Crystal Cave Adventure (RP)

Continued from Descending the Temple Depths.

With the door behind you barred to the best of your ability, you all can turn your attention to the new surroundings on this side of the door.

While it initially appeared to be dark, upon stepping across some hidden barrier (merely marked by the pretense of the door) your senses are suddenly flooded with LIGHT. The whether it is the light from your carried weapons or some 'inner glow', the large room is filled with crystals that pulse gently with a warm radiance, hiding all shadows and making it impossible to judge distance.

Initially all was silent, but --possibly as a result of your bodes changing the previously stable ambient temperature-- a quiet, tinkling, crackling sound emanates to the crystals from your position, fading as you stand still, and returning as you move.

There is no sign of any life... or unlife for that matter. All in clean and shiny.

"I feel bad traipsing my dirty boots in here." Asha says in a subdued whisper.

- Albert -

"Cold?" Asha asks --clearly a 'no' with am added 'I have no idea what you are talking about'-- then her confusion takes in your following words, and she brushes at her clothing desperately. "Did something get on me!?" She demands, still not liking the idea of any contact with anything undead.

You will recall that she was not willing to go near the bones in temple above either, even well before they started moving. It seemed like a reasonable enough reaction at the time, just one that is inconvenient for an adventurer.

- Albert -

"I don't feel at all strengthfull." Asha says, resentfully at your rebuke, but calming down as she discovers that there is no 'skeleton residue' on her. Her petulant instinct to deny being afraid is even too much for her after recent events.

"Which weapon?"She looks around in bafflement for the one you are indicating, also looking down at hers in disappointment. None of the weapon glows are visible in the bright light, and she missed the whole process of igniting the others while she was hiding from the world, so the last she knew: some where 'chosen' and she was not one of them.

---

Looking around you are surprised to see there is not a single broken crystal anywhere in sight, like nothing has disturbed them or put outside pressure on them for the duration of their growth. This is mighty strange, some of them must have taken centuries to grow --if you or any of your companions have any clue about crystal growth-- and the door did not look that old.

- Albert -

"Yeah, right." Asha declaims, not believing you. "I did not see any 'glow' when... using it against that horrid bug." The brief hesitation shows she is unsure of her memory, but she meant to attack the centipede... and would have --really-- if you guys had just given her enough time. She now holds the axe in her hands, as if to prove her point... or as a comfort.

---

A pickax should make short work of shattering a crystal. Just because one can do a thing not mean you should, though.

- Roald -

Every step you take is hampered by the small (by comparison) crystal structures growing on every surface, including the floor. None of the carpet of tiny spikes break under your careful feet --this time-- but there is a noise like nails on a chalkboard as they receive pressure.

- Albert -

Asha's belief --based in your real use of demonstrable power-- is at odds with her experience. She almost points out that 'priest lie all the time', but neither wants to offend you, nor lump you in with those charlatan types.

"No! Don't break them." She cries, looking around in awe again, but this is based purely on her feelings of insignificance compared to the splendour of the surroundings.

- Orset -

The cave you are in is large. It is hard to tell how large with all the weird reflections when the light hits the surface of a crystal and makes your image loom back at you, all distorted and strangely proportioned.

How far do you wander in your explorations?

"We should try to take a break while we can." The captain says pragmatically.

"Does anyone know how long we have been down here? It feels like we just had breakfast, but I am hungry." It feels to all of you like it has been a few hours --at most-- but you are all hungry and thirsty as though you have spent the whole day trudging with no sustenance.

Did you have breakfast? It is hard to remember with all the excitement this morning.

"Does anyone still have water?" The captain asks, weighing her own waterskin --that she had been so generously passing around earlier-- with an expression of concern.

"No." Asha shakes her head having drunk all hers in the tunnel before the skeleton room.

- Deoring -

Asha gratefully accepts your water and takes a large and thirsty swig.

"Small sips." The captain says sternly. "And go sparing. We don't know how long that is going to need to last us."

- Deoring -

"Oh, yes!" Asha gushes at your enthusiasm. She indicates a desire for for water again after the dry rations.

"Raynor will keep us safe down here." She declares, and you recall that she was the first to volunteer to follow Albert despite her obvious fear and near-constant state of panic at times when she was being 'kept safe'. Her belief is strong, even if it is just belief in Raynor and not in herself.

- Deoring -

Asha glances guiltily in the captain's direction before quickly finishing off the last of the water and giving you a shy smile.

"Yes." She declares confidently. "He will! We are on his quest. We can not fail!"

