The amber haired elf draws his sword and charges a beetle.

Mirelle gives a piercing scream, startling everyone near her.

Two of the beetles to the rear stop and shoot a long white filament out at Laerin, who makes an attempt to dodge but is hit in one arm by it. The creature begins to pull Laerin toward him, but Laerin pulls against it and begins the tug of war.

Silverleaf draws his bow and waits.

Danyx swings his bastard sword at the carapace of a bug and it bounces off! The beetle charges knocking him down. Fandaliel shouts, "Halfstep! Watch out! What I can't see I can't avoid!", as he shoots at a one of the beetles to the front. The arrow bursts into flame as it heads for the creature. It bounces off of the shiny carapace, and lands in front of the creature. The burning arrow frightens the creature and it shies away giving an agitated screech.

Aladfar charges the beetles a large staff suddenly appears in his once empty hands as he nears a beetle they spit another filament out at him. Aladfar moves his staff just enough so that the filament attaches to the staff, then he reverses direction, dragging the beetle behind him. "I'm ready for your tricks this time!" He begins to rotate the staff above his head, dragging the beetle off its legs and making it airborne. After a few rotations he snaps the staff forward and the creature arcs over his head and comes smashing down on top of a second beetle with a devastating crash. Both beetles lie still. Aladfar whips out a knife and cuts the strand easily.

The falcon dives at a beetle but shies away from its hard shell at the last moment.

Rasalas moves back toward the downed spider and shoves a gauntlet viscously into its head. The legs stop moving and it lies still.

Mirelle begins to cry and collapses to the ground screaming something about attacking orcs.

The amber haired elf thrusts his sword into the jaws of a beetle lodging his sword inside. Raising his sword, he lifts the creature off the ground and tosses it to one side where it lands with a loud crack.

Two beetles in the rear setup a crossfire that catches the human in strange armor in between them, but he is ready as his long sword slashes the air slicing both the filaments and knocking both beetles off balance.

The fifth beetle charging from the rear bypasses the rear guard and charges the inner circle. Silverleaf takes aim at the interloper and fires, but his arrow lodges in the creatures shell, not slowing it in the least.

Torana begins to speak a rune.

Two beetles from the front shoot out filaments that catch the human in all black. One hits his leg, pulling it out from below him and causing him to fall. The other snaring his axe and dragging it from his hand.

The second beetle shoots its filament again, snaring Laerin. The two beetles begin to pull him away from the others.

Dropping his bow Silverleaf grabs his staff and prepares for action.

Fandaliel shoots again at the beetle and this time the beetle turns away from the flaming missile and it bounces harmlessly off of its side. Again it skitters away from the flaming arrow.

The human in strange armor charges one of the beetles and slashes off a leg, then a pincer. As the injured creature retreats he finishes it off.

Aladfar swings his staff at one of the larger beetles but it bounces off the creatures carapace. The bug charges Aladfar and picks him up in his pincers.

Torana turns toward the rear and casts a spell.

Suddenly Laerin starts to pull the two beetles easily as they seem to have lost all traction. A moment later, Halfstep slides into view crashing into the rear of the bugs, knocking them down. The three slide quickly toward the group. Laerin, unbalanced by the suddenly lack of resistance stumbles backwards and falls.

Danyx knocks the bug off of him and moves back to recover.

Mirelle's screams subside and she slides to the ground almost motionless whimpering pitifully.

The beetle charges the prone form of Mirelle, sensing an easy target. But before it can get there, she is spirited away in the arms of Rasalas who, quickly picks her up and half-heartedly kicks at the creature.

Silverleaf jams his pole at the creature repeatedly trying to drive it away.

Again Fandaliel shoots and again the arrow bursts into flames, this time the arrow, catches in a leg joint. A high pierced whine is heard as the creature dances around wildly, unfortunately for it, it cannot put the fire out and it burns slowly.

The amber haired elf attacks yet another beetle, but the creature dodges the blow.

***************

The beetle with the arrow stuck in its leg joint, jitters and whines incessantly as it dances around even more wildly. It bounces off the wall several time and tumbles into another beetle, but still it cannot seem to put out the fire caused by the arrow which seems to have spread across its entire leg. Within moments the creature just falls over its legs kicking and its middle burning.

The amber-haired elf retreats from the beetle he was attacking and slashes his sword at the filaments which ensnare the human in all black. Despite several overhand swings at the filaments, they refuse to even fray a little.

Aladfar strains in the beetles pincer and his staff disappears. A moment later it reappears, expanding between the beetles pincers, opening them. The beetle starts to retreat, but not far enough as Aladfar, crushes its eye then kicks it over and jumps up and onto its head crushing it utterly. He retrieves his staff a moment later.

