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The Adventures of Berred, Ranger of Shadow Deep
Scenario 1: The Broken Stairs
Mission 3: Descent into Darkness
While the battle against the Shadow Deep rages along the line of the old beacon towers, you and your companions have made a huge discovery. Scouting the area behind Tor Varden, you found a long, deep fissure that runs down into the gloom of the Shadow Deep. Within this fissure is a rough and broken stairway. It seems too purposeful to be a natural occurrence, yet its rough surface and uneven, sloping steps argue against it being made by the hands of men. Reporting your find to your superiors, you quickly receive new orders. You are to lead your team down the stairs and penetrate as far as you can into the Shadow Deep. You will be the first warriors of Alladore to enter the cursed realm and any intelligence you can bring back will be of huge importance. Take any opportunity to strike against the enemy, but your primary goal is reconnaissance.
Scenario 1: The Broken Stairs
Laden down with provisions (for who knows if there is food or even drinkable water below?), you start the treacherous descent of the stairs. In some places you move quickly, in others, you must step lightly, checking your footing with each movement, as cracked and broken rocks crumble away. As you get lower, the air thickens and breathing becomes more difficult. Black ash floats in the breeze, filling your nostrils and stinging your eyes. You are just about to call for a break, when you hear a loud buzzing noise, first from one direction and then from the other. You ready your weapons, just as the first bloated body comes flitting into view.
This was going to be slow going. The terrain was steep, no running here. There was a loud buzzing in the air and it seemed to be getting louder. A greenish fog was enveloping the valley far below. Dart sniffed the air and whined. Trysten gave him a calming stroke as he edged further down these so-called stairs. Suddenly movement between the rocks, the sun reflecting something, wings? Were they birds, no, giant flies! Both Berred and Trotter (the tracker) had arrows at the ready, and let fly. Both missed. The buzzing grew louder.
Dart suddenly ran forward, barking, channeling his inner mountain goat. He made short work of the sloping path, Trysten yelling for him to return. Merlin the conjuror muttered something under his breath and a fly dropped from the air. He grinned, imitating a swatting motion. Another giant fly appeared from a nearby hole to take the dead fly’s place.
More arrows flew and two more flies dropped out of the air. Merlin made another sign and another fly was swatted. The new companion was doing work Berred thought. It pays to bring a wizard. Why oh why did I think of bringing that dog Trysten thought as he hurried after Dart who looked like he was really enjoying his “walkies”. More flies appeared, from several holes in the cliff side and started heading towards our heroes.
“We’re going to have to climb along and block those holes” muttered Berred. “No problem “ said Trotter (the tracker) suddenly leaving the stairs and heading for the nearest hole. Suddenly with a loud clatter a few rocks and boulders dislodged from further up and came hurtling down. Berred easily dodged to one side but Trotter wasn’t so lucky. He took a rock head on but he somehow managed to keep his footing. His head was bleeding badly and the wound was already swelling up to add to his rugged looks. Without a moment's pause Merlin was chanting and much to Trotter’s surprise the bleeding stopped and he felt, and looked better.
Trotter got to the hole which was surrounded by dry bushes which he broke off and shoved into the hole and then set fire to it with his pipe. Meanwhile Berred shot another approaching fly as yet more appeared further down the path.
Something, looking like possible treasure, caught Berred’s eye just off the path. As he climbed down to investigate, a giant fly, already wounded with one of Berred’s arrows sticking out of it, charged him. No problem, the fly was chopped in two as Berred swung his sword. 
Slightly further down the path Trysten was out of breath. Pausing as he saw Dart waiting for him lower down. A giant fly suddenly approached and then was dropped, as one of Trotter’s arrows landed home. Halleck joined Trysten and they both started to make their way to another fly hole nearby intending on sealing that one up. Just as they left the path another fly appeared. Yet another arrow was fired by Trotter but missed. 
As Berred was inspecting the treasure he noticed something near the approaching Merlin, a body! He shouted across, and Merlin nodded. Berred then looked at what he had, a small box filled with Dremlocke Weed, interesting. Merlin looked at the remains of the body and found a small bottle which he recognised as a potion of strength and there also appeared to be a letter. He quickly gave it the once over. It was a letter to a ”lady love” in Alladore from a young Soldier, presumably this body. Sad that it won’t be delivered. Merlin then headed to the nearby fly hole to bung it up. Anything to stop these annoying flies.
With Trysten’s help Halleck impaled the fly on the end of his billhook, then Trysten proceeded to block up their fly hole with Halleck on guard then they gingerly made their way back to the stairs.
Merlin dropped a mysterious item into his fly hole and the whole thing imploded. A job well done, and no more flies from that. Time to head back and join the others.
Just as Merlin and Trysten were making their way back, Berred, Halleck and Trotter noticed some of that green fog had risen on a gust of wind. It passed over their part of the path and enveloped them. Coughing and spluttering our heroes had to pause in their descent to catch their breath. The fog soon passed however but the taste didn’t. Still, at least there were no giant flies nearby or things could have been a lot worse. They heard a bark down below, Dart resting on a wide step was getting impatient waiting for them. The three heroes continued to descend with the other two, now back on the stairs a short way behind hurrying to catch up. Pausing and looking back upwards Berred made some notes and drew a small map of this area for their eventual return and report. The companions continued their descent into the Shadow Deep. 
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