Beyond the Pale Chapter 4
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Beyond The Pale: Chapter 5 free porn video
Chapter 5
Players:
Christian (M) /Isabelle (F) Pathfinder
Brett (M) /Owein (M) Paragon
Sandy (F) /Dacie (F) Corsair ; Sylph
Kathy (F) /Eric (M) Huscarl
Stephen (M) /Sayer (M) Incantist
Corey (M) /Elisa (F) Priestess
Isabelle ran her hands across the worn masonry. Admittedly, the mosaics
were indeed very beautiful, portraying stories of the seven gods and
goddess of the world, including the forgotten goddess. To think that all
of this sprang from her imagination was difficult to believe.
The world had such a reality to it; even after only a few days here, the
thought of living in the other world now was becoming difficult to
believe. Returning to that world seemed more like a dream than actual
reality.
"It's a crypt." Elisa whispered; the priestess had not released her
light. Torches, although helpful, would get in the way if they actually
found a passage into the stone building.
"I know." The Baroness watched the others out of the corner of her eyes.
Except for the two of them, the rest were caught up in the idea of
finding hordes of wealth within the ruins.
"That's right, did you write about this place as well."
"No, mostly just an overview of valley and the ruins themselves; the
individual places we have been searching through are as much a mystery
to me as they are to you. Something else filled in the gaps."
"Philip?"
"I guess." The Baroness smiled.
"I still cannot believe this is Mercia. If I hadn't pinched myself a
dozen times I would have thought that this was surely a dream, well
closer to a nightmare for me."
"You seem..." Isabelle began.
"Less crazed." The priestess closed her eyes. "Trust me; I haven't come
to grips with what exactly is happening to me; far from it. However,
there is warmth from the outside that is helping me keep it together. It
feels, maternal really."
"Good, I was worried."
"It's not all bad, if nothing else I think I understand you better. "
Isabelle reached over and held her friend's hand for a moment.
"I am worried about...Kathy."
The two turned to look at the Huscarl who was busy helping Sayer
searching through a mound of rubble.
"She...he doesn't want to talk about it." The Priestess sighed.
"Christian...I want to go home."
"We will."
"By the goddess, I hope so." The small white robed young woman walked
away, her hands moving along a wall. "I have no feel for Ilithar
children." Elisa frowned as she continued to touch the wall with her
small fingers. "Nothing at all; true, I'm new at this, so I don't really
know what to expect; but if the goddess of death spawn resided in this
tomb I should know, right? Even so, I don't like this place."
The party had been searching for a way into the crypt for some time
already. The Baroness could see that they were close to giving up;
hopefully they would forget that as a Pathfinder she had ways of
discovering secret routes. Running her hands lightly along the same
walls, she could feel the runes, markings that would allow the party to
proceed deeper into the darkness.
Turning towards the party, Elisa shouted, "We need to leave; it's
getting late."
The Baroness nodded, not that she had the same abilities but something
deep inside said that the party should leave well enough alone.
"A little while longer," Owein called out.
"Owein, I recall something about Pathfinders being able to find secret
passages." Dacie, who had been half way up a wall called out. "There is
something here, I can feel it."
The Sylph must be feeling the enchantment that would allow the party to
proceed, the Baroness thought.
The Captain of Dragoons swung his head around. "That's right."
Reluctantly, there was no helping it apparently; Isabelle completed the
simple enchantment revealing a staircase leading downwards.
"Isabelle." The Sylph walked to the top of the stairs. "Why?"
"I don't like this place."
"Neither do I." Elisa walked over to stand by her friend. "Eric, we
don't need to be here."
The large Huscarl nodded. "Perhaps it's for the best, Owein."
"Please, when are we going to have another chance? Just a couple of
rooms, then we leave. If we run into anything we cannot handle we run,
right. Elisa, you haven't felt any undead? None of the Ilithar children
inhabit the ruins, right?"
"There are much worse things than animated corpses and shades."
"Yes, I know, Baroness. However what I said before still stands. Once we
get back to one of the big cities, we are going to need coin."
"Sounds good to me," The Incantist said with excitement in his voice.
The Sylph nodded, rubbing her hands together.
"Would be nice to find something." Eric grinned. "I mean, Elisa all you
talk about after one of your games is all of the treasure you're found,
sort of like hunting for buried treasure."
"More like grave robbing." Isabelle whispered.
