Adriena says quietly, "What a horrible mess and the smell!! Let's be quick about leaving, shall we? I suggest that you two brave warriors [indicating Ganthanor and Gregory] keep watch at all times and let the rest of us do the work. Garth, are you still with us? Please don't go away without telling us. If we have to move quickly we might lose you. How about checking the doorway and beyond. I'll see what's outside."

Ganthanor moves to check the door on the east wall. He first listens at the door then checks to see if he can look through a keyhole or any cracks within the door and then finally opens the door slowly peeking out as it opens. "Let's move as soon as everyone recovers from the teleport. Any ideas as to the direction we are to travel. I remember Otasura saying we were to head to that big Orc city whose name I have already forgotten or are we already there?" Ganthanor looks back to the party with a puzzled expression.

As each of you get over the transport shock you look around the quickly darkening room to realize something very odd. You are starting to see each of the people in the party with a reddish outline. Each of the outlines are different and they grow stronger as the room gets darker with the setting sun.

Aanparon says, "Ganthanor, Gregory, one or both of you guys give me a boost up to that trapdoor. Maybe if I climb up I can find a window with a a bit of a view and we can figure out where we need to go."

Adriena stops before the west window and turns around to her companions. After rubbing her eyes vigorously for a minute she says, "Is anyone else having trouble adjusting to this light? Everyone looks funny, kinda reddish. Anyway, Aan please be careful. That ladder doesn't look very safe. Maybe you can drop some of your gear and make yourself lighter? I'll hold it for you. I was going to look out one of the shuttered windows, but you can probably see better from higher up - provided the room above is safe...." She then waits for a reply and leaves the window to return to the center of the room.

Gregory walks over to where Aan is, "Come and help lift him up Ganthanor, you are the one who has magical strength. Where is Garth? Outside scouting ahead I'm sure." Ganthanor moves over to lend a hand in lifting Aan up to the next floor.

Adriena feels a tap on her shoulder, as she looks around she doesn't see anything but she hears Garth's orc grunts, "I'm going to check out the doorway, be right back."

Adriena replys, "Thankyou Garth, don't stray too far beyond the doorway, we really need you to succeed in this."

Walking amist the rubble and junk, Garth reaches the doorway, stepping through it he sees the main hall. It has a vast open-beamed ceiling and an open heart in the middle of the flor. There are several holes in the walls of the second-story rooms. The room is 40x40. Directly across the room from you are the stairs (NE corner, on east wall) leading to the second floor. To his immediate left there is a closed door. There are two windows on the north wall as well as one window (next to the main door) on the south wall.

Stepping into the room his shin connects with a piece of tile near the door and knocks it off its perch of debris. "Crack," goes the tile on the hard ground, Garth quickly look around to see if there is anyone who may have heard the noise..

In the center of the room two black shadowy creatures rear their heads at the noise. Garth freezes in place, trying not to make any noise. One of the creatures snorts and lowers its head, the other pauses and takes in a deep breath through its nose. The creature jumps to its feet and quickly begins moving towards Garth.

Garth no longer is able to stand still, especially with this shadowy black, winged monster coming at him, he turns and begin running back into the room with the rest of the group, "MONSTER!!!" he yells at the top of his lungs as the creature enters through the doorway..

Back in the room Aanparon reaches for the broken wooden ladder, one foot on each of the shoulders of Ganthanon and Gregory. He doesn't think that the wooden ladder is very sturdy, but it might be sturdy enough to support his weight for a moment as he opens the door.

As he is reaching for the ladder he hears a loud orc squeal, "MONSTERS!" He notices that a lot of the debris in a straight line from the door to where the party is is being disturbed, as if something is brushing against it moving at a fast speed.

The party's eyes are drawn to the doorway where suddenly there is a large shadowy winged creature, sniffing loudly. Once it sees the party, it lets out a booming screech and charges.

Brandishing his sword Ganthanor moves toward the creature and prepare to attack, "Fighters up front quickly!!!!! Spell casters to the rear and prepare some magic! Talk to us as to what you are casting and maybe we can respond or help in some way! Garth, use your invisibility to attack from the rear if you think it will help! Move quickly people, our lives are at stake!" Ganthanor then times the charge of the creature and swings. Gregory takes a step away from Ganthanor as to not get in his way. He then draws his sword and attacks.

Adriena replys, "Sorry, Ganthanor. I don't think my spell will work on tis creature. If the fight fares badly, I will try it. For now I will stay with Malis. Luck to your blade!"

Adriena then turns to Malis, "Let's save our strength and see how our friends fair. They do not need me in the way and they may need your skills after this. You do know how to tend the wounded, do you not?" Adriena crosses her fingers while waiting the outcome of the battle - her pinch of sand ready at hand.