As Halfstep and the two beetles collide, they slide toward Laerin, giving him a the chance to attempt to free himself from the creatures filaments. But try as he might he also cannot seem to sever the strands attached to him.

Fandaliel turns and shoots at the beetle threatening Rasalas and Mirelle, the first flaming shot bounces off its carapace, but that is enough to send it into full retreat, where it collides with Laerin, knocking him down but continuing on past him.

From the pile of beetles that he crashed into, Halfstep spreads the sides of his cloak and flies upward disappearing quickly in the few remaining shadows.

Danyx, recovering from his last encounter with the beetle, swings his bastard sword in a low arc, removing the beetles front two legs, sending it crashing head first. As it recovers lifting itself up, he swings his sword in an overhead arc that connects with the creatures head splitting it in two.

Rasalas, carrying Mirelle, stands next to the magi.

Fandaliel looks for a shot. Finding a good opportunity toward the rear he shoots at another creature, his flaming arrows leaving a trail of light, heat and ash in its wake slams into one of the beetles who slid only a moment ago. The arrow flies straight between the mouth pincers of the beetle. Its whining, chittering, screams last for a long moment before it is silenced forever.

The beetle the amber-haired elf was fighting moves away for a moment then when it realizes that the elf is in retreat it, turns its attention toward Aladfar and shoots another filament at the ogre, catching him on his arm. The beetle tries to pull the ogre off balance, but the ogre lets the beetle have some play then quickly jerks hard on the filament, yanking the bug off the ground momentarily and towards him. He then moves his staff and wraps it around the filament. Quickly he turns the staff wrapping up more and more of the filament, pulling the beetle toward him. As he watches the beetle move closer, the beetle suddenly breaks off its end of the filament and scuttles back into the darkness.

The human in strange armor, also heads to help the human in all black, and one swipe of his sword severs the strands that connect the beetle with the human's axe. The beetle stumbles back for a moment then looks at him. Again the human in strange armor moves and does what the others could not do his sword slices easily through the filament on the human in all black's leg.

Recovering almost immediately the human in all black retrieves his axe and tosses it at one of the beetles that held him only a moment ago. The beetle tries to get out of the way, but it does not moves fast enough as the axe hits its shell and splits a wide crack in it.

Mirelle apparently recovers as she tells Rasalas to put her down. Her eyes flashing dangerously, her mouth set in a grim line. Her beauty not the least bit marred, even when it is set in a mask of anger. She begins to chant a prayer, which sounds like it should be melodious, but it comes out harsh and biting.

Darkness briefly obscures the light and it seems a giant bat descends from the ceiling to land upon the back of one of the beetles. The bat seems to stab at the creatures eyes not with claws, but with a dagger! The beetle runs around blindly trying to get the bat off of its back but its methods are futile as it starts to head back away from the group, its footing slips and it starts sliding out of control. The bat flies away from the creature, just before it slams into the wall.

The opening next to it is suddenly filled as the Carrion crawler, apparently attracted by the sounds of battle, returns. Its many tentacles weaving slightly in front of it as if tasting the air. From its mouth pincers it a liquid begins to ooze out. Like a giant armored centipede the creature begins to charge only to start sliding sideways and around.

Laerin, now freed from the strands of filaments barely manages to get out of the creatures way as it slides past him. It stops sliding, after several feet.

Mirelle finishes her chant and a gentle breeze springs up. There is the smell the scent of roses in full bloom, and a gentle breeze seems to caress them. All throughout the battlefield racing hearts slow. All around the battlefield combatants stop for a brief moment and look in wonder at the world around them. Soothing music seems to be playing everywhere, but nowhere are there any instruments. Then they realize they are in a battlefield and its possible that each of their lives is in danger. A dull roar comes from the direction of the carrion crawler as it charges the Torana and the magi in the center of the group.

The beetle that crashed into Laerin and ran away comes back and stops just outside the battle zone. Its pincers moving rhythmically, but it does not attack.

One of the beetles in the front facing Danyx just stares blankly its pincers also moving rhythmically.

The red haired mage, speaks a rune and his hands begin to glow.

Rasalas pulls out his sword and prepares to attack the crawler.

Fandaliel takes aim at the crawler and fires, but his flaming arrow misses and shatters on the ground, sending sparks everywhere.

Laerin attacks the beetle, but it makes no attempt to run or defend itself. His first hit nearly beheads it causing it to screech only long enough for him to get a proper thrust into its head killing it.

Mirelle begins to chant another prayer.

