Fearing that a maintain assault might burn out his torch too quickly, Vinoh stops his fiery attack on the bats. Immediately, a new have of them crash into him. Swinging his torch and club wildly, but almost in vain, the mind mage struggles to think of some way to subdue the critters.

"D'Aleen! D'ALEEN! Try to use your powers to try and calm the bats! Tell them we're friends or... or something!"

Fear grips him as he realises that Gell had ripped the lid from one of the coffins, but he is relived to see that only a skeleton is it's contents. Then, desperately, he screams to Gell:

"GELL! We should try to knock out that blue veil! I'll grab the lid from the other coffin and toss it towards the statue on the right; toss your lid on the statue on the left!"

Removing attached bats from his body, Vinoh makes his way to the other coffin. He grabs it squarely with both hands and concentrates as best he can. The gems around his head start to glow and stop rotating when the blue crystal is in front of Vinoh's head. Suddenly, the seeming impossibility of his chosen task is replaced by certainty. He CAN lift this lid and he WILL throw it on the statue. His body surges with strength as the mind mage rips the lid off. Looking at Gell amongst the mass of bats, Vinoh gives a clear nod.

"1... 2... 3... NOW!"

Vinoh throws the heavy lid onto the statue on the right, hoping that this could disrupt the veil. Sure, D'Aleen magic arrow had pierced it, but what could this veil do to mortals? Yes, he has to try and take it out...

Seeing the elf turn the bats then drop to her knees, Father Quadrial used his staff to blow some of the remaining ones into leathery pieces.
Moving quickly to where D'Aleen kneeled he had a brief conversation with his 'gift'.
"If you have any use at all, you had better come through now or I will be dropping you in the nearest cravass I can find."
"That's no way to talk to a ..."
"Major league pain in the ass."
Reaching down the monk reached out to keep the elf from toppling over.
He was a bit surprised when the necklace sighed and then began pulsing with a quiet light.
The light flowed through the monks body and out from his fingertips.
Energy not his own was transfered into the beautiful elf.
"This had better work."
"Of course it will work, I am a finely crafted source of great magical power blessed by the gods ...."
"Shut up, I get the point."

Gell gives a shout of surprise as he stumbles through the veil in his attempt to block the flow of bats. Looking around confusedly, he wonders why he was able to go through this magical barrier. His eyes widen slightly, then he gives a triumphant shout and lifts his axe in one hand. "Krom am give me great magic! Now me am have stronger magic than bad squishy man!" Turning to his compatriots, he quickly waves them forward. "We am go through, am protected by magic from Krom! We am not want to keep him waiting though."

Falling, D'Aleen feels a pair of hands support her. Suddenly the dark images tugging at her mind fade away and an amazing feeling of peace and strength flow through her. Every nerve is revitalized as the elf is filled with a feeling of well being and faith.

A smile tugs the corner of her lips as she slowly blinks and focuses on the Father.

"What happened...how did you....ohh thank you!" she stammered, overwhelmed at how much better she felt. Steading herself and looking around, her eyes widen at seeing Gell standing on the other side of the light with his arm raised!

"What the.....? We can cross over?" she looks to the Father with a hopeful look in her eyes.

Vinoh lets out a sigh of relief. Even though his efforts had not yielded noticeable results, Gell and D'Aleen seemed to have come through. Looking nervously towards the ceiling at the settling mass of bats, Vinoh makes his way to Father Quadrial and the elven druid. He puts his club away and rests his free hand on D'Aleen's shoulder.

"Thank you D'Aleen. You risked much by doing what you just did, but your strength helped us all. I'm glad to have you on our side."

Looking once again at the ceiling, the mind mage shares a concern:

"It would seem as if these bats become more violent and agitated as a reaction to violence and agitation. D'Aleen's bolt of light must have excited them and the ensuing melee just prompted more of them to join in the fray. I guess our best plan is to quietly move to the next room.

Perhaps the blue veil is just a trigger, a way for whomever inhabits this place to know when intruders come through here. If this is so, then I'm afraid we are in for more trouble. If not, then I don't know what to make of it.

In any case, I think I'll inspect the coffins we just opened before moving on. I wouldn't want to miss anything!"

Vinoh then makes his way back to the coffin he opened. He inspects the skeleton and the interior thoroughly, looking for anything unusual.

When D'Aleen shot her arrow of light through the veil and awakened the sleeping bats, Thantos still had his back turned watching the opening that they came in through. Upon hearing the screeching and cries of warning from his companions, Thantos turns just in time to see the cloud of black approach. Raising his crossbow, he shoots into the mass of writhing bats. The bolt, as if eager for blood, blows through four bats before finally embedding itself into the ceiling.

Almost before the bolt is released from the crossbow, he swings the crossbow over his shoulder and draws his sword. As the the bats get close, he begins his dance. With movements like water, one swing flowing into another, he becomes a blur of movement. Since the bats are moving in such a random pattern, he chooses to execute his practice regime, an attack and defend pattern so well known to him, his body moves without a thought.

'Overhead swing flows into backhand attack followed by slash up to defend against a downward attack. Back step and downward slash flows into backhand up slash and sideways right to left slash, spinning chop flows....'

