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Date Posted: 19:55:45 04/10/03 Thu
Author: Adaron, Leila, Gelan, & Brage
Subject: Into the darkness of Kraggen-cor
In reply to: No post. 's message, "War of the Everdark" on 12:38:20 03/27/03 Thu

"We will not go under the mountain. But swift! Cross the span!" Gelan shouted as the dinning echoes crashed along the walls of the valley. Then himself bolted across the span haulting the frightened horses behind, with Brage running after. And indeed, from the Vale came shuddering howls of Vulfs and Ghuls, now in full cry.

With her arms more than filled to capacity she scuttled across the bridge unsteadily--and backwards at that for she was watching to make sure the Vulgs or Ghola did not come into her line of vision, though they were well within the distance that all could hear them.

As Gelan reached the other side of the bride his steel-gray eyes locked upon the Elf. "Can the haul be repaired?" His question shot forth. But Adaron silently handed the frayed end of the rope to Brage and stepped over to Leila. Still water trickled down his back in droplets from soaked blonde locks. Clothing was plucked up from within her clutch and pulled onto his body. First his upper body would be covered and then would come the armor. After that he would return his boots to his feet and his cloak to his shoulders. She watched Adaron for a moment, oh how beautiful he was. Leila's eyes were turned when she felt herself blushing, a hand resting then upon her middle, the other loose to the side. There was the softest of laughter, though she would not divulge its source, but back to more serious matters, she looked to Gelan and Brage to see what state would the haul be in, and if it could be fixed, though she was not sure time was in their favor.

The Dwarf looked at the ancient halyard fiber that had been handed to him and then up at the pully blocks chained to the anchor posts. "Nay, King Gelan, not in time."

Adaron had lifted ocean blues to the ebon haired woman, his face expressionless as he continued to attach his armor. His face slightly turned away from her. As his gaze was about to return to the task at hand, his eyes caught sight of movement on the lip of the butte along the Rell Spur.

Her eyes then turned and followed the direction of Adaron's gaze. "King Gelan...I see them. They will be upon us in a matter of minutes, and if we tarry here in plain sight then they will indeed see us. Is there no way to burn this bridge to keep them out?" It was just a suggestion.

Brage grunted. "Hah, if it could, we have not the materials." Then he hefted his ax and turned to the King, his stance wide. "Shall we fend the bridge or the portico, King Gelan?" "The portico, I think," said Gelan, his voice grim but steady. "They cannot bring the Helsteeds to bear down upon us between the great stone columns."

Leila could have screamed. This day could never end for them! Never would they sleep. "Let us take our places then before they arrive and set forth a plan."

Adaron tugged his last boot on and stood straight, fully dressed. Bale was taken from Leila and girted to his waist yet Bane was yet left in Leila's grasp. "Keep Bane as your own weapon, Leila, for in this fight there will come a time when our arrows will be spent, or the quarters will be too close for bow, and then you will need a blade that will not stick in Ghulken bone to be torn from your grasp." As if to emphasize his words, Bale was drawn from its sheath and red were-light burst forth from Bale's blade-jewel and ran a bright crimson flame down the sharp edges.

Leila drew the short sword then to study it. "Does Bane glow as well?" she asked curiously, studying the runes upon the blade.

Adaron was about to answer her question, yet Bane did it for him. Now it was blue were-light that shot from Bane's blade-jewel and ran a cobalt glow down the edges of the weapon. A light frown passed over his lips, just for a brief moment in concentration and then it was gone. "They both whisper that evil is nearer than the oncoming foe." As he spoke, his gaze was irresistibly drawn to the black waters of the Dark Mere."

"Adaron," she spoke softly. "When you surfaced I saw something move within the water. I stood with my arrow ready should it come for you, or for us waiting on the shore, but it is not safe to stay here," she cautioned, sheating the blade once more.

There sounded a grunt. "Ar, we can't stand here all day puzzling over the fine points of Elven blades," growled Brage. "Let us to the portico to make our stand, and though we may not survive, this will be a battle the bards will sing of if word of it comes their way."

