The Dragons Bane

“Cut the chatter, we don’t want to make any more noise than we have to. And we got this other door here to check, so ready yourselves,” orders Mizdar.

Once we are ready, Dimlar listens at the door. He shortly gives the all-clear sign, then opens the door a crack, shedding a thin stream of light into the room that fails to reveal the far wall, a good indication that this is a large room. Detecting no sign of life, he opens the door fully. The room is 30 feet wide, but the northern part of the room is outside the light of the lantern, making it impossible to tell how far the room extends. There is a door in the back wall, about 20 feet from the left wall. Dimlar looks askance from Mizdar on how to proceed. Mizdar shrugs his shoulders and then motions for us to proceed.

We enter the room, the two dwarves first, followed by Seldor and Mizdar, then Clernon and Mintock, with Clandistra and Nordok guarding the rear. As the dwarves approach the middle of the room, Mizdar’s lantern lights the north wall.

“Wow, would you look at that,” says Seldor.

The wall is covered in sculpture, capturing many different kinds of animals, but there are six animal renditions dominating all.

Mizdar, ever cautious, says, “Hold it a minute, don’t take another step. Everyone stop.”

“What fer, a bunch of stupid carvings? They can’t hurt us,” responds Delgar, his curiosity overcoming his common sense. He then boldly marches up to the sculpted image of a giant, looking it over carefully.

“Wait!” orders Mizdar, but he is too late.

The giant’s eyes open suddenly, and two beams of blue-white light reach out from them, striking Delgar squarely in the chest. Delgar, surprised by what he perceives to be an attack, finds himself unable to move. Then, just as suddenly, they stop.

Delgar, discovering he can move again, shouts out in surprise. “What be that? Be I still here?”

“Are you ok?” asks Mizdar, holding everyone back with outspread arms, waiting to determine what happened and what to do next.

“I guess so, nothin’ be broken.”

“Then get yourself back here pronto,” orders a now fuming mad Mizdar.

As Delgar comes back to the rest, the light from the lantern shines fully upon him. The others immediately notice something is different, he looks a lot bigger, more muscular. Mizdar, ready to yell at him for his stupidity, stops with his mouth open, the curses forgotten.

“What be the matter? Why ye all be lookin’ at me so? Do I be ugly or somethin? What?” demands Delgar, anxious to find out what the sculpture did to him.

Clandistra, with the wisdom of many decades behind her, removes her backpack. “Here, hold this, but only with one hand.”

“Why, ‘tis light as a feather. I didna know ye be havin’ a magic pack.”

“I don’t. Dimlar, add your pack’s weight to mine, see what he thinks of holding two packs with the same hand.”

Dimlar, removing his pack, loops the shoulder strap over Delgar’s hand.

“Why, neither of ‘em be havin’ any weight to ’em atall.”

“Yes, they do, you just don’t realize it because you are now a LOT stronger.”

“Nay, I don’t be a believin’ ye.”

“No? Try picking up Dimlar with your other hand.”

Delgar finds that he can easily pick up Dimlar single-handedly. Impressed, and wanting the same power himself, Nordok starts toward the sculpted giant on the wall.

“Wait, let’s think on this a minute,” cautions Mizdar, causing Nordok to stop.

“Why? If it worked for him, it should work for me too, right?”

“Maybe, maybe not. But it doesn’t look like I can stop you, so go ahead, try it.”

Nordok then walks over to the giant’s image on the wall. Nothing happens. “Is this where you were standing?” he asks.

“Aye, that be the spot.”

“Did you do something to make the light come from the eyes? Touch something?”

“Nay, I just stood there like ye be doin’.”

“Then why doesn’t it work for me?”

“Maybe it only works for dwarves, why don’t you try, Dimlar?” suggests Seldor.

“Aye, mayhaps that be the problem.”

As Dimlar walks over, Nordok moves to one side. Unwittingly, he steps in front of a sculpted image of a dragon breathing fire. Suddenly, from the dragon’s eyes two pearly red beams of light shoot out, striking Nordok squarely on his chest. He also finds himself unable to move for a few moments.

