A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 90: The Outpost
We continued on, encountering some Galeb Durs and Trolls on the road, but eventually arrived at the outpost. The entrance was partially concealed behind a waterfall. We approached, and headed into the cave behind the falls. Almot immediately, we were confronted by our foes.
"Well, if it isn't the interlopers," said a cultist, "just as they said you'd be. Surrender and you might yet live".
"That's not going to happen!" said Charles
"I thought you might say that," said the cultist, who then shouted, "alert! We've got intruders!"
In the distance I could hear someone ringing a bell, followed by another, and another. It seemed stealth was not an option.
Uxarix rushed forwards, jabbing the cultist with his rapier twice, severely wounding it. The cultist attemped to retaliate, but their dagger couldn't find purchase on his armor. Krisyra weaved her magic, and the cultists became outlined with multi-colored flames. I stepped up, and unleashed my flame, taking out one of the cultist and burning the others. One of the cultists tried to attack me, but couldn't pierce my scales. The third cultist did the same, but struck me once with his dagger. The remaining motes of flames from my breath coalesced around the cultist, taking it out. Charles stepped up, and brought his greatsword down on the remaining cultist, taking it out as well. However, before the dust could settle, three large crustacean-like creatures came scuttling out of a side chamber at us.
"Chuuls!" shouted Lydratir.
Lydratir took aim, and fired at one of the chuuls, wounding it. That same chuul scuttled forwards, and grabbed Lydratir with his claws, grappling him. The nexr chuul went after Narcrath, but he manage to evade its attacks. Narcrath blasted the chuul with lightning, and the moved back from the creature. The third chuul attempted to attack Charles, but its claws slid off his armor.
Uxarix moved to assist Lydratir, jabbing at the chuul, the rapier striking with a burst of light and leaving it in poor shape. Krisyra morphed into an earth elemental, and then smashed the most wounded of the chuuls, freeing Lydratir. She then moved to the one that Narcrath had damaged, and slammed that one as well. I moved to assist Charles, clawing at the chuul near him. Charles swung at the chuuls, wounding the one near hum severely. He surged into action, taking the chuul down. He moved the the remaining chuul, damaging this one as well. Lydratir took aim at the remaining chuul, finishing it off.
"Well, it seems you've been busy so far, but you will fall here!" said a man in mage's robe stepping out from another chamber, accompanied by a Bearded Devil, "Come, my companion, it's our turn now".
"I suggest you leave," said Uxarix, "you need not spend your life this day".
"Your words mean nothing to me," said the mage, "your god cannot stand agaimst our master!"
Uxarix stepped up and engaged the bearded devil, drew back his Holy Avenger, and jabbed it at his foe. The blade impaced with a brilliant flash of light, and for a moment the devil's face was fearful before Uxarix struck a second time, destroying the fiend and banishing it back to the Nine Hells. The mage lloked on dispassionately, and then wove his spell, sending a cone of cold our way. We all managed to evade the worst of the attack, but were still affected. Motes of flames gathered around the mage, burning him. I moved up to the mage, and tore at him with my claws, but he remained standing. Lydratir took aim, and fired his bow, finishing off the mage.
As the dust settled we searched the area. We checked the area the chuuls and mage had come from. We found little up here, with the exception of a small shrine in the corner of one chamber. The shrine resembled a young human woman folding a basin. Water was flowing from cracks in the ceiling and onto the statue's head and into the basin. The long years had etched white lines onto the statues face, resembling tracks from tears.
"This looks like a shrine to Eldath, a goddess of waterfalls," said Lydratir, "This must predate the current occupation of this place".
With this area explored, we returned to the previous area, and searched the other direction. In this area we came upon another group of cultists standing at the ready. These ones were dressed differently, wearing armor with images of dragons on it. They immediately drew their weapons, and readied for battle.
"Ah, so you're the one," said the leader of this group, glaring at me, "The betrayer!"
"And who exactly are you?" I asked.
"You should know dragon!" said the cultist, "We are servants of your true Queen! You will end this foolish endeavor, and return to your proper path".
"I think not," I snarled, "I make my own destiny, and you had no right to try and command me!"
"We'll see about that," said the cultist.
One of the cultists went after Narcrath, and struck him once. Narcrath retaliated with a shocking grasp, taking out the cultist. Charles moved up to the cultists, and took one down and severely wounded another. I stepped up towards the cultists, and unleashed my fiery breath. Some of the cultist tried to dodge away, but they were still slain. All that remained of these cultist was their leader. Lydratir took aim and fired two arrows into the cultist, leaving it in poor shape. Uxarix stepped up to the last of these cultists, and ran him through with his rapier, finishing him off.
As thea dust settled, we searched the room, finding little of intrest. With this area clear we moved on, heading towards whatever awaited us deeper within this place.
A/N: And there we go! Next time, our heroes venture deeper into this outpost of the Shadow Triad. See you then!