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The sun had long dipped behind the hills once we made it to the base of them. We stationed ourselves behind some bushes and trees for covering. We waited maybe an hour when Bal Vyr and Cloudbreaker grew impatient. It was dark and no Goblins had come out yet. Then, as they began to march further up the hills, whoopings were heard. From the top of the hill, Goblins began to pour out. Their war cries echoed down toward us, Abu and I not daring to move. The Goliath and Drow made feeble attempts to hide; Bal Vyr pressing up against a tree and letting his disguise down while Cloudbreaker fell flat on the grass and covered his head.
I don’t know how those two weren’t spotted as I watched petrified the raiding party run on past the two without a second thought. And when the Goblins were long past, we all collectively exhaled a sigh of relief. We then scurried up the hill toward the spot we saw the creatures come from.
We each took a spot to explore to see if we could find the entrance. With Cloudbreaker’s movement within hearing distance I was able to focus for the time being on the task. After a few minutes, I found a cave entrance and signaled for the guys to come over.
As a group we moved into the dark cave. We came to a stone door with a pull rope. Bal Vyr gripped the rope and each of us stood ready unsure what we’d find behind the door. Of course nothing laid in wait but a dark room. It was too dark for me to see, but Cloudbreaker and Bal Vyr moved in having no problem with their vision. Abu and myself had to feel about.
We heard a clicking sound followed by screams from Bal Vyr. A moment later, the Cleric made a light so we could see. Cloudbreaker moved toward a large pit and slipped, falling flat on his back. I hurried over, but took caution as it became evident some kind of oil was about the pit. The Drow continued to cry out, begging to ‘get them off of me!’ As Cloudbreaker stood up, I peaked into the pit and could see Bal Vyr was skewered on a spike and many worm like creatures were milling about him. My skin crawled at the thought of going in, but after watching Cloudbreaker nearly fall over again on the oil slick, I figured the best option for the Drow was for me to teleport him out.
I flew into the pit and carefully landed, avoiding the other spikes. The worms immediately began to crawl up my legs as I made contact with them. They started biting at my clothes, I forcing myself to push past my repulsion. I then reached out to Bal Vyr who barely managed to lift his arm, and looked to the edge of the pit, hoping it was enough to not make him fall back in. “Ka jaw,” I commanded, the Drow’s body appearing on the edge of the pit. I then made my flight out, the worms unable to keep a good grasp on me.
Once up and on dry ground I shook the filthy creatures from my body. When I looked back over, Bal Vyr was rolling his vermin off of himself. When we were all collected again, we spread out to examine the large cave room. The door by the pit was nothing but a trap that Bal Vyr had triggered.
I observed a nice bit of rock on the east wall of the cave and noted a crevice. It went up and down the wall, outlining a door. I motioned for the guys to come look and together we manage to get the door open. The hall it opened to had some Goblins at the end. The men swiftly called to action, attacking our attackers. It was strange... though I still hold the burden of the terrible massacre that happened so long ago... I followed full heartedly. Maybe it was because the Goblins made the first strike. Whatever the reason, I joined in without hesitation.
At one point I prepared myself for an attack in which Cloudbreaker retreated! The men began to follow, but I heard the Goblins speak in their tongue saying, “Just stand your grounds! Don’t pursue!” I informed the others as I went in with to continue fighting. There were some stairs that lead up to where the Goblins stood. After landing the scythe into one of the beings, the step beneath my feet flattened and I fell back down the small flight.
Cloudbreaker and Abu passed me with little problem. Bal Vyr surprised me though. He actually stopped and extended his hand to me. Though I’m sure I hesitated, I grabbed the hand and let my comrade help me up. We then continued about our business of killing the Goblins.
Once that room was cleared we continued on our pursuit to destroy the race and hopefully find the blue orb rumored about.
