All the statues that the shield maiden locked into place lit up just as Arlhenwe said they would. As the last statue turned about in the final position, the magical barrier shimmered once and disappeared.

"Well done, Serna." The loremaster told her taking the lead again, "well done."

"Thank you!" The Shield Maiden smiled from ear to ear as she turned towards Caliaphy, "I told you I was good with puzzles."

Caliaphy gave her a thumbs up as they continued down the long corridor when the ominous voice from earlier echoed all over.

"What's this? You're serious aren't you? Don't bother, you'll all be dead before you can reach the palantir! Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" The voice taunted them and it was followed by sound of rusty gears moving ending with a bang.

Whatever the sound was it made the kurori jump and the loremaster on edge as a large mechanical construct came lumbering straight for them.

"Uh, what is that?" Arlhenwe braced herself muttering something in arcane.

"Looks like a golem, like the ones back in Asylum but those are steamwork golems the tinker gnomes build. This one is," The kurori peered around the corner to get a better look at it and whispered, "This one is made of clay or earth."

"Regardless of what its made of its not going to get us," Serna stepped forward and activated her shield, "Everyone, get behind me, I'll protect us."

"I can distract it while you two can run around it, Serna," The kurori flew back over to her and the loremaster. "Don't worry about me, just get to the other side, okay?"

"Okay! But be careful, Caliaphy, and whatever you do, don't panic!" Serna took Arlhenwe by the hand while she used her other hand to activate her magic shield. The Shield Maiden began to lead the two of them around the golem while it was distracted by Caliaphy's antics.

The clay golem thundered towards the kurori shaking the very stone on which the trio stood. With a roar it swiped at Caliaphy but she was too quick for it.

"Missed me! Now ya got to kiss me! Rocks for brains!" The kurori taunted the golem.

With a series of swipes with its thick solid hands, the clay golem practically had Caliaphy backed up to the far side of the corridor.

Arlhenwe grabbed Serna's hand and ran pass the golem's blindside and beyond the reach just as the kurori dodge, dipped, ducked, dodged, and dived from getting smacked by the golem. Once on the far side, the floor began to fall away leaving a twenty foot long gap by twenty five feet deep. The loremaster cast an Illusionary Terrain oven the massive pit trap. "Fly Caliaphy! Fly!"

Without saying another word, the kurori flew between the legs of the golem with a whoosh. She flew up and hovered about half way over the pit and whistled, "Did you lose something, clay man?!"

The golem whirled around and came at her roaring. Each thunderous step brought it closer and closer until the next step sent it tumbling downwards into the pit trap. It hit the bottom and broke apart ending its short life.

The kurori flew over to the loremaster and the shield maiden, "Phew! That was close! Let's get moving!"

"Nice work, Caliaphy, you're the best!" Serna cheered as she clapped her hands in approval.

The three of them made their way down to the last stretch of the Undercroft beneath Northaven. A bridge of magic appeared spanning the endless gap to the central area held aloft. There in the center was the palantir that Princess Liliandra spoke of, however, there was someone else there. A long female figure muttered aloud to herself trying to destroy the artifact. The distance was too great for Serna and Caliaphy to see clearly.

Stepping out from behind them, the one and only gnome in red robes appeared again, "Remember, Shield Maiden, it is all about the Charms you wield."

Serna looked down at the Gnome and whispered, "Dungeon Master? What are you doing here? And what do you mean its about the Charms I wield?"

A slight breeze picked up and on the wind, Serna heard, "Charms show all, the reflections of life and truth, young one."

The kurori looked around, "Oh man! He's gone again! How does he do that?"

*****

On the center dias lay the palantir. The ancient magical glass orb crafted by the founders of the Northaven remained untouched by the intruder hell bent on destroying it. No magic or weapon could break it. It only reflected the image of Eilionwy staring back at it in disgust. "How dare my parents betroth me to a weakling and youngest prince of a kingdom. I will be QUEEN and all shall LOVE me and DESPAIR!"

*****

Arlhenwe, Caliaphy and Serna could now hear the rantings of an elf maiden gone insane with power on the far side of the undercroft now.

"I was hoping that we would not encounter her here. Caliaphy and Serna, I will distract Eilionwy long enough for you two to awaken the palantir. The others are depending on us all." The loremaster prepared herself for a confrontation by summoning one her many animal companions, a great white bear.