<table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>(http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo154/PhantomPistoleer/Elf_by_artbytravis.jpg)</td><td><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 30pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Edwardian script itc;">Draque Cyredeplith</span></span><hr/><tt class="bbc_tt">Elven Rogue/Ranger, Level 3;<br/>Current HP: 25; Condition: Normal (Cold/Drenched);</tt><hr/><br/>Failing to shelter his perceptions from the cacophony of falling rain outside, the elf could not distinguish the meaning of the sounds that caressed his inner ear.  Rhythmic undulations on a sea peppered by torrential downpour created a frequency camouflaged and made unknown to him; but the elven adventurer knew that the eerie nature of the cave which altered his senses by subduing them, physically and psychologically, would not abet the terrestrial horrors from which these noises emanated.  No, despite the dark and his desire to look away;  no, despite his inability to hear and desire to not hear;  no, despite the cold rattling like a cowbell in his nose and his unwillingness to smell; no, he would not be turned away!  Quietly he crept in the direction of the sounds, blisters developing behind his second knuckles because he clung his kukris so tightly...<br/><br/>His jaw was clenched, for many reasons.  First, he was afraid.  No man lingers in a den of knowledge, beneath the glowing gaze of hieroglyphics, and is not afraid of the wisdom of his predecessors.  But Draque could not distinguish the ancient words or make use of any of the iconology.  The cipher would remain a riddle, a tempting riddle that might propagate once he reached the sanctum of an elven elder, but no sooner.  The second reason why his jaw was clenched was because he did not wish to scream.  He knew now that he dealt with something altogether unseemly.  A giant and three women did not equate to the sum of the answer to this mystery.  The third reason was a functional one:  he knew he was going to get hurt and he didn't want to bite his tongue.  After all, Draque would not be Draque if he was mute.<br/><br/>He crouched low and looked at the women, gesturing to the direction he was heading and, in his sneaky way, keeping low!<br/><br/><br/></td></tr></tbody></table>