Usual warnings, plus gross stuff for a sentence or two. Usual disclaimer about not owning things. Enjoy.
Weather forced a delay for the next day, not letting up until ten in the morning. The good part about this was that Reuben was less cranky upon being awoken. The bad part was that they may not get done in time to get back to town before nightfall and that had already been doubtful.
"Ah...that time already?" he muttered as they set to breakfast. "Great. I'm ready ta kick ass,"
"I'm sure we all are, but we always seem ta get th' shitty jobs," Cerys shook her head.
"Certainly we may overcome whatever may oppose us," Alyndra claimed boldly. "We are a formidable fellowship," Reuben snorted at the word.
"Angelick willing, we will have few difficulties," Bryston added.
"Doubt it. That guy never seemed ta like me," Reuben took a swig of his drink. "Always had ta get by wi'out divine providence, an' this'll be no different,"
The quartet left the inn, looking up at the partially overcast sky. Isobel swooped down and landed on Cerys's shoulder, cawing a greeting. Cerys returned it and Alyndra stroked the bird admiringly.
"'Kay, fellas. Let's get this show on th' road!" she set off the same way as they had the day before, but continued past the warehouse, mercifully empty, this time and continued down the road for a while, passing some more homes.
"Are we hirin' horses, this time?" Reuben asked, not excited at the prospect of long journeys on foot with heavy metal on.
"Sorry, Reuby, but there ain't none fer hire, right now," Cerys nearly sang.
"Shit..." the Mercenary grumbled. People stared at them as they passed the homes, both because of the large bird on Cerys's shoulder, but also because of Alyndra's obvious Elvishness. Not all of the stares were friendly. A few jeers were even thrown their way. Reuben replied with rude gestures and glares of his own, as some of the words were directed at him. They came, at length, to the northeast gate of the city.
"Halt! Your names?" one of the guards demanded.
"We just went through this, yesterday," Reuben complained, giving the guard such a stink eye that he stepped back.
"Look, we just gotta account fer ya leavin'. No need ta get hostile," the guard growled in return.
"We are Bryston Cross, Alyndra Virnan, Reuben Nieves, and Cerys Hunter," Bryston quickly interrupted.
"'Kay. Angelick keep ya on yer journey," the guard backed off, still eyeing Reuben with a frown.
"Amen," the Cleric replied. The portcullis slid upwards and they departed, drawing up their hoods in advance. Not one of them held much hope that the weather wouldn't sour at some point during the journey. Alyndra began to speak of the town, the various foods she had sampled, and of the history that Bryston and she had studied, as they advanced along the winding road. Cerys sent Isobel to scout around to make sure that they weren't ambushed or surprised.
"The codex expounded that Lostvault Tower was abandoned because of a Necromancer's curse," Alyndra explained. "Many Animated Objects, Skeletons, Undead carrion, and significant pestilence endure there,"
"Sounds fun..." Reuben sarcastically commented. "At least it ain't more Orcs. Sick o' them bastards..."
"The Undead are a foul act of defilement against nature," Bryston grimaced. "They don't belong in this plane,"
"Cen arrows 'r swords hurt 'em? I ain't too used ta fightin' that stuff," Cerys questioned.
"Zombies are resistant to assaults with blade," Alyndra elaborated. "Skeletons are impervious to cold and resist bludgeoning weapons, such as a quarterstaff. It derives from their lacking of internal organs,"
"That matters not, as I may Turn them away," Bryston adjoined, though still looking nervous at the concept. He had heard of the Clerics that fought with the Undead, but never thought that he would be one of them.
"So that means that we gotta leave Undead stuff ta you two, at least th' Zombies," the Huntress concluded. "Hear that, Reuby?"
"Try 'n stop me," he threatened, unconcerned. "An' stop callin' me that!"
They plodded on after that, Alyndra continuing to speak of things that interested her in an attempt to deviate from the unpleasant topic of the tower. The journey was peaceful, the damp grass shimmered in brief glimpses of sunlight and the weather only turned to a light rain for a brief hour as they went, causing the greenery to turn dun, but still not lose much beauty. They halted for a meal around what Cerys claimed was two hours after the noon. Bryston was grateful, as his new armor still encumbered him significantly. Reuben silently agreed with the sentiment, but would never admit it.
