By the time we got the house, we’d gotten it all out of our systems. “How do we figure out where to go?” I looked up at the house. “It’s a big place.”
“Terrem’s the key. If we find him….”
Acgar nodded. “I agree with Myntilly. If we find the child, we can find the way to Oblivion.”

We entered the house without trouble. Standing on the foyer, it was obvious that we had no idea what to do next. Suddenly Myntilly gave a little cry of surprise. “I know! I know what to do! Clairaudio! It’s like clairvoyance, but you hear instead of see. I know Terrem so I can tune into to him and listen.”
We all got even quieter. Somewhere in the distance we heard deep harsh laughter. “Orcs.” Sadi patted her sword. “No problem.”
The laughter came again and I saw Myntilly’s eyes get wide. “Orcs. Orcs are laughing at Terrem.”
“But that means the orcs are….” She waved her hands at Ian to make him quiet.
“He wants to go to Oblivion and they’re laughing……  This way.” She hurried down a side hallway. The laughter got louder and we could hear another voice.

Ian and I each grabbed a door handle. “1. 2. 3!” We pulled open the doors. I heard Sadi’s arrows. “Thump. Thump. Thump.” An orc called out and we were in battle. I stepped from behind the door and cast hold person on Terrem. I wanted him safe and with me during the battle.

He was dressed in a child-sized suit of armor. It was obvious that the orcs had been teasing him and blocking him from going anywhere. I heard Terrem say “But I have this ring. Mr. Orbius gave me this ring. I’ll be fine!”
The one closest to Terrem was still paying attention to him and not to the threat around him. The laughter died as he looked beyond the child and saw us.

My hold person should have kept Terrem immobile. So when he started yelling and waving his arms around, I cursed under my breath. How did he shake off my spell? Everyone around me was concentrating on the three orcs in the room. And I couldn’t tackle one small child? Hmmm, tackle. I could tackle him. Why not? We dwarves have a low center of gravity. We can grapple really well. As I charged towards Terrem, I realized that there was a black hole just a few feet past Terrem. I prayed that I wouldn’t fall in accidentally.

Sadi, Ian and Myntilly made light work of two of the three orcs. Brus pushed one of them into the hole. It seemed a long time before we heard him land.
“So. There goes the element of surprise.” Acgar commented.
Ian looked down the hole. “What do you think is down there?”
“It’s the way to ‘Blivion! I know all about it.” Terrem puffed out his chest. “And I can go there anytime I want. And you’re NOT invited.” He stuck his tongue out at me.
Myntilly knelt beside him and flashed her winning smile. “That’s a long way down for a little boy….  Are you sure you’re allowed?”
“I got this ring and I’ll be fine.”
“Ooooo! Is that a feather fall ring? Someone must love you a whole lot.”

I whispered to Acgar. “What’s she talking about?”
“Feather fall. It keeps you from falling too fast.”
“Will it hold me and him up?
“Probably. I’m assuming that Orbius made it for the child, but at his level of magic, hmmmm, it would probably carry your weight too.”
“Great. See you on the other side.” And before I could have second thoughts, I grabbed Terrem in a bear hug and fell backwards into the hole.

This is not to say I won’t kill a character.

(Ilea turned to stone by a beholder. Sadi bitten in half by a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. Alek’s head crushed by a fire giant. Sadi blown to bits by an evil sorcerer. Indira blown to bits by a beholder’s eye stalk.)

Or that every character shouldn’t be worried about dying. (Cinder dragged underwater by a sea monster.  Myntilly grappled by two chokers.  Ian grappled by a tarry demon. Acgar singled out by a black dragon. Indira and Brus embroiled in a column of flame.)

.

.

But death in Dungeon and Dragons is so…done.  It lacks creativity.  Not only this, it is not even a difficult obstacle to overcome.  All you need is a night’s rest and 10,000gp worth of diamonds.  Bah.

So much more interesting to put the party to sleep and have them wake up in a dark cavern tied up, naked, and bereft of gear.  Or to teleport them 500 miles away to a barren desert.  Or capture one of the characters and take her to places unknown.  Or capture two characters and take them to two different places.

Buzz said it best in his post about the beholder.  Sure, the beholder could just eat the bear, or use its finger of death eyestalk and that would be it.  But no, the beholder is truly evil.  Instead charm the bear and make everyone work hard.  Put the strongest, beefiest hitter to sleep.  Distract, hinder, confuse, and otherwise wield chaos on the players to suit the beholder’s own evil whims.

In fact, now that I mention it, is anyone wondering why the beholder didn’t play for keeps?  I mean really, with 9 eyestalks (one is missing), it has 9 attacks each round.  That’s enough for each character to get hit each round.  Sure the save DC of 18 is reasonably low.  But roll low on them and the character is incapacitated or dead.  Come to think of it, that beholder didn’t really use all of his attacks each round.

