The faint glow of Morgal's flame cast flickering shadows across the cavern walls as the group huddled in a tight circle. The air was damp and heavy, every breath laden with the scent of rot and decay. Beads of sweat rolled down their temples, a mixture of the oppressive heat and the tension that coiled like a spring among them.

Bauru crouched near the ground, his knife carving swift, deliberate lines into the dirt. His map took shape in the soft earth, crude but clear. He glanced up at Stronric, his lone eye sharp and calculating. "Five shamans," he said, tapping each mark with the blade. "Two here, guarding the main sigil. Three more spread out, chantin' away. Ye can bet they're up to no good."

Stronric nodded, his expression grim as he crouched beside Bauru. "And the warriors?"

Bauru's mouth twisted in a faint scowl. "Patrollin', restless. They've got numbers, but if we move fast and take out the mages first, we'll have the upper hand. The patrols are similar to the gnoll veterans we fought outside of the river camp. Though they don't carry any of the slaver stuff."

Stronric straightened, his hand brushing the haft of his axe. The weapon seemed to pulse faintly, as though resonating with his resolve. "We stick to the plan. Bauru, you take out the shamans. Silent as the grave. The rest of us will keep the warriors busy and hold off reinforcements."

Rugiel, stood a step behind and shifted her grip on her warhammer. The faint blue glow from its head matched the fire in her eyes. "If any of those shamans slip through, they'll regret it." She said, her voice firm.

Armand adjusted his sword belt, his usual bravado tempered by the weight of the moment. "I shall ensure zey do not escape. But I trust our silent hunter 'ere will leave us little to do."

Bauru smirked faintly, wiping his knife on his sleeve. "Just make sure ye keep the gnolls off my back. I don't fancy dyin' today."

Stronric gave a sharp nod and turned to the rest of the group. "Move quiet. Move quick. And if ye see an opening, take it. Let's get this, hopen' the humans finish their side and join us."

Bauru slipped into the shadows without another word, his form swallowed by the dim light. Stronric hefted his axe, "On me," he growled, leading Rugiel and Armand toward the deeper end of the cavern.

The faint murmur of gnoll chants grew louder with each step, interwoven with the distant scrape of claws against stone. As the group advanced, the air grew heavier, each breath a struggle against the oppressive energy that seemed to saturate the cavern. Stronric's steps slowed, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows ahead. A jagged outcropping of rocks caught his attention—a potential refuge.

Stronric raised a hand, signaling the group to halt. "Hold," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the ambient noise. His gaze followed the path Bauru had taken, watching as the hunter melted into the darkness. Suddenly, Bauru stopped, his lone eye flicking around the chamber. A subtle shift in his posture told Stronric he'd found something.

Bauru began to signal, his hand movements swift and precise. Stronric nodded, his fingers tapping his belt buckle twice to confirm. He turned to the group, mouthing, "New spot." Rugiel leaned in, whispering the instructions into Armand's ear, ensuring he understood the plan. The three waited silently, their bodies tense as a gnoll patrol shuffled by, their guttural growls and sniffing filling the air.

When the patrol disappeared into the shadows, Stronric motioned for the group to move. They crept forward, their footsteps light but deliberate, until they reached the new position Bauru had scouted.

The location was a natural convergence of the cavern's branches, where tunnels spiraled inward like the spokes of a wagon wheel. At the center, a bottleneck formed—a single choke point that any movement through the cave would have to pass. Bauru crouched nearby, motioning them to huddle behind a jagged rock formation close to the bottleneck. His sharp nod confirmed the strategic value of the spot.

Stronric knelt, his grip tightening on his axe as he surveyed the terrain. "Good work," he whispered to Bauru, his eyes narrowing as he turned his attention to the approaching sound of gnoll movement. "This'll do." Bauru nodded to him and disappeared around a column of stone. Stronric looked at Rugiel and waved her closer.

"I can hold this. If yer brother get into trouble take Armand and help him. If ye gets done early help the humans."

Rugiel nodded and shuffled back to her spot, passing on the message to Armand who in turned nodded along with her as she spoke.

Stronric could see a lone shaman working on a piece of the walls. Drawing those uncomfortable symbols on the wall. Dipping its clawed hands into a satchel and adding more drawing. Liquid ran down the wall, making the already unnerving symbol that much more disturbing. The gnoll would chant, dip his hand, and then chant more before more slightly down the wall and repeating. Stronric watched it complete two cycles of this before suddenly the shaman was gone. Stronric blinked his eye and looked again.

