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Chapter II

Bandits, Brigands, and Baddies

The five adventurers entered the gates of the city of Bimor. Two dragonlings, one yellow and one black, accompanied by an anthropomorphic cheetah, a dwarf in the shape of a feral bear, and a minotaur. The eclectic party approached the prison near the center of the city, entering the nearby office of the Captain of the Guard. As they entered, they saw he sat with his usual sour mood, though not nearly as angry as the last time they met. He was putting ink to paper while the group entered, barely glancing up before continuing his work. "I trust you've completed your investigation?" "Yeah, we found an underground uh...place filled with Goblins." Answered Tolvain. The balding man merely grunted in response. "And Saurians." He continued. This caused Fordue to pause his work and look up with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, we found that a bit odd too." He finished. "I see." Responded the captain as he leaned back in his chair. "And did you find anyone in particular who was responsible for organizing these attacks?" "No, but we did find this map. We couldn't figure out where the marked areas were, but it's our only lead." Tolvain handed the map to the human, who gave it a quick look over before pulling out a far more detailed map of his own to compare. The room filled with silence, though the man moved his lips as he thought and analyzed. Finally he spoke "Well, I know what one of these places is. The one to the east is a mining location. The problem is there have been disputes over the territory with The Four Cities of Escallin. To be honest there are high political tensions revolving around that area, and any criminal activities on a large scale there could potentially make matters worse. The area to the north on the other hand, I have no idea. It seems to be in the middle of nowhere, just at the southern end of the Deadfen Marshes. Your only way of finding the specific location would be the map you found. Or a navigation spell." He said as he glanced up at the travelling minotaur. Yum shook his head. "No. The only magic I know is minor healing, preserving corpses for burial, and repairing broken objects. Oh, and killing undead. And blunting the weapons of my enemies. "Okay, I get it." Fordue cut him off. "The point is, I'm going to have to ask you to investigate both these places. There appears to be some sort of crime syndicate in place and I will not allow them to cut off Bimor's trade routes." After a bit of planning, they reached an agreement to investigate the northern location first, report back, then do the same to the eastern mines. Payment for their accomplished task was given, and soon they headed into the vast plains to the north.

Travel across the grasslands proved much faster than navigating the winding roads of the jungle. They made quick progress towards their destination, and soon the terrain began to change. The ground became wet, even starting to hold random small puddles of water despite the lack of heavy rainfall. The murkier puddles of water were usually accompanied by a strange red hued plantlife. Ki identified this as bloodgrass, a type of plant that only grows in the remnants of particularly violent battlefields, and probably part of the reason the area further north had the name Deadfen. After a few more days of travel, and a minor tussle with some marsh dwelling frog men, the party found what they could only guess was the marked location. The land, while still fairly opened, started to display more trees instead of the bushes and ferns that had grown abundant. A small stream passed through a cluster of trees which held obviously unnatural structures in their branches resembling shelters. Looking through the windows showed no signs of occupation, nor were any calls answered. Turbo strained his ears to hear over the others, and he did hear minor signs of life inside the buildings, but he was more concerned over the noises he heard from beyond the immediate area. He quickly urged the others to hide to get a feel for the situation first. The party spread out and took cover behind any trees or bushes they felt could block sight of them. Several Goblins appeared, searching the area for something. Through whispers and guessing, the adventurers determined Goblins would make no such place their home. The green skinned creatures took interest in several crates left in the open, giving them a quick inspection before urging a particularly large one to haul it away. It was swiftly determined that whatever was occurring before them could not be good, and the group stepped into action. The Goblins were caught by surprise, and they were ill prepared for combat, let alone the numbers they were up against. The fight did not last long, though a few Goblins did manage to slip away from the fray and run into the wilderness. While debating whether or not to pursue, a curious sight caught Jammy's eye. The trees appeared to move, or at least have something move within them. Soon, a small man sized creature dropped from its branches and approached them. His body was made of animate wood, and his head was adorned with orange leaves fitting the time of year. Similar creatures began to appear, leaving the thought empty houses and tree branches, all of them with different colors of leaves signaling their ages. One particularly crooked one with greyed leaves approached them and spoke in a whispered voiced. "I thank you, brave wanderers, though I fear your interference may have doomed us all." "I don't understand." Started Tolvain. "We've fought Goblins before, they aren't too much trouble." "We are a peaceful race." The elder replied. "We live to be unified with nature, not to wield and destroy it for our own gains." "Well how about we just go ahead and take them all out for you then? We're tracking down these guys anyways, so you can just sit back and relax." Offered Jammy. "What's in those boxes anyways?" he continued.

