 True Darkness Revealed By: ZYXOS ::::: as soon as ZYXOS had left the female in the cavern and returned to the main tunnel he sensed that something was amiss :::: :::: the magical tie to his dwarven agent had been severed... searching the magical ties as he might it was obvious that the small one was now free of the spell ::: "So small one... you are free... and quite obviously you will wish to discover what has been happening to you...." ::: Di's eyes widened in surprise as the Drow reentered the cavern so soon after having left it ::: she ceased her struggles to free herself and lay there watching as the Drow moved about the cavern obviously packing some things away and preparing for something::: :::Zyxos made some final notes in his book regarding his continuing surprise at the prevelence of magic among the dwarves... not only with their clerics but with the ones that were obviously trained thieves :::: the the book and several of the charts and maps were all placed into a pack:::: He finished out some maps dealing with the routes he had found within the Dwarven underhalls :::: ::: Di watched with some fascination as ZYXOS moved to the limits of her vision around a large rock and seemed to be facing a solid wall cracked from the top to the bottom ::: after a moment, ZYXOS turned and he was no longer holding the pack :::: ::: Next ZYXOS began strange mystical chanting ::: having battled the drow on several occasions in the past, Di immediately recognized the summoning spells and preparation spells of a Drow preparing for battle and began to become concerned for what must be going on :::: ::: ZYXOS seemed to shimmer as prayers and blessings to and from his evil goddess were offered, cast, and received :::: ZYXOS very being seemed to become darker and more ominous... his eyes began to deepen into a blood red and shimmered with an evil fire that was almost painful to even gaze upon :::: the cavern itself began to darken as corners deepened with evil magic and globes of darkness filled areas where traps could obviously be sprung on the unwary :::: then with an evil laugh and incantation the room was filled with mirror images of the Drow Faern each one taking a different location and posture including one standing menacingly over her :::: and then to her amazedment the final preparation spell was cast and Di watched as the real ZYXOS faded from sight behind a spell of invisibility :::: Di began muttering prayers to her god that the one about to enter the evil filled room was a cleric... or at least a thief with a supply of scrolls... for they were about to face a Drow that only the Dwarven legends spoke of.... Di realized this was not one of the hot headed young fighters that the Dwarves so often encountered and had to deal with... this was one of the ancients... an elder Drow Wizard of horrible power.... "Oh Moradin..." her prayer began... but was suddenly silenced as she heard approaching footsteps outside the cavern.... An End to Darkness By: ZYXOS ::: Tigguhr came storming around the edge of the opening of the carvern with blood in his eye and his Axe in his hand ::: "ACH!!"... was the only exclimation from the burley dwarf as he suddenly beheld the hot springs cavern with darkened areas, some squirming bundle over by a big rock... and above all... more drow than he had ever seen in one place. ::: a quick roll to the side using the pommel of his great axe as a fulcrum to his roll brought him near enough to the first drow for a throw.... the axe whistled through the air and seemed to cleve the drow in half.... but all that was heard was a "POP" and the entire Drow was gone ::: "de jargh drowie be usin' mirrors it wou' seem", Tigg muttered to himself and made a quick dash to retreive his axe and go into another defensive stance in the middle of the room. ::: looking quickly about the room his gaze fell upon the bundle by the rock at the foot of another Drow... and the drow seemed to be quite protective of it.... "Har! so ye got's sump'n ye be want'n ta pertects, does ye?"