In reply to Torvek Ragdar (msg # 529):

"Old, very old, may even been before my Grandfathers Grandfaster's time, especially with the enchanted torched no longer working, maybe even before your Grandfather's time Corym.".

He keeps going, "Time to watch for Guardians" He exclaims without much urgency.

Underhill

The invisible Corym moves forward, after giving a quick signal to Torvek and Krackor that he's continuing. The tunnel widens out into room ninety feet in diameter, with a domed roof fifteen feet tall. On the opposite wall is the room's single exit, and the rail tracks run straight across the room to disappear into the darkness. In the center of the room is an ore cart, standing upright. It's a bit rusted, but otherwise unremarkable.

Along the walls of the room are mounted a series of platform beds, and there are several additional free-standing beds off to the sides, away from the track. You do a quick count, and there are twenty in total. The bedding has mostly disintegrated, but the wood of the frames is still intact. Which is probably a good thing, because each bed is holding a skeleton, the skulls all staring up at the domed ceiling.

Over The Hills

With the bulette safely wandering in a different direction, you get the former prisoners moving again. It's going to be a long day and a half, but the sun in shining, and everyone seems to be taking strength from being under its gaze again.

((ooc: I need someone in the group to roll 1d10. Also, you're welcome to continue to chat amongst yourselves.))

Shyte, another encounter! 18:37, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 1 using 1d10.  encounters. – 1

"This means that they're ranging farther than we thought.  And they're more capable than perhaps we first imagined.  I am Kitheras, of Evereska. We've left a party in the Giant's lair to scout and disrupt while we deliver the peasants back to their homes.  Would you like to return with us--whether for rescue or revenge"

"Workers. Seemingly killed in their sleep. We could scour it for loot and clues, but disturbing the dead unnecessarily is unwise. More importantly, undisturbed.  It's possible that the giants haven't penetrated to these levels yet. If we could find a scrap of paper with a name to jog my memory! Lets do a quick search to see if we can find anything identifiable."

22:03, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 17 using 1d20.  16) Ancient History [Western Heartlands]. – 17

Over the Hills

Much of the day progresses without issue, the group staggering their way through (and sometimes over) the hills. The sky clouds over, but blessedly doesn't actually start raining.

The afternoon finds you walking through a series of hill bottoms. Though there isn't a stream, each lowland has its own little pool. As you approach the third, you hear the bleating of sheep. A little cautious scouting, and you see that ahead of you is a fairly sizable herd of sheep, spread out across the hillside. There are two gnomes near the herd, keeping watch, and a third one, much of the way up a hillside, waves at you. "Pleasant day! What brings you into the Trielta?"

((ooc: There are 36 hp worth of ioun stone healing that can be distributed. All of the rescuees, including Ulfric, are currently at 3 hp (unless Ulfric used Lay on Hands). You can either further heal Ulfric, or bring 5 of the rescuees up to full hp, which will make it less likely that something random takes them down.))

"Hail and well met, we rescued the party taken from Triel by the giants and are returning them home. How far good shepherd?" Yngvar asks the gnome.

I have a CMW I can cast and the points from the ioun stone can be split among the injured. What is CLW in this edition? ;-)
This message was last edited by the player at 10:39, Tue 09 Apr.

"No visible sign of battles and multiple deads in their beds.  It must have been a place where they felt safe and didn't feel the need for guards. I wonder what did that." says Torvek as he looks around the room for any clues.

23:42, Today: Torvek Ragdar rolled 9 using 1d20.  Observation check (18).

Yngvar cast CMW on Ulfric.

18:56, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 6 using 1d10+1.  CMW. – 6

"Yes, I would be happy to return with you and destroy the Evil that lives within that place. Good to meet you, Kitheras.  Giants are a greedy lot they kill for no other season than the fun of it.  I will return with you.  I will need to replace some gear and heal up first but, I will definitely return."

He continues walking with the others helping Peasants when needed.


Ahh!  Thank you, Yngvar that made it better.  I am still pretty beaten up but if you are able heal more of the injured if you can.  I will manage.  It will take days for me to return to full health.  Mystra will grant me health every day until we return to the Giants.



Ulfric already Lay on Hands for the Day and I am back to 32 of 71 with that CMW.  Should be good for a while.

Yngvar

"Giants!" The gnome's eyebrows go up. "That's a new one. Haven't been any giants here since before my grandmother was a girl. I'm glad you were able to make your rescue." She adjusts her straw hat and waves it towards the southeast. "You're heading the right direction for Triel. Long legs like yours, you should get there around highsun tomorrow."