As the battle continues, the number of dead bats on the ground around Thantos increase, but so do the number of nicks, cuts and teeth marks on his face and hands. Most of the bats that had landed on him, on his back, arms and legs had taken one bite and realized they couldn't bite through the metal of his chain mail. After the first one actually landed and began trying to bite Sir Thantos had drawn his dagger in his left hand and Thantos' sword practice regime had changed into the sword and fang dance.

This weaving back and forth continued. All consious thought, all feeling of pain or tiredness, pushed away to the deep recesses of his mind until the battle was over. Hearing shouts from Vinoh, Gell, D'Aleen and the Father and noticing that the bats were calming down and retreating, Thantos put his dagger away and lowered his sword.

Noticing that the Father was standing over D'Aleen, assisting her up to her feet, Thantos quickly moved towards them. Looking only at D'Aleen he asks,

"D'Aleen? (father)?, are you ok?"

Seeing that D'Aleen appeared to be fine, Thantos glanced around the room and noticed Vinoh, searching through the coffins and Gell on the other side of the blue curtain.

"Gell! How did you get over there? Was it you that calmed the beasts? Is everyone else ok?

Upon hearing D'Aleen, Vinoh, Gell and the Father talk, Thantos figures out what has happened and adds to the discussion of what to do next.

"Thank you D'Aleen for putting your mind on the line for us. I fear that the bats may have been able to overwhelm us if not for you. I think it is time to leave though, if Gell did trigger something we must be quick to leave this area."

That said, he once again loads a bolt into his crossbow and moves over to the light curtain. Reaching out his left hand he touches the light and then (OOC: assuming nothing happens) moves through to join Gell on the far side.

(ooc:sorry guys busy weekend wasn't able to check the board :( )

Upon seeing D'Aleen fire into the blue veil, and the resulting flight of bats attack the party, Krazixs did the only thing he could think of. . .

he fainted.

"Yes..yes I am fine Thantos, but I think the results would have been far different without the good Father's aid. Thank you for your concern, you are too kind."

Smiling once more at the Father in thanks, D'Aleen shakes the cobwebs from her head and watches as the knight slowly approaches the veil of light. Unconsciously holding her breath she releases a small sigh as she sees Thantos pass through the barrier, unharmed.

Thinking to herself she definately did NOT want to stay around to see if the bats launched another attack, the elf walks up to and through the barrier to join Gell and Thantos on the other side.

Krazixs seemed to float in a blue sky staring down to the earth watching the clouds go by. He hung suspended feeling perfectly natural this way, while in the back of his mind something screamed at him that he should be terrified. Krazixs ignored the sniveling voice and continued floating feeling content with himself. The clouds were taking on funny shapes, a dragon in flight that reflected the golden sunlight. One shaped like a tree with a person standing underneath its branches. A big puffy cloud round and portly floated by reminded Krazixs of some sort of a friar. One odd shaped one seemed to be two men standing back to back swords held in front of them. Something was happening, Krazixs, noticed the cloud shapes began taking on more substance and form, the sky was also turning toward dusk. A giant with an axe seemed to stand triumphantly, a man sitting cross-legged with birds making a halo around his head. Others took shape but less distinct than the seven before it. The group that was more defined than the rest began to circle each other. The sky began to grow black, something was digging painfully into Krazixs’ back. He noticed had stopped and instead he was descending through the clouds slowly at first but with greater speed as he dropped farther out of the clouds. He began to drop through the circle of clouds as the figures watched him fall. As their faces grew more distinct the air around Krazixs began to congeal and thicken, he was stopping but he couldn’t breath, he was suffocating. Panicking Krazixs sought to wrench himself away from the thick air with a coughing choke . . .

Krazixs sat up gasping the stone ground, an uncomfortable stone had somehow lodged itself in his back. Looking around he saw the rest of the group brushing themselves off. Some had gone through the veil of light waiting for the others on the opposite side. Krazixs pushed himself up off of the ground and gathered his staff, slowly making his way toward the rest of the group. Feeling guilty about not being of any use during the attack, he tried to remain discreet as he joined the rest of the group on the other side of the light.

Not being very comfortable with the idea of disturbing folks long dead Father Quadrial makes a does a quick prayer then joins the others on the other side of the blue light.
The more distance he can put between him and the bats the better.
A little annoyed that his new 'finely crafted source of great magical power' had seen fit to help the elf and had done nothing to stance the bleeding from all his own bites and slices, the monk opens his bag of herbs and applies poltices to the wounds.
"Is there anyone else who could needs a bit of patching up?" he asks.

A little shaken up, but mostly unhurt, Goban sheathes his sword and makes his way through the blue light. "Thanks for the offer Father, but I prefer to medicate myself", he said, producing his flask and taking a quick nip.
Feeling a bit of liquid courage, he cautiously takes a few steps ahead, shining the light from his ring around him, not knowing what to expect next.

The event ended,the dark knight Attrah strode forward from the hallway.Surveying the party,he checks to make sure that everyone is healthy enough to continue,seeing only minor scratches and cuts.


"If everyone is ready,let us continue."

* As you pass through the blue light veil you note a slight shiver goes through you,
strangely a feeling of well being & warmth...

Deep inside Velix's Tomb now, you are in a great room.
It looks to be about a hundred feet to the other side
and twice as wide...
At the other side you think you see a set of stairs...
You cannot see the ends of the room to your left or right.

