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Hearing distant barking growing closer Bandit decided to up her guard and get off the ground. She dug her blade deep into the tall tree behind her and started to climb. Dead bark pieces fell below and scratched her pale skin though not drawing any blood. The tree branch she selected to stand upon was about twenty feet off the ground.

"Tannis, I like your idea. Vahn, you should pick that lock and let Tannis run inside." said the witch unfazed by the climb. Her runes glowed blue in the night reminding all that she was a magic user. "I can put a shield around this fortress so that nothing escapes or is let in, all you need to do is stay within the barrier." Bandit knew she could hold the barrier for a long time but if she stepped inside the barrier and joined them they would only have an hour until the whole thing shattered.

The witch was confident that the mirror would be returned to her. However, it worried her about way horrors awaited them inside. The fortress hasn't seen a mortal in a several decades. That was enought to put even a serious dark witch on edge.

"Ask, n' ye's gon' recieve! 'Er sommin' what like tha'. Jes' be givin' me a bit n' I'll get tha' righ' open." Fishing about in his vest pockets, he planted himself in front of the door and started examining the knob. After a bit of shaking he concluded that it sounded like a tumbler, at least...And it was an old building, so chances were it was what he thought it was. With picks in hand, he slid the two instruments into the lock and started fiddling about.

"If'n ye's wa' wondrin' why I do be good at pickin' locks n' thin's, s'aint cause I's a thief 'er nothin', promise! Jes' tha' I's gosta know tha' inner's n' outs o' all kindsa traps n' locks n' mechanical mechanisms fer' me work." He didn't look away from what he was doing while he spoke, and a few moments after he finished speaking, there was an audible click as the door came unlocked.

Sliding the picks back into his pocket, he reached up and plcuked his mechanical eye out of its socket. Cracking the door open slightly, he slid his eye between the door and the doorway, apparently checking around the corner. As a precaution, he used his metal hand to do this, so as to avoid getting his fingers smashed if someone was waiting on the other side.

"Mm...Looks ta' be all clea', it do. Ain' no one in tha' main room from wha' I's kin be seein', a'tleast."

Tannis stands up slowly, her hands finding purchase upon the bread on her back (it's still there), and her picnic basket's handle. Turning about, the basket is swings through the air, only to jauntily sway to a stop near Tannis's thigh. Her curved lips curl into a tight-lipped smile, "It had to happen eventually. I am of sound mind, after all." A slight sound of humor escapes her throat, but she soon follows the male to the door.

Stretching her leg forward and shifting her weight to one leg, Tannis idly watches the man work. "It is very chivalrous to open doors, and those that say so hardly say how." Tannis's speckled-white ears tilt at peculiar angles...and her shoulders rise and fall in a shrugging fashion. Using her free hand to open the small, wooden door, Tannis steps inside and looks about the floor and ceiling. Just before she enters the fort completely, her hazel eyes turn to look at Vahn, "Have fun with magical barrier, sir Vahn." Her curved lips curl into a taunting smile, then Tannis and her carried picnic, stride forth into the main room. Once further away from the male, her form slowly vanishes altogether.

While the two worked on the door and then successfully opened it, the witch set her focus on creating a barrier. There were many types of barriers that could be created through magic, but she needed a spell that would ward off dark creatures. The spell required no vocal incantation but only a graceful sweep of her arms. Like a gust of wind shot forth from eagle wings the magic swept over the fortress's parameter. The spell took on a dark spiderweb form. The visible spell draped of=ver the trees and down the side of the fortress walls. Sticky web clung to the witch's pale fingers. She wrinkled her nose and flung the remains of the spell to the ground. Spells sure can be messy but they did their job.

Grabbing onto the branch Bandit swung herself over the side. She landed in a low crouch so to observe her surroundings carefully. Quickly she thrust her dagger to her right flank. A spidery beast squealed as it died. It literally slid off her knife. Aggressively she threw out a kick to disorient her next attacker. It caught her and threw her off balance. She knew they were appearing because the door opened but there was no where for them to leave. They were all stuck in the parameter. It was either stay outside or run into the fortress. Bandit wasn't sure what the best move was considering more nastiness could await inside.

