Tylien entered slowly, not wanting to rush before its eyes got used to the darkness. It waved its smaller wings slightly, wanting to clear out some of the fog, and turned around to see if Tiae was still with it.

"Tylien?" Tiae asked a moment after entering, making sure it was it who was there. She looked around hoping to find something. She walked a little closer to one of the yellow shelves, wondering what they were. She wished she had some more light.

Tylien heard Tiae's call, and walked a few meters toward the voice. It then bumped slightly into Tiae. "Sorry." It stepped back one step and looked at the yellow things on the floor. Wondering whether it should mention that it might be a good idea to go back and get a torch, it just quietly said: "The visibility's really poor in here. What do you think these yellow ...things are?"

Tiae startled as Tylien bumped into her, but said nothing. "I've no idea" she answered its question. "Maybe we should go and get a torch after all... I can't see anything" she said to Tylien's figure. "You're not a fire mage, right?" she asked, and headed back to the entrance of the cave.

"No, I'm not", replied Tylien, walking next to her. "How much do those things cost?" it asked as it stepped back to the entrance.

"Those things?" Tiae asked, not undeerstanding the question. She went out also.

A sudden screech surprised the warriors, an echo from the depths of the caves that sounded like nails on a blackboard, several shadowy figures moved in the darkness of the cave.

Tylien reentered, but noticed something was wrong, so it stayed perfectly still and quiet right next to the wall, waiting for the others to come.

Tiae entered after Tylien and saw it standing there. She noticed then the shadows moving and stood there alerted, without saying anything.

Meridian entered the cave to a horrible shrieking sounds. Tiae and Tylien were standing perfectly still. Meridian decided to do likewise until he found out why. The why came in the form of several shadowy figures. Meridian decided to remain standing still until the intruders made their move.

Donovan moved in soon after Meridian. He had a habit of getting behind every one else even thought he was the first to move out. The screach caught his attention yet he made no sign of such. His eyes siply searched the darkness until the moving shadows caught his sight. He attempted to follow them with his eyes. "Looks like we got friends and from that screaching I'm guessing they are going to welcome us with some little fashion." He smirked and pulled out his wand in one hand and mace in the other. "Let's see how well this mace traning turns out." He silenced himself and listened carfully for any indication of a presence other than from his "team mates".

Meridian drew his scimitar and prepared for an attack as he observed the new arrivals, looking for weaknesses.

The shadowy figures came forth to better lighted area of the cave, they were both large adult exhorian soldiers, armored in husks similar to the one in the floor, they brandished their horns like swords and made a high pitched screech as they charged forward!

---

Combat has started! -



The positions are as following -
Tylien - C9
Tiae - C10
Meridian - D12
Donovan - A10
Exhorian Soldier 1 - G9 *_*
Exhorian Soldier 2 - E5 *_* (Diseased!)

The turns are as following! - Tylien, Tiae, Soldiers, Meridian, Donovan.

Tylien's Turn! -

As soon as Tylien got a good glimpse of something, it instinctively raised the musket to its left shoulder, aimed carefully and shot at the creature in E5.

The exhorian quickly crossed his claws in front of his head, and, even though the shot hit him, it bounced off on its hard armor.

Tiae's turn! -

Tiae opened her mouth impressed as the exhorian deflected the shot. She recovered fast, moved back a little bit and started casting lightning touch on her mace.

Tiae's mace began glowing in an electric blue light as she electrified it.


The first soldier charged to E11 and tried to slash Meridian with his claw!

Meridian leapt backwards, attempting to parry with his scimitar.

Meridian swiftly leapt back to C13, safely out of the Exhorian's reach.

The second soldier just stood there, staring at Donovan as he took a step back to H9.

Meridian's Turn! -

Meridian leapt forward thrusting his scimitar at the exhorian's (E11) mid-section where there appeared to be folds in the armor.

The exhorian quickly covered his mid section with his other claw, but Meridian's blade managed to penetrate in the juncture between the arm and forearm dealing 3 damage, the creature screamed and shook the blade off as a black paste poured from the wound.

Donovan's Turn! -

Slipping one foot back for a better stability in his movements, Donovan took a quick glance at both enemys before lifted his arm holding the staff ahead of himself and began whispering a few words as he concentrated on the nearest Exhorian(E11) while he attempted to cast Disease upon him.

A black, pestilent jet of gas emerged from Donovan's staff and hit the exhorian right tin the face, some of it pouring into his wound.

The Exhorian Soldier is diseased
ATK >>> 8/9
DEF >>> 7/8

Tylien's Turn! -

Under the hood of its cloak, Tylien's jaw figuratively dropped on the ground as it saw the bullet bounce off of the creature. Its next thought was to run like hell, but as it twitched, it thought again, remembering that it had another weapon now as well. Tylien then put the musket away and pulled the rapier from the holder on its belt. It glanced at Donovan as he started casting a spell, and took a step back to D8. It was momentarily more repulsed by him than by the Exhorians.

Tiae's turn! -

Tiae attacked the exhorian that had just received Donovan's spell with her now charged mace, trying to hit his head.

The exhorian was too busy to even try to avoid the mace and was hit squarely in the head, though the initial bash did not deal over 2 damage, the subsequent jolt of electricity dealt extra 6 damage and stunned him!

The first soldier is stunned.

