Arrik and Sir Duke are stranded in a hidden subterranean chamber, captives of the evil black drow, Zilspirmas and the High Ogre Margherth. They were on a mission to rescue two princes that had been captured and were being held for ransom by the loathesome pair. 'I can feel the effects of the cave starting to have an effect on me, Sir Duke! If we are to hope to get out of this mess, we will have to do something very soon, or we will wind up as we did to Zilspirmas, and take a rather long nap!' 'If I can get one of the guards attention, I still have my dragon's glamour! Our regular magic is ineffective inside this cave, but I feel my basic dragonness is still in effect. Let me try reaching out to them and see what happens.' As Sir Duke beams his glamor at the two sentries Zilspirmas has guarding the exit to the cave, the weaker one seems to respond to Sir Dukes efforts. Very soon, he walks across the lava bridge over to our two ancients. 'What are you two trying to do now? I don't want any funny stuff! I still have powers of my own that I can use against you so you better watch it!' said the sentry. 'We were just discussing how well you two are constructed. Usually, Zilspirmas doesn't waste much time on details over his creature creations. But I must say, you two really show that he must have enjoyed creating you!' said Arrik. All this time, Sir Duke has been probing inside the sentry's skull, probing for some connection he can latch onto and manipulate. His eyes begin to glow brighter and larger and suddenly, several purple colors pulses dart across the darkness over to the sentry's head. 'Don't you think it is time you went over to the other guard and told him what a moron he is? You know you are the smarter of the two of you and that your reward for guarding us should be a much bigger portion than his!' say Arrik. 'You know, that is a great idea!' says the sentry. 'But you guys better not try any funny stuff while I'm gone. I still need to prepare you for your long naps!' 'Oh, we wouldn't think of disturbing you in this fine setting!' Arrik shouts as the sentry crosses the bridge on his way over to the other sentry. Sir Duke switches directions and starts beaming his pulses at the other sentry shortly before the first sentry reaches him. A few words from the first sentry and the next thing you know, their axes start swinging and it isn't very long before they have slain each other and are laying in a bloody heap near the cave's huge doors. 'Well, Sir Duke! What are we waiting for? Doesn't seem to be much holding us here now does there? We better make a speedy exit before more of these buggers show up!' 'I couldn't agree more, Arrik' say Sir Duke, as they scramble across the lava bridge and up the pathway past the bloody mess of sentries and up to the door. Of course it is locked, so Arrik rushes back to the sentries and soon returns with a key. What a lucky day for our two ancient heroes! Not soon enough, they find themselves on the other side of the door and are scrambling up the steep slope of the cave heading toward the exit. Before reaching the top, the encounter a squad of creatures similar to the two sentries, but not that they are out of the confines of the cave, their magic is starting to work again. They have no trouble dispatching Zilspirmas's troops before they have to get into a hand-to-hand combat situation. Lucky them! Once they reach the top of the cavern and are outside it doesn't take them long to figure out where they are. 'I remember this cavern now. It isn't really all that far from Margherth's castle. We should be there in short order. Sir Duke, can you return to your usual size and fly us there, pronto?' 'No problem, Arrik! We should be there before the sun sets! I only hope Zilspirmas hasn't harmed the princes!' M4, millennium dragon and lorez characters. Rendered in Poser 6. Postwork in PS7. Thank you for taking a peek! Your support is greatly appreciated!