Selené sat there in the stillness. She could hear the sighing of her fluffy friend coming from the back end of the wagon. He has eaten some of the cured elk and curled up into a ball.She had told them both, Meatwhall and Dakanon, that she didn't like this place. It was dark, dank, had a smell to it...there was no sunlight. She had felt something was not right from the moment they entered the cave's mouth...she just was not sure what it was. Now she did. This place smells of death. It is secretive, and because of that, dangerous.

Drusilia had told her she needed to learn the rest of her path from the spirits themself. "Seek them out and they will teach you what more you have to learn." she had said. Thus far she had learned many things from the spirits. Drusilia had tought her to sense their presence, and how to calm animals that have been spooked by them. Since that day that the sprite lead her to the Green Man, she has been able to interact with, chastise, learn spells, and gain the blessings of the spirits. Had that thing been a spirit, or even a natural creature, she could have done more. But against a beast that could only be defeated with brute strength, she was helpless.

Her brothers always told her she was too small, too weak, not able to be a warrior. She had found her own way and had pulled her own with this group. She had always been able to get to them in time...to heal them with the gifts the spirits and the Green Man had given her. But this time...She knew she could have saved him, had she only been able to get to him...but that beast kept her separated from Dakanon without even being able to see her. She failed him as a healer. They had always called her their "Little Healer" but she was more than that. She was a spirit shaman and had all the gifts that gives. But all those gifts could not help her save Dakanon. She had failed him as a healer. She had failed him as a teammate. She had failed him as a friend.

She saw him spook the horsed toward her to help her escape. HIs ghostly form stood watching as she caught hold of the speeding wagon. The pain of her failure filled her eyes and overflowed in tears.

Now she sat. It's cold. There is a smell on the air...a smell that she has caught bits of since entering this dark and dreary place. She didn't like it here. There is no sunlight. She is afraid to open herself to the spirits here...afraid of what she might see. But she was going to have to...Dakanon was a ghost...she saw him. He did not pass from this place. She would have to be the one to find him. Meatwhall would not be able to see him. Not until he was skilled enough to materialize in front of him. She would now have to play the part of interpreter. Her gifts as a spirit shaman would have to hold this group together now. She had been told her whole life that she was never meant to be anything more than a tribal wife and mother. In her soul she knew different. She was more than that. Her family never understood Grandmother's ways, and now she was following the same path. Something deep inside of her drew her down that path.

It's time to meditate and send forth the spirit guide. They will need her spells now more than ever.....

"OOHHHH" Jeremy grimaced as he loped to his meeting with the master. "He's not going to like this at all!" Jeremy stumbled a bit as he recalled the events. "If only he hadn't have DIED!"

Meekly, Jeremy stepped into the circle of stones, and stepped before the wooden man standing in the center. He reverently bowed his head, and awaited his punishment. He had failed. He deserved punishment. His charges had failed.

"Chrmeorl." The Green Man said in the native language of the grimalkins. "What report do you have?"

"Master," It was almost a whisper. "A member has died. He had a valiant death, very honorable." A proud smile hinted at the corner of his lips. Jeremy had gotten to like the little goblinoid. He is very much a comic relief in the party. So serious is the rest... yet this one never gave up. He stayed the course.

"Chrmeorl, tell me what my champions have done?" Simple request, no anger, just interest. However, it still created a stab of fear in his heart as well.

"Well, ummmm... sir....

Dakanon was scouting, as his normal course. Being a goblin had given him the ability to see in the dark. It was still rather new to him. Sneaking was becoming more and more natural. His evolved form was particularly adapted to this action. His ability to notice things had become very much more enhanced, even in the dark. Extending all his senses as far out as possible, he cought the hint that something was up ahead.

In the center of the cavern was a large spider like creature. Four legs, small head and a bulbuous body, it was made of metal. It stood about 3 foot high and perhaps four foot around. With a large saw sticking out from under the head. Seeing this creature, he stole back to the party.

Meatwhal, trying to move quietly came upon the short Dakanon leaning against the wall. Dakanon calmly points down the corridor "Spider" he says simply. "There's a spider down there." With a sigh, the large furry creature pulled out an axe, and trod down the corridor with an everburning rock in the other hand. Selené trundling along behind, soon she would have to work the magic upon the horse an cart that would allow them to travel through the caverns. For now, riding is rather relaxing.

Soon, much sooner than anticipated a metallic scratching was to be heard, coming toward the party. Readying, his axes, Meatwhals large furry body became ready for combat.

His evolved form was much larger than it had been. His fur coat that he had grown provided protection, especially from the cold. His muscles had been enhanced with more strength, and his nails and teeth had been strengthened so that he could attack with them. He was much more feral than he had been. Being the Champion of the Green Man had changed him, evolved him, as it had the rest of the party. He was still not sure what caused it... probably the little woodsy girl. The shaman. She always seemed to be around when the changes occurred. And never seemed to be perterbed by it. She always told him it was a gift.

A squat silverish metallic creature scrambled into view of the party, charging at the large furry man. As it passed the goblinoid monk he hit it four times rapidly, without even scratching the surface. It was made of a hard substance. Selené stayed back to calm the animals. She normally held back and helped the fighters.

A fierce overhand chop from a gleaming axe landed squarely on the back of the creature, barely scratching the surface. The creature smacked the axe with its saw, as if it intended to. It could move the saw with great agility.

