Cavern of The Chaos Lord: The Reckoning pt. II

 Upon entry to the next room, as Dimitria's lantern lit the inside with it's bright flame, The Harbingers, along with their pilfered goods detected movement. As they looked, Drago, Thorin and Tauriel drew their weapons, ready for anything while Dimitria readied herself. She had one sleep spell left. She knew with the utterance of the word "Solambunarum" it was possible to lull whatever the threat was to sleep, were it a threat at all. 

"Ahhhhh," a deep, booming voice said, "Adventurers...The ones that dispatched Throk in his own lair inside this very cavern." The voice was menacing and low. Not the warm, welcoming voice from the room with the small dragon in it before. This one was much more on edge. 

"Now you're in my lair," it said, "and I will not be so easily discarded."

"Somnambularum!" Dimitria shouted as she raised her staff. 

The scaly red dragon began to laugh as he raised himself up onto his hind legs and spread his small wings. His gold eyes flaring as he came back down onto all fours  and began to creep forward. His mouth full of sharp teeth opened and his eyes flared for a mere moment as suddenly. He closed his mouth and shook his head. 

The Harbingers noticed that the dragon staggered as though he'd had too much to drink. He wavered and then began to fall over onto his side.

"Get Back!" Drago yelled out as Dimitria, Tauriel and then Thorin backed out of the door and into the hallway through which they just passed. There was a loud and terrible crash as the small, red dragon, fell over onto it's side and began snoring. Everyone looked back at Dimitria. 

"One second's hesitation," said Tauriel as she sheathed her sword, "and we would be a lot worse off. Good work."

"Let's search the room," said Drago as he motioned for them to enter. "That took a bit longer than expected to take effect," he observed as he looked at the sleeping dragon, "We have no time to waste. If that awakened the hobgoblins, we might find ourselves closed off."

"Agreed," said Thorin, sniffing the air and following his nose. 

"Find a scent, Thorin?" Tauriel asked.

"Something," he said sniffing the air again, "but it doesn't smell quite right. Drago, help me with this thing's tail." 

Drago sheathed his own weapon and moved to help Thorin. Both used their strength to move the dragon's tail before Thorin glanced at something and then his face had relaxed into a look of resignation.

"I knew it," he said, "The damnable thing thought he was sitting on a small scraping of ore."

"What is it?" Drago said as he moved in closer to inspect it, "Nightshade, the lantern."

Dimitria moved in closer to it and huddled with the rest, while Tauriel kept watch over the dragon. Immediately she pulled an empty pouch from her robes that she'd fashioned from the animal hides they'd harvested as her eyes widened. 

"Fool's Gold!" she exclaimed, scooping it up and tucking it into the pouch, nearly filling it

They all looked at her, puzzled, 

"What good would it do?" Thorin asked, "It won't even serve as currency enough to a group of highwaymen?"

"The Lady in White," she said, "This is what she wanted. We'll have to bring this to her. Something has to come of allowing a spirit such as hers to pass on." 

"Bah," Thorin said, moving away and continuing his search, "Spirits having need for such things!" He scoffed at the idea, however, even his curiosity had been piqued.

"You're certain of this?" Drago asked, his wariness of the realms of spirit still evident. 

"You believe in your gods," Dimitria said, looking to him, her dark eyes glinting in the lantern's light, "but you fear the things that come from their realm." 

"The attention of the gods is nothing any of my tribe want," he said, "Their attention is more likely to bring pain and misery than joy. We honor them but we do not wish for them to do anything except accept our offerings and allow us the ability to thrive. That is all."

"You've trusted me this far," she said, "Only a little further trust is all I ask. If only until we've left this cavern and are safely back in Ferrymoon Village."

Drago nodded and slowly rose to his feet, resuming his search with Thorin as Tauriel kept watch over the dragon who still remained snoring. 

As Dimitria cleared the small pile of fool's gold away, she spied two wooden knobs in a brickless hole just behind it. She pulled them out and rolled them open, looking at the runes with which she had a passing familiarity. One of the scrolls was in Elvish. The other, she immediately recognized. She rerolled it and smiled. 

"We'll pass Finh's challenge yet!" she said, excitedly. The others turned to face her. "I've one more sleep spell!" 

"Seems you have a halfling's luck today," Tauriel said, "What is in the other scroll you seem to have found?"

"I'm unsure," said Dimitria, "It looks like it was written in Elvish but I'm not fluent in Elvish." She handed the scroll to Tauriel as she approached. Tauriel took the scroll and began unrolling it, squatting into the lantern's light to read it. 

"You're right," she said, "Good find. It's a blessing spell."

"What does that do?" asked Thorin as he continued to sniff the air. 

"We shall see if given a chance to use it," said Tauriel as she rolled it up again and slipped it into her pack, "At present, I have still have a protection spell that I can use for us. A blessing spell would be more suited to a priest if we had one, I think."

Thorin grumbled. Drago searched but shifted uneasily. The talk of magic, spells and spirits unnerved him, even though he'd been present in their uses with little to no ill effects, save for his formerly-wounded pride. 

"We should go," he said as he looked back, "before the dragon and the hobgoblins awaken. Perhaps we can use their disorientation to our advantage."

The Harbingers packed the remainder of the trinkets into their pouches and bags and slowly crept out of the room, back the way they came. Drago and Thorin led the way through the door, hobgoblins still asleep. Slowly, they crept out of the room with Drago signalling to Dimitria to quietly close the door behind her. She slowly pulled it closed and nodded to Drago to proceed forth. 

