The next several moments were tense. They needed the light on the ground in front of them to pick through the bodies, but that left the creature in darkness, it's progress unknown. Every few steps, Alex swung the light onto the creature to check where it was.<br/><br/>It's struggles increased as they grew closer, and it pushed towards them, dragging several of the other corpses with it. One of it's arms was freed when the skull it's hand was embedded in broke off of it's neck. For a moment, it seemed like they might not make it, but the ancient skeletons of the creature's foes held it in a literal death grip, and the bodies it hadn't yet shook off caught on the corpses that lay in it's path. It's arms reached towards them, the old bone scraping across Alex's earthen shield. It smelled faintly of dust and age, but nothing more.<br/><br/>Finally, after a few tense seconds, the two men made it past. The part of the chamber behind the creature was much more open, and they were able to quickly dash to the passage on the other end of the chamber. The clattering behind them ceased abruptly as soon as they passed through the opening. When Alex brought the light around, they saw that it had stopped struggling. It stood completely still, the only evidence that it was anything other than a moldering corpse were the two pin-pricks of red light shining in it's eye-sockets, seemingly watching them as they retreated down the passage.<br/><br/>"I... I don't think it's chasing us..." Alex murmured. "Weird... lucky, but weird."<br/><br/>The passage was straight and regular, and continued for what must have been a good half mile before it seemed to open up into another chamber. As they entered, stone sconces on the walls flared into life in flashes of blue and green flame, quickly settling down into a mild white radiance. The chamber was a half circle about twenty yards deep, with the flat end opposite the entrance. As the light spread through the chamber, they saw two huge crystals set against the far wall. Each crystal seemed to contain an indistinct humanoid form floating in the center. The only thing that either of them could say for certain about the figures was that they were female. The walls were covered in sculptures and iconography, and complex designs were etched in the floor, seeming to swirl and cross in elaborate patterns away from the door towards the crystals.<br/><br/>As they walked into the room, looking at the carvings on the wall and floor, they seemed to be unconsciously following the patterns on the floor. Each on a separate path, but mirroring each other. After a few moments, they each found themselves in front of one of the crystals, standing on a pair of silvery disks set into the floor.<br/><br/>A shiver of electricity passed through their bodies, jolting them out of their reverie, and a voice boomed out, seemingly from nowhere:<br/><br/><strong>"melcape cself! yeaou se capphlet t oelf r phnaw yeaounlw mye aff e cseppho'f wl. la ff, r cleop yeaoun menr!"</strong><br/><br/>After a few moments of stunned silence, the voice repeated itself, this time in English.<br/><br/><strong>"Welcome Challengers! You have completed the trials and proven yourselves worthy of a champion's vessel. Go forth, and claim your reward!"</strong><br/><br/>Alex looked at Dan, his eyes wide with both fear and excitement.<br/>