... and with another roll and dash the young Dwarf found himself across the bundle from the Drow ::: his axe was quickly raised to strike the bundle when the fireball struck him in the back and knocked him across the bundle shattering the mirror image that had been standing above it ::: ::: the searing flames had warmed his armor to an extreme temperature.... and the hair on the back of his head and his beard were singed, but the dwarf stood and stared across the cavern at the globes of darkness... one of them obviously held the drow :::: but to be sure Tigguhr began his well known bouncing and started bounding off the walls of the cavern shattering mirror images as he careened about the cavern ::: "HAR DEE DOO!" ::: he hurtled towards the last of the images but his triumphant yell was stopped short as he bounded off the solid figure... the Drow was outside his globe of darkness!!:::: a quick swing of his axe drew blood on the leg of the Drow and with a muttered phrase ZYXOS drove a magic missle into Tigguhr's chest... partially penetrating his armor and knocking the wind from him :::: ZYXOS's hammer was raised on high and brought down in a sweeping arch towards Tigg's head... but the dwarf blocked it with his shield and rolled to his feet drawing deep breaths into his lungs to regain his senses:::: ::: a quick heal spell had stopped the blood from ZYXOS's leg, but the drow had been slowed ::: a quick spell dropped another globe of darkness about the Drow and the Dwarf but each was used to operating in the darkness of the underground ::: Tigg closed with the point where he felt the Drow should be and swung his axe... he felt it connect with a magical shield and then felt the Drow Hammer pounding into his shield ::: preferring to get his orientation again Tigguhr backed carefully from the Globe of Darkness ::: as he backed into the light of the cavern, his eyes again fell upon the bundle by the rock ::: obviously something the Drow wanted... so perhaps an item to draw ZYXOS's attention ::: :: As Tigg bounded over to the bundle and raised his axe high, the Drow stepped from the Globe of Darkness and smirked ::: "So little one.. you think it means that much to me... go ahead... drive your axe into it." the Drow taunted. With a growl Tigguhr started to bring his great axe down when suddenly.... THE BUNDLE SQUIRMED. ::: shocked by the movement Tigguhr tried to stay his swing but only caused the path of the axe to change and cut into the bottom of the bag ::: with a female shreik, the bag was opened and a cut put into the leg of Diamond ::: :::: Tigguhr was beside himself when he heard the scream and recognized the now unconceiled boots ::: he quickly ripped the rest of the bag away, releasing the lass he cared for, and he tore a portion from his shirt and bound the wound to her leg ::: "ye bliter'n kobolt lov'n bounc'n...." Di had started to tear into the lad when she realized not only was she free, but they both had to deal with the Drow now.... Di laid a quick kiss on the cheek of the Dwarf to sooth his suddenly deflated eagerness... and jumping to her feet pulling scrolls and dagger said .. "C'mon lad... we got's ourselves a Drowie ta defeats..." As the pair stared around the room, it was again suddenly filled with images of the Drow... but with a mutter, Di used one of her precious scrolls against the images and one of the globes of darkness... the images disappeared and the globe was gone... but now there were only 2 globes of darkness the drow could be in. From one of the globes came a hurtling fireball which Tigguhr quickly deflected by throwing his shield in front of the lass and himself, but it almost broke his arm in doing so.... with a quick healing scroll, Di healed Tigg's arm but it was still not up to what it should be and would not work as well as would be needed if they were to have to fight for long.... ::: quickly waving her wand, Di hurtled a Magic Missile into the globe from where the Fireball had come but heard it hit the back wall of the cavern.... and just as amazingly, the Drow seemed to materialize across the cavern from his globe of darkness.... "HAR!! ye sneaky darklin' longear... so ye be use'n dim doors... well... it nae be 'nuff ta stops us dwarves"... Tigguhr immediately bounded across the room towards the Drow, but in the next instant Di was horrified to see a Spell of Slaying spring from ZYXOS fingers.... luckily, Tigguhr's natural resistance to magic saved him... but the damage done was horrible to behold, as tufts of hair and skin were struck from the shoulder and shield arm of Tigg. ZYXOS stepped up to the staggered Tigg and began a Cause Critical, which Di knew