sklad investigates the bandages applied to both Darius and Jihan:

'Good heal wound think Sklad. Good to heal must be you. Far is Dvur Kralovye not from here. Sklad think elf and goblin die will not. If fear they die, tie up them will Sklad and put on back of worg. But go now we must.'

Yaz sees that he too is on to a loser with this suggestion and resigns himself to leaving now.

While Winnacer and Yaz have been talking with Sklad, Jihan has been sitting, whittling on the root of the tree that he has been sitting under with one of his silver daggers. He leaves a coded message to the others, telling them what has happened using symbols that he hopes that they will be able to understand. As soon as Sklad's conversation with the other two finishes, he quickly hides his dagger once again.

Sklad insists on taking weapons from everyone, but allows them to keep their armor. Winnacer protests vehemently at having to give up 'Old Bohavia' to the orc, but when Sklad repeats his threat to kill one of the party should they continue to resist, he begrudgingly tosses the noble blade towards him.

The goblin standard bearer bundles up all of the weapons and puts them into the saddle bags of one of the worg.

Then they start to make their way in the direction of Dvur Kralovye. Sklad is happy to follow the slow pace of the injured, until he starts to suspect them of malingering when he starts to move them on. He stops at the point of Yaz's first entanglement spell, seeing the bodies of his two dead comrades. He chants a few words over their bodies from the saddle of the worg and then moves the group onwards.

He then moves the party up the slopes of the hill that saw much of the fighting in order to repeat the same death rites.

While this has been going on, Faewen'il, Xavier and Corrow have been waiting in the grotto, becoming more and more anxious with every minute that the rest of the party are away from them.

It is a strange group that have been thrown together in this place - the two mages and the Saxon knight who has no love of magick whatsoever. They spend the time waiting talking about Xavier's fears concerning the arcane arts, all the time getting more and more afraid at the situation that they find themselves in.

The three of them wait for longer and longer, until Faewen'il can stand to wait no longer. She fidgets at the doorway and finally speaks. Her eyes filled with tears over some painful thought.

"I canna stay stuffed in here na'more. Even if it be death that awaits me out thar... I would rather be facin it than waitin like a wounded rabbit in a trap."

Xavier nods in agreement:

'Though I fear that we shall surely perish if we are to go outside, I cannot stay here not knowing what has become of our comrades. If I am to die, then let me die a hero's death in battle rather than as a coward hiding from his fate.'

Corrow is not at all sure that he wants to rush out to meet his death so hastily, but realizes that he would be wracked by guilt for eternity were he not to join the other too. After a few more minutes of thought, he agrees to accompany them.

Faewen'il suggests that they take one of the tables in Heimlin's burrow and chop the legs off so as to form a rudimentary shield in order to shield Faewen'il in order that she can cast her sleep ensorcellment by reading it straight out of her spellbook without fear of harm.

Corrow and Xavier agree with her plan and Xavier quickly uses 'The Justifier' to hack the legs off a suitable table. It takes all of Corrow's strength and all of Xavier's too to lift the table and move it forwards while shielding Faewen'il, but it is possible for the three of them to move forwards while keeping their positions, albeit slowly.

Cautiously, they move out of the grotto.

Immediately that they round the corner of the grotto, they are totally surprised at the sight in front of them.

Just 20 yards away are the four other members of the party. They are walking up the hill without weapons. Darius and Jihan are both limping slowly as the result of their terrible injuries. Yaz is not in a much better state. Only Winnacer shows any sign of being much use in a struggle.

Immediately behind them are a pack of five worgs, surprisingly docile compared to the savage ferocity that they were showing last time they saw them. Mounted on the lead two worgs, are two figures. The first is the orc sargeant and the second is the goblin standard bearer.

The orc sees the three of them at the same time as they see him. He immediately shouts to them in broken Bohavian:

'Stop with hands up now. One word from Sklad and worgs all kill!'

As soon as she hears the orc's voice, Faewen'il starts to read the arcane words from her spellbook. As she says them, the words immediately fade away as the magick binding the words to the page is released.

Darius feebly shouts, "Surrender to great Sklad! To fight is useless."

But Faewen'il is already committed to her actions, and continues with her casting.

Trying her best to concentrate under the extreme pressure of the situation, she hurries to complete the liturgy. As it is complete, she stands fully upright so that she can see over the shield and points her arms in the directions of the worgriders.

A wave of magick power hurtles towards the worgriders and both the sargeant and goblin standard bearer fall asleep in the saddle.

The worgs do not react to this situation, but simply stand still, as if nothing is out of the ordinary.

Seeing their chance, Jihan and Winnacer try to move towards the worgs, but as they approach them, the worgs start to snarl at them.

