Hall of the Monitor (7 Oct 2001) Our heroes parlay with a dragon!

The Lair
This room seems to be one of the natural caves that intersperse this complex of halls, with an uneven floor and a ceiling rising high overhead, so that stalactites seem to prod downward from out of shadow. Stairs cut into the rock descend to the floor ... where there is a vast collection of glittering things, that might be enough treasure to please even a dragon.

Only seconds ago, Explorer Thomas had led his expedition, comprised of the Princess Angel guarded by Lady Redmane and Sir Lefallon, and the Lady Raven, into this cave to form a defense against the Jruuhs that had detected their presence in their lair. But now it seems a classic case of leaping out of the frying pan, into the fire, as an enormous dragon of steely color has risen from the heaps of treasure to greet them with vicious cry, with arms like scythes and a forest of spikes upon its back.

There is only one small mercy: the Jruuh-growling has paused. Perhaps even Jruuh fear to cross a dragon ... or perhaps they're just waiting to see what happens before they move in.

The lanky, chainmail armored explorer takes in a deep breath and slowly turns, his eyes focusing in on the dragon. Thomas swallows and mutters, "Out of the frying pan, into the fire..." Quickly, the explorer sheathes his sword and says, "Redmane, Sir Lefallon, move up to the front and watch for Jruuh. I'll relocate to the rear. I hope the dragon is intelligent and can perhaps be placated through talking. If not, I want you two to take the Oracle and Princess and fight your way out, through the Jruuh. I'll do what I can here. Unless anyone has any better ideas, that is...."

Redmane moves around to face the tunnel mouth, and suggests, "We could all take on the Jruuh and not risk the dragon."

Sir Lefallon swallows, Adam's apple visibly moving. "Yes, milord," he says. "But if it comes to dragon-slaying, perhaps you'd best be the one to take the Princess and the Oracle..." He looks up at the awesome height of the dragon, and then at his own woefully small sword.

The raven-haired oracle gapes, wide-eyed, at the dragon, frozen like a rabbit caught by the gaze of a hawk.

Tom nods and says, "True. I do plan to follow behind if I can and protect the rear..." He looks intently at the dragon. "I want to make sure it can't follow us. A rampaging dragon behind us would be bad." The explorer then glances to Sir Lefallon and says, "I have no intention of trying to slay it. We're in its home, after all. Reason with it if I can, delay it long enough for you to get far enough ahead that you wouldn't be in imminent danger for it as well as the Jruuh.

The princess gives a very improper-like sound of "Eek!" when she beholds the dragon in full. Her magic book is scooped up and lifted, as if the heavy pages might somehow hide her from the dragon's gaze.

"Lefallon," Redmane says, raising up her lantern, "let's get the Princess and Oracle back into the tunnel, in case the dragon isn't feeling agreeable right now."

The beast draws itself up to its full height, wings brushing the ceiling. Its yellowish eyes are wide for a moment, registering brief surprise, and then they narrow. Its lips pull back around its teeth, and the scythes of its long arms touch the floor with their very tips, rapping the stone. "'Tis with stout hearts yet foolish minds that interlopers come calling to Monitor," the dragon hisses, tilting its head to eye the adventurers it dwarfs below, "with black beasts baying at their heels."

"O-on b-b-b-b-behalf of the k-k-kingdom of Mirari, I offer our most h-humble apology for intruding upon your lair, Lord Dragon, w-without proper i-i-i-invitation," stammers the princess. She shakily rises to her feet and lowers the book, just slightly, and attempts to appear more the proper princess and less the mouse hiding behind ancient pages.

Knight Redmane stands closer to the Princess, just in case this is the sort of dragon with particularly royal dietary needs.

Thomas steps forward, adjusting his cloak so it no longer covers his shoulders. "Good sir," he says, keeping the tone of his voice as steady as he can, "We do not mean to intrude upon your home. In fact, we did not know anything other than those black beasts lived here. We have been under attack by them for some time, and sought to strike back at one of their lairs. Like the princess says, we apologize for the intrusion into your home."

Sir Lefallon bites his lower lip. "Your Highness, stay close by myself and Lady Redmane, lest we must flee," he whispers, reaching out to tug on the Princess Angel's shoulder. He spares a glance for the ominously dark entrance to the lair, then looks back to the dragon.

The prophetess recovers her composure enough to drop a deep curtsey before the dragon. "Lord Monitor, we meant no discourtesy, and we humbly beg leave for ... sanctuary in your lair, from the beasts that pursue us."

The princess squeaks when her arm is suddenly pulled, and as she glances back to see if it was claw or hand that touched her she looks visibly relieved to find it was one of her knights. She inclines her head to the man's words and whispers, "I m-must parlay with the dragon on b-behalf of the k-kingdom, for any slight we may have c-caused, as representative of the Crown."

A low, throaty growl issues from somewhere deep in the dragon's chest, like an alligator bellowing in an echo chamber. "Bring they pretty words whilst driving the Jruuhs' thorn deeper into Monitor's side. Dared they not approach for many a night, yet now breathe they their fetid growls outside Monitor's very lair." The monster's head lowers, hovering several feet above head level to get a closer look at the humans. "Awakened from a sleep of decades... must Monitor rouse his fury? And yet, even shouldst he offer sanctum, the beasts shall lie in wait for them, forever and a day."

"T-then our enemy is the s-same, L-lord Monitor, f-for the Jruuh are our foe as well. A-an alliance may be of m-m-mutual benefit," offers the princess to the dragon. Her head tilts back, up and higher to watch Lord Monitor's head and eyes move, and her hands fidget around the bindings of the magic tome.

Taking a few steps forward, Redmane whispers to Thomas, "He must know these caverns. Maybe he can tell us where best to strike at the Jruuh. There must be another exit from this cavern as well."

Thomas glances back at the Princess, then at Redmane. "Good sir, if you know these halls, may you offer guidance as to where their true lair is down here and we shall seek to drive them away? With your aid, surely we would have a good change to free ourselves, and you, of this plague."

