Wow!  This is more like what I expected to find.

Nym says in a whispered tone of awe.

"Yes, hide our tracks. I'd like to check out this secret door to see how it works, so we can open it from this side, just in case we need to run away. I don't mean to sound like I'm scared or anything, I'm just trying to protect everyone."

  "Probably Quinn. Probably. Nino was caught in a mine collapse in tunnels that we carved. So they would have likely looked something like this." Yacob says out of hand. "We should make this our base camp I think. Before we move on should we look for the door mechanism on this side."

Rivka was thinking the same thing as Yacob, and, taking an axe with her just in case, she went to the entrance and worked to examine the mechanism and look at how to try to hide evidence of them being here.

"Hmm, May Kelemvor bless his troubled soul." Quinn then began to wander around and explore the immediate area of the cavern they were in.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:44, Sat 23 Mar 2019.

Nino looked at Inn Inn, but didn't understand what he was saying. He just took another cupped handful of water and splashed it all over his face and drank more before wandering over to see what everyone was doing.

With the party a little in awe at the cavern, a few things happen. Nino sniffs the pool of water, then plunged his face into the pool before anyone can warn him. The dwarf takes several gulps and comes back up smiling (And soaked)

The noticeable absence of Oler, having made his farewells before decending can be felt, though all seem on good spirits, knowing that should they return to Luskan, he will be near.

Rivka returns to the top, and some time later returns with a nod that all evidence of their passing was erased to the best of her abilities, though she was still unsure how the door worked.

The party agree this is a good place to rest if needed in future, but all quickly gather gear and move on down the passage.

Within a few hundred meters, the sight of the cavern is eclipsed by something even greater.

You emerge into a vast cavern, the end which you can't see. Two passages lead to the south, about 7 foot high each. But the cavern, easily 14 feet high, shows natural crystals that reflect the light from the lanterns in your hand, and despite that, you can't see the end of the cavern to the east.

Bow in hand, Rivka moved forward, searching the area for tracks, or other useful information.
OOC:
02:01, Today: Rivka rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  listen.

02:00, Today: Rivka rolled 19 using 1d20+7.  spot.

02:00, Today: Rivka rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  search.

02:00, Today: Rivka rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Tracking.

  "Hmmm......Ancient dwarf mages. Never would have guessed that they were real. It might be possible that they had outside help, but I doubt it. No this place is special. Alastain couldn't have known. If he did then he wouldn't have sent any, but dwarves. I wonder......" is what he is saying to himself as they enter the chamber.

  He pauses and thinks really thinks for a moment.

Zell looked in awe of the place that nobody has seen in a long, long time. Never in his life did he expect to be in such a place and he felt honored, despite himself being an elf in a Dwarven complex. He totally understood what Yacob was saying to himself, so Zell walked up to the Dwarf and removed a black leather band on his left wrist, so Yacob could see what was underneath....

"Perhaps your Uncle is tired of the feuds between the Dwarves and Elves?"

Rivka looked back at the others and spoke quietly
"Looks like no one's been here for a while.  Good news, i suppose "

"Camp here and start out fresh and rested or should we look around a bit first?" Quinn asks the party in a quiet voice, afraid it would carry.

I say we look around this area before we decide on making camp.

Nym says in quiet awe as he stops and looks around.  Then he focuses his elven sight and uses it to look around.

  Yacob's brow furrows at the wrist of the young man. "There is a reason that those of us from outside the clan holds are looked at strangely young Zell. Some of my teachers were elves. Some human, even a halfling. We learn out here that a heart matters more than height or race. It is good to end the old feuds. I would like one day in my old age to sit under the trees of the City of Song in peace and tell stories of the darkness drawn back." he laughs again this time it is a deep laugh one of joy.

