Balthe leads the way, back around the corner, past the creepy critter that they killed.
The group heads back the way they came. A small puddle of spiritual goo dissolves as they go by. Down the eastern tunnel. Balthe moves cautiously, since he has been caught off guard on a few occasions. The area ahead, appears to be a means to pay respects to a deity. There is a wash basin, firmly affixed to a pedestal. The basin is dry as the skeleton bones from the previous area. There is strange symbol etched into the basin, it is crude and similar to the one from the statues from the last hallway.
Both Balthe and Wulfgar don't notice anything out of the ordinary or strange about the basin ahead of them. They come to decision to make, there is tunnel going north to south.
Gwendolyn, is making a considerable amount of noise, so trying to be stealthy is going to be nigh impossible.
"Hmm, this noise won't do."
Liam proceeded to take the stone armor from their captive and propped it up against a wall.
"We can always take it with us on the way out."
"I wonder who built this place." Liam said while idly looking around.
"I still think she's on the wrong side of the turf at this point. "
I am sure they would kill me, but you lot seem to be bigger threats than me. Besides, I can't exactly contribute since I cannot seem to rest well and my hands are manacled together.
The group, decides to go south. At the corner, Balthe and Nils peek around, and they see another turn to the north.
The group continues on, and at the next intersection you see a staircase to the east, heading what appears to be down to another level.
Balthe makes his way down the stairs
The group, heads down the stairs. It winds on itself for around 50 or so feet and comes to a landing at the bottom, and their way is blocked by a heavy stone door. There appears to be no lock on the door, no handle on the door. Voices can be heard on the other side, speaking Dwarvish dialect.
Bathe turns to Gwen. Alright start telling us about what you know about this place.
Gwen looks you up and down Balthe. She ponders what to say, then very deliberately and calmly states.
Of THIS place...NOTHING!
"I can not speak it, but I could make it so that one of us could. Should I give it a try?"
"Better to know what is up, then to get into something we don't want to. "
Liam casts Tongues and tries to hear what the voices on the other side are saying.
Liam casts a spell.
Hey, I can't beleive the boss is having us patrol this part of the caves. Ever since the fight between the two sides, this door was sealed to prevent any access by those damn troglodytes. Even at the cost of sacrificing some of our men states a baritone voice.
Yeah, that kinda pissed me off. Torag be damned if I thought it a load of minotaur shit, I don't care if the trog and whatever the hell those things were caught us off guard. Where the hell did they come from? No way they came from the surface, that's for sure. replies a deep bass like boom.
Hm, seems clear to me. Let's get the hell outta here and grab an ale...or three replies the baritone voice.
Liam whispered to the others in common.
"From what I can tell we got two patrol guards on the other side of the door. Apparently they had it sealed off due to a fight between them and some Troglodytes. The guards are about to leave, should I call out to them?"
Liam walks over to the stone door and knocks on it 3 times then calls out in dwarven. "Hello there, as far as I can tell there are no troglodytes on this side of the door. So would you mind opening it up?"
He waited for a moment and then continued.
"We've come from far and those ales did sound mighty inviting."
Bronx, ya hear that? It seems there is something on the other side of the slab. How in the name of Torag? I though you said it was sealed?!
I did to fool!!
The voices trail off and about 10 minutes later you hear a group of voices, all talking at once.
After about another 30 minutes, you see the door start to move and you all hear the sound of air rushing past the door, the seal is being broken.
Beyond the door is quite the sight to behold, a small army of Dwaeves. Two heavily armored men with waraxes, behind them men with pikes. Behind them, men at the ready with crossbows and some with spells. You hear a voice, booming from the very back, presuming the leader.
In common,
Bathe lays down flat
"Now let's not be hasty here. We're not threatening anyone here. We just got shipwrecked. " and he will sheathe his sword, but he's not particularly willing to go further than that.
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Bathe lays down flat
Liam throws his whip to the ground, also holding his hands up.
"As you can see, we have no intention to fight you. So I would appreciate it if you stop actively pointing weapons at us."
A dwarf steps forward, clearly appears to be the leader as his voice is the same as the one heard moments ago. He wears stone plate, similar to the suit found moments ago in the side tunnel. He wears a holy symbol of Torag around his neck, a adamantite hammer in his hands.
