Big City Darkened Nights

Starring deep into the crystal ball Cornelious makes out a large cavern. A blue skinned Night-hag is kneeling in the middle of the space. Giant Larvae squirm around her. Cornelious yells out, “Wake him!”

Dashing over Dell shakes and yells at Carr.

The wizard turns to his outlined wall, focusing on what he saw, mumbling an incantation.

Recalling what it took before, Dell slaps Carr’s face hard. The first strike nothing. A second hit Carr’s eyes and mouth open wide gasping for air. Escaping from his body the hag’s vapory form. It slips back out the window.

Checking on the wizard Avilo notices the crystal ball is clear again, “Okay men get ready. When these magic portals open, we only have a few seconds to get through.”

Getting enough air Carr grabs the mace, “Thanks, think she almost got me.”

A rush of wind fills the room. The marked wall glows increasingly red. Dusty swirls of wind circle the fading chalk lines. The glowing red envelopes the stonework, seeming to twist inwards.

“Hurry it’s only temporary.” Warns the wizard as he walks though the wall vanishing.

Captain Avilo swiftly follows with Dell at his heels. Paul and Junior glance at each other shrug, grab Carr and practically drag him through.

All feel like momentarily falling in an intense spectrum of light. Before stumbling into a large hot cavern, complete with stalagmites and stalactites.

As Paul, Junior and Carr stumble in, the dimension door closes. Plunging them into the dark, the smell of death and sulfur fill the air. Strange squishing sounds alarm them.

The wizard whips up his arm snapping fingers to create a large ball of light. The temporary light manages to illuminate most of the cavern.

Standing a few strides away the tall, lean, Night-hag. Her glowing red eyes see right into their souls.

Wanting to make sure he can get home Dell pulls Cornellious back.

Captain Avilo steps forward, the others line up beside.

Tetra speaks first. “What futile cause brings you little men to your doom?”

Pointing to Carr, Avilo commands, “You will cease your hunt for this young man’s soul.”

“Or taste our steel,” Junior feels the need to add a threat.

The hag rests a claw tipped hand on the hip, “You think so, do you?” She thrusts out her other palm.

The mage quickly dispels her magic dart, “Your cheap spells will get you nowhere.”

Weapons at the ready the men spread out.

Annoyed Tetra warns them preparing for a fight, “You’re going to wish you’d stayed home. Soon the Demons and Devils will smell the goodness you wreak of.”

A hideous female but still a female Carr tries charm, “Surely someone as intelligent as yourself would rather compromise, than trade lumps and cuts. Perhaps I could offer you my services instead of my soul.”

Including Tetra, they all look at Carr like he’s crazy.

Junior rudely comments. “What are you thinking? Are you blind?”

That comment angers the Night-hag making her eyes glow brighter and her straw-like hair seems to be moving on its own. She stares right through Junior making him nervously swallow.

Firmly Captain Avilo restates, “Once more I’ll ask. Forget about this young man’s soul.”

“I don’t think so.” She squints confidently saying, “I think I’ll add all your souls to my collection.” Revealing the wiggling pack of advancing Larvae.

The men aren’t sure what to make of the massive maggot like, distorted foe.

With cat like reflexes Tetra flips backwards over the Larvae launching a magic dart.

The dart impacts Cornelious high on the right breast, with enough force to knock the old mage off his feet landing hard on his butt.

Enraged Junior yells out rushing the Hag followed closely by Paul. Jumping they easily clear the sluggishly snapping Larvae to come at Tetra from both sides.

Dell pauses to check on their wizard.

Seeing Dell check on Cornelious, Avilo turns making a couple strides into the encircling Larvae. Seeing only a dozen of them and how slow they seem Avilo says to Carr, “Those two will be fine. Stand back-to-back. We’ll kill a few of these. Then leap over them.”

“Okay.” Carr thinks the Larvae should be easy to crush. Bashing the pale, segmented body of one Carr has to jump back as it’s distorted face lunges out for a bite.

Junior starts a flurry of attacks with Paul attempting to back up the strikes. The Hag easily avoids the blades managing to kick and slash her claws at them.

Checking the wound Cornelious sees its livable telling Dell, “I’ll be okay. Hurry up, kill the Hag before she summons something more dangerous.”

“Yes of course.” Dell pats the mage’s good shoulder before heading for the Hag.

Seeing his Captain surrounded Dell tries to help. Slashing open the side of a Larva, stinky orange goo oozes from the wound.

With a second heavy chop Dell removes the creature’s head, “What are you waiting for?” He teases the pair running to assist with the Hag.

Paul makes a thrust for Tetra’s abdomen. Not even receiving a scratch she bats his sword aside to grab the wrist jerking him forward. Abruptly plucking out Paul’s left eye with her free hand, with a grim pop blood rushes forth.

Lining her up to get Paul free, Junior’s blade slashes across the Hag’s back leaving a minor cut.

Immediately kicking back Tetra’s heel connects firm with Junior’s codpiece, doubling him over.

Releasing Paul’s wrist, she spins around ferociously slapping Junior’s face. Her talons tear strips of flesh from his face.

In agony Paul backs away covering the bloody socket.

