EverQuest II – Journey of Heroes – 3 (Beta)

Reference: http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http://eq2players.station.sony.com/journeyofheroes_part3.vm

They clambered up the waterfalls of Cazic-Thule, some nearly losing their grip. The roaring waters pummeled at their ears. Gelig, the group’s dwarf templar, nearly fell before Hoorak, the barbarian guardian of their party, caught him by the armor.

Tykisa, the high elf wizard, was getting her bearing as the rest shook off their wet armor. Perish Tel, the wood elf fury, looked around with suspicion. Towering crumbling walls greeted them at the top of the falls, extending away through the jungle. Distant cries of birds and other stranger creatures drifted through the hazy air.

“I hear a large group approaching.” F’Sheel, a dark elf assassin, drew her blade.

Janusa, the human monk of the party, stayed his hand. “They may be allies.”

The ground shook. Rocks fell around them.

Gelig let out a cry. The others turned to see Hoorak skewering a massive arachnid and hurling it off the precipice of the falls. As it fell, Hoorak clapped Gelig on the back. “Close call, my friend. You seem to make good friends with giant spiders.”

Perish Tel pointed in awe as four more giant spiders scuttled past, not even interested in the party. They dove into holes in the ruins.

“I wonder what scared them,” said Perish Tel.

The party entered the ruins carefully, and quickly discovered the source of the noise.

Hoorak was nearly bowled over by three tall, scaly lizardmen, scampering and hissing.

“The Alliz Ew!” cried Perish Tel.

The party drew their weapons, only to discover in amazement that dozens of lizardmen were running right past them.

“I’ve never seen this,” Hoorak exclaimed.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” F’Sheel whispered. She sniffed the air, staring at a small burned patch of ground near the wall. She kicked it with her toe, and the withered grass hissed.

“We can’t go back the way we came,” said Hoorak. He continued onwards, past two large walls that seemed to form a gate.

Gelig and the others, looking at each other, reluctantly followed.

They entered into a clearing, green and open and empty. A temple rose off in the distance, catching the reflections of the setting sun in its gold ornamentation.

“The Temple!” Gelig exclaimed, heading off towards the building.

“Wait!” screamed F’Sheel.

She pointed to the ground all around them. There were great burned patches of land.

A shadow fell out of the sky. And the beating of wings filled the air…

F’Sheel pulled the group back as the massive dragon descended. Janusa cast a protective spell on them. “Stand back!” Janusa warned.

The dragon, smiling, dropped down and set the trees rattling.

Hoorak drew his sword.

“I don’t wait for dragons.” Tykisa cast a lightning bolt, hitting the dragon squarely in the jaw.

Smoke settled, and the dragon chuckled. Then it raised up on its hind legs and beat its wings, knocking them all to the ground in a blast of dust and air.

“Fools. No other god remains to you. The silent pantheon testifies to this. You are alone.”

Tykisa cast another protective spell on the group. “Run,” she yelled.

Hoorak snarled. “No dragon will make me bow.”

The massive beast chuckled, then laughed. “Pray to me now…with your screams!”

Its jaws opened wide.