The Meeting in the Foyer

The students gathered in the foyer joined by those with less concrete a position within the Arcane Institute. ElKinid?qualn exuded a nervous anxiety as he watched each arrival with a hint of trepidation at his position of authority. It was his task to insure that only those who had been invited joined them and to lead them all to the correct location.

Tia?tari?s sudden arrival revealed her own mounting apprehension as in her excitement she flashed across her means of arcane travel in a brilliant explosion of lightning and even an accompanying rumble of thunder. Hushed by ElKinid?qualn, she pouted slightly as Abryrdan appeared in a fiery display and Angelica revealed herself to have already been there, connected to the shadows.

The last to arrive, the studious Mercedes. Quickly they demonstrated their willingness to participate in the establishment of their credentials: the missives from the Mastema given visual confirmation by ElKinid.

Leading them through the quiet and abandoned sections of the Institute, ElKinid led his group through an old duct that had long since dried up, its purpose nearly forgotten. Crawling through the tunnels he was followed by the others and out into the night air of the twilight hours.

The Institute was surrounded on all sides by the lush wilderness of the Southern Glen, more home to monsters and creatures of mythical might than of humans. While normally the majority of the students traveled via magical means, tonight they would be venturing into this twilight hour and wild land.

Angelica kept close watch on her fellow students, her mother had pulled her aside to explain that her duty on this mission was to keep an eye on the other students and to keep them safe from the elements she was well-trained in.

Abryrdan was also in the position of protector. His duties here were less of the scouting variety and more of the warrior, with that in mind he shifted his clothing into a crimson-stained armor.

ElKinid waited only long enough for his companions to all emerge from the tunnel, before swiftly racing off into the open country side, long elven stride carrying him with ethereal speed and grace. Glancing back, any who appeared to be lagging received a sweeping arm to inspire more quickness. ?It's not far.? The whisper carried upon magical winds for only those nearby to hear.

For some it was easier to keep apace of the elven arcane student. The preternatural grace leant them by their heritage aiding in their quick travel across the lands. For others, like Tia and Mercedes, this was something new and unexpected from them. The Southern Glen stretched out largely unspoiled, broken only by the occasional farm, or vineyard, lake, or grove. It was an untouched land by much development and a perfect home for those abnormal and outcast.

And for that reason it was the perfect location for a Fey-Pact Warlock to make her home.

Traveling through the Mists

A combination of that sticky sweet decayed resin that dripped from the trees around them and the growing wet from the mystical mists made the forest floor slick with rotted leaves and moss. Mottled ivy and grey ferns abounded, hidden in the undergrowth pools of fetid water gathered algae in the hollows. Each step became a difficult task.

Celeth shifted into his usual shape as running here would do no good unless they wished to be lost, possibly for good. Drawing a breath of smoke and keeping an eye out for the others, he added his own seemingly concerned words, ?Do not stray... you may not be found."

Abryrdan called a wickedly sharp-looking blade to bloom out of nowhere, held low and ready as he floated above the slippery ground. ElKinid kept the spell called and ready to release at a moment's notice.

As everyone else made preparations of defense, Tia reached inside her small satchel to find several vials, handing them out, ?Here drink this. It will make your skin stronger, armored even.?

The next step in the murky undergrowth nearly sunk ElKinid up to his knee. A disgusted look revealing the amount of strength it took to pull himself free. Fallen logs littered the understory, helpfully, encrusted with a floridly bright fungus that seemed to pulsate and glow in the misty darkness.

Just as Tia was about to step onto one of those logs, Angelica?s words came whispering out of the mist, ?Don?t touch the fungus. I?ll take point. Elk, you, Tia and Mercedes in the middle, Celeth and Abryrdan on the rear.?

From Celeth?s boots long spikes of ice emerged, serving as cleats, although they only helped so much. Flight was a possibility he had considered, but he'd quickly lose his bearing with all landmarks and direction lost in the mist. "I've not seen such flora before." A gesture toward the odd fungus. "I've certainly no intent of touching it," he nodded with a slick smile.

