E-book 4: Chapter 25: Risks at the hours of darkness

Heather placed on a powerful face as they marched into the north. She spoke with the others and hid her issues, attempting to maintain the temper gentle. Inside she was rethinking all the things that had occurred. From the desires to the occasions that led to the confusion of Hathlisora, there was an excessive amount of to think about. Now the ring and the imaginative and prescient it granted weighed on her thoughts. Regardless of that, she was trying ahead to the cave and the potential for journey.

I’m shocked Moon by no means got here again to this city, Eribold stated as they crested a hill and seemed down on the ruins.

We reset her, Frank stated. She misplaced management of the city and must begin over anyway.

Heather questioned why Moon hadnt began a brand new city someplace else. Possibly she had, however then why was she in that metropolis setting individuals to observe for her? She supposed Moon may have a city someplace else and simply occurred to be within the metropolis on the time, however what had been the percentages?

Nicely, there it’s, Margus stated as he pointed along with his ax to a hillside.

By way of the comb, it was straightforward to see the darkish opening that was undeniably a cave. Heather did not recall seeing it earlier than, however then it was darkish the final time she was right here. They approached the sting of the ruined city, alert for hazard. Most of the buildings stood as empty shells, home windows nothing greater than holes in cracked partitions. Roofs had been sagged and stuffed with holes, performing as houses for birds and wild animals.

Moon’s grand constructing was a burned-out smash of blackened timbers and soot-covered stone. Heather felt unhealthy now that she checked out it. One way or the other erasing Moon’s achievements felt unsuitable, regardless that she actively erased the accomplishments of others. She set free a resigned sigh, figuring out it was the one manner to make sure Moon reset. She put the thought out of her thoughts as they headed into the hills, approaching the cave and its mysteries.

I ponder if this cave connects to these tunnels, Quinny stated.

Those below the city, Frank remembered. There was a path we didnt observe.

I ponder why she had the tunnels within the first place, Margus requested. She wasn’t utilizing them for something however a number of jail cells. She may have carried out that on the town.

She saved me on the town, Heather reminded as they approached the tunnel.

She wanted you close by so she may manipulate you, Frank steered.

Heather shrugged; possibly that was the rationale, possibly not. It did not matter now anyway. The cave loomed forward with a ceiling twice as excessive as she was tall and extensive sufficient for 5 of them to stroll facet by facet. She famous Breanne went for her bow as a substitute of her spectral type, unwilling to disclose her nature to Margus and Eribold. Frank led the best way with Legeis and Margus to both facet. Heather adopted with the others as they wandered into the darkness seeking journey.

It is man-made, Margus stated as Legeis turned on a vibrant gentle that illuminated the tunnel for twenty paces.

How will you make certain? Heather requested.

Margus laughed and ran his hand alongside the wall, declaring the decide marks. He took a slight lead, utilizing his dwarven senses to attempt to spot something uncommon in regards to the stonework.

The tunnel went on, twisting slowly to the left as they walked for what appeared like ten minutes. If not for the echoing clank of Legeis’s armor, the cave can be deathly quiet. Slowly however absolutely, they began to listen to one other sound, and as they pressed on, it turned clear it was falling water.

No signal of any animal, Frank stated as he seemed across the tunnel.

May this be a mine? Legeis requested.

May very well be, Margus replied. However I havent seen any carts to maneuver materials out. Certainly there can be a wheelbarrow or a bucket a minimum of.

Possibly they left it deeper in, Heather steered.

Possibly, however I cant think about why, Margus replied.

The tunnel widened and became a break up with a path going barely proper and one other left. They struggled to hear and agreed the water sound was coming from the left, so that they went that manner.

The ground of this cave is completely stage, Frank stated. Even I cant tunnel this exactly.

Most likely made by a race or class with a mining talent, Margus replied as they headed round a bend. He all of the sudden stopped throwing his arms extensive. Maintain up! he shouted, his voice echoing down the tunnel.

Heather watched as he crept ahead and leaned over a pile of small stones. He rubbed his chin for a second, then rigorously reached out along with his ax and toppled the pile. Darts fired from rigorously hidden holes filling the air across the pile of stones with small barbs. Margus danced again, holding his ax excessive because the clatter of small projectiles ceased.

