Kheeta concentrated, a ball of light forming easily between her hands, it was becoming second nature to the Kitsune by this point. Please work… She begged silently, as she flicked her wrist, sending the light orb flying down a separate street across the square.
“Pixie!” The first Troll yelled, turning so quickly he almost fell over.
“You got cow! I get Pixie!” The younger screamed, running after his brother, surprisingly fast for his size.
“You idiots! You back here!” The Hob-Goblins hollered as they too ran off down the street.
“That was too close,” Kheeta said to Golluk as they finished their trek to the rest of the party.
“Agreed,” he replied, the little girl cuddling in closer and tighter, the iron man looking down and stroking the hair out of her face.
“Where’s the gate you were leading us to?” Soza asked the woman scanning the courtyard for anything resembling an exit.
The woman pointed to a massive pile of debris and said in a shaky voice, “we’re trapped… that was the gate and the drawbridge… the only way in and out of the city, it’s surrounded by a moat.” Tears filled her eyes as she realized the hopelessness of their situation.
“Anyone fancy a swim?” Tarek remarked with a smirk, before getting a frustrated reply.
“It wouldn’t be much of a moat if you could just swim across it, now would it? The whole thing is chock full of Skinsnappers,” at the mention of the carnivorous fish Golluk let out a small shudder.
“Then what, we are trapped!” Caprice panicked, stamping her cloven hooves back and forth on the cobble stone with an anxiety inducing click, click, click.
“There’s always another way out…” Tehsugon mused, stroking his chin in contemplation, “we just need to find it.”
“But we’ll probably run into more Trolls or Hob-Goblins,” Kheeta interjected nervously, thinking back to how close their last encounter had been.
“Yes, most likely,” the Warrior replied standing up and brandishing his shield before him. “I swear that I will lead us to the exit, this family will survive!” Kheeta could feel the inspiration rising in her bones, there was something about the way Tehsugon spoke that made her feel like everything was going to turn out okay. “Now follow me,” he instructed heading out of the alley way and into the street beyond, leaving the corpse ridden marketplace behind them.
As they walked the twisting streets of the strange town they could hear the sounds of Goblins and Trolls raiding everything, and Kheeta found herself growing extremely nervous.
“We lost Pixie. We lost Trolls. But we found you.” A slimy and familiar voice reached her ear as it swiveled around and her tails puffed up.
“Tehsugon!” She whisper yelled at the de-facto leader, trying to get his attention.
After a few steps he stopped and turned, “what is it?” He asked in hushed tones as well.
Kheeta simply pointed down the alley to her left and mouthed the word, ‘Hob-Goblins.’ The rest of the Party, finally figuring out what she was trying to convey, quickly tucked themselves against the buildings on either side of the alley entrance. The three Hob-Goblins from earlier stood at the far side of a dead end, the one with the net of potions on the far left, and their prey cornered with no where to go.
“I wanna pluck all the birdie feathers!” One of them yelled as it lunged forward only to crash into a steel shield that pushed him backwards.
“No fair, I gots no shield!” The second of the three exclaimed as his friend regained his footing.
“We just take his,” the last one cried finally speaking and failing his attack as well.
Their intended victim was a large Aven man with blue plumage, in full plate mail, defending himself with a long sword and a steel kite shield. “We can’t just leave him,” Tehsugon grunted as he crouched down low and began to slowly creep down the alley, shield and tooth-hammer drawn.
“I’m coming with you,” Soza insisted, ignoring the opposing glare she received from the Shelidon.
He raised his hammer above his head as he reached the Hob-Goblins and Kheeta was surprised they hadn’t noticed his approach. The tooth that made up the blunt face of the weapon crashed against the right Hob-Goblin’s cheek, sending teeth flying into the street and slamming its skull into the building wall next to them with a squelch. Before the other two could react Tehsugon raised his shield and bashed the middle enemy, sending him off his feet and crashing into the leftmost Hob-Goblin.
“Stop!” Kheeta screamed in a vain effort to stop the Kelphyte from her final action. As Kheeta’s words fell on deaf ears Soza raised her staff, now engulfed on either side with blades of light. Kheeta recognized the spell as the same one used to create her whips. With a scream the jellyfish brought the blade down on the Hob-Goblin pile, impaling and killing both of the creatures; but also detonating the bombs strapped to the bottom’s back.
