Aftermath

Only a few structures remain untouched in the behemoths wake; gobs of rubble litter the path of destruction that slices its way to the central courtyard. The complex of beautifully carved stone structures has been crippled by the creatures attack; this was of course, intended. Dedrick and Leone exhibit exhilaration while a calm, blank Ozzob returns to the ground. A group exchange begins in the middle of the courtyard, but is soon halted by clamor of battle. Clunky commotions ripple through standing halls.

Rushing into a lingering structure, the group hears the unmistakable echoes of steel on steel battle. Rounding a corner with abandon Leone is the first to see the display of destruction that is being unleashed by Tolvis, grand master of the temple; he is using his telekinetic prowess to engage five attackers with weapons that fly through the air. Dedrick recognizes the spectacle and dose not slow his approach. Unaware of the approaching danger, the attacker is caught off guard, Dedrick buries both spirit blades in the brigand’s chest. He throws the fading body to the ground and turns attention to the next attacker.

Tolvis controls the free sword and another from the bandit nearest Dedrick and redirects them onto the next target; the blades streak through the air on a silhouette of heat vapors. Free of the tireless onslaught the brigand lunges forward at the chance to strike a physical target; Dedrick’s weapon is blinding fast and catches the brigands blade before it strikes, the spirit weapon of the master psion dose not release its grip on the bandits sword. Dedrick leverages the blade to the side then slams in with an overhand chop that cleaves the attackers hand from his wrist; the sword clinks on the floor. Dedrick quickly follows the strike with a deadly blows to the neck of the brigand; a wound that he would not survive.

Unable to parry the blows of three weapons striking from every off angle imaginable one brigand falls under the sword of telekinetic manipulation by Tolvis. The grand master pulls another blade from its stalemate combat with one of the final remaining attackers; Dedrick strikes from behind as the brigand watches the sword fly off and pierce his comrade in the side, a spirit blade decapitates the man watching the wrong direction. Two more swords pierce the final brigand as he falls to his knees; two more swords follow that from different angles. Tolvis releases all the weapons that have struck home and picks up more that were dropped by the bandits; the new wave strikes home on the helpless bandit; he is pierced in nine spots, by every sword except his own.

Ozzob and Leone arrive at the side of Dedrick and awe at the carnage.

“That was a most entertaining display of misdirection.” Commented Ozzob.

“These men had no chance, though the timing of your arrival was welcome.”

“I am glad to see you still alive.”

Leone grabs everyone’s attention and redirects it to the far end of the hall. A dozen of the walking corpses have entered, more pour in from behind them.

“It is the gem, that damned thing sensed this attack and is stirring the dead. I mentioned it to Jealeac… the fool went down there.”

“But Jealeac is not a student. He is here, for… the gem.” Exclaimed Leone.

“Its true.” reassured Dedrick.

“Then we must stop him. The primary order of our temple is to protect everyone from it.”

#

Deep in the under-wash of the caverns the four companions attempt to track the movements of the skilled traitor Kala’Tan, a self proclaimed ‘master of the dark’. Ozzob’s body is a lantern in the dark, a globe of brightness tracks with him, but there is no perceivable light source to be observed. The group is unaware of the predators that stalk them from the darkness of the bowels; predators that consume their prey and spin silk prisons. A single pixie flies through the air above the group; she indirectly enhances there vision while explaining the history of the Gem of Rhulgar.

“The gem is beautiful, yes… but it is also functional. Wizards and magicians have always had special uses for various kinds of gems. The Gem of Rhulgar is a special kind of gem that functions as a capsule… container if you will. It holds the spirit of… Rhulgar.”

As the knowledge is passed the group slows in unison, deep contemplation exudes from everyone with equal ferocity.

“He has been dead for thousands of years.”

“Yes and no.” replies Serphyn. “He exists, but he has not be alive until now.”

“I did not realize that the gem bearing his name was a vessel of his soul. A realization that will forever haunt me.” mourned Tolvis.

“It is worse than you think. He is not just alive, but he can influence the world outside his prison. He rose the dead in an attempt to stop us and gain his freedom.”

“He is working with Kala’Tan?” questioned Dedrick.

“Indirectly.”