Quickly Bale was sheathed, and the reins of Arauka were taken from Gelan and the four comrades ran to the great portico, drawing the two exhausted horses behind, following along the Loomwall. Though fluted columns they went, to come upon a great semicircular stone slab held within the half ring of pillars around. Above, a great carven edifice was supported.

As they distcarded their packs, Gelan looked out upon the dark waters covering the sunken
courtyard where stood the clawing hulk of an enormous tree, drowned, dead for ages, yet still anchored upright. Black water lapped at the steps rising up from the unseen flooded court.

"They come," came the emotionless, eerie, soft voice of Adaron, pointing back tward the far side of the lake. Torch-bearing Ghuls on Helsteeds burst over the rim of the bluff and cast about, questing for the fugitives. The Vulg pack loped north from the Sentinel Stand, sill on the scent. The Ghulen leader howled at the dark brutes, and growls from the beasts answered him. Along the north bank of the Dark Mere the Vulgs raced, on the wake of the hunted, and the hammer of cloven Helsteed hooves shocked along the Loomwall as the Ghuls plunged after. Around the north end of the lake they came. Slowly Adaron's bow was positioned before him, his arm reaching back over his shoulder to pluck an arrow from its quiver to nock it. His head tilted to the side, eyes gazing down the shaft the of arrow, eyes unblinking.

Brage grasped his double-bitted axe in the Dwarven two-handed battle grip, his stance wide, the weapon held before him, a snarl upon his lips, his back slightly bent forward, a glare in his chocolate eyes.

Before Leila drew her bow, she pulled forth the Atala blade and handed it over, hilt first, to Gelan. "Take this, my King, less you lose your sword and have naught else," and with that she moved once more, an arrow pulled from the quiver and touched to the string, drawn and aimed carefully.

Gelan had given the Gypsy a nod of thanks before drawing Jarriel's gleaming steel to be held in his right hand, in his left he held the rune-marked silvery Atala Blade from the tomb of Othran the Seer. Now the Ghuls turned southward, riding along the Loom, plunging straight toward the sundered causeway and, beyond, the bridge and portico.

Adarons’ lips closed tight, his gaze intent as he sighted down the bolt, yet a flickering of his eyes resulted in a glance at the Woman archer, before his attention returned to the on coming foe. He feared that this was the last day that he would gaze upon her, yet he said naught and awaited the enemy.

Leila's hands were steady, though her face showed of despair, for they were in no good position. Green-gold eyes glanced to the side as well, catching his gaze for a moment. Her eyes were then turned to the advancing horde. Whence she spoke her voice was low, trembling. "Adaron...I do not know what will come to pass, but I could not go to my grave with the words on my heart and never on my lips." She paused then, taking a deep breath, eyes never leaving the troop which advanced upon them. "So let it not be said that she never told you," referring back to their prior conversation. "Amin mela lle." ( I love you. )

A silent breath was drawn in as ocean hues gazed out from under dark brows at the howling spawn that raced towards their trapped quarry. His voice came, whispering, yet crystal clear. "Sintamin, mela en' coiamin." (Untranslated.)

At that moment, almost as if in response to the Elf's words the Ghulen leader howled and savagely reined his Helsteed to a halt, and behind, the other Helsteeds were cruelly checked.

"What's this?" growled Brage, stepping forward for a better look.

The Ghuls had ridden to the causeway but no further, and now they milled in seeming confusion, as if unwilling to ride its length to get at the four. Some called glottal commands at the Vulgs, and the black beasts stopped, too, and turned and slunk back to sit on their hunches, tongues lolling over slavering, fanged jaws, but they came no closer. Ghuls dismounted.

Leila's heart dropped further as she watched the Ghuls and Vulgs halt their path. Her arrow remained drawn tightly back, hands steady though within she was trembling with a mortal terror. They were cornered, and yet the Ghuls did not come, neither did their hellish demon dogs. Green-gold eyes focused upon them intently...watching...waiting. "Why have they stopped?"

Brage had the same exact question, emitting a soft growl the axe was slightly lowered. "What's this? Can they be afraid of us? We are but four while they are thirty."