A bright light filled the alley as Tehsugon and the Aven man took cover behind their shields… Soza, not having that luxury, flew backwards and crashed into the building, dust to engulfing the alley.
The group held their breath, waiting to see if anyone was going to emerge from the cloud while resisting the urge to run in and help. Two shapes began to form as they moved towards them, causing Kheeta’s stomach to sink. If there are only two then Soza… a wave of relief washed over her as Tehsugon came into view with Soza flung over his shoulder.
“We need to get out of here fast!” He exclaimed as he adjusted the jellyfish girl, “once we’re somewhere safe Tarek can heal Soza, and we’ll come up with our next plan of action.” He turned toward the Aven man, “Do you know somewhere safe we could go?”
“Yes, this way,” answered the blue birdman as he began leading them down the twists and turns of another alley, “I was headed this way when those three found me, which reminds me, thanks for the save. I’m Murdock, by the way.” He spoke with a familiar Aven squawk as he stopped at a ladder. “Well this is it, the guards station. We’ll have access to all the rooftops from here, I’ll head up first and help you get the girls over the edge.”
Tehsugon nodded at the man as he began his ascent, “Tarek, you go ahead of me and Soza so you can begin healing her as soon as we get her up,” he directed sternly, earning only a small huff in response as the Cleric started climbing. “Now we’ll want the civilians to go next… Golluk I want you last, we don’t know how well this ladder will hold your weight.” He began up the ladder, still giving them instructions as he went. “Kheeta you’re going to carry the girl up, she’s awake enough she can hold onto you as you go. Lets hurry and get up there so we can discuss a plan.”
Kheeta turned to Golluk who was still cradling the child, and the large man placed her gently onto her back. “Hold on tight okay?” Kheeta asked the girl who nodded with a smile, burying her face in the Kitsune’s soft fur. Kheeta wrapped her twin tails around the girl snuggly and began her ascent, the others already reaching the top of the ladder. The building that the Warrior had led them to was tall and made of cobblestone, the roof had a four foot high perimeter wall, successfully hiding them from searching eyes on the street.
Kheeta placed the small girl down on the ground next to her mother, the latter holding the former in her arms like she was never going to let go, tears streaming down her face. Kheeta could make out the woman’s soft sobs of ‘my baby girl,’ ‘I’m so glad you’re safe,’ and ‘don’t worry we’re going to be okay.’
Looking around at the rest of her Party she could see that Tarek and Tehsugon had already began the preparations for Soza’s healing ritual, and Golluk spoke with the Aven man in hushed tones. “I can’t believe we made it out of that!” Caprice exclaimed in whispered excitement as she sat down next to the small family with a sigh.
“Once the Kelphyte is healed we should head for the drawbridge.” Murdock squawked as he left his conversation with Golluk in favor of addressing the full company.
“”We can’t, we’re trapped.” Caprice chimed
in with more than a little disdain for their situation. “They’ve destroyed the bridge and so now there’s no way out.”
“Not necessarily…” Murdock continued as he scratched his feathered chin. “There is another way out…” Everyone perked up at this revelation, “it’s through a system of tunnels that are only accessible from the inn.”
“Well then what are we waiting for let’s get these guys to safety!” Caprice exclaimed all whisper to her voice gone now as she sprung back to her feet, earning a glare from Tehsugon.
“Not so fast,” Tarek interjected from his spot by Soza. “This spell is going to take some time to work before she’s able to move.”
“Plus, someone needs to tell the others so that they can escape too.” Golluk added as he scanned the rooftops for any sign of the other party in the distance.
“Sticking to the streets is going to be too dangerous, whoever goes will have to stay on the roofs.” Murdock contributed, looking out over the city as well.
“Well Satyr’s definitely aren’t built for that so… I guess that rules me out, I’ll just have to stay here.” Caprice said taking her seat again with a sigh of relief.
“It has to be Kheeta,” Tehsugon declared, finally joining the conversation.
