The light being cast flickered like that of a torch, and listening intently, Darren could hear several of what he assumed were voices ahead of him. They were guttural and animalistic in sound, with more grunts than any language he had ever heard. Not recognising the sound, he followed the tunnel wall, its rough surface rubbing against his shoulder as he pressed to its side. The tunnel began to widen, and he stilled, looking into the space ahead of him.
The smell of cooked meat wafted down the tunnel, and Darren began to panic, thinking that Alice was the food source. Moving forward faster than he should have been, he continued to the edge of the tunnel mouth. Before him was a large open cavern containing a large deep pit. The light was being created by a fire burning below, the smoke from the fire drawn upwards to an opening in the cavern roof, and torches stuck into the walls. The pit was over a hundred feet wide and eighty across, with a roughly hewn path cut into its side leading down to the bottom. Moving cautiously to the edge after ensuring nothing was at the top level, he peered down.
The bottom of the pit was fifty feet below. What drew Darren’s attention were the beings moving around. They reminded Darren of pictures of Aliens that had covered many science fiction stories back on Earth with long, thin, gangly arms and legs. Their bodies appeared emaciated, with large bulbous heads, no hair, and eyes that he could only describe as those of a fish. The pit contained sixteen of the creatures. The fire had a spit built over it, containing the remains of a hogling.
Scanning the base of the pit, he could see what could only be described as teepee’s made from multiple animal furs and skins, stretched skins on tanning frames, and various implements or weapons reminding Darren of cavemen. At the far end were wooden cages. Lying in one of the cages, he could make out the still form of Alice. Two others contained animals, one a hogling and another a Puma. Darren’s anger flared, and adrenaline flooded him as he saw Alice. He didn’t know the creature’s levels, but considering he was in what had been a starter area until recently, he didn’t think they could be very high level. He wouldn’t be able to tell their health until he shot one, and it took damage. He only wished he had the identification skill.
He knelt, looking down into the pit, observing the creatures. One walked to the spit on the fire and turned it. The hogling leaked its contents onto the fire with the sound of sizzling fat and flare of the flames. Another one of the creatures walked to the other, and Darren watched as what he thought was an argument took place. The new arrival trying to adjust the spit and being struck by the other. They hissed at each other in animalistic tones before a larger creature barked an order, and they fell silent, turning to look at it.
Darren couldn’t tell if they were male or female; although naked, they didn’t seem to have any telltale signs. Considering the options open to him, he had two choices. One was leaving and returning to the town to get help, or he could attempt to free Alice alone. Looking at the scattered bones on the pit floor, he didn’t dare leave Alice behind now that he had found her, considering she looked as though she would be a meal rather than kept prisoner. It would take him too long to return and get help, and he did not know what reception he would get if he did, considering that he had left without permission.
One of the creatures cried, and Darren watched as two more walked over to the cage containing the other hogling. It squealed as they approached where it was being held in a cage, and the Puma growled. Alice still lay motionless. Picking up a rough-looking short spear from the by the cage, the larger of the two creatures began to poke at the hogling. The hogling squealed each time the spear struck it as the greyling continued to prick it. Darren could see well with the light in the chamber from the fire, and his vision was boosted from being half-elven. The hogling continued to squeal, and the Puma hissed at the creatures. Several of the other creatures were looking toward the cages.
There was a call from the larger creature, and the two bickering before began to remove the hogling from the spit—placing the carcass on top of a pile of bones. Several of the others started to move towards the food. The scene which unfolded reminded Darren of a savage gnoll tribe he had visited, with less decorum. The creatures tore at the remains of the hogling in a frenzy until the larger one barked and walked forward, shoving the others aside. The would-be leader would have to be Darren’s first target.
The squeals of the hogling lessened because of the protracted damage it was receiving, and Darren watched as it fell onto its side, quietening. The Puma continued to snarl and hiss at the nearest of the creatures, backing into the corner of its cage. Alice still lay motionless, and Darren only hoped she was alive. Looking at the fact the creatures kept their other prey alive, he hoped it was the case.
Darren silently positioned his short bow, selecting his true flight skill. He aimed at the largest of the creatures. His vision improved from his ranger class, and his skill when using his bow seemed to act like he had binoculars on as he zoomed in on the creature’s head. The bonus with being underground was that there was no wind to contend with, and he let his arrow fly.
