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Deep in the Dark......

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As the group races past where the doomed creature had vanished, something comes into sight. Several signs and runes, glowing faintly in the darkness, even under the water. As the group takes lurching steps closer, panic fueling their mad scramble, the inky tendrils of darkness seem to twisty and writhe with anger and irritation. And as the last human foot steps over the glowing symbols, there is a shriek of frustration and rage. It is like heated nails being driven into your minds, hate and almost childish frustration echoing and striking, until with the suddenness of an unforeseen plunge into icy water, it ceases.

There is just a whisper, heard as if it was given to each you, as if the speaker, it's voice the sound of bones crushing and grinding together, stood right behind them, breath fetid and rank, as moist and foul as a drowned corpse into your ears. ◾"You will never escape the darkness. It flocks to you. Always."

And with that, the shadows seem to retreat, and there is nothing save the tunnel, and the stream running alongside it, as if it were just a mundane stretch of stone, and no sign as if anything had ever been there.... save for blood stains by the waters edge some forty feet back, the glow of the cavern you escaped from not three hundred feet down a level path.
 
She shivered, her grip on the pod shaking, as to be honest, she was rather unused to all of this. The running, the physical exertion and the risk to her life. It was both exotic and terrifying, experiences she avoided thanks to her families wealth, position, and armed guards... luxuries that in her current state, she did not quite possess. A state of affairs she would have to correct before such actions occurred again. Still, she looked over the barbarians, and there was an appraising sort of hint to them. But, it passed, and quickly, before she spoke, her voice soft, almost a whisper, as if she did not wish to attract attention.

[Zingarian]"That was most unpleasant." It was given in a calm tone, a statement of fact, nothing more, nothing less. "Would you wish to hold the light again, honorable guide?" If there is sarcasm in her voice, it is subtle.
 
Killian felt as though being chased. He could see no creatures, nor could he hear any. Still, he felt something chasing him, something tangible. He could hear the screams of other victims, ones he'd not been able to fully search for, saying their final words in a language he couldn't understand. He kept running until a blinding pain shot through his head, followed by a whispered threat.

He looked around as best as he could. Before it was with idle curiosity, or carefree intrigue, a distraction from an unpleasant situation. Now he did so with purpose, actively looking for threats and/or clues. When the khitan who had taken the pod from him offered it back, he accepted with a silent nod.
 
[img=280x200 align=right]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Temptress-Emanaia.jpg[/img]
Emanaia Lajaira

Emanaia was still nervous as the shadows seemed to follow them no mattering how long they escaped but as they reached some light that made whatever was following them to stay behind. The zingaran girl finally caught her breath and relaxed a little, just a little as this whole situation was still awfully scary.

She didn't say anything not to the whisper she heard or to the words of the khitan and the playful or confident ways from before were nowhere around to be seen but at least she could control herself now, she looked around to appreciate where they were now but din not dare to leave the side of Meihui just yet.
 
Much as he did, she would give only a silent nod, as she examined the sides. Really, besides the markings, there was nothing to show what was different, though, looking at it, and through the light, she could see, perhaps, that the tunnel continued sloping downwards. However, she would merely take the time to breathe, and calm herself, to regain her dignified bearing.
 
[img=200x220 align=right]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/4/4e/Piper-fawn-posing-naked-1574.jpg[/img]
Vallah

"By the gods..." Valah sagged to one knee at the far edge of the light. "What was that?" She looked back the way they'd come and her jaw dropped. The barbarian girls' bossom heaved as her fear and confusion churned in gasps. "100 paces? How.... How could that have just been a hundred paces? This is madness!"
 
She shuddered, as a memory came to her, of a reference in some scrolls she had poured over some years ago. There had been little known of them in her part of the world, however, as the creature feared Acheronian... [Zingarian]"In the tongue of my home, they are refereed to as Ànyǐng línghún, Shadow Soul-Masons. For them, the darkness and souls of the dead are their brick and mortar, to make the purple stone of their creators towers." She shudders faintly. To most, it would seem in horror. But in truth? Excitement and the desire to possess the knowledge.

"For they were not born as we were. No, they were formed in vats, corpses imbued with things from the dark shadows from beyond, warped and twisted to be given a semblance of life." She looks to Killian and Emanaia. "It was assumed in the east that they were slain when your ancestors destroyed Acheron."
 
There was nothing, save for the sound of water lapping at the stone beside you, no sign of anything save for the faintly glowing symbols. And in the distance, the green glow of the cavern, that place of deception and pain, open it's arms wide and smile, welcoming those who do not know better to come inside, those from the surface that seek out the safety of the light, only to have it snuffed out.
 
[img=280x200 align=right]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Temptress-Emanaia.jpg[/img]
Emanaia Lajaira

Emanaia had no real desire to face that creature again, much less having to fight it, but if they found themselves cornered she would have to, {Zingaran}"You say these creatures are not born but created upon the corpses of anothers, so can they be killed" The Zingarian girl looked very nervous and there was worry in her words and fear as well but she also denoted that she was ready to fight if they had to, hoping for an affirmative answer she wouldn't let go the hilt of her sword.
 
The Khitian woman inclines her head at the statement of defiance, neither adding her weight to the attack, or to avoid. However, as she breathes in and out, calming herself, she did offer some small counsel. [Zingarian]"It is true they can be destroyed. However, this one is held back by magic that as far as I can tell is holding strongly. How tightly it is bound...." She pauses, and looks pensive. She would almost swear the lights in the cave flickered for a moment, and a trace of fear trickles down her spine.

[Zingarian]"I feel it safe to assume that it is watching us, or at the least, aware of our presence. Perhaps, honorable guide," she looks to Killian, her face that calm mask, "we should... depart with calmness, but a swift calmness?"
 