in his weakened condition, Tigg would not withstand... so she did the only thing she could do quickly and threw her dagger at the Drow... the small dagger buried itself in the shoulder of ZYXOS... and although the damage was not great, it interuppted his spell and allowed Tigguhr to again gain his feet... with the damaged shield arm holding his shield before him. ZYXOS quickly rattled off a spell of holding, and even he was startled when the battleraging Dwarf was held in place... but with a quick chuckle, ZYXOS spun and was upon Di before she could react. Without her armor, Di had to move quickly and dodge as best she could to avoid the hammer ZYXOS now weilded as a trained Sargtlin... as well as the spells he threw at her. This entire time, Tigguhr stared on in horror unable to move and assist the one he held dear in his heart.... as Di was pummeled back towards the back of the cavern. A quick slash from another of her daggers had almost hamstrung the Drow, but instead had only inflicted a deep bleeding gash in his lower leg... he had countered with an overhead smash of his hammer which almost broke the knife arm of Di... and only her strong dwarfen body had allowed her to take the blow on her upraised arm and saved herself from having her skull fractured. Her next lunge carried her dagger past the defense of the Drow and allowed her to open a small cut in his side... but a Cause Critical suddenly sprung forth and knocked her back against the cavern wall, very near the crack in the wall that ZYXOS had been so interested in. Tigguhr's eyes opened wide as Di's defenses seemingly began to give way... but it was then he noticed... his eyes HAD widened... the hold spell was being thrown off... if by no other effert than his dwarven stubborness and his overwhelming desire to assist Di. Using 2 daggers now, Di tore a chunk from ZYXOS' leg but a quick magic missile spell from ZYXOS tore into the shoulder and upper chest of Di... and although she had tried to get a defensive shield up the missile had still laid open her shoulder and torn away much more of the light shirt she wore than the maiden dwarf preferred. It was this sudden exposing of the body of Di that tore the primal roar from Tigguhr's lips and the hold spell was thrown completely away from him.... "NAE!!! Nae mor'n Drowie spells shall I endure.... Nae more shall ye threaten this love of me.... me chief's!!! NAE MORE!!" ::: and with all the strength remaining in his body he hurled the Great Axe in an overhand throw.... :: had it not been for the fast reflexes of the Drow, ZYXOS's head would have been severed from his shoulders... but even with his quick move the axe still buried itself deep into the back right shoulder of the Drow causing him to curse in pain ::: with his right arm all but useless, the outcome of a fight against 2 Dwarves was more than obvious.... ZYXOS muttered a quick incantation... and before the startled eyes of Di and Tigguhr, he seemed to thin and pass through the crack in the back wall of the cavern... as they both stumbled to the crack they could hear ZYXOS picking up the pack with all his notes and making his way deeper into the darkness into which they tried to stare.... A hot breeze coming from the crack told Di what they had found.... "the underdark" she muttered.... then quickly turned to Tigguhr and caught him as he was about to fall. The only concern in the young warrior's mind was using the tattered remains of his cloak and trying to cover the exposed Di from any prying eyes, even his own.... Re: End of the Darkness By: D1AMOND 2 With cloak safely wrapped around her, D1 slowly helped Tigguhr back to the main caverns. It was late at night now and much of the Mount slept. They got as far as the main hall before they lost their strength to walk. Both sitting down together, D1 took a deep breath and yelled at the top of her lungs. "CLERIC! We needs a healer here!" Then her head slumped over onto Tig's shoulder from the effort. A Lurking in the Dark By: HiuFang Li Nothingness pervaded these lightless tunnels. Once or twice, a hideous creature of some sort skittered or slithered across the warm, dark rock that covered these chaotic chambers; but otherwise, all was silence and darkness. Lifelesness. How could life exist? These were the corridors that the sun's rays never touched, that the cool breath of