Monitor's heavy crested head swings back and forth, then shakes, a booming laugh welling up from his throat and reverberating through the chamber. It's a strange sound, like a cough and a roar mixed together. "What use has Monitor for such frail, unseemly little creatures? Could they conceive of the vastness of Monitor's knowledge? Could they fathom what it means to the Jruuh to be seen?" This gives the massive beast pause, and it eyes the humans, its snarl easing. "Could they? Perhaps there is use for them after all."

Finally the princess lowers her tome entirely, holding it to her chest arms wrapped about it. She steps closer to the dragon and curtsies, replacing her arm about the book when done, and she suggests, "A proper introduction may be in order, and we would know of your terms, Lord Monitor, that w-we might come to a beneficial understanding of one another and a possible alliance?"

The younger knight looks over at Lady Redmane and whispers, "What could we do that a dragon couldn't? Its very arms could cut giants like wheat, and no monster approaching from behind would dare attack, lest it be impaled! To say nothing of whether it commands the power of fire-breathing as well."

Redmane whispers to Lefallon, "Well ... Jruuh are small. Monitor couldn't fit through all of the passages they control." That said, she shines her lantern back into the tunnel mouth, to see if any Jruuh are lurking near to eavesdrop.

As the jruuh remain absent, and the dragon doesn't appear about to lunch on them, Lady Raven regains some of her composure. She straightens, and glances about the cavern apprehensively, looking for potential escape routes -- and any new threats.

Thomas lets out a slow breath and looks up at the dragon. Following Princess Angel's statement, he proceeds to introduce the party. "Great Monitor, we will be honored to work with you in ridding these halls of the creatures called the Jruuh. Let me properly introduce everyone, as the Princess wishes." He steps back slowly and motions toward the Princess. "This is Princess Angel, skilled in magic and representative of our kingdom. I am Thomas, of the Golden Hawks, traveler and explorer." He now motions to Sir Lefallon and Redmane. "These are two knights, Sir Lefallon and Redmane, skilled in the arts of combat." Lastly, he motions to the Oracle. "And this is Lady Raven, our guide to the mysteries of the future."

Offering a nervous smile, the oracle glances back to Monitor, and drops another curtsey by reflex.

As Lady Redmane casts lantern light into the entrance, she catches a glimpse of motion out the corner of her eyes ... but there is nothing there when she casts her gaze full into the entrance -- merely the cold stone of the ruined halls.

The towering dragon eyes them each in turn as they are introduced, and lets a few moments of silence pass after they're made. "Etiquette they bring, thus demanded in turn. Know they that acquaintance is made with Monitor, collector of riches, dweller of caverns, keeper of secrets. Long has he slumbered undisturbed amongst his wealth, and now must drag consciousness back out from under heavy eyelids. Though alliance is laughable..." As some light plays across the entrance to the lair, the dragon halts again, gazing intently at the darkness.

"Maybe he'd like the Jruuhs' treasure added to his own," Redmane whispers to Thomas, figuring greed is a fairly reliable instinct among dragons. With her back to the tunnel again, she angles her sword so that she can watch the mouth through the reflection on the blade, although still unsure if the mirror trick will work on Jruuh.

The explorer nods slightly to Redmane. "We came here not for riches, but to defend our homes," Thomas says. "If the Jruuh have collected any wealth, we care not for it. In return for your assistance in these grave matters, you are welcome to claim it as your own."

"The Crown o-offers this, my royal circlet ..." The princess removes a hand from her book and reaches up to slide her circlet from her head and show it to the dragon. "... as proof of our i-intentions towards peace and our desire to make fast an alliance."

Sir Lefallon mutters, "I can almost see them, every time I cast my gaze yonder. It's as if they're playing with us," to the Lady Redmane. He shifts his sword in his hand, not noticing the trick she is attempting to play with her own blade.

"How close, would you guess?" Redmane whispers to Sir Lefallon.

The younger knight shakes his head. "Not within lantern's light reach, but just beyond that, perhaps. Perhaps."

Letting the others discuss matters with the dragon, Raven slips back towards the wall of the cavern. She then starts feeling her way along it, trailing one hand against the cool stone as she moves carefully away from where the party entered, feeling to see if there is another exit.

A snort, like a small geyser going off, issues from the dragon's snout. "Creatures of shadow and wisp have naught of consequence. But weaknesses ... yes... have the fleshlings a grudge? What ill will do they bear the Jruuh, that eclipses the distaste common to all?" It eyes the circlet appraisingly, then gestures at Sir Lefallon. "This one teeters upon the edge of enlightenment, but there is more to be known. Monitor always comes away from an encounter richer. Perhaps a transaction is in order, for services."

"We should have brought mirrors," the larger knight whispers to Thomas. "My blade doesn't work well as one. Do you think Lady Raven or the Princess would be carrying any?"

The princess looks back and tells the others, "It was Renewal that revealed them to the light, and I do believe it is being revealed that is their unmaking. To see them is perhaps to rout or destroy them, as it was upon the isle." She turns again and inclines her head. "We are willing to hear of your price, Lord Monitor."

Thomas's gaze switches to follow Raven nervously, not replying to the dragon. He steps back some, letting the representative of the crown speak for the party.

"Heed the price Monitor levels, then," rasps the beast, rising back to his full, majestic height. "The Princess will keep the trinket that bears her title. Let her kow that stories past have always placed the Jruuh as never seen ... for to be seen is indeed their bane, as one of the fleshlings has surmised. Monitor must sleep, and when he sleeps, he cannot see. Always, the Jruuh steal away before the gaze can evaporate them like so much sea foam before the sun. Thus, Monitor's vigil cannot abate, lest they make off with his riches." The dragon's mouth pulls back into a grin again. "But there is more..."

"If the fleshlings drive them from these tunnels, they shall know more. They shall have a prize of Monitor's choosing ... and they shall leave these catacombs alive, with a guide."

"Then it is that freeing your home of the Jruuh is the price? It is one we would gladly pay," says Angel. Her hand returns the circlet to her head and she looks back to where the Jruuh were thought to hide. "It is not a battle we need here, but to see. Perhaps if we could drive the Jruuh away with our eyes, to where they cannot hide, and seal each passage with light of torch?"

