Eager to be out of the storm the party passed through the box canyon without delay entered the dungeon through the stone archway carved into the cliff. The spiral staircase led them downward and they went north through the archway that was carved into a fanged ogre mouth.

As the party passed though the mouth they found murals of cavorting imps painted on the walls beyond. Thirty foot further on the paintings ended as they stepped through another archway which resembled another ogre mouth. At this point they had reached a crossroads.

The corridor north went thirty foot into darkness. To the west the corridor changed from worked stone to a natural cave. To the east it went ten foot before opening into a room. In the middle of the intersection was a rusted metal signpost. On the signpost an arrow pointed west and read "Da' Dragon's Den.".

OOC Who has light and what is the party marching order?

Day: 6. Time: 9:00am. Turn: 1. Weather: Sunny, stormy, high winds. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Staðhafi lit her lamp, then went west, the way the sign indicated. "If there is a dragon, I will face it. Follow along for glory, or live in the dark as miserable cowards. I care not which."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:25, Fri 25 June 2021.

"Maybe we should avoid dragons," Devin recommended as he failed to follow the newcomer.

Bertilak lights his new lantern. "I agree with Devin. Although with the dragon's location marked as such, perhaps it is one we could talk to rather than fight?"

"Which way did you go last time?" Devin asked the wizard who'd been this way before.  He and his guardian had successfully survived their explorations in the region once before, so Devin thought they weree in the best position to advise which way not to go.

"Unless there is a second." Fiene replies to the cleric. "Da dragon is dead, by my hand.  Though it nearly cost Ermangard her life."  He acknowledges.  "That path leads to caverns, and a small grotto where the dragon laired." He points to the north.  "There were kobolds working that way carvings stone.  I believe they are part of the dungeon maintenance, and can be bribed with silver.  There are stored corpses in the room to the right, it was infested with rats and I didn't remain, so there may be something of interest there." He shrugged his shoulders.  "There is a locked door to the south, that I intend to revisit, but there is someone I must speak to first."

"Who would that be?" Ben asks. "Off on another secret mission, then?"

"I found an oracle." Fiene relies absently. "Perhaps it can tell me how to open the doors I couldn't before."

"Sounds like a good place to start, then," Ben responds.

"I'm surprised the kobolds haven't revolted with the death of their dragon ancestor," he further reflects.

"The ones I met seemed terrified of it." Fiene comments.

"To the oracle, then," Devin concludes from the wizard's conversation.  "Which way?"

He was kind of glad the mean woman went off on her own.  Having thought that, he felt bad and sent a mental prayer to Auril to watch over her.

Led by the wizard Fiene the party turned two corners to come to a door. Inside the room on the far wall was carved a ten foot tall bearded human head. Smoke trailed from its mouth and it stared intently with crystal eyes.



OOC Day: 6. Time: 9:10am. Turn: 2. Weather: Sunny, stormy, high winds. Vision: Daylight. Movement: 20'

Lantern oil used
Bertilak 1 Turn - lit

Fiene's voice grows harsh as he speaks in orcish.

"You...slew a dragon? Well done! Oh, an oracle? Fascinating!"

He rubbed his goatee as he stared out.

These things usually require a sacrifice of some sort to operate. Gold or gems, perhaps. Hopefull not a living sacrifice..."

The stone face huffed and its mouth opened wide emitting a puff of blue-grey smoke. Its voice rumbled "Find what you seek in one of the four storage rooms to the far south" Rocky answered Fiene.

"What did you ask it?" Devin asked the wizard.

"Last time I was here, it only spoke orcish." Fiene comments.  "I asked it where the keys to the doors might be found."

Teodore remains silent, not caring where the group explores as long as there is a way back to the stairs this time. When the party moves he will share the front rank.

"Do you know where these storage rooms are?" Devin asked the wizard.

"I do not." Fiene offers. "But from what Bertilak showed on his map. There were a lot of rooms that were bypassed. Perhaps it lies in one of those.  There must be a way through or around the one way door.  I encountered enough orcs and kobolds, that talked of things to the south.". He postulates.

"Through magic, I forged a tenuous alliance with some of the orcs." he adds looking at Ben, remembering the man's murderous efforts against the goblins at the gate.  "I would prefer to utilize it if we encounter them again. Though word of your slaughter has likely already woven it's easy though their ranks."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Tue 29 June 2021.

Sneering, Ben replies, "How progressive of you. It would be wise to sate my bloodlust before we meet orcs again. How about some rats?"

In case anybody has forgotten, he appends, "The cave pirates pay well for rat tales."

"You misunderstand me.  I believe this complex is far larger than we can explore.  There is a community here, a market run by someone named Sniv.  Warring orc factions fighting over territory, Kobold maintenance crews.  I don't consider myself strong enough or stupid enough to kill everything I meet, I'm looking at a political game, taking what I can and escaping with my life.  Fiene says somewhat patronizingly.

"There were rats in a room just back and to the North. It was full of cadavers that I assume didn't put themselves in there. Go. Have at it." he adds.

Whilst the party shared their knowledge of Stonehell Dungeon their chat was disturbed by loud smashing and banging outside the room.

"But we should at least kill that chieftain and his mate. They had necklaces of platinum," Ben protests just before they all hear a racket outside the chamber.

He looks at Teodore, expecting him to have a look immediately.

"Or befiend the chieftain, and control the whole tribe."  Fiene offers, before looking to Ermangard.  Fiene advances towards the door.

ooc: Does the door open in or out?