As they passed through Finh's lair, Drago and the rest nodded a greeting to the dragon who sat reading. Drago pressed a finger to his lips as Finh opened his gaping maw to say something to him and then simply closed his mouth, nodded and smiled upon Drago in admiration. Finh resumed reading through a musty tome he'd picked up from the small pile in one of the corners and let the adventurers pass through. He wondered whether or not Thorne, another dragon of which he knew was the source of the loud crash he'd heard and then banished the thought from his mind as The Harbingers passed through his lair. 

Backtracking through the cavern, the Harbingers kept their quiet creeping along. As they entered the empty room once containing a small swarm of goblins, four orcs intruded into the room at the same time. 

"KILL THEM!" one of the orcs screamed as they immediately blocked the path out of the room. 

"Dimitria!" Said Tauriel, "Trade places!"

"I don't know if I can do the spell with my sight blocked!" she responded, trading places with Tauriel. As she stepped around Tauriel, she looked and saw the hideous faces of the orcs with the tusks jutting from their mouths  and pig-like faces twisted in a rage. They were moving fast, axes and crude swords raised. 

"Somnambularum!" she cried out, pointing her staff over the dwarf's head this time. The two with raised weapons, dropped their arms before passing out. Two more, unaffected by the spell, witnessed the fall of their two comrades-in-arms falling to the ground, snoring. 

"RUUUUUN!" screamed one of them in terror, "THEY USE MAGICS!!! RUN!"

The two remaining orcs fled in terror.

As they filed into the room, Drago looked at Dimitria and nodded to her. Tauriel moved past Dimitria, momentarily placing a hand on her shoulder. They didn't bother searching the sleeping orcs for fear of waking them. Drago crept silently and carefully down the hall, taking a left into the room where only the Lady In White awaited their return. As they filed in, they allowed Dimitria to step forward. 

Dimitria produced the small rabbit pouch.

"You've found it..." the Lady In White said, a hint of astonishment in her voice, "Noble adventurers, I thank you for your great work. With this, I can pay my passage into the next world." Her attention turned to the dwarf. 

"Thorin Fireforge," she said, "Please step forward."

Dimitria made room as Thorin slowly stepped forward to face her. 

"I know that the scent of fool's gold does not please one such as yourself," she says, "I am aware that my desire for it didn't make sense to you but I do have one thing and I hope that this has made your efforts worthwhile." The Lady In White reached through the wall and pulled something through. It was a small shield.

"Thorin Fireforge," she said, "I present you with this. It is an enchanted shield of warning. May it protect and defend you as you have protected and defended those in your party. I thank you all, however, I only have one token of my appreciation."

Thorin held the shield at his feet and bowed his head. Dimitria bowed her head and recited a few lines from a funerary incantation from her own people as The Lady In White vanished from sight. 

Under Drago's lead, they crept back down the hall. They stopped at Drago's signal for them to listen. Dimitria turned as they reached the door. Immediately, they were taken by surprise. The orcs in the room had awakened and the two that had initially ran had come in behind them. They'd been pinched off in the hallway leading to the room where the orcs had been spelled to sleep. One of the orcs yelled out to kill the mage. Tauriel used her protection spell to cast a shield over Dimitria. The orc behind Dimitria swung his dinged sword and struck a mere glancing blow before the shield could fully take effect, causing a small cut on the arm that carried the lantern. She cried out in pain. 

Drago swung his own sword and missed. Thorin stepped in, swinging his bearded battle axe with everything he had. The head of his axe biting deep into one of the orcs, the deep wound he caused to the orc, a mortal one. The orc fell, unable to do anything but howl until he bled out. Tauriel thrust her own Elvish sword past Dimitria and the shield she cast into the orc behind Dimitria, the blade slipping into the unprotected flesh of his collarbone and into his chest, dropping him instantly. Dimitria thrust her staff forward at the orc charging over his dead companion and drove the end into the orc's throat blindly. A sickening crunch and a muted roar sounded as the orc dropped his own weapons and went to the stone floor clutching his windpipe, trying to get air only to suffocate where he stood. In a quick exchange, the orc in front of Drago struck, slashing Drago in the leg. Drago dropped to a knee, grunting. 

"Son of A Whore!" Drago shouted in pure unbridled fury. He swung upward, not aiming his swordstroke but aware that something warm hit him in the face. The tip of his sword had slashed the final orc's throat, causing it to drop to the ground and bleed to death the same as the one that Thorin's axe had felled. 

Thorin rushed to Drago's side, attempting to help him up

"I'm all right," Drago said, holding up a hand, rising, "I'll be fine. The blow took me by surprise."

"Can you walk?" Thorin asked. 

Drago took a few steps with a slight limp. 

"Yes," he said, "I don't suppose that the dragon will be happy when we tell him we failed." 

"On the contrary," Tauriel said as she and Dimitria entered the room, "He never said we were unable to defend ourselves if our peaceful measure failed. We encountered hobgoblins and put them to sleep, the same with the other dragon and these orcs, making two of them flee, thanks to Dimitria. We have more than honored his request. Now, we reap his reward."

Drago, Thorin and Dimitria, still clutching the cut on her arm, looked at each other for a moment and then Drago nodded that they should move ahead. 

As they entered Finh's room, he looked up from his book only to make a slight dog-ear on the page and gently close the book, placing it aside. 

"You promised three encounters with peaceful resolutions," he said, smiling, "Were you successful?"

Tauriel stepped forward and nodded. 

"Our mage, Dimitria," she said, "put to sleep a group of hobgoblins, another dragon such as yourself and two of four orcs. The other two ran when they saw her magic." 

"Ahhh, so the conditions have been fulfilled," he said, "but what were the sounds I heard coming down from the hall?"

"We were forced to do battle on the way back," said Drago, "I was wounded, so was Nightshade. The two that had been put to sleep had reawakened and the two that fled pinched us off in the hallway. They meant to kill us. We ensured that did not happen." 

