Group 22

Post by **Drainial** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:34 pm

"And there they go," despite their numbers the Skaven attack had been batted away easily, now though they had the problem of running one of the blighters down. Saldrimek set off in quick pursuit but two elves on the case had twice the chance of catching a rodent. Elysian followed suit and dashed down the side of the ramp as quickly as he was able whilst still keeping his feet.

Tally ho! That is Elysian will chase after the hamsters.

Post by **Kinslayer** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:44 pm

The group were drawing closer to their goal, but now the ratmen were in full flight and they risked losing their prey all together. Phalx had with him ropes and schackles, but his position at the back of the group stopped him from getting them around one of the skaven in time. Likewise, Vash'nir was in no position to draw his crossbow and help lend supporting fire, the rats were nearly gone almost as quickly as they had entered combat. There was more time to react for those closer to the edge of the slope, where the vast tunnel had been dug down from the side of the dwarven tunnel to form a big mining pit leading to the adjacent skaven tunnels the vermin were running for. Saldrimek and Elysian wasted no time giving chase, just as Karonath reached down to her bag for two more firebombs and Vryala threw aside her sword and swung her crossbow around on its strap to bring it to bare.

The four skaven had already made it back down the slippery slope, seemingly accustomed to running up and down the steep rocky tunnels, even so covered in slippery filth and loose debris. Saldrimek and Elysian had to take it a little slower, meaning the skaven gained a headstart and would dissapear from sight into the other tunnels extending out from the mining pit before they could catch them. Fortunately for them something whistled overhead, and they recognised it as the first of many crossbow bolts. The black iron bolts were so quick they overtook the bombs K had already hurled in midair, thumping into the ground around the skavens feet and then tracing a rough line chasing after them. Vryala held the trigger down long enough for her accuracy to find its bearings, one of the skaven being gunned down and another shot through the back of the thigh. Her crossbow suddenly clicked empty, just in time for Karonaths' fiery display.

The fire bombs flew over the skavens' heads and slammed into the mining pit side by side, kicking up dirt and rock in a cloud of black ash and orange flame. The chittering vermin all but ran right into the explosions, one of them stopping just in time but being forced back towards Sal and Elysian if it wanted to avoid a fiery demise. The second was so driven by fear that it simply ran straight through the flames and smoke, dissapearing from sight before the group could tell if the fires had actually killed it. Saldrimek and Elysian reached the mining pit a few seconds later, coming face to face with the ratman that had turned back on itself, and the one Vryala had shot in the leg which was squirming on the floor as it tried to crawl away from them. With one of the vermin already disabled and ready to take hostage, the Mage and Khainite had the option to kill or spare the second rat. They went to either side of it, and Elysian smashed his staff down on its head to stun it a moment before Saldrimek cut its hamstrings with his axe.

Two of the skaven lay crippled before them, and it seemed a third had escaped through the smoke and into the passages beyond. Something told them it would return, and not alone.

Karonath, -2 firebombs
Vryala, -1 crossbow clip

Raneth · Post by **Raneth** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:20 pm

Breathing as steadily as she could, bracing her arm and shoulder, V pulled the trigger. Her discipline was well rewarded but still it stung to see one of the Skaven make it through the barrage. Guess we have to make a -really- hasty exit. We're already in more of a stickle than I bargained for. Grabbing her sword back, she quickly skid down the slope to help Sal and Elysian deal with their fresh POWs. Yet upon reaching her friends, V noticed the tunnel the last rat fled through had suffered quite a bit under K's explosive temper, and she reckoned she might as well finish the job.

Vryala will try and collapse the tunnel using some bombs. Following that, she'll help Sal and Elysian get the rats back up for Phalxy to shackle.

Dauricha · Post by **Dauricha** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:48 am

The battle was furious and intense. He fought with Karonath, darting in and out of combat, horn dagger and sword slick with the oily blood of the rats. The group had formed up well, as they had done so many other times together. The Skaven came on and they fell as they did. It was dirty brutal and bloody, and it was glorious.

Then the filthy buggers were falling back, leaving their dead behind in mounds of torn limbs and blood. We can't have that he thought grimy still slick with their foul blood. He sheathed his blade as quick as he could. He still his breath calming himself after the rage of battle, focused his mind as he knew what he had to do.

Phalx will reload Deathspitter as quickly as possible, and fire off two shots at a Skavens legs to cripple the bugger!

Khel · Post by **Khel** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:06 pm

There was no time to lose, one of the other rats had escaped and their time underground was sure to be up, now that a potential threat from a Skaven retaliation lingered. The rats that had survived the massacre at the top of the pit were now squirming at the feet of Elysian and himself, their ligaments shot by bolt and severed by blade. They only needed one, but from the number of times they had been sent back down here, Sal felt that if they were to bring two back, then surely they would be believed and hopefully would only have to return once more to this underground network. Vryala was attempting to collapse the tunnel ahead of them, in a grim hope to stop any more rats coming to get them while they recovered momentarily. Now was not the time to search for warpstone either, a thought that saddened Sal greatly. Snapping to action however, a burst of urgency and anger drove Sal quickly into motion.