"Look at it this way, cloth-boy," Cerys asserted. "Yer gettin' muscle from all this,"
"But I am also becoming fatigued more quickly," the Cleric protested. "What use will I be if I am tired before ever coming to a dangerous area?"
"You are fortunate to be able to don such protective devices and, nevertheless, utilize your magicks," Alyndra comforted, remembering how easily the knife had pierced her robes the previous day. "Wizards are unable to do so as it would interfere with our movements and increase the odds of miscast,"
"Yep, easier ta kill, but them's th' breaks," Reuben didn't sound particularly unhappy about the prospect of her being easier to kill. The Elf's eyes narrowed.
"Somehow, I do not cognate that you would mourn if that were to happen," she noted.
"Nope," he responded coolly, getting up. "Lunch break's over," He began to set off again.
"Son of a bitch," she muttered in Elvish, tempted, for yet another time, to hit him with one of her strongest spells while his back was turned.
Not much further along, they began to hear the sound of running water again.
"Must be near th' bridge," Cerys noted as Isobel came back to report. She had a short conversation with the bird. "Sounds like the tower and th' surroundin' area looks empty, but it's got a gloom on it. Plus, she says someone's been there recently,"
"What could this forebode?" Aylndra wondered aloud.
"Hope nobody's tryin' ta steal that book," Reuben deduced, ignoring the fact that they, too, were likely just robbing a derelict building for money. "I'll kill 'em if they are,"
"So savage..." Alyndra sighed. "Do you ponder only with your brawn?"
"You!" he spun, blade drawn. "I'm gonna have yer head, doxy! I'm done wit' this!"
"Fireball!" Alyndra caught him in a fiery explosion before Cerys could interfere.
"Knock it off!" the Huntress barked as Alyndra jumped backwards to avoid a sword strike. "We need our energy fer th' tower!"
"She's had this comin' fer ages!" Reuben snarled, blocking two Magic Missiles with his shield. "Stay out of it, Cerys!" Alyndra dodged another swipe and a stab, knocking Reuben back a bit with Magic Missiles.
"Sound Burst!" surprisingly, Bryston broke up the fight, stunning them both and allowing Cerys to force them apart. "Do not fight! The Lord Angelick forbids it!"
"What th' hell 'r y' two doin'!" Cerys shouted, her face twisted with fury. This was the side that only enemies usually saw. "Whether ya like it 'r not, we're in this fuckin' shit together! I swear ta Angelick that I'll feather th' next motherfuckin' one o' ya that starts tryin' ta kill each other again!" The others were visibly shocked. Isobel fled from the Huntress's fury with a disgruntled caw. Reuben was the first to recover, giving a snort and walking away. Alyndra held her nose aloft, heading on next, glaring holes in the Fighter's back. Cerys watched them go with cold fury. After a moment, though, her face softened and she began to walk again. Bryston hurried to keep up. "Don't know who's worse, her 'r him," she muttered to the Cleric. "Both so proud 'n stubborn,"
"I don't think that those qualities are bad, per se, rather they're misdirected," Bryston surmised. "Perhaps we can get them to compete," Cerys smirked.
"I like th' way y' think, cloth-boy. Maybe I'll try that,"
The stone bridge that crossed the river was quite weathered and cracked. It was even covered in green slime on the sides and bottom. The party was silent, following the outburst from earlier. Both Reuben and Alyndra felt justified in their actions and were not anywhere near apology to anyone. The path continued to wind through the grassy area towards the tower and they looked up at the foreboding structure as it grew in their sight. It was built of gray stone with many rectangular windows and artful stone carvings on the outside, but it was fair no more. An aura of decay and fear could be almost seen around it. The windows were shattered, for the most part, and the statues on the outside were defaced with horrifying scrawls and alterations. Even the greenery seemed to stay away, as a barren ring surrounded the structure for a few yards.
"Y' weren't kiddin'," Reuben commented, frowning at the tower. "Sure looks cursed," Cerys studied the ground as they went.
"Someone's been here, like Isobel said," she announced. "They came on a horse," She looked around. "There ain't no horses 'round, though,"
"Quite the riddle..." Alyndra muttered. They halted as they came to the archway, eyeing the broken doors and unwilling to cross the threshold and enter the dusk within.
"There's somethin' tryin' ta make us too scared ta enter," Cerys grunted, resisting the force of it.
