Chapter Five
By Kavnil

Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
Added 08/08/2002.

Bang! Broke the silence of the constant rumbling of Dereth. I jump to my feet from a deep sleep. Bang! Bang! Bang! The quakes continue.

Eleanor: "Good morning Kavnil, Did you sleep well?"

Kavnil: "Yes, how long have you been up, Eleanor?"

Eleanor: "Long enough to eat and pack all we need for today's journey."

Kavnil: "Good, get your weapon and lets go." Three hours and we made it to the southern passage.

Eleanor: "It looks like it goes down for a long way."

Kavnil: "Yes and have your dagger in hand just in case." We freshened up our torches and started down. We passed a few empty chambers, some passages just went in circles.

Kavnil: "Stop! We will rest here and eat."

Eleanor: "Oh, thank you my feet are so tired."

Kavnil: "Lets try some of the mushrooms we found."

Eleanor: "Yes, they grow very big in this spot."

Kavnil: "Shhh, I hear something, it's a Carenzi! I'll be right back with lunch."

Eleanor: "No, just catch it and we can have it later!"

Kavnil: "That's a good idea. Carenzi are an easy catch." Later we come to a T in the passage.

Eleanor: "Bones! What kind of animal is this from?"

Kavnil: "Tumerok bones? What are Tumeroks doing in these parts?"

Eleanor: "They are still fresh. What happened to it?"

Kavnil: "Don't know but the Tumeroks never leave a corpse so he must have died alone."

Eleanor: "Lets go to the right." We come to a room with a broken door.

Kavnil: "It looks like they left in a hurry. I'll take some of this wood. Mark this spot on your map and we can some back if needed."

Eleanor: "Good idea, lets rest here for a few minutes."

Kavnil: "Wait! I hear something." Tap! Tap! Tap! "Drums! It's a Tumerok drum!"

Eleanor: "It sounds like just one."

Kavnil: "Yes, let's go see. Go slow and keep your dagger in hand." The closer we got the louder it was.

Tumerok: "Shurov Sith!" Fizzle! Tap! Tap! Tap! "Shurov Thipaj!" Fizzle! Tap! Tap! Tap! "Shurov Thiloi!" Fizzle! Tap! Tap! Tap! "Shurov Thiguz!" Fizzle!

Eleanor: "What is he saying? What does that chanting mean?"

Kavnil: "It's a magic spell! It's, it's portal magic! He is trying to portal out of here!"

Eleanor: "That's the same magic my Father used to get me here!"

Kavnil: "We must make friends with him but be careful, they aren't friendly!

Eleanor: "Over there behind that door!" We run to the door. Click! Click! "It's locked!"

Kavnil: "I can pick it! Stand back!" Click! Click!...Click! Click! "I can't pick it!"

Eleanor: "Beat on the door so he can hear us!" Kavnil bangs on the door, Bang! Bang! Bang!

The drumming stops!?