ity n he ky - art 4
ron, bsidian & one (i)

Before they continued their search, Trimus used some of his bandages to bind Ako's and Jodotha's wounds. Jodotha's wounds were serious and beyond Trimus' meagre skills.
"What are we going to do with him?" asked Darkhawk nodding towards their prisoner.
"Tie him to a tree and leave him here till we come back." Suggested Jodotha. "Perhaps something will come along and eat him."
"That is cruel. Even our worst enemy does not deserve that." Said Colloran ignoring a snort of derision from Jodotha.
"I could change him into something. Perhaps a tortoise." Suggested Rellan. The gnomes eyes widened at such a suggestion but the others agreed that this would be an agreeable solution.
"We should see what we can make out about the items we found. Some may be useful in our search." Said Trimus looking at the pile of treasure they had collected. Jodotha looked the items over and eventually took the jewellery. Colloran took the sword which he strapped to his pack as a spare for his magical blade. Rellan took the wand of cold while Trimus took the unknown ring and Ako the rod. Rellan handed his normal bow and arrows to Darkhawk before picking the bow and arrows from the pile of treasure.
Once the gnome had been transformed and shut into the Phoenix with a saucer of water and a large bundle of leaves from the jungle the others searched the clearing for clues. They soon found a trail leading into the dripping forest. Harsh cackling calls broke the silence and brightly coloured birds flashed amongst the trees. Occasionally small monkeys could be seen swinging from the branches and some would drop the husks and rinds of fruit onto the already nervous party. Trimus could at first make out the nagpa's tracks on the trail but after about half an hour the trail became harder and dryer making it impossible to be sure that Heydrech had passed this way.
Suddenly lurching out of the jungle came a troll like creature. To their horror they saw that atop the heavy barrel like body were two crocodile heads. Dropping to a crouch Darkhawk levelled his gnomish crossbow and fired three bolts at the beast but all three missed. Cain leapt from behind the fighter and caught the creature with a flying kick. Darkhawk loosed another three bolts which again all whooshed wide of the target. The fighter cursed as he tried to get used to the new weapon. Rellan cast a spell and three bolts of magical energy left black scorch marks on the beast's chest. Jodotha drew his sword and swung at the beasts legs hoping to hamstring their assailant but missed. Off balance from his stroke Jodotha could offer no defence to the clawed hand that swept him from his feet and hurled him into the trees. Darkhawk fires a third trio of quarrels at the beast and again they all miss.
"Put that toy down fool and attack with your sword." Bawled Colloran as he attacked the beast, wounding it deeply in the side. Cain pummelled the creature from behind knocking it to the floor with a flurry of open handed punches and kicks. With a single sweep of his sword Colloran sliced the heads from the beast and they stood back to catch their breath.
"Watch out!" called Jodotha pushing himself to his feet with his sword. "It's healing itself."
True enough the beheaded corpse was dragging itself across the ground towards its heads.
"I will not stand for this evil!" bellowed Colloran and grasping a head in each hand started to spin around before launching them in opposite directions. He and Rellan then butchered the corpse and distributed the gory joints in the same manner.
"Hopefully some wild beast will eat it before it can pull itself together." said the paladin wiping his hands on the dusty ground.

Once more they continued along the trail, occasionally finding the footprints of the nagpa in the dust. After about an hour the trees started to thin and the path ended at a tall fence. The poles were constructed of pitted grey iron as thick as Colloran's right arm. Between them stretched wires no more than a hand span apart made of a similar material. Beyond the fence could be glimpsed a squat building of glassy, black obsidian. Rellan grasped a wire to try and climb the fence but was hurled backwards. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the elf opened his hand where the wire had seared it.
"It is trapped." He said , "It is like there is lightning running through it. Never have I felt so much pain."
Ako used one of his healing spells on the elf's hand which at least allowed him to grasp his sword once more.
"We should scout around to see if there is a gate." Suggested Trimus as Ako attacked the fence with a dead branch of a tree. This achieved nothing than to create a twanging, thrumming sound like the longest string of a harp. The sound went on for minutes before the vibrations in the wire slowed to a stop.
They walked slowly around the fence, keeping wherever possible within the fringes of the jungle. They only found a single entrance, a blank doorway on the opposite side of the house to the track through the jungle. As to the nagpa there was no sign of how he crossed the fence into the compound. Nor was there any sight of guards patrolling the area within the fence.
"We appear to be lucky at the moment." Whispered Trimus. "Our attempts to cross the barrier have not raised an alarm, nor does it seem that the nagpa spotted us following him. We may still have the element of surprise."
"But only if we can get in." added Colloran.
"I may have a way." Said Jodotha calmly. "About two thirds of the way around the fence there was a tree that came close to the fence. I believe that I could climb the tree and edge out along the branch. My weight should be sufficient to make the limb dangle beyond the fence. I could then tie a rope to the branch and jump down within the fence and make the rope secure allowing all to enter with ease."
Trimus nodded sagely. "This seems to be a good plan. Has anyone got any alternative suggestions." He paused for a moment but all shook their heads. "Jodotha's plan it is then. Lead on Jodotha."
Jodotha led them to where a tree, dying but still springy had leant drunkenly against a younger example. Jodotha swiftly and easily climbed the trunk of the tree, heavily veined with creepers until he reached a long branch festooned with long, broad leaves. He sat upon the branch and edged along it, cutting side stems off as he went to make the passage easier. When he got near the end he leant forward and tied his rope around the limb. The others held their breath as the branch dipped towards the fence but Jodotha was soon climbing down the rope. Once back on ground he removed an iron spike from his pack and hammered it into the ground with a mallet. Tying the rope through the eye of the spike he tested it before waving the others on. Within a few minutes the others had followed Jodotha's example and were standing beside the rogue. Trimus had burnt his hands slightly from sliding down the rope and Rellan had caught himself on the stub of a branch but apart from a slight limp he was unharmed.

Trimus cast a spell of invisibility on himself before they moved off towards the black building. Jodotha checked the door for traps and was surprised to find the door unlocked and devoid of traps. Darkhawk opened the door and they walked into wide bare hallway lit by a soft glow from above. The door at the western end of the room led into a small cloakroom where unsurprisingly cloaks and boots were stored. Hanging from a hook was a long leather whip. Trimus took this and ran his hand along the leather. At Ako's concerned glance the mage shrugged. "You never know when such an item may come in handy."

Jodotha checked the north door and proclaimed it safe. Again Darkhawk opened the door and stepped in. Inside was a large 'L' shaped lounge painted in florid colours. Large cushions and rugs had been flung about and the smell of strong incense or perfume filled the air. Jodotha listened at the northernmost of a pair of doors on the eastern wall but again heard nothing. Inside was what appeared to be a study. A bench littered with scrolls with a pair of large chairs pushed under it were the only items of furniture. Trimus took the scrolls but was disappointed to find that they were just news scrolls. He put a few of them in his pack for later reference then followed the others back into the lounge. Jodotha unlocked and opened the other door. Inside was a grisly sight. The smell of decomposing flesh was strong and through a miasma of insects they could just make out the remains of a body manacled to the opposite wall of the ten foot square cell.
"There is nothing we can do for him now." Said Ako after muttering a prayer to Normanus for the unknown prisoner's soul. They closed the door and returned to the entrance hall. The final door, set into the east wall opened onto a spiral stair that gave access to floors above and below.
"Downwards." Said Colloran as Jodotha paused. "I sense evil down there."
Jodotha led the way, testing each tread cautiously with his foot in case of traps. The penultimate step gave slightly under his foot and before he could pull it back a bell rung hollowly in the distance.
"Damn!" cursed the rogue quietly, drawing his sword and leaping to the foot of the stair in a single fluid motion. He put his ear to the wood of the door that blocked the passage and signalled the others to silence. He then waved them forward. Standing on tiptoe he whispered into Colloran's ear. "Shuffling feet. Something is beyond the door and they know we're here."
Colloran and Darkhawk took up positions before the door while the others stood a few steps up the stairs. Jodotha cocked his crossbow while Rellan drew back his bow, both aiming over the heads of their friends. Colloran reached forward and opened the door. Inside a quartet of ogres each with four arms and the head of a scaly lizard confronted them. The creatures' tongues flicked in and out of lip less mouths tasting the air. Each of the beasts holds a pair of heavy clubs. As they emerge from the door, seeing only Darkhawk and Colloran Trimus blasts them with his wand of cold, one falls to the ground dead. Almost simultaneously Colloran shouted and pointed at the creatures but they ignored his call to depart. Cain threw a throwing star from behind Jodotha striking the foremost of the creatures in the eye. Rellan and Jodotha fire their missiles felling the creature struck by Cain. Darkhawk swung his blade lustily felling another of the creatures. The last monster swung it's clubs clumsily at Colloran but the paladin fended him off easily before running the creature through with his sword. Colloran stepped over the bodies and walked into the room beyond without waiting for the others.
He turned the handle of the door at the far end of the room and stepped out into a long narrow corridor. The others quickly searched the bodies but found nothing of interest or value and had to hurry to catch up with the paladin.
Colloran was walking slowly along the passage, glancing briefly at the cases on the wall. Each contained a head. Some were of odd unnatural creatures while others contained the desiccated remains of a human or demihuman. The corridor smelt strange, it was the stench of the charnel house combined with the tang of powerful magic. As the others hurried to catch up with the paladin, he put his hand out to slow their approach. Ahead could be heard the echoing sounds of voices raised in anger.
"How could you be so foolish!" barked one voice.
"I had no choice, where else could I have gone." Said another, the voice of Heydrech.
"You should have finished them off when you had the chance." stormed the first voice.
"Why should we worry, your creations will have finished them off."
"I am not so sure".
Colloran could wait no longer. He strode to the door at the end of the corridor and kicked it open. Beyond the door all eyes were drawn momentarily to a large crystalline humanoid, but they also spotted a thin mage with pale skin dressed in a black robes. In the corner opposite the mage Heydrech lay slumped. Four ogres turned as the door exploded inwards and moved towards Colloran as did seven zombies.
