"So this is where ye saw the two Goblins, eh? Hmmm," replies Falco. He looks over at the others and asks, "What say ye all? Shall we have a look then, or continue on to where the birds were?"

Gyp gave a nod to Falco to confirm this is where he had been "I am fast of foot, I shall go ahead" he volunteered. At least this time he would not be out of sight of his companions. It would save them time on their journey if he began any investigation as soon as possible. Gyp then leapt off with a cartwheel and raced to the cave to take a look inside.

"If he is so scared of danger, why does he always have to scout ahead alone?" whispers Faldal to himself.

"Well he is eager, we can say that of him."

It didn't sound particularly like a compliment, but it wasn't an insult either.

Gyp runs ahead of the others arriving at the cave quickly.  In the light of day he can see that this cave only goes about 15 feet in, like a giant took a scoop out of the hill and the remaining overhang is now grown over with grass.  It does make a very nice, sheltered place for a camp, though it is also obvious and visible for some distance.

as the others approach a search of the area notes the poorly concealed remnants of a camp not very old, perhaps the very goblins Gyp saw last night.

Glad to find the cave empty of goblins Gyp danced a little jig and then examined the remains of the campsite for anything interesting left behind and also around the back of the cave for any signs of travel or use.

"If this is a lookout post for goblins, or whatever else, I would rather not tarry. We should investigate the birds or find another means of entering the caves."

Leozaren looked to Falco for his call.

"So nothing found in the cave, eh," Falco comments aloud. He turns to face Leozaren and the others in their group and says, "Yes, let us continue onward then. We only have so much daylight and the Goblins and worse come out at night to do their foul deeds."

He readies himself to resume the journey. Once Gyp has rejoined them and everyone else is ready to get underway as well, he then again takes to the woods some thirty feet in and proceeds towards the general direction of where the birds where seen taking flight while using the forest for cover along the way.

Following in the direction that you saw the birds take flight, the party re-enters the forest and skirts the clearing until turning away from it and moving northeast.  The forest gets more dense, tangled, and gloomier than before.  The thick, twisted tree trunks, unnaturally misshapen limbs, writhing roots, clutching and grasping thorns and briars all seem to warn, as the party traverses a heavily wooded and sloping terrain, one that gets steeper the farther North you go, naturally pulling the party more to the east.  After almost two hours of carefully moving through this forested area the wood suddenly ends - you have stepped out of the thicket into a ravine-like area. The walls rise rather steeply, and the party came down on the left side slope.

To either side to a height of about 100’ or so - dark, streaked rock mingled with earth. Clumps of trees grow here and there, both on the floor of the ravine and up the sloping walls of the canyon. The opening you stand in is about 200’ wide. The ravine runs at least 400’ west to where the western end rises in a steep slope. Here and there, at varying heights on all sides of the ravine, you can see the black mouths of cave-like openings in the rock walls. The sunlight is dim, the air dank, there is an oppressive feeling here - as if something evil is watching and waiting to pounce upon you. There are bare, dead trees here and there, and upon one a vulture perches and gazes hungrily at you. A flock of ravens rise croaking from the ground, the beat of their wings and their cries magnified by the terrain to sound loud and horrible, a repetition of what you saw this morning only much closer. Amongst the litter of rubble, boulders, and dead wood scattered about on the ravine floor, you can see bits of gleaming ivory and white - closer inspection reveals that these are bones and skulls of men, animals, and other things,. . .

You know that you have certainly discovered the Caves Of Chaos.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:32, Mon 01 Nov 2021.

The cave was in the end a disappointment. Gyp scowled and kicked at the dirt and then followed Falco away from the cave.

Their arrival at the caves of chaos cheered Gyp up and his waved his hands excitedly. He then looked around the ravine and at the many caves. In the end his energy was spent, his shoulders sagged and he looked to Falco "which cave?"

Far from excited, Leozaren was somewhat downcast - there were caves here, but did there have to be so many? That meant trouble abounded, and death was everywhere: the sheer number of bones and remains of things living told of that. He turned his face away.

Faldal stares at the caves, intimidated by the sight for a while. Then he whispers, and find his resolve again. Wasn't it the reason why he came here, after all, to face the adversity to be found in this and other foul places?

"We might as well start with the closest one." he proposes, answering the jester.

"Good choice" Gyp stood behind and Faldal gave him a clap on the back "in we go then" he encouraged as he rooted around in his backpack to get a torch and his flint to light it.

"Keep your guard up. Be ready to withdraw if the advantage is not with us," offers Falco as he readies his shield and spear.

He crouches down and advances carefully with the others. As he does, he keeps his senses alert for danger and looks about for movement around them or other signs of possible danger.

Quiet Simon keeps alert, his dagger drawn and in his hand, and quietly moves in the midst of the others. Being a bookworm, he's not used to all this travelling through the wilderness.

Truthfully, he would be more at comfort in a room with a roof over his head and a book in his hands. But then how would he gain practical knowledge of the world outside if he retreats back to his books? Thus, he keeps course and ventures onward towards the nearest cave entrance.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:00, Fri 15 Oct 2021.

Faldal hesitates. He will certainly not be the first to enter the cave!

******
Move to the Caves of Chaos Part 1 thread, please.
******

*** We Pick Up here After the Kobold Cave ***
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Fri 14 Jan 2022.

There was a big sigh of relief from Gyp as the party escaped the caves. It had been successful and the fool danced amongst the party offering handshakes, kisses and claps on the back for everyone “oh my, I’m glad to be travelling home alive” he exhaled.

”We won’t be back at the fort before nightfall. Do we camp on the road?”

"I am not sure which one is riskier. I definitely won't be able to sleep well outside in these parts!" grumbles Faldal. "I say we walk straight to the keep, as fast as we can."

"I disagree. If we can only make it halfway to the Keep by nightfall, we would be better to seek out our previous camp and settle there for the night. Away from the road should be safer, I believe."

The possibility of evil eyes watching over the road for prey did not sit well with Leozaren.

"Hmmm..." ponders Falco

After a moment, he says, "Perhaps we should camp the night then. While I look forward to sleeping in a proper bed, I would rather we not step into a unseen spider's web in the darkness."

Okay, somewhere along the road (off of it of course) or will you return to the Keep through the woods?

This message was deleted by the player at 15:31, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

”If we head back the way we came we can rest in the smaller cave” Gyp suggested. It seemed a safe place to sleep out of sight of any night time hunters.

"Very well, Gyp, was it?," says Falco, "Let us go there."

He looks at Faldal and says, "I would like to press on as well, my friend, but I fear running into more of those spider webs in the dark."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:40, Sun 16 Jan 2022.