Episode Twelve – Say Hello To My Little Friend…

 Dive into the thrilling world of adventure as Borkum the Battler, the fearless warrior, leads his party deeper into the treacherous Cursed Crypt. In this action-packed chapter, secrets are revealed, deadly traps spring to life, and the group's bond is tested against relentless foes. Featuring sharp banter, gripping battles, and the unyielding determination of Borkum's crew, this episode delivers epic fantasy storytelling at its finest.

The Arcane Isles

Dive into the enchanting world of Eric J. Wynn with the "Arcane Isles: Borkum the Battler" podcast, a Dungeons & Dragons inspired audio adventure available at ArcaneIsles.com. Join us on a first-person journey through a richly imagined realm where magic and mystery meet. Each episode, narrated by characters from the Arcane Isles, brings to life thrilling tales of valor, sorcery, and intrigue. Whether you're a seasoned D&D enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of fantasy role-playing, Borkum the Battler offers an immersive experience into a fantastical narrative. Tune in and become part of the adventure that unfolds within the Arcane Isles, where every corner holds a new challenge, and the fate of the world rests in the hands of heroes like never before. 

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Transcript

Chapter Twelve – Say Hello To My Little Friend…

I looked up to see the clay golem looking down at me. It was an expressionless look. I was nothing to this golem other than an irritant. I was a simple annoyance. A mere bug. I only had a moment to think of something. But there was nothing I could do against this clay golem that towered over me by at least two feet. And, it had its hand on my shoulder. 

My three companions stayed motionless, staring at the monster we had awoken. Lykxnzzl was the first to whisper something. “Nobody moves. It may be alerted to our motions.” We all stood as still as we could. The clay golem moved its head searching for the sound of Lykxnzzl’s whisper.

I could feel the sweat drifting down off my forehead. The golem shifted his weight but kept his hand on my shoulder. Looking up I could see where his eyes should be, but instead there were just clay filled sockets. I thought to myself, maybe this golem can’t see. But instead, it is relying on its other senses such as hearing and perception to seek us out. But we would have to move at some point.

Lykxnzzl’s was the first to whisper a plan, “I will sneak around and attack from behind,” he whispered.

“That’s literally the worst idea I think anyone could have come up with,” I whispered back. “How about a spell. Is there anyone in this group that might have a spell that would work.”

I could feel the ground shake as the beast shifted again listening to where the whispers were coming from. It knew there were people here. And it was determined to find them.

Both girls shrugged their shoulders at me. That was their signal that neither our druid or are cleric had anything of use against a golem. A golem of immense size. 

I rolled my eyes in destain. That meant the obvious. Lacking any good ideas to defeat the clay golem, the only bad idea, no matter how bad an idea it was, was now elevated to be the one good idea. 

I looked at Lykxnzzl and nodded. He understood. He slowly began sneaking around. His full Drow elvish abilities were in full display. No one could hear him moving. He was beyond quiet. The girls gripped their weapons tightly. I turned my head and looked out of the corner of my eye as I could see Lykxnzzl sneaking up behind the golem. He would attack from behind. The old knife in the back trick. Classic assassin’s move. I held my breath.

“Now Borkum now!” As Lykxnzzl pounced and drove his daggers in the back of the golem sinking them up to the hilt. Only nothing happened. I turned my head. Both of Lykxnzzl’s daggers were now between the clay monsters shoulder blades. Perfect hits. That should have been the end of the beast, only I think we only just made it mad. 

A loud grunt came from the beast and it came fully alive. It was some type of delayed reaction, but it was a reaction. I felt the beast tighten its grip on my shoulder like a blacksmiths vice grip. It then flung me across the room where I smashed into the far wall like a farm girls rag doll.  I had never been so manhandled before. And it hurt. But now it was my turn to take the fight to the beast.

I stood up and could see the other three-party members doing their best; both girls were striking the beast; Elaria with her mace and Hawk Tuah with her staff, but their weapons simply did no visible damage. It was time to put my trusty axe to work. 

I squared up with the beast, held my axe over head and let out my warrior cry and charged forward and just as I got to the point of hitting the beast it swung its clay fist and hit me square in the chest knocking me backwards almost 10 feet. I lay on the dungeon floor looking at stars trying to catch my breath. I had never known so much pain. 

A moment later the clay beast stood over top of me and placed his foot onto my chest and pressed downward. I was being crushed. I could not breathe. I could not move. I was stuck between the proverbial rock and the hard place. Thoughts of death crept into my mind. My father, my mother, would I see them in the hereafter?

All three of my party members were attacking the golem, but the beast just stood there absorbing the blows with no further harm to him. I was its first and greatest threat and it wanted to kill me first, then it would target the others. Not that I would care once I was dead. I struggled for another minute then surrendered to the inevitable. This was it.

