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Description

by Natamin

It was close now. Very close Gara thought to himself as he rubbed his chin. Days of mapping these catacombs would soon pay of. Most of the traps were so poor only a novice explorer and treasure hunter would be caught off guard. However though in the back of Gara's mind he was slightly worried. Normally the places with the Most "Phat Lewt" had better the traps and preventative measures. Usually the ones with less had poor items of no value.

"Oh Man. That can't be true." Gara mumbled to himself. After all this was supposed to be the tomb of a powerful demon-lord who went by several titles. The Pact maker. The Wish Granter. The Backstabber. A being who played solely on the hubris of mortals and immortals in order to advance itself in wealth power and stature in the demon ranks. Surely with such titles and a known history something of value had to be in this dank hole.

The only opposition so far besides the occasional trap were easily overcome. The Room with the spike traps on the walls they all got caught in was dealt with by Jase pounding down the door with his bare fists. The local scamp demons were dispatched by Iyana's quick wit and a few magical balls of energy. The reanimated skeletal guardians were so old they practical would have fallen apart without being slashed by a flurry of blades.

"It does feel a bit like Amateur hour." Gara said to himself. Usually when the trio decided to take on a job like this it usually involved crazy things. Like big snakes or Liches who captured and turned Iyana into a living statue. Or mind-flayers attempting to kiss everyone and suck out their brains though there noses.

Quickly turning around and looking behind him Gara balled his fists and said out-loud. "Man this better not be another bust. It's been awhile since we've done some pristine adventuring and gotten something out of it! And I went to so much trouble to steal the map to the entrance of this place!"

"And we'd move faster if you two stopped shagging each other!" Gara said echoing behind him.

"Now, Now. You got such a dirty mind you naughty boy." Replied back Iyana's voice just past Gara's field of vision.

"We were just backtracking to make sure we didn't miss any rooms. You been awfully lazy about scanning for hidden doors and buttons. Keep your eyes on the prize and not Iyana's toned butt and breasts." Jase said coming into view near Iyana.

"I swear you two are becoming intolerable." Gara said as his companions caught up to him.

"Aww, you're just an impatient little boy." Iyana said leaning into Gara and stroking his chest with her blue polished index finger nail. “After all there is plenty of me to go around." Iyana said breathing on Gara's neck causing him to tense up ever so slightly."

"Okay! Remember your deep breath exercises." Jase said pulling the back of Iyana's loin cloth to get her off Gara.

Scoffing Iyana's reached between her busty chest and pulled out a small piece of paper. Tossing it to Gara he caught it in mid air and opened it up. It was a hand drawn path of the turns and rooms they had been in up to this point. Several dozen. The starting rooms and paths were all just lengths of cave walls, but as they had advanced further actual man-made rooms and walls separated the paths. This final path was the only one remaining they could take.

" Be on your guard. If this is the final area, I suspect a boss encounter of some sort will happen." Jase said.

"Oh you are such a worrier." Iyana said and swayed her hips as she walked past Jace. Reaching a stone door without a second thought she pulled a nearby lever and it started to raise up. Inch by inch as it opened a wave of heat struck the party.

"Everyone be careful! Clean Air Spell!" Iyana said and snapped her fingers. Multiple colored magical sparks and glitter swirled around everyone. As the door stopped opening the heat only intensified showing a stone bridge the length of a city block beyond. It stood tall below a chasm below that glowed brightly orange and red as molten lava flowed. Other then the bridge connecting from one side of the chasm to the other there was nothing but a wide canyon of empty space. On the walls carved in blocks of stone there were markings of some sort there were hard to make out due to heat-screens mirage effect.

"I've shielded our lungs for the moment. We'd be dead in minutes if the phosphorus toxins and other things in the air made it into our lungs." Iyana said and entered the room and looked down at the river of lava below them. "And wearing this outfit pays off yet again. I'll keep cooler then you two." Iyana said and looked at her two companions with a smile before continuing down the bridge.

"Should you be crossing that thing without checking for traps first?" Gara asked.

"While exercising caution is never wrong. One would have to be very foolish to put traps on a bridge. Especially if that bridge is the only way to and from your central stronghold. If the bridge were to be damaged or collapsed you would be stranded with no means of leaving." Jase responded.

"The big guys got a point. It would be pretty silly for a demon to-" Iyana was cut off mid sentence as she backwards. An invisible wall of energy for a moment became visible displaying similar markings to those on the walls of the canyon. As both her companions caught Iyana she sighed out loud.

"Well I guess a death trap is out of the question. But a magical ward is pretty smart." Being helped back up to her feet Iyana put her hands on her hips and tapped her right foot thinking to herself as she outstretched her hand gently and made the ward glow again.

"Do you recognize those symbols?" Jase asked.

"Yes. It's a form of demonic writing." Iyana said. "Unfortunately I have no ability to translate it. I'm certain it probably has something to do with those markings on the far walls."

"Oh don't this just beat all!" Gara said to himself. "So what do we do here? We gotta backtrack to a library or something and find a book to translate this thing?"

Grinning wide Iyana replied. "No. I know someone who is an expert on this type of thing. You boys just sit tight in the other room. I'll be back in a day or so." Iyana said and slowly started walking away.
-Later-

A little less then a day had past before Gara and Jase heard the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance. No mistake about it they thought as they both looked at each other. Those were Iyana's heels clicking into the stone floor. And the sound of someone with her. As both looked down the corridor as they sat at a small makeshift camp.

"Are you little boys still down here?" Iyana asked in a teasing tone.

