A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 47: Thistlehill
The next morning, though it was hard to tell in the gloom of this forest, we approached the entrance of Thistlehill. The corridor leading inside was 6 feet high by 8 feet wide. I was used to the scale of gnomish homes from my time with Quoros, but I'd grow a bit since then. I'd still be able to fit inside, but it would feel a bit uncomfortable after a little while.
A pathway lined with planks sloped downwards, and a short distance inside, we came to the first room. It was a fairly cramped room, holding a small table and three chairs, as well as a sealed barrel. Two doors led out of this chamber: one to the north, and one the west. Charles glanced around the room, and slowly grasped the hilt of his sword.
"We're not alone," said Charles.
As he said that, three small forms burst from the shadows. I recognized them as gnomes, but whatever was effecting this forest had gotten to them: their skin was dusky and ashen, their eyes black, and in their hands were blades formed of shadows.
The Gnomes caught us by surprise, going after both Charles and I. The one that went after Charles struck him twice, its blade finding its way past him armor. One came after me, and struck me hard. I could feel a dark chill gnawing at my very essence, but I managed to evade it second swing. The third of these shadow gnomes also came after me. It too stuck with unexpected force on the first blow, but was left off balance and botched its second attack.
"My turn, little ones," I snarled
I turned my head, and taking careful aim to avoid my allies, I unleashed my fire. The one near Charles managed to dodge, but the ones close to me had no time. They were seared by the flames but none of them fell. One of the gnomes near me went on the attack again, missing its first strike but the second connected. I growled at the pain, but the embers which hung in the air after my breath attack coalesced around it, burning it again and leaving it looking weak. The gnome near Charles attempted to strike him again, but failed to connect. Narcrath moved up to the more damaged of the gnomes near me, and unleashed his Shocking Grasp, taking it down. As it fell, it dissolved into shadows, revealing how far gone they were. Charles swung at the shadow gnome which had attacked him with his greatsword. The first swing struck true, but Charles' second swing went wide. Lydratir assisted Charles by driving his rapier into the gnome near him, taking it down. The remaining gnome swing at me striking twice. I wasn't feeling in good shape by this point. The embers tried to surround the gnome, but to no effect. Krisyra could see I wasn't in the best shape, and fired off a flame at the gnome wounding it further.
I looked at the thing before me that was once a gnome, but was now a servant of darkness. I remembered Quoros, and all the kindness he showed me, and knew what he'd want me to do: put this thing out of its misery. I swung with my claws, rending this shadow gnome asunder. The wisps of shadow dissipated from between my claws, and the room fell silent.
Krisyra stepped over to me, and poured restorative magic into my wounds. Even with her best efforts, I still wasn't at 100%. Meanwhile, Charles scouted out the path to the north, and soon reported back.
"Nothing of interest up that way," said Charles, "It looks like they used that area as an observation post".
We continued to down the western path, and just as the corridor turned south…
"Stop!" said Lydratir, "look at that seam in the floor. I think it might be concealing a trap of some sort".
Lydratir looked carefully at the walls, and then found something. There was a soft click, and Lydratir stepped forwards carefully, tapping the suspicious section of the floor. It didn't move. The hallway opened up into a larger room. This room held carved wooden chairs, tables, and cupboards, each fashioned with exquisite skill. A plush woven carpet of forest green and autumn gold covered the plank floor. A wide, cold hearth stood in the south wall, and a curious low walled box rested beside it. This looked of have been the common room, and was likely once the hub of activity in this place. Now, all that dwelled here was darkness. Four shadowy gnomes approached, along with a giant badger that was also trailing shadows.
The first shadow gnome moved up to Charles, blade of darkness in its hand. However neither of its swings could penetrate his armor. Charles swung right back, severely damaging his foe with his first swing, and finishing it off with the second. Another of the shadow gnomes rushed up to Lydratir, striking him twice it its shadow blade. Another of the shadow gnomes attacked Charles, but on just barely managed to slip past his armor, and was left off balance for its second swing. Narcrath fired off a orb of energy, which the burst with a notable shockwave, wounding the gnome who'd yet to act, the badger, and the gnome attacking Lydratir. Lydratir drove his rapier into the gnome attacking him twice, leaving it severely wounded. Krisyra summoned a flame, and launched it at the gnome near Lydratir, finishing it off. I approached the giant, shadow-tainted badger and the fourth gnome, and focused my first strike on the badger. Its shadowy form seemed to flow between my claws like water, but I hit something solid enough to take it down. I tried to follow up by striking the gnome with my tail, but it rolled out of the way. This gnome raised its blade, and swung it at me, striking twice but thankfully the strikes were shallow.
Charles brought his greatsword down upon the shadow gnome near him with great force, leaving it weak, before finishing it off with a follow up. Narcrath approached the remaining gnome, his hands sparking with lightning, and finished it off.
As the last of these shadow gnomes fell, the chamber became quiet again, and we were left to explore deeper inside.
A/N: There were a surprisingly high number of critical hits in this chapter. 2 from the Gloom Gnomes, 1 from Valignatirisk, and 1 from Charles. In any case, next time, our Heroes delve deeper into the hall of Thistlehill, searching for clues of the source of this oppressive darkness. See you then!