The group agreed that the best way was into the hole to seek Sharmaign and Balazaar immediately as not to weaken the group on the minions of Balazaar. The room with the hole was a roughly cut circular room of 20'. 4 torches were fastened to the walls in the cardinal directions of the room, while a hole in the floor with a crudely cut stone stepped head down into the unknown. Torches lined the walls of the steps as the party followed the vigilant Culdat down the steps. Finding no traps, he ushered the group to follow closely. Upon reaching the bottom, some 20’ below, came yet another corridor, identical to the one above. This one headed North 60' on a well lit path to another room, this one well lit aswell, with no apparant occupants. Too far to see any details, there was only two ways to go - onward or backward. A human sounding voice was heard echoing against the wall coming from the northern passage. "Are there any other prisoners here ?"
Upon hearing the humanoid voice from ahead, Culdat moved forward cautiously. Intrigued by the notion that there might be a little treasure to be had ... and soon. Humus whispered to the others, "We pretty much have chosen our path. On towards the voices, but cautiously. Culdat, lead us on if you please." As the party progressed through the opening and into the unknown, Ashal expressed his hindsight as he rubbed the ruby dragon that hung around his neck. Whispering just loud enough to be heard, "I sure hope that chest didn't hold something that we could've used against the two that we're soon to be up against. If it was an offering, it might have been powerful mojo." Da Ghiri whispered too, "Let's get cloooser but try to let me pray for a blessing on the party befooore we enter actual combat. When fighting starts I'll try to hooold the Human, the spell is mooore potent when oonly oone is targeted, the warrior's can deal with the deeemon..." Jardel smiled at Da Ghiri’s last remark regarding the warriors combatting the demon. "Tis true good priest, us warriors have the demon as first priority on our death list, yet perhaps any evil spellcasters we encounter might be more dangerous than Balazaar himself. Who is to say what profession Sharmaign treats. Arcane lore ?"Upon hearing the semi-human voice the elderly paladin gripped his shield a little tighter and checked the rear, the path already traversed. Tis was no good in being ambushed. "Friends, do not despair, I myself also have dangerous pyro arcane magic to unleash upon any evil, yet it is too dangerous in these small chambers. Continue on with the wisdom of Heimdall. Ashal, you as an intelligent mage surely have our path in mind. Here underground my bearings are rattled and I am confused." He follows up the party with his longsword crackling amid a small cozy fire. Hearing Jardel and Da Ghiri's conversation, Humus decides to add his two copper pieces worth, "Actually, I think that the demon himself would be the greater foe - even if the other guy is proficient in the arcane arts. Remember what the prince said ? He said that demons could gate others of their kind into this realm. I would hate to be overrun by a demon hoard to tell you the truth. Also, remember that a demon will most likely shrug off a fire based attack - considering where it came from." Seeing this time was good as any, Ashal unsheathed his own fire brand. Flowing with a magical fire of it's own, it made no sound - just as it failed to illuminate the area around it. Providing an intense heat, Ashal kept it in a ready position, showing a stance that betrayed his knowledge as a swordsman.
The group decided to move forward towards the voice down the corridor. Flame lit blades crackled as the adventurers stepped cautiously forward. The corridor headed straight North for 60', then entered into a large, 30’x30’ room with three exits. One dead ahead, one at an angle to the left of the northern exit, heading Northwest. Another left at the opposite angle on the right of the northern exit, this one going Northeast. It looked like three corridors straight in front, but only one went straight, the other two angled off. The voice sounded as if it came from the northern path. Entering the northern corridor it looked like the others, very long, around 120’ long at least and well lit by torches along the wall. Around 60' into the corridor, Culdat stopped the group. There were six thick oaken doors with vertical bars in 5’ hight, 3 to each side, about 10’ apart. Light came from the first one on the eastern side, wheras the rest remained dark. Culdat inspected this door, finding it locked, but not trapped, but he was too short to look inside, as the opening was to high for the halfling. Armor could be heard jingling from the North coming from the end of the hall. Humus whispered quickly to the others, "I bet that this must be the prisoners that they were talking about. We must move quickly. Culdat, Da Ghiri, why don't you help me check out what is behind this door, if it is safe, and help anyone behind it. The rest of you prepare to meet an attack from the North. We cannot leave any innocent here. Also, as they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Humus then attempted to look inside through the door's lock. The little halfling moved aside as Humus tried the door. Beads of sweat began to trickle on Culdat's brow, forcing him to wipe it into his matted hair. Seeing the corridor well lit by torches now, Jardel willed his blade to cease flaming. Being in the rear of the party, about 40’ back of the original 3-way split of the corridor like a w, Jardel actually turned his back on the party and concentrated his complete efforts on the trail just passed through, also detecting any evil possibly sneaking up from the rear. Wary of the many tunnels and branches he deemed himself lost. Hissing into the hallway, "With all these doors and hallways I expect to be ambushed, surrounded and our retreat blocked for sure. I don’t like this at all !" He slid over to the side of the eastern wall, staying out of the center of the corridor, as he pulled up his shield tightly. Da Ghiri nodded and adopted a fighting stance to the side of the door, ready to leap to Humus aid should the need arise. Hearing Jardel's concerns about an ambush, Humus whispered over his shoulder, "I know how you feel, but it is to be expected - especially when you enter the 'lion's' den. Everyone, just be ready for anything to happen !" Caladan moved as silent as possible over to look inside the door, He whispered to Culdat and the rest "We should hide in one of these rooms, until we see just how many armored men are coming our way ! If all these room are empty and, if we're lucky, unlocked, we could attack what approaches from all sides at once. Let's see what hides behind door number one." Culdat tried to open the locked door quickly. "Could one of you taller fellows please have a look in through the bars of the door, my height, or lack thereof, enables me to see about as much as a bat at full zenith." Humus looked into the barred opening in the door and saw a medium sized man inside peeking out. "Pssst. In here. Be careful, there are undead about. I was brought here by skeletons. Can any of you open this cell ?" Culdat sprang forth at the opportunity to open the door. His lockpicks worked deftly and true as the lock clicked with the sound of the tumblers unlocking the door.
