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-----Next, Sol made a perfunctory search of the body, hoping to find any more clues or details of what he was about. He finds very little of interest on the assassin's body other than his fine leather armor, which has been grimed with dirt. The sword the half-elf carried seemed to be well made though it doesn't seem as good in Sol's hand as the Lathanian blade.
-----Lastly, the battered young man headed over towards the door that barred him from his friends. He quickly composed himself, not wanting to look quite how he felt, then busied himself with trying to open the door.
-----As soon as Sol rejoined his friends, he would have to make a few plans.
-----As he turns toward the metal door, he sees that there is a metal bolt that slides easily to unlock it. After preparing himself, he pulls the bolt and frees himself from the room.
-----"Get everyone out quick! Come on, help me force the door open!" Sarah yells as she frantically shoves all she can on the door, not feeling it budge an inch.
-----After a bit, Sarah and Garrison calm a bit as their efforts at the sealed door do little. The time seems to creep painfully by as they await a sound from either the prisoners or hopefully from their missing friend.
-----Soon, sounds of speech alert them to Raven and Rinda returning with the men and elves of the troop of Silvergard. Raven continues to squint though his expression reveals determination as he focuses on the metal door Sol vanished through.
-----Suddenly, as they pass the point where the stairs empty out into the passage, a sound is heard from the sealed metal door. It sounds as if a bolt is being slid back. Everyone stares in anticipation as the portal open and Sol Herron steps through.
-----Around the young warrior's abdomen and upper thigh is fresh blood as the Gorian has obviously seen battle!
-----Sol grins, though there is little humour in his expression. "Nice o' ye t'prepare a welcoming." The warrior notes with pleasure that the prisoners have been freed, and he calmly beckons his friends and the troop inside the new room. "Th' assassin is dead, an' his motives revealed. He sought t'find a way t'th' surface fer an army belonging t'some spider queen called Lolth."
-----Sol then heads back into the room he just emerged from, still holding Raven's torch aloft.
-----Sarah is so relieved to see Sol she doesn't notice the blood for a second. All she does is rush up to him and fling herself around his neck. "Oh Sol I was so worried...I...." The young mage remembers that they have just rescued a bunch of people and figures she should salvage what remains of her dignity. She clears her throat, steps back and asks in an even tone, "Is any of this blood yours?" She begins to examine Sol, whether he likes it or not. "Who's Lloth?"
-----"Spider queen." Sol quips lightly as he walks back into the room he came from. "Th' assassin may o' marked me once or twice. It's hard t'recall."
-----Sol then draws everyone's attention toward the three large steps that lead up to the raised semi-circular platform. Everyone sees the large stone door with the etched relief of the gruesome spider. They can also see the bluish stones that are set at each of its legs except for the missing one.
-----Sol then points to the blue stones, saying, "These look familiar? If th' stone I hold was th' last he needed t'open this thing, then I intend t'remove th' rest o'them." The Gorian gestures dimissively as he adds, "He said they'd eventually find a way should he fail, but also said he'd kill me."
-----Some in the Silvergard troop turn their attention to the beheaded body of the vanquished assassin while some of the elves in their number express shocked and suspicious looks at the image in the portal.
-----Sol resheathes his sword after cleaning it on the assassin's corpse. He then reaches down and tugs twice to pull out a knife. The Gorian then heads towards the portal, intending to pry the other stones loose with his knife.
-----By this time, some of the woodsmen cover the headless body in an old cloak the assassin probably discarded. The strong smell of the blood adds a sickening stench to the already musty odor in the air.
-----Rinda frowns as she watches Sol commence his work. She shoulders up alongside Sarah and speaks out loud though she directs her thoughts toward the young mage. Glaring at the Gorian, she says, "Let's keep an eye on our Gorian warrior. He keeps up his brave front, but he's hurt. The evil one may have carried poison on his sword. As soon as we can, we need to tend to his wounds."
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