Under Horned Mountain

1/22/998rw
Siobhan returns to the cave and briefs Talanos. "We'd better get back there
and find out more about what's going on." The blonde then swims back out towards
the shore with her possessions...

Talanos strips once again and follows the woman again, pushing a piece of driftwood
which is carrying his weapons, clothes and gear.

Yahn looks up at the mountain, gives a shrug and hops into the boat.

As Glant follows Cronar onto the raft "I hope this thing is sturdy we seem to be putting a lot of weight on it. Bythe way does anyone have any information on this witch that you all are going after?"

Cronar pushes the raft away from shore once again. In minutes Siobhan and Talanos are with the raft asking questions with Cronar answering as best he can. You maneuver threw the falls and find a shallow landing area on the other side. A narrow passage leads to a dark room.

Siobhan swims back to the cave just ahead of the raft, dresses, and picks up her sword, ready for action...Slipping from the water, Talanos once again brushes the bulk of the water from his body before redressing once again. Giving Siobhan a wink he says, "You and I have got to stop meeting like this! What will the others think?" Still smiling, he slings his bow across his shoulder once again and takes up his two short swords, one to a hand. When the others finally make it to the landing, he sees the two newcomers up-close for the first time. Looking around at the others he asks in a quiet voice, "Looks like you either found some new friends...or they found you." Stepping forward, he gives a small bow and says, "Well met, traveler. I am Talanos of the Forest Glade, woodsman by trade. Are the two of you joining us on our quest? "After getting an answer (and possibly a short description!) from the two, he shows them to the chamber with the pool of water. When he gets there, he points at the chalice and the water and explains, "When we were first up here, I drank three chalices full of water from the fountain. I was thinking at the time of the riddle that Jourgen told Marta back in Briss, so I thought that it might bestow some sort of power upon me. Like being able to see in the dark, for instance. But, as far as I know, nothing has changed, though Siobhan did give me a start when she told me that I had suddenly gotten hairy!" Glancing at the woman, he hisses at her, "And for that you will surely be paid back in full. Plus interest!" the fountain

Glant, upon noticing that it is hard to see in this room, "if everyone
would like i will give us some light", he then begins to chant.(light
spell).

"Hail and well met, my name is Horst Forseti of the 'Order of Mjollnir',"
Horst moves himself around the raft and towards shore once again continuing
"as for our quest, well it involves trying to help Odin recover his eyes.
Now then. Any chance of a hand getting out of here..."

Siobhan swims back to the cave just ahead of the raft, dresses, and picks up
her sword, ready for action...

Slipping from the water, Talanos once again brushes the bulk of the water from his
body before redressing once again. Giving Siobahn a wink he says, "You and I have
got to stop meeting like this! What will the others think?" Still smiling, he slings his
bow across his shoulder once again and takes up his two short swords, one to a
hand. When the others finally make it to the landing, he sees the two newcomers up-close
for the first time. Looking around at the others he asks in a quiet voice, "Looks like
you either found some new friends...or they found you." Stepping forward, he gives a
small bow and says, "Well met, traveler. I am Talanos of the Forest Glade,
woodsman by trade. Are the two of you joining us on our quest?"
After getting an answer (and possibly a short description!) from the two, he shows
them to the chamber with the pool of water. When he gets there, he points at the
chalice and the water and explains, "When we were first up here, I drank three chalices full of water from the fountain. I was thinking at the time of the riddle that
Jourgen told Marta back in Briss, so I thought that it might bestow some sort of
power upon me. Like being able to see in the dark, for instance. But, as far as I
know, nothing has changed, though Siobahn did give me a start when she told me
that I had suddenly gotten hairy!" Glancing at the woman, he hisses at her, "And for
that you will surely be paid back in full. Plus interest!"

the fountain

Yahn introduces himself to the others, "I am Yahn Shawman. I met the
others on the other side of the water." Yahn steps back to look at as
many of the party as possible and asks, "What riddle do you speak of
and why are you trying to recover Odens Eyes? What value do they have
to you personally? Do you know what this Witch plans to do with them?"