"Rare plants grow in these lands. Some consider these more valuable than the rest of nature, as holy organisms needed for religious ceremonies." The elder Wildling explained. "Incense?" questioned Turbo. The Wilding nodded in response. "We agreed to supply this incense to those who desire it, though we only offered it upon our own terms. We would allow its use only after the plants fell on their own every year, and expected nothing in return. It was our honor to put to good use what nature had given us on her own terms. But this changed when these creatures of green fleshed arrived. They first offered us gems they attached value to, and when we refused, they threatened us with war. Unable to fight back, we are forced to betray our sacred balance and supply them as they wish." The adventurers discussed amongst themselves before coming to a conclusion. "We have a mutual interest here." Turbo explained. "We have come to stop these Goblins, and if saving you is a result of this, then we will strive for our goal for your benefit as well as ours. Would you happen to know where these monsters call home?" The elder shook his head, causing a few leaves to fall to the ground. "It matters not. They will come for their revenge soon enough. I suspect they will be upon us when the sun sets. I fear we will lose many, for they wield fire carelessly." "Actually, that gives me an idea." Stated Tolvain. "I was enslaved in an arena all of my life. Sometimes they would have special traps or tricks set in place to make the fights more interesting as they put it. If we have until sunset, we might be able to set up a few to even the odds. A spike trap in the river, a net someplace where it'll catch two or three." He elder considered this for a moment. "Very well, but we will not allow you to damage our surroundings. We will do this ourselves, if you feel confident enough to protect us." The rest of the day was filled with the labor of Wildings and eager preparations of the party. As the sun lowered, one Wildling caught sight of the approaching enemies.

The assaulting Goblins split into two groups around the furthest home, one group with their Hobgoblin commander, the other with two armored and ax wielding brutes, and both sides having smaller support troops. Tolvain saw the splinter group coming around and away from the traps and ran forth to intervene, leaping over the stream before clashing steel with them. Despite their small stature, the ax wielding goblins proved to possess incredible strength. Tolvain raised his shield to block a strike from his left, only to be met with an ax slamming into his armor covered stomach. He doubled over and another ax from the first attacker met his knee, bringing him down to their eye level. Turbo witnessed his ally in peril and ran forth, his cheetah legs carrying him with great speed too his aide. However, he was too late. One of the goblins lifted his ax and delivered a devastating blow to Tolvain's head that cleaved into his helm and left him limp. Turbo entered into combat with the cluster, with Klaax soon charging in after him. Turbo clawed and kicked at his enemies, appearing almost as a beast in his ferocity, and yet his swiftness could only protect him for so long. One of the goblins leaped up and brought his ax upward, carving into Turbo's chest and dropping him next to Tolvain. This triumph was short lived, however, as the goblin was shortly met with Yum's horn boring through him. The minotaur then raised his war hammer and brought it down upon the other armored goblin, crushing it quite painfully under its weight. He then quickly dropped to his knees and began to work his healing magics on his allies in a desperate attempt to stave off death, though their wounds were severe.

Ki'eruu and Jammy held off the goblins on the other side of the building, a net trap keeping their leader preoccupied while they picked off his minions. The goblins however were enraged by the rebellion of the Wildlings and their newly found mercenaries, and so proceeded to set fire to the building. Their leader drew his blade and cut himself to freedom, landing in fury and proceeding to assail his enemies. His speed and acrobatic prowess were great, as he dodged and tumbled over Jammy, delivering light blows as he moved. He shifted and slid his way across the battlefield towards the dragoness, though her quick commands to Vehznous routed him to the shallow river. Jammy moved in position to block his escape, capturing him between the enemies and the bridge. He prepared to continue combat with them, when he felt a hand on his shoulder pull him around. A very angry and bloody Turbo glared with vengeance in his eyes before beginning his onslaught. He shattered the Goblin's bones and twisted his joints, not ceasing even for a moment until a broken body lay face down in the river below him. With their enemies dead, the party turned their attention to the building engulfed in flames. As they organized possible actions, one of the Wildlings emerged from hiding, and with a wave of his arm, commanded the river to swell and take shape. The water curved and spiraled through the air until it doused the flames. Seeing the dangers around them to have concluded, Turbo took a deep breath and collapsed in exhaustion.