The red haired mage thrusts his hands out at the crawler as it near him. From the hands of the mage, a red hot arc of flame shoots out hitting the creature, engulfing the creature as it moves on.

The creature seems to flinch from the heat, its tentacles waving wildly. This gives Rasalas the time he needs to bring his sword into action. A beautifully forged 8 ft. blade extends from the hilt. Despite its size the ogre wields it easily. Making sure not to injure a friend in such close quarters he attacks with an overhead slice that cleaves into the armor of crawlers head knocking it down. The crawlers tentacles waves desperately at Rasalas, but they are too short to reach him. He lifts his blade and for a moment the creature is also lifted off the ground. He raises his sword to attack again, when a pair of web strands shoots from above, one catches his hand the other on his back and the huge ogre is lifted from the ground. It seems three huge spiders are crawling along the top of the wall. The crawler starts to move slowly away, backing away from the group.

Human in all black quickly, catches up to the beetle with his axe in its shell and finishes it off with a thrust between the pincers striking the head.

Danyx attacks the beetle facing him, but it offers no resistance. And in moments he has removed its legs and thrust his sword into its abdomen.

Mirelle finishes her melodic prayer and she seems to shimmer for a moment. She walks by and touches Torana, the mage in black and the red-headed mage, each seem to shimmer for a moment.

Rasalas attempts to cut the strands but succeeds in only floundering around, entangling himself even more.

Torana begins to chant a rune.

***************

  Top

The air is filled with the acrid scent of the burning beetle.

Mirelle moves first to Danyx and places her hands upon his shoulder, she says a little prayer and her hands glow with a familiar pinkish light. The glow spreads over Danyx and turns a silvery gray before it is absorbed into him.

Fandaliel aims at the crawler and shoots again. The arrow streaks toward the creature trailing heat and flame and crashes against the creatures carapace shattering harmlessly.

The creature sensing the fire nearby turns and bolts away from the group. Unfortunately, it charges Laerin who is the middle of changing weapons. The creatures tentacles whip out and touch him several times. Laerin freezes with his bow half ready.

The human in all black, tosses his axe up at one of the spiders. The axe arcs upward and slams into one of the spiders. Rasalas jerks to a stop in mid-air gyrating madly.

Torana finishes his rune and points upward toward the spiders. The air above his hand turns an angry red as several small gray objects appear. Each gray object quickly forms and shoots up in an angry red and gray fire ball smash into the spiders and the ceiling. For a brief moment the entire ceiling is obscured by the balls of fire and the dust caused by its explosions. In the first few seconds Rasalas comes plummeting back down landing rather hard on his side. Moments later pieces of the spiders and the axe of the human in all black, come down raining down amidst the dust. The ferocity of the explosions frightens the already spooked crawler who leaves behind a paralyzed Laerin. The final remaining beetle also beats a hasty retreat into the darkness.

The magi, Torana, and Silverleaf move to the sides of the chamber until the dust has settled.

After the dust has cleared you hear a grunt and strain and Rasalas tries to break free of the webs binding him.

For a moment all is quiet. A quick look at the ceiling shows that many of the tiles have been shattered, thick ooze drips from the remains of the spiders that were there before.

The silence is suddenly shattered, "Could I get some help here!", Rasalas bellows.

Aladfar looks at Torana, more than a little wary, before looking back the way they came and says, "Looks like we'll have to break our way out...sir."

With a heavy shrug of his shoulders, Rasalas takes out his sword and picks his way through the ice shards, kicking clear a path to the ice wall.

Laerin removes the cloth from his face and follows the ogre.

Fandaliel looks around and asks a question of the human in all black, the red haired mage, the mage in all black, and the human in strange armor.

The human in strange armor takes off back further down the hall and returns a few moments later, "I found the other side to that doorway we discovered earlier. From this side there is a lever to open the door."

Upon hearing this Torana speaks in a quiet voice that carries clearly down the hall, "Ras, Laerin! We have found an alternate exit. Return at once." Looking at the body of the amber haired elf, he says, "We need some way to carry him."

Rasalas returns, "We got a problem...I saw the hydras on the other side of the ice, at least I think it was them. When we get out we are gonna get hit hard. I counted four of them."

Aladfar asks, "Red or blue?"

Rasalas looks at him quizzically, "What?"

"Which color, I have fought red hydras, which shoot flame and blue hydras, which shoot cold. I prefer to know which type I'm up against."

Rasalas give Aladfar an appraising look then says, "If they are the same ones we fought earlier, they're green with about 4 heads a piece and what they spit is nastier than fire or cold air. They shoot some kind of acid that eats away through your metal and armor like a starving man through a feast of deserts. I lost two sets of armor to those creatures. I had this one," he taps his gauntlets, "made especially to fight those annoying creatures. And this blade enchanted just to fight them. When I'm done with them, I gonna take several heads home and mount those suckers!"

