13. They Don’t Speak Common
The party of four continued their journey through the Underdark following Blurg’s map. The environment was dim, damp, and increasingly hostile, with monsters trying to murder them at every turn, putting the group’s teamwork skills to the test. They gradually adapted, learning how to optimize their individual strengths, though more than a handful of battles were won with Kal’s sheer strength.
Fights were now easier for Astor. He could openly use the weapons that his vampiric curse gave him, fangs, claws and all. He found that he was more agile and sharp, not just from experience, but also from having his fill of dragon blood.
Kalsarin helped Astor find meals, learning which monsters had the blood necessary to sustain Astor. The two hunted together every evening, with Kal enjoying the company. On nights when they couldn’t find something suitable for Astor, Kal would offer his wrist. So Astor had been consistently well-fed. The group had even noticed a change in his complexion and attitude.
The party stood in an expansive, ring shaped cavern, lit by a blueish glow, emitted by large blue flowers blooming from a gigantic tree on the opposite side of the space. A deep chasm flowed underneath where the light didn’t reach. This area was drawn on Blurg’s map, and so they knew they were in the right direction.
Before they could traverse the open space to reach the tree, they heard clicking and clacking noises echoing, getting louder and louder as the source approached them over rocky ridges.
Hook horrors. These bipedal monstrosities had faces that resembled vultures, with pointed beaks, sturdy bodies reminiscent of large beetles, three-toed bird-like legs, and razor sharp hooks for hands. They were several heads taller than the party, and their beady insect eyes locked onto Kal and Astor.
“I think this is their territory,” Kal whispered over his shoulder. He stood in his humanoid disguise, claws extended defensively, his back against Astor. The two of them were surrounded by three of the largest horrors.
“You think?” Astor hissed under his brath, his eyes darting back and forth. “Was that not obvious when you stomped right through their nest?” One hand gripped his infernal dagger, watching for the right opportunity to strike.
Nightingale and Shadowheart stood on a small overhang nearby, leaving a safe distance between them and the horde of monsters.
“You can stop whispering, you know,” Night announced, leaning smugly on her silver staff. “Hook horrors have incredible hearing, but their sight is almost useless. They make up for it with echolocation, giving them almost blindsight level vision.”
Astor glanced in her direction. Night had finally learned to stay out of melee range, but she still needed to fix her know-it-all attitude. That was a harder problem, he thought.
The three horrors let loose a blood curling scream as they lunged. One jumped towards Kal, swiping its blade vertically from above. Kal raised his claws together to block, and with a loud clank, the horror was stopped in its path. It pushed off Kal, jumping backwards, chittering as it moved.
The other two horrors targeted Astor. From both sides, they coordinated symmetrical attacks, swiping low.
Backed up against Kal, Astor couldn’t dodge backwards. Instead, he jumped. The two monsters slashed air, and as Astor fell back down, he used his momentum, flames swirling around his dagger. His blade hit the monsters’ exoskeletons loudly, their natural armor thick.
Astor’s eyes swept the scene, his mind racing. In a blur of motion, he stepped up close, hitting all the potential weak spots he saw. His dagger slid through a gap on the monster’s shoulder, and Astor threw his body into the attack, his blade stabbing deeply. The horror shrieked, tripping backwards, taking the dagger with it.
The other horror lunged at Astor with its beak. He dodged, jumping over the fallen one, and leaned down to pull the dagger out of its shoulder. Then he immediately stabbed it through its beak, its helpless wail turning into a suffocated gurgle.
Astor turned to the other monster, pushing forward, again hitting multiple potential weak points. His dagger slid into soft flesh on its neck, and Astor smirked. Taking an offensive stance, he stabbed the monster repeatedly, until the horror finally fell.
Behind him, Kal ripped his target apart, his draconic strength evident even as he stood on two legs, his claws spearing right through the plated armor of the horror’s chest.
