Trinity

---

As they continued down the tunnel, there was a sudden vibration underneath the Val's steps, making her pause for a moment. Then right after the entire structure shook violently. Keyra's fingers wrapped around the hilt of her weapon tightly as her wings snapped open wide, but not fully as she couldn't stretch them like normal. She balanced herself even further by dropping her body into a slight crouch.

"Just a little tremor, they happen all the time down here so there is nothing to worry about." The captain of the soldiers called out, to which she frowned.

Keyra kept her thoughts to herself this time though as they continued onwards. Her hand never left her weapon though as they walked down the tunnel. It was getting cooler, and the air was growing somewhat damp as well. More than a few times the Val had stepped through small puddles on the rocky floor. The entire group came around a bend in the tunnel soon after. Once there, they were met with a couple of soldiers inspecting the area.

Something was off...

"What is wrong with this picture?" Dravon asked, voicing Keyra's thoughts completely. The Val drew up next to him, her gaze flicking about the area as the soldiers shuffled through the mining equipment that had lay on the floor. Looking up, her eyes narrowed a bit as she gazed down into the pitch black of the rest of the tunnel.

"No.." the captain replied, his voice a bit heavier. He walked over to the area and picked up a mining axe. His men that surrounded them had drawn some of their weapons, confirming Keyra's original thoughts that something was definitely amiss here. Her hand drew her sword out a bit, unlocking it from the large sheath on her lower back.

"There were six men here clearing the hole for us.. We left them right before coming to meet you." The captain continued as he knelt there.

“I believe you now have twenty nine men missing.” Enuren commented as she came up next to them, her eyes also looking down into the tunnel after appraising the equipment that lay scattered around the tunnel. Keyra flicked her gaze over to the woman and gave a slight nod in agreement.

Well this answers my earlier question... Keyra thought as she took in the scene. She was beginning to have a bad feeling about their being down in the tunnels. Her earlier statement about what it was that lurked in the tunnels came back to her. This was definitely not the work of the natural creatures that lived underground. It didn't feel right...

"Well we didn't see them on the way in, so there is only one place they could have gone." Dravon said as he gestured down the tunnel to where Keyra had been looking. Glancing over his shoulder to the rest of the group, his hand fell upon his weapon.

"I doubt they went willingly," Keyra added softly.

"I think this is about to get interesting." the taller man commented lightly.

Keyra shifted so that she could glance up towards him briefly from the corner of her eye. Her wings fluttered as she shifted. In one smooth motion she drew her enormous weapon from it's sheath, the steel ringing clearly in the tunnel and stepped forward.

"I'll lead," she said and didn't wait to be told otherwise. With a slight pump of her wings, Keyra moved ahead of them a bit into the darkness, but not so far that the light of the Ash Fiend's magic didn't reach her. Once at the edge of the light, she slowed herself and started walking silently down the tunnel. Keyra kept her eyes on the ground before her, searching through the dark dirt beneath her feet, she tried to find anything that would tell her of what happened to those men.

Keyra halted in her steps, having gone down a good portion of the tunnel. She knelt, her sword held outwards to counterbalance herself. Gloved fingers reached forth and lightly touched the ground where she could just barely make out a strange print in the minimal dust. Mostly it was solid rock beneath them and little bits of dirt. Her lips pulled into a frown. The tremor before could have also been part of the cause to not having much to go off of.

Still... the oddly shaped print in the dirt definitely wasn't anyone's boot. Too large to be rats of any kind, fairly wide and seemingly short in length. There was also a small impression in the dirt at the back of the print, almost like a nail or claw of sorts that would make that sort of imprint. It was all she could make out though, there wasn't enough sand or dirt to give her anything else. Clicking her tongue a bit in annoyance she stood up slowly and gazed into the darkness ahead of them. Stepping over the print she'd found she continued on.

Her sword pointed to the print as she went, her voice softly carrying back to the others, "Found something. There's not enough dirt down here to figure out what would make that kind of print. The tremor earlier may have shifted the dirt as well, obscuring it," she added as she continued down the tunnel slowly. Keyra continued to search the floor for anything more substantial though she doubted she would find it. At this point though, she was beginning to feel as if danger was lurking ever closer and thus her gaze kept flicking around in the darkness before her as she moved forward. Her fingers curled tighter around her weapon as she slowly lifted it up to take it into both hands, still edging further into the tunnel.

Elruin looked around calmly when the walls shook inspecting them for any sign the roof would come down it but really didn’t matter, he didn’t have a clue what would happen if the caverns collapsed. The small quake wasn’t a danger if the captain knew anything about the caves but it was almost like the cave was determined to annoy him because his robes greedily sucked up any water it touched. The part of his slightly impractical garment that was the closest to the ground quickly turned into a darker shade of blue but was something like that really worth a spell? While he was pondering if he would conserve his energy or spend it on something purely cosmetic just to feed his ego they arrived in a room where some soldiers were looking into a hole in the wall.

The news this unknown beast had claimed additional victims concerned him slightly but he didn’t think highly of these soldiers if they faced something more formidable than a large dog they would probably turn and run. The fact they had left their gear behind and nothing indicating some kind of struggle worried Elruin because it meant they didn’t even had the chance to fight their enemy, maybe something magical had stolen their minds? He quickly started a long and very difficult spell to protect his mind from any invasions adding a smaller one to protect everyone else. He calmly told Sevral when he passed the man following Keyra “I just cast a spell to protect our minds if I drop died you have a minute before it ends.” Why did he only tell Sevral? Because he honestly didn’t care for his companions his own protection spell would kill him if it failed and theirs would expire after a minute without his presence but that didn’t mean he had to give a damn about them after he had died.

Sevral walked quietly with the rest of the group, stoically investigating everything around him. His mind wandered aimlessly over the rough tunnel walls, and he listened idly to the rhythmic steps of those around him, mingled with the rustling of clothing or jostling armor and weapons, every now and again turning from a soft pad to wet slosh as one would step in a puddle. The man's eyes traced the marks of the tools of the tunnel builders as they proceeded forward, admiring the precision and strange designs they seemed to inadvertently engraved into the stone. Sevral stopped only because the rest of the group had taken a moments pause, and the man raised a curious brow as the cave belched, then the man looked to their Captain as he gave reassurance to their group that this was a natural occurrence. Sevral nodded acquiescence and remained within his realm of observation.

A frown creased the man's face as their group had rounded a corner and came upon an interesting peculiarity. Sevral need not say anything, for everyone else had beat him to it. Indeed, the men were missing. Gone without trace except for their tools with the only viable option being to proceed into the ominous looking hole. How cliche, Sevral thought. Out sword, and onward stride, forth into the abyss! Aye, verily we go! The man huffed at himself as he inspected the soldiers around the group, several of whom had drawn or readied their weapons. Sevral himself glanced to his swords and placed his hand on the hilt of one, thinking to himself whilst the others conversed lightly. There was no doubt as to the next course of action, and so the man followed easily as the party began its next endeavor.

“I just cast a spell to protect our minds if I drop died you have a minute before it ends.”

Sevral stopped momentarily, for the first time caught off guard. The man turned with a curious eyebrow towards the Ashfiend. What was that which was just displayed to him? No, perhaps it was nothing terribly noticeable at first. The words seemed to hold no true sentiment in their sounding, but the fact that they had sounded to begin with. Sevral inspected Elruin carefully. Sevral took heed of the warning, and then decided to file the rest away for later. He wouldn't bother himself with it yet. It was time to be quiet and alert, not mentally subdued and distracted.

"Noted," Sevral spoke back quietly as he walked behind the man.

