Matthias sees Tegroth flee and begins to panic. He has done what he can for Kellen and Vala, but they still have yet to locate the missing sisters.

"Delta! Tanyl! C'mon! We must not let the brute escape!"

The young cleric grabs his mace and shield and begins to take up pursuit, hopefully with his companions in tow...

Delta's eyes open in panic at the thought of Matthias committing suicide in such a fashion.

"You do what you must, be I am going to look for them here, " she says quietly. The magic has been planted in the giants head already deep enough to survive her ending her song. "Be aware however that if you break my spell, you just might be causing their death if they are still here, and he returns. Their death, and all of ours."

Tanyl sides with Delta.

"He's not taking them; we can find them only if we're alive.  And discretion is the better part of valor."

Hearing his two companions' pleas for caution, Matthias slows ceases his pursuit a few halting steps from its origin. The young man appears deflated.

"Very well..."

Covered in blood, his own and his companions, he steadies himself against the wall and takes a few deep breaths while awaiting his companions' further counsel.

With Vala and Kellen still unconscious, Tanyl searches the enemy corpses for keys.  And such.

Catching the drift, or so she hopes, Delta will search for doors that might requires keys. Or doors she can open, for that matter, though she won't open any. She also won't go too far.

The three standing members of the group catch their breathe a moment as they listen to the thudding of the giants feet receding, then hear a loud roaring of water, and then a slam as the great door behind the falls is opened and then shut.

Delta more than the others knows her magic will only last a few minutes, but will the suggestion she laid in the giants mind hold once the magic ends, that is another matter.  Tegroth might just keep going, or, come back, madder than before.

The room is littered with the dead of his minions, blood runs across the floor, Kellen remains solidly out, but Vala's eyes have opened, and though horribly weak, over the coming minutes, she finds she can stand and move about on unsteady feet.

A quick search reveals a room with two small chests, and several large barrels to the South.  A door to the east leads to five old tombs, the doors are barred but not not locked from the outside.  Inside two of these, you find some very frightened and disheveled Sisters of Elhonna, alive but weak. The others are empty and dark.

Three minutes turn to five then to ten, and with some relief it appears the giant has chosen to live to fight another day!

Confident that Matthias and Delta will fuss over the sisters, Tanyl checks the chests for traps and locks and tends to any that he may find before opening the chests.

"Oh my, oh my sisters, have you been sorely used? We are here to rescue you."

Sheathing her weapon to avoid frightening the duo, Delta rushes forward and offers them her water skin to drink from.

"Take a moment to collect yourselves, but we should leave soon. Do you wish to talk about your harrowing experience?"

She reaches in to her pack and digs out some left overs as well.

Matthias joins Delta in seeing to the Sisters' well-being and offers to assist any who may have difficulty moving under their own power. He also readily agrees with the gnome's assessment that they must not delay too long.

"We'll be safer once we reunite you with the others," he says in support.

The weariness aside, three of the group might be able to leave, it is the middle of the night, the way out through slippery treacherous cliffs that fall into fast running water, but hardy adventurers might make it.   Kellen is in coma.  Vala can barely lift her body without wavering, and the two sisters are near starved and weak.  They take water and hug and cry and offer thanks, though not well with words.  Most of their teeth are gone, as is their tongues, testament to the brutal torture they have endured.  On seeing the brutal scene of deaths, the younger sister takes up a sword and with great energy, beyond what she might seem to have left, cleaves off the head of the gnoll that Delta slit its throat.  Then collapses with the effort of it, not able to rise again for lack of strength without rest and more attention.

The older sister indicates she would like to write something down, when given her wish, she scribbles something out with a bit of satisfaction on her face, handing it to the group before going to rest with her arms protectively around her sister.

It reads, in a rough shaky hand "Tegroth ran his mouth when he thought I was dead, and his fools drunk asleep,  he boosted of riches beyond a kings!".

"If any of that treasure was around, that would be wonderful, but the real treasure was finding you two alive," Delta says with a gentle hug.

Once the bodies have been searched, Delta attempts to drag the bodies to the edge and roll them down the waterfall.

On the assumption that a returning giant will use the big doorway, she suggests they set up camp in the room beyond the smaller door. She will try to drag anything that might make for decent betting, be it carpet, curtains or anything else to put under the wounded.

The first thing she makes is a concoction of warm salt water with any herbs she might have to numb the pain, and she will ask the two sisters to gargle with it, and swish it around their mouths to fight any infection.

"It will sting, but it is worth it, trust me," he says.

If there is any comfort she can offer Vala she sill try to help her too, but healing is not really her strong suit.

Doing her best to make the injured comfortable, Delta will cook a simple, and soft dinner. She will attempt to spoon feed Kellen, though she doubts it will work.

If asked by Tanyl, she will act as back-up as he searches the place, as she is still in pretty decent shape.

Matthias considers the party's dilemma and soon realizes transporting Kellen and Vala will be nearly impossible.

"If we are to stay," he remarks to his companions, "and I think we must," he says while turning his attention to Kellen, Vala, and the frail sisters. Continuing, "We should barricade the doors as best we can. Anything to prevent Tegroth and his forces from sweeping back in unhindered."

"Delta. Tanyl. Do either of you have spikes, to spike the large door from the inside?" If neither do, he suggests searching the lair for anything that can be improvised. Next, they can gather all heavy furniture and barricade entrances to the best of their ability.

