The Dragons Bane

“Do we have everything?” asks Mizdar, making a last minute check before we leave for the dungeon.

A nod from everyone says that we do, so we head out to the dungeon. After everyone has left the immediate area, the two dwarves erase our tracks and do their best to make the area around the camp look natural.

With Seldor and Nordok leading the way, followed closely by Clandistra, we quickly approach the vicinity of the ledge under which our tunnel to the dungeon is hidden.

Calling a halt a short distance away, Mizdar silently instructs Clandistra to scout the area for any signs that our tunnel has been discovered. She quickly checks the area out, but cannot find any recent signs that anyone was in the area.

“Everything is as it should be, Mizdar.”

“Then we go in as planned, the two dwarves will lead the way, followed by our three new fighters. I want a rope trailed behind, and I want the last fighter in line to remain in the tunnel a short ways, but within earshot of the room. Who will be last?”

“I’ll take that position,” offers Nilios.

“Ok, what I want you to do is yank three times when they enter the room, followed by two yanks when they give the all-clear sign or one yank to mean there is trouble. Assuming there is no trouble, once the doors are spiked shut, three more yanks will bring some of the rest of us, followed by our packs and the remaining members. Understand?”

“Yes, three yanks when they go in, two if no trouble, one if trouble, and three more yanks for the rest of you to come in when the doors are spiked shut,” echoes Nilios.

“Good. If you five are ready, then get going while we tie the packs together.”

The five fighters, led by the two dwarves, duck under the overhang and crawl into the tunnel. Trailing a rope behind them, they follow Mizdar’s instructions to the letter.

“The rest of ye wait while I be movin’ the boulder from the entrance,” says Delgar in a muted voice. Giving the great rock a hearty shove, he quickly follows the tumbling rock into the room with the others close upon his heels.

Running over to the door, Delgar uses his great strength to hold the door shut while Dimlar places several spikes in the bottom of each door while Wiltock spikes the tops.

“All clear, Nilios,” says Wiltock.

Three sharp tugs on the rope tell Mizdar and the rest of us that they are in the room. A moment later, two more tugs indicate that there is no immediate danger. Three more tugs tell them the room is secure and to come through.

“Clernon, I want you and Mintock to go next. We will send the packs through behind you two before the rest of us come through.”

“Ok, we’ll have Delgar pull them in behind us.” Clernon allows Mintock to go first, and then begins to pull the rope with the packs tied on behind him into the tunnel.

Emerging out on the other side, Mintock checks out the room while Delgar pulls the rope with the packs through the tunnel.

“How is everything?” he asks Dimlar softly.

Nodding his head, the dwarf gives him a thumb up with his free hand, his battle-axe at the ready in his other.

As soon as the packs have been pulled through, Mintock signals for Nilios to give three more tugs, alerting the others to come through.

After everyone has emerged into the room proper and regained their packs, we are ready to proceed. Mizdar looks inquisitively to Delgar, who has been listening at the door. The dwarf gives the thumbs up with his free hand.

Mizdar then quietly commands us to form up on the door, in our proper order. The two dwarves, followed by Nordok and Seldor, followed in turn by Wiltock holding the center position. Then come the four magic-wielders among our group, followed by the remaining two fighters.

Wiltock is holding aloft a lit lantern for those in front to see by, as are each of the fighters in the back, with their off-hand, of course. The new fighters are understandably a little nervous.

Mizdar chose them as the lantern-bearers, figuring to let them watch our methodology. Since we are only on the first floor of the dungeon, there shouldn’t be too many monsters that the four seasoned fighters can’t handle. Besides, if something happens with the light, he has the bag of marbles with the perpetual light spell cast onto them. But since they are untried in a dungeon setting, he has chosen to keep the light-giving marbles he created a secret for the moment. This way, if they don’t come in handy, he is the only one that will be disappointed.

Realizing that we are all finally ready, Delgar gives the all-clear thumbs up signal one last time, and Mizdar nods in response. Flinging the doors open, the two dwarves are the first to confront whatever may be in the room. Of course, having heard no sounds of any kind, they are expecting an empty room. Charging into the room, they are somewhat surprised when they see both sets of doors closing.