Zell, the dwarves and elves have quarreled like brothers from time to time throughout history.  We have not, however, held a grudge against each other throughout our long histories.  The dark elves and dark dwarves being the exception to the rule.  While there are the rare individuals from those two races that make the effort and have the ability to get along with other races, those two races have not learned that good deeds and things are done because of the ability to overcome one's own racial prejudices.  Before you can say it, there are also evil humans, evil half-elves and even most half orcs, but as you have met Oler, you see he has learned to overcome most of his racial prejudices.

Nym says as he continues to look around.

You have your prejudices and I do as well.  We both know Rivka.  She is human but I'm pretty sure that you are more likely to trust her than me given that you grew up around a society that was more human than elven.  I take no issue with that as it is what has shaped your life to this point.  I am sorry to see Oler go. I will miss him for his knowledge of the land outside of these caverns.

Hearing the men talking, Rivka grinned.
"Well, I'm not a good test case.  I mean, of course he trusts me.  I'm naturally trustworthy and lovable."

Nym laughs softly.

Rivka, I know you myself.  So I trust you more than I trust Zell.  That trust has nothing to do with the fact that you are human and he is a half elf.  It has to do with how well I know both of you.  I certainly believe that Zell is a very capable person and has skills that we need and will probably save our lives at some point during our time down here.

  "If Moradin could see us all he would be laughing. I think the weighty questions of prejudice are for scholars. As I said more than a few of us outside the mountain know the value of a soul isn't about blood Nym. Young Zell has proven himself to be trustworthy as Nino is as far as I am concerned. Nino I would trust with my life. For the record I wouldn't let any of you stand guard if I didn't trust you. Also for the record I trust all of you. While Oler will be missed he had a point. Someone needs to tell Alastain that we got into the complex proper in case we don't make it back. He could and likely will still teach us all a great deal not the least of which is that judging a book by it's cover leads to ruin." he says light heartedly.

"Now as to camping or going on. We go on. We have a rather large complex to explore and I don't want to leave anything any longer than we must." with a flourish he summons for lights one blue, one yellow, one green, and one orange. He flits them around his hand and sends them towards the nearest crystal form in an attempt to illuminate the room better.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:00, Mon 25 Mar 2019.

"Hmmm, agreed, when we camp, we come back here when we can. Lead the way"


Quinn detects evil absentmindedly as they ready to move out, looking all around.

Nino perked up when he heard his name mentioned, but he didn't understand the words of prejudice when the group was talking about it. He only felt them because that's basic instinct. When it looked like Bob Bob was ready to explore again, Nino jogged up to him and followed.

Yacob's light spells illuminate the cavern a little more, and the crystals dance the cavern into a kaleidoscope of colours. The cavern seems to be huge, being able to fit a large ship in it easily even though you still can't see the end. You suspect that when you see it all it could almost fit a small village of people in it easily with comfort.

<OOC: I need a decision where to go next.....one of the cave entrances to the south or explore the cavern itself (east)

Rivka looked at Yacob and the others with a wry smile.
"Its definitely not as cramped as I'd feared,  that's for sure.  So, folks, what are we thinking?  Just head to the right most passage and check them all methodically,  or does anyone have a preference?"

"I think we should just do a clock-wise look of the main cavern, just to get a feel for the place and to see if anything has been in here. But first, are we sure we can open that door to escape, if we need to?"

Jonathan had made notes of what he thought the ax cut in the rock was and as Yacob set the door in motion the young cleric began to write. Nor had he stopped writing the entire time they walked down the spiraling stairs. recording not just what they found but what was said of importance. The fact that Oler was returning to town to tell of their progress, as well as the poetic speeches against prejudice, as the words were spoken he could allmost feel the party that had been throwin together bonding. Once everything was recorded from the secret door, down to each of the steps they had descended. But the cavern had taken Jonathan's breath away, as he sketched and mapped out every detail of the entrance to the dwarven strong hold a tear could be seen sliding down his cheek this is what his God called upon his followers to do.

Rivka looked back at her companions.
"When i was covering our tracks, i noticed something.
When the door closed I found a round stone about the size of someone's head. It was blue in color. When I touched it, the door opened up"