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


There is no name. Yes. Name. Designation to identify one being from another being of the same kind. Yes. I understand this. But it has no meaning.

Nixon of Waterdeep. That is a name.

Possibly. Many wizards were here. Could be. Dwarves haven't gone. They are still here. No one can take the sword.

I am here until released from my guardianship.

No battle between Dwarves and Wizards. They worked together to make the treasures. Green skull is not guardian.

---Victor's Group---

"Perhaps our verdant skull is amiable.  Shall we chance a parley?"

"Respected spectator, what exigency necessitates an unbinding from your committal.  Could we abet you in any way?"

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

Eredan chuckles at Lureene and walks up towards the rope hanging down. Not daring to touch it he peers upwards towards where it comes from, wondering what is up there, and if he can even see anything.

ooc: 21:06, Today: Eredan Corlinus rolled 19 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 17.  Perception +2.

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


"Anybody have a grappling hook?" she asked.

"On the off chance that the rope is either a trap or an alarm, we could circumvent it with our own rope."

"Failing that, we could try the old 'alley-oop' maneuver: one of you with a bit of acrobatic training could run towards me, step into my cupped hands, and I could then boost you up maybe high enough to grab the edge."

"I just don't like leaving this route unexplored. If we get driven into this chamber at some point, I'd rather know there was an option other than something we didn't explore."

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


Wizard that summoned me. He can release me. If I can no longer perform my service, I can return home. I do my job well. No one may touch the magic items except the Dwarves and the Wizards.

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

Ero chances on an idea.  "I am a prestidigitator.  May I take the treasure?  Or is it limited only to certain wizards?  And if so, how do you identify the right wizards from the wrong ones?"

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

"Grappling hook? No, this is quite a pre-dick-a-mint!" Squatting down and limbering up he appears to be preparing for an acrobatic endeavor.

"I do happen to have pitons and a hammer should the opportunity arise for us to ascend by climbing." Eredan swivels his hips and starts a long stretch of his legs and winces. "Let me say that if there was someone who was a fair gymnast that they should go up first."

In reply to Eredan Corlinus (msg # 15):

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

Sorry climbing and the such just isn't really my forte. I will try my best to assist but don't expect to much help from my short arms. Ezguar holds up a short hand in a gesture of helpfulness.

---Victor's Group---

Nixon shook his head slightly at the suggestion, although whether or not Ero would see the action of course depending on timing and head angle - but it was habit to do so, and so it happened regardless of the need.

"The undead was lethal in encounters -or destroyed- in all stories related to me, and I would not recommend alerting an unknown undead that is magically-enabled and resistant to attacks... certainly not prior to attempting to dispatch it with all haste and effort. Especially when it does not appear to be in our needed path.

"I'm used to seeking out troubles... but not troubling troubles that aren't troubling me," Nixon chuckled, half to himself.

"Master Guardian, my friend raises a good question - is there a name, or description that we might hear, so we can find the caster that summoned you here to such diligent duty."

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

"Just tug on the rope slightly", said Lureene. "If it has no give then it's for climbing. If it has any give then I wouldn't try."

In reply to Lureene Raventree (msg # 18):

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

Ezguar takes Lureenes advice and tugs lightly on the rope to see if it has any give and if it has none he would attempt to climb it. Well here goes nothing chaps.

Eredan narrows his eyes and looked skeptically at the rope. Sometimes some things were best left un-thought. A rope up a hole was for climbing. Suggesting that it was for something else suddenly brought a certain amount of paranoia into the half-elf's purview of the world.

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


Allanzani summoned me. You all look alike to me. Taller than most. Gray-bearded.

Don't know about certain wizards. Allanzani said only Dwarves and Wizards could take the magic items.

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


Ezguar first tugs on the rope. It feels solid, so he begins to climb. As he reaches the top, he sees that it has been tied around a stalagmite. The rest of the cave is about 60 feet across in both directions, but has the two ends a bit tapered.

There are several stalagmites that dot the floor.

Ezguar sees two openings. One is over on the left and has a narrow ledge leading to it. The other one is almost straight across from him. It appears a bit larger, and he can feel the breeze coming from it.

