OOC: Nicely done Cool solutions to the problem.

IC: Di'Ethe nodded as each member of his party made their way to the opposite side of the statues. He pondered quickly about how he would escape the warth of the statues. Considering his choices. he made up his mind and cst a quick spell onto his dagger, a spell of reflection.

Di'Ethe rushed the statues and as hepassed each the light from the eyes erupted and Di'Ethe reflected the beams shot out to a harmless direction with a quick flick of the dagger.

As he passed the last statue he heard all three crumble to dust. It would have appeared they passed the first test. Di'Ethe only shrugged at his companions and continued forward, no point turning back.

As they progressed deeper and lower, Di'Ethe began to feel nostalgic, these tunnels were his home for such a long time. Something tugged at him as he continued, the heat became more stuffy and Di'Ethe realised that perhaps they were not alone in the caves. As they approached a turn his fears were confirmed as the flickering of a fire on the wall showed they were sharing the cave system with other creatures.

Di'Ethe called a stop as he moved forward to see what it was. Sneaking forward he witnessed a large room, inside 10 large ogres with a large bunch hounds the size of small ponies gathered round a fire. At the opposite end of the cave was the only exit he could observe.

~Well i don't think the four of us can take out that many.~ He signalled ~we'll have to go around somehow.~

Di'Ethe signalled that he would go first. Wrapping his cloak round himself he faded into the shadows. He knew the ogres would need to look straight at him to find him but the hounds might sniff him out. He waited and watched and scanned the room for cover. Weaving a quick spell to hide his scent he darted between shadow to shadow. As he got closer to the hounds one perked up and sniffed the air, Di'Ethe froze to prevent the air around him from moving. Sweat dribbled down his forehead as he waited for the hound to lessen it's vigil. After a period of time the dog lowered his head and returned to it's restful stance. Di'Ethe continued through the shadows to the opposite tunnel. When he got there he lifted the bow from around his shoulders and waited for the others ready to help if need be.

OOC-Thanks, Di'ethe!

IC--Chori watched the Ogres for a minute. She was an elf, which gave her the ability to move silently. She knew that the dogs could smell her. Damn She kept calm and still as the Ogres watched their hounds. Quickly, quietly, Chori searched through her pack. She found two objects of interest. A potion that took her scent/trail away, and a second cloak that could help keep silence. She drank the potion and gave it time to take effect. With as little motion as possible, she donned her cloak. Then, leaving the other cloak with Naur and Eagle, she too slid into the shadows and followed Di'ethe across. When she got there, she also readied her bow, ready to help anyone and everyone in the event of a discovery.
*****************

There have been days when wariness kept me from recognizing a broken heart or when fear kept me from seeing a shattered soul.

There have been days when wariness kept me from recognizing a broken heart or when fear kept me from seeing a shattered soul.

There have been days when wariness kept me from recognizing a broken heart or when fear kept me from seeing a shattered soul.

OOC--I know nothing anymore, so I guess I'll have to make it all up as I go along. If you don't understand, then do not worry about it.
NAUR NEEDS AN AVATAR...

IC--Naurelis recognized the difficulties everyone would have in covering the ground unnoticed. Di'Ethe could work silently, and Chori did so aided by ingestants. Eagle had no such imbibables, nor had he an affinity for moving silently. Thus, a diversion would be necessary. But what, she thought to her self, would that be?

She set the thought aside as she felt a great elation from her water brother, even as he fought the Angel of Death and a Daemon of even darker lineage. He came to know himself and to recognize that there are thing not Death itself could overcome. The nymph smiled at the emotions coming through their unintentional, but no longer unwilling link.

She strode forward, unconcerned that she would be seen--that was, after all, her object in this venture. Summoning all her reserve strength to keep down her last meal when faced with the slobbering expressions of many ogres, each of their minds intent on doing unseemly things to her pristine form, she continued to walk forward, halting a few paces beyond the nearest one. The light she gave off cast the cavern into darkness, allowing the others to pass safely by.

Now came the hard part: getting out with them, untouched by the rough and callous hands of the ogrekin. The dryad gathered in all her light and hid it within the deepest recesses of her heart, casting the room into an even deeper darkness than it had seen before. She walked past the dogs, who whined as she left them to their harsh masters. She sighed for them, and left them the memory of her presence. Nothing else could be done for them. She left the cavern to its darkness, folling the drow on his path to control.

OOC--just had to have a little fun, after all, what better thing to do with a dryad?

******************
In sum, what are we?
We are the creatures that know,
and know too much

As Naur gathered the light and put darkness into the room, Eagle continued to think how to pass this obstacle, the bridge between the present and the future. Eagle's keen eyes followed Naur through to thte other end. Eventually darkness consumed everyone.
And then the light from the fire expelled the darkness, for this darkness could not last long, and perhaps an oppurtunity has been missed.

Eagle has finally found a plan that could work. Could. Would it?

A gush of wind flowed from nowhere into the fire-place; the fire, burning brighter than before, flared and glowed as it never had before, fueled by the wood beneath it and the wind following into it. The gust of wind swirled around the room, and the smell of burnt wood felt by all the noses in the room, dogs, ogres and the group that has passed. The many ogres and dogs were no doubt confused, as was the group who has passed.

Temporary darkness. The fire-place. The smell. The fire-place has been put out in a few seconds by a strong resilient blow of wind. Foot steps, a jump over a dog, side-stepping to avoid contact with a fat ogre, dive-and-roll, group run. Sprint. Unbeknowst path.

They move on, led on by a flickering candle. Darkness and their own shadows behind them, they run deeper into the mountain towards their goal.