The following room had many doorways covered with cloth. Cloudbreaker cautiously used his sword to shift one of the coverings away, but that only set off the mass Goblins waiting behind each set of entrances. It was utter chaos as we swung our weapons and cast our magics. At one point, as I felt my magics depleting, I heard Bal Vyr order me back to him and Abu. I chose not to argue as I fled the group of Goblins I was attacking. On my retreated to the Drow and Cleric, Bal Vyr ended up running past me. I stopped, looked back, and was about to question him only to be met with a wall of blackness.
Silence replaced the noise of war. I could hear my heart thumping and it only seemed to thunder louder as I realized the Goliath’s absence.
“Cloudbreaker? Bal Vyr?” I called out. Only silence answered me. I looked to Abu and felt a nervousness come about me. Reason said it was stupid I was still feeling nervous around the little man, but alas I couldn’t help it.
Then a swarm of Goblins split the air with their cries of anguish. With my nerves on edge, I swung and knocked down the half dozen in their flight. I looked at the smoking corpses and looked back at the darkness. I placed a resistance about myself to protect against fire before reaching in. I knew magical darkness made it incredibly dark, but for the silence and burned victims that came from it, there was something different and ominous. And different it was. When I placed my hand into the darkness, a strange pain seized it, to which I jerked my hand back. A curious burn was upon it.
“Hmm, it would appear this darkness, or whatever it maybe me,” Abu drawled, noting my hand, “will be around at least another 30 minutes.” I gaped at the Cleric. 30 minutes!? I felt my hands get clammy as I worried about the raiding party returning and the well being of Cloudbreaker and Bal Vyr.
“Suppose we ought to straighten up the other room in the mean time? Especially if the Goblins who went raiding come back?” Abu suggested, as though he read my mind.
“Yes!” I said hoarsely, leading the way back into the other room. Being busy helped distract myself from the anxiety. We spent the time resetting the traps and throwing the bodies into the darkness. We then noticed some cards on a table that I recognized as a game from my childhood. So I taught Abu how to play while we waited on the darkness to disappear.
Time slipped by faster than I had thought it would. We had barely gotten half way through the game when we heard someone come in from behind us. I looked toward the door the darkness was at and was elated to see Cloudbreaker!
“Blackwing!” the Goliath called out to me as I scrambled to my feet. I raced to him and into his open arms. I felt my wings get pinned to my back as his strong arms embraced me. “You alright?”
“Yes. Fine. The darkness is gone now?”
Cloudbreaker furrowed his brow and stated he was furious with the Drow. He wanted to abandon him due to his recklessness. Part of me didn’t want to argue it, but Bal Vyr, despite his unpleasantries, was far better a companion than Grendel who we were trying to rescue. Abu however spoke reason loud and clear.
“When has he ever helped us!?” the Goliath spat, “He’s selfish and has his own interest in mind!”
“Well,” I began, feeling nervous, “he did help you save me from the crypt and earlier in the fighting this evening, he helped me up when I had fallen.”
“Hardly a cause to the dark magicks he’s now using! I don’t think he even understands them!”
“I don’t think it’s his fault that his magicks contain darkness,” I defended.
“He has chosen to give into the darkness Blackwing! That is one thing I’ll never do! You know too that we have control over our mark!” I just looked back at Cloudbreaker with nothing to say. I didn’t know what else to say to relieve his frustrations, but Abu did.
“Then teach him,” Abu calmly stated. Cloudbreaker looked at him incredulously, “Teach him how to properly strategize in battle, that way he won’t be so reckless in what he does. And then, after you’ve made an attempt to educate him, I won’t hold you back on abandoning him later on.”
The Goliath shook a little more before some deep breaths were taken and a calm came about him. He gave a low nod and agreed that that would be best. It would seem a curious resolve came upon his countenance too as he led the way to find Bal Vyr.
We came to a large room that looked as though a fight had happened, but seeing that no bodies were there, I chose to check the magicks about. We were looking for a magical orb, so who knows where the Goblins would have hid it.
