Book 4: Chapter 25: Dangers in the dark

Book 4: Chapter 25: Dangers in the dark

Heather put on a strong face as they marched into the north. She spoke with the others and hid her concerns, trying to keep the mood light. Inside she was rethinking everything that had happened. From the dreams to the events that led to the confusion of Hathlisora, there was too much to consider. Now the ring and the vision it granted weighed on her mind. Despite that, she was looking forward to the cave and the potential for adventure.

I am surprised Moon never came back to this town, Eribold said as they crested a hill and looked down on the ruins.

We reset her, Frank said. She lost control of the town and would have to start over anyway.

Heather wondered why Moon hadnt started a new town someplace else. Maybe she had, but then why was she in that city setting people to watch for her? She supposed Moon could have a town someplace else and just happened to be in the city at the time, but what were the odds?

Well, there it is, Margus said as he pointed with his ax to a hillside.

Through the brush, it was easy to see the dark opening that was undeniably a cave. Heather didn't recall seeing it before, but then it was dark the last time she was here. They approached the edge of the ruined town, alert for danger. Many of the buildings stood as empty shells, windows nothing more than holes in cracked walls. Roofs were sagged and full of holes, acting as homes for birds and wild animals.

Moon's grand building was a burned-out ruin of blackened timbers and soot-covered stone. Heather felt bad now that she looked at it. Somehow erasing Moon's achievements felt wrong, even though she actively erased the accomplishments of others. She let out a resigned sigh, knowing it was the only way to ensure Moon reset. She put the thought out of her mind as they headed into the hills, approaching the cave and its mysteries.

I wonder if this cave connects to those tunnels, Quinny said.

The ones under the town, Frank remembered. There was a path we didnt follow.

I wonder why she had the tunnels in the first place, Margus asked. She wasn't using them for anything but a few prison cells. She could have done that in town.

She kept me in town, Heather reminded as they approached the tunnel.

She needed you nearby so she could manipulate you, Frank suggested.

Heather shrugged; maybe that was the reason, maybe not. It didn't matter now anyway. The cave loomed ahead with a ceiling twice as high as she was tall and wide enough for five of them to walk side by side. She noted Breanne went for her bow instead of her spectral form, unwilling to reveal her nature to Margus and Eribold. Frank led the way with Legeis and Margus to either side. Heather followed with the others as they wandered into the darkness in search of adventure.

It's man-made, Margus said as Legeis turned on a bright light that illuminated the tunnel for twenty paces.

How can you be sure? Heather asked.

Margus laughed and ran his hand along the wall, pointing out the pick marks. He took a slight lead, using his dwarven senses to try and spot anything unusual about the stonework.

The tunnel went on, twisting slowly to the left as they walked for what seemed like ten minutes. If not for the echoing clank of Legeis's armor, the cave would be deathly quiet. Slowly but surely, they started to hear another sound, and as they pressed on, it became clear it was falling water.

No sign of any animal, Frank said as he looked around the tunnel.

Could this be a mine? Legeis asked.

Could be, Margus replied. But I havent seen any carts to move material out. Surely there would be a wheelbarrow or a bucket at least.

Maybe they left it deeper in, Heather suggested.

Maybe, but I cant imagine why, Margus replied.

The tunnel widened and turned into a split with a path going slightly right and another left. They struggled to listen and agreed the water sound was coming from the left, so they went that way.

The floor of this cave is perfectly level, Frank said. Even I cant tunnel this precisely.

Probably made by a race or class with a mining skill, Margus replied as they headed around a bend. He suddenly stopped throwing his arms wide. Hold up! he shouted, his voice echoing down the tunnel.

Heather watched as he crept forward and leaned over a pile of small stones. He rubbed his chin for a moment, then carefully reached out with his ax and toppled the pile. Darts fired from carefully hidden holes filling the air around the pile of stones with small barbs. Margus danced back, holding his ax high as the clatter of small projectiles ceased.

