Lost in the Abyss – Episode 1.4
With winged Demons descending from above, and the door grinding shut behind them, the four companions rush to escape before they are sealed in. Fortunately Shaaaarghraio makes it to the door before it closes and manages to hold it open. The others squeeze past him, out into the tunnel beyond.
As the pursuing Demons swoop down towards the opening, Tanemous snatches a small glowing ball from his knapsack and tosses it into the room. It bounces across the floor, swells, sprouts legs and then miraculously metamorphoses into a rhinoceros.
While the Demons are briefly occupied with this magical creation, Shaaaarghraio releases the door and it closes.
For a moment it seems they have escaped, but then there is a twisting of metal and a splintering of wood, and the demonic creatures rend the door from its hinges.
Demons spill out into the tunnel and swarm around the four companions, enveloping them in a maelstrom of thrashing claws and beating wings.
Again and again, the Demons swoop at them, releasing clouds of debilitating spores or raking them with outstretched talons. Amidst the turmoil, it is impossible to anticipate where the next attack is coming from, particularly since the winged creatures continue to magically transport themselves over short distances in order to keep the group off balance. The four companions are hard pressed to hold them at bay.
Blanca doggedly does her best to protect herself and her comrades. She seems to be everywhere, blocking blows intended for others or shouting warnings to save them from harm or death. Yet, even with her efforts, the group is gradually worn down. All are soon wounded, though Marcus magically endows his skin with stone-like hardness to protect himself from further injury. However, by that time, he, Shaaaarghraio and Blanca are all infested with the creature’s spores and are gradually starting to sicken. It is only a matter of time before they succumb.
Yet, as the battle continues, Tanemous notices that there is something strange about their adversaries. At first he had thought that a high proportion of the Demons were transporting themselves from harm just as they were struck, but he suddenly realises that many of them are mere phantoms and have no substance.
“There are far fewer of them than it appears”, he yells to the others over the din of battle. “I believe their numbers are an illusion designed to confuse us.”
So saying, he spreads his fingers, utters words of power and sends a cluster of magic missiles streaking towards a mass of targets. Each missile strikes a different Demon and many of the foul creatures immediately vanish.
Shaaaarghraio turns on one of those remaining and cleaves it in two with a couple of mighty swings of his Great-Axe. “Now that’s more like it!” the Minotaur grins.
Following Tanemous’s lead, Marcus begins using his own magic to whip up handfuls of stones from the floor and hurl them at the Demons. With both sorcerers targeting groups of creatures to dispel the phantom copies, the Demon’s numbers rapidly diminish. Meanwhile Shaaaarghraio sets about dealing with the “real” Demon’s that are left behind.
The combat continues in this fashion until Tanemous imbues his blade with magical energy and hurls it along the corridor in a swirling arc of power. Once it magically returns to his hand, there are only two “real” Demons still standing. Shaaaarghraio goes toe-to-toe with one, while Blanca, Marcus and Tanemous advance on the other.
Not long afterward the two Demons disappear and do not return. The battle is won.
As the fighting subsides, the sound of someone clapping echoes from the darkness. A large, heavily robed figure steps out of the shadows. He has blue skin and glowing red eyes. He stands head and shoulders over everyone except Shaaaarghraio.
“Impressive” the demonic figure comments, seemingly in admiration.
Tanemous turns. “And who might you be?” he asks warily.
The figure glides towards them. As he passes the scattered bodies of the winged Demons, their corpses shrivel and turn to ash. At each one he stoops to pick something up and then secretes it in the folds of his garment.
“They call me The Miner” the Demon replies. “This is my enclave”. He spreads his arms, indicating the surrounding area. “It has been quite some time since I had visitors. Come, let us go inside.” He smiles crookedly, displaying a mouthful of wicked-looking teeth. “There is much for us to discuss.”
“And what makes you think we would so readily return to a trap from which we have just escaped?” Blanca demands.
“I am wounded by your distrust” the Demon sighs reproachfully. “I simply wish to talk. I have information that you desire. Our conversation would be mutually beneficial.”
“I doubt that”, Blanca scowls.
“I think it would be wise if you allow us a few minutes to talk it over amongst ourselves”, Tanemous suggests in an effort to diffuse the growing sense of animosity.
The Miner shrugs. “Very well, I shall return in half-an-hour”
So saying the Demon turns and disappears inside the structure.
As soon as they are alone the companions attend to the wounds that they sustained during the recent battle. Blanca heals Shaaaarghraio, cures herself of the infestation and stops it spreading any further in the others but, once she has done all that, her curative powers are exhausted. They must wait until she is rested before she can remove the remnants of the spores from Shaaaarghraio and Marcus.
Afterwards Tanemous confronts Blanca about her attitude with the Demon. “What was that all about?” he enquires.
“I have some experience of demons”, Blanca declares. “And it is folly to bargain with them.”
“Indeed, their reputation for deceit is well known” Tanemous replies. “Nonetheless I think it would be prudent for us to hear this one out”
“I agree” interjects Marcus, “I can see no other way of finding the way out of here.”
Blanca shakes her head.
“I can assure you that I have no intention of agreeing to anything questionable”, Tanemous offers.
“No one ever made a pact with a Demon and did not regret it” Blanca warns.