"BY THE GODS", stammers Cronar as he stares at the walls within the fountain chamber. As appearing before his eyes with the glare of light brought forth by the wizard named Glant, the walls are transparent and within them is if buried in ice he sees the figures of Titans within the walls a dozen in all! [Each Titan appears real, standing about twenty feet tall wearing full chain mail with helms all shining in magnificent silver.]

"Criminy!", exclaims Lester, "those can't be real." Walking right up to the
wall he cups his hands and peers into the ice. Standing back he strokes his
chin thoughtfully and he begins to chant. He passes his outspread fingers
before his eyes and peers again at the titanic titans ((OOC: Couldn't
resist....casting detect magic))

"man oh man, will you look at that, what we do now" Glant then just
continues to stare at the titan's in awe.

Yahn Shawmen simply stares wide eyed in amazement

Siobhan turns to Talanos with a start. "Hey, Talanos," the blonde says, "about that chalice and the water. Maybe they're the ones who need it," Siobhan says, gesturing at the encased Titans. The blonde fills the chalice, then looks around at the Titans with mischief in her eyes. "Shall we water them to see if they grow?"

Yahn extends his arm, "Stay your hand, how are we to know if these
Titans are friends or foe?"

As Lester touches the wall he realizes it is solid stone, not cold like ice, more like crystal.

Seeing the titans surrounding them, Talanos gives a sudden shudder. Whispering
harshly he says, "Now that's creepy! To think that they were watching us the entire
time we were here makes the hair stand on end." Noticing that some are wanting to disturb the titans, Talanos' eyes widen. Again whispering, he pleads, "Leave them to their sleep. We might need to waken them later, but let's leave the awakening till then." Pointing upwards he adds, "Let's worry more about what might be awake already and is waiting beyond that opening!"

Horst
"Wow, they look real from here. I wonder how they got there, and for
that matter if they could still be alive in there."
Horst walks over to the walls and touches them to see if they are cold
(ice??), "Perhaps we should conduct a careful
search of the area for clues as to the origin of this place and its
use...." He then turns and starts slowly examining the
room...

Horst will examine around the chalice and then proceed a little further
back into the cave system.
He will make use of one of his 'continual light stones' to illuminate
his way. He won't travel too far from
assistance (just in case). Anything of interest???

In the middle of the room you can make out a small pool with a column stalagmite in it's center extending upwards to the ceiling some 20' over your head. Water appears to be running down this column feeding the pool. At the base you also see a large metal chalice setting at the edge of the pool. On the far wall you see steps cut into the wall that lead up through a hole in the ceiling.

As Glant begins to cast his spell Horst quickly steps forward and intervenes, "Save your strength for now my friend. Thor will provide us with the illumination that we require." With that he reaches to a small pouch attached to his belt. Opening it reveals a bright light from within. Slowly he draws forth a glowing stone that......illuminates the cavern. Looking around he states "I have several of these stones. Their light will not fail us in the way a torch might, and neither will it radiate heat to reveal our position should we need to be hidden from sight."
Placing the stone he is holding on a nearby ledge, to provide illumination for all he turns back to the raft to retrieve the remainder of his equipment and clothe himself once more in his armour.

Marta stares at the Titans, a hint of fear on her face. "I agree, we should
just leave the Titans alone. I learned my lesson when I messed with that book
of magic, don't play with something you don't have to... If everyone has
reassembled themselves why don't we try and see where these stairs go? Odin's
eyes await our arrival."

"Let us proceed up the stairs." says Yahn, "Perhaps the answer to these
Titans lies ahead. We can always come back. I don't think their going
anywhere."

Cronar speaks up at the questions presented by Yahn, "A flagon full is needed, brave shalt the heart lie full upon the stone of everlasting light and from hence will fly thine eyes of ye Lord and Master, King of the Gods!" Cronar pauses, "I have that memorized like Marta here." Cronar leans down to address Yahn[Being 7 feet tall you understand], "in the struggle between light and darkness stand Odin and his legions, those Ravens represent his strength and vision, without them he is blind and we know who threatens him, the dark one, Loki.