"Vahn!" She shouted when the spidery beast sliced across her cheek with its sharp legs. There were about twenty of them and the numbers were not very fair. Bandit let flames engulf her body. The spell was volatile and quickly consumed several of the beasts. Pieces of their spidery legs littered the ground. As she fought them the flames evaporated leaving her unharmed. "Come and give me a hand would you?"The skull of another nearly splintered her knuckles but the punch was effective.

He simply chuckled in response to Tannis' comments, straightening and slipping his lockpicking tools back into their respective places in his pockets. The woman had a points at least. There was something about that one that put him on guard, though not in a defensive way. More that he simply had to pay attention to what was being said, lest he miss something important and not even realize it. Still, there was nothing wrong with clever companions. They made things more entertaining, usually.

While he was taking the time to work his eye back into its socket, a familiar buzzing started up in the back of his head in reaction to the barrier. Nothing that would debilitate him, and certainly nothing compared to his headache that wasn't quite gone yet, but it was there nonetheless. At least his nausea had faded. It was just after he managed to squeeze his eye back into its socket with an audible pop that he heard Bandit's request. Pulling a fist-sized metal sphere from his belt, he turned, charging the sphere with some electrical energy, and sent it flying at one of the beasts. Upon contact, it unleashed all the energy it had stored within it, frying the creature alive.

"Vahn do this'n, they's be sayin. Vahn, do tha'n too! Ye's be lucky I likes ya' 'er I may no be so compliant!" His grumbling was, however, fairly lighthearted. With his flesh arm, he unsheathed a curve bladed dagger, a bit longer than the average knife and obviously made for close quarters combat. Flipping it into a reverse grip with the edge inward, he brought up his other arm just in time to block a charging beast, which managed to force him backward against the wall but got his dagger's blade wedged into its face for the effort. Planting his back against the wall and his boot against the creature's face, he pushed it away from him and into a couple of its buddies.

His feline companion, while not having any special tools with which to combat the beasts, had managed to distract a small group of them and even kill a couple. More importantly, however, the spiders themselves could do little against it aside from superficial scratches which he made a mental note to polish out later. He turned his attention back to the pair that were shaking out of their daze.

Tannis's wandering form passed long hallways of off-white coloring. One hallway had large picture frames, but the pictures were deteriorating, the mustaches and beards of old men drooping and sagging. Tannis's left hand was in her pant's pocket, while the picnic basket swung idly at her side.

The hallways were surprisingly empty, though every other room, that was visited by an unseen figure, held some of the spider men, standing amongst the furniture. Not that Tannis would ever take more steps than what was needed, she simply pressed the back of her hand against the door's that weren't locked (and those were few), and leaned her body forward, causing the door to slowly open. Tannis's invisable features peak around the door's opening, but it was the same desk, canopy bed, and fireplace, with a little more spider men or women standing about.

Tannis's hazel eyes roll, and she continues walking around the fort's interior.

With a violent thrust Bandit's arm pierced through a beast, knuckle blade still clutched tightly. She clenched her teeth making audible snapping noises much like the shattering sound of her opponent's thin bones. She stepped down on it's spidery legs and wrenched her arm free from its torso. The beast did not move from its place on the cold ground. With quick reflexes and grace Bandit whirled her arm to clockwise, spinning to strike a beast from behind. Due to her precision she decapitated it. It too slumped to the ground. The witch took a few seconds to catch her breath before glancing over to Vahn. For such a light-hearted fellow he sure could annoy her with his quiet ramblings.

"I is merely askin' ya to pull yer own weight!" Bandit attempted to mock him but her fake accent was so poorly executed the words stuck in her throat. Her hand reached out to grab the back of one beast's skull and then dug her blade into its skin covered mouth. She watched it sag in her arms before crumpling to her feet dead. Her hands felt covered in black spider webs much like the spell surrounding the fortress parameter. She wiped her hands on her slacks in mild disgust. From the looks of the area most of the beast were dead. None could get through her spell barrier and anymore only originated from inside the fortress. Tannis was bound to be well inside the place by now.

