Heartbeats slow. Adrenaline wanes. Now the weariness of post battle settles on the party. The search of the room is almost half-hearted. Some of that is due to Bruknar's fall, but you've spent more than a week beneath the earth: even dwarves long to see the light of day after that long a stretch. And the elves, well, they are going bat-shit crazy under all that stone.

Now you look at one another - First things first: the comportment of Bruknar's corpse. Will you inter him here, where he fell? Will you try to bring him back to the surface and send his spirit forth amoung the smokey embers of a pyre? Will you reach out to his clan and share tales of his bravery?

Also, what of the tapestry, and other potential treasures, including a small, but seemingly rich vein of silver. To set up a mining operation will take a yeoman's effort - maybe you can negotiate with interested parties to mine the ore - of course you will want to warn those surveying the the vein of the fierce band of hobgoblins who have staked a claim in the upper level of old ruins. All of this is on your minds.

We've started the next chapter, but there's work still left unfinished. What are you going to do?

ooc: Quesqueton is almost complete. You feel a certain urgency to finish your exploration and move on from this place.

It was good news that aside from poor Brunkar only Bruno had been hit, so he asks for Moradin's healing for himself.

When he has done so he says, "It seems we've got only one way to go from here -- back up to that secret door we found and then directly through the door that was to the south, or left, of when we found it. I think before we leave we could send Brunknar to Moradin."

He pauses realizing that nobody besides Uthecar will likely understand what he means, "That is, we could use these statues as a pyre -- I have enough oil left to set the warrior's body ablaze."

We won't want to spend time down here once that has started... We're through secret doors and far enough off of whatever main routes exist down here that the smoke should not act as a warning to any creatures left down here...

"Though, if anyone thinks I wrong in that estimation this is the time to say so."

Kullonar is deeply saddened at the loss of their companion. He bows his head and offers a prayer to St. Cuthbert to ferry the brave Dwarf's spirit on to its final rest.
"I know little about the lore and customs of Dwarves, but we could inter Bruknar's remains here and mark this place so that his family can come and claim his bones should they wish. At least, that's a thought."

He grasps Bruno on the shoulder and gives him a nod of sympathy.
"I agree with you, my priestly brother. Let us be free of this place as soon as we can."

Uthecar considers the options before nodding to Bruno.  "We would not leave him behind to face the danger of after-life animation given the nature of this place, and nor would his kin folk want it.  The priest is right, burning is the best we can do, though we should take a token for his mother or kin."

With respect Uthecar will approach Bruknar's body and go through his things looking for something personal, or family oriented that can be returned to his clan so his passing is known.

Bruno nods, "As you say, Uthecar. We'll bring what we can of his gear with us... I don't think we want to leave the armor of an honored soul in this place either.

"If you fellow will help me prepare the body, I'll get to it."

With that he accepts what help he can get to move the corpse across the nearest collapsed statue as if the it was a bed. He then, in a very somber and sober manner, strips anything of value or that he things Bruknar would have valued from his corpse.

He lets Uthecar sort out that stuff to be certain that items that should go back to the dwarf's family do so. Bruno then wraps the warrior's cloak around his boday and begins chanting a prayer pouring the five flasks of oil he has remaining on the body being careful not to waste any as he wants to be certain that what remains for their companion is consumed in the fire.

When that is done he turns to make certain that all of the everyone is ready, "Once I light this, we should get moving, eh?"

Kullonar graciously helps with Bruknar's body, all the while whispering prayers to St. Cuthbert for the passage of this brave soul. He's not sure if the gods ever get together, but if so, he hopes they all agree to ferry Bruknar along.

After Bruno lights the oil, Kullonar kisses his holy symbol, turns and leaves the room; he doesn't look back.

The priest offers prayers and prepares the pyre inside the chamber. Along with 5 flasks from Bruno, are two more on Bruknar's body. Even in death, he was a stalward and faithful companion.

Again, to reiterate, there is what appears to be a small vein of silver in this cavern.

A brief search shows nothing of real value, unless you want the copper bits. LOL.

With a deep breath and a sad smile, Bruno consigns Bruknar's body to the flame and his soul to Moradin. For a moment, the flames roar. You don't stay aound long, but tapestry has started burning, along with the strong boxes with the coppers. The statues are deactivated, their magic negated. As you leave the room, you can either go back the bat cave, or continue toward the next big cavern to the west.

Party, your actions please.

Bruno is quiet as they march down the hall back to the 'secret door' and once past he holds up the group, "So... I don't know about you felows, but I don't want to go back to that foul cavern.

"Do we agree that it is westward we shall go?"

"I never want to return to that cave," Kullonar growls with a shudder.
"Lead on to the west, my friends."

"West" Uthecar nods with some conviction.  He is ready to lead out.

Gildan knows that wherever they go, the gods will provide him the chance to rid the world of the stain of the undead that mar this land.
And while he didn't really get a chance to know Bruknar very well, he smiles when the pyre is lit. Bruknar was a brave dwarf. He would have made a brave zombie. Now he won't and that is good.
So he follows the rest with his bow and a contented look on his face.

Area 55:

Another in a series of large caverns. As you take in the size of it, you can hear the ubiquitous squeaking of bats flapping around, though nowhere near the numbers in the big cavern to the east. The party gets a sense that this was once a staging area. As you make your way further into the cavern, you note gear, fire pits, discarded tents, and the musky odor of trog stench that you first encountered on the upper level. It looks like the trog army left in a hurry, though you're not sure where they were going. You also feel like the tribe was a lot bigger than what you might have guessed in the upper levels.

Far up in the northern section of the cave, where the cavern shifts to the east, you make out a small glow: dayight, perhaps? Following the light like a beacon, you come upon what was likely a secret door at one time, now ruined. Light, and open air greet you. It appears to be mid-morning. You step out on a shelf, some 5'wide X 20 feet long. Steel pitons line the slope going downward - they are too numerous to count, and certainly enough to allow you to rappel to a less steep slope that you can then walk down.

The forest is thick here, but there seems a defined path that head's to the north, at least initially...

AND THUS ENDS IN SEARCH OF THE UNKNOWN!