Her blades in hand Kharla follows Istvan into the mine.

OOC: Are there any light sources in the mine or will we need to light a lantern?

OOC: You'll need a lantern.

"I suppose it can't be helped," Spriggy admitted reluctantly. He was not to enthusiastic about entering the mines, but it was what the job required. Before he followed the other two, however, the bard crouched next to the paw print and let a dim light emanate from his lantern so that he could get a better look at it. He had grown up on a farm near a river, so he was familiar with several types of paw prints, and might even be able to tell if it actually from a beaver as Istvan had suggested. He shared his findings with his group members.

---

Sure, I'll try to Spout Lore on the paw print.
21:37, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 3 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,1.  Spout Lore - paw print.
He maybe should have waited a bit longer before using his lantern. +1 XP!

Using your lanterns, you step into the mine. For a moment, you worry about not finding the right path with all the side passages you see, until you see warning signs that were recently left, pointing toward the collapsed area. Considering what Arund told you, it sounds like a good place to check.

There's only one problem. Most of the tunnel is blocked off, though you may be able to slip through...

OOC: Though that would require a Defy Danger roll. DEX is the most likely choice, but if you have another idea, feel free to present it. Kharla can treat it as a trap however.

(You mean Kharla may be able to... "defuse" the difficult-to-get-by area...?)

Possibly, by figuring out what parts are about to fall apart and how to shore them up, before you stumble into them and cause another collapse.

Spriggy wasn't exactly sure what had left the footprint, but he was pretty certain it was something no longer alive. Which wasn't surprising, but still a useful bit of knowledge.

When they got to the cave-in, Spriggy asked, "Who is going first? I could try squeezing through, but I am not sure I won't cause a mini rockslide in the process. Plus, there could be something waiting for us on the other side..." He looked to his teammates, his expression implying that he would rather have one of them go first. Istvan because he could repel the undead, and Kharla because she probably had more experience squeezing through tricky spaces.

Since you're no longer in a rush (the magical chant ended sometime ago), you also have the option of returning to the village for the night, and asking for their help in shoring up and clearing the passage.

I would like to give Kharla a chance to shine, but it seems she's AFK for the moment.

The thief shone the lantern light across the debris, then prodded here and there, eying the dirt that rained down when she did so.

13:26, Today: Kharla rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,5.  Trap Expert.
✴ On a 7–9, hold 1.
• Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?

The area is still somewhat unstable. Someone could crawl through, but if they brushed up at the wrong place, the rocks would collapse on them.

Kharla could stabilize it with a Tricks Of The Trade. On a 10+, she manages to find the remnants of a pickaxe she can use. On a 7-9, she has to dig up a crowbar from her adventuring gear (and mark one of it's uses).

"So what do you think?" Spriggy asked Kharla as she surveyed the scene. "Can we go on? We probably should if we can. Keep the initiative and whatnot. But I would also rather not die in a cave in if it can be helped..." He let the thief do her thing, but was also ready to help in any way she asked.

"One moment," the redhead held up a finger and smiled in the lantern's glow.  Scanning about she begins to search, discarding rocks, a splinter of timber, before finally settling in a broken miner's pick.  Soon she had the remnants wedged under a portion of the hole tightly.

"That should do it," she nodded in satisfaction, "but there's really only one way to be sure."

Bending down she shine the light into the hole then followed carefully after it.

20:26, Today: Kharla rolled 11 using 2d6+2 ((3,6)).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:35, Thu 18 Feb 2021.

Spriggy made sure his own lantern was still well-lit, then followed after Kharla into the hole once it became clear that it was safe to do so. "I really hope there isn't an ambush waiting for us on the other end," he whispered unhelpfully to his companions.

The broken pick holds, and Kharla passes without issues. Spriggy and Istvan soon follow, and you can head deeper into the mine. The area seems more stable, even though dirt fell even here.

You soon reach a small tunnel splitting off the main path. Looking at the ground, you see a few small tracks heading there, while a set of larger tracks follow the main tunnel.

Istvan studies the tracks...

(07:09, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,3.  Discern realities, more fun with tracks.

What happened here recently?)

Judging by the track, Istvan figures that since the mine's collapse, dead animals in the area have been reanimated by the spell you've heard earlier, and they've made their way into this tunnel. Although some have wandered into the side path, the main tracks seem to follow the central shaft so far.

"We should probably follow the main path, huh?" Spriggy asked Istvan and Kharla. "It could be potentially useful to block off the side tunnels, but I doubt we have the time or the means to do a worthwhile job." Unless, of course, someone happened to bring some gear that could accomplish such a task. Spriggy himself had not. And the longer they loitered in the tunnel, the more likely they would be to meet some foes. He made sure his rapier was in hand and inched toward the main tunnel, ready to follow it unless one of the others objected.

Istvan feels Spriggy's making sense... He follows Spriggy.

Kharla waited as Spriggy and Istavn proceeded down the main path, listening for any sounds of movement from the side tunnel.  Assuming none are evident she follows the men but maintains alert for any signs of danger from the rear.

21:35, Today: Kharla rolled 7 using 2d6+1 ((2,4)).
- What should I be on the lookout for?

You head down the corridor, and find it widening into a chamber. As you take a moment to shine your light into the area, you spot a form moving ahead. A skeleton, barely covered by the rotten remains of a bear's pelt, shuffling on all four until it notices your light.
What do you do?

Istvan asks Noric for protection.

(12:13, Today: Istvan Vanoson rolled 14 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,6.  Turn Bear.

That number again: 14.)

Maybe Noric, god of darkness, does extra-well down here underground? But this is Istvan's Best Turning Ever. It turns the undead, stultifies them, and fills Istvan with a warm happy feeling. His clothes feel a little cleaner.

Spriggy stood with his weapon drawn, his hand shaking slightly. An undead bear was a bit more than he had bargained for. But thankfully, Istvan's clerical skills proved invaluable once again. "Thank the gods," Spriggy said as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Er, well. Your god. Noric."

The bear clacks as it shudders and runs into a side passage, leaving you free to continue down the main path.

After a short time, you pass another side tunnel that draws your attention. It looks a bit newer then the others, and at the limits of your lamplight, you can just make out a lot of rubble on the floor.

The thief raises her lantern as she steps into the side passage, the better to see the extent of the rubble.

21:44, Today: Kharla rolled 10 using 2d6+1 ((3,6)).
• What happened here recently?
• What should I be on the lookout for?
• What here is useful or valuable to me?

Take +1 forward when acting on the answers
This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Sat 20 Feb 2021.

This tunnel does seem to be the most recent... and it wasn't fully shored up. From the abandoned tools under the rocks, the miners most have been working here when the quake started. It seems they managed to run away, only to be caught by the collapse close to the entrance. The more interesting part is that the quake broke open a path to a natural cavern.

Kharla also spots a few claw marks on the rocks, and bony paw marks. Some skeletons must have gone through here.

Also, though the cave ahead is mostly beyond the reach of your lanterns, there seems to be a faint glow ahead...