Raziel looks at what the others are holding. "What have you got there?" He scoops up a scale and examines it.
Raziel quietly stores the scale in a pocket.
Gnawl kneels down to see what everyone is looking at, having cleaved the grub successfully. Given he did all the work, it only seems fair to see what the others were looking at...
Kjellberg stared at the scale in her hand, her fingers closing around it. She looks up to see the others have also picked up a blue sparkle - and she wondered if they all received the same.
She was also aware that she had let her guard down and wondered if this was due to some magical intervention, circumstances or poor judgement. She resolved to focus on keeping an eye on her companions until they had proven their innocence more adequately.
Excited by his new discovery, and assuming the others found similar bits of the silver dragon's essence, Eladhir stands up and faces them.
"We should talk about these scales. But later. Right now we need to get moving. There's bound to still be battle up top and these wounded people will not get any better down here. Let's press on."
With that, Eladhir looks towards the paths out of the area they are currently in.
"I agree." Raziel rests his blade over a shoulder.
"I would agree as well." Turning to look at our walking wounded, I ask, "Is everyone alright to move?" Pointing to Eladhir, I also say, "Go ahead and help with moving. Hopefully, when we get up top, we can find a healer or cleric that can mend your eyes, sir."
Aravashnial replies i... i'll be fine I can still walk with the staff that other fellow gave me.
Anevia starts walking with a limp past everyone hmmm this cavern might not last to long seeing all the damage done by the fall.
A voice echoes hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are two ways past this cavern ... well pick your poison
"Who is that? And what do you mean?" Eladhir asks the echoing voice.
Horgus's face pops back in the light Sorry looking around since I have read up on these caves before. Not the most friendly place or so I have heard.
Kjellberg looks at Horgus a little indignantly. "But there is at least one exit then? So what do you know of the two options that will help is?"
Horgus shrugs and replies well I don't know much since most of this area was in stories but If the stories are true there might be some nasty creatures in store for us.
"Any information that you have will be quite useful to us, Mr. Horgus. Please tell us what you know."
Horgus Sighs Okay look I didn't want to make this situation worse but from the looks of it we are a long ways from home it might take days to get back to the surface not to mention we are dangerously close to the Darklands. Also there are stories of half human abomination's here not sure if they are friendly but I would care not to find out. I know nothing about the cavern except that there are two routes one higher up and one towards the bottom.
Gnawl perked up at mention of the Darklands. It was familiar territory, in so far as it was underground. His tribe used to breach it on occasion when tunneling... He leaned towards Nijena, trying to speak as discretely as possible.
Gnawl squinted as he shouldered his greataxe, peering into the darkness of the two paths.
Turning to face as many people as I can, I say out loud, "Mr. Horgus, I appreciate your candor in the matter. Given the circumstances, I think that we should head back up to the surface as best we can. We may still be able to do some good once we get there. Kenabres won't fall so quickly, simply because of the Storm King. Unless there are any objections, I propose that we place Gnawl here on point as our scout. Eladhir and I will stay with the wounded, and Raziel can keep an eye on our rear. We'll be moving slowly, so that no one falls behind." Looking around, I say finally, "Any questions?"
Anevia replies well that sounds like a plan to me the quicker I can get out this cavern the better.
Kjellberg nods in agreement. "Let's get going. I'm not comfortable in staying still longer than we have to."
Gnawl pounds his chest to signal his taking the lead, before drawing both hand axes and leading the way up the upper path. He keeps pace with the slower members partly to give them time to keep up, and partly because of the tunnel's design. It was distressingly familiar...
Gnawl frowned, shaking his head.
Gnawl nodded back toward Eladhir.
Gnawl contorted his mouth slightly, before finally opening it to let out a very growling, almost gargling series of words. "I ssspek ah lit-tul Cah-mahn." he uttered, as if demonstrating he possessed the capacity to speak normally, but clearly had a deal of trouble with it.