A medium sized human suddenly stood before with a blade of fire in his hands. Precisely then a metallic noise came to life as 5 skeletons emerged from the corridor 120’ to the North. Belgrius, the medium sized individual from the first cell stepped out grasping his holy symbol and holding it in front of him. Casting a quick look at the halfling, "Thanks". Before Culdat and Humus stood a young half-elf. Standing 5'7" tall of medium weight he was not a very imposing figure. He was wearing no armor, at least that you can see. He was dressed in a doublet, pantaloons, shirt and soft boots, all in shades of navy blue and white. The clothes were of moderately good quality but not fancy. He carried a footman's flail strapped to his right wrist and was wearing a large belt pouch around his waist with a backpack on his back with a footman's mace hanging by a hook from it. His left hand adorned a ring. He had platinum white hair with a ˝ inch brown streak over his left side. His eyes were so dark they appeared purple. His skin was deeply tanned and a scar on his forehead was about two inches long and had long since healed. With gratification he thanked the others and turned his attention immediately to the skeletons approaching from the North. "In the name of Diancecht I dispell you. Turn and go back to the nether-world where you belong." He spoke this to each skeleton he could see and showed the holy symbol to them. Then he moved forward to reach the one’s farther away. Humus and Culdat were standing at the door looking at the group of armored skeletons emerging from the corridor to the North. 5 in all looked easy pickings, but then, as Jardel said, this could be an ambush. From the South near Jardel, another group of 5 armored skeletons had emerged, then another, then another. For a grand total of 20 skeletons. The ones from the South came from the "W" shaped exits, 5 from each direction. Within seconds before the skeletons attacked from the southern corridor, the immeadiate area of a 30’ radius around Jardel was bathed in a warm radiant light blue color, emanating from his marvelous helm. Jardel was quickly in close combat with 15 skeletons, but to the luck of the party, only 2 can fit in the corridor at a time, just as in the North. The first two skeletons combating Jardel struk simultaneously, but neither reached their target as Jardel's skill with his enchanted blade outmatched the slowness of death. Humus, Caladan, and Culdat were facing the northern enemy, and Da Ghiri, Kethas and Jardel were facing the rear enemy. Da Ghiri stepped in front of Kethas, to keep the mage from the skeletons, and adopted a fighting stance. He waited for the new comrad to dispel the creatures, but if they reached him he was willed to strike out bare-handed, attempting to coordinate his attacks with Jardel's. Caladan looked to the North and South "I can prevent one of the groups from reaching us right away. Then we could focus on one group at a time. Perhaps we could gain time to move on to the a larger chamber where we could fight more freely." Seeing the skeletons appear, Humus turned his glowing blade to the group to the North. "Caladan, help me with this group. Ashal, help Jardel with those to the South. We'll let the clerics see what they can do to get rid of these undead. All we will have to do is hold them at bay for a little while and clean up those that remain." Quickly he introduced himself to the newcomer, "I am Humus Giantbane. Any assistance that you can render would be most helpful at this point." With the formalities out of the way, Humus turned his total attention to the skeletons. Not wanting to be fighting back to back in a confined space, Humus rushed off to engage the northern skeletons. As he ran, the light from his sword reflected off his brightly polished plate armor.
Ashal wedged himself in the southern running corridor behind Jardel. Having been the last of the group in line and having retreated a few steps back towards the way the party had entered this hallway Jardel had positioned himself alone along the eastern side of the hallway about 10’ from the next in line. Having blocked the first two attacks with his shield from the first row of skeletons lining up in the southern corridor, he was quick for words and actions. "Everyone, stand behind me." Not wasting any time he positioned himself solely into the center of the hallway and began chanting arcane words. "cunare a feuris et pas un mauro." Finishing these words with a hightened voice he pointed his elven blade in the direction of the first row of skeletons and suddenly a wall of yellow-green flames erupted directly in front of Jardel - blocking out the complete remaining hallway filled with skeletons. He was sure to have sized the wall perfectly, smaller than outside in wild nature and with the crackling and sizzling hot flames on the side averted to the party. Hopefully the first or second row of skeletons was caught within, bones melting to ashes and blocking out the others. Awaiting the closest skeletons to have possibly escaped the wall he swung his elven blade and bashed away with his shield to rattle the still moving skeletal bones to the ground - and to oblivion. Caladan charged the northern skeletons "I hate dungeons ! Undead things and fiends crawling all around you and there isn't enough space for one to wield a blade."
