The mist was thick as the adventurers arrived at the entrance to the dungeon, an old graveyard shrouded in a persistent, bone-chilling fog. Morning light struggled to pierce through the dense haze, leaving the cemetery in an oppressive twilight. Crumbling headstones jutted out at odd angles like jagged teeth, and ancient, gnarled trees seemed to twist unnaturally towards them, their branches clawing the air like skeletal fingers. The cold seeped into their bones, and any sound that escaped their lips was swallowed by the dense air as though the graveyard itself were an entity feeding on it. The stone archway into the dungeon loomed ahead, dark and silent, an open maw that seemed to consume all light.
"There it is," Lain announced with a grin that split her scarred face. "Treasure and glory await, boys!" Her voice echoed through the tombstones, swallowed quickly by the mist.
"Glory," Henry muttered, glancing around at the unwelcoming surroundings. "Hope it's worth all this gloom."
Jorn laughed. "Don't tell me you're scared, Henry. This'll be a piece of cake." His bravado was infectious, and Geoff nodded in agreement, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Alright, Finch," Lain called, her smile turning wicked as she glanced down at the kobold standing at her side. "You're leading."
Finch's eyes, already wide with unease, somehow widened further. She was kicked forward by Lain, her scrawny body trembling as she took hesitant steps toward the dungeon entrance. Finch had no choice but to obey, though every bone in her body screamed at her to turn and flee.
The stone corridors of the dungeon twisted in endless turns, their surfaces damp and slick with mold. The further they walked, the closer the walls seemed to close in around them, pressing into the adventurers' space, almost alive. Finch stumbled ahead, carefully eyeing the floor with every step, knowing all too well a dungeon's propensity for traps.
A strange, thick miasma seemed to hang in the air, a sensation that clung to their skin and settled heavily on their chests. Henry stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Do you guys feel that? Like something's... watching?"
Jorn rolled his eyes. "It's a dungeon, Henry. Everything here wants to eat you. Keep moving."
Geoff, however, seemed less dismissive. He frowned, his gaze flickering nervously around the tunnel. "He's right. There's something off about this place."
Before they could ponder any further, a screech echoed from ahead. The tunnel erupted into motion as monstrous bats descended upon them, their leathery wings flapping furiously.
Lain unsheathed her blade, moving with swift efficiency. She ducked under the bats' swooping attacks, her dagger flashing as she struck with precision. Each movement was calculated, her body twisting and turning as though she were dancing. A bat lunged at her, and Lain sidestepped smoothly, her dagger slicing through its wing membrane, sending it crashing to the ground.
Henry, standing a few paces back, drew his bow with practiced ease. He took aim, his eyes narrowing as he tracked the rapid movements of the bats. One bat dove towards him, and with a calm breath, he released an arrow. The shaft flew true, striking the creature through the chest and pinning it to the wall. Henry quickly notched another arrow, each shot deliberate and accurate, bringing down bat after bat.
Jorn, meanwhile, fought with sheer brute strength. He swung his heavy sword in wide arcs, the blade cleaving through the air with a whistle. When a bat got too close, he smashed it with the flat of his blade, sending it careening into the stone wall with a sickening crunch. He laughed as he fought, the sound booming through the corridor. "Come on, you ugly things! I'll take you all on!"
Geoff stood at the back, his staff glowing with arcane energy. He muttered an incantation under his breath, and darts of magical energy shot forth, each one homing in on a bat with unerring accuracy. The darts struck their targets, the bats shrieking as they were blasted out of the air. Geoff's eyes flickered with concentration, his hands moving in precise gestures as he launched spell after spell, covering his companions with magical support.
The battle was brief but intense, the adventurers moving with the practiced coordination of a seasoned team. Finally, the last bat fell, its body hitting the ground with a dull thud. The corridor fell silent once more, save for the heavy breathing of the group.
"See? Nothing to worry about," Jorn boomed, but the tension in his eyes remained as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
Finch, small and quick, was forced to walk ahead again as the group continued, her eyes darting nervously at every shadow. A faint click sounded under her foot, and with a yelp, she sprang back, narrowly avoiding the spikes that shot up from the floor where she'd just stood. Lain glared at the kobold, clearly frustrated by their lack of progress.