"Ah," said the dragon, nodding, "Most unfortunate for them, however, you did satisfy the agreement and now, I have something for you. I promised reward, just as you promised me that you would do what you could to resolve things peacefully. You have proven yourself...and now, so shall I."

The dragon reached his claws around a brick and began to pull until the brick came free from the wall. 

"You could have killed me as well," he said, "none of you had reason to trust me but it makes me glad you did. Ellios has hidden something in this cavern. I think the tome he gave you was one to distract you from what he really had to hide and I believe the reason he needed you to dispatch Throk was because Throk was looking for it as well...a treasure." He unrolled a small piece of parchment and spread it across the floor. He pointed out the location with a claw. "I saw him place this in the wall before I entered that day. I thought he'd come looking for it but, I've not seen him since. I don't know how much he's stored but I do know he's stored something...valuable. I hope that it's very valuable. You deserve to be well-paid for the work you've done here. Protecting the village, that is noble and worth paying for."

The Harbingers looked over the map and then to each other. Thorin smiled. 

Finh rolled the parchment up and handed it to Tauriel. 

"Thank you, Harbingers," he said to them, "Perhaps the peace and quiet you offer me shall go a long way to my reading. I have longed for the day when I could read without orcs and hobgoblins coming through and breaking my concentration."

"Thank you, Finh," Drago said, "We won't forget what you've done for us." 

Finh took up his book and began reading again, using a single claw to turn the pages. The Harbingers moved back into the hallway, ready to do battle if the Hobgoblins had reawakened in their absence. 

They silently entered the room. Drago's eyes went wide as he saw the Hobgoblins awakening. One of them noticed the group and cried out to attack. Within seconds, they'd scrambled for their arms. The Harbingers immediately attacked. Thorin and Drago each killed a hobgoblin while Tauriel used the last of her fireball spells to immolate the other two in a flash. Two more emerged from behind the initial four. One swung at Drago, cutting him across his defensive arm. Drago spat a curse and rammed the tip of his sword through the hobgoblin's chest, killing it instantly. Another attacked Thorin. Thorin lifted his shield to deflect the blow and then swung his axe, burying it in the final hobgoblin's skull. 

Tauriel moved forward to search the bodies of the Hobgoblins, she found one of them had been hiding jewelry and tucked it into one of her pouches. 

She directed Dimitria to bring over the lantern. Tauriel opened the map and turned it. 

"This! Here!" she said pointing at the point on the map, "This is where the treasure is!" 

As Drago and Thorin were binding their wounds, they took their place behind Tauriel. 

"What have you found?" asked Drago

"What the dragon didn't mention," she said, "This isn't just any treasure. These runes," she said, lowering the map to the floor, pointing them out.

"The Treasure of Kerrak Dur!" said Thorin, "That's what the Hobgoblins were searching for. It's what they were defending!"

Tauriel produced the jewelry she found among the bodies. 

"I believe this is part of it," she says, "It looks like Dwarven craftsmanship."

Thorin's eyes glinted as he examined it. 

Tauriel directed Thorin and Drago to move the bodies aside. As they moved the bodies aside, Tauriel motioned for Dimitria to bring the lantern forward. She held the back of the map up to the lantern to find more runes and then began counting the stones in the wall until her hand came to rest on one. She pressed and one of the stones in the floor began to move. As it moved aside, there, nestled in the small hole in the floor was a chest. Drago and Thorin moved in to lift it from it's resting place. 

"Is this it?" Thorin asked, "So small a chest, I thought for certain there would be more than this for such a legendary treasure."

"It was heavy," Drago answered, "Is it locked?"

"No," said Thorin, shaking his head, "Sealed but not locked."

"Sealed?" Dimitria asked, holding the lantern to light it, "but not locked?"

"Aye," said the dwarf. He used the head of his axe to pry the latch. The latch popped open and Thorin opened the chest.

They all gasped in wonder at the gold that shone and glittered in the small strongbox. 

"Give me a moment to count all of this," Thorin said, "It will be divided between us." 

Drago nodded and ordered the rest of The Harbingers to secure the doors and attend their wounds. Thorin counted while they all rested. 

Thorin delivered an equal share to each of them, one hundred and twenty-five pieces of gold each. Each member of the group filled their pouches. They replaced the chest and let the stone slab in the floor slide back into place. 

The Harbingers chose the door leading to the lair of the small dragon Dimitria had put to sleep and moved through the corridor, into the room to find the dragon still sleeping. 

Tauriel and Dimitria moved in, without prompt or direction and attacked the sleeping dragon, killing it as it slept. Drago and Thorin stood in surprise. 

"If it had awakened," Tauriel said, "It would have no qualms about ending us."

Drago's surprise faded, she was right. It had displayed as much before Dimitria had put the beast under her spell. He looked to Dimitria and nodded approvingly. They moved through the northernmost corridor, following the path into their next room. 

Seven Goblin swarmlings attacked upon their entry. Tauriel sprang into action, taking three down, Drago killed one and Dimitria took out one defending Drago. Thorin, took two, splitting the skull of one, shield smashing another into a wall, crushing it between the wall and the buckle of the center of his shield. 

Tauriel felt something. There was a disturbance in the air and it was affecting her. 

As they proceeded down the corridor, Tauriel stopped, almost taking a knee as Thorin moved in to catch her. 

"It's close," she said, rising fully to her feet before feeling along the wall until she was certain. She pressed one of the large slabs of the wall only for it to swing open. Thorin and Drago stood to one side, weapons ready while Tauriel and Dimitria stood to the other side, armed as well. Drago led the group in and they came face to face with him...

"Audvermeas," Tauriel gasped, "I should have known..."