Get some rope ready up there! Sal called up to the people still at the pits highest edge.

With his curved, serrated dagger, Sal flipped the delicate butcher knife around in his hand, holding it upside down before driving the smaller hilt of the dagger into the skull of the second Skaven. He would make sure that the rat was knocked out then carry him up the pit ramp and dump him at the feet of the Shades, who would by now have the binds ready for the prisoners. Giving Elysian his thanks for the help during the chase, Sal pointed across to the other rat who writhed in pain as it attempted to ease itself off the leg it had been shot in.

I’d recommend you bring that one along too, if you want of course, I’ll carry this one on my back, his legs are no use now. Neither are the other ones I warrant.

Carrying the rat up the ramp to the Shades to bind them, where he’ll then carry the rat on his back to where they have to go to get out of here. Will return down the ramp to bring the other rat if needed if Elysian decides to bring him along.

Sidorio · Post by **Sidorio** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:28 pm

OOC - sorry, the damn internet seems to be messing up alot this week :cry:

we got it back and then before we knew it it had gone again...

IC - In a relatively nice change of events it seemed the battle with the skaven had gone well for them and Vash'nir was quite relieved to not have to be worrying about his life for once at the hands of the filthy things. Quietly satisfied he kept a look out just in case more showed up though he'd like to hope that they would be out of here with some proof in tow to show the unbelieving nobles that ruled the city above.

If this isn't enough proof then khaine help them to whatever fate befalls them all. He was still somewhat nervous in these tunnels, he'd been taken surprise one too many times and had too many an encounter with a shady foe to convince him to put away his weapons.

Let's not waste any tiime. The sooner we get out of here with those two the sooner the nobles might take this problem off of our hands.

Post by **Drainial** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:55 pm

A mad cap dash down the side of the tunnel proved to be somewhat unnecessary, those who remained above ensured that the prey stayed caught, for the most part.

"I’d recommend you bring that one along too, if you want of course, I’ll carry this one on my back, his legs are no use now. Neither are the other ones I warrant." Saldrimek said as he hoisted one unconscious Skaven up onto his broad back. Elysian didn't doubt that the large Khainite would make easier work of carrying his prisoner but he made a good deal of sense. They only needed one Skaven alive but their luck down in these sewers had been changeable at best, a backup was probably wise.

Moving over to the writhing beast Elysian cracked his staff down on its head to quieten the creature before beginning the laborious task of lugging it back up the slope.

Knock the second Skaven out and carry it back up the slope.

Dauricha · Post by **Dauricha** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 2:09 pm

OOC: Please check out the OOC Thread especially you Khel!

http://www.druchii.net/viewtopic.php?t=64238&start=100

Post by **Kinslayer** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:13 am

OOC - Looking good Tom! Can't wait to see what the artist does with everyone else, the finished thing will be awesome.

IC -

The last of the rats had escaped them, running through the smoke and dissapearing down one of the other tunnels to no doubt summon skaven reinforcements. Still, they had their prize now, two of the ratmen bludgeoned unconcious and rendered lame. Saldrimek and Elysian carried and dragged the captured skaven back up the side of the mining pit, where Elysian handed his to Phalx to be chained and shackled. Saldrimek kept hold of his captive, deciding to carry the creature over his shoulder as they made their escape back to the surface. Before they left however, Vryala moved down the slope and drew out a handful of the fire bombs. If the skaven survivor could summon aid and return they might be caught before they got away, and so she intended to cut off the skavens line of pursuit. It might only serve to slow them down, for Khaine alone knew if the ratmen had other routes around and would be able to cut them off, but it was worth a try.

Vryala hurled four of the glass orbs into the mouth of the tunnel in quick succession, watching as one after another they exploded against the rocky walls inside, kicking up debris and smoke. Each explosion shook the tunnel with an echoing boom and shook the stone harder than the last, until the fourth bomb hit and sent the roof of the tunnel crashing down in a huge crash of tumbling stone. The reverberations of the cave in seemed to race along the tunnel, causing more stone and debris to fall in as the badly crafted tunnel the ratmen had dug was undone. If only the vile creatures had thought to support the structure with wooden beams, Vryala thought as she turned away and hurried after the other. They didn't know how quickly the ratmen could dig through loose rock, but based on the size of the mining pits they had stumbled across so far they didn't think it would take them very long at all.

Heading back the way they had come, the mercenaries jogged through the dark tunnel until they came across the brazier they had dropped earlier. One of them scooped it up as they hurried past, using its light to illuminate the stone passages as they tried to remember their way back. On the way in, the group had been following the telltale sounds of picks working stone, however now there were no sounds or signs to guide them. Karonath made her way to the front of the group, trusting in Khaine to show them the right way through the maze of identical looking tunnels and chambers. The rest of the mercenaries followed her for what felt like many minutes more than it had taken them to reach the mine, and then suddenly they stumbled back into the ruined length of tunnel that looked down on the mine, this time from the opposite side. Cursing at their misfortune, and hearing what could well be the sound of claws digging their way through the blocked tunnel down below, the group rushed on past and started their search for the exit all over again.