After a short time in Keyra seemed to have located something. Sevral halted and waited patiently, watching the Vall as she worked to inspect it. When she stood and finally continued moving, Sevral stopped himself to peer at the print as well. Oddly enough he had no speculations. He wasn't working through any meanings or searching as he normally did. His mind was silent and alert, focusing on physical presences and immediate purpose. The man continued without a word with the rest of the group, his hands hanging readily at his sides. The man's eyes searched beyond Keyra who had taken point, though he was but a mere human. He couldn't see anything.

As the group follows one another down the dark passage, soon the light of the lamps and torches become unnecessary. A bright glow can be seen issuing from the other end of the tunnel as the its stretch ends in another neatly round exit. Moving slowly and with great caution the guards ready themselves and Dravon now pulls his own sword as the group breaches the entrance. What lays before them was not expected to be seen however, it was a large and widely untouched room built of stone with pillars supporting its inner structure. There was a scooped divot in the wall that lead all along its length on both sides and it was from this that a strong flame burned, casting a constant amber light.

Dravon took a step only for his foot to hit something, looking down it was revealed to be a small section of leather padding. A piece that was taken off a section of armor or clothing. Everyone could see that it was not just one piece but a vast array of discarded objects and they made a trail upwards toward the center of the room. As their eyes followed a figure could be seen laying amongst the rubble and several small dark silhouettes moved about its surface.

When the group closed its distance it was easy to see now what was going on.
The figure was a man laying on the floor of the room and his body was being stripped of its protective gear. The dirt and filth caking his face and hands easily revealed him to be a member of the dig team, but life was not present in his features. His skin was pale and his eyes were wide from the last moments of his life as his face sat turned to the side and looking to them, as if asking for help even after the fact.

A lite scuttling noise could be heard from the creatures on him however, each was no bigger then the size of a large house cat and they moved with quick jutting motions. The Captain of the guardsman wiped some sweat from his face and knelt for a somewhat closer look. "Its a small collection of Krawl..why would they be stripping him of his clothing?"
One of the other guardsmen pulls up his rifle and takes aim but Dravon places his hand on the barrel and sways his head at the decision. There are only three of them at the moment and they have yet to even begin to notice the group since their arrival.

The little insect like creatures have dark nearly onyx color shells and a somewhat bulbous body, perpetually hunched over in a leaning figure. Each works with its small claws and mandibles to pull away sections of fabric, pulling off small sections of the mans protective clothing leaving only his underclothes. Only when they approach too close do the Krawl take notice and give some form of stance. Holding up their small pincer like claws and taking a broad stance like a crab on the shore, before running scared as they close into the last four feet. They flee out through a door at the opposite end of the room with their chitin covered legs snapping sounds against the stonework.

Dravon takes a knee at the mans side while the Captain sends his men ahead to secure what ground they can, just in case the Krawl return in force. Looking the man over for a few moments, Dravon reaches down to shut the eyes of the departed and begins to thumb through what belongings he still has. "His body has nearly been picked clean." He looks at the mans linen shirt and pulls at it with his fingers revealing a five inch long slit in his chest.
"Well.. whatever killed him could not have been the Krawl. A weapon was used.. and it cauterized the wound as well." With care he rolled the man over to reveal an equal would on his back, but this one had some small sign of blood and a lightly singed section of cloth around it. "I would say a sword, with a broad blade and a long reach.."

"He was killed right here as well."

He noticed as he ran a finger along a matching impression in the floor of the room.

Steps came back from the doorway as two of the guards returned with heavy looks on their faces. "Sir.. your going to want to see this." One said with a deep draw of his voice and the two ran back through the door.

---

Keyra came into the room with the group following right behind her. Her gaze swept the area quickly noting that they were the only ones to enter, aside from the departed laying on the floor. She narrowed her golden eyes at the insects that crawled along the man's body. It was the only body to have been located since entering the tunnels. Keyra adjusted her blade as she moved into the room. Dravon went to kneel next to the man's body, searching what little was left.

"His body has nearly been picked clean."

Keyra glanced over to him briefly. Why would those little creatures be taking his armor... I don't understand... she thought to herself as she slowly moved around the perimeter of the room. Unless they were being controlled by some other source, but even that sounded rather incomprehensible.

"Well.. whatever killed him could not have been the Krawl. A weapon was used.. and it cauterized the wound as well."

This caught Keyra's attention once more and she turned to move over to where Dravon was kneeling. She peered down at the man's back where their leader had pulled the cloth back. The deep cut was indeed burned, no blood having left the wound. The Val frowned as she eyed the wound. Letting the tip of her blade fall forward, the weapon clanged into the rock where she leaned lightly onto it, deep in thought.

"I would say a sword, with a broad blade and a long reach.. He was killed right here as well."

"The print from earlier would suggest a rather tall being," she offered softly as she was standing right behind Dravons' kneeling form, "Whatever it is could be nearby still. We've yet to find the other missing men."

Footsteps sounded through the tunnel and Keyra yanked up her weapon again, settling into a slight defensive position, unsure if they were about to face their foe just yet or not. When it was only a pair of guards, and they did not seem to have been chased, she settled a bit.

"Sir.. your going to want to see this."

They both retreated back down the tunnel they'd come from without waiting for an answer from any of them. Keyra glanced down to Dravon, waiting for his order all though her instincts were driving her to follow those men so she could find out more about the situation.

Everyone could stare at a corpse for as long as they wanted, Elruin focused on the structural features of the room because he knew he wouldn't be able to add anything of interest to their investigation. The room was well made and looked like it had to be the work of something intelligent resisting the pressure that the earth applied to it. The flame grabbed his attention because it meant that who ever had built the structure had recently visited. Maybe the room served as a sacrificial altar? It would be nice if this mission was just some weird cult he had some experience with lunatics the memory of burning their churches summoned a small smile. Keyra remembered him that the thing they would face could not be human when she mentioned the prints “Well it has to be intelligent or controlled by something intelligent.” He said it while he held his hand inside the flames untouched by the flames but fascinated by the growing sense of pain the heat caused inside his hands. He didn't like the pain but it was always to be remembered how pain feels. The arrival of the two guards sent out earlier pulled his attention from the flames annoyed with their incomplete explanation he crossed his arms but he didn't say a word.

The whole scene was morbid to come across. Her eyes raked over the body, the discarded armour, the prints that Keyra pointed out, the creatures that moved. A slender hand reached to her shoulder and pulled the lean bow from its place.

Enuren turned when the other men returned. She did not like the tone of their statement. Another body or perhaps worse.
Looking about the cave she did not see anything that would mark the being that they might be dealing with. She was familiar with mountain or high cave dwelling things not those that made their home this far down in the into the earth. Enuren looked to Dravon, Keyra, Elruin and Sevral for some clue as to who or what they might be facing.

She heard tall, sword that cauterized the wound and it brought her no clear answers. From the look on the others face it was clear that they too were not sure what was lurking in dark and dirt.
Readying her bow she wait for Dravon to take the lead.

As the group was being lead down the tunnel, it became clear that the walkway was much less a burrowed tunnel and more a carved stone stair case that lead further down. It was leading them to a vast opening that gleamed with a equally large ambient light from somewhere above and as they exited the opening the whole spectacle was in front of them.

What sat before them was a massive chasm with them suspended upon a large bridge overlooking a pit so deep that it reached to a void that almost appeared to devour what light came its way. The moisture of the air and the sounds of the cracking stone all around could not distract form what sat at the end of the bridge several meters away.

A large stone structure sat perched upon the upper cliff face inside the cave with the bridge itself splitting near the end and entering through multiple doors on its far end. The ambient light can be seen coming from the roof of the large opening as it seems to be a large cloud of fire clinging up in the air basking the whole of the chasm in a warm inviting glow.

Many of the soldiers kept their wits about them as they began to move slowly along the edges of the bridge and keep their weapons drawn. The area was completely devoid of life as far as the eye could see and it was impossible for them to think that no one could be around.