If theres a trap, something must live here, Legeis said.

Why dont we see any tracks? Frank asked.

They could be using another entrance, Margus replied as he crept ahead and tested the rock pile again before carefully cutting a thin wire. He stepped past and motioned the others to follow as the room grew even wider. Here the walls were damp and made of stone that looked as if it melted and flowed. The floor had some loose rubble along the walls, but Margus assured them it looked natural. Near the back, the room ended in a ledge with a gentle ramp down on the right. It wound its way to a floor some twenty meters below to a chamber room with a pool of water on one side. Water flowed from above in a constant stream, falling into the pool below. Margus led the way around one side taking them slowly down the ramp to the floor below.

What is that? Eribold asked as they neared the cave floor.

Something floating in the water, Margus replied and carefully approached.

Heather and the others followed behind to discover three small creatures with leaves for hair and dark wooden skin. They were thin as could be and about a hand taller than Margus. Two lay on the shore, while one floated dead in the water, rolling with the splashing waves.

What are those? Heather asked as she looked closer.

They are called Thislings, Breanne said. Nature spirits often found in enchanted groves or deep woods.

What are they doing here? Eribold asked as he pushed a body with a foot.

I have no idea, Breanne replied and looked about the cave. Something might have killed them and dragged them in.

Whatever it was, it cant be too far away, Frank said. Those bodies would have despawned if they were old.

There's a tunnel where the water runs off, Legeis said and pointed down a wide passage with a somewhat low ceiling. The water ran in a meandering stream down the passage and into the darkness beyond.

I cant believe I crawl through caves looking for monsters, Heather sighed as she shouldered her scythe. Lets find out what killed them.

They headed down the passage and rapidly found tracks in the stony mud beside the streams of water.

Its a boot print, Frank said.

Aye, but it's a big one, Margus pointed out. Something with a little muscle to it.

There are smaller tracks as well, Breanne noted as she carefully stepped over the muddy spots.

Could it be players? Heather asked.

We wont know until we find them, Frank replied and moved on.

The passage twisted and turned, coming to a few small waterfalls with carefully constructed ramps cut on one side. It only added to the proof that something lived and lurked in the darkness deep below the earth. The tunnel ended in a large waterfall that tumbled to a massive cave below. The ramp down took many twists and turns before finally reaching the bottom. From their vantage point above, they could clearly see the light below, a small campfire beside an animal skin hut.

I dont see anybody there, Frank said as he studied the camp.

I dont see anything with my goggles, Legeis added. But they might be inside the tent.

That tent is too small for the being that made that boot print, Margus whispered. Keep your eyes sharp. There is more here than we are seeing. He led the way down the ramp, searching for more traps until they reached the bottom.

Heather was nervous as they drew closer to the strange tent. From here, she could smell the wood burning as the fire popped and snapped. There was a log set beside the fire, well worn on top from hours of sitting. There was a metal cauldron large enough to climb inside beside the tent and a pile of firewood just beyond. The tension grew as they approached the last dozen paces to the tent, and still, nothing stirred.

Margus's cry of look out made her jump as whistling sounds filled the air.

Arrows! he shouted and held up his shield as they flew in. Heather responded by crossing her arms and calling up her barrier of plants. Quinny used it to hide as well, but Frank shrugged off a hit like it was an annoyance.

There are a dozen humanoids hidden in the rocks across the room, he said as he stood on this toes to squint. They kinda look like goblins.

Those arent goblins, Legeis replied as he began to stomp forward. Those are ratmen.

Breanne returned fire from the safety of a rock as Frank, Legeis, and Margus advanced. The small agile shapes darted along a ledge and behind rocks, drawing them in with a hail of arrows.

Maybe I should have brought some of my skeletons, Heather said as she let her protective shield drop.

Nah, I can always summon some zombies if we need them, Quinny replied as she drew her sword.

