As the group rouses from their brief respite, Morgrim stands and hands a single plump berry to each. "If you're hurt or hungry," he said. "Otherwise keep it close. It'll keep for the day."

Using last 1st level slot to cast Goodberry. Giving one berry to each party member. Morgrim holds onto the other 5.

Morgrim has 2 level 2 spell slots and 2 wild shape uses remaining.

Kira had doled out the coinage but pretty much ignored the substandard weapons, though she did take a moment to tuck them out of sight.  If there were any decent arrows, she'd divvy them up with Arnan to make sure they kept a good supply.  After that, she tucked away a bit of the dried meat and fruit they'd found before taking up guard with Thane.  Giving Grim a smile of thanks, she tucked the goodberry into her pouch for later use and readied herself for this next leg of their adventure.

Dal took her berry and held it up.  "This just proves that the Goddesses are with us.  To think that one tiny berry could fill us up so full, yes, even Dwarves, and even help heal us.  Thanks bro."

Dal then went to Kira and if she could find some broken arrows that were suitable to be mended she'd use her mend cantrip on them.

"Thanks," Arnan said to Morgrim when the Dwarf handed him a berry, which the archer promptly popped into his mouth. He knew that druids and some rangers swore by these slightly-magicked berries, both for their healing properties and for the surprising amount of sustenance that they provided.

Dalgura's healing magicks had taken aware nearly all of the pain from his wounds -- the slight bit that was left paled by comparison to what Arnan felt when he was bonked on the head by a pine-cone. But now Morgrim's berry even got rid of the last little ache, and Arnan felt no ill effects from their recent battle.

Next, Arnan joined with Kira in looking over the arrows that had been shot in the battle. Whenever possible, Arnan had a preference for recovering his own arrows whenever they were still useable, but he also took the better of their foes' arrows if needed to fully refill his quiver.

The adventurers complete their short rest without being harrassed. Either they have already defeated all the mountain hideout's denizens or those who remain have fled elsewhere.

In any event, following their breather, the party continues their exploration of the compound by following the curving corridor that leads away to the north. The passage continues for perhaps 200 feet or so, with no visible exits along the way, before terminating at an open arched doorway just ahead. A small room lies beyond the arched doorway. The small room has a single furnishing--a silver-rimmed mirror about three feet tall, held at face height by a wrought-iron stand.

The mirror is placed in the northwest corner of the small room.

"Thank you, Morgrim," Thane replied to the druid upon receiving the goodberry, "You've shared these before, they're right handy!"  He took a few moments to help the archers recover their arrows and then set in behind the lead scout archer (Arnan, most likely) as the group explored the final corridor.

"Now ain't that a sight?" he mused upon reaching the last chamber, and spied the standing mirror in the corner.  "It seems creepy, just bein' all by itself in the corner like that..."

In reply to Thane Harkensen (msg # 184):

"Wouldn't be creepy if it was a scrying mirror.  I've heard of them but haven't seen any. So people can tell when people come into the room or are attacking.  Or perhaps the cold ...cough...female creepies are using it.  Wonder if spells can be cast through it.  Not a wizard type person so not sure.  If it is too creepy for you, just turn it around and give it time to rest is mirror eyes."

"Well, it's obviously important, sitting all by itself in a room at the end of a long corridor," Arnan remarked.

"But I've no idea what it does, or how to go about using it. Magicks aren't really my strong point."

Morgrim stepped into the room and sidled along the wall hoping to duck behind the mirror and see what may be hidden there if anything.

"Well the buggers got out somehow," he mused.

Morgrim does not find any hidden doors behind the mirror. The walls in this room appear to be pretty solid and devoid of any features that might lead one to suspect secret doors or the like. Save for the doorway the adventurers came through, there does not appear to be any other exits.

Kira slinked up to the mirror from the side and peeked around the frame and along the back before finally looking at the actual mirror section.  "I don't know magicky stuff but could this be something they went through to get somewhere else?" she asked, her gaze settling on Grim and Dal since they had magical abilities.

---

11:11, Today: Kira rolled 23 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 17.  Perception of Mirror.

The silver-rimmed mirror is an exceptional work of art and contains a great degree of etched detail throughout. This piece of furniture is certainly at odds with the other furnishings found within the dungeon.

Though she possesses no great proficiency in the arcane arts, she is intelligent enough to recognize the mirror as a magical device with the properties of communication and transportation. Initially, Kira looks into the mirror and sees a reflection of herself, though she feels as though one might see other things, not within this room, if one knew how to look...

OOC: A Charisma check is required to scry within the mirror.

Not sure if that is common knowledge, but in the interests of moving things along...

Finding nothing behind the mirror, Morgrim continues full circle around it until he stands before the face. After a few moments contemplation he reaches a similar conclusion to Kira.

"Show me where they went," he commands, thinking upon the cultists who had evaded them.

20:10, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 19 using 1d20 with rolls of 19.  Charisma.