The arched gothic-like ceiling sags over crypts,
forming part of the grey stones of these catacombs.
It seems to be made up of 10 foot wide arched walkways
running between 10 foot square crypts which are the columns you saw.
The arched walkways and the crypts support the ceiling.
You see 4 crypts running down each side of the wide hall you are facing
and 4 more to left...and to the right.

A thick fog clings to the floor at knee height.
Cobwebs hang limp in the musty air.
Thick dust has settled over everything, filling the crypts engravings
making it difficult to make out the names of those buried here.

The black ceiling is moving. *

[OOC: read well...please let me know EXACTLY which way you are going]

Gell looks around, sizing up the new surroundings with slow determination as he looks to the several tombs, a floor he cannot easily see.... and a ceiling that is moving. "More bad magic! Am up this time!" Shaking his fist, Gell shouts at his unseen opponent "Stupid magic squishy-man, why you am always hide like gnome? Come fight like warrior so me am smashing you!" Looking around at his compatriots as the file through the door as well, Gell shifts his attention to them. "Where we am go now? Me am not like looks of darkness, but we am still have torch and am have magic fire." Gell then glances up at the ceiling, and adds "Still, me am think we should decide quick this time."

**OOC-- Is the ceiling moving DOWN? Or just moving?**

For once Father Quadrial is in complete agreement with his Orcish companion.
Of course this is the time when the magic necklace chooses to be completely silent.
Looking to the rest of the party he says 'This looks like a time of thoughtful approach. Any snap decisions could kill us all."

Still inspecting the coffins in the previous room, Vinoh notices that his companions are making their way through the blue veil. Not wanting to be left alone with hundreds of bats, the mind mage quickly joins his friends in the next room, pausing just after the veil in reaction to the pleasant sensation he felt while passing through it. However, he also notices that most of the cuts and scratch marks courtesy of the winged little devils are almost completely healed. The gems around his head had stopped rotating and the dusty amber-like one is glowing softly, filling Vinoh with warmth and vigor.

This room seems to hold even greater mysteries than the previous one. All these crypts, just waiting to be explored... or to trap whomever might be so foolish as to enter them.

The ceiling is moving again... probably from the remnants of the bats that hadn't crossed over to the other room. Pondering this, Vinoh speaks to his companions.

"Listen guys, we all know what happened when we disturbed the silence of the Tomb, so I think our best bet is to remain as quiet as possible. If we are attacked, then we have to deal with it very quickly, lest we find ouselves assailed by bats once again.

Since it's unsafe for me to use my sensitive powers, I guess we'll have to explore these crypts one by one. Once again, we have to option of splitting into smaller groups to quicken our search. We don't have to, but I'm hoping to get to the bottom of this evil and leave this cursed place as soon as possible."

With that, Vinoh heads for the crypt on the leftmost side of the left wall, pausing just before the entrance to read whatever inscriptions might be written with the help of his torch.

Not liking what he is feeling Krazixs stands silently behind the rest of the group, concentrating.

* You see Vinoh start walking down the left walkway almost out of sight,
the fog wafting around his legs as he strides.*

Vinoh:
* You come almost to the end of the hall's left side
and grey wall in front of you, then turning immediately right into another walkway.

You note after each 3 other crypts you pass there are other column like crypts to down the walkwalks to your right.
You also note two alcoves along the wall to your left that seem hold their own crypts inside.

The fourth crypt on the right that you come to at the end of the walkway
seems larger than the rest...a larger door too.
When you hold up your torch, and smear off the dust on the crypt door, it says...
"Beucephalus, The Wonder Horse.
May the flowers grow ever greener where he trods." *

Frowning in hoplesness the small elf can't seem to feel anything around, despite the nagging suspicion something is not right. As Vinoh starts his way around the tomb, Krazixs decides to follow him watching testing the ground carefully with his overlarge walking stick.

(OOC: I'm not entirely clear of the description of the room Rogue but I think it is basically a grid with 10 foot (arched?) walkways between 10 foot by 10 foot square crypts. We are standing in the middle of the room with 4 squares/crypts to the left and 4 to the right and the walkway in front of us has 4 crypts on either side of the walkway before what we think the stairs are on the other side. Correct?)

"Vinoh, stay within sight if you can...uh Krazixs..try to catch up with him. We may as well split up here..be careful of the fog...make sure there are no pits in front of you as you walk. Let's meet up at the stairs on the other side as soon as possible. I'd say let's not break into too many groups though.

Me, I think I'll head straight down this passageway in front of us towards the stairs, checking the names of the crypts on the left and right as I pass. Who's coming with me? Since Vinoh took the torch it'll have to be someone with magical light."

That said Thantos moves up the passage way a couple of feet and looks back waiting to see if anyone wants to join him. He has his sword out and his crossbow slung across his back.

D'Aleen looks around the huge chamber carefully after passing through the veil. An uneasiness settles upon her as the fog slowly winds itself around her legs and blankets the entire floor of the tomb. Casting a glance at the moving horde of bats above, she is relieved to see that, for the moment, they are calm.

Seeing that Krazixs has already followed Vinoh she pulls her bow from her back and softly follows Thantos. Turning to Goban she says,

"Goban...your ring should cast enough light for us to make our way and read these markings on the crypts. Perhaps we shall find a clue as to what is in store. But regardless....I am all for moving forward."

