Undermountain, The Lost Passage

Ender's Note: This story appears how it was originally written for the AOL Neverwinter Nights Bulletin Boards. There were many authors and each section is credited to the original writer. Thanks to Barthonis for saving it for us. Enjoy!

Pain, darkness, thirst, and hunger is what my world has now become ever that I gladly seek and try to hold, because with it I know that I am still alive. The first time that I woke, I found that my right arm would not respond to the simple thought of moving it and when I felt it with my other arm several spots flared with sudden pain that I think I passed out.

Time has no meaning here in the darkness. I could have been out for mere minutes or it could have been days. With a lot of shouting and crying I was able to finally move my right arm to my lap. It is as I feared my arm was broken in several places and by the feel of the shoulder it might be dislocated. The good news is that my legs are alright but I think that they may be a bit battered and bruised. Also because breathing is very difficult I may have a few broken ribs to go along with the arm. But worst of all is that I have several large bumps on my head along with a head ache that has been with me ever since.

Several questions drift through my mind as I lay against the rock wall. Where am I? How did I get here? And most important WHO AM I? But these questions will have to wait for a later time to be answered. Now if I am to survive I must find food and water.

Taking strips from my shirt I made a sling for my arm but now that it is in one spot the pain has lessened greatly. Also I have found several words that suddenly appeared in my mind and as I spoke them I felt a great relief and was able to breath better. The strangest thing is that once I said them I could not recall what I had said. The word were lost to me as though they never existed.

Feeling better I slowly made my way over the rubble in this chamber feeling the walls for any opening. That is when I found the body. My good hand was outstretched and touching the wall when I slipped and fell backwards. As I was trying to recover I fell on what I at first thought was a large rock. I began to feel the shape of it and discovered that it had the same feel as one of my legs only it was about three times the size of my own. The word Giant came to my mind as I moved along its side.

Near the middle of it I found a pouch, or what would be a pouch for a giant. To me it was more like a back pack than a pouch. After what took like hours I was able to remove the pouch and find out what might be in it. Among the items in the pouch I found several parchments and a piece of flint as well as some sticks, probably used as tinder for a fire. If not then that is what I was going to use it as.

Now that I had a small fire going and light to drive away the darkness a little, I was better able to see what and where I was. I was right in the guess about a chamber. Rocks and rubble was all over the room and over head was an opening that now was covered by a great rock slab. No way out that way. Now that I could see the items in the pouch I was able to find some dried flesh and a flask of water. Trying not to think of what the flesh was from I took care of two of my needs that is I ate and drank. The parchments I tried to read but the words on them were meaningless.

As Cerdith closes her eyes to sleep she suddenly dreams of great trees and forest streams. The peaceful sounds of birds and the babble of a brook. Well being and restfulness fill her soul. The sound of crying makes her turn her head. Near the brook is a small girl crying with great sobs and tears that fall into the brook.

"Why are you crying little one?" asks Cerdith as she move next to the girl.

Eyes that hold wisdom and knowledge of ages, look up into Cerdith's and with trembling sobs the girl turns and flees into the forest. As Cerdith glimpses the last fleeting images of the girl a mournful cry echoes through the dream and brings Cerdith sitting up in bed screaming the words over and over again and again into the darkened room. "HE IS LOST TO US!"

The two rangers resumed their digging for only moments before sitting to eat what remained of their meager supply of food. Each one lost in his own thoughts. They had come to this mountain to save their sister Cerdith and in the process lost their brother Zeb Canon to a cave-in when he fought a cloud giant shaman. It was a tragedy that each member of the group shared. Ender Bay and Thorn Hawk had stayed while the others traveled east to Longsaddle to find healing for Cerdith and Primrose, both hurt in the final battle.

The two giants walked up the trail to stop at the edge of the clearing to consider the two human forms they saw sitting on some rocks at the far end. A large pile of bones, many larger than even a giant's, stood near at hand. Ducking behind some trees, the two hill giants gazed at the humans with hate in their eyes.

The two rangers heard the sound of brush breaking and turned just in time to see two large boulders flying their way. Diving to either side, both Thorn Hawk and Ender Bay dodged the heavy rocks as a thunderous clash erupted behind them. Rising, weapons appearing in their hands, both rangers turned to regard the advancing giants.

"Not so fast," replied Ender, casting his own spell. Small weeds and vines sprang up around the pair of hill giants to entangle their feet and legs slowing them considerably. Moving in deftly, his sword singing a dance of promised death, Ender bay stabbed the following giant in the thigh while ducking its lumber swing.

Not wishing to toy with his foe, knowing disaster could come of it, Thorn Hawk adeptly rolled under the legs of the giant facing him as its swing crashed into the ground where he had stood an instant before. Kneeling, his sword slicing back, he cut the tendons behind the giant's right knee. Now unable to support its weight, the giant crashed to the ground moments before Thorn Hawk's sword found its neck.

The two rangers set about dressing the pig and preparing for their explorations of the mountain in hopes of finding a cave which led into the mountain. The fight with the giants had eased the tension that hovered over them and as they made camp that night, both were smiling and joking.

The trip from the destroyed alter took longer than expected. Cerdith was still very weak and Primrose was not getting any better. The poison had been stopped, or at least slowed, but she needed to be taken to a temple as soon as possible. The closest temple any of them knew of was in Triboar. That meant making Longsaddle and then traveling south through Berrun. A trip to not look forward to.

