Eredan burps again. Sounds a little bubbly. Sounds a little too close to vomit. Luckily for everyone he holds it together.

"I'm not surprised Ezguar.
We don't know what we are doing here ourselves. Simply called upon by those who direct the efforts of the small people beneath the. *Hic"*. Pun intended friend.

Eredan smiles at the gnomish wizard.
"No need for alarm miss, if there were friends here before pergaps old Firehair, bastard of a warlock that he is, wisked them away as he brought us before you."
He flashed a charming smile. A well practised smile. That was then ruined by a hiccup.

"A slender explanation", notes Lureene, "and your Firehair certainly isn't the one I know." She holds up her shield, emblazoned with Sune's symbol of her redheaded face. "What manner of help would he send that he takes away companions in equal measure that he sends them?"

Eredan bows slightly.

"A compliment that you think we are equal measure. I wish I could better explain this -  we were called upon by masters in the arts. I by Firehair - Warlock, and Ezguar by the Ice Wizard Durandal. While biding our time at the tavern waiting to hear about to what task we had been called, we drank several good ales - Ezguar and myself - and finally, without rhyme or reason we were told to stand to and be on our way. Then *poof* we arrive. As to the mystery of your friends, I cannot explain.

His case stated, Eredan steps back slightly and waits patiently. Either this would suffice or they were in for a tricky bit of business.

In reply to Eredan Corlinus (msg # 962):

“ Hmm, Firehair no relation to Lureene’s Goddess I assume. ”

In reply to Thressa Wildflame (msg # 963):

*hic* I'm afraid not. Warlocks are of a slightly different ilk in that regard. Would you allow me to show off my talents? Ezguar attempts a flourishing bow that looks well rehearsed but seems obviously off set by the alcohol he had recently consumed.

In reply to Ezguar Grimlock (msg # 964):

" I am a warlock as well. My Patron is a Solar in service to The Lord Aumanator. So I know how Warlocks work. In that case he is probably of the patronage of a fiend. "

Lureene and Thressa were dealing with these sudden newcomers, so that left Mithra to consider the situation.

The situation was so peculiar. She wasn't a spellcaster herself, but she'd never heard of a teleport spell that would send one person and take back another. That just didn't sound right.

It didn't even sound logical. Why send aid and then take away what was already there? Just as Lureene had asked.

They had no association with any wizards, but this mine was supposed to have been a place of magic. She'd never actually paid attention to the details. Her focus had been on taking supplies to Phandalin, and then scouting for the Orcs... and now, finding the missing Dwarf brothers. Was there a connection to all this?

Divination! That was it! These wizards had been using magic to follow the goings-on in the mine! If there was magic here, that could easily have distorted the teleport spell. Was that what had happened? It made sense. Or was she building a mountain out of molehill?

She quickly moved over to the two newcomers, put an arm around each one, and said:

"Keep the noise down!" she whispered to them. "There might be more bugbears around." She points to the dead bugbears.

"We'll explain when we find a secure location. There's something here... something dangerous. Follow me unless you want to face it alone!"

She turns then and goes over to the hole in the wall where the water is coming from. She climbs into the hole and cautiously makes her way forward.

In reply to Mithra Stormraven (msg # 966):

Ezguar nods and follows suite. Ah bugbears always a nasty problem aren't they? Although I still get the feeling you don't entirely trust us... guess we'll just have to prove our worth then ha. Attempting to be heard but not be overly loud Ezguar hurries his short legs to make sure he stays behind his new ally.

Eredan looks to Ezguar then to Mithra. He nods seriously, the moment betrayed by another hiccup. With his lips sealed he merely stares a moment at Mithra then falls in behind Ezguar.

===== Victor's Group =====


Not sure who Ero was talking to. Did he move around to the front door of the large room and say that to the spectator?

The booming of the water continues to echo through the caves every minute or so. The boom is only three seconds long, but the echo reverberates for another 30 seconds.