"Yeah. Did you find who you were..." Jase stopped mid-sentence and paused as he saw who was accompanying Iyana. A woman with deep red eyes and hair, wearing a black and white dress, with red boots and golden buckles. Behind her slithered a red tail that extended over four feet with a heart shaped tip
"Looking for...?"

"Yeah. She was a bit of a bitch to persuade to come but I got her." Iyana replied grinning wide looking at her companion. Both Gara and Jase tensed up and looked at each other. This wouldn't end well, they just knew it. They had expected her to bring a fellow mage or a demonology expert. But not an actual demoness.

Every-time this woman was around Iyana it meant trouble. When they last got Iyana away from this evil woman she had broken Iyana down so much she had altered her psyche. Iyana for over a month's will and personalty had been reduced to almost that of a wild animal in heat. She wanted to romp and play with everyone and do the most wild naughty things. Both men sighed and mentally prepared for what was to come.

"Yeesh. If your boy toys opinion of me was any lower they would be attacking me right now." Leona said with a delicious smile on her fact. "Besides if I hadn't rescued and 'set free' Iyana she would have been sent to emperor such and such in some far away land and probably executed. It's safe to say you boys owe me one."

Gara and Jase again both exchanged glances at each other. Silently agreeing with each other for the moment being it would be best to tolerate Leona's presence. After all she had never really harmed Iyana. And Hopefully she would get them across the bridge and lead them to treasure.

"So Iyana has explained to me some barrier is blocking your path. Something with Demonic letters?" Leona said and walked to the stone door at the end of the hallway. Kicking the lever with her foot the stone door slowly began to raise upward. Iyana quickly snapped her finger and cast the clean air spell on her friends causing colorful swirls of magic to appear around them.

As Leona slowly walked across the bridge she snapped her right hand. A very small ball of purple fire appeared in her palm. Holding her palm open she raised it close to her lips and gave the gentlest of blows with her lips. The fire danced in the shape of a small horse and even gave what sounded like a neigh as it flew from her hand forward several feet. Impacting with the invisible barrier it was dispelled serving it's purpose. As colored words appeared Leona raised an eyebrow in slight confusion.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Jase asked.

"It's not what's wrong. It's just this is kind of silly. It appears to be a riddle of some kind. It asks. 'Heavy it is, but in reverse it's not.' And this is why I am not a fan of brain teasers. Oh well least it isn't the bridge of death over the gorge of eternal peril and we don't have to answer the questions three."

"The what, where?!" Iyana asked curious.

"Ah nothing." Leona replied and quickly sat down crossing her legs over each over each other scratching her head. Iyana, Jase and Gara all sat down next to her looking over her shoulder hoping she would produce an answer.
-Six Hours Later-
"Well it's not water. It's not air. It's not life. It's not time." Leona said some how having produced a pencil and paper scratching off answers shouting them one by one at the barrier. Iyana laying sultry on her side sighed.

"You know I bet this riddle is so old the answer is something dumb and mundane and might not even make sense in the current era. That's the problem with these types of things." Iyana whimpered and set her head on the warm stone floor. It was well after dark now and the group had been up all day. Tensions were getting a little high they had come this far only to be delayed.

"Ugh. I bet there is a ton of treasure over there!" Hara said and pointed across the chasm to the other side. "And were all to stupid to figure this out!" Almost foaming at the mouth like if having smelled the scene of blood Gara impatiently walked back and forth pacing envisioning a room full of gold and magical treasures. "Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb!"

"Wait a minute. What did you just say?" Jase asked raising an eyebrow.

"I said were all a bunch of frigging idiots!" Gara responded snappy like.

"No before that?” Jase clarified.

"What? Just there is probably a bunch of treasure over there and we can't get to it. It's taunting us man!" Gara responded.

"No. You said Ton. A ton of treasure over there. Ton... ton...'Heavy it is, but in reverse its not.' Ton spelled backwards is not." Jase said with calm and clarity.

"Hey demon-lady. Try shouting ton at this thing." Gara quickly demanded.

"Manners now." Leona responded and slowly stood up.

"Pleeeeease?" Gara quickly responded.

"Now that's better. Ahem." Leona said and cleared her throat. Inhaling deeply she shouted "TON!" The entire group looked on with high expectations as nothing happened. After a few moments Gara sighed and began to go into a rant about how much this sucked. Minutes and minutes went by as he cursed the gods and his luck.

"You know I've just about had enough of you." Leona said and held out both her hands, a torrent of flames burst from so wide the entire area in-front of her was engulfed. Gulping Gara slowly began to backup. His sword was back at the make shift camp and he was weaponless.

"Now hold on there demon lady. I just haven't slept in a day and a half." Gara quickly said. Leona grinned wide and her eyes flashed red. " Don't be like that! Hey guys! Help me already!" Gara said asking his companions for help as he continued to back up.

"I think you deserve a good spanking." Iyana said with her hands on her hips.

"Oh come on! Jase man help me out!" Gara demanded.

"The teachings of monk-hood say to respect all life and people. And you blatantly disrespected this demon who has done nothing but try to aide us." Jase calmly responded.

"Yeah, that's right." Leona said, he voice much deeper and evil sounding as she held the flames out towards Gara. Closing his eyes and bracing for scorching heat to hit him he backed up into something. Quickly turning around he looked bewildered, he had managed to cross the bridge somehow through the ward and was on the other side. As Leona got closer the flames vanished and she laughed out loud.

"So nice of you to volunteer to be the first to the other side." Leona teased. From behind her Iyana giggled and Jase laughed.

"Not cool!" Gara responded in a grumpy tone and walked past Leona back to the other side of the bridge to get his gear. Following behind him Leona picked up the piece of paper she had writen on and tossed it over the side. It burst into flames long before it hit the lava below.