Heather was just about to agree when a form stepped out of the tent. It was slightly taller than she and hunched over, wearing a sickly yellow drape. Two bright yellow eyes glared out at her as the strange being stepped before the campfire with a cackle.

Intruders come to be supper, it said in the voice of an old hag. Brutus, come and tenderize the meat!

Kill that frog, she commanded, sending the beast into the fray.

Your powers are scary, all four of he Eribolds said in unison.

Margus and I should help Frank, Legeis said. You three should help Breanne.

Heather nodded and turned just as Breanne let loose with a wail that was matched by the hags wild cackle. The beastly woman fired another red beam that seared through Breanne's spectral form, causing her to cry out.

Eribold struck first, hurling a hail of glowing darts that made the hag spit insults and curses. Heather used the opportunity to rush to Breanne, who was floundering nearby.

You look awful, Heather said as she began to cast mend the dead. Touching Breanne was like touching a cold mist, but the spell took, and Breanne began to look better moment by moment.

That hag is very powerful, Breanne hissed. She is near immune to my wails.

The boys are preoccupied with their new friend, Heather said.

She won't let them touch her anyway, Breanne countered. She can turn into mist in a split second and reform even faster. She has this whole cave to move around in, and none of us fast enough to keep up.

The whole cave? Heather said as she began to look around. Maybe I can fix that.

Breanne looked at her with a blank stare. How?

Help Eribold and Quinny. I need a little time.

Breanne nodded and rushed off as the hag promised to make Quinny a servant after eating Eribold. Heather turned to look around the cave and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and replied to the tiny voice squeaking in her head.

I don't know how much power I have left, Heather said to Webster. But, I have to try. She threw out her hands and began to chant, working at a spell of growth. Green plants began to grow out of the stony soil around her, spreading outward as the chant went on. There was a crash from the side that could only be Legeis being knocked over. She ignored the noise and focused on the spell as she changed her focus. Large leaves began to bloom around pods, and a moment later, vines covered in thorns grew and began to curl and twist. Heather felt a strain as she pulled on the last of her power, filling the perimeter of the cave with combative plants.

Let's see her dart around now, Heather panted as she leaned on her scythe. She smiled as the vines began to whip at the hag and hurl spines as she screeched and roared. She turned into fog, reforming by the wall only to immediately be attacked by vines. She turned to fog again, moving to the other side of the room where thorn whips filled the air with spines.

A daughter of nature, the hag hissed as she turned her gaze on Heather. She turned into a cloud that raced right for her. In a panic, Heather called on a spell filling the air with pollen as the hag reformed. The woman flailed around blindly, and Heather realized she couldn't see. She cut the hag with a quick slash, landing the first real strike that splattered black blood on the floor. The vile thing summoned another cloud of bats that didn't seem to mind the pollen, bitting and cutting at Heather as she dropped a grave blight at her feet. As the bats began to die off, the hag hissed and wailed, burning in the blight as it groped blindly.

Eat your fingers first! the hag hissed. Then, your toes!

Eat this, Heather replied and cut her again, causing the hag to stumble forward.

Heather, we cant see to help you! Breanne shouted from outside the cloud.

Heather hoped that wouldn't matter as she stalked around the hag. The pollen didn't hamper her vision one bit, but the hag was blind, turning her head this way and that as she continued to cackle. Heather saw the black blood dripping from the two gashes in that warty sickly green skin.

Come out, my pretty one, the woman cackled as Heather held her breath, fearful she would hear it. Come and stay for dinner.

Heather stood motionless as the hag passed by, causing her skin to prickle with goosebumps. As soon as the hag's back was turned, Heather struck, the scythe making a shrill sound as it cut through the air. The hags knife came up, and the two weapons met in a loud clang.

