A Silver Dark

Manistrad Copperlocks the leader of the newly established mining operation on the western borders of Arbel, hires you to check on a survey team that has failed to check in with their findings on a new potential silver mine. She can not afford to send Dwarves from the Copperlocks clan as they are on constant vigil against neighbouring clans. 

Danvir and Fendwyn accept the job and make their way to the new silver mine. They approach in a somewhat carefree manner, so are surprised when rocks begin to fly from two overlooking outcrops of stone up ahead. 

"Get down!" Danvir roars as he draws his great axe. In the distance the clanging of a bell can be heard followed by the flutter of wings. 

"Watch out!" Fendwyn cries, but too late as a shadow passes overhead and a large rock drops down to strike Danvir a glancing blow on the arm. More rocks come flying from the outcrops ahead but once again they strike wide of their target.

"See what you can do about the flying one." Danvir cries out, "I'll try to get one of the hidden bastards."

The Dwarf surges forward and spying the hidden attacker on the right he scrambles up the rocks to reach its vantage point. "Kobold!" Danvir roars when he see the cowering creature before him. He brings down his axe in a crushing blow. 

Hearing the cry of "Kobold" from the dwarf and then the sound of one of the beasts meeting its grizzly end; Fendwyn nocks and arrow and tries to get a clear shot on the flying bugger above. The damned thing is too fast however and the arrow flies harmlessly into the darkness. The flying kobold returns the favour be dropping a rock down toward the gnome but Fendwyn sees it coming and steps aside just in time. 

A stone smashes into the wall near to Danvir and he turns to see the other kobold. It is nestled on rocks on the other side of the trail. With a roar of anger Danvir plucks an axe from his belt and throws it at the beast only to miss. Leaping down then from his vantage point he begins to scramble up the rocks toward the other kobold. 

Fendwyn looses another arrow at the enemy above and this time it strikes home drawing a cry of pain from the creature. 

Enraged the kobold swoops down stabbing into Fendwyn with its dagger. 

On the rocks the kobold tries to stab down at Danvir as he climbs up toward it, but the dwarf bats the blade aside and continues. Reaching the vantage point he swings for the kobold removing its head in a single swipe. Blood sprays upon the stone and he turns to see how his companion is faring.

Dropping his bow Fendwyn draws his short sword and dagger and attacks the kobold who is now in range. The kobold blocks the sword attack with his own blade but is caught of balance as has no way of stopping the blade that Fendwyn sinks deep into the side of its head ending its life.

"Well we know what happened to the survey team." Fendwyn observes as Danvir scrambles down from the rocks. 

"Makes a change from goblins" Danvir murmurs as he starts to search the dead.

The two take a short rest to patch themselves up before heading on in.

Reaching the mine cart tracks they follow them inside. Seeing an opening on the left Fendwyn sneaks forward the listen at the entrance. He can hear two kobolds arguing inside in what sounded like Draconic. The gnome puts his finger to his lips and counts 1...2...3... and then they both charge in. 

Danvir enters swinging his axe but the first kobold jumps back and avoids the blow. Fendwin darts in then to attack the same kobold slashing it once with his short sword then stabbing it with his dagger. Danvir stumbles as he swings for the kobold and misses it again; while Fendwyn springs forward and end the creatures life with a blood strike to the head before turning to stab the other shocked denizen in the eye.

Danvir stands staring at the little fellow who is now drenched in Kobold blood. "Nice work."

The two make a brief search of the room which is full of all sorts of junk. They do manage to recover a potion of healing, an acid splash scroll and 6 silver.

Leaving the chamber the pair continue to follow the rails until the come to two more wide opening on the left with torchlight flickering from the inside. As they approach this time the occupants are ready for them. Danvir charges forward with his axe slicing the first kobold clean in two and grievously wounding the second. Fendwyn however is frustrated in his attack as the terrified kobold scrambles back out of reach.

The creature lashes out wildly with its dagger managing to fend off swing from Danvirs axe as well as the gnomes blades. It's eyes roll this way and that looking for way out. Danvir cries out in pain as the desperate creature manages to stab him in the leg. The kobold sees its chance and tries to make a run for it but Danvir is not so injured that he would allow an enemy to escape. With a mighty roar he swings round his axe and buries it in the kobolds back.

