Chapter 2 - The Second Day of Pelor's Rest

[Butchern]

Aron searched quickly but didn't find anything that might answer his immediate questions. He did, however, find the pick marks that told him how the dwarves collapsed the walls and brought the roof down in the cavern. He also found evidence that the dwarves tried to collapse the tunnel closer to the entrance, but there the ceiling was solid stone. They couldn't bring it down, not quickly. So, apparently, they collapsed the tunnel where they could in a pinch and then sealed up the entrance.

The room grew hotter and then the crystals started to flicker. A gust of wind formed in the blocked off tunnel, rushed down the passage, and howled its way through the boards. The wind took the hot air with it, and when the blowing was done, the crystals went dark, and the air cooled again.

In the stillness that followed, the caravaners could hear the howling of the wind from deeper in the mine. Or maybe it was something else howling.

[matt_s]

The breath of relief when the crystals went dark and the heat broke was soon replaced by the beating of Celeg's anxious heart as something howled down below.

Seresse, you doing all right? Nothing ill from the crystals at all? If you need a rest just say so, I'll more than understand.

Doubt that's the wind, he muttered. If there is anything down here that wasn't alerted by the descent or the breaking of the door they sure as nine hells are alerted now.

He again awkwardly lowered his hand from the amulet he wore around his neck and sighed. I think we ought to see what we woke up if indeed we woke it up. But be sure to know the way back by memory for we may need to take it in a hurry.

 

[SirLoganofGilead]

Aron looked at the marks on the wall. and sighed heavily as soon as he felt the relief of the stones going out. "Thank the heavens..."  He watched the expression on the other's faces as well. "What is it that dwarves would be so afraid of, that they would collapse their own tunnels? " Pointing to some of the evidence he has found he explains. "They tried closing it in closer to the entrance...this was just the quickest spot they could get it done. Is there a chance they closed themselves in?"

Despite the worry the stones gave him for a moment, the southerner takes a moment to enjoy not being cold for a few seconds, before wiping some sweat away and taking a closer look at the crystals themselves. "Seresse? Are you ok? Do you think these stones activated because it was you? Do you think if I touch it will respond the same?" He realized he was peppering her with questions before he knew if she was ok, but he couldn't stop himself.

[Caystodd]

On 3/2/2024 at 3:55 PM, SirLoganofGilead said:

Is there a chance they closed themselves in?"

"The bartender certainly didn't think they closed themselves in, at least not all of them."

Gert's memory of the previous night was hazy, but she thought she remembered them talking about the dwarves "leaving town" and giving the mounted rabbit as a gift when they did. Could have been the snow blindness talking though.

On 3/2/2024 at 1:17 PM, matt_s said:

I think we ought to see what we woke up if indeed we woke it up. But be sure to know the way back by memory for we may need to take it in a hurry.

Gert's excitement pushed past her headache and nausea and showed clearly on her face. "It's the chance of a lifetime. If we really have discovered an actual example of warp stones, we will be the talk of the Imperial College. I'll keep marking our trail so we won't get lost."

[Butchern]

On 3/2/2024 at 3:55 PM, SirLoganofGilead said:

Do you think these stones activated because it was you? Do you think if I touch it will respond the same?"

The caravaners ran some careful tests to see, but it appeared that whatever energies had been accumulating in the crystals had been discharged when Seresse touched them. The crystals barely felt warm to the touch now, and nothing the caravaners could think of caused them to react. Perhaps over time they would recharge, or perhaps the energy came from some source no gone. It was impossible to tell.

With that settled, the group continued their long spiraling descent down into the mine. Each level looked similar to those above. A wide ledge that ran around a wide open cavern that descended into the darkness. Carved stone stairs look them down to the next level. They saw no more tunnels boarded up on their way, but they were not carefully exploring each level.

When their stomachs reminded them that it was long past lunch, the caravaners were in complete darkness save for the lights they brought with them. They had paused to grab a bite to eat when they heard a scraping noise from the darkness below. It was the sound or rocks and dirt falling, faint at first, and then more clearly, it resolved into the sound of something scrambling over stone. The sound was loud—whatever was making it was big . . . or there were a lot of them. It was still far down in the mine, but it was getting louder.

Something was climbing up the wall of the mine, heading right toward them.

[matt_s]

Celeg slipped his steel arming sword from the scabbard the blade making nary a sound as the wicked edge began to gleam in the eldritch light that Gert brought with her. He doubted that whatever was clambering up the wall would be pleasant company.

This time of year was the darkest, the nights long and bleak and Celeg feared that the powers of the dark things that lurked in mines much like this one, exactly this one were at their zenith. But that was why it was Pelor's festival, to show the good and the faithful that the flame of righteousness burned brightness when ink black shadow closed about it!

