nowbound

Part Eight - The Circle Of Drokhon - Seen in a Bad Light

Trimus woke with a nagging headache. Too little water and too much of the heavily salted rations provided by the barbarians he thought. He debated if it was worth going outside to fetch some snow but gave up when he realised he probably couldn't persuade any of the others to accompany him. He studied his grimoire and tried again to polymorph the dwarf into a human. This time it succeeded. The dwarf screamed and struggled to remove the ropes that bound his hands and legs.
"What is it, what do you want with is. Braedech, protect me, Braedech keep me from the Daemons of the light."
"Calm down, friend." Said Trimus casting a charm person spell on the dwarf, who stopped his struggles but there was fear in his eyes. "My name is Trimus, who are you?"
"Durgo Flintforge, and I am in hell."
"We wanted to speak with you, don't fear us, I will turn you back once you have helped us."
"You are daemons you will corrupt me." Fear is heavy in the former dwarf's voice.
"No you are wrong. We fight and destroy fiends."
"I can't believe I am talking to Daemons of the Light" The captive's eyes flicked back and forth between Trimus and the others.
"He is neutral in alignment." Ako commented having cast a spell upon the dwarf.
"Braedech, protect me, Braedech keep me from the Daemons of the light." The dwarf started to chant repeatedly.
"Leave us alone for a while," suggested Trimus to the others who backed off into the corridor. "Why do you think I am a Daemon of the Light?"
"You give off light."
"How about now?" Trimus hid the glowing gem inside his robe.
"You control the light, you are a Daemon of the Light."
"Do you have any spellcasters?" asked Ako from the shadows of the corridor.
"They are the tools of witches and devils."
"Nice," muttered Ako.
"Who is Braedech and where does he live?" Trimus pressed for more information sensing that his hold on the dwarf would not last for long.
"He keeps Kenzar safe and lives in the tower."
"Kenzar?"
"Kenzar is the world. Why do you torment me so?"
"Nobody ever tries to leave Kenzar? What do you think these bones are?"
"Nobody ever leaves; these are the bones of the dead souls on the way to hell, you slew one of Braedech's angels. They are here to protect us."
"Protect you from what?"
"They protect us from you, from the Daemons of the Light. We leave offerings of food, trinkets and carved stones on the altar. Some are lucky enough to visit Braedech and then return but they remember nothing of their visit. The dead are laid upon the altar and are taken up to Braedech. Mostly the bones are returned and we bury them. Some are not returned because they are evil. They end up here in the passages to hell."
"Take us to Braedech, Durgo, let him judge our character."
The former dwarf nodded and once his feet were unbound he led them along the passage back towards the cave.
"If we are evil how do we manage to cross your wards?" Asked Jodotha but the dwarf remained silent.

As they approached the central pillar which Durgo named Braedech's Tower, two more of the mould encrusted skeletons stepped out of the shadows.
"I have enough of these" muttered Trimus and he fireballed the creatures who survived, blackened and scorched. Ako held forth his holy symbol and called upon Normanus to banish the creatures. Both turned and shambled back into the darkness.

As they continued towards the tower they glimpsed figures snatching dwarven children out of their way and making warding signs. The tower itself when it came into view was carved into a conjoined stalagmite and stalactite. An arched opening has been carved around with dwarven runes and upon the keystone a pair of crossed hammers has been carved. Inside the opening a spiral stair ascends into darkness. In front of the archway stands a simple stone altar beside which stand the two scorched, mould encrusted skeletons.
"They're persistent beggars aren't they" muttered Trimus as Jodotha drew his crossbow. "Let's get this over with."
A vicious battle ensued, during which Jodotha managed to shatter the leg of one of the creatures and finally dealt the killing blow to both of the creatures. However in the mean time Ako, Cain and Darkhawk all ingested spores spewed forth by the undead monsters. Trimus determined that all had been infected by the spores and that if they didn't get cured they would end up like the foes they had just dispatched. Worriedly Ako used his staff of curing to remove the disease that had been inflicted on himself and his companions. After casting some healing spells Ako pronounced himself ready to enter the tower and confront Braedech.

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