The group stayed for the next few days in the village while the Wildlings tended to the wounds of Tolvain and Turbo. Tolvain made a full recovery, save for a large scar in his scales from above his left eye to below his right. His helm was destroyed from the blow, leaving his head exposed. Turbo, though he suffered a similarly devastating wound, had any scar that may have occurred covered up by his fur. However he was not left entirely without consequence, as his already raspy voice was frequently interrupted with a coughing fit. While resting in his makeshift hospital bed, Turbo questioned the Wildling who had commanded the water. "I could not help but notice you could bend and shape water. I have been seeking powers such as these for quite some time. I feel I will be here for some small time, would it be possible for me to start on the path to such powers?" The wildling smiled its wooden smile at him. "Our people hold a very special bond with nature and our surroundings. Using such abilities feels as natural as extending one's own arm. We are druids by tradition, though we care not for taking the form of animals as your friend does. I can teach you basics while you rest here, but establishing your connection with nature could possibly take a lifetime." The days passed without event, and the healing process was incredibly swift due to the knowledge of the Wildlings, their leader holding a particularly expansive knowledge of medicinal herbs and techniques. When they felt well enough to continue on their quest, the group departed as heroes to the men of the wood, and returned on the road they entered from.

"I've been thinking." Started Jammie as they walked southward back to Bimor. "If we report back now, we'll have to spend, what, a week going from Bimor to the mines? It would be a lot quicker if we just went directly to the mines from here. Hell, the fact that we'll be going over plains instead of jungle is reason enough." A quick glance at the map showed that he was correct, and with a small discussion, it was agreed to forgo the original plane and report back only after both locations were investigated. They changed their course to the southwest, heading straight for the point of conflict with the neighboring territory. The days passed as they marched, and it was not until they were mere hours away from their destination that any intelligent creatures made themselves known. The group had rejoined the road as the jungle terrain started to rise and fall with hills. The sound of conversation filled the air and the party took cover in the foliage just off the path. The words being spoken were unknown to them, though a quick consensus informed them that it was the elven language. The speakers in question soon showed themselves, appearing to be an armed patrol from the city of Esscalin. One of them halted the others and pointed towards the group with a shout, and though they did not understand the exact words, they understood the context. Klaax emerged first, followed by the others "So, uh, do you guys happen to speak human?" he asked, nervous from the agitated group of warriors. "We speak the human tongue, yes" replied the highest ranking member of the elven party. "Who are you, and why do you wear the armor and symbols of Bimor in Esscalin territory? Perhaps you are here to spy on our defenses around the mines your city wishes to take from us? I can save you the trouble and guarantee you we are quite willing and able to defend ourselves with combat if needed." Jammy stepped in before the minotaur could respond. "Actually, we are here about the mines, because there is potentially a threat to both Bimor and Esscalin. There have been frequent disappearances on the road between here and Bimor, and upon investigation, we found a map marking two locations. We have already checked the first one and found a bunch of goblins there, so we think that there may be a raid or something on the mines too." The elf commander blinked in mild surprise at the suddenly speaking bear before replying. "I see. Very well, we will permit you to enter the mines. Your group is far too small to pose a threat to our cities regardless. But I assure you, any hostile reactions will not only bring the elven wrath upon yourselves, but your city as well." He motioned for his party to follow him, and unbeknownst to the strange group of adventurers, turned back to stealthily follow behind them.

The party easily found the entrance to the mines, and though tracks for a mining cart were laid on the ground, there was no sign of life nearby. Lighting a torch, they entered the cavernous entrance and into the depths of the earth. "So Ki, do you know anything about this cave? Or things we might come across here?" asked Tolvain as he gazed frequently in all directions. She thought on this for a moment. "The caves provide both salt and chalk, used for the usual things, but sometimes blessed for religious stuff. It has both because there was a mineral rich lake or ocean or something here and it just did that over time." The group came to a sudden stop as the ground next to them lead to a gaping hole straight downwards, the only thing visible being the small reflection of their torch. "And I would say that's what's left of it." She continued. The tracks soon split into two paths, one quickly halted next to some abandoned equipment, the other circling around the large hole into the darkness. It was decided that the right path would be shorter and thus more easily cleared. A tunnel lead away from the end of the tracks, occupied only by an abandoned cart and pickaxe. The walls became spotted with large webs of creatures, to the point where the stone surface could not be seen. They readied themselves for whatever may jump out at them, but the cavern soon ended with naught but several humanoid shaped bundles of webbing. Before a comment could be made, the rock walls echoed with the desperate roar of a bear. Jammy hovered above the floor, suspended by webs and only covering himself further from his wild thrashing and clawing. It was only now the group's eyes drifted upward and beheld a pair of chthonic creatures latching to the stone ceiling. Their visage somewhat resembled a hybrid of a spider and a centipede, with a few elements of a grasshopper, though the aspect that truly terrified the party was the fact that they held man made weapons with obvious practice. A venomous sting from one of the arthropods rendered Jammy's body rigid, leaving him in a helpless state of paralysis with only his allies to help. A battle swiftly ensued, though the cramped location and sticky webs made proper movement difficult, save for Ki'eruu and her usual tendency to stray back from the thick of combat. A large flaw in this strategy showed itself as the dragoness suddenly felt sharply clawed fingers wrap around her throat. She tugged at the hand and found herself unable to break its iron grip. Her cries for assistance left her lips as merely a gargle that became drowned in the cacophony of war. Her hand gripped her small crossbow and brought it around her head and she looked back. The being clutching onto her stood quite a ways back, taking advantage of its lanky and multi jointed arm. A lifetime of hiding from sunlight caused its skin to have a pale and sickly hue while its face held a round mouth filled with several rows of needle like teeth. The creature retracted its arm in an attempt to pull Ki closer while also leaving her unable to aim straight down the sights of her weapon. Vehznous's ethereal voice ran through her mind and instructed her. "Lower, just a little... to the left...a bit more... rest it on your shoulder...Now!" The clutching hand on her neck loosened with a jolt, and as she whipped around, Ki witnessed her attacker fall to the group with a bolt lodged in its forehead. The battle behind her was winding down, and Jammy was cut loose to the ground. The paralyzing venom in his body was thankfully not permanently damaging and its effects were quickly overcome.