Dimlar, seeing the beams shoot out and hit Nordok, immediately stops, waiting to see what will happen to him. However, after the beams disappear, Nordok seems to be unaffected.

“Ye be ok?” asks Dimlar.

“Yes, I feel fine, do I look any different?”

“Nay, ye look the same to me.”

“Well, try the giant again, see if his eyes shoot out light at you.”

“Ok,” shrugs Dimlar, as he steps in front of the image of the giant. Again, nothing happens.

“Come back here, you two, I have an idea about what is going on,” orders Mizdar, as he holds the lantern high, illuminating the entire wall with its bright glow.

As the two return to the others, Mizdar begins to identify the various images sculpted into the wall.

“We have a flying eagle on the left, then a running cheetah, a swimming fish, a fire breathing dragon, the giant, and an elephant. I bet each one of these bestows some power of the image upon whomever stands in front of it, but only once, which is why nothing happened to you two when you tried the giant’s image after Delgar foolishly stepped in front of it.”

“But nothing seems to have happened to me, I don’t have any powers of the dragon.”

“Not that you know of, anyway. The problem is that there are only four sculpted images left and six of us. Who should go next, and what should they stand in front of?”

“Before anyone starts fighting over who should stand where, realize that these powers may only be temporary,” warns Clandistra.

“That’s true, they may not even last long enough for us to leave the room,” agrees Mizdar.

“Well, does anyone want to decline the opportunity to gain a power of one of these animals? There is no telling whether they all bestow some power, they could just as easily turn you into a fish.”

Clandistra is the first to decide not to test fate. “I will not stand before any of them, my god has given me what she thinks I will need in this life.”

Clernon, following her example, also declines. “The rest of you may choose an animal, I, too, am content with the way I am.”

“Anyone else? No? Ok, now who gets to stand where? I suspect the running cheetah will impart its speed, the flying eagle may be the ability to fly, but I don’t have a clue what power the others will give.”

“Dimlar, since you and I are the two highest levels, it is our choice next. Which would you prefer?”

“I be thinkin’ I would like to be faster, so I be chosen the cheetah.”

“Ok, then I will take the elephant, I think. You two can decide between you who chooses what, or, if not, then I will choose one of you to go first, it’s up to you two.”

“I would like to be able to fly,” says Seldor.

“Well, since I can fly with a spell, at least when I am able to cast the fly spell, that is, I’ll take the fish.”

“Dimlar, you first,” offers Mizdar.

“Aye.” Dimlar steps up to the cheetah, and a pair of reddish black beams strike him on the chest.

When they stop, Mizdar says, “try to run, see if you are faster now.”

Dimlar begins to run, and, compared to before, he zips across the room about twice as fast.

“Now walk back,” orders Mizdar. The dwarf finds that he can also walk twice as fast as before.

“Now, it’s my turn.” And Mizdar goes to stand in front of the elephant. This time two beams of grayish light lance out, striking the mage’s head. After they cease, he asks, “do I look different?”

“Nay,” answers Dimlar.

Mizdar thinks a minute, considering whether he might have a spell that would enable him to discover what power the elephant carving bestowed upon him. Then he realizes that he can remember every one of his spells, not just the ones he memorized last night. A smile lights up his face, as he reveals the power that the elephant gave him.

“I can remember all my spells, just as if I have just read them. I wonder if that means I can cast all of them? I better wait to experiment until we need one, I don’t want to waste any of them.”

“Well, I guess I will go next,” says Seldor, walking over to stand before the eagle. After the two blue beams have ended, Seldor asks, “am I still me?”

“Yes, you are still the Seldor that we know,” answers Mizdar, “now try to fly.”

“How?”

“Umm, try flapping your arms.”

“Nothing.”

“Try jumping into the air.”

“Nothing. Maybe it isn’t the power to fly, after all.”

“Try thinking about soaring through the air and then jump into the air.”

That seems to work, because all of a sudden he is floating through the air, headed on a path across the room and getting higher as he goes.

“I’m flying, I’m really flying!”

“Watch out for the ceiling!” yells Clernon, too late.