If theres a lure, one thing should stay right here, Legeis stated.

Why dont we see any tracks? Frank requested.

They could possibly be utilizing one other entrance, Margus replied as he crept forward and examined the rock pile once more earlier than rigorously chopping a skinny wire. He stepped previous and motioned the others to observe because the room grew even wider. Right here the partitions had been damp and product of stone that seemed as if it melted and flowed. The ground had some unfastened rubble alongside the partitions, however Margus assured them it seemed pure. Close to the again, the room led to a ledge with a delicate ramp down on the suitable. It wound its strategy to a ground some twenty meters beneath to a chamber room with a pool of water on one facet. Water flowed from above in a relentless stream, falling into the pool beneath. Margus led the best way round one facet taking them slowly down the ramp to the ground beneath.

What’s that? Eribold requested as they neared the cave ground.

One thing floating within the water, Margus replied and punctiliously approached.

Heather and the others adopted behind to find three small creatures with leaves for hair and darkish wood pores and skin. They had been skinny as could possibly be and a couple of hand taller than Margus. Two lay on the shore, whereas one floated useless within the water, rolling with the splashing waves.

What are these? Heather requested as she seemed nearer.

They’re referred to as Thislings, Breanne stated. Nature spirits typically present in enchanted groves or deep woods.

What are they doing right here? Eribold requested as he pushed a physique with a foot.

I do not know, Breanne replied and seemed in regards to the cave. One thing might need killed them and dragged them in.

No matter it was, it cant be too distant, Frank stated. These our bodies would have despawned in the event that they had been previous.

There is a tunnel the place the water runs off, Legeis stated and pointed down a large passage with a considerably low ceiling. The water ran in a meandering stream down the passage and into the darkness past.

I cant imagine I crawl by way of caves on the lookout for monsters, Heather sighed as she shouldered her scythe. Lets discover out what killed them.

They headed down the passage and quickly discovered tracks within the stony mud beside the streams of water.

Its a boot print, Frank stated.

Aye, however it’s an enormous one, Margus identified. One thing with somewhat muscle to it.

There are smaller tracks as nicely, Breanne famous as she rigorously stepped over the muddy spots.

May or not it’s gamers? Heather requested.

We wont know till we discover them, Frank replied and moved on.

The passage twisted and turned, coming to some small waterfalls with rigorously constructed ramps lower on one facet. It solely added to the proof that one thing lived and lurked within the darkness deep beneath the earth. The tunnel led to a big waterfall that tumbled to an enormous cave beneath. The ramp down took many twists and turns earlier than lastly reaching the underside. From their vantage level above, they might clearly see the sunshine beneath, a small campfire beside an animal pores and skin hut.

I dont see anyone there, Frank stated as he studied the camp.

I dont see something with my goggles, Legeis added. However they may be contained in the tent.

That tent is just too small for the being that made that boot print, Margus whispered. Preserve your eyes sharp. There may be extra right here than we’re seeing. He led the best way down the ramp, looking for extra traps till they reached the underside.

Heather was nervous as they drew nearer to the unusual tent. From right here, she may odor the wooden burning as the hearth popped and snapped. There was a log set beside the hearth, nicely worn on high from hours of sitting. There was a steel cauldron massive sufficient to climb inside beside the tent and a pile of firewood simply past. The stress grew as they approached the final dozen paces to the tent, and nonetheless, nothing stirred.

Margus’s cry of look out made her soar as whistling sounds crammed the air.

Arrows! he shouted and held up his protect as they flew in. Heather responded by crossing her arms and calling up her barrier of crops. Quinny used it to cover as nicely, however Frank shrugged off successful prefer it was an annoyance.

There are a dozen humanoids hidden within the rocks throughout the room, he stated as he stood on this toes to squint. They kinda appear like goblins.

These arent goblins, Legeis replied as he started to stomp ahead. These are ratmen.