Dravon looked out towards the large stone structure and took in its vast frame.
He had been to many places in all the known worlds but never had he seen stonework like this and in such a place it was a wonder how it had survived down here untouched. But as if by signal to that thought a small trimmer struck again and in that respect a small section of the stone work from the obelisk like building cracked, shunting itself away from the main section. "I guess standing the test of time was out of the question here.." He looked up at the top of the structure and around its frame as he studied it for a short while.

"Keyra do you think you can fly up and get a better look?" He turned to look at her as he continued.
"I think we should know if the bridge is secure enough.. before.. we.." It was then he stopped and kept his eyes fixed for a few moments as if his eyes could chase away what he was staring at. He reached out and took the young woman's shoulder moving her towards him and backing away with her. "No one make a sound.." His eyes stayed transfixed as he slowly backed away with her in hand lightly turning her as they walked.

The guardsmen reacted as well, drawing up their weapons preparing for the worst to happen.

Just above the doorway that they had used was the wall of the chasm and instead of it being pitch in color like the rest of the stone around, it appeared as though it were alive. In reality the wall was covered with a great majority of Krawl as they all seemed to be basking in the afterglow of the strange flame as well. Each one sat inverted on the wall with claws held out as if they were reaching for the distant glow in some way.

Only a few took notice of the group in general but still stayed on the wall and even less turned their attention from the glowing warmth that was enthralling the other Krawl. They would make small clattering noises as they kept a now close watch on the group and Dravon was quick to recant one of the guards as he pulled his rifle up towards the small beast. The Captain on the other hand was fast leading his men towards the other end of the bridge as Dravon's group lay closer towards the middle.

Leaving the guard he made his way back to the others "I think its time we move along and hopefully we can keep from attracting their attentions." But before his mind could issue another thought a deafening crack poured through the chasm and everyone was forced to turn. Seeing the nervous guardsman, literally standing there with the smoking gun.

The air filled with a tense sensation as everyone's eyes could see the entire stretch of the rock face looking back at them. Like a sea of black opals sitting on a sheet of dark grey paper. Not a single sound made its statement then, no clattering, no snapping of claw. The creatures just stared back down at them in silence.
The tension was so thick now that one could taste it floating in the air as Dravon took the initiative.

"Run!!"

As everyone started off the mass of Krawl poured off the wall like a water fall and slammed into the bridge, coursing down it like a fixed waterway. Their legs and shells scraping against the rest of the stonework as the large wave forced itself down the isle.

Several Guardsman turned from time to time so to fire behind them, but as the round struck its target killing it the creature. Another would simply takes its place in the greater movement, the dead ones carcase either devoured or destroyed by the moving mass.

---

Keyra followed closely behind Dravon as they went back through the door the other soldiers had gone through, her sword sheathed as they'd left the other room. It soon turned into stairs that descended a ways down and once they were at the bottom it opened up into an unimaginable sight. Even the Val took a sharp breath as she came to a halt right next to their captain. The stone structure before them was quite the sight to see, enormous and looking to be well built as well as exquisite in detail.

Certainly well built to still be standing underground as it is, Keyra thought to herself as she moved slightly ahead of their group to eye the large bridge that led to the building at the end of it. As she thought, there was a deep rumble and the rocks shifted ever so slightly. The tremor ran it's way through the entirety of the tunnels and caverns before settling once again. Keyra had froze when the tremor hit, her gaze flicked around the area as she half expected the large bridge to suddenly drop into the darkness below. The bridge was suspended over a deep chasm that even had her own flesh chilling at the thought of having to walk over it. The Val's wings fluttered a bit as she eyed either side of the bridge, trying to determine if time had worn away at the stone work. It was difficult to tell from her vantage point, though.

It would have seemed that Dravon was thinking the same thing as he came up beside her and spoke, "Keyra do you think you can fly up and get a better look?"

She lifted an eyebrow as she regarded him. It was impossible for her to fly up and see anything. However, should she have the proper help, she could be propelled upwards and glide down slowly. That would effectively give her enough time to scour the bridge and give them a detailed account of the surface and if it was safe to traverse across. Of course, it would all depend on how high she could get and whom in their party could get her to that point. At first she thought of the ash fiend and his magic. Though she shoved it aside almost immediately. She didn't trust him quite that much to have him tossing her up into the air with his power. Even so, as Dravon continued and turned to her fully, his voice faltered partway through.

"I think we should know if the bridge is secure enough.. before.. we.."

He reached out and gripped her shoulders firmly but gently. Pulling her forward, the Val was startled at the sudden touch and direction. His gaze was hovered over her head though and he slowly backed away onto the start of the bridge. Her heart rate increased a bit as they stepped onto unknown territory. Every sense was highly pricked as she moved with him. Turning her head, she was able to witness what had put him on edge as he breathed out to everyone, telling them not to make a sound. Keyra obliged to his guidance, allowing him to turn her to see the horde that lay upon the wall. Her gaze narrowed as her wings dropped a bit, opening up more fully than before.

His hand left her shoulder as he retreated back to tell one of the soldiers not to fire his rifle. Tossing a quick glance over her shoulder to the man, she frowned at him. Was he trying to get them all killed? Dravon returned to them, his voice soft as he spoke, "I think its time we move along and hopefully we can keep from attracting their attentions."

The Val nodded slightly and slowly started to take a step backwards, her gaze trained on the few Krawl that had taken notice of their arrival. So far it seemed that they were much too enthralled with the strange fire light that emitted from the building at the other end of the chasm to be bothered by the group that had encroached on their territory. However, her hopes of all of them getting away without a problem were dashed as a nervous soldier fired off his rifle. The loud sound pierced the air, seemingly ripping their already fragile safety zone to shreds.

Keyra ground her teeth, hissing outwards in anger. Reaching back, she freed her weapon, her wings extending outwards and pumping slightly to lessen the weight of her body on her feet. Although she was prepared for battle, Dravon had other ideas as he shouted for them to run. Their group turned then at his order and shot off across the bridge, a torrential wave of onyx colored bugs scrambling after them.

As they ran, Elruin turned and unleashed his fire upon the critters, tossing a good many of them backwards in the air and burning most of them to a crisp. Even with his powerful attack, the wave seemed to have no end to it. Keyra dropped back a bit as they ran, her body having built up enough momentum for what she was going to do. Dropping down into a very low crouch, her wings spread outwards and she spun back around with her blade leveled against the stonework. Sparks flew from her swords edge as she cut across the stone quickly in a full circle. The weapon in turn tossed another good bunch of the Krawl into the chasm. With the added distance and somewhat lessened numbers, Keyra quickly stood up again.

Turning, she dashed off after her companions, her wings giving three full pumps to give her more speed. It almost looked like she'd flown across the bridge to reach them. She slowed herself as she got near them, turning her wings backwards to catch the air that she'd accumulated. Glancing over her shoulder to see if her attempt had brought them any more time, she grit her teeth yet again. The was literally no end to the damned things. On a brighter note, though, the group was fast approaching the end of the bridge. However, her next worry was built on the fact that there were different entrances into the structure beyond and she was more than certain the Krawl would be following after them without fail.

"Can you create a barrier on one of those openings, ash fiend?" she called out, her mind beginning to process a partial plan to get them out of the irritatingly tight situation they were in.

Enuren was alert, bow drawn and arrow at the ready. She took note of the noises around her, mostly the sound of feet and breathing from those she traveled with. The path took them lower still and before them a vast pit opened up.

A bridge spanned it though Enuren wasn’t entirely sure it would be secure enough to hold them all as they crossed.

There was conversation about Keyra flying to look at the bridge ahead but it was derailed as everyone looked to where Dravon now stared.