Heedless of his own safety Colloran attempted to jump over the golem but the creature swatted him as he passed sending him crashing onto a table littered with strange instruments, lumps of flesh and strips of skin. The ogres grabbed hold of his limbs and started to pull in opposite directions. Ako drew out his holy symbol and pointed at the zombies and bade the depart. To his shock and horror the zombies ignored his entreaty and kept advancing towards him. Trimus moved to get to a better line of sight of the mage but suddenly stopped and instead started conversing with the mage about the best source of materials for spell components. Colloran's shield suddenly flared, brighter than the sun, incinerating the ogre holding that arm and causing the others to back away holding their eyes. Jodotha jumped from table to table to aid the paladin. Killing one of the ogres with a stab in the back allowing Colloran to break free and slay the other ogres.
Trimus barely blinked when the mage pointed a finger at Darkhawk and the tall fighter disappeared to be replaced by a rather surprised looking jet black rabbit. The bunny twitched its nose thrice before hopping out of the door. Jodotha, Colloran and Cain pushed Trimus out of the way and attacked the mage who smiled as he dodged the first few attacks. Colloran's jaw dropped when a swinging punch seemed to pass through the mages' face and hit the stone behind. Jodotha cursed and moved across the room to where the nagpa was lying, suspecting that somehow the creature was creating images to confuse his assailants. Ako was fighting the zombies, two of whom lay at his feet having been dispatched by his mace. He never saw the bolt of power that struck him from behind. He rolled on the floor in agony as the zombies closed in to finish him off. Seeing this Rellan cast a spell of telekinesis and lifted the cleric high into the air and carried him to the door. He then cast second spell releasing Trimus from the charm that had kept him from attacking the mage. Trimus loosed a volley of magic missiles at the remaining zombies killing three of them.
Rellan turned to face the crystal golem but he was too slow and the faceted arm of the construct crashed into his left shoulder, knocking him to his knees. The elf dropped his sword and cast a dispel magic at the golem but to know effect. Jodotha knelt and killed the nagpa just as he was about to say something to the shock of the others. The rogue shrugged and attacked the golem from behind just as Rellan picked up his sword and flung it at the crystalline face leaning over him. The combined attacks shattered the golem sending fragments of razor sharp crystal dancing across the blood slick floor. Trimus slashed with a enchanted dagger at the mage but the blade passed straight through the image.
"The mage is an illusion. He must be elsewhere in the room." he shouted. Just as he spoke the items on the tables started to move and attack those nearest them. Scalpels and tweezers, mallets and severed claws started dancing around in the air, flinging themselves at the heads of the heroes. Rellan cast another dispel magic on Ako and the polymorphed Darkhawk. The pain which racked Ako's joints ceased and Darkhawk resumed his normal form.
"No!" shouted Trimus as Jodotha dashed a flask of lamp oil onto the floor and lit a taper with his tinder box. The rogue dropped the lighted splint onto the oil and the fire soon started to take hold, licking at the anatomical charts hung on the wall and the legs of the wooden benches. Behind Ako the door slammed shut and a disembodied voice called out.
"Pitiful fools, you are out of your depth." The voice said deeply and disdainfully.
"Over here!" shouted Cain. "I've found a secret door. Aragh!" No sooner had the mystic opened the door than a mass of sticky webs bound him to the wall. Jodotha and Trimus started cut the struggling mystic free with their blades but before they could free Cain and pass through the door Darkhawk was blasted to his knees by nine bolts of magical energy.
"Die, filthy Celestial Knight!" shouted the invisible mage.
Trimus stood over his fallen comrade and bellowed into the shadows. "Come out coward and face me in single combat."
The only response was a sarcastic laugh from the mage whose shadowy outline could just be made out in the dark recesses at the far end of the room. Jodotha drew his crossbow and launched a quarrel into the shadows. The bolt seemed to hit the mage but it just bounced off an invisible barrier.
"Drop your weapons now!" the mage ordered imperiously.
"No way!" shouted Darkhawk and raised his arm, summoning a bolt of power that hit the mage square in his midriff. Ako cast a spell and the mage screamed as he was blinded by a bright light shining from his eyes. Trimus drew a wand and pointed it his struggling foe but it seemed to have no effect. However Gilbo had strayed into the path of the ray and stood stock still, a grimace of shock on his face.
"Sorry Gilbo." Said Trimus as he cast another spell at the mage, three magic missiles hit the mage along with another trio from Rellan. The mage, now badly hurt tried to respond and although Trimus felt the stirrings of magic upon himself nothing appeared to happen. Darkhawk, badly wounded, changed back into his normal form and struggled to his feet, drawing his crossbow and firing in a single move. The three crossbow bolts again just bounced off of the mage's invisible shield. Trimus put on his ring of telekinesis and lifted a flask of hot, bubbling fluid from one of the benches and poured it over the mage's head. Whatever it was in the flask it appeared to irritate the mage who clicked his fingers and vanished.

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