As the others are wondering what they should do, another wave of magick emanates from Faewen'il, taking the form of a vivid, fan-shaped spray of clashing colors. The magick settles on the worgs and the five of them start to stare around themselves blindly.

'Quickly' shouts Faewen'il 'The magick is nae gonna blind them for long.'

Faewen'il pulls forth her knife and dashes after the worgs. Corrow disappears back into the grotto as fast as he can. Xavier would much rather follow Corrow's lead, but seeing the feisty lass dash towards the worgs, and knowing that Yaz, Darius and Jihan are all more injured than he is, his pride will not let him run like a coward when his colleagues' lives are in mortal danger.

'Sweet death cometh' he says under his breath as he dashes towards the melee.

Winnacer makes a dash towards the worg that is carrying all of their weapons and, in one movement, pulls 'Old Bohavia' from the saddlebags, despite the fact that the worg is thrashing about wildly.

'Back to the grotto quickly,' shouts Winnacer to Yaz, Darius and Jihan. 'I'll hold them off as long as possible.'

Jihan wants to try and get the whistle and, with his last remaining strength, rushes up to the Sklad's worg. He tries to get his hand inside the pouch, but the worg is thrashing around in confusion, and he is unable to open the pouch.

Realizing that he has not the strength to fight the worgs, he hobbles back to the grotto as fast as he can, followed by the equally wounded Darius, plus Yaz.

Winnacer strikes out at the worg that seems to be the most injured. In its blinded state, the worg cannot see the blow from 'Old Bohavia' coming and is hacked in two by Winnacer's blow. Winnacer moves on to the next worg.

Faewen'il, emboldened by Winnacer's success, leaps into combat with another of the worgs, trying to strike at it with 'Yaromir's Tooth'. Her aim is true and she carves into the worg's side, causing a deep wound .

Xavier takes on another of the worgs, taking advantage of the fact that the worgs cannot dodge their attacks and brings 'The Justifier' down on the back of another, causing considerable damage.

The worgs strike back, wildly and blindly. More by chance than skill, the worg that Winnacer is aiming for manages to savage Winnacer's leg. Although the damage is not great, Winnacer is not in any state to take too much more of this damage. Faewen'il's foe also lashes out wildly. Without armor to protect her, she takes the full force of the worg's wild bite that rips into her side. Faewen'il sinks to the ground stunned.

Darius and Jihan, who both stopped at the entrance to the grotto to check on the combat, see Faewen'il go down. Upon seeing her fall, the two of them use their last remaining energy to rush up to the girl so that they can drag her back into the grotto away from any harm. As they reach Faewen'il, the worg fighting Xavier lunges out randomly and rips into the Saxon's face leaving the doors of death wide open for him. Jihan calls to Yaz to assist them as the Saxon falls down next to them, his face unrecognizable through the blood that is gushing out.

Yaz runs over and drags the knight back to the grotto whereupon he immediately starts to apply herbs and bandages to Xavier's terrible wounds. Jihan, Corrow and Darius apply similar aid to Faewen'il.

Winnacer cannot believe that the gods have deserted him as he sees the last of his two able-bodied comrades fall to the worgs. Just when it looked as if there was a chance that the worgs could finally be dispatched, the gods of chance come down firmly upon the side of the worgs. He realizes that there is now no chance of defeating all of the worgs, but tries to take out as many of them as he can before the effects of Faewen'il's spell expire and he has to face four furious worgs alone.

Furiously, he hacks into the worg that injured him, the one underneath the goblin standard bearer. With two mighty blows of 'Old Bohavia' he hacks the worg into pieces. There are just three worgs remaining now, but time is running out for the spell. He launches himself after the most injured of the worgs, the one that was previously injured by Faewen'il.

The worg lashes out at him when he gets close, but Winnacer is able to dodge the jaws of the beast with ease. He lashes out at the worg again and just manages to catch it. Although the wound is only slight, the worg is severely injured and goes down whining with pain.

Winnacer looks around and sees that the two worgs are starting to get back their senses now. Although there are just two worgs left, the one that Sklad is mounted upon is an enormous beast and would not go down without a hell of a fight, a fight that Winnacer is in no condition to continue.

Realizing that any further delay could prove to be fatal, Winnacer runs towards the protection of the grotto with the last of his energy. As he reaches the entrance, he sees the two worgs start to bound after him. He charges into the grotto and heads for the living room where he finds the others.

With the help of Yaz, he barricades both doors using all of the furniture that he can find in the room. As they do so, they hear the sound of howling and frantic ferocious scratching at the doors.