Torana looks around and says, "We'd better move soon. We left, what's his name....Halfstep back on the other side of that wall. Lets hope he's okay."

From down the hall a slow pounding emanates from the wall of ice. Several shapes can be seen through it.

Rasalas says, "If they are pounding on that wall perhaps we can sneak around through this exit of yours and catch them by surprise. Whoever found that exit show me. The rest of you, get ready to prepare for a fight. Perhaps they haven't turned the little guy into a pool of acid yet."

This last remark gets a surprise from several people, "Haven't you wondered what happened to the bodies of those who went before you?"

Rasalas explains. "When the acid of those things hits your dead body….After they've had their fill of your remains, the acid dissolves the rest of you."

He turns and moves down the hall following the human in strange armor.

An ogre driven by hatred

***************

All is quiet for a moment, then Halfstep hear a strange slithering sound. Trusting his instincts he hides in the shadows, wrapped in his dark cloak. From down the hallway where his companions disappeared and the strange bluish light shines...appears what looks to be a giant snake. Well, it could be a snake, except that is nearly 12 feet tall is bright green with red spots and has four heads. From each of its mouths drips a liquid that literally sizzles as it touches the ground. The creature is joined by two others who hiss and loudly and look around their tongues testing the air. Two of the creatures return back down the corridor and he hears muted banging coming from down the hall. The third creature begins slowly moving down the hall testing the air to its left and to its right.

Nearly halfway down, all of its heads plunge down into the rubble on the ground and move violently. A moment later one of the heads comes up with a piece of spider in its mouth. Followed by one of the other heads coming up with a piece of one of the beetles. Two of the heads come up empty and begin fighting over the spider piece with the first head. The struggle is brief as the liquid they drip from their mouths easily eats through the carcass breaking it into three pieces which they eat quickly before trying to find more in the rubble.

***************

The human in strange armor moves down the hallway with Rasalas, Fandaliel, Aladfar, Silverleaf and Laerin in tow. Leaving Torana the two magi, Mirelle, Danyx, the amber haired elf, the human in all black.

Torana calls Silverleaf back, "You're a priest of Gaea, correct?" A thoughtful look comes over his face. "Follow me for a moment, the rest of you join Rasalas and try not to get yourselves killed."

Torana begins, "In my time, I have made studies of almost all the major religions and the powers granted by their gods, I'm still trying to break the taboo around Assyir and the orcs haven't been very helpful with regards to their religions. If I remember correctly according to the rites of the Harmony church, the ceremony that Mirelle performed is an instant heal, but the long-term sleeping is more a side-effect induced so that the mind can be refreshed after the shocking ordeal of nearly dying."

He smiles and says, "Sorry I didn't mean to give a lecture on other religions, my point is that if I remember correctly, priests of Gaea have the ability to awaken sleeping members instantly. If this is true, then perhaps we could try it on our amber-haired friend and he could rejoin us. Would you be willing to try? If you do not wish to interfere with the powers of another god then I'll understand."

***************

The human in strange armor, moves purposefully down the hallway toward what appears to be something protruding from the wall. In the dim light he sees what appears to be a door with a mural on it. Surrounding the door are little decorations of a ogre in gold. He hears a muffled crash and thump behind the door.

Rasalas begins swearing.....After a few moments, "Looks like at least one of them is waiting for us." He draws that humognous sword of his, and looks around and turns to Aladfar, "How many heads did yours have boy?"

Aladfar looks him straight in the eye and replies, "The blue one had two, the red one, had four."

Rasalas nods, "Good then you have some idea of what were about to face. " He turns to the rest of the group and says, "These things are big, fast and mean, they are responsible for wiping out the last two parties I've been on. We go though in pairs. Aladfar and I will go in first and try and draw these things away from the doorway." Pointing to the human in strange armor, "You and Danyx will come through next." Pointing to the human in all black, "You and Laerin, come in next. Fandaliel, you will give covering fire as these two ", pointing toward the red-haired mage and the mage in all black, " come in before following through. Mirelle can come in with you." With a glance toward the two magi, "Try and come up with something that would slow these things down for us or at least put 'em to sleep." With one last glance the party he moves facing the doorway and nods to the human in strange armor who moves over to one decoration and pulls down on the club. The door opens easily, but the sounds of it opening are lost in what sounds to be a massive feeding frenzy. Rasalas and Aladfar enter the room first charging in and the sounds change drastically. A multiple loud hisses are heard. In pairs the group moves into the twilight lighting of the main hall

Mirelle says a prayer to her goddess a moment later a large rat appears, she quickly scribbles a little note and ties it to the mouse. With a few whispered instructions the mouse vanishes down the hall.