This time they moved with more caution, thinking about each and every turn they made, yet they knew they were still running blind through the darkness. The tunnels all looked the same, and an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia started creeping into their minds as they realised they might be trapped down beneath the City. Karonath continued to lead them, trusting in Khaine to show them the correct path based on what her mind was telling her at every crossroad and junction. At one point the rat Saldrimek carried stirred and chittered something inaudiable, but Vash'nir knocked it out again with the hilt of one of his Asrai blades. The one being dragged along between Phalx and Elysian remained silent and still, blood clotting around the heavy blow atop its head. They continued to search the dark tunnels for a way out for many more minutes, until they stumbled across something else unexpected.

Making their way into another tunnel, they found another breach in the old wall that seemed to lead a short distance through the rock and dirt into another large chamber. The sounds of movement and chittering voices were carried through the short tunnel and passed over them as they approached, causing them to slow down and give this new area of underground terrain a little more caution. It was then that they noticed the footprints in front of the tunnels mouth, where a wide pool of muddy filth no doubt left over from the excavation of the tunnel had been trampled through by those beyond. What concerned the group the most was that not all of the footprints were the small, clawed and padded feet of the ratmen.

Some of them looked distinctly elvish.

Vryala, -4 firebombs

Post by **Drainial** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:58 pm

This black underworld was more than a little disorienting, elves were meant to live under the sky. Fields, mountains, oceans and forests they could master but being under the earth felt distinctly wrong in a primal sort of way. Not that he would let it get to him, panicking over a feeling would be worse than useless after all. More importantly however elves in general were not much good at navigating underground and that was the problem, they didn't know how to get out.

Wandering along dragging the dead weight of a captive was tiring enough that Elysian didn't give much thought to where they were going, he simply followed on after everyone else but after the second time they found themselves going in manifestly the wrong direction he decided to take a more active interest.

The group stopped and Elysian soon saw why, the Skaven tracks were to be expected, they could hear the filthy creatures after all, but the elven ones were a cause for concern but equally were an opportunity. They had gained no real information from the shade attack, maybe these elves could be persuaded to make their intentions known.

Remembering why the last encounter had gone tits up in such a spectacular fashion he looked back at the party as a whole.
"If there are other elves down here we should be even more cautious, perhaps the shades and I should go a little way ahead, make sure that the way is clear and ensure that we are not surprised by any ambushers." Again

Recommend scouts to the fore a little way leaving the heavies to babysit the prizes though remaining in earshot.

Raneth · Post by **Raneth** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:52 pm

The tunnel collapsed with a crash of ancient stone and shoddy timberwork. Vryala closed in behind Sal and Elysian, and helped the Mage drag his prisoner up the last few feet. Okay, we're good. Now to find our way back to the City... Karonath led the group onwards through the maze, her instincts directing them... back towards the pit. Heh heh. Maybe even Khaine can't find his way around this craphole. Hopefully we'll luck out.

Such might actually be the case - V's face lit up as she recognized the footprints they stumbled upon as Elven. Sure, they might be enemies all the same, but one thing was for sure: backtracking those footsteps would eventually lead the group back to the surface, which was all V really cared about at this point.

Vryala suggests her plan to the rest.

Dauricha · Post by **Dauricha** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:13 pm

Phalx saw the ratmen run, though they had caught a pair. He helped shackle the stinking flea ridden things and they headed on their way, collapsing the tunnel behind them. Now would this be the harder part? The ratmen had been obsessive in hiding their dead the last time. They didn't want to be found, taking some of their in alive, even these slaves would not be taken well.

He looked at the wretched creature he and Elysian. The wound in its head was ugly, was the thing dead, it was worth making sure. He looked to the other elf. So far the shadow weaver had showed how useful he could be, but he was still a magic man, an delver in arts that should be left to the truly mad in Phalx's eyes. Things hadn't messed up to much with him about though.

He heard the noises of something from ahead, and after the sight of foot prints clawed and surprisingly elven. He heard a few whispered ideas, and nodded silently. He gripped Deathspitter flicked his hood further forward and headed to the front.

Phalx ears straining, eyes focused will head to the front to scout, and will not engage any large group of foes he comes across, but will take out single enemies as, and if, available.

Post by **Kinslayer** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:34 pm

OOC - Sorry to push things on but I have some fun scenes coming up!

IC -

The group stopped outside the tunnel they had stumbled across and examined the footprints in the dirt. Some of them were definately elvish, though some of them seemed to be bare foot, all mixed in with the clawed prints of the ratmen. The dwarvish tunnel they had been travelling down continued on in front of them, but the elvish footprints seemed to lead from the skaven tunnel and back down the stone tunnel the way they had just come. Vryala wanted to follow the footprints back to their source, for surely they would take them to an exit. It seemed that meant going into the breach in the wall however, through the skaven passage and into the chamber beyond, which was filled with the echoes of chittering voices. Elysian suggested he and the Shades scout ahead before the others join them, and knowing there was a ratman pursuit following them through the tunnels the group didn't have much of a choice but to carry on ahead. Vash'nir and Phalx checked their crossbows were loaded and nodded to each other and the Mage in understanding. Elysian drew his handbow and gripped his staff tighter, following the skulking Shades into the low cut passage and creeping through in darkness and silence.

