====Diablo 2 and Lord of Destruction (and all character classes) do not belong to me.====

The elder man nodded. "I thought you decided to work with that...doctor, Alkor," Lapidoth snorted. His voice was anything but amiable, reflecting both fear and arrogance.

Alerrath shook his head. He looked to the barbarian cooly, deep umber eyes glinting with age-old wisdom and a great respect. Tirzah knew very well what it was like to be him. Each were shunned for their chosen positions in life. Many questions Alerrath's motives, and others accused Tirzah for being a spiteful female.

She looked over Alerrath's form, his chain mail wrapped about his figure loosely, revealing the padding beneath. He was a thin man, not large of height nor stature, but his necromactic magicks were to be reckoned with. His boots were tinted with blood, as were his gloves. Long locks of a burmal gray whipped about in the violent turbulance of the wind. The sun highlighted lighter strands to a brilliant white, along with his already pale skin. "Nay, the alchemist never held my interest," the necromancer turned to Tirzah, "I went in search of greater challenges, but when I had heard that Diablo was already defeated..."

Tirzah blushed every so slightly, "How long did it take you to convince Tyrael that you were of the light?"

Alerrath sighed and shook his head once more, "A bit longer than was comfortable. No matter, I'm here, aren't I?"

Lapidoth smirked, though only Tirzah noticed. "Very well, then. Alerrath, come along. We have not much time to lose."

Huffing quietly to herself, Tirzah took up her staff once more and walked over to meet Lapidoth, taking next to him. Alerrath replaced the helm upon his head again and strolled after them.

The barbarian seemed very intent on reaching the summit in time, slaughtering everything in his path. Every once in awhile, Tirzah or Alerrath would aid him with a projectile, though Lapidoth would give the necromancer a fierce glare everytime he helped. Alerrath seemed unphased by the unfriendly warrior, but still wanted to earn the barbarian's friendship.

Tirzah looked over her shoulder at the mage every so often, just to check that nothing had become of him. He was always so silent, somber; indeed, it frightened her at times. He seldom cried out, though his pleas for help were heard loud and clear when he needed it.

The party walked on. Each member's eyes were locked on the landscape, scanning for any threat. None of them had suffered major injuries, thanks to health potions. Tirzah was mentally exhausted, though she did not show it, but merely downed a mana potion. Alerrath's gaze scryed the area. "Over there, a way point," he pointed a gloved finger in the distance.

Lapidoth ran forward and nodded to Tirzah. She followed quickly and knelt down beside a stone. Brushing a hand along the symbols inscribed upon the stone slab, she peered over in Lapidoth's direction, "You know what to do."

The barbarian chuckled and kicked over one of the smaller stones, marking the corners. In a few sparks and crackles, mystic blue flames sprang to life. For once, Lapidoth looked to Alerrath in a more friendly manner, "Should we head back to town, or continue along our merry way?"

The old man's eyes brightened at the amiable tone of the normally gruffed Lapidoth, "Let us carry on."

Lapidoth nodded while Tirzah merely smiled at the seemingly forming friendship between the two. Once more, the group was on the move again. They trampled through the brushes, silent, until they finally approached the gaping mouth of a cave. It was rimmed with a thick layer of ice, large spears of icicles hanging low on the weakening frame of wood. The tattered doorway seemed to be barely holding the entrance up. The iced over stairs were not in the least comforting.

The day was fading into night. The sun returning into its celestial bed. Tirzah gazed upwards, catching the first glimpse of sunset. "'Tis growing dark," she stated.

Lapidoth peeked down the stairwell, "Aye, perhaps we should go back to Harrogath and wait til dawn."

Alerrath poked his head into the available space in the door frame, "'Tis so, but it is no different in a cave in night than one in day."

The muscled warrior looked down at the shorter, frailer man, "Maybe, but we do not want to emerge from the cave in the middle of the night either."

"If you insist. Back to camp we go," Alerrath said, rolling his eyes.

"You two, always bickering like two hens," Tirzah grumbled, head shaking, "Except you have magic and large, fearsome swords."

Both men grunted, trying to intimidate each other. The sorceress sighed, dark hair flailing in the wind. She pulled out a scroll and read the incantation quickly. A blue ring parted the air; inside, there was a magic rift between the areas, connecting one with the another. "Everyone, proceed," Tirzah motioned to the pair and hopped in herself, as if the previous action was not enough.