Her triumphant voice echoes back from the hard faces of the crystals: "... fail ... fail ... fail ... fail"

The captain contemplates Albert's question for a few moments before replying.

"I think we are all tired." She suggests. "But also probably getting dehydrated?" She looks worried. "Both make people make stupid decisions." She explains. "Not that I am saying anyone has." She adds, not wanting sound like she is criticising.

"We can't go back out there," she motions to the door you came through. "There are skeletons out there... and also in the water by the stairs." She looks around the crystal clean cave. "I would much rather drink from something I found in here, than out there, anyway, don't you agree?

"But this looks like a safe place." She sounds dubious, but it is as 'safe' as you have found so far. "If we don't rest now, we might not get another chance. Not too long though, and let's conserve water." Asha looks guilty at this, and quickly passes the empty skin back to Deoring.

"I really don't want to sleep by this door with skeletons right on the other side." Asha says quietly, glancing at the captain who nods her agreement. She had meant 'rest' 'for a short time' more than 'sleep', but would not argue if the group decided to extend that.

Asha's comment draws your attention to the door, and the fact that you have not heard any sound from what is on the other side since you closed it. The comparative dark on the other side means you can't see anything through the cracks either.

What do you do?

- Deoring -

The golden light of your torch lances outwards and then back from every crystal within sight. It is dazzlingly bright and all your eyes immediately start to water.

"Gah!" The captain exclaims, burying her face in the crook of her arm. "Put it out!"

'...out ... out ... out' the echos say in return.

"It's OK." The captain says consolingly to Deoring. "Now we have learned something, which is always good. And no harm done." It looks like she is about to go over and comfort him, but, seeing his body language, she decides to leave him alone.

Instead she follows Roald's lead and bundles a cushion to sit on, and tries to watch out in a different direction, but her head soon dips and a quiet snoring emanates from her position. Staying awake when not moving is going to be hard.

What do you do?

You all awaken feeling refreshed, but very hungry and desperately thirsty.

Roald, you can't tell if you are still athletically challenge or if it is just the hunger, for now the bane persists.

It is a little while before someone notices that Asha is missing and not responding to any calls you may put out.

Who notices her absence?

What do you all do?

Asha had been rather conscientious about cleaning off her boots when you first got into this sparkling clean area. Now that is a detriment since she has not left the nice, obvious, dirty footprints that the rest of you who were not as diligent are leaving.

Given her concern over breaking crystals 'last night', it is not surprising that she has apparently taken pains to avoid doing so now. Picking up her trail will not be easy.

The area around where you were sleeping has fallen silent, the cave appears to have adjusted to your presence and maybe warmed up a bit. As the first of you move away into new areas the tinkling sounds start again.

The captain says a bad word, and looks set to call out for Asha.

What do you do?

When the echo of Albert's loud words fades, Roald responds quietly.

''No,... No sign of anyone passing through here. This doesn't look good.''

If only I didn't fell asleep... This is my fault, I have to find her.

Roald is really beating himself up over this. He turns around and walks back to the group.

''Let's get going, there's no use in staying here any longer''

"... sha ... sha ... ha ha ha... aa ... AAH! ..." The echo comes back, seeming to find a resonance in the end and get louder and more desperate before suddenly consuming itself.

"Daft girl." The captain says --with more affection than ridicule. "It is so like her to wander off. I promised her mother I would look after her."

She hastily gathers her possessions --looking forlornly at her empty water-skin-- prepares to move out. "Which way?" She asks no one in particular.

---

The cave shape is hard to map out, all the reflecting surfaces regularly make it seem there is a corridor which then ends with your nose pressed against a sudden image of yourself.

What do you do? How do you decide on direction, or try to keep to it once you do?

The captain nods when Roald suggests not splitting up. "This place is too confusing." She agrees. "I fear someone could be right on the other side of one of these 'mirrors' and we would not know or be able to get to them." She peers at her distorted reflection and then looks away with a shudder.

At the mention of water as Asha's motivation, she shakes her head in confusion. "That makes no sense. Why would she not just tell someone? She knows I would have gone with her for a, um, 'call of nature'." As the only lady in the party the complications of toileting while not going off alone is a thing the captain is trying not to think about just yet --the lack of drinking has its benefits.

"What possessed her to wander off like that?" She demands angrily. "And why is she not answering?" She calls for the girl again, but is only answered be the same disconcertingly altered echoes.

The captain sighs, resigned to following Roal's 'stick to the walls' plan unless someone else has objections or 'better' suggestions.