The shriek of shock from the beast as it was struck in one of its bulbous eyes sent a shiver down Darren’s spine. The high-pitched wail left its mouth as it fell backwards. Its health bar was now showing and had been reduced to almost zero. Lying on the floor, it wailed, rolling with its hands covering its face as the others began to react. Turning and looking upwards at the lip of the pit, their eyes fell on Darren. The screaming and snarling that erupted below echoed off the chamber walls as they reacted.
‘Damn,’ Darren thought as he drew another arrow and took aim at another, releasing again. His arrow struck true again and sent another creature to the floor, where it remained still. His arrow had pierced its chest. The creatures began to move, grabbing their crude weapons and running towards the path leading from the pit. Darren saw the chokepoint aimed at the first as it started to ascend. Aiming, he fired, hitting it in its leg, making it stumble and fall. The creature directly behind it tripped on his comrade’s fallen body and slipped from the path, only falling a few feet to the pit bottom. Standing again and growling in anger.
More creatures began up the path, not caring for the fallen, climbing over and standing on the injured one with the arrow in its leg, having no thought of assisting it. Darren triggered his burning arrow, took aim, released it, and hit another in its side. The screams and shouts from the creatures were now deafening within the confines of the chamber. Continuing, he fired arrow after arrow at them. Thankfully, most hit their targets with his skill level. Many of those hit were incapacitated or killed outright because of the damage bonuses they received with archery.
“Come on,” Darren cried as he continued to fire. Several were nearing the top of the path. Realising that he would have to resort to melee combat if they reached the chamber’s top, he triggered his lightning skill. Taking longer to ensure he hit his desired target, he released the arrow. The blue streak of light cut a brilliant trail in the chamber’s dim surroundings. His target struck cleanly at the lead of the creatures. There were still seven of the creatures ascending the path.
As the arrow struck, the creature froze in place before beginning to convulse as the lightning coursed through and over its body. The others, pushing up behind, still trying to reach the lip, touched the affected one, and the reaction he had hoped for began. The blue light lanced between anything that touched the stricken creature. Four of the remainder were affected, two of which fell from the side of the path and, at a distance above the pit floor, screamed as they plummeted to their deaths below.
The three that hadn’t been affected stopped on the path, turning and snarling towards Darren while the lightning remained. Darren took the opportunity to pick another off, who died instantly, toppling forwards. The lightning skill ceased, and as it did, the remaining two charged the final distance to the lip of the pit. Seeing them both turn towards him as soon as they did. Pulling two arrows this time, he drew back quickly on his bow as they charged him. He had used dual shot several times, but his skill level was low, and he released the arrows. One arrow flew true as expected, striking his target and sending the beast backwards from the impact. The other arrow missed passing harmlessly by its side.
The distance between them was only several feet, and Darren didn’t have time to draw and fire again. Stumbling backwards slightly, he dropped his bow and drew his short sword as the creature closed, a club held high in its hand as it charged and swung towards him. Darren lifted the sword, deflecting the club’s blow, sending shockwaves down his arm. The strike had been more powerful than he expected from such a weak-looking creature. Taking a step backwards again, he slashed at the beast. It withdrew from the strike with an unnatural agility, its body seeming to curve out of the way of his sword before it struck again with the club.
Darren raised his bracer-covered arm to deflect the blow, grunting from the pain as the club struck but holding his ground as he thrust his blade forward and upwards into the creature’s gut. Its eyes widened in shock from the attack as the blade dug in. The beast’s weight suddenly fell towards him as it fell victim to his attack. Staggering backwards, he allowed the lifeless creature to fall to the ground.
Quickly looking around, there were still several of the injured creatures in the pit where they had been hit, screaming what Darren assumed were obscenities at him as he ran forward, scooping his bow and heading to the path, short sword in hand. The path was treacherous. It was cut so roughly, and he was surprised as he descended how easily the creatures had headed up it. As he reached any of the creature’s bodies or those injured, he finished them off. His display had been firing the whole fight, and he now knew that the creatures were greylings. He had never seen anything like them before in his time on Amathera.
Reaching the bottom, having disposed of four on the way down, he noticed that one of the creatures had managed to get back to its feet from where it had fallen off the path. It screeched at him as it stumbled forward on a twisted leg. It was broken, and sheer hatred towards him allowed it to move. It reached down and grabbed one of the short spears some had carried. Sheathing his sword, Darren was over thirty feet from it and drew his bow.