Enuren turned and was glad she did not need to breathe. She might have gasped in surprise at what looked back at them. She took a step backwards and slowly raised her bow, waiting for the signal to fire.

Everyone was at the ready, the tension was thick in the air. The shot went off. Enuren narrowed her eyes. Stupid, stupid man...

At the call to run Enuren did just that. The creatures came down the wall at them and without hesitation Enuren let an arrow fly. She ran only turning to fire arrow after arrow, aiming for the front creatures in an effort to slow down the rest.

By her fifth arrow it became clear that they were not slowing down and Enuren opted to simply run. Bow over her shoulder she ran. Behind her, Elruin let loose a blast of fire.

Near the end of the bridge Enuren jumped up on the rope and ran the last of its length until she could hop down on the rocky edge. She set her eyes on the coming wave, while drawing her bow once more. Her aim this time was for those that broke ahead even slightly. She wanted to give the others time to finish the journey until they could gain the advantage.

She heard Keyra call to the ash fiend asking about a barrier. Now is where we find out what we are all capable of.

Arrow flew and hit home. A krall fell, arrow in centre of its head. It had pushed ahead of the others by mere inches but that was all she needed. Another took its place at the ready on her bow.

"What is the plan?"

As the large ball of shell and claw crashed against the bridge, only one thing could be heard then.
A sound of cracking thunder ruptured through the chasm as its sound coalesced back and forth against the high rocky walls.

The group did very little to look behind them, frankly because the bridge was now splintering into vastly split sections forcing feet to worry where they tread. Dravon could see as the middle of the walk way was now falling apart, forcing the group to split almost evenly as they ran. He was forced to coax his group to one side running along the right of the bridge as the guard caption was forced to do the opposite with his men.

The center gate was now lost to the group as the bridge continued to fall away under their feet. It only left behind a few scant pieces of itself leaving a vastly strange honeycomb formation that only slightly resembled a bridge. The door that his group approach was large, compromised of dark metal clamps and what looked to be fossilized wood that betrayed its own age.

A swift kick forced the door to swing lightly as Dravon's and Sevral's bodies piled in against it with Keyra following behind shortly.

As the group passed through the section of the bridge they left snapped away from the main body, even taking some of the doors frame along with it. With the realization that the ordeal was over Dravon took a long sigh and breathed deep. He sat himself flat on the cold stone floor and leaned forward slightly.

"Next time we see that guardsman.. remind me to hit him.." He licked a dry word from the edge of his lips as he finished. Standing to get back to his own mission. He took in his surroundings inside this strange structure for a few moments and attempted to gain his bearings.

The room was large and its stonework was the same as the columned hallway from before.
Its stone was dark and cool to the touch with hints of small streaks of grey in the mortar used to bind them. All along the walls of the room were large stone objects that looked to be ornate boxes. Some in their condition were broken and scattered with what seem to be white sand having poured from them. The center of the room opposite the now broken door was a stair case leading up and into another section of the structure.

The gigantic ball of energy came crashing down upon the bridge and Keyra's throat clenched tightly. That wasn't really what she had asked for, but she supposed it was far better than the alternative. The only problem then was that the bridge they'd just traversed was -as far as she knew- their only way back up to the surface.

Foregoing that problem for the moment, she focused all her energy on getting to safety before she too found herself falling down into the darkness with nothing to stop her. It was a cold death down there, one that she didn't wish to meet so soon. She watched as Dravon swung around, launching his leg into a sharp kick at the door, and falling inside with Sevral right next to him. They all piled into that room, and she was the last to follow.

The Val woman just barely made it to the doorway as the rest of the bridge crumbled away. Her wings pumped hard to keep her balance as she could feel the stone right beneath her hill chip away. Her hand snatched the frame of the doorway and hauled herself inside to safety. Turning around, her heart pounding heavily and her golden hawk like eyes nearly engulfed entirely by the black of her pupils, she eyed the perilous drop that was mere inches from her. She shook once, her wings snapping open and then coming back to fold against her shoulders tightly.

Reaching back, she gently tapped the hilt of her giant sword as her body began to calm from the moment of danger. Dravon sat upon the floor with a heavy sigh. Looking up, his gaze swept them all as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Next time we see that guardsman.. remind me to hit him.." he said and to this Keyra smirked.

“I believe the Captain probably already has that covered,” Sevral commented lightly to which the Val actually emitted a short laugh.

Shaking her head a bit, she crossed her arms over her chest as she took in the room that they'd entered. It looked to be like some sort of storage room. However, it's contents were very neglected and much of it seemed to have withered away to dust, no longer what it once was. She watched as Sevral moved to a broken box of dust and reached down to touch it. As he examined it, she examined him. He was very particular about how he moved and looked at things. Keyra wondered briefly what it was he'd concluded about the strange dust as he pulled out a vial and took some of it.

It wasn't until he went to the staircase that she noticed it as well. Curious, she moved over to it as he tested the steps and then pulled away.

“Well. That was fun.” he said, his voice rather calm.

Keyra glanced over to him, an eyebrow arching, "Fun?" she repeated. Her head fell forward as she laughed again. Reaching out, she braced herself on the wall and leaned forward to look up the stair case, "You've an interesting definition of fun, Sevral," she said to him softly, a grin still on her lips. Despite it though, she had to admit, it had been rather exhilarating just a moment before. It had been a while since her heart pounded so hard.

“Wasn’t any great hulking beast, but it was certainly unexpected. What now, Captain?”

Turning around, Keyra glanced over to their leader who was still seated upon the floor. She hadn't seen anything but more stairs leading upwards. Also... seeing as it was their only way up...

"Since our only route out of here has been destroyed," she glanced over to Elruin, but had to admit that it had probably been the right decision at the time, "Up is the only course of action."

The bridge gave way and Enuren lowered her bow, watching the rope and wood collapse. The creatures fell away in the blackness.

Her eyes followed the descent. That takes care of them but that was our way across.... She only opened there was other options along the way, though she worried what that might mean.

We have only just started and it is already more treacherous than expected.

Turning, she looked to their leader. Predictably she was not the only one looking for guidance. Keyra mentioned heading upwards and Enuren was not opposed to the idea. They were deep into the earth and this made her a bit uncomfortable. She longed for the feel of the wind on her face.

The others, Sevral and Elruin were doing their own thing, waiting for the next step. Enuren adjusted her bow over her shoulder and moved quietly forward. She was calm, alert and ready to move on. Her eyes looked to the stairs. It was the only way to go and that fact was not entirely comforting. The passage meant a streamlined approach as they climbed. It also meant limited visibility as they moved upwards. They would not be able to see what awaited them at the top until they got there.

Enuren approached the stairs. "I agree, up seems to be our only option though I appreciate not having those things following us." She looked to Elruin. "I thank you for your quick thinking. I do not know what else we could have done to stop them"

Dravon held his place on the floor looking up at the stairs.

"I still think something is off here, of all the years I've traveled through Creeds I never heard of such a thing happening."

He was in fact speaking about how the krawl almost unanimously rallied against them in complete organization and as he took his feet he dusted off his pants. The room was growing more quiet and strange as they stayed put so he was looking to continue their journey and see this whole thing through to the end.

"We should keep moving." He said as an agreement with the others of the group. However before he spoke one more word a large thud came from the top of the stairs and in response he spun in place to draw his blade, pointing its tip directly up the ascending steps. Another thud followed that one and soon another, as if the sound of heavy and labored foot steps were issuing down towards them. "Ready yourselves..." He said sternly as he pulled back on the heel of his foot.

The state of the room overtook them.

No sound aside from the heavy steps that moved slowly down towards them, only to be broken by a long breath once in a while. Then what was coming came to light in the rooms dim flames.