With there collective attention turned the group did not realize that they had walked into a trap. Ferocious spiders the size of small animals leap from every dark corner of the claustrophobic, naturally formed tunnel. Poison dripping fangs pierce flesh; Dedrick succumbs to the paralyzing bite and collapses onto the ground. Leone kicks one of the vermin away, losing his balance. From the ground he excitedly stabs the darkness as he attempts to kill another. The creatures are too numerous and they swarm over him with equally paralyzing stings. Tolvis and Ozzob push forward in a rush to escape the deadly confines of the passage.

In seconds the tight portal opens into a gigantic cavern, the two are perched on a ledge high above any walk-able passage. The quiet skittering becomes silent when the spiders leap into the air; they sail clean and grab onto Tolvis. More poisonous bites render the grand master immobile as he drops to his knees; Ozzob pushes him back after a few moments teetering on the edge of a very long fall. The sorcerer squares off on the approaching creatures, his back to the gaping chasm.

Grouped en-mass the creatures assault Ozzob, climbing his clothing; a single second before they touch him with the fatal bite he vanishes, only to reappear back inside the tunnel. Albeit confused, the creatures reorient there assault; without the luxury of time they fall prey to the vulnerability of there location. Ozzob holds out a hand and blows a simple puff of air in the direction of the poisonous vermin; the force knocks the creatures from the perch and sends them flailing down into the blackness of the chasm.

Ozzob’s magic is able to separate the poison and force it to ooze back out. Each victim recovers in minutes and faces the new challenge of climbing down the cliff wall.

#

Deep inside the cold, crystalline cave the heroes skulk their way into a superior vantage point. Three, grotesque, half-man half-spider creatures communicate with each other in front of the vault door where the Gem of Rhulgar stirs. The creatures attempt to open the door, but it is locked to them. Leone sneaks up to Ozzob’s side.

“What are those things.”

“They are known as Gaddits. They were once human, but are now cursed by the gods to live as you see them. They will be hostile, and they are deadly.”

Ozzob reaches across Leone and grabs a small stone chip that was dislodged from the wall some time in the recent past. After a few seconds of stern concentration by the sorcerer the rock begins to emit a radiant hue; flecks of glowing particles pop from the stone and float to the ground. A swift toss from Ozzob sends to weapon on a path that lands near the gaddits. The chunk of stone bounces off the ground and rolls to a stop in the middle of the three creatures.

The gaddits only have a single second to react; the time interval proves to be too small. The sorcerers stone explodes with a ferocity that envelopes the entire tunnel in flames. The forces unleashed makes the skin flay off from the heat. A thunderous roar booms through the deep passages of the cave; dust and dirt shakes from the walls and ceiling. A chain of explosions spread through cursed gaddit bones. In seconds there is nothing left of the spider-like frames, only a thin layer of charred flesh serve as remains. The four heroes hop the ledge of there vantage point and confront the barred vault door that leads to the Gem of Rhulgar.

Echoes from the darkness form substance; someone claps at the easy victory. A rock weighing more than a hundred men speeds from a side passage; there is not time to react or escape. The stone crumples Ozzob under its weight. Dedrick rushes to his side; the sorcerer lies bloodied, almost motionless—mangled.

Ozzob squeaks out a few words before he looses consciousness, “Kala’Tan… he summoned the dark walker… be careful.”

Understanding the gravity of there predicament, Dedrick rises and motions for the others to brace with him. The three stand, sentinels above there injured companion, he has saved them so many times that they will risk all to protect him in this moment of subjugation. The black tunnels leading out of this clearing offer no sign to there attackers whereabouts, Leone shudders as he feels the dark wizard stalking them. He crouches in anticipation and pulls out two daggers that glow with a magic bestowed by there downed companion; unleashed by a faint crackling from one passage the rogue darts off making a speedy attack.

Dedrick and Tolvis remain motionless as Leone gets enveloped by the shadows. A few whoosh sounds bellow from the dark, they are followed by an unearthly pwoing; the sound embodies a magical effect that Leone has fallen prey to. There hasty friend is forcefully repelled from the darkness; he soars through the air, but his body animates in slow motion. Ripples of energy pound there way though his limbs causing them to jerk and react. Leone crashes to the ground, pummeled and unconscious.

A voice familiar to Dedrick calls from the darkness, “You should have seen your brothers face as I squeezed the life from him. It looked much as yours dose now. Pained… Frightened…” A figure emerges from the shadows, “Terrified.”

Kala’Tan has become disfigured through some vile magic. His frame is bulging with corded muscles; he stands hunched over with his face looking out from the center of his mass. Dedrick summons his spirit blades, he looks to Tolvis for a signal. The grand masters eyes remain fixed on the evil wizard; sparkles of red flash in his eyes—reflections.