"Tch...ain't nothin' keepin' me out," Reuben entered, sword and shield ready. The others followed him cautiously, emboldened just enough by his foolhardiness, but still feeling a mental and spiritual weight press on them as they crossed the ancient flagstones and caught the scent of rotting timber, paper, and flesh.
"Odd..." Bryston whispered, white with fear. "I don't detect any Undead on this floor,"
"Doesn't mean there ain't other stuff..." Cerys shot back. "Anybody got some light?"
"I do," Alyndra held out her hands. "Dancing Lights!" Four glowing, white spheres appeared in a square, ten feet apart from each other. They squinted in the sudden brightness, but soon saw shattered statues, smashed armor, and bits of bone and rotted flesh.
"Someone's beat us ta it!" Reuben exclaimed. "Let's find out who!" He continued forward. The others followed, ready for a fight. The lights traveled with them and illuminated old, rotting shelves. Few books were on them and quick glances revealed that they were common books that could be found anywhere. They came, at length, to curving stairs on the far wall. They began to ascend them cautiously, pausing when they heard the ringing of a sword and the whoosh of magic.
"That must be 'r myst'ry man," Cerys noted. "Let's go help 'im!" They hurried up the stairs, soon spotting a figure in white slashing aside animated statues with a blade that glowed before each strike and disintegrating armed Skeletons and Human Zombies. The Skeletons were armed, though not armored, and made facial expressions, mostly of anger, despite their lack of eyes. Some lacked some teeth, ribs, fingers, or toes. The Zombies still had eyes, but they were dead and glazed and filled with an unholy red light. The greenish flesh hung loosely to their bones, some of which showed through gaps, and chunks were missing from some of the more meaty and tight-fitting parts, leaving red, rotting flesh exposed and oozing something nauseating. Despite this, the battle was joined.
"Turn!" Bryston pointed at some of the Undead. Several Skeletons looked troubled before they crumbled to dust. Reuben cut two statues down as they charged the mystery man.
"Fireball!" Alyndra's spell eradicated several Skeletons and Zombies. Cerys stood by, unsure how she should help. Arrows might not be effective here, despite what Alyndra had said. She settled for rushing to help Reuben with several animated suits of armor that had just appeared from the gloom. The mystery man Turned some more Undead, making them crumble to dust. Bryston did the same with his next turning. Reuben blocked a falchion, turning it aside, and rent a suit's arm off, before cutting it in half, causing it to crumple to pieces. Cerys ducked a swing from another suit and sliced it up the front before shoving it over to make it fall apart. Finally, all the foes were dispatched, for the moment.
"Thank you," the mystery man removed his helmet to reveal flowing blond hair to his shoulders and his green eyes showed in the Dancing Lights. "I didn't expect to find help in such a wretched place as this, but help unlooked for is twice welcome, as they say," His white metal cuirass, gauntlets, greaves, helmet, heavy steel shield, and cloak were all lined with gold and the golden cross of the church of Angelick was emblazoned on all of them.
"You must be a Paladin! I'm honored!" Bryston bowed. The man smiled.
"I'm also glad to see a Cleric of Angelick out in the world. I'm Malakai Elliot," the Paladin answered courteously, returning the bow.
"Bryston Cross," the Cleric introduced himself.
"Cerys Hunter,"
"Alyndra Virnan, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," she curtsied.
"The pleasure is mine, Lady Elf," he replied with another little bow, kissing her hand.
"Oh, no, I am not yet of requisite age for that sobriquet," she murmured, falling silent and averting her gaze.
"Wow, ya made her speechless," Reuben came up and shook Malakai's hand, never faltering in his sarcastic demeanor. "How do ya do it? I'm Reuben Nieves,"
"C-Charmed," the Paladin looked like he didn't know what to say to this.
"So why are you here, Sir Malakai?" Bryston inquired of the taller man as Cerys searched the rotting shelves nearby with Alyndra, whom she had nudged into helping and was teasing in the background.
"It is my duty in life to smite evil wherever and whenever it congregates," the Paladin answered confidently. "Are you not here for a similar reason, Cleric Cross?"
"On my part, yes. My companions, however, are here to retrieve an ancient tome that was abandoned here in years past," the Cleric responded.
"Hmm...well, it seems our paths are united, for the moment, and I could use some assistance," Malakai turned to Reuben, who scowled at him, in return. "Your swordsmanship isn't too shabby, if I may say so,"
"Better th'n anything you'll learn in a church, anyway," the Fighter stated bluntly. Malakai laughed.