"We should also search for any and all entrances and exits. Obvious, and otherwise," he says, now including the sisters in the conversation. "Sisters, did any of you see or hear any of evidence of secret or hidden doors?"

With a negative shake of her head Delta reveals her lack of iron spikes. While doing all of the things she mentioned above, she looks for signs of burrowing rodents or the like.

Tanyl confirms that he doesn't have spikes either, which he feels badly about.

OOC: Any luck with the chests?

Over the next hour, the group manages to dispose of the bodies, including gnolls, bugbears, goblins, and two humans.  Upon retracing your steps, you find the two men you left tied up both to have had their throats slit.  Who did it or why is unknown.

An odd assortment of weapons, spears, curved swords, daggers are gathered together. Nothing of great quality among them.   Searching of the bunks, and beds, and tables, pulls together a meager findings of 24 gold pieces, and about 50 of those square gray metal coins with an X or T on them, of some unknown metal.

Tanyl manages to open both the chests and finds them near full of the same square coins, it seems Tegroth made and paid his associates with these coins.  Closer examination, shows some of them to be starting to rust leading you to believe they are likely scrap metals melted down and used as payment.  They are likely to be considered rather worthless in town.

The large barrels of full of weak grog, likely alcoholic but not pleasant to smell (or taste if anyone dares).

Kellen, Vala, and the two acolytes sleep deeply throughout the rest of the night. By morning, even Kellen is awake and able to stand on his own.  Vala is stronger, and the two former prisoners look much better.   In the morning, as the group is finishing their search of the rooms, Tanyl discovers a hidden door on the southern wall of the room with grog and chests in it.   A quick look shows it is not only locked, but trapped as well.

"Oh goody," Tanyl comments, knowing that his skill with traps is only slightly better than one in three.  "I guess there's nothing to do but give it a go.  Are you ready, Mathias, in case I wound myself grievously?"

OOC: It's been so long, DM, that I have to ask: Do I roll these or do you?  (I will proceed to try to unlock if I live through the trap-removal process.)

Tanyl works on the lock, which immediately sets off a piercing scream, "Thief in the house, thief in the house!!".

Luckily, his nerves and hands stay steady and he disables the poison needles set to trip.  As the cries stop, the lock is unlocked.


12:01, Today: DM Bard rolled 33 using 1d100.  remove trap for Tanyl (need 35 or less).

"Well, if something had to be set off . . . better that, with nobody to warn, than poison."

Task completed and the noise ended, Tanyl looks about just to confirm that nobody is coming.  He then opens the door.

The elven man stands staring into the room for a moment, nearly dazzled,  it is a small room, but scattered across nearly the back half is mounds of gold and silver coins, mixed amongst the wealth, the odd weapon, flask, and pieces of armor.

Tanyl is excited, but his cynicism makes him cautious.

He checks for traps on the treasure-laden side of the door.

Standing behind the resident scout, Delta jumps at the screaming and covers her ears. She is visibly relieved when it stops. Peering over his shoulder, she is amazed at the sight beyond, but she awaits Tanyl's okay to move in.

"My gosh Tanyl, do you think this was even hidden from Tegroth? I have to assume so..."

OOC I forget, do I heal a hit point for a night's rest. Different games have different rules.

Matthias responds to Delta inquiry, "Not sure. But one thing's for certain, if he knew about this treasure, we will have doubly earned the enmity of a mighty foe when he returns to find it missing."

Matthias considers a second point while looking over all the treasure, particularly the coins. "We should inquire with the sisters whether their coffers were plundered. Some of this may rightly be theirs..."

Of the magic items, the only that catch his eye are the enchanted mace and shield. Unless any object, he will lay claim to the mace. If none wish to claim the shield, he will gladly accept it.

It takes a few days to wrap everything up, packing the treasure out to the nearby campsite, healing enough for Vala, Kellen, Bren, and Rachil to travel.

The young acolytes seem to gain back their strength quickly and though deeply saddened when they are told of finding the dead unicorn colt, they are equally thrilled of the one the party was able to heal. They insist on carrying the colt outside to be taken back to be properly buried.

The arrival at the Monastery is a happy one, Abbey Hana greets you all as heroes and promises that the two young women will be fully healed in time.  Any donations are greatly appreciated.  The main doors have already been patched up but will need some work to fully restore.

Any last wounds the group may have are soon healed, the followers of Elhonna are excellent healers.  After another few days, Kellen parts, saying his plans lie elsewhere but thanks you all for your help and for keeping him alive!

Minnow gives you a letter to take back to her sister, and soon, you are back on the road to the city with new experiences and a fair amount of wealth to spend or live off!

ooc: Congrats on the success of this adventure.  I plan to take a few weeks off, I have a few work related things that are going to absorb me, but I'll post when I'm out of those woods and see if you all wish to continue for another chapter.  Thanks, Rob

Singing a sad dirge at the burial of the baby unicorn, Delta dearly hopes to cross paths with Tegroth at some time in the future, when they are more capable of venting upon him the justice he deserves.

Once back at the abbey, she takes full advantage of the opportunity to rest. She studies the scrolls, and wonders at the deck of cards, but puts off messing with it until they know more.

She is curious to see if the healing abilities of the sisters in enough to regrow tooth and tongue on the two sisters who were so poorly mistreated by the evil giant.