With that...she carefully started straight down the hallway...watching for any traps or gaps hidden in the dense fog.

Warily catching up with D'Aleen and Thantos as they started down the centre of the room. Still on edge from the bat attack, and fully aware of the company they've got in this room, Goban's light catches the faintest hint of movement. Drawing his sword he prepares to yell, but thinks better of it, not wanting to disturb the room's many little residents.

"Where are your manners? Come out, introduce yourself!" He speaks, more of a threat than an invitataion.

Thantos, D'Aleen & Goban

* Passing by the crypts too quick to read the dust filled inscriptions,
You get to the other side of the great room.
Seeing more crypts beyond the first on each side.
When they get to the other side of the room you come to a large
dark stone circular shaft that stretches before you farther than you can see.
Rushing wind sways the cobwebs that fill the shaft.
A set of stairs start at the bottom of this shaft and curve upwards following the wall. *

Frowning, Vinoh tries to think back to his mythology studies for any reference of a "Wonder Horse". His memory failing him, but his curiosity growing, he is tempted to open the crypt. However, he seems to be backed up only by Krazixs, while Thantos, D'Aleen and Goban have made their way to the other end of the hall.

"Darghon! Why don't you help me investigate the crypts on this side? Apokx, Gell and Father Quadrial could check out the right side of the hall."

Before opening the horse's crypt, the mind mage decides to check out the two alcoves he hadn't previously seen from his vantage point at the hall's entrance. Giving time for Darghon to join him.

Vinoh & Krazixs:
* Backing away from the large crypt,
you turn behind you and see the alcoved crypt there.

Going to the door you wipe off the dust on the inscription,
"Tatsaul Eris: Last of the line"

After glancing at that phrase, you turn out and to the right,
and head back up the walkway to the next alcoved crypt.

After wiping off the dust on this one, you see...
"Ivan Ivanovich, Beloved of Anna Petrovna" *

Hearing Goban calling to someone or something Thantos glances at where Goban is looking. Not seeing anything he focuses on the task at hand.

"Goban, who are you talking to...there isn't anyone there. Can you shine your light down this shaft? There is wind coming up so I'm wondering if it is a way out (not that we are looking for one now but it is always good to know where the exits are."

After briefly examining the interior of the shaft (OOC: and assuming he doesn't find anything), Thantos will move to the nearest crypt on the left (facing the stairs) and check out the inscription.

"N nn -n No good could come of disturbing these souls Vinoh, ll -l let's go see what the others have found. . ." a note of fear had crept into Krazixs' voice, looking nervously around, he definatley did not like this.

Thantos, D'Aleen & Goban
* You are standing on the floor at the "bottom" of the shaft on solid stone.
The circular shaft goes "up", as do the stairs that follow the wall like a corkscrew.
The draft seems to be coming from above.
You cannot see anything beyond the first turn in the stairwell.

On the crypt, you have decided to inspect,
you notice that you don't have any dust to wipe off.
The engraving seems newer than the others you've glanced at.
And this states...
"Patrina Velikovna: Bride" *

(OOC: Oh...I see)

"I think that is probably the way the bats get in and out of this place..otherwise I can't see them living for long. Let's check out the names on a couple of these tombs while we wait for the others to catch up."

That said, Thantos moves over to the crypt closest to the them on the left (facing the stairs) and tries to check out the name.

(OOC: Minx and rockzilla, I'll leave my decisions around here up to you two for the weekend as I am leaving for vegas in about 1/2 hour. Just don't use me as a meat shield if at all possible! Catch you in a few days)

The elf smiles sadly as she trails her fingertips along the inscription of the crypt she has approached...wondering a little about the girl entombed within. Now just dust and a memory. Perhaps they will unravel the mysteries of the people here but for now they had more pressing matter to attend to.

Moving to the base of the shaft and narrowing her eyes to peer up into the darkness, even with her keen elven sight D'Aleen is not able to see past the cobwebs swaying slightly.

"Thantos, Goban....I think we should go up. These crypts, while very interesting are probably filled with nothing more than the ones in the outer chamber.....bones and dust. What do you think?"

(OOC...ooops Cubby you beat me to the post! We'll try to take care of Thantos while you're gone....have fun! :D)

Taking a last look into the shadows, Goban decides that maybe his mind was playing tricks on him after all. He sheathes his sword and makes his way over to D'Aleen's side.

"You're right D'Aleen, I don't think we'll find anything more than a history lesson here."

Following the group he walks cautiously through the veil.. Looking around amazed at what he see's he follows Vinoh, staying close to his friend. Yet something else twinges in his mind, something natural.

"Vinoh.. I think.." Darghon looks around and towards where D'Aleen and Goban are.. "No.. It's nothing.." Returning his gaze towards the crypts he looks at the inscriptions "Beucephalus.. I know that.." Darghon thinks to himself... "Lets check these crypts out"

Darghons Fiery Aura extinguishes..

While he understands the desire of his teammates to move on, Vinoh doesn't like the idea of passing up useful information or items. Taking Darghon's cue, he goes back to Beucephalus's crypt and checks if there's any way to open it. He turns to Darghon and Krazixs

"OK guys, I'm usually the cautious kind, but my curiosity does have a way to make me do things I wouldn't normally do, such as opening unknown crypts located in the bowels of a most cursed source of evil. If I get this thing open, do try to back me up. That means you too, Krazixs."

