“Trap,” One of Jack’s team calls out, our Raid leader’s hand already up in a fist signaling for us to hold/stop.

“Mark it!” I hear someone else's voice call out.

“Mark and Trigger it!” I hear Jack’s voice. “Need to teach the noob!”

I hear a board snap but without the Taekwondo kihap.

Coming closer to the trap, it’s a collapsing floor plate. Jack slides the mechanism up and down showing me how it operates.

Unsprung, it looks like a smooth section of stone or maybe a piece of some natural-looking concrete sidewalk that absolutely does not belong on this cavern's floor.

When the stone is stepped on, it breaks apart at the centerline and the two halves fold down and away. Think of it like stepping on a large cardboard box with its top just folded shut. Your foot goes through as the two halves fold down to let your foot through, but you cannot pull your foot back out because the two halves are trying to close and your leg is in the way, trapping it.

Jack pats me on the shoulder then heads back to the front of the Raid group to search for more traps with his squad.

After a few more moments of examining the trap, I stand up and situate myself within my squad. We are holding our squad’s position guarding the rear as the rogues are spreading out before us.

The cavern is large and continues to expand as we head down on a gradual slope. Looking up, it seems that the cavern’s ceiling is remaining at a fixed level and it is the cavern’s floor that is expanding downward.

“Trap” I hear echo out to my left. Awdrie’s group is to my left. The cavern is now wide enough that the squads are on three different paths, but still open enough that we can see each other if we look.

“Heads up!” Phaenippos calls out as he stops and looks up. There is some broken rubble scattered about the cavern floor where he stopped.

Raising his shield angled up over his shoulder while looking up, he steps forward onto the pile of rubble. Maybe two seconds and he takes a step back. CLANK. Tap tap tap… As broken rocks, chips, and pebbles go skittering across the cavern floor.

“Did the ground hurt?” Phaenippos ask the stalactite that is lying stunned at his feet, then spears it with an easy thrust. “Piercers!” he informs the other squads.

*****

Pft…Pft…Pft…Pft…Pft… Art is lighting up the cavern’s ceiling with his own fireworks display. Piercers heavily infest the right wall and ceiling.

Fwoom… I bring my hand up to cover my eyes and turn away from the heat. Art’s group must have found a nest of something, probably the Piercers. I’m guessing that they are using scrolls as I see three of them walking forward using Burning Hands and scorching earth in true gamer fashion, leaving nothing alive.

“Noob!” My protector is in my face. “Be aware! But your attention needs to be here!” He reprimands me, pointing at the ground between us. Another trap was triggered. The rocks shift and tilt to trap, then crush the victim between their edges. The victim being one of the Raiders that charged ahead.

Phaenippos signals to the pack rats. They strip what is of value, and leave the body.

*****

We come across more traps, more bodies. Going slow, checking for traps, and watching for Piercers, we find and avoid issues. No one has been lost.

There are a number of bodies left behind from the Raiders that charged ahead. Maybe there was a method to their madness. Maybe I’m thinking too much into it. I think that if you were quick enough or light-footed enough, you could run through the traps and under the Piercers without getting caught. The traps would trigger after you passed and the Piercers would fall behind you. Certainly Jenn or one of the elves could do it.

But then why would you just charge through an area?

“Noob!!!” I see stars as I’m batted on my ass with his shield. CLANK. Tap tap tap… As broken rocks, chips, and pebbles go skittering across the cavern floor. A Piercer at my feet. “Take care of that and Stop Dreaming!!!”

*****

The flickering effects of spell use flash randomly before us as the cavern floor levels out and our squads meet back together. The Raiders that charged ahead are clearing the floor and we are catching up to them.

The mana density is heavier than it was. Whatever they are killing feels stronger. We form up in our squads, weapons out, then move forward.

We find three more dead Raiders before we catch up to those who are still alive. Large gaping holes through their chest or abdomen. We leave them for the pack rats to strip and take care of.

*****

THUD! THUD! THUD! Like the sound of hitting a wet soaked log with a sledgehammer. The Tanks are taking hits and are pressing forward with the Raid group pressing them forward from behind.

THUD! THUD!

“I Can’t Move!”

“Back Off!!!” I hear the Tanks Screaming over the Chaos and back at their Raid group as we join the battle from the rear. Unable to see what is happening at the front.

The Tanks are turtling up as they are being pressed forward, into the close combat that they are trying to back away from, there is no room for them to move and properly defend themselves. Being crushed and pushed forward by the Raiders behind.

The wall to our side crumbles, three more giant scorpions emerge and splitting the Raiding party into smaller groups.

CRACKBOOOM… Thunder Explodes from one of the front-line Tanks making room for himself to move, throwing giant scorpions and Raiders alike back from the concussion shock wave.

“Now! Do it Now!”

My body goes rigid from the shock of being impaled. My mouth opens as I gasp for air. My hands drop whatever was in them. Looking down at the lance that is protruding out through the front of my stomach, I have been speared from behind.

I watch as this forged weapon is withdrawn, still too stunned to be able to turn and look at my attacker. My hands cover the gaping wound trying to stop the blood from escaping. “Heal!” I breathe out as I feel myself being grabbed by the collar and dragged backward.

“Summon More! There are still too many going to be left alive!”

“I can’t control them now!”

Still being dragged on my back, by my collar. My vision starting to clear.

“I said more!” My collar is released and my head bounces off the cavern floor.

I see boots dangling above my head, legs kicking. The man struggles against being choked by another who is lifting him into the air. “I’m not sharing with that many! You were paid! I Said More!” Throwing the man forward with a single motion.

Awkwardly the thrown man gets to his feet, turns, and starts summoning/casting at the Raid party.

