Journey Under the Mountains

About ten feet down the soft glow of Kaine's tattoos could be seen. His back was to the wall, being gripped by his clawed gauntlets and the spiked on the bottom of his armoured boots.

He grinned up at her, "I have no idea what you are talking about. But I have always wanted to try this."

All the muscles in his body tensed up and with a mighty push he sprung off the far wall of the shaft, lunging towards the other side.

He made the leap with ease, the claws on his gauntlet digging into the stone.

Then on all fours he ran like an animal all the way up, pushing off the ledge to jump and land next to Sloane.

"Just having a bit of fun." He grinned as he pushed her against the wall of the tunnel, kissing her passionately his body tightly pressed against hers.

He pulled back and gave her a charming grin. With a smack on her thigh, he winked at her, continuing down the tunnel at a slow but cautious jog.

Sloane shook her head and sighed when she saw that Kaine was up to. Men were such children sometimes. Always needing to play with their new toys and show off. She watched as Kaine climbed his way up the wall and appeared beside her.

Her yelp of suprise at him pushing her to the wall was muffled by his kiss. Automatically she began kisisng him back and then he was gone again. She admired his butt with a grin as she jogged silently behind him, daggers at the ready.

As they grew closer to the source of the light Sloane blew out her lantern. They passed a strange outcrop on the tunnel wall and Sloane placed the lantern underneath it. The outcrop would make the lantern easier to locate later and she wanted both hands free.

Kaine slowed,crouching low to the ground, taking extra caution not to be heard. His armoured boots were specially padded as to allow silent movement. There were many times that stealth had been his ally, where an unbridled charge would have gotten himself and his men killed.

He listened closely and heard the soft sound of water lapping against rock. He stopped for a moment listening closer, making sure that what he had heard was correct; again he heard water against rocks.

He crept closer to the next bend in the tunnel, flattening himself against the wall he peered around the corner.

There were several torches that lined the wall of this cave. In the center a small body of water divided it in half;a single stone bridge the only way across.

On the other side he could see someone standing close to the wall; he could not make out who or what it was, as its back was to him. The being stood in front of what looked like stone slab; stone tombs on either side. He was still too far away to hear anything above the gentle waves of the small lake.

He turned to Sloane signaling her to take his place and assess the situation.

At Kaine's command Sloane moved up beside him and surveyed the situation. She didn't like the look of the single bridge. Being stuck on it would leave a party very vulnerable. She was curious about the stone formations near the lone figure. And what was the figure up to? She could only see the back of it and nothing else.

Using hand signals she suggested they move closer for a better look.

Kaine nodded to Sloane, pointing to several stalagmites just inside the entrance to the cavern.

Guided by the light from within the cave, he hugged the wall; slipping into the shadows, taking the stalagmite to the left. He signaled to Sloane to take the right one, several metres away.

The figure on the far side of the small lake seemed to be moving back and forth; bending down and picking things up, placing them on the stone slab in between several well used candles.

A low soft hum filled the air, but it was hard to determine where it came from.

Kaine signaled Sloane to move up closer towards the bridge, yet stay as concealed as possible.

Hugging the shadows as much as possible, he weaved silently in and out of the stalagmites, until he was a few metres from the stone bridge.

As soon as Sloane was in her place, they both heard the sound of grinding stone behind them.

They looked back just in time to see the exit to the cavern seal up. There were no visible creases that could be seen; it was as if the entrance to this cave was never there.

Sloane followed her captain's lead, moving silently between the stalagmites and whatever other cover she could find. She couldn't say why but the movements of the figure ahead of them made her nervous.

From behind her came a grinding noise and Sloane spun around just in time to watch the tunnel they had come through dissapear. Oh great, she thought to herself, could this day get any more annoying?

Daggers at the ready and back to a stalagmite Sloane looked to Kaine for instruction. Where they going to go in fast and violent or slow and diplomatic?

Kaine activated his gauntlet claws and with a click his dragon scale shield formed on his arm.

Before he could react a voice echoed in the cavern, "I know you are there. I can smell what tasty morsels you are. I will enjoy devouring you, hearing you scream as I tear the flesh from your bones."

Kaine did not like what he just heard, before who ever that was could mutter another word he leaped up and around the stalagmite.

He stopped in mid charge, his momentum and weight almost making him stumble.