"I am going to go inside now. She will need our help should anything particularly nasty show its face." Then to make the man smile she swung the cube from her back and transformed it into the crossbow he had given her. It was sleek and powerful. It would come in handy inside the fortress. To practice a shot she aimed at a beast slowly approaching Vahn from behind and shot it center skull. The arrow cut through bone impressively enough. It was great weapon. Bandit then sprinted towards the mouth of the fortress and disappeared inside the darkness.

Focused on the two in front of him as he was, there was little attention to spare for the creature coming at him from the side. A problem which, as the situation resolved itself, wasn't something he needed to worry about anyway. A small sphere plucked from one of the pockets in his vest made quick work of the remaining beasts, the incendiary components spewed from the little object leaving a wide black splotch of grass alongside the charred remains of enemies.

"Ha! I's gon' git'cha a sense o' humor yet, ye' hear me?" This was said while he turned and followed Bandit into the building. His feline companion broke off from the few that it was distracting and joined them as they went through the door that he promptly shut behind them. No need to leave it open, and the appearance of those beasts suggested they weren't exactly equipped for opening doors anyway.

He fell into pace with Bandit's movement for the time being, lest it become a good idea that they split up. However, he stayed a good couple yards from the woman, seeming to be taking up the position of rear guard, of sorts. The cat, seemingly understanding what its role would be without needing to be asked, took up a position in the shadows of the main room, ready to warn them if anything started to some from behind. Well, warn him at least, as the cat seemed to not be particularly fond of the witch.

Tannis's hazel eyes, though un-seen by those around her...(and yet there be none), drifted over the newest hallway. It must have been her fifth. Tannis's right shoulder rose at a slight inclination, the picnic basket that was held there briefly removing its weight and settling down in a different spot.

Tannis's stride began to quicken, bringing her boots forward in a steady fashion. As she rounded yet another corner, her invisable form stopped at the sight of a large, rounded door, made of a darker wood. The door featured man-like handles, with heavy silver loops through their metallic noses. Tannis's form slowly drifts back into the visable realm, her picnic basket being lowered to the ground, and with her right hand, she reaches out and tries the door. A soft rattling was produced, but the door didn't budge. Tannis's eyebrows lift and a pondering expression crosses her face.

Tannis's right boot stretches forth and pushes its toe forward, and the old door gives a little bit. Tannis's right boot then slides along the ground, moving the picnic basket further to the right, and her hands clench and un-clench. Her left hand moves to re-adjust the large loaf of bread tied to her back, and then her form moves towards the door, her arms pulling back, near her midsection and her right foot lifts up, only to be combined with her arm's motion as a brutal kick forward.

The loud boom echoes throughout the still hallways, soon followed by a second one, and then a different sound altogether. The keep was about to come alive!

Meanwhile, Tannis's form enters a well-furnished room, and she turns about, pressing her arms against the door's frame. The door slams shut, and a nearby, yet tarnished chair, was soon grabbed by Tannis's hands and propped at an angle, just underneath the door's handles.

Quickly the witch's eyes adjusted to the darkness capturing even the most dim form of light within the fortress. Her boots clicked on the floors and her weapons rattled in their holsters. This was an eerily quietly place for such a dwelling for monsters. Every so often though she shifted all her attention to her ears hoping that caution would keep her safe.

Well aware of Vahn and his feline nearby Bandit tuned out their sounds. A boom sounded and then a few moments later another followed. She stopped in one hallway and let her senses take everything in. Movement stirred several lengths ahead of the group causing her to withdraw her sword. With the dim light and the unknown identity in front of her the witch felt a slight tremor of nervousness run down her spine. Wary of Vahn's sensitivity to her magic, Bandit cast a fire spell regardless. Her pale right left hand cupped the flame to use as light. The hallway was decaying, the floors, ceiling, everything.

The creature that had taken her bag was nearby and she could feel it. She continued down the hallway with her flame lighting the way. Whatever had been watching them was now hidden. Bandit wanted to find Tannis to make sure she was alright.

