Turn 72 -- Deeper Still...

"Ras and I had better watch it with our little flasks," he thinks to himself as he walks under a safer appearing portion of the cave.

Thinking before he speaks, Kersath looks around the room at it's features and makes most of the same assumptions about the cave as Ortho did. Looking at the shaft and the ladder leading down into it, he guesses that it is structurally sound.

"I say that we stay here while somebody goes to alert the others. There's no point in going down there right now, especially since we don't know how many of them are there." Turning to Ras, he adds, "Perhaps you are willing to go?"

Ras takes a moment to ponder the options before replying, "Well, I think we should all just go back and then decide where to go next."

"Nay, we gots 'em bottled up in this hole." begins Ortho as he joins his companions. "Ah'll not let 'em get away. Ras, why don't you go fetch the others - and look in a few side caverns if ye can. Kersath and Ah will guard this hole here. We'll not go down til we're all together."

"Now move along and do be carefull. That evil cousin of yours is sneakin' around out there somewhere. Also, there may be another way fer Ramor to come up."

As Ortho finishes speaking, Ras nods his consent and moves toward the entrance to the cave. Stepping into the shadows, the diminutive halfling appears to vanish into thin air. Assuming the mantle of second in command with the absence of Talimar, Ortho turns to address Kersath, Druckner and Gnore.

"Ah'm sure Randor and Garth have got Talimar back in fightin' trim again by now."

Slinging his axe over his broad shoulder, Druckner moves forward to speak, "We'd better seach this whole level afore going down. I wouldn'a want ta be caught between two enemies."

"Excellent idee," answers Ortho, "why don' you and Gnore check out the level while the dark one here and I guard this level."

Nodding his head, Gnore quickly steps in line with Druckner as they move out to investigate the rest of the chamber. Gnore moves forward with his great bastard sword before him, Druckner with his crossbow loaded and ready.

Before they depart, Ortho has another suggestion, "An' Gnore, figure out what to do with those varmints we left unconscious back there. 'Specilly that one paralyzed by that ward spell. Make sure they can't come sneakin' up on us. An' don't ferget that hobbit is back there to aid 'em if ye gives 'im the chance. In fact, now that Ah think aboot it, bring at least one of those prisoners here. Ah got me another of me wonderful ideas."

"Aye, I'll bring one fer you. And if that cowardly mite halfling throws himself into the open, I'll match him with our own." Gnore adds this last with a large smile and a thought to Ras. He then ambles off after Druckner.

After listening to Ortho's request from Gnore to bring a prisoner, Kersath's eyes light up. With a devilish grin, he adds, "Aye, that might prove to be of some value, interrogating the vermin. Besides, it's boring to sit and wait here for somebody to come up. Might as well have some entertainment." Kersath is obviously bored with the notion of his little guard duty. He quickly sits down and begins care for his longswords, wiping the now dried blood from the blades.

Back at the Battlefield:

Talimar stands and thanks Garth for his aid. The elf gingerly stretches, feeling his half healed wounds, realizing that he is not fully healed yet. Looking in the direction the dwarves disappeared, he speaks up, "We had better move on. No telling what trouble those dwarves have gotten into. Beware of traps and ambush, there may be passage that go around this cavern letting ambushers to attack us from behind."

Randor stands from his seat after bandaging his wounds now that Talimar is healed. After hearing Talimar's words he cocks his head to the side and thinks for a second, "Hmm, the dwarves aren't making as much noise now, I hope nothing happened. It doesn't sound like they got into a fight. No cursing from Gnore anyway. They probably don't need our help but if they don't come back for a while we may want to see if they are okay."

Garth speaks to the companions, "I am all for finding the others as soon as possible, but I think we should keep our weapons drawn. I don't recall seeing that halfing running off with the others."

With a nod, Talimar hefts his sword and prepares to move off, "Let's go."

"What about these men here," asks Randor as he points at the men lying around and the one man suspended and paralyzed.

"Check them out, Dain," answers Talimar with a nod to the men on the ground. "How much longer will that buffoon be paralyzed?" he then asks.

Randor and Garth look at each other for a moment as they ponder the question before Garth speaks up, "Not much longer, any moment now actually."

"They are all dead," responds Dain as he comes back from checking the last of the men. "Apparently with their wounds untended two of them blead to death. I found this on the men though," he says as he offers up a few trinkets. Dain holds forth in his hand two small pieces of jewelry, one a small rosy quartz set into a platinum dragon's foot, the other a small silver signet ring with a 'J' inscribed on the inside.

"That's probably Jelenneth's," says Talimar with a frown as he sees the ring. "That may not be a good sign for young Andrenn or the safe return of the lady."

As Talimar finishes speaking, the ward on the guard dimishes as well as his paralyzing effect. As he is released, he stumbles to the ground. Randor quickly moves over to the man and knocks his sword out of his hand. Talimar is right behind the Hand of Tyr and levels the point of his sword at the mans throat.

"As I see it, you have two choices here: surrender or death at the point of my sword. Choose wisely..."

The man eyes the elf for a moment before lowering his head and raising his hands. "I am yours," is all he says.

"Bind and gag him," replies Talimar as he sheaths his sword.

Randor quickly moves to gag the man and tie his hands behind him, removing all weapons from the man as well.

As the companions are eyeing the newly acquired prisoner, there is a noise from behind them. Quickly turning and armed to the teeth, the surprised companions see the grinning face of their friend Ras moving toward them.

"Relax, it's just me. You guys are way too jumpy. Good thing it was only me though or you'd be dead now."

Dain blanches at this thought and quickly pulls forth both his daggers, his eyes darting about wildly. "Let's get back with the others." he asks of Talimar.

"They're just up ahead," offers Ras. "We ran the vermin down a hole in the ground in one of the caves further down. Ortho decided it was best that we all get back together before going down."

"Now that's wise coucil of the dwarf for once," replies Talimar with a smile.

That decided, the companions quickly head out to return to their friends, their prisoner following between Randor and Talimar. Cautiously moving through the passages, they meet back up with the others around the sinkhole without any further sign of trouble. Shortly after Talimar and the others make it in the cavern, Gnore and Druckner quietly walk back into the camp.

"No sign of anything out there in any of the other caverns," begins Druckner. "If there's another entrance, it's beyond me skills to find it." Gnore nods his agreement with his friends findings.

"Ok then," begins Talimar, "we know they went down this hole and apparently there's not another way up in this complex of caverns. We've got this prisoner here, any suggestions on our next course of action?"