I scanned what looked to be the armory and found only 6 items stood out. They were potion bottles, unlabeled except one of them having a note on it saying “Drink Me.” I figured why not, popped the top, and stuck my pinky in. I then sucked the little bit of liquid off of my finger and felt myself shrink an inch. I eyed the potion figuring it was some sort of spell to make one very small. The question, however, was was it temporary? I bagged the 6 potions as the guys were ready to explore elsewhere. We followed a long walkway that opened into a dining hall. There was a large wooden table that could sit a dozen folk easily. Off to the left of the room was a hallway. I walked in, Abu following me, and came to a pantry. It was awfully large for a panty really, the back wall being bare.
Once more I examined the aura’s about the place, seeing if maybe the orb would be there. As I did, the back wall lit up. I stared wide eyed as the magicks registered as evocation and conjuration. Something bad was about it and I wasn’t about to approach the wall any further. For all I knew, our presence alone may have triggered something, but I was optimistic that we were safe for the time being.
Abu followed after me and once we were with Cloudbreaker, I explained what I saw. He agreed it was best we left. The Goliath then proceeded to take down a locked door he found at the end of the dining hall. He wailed at the door with an ax he had taken from the armory. A hole was quickly made only for a spear to come out of it and into Cloudbreaker’s shoulder. Upset by the attack, the Goliath went into a rage and made quick work of opening the door before storming into the room beyond.
As the Cleric and myself ran after, we found the room with three Bugbear Goblins actively trying to take Cloudbreaker down. I rushed in on one of them, placing a fire bolt spell on the scythe and swinging it. The creature fell to the ground dead. The Goliath commended me on my kill. I then put my focus on a Bugbear that placed some kind of enchantment about himself. He was difficult to hit and after using another fire bolt, I felt my magicks where nearly depleted.
Just these last two and we’ll get out of here, I tried telling myself. And with that I kept my attention on the enchanted Bugbear.
I then heard Abu cry out. I whirled around to see 3 more Goblins rush in and worse... some cave troll like Goblin was squeezing itself through the door. Cloudbreaker sent his sword down on one of the new Goblins, killing it instantly. However it was clear we were at a disadvantage. I was feeling particularly fine with the gem in my scythe healing me, but the men were looking bad- the Goliath in particular. It was no surprise though since Cloudbreaker was easily the biggest threat compared to me and Abu.
And as I continued to try and slay the enchanted Bugbear, I heard Cloudbreaker give out a defeated cry.
I looked back and watched the Goliath slump to the floor. Everything in me began to shake.
“No!” I hoarsely spoke. Abu pointed his wand at Cloudbreaker to which the Goliath woke up, a moment of hope creeping in. However, as he began to stand up, the 4 creatures surrounding him quickly attacked him. Their maces and swords struck him ripping a louder cry from my throat, “NOOOO!”
I summoned a force to knock them all back and away from the dead Goliath, but only made contact with the cave troll. I wanted to push him out of the room, but the bloody creature was too big to be pushed back through the doorway. I backed up into the wall behind me, my will to fight gone. I had no more useful magicks to use and Cloudbreaker was dead.
It was then I realized the wall behind me was a door! As luck would have it, it was locked. I looked to Abu, utterly defeated. Blackness began to seep from Cloudbreaker’s body and I knew the demon would be upon us soon. It angered me to see his transformation starting.
My ears then caught Abu praying, muttering something under his breath for a way out. Then the door behind me clicked and opened, I almost falling into the hallway. I watched Abu run through the door. He briefly made eye contact with me and said, “Run!” Down the corridor he went and through another open door into a dimly lit room that had a blue aura about it.
I turned back to the turning form of Cloudbreaker. I couldn’t leave him. He needed my help! But the Goblins all looked upon me with contempt, ready to finish me off if I stayed. I couldn’t go though, I didn’t want to go!
Torn between abandoning Cloudbreaker or dying at the hands of the Goblins, I chose to run, but only after getting a few choice words out.