In any case, Ero and Nixon, after trying to find a back way into the room, moved around to the front to the double doors that were half falling off. Now you can see the interior of the room... the brazier with the green flame, the spectator floating in the air near the brazier but not over it, the scorched walls and worktables.

Apparently the creature has no problem spotting both of you as its eyes move about constantly, always seeming to see in all directions at once.

I have heard of this sleep. The Dwarves and Wizards did it. As near as I could understand, it was a state of unconsciousness. I have never been unconscious. In my kind, it is the same as death. If you are not a summoner, then you cannot summon me or one like me to guard your treasure. Have you got a lot of treasure?

Now Ero and Nixon can 'hear' the creature's voice in their heads.


Raus would have to move forward, further into the cave, in order to see through the door into the room.

Cunaar and Krazh are still standing by the entrance into this cave, guarding the rear, just in case.

===== Mithra's Group =====


The booming continues to echo through the cave. It sounds a bit loud, but it's not deafening. Once the group goes through the stream tunnel, it's even a bit dampened.

The tunnel appears more like a fracture in the rock, rather than something that was created over centuries by erosion. It's narrower at the top, and it's unlikely that Wendell could have made it through.

After about 60 feet, the tunnel opens into another cave, not quite as big as the one where the bugbears were, but close. You step out of the tunnel into a pool of water about 60 feet long and 40 feet across. There are no signs of people or creatures in here.

It's a bit tricky for Mithra to step out of the edge of the pool onto the dry floor of the room, but she manages it without falling into the pool. Once she's on the floor, she can assist the rest.

The pool is irregular in shape, clearly not something that was carved out. It's not quite stagnant, since water is running out of it, thus indicating that more water is coming into it somewhere, somehow. The water, though, is dark, and there's a dank and fishy smell in the air.

There are two other exits out of this room. The first and nearest, about halfway along the left wall of the cave, is a flight of stone stairs leading upward. The second is at the other end of the cave; it's a tunnel.

After slogging through the stream in the narrow tunnel, crouched down to keep from hitting her head, Mithra emerged into the cave that was the source of the stream. Carefully stepping out of the pool, she helps the others climb out.

The first thing she does then is go to the stairs and listen between booms.

She cautions the others to stay behind for a minute as she climbs the stairs to see what's there. If she doesn't encounter anyone, she'll go back down to the others and report... in a whisper.

"Okay. Eredan and Ezguar, is it?" she says to the two newcomers.

"I've heard of a spell called Transposition, which reportedly switches two people in place. Don't know if it's a real spell or not, but that would certainly account for you two showing up and the other two disappearing."

"Also, the gods move in mysterious ways."

"Anyway, having the teleport go awry, they may not try to send Alexia and Wendell back for fear of the same thing happening to two more of us."

"I'm not saying we're stuck with you two, but you're what's here now, and that's what we have to work with."

"So, what's your story?"

She talks a bit more softly than normal, timing her words to coincide with the booms. Fortunately, they are very regular, so she isn't surprised by a sudden moment of silence.

Victor answers the spectator's question, "No, but I plan to someday. Anyway, is there no one here besides ourselves, some dwarves, and some wizards?"

Eredan splashes through the stream like the others and nods gratefully as he is helped up out of the nearly stagnant water. As they are held up by Mithra, Eredan watches intently as she times her conversation. These loud noises were annoying for sure, but if there was some reason for timing speech around them then he could comply to this strange behavior.

"Not much to tell - orphaned at a young age. Bullied and ridiculed. Then came into some power of my own and struck out on my own. Haven't looked back.
 Answered the call that ol' Firehair put out and found myself down here.

"Really what's more interesting are these booms - fascinating. Do you know what it is?"

In reply to Mithra Stormraven (msg # 971):

Ezguar admires the cave with the fondness of home. Ahh these caves might be a bit damp but they still have that homey feel.  I, like my friend here was recruited by a wizard of great power. Although the why is a bit different in my case. I just hit of age a few years back and I was ready to find myself which lead me to the arcane arts. However now I'm at the point were I just need to go and experience life and practice my art in tandem. Ezguar also seems intrigued by the noise and attempts to listen to it more closely in an attempt to identify it.