Two days into the trip down the mountain, all the vials of healing potion were used up. Cerdith was sitting up at night around the fire and taking little bits of food and RiverSwift's wounds were better. Primrose was moving around better, but still pallid from the poison. It wasn't advancing, but she was still very weak. Lake Mist's wounds had healed over, but he was still moving with sudden jerks of pain. It was all TroutRasta could do to keep some from turning around and heading back up the mountain. Everyone wanted to go back, but they knew they had to get their injured off the mountain.

It took nine days to get down the side of the mountain and another two days to get to Longsaddle. Once everyone was settled into the inn for their first nights rest in weeks, Lake Mist headed to the arms dealer just across the lane. "I have need of a sword, my good fellow." Lake Mist remarked as he entered the shop. The shop keeper eyed him with a weathered and well trained sense that instinctively guessed a travelers true nature.

When he returned, he carried an ordinarily brown leather broad sword sheath with a common looking hilt and guard showing from the top. The leather of the grip well worn, but still ready to be used again. "I think my good ranger, that this is just the weapon you need. Do not be deceived by what you see on the outside." as he stepped forward and pulled the sword about half way out of the sheath. Lake Mist's eyes grew wide when he saw the Elvin runes on the side of the blade. He couldn't read them all, but he recognized the word "Harbinger" and the sign of the god Tyr.

As he strapped the sheath to his back where his longsword had once hung, he reached into bag hanging from his shoulder and retrieved a small bag. "I hope this payment enough for such a weapon," he said as he tossed the bag of gems and jewels to the shop keeper. As his hand touched the bag in the air, the shop keeper smiled and nodded, "There be more than enough here, I only wish I could give you more. I fear you are about to travel a lonely and dangerous path." Lake Mist smiled and bowed, "Friendship and faith such as yours shall have to be enough." He turned and stepped out quickly.

Back at the inn, he went to check on Primrose. She was sleeping soundly as he kissed her on the forehead. He touched her right hand gently and hoped that she would understand when she woke up. He then headed to TroutRasta's room. Knocking on the door, he noticed it was ajar. Pushing it gently open and stepping into the room, his hand on the hilt of his sword, Trout looked up and smiled, "What took you so long? I have traveling rations ready for the two of us. We are going back up the mountain, aren't we?"

Lake Mist smiled at his friend and brother, "Aye. I should have known that I would not have to ask you, that you would be ready." Trout handed him a bag of rations and the two of them silently slipped out of the inn and headed north, back to the mountain. They both knew that after a couple of days rest, RiverSwift and the others would be able to reach Triboar and then gather other rangers and clerics to aid them on the mountain.

TroutRasta and Lake Mist marked the trail periodically so that the others would know exactly which way they were headed. They were headed generally back the way they had come, but were following a more direct north-west direction to where they had been. By sunrise they had traveled several miles from Longsaddle and were ready for breakfast.

Barthonis rose early, before sunrise, and wanted to head back up the mountain. He thought it wise to discuss his plans with TroutRasta first though. When he knocked on the door he got no answer and found it ajar. Entering, he noticed the room was empty and had apparently not been slept in that night. He rushed to Thralos' room and knocked. There was some grumbling from inside and as the door opened he heard "This had better be good, who ever you ar.......ah, Barthonis, what is it?"

"TroutRasta is gone," replied Barthonis. "What? Rouse the others and let's meet downstairs for an early breakfast. I'll be right there." Barthonis headed off to wake the others as Thralos gathered himself. At the noise from upstairs, the Innkeeper and his wife stirred. "Not even sunrise. I may never let another ranger stay here," he replied as he rose to prepare the morning meals, grumbling about tree huggers. His wife smiled as she rose to gather eggs and milk the cows. She knew he loved rangers and would never turn one away, no matter what the reason.

Be not alarmed or to mad, for we have left this eve to rejoin Ender Bay and Thorn Hawk in the rescue of Zeb Canon. Cerdith and Primrose are out of immediate danger now that we have made civilization. We will travel a more direct route and mark the trail ever so often so that you may follow once you return from the temple. Travel well and may Mielikki bless thy path till we meet again.

As they sat at the table, they looked at each other in dismay. "They place themselves in danger," replied Thralos. "Aye," remarked RiverSwift, "we must change our plans, I think. To stay close, within a day or two of them, we must travel the woods to Nightsedge and the temple there." "I agree," replied Steelfleet, "we could possibly catch them within two days from there. But they need to know our plans."

At that, Barthonis jumped up, "Let me go." he injected, "I can catch them within this day with this news." Laughter erupted from the table, "Catch those two within this day? Brother, they are faster by far than you give them credit. But if you wish, what do you think RiverSwift?" asked Thralos. "I think we reduce our number by yet another, and our first concern must be our sisters. Those two decided on this foolish venture themselves, without asking for advice or assistance. But, be that as it may, they are our brothers. Aye, someone needs to let them know we have changed our plans, and they may need yet another blade on this quest before we can return.

"I say send Barthonis," replied RiverSwift, "But you let them know how foolish they were and that they still may have to answer for it." Cerdith and Primrose sat silently and listened, neither wanting to say what they really felt, that they should all head back up the mountain. Cerdith could see the worry in Primrose's eyes. Lake Mist was still recovering from his wounds and TroutRasta had been pretty badly beaten by that stone golem.