Dell rushes in attempting to run her through, she easily jumps aside.

Lining up a target Avilo splits a twisted snapping face.

Bashing the Larva Carr first hit, it still lunges forward. Putting all his force into the swing Carr smashes in the creature’s face, stopping it.

Avoiding Dell’s feeble attack Tetra lands beside Paul. Kicking his legs out first, then with lightning speed she drives her palm into his chest-plate, denting the steel and pounding Paul to the ground. The plucked eye is knocked from her talon and bounces away.

Again, with another running attack Dell passes right by as she jumps straight up. Coming down Tetra lands onto Dell’s back. Her fingertips pierce his armor pinning it to the top of his chest.

Easily removing another tortured face from its mutated body, Avilo pins a third to the ground. Lanced in place with his long-sword the Captain kicks its’ head, avoiding bites from it and two others, “We need to get some distance.”

Also keeping from being nipped Carr works the head of a big Larva. Wailing the mace down until it’s soft body ruptures, splattering orange goo across his black scale, “I agree.”

Using the long-sword for leverage, Avilo hops over the group of Larvae.

Jumping over one Carr slides through the remains of the first Larva killed, wiping out.

Not very mobile the Larvae thrash from side to side trying to turn around.

Still dug into Dell, Tetra bites through his ear tearing it off. Screaming out in pain Dell staggers about feebly hacking at her with his sword. Jerking her head back to avoid the sword Tetra swallows the section of ear.

Seeing his comrades in trouble Junior runs in making a second cut across the Hag’s back. Screaming with a high pitch Tetra uses Dell for leverage flipping off him. Tearing her claws out of his chest plate as she goes, causing Dell to drop his sword from the intense pain.

Having got the wound under control Cornelious studies the men. If twenty years younger he’d be better help. Standing spots, a substantial rock and picks it up.

Rolling further away Carr safely gets back to his feet, shaking the crud from himself. The smell is horrible but finds the smell of that Ogre encountered last month much worse.

Scanning the battle with the Hag, Avilo sees Paul on the ground rolling around. Not looking useful either is Dell painfully reaching for his dropped sword. Captain Avilo uses his sword to point directing Carr, “The Hag! Your weapon isn’t effective here.”

Nodding Carr turns to help noticing Paul and Dell.

Junior is trying to protect himself from a flurry of attacks. Her legs longer than his reach Junior take several kicks but remains standing.

Thinking she’s got the time Tetra slows her attacks on Junior to chant.

Junior glimpses Carr coming up behind her, and musters a risky attack to keep her from seeing Carr. Her blue leathery hide receives no injury as she slaps his blade aside. Tetra’s mind is focused on finishing a summoning spell, to aid her.

Jumping in and swinging the mace low Carr knocks out Tetra’s knees. She gets her arms out in time to prevent hitting the ground.

Swiftly swinging the mace again Carr connects with the side of her head. The mace sparks a burst of white light, knocking her the rest of the way down.

Carr goes for a third swing, Junior thrusts his sword down hoping to pin the Hag in place.

Swiftly she rolls just far enough to miss the sword. She takes a hit to the right arm from the mace. Her left-hand snatches away Carr’s weapon.

Carr jumps back looking for an alternative weapon. Junior plucks the sword from the ground noticing the cuts made to their foe seems to have healed. Hearing the blade move Tetra rolls towards Carr getting to her feet.

Focused on the twisted souls Avilo carefully cuts them down one by one.

Not doing much damage the old mage hurls heavy rocks. Providing a distraction to the Larvae and making it easier for Avilo.

Turing the pain into anger Dell readies to fight again screaming at Carr, “Take Paul’s sword!”

Slipping in between the Hag and Carr, Junior allows the rogue to get pass.

Not thinking with a level head Dell charges in.

Spinning once in place using the mace Tetra bats their swords aside. She completes the spin simultaneously snapping out her leg and arm. Kicking Junior back a few steps, Dell receives a palm to the throat.

Tetra almost dances to the side of Junior and whacks his shield arm with the mace forcing him back farther.

Sliding in beside Paul, Carr sees what’s happened and tries to reassure him, “Hold in there Paul, it’s livable. We’ve almost got her.”

Grabbing up Paul’s heavy bastard-sword Carr gets going, knowing he’s going to have to fight two handed.

Gasping Dell tries to remove Tetra’s head, only to remove a lock of hair. Tetra jumps, flipping over Junior. Landing she kicks Junior into Dell.

In pain from the contact Dell goes to push Junior off him. Tetra swings the mace at them with great force. The steel mace connects with Junior’s skull. Going limp Junior slides down Dell into a heap.

As she watches him go down Carr seizes an opportunity thrusting the bastard-sword into her side.

She screams, turning around forcing the blade to rip out. Stripping skin from Carr’s face with her clawed hand as she faces him.

Swiftly Dell chops at her head, only clipping it, removing a patch of hair-covered scalp.

Tetra lines up Dell clubbing his shoulder hard enough to make him stumble away.

In an attempt to cut down her mobility Carr hacks at her calf and connects.

Swiftly Tetra twists around grabbing Carr one handed by the throat. Digging her talons in, he’s picked up and pulled in.