Greenborne- Doomed
A mighty column of lava rose up from the bubbling pool, stretching to the high ceiling in the expansive cavern. Writhing and dripping, a series of chitinous spikes emerged from both sides as a single, gleaming eye revealed itself on top. Whipping around its molten body, the magma lash struck at the flimsy, suspended bridge to which two humans clung to for their very lives. The female of the pair kept a steady stream of bolts flying from her crossbow.
"This sure was sudden," she shouted, raising her voice above the ungodly shriek of the fiery worm. "How did we go from a narrow corridor to burning pool below an empty expanse? And who built this piece of junk here? And why did they use wood over fire?" Z'lupe took her eye off her target for a moment to check on her ally. "You plan to jump in any time soon, Greenborne?"
"Well, ain't ya just full of questions today?" he snipped. With an arm wrapped tightly around the suspension, Bimblesnaff tried to steady himself and his blade. His enchanted dagger, currently throwing off a golden glow, was having its tip aimed toward the beast. As the bridge swayed wildly, a few of the beams he fired were far off.
"Way too high, 'Snaff," she informed, sending off more arrows to be melted to nothing. "And what is a heat blast going to do against that thing? Cool it down?" Ignoring her, the rays continued to stray from their mark. Withdrawing the knife, the lunatic sculpted out in his hands an orb of water. "Oh, yes, that will surely end it," sarcastically praised Kelly. "After it is slain, I will give myself to you." With a fiendish smile, the only kind he could give, the sphere was hurtled at the magma lash, falling too high like the rest of his efforts. This was his target, however. Within seconds, an avalanche had fallen upon and buried the flaming worm. The many rays he had fired heated up the rocks in the ceiling, and the water had cooled them down rapidly, causing cracking around an already fractured surface. The ancient blemish was noted by the maniac long ago, and he had worked to exploit it all this time. Still flashing his yellow teeth at Z'lupe, she stated, "The rocks felled it, not the water, so, technically, I owe you nothing."
"Do ya always hide behind self delusion?"
"In cases like this," responded she, "yes." Returning their weapons to their holsters, the uncertain bridge was transversed. Waiting for them at the end was an ominous black hole with a familiarity. "Oh, great, remember this thing, 'Snaff?"
"I sure do," he confirmed. "This is the hole that killed m' father." She turned slowly, meeting his stern look with her blank stare.
"You never met your father," Z'lupe made light of.
"Well, technically, 'twould be true," he accepted, "but I just know he's dead and that's the scum that killed 'em." She shook her head in disgust. She could press him further, but it would only be risking her own sanity. Pulling the oaf she was stuck with along, they entered the dark passage.
Emerging from the other side, the scenery took another drastic change as did their passage to the chamber of fire. The walls had turned from drab, rigid stone to red, dripping, and throbbing. Bones of creatures recognized and questionable studded the surfaces and highlighted points of interest.
"This place smells like death," gagged Z'lupe.
"This place smells like home," pleasantly chirped Greenborne.
"Did you grow up in some morbidly twisted morgue where the dead were strewn out against the walls?" she put to him through the cape held over her face.
"No," he pouted, wiping the tears from out his goggles, "that was next door. We could only enjoy the scent."
"Why do I even ask?" she groaned, more sickened.
"I always assumed ya hated yerself," he gleefully answered.
"Why do I still bother asking rhetorical questions?" After planting her fist in the Fiend's jaw, she added, "Yes, I am aware how stupid that was to do."
"Pardon the intrusion," cut in a booming yet surprisingly polite voice. They turned to find the most frightening image they had ever seen. A massive, bulging corpse stooped down to fit its giant body into the large passage way. Bones were exposed with stripped veins entwining them. One of its eyes hung out from a rotted hole in its neck. Other carcasses were meshed into its form to make it larger and more hideous. "Death zombie is seeking two people to brutally maim. Have you seen two people? One is a lady, and the other is an unlady."
"'Tis yer lucky day, er, death zombie," piped in Bimblesnaff. "It just so happens that two people were visitin' a magma lash back ways there. Just down in there, and I'm sure ya'll find 'em." With a thanking nod, the terrible being shattered the shadowy gate separating the two realms and followed the given directions.
"Don't you have the slightest bit of remorse?"
"If I did," the lunatic told, "I would sell it fer more evil cunnin'." The unexpected soon followed: approaching footsteps, big ones.
"Death zombie no find them there." It was the same towering beast, now dripping with lava. Its immersion had done nothing at all to faze it.
"Uh... What? Ya mean to say ya went to that lava pool?" Bimblesnaff acted amazed, although part of him truly was. "No, ya have to go to the other one. Way back. Far, far, far back."
"But only one hot pit here," stated the undead. "Death zombie know that true."
"Are ya callin' me a liar?" he asked with hurt in his voice. "That sure wunna be nice at all."
"Okay, death zombie go see." As the force of destruction marched away, Greenborne shot a quick glance at Kelly, who gave him a look that could kill.
"Yeah, I'm a bastard."