"Maybe so. Of course we all think that our way is the best," he said conversationally. Reuben rolled his eyes.
"You two done yet?" he called crossly across the room.
"There ain't nothin' really here," Cerys reported as she and Alyndra, flustered from the aforementioned teasing, returned to the group. "Nothin' uncommon, anyway,"
"If tradition serves at this locale as with others, the Book of Gold will be at the zenith of the tower," Alyndra suggested, fighting away her blush.
"Ah, that is a treasure to be seeking, indeed!" Malakai proclaimed with interest. "We should find it, forthwith!"
"Calm down, captain light, we still gotta slaughter our way up," Reuben shook his head, frowning.
"Right! Behind me!" deciding the ignore the sudden sardonic moniker, the Paladin re-donned his helmet and took the lead in guiding the party to the next staircase, which was positioned as the one on the previous floor had been. It must have been the almost visible aura of courage coming from Malakai, but the terror of the tower no longer ate at the quartet and they felt confidence return to them. They proceeded slowly up the stairs, the Paladin's head turned from side to side, trying to ascertain the location of enemies in the gloom. Both he and Bryston detected many Undead on the floor. The Dancing Lights slowly came up after them, illuminating the room gradually, revealing many forms. Several animated statues of ancient heroes swarmed them with their stone weapons as they became lit. Reuben and Malakai blocked two of them with their shields while Alyndra and Bryston repelled the stony attackers with spells.
"Searing Light!" a ray of light cut through one of the statues and several behind it, crumpling them and some Undead, as well as burning a hole in the tower wall behind them.
"Lightning Bolt!" forks of lightning shot from Alyndra's hands, scorching and shattering the statue in front of her, as well as any foes behind it for potentially one hundred twenty feet, a hole would have been blasted in the tower wall if she hadn't stopped the spell before that. The Fighter and Paladin cut down their statues and went to work fencing with the armed Skeletons. Fortunately, Skeletons have no imagination or independent thought and were poor fighters.
"Turn!" Malakai destroyed a dozen of them. Reuben cleaved through some in succession with his Cleave skill.
"Turn!" Bryston also disintegrated many Zombies.
"Fireball!" Alyndra did so, as well. Cerys felled many with her arrows, wondering how a piercing weapon would kill them, but a slashing weapon was less effective. Of course, the Skeletons were not so easy to down with arrows, but that was more because of a lack of spots to be hit, rather than being unharmed by them. Several retaliating arrows flew past, fired by bow-wielding Skeletons on the far side of the room.
"Fireball!" Alyndra hurled another spell at said archers, incinerating them. The floor became quiet as the last foe fell. Alyndra sat down for a moment, starting to feel fatigued, as did Bryston.
"Warm work, eh?" Cerys teased, kneeling to look at Bryston. "Probably shouldn't've tried ta take so much o' th' load,"
"Can you two continue?" Malakai asked worriedly. "I don't want to get you killed on account of not letting you rest,"
"Meh, don't think we need 'em," Reuben noted checking his sword for damage. "The stuff here's child's play,"
"Don't get cocky, Reuben," Cerys cautioned, checking on Alyndra now. "We could do wit' a rest. The monsters don't seem ta wanna leave their floor so it ain't likely they'll come after us," Malakai shrugged.
"If you insist," he turned to stand guard, watching the spot where the next staircase was.
"I'm sorry to be such a bother," Bryston apologized.
"Ya ain't. Despite what Reuby says," Cerys comforted.
"Stop callin' me that!" he barked, pulling a moldy book off the shelf and squinting at the title. He snorted in disgust and threw the book aside. Cerys sighed and went to help look around. Reuben didn't really seem to take much time to look at the books, anyway, and throwing them would likely damage some of them, judging by their condition.
A chill wind blew in from the broken windows and rain lashed the sides of the tower as the bad weather returned in full force. Cerys brought a stack of books over to the two resident scholars as they reclined on the floor.
"Whaddaya make o' these?" she questioned. Bryston and Alyndra looked over them casually, brightening a bit when they read some of the titles.
"These are somewhat uncommon!" the Elf maiden commented. "They may be worth retaining,"
"And this one is in quite good condition!" the Cleric added. Cerys dug around in her satchel while they talked.