Barthonis rushed to his room to gather his gear and headed back to the table. "I will see you all very soon, travel well," he said as he headed for the door. As they waved and wished him well, Steelfleet remarked, "He's going to be real hungry in just a little bit. Should have at least eaten first." Laughing, Thralos replied, "Aye, but he's young and eager for something important to do. I think maybe this will be good for him." They all smiled as the Innkeeper served breakfast and they dug in with appetites born of many days on the trail. Cerdith and Primrose eating slowly, both from being tired and sore, and worried. They decided to stay one more day at the inn before heading out. That would give everyone a chance to heal and rest a little more. What none of the group knew, was that Neerdowell had grown worried when he had not heard from any of them in over a week and had sent out parties to try and locate their path. He had sent KaeBe and HENRO to Luskan, Urgrue and Anna Muir to Nightsedge, and Dragonklaw and Calinor to Longsaddle. His lost rangers had to show up in one of those towns if they were still alive. He was hopeful that they were only a few days late.

I wake once more. The water in the canteen is almost gone. Food is gone. The sticks that were in the pouch are almost gone. I have enough for one more fire. The only thing that there is plenty of is air and darkness. My friend pain is with me still. But lately he has started to leave me and I don't know which is worse not feeling anything or feeling everything. This is a bad sign. I seem to remember someone telling me that when you are broken and you feel no pain then death is near.

The giant has turned to stone. I have found pieces of rubble with runes on then but I can not make out what they mean. Tis a shame if I could read them I might be able to remember just what happened or how I got here in the first place. I know that if I stay here I will die. So it is time I did something to get myself out of here. The clothing from the giant should make a crude torch. Taking strips of cloth I wrap them around the last three remaining sticks and bind them tightly.

Holding one of the torches in my good hand I find that the chamber I am in is not as big as I thought. But on the second pass around it I have found some lose rocks. Digging with only one arm is not the best way to tunnel but then what choice do I have. I finally see a small tunnel that the rocks have covered. Putting out the torch and tying the pouch behind me I worm my way into the tunnel.

Now I feel the weight of the mountain on me. As I slide along the tunnel I can feel my heart beating faster. Not from the thought of escape but from the fear of being in a small tight place in the darkness. I try to concentrate on other things to keep the fear away. The only problem is that all I can remember is the darkness and the dead giant. Strange I seem to be breathing faster and faster. One part of me wants to scream and another part looks on with almost a detached mind. What is this moisture on my face. The tunnel is dry as a desert yet there is water on my cheek.

Then I hear it. Sound, like a low moan. There are others here. Someone is coming. For the noise is getting louder and louder. I must call out. See if I can bring them to me. Anything is better than the dark and loneliness of this place. The sound is loud now. I try to call but something is wrong with my voice. I realize that the sound is coming from me! And as the darkness takes me once more the screams fade to laughter then to nothing.

Primrose slowly picked at the food set before her. Listening to her bro's RiverSwift, Thralos and Steelflight make plans to get her and Cerdith to a temple, she kept quiet, keeping her thoughts and worries to herself. Though it hurt that Lake had left without saying goodbye, she had known since she woke up on the mountain, how torn he was between searching for Zeb and making sure she got to a temple safely. She understood why Lake and TroutRasta left as they did and better yet why young Bart wanted to follow them. Ill as she felt, she too wanted to go back and find Zeb, but she knew that the poison thought stopped from spreading had taken too much out of her. It had taken nearly all her strength to get down the mountain.

She tried to eat, though the food promise to disagree with her stomach later. Once she was able to get back to her room, she would take some of the herbs she still had left, to try to keep the food down. She was nearly out mint and chamomile and had used the last of her supply of dry ginger the night before. She could probably ask the inn keeper's wife for some more mint and chamomile, but the ginger was rare and hard to find, though it did do more to help her keep down her meals.

How it frustrated her that she couldn't even cast a cure light wounds to help her brothers and sister, or take care of herself. Hearing her bro's talk of the path though the woods they would take, she prayed to Mielikki that they could make their way safely pass the monsters that often set upon those that travel though them. If attacked she only had a few spells left memorized and they would be of little help against the trolls they were likely to face at the bridges they had to cross.

At the thought of trolls Primrose looked at Cerdith worried. Though she had just met her, Primrose had listened to her bro's often tell of how Cerdith would become berserk at the mention of trolls. Even as weak as Cerdith was when they found her, they had told Primrose, when she woke up, of how Cerdith had killed the last troll before it had gotten to RiverSwift. Silently she gave another prayer to Mielikki that they would get to the temple safely without anyone else getting hurt.

Aware finally that her bro's had stopped talking, Primrose looked up at each of them. Though she had hardly known any of them, before Lake had asked her to help them find their sister, they had become good friends and she wished she could do something to help. At least she could try to help them get Cerdith safely through the woods.

Seeing his mouth stuffed, she continued, "I've done it before, back when I had just become a cleric and came here to Longsaddle with a ranger of COR to learn and train. Best Aim, went ahead of me though the Lost Hills." "Each time he had to battle the monsters that roam through there, he had me sneak around the battle. Then I was just young and knew few spells." "Now I'm too weak to cast the few I still can remember. In a fight I would just be in the way."