To those keen enough of eye, there would be more then a touch of truth to her words. For the lights flickered, as if a mirage was sighted, and under it all was a roiling mass of almost viscous darkness and shadow, an oily blight that was almost alive, that swallowed all light, though it was burned and recoiled from it. And hovering, just in front of Killians nose, right across the markings, was that creature of an elder and murderous time.
 
There is movement in the water, and then, a pale hand emerges, fingernails ragged and torn, the flesh small and almost gaunt. But, as the head emerges from the lapping waves, there are only pits of writhing, inky darkness where eyes used to be, black water dripping from it's mouth. There is a scream torn from it's mouth, a shriek of rage and hunger and horror, blood and spit spraying from lips, jaw cracking and dislocating. And then, it begins to shuffle forward.

There is no grace, no ease to it's movements. No, it is just like a puppet on a controllers strings, jerking and stiff, clawed ruins of fingers curling around unseen necks, even as teeth gnash and gnaw at the sweet, sweet flesh of light touched creatures!

Roll me Initiative please!
 
Looking at the creature, now seemingly a puppet, alive or corpse there was little difference, she would cry out. [Zingarian]"Let us move down the tunnel, away from the warding marks." Because really, she does not want to be dragged over, and it may be strong enough. Or it could just trip her. And she did not wish to die.
 
[img=280x200 align=right]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Temptress-Emanaia.jpg[/img]
Emanaia Lajaira

The words of the khitan woman alerted Emanaia for she wasn't able to spot the creature until it shrieked, she would have preferred to run but where, and without a light that would be suicidal. She would only follow what others, especially 'Jīngměi', would do, still she wielded her blade against the terror that approached them all ready to give it a fight if they all decided to do so and destroy it if she could.
 
This time, Killian quickly drew his dagger, ready to fend off whatever the hell was coming after them now. As terrifying as this creature was, it was still a creature. Compared to tendrils of darkness, this was much easier to cope with. Granted, he wasn't looking for a fight with it, and was happy to back away with the rest of the group, until he saw that the Zingaran had her blade ready as well. He stepped boldly forward, swinging his dagger in a wide arc to attempt to slash it, but the miss looking like little more than a threat to stay away than an actual attack.

(7 to hit)
 
Against those with otherworldly talents, the greatest danger does not come from a sudden strike, or a bolt of power, but in that things are rarely what they seem to be. And as Killian advanced, the illusion shattered, rippling like a mirage, walking straight into the arms of that which he fled from scant seconds ago. There is chuckling, as he tries to escape, but the tendrils, rope like and writhing like serpents grasp his face. They are at once cool and damp, yet dry as dust. "You flee into death, run towards doom. There is no escape."
 
However, as it opens it's tendril like hand, to get a better grip, there is a moment of weakness, and with a cry of rage, Killian would be able to slip out of the monsters grasp, and back to safety.
 
[img=280x200 align=right]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Temptress-Emanaia.jpg[/img]
Emanaia Lajaira

What Emanaia just witnessed was more than enough to make her not willing to move forward for now, she stared at how Killian was grabbed and contained her breath in awe until he was able to escape. She would then slowly look for a safe way to move while she readied her blade against any incoming enemy coming towards hers, Jīngměi or Vallah if they were still next to her.
 
She looked at her companions, and spoke quietly, readying herself to move. [Zingarian]"I would assume that a measured retreat would prove practical at the moment?" Her voice was calm, even as she drew her knife.
 
[img=200x220 align=right]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/4/4e/Piper-fawn-posing-naked-1574.jpg[/img]
Vallah

Spot 11
Iniative 18

Vallah was thinking similairly to the others, This is something I can fight! Her sword came at the ready.

Killian struck first, though he only had a dagger. The rehdhead took a diagonal swipe at the jerkily stepping corpse, then hissed, "Fall back," and scampered down the tunnel, further away from the wards.

Attack Roll 14
Damage Roll 14
 
As the group moved away, there is the scrabbling of the corpse behind them, but still, it does not seem to be able to move very quickly. Still, as they moved down, the walls would seem to be moving further part, only an inch on each side every few feet, though by the time they would manage to head another seven hundred feet, they would be on the opening of a larger cavern.

Unless you'd like to stop and fight earlier, the corpse would abandon the chase half-way along the tunnel
 
[img=200x220 align=right]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/4/4e/Piper-fawn-posing-naked-1574.jpg[/img]
Vallah

"Keep going!" Vallah hissed, scrambling back away from the undead but trying to keep her sword menacing it. "The cave is openning out," She added in stumbling Zingaran. "Killian, what's up ahead?"
 
[img=280x200 align=right]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3b/Temptress-Emanaia.jpg[/img]
Emanaia Lajaira

{Zingaran}"Quick Jīngměi, Killian", Emanaia was still nervous but she followed the naked redhead closely as she protected the opposing side, both girls ass cheeks tightly rubbing against each other as they carefully moved forward while awaiting for her other teammates to move forward into safeness and guide the way as well.
 
Jīngměi as the others, did her best to move along, not quite running out of the light, but still, haste did have something going for it. So, she would move as swiftly as she could, and while she hoped the opening of the cave was a sign that fortune was with her, recent events were strange enough that she wondered....
 
Killian, having been the first to engage, was understandably the last to fall back. He would have stayed and fought. He did, after all, have the source of light, and somehow, the running was scaring him more than whatever they were running from. However, this was the kind of situation in which company could save one's life.

Once caught up, he looked ahead to answer Vallah's question. {Zingaran}"Aside from emptiness? Let me see."

OOC: kckolbe:1D20+6 → 15(9 + 6)
 
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