Fifth Adventure 03.2: The Path of Darkness

Fier:
As you are one of the last in, you turn and notice several of the bug creatures being warded back, as though attacked by a force you cannot see.

"Look! Something is shielding us from them, or the building is shielded, or something! We need to get further inside!"

Rory looks about the building to get a feel for the layout at face value, looking for an exit.

Spoiler:

tab will wait in the doorway to see what happens

Kolson guards the door.

Rory:
The school building itself has several entrances and exits. Unfortunately it occurs to you very quickly that this means there are many ways for the things to enter.

Fier:
Your power does nothing here.

Fierneceal squeezes her eyes tightly shut for a moment and rubs them, muttering to herself, "I was afraid of that." She opens them again quickly and addresses everyone she can see. "I'm going to try to get back down to the pond while the creatures are here. Assuming they ignore me, it shouldn't be too difficult. If they don't, well.... I probably just won't go." She lets a little snort of derision leave her before she turns toward the doorway, preparing to step out into the fray.

"Tabran," Rory asked hoarsely, "You think you can weave the exits shut? What can we do to keep these things out?"

Spoiler:

"I'll cover you as best I can!" Kolson stands ready to cast in case any of the things try to attack Fierneceal.

By this point the creatures have almost the entire schoolyard covered with their numbers, and more are coming. You start to hear voices coming from them, taunts and jabs, jeering, screaming about how pathetic you are, you and your dead parents, stop crying you baby.
You suddenly see the Orb leap up and make a beeline for the school towards where Z is holding the boy, prepared to defend him as the swarm of things' outlines is now surging against the building, covering it completely and pouring in through windows and doors. The Orb suddenly slots into a part of the wall, otherwise indistinguishable, and it all vanishes and you are suddenly found staring at the young Elven boy who has a very small, plain kitchen knife in his hands. "It was the only way after all."

"that is a good question"

Spoiler:

"It was the only way to... what, exactly? What are we here for? What do you want?" Fierneceal shows no sympathy as she speaks down to the boy.

"What are you saying, kid?" Rory asks, eyeing the knife. "You aren't saying you tied to those things...?"

The boy looks down, and with a sudden flash the group finds yourself standing in the central room again. The moon in the sky is now full, and the east door has vanished. The northern door is open, and beyond lies a vast and large hall.

"I think that boy killed someone. Probably himself."

"I think that's a fair assessment, Kolson. IN the meantime, we only have one more doorway to go through, and it's laid open for us like a golden gift. Let's go."

"they said his parents were dead maybe he did it"

"It's just a trick," Rory said, shaking his head. "But the final door is open." He walks toward it casually, about to walk through.

"Go ahead, Rory. I'll go with you. I've had about enough of this place." Fierneceal shakes her head and steps forward.

(move back to main thread)

"People are cruel when your parents are dead, Tab. They'll tease you for it mercilessly just so they feel better about themselves." Shaking his head Kolson walks through the door into the hall beyond.