Breanne returned hearth from the security of a rock as Frank, Legeis, and Margus superior. The small agile shapes darted alongside a ledge and behind rocks, drawing them in with a hail of arrows.

Possibly I ought to have introduced a few of my skeletons, Heather stated as she let her protecting protect drop.

Nah, I can all the time summon some zombies if we’d like them, Quinny replied as she drew her sword.

Heather was nearly to agree when a type stepped out of the tent. It was barely taller than she and hunched over, carrying a sickly yellow drape. Two vibrant yellow eyes glared out at her because the unusual being stepped earlier than the campfire with a cackle.

Intruders come to be supper, it stated within the voice of an previous hag. Brutus, come and tenderize the meat!

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

Your powers are scary, all 4 of he Eribolds stated in unison.

Margus and I ought to assist Frank, Legeis stated. You three ought to assist Breanne.

Heather nodded and turned simply as Breanne let unfastened with a wail that was matched by the hags wild cackle. The beastly girl fired one other crimson beam that seared by way of Breanne’s spectral type, inflicting her to cry out.

Eribold struck first, hurling a hail of glowing darts that made the hag spit insults and curses. Heather used the chance to hurry to Breanne, who was floundering close by.

You look terrible, Heather stated as she started to forged mend the useless. Touching Breanne was like touching a chilly mist, however the spell took, and Breanne started to look higher second by second.

That hag may be very highly effective, Breanne hissed. She is close to proof against my wails.

The boys are preoccupied with their new pal, Heather stated.

She will not allow them to contact her anyway, Breanne countered. She will flip into mist in a break up second and reform even sooner. She has this entire cave to maneuver round in, and none of us quick sufficient to maintain up.

The entire cave? Heather stated as she started to go searching. Possibly I can repair that.

Breanne checked out her with a clean stare. How?

Assist Eribold and Quinny. I would like somewhat time.

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

I do not understand how a lot energy I’ve left, Heather stated to Webster. However, I’ve to attempt. She threw out her palms and started to chant, working at a spell of development. Inexperienced crops started to develop out of the stony soil round her, spreading outward as the mantra went on. There was a crash from the facet that would solely be Legeis being knocked over. She ignored the noise and centered on the spell as she modified her focus. Giant leaves started to bloom round pods, and a second later, vines lined in thorns grew and started to twist and twist. Heather felt a pressure as she pulled on the final of her energy, filling the perimeter of the cave with combative crops.

Let’s examine her dart round now, Heather panted as she leaned on her scythe. She smiled because the vines started to whip on the hag and hurl spines as she screeched and roared. She became fog, reforming by the wall solely to right away be attacked by vines. She turned to fog once more, transferring to the opposite facet of the room the place thorn whips crammed the air with spines.

A daughter of nature, the hag hissed as she turned her gaze on Heather. She became a cloud that raced proper for her. In a panic, Heather referred to as on a spell filling the air with pollen because the hag reformed. The lady flailed round blindly, and Heather realized she could not see. She lower the hag with a fast slash, touchdown the primary actual strike that splattered black blood on the ground. The vile factor summoned one other cloud of bats that did not appear to thoughts the pollen, bitting and chopping at Heather as she dropped a grave blight at her ft. Because the bats started to die off, the hag hissed and wailed, burning within the blight because it groped blindly.

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

Eat this, Heather replied and lower her once more, inflicting the hag to stumble ahead.

Heather, we cant see that will help you! Breanne shouted from exterior the cloud.

Heather hoped that would not matter as she stalked across the hag. The pollen did not hamper her imaginative and prescient one bit, however the hag was blind, turning her head this fashion and that as she continued to cackle. Heather noticed the black blood dripping from the 2 gashes in that warty sickly inexperienced pores and skin.

Come out, my fairly one, the lady cackled as Heather held her breath, fearful she would hear it. Come and keep for dinner.

Heather stood immobile because the hag handed by, inflicting her pores and skin to prickle with goosebumps. As quickly because the hag’s again was turned, Heather struck, the scythe making a shrill sound because it lower by way of the air. The hags knife got here up, and the 2 weapons met in a loud clang.