---

The door you came in through stands like a blight on the otherwise pristine and beautiful crystals. Crystals that have grown up in the center of the cave as well as on the walls, resulting in a twisting turning set of tunnels, all alike.

- Albert -

The crystals creak and groan under your feet. Your footprints stop leaving dirty patches quite quickly as the detritus of the other room is knocked off, but dropping a hair --or something-- shows that that disturbance to the passage of light is visible from quite a distance away. Though it is hard to triangulate position with all the refractions and reflections, it will hopefully help let you know if you are in the ballpark area of any such dropped evidence Asha has left behind.

- Deoring -

While not wanting to be disparaging, you got the impression that Asha's faith was... a little less constant than yours.

Any idea why this particular thought comes to mind at this particular moment?

- Albert -

"here" The answer comes back and you think you see someone ahead and off to the side, but both the reply and the image turn out to be nothing but reflections reflections.

As you turn away, out of the corner of your eye, the irregularities in the crystal surface cause the hand to move and it almost looks like the man in the mirror is motioning for you to come over to his side.

- Roald -

Based on 'last night', it takes a long time for the temperature-induced tinkling of the crystals to fade, so you have to listen very hard to hear anything over that. You are sure you hear whispered voices, but they don't seem to come from a the same direction each time, or maybe they come from all directions.

It is almost like the 'voices' are coming from the crystals, but that is crazy thinking, it is probably just them settling as they warm.

What do you do?

- Albert -

The staff in the mirror appears like a thin, dark slash across the brightness surrounding the image of the man who is not you. It seems to be sucking in all the light that enters the crystal.

As your finger touches the outstretched digit of the reflection, you feel a small jolt, and there is a buzzing sensation below what you can't hear through the air.

What do you do?

- Albert -

The distortions on the reflected mouth turn that 'hello' into "Help...", the eyes look pleading.

- Deoring -

From far away, further down this passage, and to the right you can just make out the sound of Asha's voice. She appears to be having a conversation, though you can only hear her side of it.

Something about this feels very wrong.

"Captain! I hear Asha voice!

Deoring hushes the others as they react to his announcement.

"Shhh! I… it sounds like she is talking to someone. I can’t quite make out what she’s saying, but it’s Asha, I’m sure of it!" he says.

"Quick, down this passage to the right. Asha may be in danger."

"If Asha's is in danger we have to hurry!" The captain says, though she knows she is being irrational, and slow down a bit she not stop striding in the indicated direction.

The captain growls in frustration, but nods in agreement. "Yes, yes. You are right." She mutters, appreciating the reasonableness and coming to a halt and holding her breath.

By this stage, anyone with decent hearing can hear that a whispered, one-sided conversation is happening, but not the details.

- Roald -

The material of the sword carries the sound much better than the air. While it also carries --and amplifies-- the creaking tension of the adjusting crystals, behind that racket you think you can hear a 'voice' --definitely not Asha's voice-- which seems to be saying: "Release me."

What do you do?

After a brief confusion due to reflected light and sound sending you the wrong way on the last turn, you round a corner and see Asha crouching up ahead, she appears to be trying to console or placate someone you can not see --someone in the crystal, you can assume, given your discoveries. You see her making a downward motion with her hand and can possibly make out the words "...patient...".

Asha does not appear to have noticed you yet.

What do you do?

Startled, Asha stands up from her crouched position, her mouth moves for a moment then she says hesitantly: "Um... I thought I saw someone in the crystal... it looked... like me?

"What is going on?" She asks, her voice sounding strange as she looks nervously at the reflection.

Seeing that Albert is tending to Asha, Deoring steps up to the closest wall and peers closely into the crystals, looking and listening intently and carefully.

- Albert -

"What are you doing?" Ahsa says, prevented from pulling away by the crystal at her back.

When the hand settles on her shoulder, she looks a little less tense, and you recall several hints from earlier conversations where she used words like 'groped' to describe the contact the night before.

You feel no connection with Raynor at all, but what that means is harder to interpret. You also get the strong impression that she really wants to leave this place, and does not want to be around the crystals.

"Um... don't talk to the... whatever... is in the crystals." She says, sounding worried. "I think they tried to trick me? I can't quite remember. But don't believe a word they say."

"I... I think so?" Ahsa says. "It is confusing...."

She takes a step away from Albert's hand while considering her answer.

"Yes. It wants to get out." She agrees. "It tried to trick me into 'releasing' it. I think it did something to my mind." She looks uncomfortable at this last bit.

"Don't talk to it!" She repeats more urgently.

