By: Angaril Posted on: March 15, 2005
Admittedly it was with some trepidation that I hurried down the well in the
midst of the ruined courtyard. Never before had I descended to the depths of
Azdun's lower levels alone but today would change that. As I reached the
bottom of the well I made a quick search of my equipment. Maps, brand new
tower shield, new splintmail, and my notebook full of notes and observations
about the denizens of lower Azdun. Everything checked out. I glanced at the
bookmarked page of my notebook to refresh my memory before continuing on.
"The vampires that haunt the lower levels of Azdun are the dungeon's biggest threat. At first glance they appear as nothing more than ordinary men, however note their malevolent eyes and animalistic behaviour to identify them. They exhibit a high degree of intelligence and possess excellent tracking skills. Be on guard at all times for them."
Taking a quick breath I passed by the mirrored rooms of the first level of Azdun and proceeded to the southern stairwell. A lone mhun miner eyed me warily as I began to descend the staircase. He yelled a string of words that I couldn't interpret but echoed loudly down the stairwell. As I reached the bottom the echoes fell silent. A musty dank smell invaded my nostrils causing me to gag for just a moment. In the gloom I couldn't see anything else in the room aside from my own angel. Glancing at her I implored her to seek out any other adventurers in the mines. She quickly reported no other people in the area at all. We were alone in the mines.
Tentatively I began walking northward, searching out the shadows for any malignant forces but finding none. After a few moments I reached what appeared to be a guardpost of some kind. Tattered maps hung on the wall, all but completely faded. A strong iron door was set into the western wall and the passageway continued northwards into what my maps showed as an underground forest. I checked the iron door to the west but it was locked and shut tightly. Pressing my ear against the door I could hear the oddest sounds coming from the other side. A sort of lurching and dragging sound. I glanced around the room and spotted a glint of metal lying in the dirt in the middle of the room. I went over to it and uncovered a metal key. Smiling at my discovery I eagerly went to the locked door and tried the key. Though a little rusty, the lock eventually clicked and the door opened. A rasping voice suddenly began muttering in the dark, a hideous terrible sound.
I quickly entered the room and bid my angel illuminate my new surroundings. I stood in some sort of storage room that had been ransacked completely. The culprit emerged from the shadows of the back of the room with a howl. A goblin ghoul. It rushed me immediately and I struck its head with my mace viciously. Again and again it came at me with unearthly vehemence. I found that my new armour was still little protection against the onslaught of this ungodly creature. Reaching back, I grabbed a fistful of irid moss and shoved it into my mouth as I lashed out at the ghoul with my mace. At last, the final blow landed and the ghoul dropped to the floor defeated.
Panting, I fell backwards against the door and collapsed. Had there been more of those ghouls it would have been me lying in a twisted heap on the floor instead. The lower mines of Azdun were certainly living up to their reputation so far. After a few minutes I felt my strength return to me. I stood and quickly exited the destroyed storage room and pocketed the key after relocking the door.
My maps showed me that the forest was not far ahead. I passed through the darkened corridors with some confidence after my recent victory and thus, was not as discrete as I ought to have been. I hastily turned a corner and came to a dead stop. Another adventurer was digging about in the dirt a few yards off.
"Hello there!" I cried out, raising my hand in greeting. I took another step forward and then a cold fear gripped me. The adventurer had turned his head at my greeting and I could see the hypnotic yellow of his eyes. This was no adventurer, it was a vampire.
"Oh gods..." I whispered.
It came at me quickly, a huge black shadow lunging at my face. I brought my mace down across its body but it shrugged the attack off. I looked into its eyes and instantly all feeling left my body. The fear was almost unbearable. Quickly I averted my eyes and focused my spirit. Feeling the elements at my control I healed my paralysis and struck out again at the vampire. It took the hit like I had merely slapped it with my palm. I realized that this fight was not one that I would win so I smashed the vampire once more with my mace and bolted back down the passageway towards the abandoned outpost.