The second soldier overcame his fear and charged at Tiae, attempting to bite her with his pinzer!

"Uf!" Tiae said and tried to block the attack with her shield as soon as she saw the exhorian coming.

Tiae managed to block the exhorian's slash but was pushed backwards and to the floor by the strength of the attack.

Meridian's Turn!

Meridian attempted to take advantage of the wounded and now diseased exhorian, and aimed a powerful thrust at the weak point in the armor on its other arm.

The soldier tried to move awy from Meridian but his condition was too bad, he took the thrust in the arm and fell unconcious with a bone chilling screech.

Donovan's Turn! -

Smirking to himself, Donovan quickly moved up behind Tiae and glanced down at her before he focused on the standing exhorian. Slightly extenidng his arm holding his staff ahead of him, he whispered a few more words attempting to cast curse on the creature to lower his deffense.

The Exhorian tried to shake off Donovan's staff but the curse was already set!
DEF >>>>> 6/8

Tylien's Turn! -

Tylien turned away from Donovan and leaped toward the remaining Exhorian, trying to thrust its rapier to some weak spot in the creature's torso.

The exhorian lifted both his blades forming an X before his chest and lifted it, he successfully blocked Tylien's attack by trappind the rapier between his blades and tossing it aside, Tylien did not manage to let go of the weapon in time and was thrown to the side as well!

Tiae's Turn! -

Tiae stood up quickly. She watched Tylien's unsuccessful attack and attacked the exhorian right after with her mace, aiming for the head once again.

When the Exhorian was busy fending off Tylien, Tiae managed to sneak behind him and deal a poweful blow to his head, though her mace was no longer electrified the blow damaged some of the exhorian's sensory organs inside his head and dealt 11 damage!

Once the Exhorian regained some consciousness as to what was going on he turned around immediately and attempted to grapple bite Tiae!

Tiae screamed and attempted to block the exhorian, so he would crash his mouth against the metallic buckler.

Tiae managed to deflect the attack with her buckler, as the Exhorian snapped its jaws in the air Tiae saw her chance and bashed its head with the buckler!

Meridian's Turn! -

Seeing the second exhorian stunned by Tiae's mace, Meridian charges it, aiming a wicked slash at its face with his scimitar.

Taking Meridian's slash in the face the Exhorian falls to the ground with a bone chilling cry and some black liquid dripping from one of his eyes, he twitches a bit and then dies.

Combat has ended!
Everyone Receives 750XP!
Tylien leveled up!
Tiae leveled up!
Donovan leveled up!
Meridian leveled up!

---

Meridian tore off a small piece of cloth and wiped the exhorian ichor off his blade. As an afterthought, he stored the cloth as a memento. He began searching the the exhorian bodies for possible loot.

Tiae blew some hair up and put her mace away. "These guys are a bit rough" she commented, glad to have bought the buckler. She watched Meridian and immediatly started looking for stuff on the exhorian's bodies too... even when she thought it was unlikely they were carrying anything.

Tylien stood up an put the rapier back to the holder on its belt. It then walked over to the fallen Exhorians and watched as Meridian and Tiae went through the bodies, trying to keep as far away from Donovan as possible.

The Exhorians had nothing on them but their large yellow husks.

"Well that is unfortunate," said Meridian. "Let's keep our eyes open for more, or possibly the overseer." He looked over at Donovan. "Shall we continue on?

Tylien felt a little hungry. "Um... are these things edible?" it asked as it prodded one of the creatures with its foot.

"Ordinarily I think they are," said Meridian, "But both had spells cast on them with some really negative spell effects."

Tiae giggled. "You can't be seriously thinking about eating an exhorian..." she said. "Well, let's continue. I hope the ore is not that far away!" she walked deeper into the cave, but cautiously waiting for the others to come.

Tylien shuddered even at the mentions of the spells and quickly backed away, following Tiae and going deeper into the cave with her.

Meridian began looking closely at the cave walls. Seeing a section that looked promising, he pulled out his pick and began hacking at the stone, looking for the ore.

After one or two hacks 3 large pieces of stone fell off the wall, though Meridianhad no way of identifying if this was indeed Skarradian Ore, they had a greenish borwn colour and were pretty rough and bumpy.

Donovan quietly watched the group as they searched the bodies for anything of value as he placed his mace and staff away. Smirking to himself to Tyliens comment he stared ta the bodies. Soon enough the other had already begun moving further and he had not yet responded to his team mate. Squinting his eyes he turned and moved to follow the group with some distance. It took little time before he appeared from the shadows and near Meridian. "Got anything." He asked in a smooth silent tone while looking down at whatever he had found.

"I have a couple chunks of this greenish rock," said Meridian. "Is this what we are looking for?"

Tylien moved again, now a little closer to Meridian. "Well, it certainly looks like ore", it said and knelt down nearby, looking at the wall and touching it.

Tiae stopped as she heard the word "ore". She walked to where Meridian and Tylien were standing and tried to take a look at the stone. "Should we take it, although we don't know if this is it?"

Donovan gave a shrug. "Well considering it's actually something might as well take it and see when we return." He glanced around and smelled the air a little. "Then again, by what the priestess told me, it should have been a bigger challenge to get the ore though... and this was not much." He smirked looking at the others.