Adaron had lifted his eyes from sighting down the length of the arrow and looked long at the foe across from them. He felt as though the question had been directed at him, and he would answer. Soft came his voice, yet clear so that the three could easily hear. "I know not why they stopped, but as long as they stand there thwarting our path, we are trapped." His words seemingly to echo Leila's thoughts. "We cannot escape through the Dusk-Door."

Leila just glared across the causeway into those wickedly hollow eyes. "Is there not another side? We can not stand here and wait for their attack. We fight or we flee, and if we flee, then we must go down into the darkness, but there has to be another way to get out, even if we must risk the caves."

With wide eyes Brage spun to face the Gypsy. "Out of the crucible and into the forge your plan into the caves would lead us!" he cried. "Do you forget, that the Ghath rules Kraggen-cor?"

"The Dusk-Door!" burst Gelan, turning slowly as if he had gone mad to the three. "Leila is right! We can escape the Ghola that way.

With stoic features the Elf glance but a moment from the Ghulka to the High King. "It would be better to face even a hundred Ghulka than one Gargon."

And though Brage had directed his question to Leila, it was Gelan who would answer, as if it had been towards him. "I forget it not, but this I propose: We will enter the Dusk-Door and close it behind, and the Ghola will think we seek to make our way under the Grimwall and out the Dawn-Gate. yet we will wait to see if they leave; if so, then back out we go and south to Gunarring Gap."

Leila nodded. "I think that is a wise decision, King Gelan—so long as the Gargon does not wait for us directly behind it, nor come upon us before the Ghulka are weary of their guard and go to cut us off at the Dawn-Gate. Though what, my King, do you propose if they do not leave--or worse, if they gather the courage in their fiendish bellies to come after us into the deep halls of Kraggen-cor?"

Adaron came to stand next to Leila, bow still in hand, arrow yet knocked. Only the faintest hint of a smirk played upon his nearly expressionless face. "Only a Drimm can open those doors. But if they do not leave..." and this is where the smirk came in "then we are no worse off than we are now."

"At least within we will not cramp our muscles holding our arms at attention," she informed him dutifully. "Brage, can you open the doors?"

A bit of a proud smile fell upon the gnarled features of the dwarf as he took a stance. "Aye, the words are with me, for my gransire was a Gatemaster, and he taught them to me. But I followed the trade of my own sire, Bekki, and chose to be a warrior." Had he said this before? It didn’t matter to him, he would tell any story twice if one wished to hear it.

Gelan had turned to the wall, his hand to his chin. "Well, then, where is the Door?" His eyes searched the blank stone. "Though I cannot see it, it must be here somewhere."

"There," said Brage, pointing at the wall, yet at nothing in particular. "There where the pave is worn leading up to it." he continued. "It is closed and cannot be seen, though when the Chakka abandonded Kraggen-cor, we left it ajar."

How many times did he have to explain. After a brief moment of closed eyes he turned to the Dwarf, looking down at the short male. "Spaunen closed it five hundred years after the Drimma fled. But, as I have said before, is a long tale to be told later, for now we are concerned with Gelan King's plan."

"I like not this plan," growled Brage, " this game of cat and mouse, for it is one where we chance the Ghath; yet I have none better."

Now Gelan spoke up, looking to each one in turn. "Are we agreed then?"

"Yes." Giving her consent. "But we should hurry, for they may not wait on the other side of that causeway forever before they move to attack."

After a nod from Adaron and finally Brage, Gelan, too, gave a nod of his own. "Then let it be done."

Brage slung his axe across his back by its carrying thong and stepped up to the Loomwall and placed his hands firmly upon the blank stone; and he muttered low, guttural words. And springing forth from where his hands were pressed, as if it grew from the Dwarf's very fingers, there spread outward upon the dark granite a silver tracery that shone brightly in the shadow. And as it grew it took form. And suddenly there was the Door!--its outline shimmering on the smooth stone.