the gods of the air never wandered in. Only the cloaked shade of Death could dwell here. The Underdark. But even the silence is broken, at times. As it is now... A soft panting, the sound of dull heartbeats... suddenly, these subtle noises invade, echo, beat upon the dark rock. And then voices. "NoNoNo.. I told you, you stupid dwarf!! I told you it was the other tunnel.. if you had listened, we would be safe at home by now," sobs a small voice, "Boohoohoo.. WHY? Why did I ever come with you, anyway? Ah, the gold. Surely no amount of gold can be worth this!!" After a short moment, a deeper, richer voice echoes in response. "Good cousin, we must keep our minds on the path. If we cannot be joyful and glad that we still live, we may as well die here in these accursed tunnels. Come now, we continue.." After this exchange, the noises of climbing and scrambling across gravel and rock become apparent. The first voice jabbers on, but the second seems silent from this point. If an eye might see so deep within the earth, in these dark tunnels where voices dance about the walls, it would witness quite a curious sight. For here, two figures struggle through the deep, one speaking loudly, another forging on, patient, silent. In the darkness, a dwarf and a gnome strive to return to their home... on the surface. It has been many days since they have seen the surface: the dwarf, dressed in blackened garb that lies rather tattered and worn across his shoulders, but wearing an ebon mask about his bearded face; and the gnome, pointed hat smashed to a crumpled mass sitting on his balding head, clothes torn and soiled to rags. "We must make haste, good cousin Yngelb.. to the Mount with our news!" the dwarf often mutters. "By all the gods of Faerun, we shall never see the light of day.. oh my aching body!" replies the one named Yngelb. "You rascal! For many days have I heaved you 'pon my back. I carry you, and yet you complain! Not another word, lest I leave you in the dust.." Silence punctuates these last words, and the two weary ones continue on their journey through this hell that is the Underdark... Little Lancelot By: Tigguhr Every inch of his body hurt. His arms hung by his sides as he leaned against the wall of the cavern. His head lolled to the side, contacting D1's head, which was on his shoulder. She had passed out and Tigguhr was about one half a breath away from passing out again. But honor and loyalty to his chief demanded on last heroic act. Tigguhr half hoped that the foul drow magic might have irradicated certain feelings. The spells took a toll on his body, but unfortunately, his mind and his heart were intact. So he shut those troublesome feelings away again, gently moved D1 off his shoulder and shifted just a hand breadth away. He leaned a little more away from the chief's betrothed and passed out before he hit the floor. Kagis Returns to Scouting... By: KAGIS Kagis looked down the dark tunnel leading away from Axepeak halls. Fulcrum rested easily over his right shoulder. He wore a new set of armor and a new shield. He'd gotten them from the clan armories to replace his family mithril until it could be mended. Sedaric, the watch captain looked sideways at the battle garbed dwarf. He couldn't help but chuckle slightly... here was a dwarf who'd barely stumbled past this same guard captain only a few days ago, now standing tall and proud - ready for action. There was something different about Kagis, almost a presense of power. Sedaric shook his head, "Ya shur ye be headin' back ou' dere alone?" Kagis looked at Sedaric and smiled, "I be a scout an' a warrior goo' cappy. My place be ou' dere." Sedaric frowned slightly, but Kagis quickly added, "dinnae worry. I gots me pappy's ring, Fulcrum, and..." Kagis patted a thick scroll case at his belt, "I gots some s'prises fer any darklin's I runs inta." Kagis mentally reminded himself of his Axebow and mithril bolts; adding, "nae ta menschion me bolt flinger." Sedaric didn't look much happier about sending out another dwarf, the last two scouts hadn't returned at all. "Welp, as long as da chief done says it be ok, den I guess I gots ta let ya lose." Sedaric patted Kagis on the back. "Goo' luck lad... an' may Moradin strike yer blows true." Kagis smiled back, then headed into the dark passage. He didn't have the nerve to tell the captain that Nys