Eladhir, who is walking near Nijena and can hear the conversation says,
Dropping his head and shaking it in embarrassment, "I'll never live that down. I'm so embarrassed."
While walking you encounter a small cavern. This smaller cavern appears to have once served as a campsite or temporary lair. A torn bedroll lies next to the cold remains of a fire. A pile of bones, broken equipment, and rubble lies just past the campsite.
Gnawl raises an axe to signal for the group to stop, squinting at the ruined site up ahead. Twisting the axe and patting the flat side to the ground, hopefully signalling the group should stay put, he ventured closer, investigating the area, looking above him to make sure nothing was ready to ambush, and trying to determine who was here...
A thorough search of the room turns up a torn bedroll, three candle stubs , a bent fishhook, 10 feet of badly frayed hemp rope, and a copper brooch depicting a bat perched on a mushroom— both of the bat’s eyes are tiny amethysts. There is also a backpack lying on the side of the cavern seemingly out of place of everything else. This camp could not have been longer then a few days old although the pack is unknown.
"Did you find anything, Gnawl?"
Gnawl bends down to pick up the brooch, as it's shininess was the one thing that caught his eyes. Sometimes it pays to have a treasure hoarder...
Picking up the brooch and turning it over, he came back, handing it to Nijena and shrugging his shoulders, as if saying 'I have no clue what it is, but I found it.'
He turns back, creeping close to investigate the backpack. Of all the things, why would this be over here...?
The backpack looks like is has been skillfully made why someone would leave it here confuses you. In the midst of searching you find 10 days of trail rations, a flint and steel, a set of caltrops, two flasks of oil, a bundle of 12 arrows, a potion of cure light wounds, and a potion of lesser restoration.
Gnawl peers inside the bag, lifting it up and turning it around before attempting to sling it clumsily over his shoulder. It was a little big, but then again, he was a big kobold. It might do well...
You can guess that it should be around the 200gp amount.
Kjellberg keeps her wits about her. Every time they stop is an opportunity for an ambush - and she still doesn't entirely trust anyone with her.
Like Kjelberg, I'm keeping an eye out for anything that might bring harm to the wounded in our detail.
The both of you keeping your eyes out notice that there are two paths ahead. One that keeps leading forward or one that reaches back to the original cavern.
I look at Kjelberg, noticing that he is likely looking for the same things that I am. I say to him "Well, what do you think? Any reason why we should explore that passage that seems to lead back to where we started?"
"We need to get out. The longer we are here the more likely we attract something nasty."
"I am at a loss as to the way out. Pick a direction and keep going seems a likely plan - unless someone has prior knowledge that it,"
Kjellberg seems a little uncomfortable to be asked a direct question but not to have a useful answer.
"Then let's keep on the path we're currently headed on. If need be we can always head back this way. But at least we'll be going forward for now." Eladhir says.
continuing on a winding path leads upwards as far as anyone can see and as soon as the incline hits Aravashnial says in a cracked voice. do... do we have any water.
I pull from my waterskin instinctively and walk over to Aravashinal. "Here, drink this," as I hold the spout up to his mouth. I then hand over the waterskin to Eladhir, using gestures to show how much to give the blinded elf without spilling. Turning to Kjelberg and Raziel, I say "Your both right, there's no reason to go back there. Let's move ahead once Aravashnial's thirst is slackened. Does anyone else need water?"
Gnawl continues to lead the way for the group, both hand axes still at the ready and constantly swiveling his head around for dangers. He waits for Aravashnial to get his drink, looking back and stopping. While the group waits, he decides to direct his attention ahead and scale up a little to scout ahead.
After walking for what seems like a hour or two you see. A single sizable 20-foot-tall building remains in the center of this 30-foot-high cave, a bunkerlike structure with no windows and walls of worked stone blocks. A 10-foot-long carving of a hammer decorates the building’s facade. The ruins of collapsed outbuildings stand to either side.
"I am close, though you may not see me." Sword in hand, Raziel shifts into shadows.