"Don't talk to it!" Ahsa repeats, the fear and desperation at this idea barely controlled in her voice.

- Deoring -

You see a distorted reflection of yourself and the others.

Asha's reflection it waving its hands around --just like her excite real-world counterpart-- but not quite in time. It really does appear like it is trying to reach out and grasp you.

What do you do?

At the word 'terrorising' Ahsa bristles and it looks for a moment like she wants to argue, but then she clams her mouth shut until the last.

"Very bad," she agrees. "'twould be best for us to ignore it."

She has been thinking and now asks Albert. "Do you think it really was Rynar who did it in the end?" Pronouncing the name is a bit archaically.

Deoring clears his throat. "I’m sure RAYnor wouldn’t want us to release a trapped beast! I think IT WOULD be best if we ignore it and move forward. Let’s see if we can find some water."

He keeps a close watch on Asha and will be trying to catch Albert’s attention surreptitiously and looking for an opportunity to speak to him in private about Asha.

"I don't think there is any water down here." Ahsa says, blushing slightly apologetically at the correction. "Surely we would hear it." She adds by way of explanation.

Her and the captain move aside and there is a opportunity for the men to talk.

- Albert -

"Eww!" Ahsa exclaims. "Why would you still have that?" She sounds confused about what bone you are talking about, and her eyes narrow at the suggestion of your giving it to her.

"Throw it away!" She says indignantly.

Ahsa shrugs when her statement about there not being water is ignored, but does not say anything more about it --which is in character. She looks at the crystal she was talking to and shudders before preparing to walk away.

What do you do?

Roald's mouth feels like parchment. His tongue scratches over his lips in a futile effort to wet them. He understands that things could turn south fast if they don't find a drink soon
We must find water, we must find water... The words circle around in his head. He takes the lead and quickens his pace.

"Anywhere is better than here." Ahsa declares at the mention of 'water', or 'stairs' and starts moving in the direction indicated. After a moment --and despite the lack or any apparent openings-- she appears to just disappear.

What do you do?

"What?" Ahsa says impatiently, her head reappearing around the corner right by where Roald is poking. Knowing she is there you can almost make out her torso behind the crystal wall, but the passage she walked into is invisible without the clue of her 'floating' head.

This environment is hard to navigate, but she seems to be managing by just walking and not over thinking things.

"Fine. But let's get moving. I no longer want to be here." Ahsa says holding out her hand impatiently and ready to lead you out.

By seemingly just plowing on forwards Ahsa somehow makes good headway, her ability to spot and step into the gaps between the crystals is uncanny. While she does not noticeably touch them, you all have a hard time keeping up while avoiding getting small cuts from the sharp edges as you are pulled along in her wake.

You travel a fair distance in the direction suggested earlier --though the constant twists and turns and same-looking surfaces make it impossible to know for sure-- and, after what feels like surprisingly little time --though your thirst has grown-- you find yourself before another dark spot on the wall and ceiling, the crystal covering giving way to bare stone.

There is a trapdoor above the stair, it is tightly closed, and feels cold to the touch. Brushing it, your fingertips come away with the slightest suggestion of dampness.

Ahsa stares at the closed door, frowning in frustration. "How do we open it?" She asks, her ability to find progress stymied when the crystals run out.

What do you do?

- Albert -

Using your staff, you can easily reach the trapdoor from the ground. It sounds like it is made of metal, and looks like, maybe, copper.

The captain moves to help heave, and Ahsa steps onto a higher stair to reach, jamming her bosom in your face in a way you find thoughtless, disturbing, and out of character.

"It feels like there is something heavy on top of it." The captain complains as it moves the smallest amount before stopping springily. "If we all work together we should be able to shift it."

- Albert -

"What?" Ahsa asks as you squirm away.

She looks down to see what you are doing."Oops, sorry... forgot." She stammers turning away --as much as she can in the tight confines-- and adjusting her jacket to cover up, her face going bright red as she instantly starts to blush furiously.

The large copper door above, moves a bit more and then stops, with an extra heave it moves again with a slurping sound and little sprays or water emit from the edges.

One more big shove and you are sure it will unseal itself and open.

What do you do?

And water there is!

Though probably not a gift of Raynor.

---

The plug --for that is what it was-- is swirled and lifted from your hands as the tons of water that was trapped in the stairwell forces its way past, sweeping you all off your feet and back into the crystal cavern. The crystal's glow is smeared with greasy, foul-smelling gunk --one small glowing mushroom bobbing along in a puddle-- the height of the covering diminishes the further from the door it gets.