"You know him?" Dimitria asked

"Oh are these your new friends?" Audvermeas asked, "Tauriel, you never could keep them." He closed his book. "Tell me, how are things back home? Are they missing you yet?"

"A home you left and abandoned when you abandoned our ways!" Tauriel snapped in Elvish, "you are of no great loss to us!" 

"Tsk Tsk Tsk," he chided, "You think this weak mage, an old dwarf and this barbarian lout will save you? When I am done performing this ritual, which I will undoubtedly finish, I will be more powerful than even Skalitos himself. All I need is his book. You will, of course, provide it to me, mage and then I will allow you to leave, alive...for now." 

"You'll get nothing of the sort, fiend!" Drago spat, "What you will get is a taste of nothing but cold steel" 

Audvermeas laughed as he stepped from behind his podium. 

"Then let's have that taste, shall we?" he said mockingly. He lifted his hands and stretched his bony fingers to the ceiling, before he could utter the first syllable of his word, Tauriel leapt toward him and he swung with the back of his hand, his moves were like lightning but Tauriel dodged. He was narrowly missed by Tauriel's swings of her sword. Drago and Thorin moved in quickly, stabbing and swinging, still missing the Chaos Lord who's moves seemed darkly aethereal. A single stroke through the air of Dimitria's staff finally caught Audvermeas  in the temple, stopping his movement who suddenly found himself hacked, stabbed and slashed to death by the rest of them. Thorin, took his head with his axe, ensuring his death would be final. 

They searched the room for anything else they could take. The only worthwhile finds were a scroll with another sleep spell written in Elvish and some jewelry which would later be sold or traded. They sealed the room and looked at each other. 

"Nightshade," said Drago, "If you have the means, get us out of here...once and for all."  

Dimitria nodded and slowly raised her staff and lantern and uttered her incantation. As the room dissolved around them and became as clouds, soon it would form around them again as the entrance to the cavern. They emerged into full daylight. For a moment, each of them turned their faces sunward and closed their eyes. Covered in the grime, dirt, dried blood and soot from inside the cavern, they stood there, basking in the mid-day's warm glow. 

"Come," Drago said, "We're going home. I am in need of a bath and strong drink."

"Aye, lad," Thorin chimed in, "And proper food...a proper feast."

"A proper library," Dimitria chimed in, "There's still much for me to study."

"Will you not be joining us in the feast then?" Tauriel asked.

"Yes, will you not be joining us, Nightshade?" Drago asked, "You've asked me to trust you this far. You've more than earned that trust. It was my hope that it could continue, this association of ours." 

Thorin and Tauriel looked on in surprise to see Drago's change of heart. 

"Are you saying you trust me, Drago?" Dimitria Nightshade asked.

Drago took only a moment before nodding. 

"Yes," he said, "Yes. I still do not like magics but while I don't trust those spells of yours, I do still trust you. Again, I ask, as one of us, will you join us?"

Dimitria smiled. 

"I will," she said, "Perhaps study can be for another day."

The Harbingers arrived in Ferrymoon Village, stumbling into The Merciful Stag Inn. They bathed, had their wounds attended, feasted and drank their fill, regaling the Inn's patrons with their tales and petty arguments. 

Outside, a lone hooded figure peered in through the window. 

"So, Audvermeas lives no more," he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing, "and The Harbingers prove more resourceful than I'd anticipated. Don't worry, Harbingers, I have more in store for you. 

The lone figure slipped from the porch of The Merciful Stag Inn and blended into a small caravan on their way out of the village. 

Cavern of The Chaos Lord, the end. 

Cavern of The Chaos Lord: The Reckoning pt 1.

 By dawn, The Harbingers were huddled around the fire stoking the flames of it and discussing their strategy over tea Dimitria had made for them. The herbs that she was able to find around the forest had helped in their healing, though these weren't healing potions, it would keep them from getting any weaker during their recovery. She'd tended to the wounds of everyone, even Drago softening to her care. 

Drago's intense, grey eyes flared as he spoke to the group, having used sticks to make a crude series of pathways and stones to indicate the marching order. 

"The first room we revisit," he said, "is the room of that greedy dragon who took every means we have of repairing weapons or affording food."

"We've done well for ourselves without it," Tauriel interjected. The elves had lived in harmony with nature. Everything built in the Vanadian Forests was built to keep the destruction to a scant minimum. Those whom had seen the Vanadian lands had described them as some of the most beautiful in the known world. 

"That's not the point," Thorin said, "it wasn't the dragon's to take. Drago's right. We need that coin if we're to be at least somewhat effective."

"Dwarves and their gold," Tauriel mocked, flippantly.

"If we're quite finished," Drago stated, "Once the dragon is confronted and defeated, we take the gold and we search. If the dragon has taken from one, he's taken from another as well. From there, we clear these caverns of every threat, search every room, we leave nothing behind. That includes any scrolls and magic items," he said, turning his attention to Dimitria and Tauriel, "Those will be entrusted the two of you. You'll be behind myself and Thorin. Nightshade, stay behind the elf." 

Dimitria nodded, understandingly. Not having the strength or fighting prowess of the other three, being the last in line was more of a comfort to her than anything. 

"Everyone eat and drink their fill tonight," Drago said, "Tomorrow...nothing in there survives. This time, it's now or never. Skalds or no skalds," he said, turning his attention to Thorin. 

Thorin pressed his lips together beneath his heavy facial hair. He nodded. In some way, he swore to himself that Drago was growing into the role of a capable leader for one of the Boreal Tribe but he also had to wonder if Drago's single-minded mission meant that none of them would emerge.