"Well you kids probably should take a nap or something before going over there. The wards down now so there is no rush." Leona said.

"You won't be joining us?" Jase asked.

"Nah. Dungeon diving isn't really my thing. But if you are looking for help I'd be happy to oblige you." Leona responded and snapped her fingers. There was the sound of sneering fire and a puff of ash that smelled like brimstone. As it cleared instantly a young elven looking woman holding a spoon to her mouth with cereal in it looked at everyone confused. She wore a pair of boots, tight beige pants and matching top. Her hair was short and tomboyish and her green eyes looked at everyone bedazzled. On her back was a sheathed two handed tulwar.

"Hey Natamin!" Iyana said happily.

Gulping down the spoonful of cereal Natamin knew she was in for a ride now.

"Now Remember our deal." Leona said with a smile in her voice.

"What Deal?!" Gara, Jase and Natamin all asked at the same time confused. Looking upward Leona put an innocent expression on her face. She had forgotten to mention the deal she had made with Iyana.

"Silly me. I forgot to mention. In order to break me away from my quite time at home I would be having right now -"

"With me no less!" Natamin interrupted.

"Yes yes, with you." Leona said altering her statement. "Iyana made a pact with me. In exchange for my time she made a gamble. If things here don't go as you all plan, and you either fail to find gold or some riches at the end of this dungeon. I get to keep Iyana for a few days and do anything I want with her." Leona said licking her lips and rubbing her hands together. Her facial expression looked quite deviant as if she had plans in the works. However it was broken as Natamin walked up behind and formed a fist and bonked her on the head.

"OW! What the bloody devil was that for?" Leona asked rubbing the back of her skull.

"That's quite the deal to be making without telling me! And it was so nice of you to just volunteer me, I mean I don't even have my mages gear! I had plans for this evening you know!" Natamin rapidly said almost foaming at the mouth.

"You were going to go to dinner, and come home and probably more then likely get ravaged by me. You make it sound like you were going to me the leader of a nation or something." Leona quipped. "Now get your cute little ass in there and help them out. You got your sword, that's more then enough!"

"Ugh. I guess." Natamin said and rolled her eyes. Leona leaned into Natamin and gave her a little kiss on the cheek before poofing into purple flames and disappearing. And just like that Natamin was now stuck with Iyana's group. Having no idea where they were, and having no choice but to press forward into the unknown. She couldn't shake the thought though somehow Leona was playing everyone.

Normally Leona would never make pacts with people for her time, she would just assist them if needed. There had to be some sort of high probability of failure or walking away with nothing. Natamin thought to herself. And if that was the case Leona had almost certainly already won.

"Wow. I never knew, you were trained to use a sword. That's amazing you cross skill sets like that." Iyana said. Perhaps she had been underestimating Natamin this entire time. Iyana herself had used a great sword at one point but just lugging it around took it's toll and it was almost impossible to use unless the circumstance was right. She had stashed it in a bank and deciding to adapt a full caster outlook on life.

"I can do all sorts of things." Natamin shrugged as she was broken from her train of thought. No matter what happened she would make sure to be on guard and ready for anything.

"Well. That settles it! Lets make some monah!" Gara said balling his fist and raising it into the air excited to see what was across the bridge. As he began walking across the bridge he stopped entirely as he was shouted at.

"Not so fast." Iyana declared. "You and monk-guy guard our rear"

"Is that some sort of sexual innuendo?" Gara asked confused. "Because I can watch your butt just fine up there as down here."

"There is some wisdom in what she suggested." Jase spoke and said down. Crossing his legs he entered a meditation stance and held one hand up. "It is quite possible any number of things could happen and having two allies at the rear could be advantageous. After all no general just sends all of his troops straight forward."

"Arggh.. You mean we have to sit around more? What if there are traps?" Gara asked.

"I can cast detect trap." Iyana responded.

"What if there are things immune to magic?" Gare quickly retorted.

"I can hack and slash just fine." Natamin said and pulled her Tulwar over her shoulder and began to twirl it around like it was light as a feather. It was the first time Gara and Jase had seen Natamin without her robe on. Her arms were quite toned and she clearly was used to lifting swords.

"I'm going to take a nap. Wake me when were rich." Gara said disappointed and walked back towards the camp.

"Right. Let's do this!" Natamin and Iyana said at the same time and began to walk across the bridge. They said nothing else as they both took there time getting to the other side. A lever to open the door was on the ground near the door. Iyana pulled it and the sound of gears turned from the other-side of the wall. The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed as dust dropped from the door and it slowly raised upward. When it reached the top the lever clicked and locked into place.

Snapping her fingers Iyana summoned ethereal chains which sunk in though the bridge and kept the lever pulled down. She was taking no chances that this door would close behind them.

The next room was ornate. The walls were a golden bronze color and more demonic markings were carved into them. For the most part the room was empty except for lit braziers on the walls and ceiling. Iyana suspected that opening the door must have set of some sort of heating and lighting system. In the center of the room there was a small stairwell leading up about ten feet and on-top of it was an ornate looking wooden chest. Sturdy and showing no signs of decay or how long it had been there.

"Oh. My. GODS!" A voice rang out and echoed on the walls of the room. It was feminine but clearly a males voice. Natamin raised her sword defensively with one hand as both her and Iyana looked around the room. From behind the small staircase leading to nowhere a single eyeball appeared connected to a green tentacle of some sort. Both Natamin and Iyana stood defensively as another eyeball appeared, then another and another untill a green mass floated from behind the chest.