**************

Halfstep waits nervously in the shadows as the big creature feeds rather noisily on its spider carcass. A sudden movement alerts him to the hidden doorway opening rather silently and Rasalas and Aladfar charge outward.

The hydra notices them immediately and moves to attack them. But rather than stand and fight the two begin running around the creature, just doing enough to keep the heads from hitting them. When the hydra is turned far enough away, the rest of the party begins coming out in pairs.

First the human in strange armor and Danyx, then the human in all black and Laerin. Finally the red haired mage and the mage in all black come out, with an escort in the form of a flaming arrow that shatters harmlessly onto the back of the creature.

A moment later Fandaliel enters the hallway,followed by Mirelle.

The human in strange armor yells, "Oderanga" and charges the creature, but his sword disappears almost immediately.

Laerin begins shooting but his arrows seem to fly wide of their mark or bounce off of Rasalas' armor.

Down the hall, two more of the large creatures appear coming from around the corner.

One of them roars and a cloud of green mist moves down the hallway towards the group. The cloud dissipates after a few moments forming a small pool of green liquid that sizzles and pops.

***************

Top

Silverleaf bends down over the amber haired elf and concentrates for a moment before waving the back of his hand in a casual gesture over the face of the elf.

The amber haired elfs' dream of roses and peaceful contemplation ends as a ray of sunshine pierces through the haze and he realizes it's time to wake up. As he fights through the layers of sleep a huge yawn escapes from his lips and he look around with the bleary eyes and dreamy expression of one who has just woken up for a wonderful sleep.

Torana looks at the elf and gives a distracted nod. "Ah, that answers another question. I'll have to remember to write that one down. We'll give him a few minutes to recover and join our comrades." He begins to looks in his robes, which change to leather armor and breeches with a side pouch. After a moment he pulls out several scrolls from the pouch.

There is a faint scraping sound.

A few moments later a rather large rat appears and squeaks persistently standing up on its hind legs. It has a note tied on its neck. Torana retrieves the note and the rat scampers away into the twilight.

After a moment he says, "It's a note from Mirelle, they are being attacked by three hydras and they are in trouble already. We must go now!"

***************

Danyx charges the beast swinging his sword in an overhand arc and hits the creature, but his sword bounces off the scales and slides down. Having the total effect of alerting the creature to him as one of the heads turns to look back.

The human in strange armor moves off to one side, joining Laerin and hastily pulls out his bow.

The creatures hisses are interrupted a moment as a loud thud signals Aladfar connecting to one of the heads.

One of the heads arcs back and the entire creature stands a little taller. Rasalas charges forward and grabs the throat of the head arced back for a moment. The creature gurgles for a moment and the whole body begins to shake and thrash violently. One of the other heads opens wide and chomps down on Rasalas exposed shoulder, the sound of teeth scraping against metal puts nerves on end. The fourth head snaps impudently at Danyx but it lacks the leverage and length to get to him.

The black robed mage immediately breaks for cover behind Laerin and the human in strange armor.

Something big moves in the shadows.

Fandaliel shouts, "MORE HYDRAS ARE COMING!!" and as soon he enters the hallway he begins shooting his flaming arrows down the hall. The first arrow causes the closest creature to pause as its various heads duck out of the way.

The tail of the creature thrashes violently and slams into the red-haired mage knocking him to one side where he rolls for a few seconds.

Laerin tries once more to shoot but again he misses as his arrow flies through the space where the creatures neck once was.

Mirelle begins a haunting melodious chant that seems to soar from her lips.

The scent of roses seems to fill the room and a cool breeze blows away most of the foul stench of corpse rot and the acrid scent of acid. The combatants fighting on the battlefield pause for a moment, before the death and life struggle resumes again.

One of the approaching hydras, stops its advance and curls up like a snake ready to strike but instead it just stares straight ahead all four heads just looking contentedly at everything that occurs around it. One of the heads has taken an extreme interest in the murals along the walls.

The human in strange armor fires an arrow that hits the first hydra straight in the side, but breaks without scratching the scale.

The human in all black is knocked for a loop as the second hydra arrives on the scene and one head literally rams straight into him.

A streak of blackness comes out of the shadows as a somehow much larger Halfstep charges and hits the creature from behind, his sword slipping between scale and slipping a little ways into the creature back.