"Well, we could guess others before us have taken the ore from the entrance cave ages ago", Tylien said quietly. "Maybe we should go take a look in there." Saying that, it gestured toward the tunnel leading deeper into the cave.

"It looks pretty dark down there," said Meridian. "Is there anyway we could generate some light?"

"I don't have a torch but we could try making one. I've got combustible materials", said Tylien. "Unless someone knows red magic..."

Meridian pointed at the husks on the ground. "We could use those to hold your combustibles to shed some light."

Tylien shook its head slighty. "They're just parchment, they won't last for even a minute..."

"Should one of us run back for torches," asked Meridian. "There shouldn't be too long a wait."

Tylien thought how it had suggested they get a torch a while ago, but didn't bother to mention it. "Sure. Does anyone want to go?" it asked, not feeling like running around the place at the moment.

"I guess I will," offered Meridian. He left in the direction of the entrance of Asfeltas Caves, making sure to pick up one of the greenish rocks for identification.

"Okay, we'll wait, then" Tiae said then, before Meridian left. "We should have thought about bringing a torch before..." she lightly scratched the back of her head.

"We did, twice actually", said Tylien. It then turned its gaze from the walls to the floor again and saw the resemblance between the exhorians they had just killed and the yellow things that had already been there. Tylien quickly stepped off of one yellow husk as a wave of disgust went through its body.

Meridian returned after a short time, bearing two torches. "Okay, I've got the torches. Are we all ready to go?"

"Yes, let's go" Tiae said and waited for the others to answer and start moving.

Tylien made no reply, but moved toward the tunnel leading deeper.

Donovan simply watched the others from a dark corner he chose to stand into until Meridian returned. "Maybe you should have one of those torches ot someone else." He said in a low tone as he moved to follow. He personally didn't want the torch, liking the darkness a whole lot.

"We probably shouldn't burn them both at the same time either", commented Tylien as it stared at the walls.

Meridian lit one torches using the tinderbox Rizzo had given him, sending light about 25 meters around him. He paused to observe his now better lit surroundings.

Tylien observed the surroundings as well, but then went deeper into the cave, out of the others' sight. It didn't go too far, however.

Not seeing anything particularly different, Meridian went up to the wall at D3 to see if that part or any of these adjacent wall was significant in any way.

Meridian noticed that, at a closer inspection, this wall still seemed to be exactly the same as all the others.

"Meridian, right?" Tiae started "Could you please lead the way so we can go deeper in the caves?"

"That's my name," said Meridian. He turned from the wall he was examining and continued walking deeper into the cave, torch held out in front of him.

As Tylien noticed Meridian was bringing the light closer, it moved deeper also, staying several steps ahead of him.

Tiae advanced to the Asfeltas Deeps.

Donovan followed the group from behind, being hidden in the shadows. He smelled the air once in a while and glanced around a lot in attempt to inspeact every possible detail his eye could caprute as me moved forward in the Asfeltas Deeps.

Meridian followed Donovan into the Asfeltas Deeps.

Tiae came back from the deeps, without a torch to light. Her eyes adjusted to the dark once again. She looked at the dead exhorians and walked towards one of the walls, where Meridian had hacked some stone. She picked up what she could and placed it into an empty leather bag she carried. She waited for Tylien.

Tylien walked from the deeps a moment later, and as soon as it could see Tiae, it went next to her.

The same spulcral silence as before filled the cave, nothing here but empty husks and green stone.

"Well, I think we didn't find anything valuable" Tiae said and then sighed. "Maybe Rizzo can identify this stone" she said, saving the bag. "Shall we return to see if the tournament has started?" she asked Tylien, walking towards the exit of the cave.

"I agree... And yes, let's get back", said Tylien, walking out of the cave.

Tiae left after Tylien.

Meridian returned from the deeps. He hacked at the wall to try and dislodge more of the strange rock.


Donovan simply followed behind, satisfied with what he had picked up back there and hoping he wasn't brining back mere pebbles.

After one or two minutes of mining, a large chunk of rock fell from the cave wall, this time, only part of the rock was green, the rest was a sort of obsidian black.

Meridian grabbed the chunk and stowed it. "All right, Donovan," he said. "Let's head out." He left for the Asfeltas Caves.

Donovan continued ot follow Meridian and made his way to the Asfeltas Caves.

Meridian entered the cave and immediately put the torch into ground. He took about the pebbles he had collected earlier to help prop it up so that it would shed light on his work. He went to the left of where he can dislodged the ore earlier, and began working, hacking at the wall with his mace.

Moving in a little after, Donovan glanced around. "Tell me if you find something and I'll come and help. For now, I'll stand guard and we can rotate when you get tired." He judged it would be best to go that way in case they really would end up being attacked by anything.

After a while of digging, 3 medium-sized (about the size of a human head) chunks of stone lay on the floor in front of Meridian. Two black ones and a dirty green one.

"All right," shouted Meridian, "We've got some more black ore. I'm going to dig to the left and you should dig to the left of me." Meridian began picking away at the place where he said he would.

Donovan sighed and frowned slightly, shaking his head slightly. "Have you even been listening to me." He hissed, glancing out in the darkness. "How about I dig and you rest for a little while. We need to do rounds or we might end up getting sneaked up on. We aren't just in any cave you know. There is a reason why this ore isn't always so commonly brought back." His eyes continued ot search the darkness as he kept his guard up, mace in hand and wand in the other.

