Introspection

People believe I am evil. Being a race from the underdark, my skill in killing, how I have made a living. Killing as a career is viewed distastefully, and I am very good at it. People tend to forget, I am not a mass murderer. People pay me to do what I do. Nobody seems to levy the judgment on those who hire me, those afraid or unable to let the bolt fly. They lack the wherewithal to end a life. I don't know, maybe they're right. I don' feel evil. In my time, I have killed many. I would like to believe that I have killed those who have deserved it. I am a problem solver. I see things others don't. I am highly perceptive, intuitive, and nimble with tools. I can remove just about any mechanical trap. I rarely miss discovering them as well.
 
Now, I ply my trade with a group of adventurers trying to save a town. An army of Chaos Horde at the gates. Would an evil person be helping here, or would an evil person try and leverage the coming destruction for a higher reward? I have done neither. *sighs deeply whispering to herself* I am not evil.
 
After a rest, we regroup and talk with Maximillion who is bust creating magical defenses for the city. Apparently, the rogue who donated her boots to me collapsed dead on the way to interrogation. She then shape changed into an old man. I have heard of changlings, but there is also magic that can disguise as well. I have been on many missions with a kill command in case of capture. I feel I just heard one implemented.
 
The question arises if we should investigate the captives death. I am not the party leader, but I suggest we keep searching to activate the city defenses. Time wasted equals lives lost. Kemurial agrees. I still wonder why that other guy had an issue with the Paladin. He seems contemplative, level headed. He engages his party for ideas and then makes a decision. I am beginning to wonder if someone was judging him with ego instead of analysis.
 
We decide to search the part of the catacombs yet ventured. We open the door and are beset with many undead. Ghouls, skeletons etc. Kemurial and Rory box them at the door. I send my bolts through the maze of bodies, sniping them one at a time. Kemurial lets a lightning bold down the hallway. Boxing the door compacted many enemies into a line making the lightning bolt incredibly effective. Great strategic decision. I just wish he wasn't a paladin. If he finds out my true skill set, things may get difficult. A mass of undulating undead bodies called a Graveyard Revenant still is giving us issues using skirmish attack strategies.
 
We set down the hallway, Kemurial first, and there is still one undead left. A pirate manning a special cannon. A cry "Ahoy Matey" and a blast from the cannon. Kemurial avoids the cannon ball, but splash damage catches him. He takes shots at us as we cross the hallway intersection. As I pass he takes his shot. I deftly dodge the projectile, turn and salute yelling "Aye Aye Captain!". Well, it was funny at the moment!
 
Rory dispatched the Captain I kind of wished he didn't. I got a chuckle out of that trap. Someone had a sense of humor, something rare in these times.
 
We come to double doors and there is web springing for with a greenish tint. I investigate using my poison kit, and determine, the webs are poisoness which means, those trapped will be taking poison damage. I hope the paladin didn't notice my poison kit. I tell the group to stand back and I ignite the web. Instead of a flash burn, which is the usual reaction to fire and web, it is a slow smolder. I warn the party that spiders are present. Unlocking the door and verifying no traps, Rory opens the door and I was not wrong, there are spiders. However, I was not correct as well, THERE ARE DRIDERS!!!!!!!
 
Driders are a nasty abomination created by the Drow goddess Lloth. When a Drow fails their challenge, the hateful God transforms them into half spider, half drow. The transformation fills them with hatred of the living and they fight to the death. They are incredibly vicious. Making strategy complicated is the large spiders are Phase Spiders. They bounce between planes to get position, fighting a skirmish hit and run style. I decide to take a position in the intersected hallway and wait for a phase spider to show it self. Rory walks into a T intersection and a giant phase spider lunges at him. I snap fired my hand crossbow and pierce the cephalothorax, pinning the dead spider to the wall. Rory yells startled at the event and turns to me. Damn Cawanfia, that scared me! I just smile, salute and follow in support of the assualt.
 
It takes us a while to defeat all but the last drider, and it runs around the corner. We give chase and it is standing against the wall next to a large purple glowing gem. I fire a bolt into the drider, critically injuring it. Rory hops a desk swings and misses. The drider starts to laugh and begins to monologue his ultimate skill and Rory follows up his miss with the killing blow. I had to chuckle at the ego of the drider. Not the first time I have had to endure a drider monologue. Thanks Rory!
 
Upon examining the gem, I determine it is abjuration magic. I feel it is safe to handle. As I place it in my haversack with the other gems, they begin to react with each other. The two green gems interact with the large purple gem, creating a prismatic radiance. As I witness the event an epiphany!!!! I look up and remember a door that had face with two eyes and a mouth. It had no lock, it had no seem. I look down at the gems and the two smaller gems are the size of the eyes, and the bigger one the mouth. DAMN!!!! THESE ARE KEYS!!!! Another problem solved.
 
I tell the Kemurial, we need to return to the door with a face immediately. We search the are and find valuable magic, and burn off the last of the webs. I get the door opened, and as we move down the hallway, I just barely notice a deadfall trap. A 15x15 slap has dropped here before. We decide to go around, leaving the traps and golems untriggered, and we get to the door.
 
Staring at the empty face, I gently place the gems in the holes. I stand back as a stream of prismatic light traces a seem around doors. They open on their own to a room with a giany gem in the middle, with 3 receptacles that are empty. I study the room. Could those gems also be the key here? I return to the face, staring into the soulless eyes, removing the 3 gems.
 
I approach the dais, and place the gems into each receptacle. The prismatic light transforms the gem into a flower bigger them me. The lights flashing hues of the rainbow, magic runes begin filling the catacombs.
 
We follow the runes back to Max. As we enter, he smiles with relief. I believe you were successful. Have the catacombs been cleared? Kemurial assures we are clear.
 
Maximillion, then directs us to seek out Rika. We need to be updated on the progression of the war.
 
As we ascend from the catacombs, I feel something I haven't felt in many many years. I feel.......... good.......