Mercedes and Tia both eyed the fungus with avid curiosity, though Angelica?s next words warned them completely away from it, ?Good, if you did touch it you?d be breathing poisonous gas.?

In mid-stride ElKinid sucked in a deep breath, hearing Angelica just as he was about to crush a fungal cropping beneath his boot. Carefully he shifted his weight, turning to the side, stepping around it.

The going was slow and painful. The mist made it impossible to see and the terrain treacherous. As the group proceeded carefully forward, Angelica attempted to break the tension, ?There's a Fungus among us..."

A laugh escaped many of the gathered and with it many relaxed. As their mirth subsided the sound of rushing water somewhere up ahead, a considerable amount actually, and the trickle of smaller tributaries, but only those with incredibly keen sight would be able to note the cracked blackened ruins that rise up out of the earth like blackened teeth, otherwise simply dark shapes in the mist.

"I think we've found our destination."

The Spectral Visitor Refuses to Leave

Tia pulled herself up out of the muck with a swipe of her hands on her thighs in disgust; with no ghost in sight she sent them a disbelieving glance through the mists, ?What ghost? Are you two making this up??

ElKinid stood at the ready, hands out, in utter disbelief that his spell actually worked. He wasn't much for the offensive magic, but it seemed as though his studies within the Institute had started to pay off. With a glance to Tia, Mercedes, and then Angelica he nodded, ?Well, that seemed to work.?

?I'd hoped it was stronger than that," disdainfully spoken by Celeth.

A ripple. A distortion of energy as it re-appeared as if in answer to Celeth's dejection and Tia's disbelief. This time arriving at the group from behind, launching itself across the misty grounds, fist outstretched to strike at the back of the one in the rear.

?I still don't see anything,? Tia?tari muttered as she downed the Eagle Eye potion that had nearly sent her ::

Angelica spun at the sensation of that presence again, "By Khorne, it's back."

"Oh, good." Celeth turned almost lethargically toward the thing and raised a finger in warning.

Convinced that he had destroyed the thing, ElKinid took a step forward, though Angelica's warning sent him into a crouched spin, magic again pouring from thin tiers.

From above them came the rustle of the canopied leaves, a warning to those trained in outdoor combat, something large moved amongst the trees, more than one something in fact, and it was moving fast. Even as the ghostly fist arrived at Celeth's runed skin, striking true in a deathly cold attack meant to inspire total lack of will in the face of certain fatality, something descended from the canopy.

Mercedes drew her sword and with a spin sliced at the approaching ghost as magical energy danced along the blade.

With the arcane sight of the potion induced Tia?tari uttered a sharp cry of warning at the sight that awaited them, drawing crackling electricity to dance around her in a protective shield, ?Look out, we're not alone!?

"Mmm..." Rather than reject the frozen strike, Celeth stood fast, the familiar ice collecting around him, even as he was taken from his feet and thrown several meters, nearly crashing into Kinid.

Say the Magic Words


?Friends?? Musical, the delicate voice chimed like bells in the sinister forest, echoing all around them.

ElKinid stood frozen by the realization that he couldn?t have stopped the fanged harpoon, he stood with tense shoulders and constricted muscles, braced for the impact that never came. Eyes as large as saucers stared at where the fang had been just moments ago.

Angelica?s knives returned immediately to her hands, their surface coated in a slick viscous liquid similar to a spider?s blood, testament that their opponent had very much been real but seconds earlier and that her strike had been true.

The air shimmered. The mists lifted as a gust of wind whispered through the forested area.

?Where'd it go? Where'd it go?? Tia?tari frantically spun about, her head tilted back to allow herself to see the canopied trees overhead and their possible tenants.

Angelica looked at her blades, "Gone."

Celeth?s eyes adjusted once more, searching. His nod confirming Angelica's words. "How unfortunate,? before responding to that voice, "...Associates would be a better word."

Before them, without the mists to hide it, a path emerged that circumvented the twisting towers of living blighted woods. A garden choked with thistles and brambles unveiled. And there, sitting in the middle of it, the delicate form of Vesper Fey.

Mercedes was still hacking with her magic imbued sword at imaginary foes, and with a startled gasp she turned to face the unveiling.

ElKinid felt a soft rush of relief at the sight of her; his part of the mission that was his to lead had come to a conclusion, ?There. That's her.?

She flowed toward them, moving across the ground like liquid. She seemed impossibly young. Incredibly innocent. Delicate and fragile. Starlit eyes assessed them carefully, ?So... You are the Chosen.?

They took time to comprehend the Fey Warlock?s words, some clearly exhibiting confusion over such a moniker, though Angelica responded, ?Chosen students of Mastema Daraul? nearly at the same time Celeth rejoined with, ?You could say that.?

?Chosen Students of Lord Arkon Daraul. And yet so much more. You are the ones that I have awaited.?

She awaits.

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs28/f/2008/141/d/a/Fae_Origins___Drider_Sorceress_by_Valedhelven.jpg

Meeting their Guide

Elkinid set to eating a few pieces of dried fruit and other rations, nibbling them carefully to expunge as much nutrients and sustenance as possible, though as he lowered his gaze and found the sight of bones beneath the fallen foliage his eyes widen again, ?Um, problem.?

Tia mistakenly assumed ElKinid was speaking about their missing companions and as she picked herself up off the ground, she explained, ?Mercedes had to depart rather suddenly last night, Abryrdan gave her protection from the woods.?

Angelica looked up at El's words and to where he was looking, "This was a battlefield. It is to be expected." It unnerved her, but she was hiding it.

The absence of the heavy mist also took with it the wet moisture of the air, yet the ground remained a mossy slick ruin of ragged logs, and fetid pools. The poisonous fungus curled in on itself in any areas that light managed to penetrate the deep canopy overhead.

On the path that led to the abandoned thistle and spur choked garden, the delicate form of Vesper emerged. Tiptoeing almost, she danced toward them a flowing disjointed motion.

Quickly Tia uncorked the first of many bottles, taking them like medicine, a shot here, a swallow there, each one unleashing its arcane properties as she became faster, stronger, smarter, and more alert.

"Hmm. A good plan." Nodding to Tia, Celeth would draw from many pouches in his robes a series of flasks and do the same. "Never know what we may run into after all," he grinned.

Vesper?s musical voice chimed across their senses, ?Your path will be unveiled by the quick scampering feet of the blind.? The riddled words seemingly to make no sense, though the gift she carried perhaps leant some reason. A twined and bound cage made of sticks, in which a creature scurried desperately for freedom.

All eyes shifted to the alien creature bound in the wicker cage. Foreign and strange, its lack of eyes revealed that the squirmy eel-like ferret belonged underground. Black as sin and exposing long razor sharp teeth as it hissed in their direction.

A casual glance came to rest on Vesper, but Celeth made no move. He wasn't *even* touching that thing. "Someone gets to carry that." Spikes of ice fired out from his boots once again and he would wait for direction.

?So not me!? Tia quickly denied any claim to carry the weird monstrosity.

Vesper?s singsong voice intoned, ?Where you travel light will not be found, but this creature's senses will lead you to its Mistress once you reach the caverns. Look for the rocks that eclipse the sun in the form of a Cross, for there will you find the entrance where he will be key.? Swinging the cage to emphasize her "he.?

Hearing both Celeth's and Tia's rejection to carrying the creature, ElKinid plunges slender hands within his cloak and withdraws his spell book.:: I have something that might work.

Angelica shook her head, "Save the energy. I'll take him."

And the Ants go Marching One by One Hurrah Hurrah

The marshy ground remained littered with many dangerous pits, treacherous wet sucking pools of fetid disgusting water, and surprisingly jagged logs, sticks, bramble, and of course bones. Married within all of this splendid terrain were the denizens of this land, snakes, spiders, and fungus of all kinds.

"Stay together." Hearing Tia babble, Angelica continued quietly, "El, stay close to Tia."

"If this terrain degrades much further, I shall not abide walking." Celeth smirked, kicking aside a chunk of what looked to be a ribcage, and avoiding a hole that he could not immediately perceive the depth of.

ElKinid paused before he reached out and hooked Tia around the arm, navigating her more toward his position beside Angelica. ?You should probably stay close, just to be on the safe side.?

As if on a safari of some kind Tia smiled at them all, careful to avoid where she stepped and any look at the creature hissing in the cage at Angelica's hand.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, their travels continued to lead them deeper into the dense vegetation, it became impossible to truly walk abreast of one another, the terrain demanded a column and the temperature rose to make the air around them a sticky blanket of itchy discomfort. The buzzing cloud of mosquitoes and other insects found their delectable skin a buffet worthy of feasting upon.

Angelica continued to move along the path carefully picking the least treacherous route. ElKinid fell in behind Angelica, drawing Tia back behind him and in front of Celeth.

Watching through many eyes at once, Celeth stepped into a sinkhole that nearly swallowed his calf before the magic kicked in and he began to levitate. "Disgusting." His leg was covered in muck.

?Ugh, gross.? Tia slapped at the buzzing cloud, her long metallic hued hair damp in its thick braid as the heat tried to wilt her but the potions of energy combated it bravely. A smile at the sight of ElKinid's careful maneuvering of her, at least this meant she got to view his cute little backside the whole way... a blush at the thought thankfully hidden in the flush of the heat upon her fair skin.

Ice collected on Celeth's body, temperature diving. "Surround yourselves with cold, and the insects will not find your blood so interesting," he spoke as if this were a child's feat, easily performed.

Obviously this was an area not used to invaders. No path existed of any kind to aid in their travels and as Angelica led them deeper within the thick vegetation the climate felt and looked more like that of a jungle than that of the forest. As Angelica maneuvered them through a tricky terrain, a giant python hung across the easiest path, to one side laid a pit of indeterminate depth and to the other a thick clump of poisonous fungus.

To Enter or Not to Enter

The creature in the cage suddenly emitted a high pitched whine and a scrabble of deadly claws against the bonds that held it; its eagerness jolted the contraption in Angelica's grasp. As Celeth?s levitation dissipated solid ground would be found, the marshy murk giving way to a sturdier rock based terrain as the ascent appeared before them, the hint of a cave's entrance there within the shadows of those rocks.

"There lies the drider." Celeth's runes encircled his eyes once more, examining.

Reluctantly Tia released Celeth, the sight of the cave entrance giving her an idea, ?Wait! I have a potion that will allow sight in the dark.? A pause. A look to each of them. Slow and Pointed, ?Let me guess, all of you naturally see in the dark, don't you?? It would almost be said accusingly.

ElKinid followed Angelica closely as she began the ascent with the struggling creature still encased in the wicker like cage. A glance back over his shoulder to assure that Tia was alright, granted he wasn't worried knowing that Celeth was back there. He moved quickly, though making sure that Angelica and the caged creature stay in front. ?Vel'bol xun dos ssrig'luin uns'aa ulu xun??

Celeth smirked at Tia. "I do." A tap of a slender finger to the runes.

Angelica glanced at Tia and sighed, "I'm a demon whose native element is shadows." Before she murmured a soft response to ElKinid, "Zexen'uma kr'athin."

Sheepishly, ElKinid averted his eyes from Tia.?Go ahead and save your potion, we may need it later.? A sharp nod delivered in Angelica?s direction, ?Zuch.?

The darkness would not appear as oppressive as their various abilities allowed them to penetrate the gloom, the shapes in the dark that first appeared to be stalagmites were actually mushrooms, a huge grove of shrooms and fungus laid out in a valley before them. The Scout would immediately note that no animals appeared to come near this area, no tracks, or spores existed.

?Should we just burn through the fungus?? ElKinid nodded toward the valley of mushrooms and other fungal shapes. ?No animals tell me that not much comes through here, which might indicate how lethal the area is.?

Angelica looked at the fungus, "Ji mzilt whol olist."

The group paused in the entrance to discuss the ramifications of letting the angry hissing creature free to lead them or to try and find their own way through the darkness. The decision, however, was taken from them as with a slice of razor claws the hairless ferret creature freed itself in its excitement, falling to the ground in an awkward splat, its six legs skittering for purchase as it shot just inside the cave, quivering in excitement. Lifting its snout and sniffing the air before it darted to the left and up a ledge that had been hidden behind a lip of rock that made it virtually invisible.

Tight Places and Nasty Smells

The going seemed interminable, long were they trapped within the confines of this short tunnel following behind the ugly mean little creature. Seemingly forever, they could only place one foot in front of the other. The aching strain of muscles held in an unnatural position approached unbearable as they shuffled forward, step by step.

The temperature altered, dropping slightly as they descended into the darkness, with the absence of sun and light the coldness seemed a relief at first, but soon it approached a level of discomfort to those not used to such.

?I almost miss the Forest? Tia muttered, ?Never thought I?d say that.?

Celeth glanced about, having plenty of room to do so in this state. "This is not the greatest of locales, that much is certain. But I've seen worse." If a cat could shrug...

?Tia, how are your eyes doing?? Remembering that she had said something about drinking a potion that gave her the dark sight. Still, he again reached out his hand to take hold of her shoulder, again letting her know his position.

Angelica continued stoically tracking the little creature, pulling her daggers as they moved.

A nauseating stench rose around them, deeply disgusting and resulting in a blow to any who lacked fortitude against such things. The smell of rot a special level of pure nasty wretchedness that called forth a gag reflex.

?My sight is fine, my thighs are starting to kill me.? Tia considered dropping to a crawl right when that wave of yuck reached her and a distressed sound escaped her.

The ocelot coughed as if trying to purge a hairball. "This is.. putrid."

ElKinid?s hacking would be slow at first, though would gradually build the deeper they got, clenched fist brought to thin elven lips to contain the cough. ?oh...gods...?

Even Angelica looked a bit pale as she tried not to breath in the stench.

?Vi. Nemeth." Runes whispered would send wind from their backs, pushing back the foul air before them, as Celeth could stand it no more.

Bugs, Oh My


A cockroach is a cockroach no matter what its size and while this one was easily six feet across its oblong body, it seemed as indestructible as its smaller brethren. No notice given to its missing and torn wing as it swung about, skittering up and over the wall, not bound by gravity in that sense. Antennae moving as it searched for their positions. The static electricity seeming to have no effect as the blades of ice sliced through the exoskeleton in several places, not slowing it.

After the rolling save, Tia flashed a weak smile at Kinid's heroics, drawing herself up to her shaky feet determined to be more than just a damsel in distress. A trembling hand tightened into a fist as she brought forth the spells from the Dueling rings, thankful for Natolii for the training that had made her competent in this.

?Close your eyes!? It is the only warning he gives as he remembered the tavern, where the emergence of the candlelight sent the roaches there skittering about. ElKinid extended his hand, finger tips ignited with shimmering illumination that lights up the area around them.

Immediately her lashes dropped as Tia shielded herself from the flash of light. Angelic wisely stayed crouched beneath the covering of her wings as a black shield covered the cat?s eyes, ?Good thinking,? Celeth responded.

As the light struck the sensitive vermin it reared up, losing its grip on the rocky wall and tumbling free onto its back, six legs squirming desperately as it sought to right itself, the underbelly lacking that thick protective carapace.

?Ugh! You disgusting filthy bug!? A shimmering blade of electrical energy called forth as Tia stepped forward to slice it downward on that unprotected underbelly, aiming deep.

Angelica responded to the open target with both of her daggers drenching them in eldritch energy and throwing both into the exposed belly. Celeth quickly launched his claws at the same area in hopes of being able to open something more vital for Angelica's blades.

As they descended upon the giant insect, their blades and claws rent jagged holes in its unprotected underbelly. The thick white fluid of its blood pouring forth. Giant legs waved in frantic spasms and its antennae lashed out as it was injured.

"It must have organs of some sort... perhaps you can remedy that?" Celeth's voice as almost casual.

Like most cockroaches it survived the most hideous of wounds, but their combined efforts kept it pinned and frantic. Tia able to remove two of its legs as Angelica's blades sunk into its belly, Celeth's claws ripping it clearly open to reveal a pool of fluid. Drawing back her flaming blade Tia brought it down hard in an attempt to decapitate the beast. Spasmic movements as its life-force left in spurts, its death suddenly leaving the tunnel surprisingly quiet except for the sounds of their exerted breathing.

To Come a-Knockin


The cat became man once again, and he seemed to slide across the water's surface, leaving a frozen bridge across the water in his wake. He just hoped there wasn't a Kraken in there ready to lash out a tentacle and drag him under. That water didn't look savory.

Angelica took to the air at that point, moving to keep the creature in sight.

As the ice bridge formed and allowed them passage the water rippled around them, clearly dark shapes could be seen amassing in curiosity at the invasion of their domain. The slowed ferret creature stood no chance as it paddled with a single-minded determination.


"Damn it," Celeth abandoned the bridge and took to the air, runes activating defensively at the presence of something below. "I'm not touching that shit," a gesture toward the shapes under the water, and he turned back toward the others.

Tia paused midway along that bridge at Celeth?s quick flight. A wide-eyed look sent upward.

ElKinid, on the other hand, was not waiting around to see what Celeth?s abandonment meant for his creation. With elven quickness he rushed across the bridge. Having no way of flight or escape and not wanting to turn back, he darted across the icy length on nimble elven feet as swiftly as a man would run on the ground.

Celeth kept the ice bridge in place for his companions while focusing on turning his body into a conduit of electricity in case he needed the offensive power.

On the island of their destination a figure emerged. Four legs on either side of a bulbous body scraped across the rocky shore as the figure took note of the approaching figures from air and water. A lavendar flare surrounding her surprisingly fair features as a spell began to cast.

ElKinid and Angelica paused at the lip of the bridge at the feeling the magic in the air. Chasing after them, Tia?s pace was a bit slower, not possessing an elven grace to aid in her passage over the slick surface. A blast of electricity sparking out from all ten fingers in both directions as she electrocuted that which came at them from the water, the dance of silvery light turning her eyes a blazing silver and sending her hair floating on end.

?Vel'uss kuuven sultha ussta uln'hyrr?? The harsh tone adding an ominous harmonics to the language of the drow, even as the drider lashed out with the spell designed to draw all the fluid from its victims, aimed at those airborne first.

?It wants to know who we are.? ElKinid translated loudly for those who did not possess the dark elven tongue, a glance over his shoulder to mark Tia?s progress.

"The answer is simple. We are death." Celeth spoke, even as the field fought with the Drider's spell.

Angelica echoed his sentiment, ?Dosst elghinn, elg'caress" as she summoned the shadows to strike at the drider, narrowly avoiding the spell sent at her.

The Party Don't Stop Until the Bitch is Dead

The blast of electricity stole the drider?s concentration again and with an enraged sound she re-discovered her whip, lashing it about her in growing agitation, ?Usstan orn ELGG DOS!?

Celeth?s hands extended toward Maldora. Runes from his body glowed through the black robes, and appeared in the air before him, encircling and entwining. Those sensitive to the magics of demons, Angelica especially, would feel the surge of Hell's power.

Angelica snarled in drow, "Vith'os, elg'caress!" She was taunting the drider.

\The blade struck true, front spidery legs buckling up underneath the creature as the pain stole her constitution. The taunting and the attack drawing her attention from Celeth's spellcasting, the whip lashing to again claim Angelica's form in its twining grasp if it hits.

Tia drew from her pouch a potion of healing and rolled it across the ground toward Kinid's weakened form, her attention diverted enough to miss the lash of that whip going past her to strike at Angelica.

Twenty black tentacles fired forward, each with triple clawed ends, seeming to have grown from the blue man's body. They sought to cut, rend, and tear at the Drider's appendages. That which could not move...

Angelica cried out as the whip wrapped around her. The heads biting into her as she struggled to free herself.

Summoning as much strength as he could muster ElKinid turned to face the Drider, a shaft of pure mana forming in his slender elven hand. Swallowing back the harsh dryness that claimed his throat, he lurched forward, adding weight to his hurl as he sends the spear racing across the distance between them, aimed for the bare area between the Drider's shoulder blades.

The over-extension of gathered momentum brought him down to all fours with the follow-through of the toss, though luckily enough, this landed him right on top of the healing potion. Snagging it, he plucks the cork and downed it, reveling in it magical revival.

The tentacles lashed around her form, the triple claws finding purchase in sensitive flesh and ripping a scream from her as she sought to pull herself free, Kinid's spear finding a clear target and splitting her skin to impale her, the convulsing form spasmodically curling in on itself like the arachnid it resembled:.. ?Nau... ! Nau!?

Tia called back the blade of magical energy and hacked at that whip as it strung past her to bite into Angelica's flesh.

?Kku ilta!? Pain and weakness reverting speech to a more natural dialogue. Hand extended so that bolts of lightning can leap from thin fingertips toward the flailing creature.

"This shall not be sufficient to terminate the thing," Celeth's voice was calm as always. "Decapitation, however, will. Perhaps while I've got it distracted?"

Denouement

Angelica groaned as the drider?s weight descended fully upon her.

?Angelica!? Tia?tari hollered as she threw her pitiful weight against the massive dead weight.

ElKinid was drained, too much magic too quickly. He joined in with Tia, lowering a slim shoulder and plowing into the thick, bulbous carcass. ?Mir pholor! We're coming!?

The frostwolf was flung forward slightly with the drider's fall, and a chunk of throat ripped out, still locked between jaws as Celeth spun his body to avoid landing on Angelica. A disgusted hack would send the flesh to the ground, although the bloody taste in his mouth was enough to make him gag as he shifted back to his true form. A pulse of force would aid in moving the creature then.

Their combined efforts were enough to roll the creature free from their companion. An odd silence descended after their battle. The cavern seemingly silent except for the ripple of darkly cold water.

Another flask came from a pocket, this one of ordinary water, which he would use to swish around in his mouth before spitting out more blood. "Sickening."

A bloodied and beaten form, Angelica?s breathing sounded shallow before her whispered response to Celeth broke through the silence, ?You... complain... worse... than an... old ... lady."

With the Drider removed ElKinid lowered and scooped Angelica up in his arms, turning to face Tia. ?Got another of those potions you tossed me earlier??

Frozen 'eyes' slid toward Angelica then, and he smirked. "You live, do you not?"

?Of course.? Tia rummaged in her satchel to hand out the potions to any who needed them. ?It should help.?

Angelica groaned as El scooped her up. "I... hurt too much... to ... be... dead."

The elf fought to speak through a laugh. ?Well drink this here. Tia gave me one earlier and it helped. It heals.? A head not motioning toward Tia's offering hand.

Opening his robes, Celeth revealed a torn out chunk of flesh, nearly exposing a section of his ribcage, surrounded by hundreds of demonic runes. "Hmm." Examining as he produced his pipe. "When that flask wears off, this will hurt like hell."