You three are clambering atop the peak of rock that projects above the valley floor. Rooker first, then Thorn, and then Sharif. The sides of the peak are steep, but there is an old path that winds its way to the top. The view is really spectacular as you climb; the peak isn't high, but the valley is mostly flat and it juts up right in the middle of it.
The peak is bare basalt, but the rock has the distinct look of having melted and then frozen--there are runnels and blobby surfaces scattered about. Something got very hot up here once.
Thorn scans around the base of the peak looking for any guards on duty.
Rooker wanders around looking for evidence of any other people on the peak.
The valley is mostly empty, aside from the occasional deer seen nibbling on grasses inside the treeline.
Thorn turns to Rooker, "No one in site, I guess we're going to have to go in again."
Rooker shrugs; "We always knew we'd have to go back in eventually."
Rooker swings his leg over the top ridge of the peak and pulls himself up. The top is a bare, flat surface, but boulders lie scattered about up here, providing some cover. About ten yards off, there's a conical black projection about five feet high sticking jaggedly from the top of the flat surface.
Thorn says, "I was hoping we could quetion one of the Tol Nedren first."
Rooker strolls over to the black object to examine it.
Sharif pulling himeslf up. "I do..gasp...love...climbing"
The object appears to be the peak of a stone roof, with most of it obscured beneath the basalt under your feet.
The socket of an old flagpole projects from the very summit, which stick out of the ground about Rooker's shoulder-height.
Sharif says, "Gentlemen...we have reached the summit""
Thorn vaults up on to the top of the ridge to join his companions.
Rooker kneels to examine the stone of the roof-peak closely, looking for weaknesses that could become an entryway.
Thorn strolls towards Rooker and Sharif and sya "What have we got here?"
Rooker puts down his pack and begins to poke iron spikes into a small crack between two of the old stones.
Rooker says, "I think we might be able to get into the tower from up here. It'll save us a climb back down."
Thorn says, "Sounds like a good idea, if it works."
The ancient mortar between the stones, weakened by the collapse of the tower, is brittle. Rooker gets his spikes between two stones easily and works at it with a hammer.
A shadow falls across all of you for a second, blotting the sun.
Rooker looks up quickly, trying to find the source of the shadow.
Thorn looks up to see what is casting the shadow.
Sharif looks up as well
Thorn seeks, and points. A dragon-like shape is circling the peak like a hawk. A rust-red shape, two legs, spiked wings and a long tail means it can only be a wyvern.
With an angry wail, the beast wings in your direction, flapping and yawning its jaws wide, waving around the huge red stinger on the very tip of its tail.
Thorn draws his bow then turns to Rooker and says, "You'd better hurry my friend."
Rooker swings his hammer with greater enthusiam.
The creature hisses rage and hunger and arcs right at you.
Thorn in the blink of an eye notches an arrow drwas back on his bow and sends it flying towards the winged demon.
Sharif raises his arm and releases enchanted energies...Al Kadim...send images to confues this beast!!
THWIPP! Thorn's arrow lances the beast's armored chest.
Four duplicates of Sharif form out of misty ectoplasm.
Sharif rushes to help move stones
Rooker swings his hammer mightily against the roof.
Sharif says, "Stand back"
Thorn's arrow lodges in the creature's chest, where legs would be if it had front legs.
The stone Rooker is laboring at has begun to come loose and sag inward.
Sharif raises his staff..etheric energy crackling...and strikes the roof
A thunderous crash resounds from Sharif's blow and the stone is become dislodged. One more good hit should do it.
Sharif says, "Watch yourself Thorn!"
Sharif raises his staff to strike again
The wyvern swoops in low, wings beating, stirring Thorn's cloak and long hair, jaws wide to snap at him, tail flailing to sting.
The wyvern's jaws close around Thorn's ribcage, crushing the Selandri. The scarlet stinger pierces his right thigh.
The Selandri passes out from the pain and shock.
Sharif and his duplicates raise their weapons and strike at the opening hole
The wyvern, still flapping its wings, releases Thorn, who falls limply to the ground. It then hisses and wings in a wide arc right overhead and flies for Rooker and Sharif.
The stones give way, revealing a room of some kind, with a floor about ten feet down. It's hard to see details in the dim light down there.
The wyvern, still flapping its wings, releases Thorn, who falls limply to the ground. It then hisses and wings in a wide arc right overhead and flies for Rooker and Sharif.
From Sharif's blow, the stones give way, revealing a room of some kind, with a floor about ten feet down. It's hard to see details in the dim light down there.
Hearing Thorn's cry, Rooker whirls from the crumbling roof and draws both daggers from his belt to fight the fearsome wyvern.
Sharif says, "Rooker hurry!!!"
Rooker's daggers slice at the scaly creature, as it presses forward with its own attack.
The creature strikes at the thief, but he's not there, he's dodging and wheeling.
The flapping creature, furious, snaps and strikes at Rooker.
Ducking and dodging, Rooker struggles against the monster as he yells to Sharif; "Get him into the tower!"
The wyvern's stinger catches Rooker in his lower back as he tries to dodge. The scarlet point pierces his flesh.
Thorn lies there unmoving.
Sharif drops into the hole with Throrn, finds the ointment in his pouch and tries to heal the dying Selandri
Rooker shakes off the effects of the deadly poison.
Rooker howls with pain as he strikes at the creature; "My turn now, you worm!"
Two of Rooker's strikes land home.
Sharif says, "Rooker. Get down here!!!"
Rooker hacks off scales and wyvern blood gouts out, spraying him with hot red flow.
Calling on all his strength, agility, and acrobatic skill, Rooker leaps for safety through the hole in the tower roof.
The wyvern, with a last shriek, flaps away to lick its wounds and fight another day.
Sharif says, "Our accomplishment pales in comparison to our loss my friend..Thorn is no more"
Sharif and Rooker squat in a dusty room, pierced by daylight in the ceiling above. The room is a shambles. Sharif is kneeling over the body of Thorn, who lies motionless and bloody.
Standing slowly, Rooker moves toward his companions.