After a quick rest and patch up, the adventurers were ready to head down the other path. "So what was that grey thing with the long arms anyways?" asked Tolvain. "It was a fucking asshole, that's what it was!" replied Ki as she rubbed her neck. The tracks circled around the water filled pit, and distant torchlight bathed the walls in a yellow orange color. Before the source was discovered however, noises of wild animals reached their ears. A small wooden pen held several bipedal creatures, though they appeared to be feral reptiles. Turbo opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by a coughing fit. "What are these? What use would they have in a mine?" Ki glanced over at her spiritual companion. "Apparently they are used as guard dogs by Saurians. Or like horses. Or for food. But that's only the weird ones. Okay, shut up we get it, reptile horses, got it!" Vehznous, at least to the others, appeared to maintain the blank emotionless face he always had. Turbo stared at the cluster of beasts, and while most did not react well to their presence, his trained eyes spotted something hidden in the crowd. A winged being resembling a very small dragon cloaked itself as a chameleon would, with its scales blending in with the wall. Jammy, putting to use his knowledge of animal behavior, managed to beckon it closer. Before he could capture it or learn anything about it other than its curious and playful behavior, it was scared off by one of the more ferocious beasts. With a shrug at the entire situation, the group proceeded on their way towards the distant light source.

Upon their approach, the dragonlings picked up the sounds of their language being spoken. Peering around a natural column, Turbo hid himself from any potential onlookers as he spied on the conquerors of the mine. Several Saurians sat whilst chatting and eating rations, each covered in armor and holding a small sword in their belt on one side, and a whip on the other. The party snuck forward, approaching closer and hoping to take advantage of the element of surprise. The caves rang with the sound of clanging armor as Tolvain and Klaax brought up the rear of the group. The Saurian slept up in alarm and drew their weapons, though did not advance. The rest of the group turned and glared at the louder members of the party just in time to see more Saurians take formation behind them. Seeing the numbers against them and their surrounded situation, they promptly accepted their defeat before harm would come to them, save for Tolvain. The dragonling kept his shield raised and weapon firm in his grasp, ready to defend his allies until his last breath. Just before the reptiles converged around them, a sudden burst of lightning struck the newly revealed ones from behind. With a shout of encouragement and a swing of his blade, Korvas reunited with his companions and roused them into battle. After the clashing of steel and blasts of dragons' breath, all of the Saurians were defeated with the exception of one unfit to continue fighting. Korvas ordered "Stand down! If you tell us who sent you here and why, we may just let you live!" While the Saurian did comply, Tolvain remarked "Actually, I'd like to know why _you_are here. Last we saw, you were helping Amar get some medical attention." The others of the group set about binding their prisoner while the dragonlings continued their conversation. "I remembered that map had this place marked down, and I heard some rumors about something weird going on here, figured you were all captured and needed a hero. And look, I was right!" replied Korvas. "Oh, that was a coincidence and you know it." Retorted Tolvain. "By the way, where is Amar?" "Oh, she said she had some family business to take care of, figured that was more important than doing out and getting blinded by goblins. And I still saved you though." Their conversation was interrupted by Jammy. "Hey, so, we just searched this guy, and he's got a crap ton of gems on him. Same for the other guys we killed." Korvas grabbed the tied up Saurian by its collar. "What's the reason behind the gems? Payment? Why are you interested in these mines? And better yet, who the hell is organizing all of you!?" he questioned in their own language. The terrified Saurian opened its maw to speak, but was quickly and unexpectedly silenced. The small pseudo-dragon beast from earlier swooped in above Korvas and drove its beak into the Saurian's throat, leaving it to die in a growing puddle of blood. The group stood in shock while the creature merely chirped cheerfully. "Well then. That's unfortunate." Said Jammy in an attempt to break the silence. "It seems they did not treat these animals well. We may find some more further in the cave. Shall we then?" Turbo suggested. The tiny dragon once again vanished from the low light of the torch.