Morgrim looks deeply into the ornate mirror and his reflection soon morphs into abstract angular lines of deep shadow before finally twisting into a new scene altogether--a torchlit audience hall with an icy throne atop a raised dais opposite a grand archway. Indistinct humanoid shapes, hidden beneath heavy furs, pass between soaring columns. The image then loses clarity after a few moments of study, an impression of reality, but difficult to discern fine detail.

OOC: Another Charisma check is required to refocus the image into something coherent.

Not sure I understand. Do we have to state what we want to see each time? I rolled, but I'm not clear if that's just to continue watching the scene unfold.

20:24, Today: Morgrim Ironhammer rolled 15 using 1d20 with rolls of 15.  Charisma.

The audience hall scene reforms within the mirror...

Two rows of columns stretch down the length of the room to a flight of steps on the far side. On the top of the steps is a small landing that holds a small throne of dark, lustrous ice, beside which is a mirror that looks quite similar to the one Morgrim now peers into. More stairs rise to the left and right of the throne, ascending along the wall to somewhere out of the mirror's field of view.

The columns, stairs, and throne are carved of black ice, and the chamber is lit by torches that burn in sconces set around the walls, casting a latticework of shadows between the rows of pillars.

Seated before the empty, raised throne, the party sees a brawny middle-aged tribesman wearing a grizzly bear cloak, the head of animal fitted over his own head like a regal crown. Hengar recognizes this man as King Gunvald of the Tribe of the Bear, the same clan that the party had faced at the lair of Icingdeath.

King Gunvald is holding court over six fellow tribesman and three orcs, though the lot of them appear to be arguing about something at the moment.

Morgrim gets the impression one might be able to step through the mirror itself, a teleportation device to the audience hall they can now see!

"Is that what it looks like?" Thane asked, his voice rising in tone to betray a hint of fear.  "This mirror can take you places?"  He shook his head, suppressing a memory before it came into full bloom.  "I don't like it, beautiful or not!" he cursed the ornate thing and took a step back.  "But if that's the way we have to go," he frowned, "maybe it's best to get it over with?"

Kira looked in the mirror, arms crossed under her bust and chewing on the inside of her cheek.  "I dunno," she said with a look to Grim and Dal.  "You two have been doing a lot of magic-y stuff.  There's a lot of them and possible more we can't see.  Maybe we should rest a bit ... put that face down on the ground so maybe nothing will come out at us while we rest?"  It was a suggestion only, made from worry about their shorter friends as well as their own hides.

"Well, we already had a short rest," Arnan said, in reply to Kira's question.

"Whatever magicks would've been regained from that should already be taken care of, I would think. Seems to me that we either go now, or settle in for the equivalent of a full night's rest."

He glanced at Morgrim and Dalgura, wondering which choice the two Dwarves would opt for.

In reply to Arnan Aldwynne (msg # 198):

Dal chuckled.  It wasn't a hard choice for her.  "I believe wonder beast over there has gotten his magics back but my Goddess prefers me to get a full rest. No doubt she knows how much I have to work to keep him in one piece.  It is a good idea to put it face down but that would also alert them that somebody is here wouldn't it?  Actually how do we know that they can't hear us even now?  Can we afford 8 hours to wait for my spells?  Do we press the advantage.  Remember if we go through we might be under the influence again of the ice.  You saw it in the mirror."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:22, Mon 13 Aug 2018.

"Stuff it," Morgrim says, rolling up his sleeves. "The bastards like teddy-bears do they? We'll I'll give them a bear."

"You ready, Thane? Lets go knock some heads."

Handing off a potion of healing to Dalgura. You may need it to keep one of us alive ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:37, Mon 13 Aug 2018.

In reply to Morgrim Ironhammer (msg # 200):

Dalgura took the potion and added it to the one she had.  Then she gave Grim a big hug.  "You stay alive so I can lecture you proper, you hear me?"  Dalgura looked at the mirror and then at the others.  "It looks like they decided.  Do we just jump in or hold hands and jump in so that we don't get separated or what?  I don't have knowledge of this mode of transportation."

Kira had looked to Dal and Grim, who decided it was best to go forward and she wouldn't argue with any of them.  She just hoped this wouldn't turn into another blood bath for themselves, especially with the black ice.  Remembering the way it had affected most of them before, she was worried but it was just another one of life's hurdles.  "Alright then any preference for who goes through first?" she said as she drew an arrow and readied it to draw once she was through.  "And may the gods be on our side," she muttered under her breath.

In reply to Kira (msg # 202):

Dal looked at Kira and smiled.  "The Goddess' are on our side.  Actually I think we are on top with a two versus one.  There is my most wonderful Goddess and Grims also great Goddess."

Dal winked at Kira, trying not to show her own fear.  Fear for the group for she had no fear when it came to her Goddess.  If the spells didn't come then her Goddess was just testing her and giving her another lesson.

"I'll go first," Morgrim said, stepping up to the mirror. "Follow as quick as ye can, and lets get the jump on these bastards."

Hoping for a surprise round. Morgrim will wildshape into a brown bear as soon as he's through the portal (bonus action), and go for the chieftain if within reach.