After the water recedes, some slimy bones are left scattered across the floor, along with other unidentifiable, slime-covered items that were in the stairway above.

Your clothes are soaked through, and it is cold. The captain makes to wring some of the water from her shirt into her mouth but spits it out.

"Yuck!" She says. "Maybe we should go up above and look for a river?"

What do you do?

Apparently not caring about her ruined clothes, Ahsa struggles to her feet and sloshes over to look up the stairwell. "I feel a breeze!" She exclaims as though this is the most amazing thing.

"It feels like... forever since I felt the wind on my face."

With that --slightly over-dramatic statement-- she starts going up, again not waiting for the rest of you unless you remind her to.

What do you do?

Ahsa squeezes past the plug-door left ajar by the deluge and races on ahead up the stairs, slipping and sliding and falling on the slimy residue left behind by years of trapped water, but not caring about the barked shins, or the dark after the brightness of the crystals.

If you are following her, after a short time you arrive back out of the 'well' at the moss-covered, 'shroom-illuminated door. Ahsa stops to glance in, but rejects that route and continues up, following the breeze. When she reaches the window overlooking the roof, she stops and stares, leaning out and revelling in the sensation of sunlight and wind.

She starts to clamber out onto the roof, but then lets out a short scream and tumbles backwards into the stairwell. "Those horrible stone things attacked me!" She exclaims fearfully, turning back to seek out the door to the ground level.

What do you do?

Albert: You feel the distinct sensation of... disinterest, like Raynor does not care about such petty, human things, and his attention is elsewhere. His blessed light emanating from your staff --and any other weapons, if visible-- fades, taking the light refracted through the crystals with it, leaving you in darkness as your eyes adjust.

As if in answer to the question of where Raynor's attention is, the captain shouts desperately as she charges back down the stairs: "Asha has been attacked! She is hurt! We need your help! Come Quick!"

- Albert -

Before you can make it all the way to entrance-window you come across a door that was ignored last time as it lead to the main ground-floor temple you were running away from. It is now open and you hear Ahsa swearing loudly --using the sort of language you have heard in your bar, but never thought to hear coming from her mouth.

If you enter the temple, you will see Ahsa sitting on the floor, her back against a wall, holding her side in pain. The captain --having returned when you said you were on your way-- has her sword out and is positioned just inside the door, as though to prevent someone (or something) from entering.

You can not see the attacker.

What do you do?

"Those stone things from the roof attacked when we tried to leave." The captain sums up efficiently. "They don't seem to want to come inside." She says, indicating the trees and sunlight outside the door from the temple. "I don't think it is me stopping them, though." (They also did not follow in through the window above, but you have no way of knowing that aside from the fact that the captain is not worrying about that approach.)

"Help the girl." She orders. "We will watch for danger."

- Albert -

"It hurts!" Ahsa cries looking at you pleading to make it stop. She takes her hand away from the gash in her side, but whimpers as blood oozes out and quickly presses it back.

The blood looks clean, with no smell of offal to suggest damage to the bowel. While it coats her side and her clothes, at least it is not enough to be forming a pool below her.

At the Captain’s call for help, Deoring follows Albert up the stairs and upon hearing the Captain’s orders, joins her at the doorway to help watch for danger while Albert goes to aid Asha.

- Deoring -

Outside the building all is serene and quiet. So quiet that, were it not for the blood, you could almost have thought the ladies were joking about an attack.

"Be careful." The captain says. "As soon as we tried to step out, they dropped down and became hostile." She is keeping well inside the building, but looking upwards as she speaks, though of course, she can not see anything through the wall and roof.

- Albert -

"Uh. Not your fault." Ahsa grunts. "Didn't expect them to attack. They didn't last time."

- Albert -

Ahsa whimpers in pain, but her breathing eases slightly --though maybe it is just the comforting effect of your care.

"Did it work?" The captain asks, turning her head to look, but keeping her attention facing outward towards the threat.

• What does it feel like to have Raynor not answer your prayers?

- Albert -

Ahsa's eyes fill with tears at your words and your pain. "It will be alright." She says softly, patting your hand reassuringly. The intensity of her gaze as she shares your anguish seems to ease your inner turmoil.

"I am sorry that I messed up your mission." She apologises. "With the doors open, maybe we can come back after?" The lie in her voice is obvious, she has no intention of ever coming back here, but 'it is the thought that counts', right?

The captain turns group. "But how will be get past those things?" She asks desperately, glancing at her injured comrade with concern. "Can she walk?" She asks, trying to formulate a plan.