The day was spent, preparing rations, gathering the pelts that had been stretched and dried, gathering water in waterskins, preparing spells for the next day, sharpening weapons and repairing armor as best it could be repaired. Everyone had a part to do and, when it was done, extra hands were lent to the efforts of others. 

The Reckoning:

They slowly marched in, Dimitria pulling up the rear with the lantern. Having done this twice before, The Harbingers marched forward into the cavern...

As they filed into the cavern, Drago raised a hand, his other gripped the sword he carried. They slowed their approach, their footfalls careful and deliberate. Suddenly, there were the sounds of shuffles and clicks as the light revealed the horror of the skeletons carrying spears in front of them. 

Drago's eyes went wide. The center skeleton thrust it's spear at Drago. Drago used the flat of his blade to drive the tip into the corner of the wall next to him before taking the skull from the rest of the bones, leaving them to collapse into a pile before him. The next skeleton moved in to take advantage of Drago before the entire corridor lit up and Drago saw something momentarily arc over his head and come crashing down upon the skeleton, leaving the bones lit aflame. With Thorin being unable to attack, she'd summoned a fireball and launched it over their heads. One fire-laden skeleton crashed into another, causing the other to collapse into a mass of immolated bones. The last one, going for Drago amidst the chaos found himself being blown to bonedust by Dimitria's lightning spell. Drago moved even more deeply into the cavern, waving the rest in. They searched the bones for a moment and found nothing more than the wreckage of the skeletons and their weapons. Proceeding to the room at the end of the hall, they moved into the room to finally confront the dragon. 

Carcax, the dragon heard someone coming and quickly put away the treasure he'd been inspecting. As he straightened himself, he saw the same band of adventurers enter the room

"Back so soon!" he said, grinning, revealing a mouth full of young, sharp teeth. He had not yet learned to fly. He hadn't matured into that form just yet but knew it was important to use his life span to hoarding gold, jewels and immense wealth, "I see you've come to pay tribute again. I am happy to see you all, of course."

"Not this time, Dragon," said Drago, "We'll be needing the gold you took from us." 

"If this is a jest," Carcax said, "I do not find humor in it..."

"It's no jest," said Drago, "Your extortion days are over. Give us the gold and we part ways. You'll not pursue or send any other beasts after us. Don't...and we take everything." 

Carcax flew into a rage. He lunged once, twice, taking clawed swings at Drago. Tauriel stepped in with her sword taking a graceful swing, cutting into the small dragon's side, Cacax howled in pain, drawing back. Drago saw the opportunity and thrust the blade of his sword into the dragon's chest, piercing it's heart before using the totality of his strength to twist hard. 

Carcax's mouth was open but the sound stopped, no sound and no fire coming from it. Drago forcefully drew his sword from the dragon's body and stepped back as Carcax fell over, dead. Drago looked to Tauriel and nodded.

"There is something in here," Thorin said, sniffing the air, "I smell gold but...there's something else."

"Shhhh!" said Dimitria, "Listen!"

They could hear the sounds of scratching and squeaking before, they found themselves beset by giant rats. One by one, eleven giant rats pushed The Harbingers back toward the entrance

"NIGHTSHADE! FALL BACK!" commanded Drago. 

Dimitria did as ordered, quickly backing out of the room, her one offensive spell used, she didn't have much in the way of choice. 

Immediately, Thorin used the back part of his axe and began hammering at the floor while Drago took sweeping swings with his sword. Tauriel fell back to cover Dimitria, her only offensive spell also used on the earlier skeletons. From inside the room there were sounds of steel clanging off the stones of the floor, a sword tip scraping stone, grunting, stomping, squeals and crunches. The sounds of the horror seemed to last an eternity until finally, all sounds save for the sounds of heavy breathing and then...laughter

"Alright you two," Thorin said, "You can enter again." 

They entered to see Drago and Thorin clearing the bodies of the Carcax and the rats away.

Thorin set his nose into the air again, sniffing the damp air and following what he was convinced was the scent of riches. Dimitria aided in Thorin's search.

"Thorin, look!" she said, pointing toward the spots of pooled and smeared blood mingled from the beasts they'd just bested. There was a series of scratches in the stone, highlighted in the blood settled into the grooves in the stone tile.

The Harbingers aided Thorin in trying to work a couple of loose stones away from the wall and Dimitria shone the lantern into the hole. Several jewels, their gold and then some were stashed inside. Thorin reached in and began collecting the small horde, the majority of which, they were forced to contribute. Drago smiled, proudly until Tauriel spoke

"That was lucky," she said, "Aside from Thorin's keen sense for treasure, provoking a dragon was probably not our best idea." 

The smile slowly faded from Drago's face until he noticed Dimitria standing against the far wall, whispering something. The room slowly illuminated, but not from the lantern, a fireball or some impending bolt of lightning but a woman.

The Lady In White, there were untold rumors and stories about her. Drago moved back, Tauriel placed her own back to the wall, as did Thorin. Dimitria, stared at her in awe.

"You must take your treasure, adventurers," she said, her ethereal voice reverberating through the room,"but I must ask something in return. The dragon had taken something from me after he killed me. May I trouble you for one quest for which I will reward you?"

Drago couldn't speak. He had heard of spirits unable to move on, bound to bodies that were rotten but never of a spirit without a body unable to move on.

"What is your proposal?" Dimitria asked, "If it will remove the curse from one of these treasures, we will honor your request."

Thorin and Tauriel looked at each other. She looked at a still stunned and horrified Drago and then back to Thorin, raising an eyebrow and shrugging.

"Find a handful of fool's gold and bring it to me," she said, "You will be aiding in my journey to my eternal rest."

"Understood," Dimitria said, looking momentarily to Drago, then back to The Lady In White, "You will have your passage before we leave."

Thorin reached out and gently place his hand on Drago's back. 