Fandaliel sends a slamming arrow straight into the eye of one of the heads from the second hydra and that head begins batting back and forth so violently that the two heads on left and right of it stare at and, eventually attacking it. The fourth head snaps at Mirelle, snaring part of her arm and dragging her off her feet. She screams in agony and pain as the acid splashes on her arms and begins to eat through her clothing. A quick snap of the head sends her flying back past Laerin and the others, where she lands in a heap.

Laerin drops his bow and pulls out a sword and dagger and charges the first hydra.

Rasalas cocks back his head and delivers a headbutt to the hydra's head that was biting his arm. The creature lets go with a scream and its spittle flies around splashing on various portions of his armor. The head in his hand is starting to change colors and he draws his free arm back and thrusts his sword deep into the creatures belly.

Aladfar's staff retracts and expands quickly delivering multiple blows to the hydra head attempting to get to him. Within moments it is stunned, and an extended over the head smash with the pole brings a satisfying crush of bone as the skull is crushed.

Fandaliel tries to get of another shot but it is spoiled as he dodges the head that comes for him. The arrow fires and shatters on the ground.

Halfstep tumbles off the creature and in a flash disappears again.

Laerin and Danyx attack the fourth head of the first hydra and a moment later Laerin is fighting with only a sword as his dagger gets caught between two scales. The head snaps at first one then the other, before the creature shifts violently and part of the tail comes around and knocks Danyx off his feet and onto his back. Laerin just barely misses the same fate. However he is pushed closer to the hydra head and the creature takes advantage of it by trying to bite his head off. Only his quick reaction saves him as he jams the sword through the roof of the mouth and into the creatures tiny brain. Acid from the creatures mouth drips over him, he screams from the pain and rolls out of the way of the mouth. His sword falls out a moment later, half dissolved.

The first hydra stops moving completely and slumps to the ground. Rasalas lets go of the neck and uses a cloth rag to wipe the acid off of him in place where it ate through his clothes and tried to burn through his armor.

***************

The amber haired elf stands up and stretches and asks, "Where are we? How long have I been unconscious?"

Torana replies, "We are at the spot where you set off some kind of fire trap that nearly killed you...and us."

The amber haired elf stops and stares for a moment at the ice wall at the end of the hallway and the chunks of ice littering the ground.

"You haven't been out very long, but we have been busy in that time." Torana continues.

The amber haired elf looks around and picks up the ruins of his bow and realizes that there is nothing that can be salvaged from it.

He looks about for something else but apparently cannot find it. There is a gurgling scream followed by silence, then a another canopy of loud hisses coming from down the hall.

Torana slides a scroll up one sleeve then a second up his other sleeve. He waits while the elf gathers the remains of his equipment and heads down the hallway.

Near the end of the hallway is an open door, the sounds of chaos come pouring through, something big out there is moving. There are hisses and battle screams as well as screams of pain and the twang of missile fire.

Looking out the door on the trio's right they see Mirelle picking herself up, her dress is torn and one arm seems badly burned. The human in strange armor and Fandaliel firing arrow after arrow. The black robed mage and the red-haired mage huddle in back.

To their right, Laerin, Danyx, Rasalas, the human in all black, and Aladfar. They are fighting a huge four headed green hydra, behind that hydra is another but it seems content to watch for now. Behind that one is another coming up fast.

***************

Battle between the three heads of the second hydra ends as the two heads tear the head in between them apart. The fourth head spits a stream of acid at Fandaliel that hits him on his left leg.

The human in all black, tosses his axe at the second hydra and it misses flying in a wide arc.

Laerin moves back to where the archers stand and draws his bow again.

The human in strange armor fires an arrow that shatters against the creatures hide.

The mage in black begins taking an interest in the murals on the walls.

Mirelle tears off the remains of the cloth on her arm and tries to clean off the acid with another strip of cloth. Her pure smooth skin marred by ugly red burns.

A fourth hydra appears behind the third one as passes it, charging for the party.

Rasalas pulls his sword out from the first hydra and charges the second hydra, with a roar that nearly deafens his allies.

Aladfar chooses to take a more conservative approach as he slowly tries to move around the creature again.

The first head of the second hydra suddenly cries out as it is forced towards the floor under the weight of Halfstep, who suddenly appears on top of it.

The axe completes its journey as it returns to the human in black.

The third head of the second hydra sees the incoming ogre and with a deep breath, exhales a mist of acid that begins to travel down the hallway.

Danyx recovers and using his bastard sword attacks the second hydra.

Rasalas charges through the cloud of acid and straight into the body of the second hydra. His aim being slightly off center he carves a large gash in the side of the creature.

