Turn 93 -- Kre Returns

"Well that's the last of it," speaks Dain to Talimar as they finish their casting on the items taken from the orc chieftain and his priests. Talimar nods his head at the words from the mage, fighting back the slight headache that the casting has given him.

"It's too bad we don't have the time to properly identify them all," continues Dain, "but at least we know these are magical. Of what nature, we'll have to wait till later to find out." Dain points to the shield of Ogurkek, as well as his spear and chain mail and the spear of Garundzer. Working the magic of the last few hours apparently has awoken a fire inside the mage instead of weakening him like Talimar, at least outwardly anyway. Finally, Dain takes a seat beside Talimar at the fire and takes out his pipe, absently packing the tabac down inside it.

"How do you think the others are faring?" Dain asks.

"We haven't heard anything, considering the nature of the dwarves, I would say that is a good sign," responds Talimar.

Across the chamber, Gnore and Garth continue their watch at the entrance. Gnore continues to moderately sip on the wine as his eyes scan the opening before them. The wine having somewhat loosened the tongue of the normally quiet dwarf, he and Garth have been passing the time speaking of their respective homelands. After a time, Ras moves over to their spot and takes a seat with them, the jovial smile of the halfling making him ever welcome.

"Any sign of the orc women?" he asks the duo.

"None," says Gnore as he offers the skin to Ras who shakes his head.

"No sign of the caverns collapsing ahead either then, I take it."

"Thankfully no," responds Garth, "and I hope it stays that way."

As the time passes and the companions go about their individual tasks of readiness in order to fight the boredom and lack of knowledge of what is going on with their friends ahead, the silence is finally broken by the return of Kre. Walking into the cavern, the young thief is helping to support a middle-aged man who is in bad shape. Kre walks him over to the campfire where he sets him to the ground, Rad handing a waterskin to the man right away.

"The final prisoner I take it?" asks Talimar as Kre stands.

"You got it."

"The others?"

"They went ahead, the passageway continued on to another chamber. They were continuing on and I brought him here. He hasn't spoken a word, I don't think he truly realizes he's been rescued yet. I can't imagine what they put him through. I don't want to!"

Garth moves forward to examine the man with Dain who is administering a healing salve to the wounds on the man's back. "He doesn't require a healing," begins Garth, "He needs food and rest now more than anything."

Talimar turns from the man to regard Kre, "Did the others say to wait here or come for them?"

"They didn't," responds Kre as he takes a drink from a waterskin.

"Well perhaps someone had better go back after them," begins Talimar. "Dain and I can use the rest here and will try and get some information from this man. Perhaps you and Ras should try and find the others. Garth and Gnore, you can go ahead or stay here, whatever you wish."