Before them was not one creature but three; he saw the stone tombs were a jar, realizing that this is probably where the other ones came from.

The two new creatures were at least seven feet tall and wore black armour outlined in blood red. Dark glowing eyes shone from beneath wicked looking helmets and a two handed blade at the ready. Wisps of shadow seemed to flow from these creatures, making it obvious that these were not normal men, but demonic creatures form the fade.

The centre figure was thin, yet showed balance and grace in the steps he took. He seemed quite confident in himself as he sneered at Kaine. The creature flashed him white jagged teeth that would normally been seen in a beast. These were teeth that could easily rip the flesh from any mans body.

"I see I have been offered another feast." the creature laughed.

"Now I guess I will have to spare that pitiful little town."

With a signal of his hand the two fade creatures began to advance on the pair.

(((OOC: The two large creatures are Revenants. And the smaller creature with the fangs is a Hunger Demon. The Revenants would be considered Elite in their abilities. While the Hunger Demon would be a Boss in its abilities; if you need to look up the Hunger Demons Abilities; Look up Greater Shade. So RP the fight accordingly.)))

(((Elite creatures are roughly equal to a single party member in power, for some party members it will be a difficult fight)))
(((Boss creatures are stronger than a party member and one of them can be a challenge on its own)))

"Crap!" Sloane whispered under her breath as the voice echoed through the cavern. She watched in growing anticipation as the three figured appeared. Of course they would run into nasty evil when her bow was with the horses and her sword and shield were back in the tunnel.

As the two tall fade creatures approached Sloane tightened her grip on her daggers and took a mental survey of the weapons availible to her. Sloane decided to meet the creatures on her own terms and sprinted toward the closest creature.

She dove under its reach and came up on her feet behind it striking it in the torso with one dagger then spinning and jabbing the other dagger in its neck before quickly backing out of its range. She didn't back up quite fast enough and the creature's arm clipped her shoulder, turning her ordered retreat into an off balance stumble.

Kaine reacted a second after Sloane; he charged the two creatures, a few steps behind the female warrior.

As she ducked behind one of the creatures lashing out with her daggers; getting the creature in what would have been its throat as well as its back. Small piece of fade mist fell from the creature as it roared in pain.

Kaine jumped up; he bashed the second one aside with his shield as he came down on the first one; slashing it from its throat down to where its stomach would be.

The creature roared again, lashing out with its arm in defense. The defensive attack connected with Kaine, sending him flying backwards head over heals. The powerful warrior managed to brace himself enough to go into a roll as he hit the ground. He came up to his feet, only to have his momentum slam him into the cavern wall. He ground his teeth, whirling around to face his foes.


The wounded fade creature swung it's two handed sword wildly in Sloane's direction as it flung Kaine against the cavern wall. The blade narrowly missed the woman, just inches above her head.

The other Revenant stumbled back as Kaine slammed his dragon scaled shield into it. It only distracted the creature for a split second. It reached out with one arm and with powerful magics drew Kaine to him, just as it raised its blade.

Kaine only had a split second to react as he flew through the air. With lightning reflexes, that surprised even him, he was able to raise his shield just in time to deflect the sword. With a side swipe the Revenant bashed its sword against the scaled shield, sending Kaine flying passed him.

He felt the impact of the mighty blade against his shield. The power behind even the one handed strike numbed his arm; a two handed strike might have shattered his bone completely. However it wasn't the blade itself that hurt, it was more his momentum coupled with the blade striking him that did the most damage, as he was unable to properly brace himself against it.

With a splash Kaine flew into the water. He gasped for air as the shock from the frigid water expelled the air from his lungs.

On the far side of the cavern, the Demon of Hunger roared with laughter so evil that it chilled the spines of those around it. Yet it just stood there, content on watching his creatures tear the humans apart.

Sloane regained her balance just in time to dodge a wild swing by the wounded creature.

As Kaine was drawn in by the second creature Sloane launched another attack at the wounded one. She came in fast, attempting to use her speed to her advantage. With no vital parts to hit on the creature she aimed for the easiest targets. Sloane came in low this time as the creature was recovering, landing a solid hit on its leg with her first dagger.