The group decides to ascend the stairs, Horst has a light and stands near the front. Cronar says he will take the rear with Marta in front of him. Yahn, Glant, Lester, Talanos and Siobhan fit somewhere in that line. Anyone volunteer to lead? Give me some feed back on the marching order.

As you climb the light throws long shadows to the back of the party, Cronar and Marta are humbly aware of the following darkness. In the front of the group you come up into a small chamber that allows for only one exit and a continuation of the stairs upwards. The door is old stone and appears to hang askew possibly blocking the passage. -so stairs up or mess with door.
Ur-Lord

;;;;;-Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Glant looking around "what say we take a moment to check out what is
behind the door, it might hold something important that may help us."

Before ascending the stairs, Talanos looks to Lester and asks, "Would you care to
take the lead? I'll take it if you don't want to, and I'll take the second position if you
do. I'll follow closely behind, ready to cover you should we run into something up
these stairs." Once they go up the stairs and Glant suggests checking beyond the door before
continuing upwards, Talanos nods and moves over toward the door, one of his two
short swords drawn, the other loosened in its scabbard.

Siobhan joins in wherever is best, sword in hand, ready for action.

Yahn also falls in line as the party heads up the stairs.

Lester smiles somewhat nervously..."Well I don't know about being at the very
front. I fear I would be little more than a tasty morsel were we to run into
anything. I'd be happy to come forward and examine anything you feel is
suspicous or out of place but I do not think that my place is at the front of
the line."

The heavy door makes a loud noise as you open it. Shining the light inside you see a corridor
that branches off in both directions. Cobwebs and dusty floor are testament to the disuse of the passage.

"Let's be thorough," Siobhan says. "Let's check this part out."

Glant comments "i agree, you never know, we might find something
helpful."

In response to Lester, Talanos says, "That's fine too. I'll take the lead and you can
follow me, letting me know if there is something that I should be looking out for or
stuff like that." Upon opening the door, Talanos looks down the dusty hallway and says, "I agree with both Siobhan and Glant. We should check these hallways out, but I say we do it to
ensure that nothing lies behind us, should we find need of a hasty retreat."

Glant comments to the group "i suggest we try both passages, but that we
check the left one first."

Talanos gives a small nod and then heads down the left passageway, proceeding
slowly. He will take a couple of steps and then pause, letting his eyes do the take
some of the legwork out of searching. He will also check the floor as he moves for
any sign that someone might have passed this way before.

Horst tucks in behind Talanos...glancing back towards Cronar he quietly
suggests "Perhaps someone towards the rear should keep an eye on the
other passages just in case we are approached from behind??!!"

After 30 feet you come to a T intersection. Which way? Left or Right?

Horst looks around the party..." Let us proceed left again and see if we
rejoin our original tunnel. If we can eliminate the possibility of a
loop then it will reduce the wandering around that goes on...."

Cronar says he will stand in the doorway of the stairwell and wait.
As you turn left and walk another 30' you encounter a 5' wide side passage that leads off to the right at about 45 degrees. Continue straight or take the passage to the right?

Horst looks down the side passage with the aid of the Light Stone to see
how far it goes...if it doesn't go too far he will have a look down it
otherwise we will continue down the main passage...

Siobhan nods her assent...

Glant comments "i suggest we continue left again, so we can easily
retrace our path if necessary." Glant speaks up "i vote we go straight"

Talanos nods and continues straight down the corridor, taking a moment to look
up the side passage before passing it by.

Horst looks into the 5' passage and can just see that it leads into an open chamber.
The main passage seems to curve around this chamber to the right by 90 degrees.

"hhmmm, maybe we should check out this chamber first before continuing
straight." comments Glant.

This room appears rectangular 20' x 30'. It appears to be no other exit. Rubble is strewn about the room, mostly broken bits of masonry. Both walls to either side appear wet as if a spring or water is flowing from somewhere.

Not one for talking much Yahn nodes his head in agreement.

Marta will take the third wall and search for any sign of a secret door. "I'll check out
this wall guys, but I don't know what good it will do. I'm not very skilled in such
things."