“Owe, that hurt!” And Seldor, having stopped thinking about flying, starts to fall, but then, remembering, starts to fly again. “Now how do I get down?”

“Try flying towards the floor,” suggests Mizdar, with a grin.

Seldor, trying it, flies down to the floor, landing on his belly and skidding forward a few feet before coming to a stop. His ungainly landing has the rest of us laughing. Seldor rises to his feet amidst the laughter, and, realizing what a sight his landing must have been, starts laughing too.

“Your turn next,” says Mizdar with a chuckle, still thinking of Seldor’s belly landing.

Mintock obediently goes to stand before the fish. This time, only one beam of many iridescent colors lands on Mintock, probably because the fish has but one eye visible. “Am I still me?”

’Why he has turned into a fish,” says Nordok, nudging Clernon.

“Grab him and I’ll break out the frying pan, as cook, I say we have us some fish for dinner!”

Mintock, fearing the worst, looks down at himself with a look of true fear on his face. He wonders why he can see himself as himself while everyone else sees him as a fish. “If I’m a fish, then why does my body look normal to me?”

This really sets the rest of us hooting with laughter. Especially when comprehension dawns on Mintock, his face giving away his emotions as clear as can be. But, having a sense of humor, and realizing his own foolishness, he too begins to laugh.

“Well, except for Nordok and myself, the rest of you know what power was bestowed upon you. How do I figure out what the fish gave me in a dungeon that has no water?”

“I suspect you will have to wait until we leave before you find out what power the fish gave you,” says Mizdar. “As for Nordok, I think we can figure his out, but we must be careful, because if he can do what I think he can, he could accidentally hurt one or all of us very easily.”

“What do you mean by that? How could I hurt anyone? I don’t even know if I got a power from the dragon.”

“Oh, but I’m pretty sure you did. I think you have the ability to breathe fire like a dragon. And that can be a very dangerous gift indeed.”

“So, how do we find out?”

“Well, first I want everyone to stand over there, away from where you will be trying to send your fire.”

Everyone walks over to the far side of the room, except Dimlar, who runs, enjoying his new speed.

“Now first try hurling, like when you spit. Oh, and think hot fiery thoughts.”

Nordok tries to comply, but without success. “Now what?”

“Well, try blowing air, like when you put out a candle.”

This, too, fails to produce any flame. “Next idea?”

“I don’t know, maybe you’ll find out sometime when you least expect it.”

Nordok motions angrily at the dragon, pointing his finger accusingly. “You cheated me, I know you did.” Just then, a long tongue of flame shoots out of his pointing finger, splashing harmlessly against the stone carving. “Whoa, how did I do that?”

“You’re asking us?” says Mintock, surprised like everyone else by the sudden fire.

“Until we know, be careful not to point your finger at anyone,” cautions Mizdar.

“Well, what do we do now, go back to exploring?” asks Clernon.

“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m hungry,” claims Nordok.

“’Tis about mealtime,” puts in Delgar, and Dimlar nods in agreement.

“Ok, I guess it is about time for a break and some food,” agrees Mizdar. “But let’s not eat here, we don’t know what’s behind that door.”

“Well, why don’t we find out, maybe it’s a dead end room,” suggests Clandistra.

“Aye, I’ll go listen,” says Dimlar, racing over to the door, showing off his new-found speed.

“Wait for the rest of us,” orders Mizdar.

“Aye, ’specially me!”

By the time the rest of us join Dimlar at the door, falling in to our door fighting positions, he has given us the all-clear sign. Delgar motions Dimlar to let him open the door. So, short sword in hand, Delgar opens the door a crack, never realizing with his super strength that the door was magically locked with a wizard’s bar spell.

Since nothing happens and the little amount of light he lets in doesn’t illuminate anything except a dusty floor, he opens the door the rest of the way. The far end of the room remains in darkness, but it appears to be empty.

“Well, maybe we have found our dead end room. Let’s go in and see what the rest of the room looks like,” orders Mizdar.