"We haven't had guests in Fooooorevvvvver! Welcome Welcome!" The mass said. As it came more into the light Natamin and Iyana were able to get a good look at it. There was no mistaking it. A Dozen small eyes connected to stocks which connected to the main mass. A huge single Green eye in the middle of the mass. Under the eye was a wide maw of a mouth with all length of sharp and pointy teeth which sat unevenly. Some of the teeth were so long they exited the mouth entirely like misshapen fangs.

The masses skin glossy if coated with some sort of slime. At the same time thought it was very leathery and omitted and odor that was oddly pleasant. There was no mistaking it. This was a Gazer, also known as a Beholder. A being made entirely out of magic. Iyana kept a defensive posture as it slowly hovered above the ground towards them. She had delt with these before. The greater and older ones were said to be as powerful as liches. Magical attacks from the center eye were known to vaporize entire city blocks.

"Honestly it's been ages since I've had company! You must come in and chat with me! It's get soooooo boring! Can I get you girls a cup of tea?" The Gazer asked and quickly as high speed zoomed around the room and blinding speed. It's eye stocks tossing things around until it found a kettle and filled it up with water from a nearby small fountian.

"Exercise caution Natamin, these things are hyper intelligent and have been known to..." Iyana stopped mid sentence noticing Natamin wasn't standing next to her anymore. Confused she looked at the far side of the Room where Natamin was standing near the Beholder as it set the kettle over a small stove.

"Oh My goodness! You are soooo cute!!" Natamin said sheathing her sword and examining every inch of the gazer. Quickly hopping around it and poking and prodding it as the eye stocks examined Natamin back.

"Why thank you sooo much deary!" The Gazer responded. "Your not a bad looker yourself! I could give you some tips if you like!"

Quickly running over Iyana pointed her finger at Natamin. "What in the abyss are you doing?! These things are dangerous!"

Natamin put her sword into the ground and leaned on it with a smile on her face. Looking back at Iyana she responded with. "Naah. Your over reacting. Gazers are some of the coolest. They are right up there with there Evil-Eye cousins."

"That's besides the point!" Iyana said as several of the eye-stocks observed her. One of them even slowly sliding under her loincloth.

"No undies! What curious anatomy you have!" The Gazer said in a teasing tone.

"Hey! You watch where you put those things!" Iyana said and swatted away the stocks peering at her.

"You both are very curious. One of you is trusting, the other isn't. It's like one of those riddles master was so fond of. "The Gazer said.

"Master?" Both Iyana and Natamin asked at the same time.

"Oh, master was the Demon-Lord of this place way back when. He was eventually defeated but not before stashing some of his most vaaaaaluble treasures in this vault!" The Gazer responded.

"Treasures?" Natamin and Iyana again asked at the same time curiously.

"Oh yes. Master kept his two most prized possessions in this world in the chest up there." The gazer responded.

"Well what are they?" Iyana asked.

All of the Gazers eyestocks crossed over each other as if it was emulating crossing it's arms. The suspense grew thick as Natamin and Iyana waited to know just what exactly they could be walking away with her.

"No idea!" The Gazer replied and Both Natamin and Iyana lost balance and fell on there behinds.

"What? You mean you've been guarding that chest for generations and you never looked inside?! You never got bored and wondered?" Iyana asked as she quickly got up.

"Silly dear. I am gazer. I was contractually obligated to watch that for a period of five-thousand years."

"Five thousand years?!" Iyana said. That length of time was an eternity.

"Ah that's nothing. A blink of an eye for us. Time has no meaning when you are literally made out of magic and don't age! Did you want one lump or two in your tea?" The gazer asked holding out a small bronze cup to Iyana.

"Um, I'm not thirsty." Iyana said declining the tea fearing some sort of treachery.

"I'll take some sugar in mine." Natamin said and was handed a cup. Iyana said nothing as she took several sips of her tea. "Mmn. Mint Tea." Natamin said and continued to sip. Iyana counted the seconds. Seconds turned into minutes. Nothing happened. Either Natamin was so trusting she had just gotten lucky in situations like this. Or she knew something Iyana didn't. Either way it bugged her.

"So you two dears are hear for the treasure no doubt!" The Gazer said excited.

"We sure are!" Natamin said. "We wont have to fight you will we? I'd feel rather bad having to do that to such a nice host."

The Gazer broke out into high pitched laughter which echoed off the walls. Natamin looked a bit confused but the Gazed replied. "I just watch the place, I don't fight anyone. But anyone attempting to get those finger things you have on that chest has two tests they must pass."

"What kind of tests?" Iyana asked.

"Well the first test, is the test of brawn! I toss a ten sided die with monster names written on the side. Whatever name is face up when the die lands will be summoned. You have to beat it." The Gazer said.

"Doesn't sound to bad." Natamin said.

And like as if someone had pulled out a feather and started tickling the Gazer it errupted into giggles."Not to bad it says. On you dears are funny. Nobody's survived that test so far." The Gazer said.

"And what about the other test?" Iyana asked.

"The other is a test of wits. I will present you with several keys. One of them is the right key to the chest. Which one I have no idea! Nobody's ever gotten that far! IT should be fun to see what happens!"

"Well No time like the present! Let's start this first trial!" Iyana declared.

"Hehehe. They want to try their luck!" The Gazer said amused to itself. "It's going to be a shame if you end up like the others and I am alone again for awhile. But if you win I can finally leave this place since there will be nothing to guard." One of the eye-stocks reached inside the Gazers mouth and pulled a red ten-sided tie out from under it's tongue. Natamin put down her cup and walked down the steps with Iyana ready for anything.

"Okay girl's! Here it comeeeees!" The Gazer said amused tossing the die into the air. Both Natamin and Iyana looked at each other at hit the ground and began to roll. Things were about to get rough.