Reaching back for an arrow to find thin air. ‘Have I really used all my arrows?’ he thought, panicking and suddenly feeling vulnerable. He had his short sword, but his bow was his comfort. As he shouldered his bow, the creature cried as it threw the short spear at him. Darren was not paying it full attention and hadn’t expected the spear to be thrown, considering its length and how he had seen them used by the creatures. Quickly trying to move out of its path, he stumbled, only his increased dexterity allowing him to remain on his feet. The head of the spear missed him by millimetres, its haft striking his side as he moved.
Turning, he drew his sword and, with a cry, ran at the beast. It moved at him staggering, and with its elongated arms, which ended in four fingers with large claws, it raked at him. Darren dropped his shoulder as he charged inside its swing and stabbed it in its chest. His sword was buried deeply. The creature instantly became limp as its life left it. Pulling his sword free, he let it fall to the floor before continuing around the pit, ensuring those others that had fallen were dead. He eventually reached the larger creature he had initially shot in the eye and found it had bled out from the wound.
Seeing no other threats, he sheathed his sword again and hurried towards the cages at the end of the pit. The smell of the area, apart from the cooked meat, had a mustiness to it. It reminded Darren of a damp, cold cellar. As he neared the cage, the Puma snarled at him, the dead hogling still lying on the floor of the next cage where its body had been left when the greylings had reacted to his appearance. Reaching the cage containing Alice, he saw it was held closed by a wooden peg, and he worked it free until he could open it. Noticing that it would not have held her captive if Alice had been conscious.
Throwing the cage open, he stooped down and entered, kneeling by her side and reaching out to feel for a pulse in her neck. Feeling her heartbeat, he let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding. Leaning over Alice and grabbing her shoulders, he slowly moved her, rolling her onto her back and then, placing his arm under her knees and shoulders, lifted her gently, removing her from the cage. Laying her on the floor outside, he removed his water canteen and, lifting her head, slowly poured some onto her lips.
There was no reaction, and he noticed the mark on her neck. There was a red circle with an apparent puncture wound in the middle of it. Traced around from the puncture wound was a faint trace of green. “Poison,” he said. Opening his display, he quickly searched through his inventory. He had a class-specific bag as part of his tanning profession, allowing him to increase his inventory size. He could not sell it as only useable by the maker, but it increased his capacity significantly. He grabbed one of his antidote potions and, uncorking it, carefully placed it against Alice’s lips and poured the liquid into her mouth.
She didn’t swallow, and Darren was concerned it could choke her, so he tilted her head, allowing the liquid to drain out of her mouth. Feeling concerned, he lay her on her side and placed her in the recovery position that he had been taught as a child. He carefully poured some of the antidote onto his finger and then rubbed it on the inside of her mouth, hoping that through absorption, it would take effect. He continued the process until the antidote was empty.
Kneeling next to Alice, he looked at her serene and beautiful face. She was angelic to his eyes, and he had fallen for her the first time he had met her. “Come on, Alice,” he said, stroking her hair. When she didn’t respond, he cursed, standing and kicking out at a rock in annoyance. “I wonder if they have anything to offset it,” he said as he moved to begin searching the area. The stench inside the teepees was horrendous when he opened the flaps to the first. Pulling back, he couldn’t see inside and went to the wall, grabbing one of the weak torches they used to light the area. Carrying it back, he looked inside again. Strewn across the floor were the skins of animals the creatures must have hunted and nothing else of value that he could see.
He worked his way from teepee to teepee, finding nothing of use until he reached the final larger teepee where the larger creature had been. Entering the inside was just as filthy and dishevelled, but it also contained a chest. Grabbing the end of the chest, he hauled it out of the teepee and into the stronger light of the fire. Dropping the torch, he opened it. Inside were rather crude-looking tubes and wrapped leaf parcels. He opened one of the parcels to find a green paste inside. At the bottom of the chest was a selection of what could only be classed as needles made from the thorns of a plant. ‘It must be a crude blowpipe,’ he thought as he began placing the items into his inventory. He didn’t recognise the paste, having no clue about the effects it may have. Cursing under his breath, he turned to head back to Alice when she suddenly coughed.