Vinoh injected that last comment with a dose of sarcasm and hopes the elf doesn't take it badly. He is certain that everyone here will be of invaluable help at some point.

"Who are these people?" the necklace asked querulously. "You know by wandering around like that they are going to get you killed. Then I'd be stuck here with all this dust."
"Shut up." Not that the monk completely disagreed with the amulet but he didn't want to listen it whine.
Clutching his staff firmly and taking the small bit of amber from his pouch he kept a close eye on his companions.

Vinoh, Darghon & Krazitz:
* As you all grip the edge of the stone that is the door of Beucephalus's crypt, it opens with thud.

You see two small glowing eyes light in the blackness.
Suddenly!!
A large midnight black horse rears up in front of you.
It's flaming hooves kicking out.
Fire shooting from it's nostrils.
Eyes are glowing red.
Fangs dripping bile.
And black sooty smoke trailing out of it's mouth,
as it screams and leaps forward into you.

The smoke is blinding and choking.
You're all knocked back in shock.*

Darghons quick reflexes kick in and he grabs Vinoh and Krazixs out of the way of the fire.. "Damn devil horse..." Darghon looks at Vinoh.. "Nothing good can come from this place.. all of it is possessed and drenched with evil.."

Darghon grabs the hilt to his light blade and activates it.. looking left and right he grins slightly.. "We ready boys? Lets tame that beast..."

OOC: I try to use my blackguard ability to summons mounts on the beast.Im trying to make it my personal mount.

As the black horse of nightmare launches itself fromt the crypt Krazixs is flung out of the way by Darghon, slamming into the crypt behind him his head rebounding off the ancient stone, stars swimming in the small elf's vision. Looking up he makes eye contact with the demon horse and instinct beyond his recognition takes over Krazixs' actions. Without thinking several spells are uttered in a matter of seconds and Krazixs' being is enveloped in holy light. His cumbersome staff is now glowing with a white nimbus and held like a two handed sword in front of the elf. Muttering one last spell the tomb is instantly filled with a incadesecnt almost blinding light. In some dark corner of Krazixs' mind his conscience is wondering what in heavans is happening.

ooc: ok rogue up to you

"Wonderful. I guess I should listen to my instincts next time."

Vinoh quickly gathers himself and watches in shock as Krazixs seems ready to rumble. With Darghon also set to fight, Vinoh gets up and concentrates. He gathers the electromagnetic force inside and around him, preparing a powerful mind bolt.

Releasing this surge of energy on the beast, the mind mage readies himself to hurl his club at the horse's head as a follow up attack, if needed.

Seeing his companians being bowled over by the black stallion, Father Quadrial raises the tiny bit of amber and casts it at the nightmare.
Praying fervently that he didn't throw his strongest weapon away the monk watches as it arcs throught the air.
The sliver of wood inside the amber begins to glow.
On the tip is a reddish brown drop of blood.

Darghon feels the surge of magical energies near him.. he holds himself for what may come next, gripping the hilt on his sword. He stares at the steed "Well vagrant beast reborn as a feverish night mare... Let thee be thy tamer..." He says as he lowers his head slightly readying himself.

Uttering a few very colourful curses as he unsheathes his sword and sprints towards the fight. He stops short as the father launches his attack, hoping that it will give him an opening to attack, if not dispatch the beast outright. Searching his mind for a witty one-liner, Goban draws a blank and settles for an even more colorful stream of curses directed at the Nightmare.

(OOC : I'm assuming Thantos will want to follow my lead, since he's gone for the weekend)

Telepathic message to the group while standing on guard in front of the horse.. 'Quiet my friends... don't forget about the bats"

D'Aleen spins around at the blinding flash of light and commotion coming from the crypts they had left. "Oh well, at least we know we have an exit of sorts" she thinks to herself as she sprints back down the hallway after Goban.

"Come on Thantos...looks like we're needed elsewhere!"

Sliding to a halt, she is just in time to take in the horror attacking the group and see the Father hurl his amber straight at the beast. Readying her bow, she waits to see the outcome of the combined magic forces...

Lost in a sudden blur of spells and attacks, Gell is confused for a moment as his fellows attack the horse. Quickly regaining his bearings he steps out of the way of the spellcasters efforts and looks to Goban as he waits for an opening for the warriors to launch their own assault on the beast.

The hot breath bathes Krazixs' face and the nightmare's teeth come within inches of his head. As the foul demon horse rears on it's back legs the elf notices the fathers charm get deflected, and the warriors waiting for an opening. Krazixs prepares to distract the beast in hopes of giving the others an opening to attack. He didn't think he'd be able to hold this beast long. The hell beast again screams and pitches forward hoping to catch the small elf with it's flaming hooves. All the while a voice in the back of his head gibbering madly at the insanity of what he was doing, but instinct had taken over now, and Krazixs is what he once was. Seeing it rear up again gives Krazixs all the opening he needs as he grasps his imbued staff with both hands and shoves it point up underneath the chest of the horse, pinning it up, it's churning hooves inches from Krazixs face.

"I can't hold him long, hurry!"

Darghon feeling the graze he has received from the beast, thank fully his bio regeneration from his dragon side has already started to heal.. it will take a while but not as long.