didn't know about this scouting expedition. It didn't take long for the scout's senses to pick up the signs. A scuff mark here, a boot imprint in some mud there. "Yep dere wa' a' leas' one darklin' here nae long ago." After some time searching the side passages, Kagis found the tracks more easily and began his hunt. He followed the darklin' to a small room with a natural spring in it. There were obvious signs of battle, which made Kagis immediately worried. There was only one other set of prints leading into the room, but two sets leaving and neither was the from the drow. A Pair of Sacks are Found... By: KAGIS Kagis examined the room more carefully. He could still smell the magic radiating from the stone. "Loo' like da fight done end none too long ago." Kagis decided that the drow must have used magic to leave the room without making any tracks. What worried the scout was the obvious limp one of the dwarves who'd left had. The slender soft footprints seemed familiar, but he could quite place it. "I bes' make sure me kin be ok." With that thought Kagis began following the tracks leading away from the room. Within a few hundred paces he found them, slumped together like a pair of grain sacks. Kagis nelt next to them and checked for breathing. They were both alive, so Kagis took the time to light a torch. After lighting the torch his breath left his lungs in surprise. "Sandstone! Wha' da heck is Tig and Di doin' ou' 'ere?" Kagis reached over to shake Tig. "Bouncer! Wake up Bouncer!" Tig only grunted and rolled over. "Grrrr. Dis is nae place ta curls up an' rest." Kagis sighed, "ah well, dere's gonna be da abyss ta pay when Nys realizes Di's missin'." Kagis checked both dwarves carefully. They showed numerous signs of exposure and several serious wounds, mostly from magical attacks. "Gone drow huntin' did ya?" Kagis mumbled to himself while he worked. Kagis was no healer, but he knew a trick or two about bandages and the sort, to keep out infection. Working quickly the dwarf soon had both Tig and Di bandaged up well enough for travel. Pulling a potion out of his pouch Kagis quickly drank it down ignoring the horrible taste. Immediately Kagis felt his strength grow by immeasurable factors. Looping Fulcrum on his belt, Kagis tossed his shield so it hung across his back and bent down to pick up his two fallen kin. Dwarves were stout creatures that were quite solid. Even with the potion of strength Kagis stuggled a little to position each dwarf on a shoulder. They weren't far from Axepeak halls so Kagis just made the best of it. Soon, Kagis stumbled through another defense picket carrying his two kin. After signaling to the guard, a warrior rushed over to relieve Kagis of Tig while Kagis switched Di so he carried her more comfortably. Kagis looked at this watch captain, "Well? Call fer a cleric ta meets us at da plannin' room. An' someone go get Nys... tells 'em ta meets us dere." Kagis and the guard quickly trot to the center cavern, and placed Di and Tig on cots inside the plannin' room. Shortly after a cleric entered quietly and began administering potions and salves to the two wounded, and still soundly sleeping dwarves. Kagis dismissed the guard telling him to get back with his kin at the defense post, crossed his arms over his chest, leaned against the door jam and watched the cleric while waiting for Nys to storm into the room any moment. And He is Gone...and Returns By: Niord Niord woke with a shudder. At first he thought it was just him, but then he felt the ground shudder, and with a sudden violence, the mount felt as if it were rising off of it's ages old foundation! He saw Dwy and the others across the tunnel from him. The roof above them cracked, and was about to collapse on them! Niord sprang to his feet, bringing his axe up as he did so. He stood over the tired group, forcing the hilt of his axe into the ground between them with a mighty heave. Quickly he put his shield over the axeblade, just as the roof caved in. His last thoughts were of his kin, and that he hoped he had done enough to save them. Not under the shield with the others, as there was not enough room, the cavein from Moradinsons trap hit Niord with full force. He was crushed, and the death was quick. His kin did not notice the faint glow and slight settling of the area Niord was buried in.... Niords mind was