A Trap Sprung

Viscta Vikony, 4 Tyan, YT330

All knew the danger of this pursuit in unfamiliar territory. But they had given their word to the villagers to do what they could. Their growing reputation had raised the hopes of the captives friends and families and as they accepted hurried hospitality in the village each wondered what trials they had in store.

By the time the companions reached the locale where the captives were supposed to be, darkness had already descended in the steep sided ravine. Olorin, Tolarr, and Brimstone chose to move from cover to cover down one side, using their gimlet-eyed abilities to pierce the gloom. Gorran, Voweslaw, Hamec and Ikz followed the stream with Voltarr and Nicolai a short distance behind. When they had gone some distance down the gorge, Tolarr detected movement from higher up the slopes around them but it was not until Brimstone saw the trio of figures around the sarcen stone that the trap closed around them.

The trio were clearly cultists and the stone was already dark-stained. One appeared to be involved in ritual preparation and might be a priest. Guarding him was an enormous armoured warrior and a robed figure with a mage's staff. All were wearing deep violet and flame-orange though none in the group were aware of what this signified.

From the rocks on the far side of the gully the yruk fighters attacked with swords while others fired arrows down from the edges of the escarpment. Gorran tried to return fire on the archers but was forced to defend himself as the massive warrior bore down on him. Massive blow after massive blow hammered Gorran. The serious injuries he sustained forced him to withdraw.

Olorin and Tolarr attacked the cultists and the assault seemed to distract the mage for he seemed unable to concentrate. He and the cult-priest were no match in combat for the two Khazad.

Meanwhile a much darker creature was rushing towards Father Nicolai. None of his supplications seemed to be answered this night. He prepared his boar spear to fend off the creature. It seemed to move swiftly but it was larger than a mastiff. It's tail was hideous and murine. Nicolai thrust the spear at the beast but it was too quick. It dodged past the point and Nicolai found himself scrabbling on the ground as chisel-like teeth snapped at his face. One bite did make contact but without drawing blood. Nicolai began to understand the true evil of the creature he faced. Then suddenly the creature was gone, slipping away with the same speed and stealth as before.

The huge anti-paladin brushed past the other fighters and rushed straight towards Voltarr. In his haste to cast, Voltarr failed twice before a massive surge of bright energy checked his opponent.

As he and the the remaining yruk warriors moved off to regroup the companions noticed that one of there number lay still in the sand. An yruk arrow had struck the already wounded Gorran. He was dead!