"Shit...c'mon, where is it?" she pushed some things aside. "Hmm...aha!" She pulled out a bottle of green liquid. "Thought I had some left,"
"Ah! That is a vial of Lesser Restoration Potion!" Alyndra brightened at once.
"Yep. Just need ta split it b'tween th' two o' ya an' you'll be up 'n about again," she handed it over. Alyndra removed the cork with skill, allowing the pungent aroma to permeate from the bottle. She took a careful swig of it and handed it to Bryston. He blushed as he took it. "C'mon! A little indirect kiss ain't gonna hurt ya!" Alyndra blushed, too, at the implication. Bryston chugged down the rest of the bitter liquid and felt some of his fatigue lift from him. Reuben looked disgusted at the concept of kissing the Elf.
"Well, if yer done makin' out, we got a tower ta conquer," he commented sourly, heading past Malakai's vigil and towards the stairs. The Wizard and Cleric got back to their feet, still embarrassed, and followed them, Cerys on their tail, smiling like a loon.
A horde of Skeletons came at them the moment Reuben set foot on the fourth floor. A blade glanced off of his cap as he ducked and thrust his blade upward into a skull, killing its owner. Malakai leapt forward, Turning many of the Skeletons to dust. Cerys sprang up, reusing some arrows to down some Zombies and a couple of statues. Alyndra and Bryston hung back this time, only attacking if they were directly threatened and using weak spells or melee attacks, then. Bryston smashed a Zombie with his quarterstaff while Alyndra repelled a statue with a pair of Magic Missiles as Malakai, Cerys, and Reuben sized up a large statue of a warrior with a sword and shield. Its swings were wide and hard to dodge. The Mercenary was knocked backwards from trying to block one of them and Cerys's arrows bounced off of the shield. He jumped up as Cerys put an arrow through the statue's face as it turned and blocked a strike from Malakai. The injury may or may not have been bad, but it had distracted the foe and it made for the Huntress. Malakai took the opportunity to cut one of the legs from under the statue from behind. It wobbled unsteadily and Reuben, ducking a wild flail of the stone blade, put forth his strength to sever the other leg. It fell with a crash, splintering into thousands of pieces and showering them with rubble. Reuben frowned at some of the scratches on his armor and the damage to his blade and kicked some of the remains of the statue.
"How many more floors 'r there?" Cerys requested, recovering her increasingly-damaged arrows. Only a few were still fit for use.
"There should be only five," Bryston explained, checking the party for wounds and patching flesh and steel. "This is the fourth," He might have fixed some of Cerys's arrows but neither thought of it and it would, likely, have been exhausting.
"Who apperceives what abominations may await at the apex?" Alyndra ajoined.
"Whatever it is, I know that we're about to find out what the curse on this place really is," Malakai declared. "I will not falter,"
"That goes wi'out sayin', knight-boy," Reuben grumbled. The lightning rumbled outside, flashing dramatically though the tower, and rain pounded the spire as they ascended the last steps, smelling the scent of rotting flesh growing ever stronger. The top floor was a large, open room. A small altar sat at the other end and a figure sat at it, clad in tattered black robes. His skeletal head was tilted down as he read from a gilded book that he held in his bony hands.
"Ah, so the intruders finally come in to ruin my reading," the figure looked up, closing the book. His glowing red lights where the eyes should have been in the sockets of his pale and taut face showed them what they were dealing with.
"Foul Lich! You do not belong in this plane!" Malakai shouted. "The divine light will send you to Hell!" Only the Aura of Courage that emanated from the Paladin protected them from the crippling Aura of Fear that radiated from the Lich. The two auras counteracted each other, causing a zero-sum net effect. He rose, chuckling and putting the book down gently on the book altar, covering it with a protective case.
"Now, now, that's no way to talk to an old Wizard," the Lich grinned wickedly. "I'll have to turn you into my Undead servants for trespassing in my tower! Magic Missile!" He fired a trio of Magic Missiles at the group. Malakai and Reuben blocked them with their shields as Cerys unleashed arrows.
"Searing Light!"
"Fireball!" The two spells collided with the Lich as he staggered slightly from the arrows. He was only mildly inconvenienced by even the holy spell that should have been more effective against an Undead.