He followed rather lightheartedly down the corridor, humming quietly to himself and keeping his eyes peeled for anything that looked like it might be a trap. Well, a mechanical one at any rate. However, either his senses were getting rusty, or whoever did take residence in these halls were either too stupid or too arrogant to think that anyone would break in voluntarily, let alone need to have a trap set if they did.

The simple fireball spell cast by the witch up ahead was noticed, but it wasn't strong enough nor close enough to elicit any physical reaction. The rotting halls and the like went even more noticed, and he looked about in fascination. He was almost tempted to start touching things, though he knew the stupidity of such actions in an unknown place, and he refrained. Especially since he wasn't alone on this little adventure.

As nothing particularly exciting seemed to be happening at the moment, he removed a handful of those little multipurpose bombs from a vest pouch and began sifting through them, separating those that would and wouldn't be worth using in such an environment. The structural integrity of the place didn't seem to be the greatest, so most of the more powerful ones were out, but there were still some he could use, in the right situations. Dumping them back in his pockets, he began a quick run through of his inventory. Automatic grappling hook, bomb sets, lock picking tools, dagger, anti-magic artifact, and one of his more powerful shockwave emitters for safety. He wasn't as fully equipped as he normally would've been for such an excursion, though he'd not set out with the intention of wandering through a monster invested mansion, either. It would do.

Tannis's form regains her upright posture, slowly turning around to survey the room. The furniture was covered in white sheets, and several layers of dust were upon those sheets. Across from her, there was an un-lit fireplace, and a figure, sitting in an armchair. That figure's body was that of a fattened spider-like man, his body covered in black, and sharp fur. This creature had a man's face, but distorted, and leathery, a pale difference between its black body. Tannis takes a step into the room, her facial expression one of calm, and pity. "I thought I might find you in here. What have you done, to yourself, to others." The spider being does not move, does not stir.

In the hallways, a certain sound of a metal hinge, swinging open, emits through the hallways, which were soon filled by the even panting of canines. The canines skidded around the corner, nearly sliding into the wall, before their clawed feet gained traction again. There were three of them, the lead dog bearing an odd, wispy, white colorization. Their mouths dripped saliva, as they set their beady eyes on the witch and her companions, soon rushing towards them.

The scraping of claws alerted the witch far before her eyes discovered the snarling beasts. Thick globs of saliva plopped on the dusty floors and their eyes honed in on them. Bandit shot Vahn a glance to make sure he was still at her side. However, her foolish break in concentration triggered their attack. Lunging low, thick teeth scored her pale ankle tearing fabric away like spider silk. Down Bandit fell but not before gashing open an eye. Yelping fused with snarling and chaos broke out in the small hallway not leaving much room for Bandit to maneuver without running into Vahn. It took a tight grip to the beast's throat, her nails piercing deep into canine flesh, to crush the wind pipe. The hound fell to the floor in dead weight.

While one canine was already at Vahn, the third wildly slashed at her throat with deadly intent. She only dodged it after striking it powerfully in it's open jaws. It did not go down but instead bit her where it's brother had. Bandit cried out in outrage. Canines never knew when to tuck tail and run. They always had fight until death. Disgusted she gave the mutt a few crushing kicks to the ribs evoking more yelps. She wasn't sure how Vahn was fairing but she didn't hear the other canine just as she finished off her second.

Stepping over the dead animals Bandit rushed off to find Tannis. Something wasn't right. She tried opening each door along her way but none of them budged. Each time she grunted in frustration.

"Tannis!" Bandit called but heard nothing. She tried another door, then a second and finally on the third a door opened. There she was not united with Tannis again but in an elegant master bedroom. All the furniture was polished high quality wood and the rugs were intricately woven into fancy designs. However, every fabric was moth eaten and covered in cobwebs. There were no windows. There no lights but a single glow coming from a nightstand. Bandit stepped further into the room to then spot her bag, open and empty on the king sized canopy bed. Her brows snapped together in worry. All her stuff was tampered with and that meant her hand mirror was missing still. On the nightstand was a glowing rock. This rock wasn't exactly what she hoped to find but it was a way to call her dragon. Rascal could get her out of this place once she retrieved her mirror.