"Watch where you're stepping! We need treasure, not wasted time!" Lain's voice echoed, her irritation clear.
Finch whimpered but nodded, inching forward. She was just a slave; her fate didn't matter to any of them. Her only goal was to keep breathing, at least for a while longer.
The group came upon a larger chamber, the air thick with tension. Their footsteps echoed against the stone, muffled by the numerous cobwebs lining the walls. Shadows shifted above them, and giant spiders dropped from the ceiling, their glossy black bodies marked with eerie blue patterns. The spiders moved with unsettling speed, their many eyes glinting with malice as they zeroed in on the adventurers.
"Spiders!" Geoff shouted, his staff flaring to life as he unleashed a blast of magic, sending one spider reeling. The creatures hissed and began shooting sticky webs at them, the strands thick and glistening.
Lain moved with precision, her blade slashing through the thick webs as she danced between the spiders' legs. She dodged the webbing, her dagger striking out at the nearest spider, cutting into its abdomen and spilling dark ichor onto the stone floor. Jorn roared as he swung his sword, cleaving a spider in half with a powerful downward strike. He ripped through the webs with brute force, refusing to be slowed down.
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Geoff, seeing the webs starting to entangle his companions, muttered another spell. Flames erupted from his staff, and he directed them towards the webs, burning away the sticky strands before they could trap Lain and Jorn. The fire spread quickly, lighting up the chamber in a flickering orange glow. The spiders shrieked, recoiling from the flames as Geoff pressed his attack.
Finch scrambled away, ducking beneath a swipe from one of the spider's hairy appendages. At one point, a spider lunged at her, its fangs glistening with venom. Finch barely rolled out of the way, her heart pounding as she scrambled to her feet, narrowly avoiding another strike.
Henry, standing further back, took aim at one of the spiders. He released an arrow, striking it in the eye, but before he could draw another, a spider pounced on him from the side. He cried out as the creature sank its fangs into his arm, the venom burning as it spread through his veins. He struggled, managing to kick the spider off, but the damage was done. His face turned pale, and he swayed on his feet, his strength ebbing.
The battle was chaotic, the air filled with shouts and the screeching of dying creatures. Finally, the last spider fell, its legs curling inward as it twitched one final time.
Henry, panting heavily, clutched his arm. The nasty bite marred his skin, the area already turning an angry red. "Damn thing got me," he muttered, his face paling as the venom spread.
Lain glanced at him, her frustration boiling over. "And still no treasure," she growled. "What kind of dungeon is this?"
Geoff moved closer, examining Henry's wound with a frown. "We don't have any antivenom. You'll need to be careful, Henry. That bite could get worse."
Henry only shook his head, unease growing in his eyes. "This place... it feels wrong." He could already feel his limbs growing heavy, the venom sapping his strength.
As they moved on, Finch was again forced to take the lead. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached a large, ornate door, sensing something wrong. She reached out tentativly to touch the heavy stone, but before she could react, a blade sprang out from the door's frame. Finch screamed as her hand was severed, the bloody stump throbbing in agony.
The adventurers laughed at her misery. Geoff stepped forward, muttering a spell to cauterize the wound, the acrid smell of burnt flesh filling the air. Finch bit her lip to keep from crying out, tears streaming down her face.
It was then, as she wiped her eyes, that Finch saw it. A shape moving in the shadows, almost imperceptible—a demonic-looking canine, its glowing eyes locked onto them. Panic seized her chest.
"There's something—" Finch tried to say, her voice barely a whisper, but Jorn cut her off with a blow to her stomach. She crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath and unable to stop herself from pissing on the floor.
"Quiet, you useless thing," Jorn spat, not bothering to look where she pointed. Henry sneered down at her, his expression filled with disgust.
The group turned their attention back to the ornate door, struggling to push it open. The heavy stone ground against the floor, the sound echoing through the corridor. It was in this moment of distraction that the monsters struck.