The impact forces the creature back and knocks Halfstep to the ground behind the creature.

Fandaliel recovers and begins to clean the acid off of his leg.

Laerin aims and fires and his arrow lodges in the open mouth of the first head.

Aladfar moves around and comes up against the fourth hydra that charges.

The red haired mage begins to speak a rune.

Mirelle begins a quiet prayer.

The human in black tosses his axe again and it embeds itself into the first head of the fourth hydra.

The red haired mage finishes his rune and the area in front of him, begins to glow blood red, the glow turns into three reddish arrows that streak outward striking the fourth hydra in the first, second, and third heads.

The three heads turn their attentions away from Aladfar and look balefully upon the rest of the party.

Rasalas finds himself in a little trouble as the second hydra curls itself round him.

Danyx takes advantage of the second hydra preoccupation and attacks the third head. Within moments the head is nearly severed from the rest of the body.

The human in strange armor changes targets to the fourth hydra and shoots, his arrow flies straight into the mouth of the first head. The head goes wild and acid flies all over the place.

Laerin aims and shoots again, this time his arrow hits one of the body scales and sinks partially into it.

Mirelle seems to nearly blurt out a chant and their is a brief flash of light as the skin on her arm starts to heal slightly.

Aladfar extends and contracts his staff in rapid fire sequence that quickly stuns the fourth head of the second hydra. This followed by an overhead smash, results in a the crushing of yet another skull.

The tail of the fourth hydra hits one of the heads of the watching hydra. That hydra rolls over for a moment then all of its heads seem shake as if clearing their minds. With an agitated hiss, the hydra charges heading straight for the archers.

Torana, the amber-haired elf, and Silverleaf appear at the door.

Torana looks at the situation and grabs a scroll and reads it. The scroll flashes briefly a moment later he disappears.

Rasalas and the second hydra thrash around on the ground, one of the remaining heads attempts at biting through his armor. The other hydra head makes failing attempts to attack Danyx.

Fandaliel throws away his bow and draws his swords and charges the second hydra. He starts hacking at the head that is biting Rasalas. The first few hits break through the scale and the next hit drives his sword deep into the creatures neck. The head lets go of Rasalas shoulder and snaps at Fandaliel catching a leg.

The creature bites down and there is the crunch of bone and the sizzling of acid before Fandaliel cries out. With a reflexive action he jerks the sword out roughly from the neck as he tries to pull away. He must have hit something as the head collapses his slack jaws still holding the leg. The human in all black draws his long sword and attacks the remaining head on the second hydra.

Halfstep recovers and tumbles into the shadows.

Danyx and the human in all black chops at the remaining head of the second hydra. The spray of acid from the creatures mouth sizzles as it lands on them.

As the first head dies, the remaining head spits out a general spray of acid wildly hitting Danyx in the chest, the human in all black on his sword arm, Rasalas on both arms and chest and Silverleaf in the left leg. This creates a diversion for it to de-tangle itself from Rasalas and start retreat back down the way it came. The axe of the human in black falls from the neck of one of the dead heads. The hydra moves slowly back down the hall.

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Top

Mirelle says a prayer to the goddess Tara and watches without fear at the charging hydra as it veers off instead of crushing her. The hydra stops and turns and begins to attack them from behind ignoring Mirelle.

The human in strange armor shouts, "Beware the acid and aim for the heads."

Laerin shoots at the fourth hydra and his arrow it hits the eye of the first head. The head lets out an aggravated hiss before collapsing.

The charging hydra plows into Laerin and the human in strange armor, knocking them to either side.

The red haired mage in picked up bodily by one head and tossed to the side. One head turns and takes and snaps at the black robed mage who jumps back and begins to speak a rune.

The human in strange armor dodges hydra and as he gets up his sword reappears in his hand.

The mage in black finishes his rune and his are engulfed in a black aura.

Laerin moves further away from the charging hydra while trying to shoot. He aims and fires and shoots but ends up hitting the first head again.

The human in strange armor, regaining the use of his sword, swings his sword in a mighty arc, that shaves off several of scales from the hydra.

The hydra tries to move away from the human in strange armor, the third head sprays a greenish mist in his direction. The mist covers his sword and armor. The armor glows briefly.

Laerin stops aiming and stares at the hydra.

Mirelle wanders off towards the end of the hall.

The hydra stops and looks around seeing Laerin staring at him, it stares back.....with all three heads.

The mage in all black touches the hydra and hydra seems to fade for an instant before collapsing to the ground. It's once shiny green scales a dull graying green.

The mage in black seems stronger, more imposing, somehow more powerful than before.

