"Well what do you guys think"? Asked Denal. " It looks like there are two areas left to explore; this area to the Southwest and this area in the North", Denal pointed at the map as he spoke.

    Talgor said little but Arik and Agatsu tried to get a word in. "The dragon said his captors were to the north," commented Arik.

    "Yes and that scroll we found seemed to indicate that direction as well" piped in Agatsu.

    "And I feel my god pointing me toward the north," Talgor stated flatly

    Denal pondered for a moment, "well, I think…"

    Just then Anson signaled everyone for quiet. "Something's coming," he whispered.

    Denal and Agatsu quickly (and quietly), flipped up a couple of the small beds to give them some cover, and they both readied their crossbows. Arik and Anson flanked the doorway so they would both be able to strike whatever came through.

    The party could hear as something or somethings approached from down the hall. Everyone tensed waiting to see what would come through the door. Strangely though the sound continued onward instead of stopping at their rest area. Anson took a quick peek through the door and waved for Denal.

    As Denal looked through the door he could see an ogre and several orcs walking away from their room and down the hall the party had just come from. Denal quickly waved the rest of the group up and loosed his bolt at the ogre's back. Denal obviously didn't have time to aim because his bolt just grazed the ogre. Agatsu and Anson both had better luck as both scored substantial hits on the ogre. The ogre bellowed as the arrows struck home: thunk, thunk. As the ogre bellowed, the orcs in their typical cowardice took off running. The ogre already hurt and now outnumbered ran as well.

    "We can't allow them to warn any others that may be about," Denal shouted as he gave chase, the rest of the party in tow.

    The group chased the monsters through the halls. Denal caught a glimpse of the wounded ogre as it closed a door to a room. He gave little thought to the door as he tried to kick it. Had he, he might

    Have noticed the rotted wood that made up the door did not look very strong…

    As Denal kicked down the door, his foot got stuck in the door; and if not for Anson's quick reflexes the elf would have been sprawled out on the floor.

    The ogre filled the doorway with its large size, blocking the party from advancing. Quicker then they had expected the ogre jabbed its' club straight into Anson's chest, knocking the wind out of him, and throwing him back into Talgor's arms. Denal took a quick swipe with his thin rapier. Scoring a minor hit, Denal twisted to the side to avoid another jab from the ogre. Anson, still gasping for air, tried to hit the ogre with a tanglefoot bag. Somehow he managed to score a direct hit and the ogre was stuck fast to the floor.

    Suddenly Denal felt a rush of wind by his left ear and another arrow appeared in the ogre chest. "I don't know whose firing," Denal yelled, "but you just missed the tip of my ear!" The ogre was badly wounded now and with two quick sword strokes Anson and Denal finished it off. As the ogre body fell to the floor, Denal and Anson watched as the two remaining orcs tried to escape through a door across the room. When the orcs reached the doorway directly across from the party, they tried to get through but it was obvious that had to be locked in some way. The orcs quickly changed direction to the right and went by way of a second door to the right.

    Denal took off running after the orcs. Anson, not wanting to miss the fight ran after him. As soon as Denal exited the room he was confronted with an intersection, he randomly chose left and left again at next intersection. "I don't know what gnome dug such winding tunnels but when I find him..." Denal didn't have time to finish his thought as he came upon another door. Not wanting to repeat his earlier mistake, Denal grabbed the doorknob this time. Without warning Denal was thrown back, an electrical charge shooting up his arm.

    Too late he saw Anson come charging around the corner. "No, Anson!" Anson hit the door in a full bull-rush blowing the door to shreds. Half a second later Anson hit the far wall of the tunnel, bounced off and fell down the stairwell that the door had been blocking. It was several seconds before Denal could hear that Anson had stopped bouncing. Denal realizing the orcs could not have gone this way and knowing he had no way to treat whatever wounds Anson had sustained from his fall, Denal ran back the way he came. A second later he ran by Agatsu, "Anson needs light, he fell down some stairs that way," Denal pointed back toward the shattered door.