Looking past the kobold corpses the pair now see the two prisoners that are being held here, most likely members of the survey team. Fendwyn runs forward to untie them, while Danvir offers them both water and rations. 

"Our thanks." gasps one of the dwarves.

"They kept talking about feeding us to a... dragon." stammers the other, "they are crazed."

Fendwyn and Danvir exchange a look. "Can you walk?" Danvir asks and they nod their ascent.

"Good! You get yourselves out of here and we will see about this dragon."

Danvir patches up his wound as best he can and takes a deep breath to find his second wind. They usher the two dwarves back toward the entrance before continuing to venture deeper into the mine. As they walk on a sudden squealing sounds from a small gap in the left hand wall and they turn to see a mass of black rats pouring outward toward them. Luckily they manage to pin themselves to the wall either side of the opening and the fetid swarm runs off into the darkness without noticing them. 

"We should be more careful." Danvir pants as he watches the things move away in the darkness.

They move forward then with Fendwyn keeping a close eye out for further danger. However, despite staying alert the pare accidentally knock a mine cart as they pass through and a mass of giant centipedes churns up from inside. Danvir uses the flat of his axe to crush the things, but still more pour outward and the Dwarf surges forward again to squash them. Fendwyn bats them frantically with the flat of his blade squishing most of the swarm. One of the things clings to the leather of the gnomes armour and he brings his arm drown hard, crushing the life out of it.

"Gross." Fendwyn murmurs has he flicks off the crushed bug blood and shell fragments.

The pair round the corner into an open area where to kobolds holding giant weasels stand ready to face them. Danvir misses with his first swipe but surges forward with a second and kills one of the kobolds, as well as wounding its pet. Fendwyn dashes around to the other side of the wounded weasel and strikes. His short sword slices across the beasts flank but the beast twists and turns the dagger aside. It tries to bite Fendwyn but misses.

The remaining kobold stabs Danvir, while the remaining weasel sinks its teeth into his leg. Crippled by the pain the Dwarf misses his return attack. Fendwyn however, downs the wounded weasel and joins the fray. The kobold slashes at him but misses, while the weasel continues to worry at Danvir drawing more blood.

With a mighty roar Danvir brings his axe down on the beast dealing it a crushing wound.  Fendwyn slices the throat of the last kobold and then moves in to stab the weasel in the eye, ending its life.

Danvir drinks a healing potion to bring him back to full health. "Gah! that's better."

Ignoring the right hand passage the pair continue straight on until the come to another open area with a passage immediately to the left, another to the right which appear to lead back to the previous cave and a third dark passage lies on the western end of the cave. 

"Which way now?" asks Fendwyn in a whisper.

Danvir points toward the left hand passage with his axe and motions for Fendwyn to be quiet. They move into the tunnel and as it widens out they are met with an unusual sight. Two kobolds mothering over what does indeed appear to be a black dragon egg.

"Oh ****." Danvir hisses as the kobolds look toward them.

One of the kobolds darts forward to attack Danvir with its spear. The first jab misses but the second draws blood. The other Kobold tries to charm Fendwyn but the gnome shrugs off the spell with a snarl.

"Nice try lizard breath."

Danvir hacks into the spear wielding kobold with his axe, while Fendwyn moves around to flank the creature delivering two neat slices with his blades. Crying out in pain and anger the kobold stabs to the left and right stabbing both of his assailants. The caster fires a scorching ray at the pair, two beams arc towards Fendwyn and he dodges. A third strikes Danvir, scorching his flesh.

"This doesn't look good Fendwyn!"

With a roar Danvir smashes his axe into the kobolds face, while Fendwyn stabs it in the back bringing it near to death. The kobold snarls viscously stabbing once at each of them he misses Danvir but stabs Fendwyn in the side. The kobold fires its scorching ray again, focusing all three beams at Fendwyn this time. The gnome is immolated by the blast and falls to the ground dead.

"Nooooooooo!" Danvir screams as he sees his companion go down.

With a quick motion he removes the kobolds head before charging in to deal damage to the sorcerer. The kobold attempts to fend of the dwarf with his poisoned spray but Danvir ducks aside and swings his axe toward the creature missing. The creature attempts to charm him with its foul power and he forces the spell from his mind answering it with his axe but again the creatures efforts put him off balance and he misses. 

The last thing Danvir sees is the chromatic orb in the kobolds hands as it launches it into his face. Fire fills his vision and he knows no more.