We proceed into the room, heading for the far side. As the dwarves approach the middle of the room, Mizdar’s lantern reveals that we are in a 40 by 40 dead end room. It appears empty, but there seems to be a ledge up on the opposite wall. Moving closer, we determine that there is indeed a ledge up on the far wall, approximately twenty feet wide and maybe 10 feet deep in the middle, having a triangular shape. Upon it sit two stone statues, garish beasts with wings and horns.

“Well, I suspected that this was another dead end room and empty, there were no tracks in the dust in front of the door but Dimlar’s,” states Seldor.

“Yes, it seems we have found our room for the next hour or so,” agrees Mizdar. “Please close and spike the door, someone. Clernon, would you care to make us something to eat? Some of us are starved, if you can believe the complaints of the last hour. Spread out our lanterns, and light another one. This place is too big for just the three of them. Nordok, if you would, please set up our bathroom. I am thinking that we may stay here for the rest of the day, I think we need to practice with our new abilities.”

“Aye, some of us more an others, me thinks,” adds Delgar.

“I’ll get the door,” replies Seldor, moving to hammer several spikes into each door.

“I can have something ready for our midday meal in about a half an hour, assuming Nordok’s stomach can last that long,” says Clernon.

“I don’t know, I think I’m feeling faint from lack of food,” replies Nordok, playing it up.

“How about we spread our tents out over there, under the ledge,” suggests Mintock. We soon have our camp set up inside the room.

“The bathroom is ready.”

“And the doors are spiked closed.”

“An’ the beds be made,” laughs Dimlar, still in the best mood any of us have seen him in, ever.

“Clernon, are you planning on warming up the meat pies again?” asks Seldor. The rest of us, remembering this morning’s curiosity, stop what we are doing to watch.

“Yes, all except for Nordok’s. I figure he can heat his own, now!”

“You mean burn his own, don’t you?” laughs Mintock.

“As hungry as he keeps saying he is, I doubt he’d care!” replies Clernon with a grin.

“Aye, that be the truth of it!” comments Dimlar.

“Well, Clernon, we’re all waiting to discover your secret for warming the food without a fire,” says Mizdar, expressing everyone’s curiosity.

“Well, hold onto your helms, because you are about to find out.” Clernon then pulls out an extra plate, its underside fire blackened beyond any hope of cleaning. He then sets one of the smaller cooking pots with three meat pies laid out across the bottom on the plate. Covering the pot, he sets it aside. Seldor, meanwhile, has grabbed a couple of torches and his tinderbox.

Putting on his gauntlets, Clernon asks Seldor, “are you ready with that torch?”

“Just lighting one now.”

Once Seldor has the torch going, he brings it over to Clernon, already waiting with the plate and the pot in his gauntlet covered hands. Holding the torch under the plate, Seldor begins moving it around slowly, making sure not to burn Clernon’s gauntlets as he gently warms the food. Within a few minutes, the first three meat pies are ready.

“For my starving companion at arms,” he says, setting the plate on the stone floor and dumping two of the pies onto Nordok’s plate. The third pie he puts onto another plate, setting it aside for now and placing three more in the pot.

“My compliments. That is a neat trick,” complements Mizdar.

“Aye, that it be,” adds Delgar.

“I guess we won’t be eating any more cold food for awhile,” complements Clandistra, her Elven voice just as melodious as ever.

“Nay, not as long as we be havin’ torches,” agrees Dimlar.

“Just how did you come up with that idea,” asks Mintock.

“Well, when we were sitting around in that freezing rain that one night along the trail, after having had a cold supper of rations, I got to thinking. If we can’t keep a fire going because of the rain, what about a torch. But when I first tried it, the burning pitch left a nasty taste to the food, even with the lid on the pot. So I tried again, using a plate to keep the pitch filled smoke from actually hitting the pot. Now, I just have a plate that smells of pitch, and the food tastes fine. Which two of you are ready for these?”

“I be ready,” says Delgar.

“Aye, me too.”

“Well, come and get them, then. I’ve still got others to feed.” He then puts three more pies into the pot.