"Come on, Drago," he whispered, "She is of no harm to us, and we may do something glorious for at least one this day.

Drago moved out, followed by Thorin, Tauriel and Dimitria. 

As they moved, Drago shook the image, only looking back to ensure they weren't being followed. He couldn't stop the hair on the back of his neck from standing up. He hoped to make whatever other horrors lurked in these caverns would join her in death and bother the townspeople of Ferrymoon Village no more. 

As they followed Drago to the right, they watched as Drago entered a room only for him to yell to all of them to stay back. 

They heard three fierce grunts and Drago's sword striking something and thudding to the ground. Fully expecting an orc or something similar, The Harbingers entered the room to find three dead giant centipedes. All three had been hacked in half by Drago's sword. Drago stood among the mutilated bugs and looked at them as they entered, nodding, indicating that they should continue following him. 

They finally came to the corridor. There was a dead ogre in the next room, they were all sure of it but when they entered, they encountered another small dragon.

"Ah! Greetings!" The Dragon said, amiably, "Ah, come in! Come in! Let's have a look at you!" The dragon's deep voice filled the room but there was no sight of the ogre they'd faced before.

"Where is the ogre?" Thorin asked, "We killed one not fourteen days ago."

The Dragon laughed, heartily. 

"Where are my manners, then?" he asked, still laughing, "Please, put away your weapons. You'll not be needing them with me. You've fed me! Why should I bring those whom feed me harm. I am in your debt! To answer your question, Dwarf, that's how long it took me to consume him. I was very very hungry before you came along. I saw that he hurt you. I ensured that he would not be here to repeat such an act. So uncivilized was he. My name is Finh and I am at your service. My apologies for not having refreshment for you. I wish I had at least some wine to give you all. You must have come such a long way."

"I am Drago, of the Boreal," Drago said, sheathing his sword and finally relaxing, "Thorin Fireforge, Tauriel Silverleaf and Dimitria Nightshade, my companions."

"I hear a name on the winds," the dragon said, lifting his head and closing his eyes, "Harbingers..."

They looked at each other in surprise for a moment.

"The winds?" Drago asked, 

Finh laughed again. 

"Forgive me," he said, "your name has been spoken about in whispers since you first showed and took Throk's head. It is said that a mage employed you to take his head. Spiro, I believe his name was."

Dimitria's eyes went wide. Drago noticed.

"You know of him?" He asked her. 

"Spiro Ellios," she said, "There have been rumors about him in The Mages' Conclave, stories about him wandering the world on and on. He swore he'd find the secret to immortality. That was..."

"Seven generations ago," Finh said, "I met him once. Not five months before you came here. He entrusted me with something, I entrusted him with something in return."

"The Book of Skalitos," she said, almost asking Finh

"Yeeeessss!" Finh responded laughing, "I had finished reading it. I thought he would find it more interesting than I did. Skalitos always was a little verbiose for my taste. I should not be, the four of you, my friends are adventurers and thus, I may have something of an adventure for you, should you be interested. A quest, if you will."

"Name the terms of your quest," said Drago, "We shall see." 

"Four adventurers such as yourselves, so young and energetic should not find this challenge to be too difficult but there will be a reward if you complete it," Finh said, "I know there are evil and wicked things in here. Some of them fear even me, however, if you subdue your next three threats, I shall tell you what reward lies in store for you." 

They looked at each other. The promise of further reward was great but Ferrymoon's own forest had been under threat. The entire purpose for coming was to ensure that there would be no more threats.

"If I may," Tauriel said, "You're right, Finh, we've come a long way. There's a village not half a day's ride from here. The Foresters harvesting lumber for the townsfolk were being killed by orcs. We've come to ensure that those threats would cease. Our mission here is to further defend those people. If there are other orcs, that is not a promise we may be able to keep."

"I do understand," Finh said, nodding,"Understand that this is merely an option. If you manage to do so, report back to me and the reward shall be yours."

"If not?" Drago asked.

"Then you have all my best wishes," Finh said, "and you have my thanks for the meal."

"You are welcome," Drago replied as the dragon moved from the room's exit, "Farewell, friend. Hopefully, we'll see each other again."

"Yes, I would like that," Finh said, "It is always so good to find good company and you, Harbingers, have been fine company. Come back anytime."

The Harbingers moved through the corridor and into the hallway

"Drago!" Dimitria called ahead. The entire group stopped as they all looked back to her. "We can meet the challenge!"

"What?" asked Drago, puzzled

"I've prepared two sleep spells," She said, "If I cast them, and they work, we will have met the challenge at least that far."

"If they don't?" Drago asked, "Or we meet the third and you have nothing left?"

Dimitria looked to Tauriel.

"There would be no means of aid for me," Tauriel said, "The only spell I had at my disposal was a fireball spell." 

"It's worth it to at least try," Thorin added, "We have two attempts to sort this out. If it doesn't work, then there's no reward from Finh...but if it does..."

Drago pressed his lips together as he thought everyone's words through. Fact is, the magic Tauriel and Dimitria used still unsettled him, however, it had not been used on him in any harmful way. He nodded in agreement and then nodded them on further. 

They stopped in the hallway, listening and then proceeded slowly, hearing voices coming from the next room. They slowly entered into the room until Drago drew his sword, surprising all six of the hobgoblins huddled in the room. As they turned to face The Harbingers, weapons drawn, Dimitria acted.

"Somnabularum!" Dimitria exclaimed, her hands extending outward from her. 

The hobgoblins, ready for violence initially seemed confused at first, looking at each other and the group in surprise, disbelief and wonder. They began to yawn and drop their weapons, some of them fell where they were and others fell on top of them. The loud sounds of snoring replacing the howling war cries of the hobgoblins. Everyone looked at Dimitria and then back to the sleeping pile of hobgoblins. She shrugged. 