"Excellent, so we will only search a few rooms, maybe a half a dozen or
so. Same party order as before, Eric you lead. Trust me, your
Excellency, we won't go far."
Descending into the tomb, the rest of the party began to babble with
excitement about finding treasure, leaving the Baroness and Priestess
standing alone at the top of the stair.
"I guess we should follow them."
Isabelle nodded. "Like we have much of a choice."
Below the surface, the dwellers of the city had placed their dead deep
inside carved out catacombs displayed in small vestibule that would lead
off into larger rooms for prayer. The underground chambers were more
than a small hole dug out of the ground; the walls reinforced with cut
stone, in certain chambers, expensive marble. Beautiful archways adorned
with plaster castings, depicted the daily lives of those who lived in
the city. Even the air seemed fresh; whatever magics kept the dust away
from the floors as well.
For the people who lived here before, this was a place to come and speak
with their ancestors. The bodies would lovingly be cleaned and placed in
small alcoves for a time of mourning. Afterwards, the remains would be
moved into another room so a new body could be arranged.
After a period, the skeletons of the dead-ended up decorating the walls,
while their skulls were normally piled on top of one another, set into
the walls like some macabre mosaic, eternal guardians, protectors of the
paths into the underworld.
Unfortunately, for the party, the bodies were not buried with grave
goods; however, the bodies of the common folk were of no interest in
these ruins. No, the real treasures among the tombs were worship places
for the important families of the city who had their own areas filled
with grave goods and items for the pleasure of the worshipers.
So far, the party had acquired several small golden offering bowls, and
a handful of small ruby like gems that had adorned some of the skulls.
Not the best of starts, but not terrible either.
Elisa felt uncomfortable with the party's actions. Back home, looting
such a place like this would have been exciting, now it just felt wrong.
"How much time left on your blessing?" Isabelle asked the worried
priestess.
"We should be good as long as we don't spend a lot more time down here.
You think they are happy with the bowls and gems?"
Isabelle grimaced. "No."
Owein shouted to the party as they came across a sealed door. "Looks
like we found what we came for."
Eric looked over the door; the entrance had been covered with soft rock
and plaster. It should be easy enough to break through with a little
muscle, he mused. Without even asking the rest of the party, the Huscarl
swung the reinforced butt of his ax shattering part of the mortar.
"Wait!" Elisa started to move forward. As the weapon struck, the
priestess felt for a moment a darkness descend upon the place.
"Stop worrying so much, we are fine." Owein laughed. He too joined the
Huscarl and with one big push, topped the sealed entrance to the ground.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Sayer pumped his fist into the air.
"Look at that."
Elisa light washed over the room revealing a chambered adorned with wall
hangings, beautiful crafted golden chairs and marble tables. At the back
of the room lay a small, family shrine and against the back wall three
heavily adorned stone sarcophagi.
"Wait, please?" The Sylph raised her hand; the simple gesture brought
everyone to a halt. With a light touch, she slowly took a couple of
steps into the room. "Can you see that, Sayer?"
The Incantist looked confused for a moment, then nodded. The Sylph
obviously could see into the arcane, the force of magic that permeated
the land. "It's some sort of enchantment."
"Can you remove it?" The Sylph touched the ground lightly with her left
hand. "I don't see any mundane traps."
Perhaps, taking a few steps forward, the Incantist started to set about
studying the enchantment and the proper way to remove it. "It doesn't
appear to be a trap, something else perhaps, seems tied to this room."
"I don't like it." Isabelle walked forward, taking a good look into the
room for the first time.
"There are other guardians, remember, family spirits, constructs or even
an elemental."
"That would be good news then." The Office of Dragoons laughed.
"Why?" The Huscarl began to move some of the debris out of everyone's
path.
"Because they have something they want protected."
Elisa looked up at the Baroness who only shrugged. "He isn't wrong."
The Sylph moved into the room, making sure not to step on those colored
floor stones. "Stay away from those; be better if we didn't summon
whatever is guarding this room."
Several more steps forward and the oil lamps that adorned the walls came
to life. Laughing Owein moved into the room followed by Eric. "All
excited about noting them, then a way to light the room."
"Come on put your backs into it." The Sylph giggled as the three men
tried to force the lid from one of the sarcophaguses to the floor. To
everyone the Corsair's excitement at the prospects of opening the stone
coffin was for purely personal gain. However, that would be wrong. She
was a digger from way back, wandering ancient ruins with her grandfather
since she was a child. Not for the first time did she wish that her
grandfather and his entire team were available to search the runes.