“The only problem that I had, was where to put the torch? The floor in here is made of stone, so I couldn’t stand it up without some help. That’s where Seldor came to the rescue. He suggested that he hold the torch, moving it around so I won’t have to move the plate and pot. My gauntlets were getting scorch marks on them, it was too hard to see the flame. And that was how we came to have hot food without a cooking fire. These are about ready, who’s next?”

After we have all finished our hot lunch, Mizdar makes a suggestion. “I think we need to learn to use our new abilities, so I suggest we spend the afternoon practicing with them, especially Nordok. I don’t want him turning anyone into a torch.”

“Aye, I wouldna’ wanna be one, meself, an’ I be standing ta the front of ’im, normally,” agrees Dimlar.

“Yes, I wouldn’t want to burn anyone’s beard off by accident, that’s for sure,” laughs Nordok. “Besides, I really want to see Seldor make a few more belly landings, I need the laughs!”

“Well, I think I’ll be able to keep those to a minimum, after a little practice,” hopes Seldor.

“Let’s start with you, Nordok. Use the big corner by the door, and whatever you do, don’t point your finger anywhere else!” instructs Mizdar.

“Ok, how do we start?”

“The same way that we mages practice our spells, with repetition. If you practice enough, you will eventually not only master your ability, you will develop new ways to use it. Remember the fireball show at the castle? The fancy displays towards the end were done by high level mages that experimented with their spells long after they had mastered them. Now, let’s start simple. Just learn to call forth the fire, aiming it at the corner.” Mizdar then steps well back, just in case.

“Everyone ready? Are you all watching?” Nordok, wanting to show off a little, then points his finger at the corner.

“Fire!” he says with gusto, thinking of flames. Nothing happens.

“Well, what ye be awaitin’ for?” laughs Delgar. “Me thinks he forgot how!” enjoins Dimlar with a chuckle.

“Try willing the fire to shoot forth, and I don’t think you need to yell ‘fire’, it’s not like your telling someone to shoot a bow,” instructs Mizdar.

Nordok, more than a little embarrassed, tries again, pointing his finger at the corner and willing fire to shoot forth. Feeling a strange warmth building in his arm, he consciously wills it hotter, while mentally forcing it toward his outstretched finger. Suddenly, a gout of flame, much more powerful than the previous one, shoots from his finger, spreading wider as it heads toward the corner, blackening the whole corner. “I did it!”

“Aye, that ye did,” says a stunned Delgar.

“Now do it again,” commands Mizdar. Nordok, trying it again, decides to will an even hotter flame this time, allowing the feeling of warmth to build before willing it to come forth from his finger. This time, the fire that shoots into the corner is so hot the stones in the wall start to crack, pieces of the them splintering and erupting into the room.

“Whoa, take it easy! You’re going to hurt someone!”

“Wow, that was a powerful one.”

“Now try to control how hot the flame is.”

But this time, no matter how hard he tries, Nordok cannot call forth the fire. “Something’s wrong, I can’t even feel the fire building up in my arm.”

“Hmm... I seem to remember something about dragons only being able to breathe fire three times a day. Maybe you too can only call forth the fire three times each day. Either that, or the power to do so has run out, used up or something. Wait a little while and we’ll try again.”

“I hope I didn’t use it up! I was just getting the hang of it.”

“We will just have to wait and see, I’m afraid.”

“Well, since neither of the dwarves seem to have any problem with their new powers, and we don’t have a body of water for Mintock to practice in, that leaves Seldor. Are you ready to try flying again?”

“Yes, at least the ceiling is higher in here, maybe I won’t hit my head this time.”

“Aww, we thought that was going to be part of the show, I’m not sure if I want to watch, now!” teases Nordok.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure there will be other things to laugh at. He might forget how to fly when he’s up there and fall flat on his face, I think that would be pretty funny,” teases Clernon.

“Mayhaps I should be ready to catch ’im,” suggests Delgar with a smile.

“Ready?” asks Mizdar. “Just do what you did before.”

“Now if I can just remember what I did before,” Seldor mumbles under his breath, before trying to fly once more. Thinking of soaring through the air, remembering the feeling of the air flowing around him from before, Seldor then leaps into the air. Having no problem getting airborne, he then tries to circle the room.