Raven passes some yards along the wall, as silent as a ghost, and scarcely more visible than one, in a chamber where the sole lantern creates more shadows than light. As she comes alongside the flank of the imposing figure of the dragon, she stops, reluctant to approach any closer, even to circle behind it.

"As long as we can see, we don't have to worry, it seems," Redmane whispers to Lefallon. "The sounds they make are just to inspire fear, but they'll try to extinguish our light sources, I think."

"Or collapse the passageways leading into the area in which they were driven, locking them away to protect all," Thomas offers, in addition to the Princess' ideas.

"It is possible to seal their home with magic, if indeed we can locate it," mentions the princess to the Lord Explorer, adding to his own idea.

Sir Lefallon looks into the dark tunnel worriedly. "And we have but a scanting of lanterns. Can it be done, this thing of driving back the Jruuh into a solitary place, Lord Explorer?"

Thomas looks over to Sir Lefallon. "Perhaps," he whispers in reply. "We have the lanterns, and a few candles. I think we have enough for the five of us. We may, however, have to split up and herd separately." He glances toward the Princess, then looks in vain for Raven and says, "Something I am loathe to do."

"Oh!" exclaims the princess, looking around until her eyes fall on Lady Redmane. "Do you not possess the Optikon? I have heard such a device might include a fearsome ray of light, a ... 'flash' of sorts, that aids in its use."

"I'm afraid I did not have the means to acquire that part of the device, Your Highness," Redmane explains, sounding apologetic.

"That is unfortunate," laments the princess of Mirari.

Monitor doesn't seem to notice Raven, or is simply ignoring her as harmless; it's difficult to tell. Whatever the case, he appears pleased as he listens to the various plans. "Good. Good! Few worthy meatlings has Monitor encountered, yet flock they now to drink of his wisdom. Very well, then. He shall aid you in what little matter Monitor deigns to offer ... though the Jruuh are too small and quick to crush like the noisome flies they are, they taste the very fear they seek to wield. And though the fleshlings surmised they had a lair here ... they in fact do not. Interlopers too, they. Spies, perhaps. All will be driven back when Monitor speaks, and fleshlings advance, eyes falling upon the shadow folk. Monitor shall have a guide then reach the fleshlings, bearing their prize."

"If these caverns were once inhabited, perhaps they had some means of illumination that we could reactivate," Redmane suggests to the Princess.

The prophetess slips back to the group, as quietly as she went away. "Separating might be ... unwise, in light of this information," she suggests. "None of use can see in all directions at once. If vision is our best weapon, then we'll be most potent if we stay together, and cover all sides."

The princess inclines her head to the suggestion. "Yes, perhaps that is so. If we were to proceed together, looking in all directions, we could act as a wall that drives them back. And with proper lighting that would be made all the more simple," she says.

Thomas nods slowly. "I agree; I'd rather we stay together. However, we will need to locate a place that has only one passage for entrance and exit. Or, one that we can illuminate all the other exits. Otherwise, we'll be playing a futile cat and mouse game," he warns.

"There can't be too many of the creatures though, according to Monitor," Redmane suggests. "We can't be sure to poke every nook and cranny they may hide in, for we don't know the extent of these tunnels. I think the best way to strike them all is to lure them into a trap, by making them come to us. We could appear harmless, or distressed, with our lights cowled until the last moment."

"They do appear to follow us about. I agree that they would be inclined to continue to do so and not suddenly flee unless we give them reason to. I do not believe they are intelligent, or not intelligent as we might know of it," agrees Angel.

The dragon speaks again after a few moments of curious listening. "The cry of a dragon instills terror in all who hearken. They shall be driven before the fleshlings like flushed quail. That should suffice to collect them on the far side of the catacombs, confining them somewhat."

"It would certainly give us encouragement to chase on the heels of the Jruuh," Redmane mutters.

"Well," Thomas says, eyes closed a moment, "The passageways we came through didn't double back. So, they wouldn't be able to double back on us if we're careful. The intersection points are the problem; we'd have to make sure they would go where we wanted them to." Thomas then opens his eyes and glances to Redmane. "To pull something like that off, we'd need to act scared, I think, and run. With some clever cloak-movements, make it look as if the lanterns and candles are flickering, then flicker out, once we reach a dead-end room, perhaps. I think a thorough sweep would work better. Let the dragon frighten them to the far side, then sweep through and eliminate them."

"Why not head to the far end of the catacombs first then," Redmane says, "and then let the dragon's roar drive the ones we missed to us?"

Thomas nods to Redmane, "Another possible idea. I think a good one, too. That helps negate the possibility of them slipping away from us. We'd get them later."

"Perhaps we can wait there, in the dark, and when they run to that place we can reveal our lights and block the exit?" suggests the princess. She shifts the book in her hands, reopening it and laying it against her forearm.

"What spells remain in the book?" Thomas asks the Princess.

Sir Lefallon glances warily at the darkness of the entrance corridor. "Whatever our decision, Your Highness, Lord Explorer, let us move before the day turns to sundown, and then to night. I fear that night may be the ally of the Jruuhs."

"Agreed, Sir Lefallon," Thomas replies.

"A great many," the princess answers the explorer's question. "I have yet to catalog the entire contents of the book. It is immense."

"Lightning spells? Anything at all that would cause a massive burst of light?" Thomas then inquires.

"We need to know where they will flee to when the dragon roars," Redmane says. "If it were night, then the entrance would be the likely path they would take. Can we make it appear to be night outside?"

"I found a spell for wings of light, but that is more to be concerned with giving wings than light. I will have to look for something more akin to creating brightness, lest we waste wings we may need hence," Angel answers. She flips a another page and shakes her head a little. "I will see what I can find."

"The entrance was far too large to cover," Thomas says, "Even Great Monitor would not likely be able to cover it. And, if he did, it would defeat the purpose of the roar."

Angel pauses and taps her little finger on her current page. "Lightning can be called, but it would do us no good to call it indoors. The trees would suffer alone," she explains before returning to her reading.

"Indeed," rumbles the dragon, frowning, "and Monitor grows weary of the presence of mortals. Let the fleshlings trust in him that his cry will bring the Jruuh into their path. Let them trust in him that the prize he offers shall aid in their quest, now and after they leave, and trust in his minion to bring them where they are meant to be. Then let them know never to cross the threshold of Monitor's lair again, lest the limits of his patience be found."