Unable to find shaman Stronric patted Rugiel and nodded his head towards the shaman. Rugiel shrugged her shoulders in confusion as well. Stronric saw it, a small flicker of movement, and a single glowing green eye. Bauru ? Stronric thought as he saw eye before it disappeared. The silence seemed to drag out for an eternity.

Stronric tugged at his beard, his thoughts uneasy. Would Bauru need help with the shamans? The silence from the other side gnawed at him. And Lirian, was he as skilled as Bauru? If so, that could spell disaster if Giles decided to turn against them inside this cave. Stronric's mind churned with possibilities when a guttural bark of gnoll speech shattered the silence.

The cave erupted into chaos. Howls, barks, and frenzied movement filled the air. Two gnoll patrols burst into the corridor from a connecting tunnel, sprinting toward the cave entrance. Stronric's eyes narrowed as he watched their frantic movements.

Ah, they must have made a mistake.

Another sharp bark rang out, and one of the patrols skidded to a halt, pivoting back toward where Bauru had likely gone. Stronric had no time to issue orders; his group acted on instinct. The four gnolls rushing toward the source of the bark had no chance to prepare for the ambush.

Rugiel's warhammer ignited with the blue flames of Morgal, flooding the corridor with blinding light. Armand, unprepared for the sudden brilliance, stumbled mid-charge, instinctively raising his kite shield to block his eyes. Despite the temporary blindness, he kept moving forward, determined to reach the enemy.

Stronric, however, was ready. Years spent in the Deep Watch had taught him to avert his gaze just before an attack was sprung. The dwarves' dark vision was invaluable in low light but vulnerable to sudden brightness. Blinding the enemy had been a standard tactic. Stronric surged forward, overtaking the disoriented Rugiel and Armand with a practiced ease. His axe arced in a deadly diagonal, the blade biting deeply into the first gnoll and felling it with a single blow. Using the momentum of his swing, Stronric surged ahead and slammed his head into a second gnoll's skull. The force sent the beast sprawling onto the rocky ground.

Rugiel swung her warhammer in wide arcs, fighting for her vision to return. By sheer luck her hammer clipped another gnoll, the impact sending it spinning to the floor with a sickening crunch of bones.

Armand, despite his blindness, pressed his charge. His long human strides carried him straight into a gnoll. The shield slammed the creature into the tunnel wall with a thunderous crash. The gnoll struggled feebly, but Armand's weight and strength pinned it fast. With a sharp shove, Armand drove the last breath from the gnoll's lungs. The beast crumpled, and Armand brought the iron-reinforced edge of his shield down with brutal precision. The first strike skittered off, but the second found its mark, sinking into the gnoll's neck with a wet crunch.

Rugiel was yanking her warhammer free from the gnoll's crushed chest when Armand rounded on her, his face flushed with frustration. "A little warnin', eh? You could 'ave blinded us all! Zat move could 'ave cost us our lives. Luck may be ze lady of zis fight, but I do not like relyin' on 'er alone!"

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Rugiel's shoulders stiffened, her retort poised on the edge of her tongue. But instead, she let out a measured breath, her expression softening as she turned to face the two of them. "Pray forgive me," she said, her tone calm and deliberate. "I am unaccustomed to fighting alongside humans in such conditions. The matter of light blindness is something Stronric has warned both Bauru and myself about on numerous occasions. I fear I underestimated its severity." She inclined her head slightly, her voice steady with sincerity. "You have my apologies."

Armand nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Zank you. Now, let us 'elp your brozzer."

Stronric stood on top of the second gnoll pulled his axe out of the creature's belly, when another thunderous yell sounded from the depths of the cave. Stronric pulled his axe and lazily walked over to the cave entrance.

"Follow the plan, I will hold them here."

The other two nodded and sprinted off to find Bauru. Stronric planted his axe in the ground, the blade sinking deep as the haft jutted upright. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck, the faint sound of joints cracking accompanying the movement. Lowering into a squat, he leaned side to side, his muscles flexing as he worked out the tension. His eyes fixed on the tunnel ahead, its shadows stretching endlessly.