The group could clearly see that it was one of the missing miners, but that was the furthest from that realization that one could make. Though he had been stripped like the other before and only his underclothes remained leaving not a scrap of armor. What was now apparent was that something vastly horrid was happening to him.

His skin and body were warped by some malign intrusion into his body, causing his skin to pale and darken. Along with small protrusions to force from sections as well. It was an inky black slime that protruded from him and disfigured his form, causing his left arm to draw up like a malformed limb and the other was overgrown as it was black oozing webs and spines. His face was partially effected as well with one eye shut from the swelling of its frame and the other a bulbous yellow glow that sat on a black pit. All of this came from a easily discernible source as the slime oozed from a slit in his chest, much like the wound on the corpse before.

He waddled down the stairs slowly as his heavy body followed along and it was because that only one side of his body seemed to work correctly. Whatever was in him now did not seem to agree with its new home and as he spotted them his posture changed. Hurrying down the stairs to reach them and pulling back his massive arm to swing. With one long motion it made an attempt to attack and Dravon only had to step back two feet for him to miss, this caused him to fall off the stairs and land where Dravon once was.

Dravon looked on as the creature laid there for a moment. "What a wretched creature.."
It began to raise itself slowly being held down by its own increased mass, but eventually it got back to its feet and even then it seemed that it was taking time to register what had just happened. Dravon thrust forward with his sword planting the blade deep in its chest, but it swung once again in an attempt to hit him cause Dravon to release his blade as he ducked.

Once again the creature fell, backwards this time on the stairs and again laid there for the moment.

"I must say I am quite speechless now." He said as they all stood there with his blade completely piercing it through to the other side, this did not seem to bother it in the least.

The heavy sound of a footstep above her caused Keyra to turn sharply, her golden eyes narrowing as the pupil enlarged to enhance her vision. She slowly took a step back to join with Dravon who had gotten to his feet after speaking. He felt that something was seriously amiss about their situation and the Val had to agree. With the sounds of something coming down the stairwell, she was sure they were going to find out exactly just how wrong the entire quest was.

Her breath sucked in sharply as she laid eyes upon the monstrosity that came their way. Slowly it ambled, the man's body clearly not what it once was. It was no longer human in any sense of the word. The skin was turning a pitch black color, oozing and webbing all cross the flesh. The wound in its upper body seemed to pulse with the infection, stemming it outwards throughout its hosts' body. Keyra gripped her weapon tightly as freed it from it's sheath quickly.

The moment the thing spotted them, it clambered down the rest of the steps in a hurry and made to swing at Dravon. Keyra stepped backwards as well as it's large deformed arm came almost full circle. The attack threw it off balance and their leader easily avoided the messy attack. Keyra watched it carefully, noting that it was definitely mindless and off balanced. Slowly it got back up and turned to face Dravon once again who promptly shoved his blade through it's chest, once again knocking it off its feet.

It lay on the stairs on its back and for a moment Keyra thought that the ordeal was over. However, she was very wrong as the creature then moved and started back up again. This time, the Val took a turn. Hefting up her blade, her wings spread, lightening her weight. Taking a few steps back, she then propelled herself forward with a single pump of her wings. Pivoting on her foot, she allowed the blade's heavy weight to increase the force of the hit she was about to deal. She came full circle, tilting her wings to help with the movement. Her weapon slammed into the monsters abdomen, going fairly deep in the squishy tissue.

The thing hadn't a chance to recover from Dravon's hit once it was on it's feet and so she was not hindered in the attack. Knocking it backwards once again, she pulled back as it fell off her blade. Eyeing it carefully, Keyra wondered briefly if she'd killed it with such a wound, so deep and wide in it's stomach. Her answer came soon enough as it twitched again and began to stand once more. Keyra ground her teeth, making a sound of annoyance as she quickly stepped backwards and tried again.

This time, she lunged at the wall, leaping off of it to gain height. Her body twisted around as she came back down towards the thing. Her aim was for the grotesquely shaped arm that seemed to be the worst part of the creature. Pulling her wings in tight, she fell hard towards the thing. Her weapon, carried by weight and its razor sharp edge, cut deep into the shoulder. Had it still be human she would have severed the arm off completely. Even so, she came very close to doing so.

What stopped her from going all the way through, though, was a sudden spray of black liquid that splattered upwards at her and the ceiling overhead as she was cutting through. Immediately, her wings snapped open, halting her heavy decent and she recoiled, ripping her weapon free and stumbling backwards, sputtering in shock at the strange concoction that sprayed from the creatures arm. For a moment, her heart froze, wondering if she'd swallowed some. However she calmed immediately realizing that her mouth hadn't opened at all and none of it was on her face, though she could feel some on her neck and forearms. With a quick glance down she noted that her armor was spotted with it as well. The Val grimaced as she lifted her eyes back to the stumbling monster.

"It seems that conventional weapons are useless," she muttered. Her gaze flicked over to Elruin, "Perhaps you'd like to try your hand, ash fiend?"

Enuren said nothing as Dravon made comment of the krawl’s behaviour. It was odd even she found it so and she knew nothing of the things. Anything that would attack like that, so forcefully and with organization had to be smart and they didn’t seem such on a first glance.

She followed along taking up a position behind Keyra and Elruin. She was not as powerful as Keyra and did not have the abilities that Elruin possessed. Her strength lay in her ability with the bow and arrow, her speed and agility. She was almost hampered by the enclosed space though not in the same way the Val was.

The thud had them suddenly all on edge once more. Dravon stated to ready themselves but her bow was already in hand, arrow notched. She would not be able to let it fly with the others in the way but should whatever it was get by them it would find itself faced with her arrow.

The sight before them caused Enuren to swallow back some bile. The thing was once a miner though now it only somewhat resembled the form of what it once was. Slime oozed onto discoloured skin. Enuren didn’t shy away but the thing before her struck a chord of disgust and fear into her. The open wound on its chest, like the other body made her uneasy. Something is hunting them down and doing this to them....

She made herself ready though did not move, first letting Dravon deal with the thing. There was no sense everyone attacking at once. It was one creature and observing while there was not certain danger might prove more useful than rash action. It fell as Dravon easy sidestepped it and then plunged his sword into it as it stood from its prone position.

Enuren frowned at the thing fell backwards, unperturbed by the sword it was skewered on. “Curious....”

She stayed at the ready though gave Keyra a wide berth. Enuren watched as the Val spread her wings and then launched herself forward to attack. Her movements were almost a dance as she swung the great blade.

The thing fell from the blow only to begin to stand again. Keyra attacked again and Enuren wondered what was allowing the creature to continue. Surely there was magic involved. She had seen many things but to take sword hits as this thing had surely anything natural would have died by now.

Keyra’s blow landed deep in the thing’s shoulder. Black liquid shot from the wound. Enuren flinched as Keyra was sprayed with it. It left black splatter all over her chest and neck.

Magic to fight magic...

Enuren watched as Elruin wasted no time in taking the creature down. She lowered her bow and put it back over her shoulder, placing the arrow back in its home. Her eyes drifted to the remains and she was glad she did not breathe, thus saving her the possible smell that it might give off.

Her attention went to Keyra as Elruin stated that she might wish to clean up. Enuren removed one of the sashes at her waist and handed it to Keyra. “Here, best to clean it before it dries.”

“Have any of you seen anything like this before?” She looked about at the group.

The group watched as the mass of the creature turned into a turgid gel and along with Dragons sword most of its weight fell free.

Yet even though it still was in no means of being alive, there was still movement.
The gel was convulsing and writhing as there was at least on solid mass still left in the creatures being and it pulsed slowly forward. This revealed something to them as it did this, there was one solid form still left in its body and that was a strange yellowed organ that now urged the remaining portion on. It was like the remnants of a heart in shape and size but bulging and yellowed with the same sickening color of a glow to it.