Meridian paused a moment from his digging to look at Donovan. "I thought you Dah'kin had special senses for environments like this."

Donovan quirked a brow, turning to look at the other for a short moment before retunring his attention ont he darkness. "Aye, we see in darkness but it's not like we can tell if someone is comming up behind our backs immediatly, unless we're trained to do so." He bothered explaning. "And I've also said we'd both be worn our right before the battle would begin if we dug both at once."

"Very well," said Meridian. "After I knock this next chunk out I'll let you take over for a bit." He continued digging.

Donovan gave a nod and retunred to keeping his guard up all around himself while the other dug for the ore.

After a few seconds of digging, a large greenish chunk fell from the stone wall. Though Donovan had keen Dah'kin ears, he could not hear much in the cave over the loud noise of the mace hitting the stone wall. However, he could swear he saw a large figure moving near the back of the cave.

Meridian wiped the sweat from his bow and stepped back from the wall. "She's all yours, Donovan," he said as he rested his pick against the wall.

Donovan squinted his eyes as the large shadow seemed to catch his attention. Tightening his grip to his staff and mace, he took a step back. "There's something near... I'm sure..." He said quietly. Even thought he had barely seen anything and din't even know if he did, he wasn't going to take it lightly. "Meridian... stay on your guard." He searched the darkness some more.

Meridian stood up straight, one hand on the torch and the other on his scimitar, prepared to draw.

After a few seconds, Donovan and Meridian see a strange creature emerge from the shadows of the cave and walk towards them, the best description either of one could think would be that they are staring at a beetle the size of a large dog. The creature paces around peacefully and then approaches them and begins munching on one of the green chunks of rock they have dug. Meridian has no idea what they are looking at, but Donovan knows it all too well. A Scarab, an exhorian tank, Dah'kin sometimes capture adults and use them as siege engines, they even mount spire towers on them to create mighty Soul Reavers. This one is a newborn, he represents no threat, however, where there are babies, there is an incubation chamber, and where there are incubation chambers, there are adults. Heavily armored, 10 feet high adults.

Donovan squinted his eyes at the creature till it came into clear view. Smirking he watched it as it passed by and ate one of the green chunks. Lowering his weapons, he looked over at Meridian. "We shouldn't stay here for too long, this creature is of no threat but it's just a newborn baby. Considering that, it means we're close to their incubation chamber. If we run into adults we might have to face a rather rought fight." he explained, turning and placing his weapons away to pick up the mace. "I'll dig for a little while but if you see anything larger than that come to us, get ready. And you better pick up your ore, that thing might want to eat it as well."

Meridian kept his eyes on the creature as he grabbed the ore. "What in the name of the Nai'ithar is it?"

"A Scarab, we Dah'kins would sometimes capture them for our own fighting goods. The adults are heavily armored and can reach up to 10 feet in height." Donovan explained before he choose a spot on the wall near the one Meridian had been digging in and began to dig himself while still remaning cautious of his entourage.

Meridian draws his scimitar and hold the torch in his other hand, watching for intruders and guarding Donovan's back.

After one or two minutes of heavy digging, Donovan extracted a decent piece of black obsidian like rock from the cave wall. In the meantime, the small creature continued its attempts to steal the ore the two had already gathered.

Tossing some of the useless rocks he had dug out, Donovan gathered the piece of ore he had managed to find. Glancing over at the small creature, he thought for a moment before turning to Meridian. "You know, maybe we could use the creature to carry our ore... The only tricky part would be to avoid the adults and find something to place on the creature in order for it to be carried."

Meridian looked critically at the thing. "I think the only way we'll get that creature to carry ore is in its stomach. But if we can use it, what would you propose we use? Maybe something made from cloth and exhorian body parts?"

Donovan sighed and shook his head. "I'd consider it too young to make anything useful out of it unless the creature had a specific trait it looses as it grows that can be valuable." Crouching, he picked up a piece of green rock on the floor and attempted to attract the creature. "I don't think it eats the black ore... thought I'd rather not try to see. As for it carrying our ore, I'd suggest we either mount something on it's back to contain the ore or behind it and lead it around with the green rock." He explained, watching the creature carefully.

"What do you have in mind," asked Meridian.

As the two discussed its fate, the baby Scarab limited itself to glaring at them as they spoke with the two big black eyes that he had lodged on the sides of its head.

Gently tossing the piece of green rock he was holding, Donovan stood back up and sighed. "I don't know. Lets find something to put on it... I guess."

The Scarab caught the rock in mid air and gladly munched on it, following Donovan around.

Meridian picked up one of the yellowish husks on the ground. "What about these?"

"Mmm, got anything to tie it with?" Donovan asked, looking around and picking up some of the greenish rocks attempting to lure the creature closer in order to tame it for its future use.

"Aside from my clothes, which I would rather not use, I don't," said Meridian. "All I have are weapons, torches, and armor."

"What about the bodies of the things we killed off earlier? Maybe they have something." Donovan glanced around shortly, tossing another piece of rock at the creature.

Meridian searches the bodies of the exhorians for any parts that could be used to as binding.

Unfortunately, all Meridian finds amongst the shells is armor plated husks and sticky goo.

"Do you think this goo could be used to attack the husks to the scarab," asked Meridian.

"This is not going to be a walk in the park" Reyin thought to him self.