The cart tracks once again met a fork in the cave, and the adventurers once again chose to explore the shorter path without tracks again. The cavern ended far quicker than the previous detour, yet yielded far more welcome results. The walls were lined with various crates and containers, much like the ones found in the Labyrinth. And much like the boxes in the Labyrinth, these were filled with salts. "So the Labyrinth was being supplied from these two spots. But what good is all this anyways? As far as I can tell, incense and sacred salts just indicates they were setting up some sort of religious ceremony. Nothing that would require banditry or elaborate organization." Commented Tolvain. Turbo continued searching throw the boxes until a particular one caught his eye. He set the container in front of the others and opened it. "I believe this chalk contains arcane properties. Very hard to remove until the user desires so. It can be quite a useful tool on our quests." He explained. "Oh, good. Chalk. My driveway drawings finally won't wash away when it rains." Yum replied. "Chalk has many uses, my friend. Keeping track of your path in a cavern, leaving messages for later, that sort of thing. " retorted the cheetah. With the dead end thoroughly explored, they returned back to the minecart path. The caves echoed with sounds of metal striking stone in rhythm. The crack of a whip and shouting in the draconic language followed soon after. A single heavily armored Saurian monitored several others dressed in rags as they toiled heavily in their labor. The dominant one heard the approach of the adventurers and turned to face them, but before he could act, the sharp edge of a pickax drove its way through his temple and slayed him.

A female Saurian approached the party, dropping her improvised weapon and spoke to them. Behind her the other workers quickly ceased and checked on several bodies resting on the stone floor. Whether they were dead or merely collapsed from exhaustion, the group could not tell. "I see you have fought hard to come to our rescue. It is regrettable that our kin have been slain, however treasonous they have been." Started the Saurian in a tongue everyone could understand, though her accent was thick. "It is strange that your own people would enslave you so harshly." Replied Turbo. "How did you come to be here?" "We were heading west. We had heard speak of a haven for beings such as ourselves on an isolated land. Along our travels we met a man who bribed our defenders with gems and jewels. He promised more of such payment would come if they were to supply him from this mine. We have endured this torture for weeks now. I am named Alice in your language, and I wonder who you are and why you have come here." Tolvain stepped in. "We're tracking down the person behind all of this, so I'm guessing it's the same person who bribed those guys into doing this. I am called Tolvain Grimlock." He then proceeded to introduce his companions. "You are quite strong to fight through the warriors of our group. I wish you luck in hunting the one responsible for their corruption, though I am sad we have no method to repay you." Alice commented. "Oh, I can think of something." Korvas offered with no hint of subtlety. Alice simply glared in response before answering "My husband was of the group bought buy that evil man. If you stand here, that means you have slain him." She answered grimly. "So you're single then?"Korvas retorted eagerly. Turbo merely hid his face in his palm at this. "We have a long journey ahead, and we have suffered greatly. It is time for us to depart and put these dark times behind us. Come my friends." She commanded and the other Saurians followed. Most were female, though a few elderly and weak ones were among their number. The party, save for Korvas, felt the sorrow in her voice and deeply wished their travels to be safe. With no other signs of life in the tunnels, the group left for the opening they had entered from.

