Legend of Grimrock: Destiny’s Chance. (Part 16)

Part 01
Part 02
Part 03
Part 04
Part 05
Part 06
Part 07
Part 08
Part 09
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Tawmis jumped around the corner of the wall, a blast of searing flame right behind him. He quickly pressed himself against the wall, panting heavily. “What is that thing?”

“Would it be a good time to mention,” Silvertan hissed, peering around the corner, staring at the floating, flaming, armored figure, then back to Tawmis, “that the wizard would know what it is called?”

Tawmis stared at Silvertan with his own searing gaze. “No,” Tawmis finally said. “It would not be a good time to mention that. I realize that Blaz got either incinerated or teleported away. And I do realize that it would be useful to have Blaz here to deal with whatever that thing is over there.”

Taren, the minotaur, stood next to Tawmis, having been too slow to escape the blast, and suffered some small burns. “Whatever it is,” Taren snarled, his nostrils flaring, “it does not want us to pass in that general direction.”

“We could try going around it,” Silvertan mentioned.

“Great idea,” Tawmis spat, “except this is the only way forward. Every other way lead to a dead end or back up a level. If we want to get to the bottom of this cursed dungeon, we need to find a way around that thing – whatever it is.”

Another flaming blast shot through the tunnel, striking the far wall, sending uncomfortable waves of heat around them.

“What do we do if that thing decides to come down this tunnel?” Silvertan hissed.

“My first plan?” Tawmis said, smiling coyly. “I was going to throw you on it. You know, since you’re cold blooded. Figured you might cancel one another out.”

“Your sense of humor eludes me,” Silvertan returned with a distained look. The lizard-man looked around and hissed, “Where’s the Ratling? The damn Ratling’s gone! I knew we couldn’t trust him! He’s scattered! He’s left us! Probably knew this was a trap! He probably knew a way out of here!”

“We will deal with that later,” Tawmis growled.

“Deal with it later? We lost the mage already, and now the Ratling is gone too!” Silvertan growled.

“You were the one that wanted to be thrown in this dungeon alone,” Taren reminded Silvertan. “Was that not your plan originally?”

Silvertan now shot the massive minotaur a disgruntle look, but quickly looked away, unable to maintain the courage to lock eyes with the massive beast. “That may have been my plan originally, yes,” Silvertan admitted, “but I see now I underestimated the horrors of Grimrock. So yes, it may have been my plan, and yes I was wrong. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“Son of a,” Tawmis whispered.

“What? Is that not a good enough apology?” Silvertan growled.

“No,” Tawmis replied, “look.”

Silvertan peeked around the corner cautiously, and much to his surprise, saw Coy, the Ratling sneaking up on the fiery creature, dagger drawn.

“How did he get over there?” Silvertan instantly asked.

“Does it matter?” Tawmis growled. “We need to keep that thing occupied so it doesn’t notice that Coy’s behind it.”

Tawmis jumped into the tunnel and began taunting the fiery creature, who unleashed another blast. Tawmis dove out of the way again, but once more the blast hit the far wall, sending waves of uncomfortable heat as it exploded.

Coy drove his dagger deep into the fiery creature’s back – hoping, despite having no physical body that he could sever whatever tie it had to life. The armor began to shake and Coy released the dagger and ran for cover, just in time as it exploded.

Tawmis quickly stood and ran over to Coy to help put out some of the fires that had ignited on Coy’s fur from the exploding embers. Silvertan ran over next, “How did you get behind that thing, Ratling?”

“I found a small tunnel, one that perhaps myself, and you,” he pointed to Silvertan, “could have fit through, because of bodies; our bones are more flexible. But there’s no way the human, and especially the minotaur were going to fit. I could have kept going, leaving you three behind – but I won’t survive down here without your help, so I knew I had to come back and help.”

Silvertan wanted to say something – find a way to accuse the Ratling of something – he still did not trust the Ratling – but there was nothing he could say that would have put the Ratling in bad light. His actions were, if anything, heroic.

Silvertan extended his hand to the Ratling and helped him stand. “It was either brave or foolish taking a chance that a backstab was going to destroy that thing. I don’t suppose you found any trace of the mage in this tunnel?” Silvertan hissed.

“I’m afraid not,” Coy replied.

Elsewhere, within the Dungeon, Blaz’tik suddenly woke up.

“That –tic!- was certainly a weird dream,” he said, his mandibles clicking. In his dream he had heard the voice of an unknown creature beckoning him forward. All he could remember from the dream was the voice… and gears… so many gears…

Tawmis Sanarius – Human (Son of Contar Stoneskull and Yennica Whitefeather) – Warrior
Taren Bloodhorn – Minotaur – Warrior
Blaz’tik – Insectoid – Mage
Silvertan – Lizardman – Rogue
Coy – Ratling from the Isle of Nex – Rogue