grey. He knew not this place, but somehow it felt framiliar. An image appeared before him, and he did not recognize it as his dead wife. The image smiled at him, told him it was not his time, and in a blinding flash, was gone. His mind went black... He awoke and found himself sitting up. There were three week kin about him, and he knew them, from where he new not, but he knew them. His kin, axepeak, home. Dwy's eyes widened with horror. Niord looked questioningly at him. "Whot be wrong lad?" "I..I..I jes saws ye dies! Ye ken nae bees 'ere!!" "Whot ye talkin lad? Ye jes nae feels gud, I fixes ya..." He reaches into a scroll pouch that now hangs by his side. He never noticed it before, but it felt right somehow. It was well stocked. Looking at the paper and muttering a few words, his kin seemed to revitalize themselves. Pulling forth another scroll, he again muttered strange words and the cavern began putting itself together. The stone rose to where it was supposed to be, and mended itself. The tunnel was quickly cleared. All 3 kin looked at him, there eyes almost popping out of their heads. Niord passed it off as trauma, picked up his axe and shield, and readies his kin. "Cammon lads, we gots ta helps our kin!" They were obviously dazzed, but they did as he ordered, and soon they were heading back up the tunnel and heading towards the goblins, and the rest of their kin. Niord ignored their stares, and led the way, so as to not let them disturb him. He did not notice the mysterious amulet was gone. He did not notice he was younger, nor that he was suddenly able to use scrolls. And above all, he did not notice his past, and his dreams, as they were now gone forever. A new life, a new begining. Somewhere deep within him he felt a burning hate for giants, and even looked forward to a dragon hunt. But for now, his kin needen him, and he was finally sane. Niord Thunderstrike OOC: Har! I even managed to work my "forced" reroll into it (host decided my char tasted good and ate it ;/) You Knew It Was Going to Be Ugly By: Nystramo Nystramo bulled his way into the planning room, almost knocking down the two gaurds at the door who barely stumbled out of his way. Behind him, his assigned gaurds tried desperately to keep around him as was their assignment. Unfortunately for them, the chief was not in a cooperative mood. "Wha' in tha slagged nine 'ells 'appened!?" Kagis winced involuntarily. Steeling himself, he reminded himself that he knew from the start that this wasn't going to be easy. "Well'n, chief, seems D1amond an' tha bouncer gots a bit scraped up. A darklin' we thinks. Tha 'ealers gots 'em mos'ly patched up, tho', an' they be restin' easy." Nystramo fumed silently for a full minute. Kagis watched him uneasily, hoping the chief didn't think to ask who found them, or how. Now would not be the time to discuss his unauthorized scouting mission. The chief paced and tried to calm himself. Tried, but failed. Again! It almost happened AGAIN! His taerin had come within a hair's breath of dying at the hands of his enemy. And he had known nothing about it until it was all over. It fell to another kin to find her and rescue her, and then tell him about it. All while he pored over maps and battle plans and trap designs like some slagged librarian, not standing by her side in battle as he should have been. As any real dwarf would. He glared at Kagis and barked, "I wants ye ta finds out 'ow this 'appened. 'ow did D1 an' tha bouncer evade tha sentry net, 'ow did a battle rage in tha mount itself wi' naebody kennin' it, an' jes' where tha blazes di' tha darklin' git ta!? I wants answers an' I wants 'em yesterday! Ya unnerstands!? An' if I nae gets 'em dere'll be some sorry kin, ya kin depends on it!!" Kagis gulped, nodded and ran off to see if there were any answers to be found. In the planning room, Nystramo looked at the sleeping form of his taerin and swore this would never happen again. Undermount Scout... By: KAGIS I scrambled to get out of Nys's fuming gaze; glad that the enraged dwarf hadn't asked how the two were found and by whom. "I be a lucky scout." As for finding out more information I thought, "Whal now, who better dan me ta finds ou' more infermaschion?" Nodding. "Yep it make sense. Di and Tig aren't likely ta wakes u' anytime soon, and da only odder person who could shed ligh' on dis mys'try