The story elements are written by

Description

by Natamin

It was close now. Very close Gara thought to himself as he rubbed his chin. Days of mapping these catacombs would soon pay of. Most of the traps were so poor only a novice explorer and treasure hunter would be caught off guard. However though in the back of Gara's mind he was slightly worried. Normally the places with the Most "Phat Lewt" had better the traps and preventative measures. Usually the ones with less had poor items of no value.

"Oh Man. That can't be true." Gara mumbled to himself. After all this was supposed to be the tomb of a powerful demon-lord who went by several titles. The Pact maker. The Wish Granter. The Backstabber. A being who played solely on the hubris of mortals and immortals in order to advance itself in wealth power and stature in the demon ranks. Surely with such titles and a known history something of value had to be in this dank hole.

The only opposition so far besides the occasional trap were easily overcome. The Room with the spike traps on the walls they all got caught in was dealt with by Jase pounding down the door with his bare fists. The local scamp demons were dispatched by Iyana's quick wit and a few magical balls of energy. The reanimated skeletal guardians were so old they practical would have fallen apart without being slashed by a flurry of blades.

"It does feel a bit like Amateur hour." Gara said to himself. Usually when the trio decided to take on a job like this it usually involved crazy things. Like big snakes or Liches who captured and turned Iyana into a living statue. Or mind-flayers attempting to kiss everyone and suck out their brains though there noses.

Quickly turning around and looking behind him Gara balled his fists and said out-loud. "Man this better not be another bust. It's been awhile since we've done some pristine adventuring and gotten something out of it! And I went to so much trouble to steal the map to the entrance of this place!"

"And we'd move faster if you two stopped shagging each other!" Gara said echoing behind him.

"Now, Now. You got such a dirty mind you naughty boy." Replied back Iyana's voice just past Gara's field of vision.

"We were just backtracking to make sure we didn't miss any rooms. You been awfully lazy about scanning for hidden doors and buttons. Keep your eyes on the prize and not Iyana's toned butt and breasts." Jase said coming into view near Iyana.

"I swear you two are becoming intolerable." Gara said as his companions caught up to him.

"Aww, you're just an impatient little boy." Iyana said leaning into Gara and stroking his chest with her blue polished index finger nail. “After all there is plenty of me to go around." Iyana said breathing on Gara's neck causing him to tense up ever so slightly."

"Okay! Remember your deep breath exercises." Jase said pulling the back of Iyana's loin cloth to get her off Gara.

Scoffing Iyana's reached between her busty chest and pulled out a small piece of paper. Tossing it to Gara he caught it in mid air and opened it up. It was a hand drawn path of the turns and rooms they had been in up to this point. Several dozen. The starting rooms and paths were all just lengths of cave walls, but as they had advanced further actual man-made rooms and walls separated the paths. This final path was the only one remaining they could take.

" Be on your guard. If this is the final area, I suspect a boss encounter of some sort will happen." Jase said.

"Oh you are such a worrier." Iyana said and swayed her hips as she walked past Jace. Reaching a stone door without a second thought she pulled a nearby lever and it started to raise up. Inch by inch as it opened a wave of heat struck the party.

"Everyone be careful! Clean Air Spell!" Iyana said and snapped her fingers. Multiple colored magical sparks and glitter swirled around everyone. As the door stopped opening the heat only intensified showing a stone bridge the length of a city block beyond. It stood tall below a chasm below that glowed brightly orange and red as molten lava flowed. Other then the bridge connecting from one side of the chasm to the other there was nothing but a wide canyon of empty space. On the walls carved in blocks of stone there were markings of some sort there were hard to make out due to heat-screens mirage effect.

"I've shielded our lungs for the moment. We'd be dead in minutes if the phosphorus toxins and other things in the air made it into our lungs." Iyana said and entered the room and looked down at the river of lava below them. "And wearing this outfit pays off yet again. I'll keep cooler then you two." Iyana said and looked at her two companions with a smile before continuing down the bridge.

"Should you be crossing that thing without checking for traps first?" Gara asked.

"While exercising caution is never wrong. One would have to be very foolish to put traps on a bridge. Especially if that bridge is the only way to and from your central stronghold. If the bridge were to be damaged or collapsed you would be stranded with no means of leaving." Jase responded.

"The big guys got a point. It would be pretty silly for a demon to-" Iyana was cut off mid sentence as she backwards. An invisible wall of energy for a moment became visible displaying similar markings to those on the walls of the canyon. As both her companions caught Iyana she sighed out loud.

"Well I guess a death trap is out of the question. But a magical ward is pretty smart." Being helped back up to her feet Iyana put her hands on her hips and tapped her right foot thinking to herself as she outstretched her hand gently and made the ward glow again.

"Do you recognize those symbols?" Jase asked.

"Yes. It's a form of demonic writing." Iyana said. "Unfortunately I have no ability to translate it. I'm certain it probably has something to do with those markings on the far walls."

"Oh don't this just beat all!" Gara said to himself. "So what do we do here? We gotta backtrack to a library or something and find a book to translate this thing?"

Grinning wide Iyana replied. "No. I know someone who is an expert on this type of thing. You boys just sit tight in the other room. I'll be back in a day or so." Iyana said and slowly started walking away.
-Later-

A little less then a day had past before Gara and Jase heard the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance. No mistake about it they thought as they both looked at each other. Those were Iyana's heels clicking into the stone floor. And the sound of someone with her. As both looked down the corridor as they sat at a small makeshift camp.

"Are you little boys still down here?" Iyana asked in a teasing tone.