"Fire spells, then?" Thomas asks, glancing back nervously at the dragon. "And I think we'd better leave the lair, now."

"Yes," Raven agrees, quickly, with a glance to the dragon. "If you will lead us, Lord Explorer...?"

Tom nods and says, "Back into the passage we came in, then. Let's go. Princess, stay close. Sir Lefallon, guide her while she reads, please." With that, Thomas heads back toward the passage that brought them here.

"I will add spells of fire to my search, Lord Explorer. Do lead us away ... I have no wish to test the tales of princesses and dragons." And having said that, the princess looks up, and reaches for Lady Redmane's arm. "Guide me, my knight. My eyes are for pages and cannot be elsewhere."

Sir Lefallon sets a foot upon the stairs. "Stay you close by myself and the Lady Redmane, Your Highness," he whispers. "If my gaze shall be my sword, I shall make it as quick and piercing as any may be."

Behind them, Monitor sifts through some of his treasure, then with a satisfied look, rises from his haunches. His wings spread so as not to crush against the ceiling, which his shoulders now brush, and his chest slowly expands.

Redmane holds her lantern high behind the Princess, to give her light to read by. "We don't have to worry about the Jruuh coming up behind us until the tunnel branches, at least."

The oracle takes watch behind the others, casting her gaze from side to side in guard of the rear.

"And cover your ears, everyone," Thomas calls out. "We don't want to be deafened by the roar."

The lantern-bearing knight manages to cover her right ear, at least.

"Or made to flee in terror ourselves," adds the princess. She plugs one ear with her free hand, and tilts her head to wedge her other against her shoulder.

Having her hands rather occupied and expecting a roar at any moment, Angel bumps in to the Lady Oracle purposefully and gestures at her current page with her head.

The explorer reaches up and plugs both his ears as he heads into the dark tunnel again. He glances back, making sure all are following.

Lady Raven gives an abortive shriek and whirls about when the princess nudges her, as she'd been facing the other way to watch behind them for Jruuh. She gasps for breath, looking embarrassed as she glances over the page. "But we don't have many candles to light, do we?" she says to Princess Angel, presumably in response to what is written.

There's a moment of silence. For a second, it's deathly quiet, as though nothing might happen. Abruptly, the same silence is shattered by a horrific sound: a high keening scream rolls over what sounds like an explosion that just doesn't stop, waves of sound tumbling and rolling down the tunnels, and palpably felt in the chest of each of the adventurers.

When normal hearing has returned, the explorers have pressed on through several tunnel intersections. The feeling of Jruuh presence is faint and distant, as if they have indeed been driven forth by the roar of the dragon, and the two lanterns held by the Explorer Thomas and the Lady Redmane cast a multitude of shadows over the walls, some fainter than others.

On the ground, there should be an arrow to show the way back to the cave entrance ... but there is none.

There's a scuttling from behind the group, rapidly approaching. A thin, reedy voice calls out, "Where are the masters? Please, they must be waiting for me! Mustn't be eaten by the Jruuh, I mustn't! I bear Monitor's prize for them!"

At the rear, Redmane turns around and shines her lantern back down the passage. "Who approaches?"

The green eyes of the explorer narrow and he looks about the passage. Noting the first mark is gone, he goes to check on the second mark. Thomas runs his hand through his wild hair. He walks over to Redmane and whispers, "The marks are gone. Something erased them." He then turns toward the voice and his hand drops to the sword hilt at his side.

"The dragon's guide seems to approach. Perhaps he can direct us out?" advises Princess Angel.

The prophetess scans the tunnel at their back with roving eyes, not neglecting to look at the ceiling -- just in case. She jostles Princess Angel briefly, as the others come to a halt while Thomas searches for his mark. She peers down at the floor at the scuttling sound. "Oh!" she says, blinking as the guide comes into view of the lantern's light.

Sir Lefallon whirls about, sword out. "Is that -- of course, it is as Your Highness says." He lowers his sword.

"Eep!" exclaims the princess as she is suddenly bumped in to, her startled cry suggesting she's still uneasy about the whole affair. In reflex she clutches the book to her chest again as it nearly tumbles from her grasp, and after catching it, she peers off in to the darkness to try and locate the approaching guide. "Are you there, guide? I cannot see you."

A small pale figure practically collapses into the circle of light cast my the lanterns. Half as tall as the shortest person present, and whippet thin, his limbs are slender, despite being just a little shorter than would be proportional for him. His hair is clustered into thin clumps of strands, holding various red, yellow, and black beads, and his green jerkin is decorated similarly. His face looks young, but that might simply be because his eyes look so large ... and right now, those eyes hold nervousness. He's clutching something in his delicate-looking, long-fingered hands ... which, on closer inspection, have short, blunt black claws on the tips. In fact, what looked like baggy sleeves in the dim light turn out to be folds of loose, scaly skin. He puffs a bit, as he seems to have been running for a while now.

Redmane takes a step back at the appearance of the minion. "You know which way the Jruuh have fled?" she asks the creature.

Thomas removes his hand from the sword hilt and bows. "Greetings, guide," Thomas says, unfazed by the strange creature's appearance. "Indeed, do you know which way they fled, or which way leads to the exit? My directional marks have been removed."

The princess looks around, then downward -- being she is in fact the shortest of the group, the little minion only requires she lower her gaze a bit. "Oh! There you are, you poor thing." She brushes her skirts as she kneels, so as to be about eye to eye with the newcomer. "We do so need to find where the Jruuh fled."

"And the way out," Lady Raven adds, pragmatically. She murmurs below her breath, "and at this point I'd be content with the latter."

The guide blinks first one yellowish eye, then the other, and wrings his paws around the item he's clutching. "It is always hard to tell with the Jruuh ... so wily and quick. Master Monitor ... he sends this!" His arms jerk upward suddenly to present what he's been carrying, and the Princess finds herself looking into her own face. The small creature hides behind a hand mirror with an exquisite golden frame, fashioned after a lion bearing the pane of the looking glass. "It will help!" he ventures hopefully.

