CYOA: The Orc & the Tower Part 18 - The Bell Being (Patreon)

You give the Goblin a nod and she vigorously strikes the bell with her staff. Its chime is doleful and deep, reverberating in the damp air.

The large form of a shell followed by lazily streaming tentacles parts the waters of the pool. A glowing red eye peers curiously from behind a mass of tentacles and immediately fixes on Paier

A sulky, sarcastic voice emits from under a fringe of tentacles, “Paier, my little torch, what kept you away so long? It’s been an age since I enjoyed the warmth of your company. To what do I owe this honor?”

“Oh Carab, you eel!” Paier responded with candor, “I have not been at liberty to visit my friendsss for sssome time. We’re here to see the wizard, will you carry usss to him?”

“You? The favorite?! Not at liberty?” Carab gives a derisive laugh as they rise out of the pool. Water streams from ancient, heavy chains which shackle their neck and wrists together and continue down into the depths of the pool. 

“I wouldn’t want to visit the wizard even if I could. Look at what he’s done, I’m powerless to leave my little wet prison.” Carab sneers.

“He betrayed usss both, then.” says Paier, displaying her own manacle. At once Carab’s assessment of Paier seems to change and she continues, “Thisss will not be a cordial visit, we have business to settle, let me help you with your chainsss.” 

Paier inspects the magical binds. “These don’t look so very strong, come forward and I’ll ssstart with the easy onesss.”

Carab leans their long slender body over the cobbled floor. Paier clambers onto their back and, taking a large link of chain in hand, begins to mutter in an ancient tongue. The rusted chains glow, then start to warp and crackle in Paier’s hands.  Almost immediately the pale body beneath her feet jerks and shivers as Carab lets out a high, pitiful yelp.

Paier, nearly thrown from her perch, declares “Carab you’ll throw me in the pool, ssstop being sssuch a child!” 

“That stings!” cries Carab. “Your horrid fire magic is sloppy!”

“I am out of practice! It will ssssting and you mussst bear it. There’sss no other way.”

“Oh this is hopeless, just take the stairs and leave me to rot in the dark,” the pale creature pouts as they slump dejectedly

Paier rolls her ember eyes as if this is all too familiar and then looks pleadingly at you and the goblin. “Can you pleasssse disssstract them somehow or else we’ll never get out of thissss pit.” 

You consult with the goblin on how to approach the problem and decide to...