Upon seeing the light of day once again, several bodies lay noticeably around the mouth of the cave. A quick inspection showed these to be the same patrol that had met the adventurers on the road. "Oh yeah, these guys. They tried to keep me from going inside, but they didn't do so well when I snuck up behind them." Mentioned Korvas. "I think it's time we check back in with Fordue. We've got an explanation for the supplies and a lead on who is responsible." Offered Tolvain. They then decided to take the main road back to Bimor around the outskirts of the Tamba jungle. Ki'eruu travelled with her companion spirit beside her, and though the others could not here it, they were in the middle of a heated discussion. "That situation in the cave could have been avoided you know. If you'd just put your full attention into the power of the primal spirits-" "I don't want to disturb the dead" Ki interrupted Vehznous under her breath. "It's bad enough that it happened under my watch, but... I don't know. It just doesn't seem right." "We're here to help you. And haunt you. But you know you love it." He taunted with his sinister ghostly smile. "Oh shut up. As long as I can still keep away from the thick of it, I'll be fine." She replied more to herself than to him. "Yes, and how did that turn out for you?" he countered and stuck his tongue out at her. Ki remained silent. The return trip lasted several days, but was not entirely uneventful. About halfway through the trip, the travelers passed by a very familiar abandoned cart next to an overturned one covered in small burn marks. They merely sighed at the memory of wasted money and continued on. The following morning, the party awoke after their nightly watch only to find Korvas's supply bundle missing. After minutes of searching and just before they gave up, Jammy called out "Hey, I think I found it, but you're not going to like this." He then motioned upward, and showed the bundle hanging from a high up branch. "How in the hell?" Korvas started before seeing the shimmering movement of their draconic follower on the branch. "Oh hey, it's following us!" shouted Yum with glee at having a unique pet. "Yes. Great." Korvas replied sorely. "What about getting my stuff back?" Turbo stepped in. "Worry not my friend. The predicament of the bandit's wall had me thinking about new applications of my Ki, and our experiences have been very useful training." He explained as he removed his robes, leaving himself clothed only in remarkably small undergarments. Ignoring the groans and worries from the rest, he knelt down and prepared himself. Suddenly, he jumped incredibly high straight upwards, gravity catching him just as he was level with the pack. He reached out and grabbed the pack before descending, though he landed with a pained grunt. "Lesson learned. Only use this for leaps, never directly to the sky." He muttered to himself as he grit his teeth through the aches in his legs. The party soon resumed their journey, though Turbo merely folded his outfit and placed it in his own pack, continuing as he was currently dressed.

When they arrived at Bimor, they quickly sought out the office of the guard captain. Upon entering his office, the older man sighed and shook his head, muttering "Every time it's something new" before regaining his composure. "You certainly took your time. I suppose you ran into some troubles on the trip north?" "Actually, we decided it would be quicker to visit both on the same trip." Responded Tolvain. "Ah, I see. Would have liked to know that, but as long as you got things done. What did you find out?" Turbo gave a quick recap. "We found out that the northern mark was home to a small village that farmed incense, which is why we found some in the Labyrinth. This is also where the main force of Goblins was coming from. When we investigated the mines, we found them to be taken over by the main force of Saurians. From here we found their supply of sacred chalks and salts. We freed some of their slaves and found they were supplied by a mysterious man with a vast supply of gems." "I see." Replied the official. "Tell me, do you remember the general shape of the Labyrinth from your time there?" After a quick discussion and search, they found the old map they had made during their exploration. "This is very troubling. Are you familiar with arcane rituals? Powerful magics that require materials to expend?" the man questioned. "I know a few such magics. Mostly embalming and undead warding." Answered Turbo. "Same here" added Klaax. "So you know what materials are required in such a ritual, right?" pushed Fordue, his voice rising slightly as he urged the people in front of him to think. It was then it suddenly dawned on them. "So what, whoever this is is trying to create a giant ritual circle using a cave full of materials?" question Ki. "It would seem that way!" Fordue half shouted, losing his patience. Turbo studied the layout of the cave further. "I would have to assume by the shape that he is trying a summoning ritual. What should we do about this?" "Go out and stop him! Go! Now!" screamed the man out of frustration. "Right. But we may need some new equipment to take care of this. About that payment we discussed?" questioned Jammy, trying his best to sound sincere. The captain nearly threw a bag of gold coins at them before pushing them out and closing the door. The party however did not feel the same sense of urgency, as the trip back to the Labyrinth would take several days anyways. With the gold and gems they looted from their defeated enemies, the group set about improving their chances in battle.

Turbo entered a small shop in the business district of the city. He strolled in and the hauflin woman greeted him cheerfully, though swiftly turned bright red as she realized her potential customer was almost nude. "Hello my dear. I require clothing suitable for battle, preferably any cloth garments enchanted to assist protection." He explained with a slight smile at her reaction. "O-oh, I see. I do have a small amount that I can make for you, but it's rare in these parts and can be quite expensive." She stammered out. Turbo pondered this for a moment. "Hmm, if I were to purchase a smaller amount to replace my current dress, would it be possible to pay less?" he bargained with her. The woman merely nodded in reply and quickly ran into the room behind her. She quickly returned with what Turbo requested and he promptly paid her. "By the way." He started. "You wouldn't happen to be interested, would you? I would certainly like to repay the full price another way if I could" The hauflin woman's cheeks glowed brighter. "I ...I don't think my husband would appreciate that." She choked out. "I see. I did not know. Thank you for your business. I shall return if I ever need further assistance. You have my gratitude." He said as he left with no regret nor lack of confidence in his speech. "Any time! Please come back if you ever need a full outfit!" she called out after him.