04:52, Today: Ezguar Grimlock rolled 16 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 15.  Perception


This message was last edited by the player at 09:53, Sun 11 Mar 2018.

===== Victor's Group =====

The spectator answers Victor:

Don't know. Walking bones. Fleshy bones. Dark soul without form. These are strange to me, but not my place to say. They keep trying to take the treasure, though, so I destroy them. But they come back. And I destroy them again. And again. And again. And again. And again...

It isn't clear, but it's possible that he's literally iterating every time it's happened. He has to be interrupted or he'll keep going on.

Nixon's voice carried over quietly from the doorway, spoken to not carry outside the room.  "I fear I missed the introductions.  I am Nixon, helping my friend there.

"You are a guardian of treasure here?  Then did you see what happened with the fire explosions in these two rooms?  Do you know about the floating skull nearby?  Or do you know what other dangers are likely ahead in the tunnels and caverns?"

===== Mithra's Group =====


"Sent by wizards..." Mithra replies. "I guess that figures. Could be something about these tunnels that interferes with magic... outside magic, at any rate."

"The booming comes from a surge of water from the underground river. We came in that way... a sort of backdoor to this cave system. Never spotted the actual source of the booming, so don't know why it happens."

"We're looking for a pair of Dwarves, brothers, that we believe have been captured and brought to these caves. Naturally, we're here to rescue them."

She glances around the cavern again before adding:

"The stairs lead up to a corridor... looks like a carved tunnel... that goes left and right. And then there's a door on the wall opposite the stairs. Didn't see any sign of life or activity."

"That's most likely where the Dwarves would be... up in that direction. I'd rather get a bit more of the layout first. Don't know what's guarding them. Definitely something nastier than bugbears since it's controlling the bugbears."

"Don't want to get chased into a dead end. And it really would be nice to find the way out. Unless I've got my directions all messed up, I think the tunnel here at the end is in the opposite direction of the backdoor, so that's where I'd expect the entrance to be."

"Don't see any reason to search this room. No Dwarves hiding under a rock."

She waits for a few seconds to see if anyone has anything else to say, and then heads down to the far tunnel.

In reply to Mithra Stormraven (msg # 977):

Ezguar follows Mithra closely while continuing to admire the cave. So what kind of skill set might you have? Where do you come from? Why did you pick up adventuring? Ezguar minding his volume gets excited at meeting another new companion and rapid fires his questions leaving little room for answer until his string of questions is done. He looks expectantly at Mithra in anticipation.

In reply to Mithra Stormraven (msg # 977):

Ezguar follows Mithra closely while continuing to admire the cave. So what kind of skill set might you have? Where do you come from? Why did you pick up adventuring? Ezguar minding his volume gets excited at meeting another new companion and rapid fires his questions leaving little room for answer until his string of questions is done. He looks expectantly at Mithra in anticipation.

"What know you of a fleshless skull enveloped in verdant conflagration?" Eros asks before describing where it's located in the caves.

===== Mithra's Group =====
Eredan listens to what Mithra has to say but stays quiet for once. The loquacious warlock has nothing to say for once. Ezguar seemed to have it under control and the booming was somewhat unsettling to him.

As for finding the dwarves... this was not his place to command, he fell in line behind Mithra and waited to see what would happen next.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:37, Wed 14 Mar 2018.

Lureene seems a tad skeptical of Mithra's explanation, but it is as plausible as any other option. So the beautiful priestess says nothing and follows along when the warrior starts moving down the tunnel. She does have a small smile of amusement when Ezguar starts rapid-firing questions at Mithra.

===== Mithra's Group =====


"Just a fighter," Mithra replies to Ezguar. "Best place for a fighter to be is on adventures. Fighting in town causes damage and usually gets you arrested."

OOC: Since this thread is nearing the 1,000 post limit, it's time to start a new one. This one will now be closed for posting.