"Ice Storm!" a miniaturized hailstorm appeared over the party, pelting them with large chunks of ice. They scattered, shielding themselves as best they could, running out from under the blue clouds. Reuben charged at the Lich, sword ready. "Fire Shield!" Flames wreathed the monster, causing Reuben nigh unbearable pain from the heat as he struck at its Undead flesh. He jumped back, as did the Lich. Several more arrows flew at the creature. "Wall of Force!" It cried. The arrows bounced off of an invisible barrier, clattering to the floor. Malakai attacked, his sword glowing white with power, only to have it bounce off the wall as well.
"Heal Moderate Wounds!" a blue light shot from Bryston's hand, on the other side of the room, engulfing Reuben and healing his burns. He stubbornly attacked the Lich as the flames around him faded. The Wall of Force was gone, having been only brief, but the Lich wasn't done yet.
"Fireball!" the fiery explosion staggered the Fighter, but didn't stop him. A gash was dealt across the Lich's chest, causing him to let out a piercing cry that stunned the two swordsman. The Lich dodged two arrows as he backed up, knocking Malakai and Reuben back with Magic Missiles. "Summon Monster Five! Come, Fiendish Tiger!" a glowing circle appeared in front of the Lich and a giant, blue and white tiger jumped out, growling. "Kill them!" It pounced on Malakai, only to be caught by his flashing blade and Cerys's last arrows. It growled and slashed, knocking Reuben aside. It staggered, though, from a Fireball and a Searing Light spell that scorched its foul, otherworldly flesh. Reuben struck back, swiping at its leg, but it jumped away, springing nimbly back to the Lich and then towards the two mages. Alyndra and Bryston dived out of the way, the former countering with Magic Missiles. The others made to help them, but the Lich had other plans. "Wall of Fire!" A wall of crimson flame cut the room in two. "You're not helping them!"
"You insane bastard!" Malakai attacked the Lich, who finally pulled out a dagger and proceeded to engage the Paladin in melee combat, occasionally taking a potshot with Magic Missiles. Cerys and Reuben jumped in as well, but the Lich was quite agile and his sneak attacks with Magic Missiles and penalizing them with his Fire Shield made the battle frustrating as well as dangerous. The shield burned anyone that struck the Lich and Bryston was not able to heal them. Cerys wouldn't have the time or the potency.
Alyndra dodged the tiger again, blasting it with a Scorching Ray and leaving another scorch mark that was barely visible in the flickering flames of the fire wall. Bryston attempted another Searing Light, but was forced to abort when the tiger came at him. He swung hard with his quarterstaff, only to have it slashed asunder. The tiger's jaws opened but he quickly struck it in the eye with a Searing Light. It roared in agony, barely missing him with its angry retaliation as he scurried away, trying to avoid the flame wall. Alyndra panted, already exhausted again as the creature flailed around. Suddenly, it turned and charged at her.
"Shit!" she shouted in Elvish.
Reuben was knocked back again, stunned, as the Lich continued to refuse to die. Malakai had tried Turning him, but it didn't work, as he was too powerful. Cerys had even stabbed him in the head, but he just repelled her and pulled the knife out, now dual-wielding knives at them.
'What's it take ta kill this bastard?' the Fighter shook off his dazedness and stood again, glad that he hadn't hit the fire wall, though he had come close. He glanced over, wondering how the two mages were doing. Malakai and Cerys were, again, stunned, and blasted away as he checked.
"Pathetic! You kids couldn't kill a sickly dog!" the Lich taunted, allowing the Huntress and Paladin to get back up, in his arrogance.
"We'll see, foul construct! Bless Weapon!" Malakai engaged the Lich again, his blade glowing gold instead of its usual white. The Lich attempted to deflect another attack, but his black dagger finally shattered under the force of the Blessed blade and his arm was cut asunder, bursting into dust. The Lich staggered backwards, attempting a spell, only to be bashed in the face with a shield. Another slash split the monster in half, causing him to scream and disintegrate, leaving a black book behind. The Paladin heard a commotion and turned to find another situation that he had missed while focused on the fight, however.
"Shit!" Alyndra shouted in Elvish as the tiger charged at her, ready to tear her head off. She wouldn't get out of the way in time, her muscles were too sluggish. She raised her arms in futility to try and ward off the blow, but was suddenly tackled out of the way. A mailed figure was pinned against the wall, foot-long fangs piercing his armor.
