[dplax]

Andrion Wilgor

A massive stone block, falling from the ceiling, triggered by the unfortunate footstep of one of the undead crushes the first two skeletons. Two more take their place and provide the most amusing moment for Andrion in months. One of them, stepping onto yet another hidden triggering stone sets off a spear trap, which shoots out from the lateral well and flies right through the ribs of one of the skeletons. The skeleton having been ordered to advance tries, but finds itself suspended in mid-air, the spear stuck between its ribs. The mage, behind him, can not suppress his laughter, before yanking the spear free and allowing the construct of bones to move on. The sound of the giants toil lessens the deeper the little group penetrate into the passageway, until it becomes but a dull throbbing in the background. The first magical traps are easily detected and subsequently avoided or disarmed by the wizard.

Only two skeletons remain when the first fireball trap is triggered by one of them. The powerful explosion is amplified by the walls of the passageway and apart from destroying the last two skeletons, even manages to singe the hair of the mage. Extra magical protections are cast and magic detection spells put up. Three more fireball traps are evaded by setting them off from a distance with spells of his own. Stunning, paralysis traps, symbols of pain and even of death are dispelled, and a few more mechanical traps are triggered through summoned creatures.

Invisible, and sporting more protective spells than he ever had before, the mage turns a sharp corner and spots a faint glow at the end of a passageway. Dispelling the last couple of traps he knows that he has reached the inner sanctum, the resting place of the Holy Flame itself. It is here that the Order of the Holy Flame is going to fight its last battle. And fall.

A magical alarm goes off at his passage, but it does not matter. They are not a match for him. He prepares to unleash a horde of spells at the defenders, when he spots the guardian. Rearing several feet above all of the others, the fire elemental stands next to the Holy Flame. Its flaming, red hot body a contrast to the sweat and matted blood of the defenders. The flame itself is nestled on top of a pillar, burning seemingly as if nothing were fueling it.

Most of the defenders don't even know what hits them. A thick shadow, only pierced by the light the fire elemental gives off and that of the Holy Flame itself, settles on the chamber and no one sees where the mage strikes. When he does, spells fly at the defenders from every direction simultaneously.

Only four of them, all badly wounded, and the fire elemental, unscathed by the massive destruction unleashed remain standing, when the last remaining defender mage manages to get in a spell. Andrion's invisibility is dispelled and the fire elemental immediately lunges at him. Motivated by an uncontrolled desire to burn any intruder who came near the flame and pleased by straightforward destruction the elemental knows no fear.

As its body slams into the mage, fire meets fire and stone as Andrion's magical protections kick in. Its burning anger is fueled even more by the protective flame around the wizard. Blows rain against the mage, but his magical protections are still great. Struggling to get off a spell in the fire and heat, struggling against the weight of the blows that he feels, but that do not hurt him, the wizard fights off a tinge of fear. He had been prepared for a combat against the last defenders, but not against a creature of fire. He tries protecting himself from evil, preparing the next spell, but his casting is interrupted and the spell is lost.