    Agatsu a bit out of sorts with everyone running around proceeded cautiously toward where Denal had pointed. Rounding the corner and seeing the shattered door, Agatsu felt certain that, yes Anson had come this way. Peering down dark stairway, Agatsu lit a torch, and whistling a happy tune, he slowly proceeded down the very long staircase to find Anson. Finally reaching the bottom of the stairway Agatsu saw Anson. Anson stood there for a moment shaking his head, trying to clear the stars that swam in front of his eyes. As his head cleared he saw Agatsu staring at something. Turning his head to see what Agatsu was looking at; Anson saw two VERY   large spiders skittering across the ceiling toward him. Not wasting any time Anson ran to the top of the stairs leaving Agatsu to fend off the spiders.

    Denal had finally caught up to Talgor and yelled to him that Anson needed his help back the way they had come. Now it was Talgor’s turn to check on Anson. Denal continued on after Arik; rounding two corners, Denal finally came upon Arik, just as he was killing and orc. Denal saw that the second orc was running around another corner. As Denal pursued him around the last corner, he came to a sudden stop. Standing in the next room was the orc army they had been looking for.

    Denal turned and ran back the way he had come. When he saw Arik he screamed, "RUN!" Knowing he could not continue to run forever Denal stopped for a second. Making some arcane gestures with his hands and muttering long forgotten words of power, Denal was engulfed in a soft glow. In a blur he took off running, magic lending great speed to his strides.

    Anson ran up the stairs with Agatsu following shortly behind him. He saw Talgor up ahead but continued his run back to the room where they had slain the ogre. Slamming the door behind him, he stopped to gain his breath, feeling like the world was coming down around his ears. Agatsu came up the stairs with the spiders hot on his trail hoping the rest of the party was not to far away. He breathed a short sigh of relief as he spotted Talgor. At that moment he noticed a Denal shaped blur go running by him.

    As Denal passed Talgor he spotted Agatsu. He knew they were in BIG trouble. He started running past Agatsu until he noticed the very large spiders emerging from the stairwell. Practically running up the wall in an effort to turn around, he finally stopped next to Talgor. It wasn't until that second that he noticed that Arik had somehow kept up with him despite his enchanted speed. Denal grabbed both Talgor and Agatsu and pulled them with him. When they reached a defendable room back along the way they had came he let go of them. "We need to bring the party together, STAY  HERE!" Denal took off to find Arik and Anson moving once again at his enchanted speed.

    Arik was not doing so well. After Denal pulled Agatsu and Talgor away, the spiders decided that Arik would make just as tasty a meal as anyone would. He fought a retreating action but, being in relatively unexplored territory he turn a wrong corner and found himself trapped by a locked door behind and two hungry spiders in front of him.

    Anson's conscience was catching up with him now. He had retreated but he had hoped the others would follow him. As the seconds passed he felt more and more guilty about hiding behind the door. It was then that he heard Arik fighting on the other side of the LOCKED DOOR! Suddenly Denal appeared beside him. "Anson, we must find Arik," Denal stated. Denal noticed the sounds of fighting as well. "Let's go get Arik," Anson said as he opened the door in front of him. Rounding the corner Anson and Denal found Arik; the spiders were already wrapping him up. Denal and Anson were both able to land surprise blows on the first spider. The first spider tried to climb the wall to get away, but as it went up Denal skewered it with his rapier. As the two started raining blows on the second spider, it quickly fled; leaving Anson and Denal with a mortally wounded Arik.

    "Anson, can you carry him back to Talgor?" Denal asked.

    "Probably but I'm not doing well myself," Anson stated flatly.

    "Well pick him up and I will help as much as I can," Denal replied as he cut the spider thread from Arik's body.

    As Anson picked him up, Denal suddenly remembered seeing Arik with several potions earlier. Searching Arik's body he came across a yellow potion in a clear bottle. Hoping this was some kind of healing potion, Denal tipped Arik's head back and poured the yellow liquid down his throat.

    Arik started sputtering almost immediately. Anson quickly stood Arik up, trying to let him get his bearings. The three would have been happy at the reunion if not for the sounds of a marching army they suddenly all heard.

    "Well, it looks like this is it," Anson said as he realized what was coming. He carefully drew his sword; a hard, fiery gleam coming to his eyes, it was the kind of look brave men got when they know they are going to die but will fight on anyway.

    "Not today," Arik firmly stated. Arik began waving his arms, Denal knew he was casting a spell but strangely did not recognize the words Arik used. Suddenly the tunnel ahead of them was filled with an impenetrable darkness. Denal looked suspiciously at Arik; no time for questions now but there would be answers later, Denal thought.

    "Anson break the door behind us, quickly," Arik demanded.