Through the wall Bandit heard a strange and disgusting crawling sound coming from the walls. She stepped close to press her ears to the source but instead heard the voice she was looking for.

"Vahn! Tannis is just inside this adjacent room!"

He heard the snarling same as she did, aided by ears well honed by listening for the tiniest of mechanical clicks when testing everything from potentially fatal traps to less than fatal and potentially useless inventions. Spinning around, he came face to face with the canine beast in an mid-air rush to apparently tackle him. Sidestepping slightly he grabbed the beast in a headlock and fell back. He winced, feeling claws dig into his left hip, but used his backward momentum to land on the ground and send the mutt's face smashing into the floor with a satisfying crunch. Just to be safe, he rammed his metal fist into it's chest once, twice, and a third time, caving in the ribs and guaranteeing it was finished off.

He dislodged the beast's claws from his side and got up to follow Bandit. He was limping slightly, and there was a very clear bloodstain on his shirt around below his belt and slightly above his belt. He was quiet as he walked, holding his hand against the wound in his side and applying pressure in an attempt to quell the bleeding and effectively hiding the wound from prying eyes. Hearing Bandit confirm that she'd located their other companion, he moved into the room.

"Good news, tha'n be. So? We's gon' go through tha' wall? Whaddya' think me fer', tha' door guy 'er sommin'?" He managed to keep the pain out of his voice, and followed his words with a chuckle. Still, should the witch so much as turn to look at him, he knew his cover would be blown. There was a clear grimace on his face, and though he could hide the wound under his hand, the bloodstain on his shirt has spread somewhat. His body's unique physiology would keep him alive until they were in a position to give him some medical attention, but that didn't stop it from hurting like all hell in a hand basket.

Tannis’s speckled-white ears tilted at peculiar angles, her fiery locks free to sway back and forth, as she shook her head softly. “There is not anything in you, is there. How sad.” Tannis’s curved lips formed a slight frown, her expression softening. The spider beast slowly pushed itself up, out of its chair. It took a step around the chair and Tannis reached behind her, un-tying the loaf of bread from her back. “You are no longer the man I met before.” Tannis’s right foot takes a step back, the loaf of bread brandished in front of her. The spider beast paused in its movements. It reached out with one of its hairy arms, but moved the arm into the chair, lifting up the cushion. The spidery hand grasped a mirror…

Tannis’s hazel gaze drifted to the mirror. Her nose releases a soft, inhaled breath. “They are near. Whiskey is in the air.” Tannis’s hazel gaze drifted to the barricaded door, then back to the spidery beast. Tannis’s nose released a soft sniffle, “You should have never kept the mirror. Bakir was right.” The spidery beast’s mouth attempted to move, but only a long, dulled groan escaped it. Tannis’s hazel eyes drifted to the floor, her expression becoming perplexed and slightly agitated. “I..am sorry.”

Tannis’s hazel gaze flicks to the wall to her left, a soft sound becoming caught in her throat. Tannis’s hazel gaze flicks to the spidery beast, who’s weary face also observed the wall. Tannis’s hands clasped about the loaf of bread’s end, her left hand holding the bread up, while the right hand pointed it at the spidery beast. Tannis’s cloth covered legs carried her forward, the loaf of bread’s appearance changing drastically in a popping sound, to that of an estoc, it’s blade thin, but long. Tannis’s blade pierces through the startled spider beast’s chest. Tannis’s form pushed the weapon till its hilt touched the beast’s sharp hair, her right shoulder colliding into the beast and toppling it over. Tannis’s left hand continued to push the blade into the bleeding beast’s chest, her form dropping to its knees. A few gurgling sounds escape the spidery beast’s throat, then all is still. Its hand releases the mirror upon the floor, besides Tannis. Tannis's fiery locks covered her downward head, her hazel gaze closing, and her face looking away.

