[Ithaeliel]

"Well, this is perfect! We got all the way here and we can't even get in!" Angalos moaned in frustration as he leaned up against the seemingly useless engravings on the stone. Everyone's eyes were lowered in disappointment or raised in annoyance of the blocked passage. Yet even as Angalos' hand pressed against the stone, a slight rumble was heard and a small puff of dust fell from the rock. The group's attention was centered upon the stone, and a few rubbed their eyes repeatedly to make sure what they had just seen was real. Angalos gave a small gasp as he removed his hand from the stone. A moment later, it began to slide with a rumble and a grating noise. Angalos backed away as the stone moved slowly to the left, revealing a passageway into the mountain.

The adventurers all walked cautiously closer to the darkness, halfway grinning with astonishment. Arethin smiled. "Now I am very glad we have Angalos here with us. What a stroke of luck for our company!"

"This is wonderful!" Jadae cried. "Now we can finally enter the mountain and find what we came for."

"If it is there," Jack added. "But congratulations to Angalos, and his magic touch to get us inside!"

Angalos blushed humbly. "Well, it seems Lady Luck has been on my side much of my life," he admitted, "but this is the luckiest thing that's happened to me by far. I suppose we should continue on our path... the less time to our treasure, the better!"

"Be careful," Anuion said gravely. "You never know what we may find in here."

Angalos took one step into the cave, and his eyes saw something glint in the darkness. He knew instantly what it was. "Watch out!" he cried, but it was too late. Poison-tipped arrows were already flying at them. He sucked his torso in and turned in profile to the onslaught of deadly shafts. Anuion dodged two or three, then saw a pack of arrows flying straight for Arethin. He gave a shout and leapt over to him, pushing the man down on the ground and narrowly avoiding the arrows. Jack and Jadae crouched low, but not in time to save Jack's forehead from being cut by a passing arrow. Jadae was all right, and Jack would not need too much care.

After the last arrow had flown out, the company gave a sigh of relief. They had come through the first obstacle with little hindrance. Now they had to continue on their way, looking out for other dangers... which Angalos somehow knew would abound.

[ March 18, 2003: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]