It was largely unharmed by Elruin's attack save for a shunted gap at one of its corners and this brought a realization to Dravon as he watched on. "For whatever reason it seems this thing doesn't want to stay down."

"But..." Retrieving his sword from the stone floor he gives the small organ a quick deep jab and it shrieks as if a lobster being boiled alive. Shortly after a small bout of convulsion the gel stops moving and the glowing heart quickly dries and crumbles under its own weight, causing the rest of the mass to do the same.

"I believe we now see the seat of its power.. and the crux of its life."

The puddle now resembled a dark long dry mud hole.

He retook his sword and wiped the blade clean with the edge of his tunic.
Not long after everyone had the chance to take in their new found knowledge and breath shots sounded deeper into the temple. Dravon lifted his head to look up the stairs and there he stood, several shots rang out into echos from the stonework walls. He slides his sword back into its scabbard letting the hilt click against the rim.

"Get ready.. there are bound to be more of them further in." Cautiously but quickly he starts to run up the darkened staircase.

At Dravon's word in response to the unknown sound which had echoed from upstairs Sevral immediately fell into a ready-draw stance, his left foot circling back to place his right side forward. Quickly his left hand held firm the saya at his side, just beneath the steel mouth guard. Using his thumb he pressed against the guard of the sword itself, releasing only the blade collar from its sheath, allowing, if necessary, the rest of the weapon a smooth draw. The man gripped the hilt of his sword, waiting, his index finger tracing idly the pegs beneath the delicately braided fabric, then watched with a mixture of morbid curiosity and complete and entire disgust, the tainted abomination of a miner come hobbling down the steps. The swordsman cocked his head to one side, unsure if he were perceiving the situation correctly, his brows furrowing into a deep, apprehensive frown. Sevral's gaze drifted momentarily to his comrades, then back to the warped malformation, the creature walking with an uneven, waddling gait, one side appearing to be more capable in basic motor functions than the other.

No time was wasted in engaging this inhuman monstrosity, and Sevral watched in mild astonishment the creature's awkward slash at Dravon, the retaliation, and the lack of effect it had as the creature refuted all probability. Aside from the grotesque discoloration, heinously misshapen form, and the fact that it seemed to be leaking its own repulsive effluence, it appeared as though it maintained an irrefutable tenacity to live and continue on fighting. Sevral was enthralled entirely at the creature who, even after being thrown down twice and impaled through by Dravon's sword stood again.

"I must say I am quite speechless now."

Sevral raised an eyebrow at the statement, both because he had no proper response either, and because he, despite the situation, still found the time to locate the irony in the Captain's words. "So it would seem," the man replied under his breath, mostly apathetically and yet almost sarcastically. Luckily for Sevral, his good humor belied the initial words themselves. That and he doubted anyone heard him.

Keyra took center stage next in dancing with this abomination, and Sevral marveled at the grace and beauty of her combat style. Even restricted within this room, her wings fluttered brilliantly after her lithe form which was governed by an unrivaled elegance, flowing masterfully through each stance from start to finish, to recovery and repetition, like a poet reciting prose. Despite the exhilarating display, however, it was to no avail as her final strike merited a rather adverse conclusion. Sevral himself winced inwardly as Keyra's blade penetrated deep into the creature's dermis, only to be drawn away again as the wielder retreated under a shower of .. well, Sevral couldn't say, but he was sure it was vile.

"It seems that conventional weapons are useless," said the Vall, "Perhaps you'd like to try your hand, ash fiend?"

The man glanced over Keyra quickly, uncertain of the affects of the substance should it infect a perfectly health person, or Vall, then adjusted his gaze towards Elruin. It was near this point that Sevral had allowed himself to move back, not in cowardice, but rather because he, as Keyra just stated, realized that all weapons present, save for magic, seem to have little to no effect beyond stuttering the erratic crusade of the creature. Additionally, Sevral preferred to observe, as well as having needed to stay out of the way of Keyra's previous attacks. Looking to Enuren, the man could tell that she seemed to have the same idea as him, though he wagered also that she also saw the lack of potential with her bow within such close proximity. Perhaps the first shot would be guaranteed accurate and powerful, but there was no room otherwise for a volley.

Elruin seemed far too pleased in the fact that his abilities were of a greater caliber than the others and thus were required as the only other viable solution. Sevral watched the Ash Fiend raise his arms, mouthing some silent incantation before discharging a tremendous bolt of electricity.

“You may want to clean yourself later.”

Sevral cocked his head, bringing his chin up and frowning at the man's words, sensing the harsh scrutiny against the Vall, though he understood the suspicion and was conscious of any unnatural effects Keyra may exhibit. The man sighed as Enuren moved to aid Keyra, handing the Vall her own sash with which to clean herself.

Though it did substantially more damage, in fact reducing the creature to a mere puddle, Sevral, as he came up next to Dravon to investigate, saw that it was indeed still moving. Or at least attempting to. The now amorphous blob of gel continued to pulse and ooze, and only stopped after Dravon had managed to find the source. Sevral stared down, perplexed at the little pulsing organ, then blinked stoically as Dravon impaled it, finally ceasing the creature's restlessness with a harsh squeal.

"I believe we now see the seat of its power.. and the crux of its life."

Sevral nodded dumbly his acquiescence, still mostly speechless in regards to the now crusted remains of the creature. The man pressed in his sword, replacing it fully into the sheath before kneeling next to the mass, finally relinquishing his grip on his weapon. After a short few moments of silent head tilting, the swordsman merely stood, finding nothing of spectacular importance worth noting. With his boot he pressed on the dried heap, feeling it crumble slightly. Sevral was still frowning thoughtfully, curious of whether or not it had merely fried under Elruin's attack, or if it were merely a pile of jelly within the man which flowed to move it, as well as what had caused it in the first place. Necromancy? It was quite certainly some inhumane magic. The man huffed disgustedly, then sighed. He had many questions, but no doubt his own were within the minds of his companions, and so to voice them would be redundant as he doubted they could even be answered at this point.

Shrugging inwardly he turned to Keyra, inspected her again and biting his tongue as if undecided on something. Part of him wanted to be amused at how the entire debacle had turned out, finding humor in the Keyra's now comical appearance, while the other part remained silent and indiscernible. Raising an eyebrow, he merely smiled. The man moved to speak, but found that he suddenly wasn't sure what to say. He knew wanted to say something, though he didn't know why, but simply lost all ability. His eyes flicked momentarily to Enuren, then to Keyra. Finally a chorus of shouts from up the stairs rerouted his attention, saving him after only a second of having stood there with his mouth open and no words to deliver.

"Get ready.." said Dravon, "there are bound to be more of them further in."

Sevral turned crisply on his heels, unsure why he was so thankful to a deity he'd never acknowledged until now, then moved his hands as he had previously, readying his sword for a fight, though it was his right sword this time, figuring it would be a little more useful. Silently he fell into step behind Dravon and began his ascension, his eyes wary.

“You may want to clean yourself later.” Elruin said coldly, his voice and his gaze showing the Val his intention clearly.

At first she was was angered by it, defensive even. However, as she thought about it, his obligation would have been the right choice. Should she have fallen to whatever poison was coursing through the human moments before, she wouldn't have hesitated if it were anyone else. Certainly she wouldn't have wanted them to hesitate if it were her as well.

“Here, best to clean it before it dries.” Enuren said, handing her a long piece of cloth.

Keyra took it in hand and began wiping away the gore that had splattered along her golden chest piece and neck. It was slimy and warm even through the cloth and her lips pulled into a deep frown as she grimaced. At least I did not swallow any she thought to herself as she listened to the rest of the conversation around her.

“Have any of you seen anything like this before?”

"Nothing like this," Keyra answered, her voice soft as she eyed the mess that littered the floor.

