This is another objective room in the series of WHQ (War-Hammer Quest) board pieces I have been building.

The Fighting Pit

The Warriors descend into the next chamber, a vast, circular pit carved deep into the bones of Karak Azgal. The dim light of a single lamp suspended from the ceiling barely penetrates the shadows of this dark and forbidding room. The air is thick with the scent of old blood and sorcery. At the far end, a swirling gate pulses with malevolent energy—its black depths vomiting snarling beasts into the ruined city.

Wizard (eyes wide, voice hushed):
"There it is... the gate. The wound in reality. The source of the corruption. We must seal it before the tide becomes a flood."

Barbarian (cracking his neck, already stepping forward):
"Monsters first. Gate second. Let’s make them regret crawling out of that hole."

Elf (drawing his blade, gaze fixed on the portal):
"Agreed. We hold the line. Wizard, prepare your invocation."

The battle erupts. Claws clash with steel, spells explode in bursts of arcane fury, and the pit becomes a maelstrom of violence. One by one, the monsters fall, until silence returns—broken only by the ominous hum of the gate.

Wizard (stepping forward, staff glowing):
"Now. While the gate is vulnerable. I must begin the invocation..."

He pauses, eyes flicking toward Bek.

Wizard (voice rising, dramatic):
"But I will not cast until Bek apologizes."

Bek the Dwarf (blinking, stunned):
"...What?"

Wizard (firm, theatrical):
"You mocked me. Called me a candle stand. Doubted my power. And yet here we stand—alive, victorious, because of my magic! I demand recognition!"

Bek (flabbergasted, sputtering):
"You want me to praise you? Now? While the gate’s belching doom and death?!"

Wizard (arms crossed, resolute):
"Yes. Say I’m useful. Say I’m powerful. Say we wouldn’t have made it this far without me."

Bek (face reddening, voice rising):
"I’ll say you’re mad! You want a ceremony in the middle of a battlefield?!"

Wizard (smiling smugly):
"Just the words, Bek. 'I’m sorry.' That’s all."

Bek (gritting his teeth, fists clenched):
"I’d shave my beard before I call you anything but a drama-swaddled spark-flinger!"

With a growl of frustration, Bek turns his back, stomps toward the rope dangling from the pit’s edge, and begins to climb.

Barbarian (jaw dropping):
"Wait—Bek?! Where are you going?!"

Elf (stepping forward, voice urgent):
"Bek, come down! We need you! The gate’s still open!"

Bek (muttering as he climbs):
"Shave my beard... before I bow to a wizard’s ego."

Wizard (staring, stunned):
"You’d abandon us... over an apology?"

Bek (reaching the top, adjusting his armor):
"I’m not abandoning. I’m refusing to indulge nonsense. There’s a difference."

The wizard watches, panic rising as the gate pulses again, its edges flaring with dark energy.

Wizard (voice cracking):
"Bek... all you have to say is the words: 'I’m sorry.'"

But Bek is already walking back the way they came, boots echoing in the stone corridor.

The wizard hesitates, torn between pride and survival. He glances at the gate, then at the others. The shadows stir. More monsters are coming.

And deep down, he knows: without Bek, they may not survive the next wave.

The Fighting Pit – Climax

The wizard stands alone in the center of the pit, the gate pulsing behind him like a wound in the world. His shoulders slump as Bek disappears into the corridor. The others exchange uncertain glances.

Wizard (softly, voice cracking):
"Bek... please. Come back. We need you."

Silence.

Then, a shadow shifts atop the pit wall. The wizard looks up—and there stands Bek, arms crossed, beard still intact (for now), eyes burning with stubborn fire.

Bek (gruffly):
"Fine. I’ll admit you’re not as bad of a hack as you look."

The wizard’s eyes widen, hope flickering.

Bek (snapping):
"Now stop gawping and start mumbling your magic nonsense before more beasties crawl out!"

As if summoned by the dwarf’s words, a goblin shaman slinks through the gate, eyes gleaming with malice. It raises a crooked staff and chants a curse, launching a flaming arrow toward the one who clearly commands respect—the dwarf.

Wizard (shouting):
"Bek! Look out!"

Bek turns just in time. The arrow grazes past, slicing through the air—and through half his beard.

Bek (bellowing):
"MY BEARD!"

The roar shakes the pit. The barbarian stumbles back, eyes wide.

Barbarian (later, to every tavern he visits):
"I swear on my ancestors, that shout made my spine shiver. I’ve heard dragons scream softer."

Bek leaps down into the pit like a thunderbolt. As monsters pour forth, he meets them with a fury that borders on divine. His axe becomes a blur, cleaving through flesh and bone. A daemon peers through the gate, sees the carnage—and quietly steps back into the void.