Bandit pressed an open palm to the wall. Her brows were drawn together in focus as she searched for a switch of the sort. She crouched down low and used both hands until her fingers passed over a small lump on the wall. She drew closer to inspect it. It was simply a very disguised button and when she pressed it the small door at the end of the room opposite to where she entered, clicked.

"Hey, door guy. I found a way in." She said teasingly. However, when she turned to smile at him she was at just the perfect angle to see bloodstains on his shirt.. She couldn't see the wound since he was masking it but it was enough of a view to fill her face with worry. Her fingers lightly tugged on the hem of the shirt as to show her concern. "You need medical attention. How long can you last in here?"

Bandit knew Tannis was just through the unlocked door and the sudden silence that took hold of the fortress gave her more reason to hurry up with the mission. She stood up and studied him for a few moments before gently taking his hand in hers. "I wish I could heal you."

"Bah! Ye's goes n' gives me ajob n' inna next breath ye' done showed me up! If'n I's didn' know any betta, I'd be thinkin' ye's enjoyed leadin' me along." Other than some feigned grumbling, he did little besides stand and wait. His attention was mostly being diverted towards ignoring the pain in his side at the moment, after all. When she turned to him and he could no longer hide the fact that he was wounded, he put on a smile and shrugged, slightly.

"S'ain much ta' be worried 'bout, really. Hurts sommin' fierce, bu' I's been through worse. N' fer' as messy as it be, 'tis mostly a flesh wound. S'long as I don' get jostled 'round n' spill too much blood, I's shoul' be fine fer' a few hours, yet." Indeed, for all that he had a slight limp, there was little in his movements to suggest that the wound had injured anything vital. He was a bit pale in the face, a sharp contrast to his usually lightly tanned skin-tone, but he was still steady on his feet, for the moment.

"Best ye's kin' be doin' fer' me righ' now woul' be ta' finish up our business hea' so we's kin' be gettin' tha' hell out. Lead on!" He raised his free hand to point towards the door in a heroic sort of pose, Even if he was making sure to keep his shirt bundled up over his wound and stemming the flow of blood.

Tannis's hazel eyes released a few tears upon the floor, though her cloth covered shoulder brushes against her cheeks, her hazel gaze drifting towards a door along the left wall. Tannis's left hand releases the estoc's hilt, her rump colliding into the ground as her legs relax. Tannis's right hand moves over the small mirror's frame, her fingers wrapping about it. Tannis’s head lifts up, her left hand brushing aside some of her fiery locks, her hazel gaze upon the door.

If the door were to open, Tannis’s form would scramble to its feet, her arms lifting up high to readjust her sleeves, her palms pressing against her hips, her head tilting back. Tannis’s curved lips would curl into a weary smile. “So you came in, anyway. How reckless.” Tannis’s feline tongue would stick out, only slightly, and retreat.

Together with Vahn, Bandit stepped through the unlocked door into another room. Her eyes honed in on Tannis as she scrambled to her feet clutching her important hand mirror. The witch reacted with a small smile for all seemed to be calm.

"Ah good, you have retrieved my mirror for me. I am very thankful." She said politely but something glimmered dangerously in her eyes, slight mistrust. The mirror made her on edge. "Please, could you hand it over to me?" Bad things could happen should the mirror suffer any serious damage.

An end to this adventure would need to be soon so that Vahn could receive medical attention. Besides, the witch felt drained from such a stressful trip. True, she has experienced worse adventures that nearly killed her but she was eager to return home.

Stepping through the unlocked door, the man make a cursory glance to assure himself that their third companion wasn't dead, then moved to looking over the rest of the room. There was nothing in it that really grabbed his attention, but at the same time the business of the mirror wasn't his business at all so he thought it best to simply leave the two women to it.

"Pshaw. Coming ta' this'n hea' place inna first place wa' reckless .Ye' thinks a door'd be givin' me secon' thoughts?" His carefree grin and cheerful, friendly tone was a sharp contrast to his paling features and slightly pained expression. He hadn't lost enough blood to pass out just yet, though he could feel himself starting to get a bit light-headed. Not that he had any intention of revealing that information to the other two.