-1Armin and the other dwarfs could not help but stare at the sight before them. Rom, covered in slime from the inside of the dragon's gullet, and Kendrac, not quite as soggy as his cousin, but getting there with each roll the two made across the floor of the cavern. Both looked bruised and battered, but neither seemed to notice as they celebrated their victory. Strom just shook his head.
"I dinna believe it. It canna be possible!" Armin mumbled in disbelief.
Haldis chuckled and nudged Armin, pointing beyond the body of the dragon. "Turn yer disbelievin' eyes towards that."
Armin and the other spectators looked towards where Haldis was pointing. Their eyes could not grow larger, nor could their jaws drop any further as they stared at the huge mound of coins, gems, various vials, weapons and objects d'art.
Toren chuckled. "Makes it worth it, hmmm?"
Wil nodded in response. "Aye...it do indeed."
Rom and Kendrac finally stopped their celebratory roll as they rolled right onto the dragon's horde. They stopped and stood, also staring at the pile. Then Kendrac turned to look at the other dwarves, a smirk on his face.
"Uh-oh" Armin intoned.
Kendrac pulled Rom towards him and whispered into his ear. Rom blinked a few times, then his lips split into a wide grin, made all the more amusing by his slimy, feathered beard.
"Uh-oh" The other dwarves repeated.
"Gogogogogogogo! Outoutoutout!!" He began ushering the other dwarves out of the room.
"Wha? Stammered Strom.
"What are ye about?" Toren demanded.
"Magic time! Klerk make magic!!" Rom insisted, still trying to get the others out. "Go...make other baddies sad!"
The bald dwarf finally managed to get the other dwarves out of the cavern. Before they could voice any more protests or try to get back into the room, a yellow wall sprouted from the floor, forming a door. Strom quirked a brow and poked the wall. It gave slightly. He frowned and pushed a finger into the door, then pulled off a small hunk. He sniffed at it, then put it into his mouth, much to the surprise of the others.
"Cheese." He shrugged.
"Well, we could always eat our way in?" Toren suggested.
Wil shook her head. "Count me out. Dairy never did agree with me." she made a face, rubbing her stomach.
Armin hefted his axe. "Lets leave these two be fer now. We gots a bit more ta deal with in the tunnels still.
The five readied their weapons and started down the tunnel. It was not long before they came across more of the bandits. As they rounded a corner, they found themselves looking down onto a scene of chaos. A large round open room cut into the stone with six rooms equally spaced around the wall. A stairwell descended down in the middle of the room. A score of bandits were running this way and that, most carrying as much as they could out of the rooms and trying to escape down the stairs while avoiding the large half-orc swinging a spiked club and roaring in anger. Seven bodies lay on the ground around the orc unmoving, and three others were slowly trying to crawl away from him.
"Hmm...two kegs say that beastie be in charge." Armin whispered.
A chorus of nods answered him.
"What say we finish this?" Strom suggested. "Best not to leave them two alone fer too long."
Toren nodded. "Aye...lets."
The dwarves jumped from the precipice as one, weapons raised and battle cries coming from their lungs. The bandits froze momentarily as they looked towards the oncoming dwarves. Some dropped what they were carrying and drew weapons, while others dropped what they were holding and fled. The half-orc simply grinned and raised his club in readiness. Armin and Toren hit the ground first. The red bearded dwarf, weighted by his armor and weapons, steadied his landing with his large axe. Toren, slightly less weighted down due to his lack of armor, rolled and came to his feet, his giant maul already spinning as the two closed on the orc.
Haldis, Wil and Strom landed a few seconds later. Haldis and Wil landed easily and ran towards the fracas. Strom landed in a heap, still suffering slightly from wounds he incurred earlier. Although he landed last, he made the first attack by hurling two of his hand axes at a retreating bandit. Both axes struck the man, who dropped instantly. Strom drew two more axes and threw them at another bandit who thought to make his escape into one of the rooms. The man ran into a room and closed the door with a slam. Both axes struck the door, sticking fast. A moment later, the door eased open, revealing the bandit fixed to the door, his unseeing eyes staring at an axe blade that missed his head by a few inches. The second axe blade held his head firmly to the door.
Haldis held her axe up high as she charged. Wil moved along next to her, her hammer low under the axe of Haldis. The two warrior women reached the closest bandit. He readied two short swords and planted his feet in readiness. It did him no good. Haldis dropped her axe blade down, splitting the man's face, while the hammer of Wil came up, crushing his groin. The man flew backwards under the force of the impacts as the two dwarves continued their charge. The ferocity of their first attack had a decided effect, as five of the remaining bandits turned and fled towards the stairs.
"Bah!" Haldis yelled. "Buncha cowards!!"
The two charged towards a few other humans holding swords and shields, and an elf wielding a rapier and dagger. They made quick work of two of humans, dropping them with a single blow. The third human circled away, leading Wil away from Haldis, the two of them trading attacks. The elf remained just out of reach of the hammer swings of Wil.
"Stand still ye durned elf." She growled
The elf simply smirked and stepped towards her suddenly, thrusting with his rapier, scoring a minor hit and stepping back. She swung her hammer, but once more he danced out of range of the heavy weapon. Twice, three times, again and again he stabbed at her, and just as quickly evaded her retaliatory strikes.
"Quit yer dancin' an fight!" Her breathing was labored as the multitude of hits from the rapier was beginning to take its toll.
He stepped forward once more, his rapier piercing her shoulder. She howled in pain, but before he could withdraw his weapon, she brought her hammer up, not at him but at elf's slender sword, snapping the blade in half. Startled, he stepped back and looked at the hilt of his sword, then to Wil, and the other half of his blade still imbedded in her shoulder. With a low growl, she ran at him, bringing her hammer across his chest, crushing the bones and the organs within.
Haldis had a slightly better time dealing with her opponent, as she quickly left him devoid of his left arm and then his head. She quickly ran back to Wil to check on her.
"Yer alright lass?" She asked.
Whil nodded weakly. "Aye, but that damned pointy eared fool stuck me but good. I'm leaking."
Haldis helped her up and put an arm around her, guiding her towards one of the rooms. "Dinna worry, I'll get ye fixed right up."
She opened the door of the closest room and blinked. "Well...would ya look at that?"