So what is that beholder up to?

It was easy to find Indira’s finger. The ring glinted in the light of the torches. At least I know, if we survive, that we can resurrect her. I can’t do it. I’m not powerful enough to work the spell but Kristoff or Jenya, they could do it for us.

I wrapped the finger in a bit of linen that I have and sat back on my heels. I realized that my friends were examining a cage.

I watched as Brus sniffed around a low hanging cage. Hard to say, it looked like a dwarf in the cage. Then Sadi climbed on Brus’ back. She took her sword out and laid it on the joint where cage meets tree.

The others were moving around and no one came over to me. I’ll assume that they thought I wanted quiet. After a few more moments I got up. There was work to do.

Who was hurt? Who needed healing? Without Indira, that work would fall to me.

I walked over to where Acgar and Myntilly were talking. Before I could speak, something horrible happened.

The beholder returned.

You could see where the four eye stalks were damaged. Indira’s legacy.

There was a sudden rush of arctic cold that swept into the room from the hallway. I was chilled to the bone, shivering as the cold seemed to seep into my bones.

And then suddenly I thought: “We don’t have to do this right now. We have 5 days before the ritual is complete. Five days!”

I raised my voice. “Hey! Hey everyone! Let’s go home. Let’s regroup, right? We have time. We can get Indira back and resupply. What do ya say?”

No one listened. They were focused on the beholder and Triple Tail. Durilin charged the beholder, axe sweeping the air. Myntilly threw another orb of acid. The beholder spun around, looking for the source of the acid. He focused on Sadi and she suddenly dropped her bow and ran away.

“Guys! For real. Let’s run. Indira’s dead. How can we help these people without her? Sadi’s right. Let’s run away. We can get help.”

I made to grab Acgar’s arm. “Quinlan. Huh? What do you say? Get the police involved? You’d like that. Hell, we can even invite the MTA. The more the merrier when you’re fighting a beholder!” Even I could hear the panic in my voice.

Ian had climbed the Tree. From that vantage, he let loose a flash of lightening.
“No! no no no no No! Stop! Let’s get Indira back. Alright? Then we come back and we kick ass.”
Acgar turned to me. “The beholder’s doing mind control on you. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I do know what I’m saying! We can’t win! Hey, what about Rumonger? We left him with the catapult.  He’s a handy guy to have in a fight. Let’s just go grab him, hmm?”

I heard a shout, Triple Tail had rushed Myntilly and grabbed her in his claws. She struggled to get free. Acgar ran to help, swinging her Holy Avenger sword as she moved. The crack as the sword hit his carapace was loud and shocking. For a moment no one moved. Then, blink. Triple Tail vanished. With Myntilly in his claws. The beholder also vanished.

“What the hell?” Acgar lowered her sword.

Durilin turned towards her. “What happened?” And then blink. Myntilly reappeared. “I think I was in the big elevator.”
“We could go after them. Finish this fight. They’re hurt.” Durilin had a fire in her eye.

From the Tree, Ian called out. “These people are hurt. We need to free them.”

Before anyone could answer, the beholder appeared once more, right beside Durilin.

Ian gave a shout and sunbeams streamed from his fingers, hitting four of the beholder’s undamaged eye stalks. The beholder vanished again.

“Alright, Ian!” Sadi cheered from the ground.
I clapped my hands. “Yes, way to go, Ian. Good job. Now. Let’s regroup. Head to Cauldron. Get help. Get some high level clerics down here, huh? Got to free these people. Got to heal these people!” No response.
“We could talk to Skye — she knows people. Or see if the Striders can help. This is their fight, too. Am I right?”
I looked around. “Guys?”

I heard a splash and a hissing. The beholder was smoking a bit. Ha! Myntilly had used orb of acid on him. Nice. But I hope she’s careful. He might figure out where she is. Not that I can see her when she’s invisible.

Like he was on a string, Triple Tail zoomed back to the wall. Crazy shit. I don’t get it, except that maybe beholders just like to mess with your mind.
Acgar took advantage of the opening to breathe acid at the beholder.
She was very sure not to hit Brus, who was curled up like a puppy at the beholder’s feet. Er, where the beholder would have feet. If beholders had feet. They don’t.

From my vantage, I could see that Indira was bleeding pretty badly from that shoulder wound.
I had a feeling I’d regret it, but I ran out and stood behind her.
She needed healing.
“The Father shines through me and into you, sister.” She looked at me over her shoulder and winked. I heard her say:
“He does indeed shine through me, brother.” And four sunbeams shot from her right hand. It was glorious to see. Each ray hit an eye stalk and seared it shut.

Before I could begin to cheer, the beholder whirled around and eyes from the undamaged side turned towards us. I felt the air grow warm. A breeze stirred Indira’s kerchief. And then, BLAM. Indira fell flat at my feet and a moment later, she exploded into a million tiny pieces.