The brute leads you through the labyrinth that makes up the hobgoblins quarters, to an 'L' shaped room devoid of detail or contents. A hobgoblin regular stands watch, a halberd in his hand, the butt of the weapon resting on the floor. He offers the brute a grin and a nod, but says nothing.

The brute leads the party to a stairway down, ostensibly the stairway is an access point leading to the warrens below. The brute points down the stairs.

Taking a final look at one another, the party descends the stairs to a large chamber, some 50' long by 40' wide. There is also an alcove of sorts in the upper right portion of the chamber that runs 20' by 10' up and down.

They are somewhat surprised to find two more hobgoblin regulars on duty below. Both look nervous as you descend, but continue their watch as you file into the room.

Your initial look shows pick axes, shovels, rock carts, mining jacks and other such assorted tools that might be used for stone working. There is also a passage to the lower left of the room that leads into darkness.

The next stage of your adventure starts here.

DM Note: Under no circumstance will the hobgoblin guards follow you into the warrens.

In reply to The Seer (msg # 1):

Bruno did not feel uncomfortable going into the depths for the sake of their actual fathomage. After all, he is a dwarf. Granted, he's his people are of the hills rather than the mountains, still... His people know that what lies below the hills are no less deep that what lies below the mountains. The heights do not in anyway predict the depths.

Still, he did not feel as light-hearted as they descend as he might have otherwise. He is uncertain that once they do this work for the Hobbers that they won't be killed just for having done the work. And, perhaps, more importantly, he is of the Archbarony and feels that the mission they accepted when they came here was predicated upon that service more than anything else.

In other words, he understood Zan's concerns very well and feared that once all of this was done, and if Dag did not play any games, there would still be a price to pay for having given the hobgoblins what will amount to the entirety of the fortress and then some? Will he be the diplomatist to negotiate a relationship between Dag and the Archbaroness let alone Selene? Will such a thing be viable let alone desirable?

Still, what choice did they have? This was at least a means to the end that Moradin's augury portended. Of course, the augury did not seek to determine more than whether or not they needed to go deeper into the mountain to succeed in their mission.

And that is when a thought strikes him...

He is a priest. As such he understands the powers that the gods offer to those who worship rightfully. Beyond that, though, to be truly a person of his god he must behave in the manner that his god illustrates by His divine wisdom and provenance. Beyond that a person is on their own. And a just god demands nothing less or more.

Whatever the case, we've made a decision and this puts us closer to our goals than before., he thinks.

As they proceed he glances at Kullonar besides him and says, "The threat isn't the depths, Brother, but the how long before Uthecar grows bored and begins trying to light his farts again."

He pauses and continues in a much louder voice, "Yeah, I'm watching you, cousin, keep your fingers away from the matches until we're up top. Now is no time for fun and games, eh?"

Uthecar lets loose a ripe one, then giggles like a little human girl. The sound is...odd. The Hobgoblin guards look at him as if he's gone off his rocker. Then he belches for good measure.

"Let's do this," the doughty dwarf declares.

OOC: I will need an official marching order for single file, double file and wide open spaces, please.

"Ummm..." Zan looked at his companions.  "I kind of use up all of my spells earlier.  Might be prudent for me to relearn a few before we get going, and as we are likely to be facing undead, changing my spell selection might be a wise decision as well."

he added, "I do still have most of my arrows, but I find that they are not as effective against deadders"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:29, Tue 15 Oct 2019.

ooc: I will allow you to swap out or study one spell for one hour. Any more spells will require a full night's rest, then study.

As Zan studies, the rest of you start to note small sounds and odors coming from the exit that leads from this chamber. Most of the smells are musty and mildewy, though occasionally you choke on a charnel stench that fills your mouth with bile. No wonder the Hobbler guards were nervous!

An hour passes and Zan stands from his crouch.

Actions, folks!

Bruno uses the rest to, well, rest. The occasional stench makes it rather challenging, but he is tired. Really tired, so taking a break was a welcome suggestion.

Once they are ready to be on the move he gathers the party and makes his suggestions for marching order, loads his crossbow so that it is ready, and falls into place ready to move.

OOC: Just to remind everyone:

Double - File
Uthecar/ Bruknar

Bruno /Kullonar

Gildan /Zan

Myrrick

Single-File
Uthecar

Bruno

Bruknar

Gildan

Kullonar

Zan

Myrrick

ooc: looks good. away we go...

:)

Kullonar nods to Bruno and just breathes...slowly...in and out. Of course the stench from below mixed with the fumes from Uthecar's arse does little to calm the Half-Orc. Still, when the time comes, he grips his cudgel and descends into the depths with the others...

Zan's spell now memorized, the party hoofs it down toward the opening in the lower left quadrant of the chamber. You hear the hobblers talk in low tones; one of them laughs, a short bark, then all goes silent once again. You exit the room to another partially finished chamber that runs about 20x30' with a corridor that runs 10' to a closed door. Below you, two unfinished tunnels split left and right.

The sound of dripping water mingles with occasional high pitched squeaks and low, mordant groans.

A crossroads of sorts, you can continue in the following fashion:
1. check the closed door
2. head to the lower righthand tunnel
3. head to the lower lefthand tunnel
4. run squealing like babies up the stairs and out of Quesqueton forever.

Don't forget to use the map in the map thread to get your bearings.

Looking at the map, are we in Room 38?

Kullonar sniffs the air and wrinkles his nose in disgust, but it doesn't stop him from stepping out into the smaller chamber and peering into the darkness of the tunnels.
Without taking his eyes off the tunnels, he says, "Might want to check that door before we descend further."

Yes, 38 on the gray map.

Myrrick nods at the suggestion, "I agree, the door, then either tunnel. No point in leaving a closed door behind, especially now, down here."

OOC: Sorry for the delayed response here!

Bruno nods in agreement, "Aye, let's not leave a thing like that door behind us uninvestigated. Then the larger room around the corner (#41 seems like a wise next stop -- we can decide after that whether we want to move on from there are head back the other way around  (towards #40).

"Want to take a look at the door, Zan? Maybe you got some useful skills here, Gildan?"

Before Zan has a chance to move, Uthecar approaches the door. It seems to be just a simple groove and lever door handle. Giving it a quick tug, the door opens a few inches, with a couple of small squeaks adding to the atmosphere.

Using a toe, Uthecar pushes the door open a bit. It is very dark within, so much so that even infravision is somewhat muted.

Actions, please.
This message was last updated by the GM at 14:24, Tue 22 Oct 2019.