“Lammark is your uncle?� Zeb’s face split in a cautious smile. “He is a powerful man. But his ways seem strange to most I’ve spoke to.� Zeb quickened his pace as the sound of rending wood came from the direction of the trap door. “It’s easy to see why his niece would be so resourceful. I won’t even ask about the trap door. I just thank the gods for it.� Zeb glanced apprehensively over his shoulder as the sound of breaking wood intensified accompanied by the sound of wooden chunks hitting the stone floor of the passage. “It just dawned on me that I don’t even know your name.�
OCC: Is it Kerry or Kelly?
Zeb grabbed K’s hand and ran down the passage, splashing through pools of stagnant water and navigating twists and winding turns with sureness of foot. K kept up without a problem or complaint. The noise behind them had stopped but the aura of menace, the feeling that death stalked them down the passage was a tangible thing. It pulled at the small hairs on the back of their necks and pulled at them like black tentacles leading to a lightless abyss. Their breathing became labored and their hearts quickened, not merely from the exertion of the run through the darkness but from the fear that hit them like a sledgehammer, threatening to overwhelm them with panic. As they ran onward they could see moonlight up ahead.
The end of the passage…
The sight spurred them on. The duo ran effortlessly. The fear was there but kept at bay, for now, by the sight of their destination albeit temporary. Succor from the horror of the tunnel was near.
They emerged, skidding to a halt in a wooded clearing. The trees were laden with snow and the moonlight bathed the area in a blue glow. The clearing was full of shadows to contrast with the light of moon and snow. It was from these shadows that the figures emerged.
Zeb’s heart caught in his throat.
They were a group about twenty strong, which seemed like a thousand under the present circumstances. Ranging in size from small to very large. Very large in this case being close to seven feet tall and small being a little smaller than Zeb which was to say, medium sized. They were dressed in heavy cloaks that protected them from the cold and hid their features for the most part. Some wore armor while others did not. The common theme was weapons. All twenty bristled with a deadly assortment of swords, axes, maces, daggers, and bows. The bows were very frightening because they all were being held at ready. However, the bows didn’t bother Zeb nearly as much as the arrows did. Twenty such were pointed at K and him backed by tauntly pulled bowstrings, held by strong fingers (lightly held).
A small figure walked to the front of the group and pulled back his hood, revealing a bald head and a face with scars. He smiled revealing a toothy smile capped with gold. He looked to be a Halfling. Zeb had heard of Halflings but this was the first one he had seen.
“Ah lass.� The Halfling boomed with a deep voice that seemed odd for one so small. He looked at K lecherously. “I told you we’d meet again.�
Zeb looked at K, “What’s going on?�
