You move down the narrow corridor leading deeper into the darkness, inch by inch. Nary a sound pierces the quiet as you creep, the dim light at the end of your path giving you a vague sense in your gut, that is perhaps hope. Even now, on the precipice of your accomplishment, you wonder if this was wise.

Reaching the portal, you sidle around to get a view of what lies beyond. A small, cramped space houses dozens if not hundreds of gadgets, tokens and bric-a-brac. Sitting alone at a small workbench in the center of the room is a hunched figure silhouetted by a lone candle beyond. With precisely intricate movements it manipulates whatever invention is presently set upon the table, obscured from your vantage point by its misshapen body. You shift to one side, attempting to see the object of its fixation.

The almost inaudible sound of your boot scraping against the floor slices through the quiet, filling your soul with terror and chilling your blood. The creature in the adjacent room gives pause from his diligence. Moments pass like days as you wait, praying to whatever you find holy that you were not heard. You watch as its shoulder twitches, and it continues to tinker, apparently oblivious. And then it spins about to face you!

A wretched amalgam of features gazes at you with a face twisted in anger and issuing a guttural scream likened to a dying pig. The glimmer in its eyes hints at intelligence, but its outstretched hand - somehow both scaled and furred, and ending in a wicked claw - dashes any lingering notion of negotiation. And in its other hand, cradled like an infant babe, you see...

---

Hey, gang. Looking forward to designing new and interesting ways to keep you on your toes, thinking fast, and generally having a great time! See you out there... even if you don’t see me.


~ GMBasilisc ~