But he quaked in his armored boots and his breathing was unsteady. Celeg had never had to face the peril of battle be it a contest of a few or a few thousands. And he was scared. He fought to master his fear and hold fast.

In a whisper, he said,

Let us see if we can ambush whatever is coming up, be it with a few of our number or all of us. Steady now, and sharp action, and we'll get through it.

[SirLoganofGilead]

Aron nodded in agreement with Celeg about the ambush. He pointed out spots for each of them to hide, and whispered instructions for them to crouch, changing the expected height of an attacker. He also got himself into a position, pulled two knives from his coat, and prepared himself for whatever it was that was coming down the hallway. He gave them one final hushed word. "Shhh"

[Caystodd]

Gert understood their predicament. She knew that whatever was coming up from the mine knew they were up there, but it might not know where exactly. If they could catch it looking for them, off guard, then they would have an advantage. At the very least, they'd have a chance to evaluate the situation, to decide whether to fight or run or do something else.

Yes, Gert understood, but she was also unbelievably curious.

The hiding spot that Aron pointed her toward was a rocky outcropping near the ledge that formed the outer side of a narrow path to the next set of stairs down. Gert ran and crouched behind the rock. The running made her head swim. It was the vengeance of the Snow Blindness and the heat from the warp stones. Gert could hear the scratching drawing closer past the throbbing in her ears.

If I could just get a look at what it is....

Gert moved to the other side of the rock, on the far side from her companions, and began crawling on her belly toward the ledge. Her stomach churned when she stretched out on the stone. Gert had extinguished her light, but perhaps there would be enough light from the open shaft above to give her a glimpse of what was coming. Slowly and quietly she crawled to the edge and pushed off with her toes so her head was over the ledge. Her stomach churned again. The light above and the vast cavern below made Gert's head swim violently.

In that split second, Gert knew what was going to happen, and there was nothing to be done for it. Gert was seized by a hangover fueled spasm, and she puked over the ledge. She emptied her stomach in two loud painful heaves.

On no....

[Butchern]

Gert's vomit narrowly missed the giant shape that was scrambling up the wall of the shaft to reach the caravaners. It was broad and ensconced in shadows, but Gert could clearly make out the shadowy form of two massive antlers and two long floppy ears. This creature dwarfed the head that was mounted on the tavern wall.

[matt_s]

Celeg winced in sympathy at the sound of the retching. Everything in this place including the dead and maybe especially the dead would have heard that.

He looked at the amulet dangling about his neck and took a deep breath. It didn't sit right with him to use his nauseated companion as bait while he skulked in the shadows. Quietly as he could in his knightly raiment and steadily, he made his way over to Gert.

[Caystodd]

"I just puked on a giant rabbit," Gert said far too loudly. She stood as Celeg approached. "We should run...."

[matt_s]

Celeg paused. They had set up this ambush carefully and he was loathe to blindly trust someone who had been projectile vomiting over a cliff due to being hungover. But Gert knew her stuff. If she was sure they should run, he would run. Indecisiveness, hesitation at the moment of truth, being frozen by fear - that was the route to oblivion. He held up his sword and began to back away...

[Butchern]

The creature reached the top of the ledge, and two massive paws slapped against the stone. The caravaners watched from their hiding places as the massive set of antlers rose above the edge of the stone walkway as the creature pulled itself up and its ears and head came into view. A smell came with it, no longer concealed by the downdrafts in the shaft. The caravaners still couldn't see the creature very well in the darkness, but if the smell was any indication, this was, indeed, a reanimated corpse.

[matt_s]

Celeg held back the retching as the smell retched his nostrils. Some intuition told him that this may be like a curious beast that would pounce when and maybe only when they moved suddenly or loudly. So sword held at the ready, he simply eased himself away from the creature, hoping that it would lose interest but knowing that indeed it may not. Time would tell the tale and that time was coming sure as he had honed the edge of his sword this morning which he had of course done so as he had done every day since he received it those several years ago.

[matt_s]

Celeg's resolve hardened. As the undead miscreation perhaps sculpted by some evil or reckless or in all likelihood both if there was not some evil in recklessness stepped closer he realized that they would have to fight it and better to fight it on their terms with two of their number lurking in the shadows than anywhere else.

He advanced forward and pressed the offensive but only a feigning attack for now - to gauge how it fought, how it defended itself if it bothered at all, how thick its hide was, all those things that made up the sum of its villainy. And truth be told he was scared to commit to the fight completely. This was the first time he had swung a blade with the intent to hurt something.