Meridian grabbed his torch and held it out in front of him to better view the newcomer. "Who the hell are you?"

"I am Reyin Ravenclaw. Who may I ask are you?"Reyin replied as he bowed in respect.

"I am Meridian, and this is Sir Donovan," answered Meridian. "What is your purpose here?"

Squinting his eyes over at the newcomer, Donovan pulled back in the darkness and continued trying to attract the creature towards himself witht he green pebbles he had gathered. "You should use his hair as strings." He said calmly, his voice echoing in the cave slightly. "And our busyness here is none of his concern even if he dares to ask." He hissed out in a low tone, his letter rolling off his tongue, before the other could even consider asking.

"I...I do not need to know w...what you are doing in h...here! I just n...need to k...know where some g...green fungus. You w...wouldn't happen to know where I...I can find s...some?" Reyin replied as he stumbed over the husks and goo trying to let his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Meridian drew his scimitar and waved the torch in front of Reyin's face to remove any adjustment he might have made to the dark. "I tell you what, half-breed, give us your hair and we'll let you walk out of here, and maybe even point you in the direction of the fungi you seek." He pointed the scimitar menacingly at Reyin.

Donovan chuckled, his laugh echoing slightly across the cave. "You'll seriously take his hair?" He tossed a few green rocks at the creature and kept himself int he dark, avoiding to look at the torch too much.

Meridian grinned, "Why not? It would save me some money and a trip to Rizzo if it works."

"Aye, but if it doesn't, someone will attempt to take your head in battle for cutting off his pretty hair." Donovan grinned, lenaing up against the wall.

"Oh yeah," said Meridian. "Who? This wandering lamb?"

"How's about the strap from my katana. I mean I carry it in my hands anyway. Its no use to me and I can keep my hair." Reyin suggested.

Meridian grinned again. "Sounds like a plan to me. I think we'll even give it back to you when we're done. What do you think, Donovan?"

Donovan gave a shrug and smirked. "Whatever works, my dear Meridian." Standing up, he moved into the light slightly and picked up his pike.

"Very well. Reyin, give your strap to Sir Donovan. Donovan, I'm going to let you attach the husks to the creature, seeing as you are beast master," said Meridian

Reyin unraveled the strap on Velassa and stepped towards Donovan and handed it to him.

Donovan rose a brow and gave a shrug. Whatever gave Meridian the idea that he was a beast master? Taking a hold of the strap, he smirked slightly. "Thank you for your cooporation." He let out in a slight sarcastic tone, flicking his tongue out like a snake.

"Please hurry, and attach it to the animal, so we can finish our work here and leave before bigger ones show up," said Meridian.

Reyin smiled then bowed respectfuly and watched them as they tried to catch the creature.

"Hold your horses, human. It's not by running and forcing it into anything that we'll get out of here faster." Donovan hissed, returning his attention on the creature. "It's not even sure that adults will come either way and if they do we just leave on foot." He squinted his eyes and searched the darkness as he spoke before attempting to attract the creature closer once more.

The Scarab who was happily munching on the chunks of rock Donovan had been throwing at him, walked up to Donovan and stared at him, as if asking for more mossy rock.

Smirking, Donovan held a piece of the green rock in his hand and waited for it to come and get it on its own this time.

The baby Scarab approached Donovan and mildly took the chunk out of his hand. Seeing it up close, Donovan realized that the creature did not eat the rock, but pulverized it with its jaws and ate the green fungus that was attached to it.

Observing the creature quietly, Donovan smirked a little. Even the baby could manage to crush them with a simple bite. He could just imagine facing an adult now. He slowly reached out to touch the creature wanitng to see if it would either accept it yet or demand more of the green fungus.

The Scarab did not appear to have any reaction at Donovan's touch, it just looked around absently as if deciding what to do next.

Picking up some more green rocks from the ground, Donovan offered them to the creature while he shofted slightly to attempt trying the strap around it along with the yellowish husks creating a kind of "basket" to hold the ore in later on.

After a few minutes of painstaking work, Donovan was able to manufacture a small basket that didn't look like it was going to fall appart for at least the next 15 minutes.

Meridian looked over Donovan's work to see if his exposure to caravans in Caerham would help make it more secure.

Donovan sighed and sat back. "The strap doesn't seem like it'll be enough to hold it solidly enough." He picked up a piece of green rock and held it out for the creature to eat.

Reyin looked around for another strap of some kind the then realizing looking down at his belt, his mother's belt. The one his father gave her the day they ran away. Taking off his belt and taking one last look at it with a mello sigh turned to Meridian "Try not to get it to gooy stuff on it" Reyin said in a heartbroken voice hand it out with a shake in his hand. "I don't expect you to give them back but if you do want to just drop them in my chambers.

"Sure, no problem," answered Meridian as he took the belt.

"Thank you. Oh why are you trying to catch that thing anways." Reyin asked.

"It seemed like it might be fun," said Meridian


"OH...Well try not to get hurt." Reyin said with a small laugh as he truned back walked back out to theAsfeltas Caves.

Finally, using both the belt and the strap, Meridian was able to create a more or less adequate basket.

Donovan smirked and watched the other walk off. "Well... if it can hold we'll be able to bring more in one trip." He said calmly, returning to gather some more ore.

After dumping all of the worthwhile ore in the basket, both Donovan and Meridian realize the few chunks could have fitted perfectly in their backpacks.