Finding her bro's all looking at her and seeing how she must look to them in their eyes. Primrose looked down again at her breakfast and tried to eat some more. Silent again, she found herself thinking of young Bart and how it seems to be more then youth that made him eager to follow Lake and Trout. Primrose had tried to keep herself from thinking about what she could have done differently, by watching her Bro's as they made their way down the mountain. It was only her cleric training that kept her from blaming herself for Zeb facing the giant alone. Bart didn't have such training and Primrose could tell that he had been berating himself ever since they headed down the mountain. She had been too tired to talk to him though and she had her own doubts to worry about. Though Lake Mist had been always at her side since she woke up, they hadn't talked about what had happen. More then anything, she blamed herself for his wounds and wondered if she had been just a foolish young girl, opening her heart to him as the battle raged around them and she fell. But, she thought, there was no going back, she could only hope he loved her, as she loves him.

Nudged out of her thoughts again, Primrose found the innkeeper's wife asking her something and her brother's and sisters gone from the table. "What's that? Why no, I'm done eating," she said as the innkeeper's wife asked again if she was OK. "If you could get me some mint, chamomile and maybe some ginger if you have it? I would like some tea in my room." Taking Primrose's plate away, the innkeeper's wife frowned at all the wasted food.

"Ginger, I may still have some from last winter's baking, but I'm sure I have mint and chamomile." "I'll bring up some tea for you myself, once I've cleared the table." answered the good wife. "Later I'll bring you something you may find easier to eat too." "I remember you last time you were here and you had color in your cheeks."

Remembering too, her visit back then, Primrose smiled and said, "I certainly did have red cheeks then, but then so did the ranger with me, when his lady friend showed up." Getting up from the table slowly, Primrose thanked her and said she would like her meals in her room. Then noticing Thralos and Steelflight setting up a game of chess in the corner, she quietly made her way up to her room.

Barthonis was glad that Riverswift had convinced the rest of his brothers and sisters that sending him was the only plausible solution to their immediate problem. But unbeknownst to his friends was the fact that as soon as Barthonis had spotted the empty the empty bunks this morning, he had already made up his mind to catch up to TroutRasta and Lake Mist. Indeed, Bart had already been nursing plans of his own to leave the group and rejoin Thorn Hawk and Ender Bay up on the mountain in search of Zeb Canon.

As he left the inn and his fellow pathfinders, Barthonis heard the fleeting comments they made and it plunged him further into the mental turmoil he was already in. He did need something to do, but he already had a specific something in mind. Their laughter at his claim to be able to catch his brothers before the day ended had not helped his dark mood either. For Bart believed that the reason the group had not completed the mission to rescue Cerdith more successfully was because of his incompetence. If he had only dispatched the skeletons and the skeletal giant more quickly he could have been there to aid his comrades when they needed it most. He blamed himself for Primrose's poisoning. If he had been there to engage the drider at the crucial moment then his sister would not have the foul dark poison coursing through her veins. And more than anything, he blamed himself for not being at their war captain's side in the final climactic battle with the evil cloud giant shaman. He had lived most of his adolescent and adult life killing the evil giants and giant-kin that plagued the woods and travel roads of the realms, but at that fateful moment when Zeb Canon had needed an ally and brother-in-arms, Barthonis Giantslayer was no where to be found.

It wasn't until Barthonis reached the wooded trail that led back to the mountain cave complex that Bart began to sing. During the final battle he had begun a song of hope and honor and love to inspire his brothers to drive away the fear that had gripped them away, and upon finishing the last skeletal wave of attackers, he had sung of valor and justice as he moved to engage the skeletal giant that had approached him. But today's song was neither a song of hope and honor, nor a song of valor and justice. It was a dark, brooding dirge. He now sang a song of injustice, of having failed one's friends in their moment of dire need, a song of utter shame.

As Barthonis left the outskirts of town he shortly found the first of his brothers trail markers. He was on the right track. Suddenly a thought occurred to him and he reached down into his bag of holding and retrieved one of his most valued possessions. It was an ordinary iron ring, rather non-descript by most standards. But the powerful magic it contained within was where it's real value lay stored. As Barthonis placed the ring on his ring finger of his right hand he slowly imagined the powerful longsword that had been his fathers and that Bart kept at the guild bunkhouse vault. He stored it there, intending to use it only in dire circumstances. But the time had come to wield the family heirloom with a spirit of retribution. He would give up his trident to Ender Bay. Indeed his friend Ender was the one who had helped him retrieve the sword in the first place and Barthonis knew the sea ranger would feel more adept with the aquatic weapon anyways. Just another reason to catch up to his bros and deliver the trident to Ender. He knew his bro would need it on the journey ahead, and Bart would do his father's memory proud by using the longsword once again.

Barthonis felt he had let his fellow pathfinders down, and as he quickened his pace to a brisk jog, he told himself he would not let them down again. He would catch his brothers by days end and deliver the message. Then he would continue on and finish what the band of pathfinders had started............or die in the attempt.

With the ground up ginger root mixed with the tea leaves, Primrose takes the hot water and pours it into the cup. The fragrance of the mint quickly fills the room as she walks toward the bed. Bringing the cup up to take the first sip, she looks into the dark liquid. Her eyes grow large as the dark brown of the tea turn to black. Deeper into the liquid she looks, for a picture is forming in the liquid.

The dark black liquid shows a very small fire in the blackness. Followed by a figure crawling into a very small tunnel. Slowly the head then the body passes the entrance. Tightness grabs hold of Primrose's heart and dizziness fills her head as she watches the figure creep slowly through the tunnel.