"Yeah. Did you find who you were..." Jase stopped mid-sentence and paused as he saw who was accompanying Iyana. A woman with deep red eyes and hair, wearing a black and white dress, with red boots and golden buckles. Behind her slithered a red tail that extended over four feet with a heart shaped tip
"Looking for...?"

"Yeah. She was a bit of a bitch to persuade to come but I got her." Iyana replied grinning wide looking at her companion. Both Gara and Jase tensed up and looked at each other. This wouldn't end well, they just knew it. They had expected her to bring a fellow mage or a demonology expert. But not an actual demoness.

Every-time this woman was around Iyana it meant trouble. When they last got Iyana away from this evil woman she had broken Iyana down so much she had altered her psyche. Iyana for over a month's will and personalty had been reduced to almost that of a wild animal in heat. She wanted to romp and play with everyone and do the most wild naughty things. Both men sighed and mentally prepared for what was to come.

"Yeesh. If your boy toys opinion of me was any lower they would be attacking me right now." Leona said with a delicious smile on her fact. "Besides if I hadn't rescued and 'set free' Iyana she would have been sent to emperor such and such in some far away land and probably executed. It's safe to say you boys owe me one."

Gara and Jase again both exchanged glances at each other. Silently agreeing with each other for the moment being it would be best to tolerate Leona's presence. After all she had never really harmed Iyana. And Hopefully she would get them across the bridge and lead them to treasure.

"So Iyana has explained to me some barrier is blocking your path. Something with Demonic letters?" Leona said and walked to the stone door at the end of the hallway. Kicking the lever with her foot the stone door slowly began to raise upward. Iyana quickly snapped her finger and cast the clean air spell on her friends causing colorful swirls of magic to appear around them.

As Leona slowly walked across the bridge she snapped her right hand. A very small ball of purple fire appeared in her palm. Holding her palm open she raised it close to her lips and gave the gentlest of blows with her lips. The fire danced in the shape of a small horse and even gave what sounded like a neigh as it flew from her hand forward several feet. Impacting with the invisible barrier it was dispelled serving it's purpose. As colored words appeared Leona raised an eyebrow in slight confusion.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Jase asked.

"It's not what's wrong. It's just this is kind of silly. It appears to be a riddle of some kind. It asks. 'Heavy it is, but in reverse it's not.' And this is why I am not a fan of brain teasers. Oh well least it isn't the bridge of death over the gorge of eternal peril and we don't have to answer the questions three."

"The what, where?!" Iyana asked curious.

"Ah nothing." Leona replied and quickly sat down crossing her legs over each over each other scratching her head. Iyana, Jase and Gara all sat down next to her looking over her shoulder hoping she would produce an answer.
-Six Hours Later-
"Well it's not water. It's not air. It's not life. It's not time." Leona said some how having produced a pencil and paper scratching off answers shouting them one by one at the barrier. Iyana laying sultry on her side sighed.

"You know I bet this riddle is so old the answer is something dumb and mundane and might not even make sense in the current era. That's the problem with these types of things." Iyana whimpered and set her head on the warm stone floor. It was well after dark now and the group had been up all day. Tensions were getting a little high they had come this far only to be delayed.

"Ugh. I bet there is a ton of treasure over there!" Hara said and pointed across the chasm to the other side. "And were all to stupid to figure this out!" Almost foaming at the mouth like if having smelled the scene of blood Gara impatiently walked back and forth pacing envisioning a room full of gold and magical treasures. "Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb!"

"Wait a minute. What did you just say?" Jase asked raising an eyebrow.

"I said were all a bunch of frigging idiots!" Gara responded snappy like.

"No before that?” Jase clarified.

"What? Just there is probably a bunch of treasure over there and we can't get to it. It's taunting us man!" Gara responded.

"No. You said Ton. A ton of treasure over there. Ton... ton...'Heavy it is, but in reverse its not.' Ton spelled backwards is not." Jase said with calm and clarity.

"Hey demon-lady. Try shouting ton at this thing." Gara quickly demanded.

"Manners now." Leona responded and slowly stood up.

"Pleeeeease?" Gara quickly responded.

"Now that's better. Ahem." Leona said and cleared her throat. Inhaling deeply she shouted "TON!" The entire group looked on with high expectations as nothing happened. After a few moments Gara sighed and began to go into a rant about how much this sucked. Minutes and minutes went by as he cursed the gods and his luck.

"You know I've just about had enough of you." Leona said and held out both her hands, a torrent of flames burst from so wide the entire area in-front of her was engulfed. Gulping Gara slowly began to backup. His sword was back at the make shift camp and he was weaponless.

"Now hold on there demon lady. I just haven't slept in a day and a half." Gara quickly said. Leona grinned wide and her eyes flashed red. " Don't be like that! Hey guys! Help me already!" Gara said asking his companions for help as he continued to back up.

"I think you deserve a good spanking." Iyana said with her hands on her hips.

"Oh come on! Jase man help me out!" Gara demanded.

"The teachings of monk-hood say to respect all life and people. And you blatantly disrespected this demon who has done nothing but try to aide us." Jase calmly responded.

"Yeah, that's right." Leona said, he voice much deeper and evil sounding as she held the flames out towards Gara. Closing his eyes and bracing for scorching heat to hit him he backed up into something. Quickly turning around he looked bewildered, he had managed to cross the bridge somehow through the ward and was on the other side. As Leona got closer the flames vanished and she laughed out loud.

"So nice of you to volunteer to be the first to the other side." Leona teased. From behind her Iyana giggled and Jase laughed.

"Not cool!" Gara responded in a grumpy tone and walked past Leona back to the other side of the bridge to get his gear. Following behind him Leona picked up the piece of paper she had writen on and tossed it over the side. It burst into flames long before it hit the lava below.