“It’s not a pact” Tanemous stresses, a slight hint of irritation creeping into his voice. “A pact is something entirely different.”
“If by giving it another name you find it more palatable, then call it what you will, but it does not change the nature of it” Blanca replies.
“Then what do you suggest?” Tanemous challenges.
Though Blanca continues to express strong reservations about bargaining with Demons, she has no answer to this.
Despite her protests the consensus amongst the others is that they should parley with the Demon.
After exactly half-an-hour the Miner reappears. “Well, are you ready to talk now?”
“Pretty much” Tanemous replies, trying to remain non-committal for Blanca’s benefit.
“Then shall we go inside where it is more comfortable?”
“No offence but I’m quite comfortable right here”, Tanemous observes.
“If that is your wish” the Demon shrugs. “I believe that your arrival here is fortuitous. We are in a position to assist one another. You need information that I am able to provide, and I require a service that you can perform as payment. I am confident that you are capable of the task I have in mind. Are you interested?”
“Go on”
“The tunnel that you did not enter leads to a neighbouring enclave. It is controlled by a lesser Demon, named the Glutton. He has stolen something of mine and I want it back. It is a small matter, a collection of coins, but they are of sufficient value to me that I would be grateful if they were returned.”
“So you think that we are burglars?” Tanemous replies.
The Demon smiles good-humouredly. “Having seen you in action, I had assumed that you would use more forceful means to retrieve the coins. However, ultimately I have no interest in what methods you employ to obtain them.”
“So why don’t you get them yourself?” asks Shaaaarghraio “If you’re so powerful compared to this Glutton”
“There are rules that we must abide by, even here” the Demon replies, feigning impotence. “So, what do you say? Will you accept?”
“We need time to discuss it” Tanemous declares. “Give us eight hours”
“Eight hours?” the Demon raises an eyebrow. “If you intend camping here under my protection for that length of time then I think we should at least agree terms”
“We don’t need your protection” Shaaaarghraio rumbles “You leave us alone and we’ll leave you alone. That’s all there is to it”
“If that is how you want it then I shall return in eight hours” the Demon snorts “I shall expect your decision by then”
For the second time the Miner departs.
After he has gone, the companions argue back and forth. Tanemous and Shaaaarghraio maintain that Demons are treacherous and do not keep their word, so any deals made with them are not binding. Blanca is not convinced.
“Demon or no, when I give my word I do so with the intention of keeping it”, she states.
Eventually Tanemous grows weary of their disagreement. “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to get some sleep” he grumbles.
So saying he and Marcus settle down to rest. Blanca and Shaaaarghraio stay awake.
Some time later, Tanemous wakes up and finds himself alone. Thanks to the experiences that the others have related, this does not come as a surprise to him. He realises that it is the dream of which they have spoken and calmly weaves magic to protect himself. When the mysterious, longhaired woman attacks he is ready. He deflects, neutralises or suppresses everything she throws at him and then turns his magic on her and strips away the illusion of beauty to reveal a wrinkled hag-like creature underneath.
Once she is at a standstill, he tries communicating with her. “Who are you old crone and what do you want?”
“We wish to feed. Give of yourself freely and you will be returned to your world”, she croaks.
“You seem rather confident given that you have yet to harm me” Tanemous observes.
However, at that moment the hag’s confidence suddenly evaporates. She seems to sense that something is approaching, something that terrifies her. Fearfully she backs away, paying no further heed to Tanemous.
Without warning, tendrils of darkness snake out from the walls of the tunnel and ensnare the hag before she can flee. While she frantically struggles in their grip, a dispassionate, alien voice proclaims “This is our realm now” and then the tentacles pierce the hag’s body and consume her from within.
With her passing the dream fades and Tanemous drifts into a deeper sleep. When he wakes some time later, he relates his experience to the others.
Further discussion on the matter of the night before leads them to decide that the best course of action is to head off towards the Glutton’s enclave and see what they find in that direction. Blanca agrees to this compromise as long as they don’t enter into an agreement with the Miner.
They make ready to depart but fail to do so before the Demon punctually reappears.
“Have you made your decision?” the Miner asks.
Purposefully ignoring the question, Blanca turns and sets off down the tunnel.
“Then I take it your answer is no?” the Miner declares.
“Actually we haven’t decided yet” Tanemous replies. “We may be back”
“That is unacceptable”, the Demon snarls angrily. “If you leave now the deal is off”
Tanemous looks at Blanca’s receding figure and shrugs.
“Suits me” interjects Shaaaarghraio. “Just make sure you stay out of our way.”
The Demon glares at them for a moment, then turns and vanishes.
They set off after Blanca.
When they catch up with her Tanemous has a few words. “That was badly done Blanca.”
“And what would you have had me do?” she demands.
“What harm would it have done to accept the deal?” Tanemous argues once again. “It may be foolish to bargain with Demons but wasn’t it equally foolish to make an enemy of him?”
“To be in league with the likes of that creature would be a mistake” Blanca counters.
Before the dispute can continue Shaaaarghraio interrupts them. “Come on, let’s get going”, the Minotaur rumbles. Without waiting for a reply he turns and leads them off towards the Glutton’s enclave. Grudgingly, first Blanca and then Tanemous follow.