is da drow who gone an hurt me kin." Scratching my head I look down as I notice strips of cloth bunched up in a corner, "Whats am I doin' 'ere?" I'm standing in one of the side corridors that is seldom used. It's dark and dirty but the scraps of cloth seem familiar. I reach down and examine them out of habbit. "Undermount scoutin' be a tough habit ta quit once it gets in me blood." I lift the rags and sniff them. ::sniff, sniff:: "Hmmm... If I didn't know any better I'd say dis smelt like dat speschial per'fume me chief gave Di as a gift. Dese mus' be some o' her clothin'" I notice they've been torn into long strips and then ripped in half. One a large wad of cloth I can make out the slight stains of moisture and it smells more of ale than perfume. "hmmm...A gag, dis must've been." Taking an empty pouch from my belt I carefully place the rags inside and retie the pouch. I examine the thin layer of dust and dirt in the alley. There's two sets of boot prints, one is slender and made form soft leather boots, the other from standard steel-toed battle boots all dwarven warriors prefer. "Even dem bouncin' type." The slender prints leave the alley alone first, while what I guess are Tig's footprints remain behind. "Di done waylayed da poor lad an' done tied 'em up eh? I be gonna hafta re'members nae ta gets da lass mad at me." I follow the slender boot prints until I loose them in the main hall of the mount amidst the myriad other tracks and markings left behind by a clan preparing for war. It doesn't matter much because I can tell from the direction the prints were headed Diamond had been heading for Southeast exit of the mount near where Moradinson had collapsed the eastern main tunnel. "Curious.... down righ' currus." I moved quickly to the Southeast gaurd post and find the post manned by no less than ten dwarven guards. The captain approached me, "Findar Toarst kin." After examining the well cleaned rock ground and giving up on finding any tracks, I turn to the guard captain. "Goo' day ta ya cappy. I be 'ere on business fer da chief. I be thinkin' I'll be headin' ou' thru' dis 'ere guard post. Buts I gots some queschions fer ya firs'." The captain readily agrees, "ask away Underscout." "Has dere been a guard change in da past 20 cycles?" "Sure ha'. But I be here fer da past 30 cycles. Us cappy's gots ta put in extra cycles on watch ya know." I grin remembering a time when I performed the role of a gate captain. "Goo' lad. Now, does ya rem'mber anyone else exitin' thru' dis 'ere gate?" "Only da bouncer, he came thru' here abouts 24 cycles past, bu' I figered he jus' be goin' ou' ta sets anodder o' his traps." The captain frowned slightly, "I does rem'mber da bouncer wasn't bouncin' as mu' as usual... he seemed almos' upset 'bout sometin'." I smile, "Thankee cappy. Ya's doin' a righ' fine job. Now when yer shift changes be sure an' get plenty of rest." "Ya knows it Underscout. An' goo' luck ta ya ou' dere... I hear dere be darklin's and gobbo's crawlin' all over da place." I turned and passed through the guard post moving quietly and quickly into the dark tunnel beyond. I recognized this tunnel as leading close to the room with a natural spring in it. There should be a tunnel up ahead that branches off and meets the tunnel where I found Diamond and Tig. I move quickly through the tunnel, barely avoiding one of Tig's nature traps. Only a few grease smudges give it away. "Whew... dat Tig's gonna be bouncin' righ' happy like when dem gobbos start settin' dese tings off." Within a few short minutes I'm back in the room where I originally noticed signs of battle. The signs are still evident, but this time I'm looking for more information. After searching for a few moments, I sit down with my back to the sprint facing one of the walls. The heat from the magical battle has died down more, and I'm able to sense the variation in natural rock heat on the walls. With the hot spring behind me and out of my vision, I notice an odd fault line running the length of the wall in front of me. It's about three hands wide and just tall enough for a sneaky elf to scrape through. "Well I'll be... I bets dat sneaky darklin' done squeezed thru' dat crack and went into da underdark. Sandstone! Why didn't I catch dis 'fore?" I scratch my beard as I peer through the whole. "Ahh well nothin' ta does 'bout it