Thinking and hoping this hellish beast maybe immune to fire, he hopes that it will receive a mightier blow from the cold. He casts 'Shards of Ice' Pointing his palm towards the Night mare, a razor sharp shard of ice fires from the palm of his hand.. (OOC: Rogue :)) He readies himself for the next shard, holding his still active LightBlade in his other hand in a defensive pose.

(OOC: Cubby here..back from Vegas with a much lighter wallet :))

Rounding the corner of the crypt just behind Goban and D'Aleen, they run right into a cloud of smoke. Having only glimpsed what looked like a horse on fire, Thantos isn't quite sure what is going on. He only knows that his lungs are burning with the effort of breathing through the smoke.

Grabbing D'Aleen and Goban by their packs he pulls them back to the edge of the billows of smoke.

"We can't get at them from this direction, we'd never make it through the smoke, let's try to move around a few of these tombs and try to pull out our friends out of the fire. D'Aleen, I thought I saw a horse on fire down there. Was I mistaken? If so, can you reach out to it and try to help it through the pain of the fire? Goban, did you happen to see what was attacking our friends? "

With that, Thantos moves left (looking at the fight in the corner of the room) down the first corridor he finds while backing away from smoke. He then turns right at the next intersection that isn't filled with smoke and begins to move towards the fight.

Krazixs was having a hard time breathing, smoke and dust stung his eyes. The beast struggling above him was screaming in pain further enraging it. Krazixs was losing strength fast his self shielding wasn't going to hold as long as he had keep the power flowing into his staff also. . . where were the others?

Realizing that controlling a beast this magnificent would have to wait for another day,the knight readies himself for battle.


Seeing a wavering in Krazixs' power,the knight rushes forward to place his shield and himself between the steed's body and Krazixs'.


The knight simply concentrates on defense,using his sword to parry if possible.


"Krazixs,try to fall back."

Krazixs looks up to the Knight gratefully, gathering his remaining strength the elf gives a great surge of power throwing the creature back enough for him to escape. Staggering a few feet away Krazixs gulps down air and feels as if his body is at the point of exhaustion. Reaching down within himself once more Krazixs casts a spell of strength on the dark knight and then falls to his hands and knees in exhaustion. . .

Swearing in five different languages (two dead for a century) the rotund monk grabs the piece of amber.
Yanking the necklace from around his neck, Father Quadrial wraps it around the haft of his staff.
Despite the faint complaints of the 'finely crafted source of great magical power' the monk points his now brightly glowing staff like a lance and charges the nightmare.
His last thought is, "Dad, don't let this be the stupidest thing I will ever do for the rest of my life."

"Now is our chance! Attack quickly!"


The knight continues to stand between the steed and his companions.

Kneeling in exhaustion, Krazixs feels a trickle of blood run down his face. The horses flaming hooves must have grazed him. A warm feeling was spreading to the area, Krazixs feels the power of the amulet take hold cleansing him of the poison and sickness already beginning to fester. Feeling a bit sickly the elf gets shakily to his knees vertigo spinning his vision around. Wondering if the amulet had power enough to cleanse the wound completely, Krazixs waits for the others to attack.

Darghon fires another volley of Ice Shards at the Devils Steed..

Giving Minx a smile of gratitude Krazixs leans against the cool stone of the tomb trying to get his mind in order after the events that just occured.

Running down the corridors near the battle, Thantos and his companions round a corner just in time to see the horse fall and disappear into ash. As D'Aleen attends to Krazixs, Thantos moves over to where the beast died, kicking through the ashes with his foot and looking around at the other combatants.

"Are you all unhurt? "

"What was that evil looking creature? Where did it come from?"

Thankful to see that Krazixs and all the others are relatively unharmed, D'Aleen frowns slightly and slowly surveys the group gathered there...catching their breath from the furious onslaught the others endured.

"Well...if we are to open every crypt and battle a beast or undead from hell...well, this shall prove to be a very long night my friends. I feel the source of evil does not lie here....but rather these are more the sentinels meant to guard. We must remember we are at the heart of where the evil that we all feel lies......I dare say none of these tombs we open will bring us any goodwill at all.
I can appreciate the need for any information we can gather to aid us but......"

Sighing slightly and then casting her eyes back down the direction of the passageway she, Thantos and Goban had just started to explore she debated the need for information at the risk of losing valuable members towards the need to move on and attack the heart of the evil.

"I suggest moving on or combining our efforts to examine each crypt. This past altercation should prove that perhaps we are not as all-mighty as we would like to think."

As the last of the smoke clears, Goban looks up to see if they've managed to avoid disturbing the bats any. He wasn't looking forward to getting any more bites.

"I'm not terribly interested in meeting any of the other pets that may be resting here. It won't do us any good to go up against the source of this evil having been beaten on by every ghost and monster in the place. We should save our strength for when we have no choice but to fight, we'll all live a little longer that way."

Darghon walks over near Krazixs and puts a hand on his shoulder. Looking down at him he smiles "Good work.." He then leans down to where the ashes of the beast are and says to them "Rest well foe.. you faught valiantly" He then gets up and turns around "Have some respect Thantos" and with that he starts walking "D'Aleen is right.. we will only find more troubles in these crypts, let us go and thwart the source of this evil.." Looking towards his friend Vinoh he nods and grins..