Tolvain meanwhile wandered the docks in search of any goods sold by a travelling merchant. His search proved mostly fruitless, as most merchants only had small trinkets and jewelry for sale. His fortune did change however when he happened across one merchant who hid their body behind heavy robes and a cowl. "I see you are in search of wares." He started, trying to get Tolvain's attention. "One armored such as yourself values protection, yes? I have something that may help you, but it will cost a hefty bit of coin." Tolvain approached. "So what, you have some kind of magic armor? Or a shield maybe? My last helmet got cut in half, so I need a better one." He explained as he pointed at the new scar on his face. "Nothing so clumsy or heavy." He replied mysteriously before reaching into his robes and producing a golden amulet. "Place this around your neck. It will protect you in speed, sturdiness, and mind. With your armor, surely you will truly unstoppable." Tolvain reached for it, but the man pull his arm away. "Ah ah, this is quite valuable, I will need proper payment first." Tolvain placed all of his money onto the man's booth and eagerly took the amulet when it was offered. He extended his senses as he had learned from Turbo, and though he was very much untrained in the subject, he could swear he felt mystical properties in the trinket. Feeling confident, he placed the chain around his neck and returned to his allies. Upon regrouping, Tolvain told the others about his transaction. Turbo inspected the amulet. "I do sense quite a powerful enchantment in this, but what you have done is risky. Not only have you paid more than this is worth, it could have easily been a fake." Tolvain felt a somewhat ashamed by this analysis, as a child would feel being scolded by a parent. Feeling satisfied with their new equipment, they set out that very same day back along the path they came in on.

The road back was well known to the group, and they eagerly anticipated their arrival back at the Labyrinth, though they didn't even know if the one organizing these crimes would even be there. Soon the adventurers once again stood in front of the broken hinged stone door leading downwards into the earth. The tunnels had been changed drastically since their last visit. Where they were roughly carved and chipped away by the pounding of mindless creatures, they were now smoothly hewn with decorative pillars lining the walls. The floor lay covered in inks and salts, while the torches adorning the walls emitted pleasant odors. "Well, looks like we got here just in time." Exclaimed Jammy as he drug his clawed foot across the intricate patterns in the floor, hoping to break the power of the circle. To his surprise, the materials he pushed away sifted back to their original position. "That will not work." exposited Turbo. "The magical properties of a ritual prevent such relatively small inconveniences from preventing a successful casting. To stop this, we must stop the one wishing to cast." The party then explored the rooms again, but found a new doorway leading to a newly made central room. Upon entering, the adventures took notice of a single humanoid standing in the center of the room, muttering rhythmically to himself until he took notice of the intruders. "Well well well! What wonders my waiting has wrought!" he stated as a man amused by what he saw. He stood at the height of a hauflin, though his fair red hair and very pale skin marked him otherwise. "Who are you?" questioned Tolvain as he drew his weapon and readied his shield. The man grinned a toothy, mischievous smile and replied. "My, aren't you the big bold blundering leader of this bad of brigands. Namely Gnome is now how I'm known." "Knock it off and tell us what in the hell you're trying to accomplish!" commanded Korvas. "Oh fine." Gnome replied. "My mission and machinations motivate me to make my master materialize." Realizing the lack of amusement at his alliterations, the man ceased. "You see, the world as we know it is strange, and not as it should be. Many years ago everything existed much more simply than it does now. Earth, fire, water, and air followed no laws and moved as they willed, solid or liquid or aether with no strict laws as they do now. Then there was a great war, between your gods and mine, primordials as they are known. And Titans. And Old Ones. And World creators. They're important is my point." He sighed and commented "This is boring me. May I alliterate again?" "Get to the point." Ordered Klaax. "Touchy. I merely seek to return this world to the form it should be." Gnome replied. "And the huge ass summoning circle?" urged Jammy. "That is how I plan to do so. Despite the abundance of water and air, earth is by far the most widespread element, therefore I seek to bring forth the primordial from which it came. He may take it back, and render the fruits of the earth unto those who follow him!" As he said this, Gnome opened his hand, displaying the shining diamonds he held. "So what do you say, I can give you all a king's ransom if you merely step aside and allow me to do the right thing." The adventurers surrounded him, still preparing to take him by force. "Not a chance." Remarked Tolvain. "Give up now, and we promise we won't hurt you. Much."