Silverleaf reaches over his back and extracts an arrow from a quiver and aims first at the second hydra, but after a moment gives up because of too many people around the hydra and aims for the hydra attacking Aladfar, the arrow flies straight toward the creature and bounces off of a scale.

The hydra fighting Aladfar launches all three heads at one. Aladfar clubs aside one head and dodges a second, but screams aloud as the third head bites into his side. The ogre goes down to one knee. The other two heads take advantage and also take bites on the ogre.

Twice more Silverleaf fires again, this time with the heads not moving he scores each time. Both arrows burrowing in between scales. Two of the heads let go of Aladfar and turns to see who causing so much pain.

Silverleaf nearly drops his bow as a spray of acid from the second hydra touches his leg and begins to burn.

Aladfar pounds on the one remaining head biting into him. He places his staff next to the head and extends it. The hydra head collapses as the pole punches through its eyelids, through its brain and out the other eye.

Aladfar stumbles up and away from the hydra before collapsing.

The two remaining heads turn towards Aladfar and seeing him collapse go to take care of their next irritant as it turns to charge Silverleaf.

***************

From down the hall where the second hydra is retreat....a rainbow explodes into view. The multicolored beam of light slams into the retreating hydra, causing it to be knocked back a few feet before collapsing. The hydra charging Silverleaf is also caught in the rainbow, but it only stops to stare at the lights surrounding it before continuing on.

The rainbow also hits Danyx who collapses and the human in all black and Fandaliel who are surprised by it.

Somewhere in the distance creatures are howling....

Everyone stops for a moment as a incredibly loud roar echoes down the hallway. Everyone, hydra included stops and looks to see what kind of creature could roar so loudly. But nothing shows itself and the battle continues.

***************

The amber haired elf draws his two swords and moves down the hall toward the collapsed hydra

. Silverleaf rips off a piece of his cloak and begins rubbing fiercely at his legs.

Fandailel shouts, "Somebody help me! It feels as if I'm burning up!" as he desperately starts digging into his backpack.

The human in strange armor charges the third Hydra.

The red haired mage screams in pain.

Rasalas slowly moves to recover his sword.

The human in all black pulls out a wineskin and pours a dark liquid on his armor to wash away the acid. He screams as the acid has eaten away the armor and touched his skin.

A heavily armored knight in shining armor appears in the spot just vacated by the hydra. He quickly looks around and spots the hydra behind him.

The hydra's two remaining heads both snap at Silverleaf who tumbles backwards avoiding the double snap. One of the heads turns to look at the shadows.

The human in strange armor swings at the hydra and his sword cuts cleanly through a scale, slicing it in two, but doing little damage to the exposed skin. Laerin starts charging the mage in black.

Fandaliel pulls his leg out from between the jaws of the hydra and begins pouring liquid from his wineskin from trying to clean the acid out of the wound. He screams in pain.

The amber haired elf reaches the hydra and after a moment, raises his sword and brings it down, severing one head neatly. A moment later the other head rolls away also severed from the main body.

Rasalas recovers his sword and moves toward the remaining hydra.

Halfstep jumps out of the shadows at the hydra head staring at the shadows and misses his attack as the hydra was waiting.

Fandaliel puts away his swords and drags himself across to where his bow is.

Laerin begins pummeling the mage in black, but seems to be doing little damage other than annoying him.

The human in all black also charges the remaining hydra.

Silverleaf moves further away from the hydra while it turns to deal with other threats. He retrieves his bow and shoots. The arrow slams straight into the main body of the hydra.

The heavily armed knight moves over to Aladfar and examines him.

Halfstep aims a shot for the eye of the hydra but his blow is deflected off of a scale. The hydra snaps at him grazing his arm.

Rasalas, sluggishly raises his sword up and brings it down in a clumsy swing at the back of the hydra. The sword bounces off several scales before biting into the tip of the tail.

The first hydra head turns toward the human in strange armor and snaps at him locking its jaws onto the armor covering his arm. Acid begins oozing all over the arm.

The red haired mages screams turn into whimpers of pain.

The human in all black attacks the first hydra head while it has a hold on the other human and nearly severs the head from the body.

Mirelle wanders back into the room.

Silverleaf aims and fires a shot at the last hydra head and the arrow pierces the creatures skull. The last hydra collapses in a pool of acid from its many wounds.

The first hydra is nearly half dissolved in a growing pool of acid.

The other hydras are starting to form pools of acid where their corpses lie.

The knight pours a liquid from a wineskin he got from somewhere over Aladfar's wounds. Laerin stops pummeling the mage and wanders off back through the hidden doorway.

Mirelle stops and stares around.

The red haired mage is silent.