"Oh well, I guess we can fill our backpacks now," said Meridian.

"Aye, I suppose we very well can. I'll dig a little mroe and then we can switch turns." Donovan said calmly, returning to the wall and choosing a new spot before he began diggin ocne more.

"All right, Donovan," answered Meridian as he turned to watch the scarab and the rest of the cave. "Let me know when you need a break."

"Will do." Donovan simply responded, hitting at the rock with his pike, hoping more ore would fall soon.

After a few minutes of digging, a few more chunks of rock fell off the wll, no black ore amongst them, however.

"Looks like we need to move to another section of the wall," said Meridian, eyeing the fruit of Donovan's labors.

Sighing, Donovan glanced around. "Aye, this isn't turning out so good. I'm a little worn out, I'll dig a little more and if nothing comes up I suppose we can go back." Picking up a few green rocks, he moved to another section of the wall and began digging once more.

The Scarab happily walked after Donovan as he dug up some more rock. Once more, just mossy green chunks fell from the wall, the black ore must be deeper inside the cave.

Meridian followed Donovan to the next section of wall. "Let me know when you want to rest," he said. "It looks at though we'll have to go to the deeps. Can we get this thing to follow us?"

Donovan gave a shrug. "Let's hope it does." He smiply replied picking up some of the green rocks and giving them to the creature before he began moving seeped into the cave. "As long as we don't run into any adults, I think we should be fine. I don't think they'll be too please with what we've done with this little fella." He chuckled lightly. "Then again, we never know."

Meridian nods as he follows Donovan.

The Baby Scarab mildly munches on pieces of rock as he follows Donovan into the deeps.

Donovan moves out of the deeps, his eyes still searching the darkness as he carefully moved forward, making sure the scarab continued to follow sice it carried all the ore.

The baby Scarab continued to follow Donovan, looking back once or twice to see if Meridian was with them.

Meridian caught up with the pair.

Donovan continued his way towards the exit of the cave, heaving off to the Asfeltas Caves and the Lemarain Colosseum.

Meridian followed.

Tiae entered the cave and looked around, waiting for Valarauko to come.

Valarauko enters the cave, looks at Tiae and says "uhh creepy place isn it?"

"Yes it is" Tiae said. "I brought this" she said grabbing the torch she had bought before. "But now we need to light it"

"Uuh to light it it's the hardest part" Valarauko says thougthfully "lets see" he said as he picked up two stones from the cave's wall and hits them against each other trying to make a spark.

Tiae smiled as Valarauko lighted the torch. "Nice! Thanks" she said raising the burning thing over her head to take a better look of the caves. "Do you see any monsters around?"

"mmm" Valarauko says as he focuses his big, yellow eyes in the dark depths of the cave, after some time he turns back and says "i see nothing but we should be very carefull anyways, you never know whats lurking in the shadows"

Suddenly, Valarauko spots three shapes moving around in the shadows. The bright yellow caparaces slowly walked towards them, apparently they had not noticed Tiae and Valarauko yet.

Radhrost enters, he is about to say something but when he discovers the three shapes moving around in the shadows. The bright yellow caparaces he stands still and stays quiet.

Nathifa enters the cave. She stops in the darkness and gives her eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness and to await for Usserhadd to catch up.

As Valarauko notices the late entrance of Radhrost he quietly aproches to him and tells him "always late as usual but we need you now so prepare yourself for a good fight".

Radhrost´s looks at Valarauko with a old-friend-hate smile and answers "what are you talking about, left when I was sleeping you old weasel" in a whisper.

Valarauko smiles back, suddenly his expression changes while his cat-like eyes widens in order to see in the darkest places, when he grabs his bow, places an arrow, aims at the nearest exhorian head and shoots...

---

Combat has started! Turns and positions are as following! -

Valarauko (C10)
Tiae (I11)
Exhorian Soldier 1 (*_*)
Exhorian Soldier 2 (*_*)
Exhorian Soldier 3 (*_*)
Exhorian Soldier 4 (*_*)
Nathifa (F10)
Radhrost (D9)
Üsserhadd (E12)

Valaraukp's arrow flies steadily towards the unsuspecting Exhorian, stricking him on the head and dealing 18 damage! The creature schreeches, allerting all the other creatures in the area, and tries desperately to reach the arrow lodged on its brain for a few seconds, before collapsing, dead.

Tiae's turn! -

While Tiae prepares herself, Üsserhadd meanders into the conflict and calls out, "Am I late?"

after killing the exhorian Valarauko turns back to Radhrost and say "haha you see? i still got it!"

Radhrost looks at Valarauko and says"be arrogant after the battle", he turns into the Exhorian Soldiers and wields his falchion preparing for battle.

Tiae recognized Üsserhad as he arrived, but she didn't pay much attention to him and the people that followed. She listened the exhorian screech as Valarauko fired the arrow. She still wasn't able to see them, but knew now in which direction to go. She advanced to I11 holding the torch.

The first Exhorian Soldier moved to E9!
The fourth Exhorian Soldier moved to H8

The third Exhorian Soldier moved to J11 and tried to tackle Tiae with its horn!

Tiae tried to block the attack of the criature with her buckler.

Tiae places her buckler between her and the Exhorian, pushing it downwards and forcing the insect's head into the floor!