“Wha-? Me?” Kheeta responded as she looked around at the rest of her company.
“Well Tarek needs to stay here and heal Soza, and with him doing that, plus the first two citizens, makes four people that are totally defenseless. Our only strategy here is for someone to quickly tell the others and make it back here, and as Caprice pointed out, it can’t be her. Golluk and I are needed here to defend so that leaves…”
“Me,” Kheeta finished for him as she took in a deep breath of the smoky air. She looked to the far left section of town that Bartlebee and the others were supposed to be searching, it was roughly ten city blocks away. That’s a lot of city to try and find them in. “Alright, well I’m going to set out then,” Kheeta said awkwardly to the air, everyone too preoccupied by their current tasks to pay attention.
She walked carefully to the edge of the rooftop they were on and looked over, a thirty foot drop to the street and only a three foot jump across. Backing up and getting a running start she flung herself off the building, landing with vulpine agility onto the roof tiles of the opposite building. Yes! Kheeta cheered internally before letting out a loud yip as something grabbed her leg.
She frantically looked down to see a Goblin holding onto her, trying to pull himself over the edge and onto the roof. What am I going to- her thoughts were cut off as the Goblin’s eyes went wide in shock and pain, the broad head of an arrow protruding from its chest. The creature slumped off the roof in a defeated heap revealing Caprice behind loosing another arrow Kheeta’s direction. The Kitsune yipped again and ducked, unnecessarily, as the projectile flew true and found its mark in a second Goblin’s eye. The satyr smiled and gave Kheeta a thumbs up before nocking another arrow and surveying the area. Wow, she’s a dead eye with that bow… glad I’m not the one in her sights. Kheeta thought with an impressed chuckle as she continued her sprint across the rooftops.
The buildings were closer together now, only a foot or two, and many even had planks between them like make-shift bridges. Kheeta jumped across another gap, avoiding the flaming section of the roof as she tried to keep traversing left. A scream caught her attention and she quickly ducked behind the chimney, anxiously looking around for the source.
Her eyes fell on a Human man and she knew it was too late to save him. Three Goblins jumped up and down with glee as they hacked down at, who looked to be, the town’s medicine man. Such brutality… She thought to herself, fighting the panic rising in her stomach.
Deciding that dawdling was a bad idea, Kheeta began her trek again, only two more blocks until the second Party’s radius. She readied herself and sprinted, preparing to make an exceptionally hard jump, until a shadowy movement on the wall made her lose both her focus and momentum; causing a fifteen foot plummet to the cobblestone street below.
She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to ready herself for the impact but it never came; instead, a furry hand firmly gripped her collar and began to hoist her upwards. Oh Gods, something’s got me! Kheeta panicked at first before reasoning, I guess it’s better than becoming a pancake. As she reached the lip of the roof she prepared herself to meet her possible opponent, but to her relief it was Lu’Roe.
“You almost just became a smudge, are you okay? What are you doing here?” He asked as he set the Kitsune down next to him, Kheeta adjusted her tunic as her heart raced.
“We found a town guard and he told us the way out but Soza’s hurt and Tarek is healing her, so they sent me out to find you guys.” Kheeta explained, all of it coming out through hurried gasps. The shadow on the building caught her attention yet again and this time she spun around to see what it was.
“Is that Klept?” She asked Lu’Roe, pointing to the black figure that crawled on the side of the building like a spider.
“Yes,” the Berejorn responded looking at where she had gestured. “Stalagpints can cling to the surface of walls, it makes them exceptional Rogues.”
“Where are the others?” Kheeta asked as she scanned the various rooftops around them.
“Well I’m the search Party’s first aid station,” he explained as he surveyed the area as well. “Basically, I told them go out for fifteen minutes and scout, then report back here, so no one gets lost.”
“That’s a great plan but right now we should-“ Kheeta was cut off as the rooftops, buildings, and ground began to shake violently. “Earthquake?” She screamed over the deafening noise, almost immediately receiving an answer, though not from Lu’Roe.
Two streets away the ground exploded into the sky with a mighty eruption, sending large chunks of molten rock and debris in every direction. Lava shot like a pillar of fire out of the hole and into the air, the ash nearly instantly making the mid-day light look like dusk. “A volcano?” Lu’Roe said in disbelief as they continued to stare at the destructive sight before them.