“Now try to go as slow as you can,” yells Mizdar.

Seldor complies, almost coming to a complete stop.

“That’s it, now try to hover in one place!”

“This is easy!”

“Next see how fast you can go, but make sure you can stop before you hit the wall!”

Seldor, first flying over to the scorched corner and hovering there, then flies as fast as he can toward the two statues. Trying to slow as he approaches them, he nonetheless starts to come very close to them.

All of a sudden, just as he is about to bump into them, they come alive and attack, leaping into the air at him. Having taken him by surprise, they each succeed in scoring two claw attacks, grappling with Seldor and bearing him to the ground, severely injured.

Dimlar is the first to react. Grabbing his hammer, he rushes to Seldor’s aide. Delgar, not able to move but half as fast as Dimlar, also starts toward the gargoyles. Mintock and Mizdar each start a spell. Nordok, grabbing his long sword, also rushes to help Seldor. The two clerics, reaching for their staves, are already in motion.

The gargoyles, satisfied that Seldor is down for the count, leap back into the air and start flying towards the rapidly approaching Dimlar. Dimlar and the gargoyles meet, the dwarf striking one of them with his hammer, using his speed to add to the force of his blow.

The gargoyle is knocked out of the air, bouncing and skidding to a halt, back by the fallen and weaponless Seldor. The other gargoyle, still flying, attacks with his two claws, one of which grazes Dimlar’s shoulder, but inflicts almost no damage on the dwarf.

Mintock’s sleep spell goes off, but has no effect. Mizdar’s missiles, however, strike the flying gargoyle on its left wing, causing the wing to fold backwards, dropping the gargoyle to the ground in front of Dimlar. Delgar finally reaches Dimlar’s side, followed by Nordok. Clernon and Clandistra are still making for the other gargoyle.

The gargoyles both jump to their feet and attack. The fallen one by Seldor covers the short distance to the oncoming Clernon quickly. The brute succeeds with a bite to Clernon’s shoulder and one raking claw across his chest, almost killing the first level cleric, before flinging him to one side.

Clandistra, using her staff, deals a hard blow to the gargoyle’s head, causing it to pause as it shakes its head, clearing the effects of the blow. The other gargoyle, towering over Dimlar, tries to bite the dwarf’s head, but his teeth slide harmlessly off of Dimlar’s helm. The two claws, however, deliver vicious raking blows to each of Dimlar’s upper arms, but Dimlar, being as powerful as the gargoyles, continues to stand true. He returns a hammer blow, striking the gargoyle but doing no apparent damage.

Delgar, his strength augmented to that of a thunder giant, delivers a blow of such force that he crushes part of the chest of the gargoyle, sending it crashing against the far wall. Nordok, his intended foe now too far away to attack, moves to the other gargoyle. Mizdar, deciding to test his new powers, starts casting another spell.

The gargoyle still standing now attacks Clandistra. It succeeds in biting her shoulder, ripping the flesh and leaving a vicious wound. One of the claws then manages to disarm the elf, sending her staff flying across the room. Just then, a brave Nordok steps in front of the other claw attack, taking a light gash on his shoulder.

Mizdar’s spell goes off, sending another pair of missiles into the gargoyle attacking Clandistra, blinding it long enough for her to retreat safely. Nordok, recovering from the last blow, is still positioning himself for an attack. Dimlar, running at top speed, launches himself onto the gargoyle, knocking it to the ground. Delgar, ignoring the gargoyle trying to regain its feet by the far wall, heads over to the other gargoyle.

The gargoyle knocked across the room is slowly regaining its feet. The other one, pushing Dimlar away, jumps to its feet and starts to close in on Nordok.

Mintock, out of spells and knowing the futility of attacking the more powerful gargoyles, is unsure of what he should do.

Mizdar, remembering that gargoyles are immune to non-magical weapons, asks, “Mintock, isn’t your staff a +1 weapon?”

“Yes it is, why?”

“Throw it to Dimlar. Dimlar! Use the staff! Normal weapons don’t work on them! Nordok! Get back! You can’t hurt it!”