Vryala, Karonath and Saldrimek remained behind with the skaven prisoners, guarding the scouting parties return and waiting for the signal that all was clear up ahead, or the telltale sounds that it was not and that their comrades needed their assistance. They watched the Shades and Mage dissapear into the shadows of the small passage and then waited for any sign of an ambush. When nothing happened for a few long moments, they relaxed a little and dropped their ratmen captives to the ground. It was only a few minutes however before the sound of skaven approaching from back the way they had come echoed around the corner.

No sooner had V and the Khainites' heard the ratmen coming, than a small band of the hunched creatures rounded the corner, apparently tracking the mercenaries judging by the way they examined the footprints in the dirt. The rats looked up and realised they were standing face to face with three of the mercenaries, stopping a dozen yards down the tunnel and barring their teeth savagely at the Druchii. There were only a handful of the ratmen this time, but these ones somehow seemed different to the warrior-slaves they had been fighting previously. They even seemed to have an edge on the storm warriors the greyseer had deployed in their last big battle. These skaven were clad in black robes, and each carried a trio of serrated silver blades, one in each hand and one held in their tails. The tunnel runners formed up, seven against three, and then suddenly burst into motion, scuttling towards the mercenaries at an alarming rate, their long notched blades hungry for elf-flesh.

Vash'nir, Elysian and Phalx knew nothing of the skaven scouts attacking their comrades, for already they had passed through the short tunnel and crept into the underground chamber beyond. This one was no ancient dwarvish chamber, and nor did it appear to be a skaven crafted mine or warren either. It seemed almost like a vast natural alcove beneath the earth, irregular rocky pinacles holding up the weight of the City above in random clusters all around the vast space. Though it had not been crafted by skaven hands however, it had certainly been infested by the vile things. The trio crouched behind a rocky outcrop and watched as several packs of the ratmen scurried this way and that, dissapearing into adjacent tunnels or some of the dirty looking cloth tents that littered the ground. It seemed this was one of the skavens nests, or at least a rallying point for their underground forces to meet and rest. The ratmen however seemed to be the least of their problems.

What the Shades had merely felt as a tingle down their spines as they passed through the skaven tunnel and chosen to ignore, Elysian had recognised as them passing through a ward barrier. It was possible that doing so had alerted them to whoever had created the ward, but based upon what he felt upon entering the large chamber he doubted that was the barriers intention. A wave of arcane energy pushed its way into his mind, emanating from a powerful magic source that lingered nearby. The ward had no doubt been cloaking this presence, hiding it from the prying minds of any Mage down in the tunnels, perhaps even any Mage up in the City above. Whatever it was, it stank of dark power and sorcerous energy, and Elysian was reminded of the greyseer he had encountered earlier. Sure enough, his eyes were drawn to one dark pavillion set aside from most of the dirty ratmens tents. He knew at once that something dark and powerful awaited them within.

Raneth · Post by **Raneth** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:10 pm

Skaven scouts. Interesting. Through the darkness V could make out each of these seven foes were wielding three blades, apparently having taught themselves to use their tail as a third sword-arm. Though the creatures repulsed her, she had to admit this was quite an impressive feat, and one she relished to pit her skills against. Taking up a defensive stance, V challenged these strange enemies with a deafening battle cry.

Vryala puts her Parry skill to full use, and focuses all of her strength into deflecting the incoming blows - rather than aiming for the weapons themselves, she tries to outright sever the appendages. Also, the first rat to manage to get in close on her should receive a righteous shield to the face.

Post by **Layne** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:51 am

K's bombs kept a couple of rats back. Mr Khaine and Mr Magic nabbed them and brought them up. It was time to go. K had no notion of where in the world she was. She was fairly sure that no one else down here knew either. She figured that she could only trust her instincts and let Khaine lead her home. She pushed forward to the front of the group and led - and they followed. She came back to what was pretty clearly the same place from a different view. It was possible that they had come through that point on their way down, so K shrugged and went on.

She came to another place where there were rat tracks, and also elf tracks. Had they come to a place they'd passed through before, had they gone in circles? No, these were not the group's footprints, no heavy boots here. So what then? She had felt all along that Khaine was leading her, she was not ready to doubt that yet. It could be that he had ideas that were not in K's mind. she wanted to get topside ; but Khaine perhaps did not. Or did, but had more scenic journey in mind.

If the last, then fine, she could make a scene like no one she knew. And then she heard the picture - something was following - something that scraped and swished on the ground, with many feet - so several rats. K turned to meet them and there they were already seven rats with black robes, and daggers in both hands, and daggers in the curled ends of their tails.

She wondered how strong and skilled they would be. Twenty one knives was a lot between three.

K will walk up to the rats rather than charge, and will direct her effort towards avoidance and removing limbs.

Post by **Drainial** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:50 pm

The vast cavern was impressive to say the least but Elysian was not focusing on the geography, the ward had him worried as did the sheer number of Skaven down bellow but the most troubling thing by far was the presence at the centre of it all. That it was powerful was not in question, very likely too powerful for the shades and he to manage alone and perhaps too powerful for the whole group even without a small army of rat men to contend with.