Kal and Astor stood panting, the adrenaline coursing through them. They thought they were triumphant, but unfortunately, more of the herd appeared from behind tall rocks, clicking angrily. The monsters sprinted towards them.
Astor stood his ground with a confident stand. He channeled psionic magic into his voice, and spoke one enchanted word. “Flee.”
The spell traveled through the air, a small breeze kicking up as it hit all the horrors in succession. But nothing happened—they didn’t even slow down.
Night suddenly burst out laughing. “Astor, hook horrors don’t speak Common. You could try again in clicks?”
Beside her, Shadowheart suppressed a laugh.
Astor reddened and promptly ignored them. Raising his dagger, he flexed his free hand, claws extending, ready to defend.
Meanwhile, Night recited a quick incantation. Holding her silver staff in front, her magic coursed through it, the blue crystal at the top flaring with light. A violet globe of energy appeared and expanded in a wide circle around Kal and Astor, the familiar magic of the Silent aura.
The hook horrors in the barrier stopped in their tracks, looking around in confusion, their clicks silenced. The ones outside continued to sprint in, not understanding the disadvantage they would have.
“See?” Night announced. “That’s how you blind monsters that use echolocation.”
“I don’t think they can hear you,” Shadowheart said, laughing softly.
“Oh, right.”
Kal and Astor jumped into action. In tandem, they charged at the now blind horrors. Astor’s dagger and claws flew with precision, while Kal’s claws swiped viciously through their exoskeletons. The monsters could barely fight back, dropping to the ground one by one, until all the horrors were subdued.
Night dismissed her barrier. She approached Astor, still chuckling. “Sorry for making fun of you, you were just so confident—“
“ENOUGH!” Astor yelled in annoyance, panting with exertion. He quickly turned around, ignoring Night’s smirk, and kicked at one of the corpses with his boot. The horror’s blood was pure black, and splatters of it had gotten on him and Kal. “Are you going to eat?” he asked Kal.
Kalsarin crouched down. “Smells funny.”
“Maybe it tastes better than it smells?” Astor suggested. Suddenly, he felt something hit him on the back of his head.
“What—“ He turned around, and realized that Night had whacked him with her staff.
“Don’t cut me off!” Night yelled.
Astor grabbed her chin and forced her to meet his gaze, his patience fraying. He glared at her menacingly. “Such impertinence, Night. Have you forgotten who leads this party?” He squeezed her cheeks, making her pout.
Night frowned. “You’re lucky I haven’t incinerated you yet. Let me go!” She tried to pry herself free of his grip but he didn’t budge.
Astor smiled coldly in response, his grip on her face only tightening.
Kal watched their bickering with mild amusement, while Shadowheart rolled her eyes. She shoved both Astor and Night roughly on their shoulders, causing Astor to release Night. “Stop that, you two. I can’t watch more of this.”
“Shadowheart!” Astor yelled in shock. But Shadowheart stuck her tongue out and walked away.
The group set off towards the towering glowing tree in the distance. The map indicated they needed to walk past the tree to an exit on the other side.
Night ran up beside Astor. “You didn’t end up drinking the hook horror blood?”
Astor stared at a splatter of blood on his arm for a moment. Then he took a tentative lick and grimaced. “Ugh, that was foul. I’d rather drink your blood three times a day than this.”
“Please stop using my blood as a palatability scale,” Night complained. She attempted to hit Astor again with her staff, but he grabbed it and snatched it away.
“Hey!” Night tried to grab it back, but he held it high in the air, out of her reach. She tried jumping but still couldn’t reach.
Astor laughed quietly at the sight. He let Night struggle for a bit, then tossed the staff back to her. “Stop hitting me with it or I’m confiscating it.”
Night barely managed to catch it. “Woah—be careful! Do you know how much this costs?”
In front of them, Shadowheart and Kal stood waiting.
“We are never getting out of here at this rate,” Shadowheart murmured, shaking her head.