Niffit

The stench was a palpable thing- a presence as real as the distant crack of pick-axe on rock or the guttering of the too few torches. The combination of perspiration, rock dust and hopelessness made the dank air a tangible part of the Deadmines.

Niffit knew well and hated the smell of the place, recalling as it did the death of his mentor. Many nights he awoke in a sweat with the smell of the mines as thick in his nose as the sound of Hagar’s screams in his ears. But we ain’t just goin fer some dwarven miner’s trinkets this time he thought as he saw Krallam wrinkle his nose and tighten the grip on his mace.

No, this time its through the whole thing to Van Cleef’s head. The dwarf internal monologue continued as he studied Lilly. The gnome’s reaction to the mines betrayed nothing but her usual curiosity and interest in her surroundings. If anything the irrepressible mage seemed excited about the adventure.

Before he could reflect on the little wizard’s attitude, the rogue noticed the sound which had drawn the attention of the long eared priestess. He slipped into the shadows and pulled his dagger as he crept up on the patrolling Defias watchman. Sapping the liveried guard he picked the dazed human’s pocket before silently dispatching him with garrote and blade.

Krallam stood guard as Relara searched the body for valuables. The priestess expression of grim determination revealed that although she disliked rifling the remains she understood her role with the team. At the outset all had agreed that the paladin’s magic would be primarily for combat enhancements as his heavy mail and shield made him the best choice to be the enemy’s prime target. The priestess was to hold her magic in reserve for healing and would gather valuables.  Niffit would scout, pick locks and stab from the shadows while Lilly would use her magic whenever groups of enemies confronted the team. She had already conjured magical food and drink for each adventurer’s pack.

Niffit signaled the team to wait as he hugged the right hand wall and ghosted around a corner.  Seconds later he came back signaling that a pair of miners were just the other side of the bend. In the early strategy session Relara had registered some doubts about engaging the workers at all, but Niffit had relayed his experience of the Defias miners.

“They’ll kill ya soon as look at ya” the dwarf said. “Them picks punch through armor easy as they bust stone and the only time those suckers run is ta get more help.  We kill everyone we see an no hesitatin. I ain’tdying ‘cause someone’s soft heart made a soft head.”

Nodding grimly, Krallam stepped around the bend.

“Hey!” the first miner shouted and both charged the paladin.

The crash of pick on metal shield alerted the roving patrol. While the holy knight traded blows with the pair of miners, Niffit stealthed in behind the Defias conjurer as the woman began some form of fire spell. He sapped her just seconds before Lilly’s polymorph spell turned the magic user into a bleating lamb. Cursing under his breath at wasting spells on already incapacitated opponents, Niffit shifted his dagger to his off hand as he drew his sword and faced off against the conjurer’s companion.

The liveried watchman said nothing but grinned as he swung at the dwarf’s head. Niffit ducked and swept in, stabbing with the dagger in his left hand as used the sword to block his tall opponent’s backswing. A bright flower of blood bloomed on the human’s chest as the rogue spun away.

“Bastard” the human cursed as he reached up to staunch the flow of blood. When he glanced down at his red stained fingers Niffit raised both weapons above his head and charged. The surprised watchman’s counter opened a perfect opportunity for the rogue to plant his heavy boot in the watchman’s stomach. The blow, while more painful than damaging, propelled the man back several feet onto his rump.

“Ya canna beat me if ya sit there on yer arse, boy.” Niffit heard as one of his early fighting lessons came rushing back to him. Hagar was fast as lightning and had delivered several painful blows with a simplebillyclub while Niffit had not even scratched his mentor with his dagger. To this day Niffit was unsure of what move his teacher had used to dump him on the ground.

“Yer guy strong but if ya dinna touch me with that pig sticker, what good is it?” As Niffit got up and shook out his bruised limbs, Hagar had set down the club and removed his leather tunic. As the shirtless and unarmed elder dwarf gestured for Niffit to attack him the overweight, out-of-shape rogue had said “Yer not some idjit warrier, boy. Yer armor, yer fancy moves, don’t mean spit. Ya gotta learn to use what ya got.”Without warning his teacher had kicked dirt into Niffit’s face and as the young rogue attempted to clear his eyes Hagar had said “Ya gotta use yer feet” as he stomped on the younger dwarf’s instep, “Yer knee” as he kneed Niffits’ thigh, “yer elbow,” as he spun behind his student and slammed him in the kidney “and yer head!” as he smashed down with a crippling head butt. When he woke up, several hours later, Niffitresolved to take the lesson to heart.

NIffit lowered his weapon and gestured for the furious human to stand up. As the watchman was regaining his feet, the rogue used a lightning fast backhanded throw to lodge his dagger in his opponents throat. The shocked man’s final gurgle nearly covered the sound of the three miners approaching Niffit from behind.

The rogue tossed his flash powder and seemed to disappear before the shocked miner’s eyes. Their hesitation allowed both Niffit to stealthily retrieve his dagger and for Lilly to freeze the trio with a spell.

As Krallam moved in on the frozen miners, the polymorph spell broke and the evoker immediately began casting a spell of her own. Niffit’s backstab and blades made quick work of the clothwearer.

.

Two hours and a dozen battles later the group found themselves at a downward sloping tunnel that showed a great deal of wear.  Relara, pointing at the skull sitting atop a broken spear on the other side of the arch, said. “Looks like it gets serious from here.”