Stopping rather abruptly, they look back toward Mizdar and the others, wondering what they should do now. Ever fearful of a large group of some kind, Mizdar makes a quick decision. He decides to go and check out the doors to the west, but not until he has had a chance to protect our rear.

He motions for the two dwarves to head over to the west doors, where Delgar uses his great strength to hold it closed. The rest of us approach the east doors, offering our protection to Mizdar whilst he casts a wizard’s bar spell upon the doors.

“Remember, the Lord wants them alive,” warns Cudge, the leader of the troop of dragonmen. He and his men are guarding the eastern section of the dungeon nearest the entrance used by the Dragons Bane on their previous forays. “We are to let them get themselves into the dungeon proper, then seal off the tunnel forever. There are only two ways from the room with the tunnel, we have one covered, and Dredge has the other. While they are fighting one of us, the other will seal off their escape route, and they will be trapped.”

“I lay ten silver that they come this way first,” hisses one guard. “I’ll take that bet,” replies another. Just then, the guard positioned at the partially opened door closes the door. “This is it, they’re here. Get ready,” orders Cudge.

Having completed his spell, Mizdar seals off the set of doors to the east with a wizards bar. He then motions for us to form up on the western set of doors. As soon as everyone is ready, he looks to Dimlar, silently inquiring about any noise from the other side of the door. Dimlar replies with a shake of his head, indicating that he hears nothing. He refrains from giving the thumbs up signal because we all know that someone or something just closed the door a few moments ago. Knowing that we will probably be walking into a trap, we are all a little edgy. Finally, Mizdar looks at each of us, judging our battle-readiness and letting us know that he is about to signal for the battle to begin. A nod from Mizdar is all that is needed for Delgar to thrust open the doors, while the rest of us are already poised for battle.

As soon as the doors open, we notice that the next room is flooded with the light of several lanterns. They are being held aloft by several dragonmen stationed around the far walls of the room. Illuminated by the light are about ten of their brethren, and another can be seen in the doorway along the south wall.

The dragonmen are about seven feet tall, with heads that are all covered in scales, giving them a distinctly dragon-like set to their faces and heads. And the two-inch fangs that adorn their mouths are clearly discernible as they grimace their hatred for us. They are led by cultists, men who worship the dragon and do his bidding. They knew we were coming, and have arrayed themselves around the room, leaving us a clear space in front of the doors. An obvious challenge to enter the room.

The dwarves are not ones to back down from such a challenge. With a yell, the two use their great speed to charge those nearest the door in the southern wall. Nordok, as soon as they have moved out of his way, yells “fire” as he unleashes his dragon’s fire from one outstretched hand. Seven of the brutes are incinerated where they stood along the west wall. Expecting hand-to-hand combat, the dragonmen are an easy target for Nordok. Seldor, with Wiltock close behind, his lantern tossed uselessly to the ground, charges behind the two dwarves. The rest of us are also caught up in the moment, our battle lust causing us to rush into the room behind the others.

The remaining dragonmen, panicked by the unexpected turn of events, are trying to exit through the south doors. They are easily cut down from behind, for the doors will not open for them. The dragonman guard who was stationed at the open door has bolted through it, closing and locking it from the other side, sealing their doom.

“We can’t fight them! They are too strong!” yells the guard, as he holds the locking bar in place.

Dredge, being no fool, has placed himself close to the door leading to the hallway. “You can and you will fight them! They must be taken at all costs, do you hear me? I am going to warn the others that they have come this way. Hold them back while Cudge comes at them from behind. I’ll be right back with the reinforcements.” Dredge, accompanied by another guard, then ducks out the door, closing and barring it before those in the room can turn chicken and flee.

He then yells down the hall to the guard waiting down by the far doors that they have come this way and to seal off their escape tunnel. Crossing the hall to another set of doors, he bangs three times. The door opens, revealing four ogres. “They are here. They will be coming into the hallway soon.”

At Dredge’s yell, the guard stationed at the doorway down the hall yells into the room he is stationed by. “They went Dredge’s way. Seal the tunnel and attack!”

As soon as word reaches Cudge, he orders his men to open the door. His plan is simple. Send a few of his men that are also sappers to collapse the tunnel, while he leads the rest in a surprise attack at the party’s rear. Only one problem prevents him from accomplishing his plan. Nobody can get the door to open.