In muted tones he told the shades about the ward and the power emanating from the pavilion before moving on to what they should do.
"We can't fight our way through all of these rats and even without the others we would be hard-pressed to sneak by, without leaving them behind I would say that it was impossible. This threat needs to be ended but if we return here let's do it with an army of our own, meantime I think we ought to go back to the others and find another way to the surface."

If no one has a better idea Elysian will return to the others, preferably with the shades but alone if needs be.

Khel · Post by **Khel** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:34 pm

Throwing the Skaven from his back and to what he thought was the side, Sal reacted to the strange rats before them with his own blades, his scimitars to be precise. Unsheathing the deadly duo, he quickly closed the distance with his comrades, who would be overwhelmed if they weren’t careful. The rats were sure to push from all angles, their strangely crude but numerous blades scraping along the ground as they burst forward in fury of gnashing teeth and claws.

These strange, unknowns will meet Sal’s scimitars, hoping to see what their speed and skill is, while also delivering hack and slash to make sure the others don’t get swarmed.

Dauricha · Post by **Dauricha** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:42 pm

Aye, Phalx muttered still dragging the rat behind him. Back into the depths of battle, back to go die underground. Great. The overbearing feeling of doom was creeping over Phalx. He had no doubt that death was hunting for him down in the tunnels. Elysian seemed to feel it more clearly, and the mage wizard man would probably know more about then he did. At least he could kill a solid rat before him, and Deathspitter was quite good at it.

Phalx will follow his allies back to the fight, Deathspitter ready to come at the ratman from an unseen flank.

Post by **Kinslayer** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:57 pm

Out in the tunnel, Saldrimek, Karonath and Vryala faced off against the band of black clad ratmen, weapons drawn and held at the ready as they walked towards the charging skaven. The tunnel would serve them well in the fight, for its width allowed the three of them to stand apart with the room to move their weapons freely, without leaving any excess for the skaven to get around their flanks. The ratmen would be forced to either attack in two waves, or rush forwards all at once but seriously hinder the space they had to move and thrust their weapons. Fortunately for the group, the ratmen seemed eager to get into combat, and showed no signs of a tactical assault. As stealthy and quick as the tunnel runners looked, they still seemed to lack the intelligence to form a solid battle plan.

The same could not be said of Vryala and the Khainites, who moved together and prepared to strike the ratmen at the same time. They opted to go for dismembering cuts, for despite only facing seven of the ratmen they were up against more than twenty daggers and swords. The more limbs and tails they could sever, the greater the advantage they could press upon the enemy. The skaven sprang forwards and attacked, daggers striking out left and right, tail blades arcing overhead and stabbing at necks and shoulders. The first dagger was aimed at Vryala, who elegantly dodged to one side, letting a second blade glance off her armour rather than give it her attention, and then striking back with expert precision. Her blade shot forwards into the forearm of the nearest rat, then slid back to a defensive position at her side. The skaven shrieked and retreated a step, letting one of its comrades push in closer and attack with three blades at once. Vryala rammed her shield up into the path of the daggers, deflecting the blows and knocking the rat back for good measure.

Beside her, Karonath span inside the guard of the first skaven to attack her, narrowly yet purposefully avoiding a lunging sword and then lashing out as a tail blade stuck for her face. The tail was severed near its tip, and the blade flew past her to clatter to the ground, still wrapped in the grip of the rats tail. The skaven howled in pain and redoubled its efforts, but in its haste it over extended itself, and Karonath made short work of lopping off first its left arm and then its right. Left weaponless and near useless, the rat could only watch on in horror as Bloodfeather descended once more, this time for its face. Another skaven was quickly in its place, and two daggers struck out for K as a tail blade almost caught her off guard. The ratmen were many and quick, their blades seemingly appearing from the dark as flashes of light before receeding back and striking again. Saldrimek too was hacking away at them, his paired scimitars of more use than his axe here, blocking knife strokes and then returning with severing cuts to the arms and tails.

A few moments had passed and two of the rats were cut down, but now the skaven had more room to attack. The blades started coming in faster and better aimed, and the trio found themselves blocking as often as they were striking back.

***

In the cavern beyond, Elysian whispered to the Shades, telling them about the way the chamber had been warded so that whoever was inside had not been detected. The power seeping out of the pavillion was similar to what he had felt in the strange dwarvish feasting hall when he had glanced upon the daemonic dais. However, back there the winds had seemed dark and chaotic, twisting and tainting as they leeched on something ancient and evil. Here the power seemed different, just as dark and unholy, but less chaotic, almost a purer kind of evil. He expressed this as best he could to Phalx and Vash'nir, who nodded in supposed understanding and then took another look over the top of the rocky outcrop they were using as cover. The pavillion lay about a hundred yards away, and despite there being a handful of other tents and two small groups of ratmen between them, the path to the pavillion seemed achievable to their trained eyes.

