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Wearily you rest for a few hours in one of the sparsely furnished rooms, you've seen along the way towards the sacrificial chamber(+10 Health Points). Then feeling refreshed you get up and walk back along the passageway where you had seen the circular chamber, and take a side passage that seems to lead back up towards the surface. These corridors, cramped, covered in a muddy track marks, and thick green moss that glows in the dark, take you up towards a winding stone staircase that seems to go up for many miles. Sighing heavily, you begin the long and arduous climb up, your wounds shooting waves of pain that scream up and down your spine testing your capacity for suffering. Grunting with each stab of pain, you continue upwards, when you feel the stones beneath you rumble.
You pause for a moment, trying to understand what had just happened? And start to think you must have just imagined the whole thing, when you feel the ground shake beneath you again. Eye's widening, you wonder what in the abyss is happening? As a gust of wind slams into you from above, nearly knocking you back down the stairs. Much stronger than the gusts of winds from earlier, you realise something must be up there. Just waiting for you to show your head. You look back the way you've come trying to decide whether to turn back, when the ground shakes much harder stirring up dust from the passageway, filling the air with dust particles. Feeling the need to be get out of here growing with each passing second, you decide to risk continuing upwards, there at least you know for certain there must be away out of this underground City.
Steeling yourself to face whatever is above you, you press on up the steps, careful to have a firm grip on the rough stone walls, in case another gust of wind should blow past. The higher you go up the stronger the shaking gets, causing you to stumble and fall scraping your hands and knees. Feeling a hot burn come to life inside of you, from being knocked about like a toy. You let out a growl of frustration, bite your tongue and push on towards the top. More gusts of wind barrel down the staircase knocking you backwards to gash your arms and bruise your shoulders as your are slammed backwards against the stone wall. Each time you get up, feeling angrier and continue up (-20 Health Points).
Finally you reach the top of the flight of stairs and give a roar of triumph that echoes down the passageway. A move you immediately regret as the ground trembles beneath you like a convulsing spasm that bashes you side to side against the walls (-10 Health Points). Wiping the blood from your lips and forehead, you draw your weapon and stealthy make your way down the passageway. The reek of death growing with each step you take. Ahead of you at the far end of the corridor is a large metal door that has been melted down into a grey mush that hangs off the wall like a dried up mushroom. Nerves on edge you make your way to door and slowly step inside.
Before your eyes even have a chance to adjust to the brightness within the chamber, a fireball the size of a boulder burns it's way through the air towards you. Reacting instinctively you duck behind a nearby blackened stone pillar. The blocks of stone tremble beneath your feet, and a fresh gust of wind blows hard against you. If it were not for the pillar your hiding behind, you fear you would surely have been smashed up against the stone walls such is the force you feel. Quieting your rapidly beating heart, you look around and see chains hanging from the walls, dried up blood splatters on the cracked stone floor and bones. Thousands upon thousands of bones. Some with their flesh taken right off the skeleton, others shattered into pieces that lie scattered all about you. And like of wave of sickness, you know exactly where you are. The dungeon.
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Sick to the stomach, you lean your head out and your worst fears are confirmed. For sitting atop a huge mound of gold that glitters in the glow of the cavern's pale light is a monstrous red Dragon, it's wings extended, smoke filtering out of it's nostrils and large evil yellow eyes that glower at you with malicious intent. Attached to the Dragon's left leg is a thick rusted metal chain that has been badly melted. Seems that Dragon from the tapestry is still alive and has managed to free itself from it's prison, and is now loose in the dungeon. The Dwarves must have kept the Dragon up here to guard their treasure; a risky move on their part. As your thinking that, another fireball zooms towards you, forcing you to duck your head back behind pillar again. As an intense heat washes over you for a minute, leaving behind a trail of sulfuric smoke.
What to do now? While scanning the dungeon, you had noticed that by coincidence or purpose the Dragon is between you and a broken down gate that looks like it might lead to the surface. But you also see alot of valuable looking items amongst the Dragon's treasure horde. Valuable enough, that it might be worth risking your life to snatch one or two items, before making a dash for the exit. Plus you could always use the pillars to try and avoid the fireballs.
(Readers Beware: Any resistance you have against fire, will not work as well here against the dragon's scorching hot flames. Resistance against fire is reduced to half it's usual protection.)
2. Do you snatch up two items using the cover of the pillars, before running away?
Not wishing to leave empty handed, especially after your ordeal on the stairwell. You feel a rush of excitement at the possibility of risking your life for abit of treasure, and let out a chuckle. This !This is what it means to be a true mercenary! Grinning from ear to ear, you put away your weapon. Thinking it better to keep your hands free. Then with the adrenaline rush coursing through your veins you sprint for the next pillar, and as if the Dragon was waiting for you to appear, a fireball blisters through the air to char the wall nearly hitting you. Sucking in a quick breather, you grit your teeth, and make another mad bolt for the next pillar, when you feel a fireball burn across your back, blistering your skin.
Oblivious to the pain you feel, you swiftly change directions to try and put the Dragon off balance and head for the gleaming stacks of treasure that lie piled up in great heaping mounds. Grabbing the nearest item you see, you rush back towards the pillar, when a powerful gust of wind hurls you across the room to crash head first into the stone wall. Dazed you look up, just in time to see a fireball burning towards you. Scorching your body with a ferocious heat that causes you to scream and writhe in agony. Seeing another fireball coming to finish you off, you roll to the side and get behind the pillar.
Groaning from your close call to death, chest aching you stand up, and ready yourself for your final sprint. With not much energy left in you, you run like the hounds of the abyss are right behind, snatching another piece of treasure along the way. And hear the Dragon cry out furiously at the sight of you escaping with it's treasures, releasing streams of white hot liquid flames that chase after you burning your shoulder badly, but despite your many wounds you make it to the gates and pass through into safety. Your safe.
Battle Results
- 90 Health Points
Loot
You've collected a heavy pouch full of 1,000 gold pieces, and a well-made round shield, which adds +3 resilience that glistens red in battle (Crimson Shield)