"Reuben!" she shouted, confused. He snarled, trying to repel the tiger with his blade, to little effect. Changing his grip, he drove the blade into the beast's skull with all his strength, piercing its brain. It gave a gurgling growl before slumping to the floor, dragging the Fighter with it, and then it faded away, leaving the sword behind. Reuben slumped over as the fire faded, burned badly and bleeding out from deep puncture wounds. Bryston and Alyndra ran to his side. The Cleric's hands shook as he mustered up the last of his strength.
"Angelickdamn...tiger..." the Fighter gurgled.
"Be silent!" Alyndra scolded fearfully. "You will exacerbate the trauma," Cerys came rushing over, also worried.
"Cure Serious Wounds!" Bryston cried, covering the Fighter with orange light and mending his wounds, bit by bit. Malakai came running up, seeing what was going on.
"Cure Light Wounds!" he added, adding a green glow to the orange.
"Th' hell's up wit' ya, Reuben?" Cerys shook her head as he slowly stabilized. "Firs' ya try 'n fuckin' kill 'er, now ya get nearly fuckin' killed fer 'er. Make up yer bloody mind!"
"Can it..." he muttered, exhausted. Once they were sure that he was alright, the Paladin and Cleric went about healing the others and repairing equipment.
"You look tired, Cleric Cross," Malakai observed. "Allow me. Lesser Restoration!" A silver mist flew from Malakai's hand and into Bryston. He felt his fatigue lift. "I would've used it earlier, but I was afraid that I'd need all my energy for the top floor. Boy, was I right..." He went tiredly back over to the black book that the Lich had dropped. Drawing his blade, he blessed it once more before driving the point through the book. It exploded into dust with a piercing scream that startled everyone else.
"What th' hell was that!" Cerys demanded, trying to calm her heart.
"It was the Lich's phylactery. In his arrogance, he kept it on him, rather than hiding it," Malakai explained. "If he had, he would be able to return, but it's gone, so he is too,"
"Thank the Lord Angelick," Bryston sighed, finally done with the after-battle cleanup. If only he had a spell for cleaning out bloodstains and gore. Reuben got to his feet, grumbling and still relatively tired, judging by how he was trying to use his sword as a prop. Bryston noticed this. "Lesser Restoration!" He leaned on his newly repaired quarterstaff as his energy transferred to the Fighter. He gave a vague nod in the Cleric's general direction and went slowly over to the case that the golden book had been placed in. The others also gathered round to see it.
"Et mihi de auro," Malakai read from the gilded cover as he opened the case. "This must be what you're looking for,"
"Indeed," Bryston lifted the heavy tome and carefully stowed it away.
"I would delight in perusing it, if only for a moment," Alyndra sighed, despite her tiredness.
"Ya may well get th' chance," Cerys commented, peering out one of the windows. "It's gettin' on in th' day an' th' storm's not lettin' up,"
"You mean we have ta camp in this dump?" Reuben frowned, crossing his arms.
"I don't like that idea," Bryston agreed, looking around at the gore smeared around the chamber.
"It's either that 'r out in th' storm," Cerys argued. "I don't like it anymore 'n you do,"
"At the very least, we should camp on the ground floor. It's...cleaner," Malakai suggested.
"Fair enough," Cerys concurred. They left the dank chamber that reeked of fire and death and made their way back down the stairs. They were cautious, but nothing remained on the lower floors but dust and moldering books. A harsh wind blew through, occasionally spattering them with rain, but they were able to take it slow and easy. It wasn't long before they were back on the ground floor. Reuben and Malakai set about making makeshift wind stops out of bookshelves while Cerys gathered up bits of furniture and fashioned a fire. They sat down around it and gratefully took their evening meal. Even jerky, dried fruit, and dried bread chased with water tasted like mana from the heavens at the moment. Well, that was a bad example, as the food and drink created by a Create Food and Water spell tended to taste terrible and was basically mana, but the food was good after their struggles.
"So, Malakai, where 'r ya headin' next?" Cerys questioned conversationally, once they had supped and were relaxing around their little fire while Alyndra and Bryston absorbed themselves in the Book of Gold.
"Probably back east. I only came here because I heard of the Undead in this tower and had to smite them," the Paladin responded.
"I see...well, we're goin' back ta Honeyhorn in th' mornin'. Shame ya cain't come wit'," the Huntress sighed.