Sir Lefallon blinks at the gift. "Dragon's gold. Things that belonged to a dragon are said to be charged with mysterious powers," he mutters, more to himself than the Princess or Lady Redmane.

"Indeed!" Redmane grins. "If we can see the Jruuh with it, but even if not we can use it to direct the light of the lanterns."

The princess blinks, and her reflection blinks back at her. "Oh, my hair is quite in disarray," she fusses, and after a second seems to remember herself and inclines her head, blushing. "I am certain this will be a valuable gift. May I see it, or is it reserved until our end of the deal is completed?"

Tom chuckles, watching the strange creature.

The creature thrusts the mirror out towards the Princess. "It will help! Take!"

Almost falling at the creature's quick motion, but not quite, the princess has to steady herself from the start the little creature and his speed gave her. She accepts the mirror, then stands and curtsies. "Tell your master we greatly appreciate his gift, and shall put it to good use," she bids the guide.

Tom walks back toward the center of the room and scratches his head slowly. He looks at each of the passages, trying to decide if any of them look familiar.

"Wait here, please," Thomas says to the others and starts heading back down the passage from which they came. "Best verify we went the right way," he thinks to himself, holding his lantern high to illuminate the way.

Sir Lefallon moves to assist the Lord Explorer. "I'd best go and help you watch your back, milord," he says.

Redmane keeps her own lantern held high, and listens for growls of the Jruuh. "Do you have a name, minion?" she asks the pale being.

The guide looks relieved for a moment, but then draws himself back up, looking around hurriedly. "Oh, why oh why did you venture here? It is terribly confusing ... Monitor ... he thought you knew your way back!" He scampers after Thomas a short distance. "Come ... you will come with me back the way we came? It will lead back out. Wretched, this place is. These catacombs ... nothing is known of them this far out. Back to the first hall we must go. All of you, with the lanterns, yes?"

"Let us follow the wee man, Thomas," Lady Raven says, "and stay together?" She frowns at the small guide, thoughtfully.

The guide stops in his semi-babbling. "Names? They were powerful, once. Mystery is in names unknown ... could that be power too?" He bobs his head a little, and the beads in his hair rattle.

Thomas stops and looks back at the creature and Sir Lefallon and says, "I marked the path as we traveled. My marks should guide our way out, yet this chamber has none. I was going to make sure we followed it correctly." The explorer then shrugs. "As you all wish." He heads back to the group.

"No, no, no," the little reptilian fellow says. "Divided group is divided power is divided torso! Terrible business."

Turning the mirror over in her hands, the princess asks, "Is there anything we should be aware of, regarding this mirror? Magic? A word? A history?" She then tilts it to gather the reflections of the others, seeing how they appear when in the pane.

The guide dances from foot to foot. "I am not a dragon!"

"Let's keep moving. I don't like standing around like this," Redmane requests.

"Our friend here will have to lead the way. My path out has been erased. I apologize," Thomas says.

The oracle looks confused. "Did we say you were, wee man? In any event -- do lead on!" A faint growl overlays her words, coming from the way they had been headed, and she looks over her shoulder, worried.

The smallish creature is all too happy to do so, and hurries down the hall as fast as the lantern light will follow.

Sir Lefallon puts his hand on the Explorer's shoulder. "Trust in yourself, milord," he says. "The Jruuh may have erased your marks but they cannot touch your memory or your senses."

"I think I may have inadvertently offered that he was, as I asked so much of him. He is not a dragon; he does not know the answer to a dragon's treasure mystery. I apologize if I erred," explains the princess to the oracle. She continues to examine the mirror, examining it for anything apart from a normal mirror.

Lowering her lantern slightly, Redmane asks, "Princess, try to reflect the light of the lantern ahead of us with the mirror; it should reach farther that way."

"What do you think it might do, your highness?" Lady Raven asks, glancing to her as she examines the mirror.

The explorer glances to Sir Lefallon, following the creature slowly and says, "This passageway doesn't look familiar to me, yet I remember my marks pointing this way." He shrugs. "Currently, I'm lost, which is why I wished to go back and check. Looks like our 'guide' is taking us that way, anyway."

"Beyond revealing my hair is a dreadful mess?" The princess smiles a little to the Lady Oracle, in an effort to ease distress with humor. "Perhaps like mirrors of legend it reveals the true form of something ... reflecting what is the true -- much like the Optikon. Perhaps it is ... a gateway? Gaze long enough and find yourself on the other side of the glass? One of my handmaidens told me a story of that once, as I recall ... "

Sir Lefallon nods. "What then, milord? If the dragon was right, the roar should have driven them to the far ends of these tunnels ... which may be the entrance. If we drive them into the open daylight..." He falls silent, pondering the question as they walk toward the previous intersection.

After skittering for a few short minutes, a corner moves into view, bearing ... a mark -- a whitish arrow scraped onto the rock. The little reptilian fellow studies it for a moment, then looks back at the humans to be sure they're still with him.

"I guess we just made a wrong turn in our initial flight," Redmane says.

Angel suggests, "A dragon's roar can be very distressing, and distracting besides."

Lady Raven looks at the arrow. "No, good knight. The mark points the way we just went -- perhaps we were at the correct place and the marks were just gone?"

The creature bobs his head, whether in agreement or impatience, then scurries to the edge of the lantern-light ... in the opposite direction from where the arrow is pointing.

The oracle's mouth twists. "Whatever the case, the wee man would have us go a different route."

The princess maneuvers closer to the Oracle, leaning her head slightly to ask in hushed tones, "Do you suspect trickery?"

The creature looks at them from the edge of the lantern light, sitting on all fours. "Masters, please hurry!"

Thomas' brow furrows and he says, "I was careful to follow my marks, though. Basic skills for a traveler." He watches the creature scurrying off in opposite of his mark and says, "That should take us back to the dragon's lair, not out. I directed the arrows always toward the exit." He flips his cloak back over his shoulders and says, "Guide, why do you follow opposite my marks? I placed them to always point to the exit. Have they been changed?"

"Yes -- but his, or the dragon's, or the jruuh, I cannot say," Lady Raven answers the princess, darkly. "Let us see where he would lead us, but be cautious," she advises, following.