The next length of the passage was long—fifty strides or more before it bent out of view. Darkness loomed thick, pierced only by the faint glow of red eyes. The gnoll reinforcements came into view, sprinting down the tunnel with reckless speed. Their snarls and guttural barks echoed, and the lead gnoll, a larger brute with a scimitar in hand, raised its weapon and barked an order. The words were lost in the cacophony of their charge.

Stronric straightened, his expression calm, and reached down to retrieve his axe. He gave it one last deliberate swing, the blade slicing cleanly through the humid air. Dropping into a neutral stance, he drew a line in the dirt with the pike at the end of his axe, the gesture slow and deliberate.

"Any o' ye cross that," Stronric said, his voice low and steady, "ye're dead."

He exhaled deeply, a long, controlled breath that stilled the world around him. The noise of the gnolls' charge seemed to fade, replaced by an eerie, unnatural silence. Time itself felt slower, as though the moment hung suspended. The gnolls' frothing mouths and wild, red eyes became clear, almost painfully so. The tension in the air was palpable.

The first gnoll crossed the invisible boundary, and the stillness shattered. Time snapped back into motion as Stronric's axe flashed out, severing the creature's hand in one brutal motion. The beast's shriek was cut short as he swung the flat of his axe into the next gnoll's chest, sending it flying backward. It crashed into its comrades, creating a chaotic pileup that slowed their advance.

Stronric's attack did not falter. He stepped forward, his axe carving through the air in a fluid figure-eight. Swords clashed against the circle of his strikes, but none broke through. The gnolls who resisted were pulled off balance, some of their weapons wrenched from their hands. Others, less fortunate, were disarmed completely, both figuratively and literally. Stronric finished the motion with a devastating horizontal swing, cutting through flesh and bone alike.

Blood sprayed across the cavern floor, mingling with the growing pile of bodies. The right side of the cave entrance became a wall of the dead, their twisted forms creating a barrier against further advance. Stronric didn't stop. His axe continued its deadly rhythm, each swing a calculated strike. When the clutter on his right became too dense, he shifted to the left, forcing the gnolls into a narrower choke point.

The tactic was devastating. The gnolls struggled to swing their weapons in the confined space, while Stronric's measured movements allowed him full control of the battlefield. Those foolish enough to climb the heap of corpses met the axe's sharp edge, their attempts cut short in brutal efficiency. Stronric's boots shifted across the blood-slicked ground with practiced ease, his stance unwavering.

A loud howl echoed from deeper in the tunnel, halting the gnolls in their tracks. The attackers hesitated, their snarls giving way to whines of uncertainty. Stronric capitalized on the pause, cutting down the few too slow to retreat. The rest fled, their howls and yelps fading as they disappeared back into the shadows.

Stronric stood amidst the carnage, blood dripping from his axe. His chest rose and fell, his breaths steady despite the intensity of the battle. Glancing over his shoulder, he noted the humans still locked in combat, their movements frantic. There was no sign of Bauru, Rugiel, or Armand.

Kicking over a fallen gnoll, Stronric wiped his axe clean on its mangy fur and sat down near the pile of corpses. His gaze remained fixed on the tunnel ahead, the faint sound of gnoll activity still echoing in the distance. He grunted softly, leaning on his axe. For now, he would wait. Reinforcements would come, and when they did, he would be ready.

Bauru

Bauru crouched low behind a jagged rock, his breathing steady despite the chaos. Predator, his trusted crossbow, rested firmly in his hands, the string taut and ready. Across the chamber, gnoll warriors snarled and barked orders, their movements chaotic but purposeful. At the center of the room, a shaman stood atop a crude stone dais. Its clawed hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. The glowing runes on the walls pulsed with dark energy, perfectly synced to the rhythm of its chants.

The shaman's glowing eyes were locked on the swirling portal above the dais, its focus unbroken. Bauru exhaled slowly, his one good eye narrowing as he aimed Predator at the creature's head. The cacophony of snarls, chants, and magical hum faded into the background as he steadied his shot.

A sharp metallic clang shattered his concentration. The sound echoed from deeper within the cave, followed by the faint scrape of stone. The shaman's head snapped to the side, its glowing eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Damn it," Bauru muttered as the bolt released, a fraction too late. Instead of striking true, the projectile thudded harmlessly against the dais, splintering on impact. The shaman screeched in fury, its chant breaking as it raised a clawed hand and barked an order.