"For whatever reason it seems this thing doesn't want to stay down."

"But..." Dravon drove his blade down into the pulsing mass that seemed to be it's heart. Keyra cringed just a bit as she watched. It seemed that the damned thing was very determined to live. It had been pulsing and bubbling as they'd been talking. The Val shifted her body a bit as she lifted up her weapon and ran the dirtied cloth down it's length to clean it.

"I believe we now see the seat of its power.. and the crux of its life."

"Interesting," Keyra muttered as she eyed the now still puddle.

Dravon sheathed his sword just as she finished cleaning herself off. Almost immediately after a shot rang out from above them, somewhere else in the castle like ruins. Keyra dropped the cloth, sure that Enuren wouldn't want it back as it was ruined now. Having been in the middle of re-sheathing her sword, she withdrew it again and prepared herself for more fighting. She hoped that they wouldn't have to fight more of the creatures they'd just finally managed to kill.

"Get ready.. there are bound to be more of them further in."

Keyra nodded briefly as she followed after the others, Sevral just ahead of her as they bounded up the stairwell into a darker hallway. As they made the landing, she looked around briefly, keeping an eye out for anything else abnormal that may be near. Her wings fluttered a bit as she moved swiftly to stand on Sevral's right side. She glanced at him briefly, before looking down the dimly lit hall. A couple of torches were the only thing that gave light to the darkness.

It was eerily silent from the last gun shot that had echoed throughout the complex. Slowly, Keyra moved down the hall with them, her fingers tightly gripping the handle of her blade, "What do you propose, Dravon," she asked softly, "This place is very large. I doubt we will find the soldiers in time should they be facing the same thing we just did."

She nodded as Keyra stated she had not seen anything like this before. Enuren was glad to know that she was not the only one trying to process the creature that had attacked them and its lack of succumbing to weapons.

Eyes turned to Dravon. Enuren couldn’t help but grimace in disgust as Dravon stabbed the ‘thing’ on the floor.

“Seat of power indeed...” She shook her head a little, sending her long white hair swinging.

Her eyes snapped up as Dravon commented about more of them. Their leader took off in a run up the stairs.

Enuren gave Keyra one last look as the woman cleaned herself. “I do not think it has done anything of permanence to you. I cannot imagine it was the most enjoyable experience however.” She looked to Elruin. “I believe he is just being cautious.” She tried to sound diplomatic though it was clear that there was a small amount of tension between Keyra and Elruin.

She looked to the stairs as Sevral followed Dravon. Keyra was swift to follow as well. Elruin moved next and Enuren took up the rear position, her senses alert for sounds of anything that may come up behind them.

The sound, the echoing shot was concerning. It felt as if they were being led into a trap. Enuren couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, of being lured to her death. She kept her concerns to herself however.

The statement was a valid one, the place was large and unless they were able to move quickly and in multiple directions there was no way that they would be able to save anyone. Though to separate meant certain death, surely.

Like the others she looked to Dravon for their next step in this journey.

Draven lead his group up the slanted stairway, its form and lean both jilted by some past action. But as the light at the top comes into closer view he can find himself feeling less interested for that fact of the matter. More shots sounds as several groans follow suit, like a low tone of thunder that accompanied lightning. Only to have the sound cascade further to a deeper section of the forgotten temples alcoves.

As they break the doors arch most of them find their eyes bombarded by the strangely well lite sight before them. A massive gathering all with columns lined neatly and flamed pots hanging from each one. This sight was removed when the familiar black spray of another creatures vitals flies into view, that too followed with a echoing blast of a rifle. Dravon himself hitting a column in the hall while waving for the others to do the same and looking around the corner. Several of the guards had gathered on a set of short stairs that gave them a height advantage over the room. Some of them were reloading and tending to each others wounds while three kept their eyes set on the room. It was at that moment Dravon felt the urge to duck as a shot ran across his space, nearly grazing his face in the process.

Two other shots follow before there is a brief enough pause in the loud pangs of gunfire for them to hear his calls. "Hold your fire..." The guards take a small moment to rise from their sites and peer over as Dravon looks back around the stone. Montague pokes his face around the side of a barrel to call back. "Ahoy.." He gets the others to drop their weapons and stand to, taking a few steps down the stairs. "Its good to see you alive.. and the others?"

For that answer Dravon just points over his shoulder and motions to the others to come out.

Montague waves over to the group "Get over here and get ready, we lost a few down the other passage but there were too many to fight so openly. All of the missing miners.. they've changed." Dravon is quick to wave him off.

"We've seen.. its not something that I would like to try." He looks up at the room and takes in the site of it all. A masterfully built structure, but it would appear the years have not been kind. The ceiling is cracked down the center frame and leaving small gaps in the stonework as small strands of sand pour in from time to time. At some point the room was immaculate, but at one time a large chunk of rock fell into the room and collapsed most of the doorway that the legion guards now sat in front of. Its force caused the who seam of the room to snap down the middle and that explained the shape it was in now.

At the other end of the room there was a massive door that for all purposes looked too heavy and solid to be moved by normal means. The thought of excaping that way made Dravon remember what happened to the bridge and he knew that their way out would have to be through some other exit.

Dravon approached the guards as the others moved out into the room and at that moment the sound of a heavy slam came from the door opposite of their entrance. It seems that the one's the legion troops lost had just managed to catch up but the heavy door was helping to hold. But that did not stop the monstrosities on the other side from slamming away at its frame in attempts to break it. Noticing that the guardsmen were short on numbers Dravon called out "Captain.. a gun if you please." His call was met with a long rifle tossed to his hand and he quickly shouldered the weapon. He took a moment to slide its bayonet forward and return to the others. "Stairs.. now."

Another slam followed as he was telling them to move causing several of the doors bolts to fly loose. The heavy metallic handle jumping off the frame and sliding half way across the cold stone floor before Dravon could turn.

Silent he chased Dravon when he shot up the stairs. The new surroundings surprised him a little bit he had thought the builders had intended the ruin to be some kind of fortress but such a grand entrance hall suggested another motive. The guards seemed to be holding out against their enemy using their terrain and ranged weaponry to their advantage against the slow but tenacious abominations. Dravon jumped behind a pillar obviously he intended that the rest of the group followed his example and Elruin intended to obey. He sprinted to reach the closest pillar of stone reaching an impressive speed in a short time before he found shelter. The shot fired confirmed his suspicion and his opinion about human soldiers calmly cursing the fact that Creed didn’t teach their captain telepathy. Dravon looked like he had just narrowly dodged the cold embrace of death but that meant somebody had just missed and wasted a bullet in the process.

He slowly approached the soldiers observing every man with a dark expression searching for the fool that had shot the Crawl but he couldn’t distinguish between one human and another they all looked the same to him. He only abandoned his quest for revenge when something bashed the gate with all its strength. Why was there a gate? To keep invaders out, or to keep something inside? He cautiously pulled his sword revealing the cruel curved formed of the black blade pointing it towards the door in his other hand red flames danced between his fingers. The second the gates showed an opening he grabbed his blade with both hands firing a small white beam from its tip that exploded violently but silently the second it touched anything. The Ash fiend held his ground eyeing the actions of his allies to see their plans it would be foolish to continue casting spells and just stupid to charge.

Enuren followed. She didn’t like to be this on edge but this place seemed to hold secrets behind every corner. As they entered the new room she blinked, eyes adjusting to the sudden burst of light. She did not have long to adjust as a shot rang out and Dravon was waving her and the other to take cover.

She pressed her body against a pillar, thankful for her slight frame. She waited there until Dravon waved them out. Enuren was glad to see others had made it. She lowered her bow and stepped out from her hiding place.
The woman brushed her hair from her face. Dravon was moving to talk to the captain when the sound of something hitting the door caused her to turn in alarm. Her eyes sought the source,finding the door as it shook in its frame. Whatever it was wanted in and wasn’t going to stop.