"Well," Thorin said, "One down..."

"Indeed!" Tauriel added, "Nice work!"

"Thank you," the mage said, "Perhaps we should search them? Might find something useful among their possessions."

"Agreed," Drago said, resheathing his sword. 

As they searched the sleeping hobgoblins, the adventurers began tossing their finds into a pile to be sorted through once they were finished. Thorin and Drago dragged the sleeping hobgoblins into a corner to rest.

"How long does this last?" Drago asked. 

"I don't know," Dimitria told him, "but whatever we take, we need to sort it now and move on before they wake up."

The pickings were scant but there was more gold, a bit of jewelry and a scroll, which Tauriel kept among her own things. 

"Looks to be an escape spell," she said, tucking it away, "Same as the one Dimitria used to get us back to the entrance. It will make a convenient means of exiting quickly if we need it."

"We're going," Drago said, "Quickly!"

The adventurers exited the room while the hobgoblins slept

To Be Continued...

Cavern of The Chaos Lord: Harbingers' Rest

Recap of The Twitter Thread: 

Last time, The Harbingers responded to rumors of orcs murdering the town's foresters. Lead by Drago, they returned to the cavern, where Throk had been confronted and killed. As they explored the cavern more deeply, a small dragon demanded a bribe, offering to let them walk free if they did. Now destitute, The Harbingers fought their way more deeply into the cavernous lair, accidentally alerting an Ogre. After a hard-fought victory, Dimitria Nightshade cast her escape spell on the group, infuriating Drago, causing a rift in the Harbingers. Having no money for an inn, weakened, beaten and battered, they retreat into the forest, unable to afford another night at the inn or the services of a healer. 

The Forest Near Ferrymoon Village: Two Weeks Later...

Thorin Fireforge sat at the fire, stroking his beard. His war axe hadn't exactly been ideal for processing wood for a fire but it was what they had. He sat next to the sullen Drago. His own wounds had been healing far more quickly than even he'd expected. He warmed himself near the fire. 

"If you're looking to console me again, Dwarf," he said, "do us both a favor and keep it to yourself."

Thorin looked at him, shaking his head and stroking his beard. He wouldn't make the attempt. 

Dimitria sat under the constructed shelter, settled back from the fire. Drago's eyes seemed to peer past the flames of the burning campfire to her. She was deep in study of the Book of Skalitos. 

"We face monsters, Thorin," he said in a low tone, "and she spends her hours going through that damned book."

"I suppose you believe she shouldn't," he said sardonically to Drago, "The Elf hunts for our food, Dimitria studies her magics and you sit here sullen, lamenting your lost glory. Tell me something, Drago, your people, there are songs sung of their mighty deeds, yes?"

Drago's eyes turned toward Thorin and narrowed. 

"Mind your tone, Dwarf," he warned, "What of it?"

Thorin stood up so that he could finally look Drago in the eye as he sat on the logs he and Drago had hefted and rolled into place. 

"Suppose for a moment," he said in his normally gruff tone, "That a man of your tribe dies in battle. How do you know?"

Drago's eyes had never left Thorin. When the dwarf had stood, he'd straightened himself even as he sat but now, he hunched at the question, thinking about it momentarily

"Others sing of his deeds," he says, "If they're worthy of song. Many of the skalds of our tribe go forth with those warriors. Whether the warrior comes back or not, their deeds are committed to song. Those songs are passed down. We have an entire protected group of those people in our tribe to ensure their legacies are carried on."

"And where are your skalds now?" Thorin asked, "We were nearly mauled to death by an Ogre we surprised. Had we all perished, had you told anyone in Ferrymoon where we were going? I've not seen a skald with you. None of us had time to let anyone know, we followed you, at your request, taking your leadership, your initiative to go back but had we perished, Drago, there would be no one to carry any of us out of that cavern. There have been no orcs out here in the fortnight we've been encamped, resting, healing...and spending our time trying not to piss you off."

Thorin took a seat next to Drago, who's face, frowned deeper in thought at his words. He hadn't moved and his eyes were now directed into the center of the campfire.

"Drago," Thorin said, "we're fighters in this. I've spent my life either fighting or crafting weapons and armor that would make my family proud. You're young, still. You and I did the heaviest of work building this site an easily-defended position. Tauriel hunts, fishes, we cook and take care of the water but what's most important is that Dimitria saw to it that we fight another day. Dying in there a fortnight ago would give us no glory, Drago. She knows it's important to you. Glory, that is."

"Someone telling tales again?" a female voice  emerged from the twilight, carrying a few dead rabbits by the ears, "Fireforge, now is certainly not a time to rub it in the Barbarian's face when his pride remains the one wound that refuses to heal." 

Her jest earned a groan from Thorin and an irritated glance from Drago. 

"Ohhhh, go back to your stories, Dwarf," she said, dismissively, "I was hoping the boys wouldn't mind helping me dress these rabbits so perhaps we can eat?" Tauriel's smirk was playful as she brought the rabbits over.

"What I was saying, Elf," Thorin snapped, "was that we had been chosen. Carefully selected by the man who carried the very book Dimitria is deeply studying right this second. We didn't know each other. Until that night, none of us had ever met. At the end of any given day, we all would have parted ways, would we not?"

Drago and Tauriel looked at each other as they began to prepare the rabbits for the night's meal. Drago's curiosity was now creeping in, pushing the empty self-pity out.

"Go on," the young warrior said. 

"I agree," the elf maiden replied, "You have me intrigued."