"Well you kids probably should take a nap or something before going over there. The wards down now so there is no rush." Leona said.

"You won't be joining us?" Jase asked.

"Nah. Dungeon diving isn't really my thing. But if you are looking for help I'd be happy to oblige you." Leona responded and snapped her fingers. There was the sound of sneering fire and a puff of ash that smelled like brimstone. As it cleared instantly a young elven looking woman holding a spoon to her mouth with cereal in it looked at everyone confused. She wore a pair of boots, tight beige pants and matching top. Her hair was short and tomboyish and her green eyes looked at everyone bedazzled. On her back was a sheathed two handed tulwar.

"Hey Natamin!" Iyana said happily.

Gulping down the spoonful of cereal Natamin knew she was in for a ride now.

"Now Remember our deal." Leona said with a smile in her voice.

"What Deal?!" Gara, Jase and Natamin all asked at the same time confused. Looking upward Leona put an innocent expression on her face. She had forgotten to mention the deal she had made with Iyana.

"Silly me. I forgot to mention. In order to break me away from my quite time at home I would be having right now -"

"With me no less!" Natamin interrupted.

"Yes yes, with you." Leona said altering her statement. "Iyana made a pact with me. In exchange for my time she made a gamble. If things here don't go as you all plan, and you either fail to find gold or some riches at the end of this dungeon. I get to keep Iyana for a few days and do anything I want with her." Leona said licking her lips and rubbing her hands together. Her facial expression looked quite deviant as if she had plans in the works. However it was broken as Natamin walked up behind and formed a fist and bonked her on the head.

"OW! What the bloody devil was that for?" Leona asked rubbing the back of her skull.

"That's quite the deal to be making without telling me! And it was so nice of you to just volunteer me, I mean I don't even have my mages gear! I had plans for this evening you know!" Natamin rapidly said almost foaming at the mouth.

"You were going to go to dinner, and come home and probably more then likely get ravaged by me. You make it sound like you were going to me the leader of a nation or something." Leona quipped. "Now get your cute little ass in there and help them out. You got your sword, that's more then enough!"

"Ugh. I guess." Natamin said and rolled her eyes. Leona leaned into Natamin and gave her a little kiss on the cheek before poofing into purple flames and disappearing. And just like that Natamin was now stuck with Iyana's group. Having no idea where they were, and having no choice but to press forward into the unknown. She couldn't shake the thought though somehow Leona was playing everyone.

Normally Leona would never make pacts with people for her time, she would just assist them if needed. There had to be some sort of high probability of failure or walking away with nothing. Natamin thought to herself. And if that was the case Leona had almost certainly already won.

"Wow. I never knew, you were trained to use a sword. That's amazing you cross skill sets like that." Iyana said. Perhaps she had been underestimating Natamin this entire time. Iyana herself had used a great sword at one point but just lugging it around took it's toll and it was almost impossible to use unless the circumstance was right. She had stashed it in a bank and deciding to adapt a full caster outlook on life.

"I can do all sorts of things." Natamin shrugged as she was broken from her train of thought. No matter what happened she would make sure to be on guard and ready for anything.

"Well. That settles it! Lets make some monah!" Gara said balling his fist and raising it into the air excited to see what was across the bridge. As he began walking across the bridge he stopped entirely as he was shouted at.

"Not so fast." Iyana declared. "You and monk-guy guard our rear"

"Is that some sort of sexual innuendo?" Gara asked confused. "Because I can watch your butt just fine up there as down here."

"There is some wisdom in what she suggested." Jase spoke and said down. Crossing his legs he entered a meditation stance and held one hand up. "It is quite possible any number of things could happen and having two allies at the rear could be advantageous. After all no general just sends all of his troops straight forward."

"Arggh.. You mean we have to sit around more? What if there are traps?" Gara asked.

"I can cast detect trap." Iyana responded.

"What if there are things immune to magic?" Gare quickly retorted.

"I can hack and slash just fine." Natamin said and pulled her Tulwar over her shoulder and began to twirl it around like it was light as a feather. It was the first time Gara and Jase had seen Natamin without her robe on. Her arms were quite toned and she clearly was used to lifting swords.

"I'm going to take a nap. Wake me when were rich." Gara said disappointed and walked back towards the camp.

"Right. Let's do this!" Natamin and Iyana said at the same time and began to walk across the bridge. They said nothing else as they both took there time getting to the other side. A lever to open the door was on the ground near the door. Iyana pulled it and the sound of gears turned from the other-side of the wall. The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed as dust dropped from the door and it slowly raised upward. When it reached the top the lever clicked and locked into place.

Snapping her fingers Iyana summoned ethereal chains which sunk in though the bridge and kept the lever pulled down. She was taking no chances that this door would close behind them.

The next room was ornate. The walls were a golden bronze color and more demonic markings were carved into them. For the most part the room was empty except for lit braziers on the walls and ceiling. Iyana suspected that opening the door must have set of some sort of heating and lighting system. In the center of the room there was a small stairwell leading up about ten feet and on-top of it was an ornate looking wooden chest. Sturdy and showing no signs of decay or how long it had been there.

"Oh. My. GODS!" A voice rang out and echoed on the walls of the room. It was feminine but clearly a males voice. Natamin raised her sword defensively with one hand as both her and Iyana looked around the room. From behind the small staircase leading to nowhere a single eyeball appeared connected to a green tentacle of some sort. Both Natamin and Iyana stood defensively as another eyeball appeared, then another and another untill a green mass floated from behind the chest.

