The better lighting did nothing to lessen its ferocious aspect, it enhanced it if anything. Another strange detail came into view however; the lizard had no eyes what so ever but it still turned the right direction after them with its two tongues flicking in and out of its teeth-filled mouths. Ptellac called out again, "Come quickly, help. Oh, thank Mother Earth. Hold on Tak, the rest of the group is here."

From the cover of the half-closed opening's angle, Mendi looked at the beast, now quite certain it had been a bad idea to wake up this morning. With a look over the corner to make sure the two halfling archers didn't attack them from behind, the elf decided to fire on the fell beast. The dry twang of his quarrel flying towards the lizard was soon heard. "Must be the twins, mumbled the elf under his breath. Blood and feathers!"

Mendi's bolt flew inches from the thrikreen's bulbous abdomen. The kreen couldn't help a violent twitch of his mandible, which resulted in an audible gasp from the elf.

Ptellac decided to take advantage of Tak's small size and throw his spear. He threw the missile close to the left wall where Tak was and hoped the halfling did not raise himself. The lizard reared one of its ugly heads to try and snap at the halfling just when the spear struck in the side of its neck. The beast screamed its pain and still went for the halfling. The spear pierced just below the neck; its black agafari wood soon became covered in slick, red blood.

"For the love of Gaea!" Tak' grunted, slamming against the wall to avoid a snap by one of the lizards twin maws, "this monstrosity is not of nature!" Brandishing his daggers, and moving them - and himself, rapidly to make himself a difficult target, Tak' gathered himself. "Koreth! Take some of the others and circle round behind this thing," Tak shouted, feinting an attack at the lizard, causing it to recoil reflectively, "it will eat us one by one if we can't surround it!"

Tak' knew he could not defeat this beast by himself - so he busied himself with doing what damage he could - and staying alive. Tak' lashed out wit his life dagger as the lizard lunged forward - the blade striking the muscled jaw. The dagger slices through the thick skin, drawing blood and a bellow of anger and pain.

Not really thrilled about being unable to use his Gythka or chatkchas, Chit-Zik spreads his three remaining claws out and gets ready to attack. He watches at the creature with a less than enthusiastic look with one of his arms hanging limply by his side. The thri-kreen rakes all three claws along the massive creature's head, hoping to blind or otherwise impair the creature, then he flanks the beast from the same side with a bite. The familiar red streaks are formed along the creature's face, injuring its body. Chit-Zik takes a satisfying bite into the creature but is met with the creature's jaws snapping back. The kreen pulls back his head just as the lizard snaps his jaws in empty air.

Rayne leans back against the wall. Reaching into her mindscape, she brings forth Marteu and the tent to have her wrist mended. The mul succeeds in stopping the flow of blood from her lower as she flexes the muscle getting a good grip on her weapons. She keeps Gaigin close to her watching for any other halflings that may come up and surprise them.

Aryus screams out in pain, grabbing his leg as he limped around. "Damned piece of kank dung!" As he is slowly helped out of the room and rejoined with the rest of the group, Aryus displays the anger and fear on his face. "We've got to be careful. That monster won't hesitate to take all of us down. We need a plan of some sort." Aryus looks at his wounded leg again and realized that he himself needed healing this time. Muttering to the windlords, he casts a healing spell on himself and smiles as he tries out his leg with new found vigor.

Elric concentrates as he slowly draws his bone blades. The phantasm turns and jogs down the hall, its soft footfalls whisper down the hall. Moving to just before the cross way, the phantasm drops to one knee bow at the ready, scanning the hall.

Elric drops his concentration from the phantasm, knowing it will sit there as he placed it for a while longer guarding the rear. Turning to face the lizard, Elric sees the others of the group packing the small corridor to attack the creature. Hearing Tak call out for someone to circle the beast and attack from the other side, Elric turns and quickly leaps down the hall using his naturally fast legs to his advantage.

Koreth nods as Tak advises to surround the beast. He draws his sword and looks to Elric who was already running down the hall. "You want the left head or the right?" he gasps with a large smirk playing across his handsome face. Koreth does his best to keep up with the warlock and both look out lest they be surprised by the halfling snipers.