"Drago's raw power, Dimitria's magic," Thorin replied, "Tauriel, you're a graceful fighter with some magical ability and my ability to both fight and," he said spreading his arms at their campsite, "construct things. Only recently did we know that Dimitria is well-versed in herb lore as well." 

"Admittedly, the dwarf has a point," Tauriel said, one of her eyebrows lifting as she smiled, looking at Drago.

"Don't encourage him, Tauriel," he said.

"Tell me the food has tasted better elsewhere!" the elf said, playfully, "All four of us fit together better than we thought, is that what you're saying, Dwarf?"

"That is exactly what he's saying," said Dimitria as she took her place next to Tauriel with a bag of gathered herbs she'd dried and crushed, "We spoke of this earlier. Thorin's theory holds up well though there's little in the way to prove it, save for what he's pointed out." 

There was a hush among the Harbingers as they silently processed the rabbits Tauriel had caught for the meal. Drago had taken the pelts with Thorin's help and had them stretched for selling later. Being broke, they'd need every gold dabloom they could get. Trapping animals would fetch them at least a meal, maybe two and that may be enough. Tauriel and Dimitria discussed matters of magic as the meat cooked over the fire. 

The four enjoyed dinner. None wore armor or weapons. All accoutrements of battle rested in their respective shelters. For the first time in two weeks, they conversed between each other. Playful banter, questions to each other, discussion of when they first met. Thorin sat back with his waterskin and watched them, smiling. Drago's steel-grey eyes seemed to sparkle when he laughed, provoked by Dimitria's impression of Thorin with Thorin interjecting "I don't talk like that!" 

As the conversation wound down for the night, Drago offered a song of the founding of his people. Driven from their original home by one of their own who turned to necromancy, they had settled in a part of the north called Boreal, they vowed, after having lost so many and defending themselves from Martin and his hordes of undead, a blight upon honored warriors, it caused them to form a new burial custom of cremation so that no warrior would ever be desecrated in such a way ever again. 

They each came to understood that Drago's indignation at having magic used as a means of leaving a deadly situation quickly came from a place of generational trauma and a deep sadness among his people. A brief and terrible glimpse into the Borealean Saga that left an indelible mark on them all. 

When the song ended, no one spoke. As they fell asleep, one by one, only Thorin stayed awake. He sat, taking watch from his shelter, glancing at Drago. 

"Gods, protect you, boy," he said, his dark eyes squinting in the firelight, "May the glory you seek find you while you still live to enjoy it."

Soon, Thorin grimly understood, there would be a reckoning. The Harbingers would be going back soon. Whatever evil lurked in there, it would regret ever crossing any group with Drago as it's leader.

To Be Continued...

Author's note: This particular entry wasn't accompanied with photos of actual play because this is a story of how they finally begin to come together. It's an attempt at telling the story that took place entirely in my head between Session 2 and 3 of my Four Against Darkness adventure. The thing is, the characters were rolled and very little was chosen by me. Most of what you see is a result of dice rolls. I really let a lot of randomization happen and then let the text decide much of the rest. They're a mismatched group that didn't exactly trust each other. They're as dysfunctional as The Companions in The Dragonlance novels, however, their stories are beginning to form, they don't have a history at all. At present, the mysterious stranger who selected them and put them together has yet to be seen or heard from again. I hope you enjoyed that because the next installment of this story will be a full-blown battle report in story form with the images of actual play to accompany it. 

Four Against Darkness: Cavern of The Chaos Lord The Story So Far

The Story So Far:

Four wandering adventurers from disparate backgrounds are settled in The Merciful Stag Pub when a mysterious stranger enters and selects each of the four adventurers for a mission.

Hadrian Drago of Boreal, a land to the north. Barbarian. A young warrior who has ventured forth into the world in search of glory and riches. Skilled in swordplay and long in courage, he can be brash and impulsive but he has a code by which he lives. Superstitious, he regards those whom use magic with suspicion.

Thorin Fireforge, a Dwarf from the lands of Krytan, moving into the world seeking the skills to apply his crafting and weaponry. He is over a century old and has spent his days reading and attempting to apply his knowledge to perfecting his crafting skills. Now he seeks experience to put his skills together.

Tauriel Silverleaf, an Elf from the realm of Vanadia. In her 60 years, she’s decided to see the world outside of The Vanadian Realm. Her limited magic combined with her skill with a sword make her both smart and deadly.

Dimitria Nightshade, a low-level mage from the University in Sinesia. Her adventuring is part of the Sinesian University’s final test, the ability to find, translate and use spells as needed in the service of others.

The mysterious stranger summons each of them to his table, feeding them and telling them of the threat known as Throk, an orc currently stationed in a cavern close to Ferrymoon Village. He promises that, should they return with the head of this orc general, he would reward them handsomely. He told them they’d be known as The Harbingers, collectively.

With the promise of reward and visions of gold dancing in their heads, they set out the next day, having been fed and rested. Their travels into the forest took them to the cave, guided by the Stranger, whose name they never did get. He informed them that he would wait at the cave’s entrance for their return but warned them that no one whom had ever entered the cavern had ever returned alive.

The Harbingers entered, battled their way into Throk’s Stronghold, successfully took his head and then battled their way back out. Emerging beaten, worn, tired, hungry, and a bit richer than they went in, they presented the head of Throk to the Stranger. He presented Dimitria with The Book of Skalitos, a legendary book of spells and walked away with the head of Throk in a sack. The Harbingers returned to Ferrymoon Village with enough money to cover lodging and food.

Several weeks later, reports of wandering orcs stalking and killing the villages lumberjacks in the forest begin emerging. Drago, overhearing the news sets out to find Thorin, telling him to gather the other two from the library, they have to go back…

The Story of The Harbingers' Attempt To Clear Throk's Lair Continues On Twitter