Winnacer and Yaz rush around as fast as their dwindling strengths will allow in order to secure the three doors from the corridor containing the infuriated worgs. Soon, just about every item that can be moved has been piled up against the doors. There is no way that anyone is going to be able to get into the grotto without a hell of a job. However, neither is anyone going to be able to exit the grotto in a hurry.

The worgs frantically scratch away at the doors, howling wildly.

The party desperately try to ignore the pain that is wracking each of their bodies in order to come up with some kind of solution to the predicament that they realize they are in. As all of the able-bodied help to bandage up those less able than themselves, possible solutions are thrown around in a last-ditch attempt to save themselves from the inevitable entrapment that they are in.

Setting up a fire to try and scare the worgs off is one idea suggested. Another is to lure the worgs into one of the rooms and set light to it or scare them off with torches. However, there is little time to put such a plan into action. Unblocking one of the doors would take several minutes and there is no way to set a mighty conflagration going without access to a significant quantity of oil, which they do not possess. The efforts to scare away the worgs would be only a temporary measure in any case, as they are aware that Faewen'il's sleep ensorcellment will not last forever. The only possible alternative suggestion is surrender, although none have too much faith in the orc's continuing to be reasonable after their last attempt to turn the tables on him.

After five minutes of trying to come up with a solution, a bellow from the vicinity of the worgs tells them all that Sklad sleeps no more.

'TIKKO!' the cry comes in Nyemetz, and the worgs quieten. There is then silence for a few seconds, presumably while Sklad works out where he is and what the hell has happened. Finally, everything slots into place.

'BASTARDS!' the orc cries, 'BASTARDS!'

Hearing that Sklad is now very much awake, Yaz tries to reason with him:

"Sklad!" he cries. "Sklad! It's me, the priest! In Turlik's name, answer me!"

'F*** you! F*** all you! Good to you was Sklad. No hurt you. Treat you fair. Then what you do? Cheat Sklad does you. Kill Sklad friends. Sklad nice no more you.'

"Do you want to take us dead or alive?"

'Now, dead'

"Sklad, you've got us in a bad spot."

'Good!'

"We're considering coming out to surrender. But we won't come out with your worgs snuffling about. Tell them to wait outside.... then we'll talk.."

'No. You there stay and die. That what Sklad want.'

They each look towards each other, gulping audibly.

Then everything goes quiet for a short while. Yaz places his ear at the crack of the door to try and hear what is happening. Sklad is obviously whispering to the goblin in Nyemetz, although quite what, Yaz cannot understand.

There is total silence for ten minutes or so, broken only by the groaning of the injured. As the waiting continues, they all get more and more afraid, wondering what the hell the Nyemetz are up to. Jihan sinks to his knees and starts to chant in the lilting manner that they have become accustomed to hearing him sing several times in the past. As he continues his calming chant, they hear each of their names mentioned a number of times, along with the name of Prirodna. In the desperate situation that they find themselves in, all previous animosities between other members of the party seem ridiculously trivial.

The first clue as to what Sklad is up to comes when they hear something heavy being dragged into the mouth of the grotto, and then clattering, as something is piled up to the door of the living room. All goes quiet again, and then can just be heard the gentle crackling of dry twigs catching light.

'F***!' exclaims Yaz. 'They're either trying to burn the doors down, or they're trying to smoke us out.'

Winnacer looks concerned, not surprisingly:

'Corrow make yourself useful, go into the kitchen and fill up all of the containers you can find with water. Start to dampen down some of these tapestries and put them in front of the door. Yaz, help me drag the injured into the kitchen. It'll give us a little extra time.'

Yaz realizes that Winnacer is talking sense and starts to drag the bandaged casualties through into the kitchen along with the knight. Corrow starts to dampen the tapestries and places them against the door. The tapestries have some effect, but smoke is still starting to seep through the cracks into the room.

There is more clattering and a fire is started against the living room door. More smoke starts to appear. Corrow hacks a tablecloth into squares, dampens the pieces and then wraps them around everyone's faces in order to assist them against the smoke.

Ten minutes later, there is more clattering, and smoke starts to appear through the cracks in the workshop door.

The smoke is starting to get quite thick now, even in the kitchen, that is some way from the door. Another ten minutes and more clattering at both the living and dining room doors. Orange flames can be seen starting to lick around the edges of the door.

The smoke continues to pour in - thick black smoke, which makes it impossible for you to see more than a foot in front of you. You're all coughing wildly now, struggling for air, coughing so hard you expect to puke up a lung at any moment.

More clattering, more flames, more smoke.

One by one, you stop coughing, as you sink into unconsciousness. First Xavier goes quiet, then Faewen'il, Jihan, Darius, Corrow, Yaz and finally Winnacer - each slipping into restful darkness…