Turn 68 -- Another Night

After investigating the entrance to the mines, the party backtracks out of the mine to discuss their strategy. Ortho pulls out the map from Ol' Grizzler and the party gathers around to look at it.

Randor looks at the map for a second. After thinking for a moment, he says, "I suggest that we start by going here, to the 'Queen of Souls', then heading over here, to the 'Grand Cascade'. That looks like it should take us to the lower level. When we get down there, I only suggest taking it one room at a time. What are some other ideas?" He then steps back from the map so that someone else can get a close look at it.

After listening to Brother Randor's suggestion, Gnore nods in agreement, "The path is sound and as good as any place to start." The dwarf then reaches behind him and draws his bastard sword. "I'll take the fore of the main group."

Looking at the map, Ortho shakes his head, "Ah like not the idee of leaving so much on this map unexplored before going even deeper. Ah'm fer explorin' everythin' we can find on this level, then go below. Ah'm a big believer in leavin' no unknowns behin' us." Having spoken his mind, Ortho now clams up to hear what the others have to say. The stout dwarf is shaking with anticipation to get underground.

"Sounds like a plan to me," begins Dain. "Jumping too far ahead can leave too many clues, not to mention valuables, undiscovered." The others look at the mage curiously as he has begun to develop a higher form of greed never shown before, perhaps a trait rubbing off from his new friends Ras and Kre.

Talimar nods in agreement with Ortho as they pour over Ol'Grizzler's map, "That sounds like the way to go Randor. But as Ortho and Dain have said, we should check each cavern as we go. We don't want to miss any clues and it is never a good idea to leave live enemies behind us." Having spoken, Talimar eyes the entrance of the mines with a little apprehension, nervous about venturing underground with the weight of all the earth and stone overhead.

Garth speaks up, "You know, this entrance looks pretty abandoned. If there is someone using this complex, there must be another way in. Wouldn't want to be surprised from behind."

"You have an excellent point there, friend Garth," replies Talimar.

"I like Randor's plan," responds Ras, "but I have a problem. I don't like leaving horses unattended outside the mine, even if they don't get stolen they might starve or dehydrate. I don't like abusing my animals. We could be in that COLD," Ras shivers as he says the word, "cave for weeks. I say we have Ortho and maybe myself or one of us lighter ones take the horses back to the nearest town and get them boarded and leave some of our less valuable stuff there and then we can come right back possibly flying back or riding a single horse back that we can leave at the other mine." After saying his peace, Ras moves over to his pack and begins dividing up the valuables to make sure no one is unnecessarily encumbered.

Gnore smiles as he listens to Ras' concern, "Ras, you are a kind one but horses aren't born captive. They can take care of themselves. We'll tether them near some grass and leave water for them but I don't think we should wait in front of the cave with the group split for the horses sake. If anything, how about we ride to the mines in operation we saw a way back and leave our mounts there. Then we could walk back as a group." Gnore is as anxious as Ortho at exploring the caves.

"I agree with Gnore," begins Dain again, "half the group could take the horses back to the mine to be returned to town and the other half of us could explored one or two of the upper level rooms being very careful. If we designated three of so rooms near the opening of the mine, we could explore them and the rest of the party could meet us there when they return. If we finish exploring before they get back, we can wait for them outside."

"Ok, leaving the horses where they can easily get water and food is fine, if they get stolen I guess we will live with it," replies Ras. He then turns to address Talimar, "Whatever you decide is fine with me." He then moves to continue his work with the loot.

Druckner eyes all the supplies and says, "Does anybody have a shovel? I'm going to hide what supplies we don't bring with us." He then turns to survey the area for a good hiding place.

"Hey, that is a great idea, why don't we bury the stuff we don't want to bring in, here is a shovel, I think we should just bury our saddle bags, no need to bring in all that gold into the mines." Ras tosses a shovel to Druckner and picks up another one to help with the digging.

Gnore watches as the digging starts and decides to help. He looks for a shovel and seeing none, takes the one from Ras to help Druckner out; his powerful arms able to dig much better than Ras.

Not wanting to join in the physical labour as well as getting covered in mud, Talimar moves a safe distance away and strings his bow, standing guard and keeping an eye out for watchers. After the group finishes burying and hiding their loot behind a boulder off the entrance to the mines, Talimar pulls everyone together.

"Now that the loot is taken care of, we just have to deal with the horses. We'll leave them here to graze, as Gnore said, they'll be fine. I also like Garth's idea of watching the entrance for a while. Therefore, I suggest we camp a ways from here and set up watches to scout the entrance to the mine and see if anyone or anything comes out of the entrance tonight. Then tomorrow we will go down. How's that sound?"

Although Gnore, Ortho and the other dwarves are quit anxious to be below ground again, they see the wisdom in the action and decide to wait the night out. As the sun disappears behind the horizon, the group moves a few hundred yards or so away from the entrance and sets up camp. A fire is foregone to keep the camp hidden and everyone settles down with little conversation. A double watch is set up for the evening, the first for the immediate vacinity of the camp and the second on the entrance to the mines.

The evening passes rather quietly with neither station seeing anything or any threat to the party arising. Few members of the company get much sleep as everyone is anxious about what the dawn may bring for the group. As the dawn greets them everyone is up and making their preparations for the spelunking expedition. Ras puts on his warm boots and gloves, hat and begins filling his backpack with extra blankets, a couple of torches and other items for the journey down. He is dressed a bit over the top for the cold anticipated in the caves, a point that is made to him by Ortho.

"I can't help it," replies Ras. "Can't stand the cold any more. I'm tired of it and I want to be warm!" is all the response he gives.

"Suit yerself," answers Ortho as he gets his gear together as well. He and Gnore divide up the gear from the pack mule so that they have everything ready that they may need in the caves. After seeing that everyone is prepared and the horses are taken care of, Talimar signals Kersath and the party heads down to the entrance to the mines. Once again, they pass the boarded up entrance and head into the heart of the caves. Kersath and Kre lead the way, trying to stay to the shadows and checking for traps and secret passages as they move. Talimar and Gnore follow, with Druckner, Dain, and Garth after them. Ortho, Brother Randor and Ras guard the rear.

The companions move quietly down the manmade passage for a hundred and fifty feet or so before the passage widens. The cavern is pitch dark of course, the only light coming from the lantern held by Dain. The ceiling in the caves ranges in height from ten to thirty feet with apparently no rhyme or reason to the change. Intent on their plan to investigate all the caverns in the mines, the group steps forward into the central part of the complex. The passage breaks off to the left and heads back to the areas marked the Dream Cave and the Queen of Souls Pillar on Grizzler's map. It also continues forward to the other areas of the mines. Tensions are as tout as the string on Druckner's crossbow among all the companions as they anxiously walk through the passageways, weapons at the ready.

Just as the group is about to turn left and head into the Dream Cave, Kersath and Kre step out of the shadows and quietly stop everyone. Speaking in a whisper, Kersath draws the group together.

"We must stop here. Apparently there is some type of magical dweomer up ahead, perhaps offering some type of warning to approach. I was just barely able to detect its presence. Can one of you mages or priests take care of it? We need to get rid of it before continuing on."