To sluggish! the hag hissed and lashed out along with her different arm. Heather fell into her abilities, placing the factors spent on preventing with the scythe to make use of. She started to chop and twirl the weapon, dancing in a hail of slices. The hag slashed wildly with the knife, however the pollen cloud prevented her from gaining a bonus. Heather landed one other fast slash inflicting the hag to turn out to be a cloud and rush out of the pollen. She reformed simply exterior and was immediately attacked by crops once more. She took the smoke type and tried to run across the room on the lookout for a protected place to reform however discovering opposition on each facet.

Heather watched the hag attempt to keep out of the cloud within the heart however nowhere was protected. She slashed at Quinny however was instantly attacked by Eribold and Breanne. She turned again into mist and darted into the cloud of pollen the place Heather was ready. This time Heather had a grave blight ready, and the hag wailed when she arrived.

Foul beast, she cried. Mixing the useless with life.

Heather replied along with her scythe speeding in and burying the blade into the womans facet. She cried in rage and grabbed the shaft of the scythe holding it in positioned as Heather uselessly tugged.

Carve you with this blade. Chop you as much as make a soup.

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

I’ve your nasty weapon now.

You are going to want 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 lady flailed wildly as undead ratmen, and skeleton animals pursued her at each flip. She used her mist type to flee but once more however was rapidly pummeled by hostile crops. She screeched one final time earlier than Quinny put her sword by way of the lady’s again, toppling her over. The physique quickly became black tar, boiling away in a cloud of thick smoke and a distant cackling snigger. Close by, the frog beast, now closely wounded, froze and was surrounded by a pillar of flames earlier than vanishing.

What occurred? Legeis requested.

It was a summoned monster, Breanne stated with a deep breath. As quickly because the hag died, the magic that held it right here light.

Frank limped to a rock and sat down, holding his facet the place he was badly gashed. Heather ran to him and rapidly went into heals as she felt horrible that he needed to battle that factor alone for therefore lengthy.

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

You probably did nice, he wheezed. You took out the threats one after the other whereas we saved them busy.

Aye, you probably did nice lass. You actually are a strong one, Margus added as he leaned on his ax.

She is frighteningly highly effective, Eribold commented after which seemed sideways at Breanne. And he or she has equally highly effective allies.

Breanne stood tall, not bothering to surrender her spectral type now that they knew. You aren’t bothered by what I’m?

Why would we be? Eribold stated with a smile. We’ve got associates who’re undead.

And a necromancer, Margus added.

Breanne set free a deep sigh. Did I make a mistake by not telling him?

Sure, Heather stated between heals. You need to have apologized and advised him you had been unsuitable.

Instructed who? Margus requested.

Heather rolled her eyes and helped Frank stand. No one, is anyone else injured?

Nothing that will not heal in an hour, Quinny replied.

Heather nodded and snapped a finger permitting her pollen cloud to fade away. She seemed across the room; grateful nothing else was ready to pounce.

Nicely, I leveled once more, Quinny stated.

I leveled as nicely, Eribold added.

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

Heather was nearly to complain when a noise made her soar.

[DING! Level gained]

I hate that noise! she groaned.

It does not’ say what stage you might be anymore? Quinny requested.

I used to be attempting to cease the sound, so I turned off an possibility that stated verbose, Heather replied. Apparently, that does not cease the ding.

I may also help you search for the ding later, Frank stated. We must always search the cave. That hag might need had one thing useful.

All of them agreed and started to hunt across the cave. They discovered some misc gear that belonged to an adventurer. In addition they discovered some leather-based pouches stuffed with issues like useless frogs and snails. Simply as her frustration was getting the higher of her, Margus cried out and referred to as everybody over. He dug as a unfastened pile of stones below a ledge as Heather arrived.

What did you discover? she requested.

This, he replied as she started to tug on one thing. A second later, one thing wood appeared, and Frank helped him drag out a chest almost as massive as Margus himself. Legeis climbed out of his armor to make use of somewhat steel instrument on the lock, and a second later, it clicked and opened.

With a gaze of pure surprise, Heather seemed into the chest and triumphantly cried, Lastly!