Gnome studied his surroundings and giggled to himself. "Very well. But you are six, and I am one. This is hardly a fair fight." With that last word, he suddenly raised his arms, and from the rock surrounding them several of the tunneling creatures that occupied the Labyrinth before sprung forth. As the party witnessed this, Gnome used his small size to sneak past his enemies to a safe distance. "Hmm, not quite there yet." He mentioned as he snapped his finger, causing three larger stone monsters to appear. "And for my final trick..." he started before slamming both hands to the ground. The far wall began to distort, as a puddle of water ripples when disturbed. Slowly it outstretched, forming a defined shape that struck the group with fear as it became more defined. "Tada! A dragon!" Gnome giggled to himself as combat began. Tolvain and Korvas engaged the moving stone masquerading as a legendary beast while the others fought the more humanoid constructions. Turbo leapt and weaved through the battlefield, his honed fists working surprisingly well. Ki dissimilarly found her crossbow to be ultimately ineffective, and her blade far too dull to deal harm. Klaax fought for a while, clashing his stone tipped hammer against the similar material of his opponents, until he finally caught eye of Gnome again. He chased the small man before swinging his large weapon down on top of him, but Gnome was swift and easily dodged the attack. Staying in the room more for his own amusement than anything, Gnome responded by delivering a quick kick to Yum's shin. The battle against the largest creature proved difficult for the two dragonlings. As it moved and swiped at them, it caused the room to shake and small stones to fall from above. The small scrapes did not bother Tolvain, but unknown to him, signaled a far worse fate. As his blood trickled down to his neck, the enchanted chain suddenly contracted, bringing the large warrior down to his knees and leaving him breathless. The dragon construct delivered a powerful swipe of its claw to Korvas, crushing him against the wall and leaving him unconscious. Tolvain raised himself and used his rage to fuel his fight, using his great strength to hack at the beast and smash it to pieces with his shield. Turbo, Jammy, and Yum defeated their smaller challengers, and joined Tolvain by his side. With their combined strength and numbers, they eventually brought down the stone dragon in a crumble of dust. Meanwhile, Ki'eruu focused her attention to Gnome, commanding Vehznous to prevent the small mischief maker from escaping.

Gnome found himself under the angry gaze of Turbo and Jammy once again while Klaax healed Tolvain in an attempt to return the chain to its less lethal state. "Well then. I certainly was not expecting this outcome." Gnome commented to himself. "Yes. Now no more tricks. You will come with us now." Stated Turbo as he brought back his fist, but as he attempted to render the man unconscious, he vanished quicker than the blink of an eye. Turbo paused for a moment as he realized what had happened. "An illusionist. It is possible that everything we had just fought was all an illusion as well." Tolvain looked around at his bloodied and damaged friends. "Seems pretty damn real to me." It was then that they noticed the ground had never ceased to shake when the stone dragon was felled. Larger and larger rocks fell from the roof. "How about that? Is that Also an illusion?" Jammy questioned sarcastically. "No. That is certainly real. Run!" Turbo commanded. They all rushed towards the door nearest to the exit, save for Tolvain who made his way towards Korvas's body. Their escape was cut short by the doorway collapsing in front of them, though they wasted no time in proceeding to the next exit. They swerved and dodged the boulders as they ran, and every blocked exit was abandoned in favor of an alternate route. The winding and multi-pathed cavern favored their escape, and soon the party reached the surface safely. The ground behind them shook violently before sinking down in a cacophony of grinding stone and falling trees. Tolvain dropped Korvas's body onto the ground and left him in the hands of Klaax to raise him back to consciousness. He then gripped at the chain around his neck and tried to remove it, only for it to one again constrict around him, though it ceased choking him when he released it. "Let me inspect that, friend" offered Turbo as he took the amulet into his paw. He attempted to disable the magic within it, though this only triggered it once again. "I was correct when I said this had a powerful enchantment. It will take one more skilled than myself to remove this. Come, I am certain there is a priest in Bimor." "What about Gnome? Shouldn't we go after him?" questioned Jammy. "We have no method of tracking him, nor any guarantee he will not use the same trick again. We must be ready to counter his plans again some day, but it is not this day." Korvas regained consciousness slowly. "Did I win?" he question groggily. "Sure did buddy. The champion's belt is yours!" joked Klaax in return. Ki merely gazed upon the torn earth before her and contemplated. She looked at her crossbow and considered how useless it had been in the encounter. She sighed and tossed it into the ruined jungle floor, followed by her notched and chipped shortsword. Vehznous grinned his sharpened teeth as he saw this.