Jagged bolts of red electricity arc between the hands of the dark wizard. He reaches forward and unleashes two energetic streams of energy; the bolts streak through the air directly at the two psions. Dedrick is quick to react and jumps at his master, knocking them both to the ground and out of harms way. Tolvis pushes Dedrick aside and lays a stern glare on their enemy.

The air around Kala’Tan ripples with energy. He reaches forward and touches a field of substance, some sort of bubble encapsulates the dark wizard on all sides. Dedrick, using the available window, approaches his target with his weapons drawn. Kala’Tan stands erect in the trapped space and reaches up with each hand to press against the barrier. Waves of blackness expel from the wizards body and slam against the bubble; Tolvis is standing he leans forward and concentrates all his energy into maintaining the force.

The field cracks as more wave of blackness crush the barrier; shadowy matter stream from the cracks. The bubble explodes in a brilliant display of insubstantial glass shards. Dedrick is quick to attack, but Kala’Tan is inhumanly evasive and slips free of all the blows. The dark wizard sees Tolvis preparing an attack; he launches a ball of black sludge at the grand master. The substance impacts Tolvis in the chest and instantly begins to spread. In seconds the goo has covered his entire body and restrains him, almost to the point of immobilization.

Dedrick lunges at his last chance to get off a clean attack and slices forward with a spirit blade. Kala’Tan remains too nimble and sidesteps the blow, but this time, with nothing left to distract him, the evil wizard grabs his wrist—immobilizing his hand and the psychic weapon. Dedrick takes another desperate swing with his other hand, but Kala’Tan nimbly reaches over the weapon and grips Dedrick’s other wrist. Immobilizing the two with this overwhelming show of superiority generates unparallel frustration in the faces of the psions.

Kala’Tan stands proud in the cramped passage; his hulking body leaves no room for his prey to escape. The mutated wizard enwraps Dedrick’s hands, wrists and weapons in a single glob of the same restricting goo that immobilizes the temple master; He takes a firm grip around Dedrick’s neck with one hand and reaches to Tolvis with his other. The grand master jerks from his post and floats over to the waiting hand of evil.

“That face greets me again.”

Kala’Tan begins to crush the necks of the two temple patrons, Leone and Ozzob both remain on the ground, motionless. Suddenly, a tiny needle pierces the back the dark wizards neck; a diminutive arrow loosed from the hand of Serphyn sits lodged in Kala’Tan’s skin. The wizard releases his captives as a reflex action and swipes at the irritation on his neck.

With his hands firmly bound Dedrick is unable to mount an attack with his spirit blades. In seconds his clothing bursts into flames that shroud the master psion. Dedrick commands the fury and uses it as a noose around the hands and neck of there enemy; the dark wizards flesh blackens with the lapping flames. Tolvis, now free of the decadent sludge, concentrates on an attack to kill their vile foe.

A blinding flash of light slices through the air from somewhere behind Tolvis. The psionic strike digs deep in the skin of the dark wizard Kala’Tan. The flash is followed by another, and another. Charred, eviscerated, broken… the evil wizard falls limp to the floor.

#

“Is he still out?” questions Ozzob of Leone.

Dedrick, crouched at there incapacitated friends side, replies with a simple nod.

“He is alive, but he is not awake.”

“We must get the gem before more dangers arrive.”

“Then I will stay with him.” Declares Dedrick.

Tolvis approaches the vault door. He says, “I do not know what is on the other side of this.” He then reaches forward and manipulates the device that keeps the portal clamped shut.

The sounds of unwinding gears fill the clearing for a few seconds, then fade. Tolvis pulls the door open with an easy tug. The path beyond is drenched with spider webs; a faint dripping sound echoes from deep within the tomb.

“Be careful. There are likely to be traps along the path.”

Tolvis enters the tunnel first, parting the webs as he proceeds. Clouds of dust are stirred with each step making the dank air so thick it can barely be breathed. Deeper inside the narrowing tunnel Tolvis looses his footing for a moment; the hidden mechanics of a trap operate efficiently despite the age. Two steel crossbow bolts streak through the darkness and strike Tolvis in the chest; he instantly begins to stumble backward, then crashes to the ground motionless.

#

The voice of spirits pronounces. “Witness a Mortals Fragility, we have nothing to fear.”