now. I best go inform da chief an' den come back an' see if'n I can catch dat sneaky darklin'." I turn to head back and report. Kagis Ironpeak Axepeak Undermount Scout Nae ta Werry Lad By: D1AMOND 2 D1amond awoke to Nystramo's fuming. She cracked open an eye and watched as he reemed Kagis for answers. As Kagis was leaving, Nystramo turned back towards D1, and she quickly closed her eyes again. Best not to face him in this mood, she thought. Tied up and laying under a sack, she had had plenty of time to think. Maybe she hadn't been too wise trying to take on the darklin herself. Maybe she should have reported to Nystramo when she found Tigguhr meeting with the darklin. Maybe she had been a bit steamed when her suggestion about watching Tigguhr had been ignored and that made her make wrong decisions. Maybe standing around with battle armor on for a week with nothing to do had made her a bit bored. It was done and in the past now. Nothing she could do to change what she had done. At least her and Tigguhr were alive and the darklin was chased from the Mount. They saw the route of his escape, so they could seal it. It all turned out well enough, now that it was over. Just a goblin horde to face now. She started to doze off again, when she felt Nystramo sit down beside her and take her hand in his. She cracked open an eye again. There he sat with such a look on his face. Concern, fear, anger and determination were in his eyes and his jaw was set firmly. Wanting to do something to ease his mind, she half sat up, startling him, and gently touched the frown on his forehead, "Such a face Taerin. It be o'er. The darklin has left, me and Tigguhr be healin, nae need to look so worried." Before she knew it, Nystramo reached over and pulled her into his lap. Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her with the fiercest bear hug she had ever received. A Mild Dressing Down By: Nystramo Nystramo finally released his hold on D1amond; his taerin; his anchor. Without her, he knew, he would still be a slave to the black moods that had almost engulfed him. Were he to lose her, there would be no saving him a second time. "Blast ye, lass, wha' was ya thinkin'?" he asked, not ungently. Just seeing her awake and alert was enough to push back the tides of rage he had been feeling. For now. "Hrmph! I wa' thinkin' ta gits rid o' tha darklin' tha' wa' plaguin' tha mount!" she answered with her usual fire. The chief opened his mouth to respond, but cut himself off. He wanted to tell D1amond to not go running headfirst into trouble without thinking. He wanted to tell her not to leave the confiines of the mount without telling him. He wanted to tell her to stop doing things that could get her killed. One look at her defiant look, however, reminded him that he couldn't ask these things of her. Not because she would refuse (which she would); not because he didn't want to argue with her (what dwarven couple DIDN'T argue?); but because her fire, her determination, and her need to contribute in any battle were part what she was. They made her D1amond, and it was D1amond he had fallen in love with, not some weak kneed long ear that jumped at shadows. "Ach, lass, I jes' wishes ya wou' be a bi' more careful when ya dives inta battle," he finally said. "I means, darklin's nae be gobbos. Ya takes 'em serious!" D1 nodded. "Aye, lad, I ken tha'. I be more wary o' tha drowies in tha future. I promises." The twinkle in her eye, however, told Nys that part of her had thrilled to every second of the battle. In spite of himself, he found a smile growing on his face. "Ach, wha' I be goin' ta does wi' ya?" he asked in mock exasperation. "Well'n, if ya be determined ta gits yerself inta scrapes anyways, I guess I mi' a' well makes sure ya gots some backup when it 'appens." "Wha' ya means, lad?" his taerin asked. "Hrmph. I means reports ta Moradinson when ya be rested an' ready fer duty. I be needin' ta raplace a few o' The Ten wha' be busy on o'er duties. Storm'll be seein' if'n ya be up ta it." D1's snort told him what she thought of being "tested", but he only grinned in response. "This way, a' leas', I kin keeps me eye on ye." D1 grinned back and kissed him on the cheek. "An' I on ye, taerin." Still exhausted from her ordeal, she lay back down on his lap and fell asleep.
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