What do you do? What is the plan to get out?

- Deoring -
You are currently in the main --above-ground-- temple building. There is a large pile of bones near the center of the room, but those closest to you have been turned to dust, revealing the stone floor and what might be a low wall or altar under the pile.

The wear on the floor indicates that at some point in the past there were rows of seats or pews, but the wood they were made of has long since rotted away, leaving no trace.

If you were extremely motivated --and maybe less tired and thirsty-- you could pry up a paving-stone or take a stone door off its hinges to use as a shield.

You can see scraps of clothing and armour amongst the bones in the pile, if you were prepared to dig in there, you might be able to find actual shields to use as shields.

There are vines on the walls just outside the open door. You know they are easy enough to climb, but you also know the grotesque statues are (or were) perched on the corners, among the vines, on the top of the walls.

What do you do?

"They only seem to attack if we try to leave." The captain comments as she glances nervously at the door before moving over to Ahsa's side.

She tries to help Ahsa stand, but the girl whimpers in pain and the blood starts to flow again. "I can't move her on my own." The captain apologises. "We will need at least two, though three would be better." She demonstrates how to cross and link hands to form a seat. "Once in the forest we can build a stretcher." She says, clearly no more keen to use the bones in the temple than the patient would be to lay in them.

"OK. We are ready." The captain says, settling Ahsa as comfortably as she can between herself and whomever is helping.

"Be careful." She says to Deoring, though a pessimist might interpret that as 'are you up for this?'.

- Deoring -

The moment you step out from the door the two grotesque statues guarding the section swoop down towards you. What looked like carvings before turn out to be tiny, little stone wings, that --while they don't allow the things to fly-- slow their descent enough that they don't crash into the ground.

The arc of the statues follow looks like it will put them on your far side, between you and the forest, but close enough to attack.

• How do you protect yourself from their slashing claws as they pass?

Deoring has pulled the guardians away, but you have no way of knowing how long he can hold their attention for.

Do you make an immediate run for the woods, or do you give the distraction time to get more established or further away?

Roald: Do you help Albert and the captain manoeuvre Ahsa out the door and over the uneven ground outside, or do you try to help Deoring with the distraction? Both have value. Or do you wait, relying on your athleticism to dart in and help where needed most?

If I'm not cursed anymore (it's so long ago not even sure if it affected athleticism) Roald waits on how things unfold.
If one of the creatures tries to go after Asha and the rest, he will step in. Same if Deoring gets in trouble.
In case both is happening, he will choose to help Asha first.

- Albert -

Spurred on by Roald's words, the captain puts on a burst of speed while doing her best to not jostle the patient. The way ahead seems clear --Deoring having pulled the stone guardians away from your position (were there only two? surely there were more on the other corners? ...).

"I surely hope they won't follow us into the trees." The captain pants, her dehydrated exhaustion showing in her slowed movements.

- Deoring -

The gargoyles are all flashing wings and slashing claws, you do your best to parry them, but can only avoid them so much while still trying to keep them engaged and distracted from your companions. They are not massively coordinated, but while blocking one, the other's claws strike you viciously in the armour, back and fourth between them.

It is eerie fighting something that looks like rock, but moves and does not make a sound. Fights are supposed to be loud and frantic, but your opponents are completely silent and methodical, not caring overly much when your sword blows strike sparks from their lichen covered 'skin'. They appear intent on finishing you as quickly as possible.

In the fray, it is hard to keep track of your companions progress, but you can assume from the lack of any cries of alarm that you have kept them from being attacked.

What do you do now?

- Roald -

Your fleeing friends are almost at the edge of the woods, but not quite. Deoring has taken some blows, but is still standing strong.

What do you do?

- Roald -

You don't know if it is the tiredness, or the dehydration or what, but your movements are just not as athletic as you are used to. You saw the third gargoyle out of the corner of your eye, but can not avoid it as it crashes down on top of you --apparently the wings don't make their landings any softer-- and the wind is knocked out of you as you go sprawling, the heavy stone statue riding you down to the ground, pinning you as it prepares to take a bite out of your neck.

Lifting your face from the dirt, you see the captain hesitate at the sight of your plight.

What do you do?

- Albert -

"Mmpph. I'm OK." Ahsa says in a soft voice, though you can hear the words are underlain by crying, kept quiet so as not to distract her carriers. She is willing to take the pain if it gets her away from that place.