The man looks down at me. Finger in my chest, strong enough to push me flat against the ground. “You’re Going to Get Me Choice! You Live Until Then!” I see the conviction in his eyes and hear it in his words. His jaw is set and his face is without emotion. In those few moments, I observe and take in more than I want to about this man. The details of his clean-shaven face, white even teeth, and short-cropped styled blond hair. Dark studded leather armor. Bracers with a dagger secured in one of them. A mace hanging at his side. Dark leather leggings tucked into calf-high boots with a familiar-looking dagger half hanging out to the side.

“Noob!!! I Told You To Stop Dreaming!!!” My protector, head down following my trail of blood.

“Noob!!!” Phaenippos unintentionally bumps the Summoner aside as he’s following my trail. Our eyes meet as he looks and takes note of my damaged armor and all the blood from a distance.

The Summoner’s cast doesn’t fail but goes wild as he tries to control his summoning.

My protector's and attacker's eyes meet in an understanding of what’s happening.

I grasp the dagger that is half hanging out of his boot. My attacker draws his mace and starts to activate armor and weapons. SKREERCH!!! Deafening sounds from the giant scorpions reverberate off the cavern walls all at once. The shield of my protector triggers and activates.

Bringing back the Assassin's Blade like a hammer fist, I drive the blade into the back of his thigh as high as I can reach. The Blade triggering and activated three rings of power as I focused my will and force power into the blade. My attacker activating and launching his Quick Step at that very moment, ripping out and gutting the back of his leg down to through his calf, almost to his heel.

“Ahhhhh!!!” His screams fill the cavern as he weakly rebounds off the shield, falling back and clutching his leg. Still lying on his back he looks up at me, “You’re Dead!!!”

Scrambling forward the few feet on my hands and knees, I drive the Assassin’s Blade into his skull as he’s turning himself over, my protector’s spear pinning him to the ground. “You’re Dead!!!” Mace in hand as he is still alive and trying to swing and crawl to get at me.

Rearing back, I drive the Blade into his skull again. My protector, driving his shield down into the cavern floor, severing his head. He’s still mouthing “You’re Dead!!!” at me, the life fading from his eyes.

Grabbing his mace with my other hand, his skull still on the end of the Assassin's Blade, I smash his skull repeatedly until it’s flat and I feel the concentration of his essence flood into me.

The world around me suddenly comes rushing back with the sounds and the sights of the battle. The Summoner still casting and focused on his actions. I stand and drive the Assassin’s Blade into the base of his skull with the same downward hammer fist motion. His body falls limp. SKREERCH!!! The giant scorpions going wild.

Standing where we are, we can see that part of the Raid group, the Raiders that had rushed forward, are pressing, crowding, and interfering with the other Raiders. A few of those Raiders notice us watching and break off to confront us.

The giant scorpions are no longer attacking specific sections of the Raid group.

My protector, his shield guard up, steps and places himself in front of me. I have the mace and dagger.

One of the Raiders coming towards us is banging the hilt of his sword against his shield. Whatever the reason was, we watch it attract some unwanted attention as one of the giant scorpions come up from behind him. And with one smooth motion grab him with both claws and strike him in his back with its stinger.

“Phaenippos,” A Raider yells as the other is running off, back towards the traps. A slow jog up to the man, about ten feet then Phaenippos underhandedly chucks his spear like a bowling ball at the man, forcing him to block the spear. Phaenippos quick steps at the same time, Shield Smashing him to the ground. A short sword to the head while pinning him with his shield was a quick death. Seems they knew each other.

Many of the traitorous Raiders lay fallen at the back of the Raiding party. They were not immediately prepared to defend against the giant scorpions when they went wild. They should have kept their guard up.

With the giant scorpions not being directed, the confrontation quickly changes to favor the Raiders. Arguments and hostilities begin breaking out before the last of the giant scorpions are even put down.

The Raiders all start backing away from each other as we notice that the large group starting to form are the Raiders that ran ahead. I already know their mindset and treachery. “Heal! Heal! Heal! Heal!” Giant scorpions are lying scattered about. I focus on the giant scorpions behind these traitors, hoping that one will revive and that my Heal will work at range.

One of the Mages to the rear of the larger group starts casting.

Pft…Pft…Pft…Pft…Pft… Art’s response fires off quicker and is lighting up the group.

Fwoom… A Fireball lights up the cavern on our side. We are spaced and spread out better, but the heat and the magic are contained inside this cavern and it hits all of us in both groups. I bring my arm up to cover my eyes and turn away from the heat, but it sears my back, especially where the hole in my armor is. “Heal!”

SKREERCH!!! My Heal or the burning of the Fireball, an enraged Giant scorpion screams and is going berserk into the traitorous Raid group.

An Archer draws and starts firing into their group. There isn’t a real long ranged answer between our groups as most of us who are left all seem to be more mid-range and melee. The traitors are now occupied and turning to engage the Giant scorpion. “Heal!” I give the scorpion a little more help.

SKREERCH!!! We watch the Mage fast-cast an orb of something that distracts and throws the Giant scorpion into another fit of rage. “Heal!” Enemy of my enemy and all that.

Most of those Raiders have turned to face their greater threat. Armor glowing blue, green, or white. Swords and spears leaving streaks of blue, or red in the air. A few have turned to charge and engage us. Others have tried to run back, only to have been sniped by our Archer or lit up by Art. One even made it far enough, that from the sound of it, was taken out by a Piercer. I’ve kept to the side, behind my protector and his shield. “Heal!” It looked like my little buddy was slowing down a bit.

The Raiders that turned to engage us are struck down. A critical hit with a spear puts the Giant scorpion down, then a few arrows for the last of the traitors standing puts them to rest. There is a long silence between the twelve of us that are left.

We rest…