Slowly Adaron took a step back from the door and then turned about towards the Dark Mere and, eyes settling upon it before lifting to the Spawn. Then again he stepped back, to stand where he had just stood, but with his back to then Door. Small beads of sweat were upon his brow, though Brage and Gelan seemed not to notice.

But Leila noticed. She stood just close enough to him that their arms brushed for a moment. She too watched the Ghola that stood 'cross from them. "You are nervous I know, perhaps worried of what will become of us when we pass through those dark gates, but as you have said, we will be no worse off on the just inside than we fair out here." Trying to offer what little comfort she could in her intonation of the words.

Slowly his head swiveled so that his ocean gaze would meet her's of gold and green. "I know not what troubles me." His voice was a soft whisper. "But…something terribly evil, afar..."

But before he could continue Brage stepped back and unslung his ax. "Ready your weapons." Brage said, his voice hoarse. Adaron spun from her gaze then after a moment of locked silence, his bow and arrow replaced, red Bale drawn forth from its scabbard.

She just looked at him for long moments before she turned, drawing taut once more the arrow upon the bowstring.

Brage turned back to the Door and placed a hand within one of the glowing rune-circles, and he called out the Wizard word of opening: "Gaard!" The glowing Wizard-mettle tracery flared up brightly, and then, as if being drawn back into Brage's hand, all the lines, sigils, and glyphs began to retract, fading in sparkles as they withdrew, until one again the dark granite was blank and stern. And Brage stepped back slowly. And slowly the stone seeped to split in twain as the two great doors appeared and silently swung outward to come to rest against the Great Loom. A dark opening yawned before them, and they could see the beginnings of the West Hall receding into darkness; to the right a steep stairwell mounted up into the black shadows.

And from behind came shattering screams!

Leila jumped at the sudden sound, where as the Ghola had been so quiet before. Now they were so near and the sound was ear-piercing. "Quickly! Within!"

But Adaron, Brage, and Gelan had whirled to see great, slimy tentacles writhing out of the black water, grasping the struggling, screaming horses, drawing them toward the foul waters. "Kraken!" cried Gelan. "Maduk!" shouted Brage

"Aruaka!" Adaron sprang forward, Bale blazing, but before he could bring the sword to bear: "Eiron!" he cried, and dropped to his knees as if stunned, his face in his hands, Bale falling from nerveless fingers, the blade ringing upon the stone. "Eiron!" Again he cried his brother's name in anguish, and a ropy tendril whipped around the stricken Elf and drew him toward the Dark Mere.

Gelan leapt forward and brought his sword down upon the great arm, but the blade did not cut. Once more Gelan hacked down to no avail.

"Adaron!" she screamed. No, no, no! It was not going to end like this. Leila rushed forward drawing Bane from her hilt and picking up Bale as well in one smooth motion as she hacked at the tentacle that curled 'round her beloved Elf, for she would give herself in trying to fight for him if that's what it took.

Bale's red light blended with Bane's blue and both cut a great gash in the Kracken's flesh where Gelan's sword had been turned back. Adaron was flung aside unconscious as the wounded tentacle was jerked back into the black waters. The screaming horses, too, were savagely wrenched under the ebon surface, and other arms boiled forth to rage and whip and grasp at the four. Brage leapt forward to pull stunned Adaron back. "The packs!" he cried while he hauled the Elf through the Dusk-Door.

Seeing that Brage hauled Adaron to safety, Leila gathered up what was left of the packs, slicing any arm that came too close to her before she too hurried through the Dusk-Door. "Quickly Brage, close it off before that wicked thing comes in after us!"

"I cannot use the words in here! The chain! The chain!" cried Brage, leaping to a great iron chain dangling down from the darkness above. "The gates will be rent from their hinges!"

Gelan raced to the chain, and he and Brage hauled upon teh great iron links trying to close the Dusk-Door, but the strength of the raging Kraken opposed them and was too much to over come. And writhing tentacles whipped and groped within the portal to seek them out.

