RAVEN'S GAMBIT | Episode 46: Fire in the Walls
The remaining six efreeti returned to the room where Sulkar the Ash-Hunter and Zayid the Brand-Bearer had fallen. The shattered remains of the four-armed gargoyle still lay where they’d left them, chunks of stone and glistening dust scattered like grim confetti across the ground. The air was still heavy with the scent of scorched magic and blood.
Zahur the Flame-Sworn knelt before the remains, his expression grim. “Their sacrifice will not be forgotten,” he growled.
Velharr the Smokecaller reached down and pried a gem-studded collar from the rubble, brushing dust from its polished surface. Ten blue quartz stones gleamed in the light, each worth a hundred gold by appearance alone.
“What’s this?” Rashoon of the Searing Grasp asked, his ember-lit eyes narrowing.
Velharr turned the collar and found a hidden latch. With a hiss of pressure and old magic, it popped open to reveal a scrap of parchment etched in arcane runes.
Rashoon cast Read Magic and read aloud:
“Look low and high for gold,To hear a tale untold.The archway at the end,And on your way you’ll wend.—A.”
“Keraptis,” Zahur muttered. “We follow the riddle.”
They advanced beyond the chamber, deeper into the Tomb of Horrors, where a series of adjoining rooms awaited them—each one simple in structure, yet hiding dangerous secrets. The initial room branched off into ten smaller chambers, with two obvious doors and several concealed passages between.
“It’s a maze,” Ifraka the Ember-Skinned muttered. “Built to test more than strength.”
Each secret door they found required a different solution:
Room 1 – A hidden seam in the stone pulled downward. The door creaked open. A shimmer of magic alerted them just before a magic arrow trap launched. Velharr grunted as an arrow struck his shoulder.
Room 2 – A pivoting panel concealed the path, but Rashoon, in haste, stepped too far and triggered another arrow. The shaft grazed his ribs.
Room 3 – Pull inward and up from the bottom. Kazem the Flame-Tongue guessed incorrectly and yanked from the top. He caught an arrow to the thigh and stumbled, snarling in pain.
Room 4 – This one slid upward. Ifraka pushed too hard, too fast. A triggered trap shot him through the bicep, flames flickering from his clenched teeth.
Room 5 – Double panels. Velharr moved precisely and avoided the trap this time.
“I’m starting to see a pattern,” he muttered.
“Too late for Sulkar and Zayid to learn it,” Kazem said with grim humor.
Room 6 – Slide left. Rashoon moved too slow, and the magical arrow grazed his temple.
They reached Room 7 and found seven glowing studs arranged like a keypad.
“Let’s press 1 and 7 at the same time!” Kazem grinned.
“Wait—” Zahur began.
CLUNK.
A hidden stone door swung with ferocious speed. It slammed into Kazem, flinging him across the chamber. He hit the far wall with a wet crunch and slid down, silent.
“Idiot…” Velharr whispered.
The door, now open, revealed the next passage.
Zahur said nothing. He only clenched his blade tighter and pressed onward.
Room 8 – A panel slid right. Rashoon passed through safely, barely dodging another arrow.
Room 9 – This door slid downward, but Velharr’s timing failed. The arrow struck deep into his side, and he winced but moved on.
Room 10 – The final panel slid open with a hiss of old magic. They stepped through—and emerged into the Chamber of Spheres.
From his Citadel, far above, Raven watched with cool, appraising eyes. The Tomb, ancient and cruel, had not dulled its edge. Six had entered this gauntlet of rooms. Now only four stood.
Zahur the Flame-Sworn.
Ifraka the Ember-Skinned.
Velharr the Smokecaller.
Rashoon of the Searing Grasp.
“Keraptis plays his games,” Raven whispered. “But even fire adapts.”
The efreeti looked up at the walls—spheres of every color painted in the hands of strange creatures. They had reached the same hall as the adventurers.
Neither group yet knew how close they were to one another.
But soon, they would.