"We haven't had guests in Fooooorevvvvver! Welcome Welcome!" The mass said. As it came more into the light Natamin and Iyana were able to get a good look at it. There was no mistaking it. A Dozen small eyes connected to stocks which connected to the main mass. A huge single Green eye in the middle of the mass. Under the eye was a wide maw of a mouth with all length of sharp and pointy teeth which sat unevenly. Some of the teeth were so long they exited the mouth entirely like misshapen fangs.

The masses skin glossy if coated with some sort of slime. At the same time thought it was very leathery and omitted and odor that was oddly pleasant. There was no mistaking it. This was a Gazer, also known as a Beholder. A being made entirely out of magic. Iyana kept a defensive posture as it slowly hovered above the ground towards them. She had delt with these before. The greater and older ones were said to be as powerful as liches. Magical attacks from the center eye were known to vaporize entire city blocks.

"Honestly it's been ages since I've had company! You must come in and chat with me! It's get soooooo boring! Can I get you girls a cup of tea?" The Gazer asked and quickly as high speed zoomed around the room and blinding speed. It's eye stocks tossing things around until it found a kettle and filled it up with water from a nearby small fountian.

"Exercise caution Natamin, these things are hyper intelligent and have been known to..." Iyana stopped mid sentence noticing Natamin wasn't standing next to her anymore. Confused she looked at the far side of the Room where Natamin was standing near the Beholder as it set the kettle over a small stove.

"Oh My goodness! You are soooo cute!!" Natamin said sheathing her sword and examining every inch of the gazer. Quickly hopping around it and poking and prodding it as the eye stocks examined Natamin back.

"Why thank you sooo much deary!" The Gazer responded. "Your not a bad looker yourself! I could give you some tips if you like!"

Quickly running over Iyana pointed her finger at Natamin. "What in the abyss are you doing?! These things are dangerous!"

Natamin put her sword into the ground and leaned on it with a smile on her face. Looking back at Iyana she responded with. "Naah. Your over reacting. Gazers are some of the coolest. They are right up there with there Evil-Eye cousins."

"That's besides the point!" Iyana said as several of the eye-stocks observed her. One of them even slowly sliding under her loincloth.

"No undies! What curious anatomy you have!" The Gazer said in a teasing tone.

"Hey! You watch where you put those things!" Iyana said and swatted away the stocks peering at her.

"You both are very curious. One of you is trusting, the other isn't. It's like one of those riddles master was so fond of. "The Gazer said.

"Master?" Both Iyana and Natamin asked at the same time.

"Oh, master was the Demon-Lord of this place way back when. He was eventually defeated but not before stashing some of his most vaaaaaluble treasures in this vault!" The Gazer responded.

"Treasures?" Natamin and Iyana again asked at the same time curiously.

"Oh yes. Master kept his two most prized possessions in this world in the chest up there." The gazer responded.

"Well what are they?" Iyana asked.

All of the Gazers eyestocks crossed over each other as if it was emulating crossing it's arms. The suspense grew thick as Natamin and Iyana waited to know just what exactly they could be walking away with her.

"No idea!" The Gazer replied and Both Natamin and Iyana lost balance and fell on there behinds.

"What? You mean you've been guarding that chest for generations and you never looked inside?! You never got bored and wondered?" Iyana asked as she quickly got up.

"Silly dear. I am gazer. I was contractually obligated to watch that for a period of five-thousand years."

"Five thousand years?!" Iyana said. That length of time was an eternity.

"Ah that's nothing. A blink of an eye for us. Time has no meaning when you are literally made out of magic and don't age! Did you want one lump or two in your tea?" The gazer asked holding out a small bronze cup to Iyana.

"Um, I'm not thirsty." Iyana said declining the tea fearing some sort of treachery.

"I'll take some sugar in mine." Natamin said and was handed a cup. Iyana said nothing as she took several sips of her tea. "Mmn. Mint Tea." Natamin said and continued to sip. Iyana counted the seconds. Seconds turned into minutes. Nothing happened. Either Natamin was so trusting she had just gotten lucky in situations like this. Or she knew something Iyana didn't. Either way it bugged her.

"So you two dears are hear for the treasure no doubt!" The Gazer said excited.

"We sure are!" Natamin said. "We wont have to fight you will we? I'd feel rather bad having to do that to such a nice host."

The Gazer broke out into high pitched laughter which echoed off the walls. Natamin looked a bit confused but the Gazed replied. "I just watch the place, I don't fight anyone. But anyone attempting to get those finger things you have on that chest has two tests they must pass."

"What kind of tests?" Iyana asked.

"Well the first test, is the test of brawn! I toss a ten sided die with monster names written on the side. Whatever name is face up when the die lands will be summoned. You have to beat it." The Gazer said.

"Doesn't sound to bad." Natamin said.

And like as if someone had pulled out a feather and started tickling the Gazer it errupted into giggles."Not to bad it says. On you dears are funny. Nobody's survived that test so far." The Gazer said.

"And what about the other test?" Iyana asked.

"The other is a test of wits. I will present you with several keys. One of them is the right key to the chest. Which one I have no idea! Nobody's ever gotten that far! IT should be fun to see what happens!"

"Well No time like the present! Let's start this first trial!" Iyana declared.

"Hehehe. They want to try their luck!" The Gazer said amused to itself. "It's going to be a shame if you end up like the others and I am alone again for awhile. But if you win I can finally leave this place since there will be nothing to guard." One of the eye-stocks reached inside the Gazers mouth and pulled a red ten-sided tie out from under it's tongue. Natamin put down her cup and walked down the steps with Iyana ready for anything.

"Okay girl's! Here it comeeeees!" The Gazer said amused tossing the die into the air. Both Natamin and Iyana looked at each other at hit the ground and began to roll. Things were about to get rough.

The story elements are written by