Turn 93A -- Denizens of the Dark

Kersath motions the small group to huddle together to help keep the noise down, "I think that this is more or less the point where I'd want the rest of the Company to be with us. Somebody should go and call them in here. I don't think I'd want to open that chest meself, I'd like to have Kre's 'special skills' do the work," he says with a smile, then continues, "I can stay here, hide in the shadows until you return in case something shows up."

Ortho shakes his head ever so slightly, "Kre'll bring the others. If not to join up with us, at least to satisfy his greedy curiosity. Ya'll check that chest. Ah'll keep a watch on that stairwell." He then hefts his shield and axe as he moves toward the rock face hiding the stairwell.

Without a word, Druckner moves behind Ortho with his crossbow to help him guard the stairwell. Every so often, his head turns back to regard the alcove and the chest, his own curiosity trying to get the better of him. For now, his discipline holds out as he maintains his post with Ortho.

Believing that the chest contains his equipment, Snagger walks over to regard the chest, "Ma things shood be there. I wood lak ta get me things back as soon as possible. Ah feel naked witoot me armor," he grins showing his crooked teeth. He decides against opening the chest himself, fearing the orcs probably trapped it. Instead, he takes up a position in front of the chest his hand axe held before him.

(Back at the main camp, following Kre's return with the prisoner):

Gnore shakes his head as he tosses aside the empty wineskin, "I'll only slow Kre and Ras down. I'll stay here and guard the caster and elf from harm." Gnore states with a sly grin in Talimar and Dain's direction.

Talimar ignores the remark and grin from Gnore as he reclines against the rock behind him, his feet propped up in front of him. "Well then, Ras and Kre, you two go after the others and hurry them along. We should get this man out of here and return to Milbourne for supplies."

Kre nods as he tosses the waterskin to Dain, "I'm ready when you are," he says to Ras. The small halfling nods as he closes his log and places it into his backpack for safe-keeping. Slinging the pack over his shoulders, he waves his hand before him in a flourish, "Lead on..."

With Kre and Ras gone, Gnore takes up a more vigilant watch over the entrance to the chamber. His bastard sword drawn and cradled in his thick arms, he paces back and forth near the cave mouth. By the campfire, Garth continues to administer to the needs of the prisoner; tending his wounds and offering water, talking to the man and trying to get him to speak, to no avail though. After a few minutes, the man falls into a deep slumber.

Dain eases the last pulls out of his pipe and curses softly as he realizes that was the last of his tabac. Tapping the empty pipe on a nearby rock to knock out the last of the ashes, he turns to Talimar, "Do you think orcs make their own magical items, or do they just steal them from more intelligent races? If they do make their own, do you think they make them the same way we do? It all just puzzles me."

Talimar thinks for a moment on the questions posed by his friend before responding. Within minutes the two are deep into a discussion of the various magical capabilities of the races of Faerun.

Moving through the passageways to the south, Kre and Ras silently make their way past the chamber where the prisoner was found. Easily picking up the trail of their comrades, they continue further south, practiced eyes constantly searching the caves before and after them looking for any possible sign of ambush. After an hour or so of quiet travel, they step into the last of the chambers of the orcs. Stepping into the enlarged and neatly kept cave, the two see their companions right away. Druckner and Ortho are stationed to the southeast, apparently guarding some type of exit there. Kersath is moving about the chamber looking for any other possible exits while Snagger is standing over a rather large chest in an alcove to the west.

Eyeing the chest, Kre and Ras both make their way over to it. Nodding to Snagger, Ras bends down to investigate the chest. Kre comes up behind him, laying a hand on the shoulder of his friend, "Why don't you let me have a look at this one. Considering yer luck with the last and all."

A shiver runs up the spine of Ras as he remembers his last encounter with a locked chest. Rising, he smiles to Kre and steps back behind a nearby boulder. Sinking to his knees before the chest, Kre pulls a small pouch from some hidden compartment on his belt. Opening the pouch, he pulls forth several of the tools of his trade, laying them on the ground before him. Several tense moments of investigation of the chest bring a frown to the face of the young thief.

"It's trapped alright. Just like the one we found at the keep. I think I can bypass it though."

Taking several of the tools from the ground before him, he begins working at the lock on the chest. After a few moments, a click can be heard as the mechanism is sprung. Slowly raising the lid of the chest, he begins to work around the glyphs placed on it. Ras holds his breath as he sees the lid slowly rise and then finally, Kre pushes it all the way back, revealing the contents inside.

"Me goods!" exclaims Snagger as he sees his equipment stored inside the chest. Reaching into the chest, the dwarf pulls forth a fine dwarven suit of chain mail, a nice battle-axe of dwarven crafting, a shield, and a pack of various items. Finally, with a deep smile on his face, he pulls forth a ceramic jug that Ortho and Druckner notice is of Strangestone Porter Ale, some of the finest and stoutest ale known to mankind. They each smile to one another as they see the jug.

Moving off to the side, Snagger begins to fully outfit himself once again, putting on his chain mail and setting his equipment in place once again. His jagged teeth are in full display as a broad grin explodes across his face.

Kre and Ras move forward to take a quick inventory of the rest of the contents of the chest. A large amount of gold, silver and platinum pieces, as well as other minor trinkets and baubles line the bottom of the chest while four bottles of various color liquids lay on the top.

"Well that's that," speaks Kersath. "What say we get the others and get out of here?"

The others nod as Kre slams down the lid of the chest once again. Motioning to Snagger, he takes up one side of the chest as the dwarf takes the other. Just as Ortho and Druckner are about to turn away from the hidden entrance, Druckner sees several small shapes step out of the shadows in the passageway beyond. His crossbow flies to his shoulder as Ortho raises his shield and axe. "State ye name and intentions or prepare to die," shouts the dwarven priest at the intruders. The creatures before them are slightly smaller than themselves and are dressed in plain, brown and gray clothing. There are about a dozen of them in the tunnel. They bear short swords and their leader stands, arms crossed before her chest. She is clearly an old gnome and Ortho can easily see the aura of magical power heavy in the air around her.

Seeing the reactions of his comrades, Kersath quickly makes his way to the hidden entrance. As he steps to the edge of the rock face and looks into the passageway beyond, his fears subside.

"Druckner, Ortho, relax. Their Svirfneblin, my kin you might say," responds the dark elf. Stepping forward, the dark elf bows deeply and speaks fluently in the Svirfneblin tongue. "My name is Kersath, we mean you no harm."

A look of surprise comes across the face of the leader for a fleeting moment before she responds in Common, "I think we should have a little talk about what you're planning to do, don't you?"