-----"I am ready to bring the fury of the Rager upon those who would hide from their own doom," the storm priest replies as he picks up an improvised torch from a broken piece of wood out of the fallen chandelier. As he wraps a piece of cloth around one end, he points out two dark portals located on each side of the stairs. "There is an upper level to this place too where they can hide," he says as he looks up the stairs once more.
-----"Garrison," Sarah says. "Why don't you and Caranip watch the horses while the rest of us check upstairs. We will need someone down here if the three return from the woods." She walked closer to the priestess and spoke to her, "I know you want to stay by your man, but I saw you take a few hits too. Are you all right to come with us?"
-----Sol scowls and says to Garrison, "An' perhaps signal the three over t'ye, an' ask if they'll deign t'keep an eye on th' entrance wi' ye." His faces softens slightly as he adds, almost contritely, "An' don't strain yerself . . . it's usually better t'keep th' red stuff inside o'yer body."
-----The Stormbringer then nods to Lovan, and starts up the steps again, "Light it up, Rager."
-----"Yes," Rinda says with a reassuring smile to Sarah, "The form of the cat was hurt, but as the Great Hunter granted me the form of the bird of prey, my wounds grew less. I am not hurt at all now."
-----Her smile changes once more to one of concern as she looks at Raven still resting on the stairs. As she runs over to him, the Hunter rises.
-----Garrison staggers up on his feet and takes a moment to steady himself. Pointing his axe at the fallen enemy lying all around, the woodsman pants as he speaks, "Don't forget to check these orcs if you can stand the stench." Looking toward the foot of the stairs where the commander fell, he adds, "Especially that big boy over there."
-----Caranip then reaches up and takes his wrist in her small hand. "Come on, sir. We'll watch over the horses," she says gently, but glumly. She sounds as if she's not happy with standing guard. She then leads Garrison out into the rain, which by now has diminished in intensity.
-----Sol rises up the stairs to join Raven where he now stands. The two heroes then lead the procession up moving quietly as they can, swords at the ready. Lovan follows with his torch, sending flickering and waving images into the parting shadows. Sarah and Rinda are behind the storm priest, watchful and alert.
-----The steps continue to rise and then turn to the right. Up one more flight, the stairs bring everyone to the upper level of the keep. Here a passage leads off to the right. A sudden flash of lightning from arrow slits in the wall behind them reveals the passage forming a huge dark hallway lined with doors at different intervals.
-----Lovan shifts over to his left bringing his torch near the first door. The portal, a once polished door of iron bound wood, is slightly ajar. Raven immediately stiffens as if alerted to something in the air. Nodding to the Gorian, Raven and Sol suddenly lunge toward the door shoving it open.
-----Lovan quickly enters behind them, illuminating the room as much as he can. The chamber within seems to have been at one time a fine sitting room, though the sparse furniture has been worn and aged. Twenty feet from the heroes, five orcish soldiers turn toward the torchlight and squint. One, startled by the light, drops small objects collected in its hands. The ringing sounds of the objects reveal them to be coins of some sort!
-----Grabbing their swords, the humanoids try to rush the warriors standing at the door, but Sol and Raven prove ready for them. The two heroes are already in motion to gain fighting room. Raven's right sword hand darts to the left and back to the right ripping into two different orcs and dropping them both. The Hunter then slashes with his left hand, but his blade is stopped by a gruesomely ugly orc with yellowed tusks. The orc snarls as he reverses his blade raking it across Raven's chest and wounding the Hunter. "Raven!" Rinda cries in a panic as the battle continues.
-----Sol meets the other two humanoids with intense and forceful maneuvers. The first orc falls under his blade. He quickly turns slightly to destroy the other, but his first attempt is parried. His last opponent roars into his face parrying the Lathanian sword's next swing. The humanoid then attempts to jab Sol, but the Gorian's chain armor defects it.
-----Bleeding more, Raven seems to hesitate. He brings his right sword to shoulder level and focuses. As the tusked orc begins to draw back, the Hunter jumps and brings his sword across. As the forward momentum drives the orc past Raven missing him, the Hunter's short sword takes the orc's head.
-----At the same time, Sol and his opponent stab at each other. The sound of flesh being cleaved is heard as blood spills at their feet. Suddenly the orc falls dead and the torchlight shows that Sol is untouched.