Dakanon took another few swipes at it. Jeremy had heard them teasing him about his fighting. He misses often, so they call it "Wish fighting" in honor of his fast fists missing the target making a WHISH sound. He hit it this time, just to no effect. Selené chose this moment to enter the fight, in her own style. She disappeared. Meatwhal grew tired of hitting the creature, and jumped on its back, using his hairy claws to hang onto it. Dakanons agility was an immense help in avoiding the attacks from this creature.

The battle was about to change tides. Dakanon seems to have fallen into a trance of some sort. Selené, though no one else could see her, i could, thank you master for that ability, ran near the creature, and touched it. The metal darkened with magic, and then regained its normal color. She backed away, confused. The magic had no effect. Whatever the spell was, it did not work. This bothered her. Meatwhal tossed his axe and cast a spell of his own. He placed his hand near the head joint, and a flash of light was seen, as well as an acrid odor. His spell had worked, it seemed to produce acid. I don't know what he has been learning, but it seems to be effective. Right about then, the creature started to vibrate and hum. A light began emanating from its "head" area. Something was about to happen, and it didnt look like fun.

Meatwhal chose this moment to run. He lept from the monstrosity, and bound down the cavern, just as it turned and let loose a lightening bolt. Waves of electrical energy coursed over and through him, blasting him to the ground, he got up, and kept running. Selené was unsure what to do. Daikanon, his hands glowing now, he must have been gathering his energies for a frightfull punch, hit the creature. Still no effect.

Another charge up from the metal bug, while the goblin smacked it again. Still no sign of the furry humanoid. This time the Dakanon took the brunt of the lightening blast. His small body jerked uncontrollably as it spasmed under the onslaught of electric energy. He took the blast at point blank range. Selené could only stare, as the metal creature began to attack the horses.

It got close to then they spooked. They reared, and pawed at the air. I cought the faintest shimmer of someone standing before them waving its arms, yet the hoofs went through it. I am reminded of the ghosts at the village, master. The baby ghost that wanted to play with the oxen. It was just as then, only this ghost seemed much older.

The horses bolted. As they passed the spirit shaman, she grabbed the cart and swung up on it. I cought sight of the metal beast dragging off the dead body before I ran after the surviving party.

When I cought up with the party, the furry human, and the shamaness were brooding about thier loss. The loss of a comrade, and the loss of thier weapon (for the furred one) were of much anxiety to them. This is where they camped. This is where I left them.

Master, do you think that the Goblin has alowed himself to be a ghost?"

A deep chuckle resonated from the Green Man. "My dear boy, he has not passed to the next world. I would have known. He is still there. His horizons broadened for his own pleasure, and to the irritation of the party, if I know him. His own brand of fun is not always enjoyed by all. Go now, pretty kitty, and watch. Report back when I call." With this, he walked into a vine and was gone, leaving the grimalkin to grin in the darkness.

"The master is right" he thought. "Dakanon does have his own brand of humour. If he is a ghost, then woe betide all around him." He turned and loped back to the party.

"Do you think they'll make it?" the ghost said to the cat beside her as she watched the party enter the cave. As much as she hated to admit it, she kinda liked the group. Oh yeah, they were frustrating and irritating, especially the evolved ones.

"The Master has his plans." the cat replied enigmatically. "He is finding an extreme amount of amusement in this group. Perhaps, you would to if you had seen all that I have." Crazy cats. Even ones like this one always irritated the Half-Orc Paladin. Even when she was alive, she couldn't stand the petty self centered creatures.

"The Master set a very difficult task on me for this. Will he follow through?" With the exception of Phrantil, Surrin had never had any dealings with Gods before. The Green Man seemed rather odd.

He had approached her in the ethereal realm, where she lived. "Surrin," he had said gently. "Phrantil has loaned you to me, but only if you agree." Surrin had long since lost any fear, death will do that. She passively stared at the man made out of vines. The power held within the creature before her was evident. "I can offer you the end of your journey."

Startled, Surring cautiously answered "How do you know of my quest?" No one knew of her personal quest. To save her village was the driving force in her unlife. "Who told you of that?"

A smile broke across the Green Mans face. "Dear Surrin, do you think that we do not speak with each other? Phrantil told me of it. I must confess, had I but known, i would have intervened much earlier. Such as it is though, I had just learned. Regrettably, I must use it as a bargaining chip. Perform a small task for me, and you shall see the end of your quest. Will you agree?"

As Surrin watched, she cought the faintest glimmer of Phrantil behind the Wooden Man, nodding her assent. "What would you have me do?" she asked bluntly. Diplomacy is not the strongest skill of a twelve year old girl.

"Guide a group into saving your town....." He went on to explain the whole plan. Which was simple. He would place the group in a glade near the village of her birth. She would get them to save the town. Then put them on their way. That was it. She could not directly interfere.

It sounded simpler than it was. She could not tell any information to the party, as that was directly interfering. She could not lead them by the nose. That was interfering. The evolved ones wanted to kill everybody. She could not stop them, that was interfering. Violence was in thier blood. They enjoyed it. At least the evolved ones do. The shaman, she was interesting. So meek at times, so unsure of herself. That is, until she is on firm religious ground, or angry. Its hard to tell the difference. Then she is tenacious. Then there was the "wizard" and the sorceress. They were placed after the initial party.... very interesting. The wizard especially.

"Well, now what?" Surrin asked the cat.

With a feline shrug of indifference, he bound into the cave. "As always, I watch and report. Its the Masters game." he called just before he changed into a spider like creature, and scuttled into the darkness.