((ooc: Cure light wounds in 2e is a straight 1d8 healing.))

The Mine

None of the skeletons show any sign of violence. They are also completely lacking in flesh, which is somewhat odd for bodies this deep underground. All of them appear to be gnomes.

At the foot of each bed is a locker, the wood in most cases having survived better than their former owners. Many of the locks are rusted, but you're able to force them open. Inside you find the usual detritus of working miners: rotted spare clothing, rusted personal weapons, bottles that have either leaked or gone rancid. Nothing looks particularly interesting or valuable.

"I can't see any clear explanation of what has happened here" says Torvek.  "And these bodies are well past telling us their story.  What do you think?  Should we keep going deeper?" he asks his companions

"Some sort of fungus?  Or perhaps they were ceremonially prepared for eternity and laid to rest. Y'know what's crazy, is I can't even tell what they were mining. The answers aren't likely to come to us in any case. I'd really like to find some form of writing. Something with a name on it. I feel like I must know this place."

I want to do a more thorough search of the periphery.  Secret passages are a gnomish specialty, as are illusions.

"I'm eager to rejoin our companions," Kitheras confides to his companions, "but given the dangers we have already encountered, I feel we had best see these refugees all the way home. Let's get our feet on the road."
This message was last updated by the player at 03:06, Tue 16 Apr.

Yngvar leads the way forward, heading for Triel.

Ulfric follows in behind the others making sure the injured can keep up and helps where he can.

"So what was everyone doing when they were taken?  Were all of you together in a wagon train or single individuals abducted at different times? Here let me help with that."

On the Road

The gnomish shepherds wave you on your way cheerfully, seemingly enjoying the brief respite in their daily work. You're able to refill your water, and after a quick conversation, Kitheras leads you onward along a path that is friendlier than any you've encountered so far in the Hills. As evening approaches, the group finds another small dell, with a rill of water going through the bottom, to serve as a camp site.

Though the group is tired, all of the rescued look stronger and more determined than when they left the dungeon that morning. It's remarkable what freedom and sunlight will do, not to mention Krackor's ioun stone. There isn't a great deal for evenfeast, though with the promise of Triel tomorrow, there aren't any complaints, either.

Soon, everyone is finding a rock-free spot on the hillside to bed down. Night falls, and the crickets start to sing around you.

((ooc: Someone please roll 1d10.))

Underground

Corym, Krackor, and Torvek take some time and thoroughly investigate the room. Walls are checked and then tapped quietly, beds and chests tugged one way and then another, hands are placed on nearly everything to check for anything that feels off.

By the end of the inspection, you are very certain that there are no hidden doors, traps, or illusions. The room is as it seems to be. But you're also increasingly convinced that the room itself is much older than the beds (or the skeletons, for that matter). Dating hewn rock just on its own is a near impossible, but there's a definite sense of great age that isn't mirrored by the room's contents.

"I'll take first watch." Yngvar volunteers.

06:49, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 1 using 1d10. – 1

Underground

There is one exit from the room, more or less on the opposite wall. The mine cart tracks disappear down it.

Checking the mine cart, you find that it is empty, on the rails, and is prevented from moving by a rock wedged under a wheel. There is a gentle downward slope from where you descended to the exit.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 01:29, Sun 21 Apr.

"If we proceed, we need to .make sure we can get back safely, o we use ropes on the carts, or do we walk?"

He feels it would be good if the cart was able to be slowed, should the slope increase in angle, but it may be more prudent to walk.

"I once heard of story in our pub about dwarves riding a cart in a mine and things turning bad...  I think I am for walking." says Torvek.  "But yes, we made it that far, we should keep going."

Torvek gets ready to continue down the mine tunnel.  Just as he approaches, he asks "Do you think poison gas could have come up from the tunnel and caused the death of the miners?  We should be careful."

In reply to Torvek Ragdar (msg # 550):

"A Dwarven mine without ventilation of some sort! Doubtful, doesn't mean it wasn't blocked though."

Torvek moves to where the tunnel meets the room and turns back, looking in some random direction where the invisible thief might or might not be located

"We should keep going then.  Corym, I assume you lead the way with Krackor and I following behind."

Torvek waits for Corym to confirm and go first before starting to walk down the tunnel immediately behind Krackor.

Yngvar continued to lead the way to Triel, wanting to get there, and get back to their other friends. He was not in favor of splitting the party.

In reply to Torvek Ragdar (msg # 552):

Following Corym at a careful pace, he kept a careful watch on the tunnel walls and floors.