Speaking the magic phrase that opens the portal in the monastery, the long-but-not-so-long tunnel forms in the wall.

Ozrus leads the way, stepping into it first, followed by Hsang and Bash.

As near as Ozrus can tell, the tunnel is the same length as all the others, which seems a bit odd considering that the other places were probably different distances away.

At the other end, he's not surprised to see a mine entrance about 30 feet in front of him. Whether it was a natural cave that's been turned into a mine isn't quite clear, but the sturdy timbers have been used to frame the opening in a more regular fashion as if it was a doorway without a door.

Looking up, he sees that the mine entrance is at the base of a mountain, though he's uncertain just how big the mountain is. A sheer rock face represents the part that he can see; it looks to be about 200 feet high, probably ends at a ledge because he can vaguely see that more mountain soars upward beyond it.

A number of rocks scattered around the area show evidence of dangerous rock slides in the past.

Years of weathering and dirt have almost obscured the carving in the cross timber. He can just barely make out the name: REMSON.

Ozrus pointed out all of the observations he had made to both Hsang and Bash, then stepped forward. He was still in the form of an earth elemental, so he began slipping into the ground as he moved forward, earth gliding. "I'm going to scout ahead a bit. Peek out through the walls, get a sense of just how porous this mountain is, and maybe even see if I can find any local bats to chat with. If there is a guardian here like at all of the other locations, there is a good chance they would know where to find it." Of course he might run into the guardian long before he met any bats. He cast some cantrips upon himself as he moved forward. "I'll be right back"

---

I am earth gliding around the immediate vicinity, seeing what is here. I also have darkvision, spider climb, life bubble, detect magic, and am still carrying my Traveler's Any-tool if those are relevant. I will use Guidance for my rolls. If there are any bats to talk to I will cast Speak with Animals upon myself and ask them about local threats, guardians, and the wonder.

21:57, Today: Ozrus Wither rolled 33 using 1d20+22.  Perception, with Guidance. Watching for threats/points of interest.
21:58, Today: Ozrus Wither rolled 24 using 1d20+22.  Survival, with Guidance. Natural hazards.
21:59, Today: Ozrus Wither rolled 38 using 1d20+21.  Knowledge: Nature, with Guidance. Local wildlife.
21:59, Today: Ozrus Wither rolled 23 using 1d20+10.  Knowledge: Engineering, with Guidance. Structural integrity.
22:01, Today: Ozrus Wither rolled 34 using 1d20+19.  Knowledge: Dungeoneering, with Guidance. Hazards/critters.

Feel free to make additional rolls on my behalf (with Guidance) if required.

"Not that I don't appreciate his strange ability," Hsang tells Bash, "but if he's going off by himself, why'd we both coming along?"

With that, he steps out of the tunnel and walks over to the mine entrance. Just to be on the safe side, he raps on the timbers with the hilt of his sword.

If it doesn't collapse, he starts to walk in.

Fumbled my brain trying to figure out what Ozrus could learn...


Ozrus has no problem moving through the stone of the mountain and getting a general sense of the layout, which is rather extensive. At a rough estimate, there is maybe 7-8 miles of tunnels. There is clearly a main tunnel and then there are nine separate side tunnels that branch off of that. He has some trouble passing through certain areas, which he realizes are untapped veins of ore.

He doesn't find any bats but he soon realizes that it's because of some sort of general malaise infecting the mine. He only picks it up as a residual trace of magic, which could mean that it's a very old curse that hasn't quite worn off yet. Animals, of course, would be more sensitive to that sort of thing than people.

A couple of the tunnels have collapsed areas in them, which he sees are probably because there weren't any timbers used in them to shore up the ceiling.

It's about the time that he reaches the end of the main tunnel that he finds an iron vault down the last side tunnel. He also encounters the large Earth Elemental.

He can't say for sure that it's guarding the vault, but it is in proximity to it.


Hsang and Bash exit the tunnel and step into the mine. Both instantly feel a touch of queasiness as they step through the opening, but it quickly passes. You both recognize it as some sort of warding, probably very old and nearly worn out.

You can see a mine cart about 10 feet in that still has a pickaxe and a shovel in it, though it is empty of ore. The tunnel ahead of you starts to slant to the left just beyond the cart. It's only 10 meet wide and maybe only 8 feet high, shored up with timbers about every 10 feet or so.

Ozrus backed away slowly and returned to Hsang and Bash after finding the earth elemental. He had a hunch he could talk his way past it, but would really rather not try to do so alone. When he found his friends, he relayed all that he had uncovered, then said, "My guess is that what we seek is in the vault. Or nearby. And that earth elemental is this wonder's guardian. I wonder if we can convince it to come back with us like I did that naga, Sh'kira, in the Field of Dreams. Anyway, follow me and I will show you the way." Ozrus, still in his earth elemental wild shape, did his best to lead Hsang and Bash toward the true earth elemental. "Either of you two know how to speak Terran?" he asked conversationally as they all progressed into the mine. "If not, I could try teaching you a few words as we walk." The phrases "green star," "friend," "chosen ones," and "prophecy" seemed like a good place to start, along with any words requested by Hsang and Bash.

"Not I!" Hsang replies with a bit of emphasis. "Never really thought I'd travel so far from home that I'd need to talk to people that spoke another language. There were always scholars and teachers and elders and interpreters that did all the talking to strangers that came to town... if they spoke some other language. As travelers, most of them spoke more than one language anyway."

"My enemies all spoke the same language, so there was no need for me to learn one."

"Not until this damned green star drew me here."

He listened to Ozrus's attempt to teach him a few words of Terran... with dismal results.

"It sounds like two stones rubbing together!" he protested as he tried to 'pronounce' those words.

"Nope. Ain't gonna work with me."

"I let my guns do my talking for me," Bash replies to Ozrus. "Most folks get my point."

"Creatures and monsters and stuff, well, if one shot don't scare them off, then I just shoot them!"

"Never tried shooting an earth elemental before, though. Any idea how that'll work?"

Ozrus held out one of his stony arms so that Bash could feel what an earth elemental's flesh felt like. More or less. Obviously he wasn't a true elemental, but merely in the shape of one. Still, it would give her an idea of how her weapon might affect an earth elemental. "I guess I will be doing the talking then," Ozrus said, mildly worried. He was a decent casual conversationalist, but had no formal training or special skills when it came to smooth talking people. Hopefully the inevitable conversation to come would not require a lot of nuance. "Just... please refrain from shooting until it becomes necessary. I would rather make a friend than an enemy if it can be helped."

When the three of them got close enough, Ozrus called out to the earth elemental. "Greetings. You look like quite the avalanche today." He had heard that was a compliment for earth elementals, and hoped what he had heard was true. "We are members of the green stars, and have come to look in that vault. Please let us pass peacefully. If you have been tied to this location to be its guard, your obligations have now expired."

"Aw, shucks, Ozzie!" Bash says. "I was just joshin'. I don't shoot anyone unless they deserve it... or shoot first. That's my one flaw, as it means I'm likely to get shot before I can eliminate the threat."

"We can always feed you ideas and you just translate them into earth elementalish... or whatever it's called. Would that help?"