The second attack did not go so well. The creature recovered faster than Sloane had anticipated and she had to turn her second attack into a defencive move. Trying to block a two handed sword with a dagger was not an easy move and Sloane only partially succeeded. She managed to deflect the blow enough that it landed sideways on her shoulder. The blow didn't cut her but it did hit her hard enough to make her lose feeling in her arm temporarily and drop her dagger. It also smashed her to the ground, knocking the wind out of her.

Sloane scrambled backwards out of the creatures reach just as Kaine went flying into the water.

Kaine flew out of the water in a blind rage. His shield had been retracted and both set of claws were extended, ready to rend his enemies.

With a bellow of rage he charged the injured Revenant. With a flying leap, his clawed gauntlets above his head, he came crashing down on the fade beast. His claws dug deep into the creatures back as it roared. Using his weight to his advantage he allowed himself to fall to the ground, dragging his claws down the back of the demonic creature. Large rend marks appeared on its back, black fade misty flowed freely from its body.

It stumbled forward, its strength noticeable lessened. It tried desperately to whirl around with its two handed blade, hoping to strike Kaine with a full blow. But Kaine was already to low to the ground, the blade passing far above him. Without a second thought, he rolled to the side away from the other creature, just in time for its blade to come stabbing down where he had been. A split second sooner and he would have been impaled, the sword pinning him to the ground.

Sloane was just getting to her feet when Kaine came flying out of the water like an angry bull. His crazy attack gave her time to regain her feet and grab another dagger to replace the one she had dropped. Her shoulder hurt like hell and her hand was weak around the dagger, but it would have to do.

With both creatures focusing on Kaine Sloane began circling around behind them. The templar saw her opportunity when the second creature made to impale Kaine. She leapt onto the creature from behind, digging both dagger blades into the creature's shoulder area. She used one dagger as a hand hold and began slicing away at the creature with the other. It bucked and thrashed wildly but she held on as long as she could.

Finally the creature managed to dislodge her and send her crashing into a nearby stalagmite. The force of the impact knocked the wind from her and caused her already injured shoulder to go numb once again. Again her dagger fell from nerveless fingers.

Kaine's tattoos flared up as the lyrium in his body took hold of his senses. His eyes glowed red as the berserker rage flowed through him, causing his blood to boil with pure fury.

He jumped to his feet and charged at a stalagmite. With his momentum he sprung up it, raised his left arm and came crashing down on the weakened Revanent. The dragon claws from his gauntlets slashed through the head of the creature rending it diagonally downward to slice through his chest, just blow the shoulder.

Kaine landed heavily on one knee, his chin to his chest and the claws of his gauntlet embedded in the stone floor of the cavern.

The creature succumbed to its injuries, its body shattered sending wisps of shadow in all directions.


The hunger demon roared in anger as it charged up the bridge, stopping at the top of its arch.

With a bellow, the evil demonic fade creature thrust his hands out in front of him, sending jagged bolts of lightening towards the pair of warriors.

The lightening enveloped the area, consuming the remaining Revenant, sending strands of shadows in all directions.

Bolts of electricity flowed through both Sloane and Kaine, causing their bodies to convulse as they were lifted into the air.

"You may have defeated them, but I will not be so easy!" it roared at them. All the pair could do was look at the creature, their eyes held open as their bodies filled with pain.

Blood seeped from their ears and out the corners of their mouths. With its eyes wide in anger, the Demon slammed them into the cavern wall, continuing to send massive amounts of power coursing through their bodies.

With a ragged sigh, it released them. Both warriors fell to the ground in a heap, their eyes fluttering.

Both faded in and out of consciousness; it was as if they were looking out at their surroundings as they blinked their eyes rapidly.

The demon stood several feet from them, an evil grin on its face.

Just as the darkness took them a figure came into view to stand next to the demonic entity.

"I hope this pleases you master."

With their last ounce of strength, the looked up to see Lamont standing over them, his eyes as dark as night.

Sloane attempted to scream as pain wracked her body, but was unable to make a sound. The templar could do nothing but wish for the pain to end. She gasped as she was slammed into a wall before the lightning finally ceased.

Pain still pulsed and coursed through her body as she fought to stay concious. As she was losing the battle she heard a familar voice and her last though before passing out was should have gone with the spiders.


(((Continued here https://dragonageafter.forumotion.com/t367-escape-from-the-clutches-of-death )))