"Monitor would be furious if we entered his lair again!" asserts the guide.

"Indeed," replies Thomas, "Then why go back toward his lair?"

"If they were changed--" Sir Lefallon ponders this a moment. "Could the Jruuh have done it?"

"Furious!" the guide repeats.

Angel tilts her head, then turns the mirror round so as to catch the reflection of the little guide.

"Possibly," Thomas mutters to Sir Lefallon, "But, I thought they were not that intelligent." He looks between the members of the party and says, "Be wary, be very wary. Something isn't right here."

The scaly little fellow blinks his large yellow eyes, peering at Angel from the looking glass.

The explorer walks to the center of the room and looks around slowly, trying to think back and remember this place, and which way he placed the mark.

"I am sure the mark has been changed, Thomas. We came back from this direction," Lady Raven says, gesturing to the right, "not this way," and she points ahead, where the lizard-man would lead them.

"Reversing the marks to drive us back to the lair of Monitor would certainly be an effective way to do away with us," Redmane comments.

The reptiloid in question looks earnestly back and forth between Lady Raven and Thomas. A nictating membrane closes over one of his eyes, which he somehow licks with a tongue that doesn't look like it belongs in a small jaw like his.

The princess shakes her head a little and lowers the glass, turning it to mirror nothing in particular. "I agree, my Oracle. He does not strike me as a terribly malevolent little fellow," she whispers back to the Lady.

Tom waves a hand lightly. "Let's continue on," he says, eyes narrow. "Lead on, guide, please. The marks are useless."

The creature responds immediately, hurrying off down the hall, every so often looking over his shoulder to be sure the lantern light is with him. His long, thin tail, striped and tipped in black, whips back and forth behind him as he scurries, remaining on all fours at this point, low to the ground. Though a biped, it seems somehow perfectly natural for him.

Sir Lefallon nods. "Right behind you, milord," he says as he sticks close by the Explorer Thomas, keeping an eye on the other side from him so that Jruuh can't sneak by.

"I suggest using the mirror to check behind us, Your Highness," Redmane says as she follows the Oracle and Princess.

"Quite so," agrees the princess. She raises the mirror to catch the reflections behind her, and asks the Lady Oracle, "Would you prefer to hold this? My hands are greatly occupied. I feel much the pack horse."

"That is a good idea," Raven agrees. She's still walking backwards herself. Another growl echoes in the tunnel, sounding as if it's coming from up ahead of them.

"Sounds like we're on the right course!" Redmane says with a grin, when the growl is heard.

Tom watches the creature in front of them as he follows. Now and then, he glances back and makes sure the others are still with them. When he hears the growl, the explorer draws his sword. The light sound of metal scraping on metal echoes softly.

The guide skids to a stop as the growl is heard, nervously eyeing the dark ahead, and casting glances back at the adventurers, and especially at their lantern. He makes sure he's well within the circle of light before he creeps forward again, though now not so quickly as before.

The group advances more slowly now, as they follow the cautious little lizard-like man. Ahead, mixed in with the growling, they can hear gnawing sounds, like animals worrying at a wooden log. Added to that is the noise of claws scratching at rock, and the sound of pebbles and dirt showering down from a height.

"Have you found any sort of ... flood of light sort of spell, Princess?" Redmane asks, then worries at the noises. "They couldn't be trying to cave in the tunnel, could they?"

"Were you able to find anything useful in the spell book, Princess?" Thomas asks, slowing up to meet up with her. He tenses slightly at the sounds of creatures up ahead and says, "Hold up, everyone. Let's set a plan." He then nods to Redmane. "Perhaps, but we won't wait too long before moving ahead. Hopefully, we'll surprise them."

"It sounds like they may be trying to climb out maybe," mentions the princess. Her head shakes. "I used up the spell that did that, but I can keep looking. It is just difficult to search and hold this mirror. Here." She offers it to the Oracle. "Reflective surfaces are oft the company of oracles, and I would bid you use this one."

Brandishing her sword, the knight suggests, "Let's charge them, lanterns blazing!"

"Have you a plan in mind, milord?" Sir Lefallon says. He glances at the darkness ahead of them. "I fear they will not halt for us to devise a plan if you have not one in mind already."

As Thomas calls for a halt, there's a creaking noise ahead, and the other noises sound with renewed vigor.

The reptilian fellow swallows, looking worried.

"If ... if they collapse the exit, this place will be swallowed in darkness. And our light cannot last forever," the princess says fretfully.

The oracle accepts the mirror. She tilts it around the lantern, picking up the glow of the flame and shining it toward the exit ahead.

With her hand freed, the princess returns to the spell book and searches while asking, "Did you see any old torches set upon the walls, by chance?"

Thomas' brow furrows. When the creaking sound occurs, he says, "Let's follow Redmane's plan. We can't stay here." He shrugs his shoulders and moves his clock back off them to free his arms. He raises his blade up and says, "For our kingdom! Stay close and tight. Princess and the Oracle in the center." With that, he moves forward again, "Let's go, guide."

Lady Raven plays the beam from the mirror over an old wall sconce, still bearing an unlit torch. "Do you think it would--?" she begins, glancing at the princess. In the dimness, the shadow of other such torches can be made out, but the creaking sound grows more ominous by the moment, and Raven nods to Tom, hurrying to follow the guide once again.

"I may," answers the princess. She flips back several pages and begins reading the spell listed quite intently, fumbling with a hand to draw out her magic wand.

The creature nods, swallows again, and moves to the edge of the lantern light, then with it to continue on with Thomas.

"Aye, milord," Sir Lefallon replies. "For Mirari!" He lifts his sword high, then lowers it again as he hurries forward to guard the guide and encourage him to greater speed.

Sheathing her sword, Redmane uses her freed hand to scoop up the Princess, book and all. "You can't cast spells and run at the same time, Your Highness!"

Thomas glances back. "Grab the torches off the wall if you can. If not, just keep moving." His pace quickens, the creaking sounds driving him to move with greater haste.

The guide scurries along, faster now, and up the side of one wall for a second to make a grab for one of the unlit torches on his way.

Suddenly the princess finds herself up, and the ground moving quickly beneath her dangling feet. "I ... " She looks down. " ... will need a sheet of paper, and access to a flame."