The gnolls snapped to attention, their wild eyes scanning the chamber before honing in on Bauru's position. He hastily reloaded Predator and leaned out for another shot, firing quickly. This time, the bolt struck a shimmering barrier the shaman had summoned. The magical shield flared brightly, dispersing the projectile like a flicked insect.

Snarling, Bauru slung Predator over his shoulder and drew his machete-like daggers. "Alright, come on then," he muttered, his voice steady despite the rising tide of gnoll warriors.

Twenty snarling gnolls charged him, their crude weapons gleaming in the flickering light. The first gnoll swung a rusted blade at him, but Bauru ducked low, sidestepping the strike and countering with a slash to its ribs. His movement faltered as his head spun suddenly, his vision darkening. He stumbled, his hearing muffled by an unnatural ringing.

He hit the ground hard, his head smacking the stone floor. Pain exploded behind his temple, and his fingers came back bloody as he reached for his head. Where's my dagger? he thought dimly, his thoughts disjointed. Looking up, he saw a gnoll looming over him, its jagged scimitar raised high.

The gnoll's sneer turned into a hideous gurgle as its head exploded in a shower of gore. A warhammer wreathed in Morgal's blue flames slammed into the creature, sending its lifeless body crumpling to the side. Rugiel stepped forward, her warhammer already swinging again. The blunt force of her strike sent another gnoll flying.

Rugiel spun gracefully, her movements precise and devastating. Her left hand pulled at the hem of her dress, releasing a cascade of thin blades. As she twirled, the edges of her weaponized skirt and the blood of her enemies danced in a deadly rhythm.

Nearby, Armand entered the fray, his greatsword slicing clean arcs through the gnoll warriors. Though a knight trained for mounted combat, he wielded the massive blade with deadly precision. He parried a gnoll's strike with ease, then drove his sword through its chest before kicking it off with practiced grace.

"Cover me, Armand!" Rugiel shouted as she dropped to her knees beside Bauru.

Bauru waved her off weakly, his voice hoarse. "Forget me! That shaman's got magic, he'll fry us all if you don't stop him. He's got a barrier too. Break it, and I'll take the shot."

Rugiel hesitated, her eyes scanning her brother's bloodied face. Then she nodded, standing abruptly. "Stay alive," she said, her tone commanding.

She waded into the fray with Armand covering her back, her warhammer cleaving through gnolls like a blade through wheat. Her swings targeted joints and exposed limbs, crippling her foes with brutal efficiency.

The shaman screeched, its staff glowing as it unleashed a bolt of crackling energy toward her. Rugiel raised her warhammer, the flames of Morgal meeting the lightning in a violent clash. Sparks flew as the magical energies warred, the impact pushing Rugiel back. With a roar, she poured more of Morgal's flame into her weapon, forcing the energy back. The resulting explosion sent both her and the shaman stumbling.

Rugiel was the first to recover. She charged forward, hammer raised high. Her first strike slammed against the shaman's barrier, causing it to ripple and crack. The shaman snarled, summoning more power into its staff, but Rugiel's second swing shattered the shield entirely. Rugiel stumbled forward caught off balance by her warhammer hitting little resistance.

The gnoll grinned triumphantly, its chant reaching a crescendo. Its staff flared as it aimed a deadly spell directly at Rugiel. But before it could release the attack, a bolt whistled through the air and struck the shaman squarely between the eyes. The gnoll collapsed, its body lifeless before it hit the ground.

Bauru, his hands trembling but steady enough, lowered Predator with a sigh of relief. "Got you, ya bastard," he muttered, reloading out of habit.

Rugiel turned and hurried back to him, grabbing his arm. "You're done for now," she said firmly. "Rest. We'll find your dagger and deal with the rest."

Bauru tried to protest but couldn't muster the energy. His vision still swam as Rugiel helped him lean against the jagged rock.

Armand approached, his armor streaked with blood. He glanced at the fallen shaman, then at Rugiel. "Ze humans will need us soon. But I must say, zis was quite ze spectacle."

Rugiel nodded, glancing at the tunnel leading deeper into the caves. "We'll handle the rest. For now, let him recover." She paused, then smiled faintly at Bauru. "And I'll find your dagger."

"Better hurry," Bauru muttered, his voice faint. "Stronric's probably got half the cave comin' for him by now."

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