A forgotten people, inside a forgotten tomb, the grave goods alone would
tell a researcher what type of people lived in the city. She knew they
cared for their dead; that was obvious. The family shrine also hinted at
other interesting aspects of the lost society. Perhaps Isabelle would
divulge some of the secrets inside her head. She kept claiming
ignorance, but she could simply be not telling everything.
With a crack, whatever mortar holding the lid firmly in place cracked,
and the three men easily moved it off to the side. "Step back please,
let the professional through first."
"You mean the thief." Isabelle grinned.
"I resemble that remark. Still as you know I prefer expert treasure
hunter instead." Slipping her daggers into her hand, she approached
there remains inside the coffin. If possible, she would keep from
disturbing the corpse. True, some of the most beautiful objects found
were wrapped up with the dead, but this needed to be quick. "Nice."
The body, obviously female, wrapped in a long linen gown looked
untouched by time. Some unknown magics had kept it from totally
decomposing; perhaps the sarcophagus itself had been enchanted. With one
hand, she reached inside and pulled out a small golden disk. "What's
this?"
"Holy symbol," Isabelle said while walking forward. "We should leave
that."
"Why?" Owein said disgustedly. "It's not like she is going to be using
it. Take the death mask as well, anything on her hands."
"No, doesn't appear to be." The golden death mask along with the other
items was quickly placed in a sack.
"Too bad we don't have time to search the body proper; though I guess we
could just pull it out."
"No."
The Captain of Dragoons turned around. "No? What do you think...."
"You will respect the person who lies in that coffin, Owein. Taking the
items she possesses is as far I will allow."
Owein shook his head. "What in the hell is wrong with you? Around the
gaming table, you would have already stripped it clean."
Eric moved from the side. "Come on Owein, let her be. There are two more
of these things we can search."
It took very little time for the room to be looted, still under the
watchful eye of the Priestess of Sylia. "I don't approve of this, Owein,
not in the least."
"Then stay at home next time Elisa, I'm sure we could find a healer who
was less inclined to complain." With that he walked away.
"He didn't mean that." Sayer looked at his brother with concern. "We do
need the treasure, right?"
Dacie sighed. "Unfortunately, he is correct. Come on; let's go before he
gets into trouble."
Passing a few more vestibules, the party came to a dead end. "I'm sorry
if I seem greedy." Owein began to explain. "I just want to make sure
that when we get back to the city we are able to find someone to help
us. The only way that is going to happen is if we have coin in out
hand."
"There must be other ways, Owein," Elisa said.
"If there are, you tell me, I would be happy to listen." The Officer of
Dragoons pointed down the hallway. "However, you're right, let this be
the last room. We have been down here long enough. What we have found so
far is a good start don't you think? If we find something similar in the
next chamber, then we will be ahead."
"Last room?"
Owein nodded. "Last room."
"Alright then, let's get the party started."
"You're going to get us into trouble if you keep doing that." Dacie ran
forward. "You're going to walk right into a trap."
"Did you feel something?" Elisa turned to the Baroness.
"Owein."
Once again, without waiting on the others the Huscarl walked down the
hallway and slammed the butt of his ax into the wall. The wall simply
vanished. Eric's scream cut off Isabelle's objections. A long shadowy
claw stepped into the hallway to rake the Housecarl along the arm.
Beyond the shadowy creature were the remains of a desecrated room with
dozens of nightmarish shadows darting back and forth beyond the light.
"By the goddess, someone had sealed it," The Priestess screamed as she
moved forward to lay her hands on Eric.
From Sayers hand a burst of light exploded on the shadows chest before
it could further advance into the hallway. Followed quickly by the bark
of Owein's pistols, the arcane bolts slammed into the chest of another
shadow that appeared out of the room.
Isabelle, without a second thought, cast a minor enchantment on her
blade. Unfortunately, only she had the ability and it was the least
powerful of such spells, mostly used against simple spirits, not these
types of shadows.
"Retreat."
Isabelle took a step forward, blocking an overhand strike by slashing
downward with her sword. The shadowy creature retreated slightly as the
minor enchantment on her blade disrupted its hold on this plane.
Although unhurt, the creatures were kept for the time at bay. The others
weren't doing any better, with Ilithar, the goddess of death's aura
dominating the crypt; Elisa couldn't directly touch her own source of
power. The small light, created before entering the ruins did not appear
to be lasting much longer. When it vanished, they were all going to be
in serious trouble.
