The Saga Continues...

Finally, there was silence.

The small group stood, breath ragged, wiping sweat from their brows as they surveyed their handiwork. Chunks of flesh strewn about the dungeon marked the battle that had raged moments earlier. The head of a Bugbear sat forgotten in the corner, like a child's plaything after bedtime. Such a sight had brought lesser men to their knees, retching at the sight of what should remain hidden.

In short, it was a mess.

This party of adventurers was made of sterner stuff. They scarcely noticed the aftermath of carnage around them, instead focusing on the double doors ahead. Torchlight flickered off its bronze immensity standing high above them, daring all to enter and brave what lies beyond. Tor Thundercloud ran his hands over its massive surface.

"Well, well, looks like it's not even locked. It's our lucky day my friends." Tor smiled jovially. "Time to finally finish this fool's errand and go home. I've a few dwarven wenches who have been missing me, I'd wager."

"I second that!" cried Lord Andover. One of the legendary Messengers, he secretly felt he had more important things to see to back in his homeland. He wondered how he got caught up in this quest, with these strangers he barely knew.

"Uh, except the part about the dwarven wenches."

Levna Stonuntund, the obligatory rogue, looked at Tor with a critical eye and a shake of the head. In her opinion, things that appear simple rarely are.

"There is no time like the present, my friends." boomed a deep, rich voice from the darkness. "Let us go forward, and seek revenge on the thief Marleth, who has stolen Traevus' wooden box". Yoda-Gandalf of Dumbledore emerged only briefly from the darkness of the corridor before melting back into the shadows. "Don't worry. I am right behind you."

As Tor and Levna slowly approached the door in lockstep, they heard from beyond the portal the clacking of boney feet on stone, coupled with a gurgling roar. A foul smell permeated the air around them. Levna gave her dwarf companion a quick nod, and moving in perfect unison, they burst through the door with one swift movement.

As the gagging miasma rolled over them, Levna felt her heart sag in her chest. She had known it wouldn't be that simple.