As the door to her room opens and Riverswift enters, he see the cup in her hand drop from her grasp. Time seems to slow as the cup turns over and over on its trip to the floor. Tea hits the floor just before the cup and as it shatters Primrose falls to the bed. As darkness also takes her the last thing she hears is laughter.

As dusk neared, TroutRasta and Lake Mist were looking along the way for a place to make camp for the night. Concealed, yet as comfortable as possible. As the path turned west and then north-west again, Trout touched Lake on the shoulder and indicated behind them. Lake immediately blended into one side of the path as Trout took to the other.

Barthonis had picked up the two rangers trail quickly and followed it most of the day. The markers they left made it easier for him to make good time. He only lost their trail once during the day. He had just walked right by where they had turned off, daydreaming of how he could have helped Zeb Canon with that cloud giant if he had been closer when the battle had started. He just knew that Zeb was in trouble because he had let him down. And that's how he had missed the turn and found five griffins and a margoyle.

His anger at himself already at a peak, his sword had barely cleared it's sheath when it cut the first griffin nearly in half. As he moved forward, two griffins talons started to tare at his flesh. Spinning to the right, he killed one and got the other as came about. The margoyle made a menacing gesture trying to frighten Bart, but found the cold steel of Bart's blade buried in his belly.

As Bart turned to finish off the last two griffin's, he noticed that they were already yards down the path. He started to pursue them, and then noticed the marker that he had missed earlier. He slumped to the ground and sat there a moment. Looking at his sword, he started to clean it and realized that he had to put his anger aside. Carelessness like this could cost him catching his brothers, or his life.

Just as the figure turned the bend in the path, Lake cast entangle and Trout cast fairy fire. The vines on each side of the trail shot out and secured their stalker's arms and legs as his body began to sparkle with an eerie blue glow. Two vines encircled his ankles and jerked his body off the ground and suspended him upside down in the center of the trail.

As Trout and Lake came out of hiding and made their way toward their stalker, a grin started to form on Trout's lips as he realized who it was. Lake was moving closer with his broad sword at the ready when Trout touched his arm and indicated all was safe. As Lake sheathed his sword, he bent almost over to look in the eyes of their pursuer. "Oh, hi Barthonis. How are - er - things - er - hangin'," remarked Lake. Both he and Trout burst into laughter at the sight of Bart hangin' there like a side of owlbear. Bart started to struggle, "Hey. Get me down, will ya?" he asked, almost pleading.

Just as Lake cast dispel on Bart, Trout's two handed sword flew upward and blocked the blow that was coming from behind, knocking him to his knees. Lake spun around, broad sword in hand, to face three bearded trolls. As sword blows were starting to be exchanged, Bart freed himself from the last of the vines and put his sword into the melee.

As Trout was rising, he noticed an electric spider coming out of the brush to the left. As he moved forward, he swung to his side severing all four legs on one side of the spider, the shock nearly numbing his hands. Seeing the wounded spider, Bart darted around one of the trolls and severed the tendons of the knee closest to the spider. As the troll started to fall, the spider, sensing the danger sent out a charge of electricity to try and ward off this threat. The troll was dead as it landed squarely on the spider, ending it's life at the same time.

The sword cut a long furrow down Lake's right arm as he moved to get advantage on the troll. The laughter coming from it's lips suddenly stopped as the broad sword entered it's belly and cut upward, blood spewing forth on it's slayer. Knowing these trolls can regenerate life, Lake withdrew his sword, spun quickly about, severing the head from his victim, and facing the last troll.

As Trout moved in on one side and Bart on the other, the troll began to speak "Kill me puny humans. You know not what waits for you. The mountain's your doom, just as our master has sealed the fate of your fellow. You are powerless to stop our coming." Laughing, he charged Lake Mist just as swords from three sides cut him down.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Lake looked around, "Tis time to seek a camp my brothers." Trout looking at the cut on Lake's arm, agreed, "There was a good place just back down the path. Sheltered on three sides, with a good wind break, and our smoke won't be seen."

The three rangers made their camp with care. The fire was built in the center, and each ranger took one of the three sheltered sides, all facing the opening. Barthonis was in the center and to the rear of the camp. As he looked for a suitable place for his bed roll, he noticed a mound with a gentle slope. It would make a comfortable bed indeed, with it's lush grass to cushion his body.

All were silent as TroutRasta carefully stitched the cut in Lake Mist's right arm. It took fifteen stitches to finally stop the bleeding. Little was said all evening as the three ate and made their way to their bed rolls. "Trout," Lake finally asked, "Do you think we may have been bitten off more than we are ready for? This thing seems to grow larger and larger every time one of us turns around. Zeb missing, and Primrose.....Rose and Cerdith so ill."

"Lake," replied Trout as they settled down for the night, "We have faced impossible odds before. Together and apart. You and I have always jumped into the middle of a fray, no matter the odds." He sat silently a moment, then continued, "You are worried about Primrose. I know you are, and you know you are. She is in good hands. If you just admit to yourself that you love her, you wouldn't worry so much about the coming morrow." With that he rolled over and laid his head down and finished with, "We know you love her. We all have for a long time. You're the one who doesn't seem to know," and he went to sleep.