"Of course, Your Highness," Redmane grunts as she tries to keep balanced. "Right after we're past the danger."

Sir Lefallon dutifully sheathes his sword, though doubt is written on his face as to whether light is truly a better weapon than sharpened swords, and as they hurry along, reaches out to grab another of the torches. "Aye, we'll need to light these somehow," he says, hurrying to catch up again.

"I carry flint and steel in my side pouch, Sir Lefallon," Thomas says in reply, "Redmane and I can hold ground with the lanterns; you and the others can light them."

Up ahead, they can suddenly see a new source of light, like a distant firefly -- the dim glow of the filtered afternoon sunlight, shining down from the top of the chasm by which they entered.

"I will begin the incantation now then, and I will trust one of you to light a paper and hand it to me when I I speak of lightings. And do be quick; it is but a short spell." And with those words said, the princess begins her incantation. "In the dark where shadows tread I call upon the light that slumbers ... "

"If they're working to cave in the entrance, we may not have time," Sir Lefallon says grimly. "Perhaps the lanterns..."

"Oracle, have you any paper?!" Redmane asks, looking every which way while carrying the Princess. Where are the Jruuh? she wonders.

The oracle shakes her head. She tugs at the ribbon that ties the end of her braid as she runs. "Would this do?"

"My concern is if we open the lanterns, we run the risk of getting them extinguished," Thomas replies, "But, we can risk one of them, I suppose." He looks this way and that, trying to note any movement.

The reptiloid clutches his unlit torch. "Not much time, masters!"

Thomas skids to a halt and fumbles with the latch on his lantern. "Okay, light the torches over here. Redmane, guard your lantern. It may mean our lives," Thomas says quickly.

The knight lists to her right under her royal burden. "No problem."

The princess just nods quickly, as if urging haste, to the Oracle's question, unable to answer vocally lest she interrupt her spell. "As the sun awakens to morning, so do we awaken the sleeping lives of that which was created to bring us light. Like, ... " She holds out her hand.

As the lantern's light flickers fitfully along the corridor up ahead, Redmane spies a sagging wooden beam along the roof of the shaft, and the ones down the sides look splintered and torn, on the verge of buckling. A vague shadowy shape worries at one, but when she fastens her eyes on it, it turns to face her. With a queer, eerie cry, it vanishes into nothingness. The support beam it was at -- and the ones beyond -- creak ominously.

"Let's not tarry too long to light the torches," the lady knight urges.

"Guide, hurry! Light your torch," Thomas urges, "We must go."

Lady Raven throws the end of her ribbon into the lantern, as it's almost immediately apparent that the torches can't be easily lit from the lantern; their cloth-wrapped ends would threaten to crush the wick-holding elements of the lanterns. The ribbon catches after a few seconds that seem like eternity, and Raven passes it to Alice as they resume their hurried dash.

The guide holds his torch to the burning ribbon as best he during all the galloping, confusion, and stomping of feet, while trying to keep pace with the humans.

Thomas closes the latch on his lantern and runs toward the exit. He shines his light all around, looking toward the support posts, attempting to catch one of the creatures and destroy it.

"Like the sun is to morn, casting your radiance to awaken. On tiny wings of fire I invoke thee O light," finishes Angel. The ribbon, burning in her hand and charring bits of her glove, is suddenly struck by a clap from her free hand. The effect causes the ribbon to shatter in many a glowing cinder which scatter in to the air around her.

Tom's frantic gaze spies another badger-like -- or perhaps dog-like -- animal cowering behind a post. It snarls at him, trying to hide, but he shines the lantern on it, and with a similar cry, it disappears.

Born on a preternatural breeze, the embers from the ribbon scatter down the corridor, like tiny fireflies illuminating the darkness. They settle, burning cinders, onto torches, candles, and lanterns. Then, they wink out.

The Knight Redmane grimaces and leans forward to blow on the remains of the one on the guide's torch. It dies, too -- then abruptly flares to life with a roar, along with every other torch along the hallway. The shapes of lurking jruuh appear everywhere, silhouetted by torchlight, and they scramble and whine as they scurry from the beams they were worrying, looking desperately for cover.

The guide nearly drops his torch when the end bursts into flame, but manages to hold onto it, and waves it past the beams. "Hurry, Masters! The beams will not hold!" More confident, now that he has a light source, the reptiloid skitters around the showers of dirt and rock.

Now that the spell has been cast, Redmane lowers the Princess to her feet. "Time to run, Your Highness!"

"We have light, by the grace of God," Sir Lefallon cries out. He looks about the far corners of the tunnel, trying to fix his gaze on each one of the shapes, as the group runs headlong toward the entrance.

Thomas runs, but glances back occasionally to make sure all the others are making their way fine towards the entrance.

Looking vaguely winded, and with a somewhat burnt glove as well, the princess stumbles on her feet. "Y-yes ... coming!" she calls out, and hurries along after the others. Her gaze, now free of the pages, seeks out the shadows as they try to hide in the same manner as she did on the Isle.

Whenever Lefallon's keen eyes catch the squirming of a fleeing jruuh, it freezes, momentarily transfixed, then disappears, sometimes with a wail, and sometimes with no sound at all.

"No time to try and catch one with the Optikon," Redmane laments as the roof continues to crumble.

Raven runs behind them, helping the stumbling princess along as jruuh all around them vanish, caught between torchlight and eyesight. They are almost to the entrance shaft, where the coil of their rope lies in a small puddle of sunlight. Behind them ... one of the supports gives way, rock and dirt showering onto the tunnel floor, and the rest of the tunnel crackles alarmingly.

The explorer's arms move up and he ducks down some as he runs, trying to cover his head from falling debris. He becomes content that the others are having no problems making it toward the exit, so he focuses his attention on the Jruuh, trying to lock his green eyes on them as he heads toward the rope and safety.

"Oh my!" exclaims Angel with a start. She picks up her pace now, and leaving her fatigue to be worried about when she is safe.

The guide ignores the rope, and simply clambers hurriedly right up the side of the cliff, towards daylight, his torch abandoned on the floor.