Belgrius stepped confidently forward holding two small branches tied to one another - mistltoe and oak. Charging the undead with words from his diety, all 5 of the northern skeletons turned away from the group and headed back to the North where they came from. From Jardels wall of fire 4 skeletons instantly fried and turned to ash, the others hesitating where they stood, not wanting the same fate as their comrades. Unsure what they should do, one entered through the flames and was turned to ash for its efforts, now only 10 skeletons remaining, and they were all being held off to the South by the wall of yellow green fire. The North was clear though. The rest of the group watched as the skeletons burned with holy fury and waited in case they decided to charge the fire, but none did, they just stood there, eerily watching through the flames with the hatred shared by undead of all those living. To the North lied another room in the distance, lit dimly by flickering torches. Added to the torchlight of the hallway, was a faint hint of a light blue light to the east from the cell where Belgrius had emerged from. Belgrius readied a spell. If the skeletons were in the far room he was willed to cast a devastating spell. There was a stern sense of hatred on his face that was aimed squarely at the undead creatures. Before casting the spell he called a warning to the members standing in front of him in the long hallway. "Remain clear of the far door so the potential rebound of my lightening will not strike you. With that, he spoke a prayer to his god for strength and then pointed his hand, muttering arcane words and letting lightening fly into the distant room, ducking afterwards to the side of the cell door to shield himself in case it rebounded. Seeing that Belgrius was about to cast a spell, Humus groaned. "Another mage with a vendetta he thinks to himself." As he was plastering himself against the wall, he yelled out to the others, "Quick - Get against the wall ! Belgrius is casting a spell !" He briefly thought about how he, Jardel and Culdat were the only ones in the party that were not able to cast spells and was chilled to the bone by the thought that just about anyone could play around with such power magic. After making sure that the spell was truly over Humus looked briefly towards the northern chamber. Then turning to the others. "I don't think that they will bother us for a while, but we need to make sure that those behind the wall of fire will not bother us. Culdat, would you mind watching the hall to the North and give us a warning if something comes down it ? Jardel, how long will that wall of fire last ? I'm sure when it stops those skeletons will continue their attack and besides we don't want them cutting off out way out." Belgrius’ lightning bolt sizzled and boomed into the far room to the North, going over Culdats head as he scouted close to the room. The bolt ricoched around in the room for a while before dying out with a loud bang. Culdat looked back at Belgrius with a look of fear on his face as he was nearly fried, then looked into the room ahead..
Jardel winced at the lightning bolt being fired by Belgrius into the far room, especially in such tight underground containment, where the turning of such spells off the walls was not uncommon. "Humus, my intention with this fire wall is to block and destroy the southern skeletons without wasting much effort and without taking damage. The flaming wall should last but 10 minutes so we should decide quickly on actions to take. Let us move on through the long hallway to the North. Tis probably the correct way down to Balazaar." As an unknown half-elf seemed to be aiding the party and no one else objected, the knight ignored him for the moment, his thoughts perusing further movement. Forceful he shouted to be heard above the booming echo of the lightning bolt and the sizzling crackle of the fire wall "Quick everyone, let us move on while we have time. Unfortunately our surprise element is past. We must make haste. Belgrius ... if you have been here before us ... completely armed and unharmed ... then you must certainly know your way around here somewhat ? We need the shortest route to Balazaar and Sharmaign ! Death is to be dealt to them and artifacts are to be found and restored to the crown. Show us the way." After letting loose his Lightening Bolt spell, Belgrius requested of the group in general, "Friends, may I have the honor of joining your group ?" Belgrius, who was very busy and was hyped up with adrenaline, called back to the group, "I know nothing of this place. I was captured and brought here blindefolded with a bag over my head. I do not even know what place this is." Hearing Jardel's estimation of how long the spell was to last and his intentions, Humus sighed. "So be it. Let us be off to the North and get this over with." Looking at the mage that just fired off the lightening bolt, "If you can help you may. Just please watch how you fire off those major damaging spells. We don't want to be the ones that are hurt by them. Jardel, will you please guard our flanks until we see what is up ahead." With sword drawn and giving off light Humus then took off towards the northern room, knowing that something - or someone, was waiting. Culdat breathed a sigh of relief after the first wave of attackers had been put down. "At least they aren't harpies," he muttered. Then, moving North into the shadows, the halfling attempted to scout the passage ahead, cursing the day he was born for not having the sight in darkness that his relatives did. Also feeling that the group should hurry now that it had been forced to tip its hand, Da Ghiri followed along with Jardel.
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