The halfling shakes his head and points next door (DM note: Room 3 in map). "The room is also alive and filled with the same type of pods but of all different sizes and they are strewn about everywhere. All sorts of things are in the pods or ready to come out." Tak draws in breath audibly and hits his fist into his palm, "They are here! The two archers are each facing the doors and waiting for us. One of them is bleeding but both are ready to attack nevertheless. There seems to be only the two of them and the room seems fit for growing different fruits and vegetables."

THE PLAN

Mendi looks towards Tak and Koreth, "I think we cannot leave those archers behind our back, they would be a danger I don't want to face. I say we must wipe them before we resume our advance, while Gaigin and perhaps the kreen go out to wait us."

"I think we should make sure they cannot escape since they probably have keen ears, I'll go around the room, perhaps with you, Tak, and I'll send a mental signal to the person on the other side, probably Elric or Rayne. Then we'll launch our common attack."

Koreth nodded somberly at the words of his companion, Gaigin's pack was in a bad situation and it was only growing worse. These renegade halflings could not be left at the pack's back. To do so was to risk an ambush or worse.

"I believe you're right elf," Koreth replies to Mendi "If our archers can hit them from behind and then what's left of our warriors hit them from the front as they move to face the archers." He pauses, the leadership of the pack a heavy burden on his brow "The wounded would have to stay clear of the fight, and watch for any additional attackers."

Mendi smiles warmly as Koreth accepts his plan. "I will not forget your trust, Nobleman Koreth. The noble warrior drew up his will again, preparing himself for one more battle. His will gathered in his nexus and slowly spread out to his limbs, fortifying them beyond their normal capacity. His Will answered his call as is usual when the warrior is calm and able to concentrate on the task at hand. It is only when something is pressingly urgent that the warrior sometimes fails to flood his body with mental energy.

"I think Mendi has a good idea, though Chit and Gaigin have no reason to leave. We could use Chit's last three arms in a fight still and I can still watch Gaigin . . ." Turning to the ex-caravan guard, "You haven't slowed me down yet, I think yer given' yerself too much credit." <grin> "I will take this door, if Elric can fire his bow in first to distract the critters while I run in. Gaigin, ye can still keep up, just stay out of the range of fire and keep close to the walls."

Gaigin grimaces slightly but nods at Rayne. "I could not wish for a better defender, but I'd still rather not be a burden if I can help it. Tell ya what, I'll leave me fate in the hands of our illustrious commander." Turning to Koreth, grimacing at the sudden shot of pain that accompanies the motion, Gaigin grits his teeth and speaks. "I'll go along with whatever ye decide, but decide quickly. I'm not in a good way, but I can hold onto me good mind for a while yet." Gaigin leans back against the wall, just managing to keep himself upright.

Aryus nods in agreement to Mendi's plan. "Yes, that is the best way. We divide the group into two and attack from both sides. I say that Gaigin and Chit should stand aside in this battle and perhaps cover our backs."

"You are right, if they don't leave us, they can guard our back. But perhaps the kreen can cast some of his missiles, even though he is wounded, in which case you and him will cover Koreth's entry, and then perhaps Rayne's, while Elric and I would fire at them from the other opening, with Tak and Ptellac to cover our backs. This is probably the best, since Koreth's and Rayne's entry should prevent them from coming the way of Aryus and Chit!" As the small halfling showed sign of a growing agitation, Mendi told him, "Don't feel offended, friend Tak, you are wounded and there is no honor in loosing one's life at the group's expense. We still need your knowledge of the area and whatever lore you might have of your long dead
ancestors. Besides, I know your keen eyes and nimble hands will strike down whatever could come on us from behind. Elric and me, we put our lives in your hands, and that is a great honor!"

"No sense waiting around," Koreth grins "the plan is about as sound as it's going to get. We all know what to do, so let's kill these bloody renegades." Koreth moves to take his position in the plan....

"Send that signal once your in position," Koreth says, looking to Mendi "we'll hit them then." <I hope this works....> he thinks somberly to himself.

Koreth waits patiently as the archers move into position. He checks over his wrist razors, making sure they are fastened securely. He smiles, they will not slip off in the heat of battle.

Rayne waits eagerly with her tortoise blade strapped to her good arm. When the signal is sent, Rayne will charge the halfling under the cover of Elric's arrows.

Elric moves down the hall to the door that Tak indicated. Pulling an arrow into firing position, he nods to the others letting them know he is ready.

Aryus readies his bow with an iron tipped arrow. "I say we shower them with a volley of arrows. Charging forward blindly would not work if they are armed with bows. Let's take this one step at a time. If we cover both doors, then they cannot escape. We'll just slowly hit them with arrows until victory."

Aryus turns to Elric and the other archers in the group, "What do you say to this? We burst the door open from both sides and shoot in. There is no way they can expect arrows from both sides. Aim doesn't have to be good, but if we keep shooting, we'll get them eventually. They can't escape either if the warriors help us cover both ends."

ACTION

So the group has split up again. Elric and Mendi would fire arrows with Ptellac and Tak to cover them while Ayrus and Chit fire missiles from the other opening with Koreth and Rayne ready to charge in as necessary. Due to the small size of the room and the angle of the door, it was necessary for everyone who was firing to step into the room, unfortunately this also proved good enough target for the halfling archers as well.