Deoring: One of the gargoyles still hounds you as you move, but you are able to take the worst of its blows without significant harm so far. Seeing you moving, the other one of your attackers looks around and spots the trio, partway to the woods, and proceeds to fly-hop rapidly in their direction, your distraction spent unless you can do something to draw its attention back to you.

Roald: You have broken free of your attackers hold, but it is still following right behind you, poised to attack at the first opening.

Albert: You and the captain have gotten Ahsa almost to the treeline when you notice the danger, one of the original two gargoyles has split from the attack on Deoring and is starting to head your way. It is still closer to him than to you, but you will need to do something herculean if you are to get away.

What do you each do?

- Albert -

"No, priest." The captain says. "There is nothing I can do, she is going to need your healing.

"Good luck" She says as, before you can act, she pushes Ahsa into your arms and turns to meet the oncoming stone menace, her drawn sword glinting in the sunlight.

You know that standing and fighting will be suicide. You have no option but to flee. Hopefully she can buy you enough time to make it with the dead-weight of the now-unconscious girl in your arms.

It will take all your strength to get to the trees, the faster you can manage it, the less time the captain will need to spend battling the gargoyle for ground.

What do you do?

- Deoring -

With a flash of fire you knock the gargoyle to the ground, but it leaps back up lashing backwards at you with a stone foot in an offhand way, as though it does not care about you. Its focus seems to be on stopping the progress of your patient, and you see two... no, make that three, now, gargoyles making a beeline for Albert and Ahsa.

You will be hard pressed to keep up with the one running from you, and your glowing sword only slowed it but did not do it a lot of harm.

What do you do?

- Albert -

Behind you the pursuing gargoyle strikes at the captain, knocking her down in a groaning gout of blood. From the ground the captain tries to strike at it, shouting angrily to keep its attention, but it does not seem interested in her anymore and bounds over her, heading straight for you and your patient.

"Come back and face me!" The captain bellows after it. Unable to rise, she crawls, hoping her continued attempts to leave will draw it back to finish her, but to no avail.

"Run, priest! Run!" She calls a warning. She has bought you a moment, but that gargoyle will be upon you before you can reach the treeline.

What do you do?

- Roald -

It is almost like old times. With a burst of speed you outpace the flapping stone menace and feel the cool shade of the trees surround you. You are aware enough to spot, over your shoulder, how the guardian is jerked to a halt at the edge of the forest, it spends a moment trying to get through an invisible barrier, but then appears to forget about you and turns its head to your companions, first it looks at Deoring but its gaze slides over him --as though he is unimportant-- and fixates on Ahsa --you are pretty sure it is Ahsa and not Albert it is focused on-- and charges in their direction.

With you renewed speed you think you can make it round the outside to them before your gargoyle gets there, but you also see that Deoring's has abandoned him and is charging at the patient as well. You don't think Albert can withstand attacks from all three (or even one), and Ahsa will be very vulnerable if he goes down.

What do you do?

- Roald -

You can see the captain's visibly relief at your words, though she is unable to 'retreat' on her own and is too far away for you get to her.

You are able to interpose yourself between the onrushing gargoyle and Albert, its claw descending inexorably at his back. Maybe you can deflect it enough, or take the blow in his place?

What do you do?

- Deoring -

You hear Roald's statement that the forest presents a barrier for these stone beasts. Upon the news the captain, rises painfully to her feet --blood flowing from her leg, requiring her to lean on a 'branch' for support-- and turns to face the gargoyle you are pursuing. Without your help it is like to go right through her, but it is possible that, between the two of you --and if your can work together-- you can pin it and slow it.

What do you do?

- Albert -

The reported safety of the forest's edge is but a few paces away, but they are hard paces to make under these conditions, especially if you have to worry about attacks from behind.

If you completely put your life in your friends' hands you can focus all your energy on covering the distance, but ignoring the blow you can feel coming is hard and scary.

Your patient is unlikely to be much help, having passed out some time during the transition from two to one carrier.

What do you do?

- Roald -

The gargoyle appears to view you as nothing more than an annoyance, and seems more intent on blushing you aside than hurting you with its blow, not that that makes it any less painful.

- Albert -

Roald valiantly puts his body on the line to protect you, but your pursuer is focused and not to be distracted. It swipes out at him, but that appears more an effort to get past and to you... or your patient...

It swings a sharp claw at the two of you, trying to get round you to Ahsa. If you twist just right you may be able to completely protect her with your body... on the other hand, if you twist just right you may be able to use her body as protection for yourself (no one would need to know).

What do you do?

Albert and Ahsa collapse, unconscious in a heap, still some paces from the safety of the treeline. The gargoyle that struck the priest down comes to a stop above them, instead of slashing at them further, it poses with its arms held above its head as though preparing some ritual, an eerie blueish light appears to surround it.

The other two gargoyles cease their pursuit and turn to face Roald, Deoring and the captain, apparently now intent on preventing them from interfering with whatever is happening at the forest's edge.

- Roald -

You are close enough to the happenings that you may be able to do something before the gargoyle intent on you arrives to prevent you, but you will have to act quickly and could end up facing both at once.

You have no idea what the blue light is, or if it is safe.

What do you do?

- Deoring -

You could make to the captain's side before the gargoyle near you can attack either of you. Maybe together you can do something?

What do you do?

- Deoring -

Grim faced, the captain turns to stand shoulder to shoulder with you to face the oncoming threat. It is clear that --from her vantage point-- she has not seen Albert and Ahsa go down and is still determined to buy them as much as she can. You, however, can see that something has changed --even if it is not completely clear what is going on or what is to be done about it.

What do you do?

- Roald -

As you snatch Ahsa's limp body away, the gargoyle turns an expressionless --yet still clearly angry-- face towards you, plants is claws in the ground, leans forward and appears to... inhale. The blue light intensifies, and you can now see the edge of the sphere it forms. As you drag the body past that edge you feel a resistance and unrecognisably distorted ghostly wisps are sucked from the body towards the gargoyle's open mouth, as though it is trying to... eat her soul? That would not be the strangest thing you have seen recently, in this place.

As you pull, the bubble elongates, and then presses against the invisible barrier at the forest's edge. With a herculean effort you drag Ahsa through, and with snapping sensation the gargoyle looses its grip and the 'soul' --distorted as it was-- springs back into the body and she takes a shuddering breath that you probably had not noticed she was holding.

Groggily her eyes open, and she looks around, frightened. But when she sees the trees she laughs joyously --ignoring the spasm of pain that laughter brings-- and, smiling excitedly, gabbles at you in a language you don't understand --though the tone suggests gratitude-- before sighing contentedly, closing her eye and falling asleep, the hand not holding her side burying itself rapturously in the soil.

The two gargoyles stand motionless, glaring at you from their side of the treeline, Albert's body sprawled behind them.

What do you do?

- Deoring -

"Why are you wasting time with me?!" The captain exclaims when you have gotten her seated and mention Albert's plight. "Go get him instead!" She orders --probably not meaning to emasculate you by taking away the fact that you were already planning on just that. "He is still breathing." She says after peering intently at Albert for a moment. "MOVE!"

She does not appear impressed by your try-hard attitude, and you get the impression that everything impressive you have done so far, fell just outside her sight or notice, and that this group would not be her first choice of fighting companions if she had such a choice.

There are now three gargoyles standing between you and your fallen companion You don't know if more are coming.

What do you do?

- Roald -

The gargoyles stand passive, watching you in puzzlement, and --though without appearing to move-- seem to share a look, their stillness speaks clearly "this guy, what is he like?"

They do not seem to care about you, their attention is reserved for the place where they ladies are resting.

It is as though, once Ahsa got out of their reach, they just gave up, like she was the only one that mattered to them.

- Roald -

Throwing rocks at rocks does not seem to do anything, and, given how little effect swords had when attacking, it is not surprising that they don't care at all when you draw yours.

- Deoring -

You feel a blazing pain in your back, buttock, or thigh, you might think the gargoyles have finally deigned to acknowledge you and attack, but, if you glance back, they are still standing impassive, not even looking in your direction.

With the strain, after the dehydration, you think you have torn or pulled a muscle, the pain is worse than the centipede bite, and you just know you will walk with a limp for weeks.

• Have you experienced such a thing before, or is this "an old man's problem" in your mind?

If you don't want to tear it further, you will have to ask for help, and possibly bear the captain scorn.

What do you do?

Between them, Roald and Deoring carry Albert back to the others. The gargoyles have not moved throughout the process.

The captain has torn strips off her shirt and bandaged her leg, and can hobble around. "Does he have any bandages?" She asks, assuming he is a 'healer' and indicating Albert's pack. "We should dress his wounds, or something...

"Are you hurt?" She asks Deoring (and Roald, but mainly Deoring).

"We need a hospital." She says. "But first, water. And some rest... but I don't like those things watching us... but I don't want to move the injured..." Her decisive orders become uncertain at the end and she grimaces in pain.

'Asha' needs proper medical attention soon or she will get worse. Albert should not be moved and he should get better (though you can't know that for sure).

What do you do?