A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas
Chapter 48: A Survivor
A quick check of the chamber to the north revealing nothing but a kitchen and attached pantry, but little of interest. Instead we checked the area to the south. Her we found a hallway connecting twp other rooms at either end. We checked the western room first. Numerous small bunks, tables, chairs, and wardrobes filled this room, providing sleeping quarters for the warren's occupants. As we looked into the room, more shadow gnomes appeared, and the battle was on once more.
One of the Gnomes went after Charles, but could get past his armor. a second gnome attacked Charles, and this one managed to strike him, doing a small amount of damage. Krisyra launched a multicolored flame which adhered to the gnomes, and two of them were illuminated. I moved up to engaged one of the marked gnomes, I slashed at it twice with my claws, weakening it. one of the gnomes lauched a beam of darkness at Narcrath, but it missed. Lydratir stepped up to assist Charles, attacking the marked Gnome near him with his rapier. Charles attacked the other gnome near him, and on his second swing sent the gnome stumbling back, badly wounded but still up. The gnome I'd attacked took a couple swings at me. Neither penetrated my scales. Narcrath considered his options, and saw that he had a good setup, and inhaled deeply, spitting lightning and striking three of our foes: The one still near Charles, the one who'd launched the beam of darkness, and the one who'd been pushed back. Of these, only the one who'd been pushed back fell.
The remaining Gnome near Charles attacked again, and only struck once. Krisyra launched a flame at this same gnome, taking it down. I struck the gnome before me again, taking it down. The remaining gnome took aim at Lydratir and fried off another beam of darkness, but it hit nothing but the wall. Lydratir deftly drew his bow and took aim, firing twice at taking down this final gnome.
The chamber the shadow gnomes had emerged from contained a few minor treasures, such as a pouch containing six moonstones. We went to the other end of the hall to search this room, and found it to be another dormitory. There were no threats here, only a few more minor treasures. With this section explored, we made our way back to the common room, and took the only remaining path to the northwest. This passage lead us to a storage room, as well as continuing deeper into the hills.
The storage room was crammed with crates, barrels, spools of rope, boxes, and tools. The smells of grease and wax filled the air. Cobwebs dangled in the corners of the room. The was nothing but mundane supplies in this chamber, so we continued deeper. The tunnel became rougher as the plank-lined corridor gave way to an excavated area hewn from the surrounding earth and stone. Timbers supported the earth and stone ceiling, creating a low, wide cavern underneath the earth. Buckets, tools, and wheelbarrows lean against the walls of the room. Flickering shadows with malicious smiles crowd around the edge of a glowing circle of light at the cavern's northeastern end. Huddled within the light is a pale, thin gnome, watching the shadows in terror. Several pools of melted wax surround the gnome. As we approached the five shadows turned to us, hungrily.
Lydratir took aim with his bow, and put two arrows into one of the shadows, taking it down. Narcrath summoned up a chromatic orb, and fired it. as it flew it split, striking two of the shadows and taking out both. Krisyra summoned a flame, and launched it at one of the remaining shadows, damaging it. This shadow drifted over towards Krisyra, but she dodged its attack with ease. I moved up to the fifth shadow, and slashed at it with my claws, but it was like attempting to strike mist. Despite this I made contact, weakening this creature. The shadow attempted to harm me, but its attack had no effect. Charles moved over to assist Krisyra, swinging his greatsword at the shadow, taking it down. Lydratir came over to help me, and finished off the last shadow with a strike from his rapier.
With the area clear, we approached the gnome. I was glad to see that unlike the others in this place, this one still seemed to be normal.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
The gnome ceased huddling, and looked at us with hope.
"Are you here to help me?" asked the gnome.
"We are," said Charles, "who are you?"
"Name's Mevlin Butteroak," said the gnome, "I was working down here in the mine when… whatever this is hit. There were other too, but went looking for supplies… and never came back.
"Unfortunately, it seems you're the only one of your clan that's made it out of this," I said, "the others… the shadows changed them".
"I worried that might be the case," said Mevlin, "right now, all I want is a meal and a chance to get out of here. There's nothing left here but sorrow".
"How did you remain untouched?" asked Krisyra.
"Funny thing it is," said Mevlin, "it's the Sunbreath Quartz, the mineral we're digging for here. Tailors in the cities pay good money for it. normally, it looks like normal quartz, but exposed to bright light, and it glows with internal radiance. These shadow creatures don't seem to like it… it's lucky you arrived when you did: I was out of candles".
"Come on, let's get you out of here," I said.
We started making our way back out of Thistlehill, pausing in the common room to get Mevlin some food from the he was eating he revealed some additional information.
"I'm going to guess you weren't specifically sent to find me, right?" asked Mevlin.
"True enough," said Narcrath, "were trying to track down the source of this corruption of the forest".
"Well, when it happened, this darkness flowed over the land from the northeast," said Mevlin, "There are some ruins on a hill in that direction, most folks call it The Tumbles. Never liked that place myself, always gave me the creeps".
"Sounds like a lead," said Lydratir, "we should head that way soon".
"If you don't mind, I'd prefer to get out of this forest," said Mevlin, "like I said, there's nothing left for me here".
"Of course," I said, "it's best you get to safety".
Mevlin finished his meal, and collected his travelling supplies from the dormitory, The exited the tunnels together, then Mevlin went his own way, leaving us to journey deeper into the forest.
A/N: And there we go! Next time, our heroes venture even deeper into the forest, towards the ancient ruins known as The Tumbles. See you then!