At last the other explorers stand beneath the sunlight from the entrance. If the tunnel collapses, at least it will not be directly upon their heads. But there is still the sound of gnawing somewhere, high above. Bits of dirt fall into the light on the floor, speckling it.

"We've done it, we've found a way to drive back the Jruuh!" Sir Lefallon exults as he holds his torch aloft and looks toward the others.

"Go, go, go!" Thomas shouts, pointing upward, "Redmane, you first! Princess, can you hold onto Redmane's back as she climbs? Get both of you out first. Raven, you're next. Then Sir Lefallon!"

Redmane stares up towards the top of the shaft. "I think they're chewing on the rope!" she warns.

Sir Lefallon looks skyward as well. "Can they-- isn't that broad daylight up above? How can they stand the light?"

"It doesn't matter if there's nobody there to see them," Redmane suggests. "Guide! Hurry and see if there are any Jruuh at the rope or timbers above!" she calls to the rapidly climbing reptile.

The explorer takes in a deep breath and looks around. He grabs the rope firmly and says, "I could also go, as I am probably the fastest climber aside from the reptile, and help make sure it's safe. I don't like the thought of leaving any of you down here before I ascend, but..."

The creature, about halfway up, cries, "Vigilance!" and redoubles his efforts, scattering small loose rocks and bits of lichen.

Gasping for breath, Raven leans against the wall of the chasm, looking up. "I fear you are right, lady knight," she says. She picks up a stone and tries to hurl it to the top, at the unseen gnawer above, but her throw hasn't nearly the power to reach so high. "No, Lord Thomas!" She grabs for the explorer's arm as he touches the rope. "What if it breaks with you half way up?"

Quickly the princess puts her book away, securing it in her leather book bag and moving to stand near the lady knight. Her right hand rests on her chest and she breathes quickly as she tries to catch her breath. "Explor ... exploring ... huff ... certainly is ... puff ... exhausting."

"I urge you to wait until we know the rope is secure," Redmane says. "Unless you can climb the bare wall, Lord Thomas."

As their guide nears the chasm's top, the gnawing sound abates. There's a brief scatter of dirt, then silence.

The Explorer's gaze whirls to focus on Lady Raven. "Milady, I have to do something. I got all of you into this, I don't want to see any of you get trapped. What if the creature can't stop the jruuh?" Thomas says quickly. His hand remains on the rope, but he doesn't make the attempt to climb. He remains looking at Lady Raven and says, "I'm sorry, Milady, I should've insisted that you and the Princess stay behind at the Keep. I shouldn't have risked your lives like this." He then slowly looks away and toward the wall, trying to determine the composition.

Redmane continues to watch the top of the shaft for the Guide to return.

The guide's reedy voice sounds from above. "Masters! Danger lurks in high then low places, with much screaming while going from high to low, and then an abrupt stop.... though the Jruuh are routed! I shall endeavor on your behalf to resolve the situation."

"Is the rope secure!?" Redmane calls up.

"Do not be so -- arrogant!" Lady Raven says suddenly, sounding exasperated. "Do you think we are helpless? Do you think we believed our safety assured, and this a mere picnic? We knew the risks as well as you."

The rope begins wiggling ... then it drops suddenly ... for about a foot. It slides back up the wall, wiggles some more, and then falls still again. "Emerge!" is the cry from above.

The princess bows her head, still clutching her chest. "I have a duty to the people of Mirari to see that they are protected in my father's absence. I should be here; it does not do to sit about the castle when more can be accomplished here where the adventure awaits," she explains. And after a pause, she adds, "You can insist, but you know as I do you cannot keep me from going with you. It was my choice and mine alone. As I am sure it was with our Lady Oracle."

"Milord, you did your best," Sir Lefallon adds after this. "Without the Princess's miraculous spell, we might not have survived this adventure. Without your leadership ... this expedition might never have happened, and we might not know what we now do."

The guide's face peeps over the lip of the crevasse. He stares down into the cavern, then yanks on the rope a few times, and lets go again, waiting expectantly.

Redmane gives a few tugs on the rope to make sure it'll hold. "I'll go up, and then pull up the Princess when it's safe," she says, and starts climbing.

The prophetess eyes the rope warily for a moment, then nods her head, slowly. "Our thanks, wee man, for all your aid," she calls up.

Thomas steps back, and looks at the Oracle, then the Princess. Instead of replying to them, he turns to Redmane and nods. "Agreed. Be careful, then. Sir Lefallon, Please head up after the Princess. We should make sure the fighters are up where they may be needed more immediately," Thomas says.

Redmane pulls herself up the rope, calling ahead, "Guide, guard your back until I arrive!"

When Redmane reaches the top, she can see no sign of the wee lizard-like man who served as their guide. The rope has been untied and re-secured to the rock, however, and she can see where part of the length, near the end, was gnawed to a few threads. The new knot put the frayed section at the unused end, safely out of harm's way.

The remaining members reach the chasm's top without incident, the rush of adrenaline wearing off now, leaving them tired and jittery.

The princess has found a rock to sit on, and there she rests with her bag beside her and her wand laying under her folded hands. "A victory to tell the people; good news is always welcome in times of trouble," she comments, and smiles.

"Where's our guide?" asks Sir Lefallon as he stands near the Princess with sword drawn. He peers about the countryside, toward the dark woods beyond which lies familiar, secure Hawksmoor Keep. "Gone back to his master, that great dragon, already?"

Knight Redmane stretches and groans. "Next time, please, may we bring horses, Lord Thomas?"

The explorer looks skyward, judging the time of day. "We should have time to make it back to the Keep if we continue on," Thomas says a few minutes later. He looks to Sir Lefallon. "That, or went to hunt more jruuh. He seemed to feel better once he knew light made them weak. And it's still daylight out here, so..." He shrugs, "Perhaps we'll meet again some day, perhaps not." His gaze then turns to Redmane and he says, "I was concerned the jruuh would harm horses if we left them alone out here. That may not be so, though. Next time, we'll bring them."

"He was a ... dutiful sort of guide, if peculiar. I wonder if we'll see his like again ... " The princess follows the gaze of the knight beside her, looking deep into the wilderness. "Somehow ... I think we shall. And stranger besides, I'm sure."

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.