Escape From the Ruins of Gilgil

Fred howled a death curse upon the beast and then the hair on his neck burned and shriveled. A wave of heat suddenly enveloped his body and a flash of red ignited behind him. Fred and Willian were slammed down to the ground, skidding across the smooth marble floor. When they turned to look, they saw the mighty serpent's head engulfed in flame. It hissed and screamed in pain as it swung and swayed above their heads. And then another fireball flew through the air and struck the scaly monster. Fred shielded his eyes and twisted to see where the fire had come from. 

Synizn stood by the silver pedestal, a small leather bag cupped in his palm. With a shout of an arcane shibboleth, he threw the pouch and it blossomed into flame as it sped toward the giant snake's blazing face. With a grim smile on her lips, Astra let fly two more sharp tipped arrows and the beast collapsed onto the floor. Its body still thrashed about wildly as Fred and Willian made their way back to the others, but it was clear that the monster was dead. 

"I commend you on your aim," Willian huffed as he reached Synizn. "And ofcourse your's goes without saying," he said turning to Astra. "But if you don't mind, I think I'd like to thank you anyway." With that he embraced his wife and their lips locked in a tender and passionate kiss. 

Fred smirked. "Well," he turned to Synizn, "I'm glad you weren't too tired to pull that rabbit out of your hat." The manbear frowned, "Rabbit? Oh! I understand. Ha-ha. Yes, well, as I said, harnessing ambient magical flows is quite tiring. In fact, I'm still not up to it yet. But throwing together a few odds and ends is a simple enough matter. A few grains of sulfur, ground up eagle wing and salamander blood along with the correct word of power, and presto! instant fire ball." 

"Uh guys?" Pavmin suddenly stammered, "I don't think we're quite out of trouble yet." Fred looked over to the man and saw something slither past an overturned statue. From behind him a shadow streaked past, and then another. The growing sound of scales against rock began to fill the room. "Everybody! OUT! NOW!" Fred yelled and raced for the stairs. He swung around at the top, his sword raised. His party streamed past him and then he too turned and ran. Behind him, the treasure room had become overrun with a writhing mass of twisting bodies, wriggling tails and hissing cobra heads. 

"It looks like momma's babies are majorly upset!" 

The group sped down the empty corridors of the palace and nearly collided with Pall and his party as they came bulleting down from the other direction. "Don't go that way!" Pall shouted and kept running. 

Willian shouted a warning, "Pall! Turn around!" 

But Pall and his comrades rushed down the corridor and disappeared around the corner... 

A second later they all came barreling back, screaming at the top of their lungs. 

"SNAAAAAAAAAAKES!" 

Streaking back the way they had come, they careened down the hall and into the gloom beyond. 

"Didn't they just tell us not to go that way?" 

Suddenly they whipped around the corner and bounded back to Fred. 

"We're running out of corridors," Pall whistled through his burning lungs. 

"Then I suggest this way!" Synizn motioned toward a side chamber. They all rushed into the room and shut the door behind them. With their backs against the door, they all gulped for breath as their chests heaved and sweat dripped from their faces. "We're all going to die," Pall moaned. "Not if I can help it," Fred declared grimly. "Now what is it that was chasing you?" he asked. 

Pall looked down at the floor and his face lost all color. "THAT!" he shouted and pointed at their feet. A blue and silver beetle had crawled underneath the door. "A bug?" Lanfell said incredulously. "What the hell can a bug--" But then a whole sea of beetles swarmed underneath the door. Everyone jumped back, but poor Lanfell was too slow. With lightning speed the bugs massed all over him; he screamed until the beetles filled up his mouth. The clicking of their crooked biting pincers rose up in a crescendo, drowning out the slithering noise of the snakes outside the door. 

Fred grabbed Synizn by the shoulders, "Fire, old bear! FIRE!" 

With a shout Fred commanded them all to throw down everything flammable they could find in front of the writhing lump that feasted on Lanfell. He knew they didn't have much more time before that bloody dinner was over. And he didn't intend to be next on the menu. With a flash, the fire rose up and engulfed what remained of their friend, and a horrid insect squeal burst out of the popping flames. 

"Great! Now what?!" Belinna cried hysterically. "We're trapped in this room and there are a lot more beetles where those came from!" She was still in shock from seeing her sister Mia eaten alive. 

"I..." Fred said uncertainly, and then noticed Pall crouching by the far wall. "Pall, have you found something?" 

Pall lifted his head, "Maybe. I smell something coming from behind this wall. So either it's the worst piece of workmanship I've ever seen, or else it isn't a wall." 

Fred and Willian examined it and sure enough, it was a door in disguise. The others crowded around and they all frantically searched for a hidden latch or spring. Synizn kept his eye on the flames, keeping them stoked in front of the blackening door. But slowly it was beginning to catch the rest of the room. If they didn't escape soon, the fire would kill them even if the beetles did not.
 
 

1. The secret passage