Aanparon jumps from the shoulders of Gregory and Ganthanor just as Ganthanor unsheathes his sword and moves to intercept the incoming creature. Aanparon tries to land on his feet but with his unstable platform he hits the ground hard. Aanparon is on the ground laying on his side, apparently dazed.

Gregory steps to the side and moves to intercept the creature from another angle, hoping that with both he and Ganthanor attacking from different sides the creature will be momentarily confused.

Malis and Adriena move back towards the West wall, giving the fighters and the creature plenty of room. The shifting of materials stop, who knows where Garth is now..

The creature launches itself at the waiting Ganthanor. Ganthanor is able to get in a swing of his two-handed sword, and he hits dealing the creature a savage blow to its torso invoking a loud piercing screech from the creature. Gregory is able to attack at the creatures right flank, but he misses horribly.

The creature, focused solely on Ganthanor attacks him with both of its front claws and attempts to bite him. The creature's right claw swipes Ganthanor and it sinks its fangs into his left forearm, both causing light wounds. Ganthanor is able to pull his arm away, preventing the creature from gaining a jaw-lock on his arm.

Ganthanor gets ready to swing at the monster again but the creature is faster and strikes at Ganthanor. Both of its claws and bite miss Ganthanor as he deftly dodges them. Ganthanor swings his mighty rusted orc sword at the creature saying, "Die you ugly beast! Feel the bite of this sword!" and misses.

Gregory takes advantage of the creature's distraction and swings at the creature, again he misses.

Malis and Adriena quickly move forward and drag Aanparon away from the immediate danger. Once the three are as far as they can get from the creature, Adriena says, "Malis, let me tend to Aan. I do not have the skills you do, but neither can I give us much protection. He had only a short fall and is probably just a little dazed." Malis nods then draws her warhammer and steps infront of the two, placing herself between the two and the creature.

Adriena lightly shakes Aanparon while she examines him or any broken bones or bruises. She does not see any obvious marks. Due to her shaking, Aanparon starts to come to but is not very coherent.

Ganthanor swings his blade for the second time this round at the creature but again misses.

Everyone is able to get a better look at the creature now. It is about six feet long and around 3 feet wide. It has long wings, that are currently folded, that look strong enough to allow the creature to take flight. It is a dark shade of black, its features distorted beyond any means of recognition. It has sharp claws and a wicked looking mouth of teeth. No one in the party has ever seen anything like this before.

Adriena props Aan up against the wall and places his head between her hands. After a light shake she looks him in the eyes and says, "Aan, come-to ! The fight rages on. Ganthanor and Gregory are hard pressed. Are you hurt? Can you stand?"

Without really waiting for an answer she slides Aan up against the wall, trying to be of help. Once Adriena is certain that he is standing on his own she turns from him and speaks timidly, but over the din of the fighting while scanning the room.

"Garth, I know you're here somewhere. Is this creature alone; did you see more than one? Give me a sign, if you can. " She is holding her arms out before her slightly, as someone would if they were walking through a room with their eyes closed, standing between Aan and Malis.

While awaiting Garth's reply, Adriena says, "Oh, my gosh! I've never seen anything like that before! I should have paid more attention to Menzner's monster lore sessions!!" This last she says more as a rebuke to herself and frowns. It seems to those who hear and see that she may be genuinely upset with herself.

Aanparon's eyes flutter for a moment and he says to Adriena, "Malis, you look especially attractive when the twilight shines on your snout just so."

Adriena looks at Aanparon with a worried look and says, "Um, my name's Adriena. My, you must have hit your head pretty hard!"

Gregory has steam coming out of his ears from having missed the blasted thing twice now but he's going to have to try it one more time. "Garth, where the hell are you?"

Gregory quickly gets an attack in on the creature but again he misses. Ganthanor squares off against the creature again, however the creature is quicker and strikes at him. The creature misses with its two claws but again bits Ganthanor. This time the creature pulls itself free along with a clunk of Ganthanor's left thigh.

Ganthanor begins to feel faint but has the strength to strike at the creature. His strike is true and his sword skewers the creature slidding into its chest and emerging from its back. The creature lets out another shriek and falls to the ground.

Gregory sees for a split second after the creature hit the ground sees the faint outline of Garth with a sword impaled into the back of the creature and then the image is gone.

Malis stands with her warhammer ready to protect Adriena and Aanparon and gives a sigh of relief when she sees the creature dispatched.

Ganthanor smiles as he sees the the creature fall, he knows that he could not take another wound like he just did and live to talk about it. Ganthanor starts to turn to seek aid from Malis when another loud shriek is heard.

Everyone turns and sees another of the shadowy creatures in the doorway. The creature pauses as it sees its mate dead on the ground and then charges to punish the killers.

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