Another rocky pillar off to their right would serve as cover, and also bring them a little closer to what they guessed was the skaven greyseer. From there, they could make a short dash over to one of the other skaven tents and slip quietly inside, dealing with any skaven in there once they came to it. After that, they could leave the tent on the far side and move almost unseen along the shadow of a large rock cluster, bringing them to just a short dash across open ground away from the black pavillion. The question was, did they want to make that journey? They couldn't see where the elvish footprints led, but they certainly made off in the direction of the tent. Perhaps the ratmen were holding Druchii captives in there? Or perhaps worse, some twisted minded elves were actually working alongside the foul rats. Certainly the spoils of helping in their mining work seemed beneficial, and it would go some way to explaining how the rats had remained undetected all this time.

Elysian however suggested that they go back, and return here later with a larger force capable of decimating the skaven force where they alone might fail. This, it seemed however, was not going to be the case. A thought had just returned into all their minds, prompted by thoughts of the rat seer who no doubt hid in the black tent. The Dark Master will hear of this... had been the rat wizards last words to them as he fled. Was something darker lurking behind that black veil? Something more powerful than even the skaven greyseer had been? As if in answer to such thoughts, and before the Shades could decide if they wanted to stay or go, something suddenly stirred in the darkness behind them. The stealthy trio leaped back from the unexpected motion, doing well to stay behind cover and not alert any of the skaven patrols to their presence. The sentries that seemed to have spotted them, however, were not skaven at all. In fact, they had once been Druchii, but now they strode towards the mercenaries with their minds lost to them, as silent as the grave.

A pair of skeleton warriors stepped out of what they had previously believed to be empty shadow. Even Elysian had not noticed the undead sentries that lurked there, but now none of them could mistake them. Fleshless, bone white fingers gripped iron swords and rusted shields, and the gastly apparations raised their weapons simultaneously and began hacking down at the group. Vash'nir and Elysian, the closest to the skeletons, had to dive away to avoid being cut down, before readying themselves for the fight that was to come. Phalx cursed under his breath, knowing that if they made any sound at all the ratmen would come running. They outnumbered their foe, but the elvish skeletons were quick and unrelenting, no doubt fuelled by the dark magic that spilled out from the pavillion nearby.

Elysian was forced to fight off a sensation of terror, but for the Shades the leering skull faces of the skeletons was an all too familiar sight. Could it be...

Post by **Drainial** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:43 pm

Elysian looked up in shock at his attacker, undead? Here under the city? This went beyond the Skaven whatever it was.
The dark master will hear of this, that was what the grey seer had said, Elysian had assumed at the time that he had been talking about another rat, one more senior in their pecking order, now he was not so sure.

What he was sure of though was that if he didn't survive these next few moments the cause hardly mattered. With the power that dwelt bellow so close he dared not try any tricks but being so close he feared that the fight would alert it in any case. Still that was no reason to allow himself to be killed without a fight.

Steeling his nerves Elysian came up in a crouch and swept his staff out in a low ark aiming for the skeleton's knees, with any luck he could bring the thing down.

Elysian will keep fairly low and will bring his staff around in an ark, he is trying to unbalance the skeleton, if it works he will then try to smash its head in on the ground, if not then he will take a two handed grip and fight as usual.

OOC: Undead, didn't see that coming.

Raneth · Post by **Raneth** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:33 am

Snarling in hatred, V met the rats' charge head on. Swerving to the left, she evaded the first incoming blade and retaliated by rendering the offending limb useless. The rat jumped back with a shriek, making room for one of its comrades. This one was a bit more brazen, stepping in close to unleash a rapid flurry of stabs which V found herself hard-pressed to parry; but she managed, and rammed the edge of her shield straight into the foe's snout and sent it sprawling. Sal and K had entered the fray at her side, lopping off arms and tails with abandon - soon enough two Skaven lay dismembered on the floor, severed limbs twitching their last a good few feet away.

The remainder redoubled their efforts, pressing harder and striking even faster than before. Yet for all this bravado Vryala by now knew the rat-kind to be weak of heart, and reckoned they'd not willingly stomach a fair fight. Let's kill two more, then, and see what comes of it...

V will hold her defensive stance, goading the rat-scouts to come closer, then lash out at full force to score a quick (few) kill(s). Nevermind extremities, go for the throat!

Khel · Post by **Khel** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:42 pm

The feral gutter runners paid for their insolence, their blood splashing onto the cobbled stone ground as their limbs were severed and thrown awry. Sal was at the back of the trio, his blades now working overtime as with each death of the gutter runners, the others were given more room to breathe. Spitting his frustration as the hindrances continued their frenzied assault, a thought popped into his mind about the Shades and Elysian. Had they been separated by an unknown force? Could there be more of these gutter runners? The thoughts worried him, but pushed him onwards and into just as frenzied assault on the Skaven. With each stroke of their blades, he matched with his own deadly scimitar, words of prayer muttered across his lips, oaths forming and departing with each successive strike.

Will try to match the blades ferocity and deal damage of his own by throwing down diagonal sweeping arcs at the gutter runners.

Post by **Kinslayer** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:02 pm

OOC - Remember if you want to do well and get my focus, especially in combat scenes, you need to post as often as I do!