As Lake looked over toward Bart, Bart just smiled and laid down and fell quickly to sleep. Lake had the first watch, but only seemed to able to think about Primrose. When they had first met, all the fun they had together on their many adventures, and the kind words she always had for him when he was down on himself. Yes, he loved her, but what could he offer her? He was a traveler, a wanderer and a warden of Mielikki's forest. Could he love them both? Could he give Rose what she needed and still be able to serve Mielikki? Too many questions, and the time passed slowly.

When he woke Bart for his shift, Lake still had not found the answers he was looking for and fell to sleep not sure of what tomorrow would bring. Bart too was fighting his own demons.. How had he let Lake and Trout get the jump on him so easily. His senses should have warned him of the danger. What he didn't realize was that his ranger senses hadn't warned him of danger, because there had been none. Trout and Lake were his brothers, and therefore not a danger. But he had yet another item to add to his personal list of failures. Something else that he was no good at. What kind of ranger was he. His time also passed slowly till it was time to wake Trout.

When Trout was awake, Bart moved back over to his mound and tried to go back to sleep. He tossed for a few minutes, and finally lost track of his thoughts. Trout began his watch with the same question that had puzzled him when he went to sleep. What had that troll meant by "The mountain's your doom.....You are powerless to stop our coming." The cloud giant shaman had said something similar also. The only thing they could do was keep on going back to help Ender Bay and Thorn Hawk. The answers waited back up the mountain. As the sun was rising over the tree tops to the east, Trout nearly cut himself trying to draw his sword at the sound of the scream from the rear of the camp.

Lake jumped straight up, broad sword in hand, seeking the danger that threatened the camp. Bart was flaying the air and trying to get up, still screaming as the other two rangers came rushing up to his aid. The bleached white bony fingers of a skeleton appeared to be clutching his throat. As they reached down and pulled Bart upright, the bones fell apart and dropped to the ground. "It appears to be a grave," observed Trout. "A hastily dug and shallow one," said Lake. As the two rangers looked around to make sure, they observed Bart still trying to shake off the feeling of those bony fingers. "It's not a burial sight," remarked Trout. "Nay, most likely a battle sight and the grave was dug to protect the bodies from wolves and trolls," said Lake.

Lake replaced the bones of the hand in the grave as the others began to gather rocks to cover the grave with. As they returned with the first load, Lake said, "Drow from the looks of what's left of the cuff of the robe. Best to cover the grave and let it be."

The others agreed and they spent the rest of the morning fixing the grave. Bart finally said, "I.....I didn't know it was a grave. I mean, I really didn't know." Trout and Lake looked at him and Trout said, "We know, neither did we. It isn't marked and this isn't a burial site. Don't worry about it right now." Lake looked at the others, "I'm not a priest, but I guess we really should make our peace." He turned toward the grave and said, "May Mielikki bless your peace my friend." With that said, he placed a wooden marker at the top of the grave with the sign of Mielikki carved into it. "If the Drow come back, maybe they won't think us for grave robbers."

It was after noon as the trio started back up the path. Bart was eager to be away, so he took the lead, with Trout in the middle and Lake bringing up the rear. It was a beautiful summer day with birds singing and flitting in and out of the path, and the occasional smell of lilac drifting across the breeze. Lake smiled, he didn't know that lilac grew this far up the mountain, but he was glad it did.

Barthonis had taken the lead out of the makeshift campsite with his fellow pathfinders Lake Mist and TroutRasta following him not too far behind. He was glad to be point man for the trio for several reasons, one of which was that his brothers couldn't see his facial expressions. He had not been asleep for too long last night when the dream had come back to him. To call it a dream was a bit of an understatement, for in truth it was nothing more than a good old fashion nightmare.

He would always return to the same spot every night. He was fighting the waves of skeletal figures at the final battle on the mountain top. His brothers and sisters were fighting in their places as well. And as Barthonis finished the last wave of skeletal figures with his trident, he lifted his voice in song to stir his fellow pathfinders on to victory. But that is where the dream parted from reality.

For in the nightmare, Bart's voice became dry and cracked, breaking frequently. The giant skeletal shape that Barthonis had engaged next in the battle was twice as large as before (almost four times Bart's height), and from the skeletal giant's mouth issued forth a hideous high-pitched laughter.

"Barthonis, help," but Bart could do nothing but stare in disbelief as the Giant Shaman that Zeb was faced off against suddenly raised its giant fist and with a bone crunching thud, pummeled Zeb Canon to the floor of the altar room. Then Bart screamed as the Skeletal giant he was fighting reached down and grabbed him about the throat and began to squeeze. It all seemed so real, that when Bart awoke last night from the choking skeletal hand he almost thought the dream had actually come to pass. But his bros had lifted him up and the hand had fallen apart.

And as Barthonis Giantslayer continued his walk up the trail scouting ahead he could only hope that maybe tonight's campfire would chase away the haunting dream he knew all too well. Perhaps in burying the Drow remains this morning, Barthonis hoped he had buried the nightmare once and for all.

At noon on the third day since leaving Longsaddle, the three rangers came across a small meadow with an abundance of berries. Having made good time thus far, they decided to take time to relax and enjoy the bounty the meadow had to offer. It was not easy work, gathering the berries for their afternoon meal. But the meal they shared an hour later, was well worth the effort. After eating, the three rangers lay back in the meadow and took in the beauty around them.