"I agree with Goban and D'Aleen although I am a little interested to determine why the one tomb I looked at looked as though it had been freshly opened..uh..closed. There was no dust over the name plate and the plate looked newer than the others. I believe the inscription read something like: 'Patrina Velikovna: Bride'.

Perhaps this newer addition has not been tainted as much as these older ones? And it is near the exit we found. For those of you that don't know we found a set of stairs that go up next to a shaft. There is wind coming down from the shaft."

With a look of dismay,the knight watched Sir Thantos kick through the ash of the wonderous beast.


With a last glance and a sigh,Attrah turned around.

"You want to open another tomb? If anything I would suggest making sure they DON'T open. Maybe Father Quadrial knows something that we can remedy these restless spirits with."

Hearing Darghon's comments in regard to having respect for a foe, Thantos responds.

"I mean no dis-respect Darghon, but this was an evil creature that would have killed us all. He fought not for honour but through spite. Regardless, I am not trying to desecrate his final resting spot and it was not I that disturbed his rest to begin with. Instead I was attempting to see if anything dropped off of him that may be useful. With this fog it is difficult to see anything without creating a slight wind and even then you can only see for a second or two before more fog fills in the void.

Vinoh, I would suggest you search this tomb quickly so we can move on. "

"A fresh tomb you say thantos.. hrmm could be interesting.." Darghon looks down the way we came... "Do we open it or.." looking back at the group "Not risk it and take the stairs?"

"Darghon...the tomb Thantos speaks of is not far from the staircase we were to meet at. With a combined force we could open it but I for one will be a little uneasy at releasing a creature here when we have met nothing but foes so far. The lack of dust and cobwebs might just indicate the strength behind her is that much greater as she has not been resting as long as the others.

Yes,I believe that we should investigate but I cannot help but feel in my heart that the true peril and test for us lays at the top of this vault.

Let's go to the base of the staircase and we can decide from there whether we should open the newest of the vaults."

With that, D'Aleen shoulders her bow and slowly retraces her steps back down the passageway towards the staircase far ahead. Looking left and right at all the various crypts they were passing she could only pray that a few were resting at peace somehow in this awful place. To fight them all, if released, would be to fight an army of undead that even the bravest of them would not be able to survive.
Still...there can be no evil without it's counter balance...the good. Smiling to herself and trusting in the strength and heart of her companions she kept on...

Keeping up with Minx he says "Yes I think you are right... and the fact that the description has Bride on it can not be good" Darghon thinks as he follows closely behind D'Aleen.. "Bride.. Bridge of what? Bride of the Evil.." Darghon looks up and towards where the tomb is "If it is the bride of the evil.. then.. then whoever or whatever it is could be very powerful.. so we must be careful" Darghon nods slightly.

Happy that the Nightmare has been subdued, Vinoh takes Thantos's cue and searches the crypt for anything useful. He is careful to keep his mental defenses up, lest the evil that permates this place finds a way into his mind or soul.

Overhearing the others talking, Vinoh responds:

"After our altercation with this happy little fellow, I think we should refrain from cracking open anymore crypts, no matter how new they look. This place is evil. I let my curiosity overtake me once and I won't let that happen again unless I'm very sure it's even worth it. I say we make our way up the stairs that D'Aleen, Thantos and Goban found before any more trouble finds us."

"mm yes, you are right in your opinion Vinoh" Darghon looks over his shoulder at Vinoh then forwards again

Father Quadrial is rather surprised to find himself still alive and wanders about a bit with a silly grin on his face.
Taking the amulet from around his staff he puts it back around his neck.
"Yes, could we please not open anymore tombs? There seem to be no end of things here that are happy to kill us without playing pop-goes-the-nightmare."
Keeping an eye on the bats he follows the rest of the party towards the stairs.

Thantos & Vinoh
* In going into the large crypt of Beucephalus, the Wonder Horse,
strangely it seems immaculate, except for the smell of brimstone.

On the floor in the back, you see a closed wooden chest.
Except it is cracked open by coin overflowing...
Gold
Silver
& Electrum
proping up the top a bit.

In the corners are three large bags
They seem to be made of a strange material
When holding them up and inspecting them
They are light, and the insides seem "hollow" and ""spacious".
hmm. *

. . . Well I don't know about the rest of you but I don't care what you do, just be assured I'll be standing toward the back of the group this time.

Grabbing one of the bags, Thantos experiments with it, thrusting his scabbard into the bag and noticing that it fits even though it really shouldn't fit. Retrieving his scabbard he holds the bag out to Vinoh.

"Vinoh, since you cracked open this tomb and battled the nightmare, you should divide all the treasure that this tomb provides. I don't pretend not to want one of these wonderful bags but as I did not strike a single blow I will leave it up to you to hand out. Might I suggest though that the chest still be opened with care as it might have a trap in it.

If the chest does not have a trap, I would suggest dividing the coins into the three bags so that the weight of them does not weigh down the party. "

"Nice! Money and bottomless bags! This can't just be a coincidence now, can it?"

Vinoh happily grabs one of the bags and starts filling it with as much treasure as possible, without encumbering himself.

"Who wants in on this? Thantos? Darghon? Father? Hey, we earned this loot, so we might as well justify this mess we just got into!"