Wizard (mouth agape):
"...By the Winds..."

Barbarian (whispering):
"He’s a storm in armor."

Elf (calmly, wiping a speck of dust from his sleeve):
"Ah. Bek’s back to normal."

The wizard and barbarian turn to stare at the elf, who stands untouched, unbothered, and entirely clean.

Wizard (blinking):
"How are you not even dirty?"

Barbarian (nodding):
"Not a drop of blood. Not a smudge."

Bek (panting, glaring at the elf):
"Glad you could stay pristine while the rest of us redecorated the pit with monster guts."

Elf (smiling faintly):
"It was good to see you return, Bek. We missed your... enthusiasm."

Bek grumbles, turning his back to the group. He kneels, checking the edge of his axe, adjusting his armor. But a small smile creeps across his face.

Wizard (hastily casting, voice rising):
"Right! Invocation time! Sealing the gate now!"

The spell surges, light envelops the portal, and with a final pulse of resistance, the gate collapses inward—sealed.

The pit falls silent.

The dwarf’s beard may be half-gone, but his pride remains intact. And though he’d never admit it aloud, the jab from the elf—calm, witty, and well-timed—was the kind of remark only a true friend could make.

 

I also hope you enjoy my story telling.  I've been making something for all the rooms and may go back and polish some stories up a bit.   But back to the world of 3D printing


 

I printed everything on a X1C using a .2 mm nozzle. Layer lines changed for each piece.  I have made a plate with instructions (i hope you understand them)
I used Bambu Matte Ash Grey.
Printing on a .4mm nozzle will be significantly faster.  I would print the main piece at .08mm layer height.  you will get a warning but it will print fine.


Before printing the main piece, I highly recomend you print the test pieces to make sure you have the sizing correct.

NOTE:  When slicing the main piece it will take longer than a normal print

For the spikes:
I originally was going to use toothpicks and then just paint them a rustly metal.  I picked the model up and harpooned myself and decided to print some spikes that would not bleed me dry.

I tested several ways to make the spikes and found the best result was from splitting them in ½ and then printing them.  I then glued them together with a couple of pin head sized drops of gorilla glue

For the Rope holder and rope: 
Originally I made an oval insert for the rope (as I didn't think figuring out how to make rope and print it would work great) And I would just find some type of thread to be the rope.   The oval is brittal and turned out to be smaller than I really wanted.  I talked with some friends and the simplest, best, strongest plan was to go purchase some tiny eyelets.  I purchased them at Home Depot for a couple of dollars.  I screwed it into the hole (in the centre of the oval piece) and it worked GREAT!!!  I left a couple of the test pieces that I attempted to use incase you do not want to go to the store to get accessories.

WARNING - make the test pieces so you can see how snug the oval insert will be.   if it's too tight you will have a bugger of a time getting it out (if you even can)  the size i'm using is the 98% insert.  Your printer or filament might have diffrent tollerances than mine

Trap Door:

There are 2 trap doors.  A and B.   I am using A (B was made first)  For the best quality print I sliced them in ½ and printed each side using .2mm nozzle with .06mm layer height.

once each ½ is printed I cleaned them up with the exato knife and then glued the pieces together.   

I might have gone a bit overboard on some of the detail on the boards.  I added bolts and nuts.  if you look closely at the nuts you will see that I adjusted the depth of the nut based on the thikness of the wood.  I also adjusted the rotation each nut to give it a bit more “realism”.

To insert the trap door,  put the right peg into the round hole and gently but firmly slid the left bep along the grove till it pops in place.   you can remove the trap door following the reverse procedures.  have to put a bit extra pressure to get it out.   I recomend only putting it in place once you have no plans to remove (or limiting it's removal)

 

Sliding door:
The door can only be inserted one way.  I have one side off set a bit more than the other.  In all my final test prints the door slid in and out quite smoothly with a satifiying click to hold it in place (this was purely accedental but exactly what I would have wanted had i tried to do it on purpose.)  When I slid the door in this final print, i needed to push it in place a bit more firmly.  Sliding it in and out several times made it better.  This might be because there was some type of printing issue or artifact.  use a small model file if you want to clean the groves so the door will slide in better.

The handle generally prints well.  Sometimes, on my test prints it did not.   I have tested this printing right side up and upside down and both print well.  I have left the orentation the way I feel gives an overall better print

I intent to make some attachments to the door.  I would like to make a porticallis or even a portal in place of the door, but this will be a future creation that I will post with the door by itself.

I think that is everything you should need to know.

if you have any questions please let me know and I would be happy to answer or clarify anything



This is printed using the OpenLOCK system (see my other prints for the clip)  This is made at 125% size.   here is my licence