The sky was clear and beautiful, and the land around them a virtual paradise. The meadow gently spread out and up the side of the mountain, a testament to the work of Mielikki. Strange furrows twisted through the rich earth of the meadow, and the ground showed odd-shaped bulges. Barthonis observed that the bulges were to small to be graves, which brought smiles the faces of TroutRasta and Lake Mist.

The chaotic pattern of the land reflected the worn and ragged past of the realms, and as their eyes followed the pattern up the mountain, they spotted three caves in a cliff wall. "About a days march, I guess," said Trout, "and they may make a good place to rest for a day or two." Lake rubbed the wound on his left leg at that, and realized that he probably should have stayed and rested in Longsaddle a little longer, if he had rested at all. "Aye," replied Lake, "we could all probably use a little rest. Besides, we can complete our maps and leave a copy for Thorn Hawk and the others."

After a few more moments with the meadow, they continued on their way. Bart had a smile on his face and contented himself with humming as he lead the party back up the trail. Lake left a marker behind for those that followed and observed that the path had long since turned to a trail. Probably a deer trail from the abundance of forage they were seeing.

Just before dusk, Bart found a good camp site for the night. As they settled down and got their bed rolls out, Trout said, "The trail really started getting steep about an hour ago." "And we are closer to those caves than we thought," said Bart. Looking up the side of the mountain in the waning light, Lake said, "We should be there by noon tomorrow, I guess." "Aye," said Trout and Bart in unison. As they lay down for the night, their fire stoked to ward off wolves and other night creatures, a shadow passed near the camp and moonlight sparked off the horn of the unicorn as it observed the sleeping rangers. As it's head bobbed up and down for moment, all three rangers began the same dream.

"A dark cavern.....a long passage, with tunnels branching off in several directions.....bones of many dead creatures, some human, some not.....white pillars, as pure as clouds, rising up, supporting arches carved with reliefs showing the splendors of the world.....gold plated streets.....a great temple, supported by a single pillar of emerald-inlaid marble.....fountains that poured water filled with tiny stars......a small tunnel opening into a vast cavern.....piles of boulders and stones cluttering the floor.....something lying among the rubble.....large.....very large.....and dead.....the cloud giant shaman."

As the sky started to turn from indigo to pale pink and yellow in greeting to the coming day, the rangers started to stir. Lake stoked the embers of the fire to prepare the morning meal. Trout and Bart looked at each other and then at Lake. "I had the strangest dream" started Trout. "A cavern," continued Bart, "and a dead cloud giant shaman." Lake just nodded in agreement, he too had dreamed the same thing. All three looked up at the caves in the side of the mountain.

While eating their breakfast, the three were deep in thought. Trout was wondering about Zeb Canon, why he wasn't in the dream, and if he was still alive? Bart was doubting himself again, could he face the dangers that might lie deep inside those caves, would let his brothers down again? Lake was remembering Primrose's smile and the warm feeling he always had when near her, the smell of her auburn hair after a spring rain, and how much he missed her right now.

They had only traveled a few miles when the trail suddenly opened into another meadow. This one was much larger and the far edge rested against the mountain just under the cave openings. As their eyes scanned the meadow, they noticed what appeared to be an old house in a stand of trees on the west end of the meadow.

Approaching the ruins, they could see that roof had long since given way and fallen inward. The walls had started to decay and fall apart, leaving gaps here and there. Wary of danger, they noticed that the birds were still chirping and the meadow was at total peace with itself. TroutRasta peered into the opening of the door while Barthonis and Lake Mist stood guard outside.

A quick glance around revealed that a lot of the was still intact. It had fallen into the house, but still offered areas of protection and shelter. Trout started moving toward the rear of the ruins where there appeared to be the best shelter to make sure it was sturdy enough for their camp. Rounding some debris, he nearly knocked the skeleton and table over. Startled, he reached for his sword and then noticed that the skeleton appeared to be that of a child. Looking closer at what was left of the robes and cloak, he realized that his dead companion was actually a dwarf. There was a parchment lying under the skeletal fingers on the table. After he had finished scouting the ruins, the three of them would search more. Taking the parchment, he placed it in his bag of holding and continued on.

After Trout was sure that the ruins were safe, he whistled the all clear. Bart and Lake started in through the doorway and were met by Trout. "We have yet another grave to prepare. The past dweller of this house still sits at his table." Trout began. As he pulled out the parchment he continued, "This was clutched in his fingers. We'll bury this fellow and examine what we have found over lunch. Agreed?" Bart and Lake nodded their agreement and Lake said, "I'll start digging a grave if you two want to start gathering stones to cover it with." Trout and Bart agreed and the three started their task.

By noon the grave was ready and the three gathered the dwarf and wrapped him in his cloak. Carefully carrying the bones outside to the grave the prepared under a tall ash tree, they placed the dwarf in his resting place. Trout pulled out the parchment and read over it quickly. "Ba'al Brun. I believe his name was Ba'al Brun," he said. Bart looked at Lake and Lake just nodded his head and began, "Mielikki, Goddess of the Forest and she who guides our hands and hearts, accept Ba'al Brun into your council and guide him along the rest of his journey. May his path be more peaceful as you show him the way." The rangers then finished the grave and left the dwarf in peace.