Emerging from the very walls, their ghostly forms phased into existence, solidifying only to deliver vicious strikes. Geoff barely had time to raise his staff before one of the hounds lunged, its teeth closing around his neck. Blood sprayed across the stone walls as he crumpled, dead before he hit the ground.
Henry tried to draw his bow, but the hounds were too fast, closing the distance before he could take aim. He swung his bow like a club, striking one of the hounds across the snout. The creature snarled, barely fazed, and another lunged, sinking its fangs into his arm. Henry screamed, dropping his weapon as he was pulled to the ground. More hounds swarmed over him, their teeth tearing into his flesh. His cries echoed through the chamber, growing weaker until there was only silence.
Lain fought desperately, her blade a blur as she tried to fend off the attackers. She slashed at the nearest hound, but her dagger couldn't find a gap in the creature's dark metal armor. The hounds moved like shadows, their forms shifting just out of reach. One of them darted in, its teeth clamping down on her leg. Lain screamed as she felt her knee shatter under the pressure, the joint splintering with a sickening crack. She collapsed, her weapon clattering out of reach as pain overwhelmed her.
Jorn saw Lain fall and rushed towards her, his sword swinging wildly. He managed to fend off a hound, but another one bit into his side, its fangs tearing through his armor. He cried out in pain, and as more hounds closed in, his resolve crumbled. Fear gripped him, and he realized he couldn't save her. With a final, desperate glance at Lain, Jorn turned and fled, his heavy steps echoing down the corridor as he ran deeper into the dungeon, the hounds in pursuit.
Finch, trembling, looked at Lain. The woman lay on the ground, her leg mangled, unable to move. Lain's eyes widened as Finch approached, the kobold picking up the dagger that had fallen from Lain’s grasp.
"Finch..." Lain gasped, her voice weak, pleading. "Help me."
Finch stared at her, a smile creeping across her face. She kicked the woman’s legs apart, eliciting an agonized sob from Lain as he shattered knee was jostled. Finch lowered the dagger between her tormentor’s legs and used the tip to split the crotch of her pants open, exposing her bare pussy. The same pussy this woman had rubbed so fervently while she watched Finch being ravaged.
"Don't worry," Finch whispered, her eyes dark with fury, "I'll give you a good time. I'll make sure you die happy” Her grin was manic as she mocked the rogue with her own words and plunged the dagger between Lain’s legs, slowly, savoring every cry of pain that escaped the woman’s lips.
Jorn ran, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he stumbled into a large, circular chamber. He glanced around, hoping he had finally escaped the hounds. The room was eerily quiet, and for a moment, he allowed himself to believe he was safe.
But then, from the shadows, it emerged—a monstrous creature unlike anything Jorn had ever seen. The Barghest stood on all fours, its massive, hulking frame covered in pitch-black fur that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its eyes glowed a flickering blue flame, filled with an intelligence that spoke of malice and hunger. Its mouth was filled with rows of jagged teeth, blue flames dripping like saliva as it let out a low, rumbling growl that reverberated through the chamber. The creature's presence exuded an aura of pure terror, and the air seemed to grow colder as it advanced.
Jorn felt his knees weaken, his heart pounding in his chest as panic overwhelmed him. He gripped his sword tighter, but deep down, he knew it was useless. He had no chance against this thing. The Barghest's eyes locked onto his, and for the first time in his life, Jorn felt true, utter hopelessness. His bravado, his strength—all of it was meaningless in the face of such an unstoppable force. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, and he stumbled backward, his mind screaming at him to run even as he knew there was nowhere to go.
The Barghest moved with a predatory grace, each step deliberate as it closed the distance. Jorn tried to turn, to flee, but his legs felt like lead. He managed to take a few stumbling steps before the creature lunged, its massive jaws closing around his shoulder. Jorn screamed as he was dragged to the ground, the pain blinding, his sword clattering uselessly away. The last thing he saw was the Barghest's glowing eyes, filled with a cold, merciless hunger, before it tore into him with a ferocity that left no doubt: there would be no escape.
The sound of Jorn's terrified screams echoed through the dungeon as he was slowly torn apart.