"Duty can be a burden, at times," Malakai said with a smile. Reuben stared at the fire, thinking about the day's events.
'I must be goin' nuts.' he thought. 'I was willin' ta skewer th' Elf bitch this afternoon 'n then I jump through a fuckin' wall o' fire ta save 'er...' He bitterly smashed some of their gathered fuel and quickly threw it on the fire to cover up the action. There was silence for a while as conversation died down. Bryston passed out near the fire, curled up with his pack, which now held the book again. Reuben nodded off, still sitting up, head drooping forward. Alyndra and Cerys looked at each other across the fire as Malakai slipped into slumber, as well, reclined against their makeshift barrier. The Elf moved over to sit by the Huntress, careful not to disturb Bryston.
"Still shocked from earlier? Nearly dyin'll do that ta someone," Cerys whispered, grinning.
"No...well, yes, but I am disharmonious," the Elf murmured back. "What occurred?"
"Dunno. I turned an' saw ya were in trouble 'n then Reuben jumped through th' fire wall while I was tryin' ta figure out what th' hell ta do. Dumbest an' coolest thing I ever seen 'im do. He moved like a lightnin' bolt 'n pushed ya outta th' way. That's all I seen that you di'n't," Alyndra studied her boots.
"I never conceived that I would feel gratitude towards that-" she said a word in Elvish. Cerys chuckled, putting a hand on the Elf's shoulder.
"Neither did I, 'lyndra. Ya know how that turned out..." the Huntress looked over a him. "Ya may jus' help 'im get over this thing he's got wit' Elves..."
"I puzzle over the provenance of the loathing," Alyndra hummed.
"Who knows, 'sides 'im? Best not nose in 'r we'll get it broken," Cerys shrugged.
"I can attest to that fact," Alyndra smiled.
"Still...now ya got two guys after yer affections. Lucky girl," the Huntress teased. Alyndra flushed and slapped Cerys's shoulder.
"Silence! That is not legitimate!" she frowned as the Huntress's laughter echoed through the tower, a sound of merriment that hadn't been heard there for ages.
The sun rose clearly, the next morning. The sky was still somewhat overcast, but the weather was clear enough and the clouds had significant breaks in them. Malakai was the first up. He stretched out his stiff limbs and stoked the fire back to life. Soon enough, the others began to rouse themselves, with Reuben's usual grumbling, compounded with complaints about nodding off in his armor. They breakfasted, speaking of casual things. It wasn't long before they were extinguishing the fire and getting their things together.
"Are you certain that you will not accompany us?" Alyndra asked as they left the tower and looked up at the vibrant blue sky. Isobel swooped down and greeted Cerys happily as she wolf whistled in the background at Alyndra.
"No, I am afraid not," Malakai shook his head, fortunately not noticing the blush that appeared on the Elf's face from the whistle. "I wish all of you the best though. May the Lord Angelick see you to your journey's end,"
"May the Lord Angelick see you to your journey's end," Bryston repeated back. They bowed to each other and then the Paladin walked a few paces away from the group.
"So where's yer horse? I saw tracks on th' way here," Cerys posed.
"She's around..." Malakai whistled loudly. "Mya!" A pure white horse faded into existence near the bridge and trotted over, nuzzling the Paladin's neck. Her raiment was white and gold, like his armor, and bore the same golden cross.
"She's pulchritudinous," Alyndra sighed. As usual, she had a love for animals.
"Yeah, she is, if that means beautiful," Malakai agreed, allowing Alyndra to pet her. Mya seemed to enjoy the attention, making noise of affection. After a moment of this, the Paladin climbed onto the horse and settled himself in the saddle.
"May we meet again!" he spurred Mya and she took off with a speed that no normal horse could match. They quickly passed out of sight.
"So is the legendary horse of a Paladin, summoned from another plane," Bryston noted, impressed.
"Wish I had a horse..." Reuben grumbled, still stretching his sore limbs.
"Guess we know what ta get ya fer yer birthday, then, Reuby," Cerys teased.
"Stop callin' me that, dammit!" he barked. Alyndra sighed, looking heavenward.
'What shall we encounter next, I wonder?'
If I haven't caused shipping yet, I'm doing something wrong. Mwa, ha, ha...Malakai will be back, or I plan on it, anyway, so don't be disappointed if you like him. Critiques are still appreciated. Always nice to know what works and what needs to be worked on.