They gathered in the rear of the old house to start their camp. Lake said, "We can search the ruins a little better with something in our stomachs. And this may be a good a spot to wait for the others. If they headed to Nightsedge as Bart told us, they can't be to far behind us now." Since they had no fresh game meat, they decided on a cold camp for lunch. Lake was breaking out the owlbear jerky and frenzy when Trout pulled out the parchment. Bart was getting out some of the berries they carried from the last meadow when Trout started reading.

"I am beset by monsters from dusk to dawn. They won't enter the cabin, but stay near and howl all night. I commit these few words to parchment so that others may judge my fate. My wounds from the fight with three trolls two days ago, grow worse. If the heart of my destroyer has a name, I know it not. Only that his shaman and legions plague my waking moments and dreams relentlessly.

As Lake and Bart started passing the food around, Trout laid the parchment down and took a deep breath. As the three ate lunch, they decided that Trout would hunt for fresh game, as there was a lot of fresh deer track all around, and Bart would gather nuts and berries to round off the evening meal. Lake was to stay near the ruins in case of trouble with the others and gather fire wood and look for fresh water.

As the others departed, Lake made a quick look around outside the ruins and found several dead falls which would supply ample fire wood for many days. As he gathered fire wood, his attention was caught by a flock of birds, no more than dots, cutting across the blue summer sky. He thought that he could hear their contented cries as they moved together in perfect flight. He thought that cities dwellers live by intricate, arcane rules of established life and that they are trapped by their pasts as they create elaborate preparations for the future. We, the followers of Mielikki, do not. We find the life and beauty right where it is, at that moment, and let ourselves go into that moment, and float upon it's bounty.

Life is all around us, but most don't know how to let themselves respond to what's happening to them, right then, at that moment. Most city dwellers will flap their lips about life to anyone who will listen. He walked on in silence for a few minutes as he took in the wonder and beauty that surrounded him, and nearly fell into the well that was at the rear of the old cabin. As he sat up and looked at the well, laughing, he noticed that it had completely fallen apart. Possibly destroyed when the monsters were on their nightly raids. He crawled over to the edge and stopped laughing as he realized that what was left of the was very deep. Listening, he could hear water running. Picking up a stone, he dropped it over the edge. One, pause, two, pause, "splash", not to deep, but deep enough.

Going back into the old cabin, Lake retrieved a rope from his pack and looked for a bucket or something. He found an old wooden bucket near what was left of the hearth and hoped it would last long enough to fill their water skins. Grabbing all the water skins in the camp, he headed back to the well.

After he had tied the rope to the handle of the bucket, he lowered in into the well until he heard it hit the water. The rope pulled to the south as the water in the well dragged the bucket under. Hoping he hadn't lost the bucket, he started pulling the rope back up quickly. He let a sigh of relief when he saw the bucket, leaking, but full of water. Cold water. Icy cold, and spring fresh. The well must be fed by a underground spring from the mountain. It took five more buckets of water to fill all the water skins he had, the bucket held less and less water every trip, and the almost didn't make the last trip down and up. He would have to work on it this evening.

Gathering the bucket, rope and water skins, Lake headed back into the old cabin to the camp site. Looking around, he thought it odd that there were no weapons or armor anywhere in sight. Other than the parchment that Trout had found, there didn't seem to be anything else here. In the other corner of the rear of the cabin, he found what he was looking for. The dwarf's armor and weapons were buried under a part of the roof that must have fallen in first. There was a broken bed frame and chair, and what was left of a wardrobe. And there, under one corner of the bed frame, a trap door. He couldn't move the debris enough to clear it. He would have to wait till the others returned.

Lake moved back to the camp to wait for the others, and worked on mending the bucket while he waited. A light breeze blew through the camp, and the smell of pine and mountain flowers traveled with it. How wonderful to be alive, he thought. Primrose would love this meadow. He smiled as he continued his work.

As the humans moved into the meadow and toward the old cabin, she watched. As they started digging a hole and gathering rocks, she watched. As they placed the bundle in the hole and covered it with dirt and rocks, she watched. As the humans started into three different directions, she watched. The stone golem she was resting on, moved ever so slightly as to not disturb her thoughts, and still she watched.

As the human nearest the old cabin gathered wood and nearly fell down the old well, she watched, and wondered at his agility. As he gathered water from the old well, she watched. And when he went back into the old cabin and did not return, she wondered why they were here, in her meadow..

Her long jet black hair fell over her bronzed shoulder as the rock lizard rubbed up against her, wanting attention and to warn that she was being approached. Without turning around and before the intruder could speak, the fire giant mage said, "Why do you disturb me, Hundro Oknar?"

"I will not order you to kill the humans, just yet. I want to know why they are here. And besides, they might make better slaves than the last ones you brought from down the mountain," she said venomously. "Leave me, and keep your soldiers hidden in the caves. When the time comes, they will have their fight."

The orc captain backed away, bowing, and hurrying back into the cave as quickly as possible. If he wasn't so afraid of her and her magic, he might have considered killing her and the humans. But, he was weak when it came to important decision making, that's why he and his soldiers followed her. They had been with her for five years and had helped destroy the little man in the old cabin a year ago, when they had claimed this meadow as their base of operation.

She turned back around to the cave entrance to enjoy the afternoon sun and watch the meadow. Singing? Did she hear singing coming from the old cabin. Yes. She couldn't understand the words, but the melody please her as she stretched out upon the stone golem and stroked the rock lizard behind its right ear.

UNDERMOUNTAIN, THE LOST PASSAGE