“Cloudbreaker! You said you wouldn’t give into the mark! Don’t you dare forget that!” I shouted as tears ran down my face. I then looked at the approaching Goblins and in their tongue chastised them, “Behold! Look at the monster you’ve unleashed!” I then turned and ran to the door.
As I ran, my thoughts turned to Heironious and Erythnul. Tilj ud Heinul! I angrily thought, Or Erythnul- or whoever is behind this mark! You’ve marked me! What more could you possibly want!? My feet stopped a few feet from the second door as I heard the Goblins pursue. I looked back and saw them frantically try to attack me, but with little success. They were scared. Seeing them fleeing, my thoughts continued in their plea to some unknown being, Please... not him.
If someone above was listening, my thoughts did not reach them. Instead I was pushed into the room with the bluish glow by my attackers. As I ran from them, I discovered Abu was in the clutch of some ghostly hand. Bal Vyr was also there, behind a Goblin in blue robes.
“Ah! Now that you all are here, we need to have a chat,” the blue robed Goblin informed us. He then instructed the other Goblins to stand down, informing Cookie, the Cave Troll like Goblin, to stand guard since the corridor was too small for him to squeeze through.
“Where’s Cloudbreaker?” Bal Vyr asked. I looked at the Drow, but not wanting to speak aloud that he was becoming.
“He’s back there,” I clipped out. The blue robed Goblin began to inform us about how we were in quite the predicament since we had killed lots of his people. While he yapped his mouth, I looked back down the hallway to where Cloudbreaker was turning. I needed to get to him. Surely I’d be able to reason with him.
“Are you seriously trying to discuss your issues with us when there’s a bigger problem about to be upon our hands!?” I interrupted, not hiding my vexation. The Goblin looked at me with perplexed eyes.
“Cookie? I assure you he won’t be an issue.”
I contorted my face as I tried to not scream. It was that damn cave troll that was preventing me from just running back to Cloudbreaker and it infuriated me!
“It’s not Cookie I’m worried about! It’s the monster behind him!” I snapped.
“Wait, where’s Cloudbreaker?” Bal Vyr asked again.
“HE’S BACK THERE! DEAD!” I gestured down the corridor. The Drow became very solemn like and looked to the Goblin, explaining to him the curse our marks were, had it’s ‘monstrous’ drawbacks. However the blue robed Goblin paid no heed and continued to place confidence in Cookie.
Then the room shook as a terrible roar stampeded toward us from the corridor. My ears rang and as I looked down the hall to watch Cookie get smashed, my cry was drowned. “Cloudbreaker!” I called out. Any reservations I had about the Goblins fled as my heart took over to run to the Goliath’s aid.
The moments are fuzzy as chaos broke out, but one thing was clear, Cloudbreaker was gone. As I ran back into the room he died in, a monster was raging about. The demon looked like a bovine and ape. The hands were enormous in proportion to the body. Goblins were being crushed left and right as I called out to Cloudbreaker. Everyone was determined to destroy him, but I was certain I’d be able to reach him.
“KAMAGATH!” whack! Another Goblin killed. “HAJARIKN! It’s me! Blackwing!” smack! “Udc lo Ua’le-Kath!” craacck! With all the chaos happening, I reached out to grab his hand. As he spun his fists around, I made contact, hoping that that would calm him some to feel me.
My hands held fast to large thorns protruding from his fists. I jerked them back as pain became my hands. As folk continued to die, I was certain my death was eminent. There was nothing we could do. But I had one final statement to make.
“Nod lo vunn æae!” I begged. Cloudbreaker froze, “Let us free you from your form!” I continued. The demon slowly turned to look at me and for a moment I thought I had done it! For a moment I broke through! Maybe I would be able to save him like I had my sister.
But I was wrong.
A few more tears fell before my world embraced the thorny fist of Cloudbreaker’s, sending me into darkness I never knew.
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