laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Rising tall, the grey stone building stood quietly along the river-that bisected Consett-to it’s east. Adgertesse’ noticed the large open square that fronted the council building and separated it from the theatre to their west. Truly these people had enjoyed a lush life.
She followed the group in through the large, double doors into marble floored halls decorated with large panels of green, dark blue and rose colored scenes that uniformly divided the cream colored floor and walls. Columns framed the round main chamber to their left whose large oblong table and chairs centered the room surrounded by stadium-like seating.

“Someone had deep pockets,” Sceva mentioned as they walked by the closest entry from the hallway.

“I could’ve thought of better uses for it,” Lericanin added dryly.

As they moved on, footsteps approached and Tess immediately recognized the twin dwarves who used to travel with the group. Thurgen and Rupert smiled, hammer and axe over their broad shoulders as they neared and stopped.

“This place is cleared,” Thurgen informed.

“Any vaults,” Lericanin asked.

“No,” the cleric replied, then glanced to his brother who shook his head also. “Sorry.”

“Alright. How many liches or vampires have you encountered thus far,” the large knight inquired.

“We killed two liches and a vampire,” Rupert smiled broadly. “Why, how many more are there?”

“I was told there are still more vampires in the estate to the southwest. Tell your men to take the heads from their bolts before they leave. It’s getting dark soon and they’ll be out in force if we don’t catch them.”

“Already done,” the half-dwarven fighter proclaimed, then turned to the small unit that now collected nearby.

“Let’s keep looking,” Marian suggested. “Their organs have to be around here somewhere.”

Lericanin nodded, then eyed Thurgen. “We’ll be with you shortly.”

“Alright. Good luck.”

The two large groups separated and Tess began recognizing some themes in the scenes depicted on the walls. Days of glory for the darker clans as they assaulted Kevelaer and the human settlements to the north. Odd that they neglected to add their defeat at the hands of the same. She grinned as they approached another crossing hallway which a door to the far right piqued her interest. Selyria began moving towards it also which prompted the rest of the group to follow behind.

“Uh, oh,” Sceva slowed as they neared, causing most to eye him. “There’s a green aura about this door.”

Tess knew that someone had been delving into the Arcane which meant a potential trap beyond most of their abilities to deal with. Two more closed doors, one to the right and left respectively caused no such concern but were left alone as Selyria studied it closer.
Soon, she turned to them. “It’s a gate.”

“Gate, to where,” Allaster queried.

“Not sure. Perhaps they stored their vault to the end of it, hoping to keep it safer.”

“It can’t be located more than a hundred miles from them though,” Sceva added.

“Perhaps it’s deep underground,” Galena suggested.

Selyria moved closer to the entryway, “I’ll be right back”.

They watched as she moved through the apparent illusory doorway and disappeared. Adgertesse’ did her best to keep a mental contact of their friend but, her link was quickly cut off which made her nervous. As they waited, Lita checked the other two doors to find they led to plush offices which held little of value. Af’Ring’s pockets were already full, Tess chuckled as she watched the half-elf move back into the hallway as both females rejoined them.
Soon, Selyria re-emerged, but Tess could tell something bothered their friend as an explosion suddenly sent all back down the hallway, sliding across the marble floors and pushing them into a large heap near the far wall. Shaking her head clear, she pushed herself up from atop Arthur’s back, then helped the knight up as the others collected themselves.

“What the hell was that,” Justyn exclaimed.

“I think the gate disintegrated when I destroyed their organs,” Selyria informed as she stood. “I heard a crackling behind me as I flew back through the ethereal to the original doorway.”

“I guess the good thing is they won’t be returning now,” Lericanin declared as they all agreed, nursing sore muscles.