A scuffling was heard from the east and Teflar let out a strangled cry! Aramil grabbed for the swaying rope and hoisted himself up. He was pulled through the ceiling, Nanith started climbing.

" Ranger!" bellowed the concerned dwarf " Are you okay!?"
A feeble voice answered as if from the floor " It got to me...no way to fight it..."

" Then rise and get behind me, damn you!" snarled Oktavianus in veiled fear.
" Hurry now!" No response was returned; only the slow grate of faint, growling laughter.

Seconds later, more noise was heard from the east: a whirring of steel, an electrical crack, and a surprised shriek! It echoed along the walls in terrible rendition. Nanith made it through the trapdoor and the cleric followed up after beckoning for the last warriors to follow.

When the bulk of the dwarf was pulled through the hole, a torch was dropped below into the laboratory exposing the room to a dimly-lit theatre of shade. Loten was seen standing over the slumped ranger holding his new sword on high; his eyes darting around as the fleeting beast danced inconspicuously among the flickering shadows.

" We need to help them!" Nanith called out clasping his hands against his head. The brave hobbit then explained to the others a quick plan to descend the rope and tie another around the waist of the prone ranger.

The room seemed suffocating now and Loten's breath emanated in quick, puffs of frost as he watched the black beast meld and contort in various places of the room. Aramil monitored the rogue while he shimmied back down into the laboratory and then drag the coils over to the woodsman's body. With outstretched arms, the mage released a sudden bolt of orange energy at the lab table. The glassware upon its surface shattered sending shards everywhere. The impact sent the chalice bouncing off the counter and it rolled towards the halfling's feet. With a nimble scoop, Nanith pocketed the leadware and yelled " Okay Oktavianus, start pulling!" On command, the noose tighted around Teflar's body and he was dragged and lifted promptly through the trapdoor allowing the paladin to protect their rear. Nanith pulled himself out as the black shapes echoed its slow hiss along the perimeter of the circle. Soon, Loten was able to leave the charnel house and its agents behind.

4 PM: It was in the main courtyard that the exasperated fellowship gathered around their fallen ranger as he lay on his back in a feeble state. Amazingly, Teflar was still alive, but breathed with tremendous strain. Clearly, whatever that thing was in the crypt, had hurt the man badly.

The gang was in near tears while the sun started falling down the western sky. " You have endured and suffered alot these hardened days, my friend. " cried the lorist kneeling down next to Teflar's head " Get well; we need your heart of strength in the days ahead."