Into this nest of snakes Brage leapt and slapped his hand against one of the great hinges and cried, "Gaard!" leaping back to avoid the Monsters clutch. And slowly, the shuddering doors began to grind shut, responding to the Wizard word, and all the while, the creature hammered at the gates and struggled to rend them open, yet still they slowly groaned toward one another. And as the protesting gates swung to, Brage's sight though the portal was of the creature wrenching at one of the great columns of the edifice, grinding it away from its base. And then the gates swung to and Brage saw no more.

The Kraken loosed the Door just as it closed--Boom!--and the four were shut in the pitch blackness of the dark Drimmen-deeve.

And now that they were away from the creature that had taken their horses she went immediately to Adaron's side, knowing just where he had fallen. His upper body was carefully lifted into her lap, her arm cradling his head. Her words when spoken were so soft, so completely filled with sorrow for she feared that he was gravely injured. "Wake up now, a'maelamin. (My beloved) Can you hear me?" Lightly did her other hand go to rest upon his jaw.

My pack," Brage panted, and he could be heard fumbling in the darkness. "Where is my pack? The lantern. We need light." He was now muttering.

Gelan took out flint and steed from his jerkin and struck a spark, in a flash he saw the other three, frozen by the brief glint. Leila cradling Adaron, Brage looking to the left.

"Again." Said the Dwarf.

Once more Gelan struck steel to flint, and again and again. Each time the spark showed a different frozen scene as Brage made for his knapsack.

Leila shifted then and drew him closer. His hair was still wet from his aquatic adventure, and his skin felt cold whether or not he could feel it. Her head bowed and a hot pin-prick tear would fall from her eyes to his cheek, so scared she was now that he would not wake at all. "You can not do this," she whispered harshly. "You have come too far. Please...you must wake up."

Gently did the Elf stir as the tear splashed onto his cheek. His head slowly turning to the side, towards her. But it would only be felt, for they still the blackness enveloped them. In the dark Leila would feel soft finger tips glide along the path of the tear from high on her cheek to her jaw. And then the weight she held would be lifted from her arms.

Then finally Brage had found his lantern and the soft blue-green phosphorescent glow bathed the four as the lantern was unshuttered.

Adaron was now sitting up on his own, his features white and drawn as if he were in pain or grief. But then a loud crashing rumble sounded through the Door.

Leila looked at him, concern upon her face quite visible, though her attention was drawn at the sound. "Does that beast still try to get within the door?" she demanded of Brage.

"The edifice," answered the Dwarf to the Gypsy's question. "The Maduk in its fury has torn down the columns. It has collapsed. Boom! Boom! Boom! A thunderous whelming sounded.

Stoic was the Elf's voice when it came. "The Helarms hurls stone at the Door in rage now, for you have thwarted him, cheated him of his victims."

Gelan's features were grim as he glanced to the Dwarf. "Brage, can you try to open the doors again?"

"Why would he want to open the doors again with the beast right outside?" curiously, moving so that she rested upon her knees, her hands pressed lightly upon the tops of her legs.

Brage nodded his head quickly in agreement to Leila's questioning. "Aye, King Gelan, but why? There is a mad Monster waiting to crush us on the other side." Brage was dumbfounded by Gelan's request. Boom! Boom! Boom!

Gelan emitted the softest of sighs, for indeed it seemed foolhardy. "Because we may be trapped, Brage, Leila. And Drego's Dread dwells in our prison.

Brage’s face blanched, and grimly he went to the Door. Boom! Boom! Once more he put his hand to one of the strange, massive hinges and muttered words, then after a moment he cried, "Gaard!" But nothing seemed to happen, though Brage held his hand to the portal and said, "It trembles, but whether from trying to open or from the fearful pounding, I cannot say. The hinges now may be broken or the Door may be blocked, but it opens not." Boom! boom! Once more Brage placed his hand upon the hinge. "Gaard!" he barked, revoking the command to open. "Did I now say, 'I do not like this plan'? And now we are trapped. We cannot get out." Brage's voice was bitter.

Leila took a deep breath and hung her head, shaking it softly as the breath was released. "If it will not open, then we have no choice but to walk these halls 'til we reach the Dawn-Gate," in a solemn tone...

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