Nathifa's turn!-

Nathifa spotting a soldier from Tiae's torch heads to C11 and then casts hail at the soldier in her view hoping her aim is true with her magic.

Nathifa extends he hand towards the Exhorian and pronounces some magic words in ancient Hydran as she bends her wrist in a specific position. Immediately afterwards a chilling wind loaded with ice shards shoots towards the Exhorian soldier, dealing 4 damage and pushing him back to M11!

Radhrost's turn! -

As Radhrost looks around for the nearest Exhorian soldier, notice that the first Exhorian soldier is near, so he moves to E10 and atacks the first Exhorian soldier with his falchion

Seeing Radhrost approaching, the exhorian soldier quickly raises his left blade and blocks the Falcion's attack!

Usserhadd's turn! -

With no real direction intended, Üsserhadd wanders through the darkness in relatively straight line to E12.

Valarauko's turn! -

Valarauko places another arrow into his bow string, pulls it with all his might, takes his time to aim to the exhorian1 and shoots not to the head, but to the joints of his neck trying to make another lucky shot.

Valarauko fires, but the Exhorian moves the last second, trying to protect himself from the blow with his claw! this causes the arrow to strike the Exhorian's chest instead of neck and deal 5 damage!

Tiae's turn! -
"Crap" said Tiae and dropped the torch she was carryng to grab her mace. She tried to hit the exhorian with it.

Tiae bashes the Exhorian's caparace with her mace, but the giant insect is unperturbed by the blow.

The first exhorian soldier moves to C9 and tries to slash Valaruko with his right claw!

Valarauko tries to evade the exhorian's slash by jumping sideways to c10!...

Valarauko manages to get out of the way before the Exhorian can hit him!

The Exhorian Tiae was fighting tries to grapple bite her with his pinzers and push her to the ground!

Tiae tries again to block the creatures attack.

Tiae maneges to bash her buckler into the Exhorian´s face, blocking his attack!

The last Exhorian runs to F11 and tries to slash Üsserhadd with its claw!

With a blink towards the darkness, and the sounds of carapace rubbing against each other, Üsserhadd holds out his buckler and braces himself to attack.

Usserhadd easily bashes the Exhoria´'s claw away with his buckler!

Nathifa's turn! -

Nathifa moves to f10 and attacks the Exhorian soldier with her cutlass.

Nathifa slashes at the exhorian but her cutlass merely cracks the bug's armor, dealign 1 damage!

Usserhadd's turn! -

"Hah!" Üsserhadd shouts after having bashed the creature's attempts to injure him. "Want some, here's some!" he continues, and throws his weight into a strike with his longsword at the exhorian.

Usserhadd, putting all of his weight on the tip of the longsword, manages to pierce the exhorian's armor and push the blade into the insect's flesh dealign 7 damage! As he pulls the sword out, the Exhorian lets out a bone chilling cry and a dark liquid oozes out of the wound!

Radrhost's turn! -

Radhrost turns and moves to D9, and attacks the first exhorian soldier with his simitar

Radhrost runs to the Exhorian soldier, and, before it can react, he thrusts his Scimitar inbetween its jaws, piercing its small brain and dealing 10 damage! The creature does not react at first, then, after Radhrost pulled his blade from the Exhorian's head, the monster twitched a bit and then fell to the floor, lifeless.

Valarauko's turn! -

Valarauko aims and shoots at exhorian 4

The Exhorian ducks, hiding his head and arms and causing the arrow to simply bounce off his hard shell!

Tiae's turn! -

Tiae attacks Exhorian number 3 with her mace.

The Exhorian jumps at Tiae as she attacks him. The bug cover his head with both claws and bashes Tiae's mace away with his shell!

Immdiately afterwards, he tries to slash her with one of his claws!

Tiae frowns as she tries to block again.

Tiae easily bashes the Exhorian's claws away with her buckler!

The last exhorian soldier tries to bush Nathifa down to the ground with his jaws!

Nathifa uses her cutlass to try to block the jaws of the exhorian attacking her.

Nathifa managed to use her cutlass to jam the Exhorian's jaws and keep them away from her!

Nathifa's turn! -

Nathifa then immediatly slashes at the exhorian that just tried to attack her.

Nathifa quickly lunges forth at the exhorian soldier and pierces its chest, dealing 9 damage! The soldier then falls on his back, seriously wounded!

Radhrost's Turn! -

Radhrost quikly turns and moves to I10 and with a fast move atacks the last exorian soldier.

Radhrost runs towards the Exhorian, and before the giant insect can react, he cleanly cuts his head off, dealing 12 damage!

Battle has ended!
Everyone gets 1200XP!
Tiae has leveled up!
Radhrost has leveled up!
Valarauko has leveled up!
Nathifa has leveled up!
Usserhadd has leveled up!

---

Tiae smiled. "Shall we continue?" she asked the group, grabbing the torch from the floor and walking towards the Asfeltas Deeps.

Dusting off his shoulders, Üsserhadd replied, "I'm good for a few more rounds. A mite bit dark down there though, so I think I'll stick close to you with that torch there." With a brief turn towards Nathifa, Üsserhadd asks, "Up for more battling?"

Valarauko took a big yawn. "nice fight we had here" he said to the group, and after stretching a bit he follows Tiae to the Asfeltas Deeps

Radhrost looks around and follows Tiae and Valarauko to the Asfeltas Deeps.

Nathifa puts away her sword for now then turns to Usserhadd."I'm always up for a good battle." She tells the group then follows the others deeper into the cave.

With a slight stretching pause, Üsserhadd finally commits to following everyone else down further into the depths.

Meridian, going deeper into the cave, lights his torch and draws his scimitar, wary of the dangers within. Seeing a newly killed exhorian, he cautiously moved into the deeps.

Meridian exited the deeps and waited for the others to follow.

Donovan moved out of the deeps followed by Lil'ly He moved up behind Meridian and glanced around. "The other, the cat, decided to come along." He informed him before moving into the shadows once more. He almost seemed like a wandering ghost followed by his pet. "Do you need to go anywhere once we get to the colosseum?"

Razorfang steps into the cave shortly after, standing at the archway with his arms crossed.

Following the rest, Oda stepped out of the deeps. Noticing the Exhorian shells and remains, he hoped they could get back into the colosseum soon.

Meridian glanced at Razorfang, laughing silently before answering, "There's nowhere I need to go immediately, but this loot is pretty heavy and I'd like to sell it as soon as we take care of your injuries."

Donovan gave Meridian a nod. "I'm not really injured, simply out of magical power." He replied, glancing back to the two. "You can hit the smiths or the pond shop while I visit Aura, if you wish." He suggested before moving ahead of everyone with Lil'ly and headed towards the Asfeltas Caves.

Meridian followed them.

Razorfang fell in behind Donovan, following him back into the caves.

Oda was last to leave, as he moved into the Afeltas caves.

Following the trail Virul entered into the Asfeltas Cave itself, and stared about in awe and a bit of dread. Waiting for Zarrel to follow behind him, the thief continued looking about, trying to get his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Zarrel entered the huge cave right after Virul came in." This place is really creepy," He whispered to himself as he looked around the cave.

"'Tis rather dreary, I agree." Virul commented as he looked about lazily, poking his epees at the ground here and there, "The temple catacombs, however, are far more haunting. In any case, let us continue." Going through the cave, the thief headed deeper into the Asfeltas Deeps.

"I think the catacombs might be a little better than this place," Zarrel muttered to himself. He gave a loud sigh and continued on with Virul to Asfeltas Deeps.

Returning to the cave, Virul stood about for a while and simply waited for Tiae, Zarrel, Nathifa, and Usserhadd to show up.

Tiae looked around at the cave. She could feel the air was cleaner here, and smiled at the thought they'll soon be outside. She continued holding the torch. She wondered how Virul had made all the way to look for them totally blind in that darkness. She waited for the rest of the group.

Stretching still, Üsserhadd made his way toward Virul. "Ah, finally. Some light..." said the knight, but focused on the torch Tiae carried and continued, "Err, daylight I mean." With a blunt tap from the back of his hand to Virul's upper arm, Üsserhadd asked, "Dumb luck?" Obviously inferring a question about how the fencer made his way through to the deepest lair in the cave to find them but then continued, "I know I don't smell enough to have you follow me that way."

Nathifa stolled over to Tiae and smiled with a motion towards the boys, "Figures. Credit where it's due, right?" She snickered through her nose and then began to check her appearance by ruffling her hair and webbed appendages. "The air is better here, though it still reeks of bug."

Virul grinned and tipped his hat a little, responding to Usserhadd's query, "Of course. 'Twas a mixture of luck and tracking ability, though mostly just luck." Sniffing the area around him, the thief muttered afterward, "'Tis also luck that we got out as quickly as we did. Big bugs aren't something I'm particularly fond of." Motioning his epee toward the Asfeltas Caves, he smirked a little and said, "Ladies first."

Nathifa proudly walked out of the cave first, but with a sense of caution.

"Luck seems to follow you everywhere." Üsserhadd smirked and then sighed. "I could do with some more fighting, these bugs gave forward such little effort." the knight said as he pounded a fist into his open palm, "Perhaps something more dangerous... what guards that sword you spoke of?"

Zarrel came out of the deeps and rubbed his eyes when he saw a little light. He wanted to get out of the Ashfeltas as quickly as possible." May we talk when we get out of here?" He asked Usserhadd and Virul.

Tiae agreed with Zarrel with a nod. She followed Nathifa to the Asfeltas Caves.

With a shrug, Üsserhadd joked, "I'd hate to be caught in the dark with you." The knight then walked out to the entrance of the caves leaving his jest to settled in the ears of Virul.

Chuckling lightly, Virul shook his head and casually followed behind the others.

Zarrel left the cave behind the others.

Aj'ale arrived to the cave, and seeing the dead stuff on the floor, he considerably slowed his pace and continued advancing carefully. He thought he would just run away in case something big started coming at him. So he went futher into the cave and snooped around for the fire agates. (spot)

Aj'ale walked around for a while, his Dah'kin ayes trying to find some gems that could beeasily picked, since he did not have any mining equipment with him. Suddenly, he heard something behind him, and turned just fast enough to notice a large Exhorian soldier entering the cave, probably after a scouting trip!

Aj'ale (M5)
Exhorian Soldier (B12)(34 HP)

Aj'ale's turn! -

Aj'ale looked around slightly worriedly and saw no place where he could really hide for now, except further down in the cave, so he went deeper into the cave.