”Stairs now.”

Enuren bolted to the stairs at Dravon command. Behind them whatever wanted in had succeeded. She didn’t turn at the sound of the explosion. She only hoped it was one of her allies and not the thing that had forced its way into the room.

“Dravon! What is the plan? Do we attack or flee?”

She reached for her bow once more, ready should the call be for an attack.

She came around the corner only to have a sharp sound stop her just in time. Turning her enormous weapon, the blade covered her entire left side from shoulder to thigh. Nothing hit though as the bullet that had been fired missed it's target completely, whatever that was to begin with. Relaxing her body, she soon heard Dravon addressing the group of soldiers that they had lost moments ago. Lowering the weapon, she peered out at them from around the corner where they were huddled.

It wasn't long before the conversation was interrupted by the sounds of something large and rather dangerous slamming into a locked door just beyond the soldiers. Keyra tensed again. The Val could almost feel the darkness that was the enemy spreading from underneath the doors small crack. Her gaze flicked over to Dravon, the golden color nearly blocked out by her pupils.

Dravon called for a gun which was handed over to him by one of the soldiers. Then he turned, ordering them down the stairs again just as the bolts and handle of the metal door flew off. Keyra did shift her weapon this time, small clangs echoing off her blade as the screws and bolts hit the large weapon. The only one that didn't immediately turn to go to the stairs was the ash fiend, whom Keyra glowered at then. Did he honestly intend to stand there and take on whatever planned to come though those doors?

"Elruin, let's go," she called, hovering near the stairwell where Enuren had already gone down with Dravon. She jerked her head towards the stairwell as she beckoned for him. The door, as she already knew, did not last much longer, and soon flew apart. The same creature like monstrosities ambled forth from it's dark depths, aiming towards the remaining soldiers and her and the ash fiend. Grinding her teeth, she opened her wings to their fullest lightening her weight.

They were going to have to fight back to the stairwell, there was no helping it. Too close to be able to leave, and Elruin was too far from her to attempt waiting for. The Val pumped her wings twice, then lunged forward. Her blade came up, turned sideways so that the razor edge was facing outwards to her left. Plunging the weapon deep in the being's chest, she ripped it out via the creatures ribs. Tearing through the muscle and bone there, she cleaved it nearly in two, with the exception of not going through the other side.

Whirling around, she attempted the same feat with the next one, only to have to backpedal as the strange horror swung its irregularly large arm at her. They were sluggish and their bodies deformed in such ways as to hinder their movements, but that didn't make them any less dangerous. Quickly back stepping, Keyra slashed her weapon upwards, cutting off the deformed hand at the end of the elongated arm. The same dark liquid that had assaulted her earlier sprayed forth, but this time she was prepared for it. Using her weapon as a shield she blocked the majority of the blood.

"Head for the stairs," she urged the taller man.

Just as Dravon manages to get his foot up on the top of the steps he hears the door splinter again, but this time swing wide as well. He pulls up the rifle with three other of the guards as well, all aiming down at the encroaching forms pouring into the hall. He slides a finger up on on the trigger as he can here several others behind him, setting to reloading another barrage of weaponry and he speaks. "Aim for the chest.. around the central wound." Speaking from what he had seen, it was the only place in them to store the large pulsing organ that controls them.
"Kill what you can Enuren.. aim well and thin their numbers."

Elruin himself is doing what he can to deal with those on his flanks, but his waste of damaging them does little to impede their pursuit and he is forced to retreat back down the stairs from where the group came. Just as the mass of bodies continues to pour in it is easy to see that whatever afflicts them causes a multitude of transformations. Some with silhouettes that nearly matched the first they encountered, but others had more diverse looks of repulsion that made them move either slower, or even quicker as some could demonstrate. As they began to bully one another for access to Elruin; Dravon could feel himself shout as the guard captain joined him with another rifle. "FIRE!!!"

A cacophony of rapid rounds shatter the low silence of the hall, easily drowning out the rasped moans and groaning noises of the intruding bodies. The rounds were partially successful as a few did fall, while only one or two were able to stand once again. The others convulsed as it seemed something was erupting inside them and the convulsions ended just as quickly as they started. They're dark eyes draining of what little life remained.
Dravon and the Guards were quick to pace as he switched hands with the weapon and lay it over his left shoulder, only for a hand to take it, while placing a new rifle stock on his right shoulder. This was a practiced military technique as old as the brass legion itself; they fought as mechanically as the nature of Creeds was itself. Another salvo of shots fired out, filling the room with loud bangs, puffs of smoke, and the smell of magnesium drifting in the airs still current. The attack was impressive to say the least and while it did curb their numbers in the room, more of them were trying to force themselves in through the narrow hallway shattered door.

Dravon could find himself thinking that the amount of bodies was more then the guard captain had told them, because now there were over twenty of them forcing past one another coming towards the groups position. The line fires another barrage before they switch out weapons again, his skin burned lightly as he touched the barrel to hand it off to the soldier behind him and to his dismay one of the other soldiers weapons jammed three rounds ago. His shoulder had begun to burn as well, seeing as it had been some years since he needed to use such a weapon and the fact he lacked the Legions armor which was made help resist such a large caliber weapon.

Two rounds later the creatures had ceased to enter the room now and they had given up on chasing Elruin all together, seeing as the noise coming from the back of the room was far more attention grabbing. However they stilled numbered high; Dravon would count off heads as he looked through the clearing smoke and to his dismay there were still too many. Several sets of deadened eyes loomed back at him and the group, only stopping to react from being short or falling over those that never stood to continue on. He felt a rifle land on his now sore shoulder as well as a hand on his left and he turned to see a pair of lips mouth something too him. Though thanks to the gunfire it was not possible to hear if they did say something.

"Last round..."

He felt his eyes wince for a moment as that caught his attention and he looked back into the room before them to see the approaching mob. He looked back only to see that three of the wounded soldiers were clearing the rubble caused by one of the tremors, it seemed that there was a passage going into the back of the structure. Returning his eyes just to see an assailant right at the tip of his barrel and managed to pull the trigger, even if he didn't kill that one it seemed to not have taken the impact well, sending several of the others falling back along with it. He placed a hand over his shoulder and shouted. "Spear!!!"

Though he was left waiting for several seconds, one of the few spears in the group was handed into his possession and for the moment he had to think there was a feel of relief that it was a cool touch and not the rough heated metal of another gun.
Dravon swung the weapon wide and hard, scattering them with a well placed strike, disrupting them as well as he could.

"Finish them now!!!.." He shouted over the crowd, letting the weapon do its job. He would lunge forward and pierce one, only to draw back and do so again. Even with their numbers he was doing an admirable job of playing keep away, buying the others time to do their duties and fight. He finally could not allow them to get closer so he did only what he could.

Dravon held the spear wide and rushed the group, ducking several arms as he moved, letting the spear catch a wide birth of the group. They proved not only to be slow and rather dimwitted, but now he could tell how physically stout their bodies were as it was rather difficult to push the group back onto itself. In moments though he was joined by the Captain and two other soldiers. The lined with him and began to shove back the crowd. More of them joined and continued to help fight the group back, stabbing with spears and slashing with their swords into the blackened mass of monsters only for Dravon's command to ring out. "Break!!!.."
He gave a large heave and sent several flying back into the group, as well did the other soldiers do their part. He pulled his sword then, seeing as the spear was lost to him now for some reason that he did not catch. Only to see a body in the back stand up with the it firmly lodged in its chest. They broke the creatures formation scattering them around the room and while the numbers were not a good match. It was still better then dealing with a massive wall of bodies.