Courage Against the Darkness

With the troll stomping down the spiral staircase, the companions sprang into action.   Elbereth and Rooty hid within the shadows while Damiann and Orrun leapt for the beach in the wall. Damian swung through the hole and found purchase on the rough rock of the outer wall. Orrun tried to duplicate the ranger's feat but his grip slipped on a loose stone. The dwarf landed on the hard ground at the base of the tower with a loud thump.   The troll, oblivious to the commotion, continued down to the lower floor and burst through the tower doors to join the chaotic battle at the foot of the hill.   Alerted by the dwarf's loud grunt of pain, a goblin stuck its head from the window above the ranger's head and fired its bow at the dazed Orrun. Damian scaled the wall and grappled with the goblin, finally grabbing a handful of the creature's hair and flinging it from the tower.   Following the cries of the kidnapped baby, Elbereth and Rooty sped up the stairs to the tower's upper level to face off against the evil leader of the rogue band. Elbereth set herself for battle, giving Rooty a chance to safely steal away with the baby. The man, still clad in the ill fitting dwarven armor, his eyes raging with the malignant power of the shadow that possessed him, traded blows with the she elf. Elbereth, recognizing the insane hatred the spirit held for elves, raised her voice in a powerful anthem of her people. The man reeled beneath the power of the song and Elbereth rained down blow after blow until she had driven the life and evil spirit from the man's body.   With the death of their leader, the remaining enemy band fled the battle. The elves offered to take the baby but Elbereth, worried that the bastardized dwarven rune branded onto the child could somehow lead to her corruption, convinced the party that they must ward the child until a way to protect the girl's spirit could be found. After the elves took their leave, carrying their dead back to their lands, the companions gathered to decide their next course of action.