We don't know WHO you are, or YOUR intentions young man. You could be with those damned Troglodytes. They have caused much sorrow and loss in the past few years. I lost my own brother to those scaly bastards. And what about her... his thought stops as he sees her shackled.
Be a doll and release me...
Foolish woman. Why would I do that he says with a hearty laugh. My work is done for me. So, how have you humans come to my area?
"I'll try to make it as brief as possible. We got shipwrecked on this island. Been traveling for a few days now. Came across this lovely lady at some point. She had a couple of guards with her and when we met they showed hostile intent. In the battle that followed we killed her guards and took her prisoner. We continued to travel, looking for other people on this island. Today we found a hidden entrance which brought us into this place. That's about it."
The dwarf stares a hole into Liam's soul. He is dissecting every word and contemplating your intent and honesty. After done speaking, the man stays silent for 30 nerve racking and intense seconds. His words to come determine whether your group lives or dies.
After contemplating he looks to Balthe, get up boy, Oi. Sometimes I wonder about you top-levels. So, after some thought, it seems the smartass is telling the truth. Please, come with me and take a breather. It seems you have had quite the...life as it were.
He tells his men to stand down, and leads to deeper into the cave and tunnels. You see a series of storage rooms down south as you walk, along with a intricate and complex area to the north. After another 20 minutes of walking you end up in a large chamber.
He takes off his armor and puts on some comfortable clothes.
My name is Rory, I am the leader of my Dwarven clan. We have lived here for centuries, please tell us your tale, and be as in depth as you please. I will bring food and beverage.
Food and ale is brought, not a feast or anything but you may think it so due to the past days you've had.
"There really isn't much to tell. We shipwrecked here and have been wandering around. The lady and her compatriots attacked us when we tried to talk to them, so we killed her guards and captured her. We've fought some local wildlife and some odd unnatural critters in this area. "
This is an awful place. Thats all I know
A dwarf, slaps Wulfgar in the back as he sees him down mug after mug of ale, seemingly without a gulp of air. A dwarf turns to Wulfgar,
Lad, let's have a drinking contest some time, perhaps you may be a challenge he bellows with a laugh at the end.
Rory, looks to the lot of you, then looks at the woman chained together.
So lass, what you be causin' to get chained up like that?
None of your business
Fine, have it your way than. , he says flatly.
He turns to the rest of you, shipwrecked eh. What you be doing in these parts
There is no time to answer as a dwarf, wearing heavy plate come barreling through the doors.
My liege...there...is...an attack...! Out of nowhere...troglodytes...strange creatures from...before. Storming the..once..sealed gate! he says in a staggered manor while trying to catch his breathe.
WHAT. BY TORAG'S HAMMER!!?? he glares at you all, but you can tell that he is more perturbed at the fact there is another invasion moreso then you gave them an avenue of attack. He stands up, looks at each of you.
Look, I beleive you when you say you did not cause this. While not directly, indirectly you did. The fight is too much for me and my men, at least that is the feeling my gut tells me. I need you to aid is, for your lives are on the line as well. There is another sealed gate, which I do not know if it has been breached or not. I will give you a few items for our very sparse inventory. Go through the gate and try to head them off, and if possible get around their flanks and block them from any escape. Succeed, and we will be forever indebted to you. Plus, I will lend whatever aid I can to get you back home.
"I certainly don't want us to be the cause of troubles for you good folk. I'm happy to help. "
I can punch some lizards
"It's the least we can do. Just point us to that second door. I do think it would be best to close it behind us. Don't want anyone slipping in through there."
Good, let's hurry lads, time is scarce, says Rory as he moves quite quickly for a Dwarf.
He leads you back from whence you came. You head up a staircase, and he stops at at the intersection with a lighted area to the north.
The route is up there, but our supplies are in the stirage to the west. It is all Dwarven crafted, but if you find something useable make use of it
Once you are all equipped to your liking, he heads you back to the lighted area. He takes a stone from a hidden pouch on him. He places it in an equally well hidden niche in the statue bathed in light at the end of the hallway. Stone grinds on stone, and the back wall opens.
He looks to you, This is it, it appears to be safe for now. Good luck.
Liam will take a masterwork rapier, just in case.