To slow! the hag hissed and lashed out with her other arm. Heather fell into her skills, putting the points spent on fighting with the scythe to use. She began to cut and twirl the weapon, dancing in a hail of slices. The hag slashed wildly with the knife, but the pollen cloud prevented her from gaining an advantage. Heather landed another quick slash causing the hag to become a cloud and rush out of the pollen. She reformed just outside and was instantly attacked by plants again. She took the smoke form and tried to run around the room looking for a safe place to reform but finding opposition on every side.

Heather watched the hag try to stay out of the cloud in the center but nowhere was safe. She slashed at Quinny but was immediately attacked by Eribold and Breanne. She turned back into mist and darted into the cloud of pollen where Heather was waiting. This time Heather had a grave blight waiting, and the hag wailed when she arrived.

Foul beast, she cried. Blending the dead with life.

Heather replied with her scythe rushing in and burying the blade into the womans side. She cried in rage and grabbed the shaft of the scythe holding it in placed as Heather uselessly tugged.

Carve you with this blade. Chop you up to make a soup.

Heather smiled and let go, giving the blade over. She stepped back as the hag cackled and taunted her.

I have your nasty weapon now.

You're going to need it, Heather replied as she stepped out of the cloud to be greeted by dozens of undead minions. She ordered them into the cloud and turned away as they swarmed over the hag. The woman flailed wildly as undead ratmen, and skeleton animals pursued her at every turn. She used her mist form to flee yet again but was quickly pummeled by hostile plants. She screeched one last time before Quinny put her sword through the woman's back, toppling her over. The body rapidly turned into black tar, boiling away in a cloud of thick smoke and a distant cackling laugh. Nearby, the frog beast, now heavily wounded, froze and was surrounded by a pillar of flames before vanishing.

What happened? Legeis asked.

It was a summoned monster, Breanne said with a deep breath. As soon as the hag died, the magic that held it here faded.

Frank limped to a rock and sat down, holding his side where he was badly gashed. Heather ran to him and quickly went into heals as she felt horrible that he had to battle that thing alone for so long.

Im sorry! she cried as his wounds began to knit.

You did great, he wheezed. You took out the threats one by one while we kept them busy.

Aye, you did great lass. You really are a powerful one, Margus added as he leaned on his ax.

She is frighteningly powerful, Eribold commented and then looked sideways at Breanne. And she has equally powerful allies.

Breanne stood tall, not bothering to give up her spectral form now that they knew. You are not bothered by what I am?

Why would we be? Eribold said with a smile. We have friends who are undead.

And a necromancer, Margus added.

Breanne let out a deep sigh. Did I make a mistake by not telling him?

Yes, Heather said between heals. You should have apologized and told him you were wrong.

Told who? Margus asked.

Heather rolled her eyes and helped Frank stand. Nobody, is anybody else injured?

Nothing that won't heal in an hour, Quinny replied.

Heather nodded and snapped a finger allowing her pollen cloud to fade away. She looked around the room; thankful nothing else was waiting to pounce.

Well, I leveled again, Quinny said.

I leveled as well, Eribold added.

Aye, so did I. That hag was worth a ton, Margus joined in.

Heather was just about to complain when a noise made her jump.

[DING! Level gained]

I hate that noise! she groaned.

It doesn't' say what level you are anymore? Quinny asked.

I was trying to stop the sound, so I turned off an option that said verbose, Heather replied. Apparently, that doesn't stop the ding.

I can help you look for the ding later, Frank said. We should search the cave. That hag might have had something valuable.

They all agreed and began to hunt around the cave. They found some misc gear that belonged to an adventurer. They also found some leather pouches full of things like dead frogs and snails. Just as her frustration was getting the better of her, Margus cried out and called everyone over. He dug as a loose pile of stones under a ledge as Heather arrived.

What did you find? she asked.

This, he replied as she began to pull on something. A moment later, something wooden appeared, and Frank helped him drag out a chest nearly as large as Margus himself. Legeis climbed out of his armor to use a little metal tool on the lock, and a moment later, it clicked and opened.

With a gaze of pure wonder, Heather looked into the chest and triumphantly cried, Finally!