As I entered the outpost I heard the shouts of marching orders being yelled out by a harsh goblin voice towards the south. I crept to the southern exit and looked into the darkness. Dimly I could make out the forms of three goblin soldiers near the staircase that led back up and out of the lower levels of the mines. My escape was cut off at the south, I would have to wait until the goblins came back through the outpost in order to have a clear shot at the staircase. I determined to hide myself in the outpost until my escape was ensured. I turned around again and went pale with shock. The vampire's dark form was just entering through the north passage.
My mind raced to formulate a plan, but not quickly enough. The vampire rushed me with incalculable speed and sank its fangs deep into the flesh of my arm. With a howl of pain I flung the creature away from me and in a frenzy I looked around the room. My glance fell on the iron door in the western wall and a flash of hope surged through me. In an instant I had crossed the room and unlocked the door. I looked back and saw the vampire closing in again. Quickly I dashed inside the door and slammed it behind me. I exhaled deeply in relief, grateful for the momentary security.
A sinking horror filled my stomach as I felt the door at my back slowly pushed open. In a panic I hurled my body against the door, shutting it tight again. Without wasting time I had the key out again and locked the door. I could hear the handle being tried from the other side again and then an angry howl when the door refused to budge. I allowed a small smile to cross my lips as I began contemplating just how I was going to get out of this accursed place. The only exit was guarded by an angry vampire and a troop of goblins. Again I bid my angel seek out any others in the mines and again my angel replied that I was alone. No one would be coming to help.
A curious scraping sound emanated from the floor in the middle of the room. I tilted my head curiously but the sound did not repeat itself. Very odd. And then a far worse sound echoed through the room.
The vampire was knocking at the door.
I felt ill as I listened to the sound of the insistent knocking at the door. Again and again the vampire knocked as if it was merely a friendly neighbor on a house call.
...knock...knock...
"Get away from the door you accursed demon!" I yelled.
...knock...knock...
"This door will not open! Be gone!" I shouted at the vampire.
...knock...knock...
I fell against the door again, my thoughts scattered and my nerves shot. As I sat against the door I noticed something I had missed my first time in this room. A small rectangular monolith sigil lay on the floor. I swore as I realized that my options for escape had just become even fewer. No pilgrimage would take me from this place. Through the door, past the vampire, past the goblins and up the staircase was the only way out. At least I was safe for the moment though.
Or not.
The scraping sound returned and a ghastly arm emerged from the floor and began trying to claw at the dirt. Another ghoul was coming in through the floor.
With my back against the door I swore again. It would only be a moment or two before the ghoul dug its way out of the floor entirely. I wasn't confident that I would be able to last against another ghoul after my battle with the vampire. I contemplated my options. If I could unlock the door, the vampire would come into the room. If I was quick, there was a chance I could slip out the door and lock it from the other side again, trapping my vampire friend in with the ghoul. I would then be free to wait for the goblins to pass by and then my freedom would be assured.
The ghoul pushed another arm through the floor; the top of its head was just visible now.
Gritting my teeth, I stood and faced the door. I ran through my plan again in my head: Let the vampire in, dash out, lock door. Let the vampire in, dash out, lock door. Let the vampire in, dash out, lock door. Got it.
I put the key in the lock and turned. Immediately the door flew open causing me to fall backwards. My fingers slipped off of the key as I fell.
"That didn't go right.." I thought as I slammed against the dirt floor.
The vampire's form filled the room and as I struggled to my feet I watched in horror as it shut the door and carefully turned the key again. The vampire deliberately pocketed the key and turned to face me. The ghoul pulled itself out of the floor up to its waist and shrieked at me. I dodged the vampire as it lunged at me and tried the door. Locked. No key. I turned around as the ghoul pulled itself free of the floor and closed my eyes as the two demons attacked me simultaneously.
As my soul parted from my body I made a mental note. If the Logos returns me to life, always make sure there's an escape worked out in advance.