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


"Allanzani..." says Victor. "Can't say I know the name. Knew an Alenandra, in my youth. Allie, I called her. Lovely lass, grocer's daughter. Father didn't like me at all. Said if I ever came back around, he'd nail my ears to the door jamb. Came back one last time, to ask if he had any nails. As it turns out, he did. Brash youth that I was, I knocked the old man out cold. Allie didn't like me much either, after that. That was before the academy, of course."

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 22):

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

Ezguar moves forward enough to make space for his companions. Ah good news. It seems that it was indeed not a trap and that is simply more diverging paths ahead. Although I would recommend looking out for the dense rock forest of stalagmites here.

In reply to Ezguar Grimlock (msg # 24):

===== Mithras group =====

Eredan looks up after his friend climbs the rope and listens as new information is related down. Grasping the rope firmly the warlock scrambles his way upwards.

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


"Guess I should have figured that,"<purple> Mithra said. <purple>"It's good news... and bad news. The good news is that this isn't a dead end so we won't be trapped. The bad news is that they can circle around behind us."

She took a minute to examine the wall leading to the upper level, pulling at a few rocks as she went.

"Don't let rope dictate your options. If we're forced to retreat here and the rope has been removed, we can still climb the wall. It may not be easy, but it's doable."

"Also, if we do get chased into this cave, and they circle around up top, they'll have an advantage up there... with range weapons. You can even that advantage up a lot by getting right up against the wall, cause then they have to lean over to even see you. That makes them vulnerable."

"So, Ezguar... any indications that one of those passages leads out? We came in the backdoor of this mine, so the main entrance should be up this way somewhere."

"Anyway, that's all I needed to know. Now we need to go look for those Dwarves."

Once Ezguar climbs back down, she leads the way back through the tunnel.

In reply to Mithra Stormraven (msg # 26):

====Mirhra’s Group=====

Thressa climbs down remaining with her group.

===== Victor's Group =====
Nixon chuckled at Victor's quick trip down memory lane.  After pausing for a moment to allow the guardian to reply, Nixon added a follow-up question.  "Master guardian - you indicated that it was permissible for casters of the Art to access the items under your care.  Victor is a learned caster, and I have some small Art myself.  Would it be permissible for us to see or access the items in your care?"

Nixon's question was very much in the hypothetical, unconcerned vein, for he saw nothing to access.  While there could exist a forge of invisible weapons or trove of untold knowledges concealed in a pocket dimension... they could, like the damaged doors and dead wizard, be long gone and lost, or the guardian suffering 'neath a mantle of corruption or twisted magics.  That latter was especially concerning, for allies had been warping in and away - Nixon knowing from first-hand knowledge, and that the safe paths had been less than fully reliable.

====== Mithra's Groups =====

As Mithra moves beyond the rope Eredan pauses a moment before scrambling back down. Glad to have his feet on the ground he falls in and wipes his forehead. He was coming down from a nice buzz and the ale was leaving him feeling not quite right.

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


Wizards and Dwarves, Dwarves and Wizards! You are no Dwarf, so wizard you must be. Take all that you wish. I will not stop you.

--- Victor's Group ---

"You are quite astute, sir," Ero says with pride.  "I am a conjurer of no small repute.  We will gladly abscond with these trinkets and liberate you from your obligation.  But if we could beg your indulgence, may we prorogue this a few hours?  We must first emancipate a guaranty from his shanghaiers."

In reply to Mithra Stormraven (msg # 26):

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

I didn't get a good enough look down those tunnles but knowing a little on caves I might be able to make an educated guess.

Ezguar attempts to muster what he knows on cave architecture to help navigate the group in the right direction.

Rolled 10 on knowledge History

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


Air currents were stronger on the upper level, so Ezguar has a reasonable estimation that the tunnel that seemed to continue on probably led to the outside. The tunnel looked mostly natural, but he could see some signs of workmanship--most likely Dwarven.

The more curves and corners that the air has to go around, the lest coherent and detectable it is. The other passages headed back into the rest of the mine. No doubt they would connect up with the other team.