Dimlar, dropping his hammer, catches the staff from Mintock. Delgar, not sure if Mizdar is right, knocks Nordok aside, taking his place in the battle.

The gargoyle across the room, unable to fly with its damaged wing, begins to run toward where the others are battling. It seems to know that if the two of them can defeat the two dwarves, the rest will be easy to win out over.

Mizdar decides to try another spell, but, having used up his ability to cast first level spells, discovers that he can only remember his second level spells. Deciding to try the spider web spell, he begins his casting. Dimlar, not proficient in the use of the staff, fails to hit his foe. Delgar, however, strikes another tremendous blow, also sending this one crashing against the wall. But this time, having realized what effect his new strength will have, he makes sure to bounce the gargoyle off the closest wall.

While one gargoyle picks itself up off the floor, the other manages to reach Dimlar, raking him with two claws but doing little damage.

Mizdar is still casting. Dimlar, becoming more acquainted with the staff, manages to land a solid blow on the arm of the beast, causing it to yelp in pain. Delgar steps over to the gargoyle that Dimlar is engaged in and delivers a powerful blow, this time driving his hammer down, crushing the gargoyle against the floor, never to rise again.

Mizdar’s spider web spell finally goes off, encasing the other gargoyle as it is moving towards the dwarves, stopping it in its tracks. Delgar, calmly walking over to the trapped gargoyle, delivers another downward angled blow that easily kills the beast, even through the webs.

Now that the creatures have been vanquished, we take stock of the damage done by them. Seldor is near death, but not dead yet. Dimlar has taken some injury, but nothing that is life threatening. Delgar remained unharmed throughout the battle. Clandistra’s shoulder has a nasty gash, but she is still in good shape, otherwise.

The same cannot be said for Clernon. He is almost dead. The wounds he suffered are still bleeding profusely. Fortunately, Nordok’s gash can be bound easily enough.

Clandistra, realizing that Clernon will die shortly, yells, “someone bind the rest! I must see to Clernon immediately or he will die!” She holds forth her medallion and begins to pray. The greenish glow starts at her medallion, then envelopes her, then moves to Clernon, completely covering the cleric. His wounds close quickly, sealing themselves from the power bestowed on the elf by her god.

Clandistra then moves on to Seldor. Using up most of her healing ability, she restores Seldor to full health. Clandistra then uses the last of her healing ability on herself, managing to heal most of her shoulder wound. Mintock and Mizdar have bound the rest, easing their pain as best they can. Unfortunately, Clandistra’s healing abilities are now expended. And Clernon is obviously in no shape to heal anyone. So that is the best that anyone can do for the injured. With almost half of the party now resting as they recuperate from their wounds, the rest of us have an emergency meeting.

“What do we do now? We have three people down for the rest of today, the two of us still standing are injured, and we have no spells. The only good thing we have going for us is that we are in a dead end room and the door is spiked shut,” says Mintock.

“Aye, that be the size of it, all right,” confirms Delgar.

“Yes, that is a fair assessment,” agrees Mizdar.

“But at least we are relatively safe. Now, as to what we are going to do, well, first off I want to know if anything was destroyed or damaged in the fight. Then, I guess Mintock and I had better do some studying and get some rest so we can have some spells. If one of you three wants to get some sleep, do so. But I want two of you to remain on watch, preferably Delgar and one other, at least until Mintock and I have been able to get our spells back. Later, we shall see what we are going to do for tomorrow, we may have to stay here for another day, or at least for part of it, anyway.”

“Aye, I’ll stand watch till ye get up. An’ we will wait ta see what tomorrow brings.”

“I’ll stay up and keep Delgar company,” offers Nordok.

“As will I, ‘tis not time fer bed, an’ I be not needing the rest.”

“Well then, the three of you can stand watch together till this evening, by then some of us should be up. Now to find out what was lost in the battle. Nordok, why don’t you and Dimlar see about that while Delgar guards the door. Mintock and I will study our spells, and then turn in.”

Nordok and Dimlar, finding that nothing important has been lost, set about putting the camp back together while Delgar guards the door. After the two mages have studied their spellbooks, they retire over to the corner with the other sleepers.