IC -

Despite the Shades being more accustomed to encounters with the undead, Elysian was the fastest to respond. The Mage brought his staff about in a low sweep, aiming to take the legs out from under the nearest foe so he could bludgeon it to death upon the rocky ground. The skeleton however had other ideas, and moving with a magical swiftness it brought its shield down to block the staff and lunged forwards with its rusted sword. Elysian had to side-step to avoid being run through, and in doing so he had enough time to witness Phalx and Vash'nir being pushed back in the other direction by the other skeleton too. The Shades were almost pushed out into the open, in plain view of the ratmen patrols, and if they didn't take back the advantage over the undead fiend they would give their position away to the enemy. The skeleton in front of Elysian once again lashed out, but this time the Mage was ready for it and he turned the blade aside with a blow from his staff. Still unwilling to try his hand at magic so close to the evil inside the pavillion, Elysian had to continue blocking while he searched for another flaw he could use to his advantage.

It was then that movement over by the pavillion caught his attention. The rocky outcrop they lurked behind blocked their view to the dark tent, but it was the Mages' othersense which noticed the change. Something arcane moved out of the black pavillion and started heading their way, its presence like a powerful beacon in his mind. He knew at once it was the greyseer, meaning somehow the rat had discovered they were there. Had the ward given them away, or was the rat wizard somehow seeing through the eyes of the skeletons? Certainly the undead warriors were not seeing for their own, for in place of eyes each had a pair of green balefire orbs. Elysian tried to get a warning to the Shades, but the skeleton attacked again, forcing him back another step even as a return stroke slammed down against the skeletons' shield.

A moment later and Elysian felt a wave of power as a spell was unleashed from nearby. Instinctively, he dropped into a crouch behind the rocky cover, fearing a bolt of warp lightning or worse heading his way. The Shades' sensed it too, though not in the same way, and both of them ducked and looked about in sudden shock, momentarily ignoring the skeletons that assailed them. The agony and death they had expected never came however, and they quickly realised although a destructive spell had indeed been cast it had not been aimed at them. Bolts of dark power flew past on the other side of the rocks, slamming into the rock wall above the tunnel the trio had just used to enter the cavern and exploding in showers of rock and rubble. One bolt after another tore into the rock, until a roar like thunder reverberated around the chamber and the tunnel collapsed on itself, shaking the whole cavern as though in the grips of an earthquake.

Perhaps the rat wizard did not know where they were yet afterall, but he certainly knew they had arrived. If they didn't deal with the skeletons quickly though they would give their position away for sure.

***

Out in the tunnel, V, K and Sal continued to exchange rapid blows with the black clad tunnel runners. The skaven moved almost too quick to follow, with numerous blades all stabbing out from as many angles as possible in quick succession. It was inevitable that some of them would find purchase amongst the group, and sure enough it was only a matter of moments before the group were cursing at new injuries even as they continued to lop off limbs and tails. Vryala was caught in the shoulder by the overhead strike of a tailblade, quickly severing the skavens tail in retaliation but not before the needle like blade peirced flesh and muscle. Karonath chopped another arm off at the elbow with her Draich, but as she brought the weapon back up for another slash a skaven jumped in closer, driving one of its blades into her upper left arm. The Khainite howled not in pain but in fury, backing up until the skaven blade tore free and then cutting the weapon from its host with a savage diagonal strike. Saldrimek too was hit, a skaven distracting his scimitars with its own hand held blades while its tail crept unseen around his side. Too late did he see the flash of silver, and the dagger cut into his hip, tearing the flesh and grinding along the bone.

Unwilling to be outdone by the filthy ratmen, the mercenaries redoubled their efforts and struck back harder and faster than the enemy could take. Vryala suddenly burst into motion, lashing out thrice at the nearest ratmen, twice to knock his blades out of the way and a third time to split open his throat in a welter of warm crimson blood. In the same moment, Saldrimek pushed the advantage by simply striding back into the skaven line with his scimitars rising and falling in unison, hacking down in heavy diagonal strokes one after the other. His arms working like a whirlwind, Sal drove into the skaven and all but tore one of them limb from limb, taking another glancing hit across the side of his head for his troubles but decimating another of the rats completely. Seven had become three, and as Karonath drove her Draich into another rats skull, the pair that remained seemed to loose faith and turn tail to flee.

The trio were about to overrun and cut the fleeing skaven down when a huge earth-shaking boom echoed through the tunnel beside them, followed by the sound of crashing rock and tumbling stone. The tunnel collapsed in on itself, no doubt by unnatural means, throwing out a cloud of rock dust that choked the group and their captives and blinded them, stinging their eyes and the backs of their throats. Their minds reeled... had the others been crushed? What had caused the tunnel to cave in on itself? If they had made it through, what had they found on the other side? Such thoughts only lasted a moment, for as quickly as they had departed the two remaining tunnel runners took back the advantage and threw themselves into the dust cloud. Their snouts and eyes concealed by their black robes, the dagger weilding skaven were all but immune to the choking dust, and they came for the group once more, blades seeking weak spots and throats. One of the rats was already missing most of its tail, but it threw itself at Saldrimek, its hand held blades aiming for his face and neck. The other stepped forth between V and K, lashing all around with a trio of blades, almost invisible in the veil of ash.