Yahn not having any interest in the room looks in at the others wile he
leans up against the door frame.

Siobhan looks at the inside of the room, stepping inside for a moment. Seeing
nothing of interest, she backs out again, ready for the next room...

Talanos looks back toward Lester and says in harsh whisper, "What do you think?
Could there be any doors hidden from view in here? You want to check around over
on that side," indicating one side of the room, "while I take this side."
Talanos will then start checking the wall out, visually at first, but if anything looks
out of place, he will call Lesters' attention to it before checking it out physically.

Glant will stand just a little ways inside the room, and keep a watch on
the middle of the room, especially the rubble to make sure nothing
emerges while his friends are searching.

Horst looks around the room, looking in particular for the source of the
water. Should there be nothing of interest he suggests "We should
probably continue on down the main passage, unless anyone else has
discovered anything???"

Lester begins to examine the wall carefully. As he looks he says, "We should
not waste too much time checking every wall we encounter. The longer we spend
dallying the more the chance that someone should happen upon us or discover us
by some other means." When he is done examining the wall he makes a
percursory examination of the floor and the rubble that lies upon it.

Horst and Lester are checking the right wall and Talanos is on the left with Marta on the far wall. Glant stands a couple of feet inside the room and Yahn and Siobhan stand just outside in the main passage. As Talanos and Horst inspect the wetness covering the walls they both notice a splotch of slime, then suddenly it snakes out from the wall an oozing gray slime slapping Horst a good blow but the agile Talanos manages to duck the nastiness. Lester manages to avoid the ugliness as he being a smaller target, got lucky. Horst take 16 pts. And his armor where the slime strikes appears to melt under the assault. It puddles around Horst preparing for another strike as does the other one on Talanos.

Siobhan, lacking any weapons or magic that would do any good against the
amorphous mass, backs further away from the room, and calls on everyone else to
get out, too...

seeing his new companions being attacked Glant shouts "those things are
eating right through metal, get out of here and i will see if i can
help."
Glant then retrieves a small leather loop from his pouch at his waist,
and begins moving his hands and mumbling the incantations of a spell.

DM:levitation spell on slime attacking Horst and Lester, trying to raise
it to just below the ceiling, high enough for his friends to escape yet
not high enough to be able to touch the ceiling.

"Yargh...." yells Horst leaping backwards away from the gray ooze ands
once out of reach of the creature proceeds to deposit the contents of
his water skin all over his chain mail. [OOC So much for keeping it
dry!] Once out of the way of the others Horst quickly attends to his wounds,
[OOC: Cast 1 or 2 CLW Spells as appropriate to heal the damage done by
the ooze].

Marta jumps back away from the slime, "Eeeek!" Standing beside Glant as he
begins his incantations, she begins her own. Her fingers dance through the
air as arcane words are seemingly sung. Three little daggers shoot from her
fingertips towards the gray slime. Marta will fall back next round and attempt to completely get out of the room. [OOC: magic missile]

Lester nimbly backtracks as the gray slime lunges out. For a moment he curls
his fingers and looks as though he might begin to incant something but
suddenly he remembers that, although he had seen that spell cast, he had never
bothered to learn it. Nimbly he ducks underneath someone's legs and out of
the room.

Yahn Shawman launches one of his spears into the slime making sure that
everyone is clear so as not to his any allies. He observes what happens
to the spear.

Hearing how the 'slime' eats through metal, Talanos begins backing away, toward
the entrance. As he moves, he draws his dirk while keeping an eye on the
'slime'. Taking a step backward, he asks, "If this stuff eats metal, then we better
hope that Marta, Lester, or one of you new guys knows some magic that will be
effective." Once he finishes, he hurls his dirk at the slime that had attacked him
then he reaches for his bow and an arrow. (OOC: If it appears that Yahns' spear and Talanos' dirk did any damage to the slime, then Talanos will start firing arrows into the mass, but only if the spear and dirk attack 'appeared' effective. Otherwise, Talanos will protect the spellcasters
while they continue their barrage on the critter. Mike)