Hearing Thantos's words, but having already opened the chest, Vinoh responds:

"Err... I guess my curiosity has been replaced by greed... However, your words are wise and fair, Thantos. Even if you did not strike a blow, you are part of the group and all treasure will be divided equally among all when we get out of here.

Darghon! Help me with the bags. You can carry one and Gell or Attrah can carry the other."

"If Gell wishes,he can carry the spare bag.I don't consider any treasure from this place a blessing."

"Hehe.." Darghon Chuckles hearing Vinohs words.. "I've already got my own D-Bag.." Darghon says while tapping the bag at his side. Darghon takes his portion of the gold, silver wraps it in a clothe he retrieved from his bag and puts the clothe wrap treasure back into the D-bag.. the opening glows slightly as he puts his hand through into the bag. Pulling his hand out it reveals nothing inside. Darghon tightens the mouth of the bag shut and pulls his cloak around the side. "Ok.. so who wants the other bag then? And what is this Electrum?" Darghon grins towards the rest of the group...

Father Quadrial suddenly feels faint after collecting enough treasure to fix the roof of the abbey and fix up the little chapel.
Realizing that it has been quite some time since they small breakfast they had eaten back at the village.
Taking a metal box from his backpack, the monk uses a flint and steel to light the tightly packed tinder in the bottom of the box.
From the same pack he takes a little pot and pours some water from his bag into it.
Adding some of the herb from his medicine bag, he lets them steep in the hot water.
Drawing his knife, the portly father cuts big chunks of dark bread and smoked sausage.
Laying out a clean cloth, he adds some dried fruit and some crystal sugar for the tea.

"Ah, Father? Are you sure it's wise to eat here, surrounded by crypts and bats? I think we should keep moving. The entire treasure seems to fit fine in a single of these Bags of Holding, so I can hold on to most of the loot until we leave this place; anyone who wants one of the remaining bags is free to take it, as well as his or her share."

Vinoh then takes out a piece of jerked beef and starts chewing on it.

"Yeah, so I still think we shouldn't take a break here. Let's at least go to the stairs, where there doesn't seem to be any bats looming in wait."

The mind mage then makes his way to the next room, where the looping stairs seem to hold the promise of progress.

Looking up from the meal he is laying out, Father Quadrial shrugs.
"If our battle with yon fire breathing steed didn't anger them, then my making a little tea won't upset them. Is anybody else hungry?"
Pouring himself a cup of tea, he adds a dollop from his pocket flask, and starts to make a sandwich.

With a smile,the knight takes a seat by Father Quadrial.
Taking out a small ball of dough, Attrah smiles again. "My kind of guy."

Feeling abit peckish himself he takes out a peice of jerky from another pouch at his side and knaws on that seeing that his D-bag can't hold any perishables.

"Vinoh, what if we were to go up stairs and find something worse than a group of bats?" Darghon chews on another peice of jerky "We probably should have something to eat and drink" and with that Darghon puts his hand into his D-bag and pulls out a crystal glass with a few blew gems imbeded in it. Muttering a few words the gems glow and it fills brimming with water.. Drinking the water down he licks his lips savouring the wetness. "Would you like some?" He asks the group

"Ah, what the hell..."

Vinoh takes a glass of water offered by Darghon and drinks it quickly, feeling mighty thirsty after that bout with the Nightmare. Staring into his now empty glass, then the other full glasses, then back to his own empty glass, then again at the full ones, Vinoh asks:

"So, err... anybody else gonna drink any of those? Heh..."

Not feeling like eating since the encounter Krazixs stands a bit away from the group trying to get his thoughts in order. Something happened back there that he couldn't explain, another part of himself came to surface. That other part that was confident and sure, powerful and wise. He could still feel it there but it was trapped locked away, and the small elf did not know what to do. Fear and cowardice were now forefront in his emotions, but for the first time determination and resolve were there also. He felt that the other side of him was his true self somehow forgotten and locked away. He needed answers and still something kept tugging at him in this tomb, something he needed. It was there on the tip of his memory, but just as quick gone. He looked at the portly friar idly wiping food crumbs off of his stately stomach, something tickled feelings, almost like a kinship but not. Feeling helpless the elf wanders over and sits down in the circle of companions, waiting for the next move.

Once everyone is finished with the crystal glass he puts it away in his bag of holding and gets out another peice of jerky to chew on. "So.. where we off to now?" Darghon addresses the group. "Should we leave this place and try the stairs?" Remembering the graze he got from the nightmare he runs his hand over it to find that it has fully healed.

"Not a bad idea if you ask me....we've all seen what happens when we open the crypts.
Thantos, how do you feel...you had a wish to open the bride's crypt....do you think that will really help us or should we continue on? I for one am all for travelling up the stair case we discovered. Defensive positions will be difficult as it is so narrow but I don't see we have much other choice if we are to explore this god-forsaken place." D'Aleen said as she carefully put the remainder of her meal back in her pack. Standing, she glanced at her companions and waited to see what the others thought should be their next move.

"I was just curious about why that crypt appeared so fresh but I have no desire to fight more creatures than we need to. I'm fine with going up the stairs."

As he talks, Thantos cocks his crossbow and places a bolt in the holder.

" It will be difficult to fight going up the stairs but shooting up or down may come in handy as an advance attack. I'm ready, let's move to the stairs as soon as all of you are ready. "

"Very well then, seems that most are for goin to the stairs.." Darghon smirks