As quick as the pillar appeared it vanished, followed by a massive thirty foot beast. It’s head resembled the dragon’s that Kheeta had read about, but Its scales seemed to be made of brimstone and between them the glow of molten lava held within the beast could be seen. Thick clouds of smoke and ash spilled out through its nostrils, while heat rolled off it’s body. Crawling on all fours, it’s limbs were thick and strong, ending in long sharp claws, perfect for tunneling deep underground, similar to those of a giant mole.
As Kheeta stood in terrified admiration of the lava Drake it turned, locking it’s coal black eyes on her and Lu’Roe. It placed its wide hands on the roof of a building and pulled itself up, setting the wood around it ablaze with its intense body heat.
“Hey hot head,” a familiar voice yelled, “I think you should cool off!” A blob of black sticky ink splattered against the creature’s eye and that’s when Kheeta saw Bartlebee, on top of the house next to their opponent. As the Dragon flung its mighty head around, clawing at its eye, it shot lava from its jaws; spewing it all over the building where the Bard stood and the two on either side…
“Bartlebee!” Kheeta’s scream echoed another as the poor Meripint looked up just in time to see the several gallons of lava that buried him instantly. The beast had finally cleared enough of the ink away to see again but as it did, Aurora used her vines like a slingshot, launching herself through the air and landing on the monster’s face. The Florae let out a scream as the Drake’s hot skin burned her.
Using the rows of sharp thorny teeth hidden under her leaf skirt, Aurora bit down on the Drake’s brow, causing it to roar in pain. Long claws scraped at the plant girl until they finally connected flinging her violently to the ground. The beast followed it’s attacker, jumping off the building and landing on top of the fragile Rogue, a blue light emanating from between it’s feet.
Kheeta couldn’t believe what she was seeing, this can�
��t be happening! “Run!” She screamed to Lu’Roe and Klept as she turned to retreat back the way that she had came. The Berejorn didn’t have to be told twice, he grabbed his long bladed spear and used it to pole-vault to the roof top behind them. Kheeta’s steps slowed as her ears swiveled around, everything had gone quiet.
“What is it?” Lu’Roe asked as he caught up to her and Klept, the latter crawling on the walls of the building across the street.
She turned around and her suspicion was confirmed, “it’s gone.”
“What do you mean it’s-“ Lu’Roe started as he too turned around to discover the creature that pursued them moments earlier was nowhere to be seen.
“Maybe it left?” Kheeta offered jokingly before the ground began to shake aggressively again.
Before either of them could shout a word of warning the building that Klept clung to exploded with a similar eruption as earlier. “No!” Lu’Roe yelled as tears filled his eyes, the monster beginning to crawl out of the hole and rubble that now entombed Klept. “You go warn the others and get out of here.” The black and white Berejorn instructed Kheeta as he gripped his spear tightly before him in an offensive stance.
“Lu’ you can’t fight it!” The Kitsune insisted, her knees shaking in fear of the creature that had just killed three of their party members.
“If that thing tunnels again, it could do what it just did to Klept to the rescue party… and I can’t risk that.” Lu’Roe’s voice, much like his mind, was set and determined. “I will hold it off for as long as I can, and I will try to keep it above ground… now go!” As he finished Lu’ shoved Kheeta’s back sending her off the roof and onto the next one over. As she landed the brave Cleric pole-vaulted on his spear, only this time directly at the Dragon.
Kheeta ran, she ran as fast as her legs would carry her across plank bridges and rooftop gaps, I have to tell the others! We need to go! The thoughts cut through her mind like a screaming wail as her lungs began to burn from the constant inhalation of the smoky air. She could hear the beast behind her let out a deafening roar, one so loud she paused for a moment to cover her ears. She could see the guard’s station a block away and forced herself to double her efforts, moving at an even quicker pace now. Jumping over a gap the team came into view, causing the knot in her stomach to loosen slightly, Run! Dragon!” She hollered, the group turning toward the sound of her voice.
Dauntless Dungeon Page 18