I began to hallucinate. I imagined a great bird flying about the room and it was here to lift my spirit to hereafter. I could see the golem swinging its massive arms at the bird trying to keep my winged savior from taking me away to salvation. I could feel and hear my ribs cracking like sticks; then I saw a flood of lights explode before me.  So, this was the afterlife I said to myself as I succumbed. 

I awoke some time later with Elaria with her hands on me saying a prayer. When she opened her eyes she smiled down at me. I replied with the only thing that seemed reasonable at the moment, “Owwww.” I was hurting so badly. I could barely breathe. But I was breathing. 

“What happened” I muttered gingerly?

“You got your ass kicked, that’s what happed?” A short shrill voice said as it moved over top of me.

I looked up, to my surprise to see Brindle Lightfoot, our halfling magician, standing over top of me. 

“Dude, your alive?” I asked, shocked at what I was seeing.  Although Brindle looked like he had been involved in a fire, which he had. His clothing was charred, his hair was mostly gone, and he was covered in soot and ash. The point-blank fireball he had cast burned him up as well as the gelatinous cube.  But he was alive. But how?  

“Ring of Regeneration my slow-witted, ax wielding, lumbering warrior friend. Luckily, no one in the party searched my body and removed my ring, for which you would have noticed here on my big toe.” Which Brindle held over my face as if to mock me. “I had managed to slip it on before we entered the dungeon, a little insurance policy that I kept to myself.” 

Lykxnzzl came over to me and showed off some gold coins and chains. “We have done it old boy. We have scored. This monstrous clay monster was guarding three nicely filled chests of coins, gems and jewelry. We each will get a nice prize and can set up in some beach front castle, sipping rose wine while eating peppermint cakes, while we contemplate our next move. If there is going to be a next move. I am thinking retirement myself.”

I tried to sit up. Hawk Tuah came over and leaned in, “You might need to rest a bit more.” I could see her hawk was perched on her shoulder. 

“Your friend made it in here?” I asked incredulously seeing the big hawk looking about.

“He flew in just as you were about to die. He distracted the golem long enough for our conniving little, back from the dead, magician halfling friend to enter into the fray and get off several magic missiles. He blew that golem apart.” Hawk Tuah offered up with a grin. “He saved all of us. Again.”

I looked about and could see the golem on the ground, his clay torso blown apart, smoke rising from the corpse. Brindle’s magic missiles had done their dirty work. I was now in serious debt to my little friend. A death debt is a serious debt to carry on one’s head.

“I am feeling much better, I can manage.” As I struggled to my feet. My ribs crying out in pain.  “Did you check the room for any more secret passages,” I asked.  

“This is it old boy, end of the dungeon, lets just get out of here and get back to the town.” Lykxnzzl.

I nodded. It was time to go home. I looked at the chests and ran my fingers through the treasure. It was like magic. I was giddy and began laughing. “We did it,” I yelled out loud. Now we needed to get out of here.

We agreed to carry the chests out with us. It would be the easiest way to keep everything together. I would carry the smallest chest. And Hawk Tuah and Elaria carried one chest and Lykxnzzl and Bridle carried the other. 

We began working our way out of the dungeon. The path was simple, follow our footsteps, and just get back up. Don’t stop for any distractions. As we passed the sphinx and the sarcophagus, I was reminded at how close we came to death. The chamber with the specter was very cold. We could see our breath, as we hustled as fast as we could through the chamber least the specter return. My ribs ached, but I feared we could not rest.

As we entered the hall with the mirrors we paused for a break.  The remains of gelatinous cube were still here. It was mostly charred jelly at this point. But, then I noticed a small green blob moving towards me. Life had found a way. A new gelatinous cube was forming and growing. And, I assume it was hungry. I could see it oozing towards me. Not much bigger than a gold coin. I stood up and stared down at it amazed at how resilience the life form was. And, then I stepped on it and squished it into the ground. Green ooze slipping out from underneath my boot. “Time to go,” I mentioned to the group.

We stepped past the skeleton bones, our first battle, and came up to the foyer of the dungeon where we started. We could smell the fresh air. We were giddy now. Laughing and joking drunk on our success. And soon, on the local ale.  I looked about and saw the statue of the woman. Something seemed different, but I did not care. the front door was just ahead.

As we stepped into the light our eyes blinked. The Sun was at its zenith. And, it hurt our eyes, which had grown accustomed to the dim torchlight. We also stopped and breath in the fresh air. I was amazed at how green the trees were. How blue the sky was. And how warm the sun was on my face. And, then I saw something that made my heart stop.

“Oh no, no, no!” I yelled out.