Mendi moves silently to the other door. He uses Send Thought to warn Koreth that it is time to attack. The elf concentrates on a harbringer, a subtle, non-aggressive one that the warrior would recognize and allow into his mindscape. A lone, desert traveler, the bringer of news, appears in Koreth barren plain, a bearer of news that the noble allowed to speak…

Once the signal is received, Koreth places his hand in the opening to open the door. He did not even feel revulsion, only the need to crush the renegades. The door opened before him and he let Ayrus and Chit step into the room to fire missiles.

As the door swings open, Elric quickly finds a target and lets fly his arrow. Drawing another arrow from his quiver, Elric pauses to let his companions have time to move through the doorway.

Ayrus and Chit are within the room and ready to fire before the halflings realize what is going on. The wind cleric releases his arrows with deadly precision and is rewarded by a solid hit followed by an involuntary scream for pain. The halfling's missile goes awry to crash onto the back wall. Ayrus take advantage and careful aim; his second arrow only graces the nimble halfling but still draws blood from his shoulder. The warrior had dodged aside and quickly whirled only to find Chit's chatkchas speeding towards him. The halfling jumps aside diving headlong towards the wall but both missiles imbed themselves in his lower leg. That warrior won't be walking any time soon if ever again. The warrior however was not worried and was prepared to sell his life dearly; he had already drawn another arrow from his prone position.

Before the other halfling could find out what was happening, Elric had loosened his arrow from across the room. The arrow is wide of its mark as the renegade dodges to the side. That was when Mendi fired his crossbow. Mendi's good reflexes allowed him to aim clearly at the closer halfling, who couldn't dodge for cover soon enough. The bolt took him on the left side, and the archer cried in pain. Mendi scowled grimly, already recranking his crossbow. Elric took this advantage and fired his second missile, which fortunately ended up protruded from the halfling's thigh.

The renegade fired his own bow twice, one at each target. The half-elf was able to avoid the missile at close range. The elf's agility was not enough this time as a thin wooden arrow stuck on his upper shoulder. Blood was already oozing from the wound as Mendi stepped towards the wall for any cover. Tak stepped in and with a loud cry let his spear fly. The bone-headed shaft flew wide from its intended target who already had two wounds to worry about.

ROUND 2

The first renegade was almost done for it but still fired his bow at his sworn enemies. The first shot grazed Ayrus' shoulder and the second arrow took a piece of chitin of the now-unarmed kreen. The windmage fired again but strangely enough, his aim was off probably due to the pain experienced. Koreth had too much of this and decided to step in to finish off the halfling.

Koreth's razors sank into both the arm and the side of the halfling, whose attempt to dodge had been too late. The halfling cried out in pain as the razors drank his blood. Koreth ripped his razors out, but kept the halfling within close range. It would not do well to have him escape only to find the rest of the pack injured in the hall behind him. The halfling did not go anywhere; his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he slumped unceremoniously to the floor.

Mendi had already armed his weapon and was looking for a good shot while at the same time trying to keep covered. Elric stepped out and fired his bow. His arrows missed the halfling who kept well under cover and still fired his bow. The halfling's arrows went wide as it was not easy to fire from his well-protected position. It was then that the elf shot his crossbow and his bolt struck again drawing fresh blood from another wound on the already battered hunter.

Following Koreth's lead, Rayne charges savagely, swiping her blade in low. The blade strikes true, slicing the halfling across the gut. Rayne whirls around to face the halfling, her tortoise blade held ready at eye level, showing the renegade his blood dripping off the weapon. That was all it took for this fellow to die and give no more fight.

A few of the companions went again to the old familiar task of bandaging up wounds while others started a search of this strange room. The room is filled by strange pods with certain weird items inside of them. It seems that the recent earthquakes disrupted what was otherwise a well kept and neat room. It has the appearance of some sort of workshop or more like a greenhouse where plants were raised. The eerie glow from the walls illuminates many items that look like snakes, claws, patches and other never before seen paraphernalia. When the careful search is over, two of those strange items are found to be moving or otherwise alive…

The first item is about the size of a small fist. It is brown colored and looks like the porous stone that the walls are made off. When prodded with a weapon, the item turns out to be soft, the item squeezes itself into different shapes but regains its original shape more or less. The item was found amongst two recipients of liquids; one of them looks and smells like some foul concoction while the other seems to be pure, crystalline water.

The second item is within a transparent box made out of some sort of organic glass. The living item is about the size of a dagger and by all means looks like some type of grub or worm. The creature writhes about within its transparent box. The creature does not have any sensory organs that you can see. Its color is a dark green but seems translucent at times; the dim light within the room does not allow for a much more detailed inspection.

Just when the group is wondering at these two findings and still checking the rest of the room, the strange primitive halfling image fades into view again. He looks at Tak in shock and awe and also surveys the dead halflings in the room. The image is not as vibrant as before and the quality of its movements seems hampered as if the halfling were sick or dying. It addresses Tak while ignoring everyone else, "Hurry Master, they have gotten into my brain and do not have good intentions. I am weak and will not be able to hold off much longer. You will have to complete the task and finish off the twins before they get away and cause more hassle; they can be really dangerous to halflings all over if they are set free. I can answer a few questions before it is time for me to pass on…."

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 (SeW)

Tak (W), (SeW) PSPs

Chit (SeW)

Koreth (SiW), (SeW) PSPs

Mendi (SeW), (SeW) PSPs

Elric (SiW)

Rayne (SiW), 0 PSPs

Gaigin (MW)

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

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian