Sometimes you get lucky

[Gaia_Nostra]

It all started by after getting lost in the in the elven city in the Westwoods. Having never really been there before, Angus decided to walk around the city looking for any public shops or inns. But instead of shops, he encountered nothing but locked doors and elven mages who would not talk to him. Typical suck up elves, he thought.

Still, he was enjoying his walk through the town, so he decided to follow a wooden walkway around a tree. To his surprise, the walkway ended at a small tunnel. He walked through the tunnel and he found himself in a beautiful wooded area, filled with two sets of log benches. Unfortunately, there was no way to return to the location from which he had just left...the tunnel had just disappeared.

Looking around the area, he found another tunnel, partially hidden behind a waterfall. He walked through this passageway and found himself in the vast unclaimed forest. Though he explored for more than an hour, he could find no way to return the the elven city. After a brief encounter with an owlbear, he decided it was unwise to stay where he was, so he headed west. His plan was to walk in that direction until he came upon a road or waterway that he recognized.

He walked for hours going more or less directly west but he found no landmarks that he recognized. Instead, he found wolves and dire wolves and an occasional rabbit. He started north only to be attacked by a group of hobgoblins. Quaffing a potion of Invisibility, he jumped into a nearby creek and tripped away from the enemies as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the hobgoblins made only a cursory effort to follow and quickly lost his trail. Ten minutes later he burst through a copse of trees and stumbled upon a familiar road…the one leading to the Silver Mountains. Tired from his run and travails, Angus made his way north and secured a room at the inn below the mining camps.

He hadn't intended to travel to the mines, but since he was there, he decided to spend a few hours hacking out ore. Making the short climb to the active mines, Angus found Cruze the Stone Cutter and a couple other miners congregating near the entrance to the Haunted Mines. "It ain't right when dem city boys go dragging all dem bugs out of the mines. It's bad enough having ta deal with dem down der, but lettin dem loose in da camps ain't right. No ser, it ain't right at all". Angus, noticing the Lightning bug burns on the man's face and arms offered his aid. "Sure, ye can give me Torm's blessin'. It's more'n I ken say for that fellar what was here earlier. Just up and ran his arse off the mountain, leaving dem bugs for us ta deal wit". Angus healed the man and they handed each of them a couple coins for their trouble. Still grumbling, the men meandered back to their tents and Angus slipped into the mine.

As usual, Angus avoided the bugs in the entry level of the mine. He made his way to one of the chambers with a rope ladder to the lower levels and descended into the darkness. Using his Holy Symbol of Torm in his off hand as a light source, he carefully walked along the maze of tunnels, avoiding the chamber where the djinn usually resides. To his dismay, many of the deposits had been recently mined and there was little left save for some small chunks of iron and an occasional piece of silver. With his pickaxe resting on his shoulder, Angus turned a corner and came face to face with a djinn and four air elementals of varying size.

How had he been so careless? He dropped his axe and began to run as fast as his plate armor would allow. He knew these tunnels well and hoped that if he could make it to the rope ladder before them, he would be able to ascend to the upper levels and slam the trap door shut before anyone could follow. Searing pain shot through his torso as bolt after bolt of lightning struck his body. Clutching at his belt purse, he pulled free a potion of Invisibility and flicked the stopped free. Without spilling a drop, he pour the elixir into his mouth, swallowed and stormed towards the ladder. A quick glance over his shoulder showed him that the elementals had given up, but the djinn was still in hot pursuit.

Angus leapt halfway up the ladder and climbed for all he was worth. He made it to the upper level, but so did the Djinn. Angus needed help and he needed it fast. He ducked down a hallway just ahead of the djinn and summoned a Fire Giant. The giant engaged the djinn...doing no damage...but giving Angus time to cast a Heal spell. With a moment to prepare, Angus cast numerous spells of protection and strengthening. Seeing his Fire Giant staggered, Angus summoned a Salamander then engaged the djinn himself. The Djinn cast an unknown spell, but Angus shook it off, then countered with a morningstar blow to its midsection. The blow was not as effective as he had hoped, but Angus noticed his opponent's eyes widen in apparent surprise. Encouraged, Angus pressed the attack, landing blow after blow on the now incredulous creature. With a final triumphant swing, Angus' morningstar ripped through the ephemeral body. The wispy remains of the djinn collapsed in a heap on the ground. Angus gasped from the exertion...victorious but exhausted. He thanked his summoned friend before dismissing it and returning to the inn.

[ayergo]

Really love this one, epic writeup and battle.