The buzz and loud pop of Owein's arcane pistol went off again, its
magical energy punching a hole through several of Ilithar's minions. The
shadows ignoring the minimal damage, pushed forward. Sayer let loose
with another ray of light, burning another shadow, but the creatures
resisted most of the damage. Isabelle could tell by the Incantist's pale
face that he too was reaching his limit.
The silver haired Baroness shifted her feet backwards, trying to keep
the shadows from breaking through. The rest of the party could only
watch in frustration. Neither Dacie nor Eric had the ability to harm
these creatures. If Isabelle hadn't been a Pathfinder, being able to
enchant her blade, there would have been very little chance the party
would have even reached the stairs to make their way out of the crypt.
Passing through a larger room, Owein wailed while willing his pistol to
charge faster.
Isabelle ducked another razor sharp claw, forcing the creature back with
a thrust towards its midsection; she had been clipped a couple of times,
the claws cutting through her armor as if it was butter. Their touch was
slowly sapping her strength.
Incredibly, the Captain of Dragoons hadn't retreated with her. Reaching
forward, the silver haired Baroness grabbed the back of his shirt with
her right hand. "What in the hell are you doing?"
She could see that the creatures were already spreading out; if the
party didn't move quickly they were going to be overwhelmed.
"It's all Phillip's fault."
"Phillip?"
"He shouldn't have written such a difficult dungeon for our level."
"What?" Isabelle looked Owein; her longtime friend had a wild look in
eyes, a look of complete and utter despair. Suddenly the Captain of
Dragoons screamed as a shadowy claw punched through his cuirass.
"Brett!"
It was then when Ilithar children began to come through the walls.
Something inside the Baroness could take it no longer. Quickly, she
began to call out commands. No one was going to die in this place.
"Eric, grab Owein." With a backhanded slash, the Baroness protected her
stricken friend while Eric pulled him back out of the room.
With another hand, she reached for the arcane pistol, firing it point
blank range into the face of the nearest shadow. A second bolt followed,
and for the first time one of the creatures vaporized from the arcane
onslaught.
"Still too many, Dacie stand by Elisa, you cannot allow anything to get
through you. If she falls, we are done for. Sayer, return to the front
and lead us out of this mess, you can do it right. Eric, just keep a
hand on Owein, your weapons are no use here. I will hold the rear and
everyone get closer together. Sylvia's blessing still offers us some
protection."
The Incantist was on the verge of breaking but the cool commands from
the Baroness filled him with purpose. With one last flash of fire, the
young man cut a way through the advancing shadows. The others too felt
as if there was a chance they would all survive the encounter.
The fight out of the crypt was a nightmare to everyone; Isabelle
appeared to be at all places at once. After charging the pistols again,
she passed them to Dacie who was able to keep the shadows from
overrunning the priestess.
When Sayer slipped, Isabelle was there to pick him up, while slashing
several of the shadows. Two more of the creatures fell to the party's
fighting, but there didn't appear to be an end in sight.
As soon as the group reached the top of the stairs, everything changed.
Elisa, now able to touch her goddess raised her hands in prayer sending
a beam of brilliant light down the stairs, scattering their pursuers. A
second prayer later, Sylvia's blessing was strengthened, its light now
covering the party further as the group descended down another flight of
stairs heading towards the safety of the road.
"We can't stay here," Isabelle told the exhausted party. No one
complained.
Further, down the road, with the crypt lost in the incoming darkness
Owein called out, "Stop."
Letting the Officer of the Dragoons gently to the ground, Eric looked
towards Elisa who quickly reached the wounded man's side. "Stay still,
let me heal you."
"You can't." Owein smiled sadly. "There is nothing you can do, their
touch...maybe in another level or two." He chuckled, and then began to
cough spitting up blood.
"Brett," Sayer cried in anguish as he grabbed his brother's hand.
"Don't, don't go. We are close to getting home. Please...."
"Sorry, little brother. Listen to Christian, she was right...damn her she
was always right." Brett arched his back, blood pouring out of the
wounds as he began to thrash around. Suddenly the Captain of Dragoons
stopped, something passing across the young man's eyes. "I want to go
home." Tears rolled down his face, as the breath of life faded. "Mom...Oh
it hurts....mom."
Without another word, the young man named Brett left the world, far from
home.
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