Cut off from their friends by the sudden rockslide and unsure of their fate, they would have to deal with the last of the stealthy ratmen before they could properly assess their situation.

OOC - All these underground caverns, skaven hordes, undead and powerful wizards... anyone would think I was reading Nagash Immortal at the moment! Oh wait :lol:

Just to clarrify, both of the captives are with Vryala, Saldrimek and Karonath. Phalx left his there when he went through the tunnel to scout ahead (and just got cut off from returning to it)

Raneth · Post by **Raneth** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:59 am

V cursed profusely as a dagger somehow slipped between her armor plating and was driven into the shoulder. Swearing an oath of revenge, she struck out at the rat, and was rather gratifyingly rewarded with the mutant's terrified stare as it slowly sank to its knees, bleeding out with a pathetic death rattle. The Khainites likewise showed no mercy whatsoever, commending a couple more souls to the Lord of Murder. This was apparently too much for the remaining two Skaven to handle - they jumped away from the melee, obviously intending to mount a prudent retreat.

Oh no you don't, V thought as she made to chase her enemies, but a sudden change of circumstances denied her the pleasure of running down those cowards - behind them, the tunnel had collapsed, which meant the squishies were either dead or trapped. To make things worse, a thick cloud of ancient dust now filled the chamber; she could only just see the metal flashes of Skaven weaponry and realise the rats had taken heart in the event. Swearing under her breath, she covered her mouth with her Sea Dragon Cloak and raised her sword once more. We -really- don't have time to deal with these punks. Better make this quick! She figured that, however developed the Skaven's night vision might be, a cloud of dust was still just that, meaning everyone present was equally blind. V dropped her shield to the floor, and tried to goad the rats into attacking her. Wrong choice, vermin! This place will be your grave!

Will try and grab a rat with her free hand as it strikes, then chop it up good for its insolence.

Khel · Post by **Khel** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:48 am

The Skaven attacked with unnerving accuracy and speed, surprising Sal as he saw only too late that one of his weapon arms were distracted from the quick striking tail. Bending his body as much as he could to avoid the blow, Sal still felt the blade hit his unprotected flank of his rib cage, the jarring and suddenly sharp pain rattling Sal as the blade nicked bone, a wound which he was getting too accustomed to. No matter how many times he was sliced, slashed and had bones chipped, the pain was always horrendous, yet in the grim, blood soaked pitch of battle, time to worry about wounds was nonexistent. He threw his blades back into the thick of it, catching most of the blades the Skaven put up against up, some having their defences crushed by such heavy blows. One rat lost an arm as he tried to put his tri-dagger blades up against one of his own heavy, swiping attacks. The force of his strike alone would’ve crushed the bones in a normal persons hand but for Sal, his skill in dismemberment with the scything weapons was brutal.

Changing the direction of his attack mid swing, he ran his scimitar down the back of the Skaven’s guard, before twisting the blade around just in time to maintain the momentum and force needed. He registered a splash of blood from the Skaven as his hand fell away from its scrawny, fur matted wrist. Pushing the attack on this rat in particular, Sal grinned wildly as the Skaven lost another arm, then had its thigh almost severed, then its entrails spilt and finally, its head parted from its neck. It was a brutally quick attack which left the rat hanging apart, limbs rolling around uselessly along the crimson splashed ground. Turning his attention in a split second to another rat which aggravated its stance, Sal only felt a clang as a dagger glanced off the side of his helmet and shook his world momentarily. Oh how he thanked Khaine for the hindsight and wisdom to buy such a lovely helmet.

The bloodlust disappeared as the tunnel around them began to shake violently, the cause unknown but obviously sinister. The Skaven who they were just locked in combat with had scuttled away as the tunnel roof came down close by. Dust and debris were thrown amidst the three party members and Sal covered his eyes from the resulting pebble shower that followed in the dust cloud. The rumbling soon stopped but the cloud of dust still remained. Sal had barely enough time to think what was going on when he heard the angered chattering of the tunnel runners returning for a final clash. His patience at breaking point, Sal felt the murderous intent of the rat as it threw himself at him. Black etched scimitars still drawn, Sal looked towards the rat as it threw itself out from the cloud and towards him. Smiling like a savage, Sal filled the chamber with his crazed cackle and he welcomed the death of this annoying little flea.

He would finish this in one blow, with a new attack which he had thought about attempting in a recent battle. Knowing that he didn’t excel in defence and that he preferred shifting the defence into a battle of matching each other with blades and forcing a miss or a slip up before striking hard and fast, Sal stabbed forward with his right scimitar, hoping to impale the flying Skaven. If the rat had seen this attack coming he would surely dodge it, but for Sal, this was what he wanted. His left scimitar was already swinging through the air towards the rat as it almost reached his range.

Stabbing with the right scimitar, hoping to land an impaling blow. While with the left scimitar, attacking horizontally with a wide sweeping arc to catch the rat if it avoids the right handed scimitar strike. If both hit, more the better, more bloom!