ROUND 2

With a grim scowl, Mendi recharged his crossbow, still protected by the angle of the fountain room. Behind him, he heard the noises of the fight against the lizard, and hoped his companions would prevail. The elf kept watch on the two running warriors trying to anticipate any attack on them by the halflings that were still up and about.

Since the halflings don't reappear, Mendi yells, "Ptellac, come with me, we must cover our back!" and then tries to sneak to the door of the 'room with white tower'. Once there, he watches for the archer and snipes on any who could appear, from either side of the corridor or from the room. Ptellac stands by his side trying to hear the outcome of the battle and ready to jump in should there be any openings in the front row. The saurian was feeling a bit dizzy from the loss of blood and his movements were not as fluid as before. His dark green hide showed some streaks bright with crimson blood.

Feeling a bit more relieved, Rayne springs into action. "Stay safe Gaigin" Rayne shouts as she races out straight for the beast. Pushing past her thrikreen companion who was in no shape to be in front, Rayne draws her sword and launches herself at the creature.

Tak', busy with the monstrosity in front of him is only aware of Rayne's presence when Chit-Zik withdraws and he finds himself teamed with the mul against the beast. Flashing a quick smile, Tak' has only time to say "try to keep it's jaws at bay - when the others circle round we can press our advantage," before the melee takes both the heroes' concentration.

The mul's blade gouges a deep gash into the side of the lizard creature. "Pick on someone yer own size freak!" The feel of the fresh blood spilling down her sword onto her arm brings a smile to Rayne's face as she prepares to defend herself against the beast's wrath.

The beast is quick to react this time and snaps her jaws shut on the mul's shoulder. Pain shoots up her arm threatening to overcome the mul's consciousness. She tried to pull her shoulder free but the beast would not let go. The mul fought to maintain her consciousness but the beast kept biting her in short bursts of snapping jaws. The mul knew she could not hold on much longer and was only thankful that her bone appeared to hold on under the brute's jaws.

Tak's eyes widen as he sees in the other side that the mul is in deep trouble and redoubles his attack. His life dagger again scores a deep hit and it quickly becomes covered in the beast's slimy blood. The beast was dying; Tak could only hope that the two warriors would get here in time to save Rayne.

It was then that Elric came into full view followed closely by Koreth. The warlock grabbed one of his bone short swords and plunged it deep within the beast's body. The beast seemed to move no more but Koreth still raked deep with his two wrist blades making sure the lizard never moved again. The beast gave an audible sigh and lost control of its heads. Both heads lost their tension and veered towards the ground. The head closer to Tak still was being held up by Koreth's spear and Rayne held up the other head much to her dismay. Koreth climbed over the beast's body and helped the mul by prying the jaws open. Rayne took out her body from inside and would have feinted had it not been for the wall behind her. She looked about in dismay at the continuous teeth marks that would adorn her body from now on for not even Marteu's help would take away that scar.

Ayrus helps Gaigin and calls forth Mendi who quickly came followed by Ptellac. The party had reunited but at what price! The halls were again strangely silent save for the low beating from the walls that reminded them that they still were inside a living building with a few crazy halflings running about trying to awaken who knows what sort of monstrosity.

Your actions…

OUT OF CHARACTER

HEALTH STATUS

Remember the scale:

Healthy (H) 100% hitpoints remaining

Slightly Wounded (SiW) 75% to 100% hitpoints remaining

Wounded (W) 50% to 75% hitpoints remaining

Seriously Wounded (SeW) 25% to 50% hitpoints remaining

Mortally Wounded (MW) 0% to 25% hitpoints remaining

Ptellac (W)

Ayrus (W)

Tak (W), (SiW) PSPs

Chit (SeW)

one arm out of action for 3 days unless magical healing

Koreth (SiW), (W) PSPs

Mendi (SiW), (W) PSPs

Elric (SiW)

Rayne (W), (MW) PSPs

right arm out of action for 3 days unless magical healing

Gaigin (MW)

Gaigin will recover full hitpoints gradually in 5 days time notwithstanding any magical healing

I promised a good role-playing turn. I did my part now it is up to you.

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian