Sienna awakens, a little bleary-eyed. "Well, let's see what kind of welcome our hosts have rolled out for us today."
"I hope there's cake." Cyna jests.
Arista smiles at Sadhana, but doesn't say anything. Instead she finishes cleaning up their sleeping area and then takes her bag and climbs back down from the ledge.
"I brought some extra rations with me, just in case anyone runs out or needs extra. Don't forget that I also kept those extra arrows that were left behind in case anyone needs more of those."
Arista walks to the opening of the cave and sticks her hands out in the rain, washing the dust off of them and dries them on her blouse.
"It's either cake or death, I'm sure."
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Arista just shakes her head and laughs.
The group gathers their belongings and presses on deeper into the caves. After about thirty minutes of walking, the party comes to an expansive chamber, a dark gorge looming below.
A narrow, natural stone bridge spans the gorge. It's quiet in the chamber save for your breathing.
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"Eh, this looks like an obvious place to set a trap."
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Only the vanara and the gnome see the carefully laid pressure plates dotting the entirety of the bridge. Thick cables lead from the walls into the inky darkness of the ceiling. The telltale points of spikes jut from the dark recesses in the cavern walls.
From the far side of the gorge, you hear a heavily accented voice call out to you. "Why have you come into our territory? We'll spare the apologies and my begrudging forgiveness. It was natural and unavoidable. But I want to know why you haven't turned back yet."
Arista speaks loudly and clearly into the darkness, "We are trying to get to the Tower that lies beyond the mountains. With the storms raging outside we thought the best way there would be through these caverns. We didn't know they would be inhabited. We have no choice but to keep moving forward, too many lives depend on it. At this time we ask for your permission to pass through so that we may accomplish our task."
"Yes, we would like to avoid future conflict," Harakhty says.
"We don't mean to get in your way and we want to get out of here as soon as possible," Ylrhea chimes in.
Sādhanā remains silent, eyes studying the bridge, wracking her brain for any idea of what they are dealing with.
The goblin from yesterday steps closer, his features accented by the gnome's torch. "Heh, such cultured and noble tongues. But I'm not sympathetic to your plight...For your own safety, you ought to wait the storm out and find another path. If you wish to continue this way, be prepared."
He slinks back into the darkness, but you don't hear his footsteps retreat.
Arista thinks for a moment, "We would....but, our mission is very time sensitive and every moment counts. If we were to turn back now we would loose another day, and more lives might be lost. However, the way across looks very perilous as well and I don't wish to risk my other companions lives. I will discuss it with them and see what we will do. I thank you for your warning."
With that she turns to the rest of the group, "Okay, I can't make this decision on my own because it involves all of us. I need to know what the rest of you think we should do. The way across looks pretty dangerous, and there's no telling what we'll encounter if we even make it across. If we turn back now though, we'll lose an entire day of travel so, I'll leave it up to the rest of you to decide. I know how important this mission is...so, I would opt for going forward if that is what you all feel is best."
With a questioning look in her eyes she turns to Sadhana, "What do you think?"
Ylrhea grunts softly. "It's a pretty elaborate trap, there must be some other way across. Turning back now is a waste. Captain...I can try and disarm it or we can search for another way."
"Ylrhea...what if it goes off?"
"Don't think about it too much."
"One or two of us may be able to make it across using magic, I think I might, but disabling the traps might be our best bet." Sādhanā says to Arista. "The thing is," she says looking at Ylrhea, "While you're doing that, you're a sitting duck for any archers they have on the other side. Cyna, if I light up an arrow can you put it just past the end of the bridge so we can get an idea what's waiting for us?"
Arista shakes her head, "No, I'm not sure sending an arrow across would be a good idea. If there are others waiting on the other side they might see it as an antagonistic action, and reciprocate by firing back at us. However, if all you need is some light...." She raises her right hand and touches it to her shield, looking over her shoulder at Drago she says, "I apologize in advance for this....but, it's the best way."
As she touches the shield she says, "May the Glory of Sarenrae light our path!" The bright light of day starts emanating from her shield and extends out to 60 feet. The cavern is now lit up with the light of day.
Looking over at Ylrhea she smiles, "Does that help? I'm guessing it's a good thing I'm an exploding box of rainbows now, isn't it?" She laughs at the joke she makes about herself.
"I was expecting rainbows, but it'll do," Sienna says with a smirk.
On the other side of the gorge, the goblin stands alone, a pensive smirk on his face. "Alright, suit yourselves then."
He walks into the darkness. "Watch out for the giants and trolls."
"Giants and trolls....@#$%^ing wonderful!" Sādhanā mutters. "Somehow I doubt that he's bluffing"
"To be fair Gerald said there would be trolls." Cyna mutters.
The Ranger walks near the edge and peers across the chasm, fighting back an unfamiliar feeling in the pit of her stomach. "If their is another way it's probably guarded and well hidden." Cyna says. "If you think you can do this give it a go. Whatever this trap is it can't be any more dangerous than what Venicious has in store."
Ylrhea gets her trap kit out and sets to work on the narrow bridge. She sees the pressure plates set at every five feet. Sweat begins forming on her brow. Ten plates...I can do this.
She slowly makes her way to the first plate.
She unscrews it with ease and tosses it into the abyss, the metal clanging against the rocks on the way down. She takes a deep breath and moves onto the next one.
She attempts to leap back as the two spiked blocks slam together.
Ylrhea scoots back just in time and catches herself before she falls. "We're not getting through this way!"
Arista sighs, "It's okay Ylrhea, there has to be another way...there just has to be."
Backing up, she turns around and faces her shield towards the walls behind and around them. "Everyone, start looking for another passage."
As Arista's spell goes off, Drago covers his eyes from the stinging light for a moment. While he had been accustomed to daylight, the sudden burst still caused him momentary pain.
Doing as Arista asked, Drago began looking.
As Ylrhea just escapes the lethal trap Sādhanā releases the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
"Ok, come back and we'll figure out another way." she calls out. "If we set them all off, could we just climb over the already triggered stones?" she asks her companions while looking around.
The gnome makes her way back to the group. "If you're up for some daring-do, then it could work."
She looks around at the walls. "But a safer way might be nice."
Sienna lets out a quiet sigh of relief. "I'm all for safer, but I don't mind quicker either."
Sādhanā spots the loose rock in the wall first. Moving the rock, she finds a small lever.
"So that's how the little bastards make it through this alive." Sādhanā mutters. "Here goes nothing," she says, pulling the lever.
The rock wall next to the lever grinds and reveals a ten foot wide passageway that seems to skirt around the gorge.
Letting out a sigh of relief at not having to waste another day waiting out the storm and then doubling back, Arista smiles at the others. "Well...that's good at least. Let's get going, the sooner we get outta this place, the better I'll feel." She waits for everyone else before falling in behind them, her shield illuminating the area as they go.
The group makes its way through the side passage and head further into the cave. From an uncertain distance, you can hear the sounds of combat echoing in the cave, punctuated by loud growls and roars.
"Well.....that sounds....pleasant. Looks like we gonna get caught up in the middle of someone else's battle as well."
"We might be able to make the best of it and sneak right on by."
"I agree with Cyna, we should try to sneak around. If it's giants and trolls fighting, I think it best to stay clear."
"We better wait for Arista's light to die out before getting any closer. I'm sure they can see in the dark, but that shield will be a dead giveaway."
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Thinking for a moment Arista nods, "I think Ylrhea is right, we don't want to get too close and attract alot of unwanted attention."
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Once Arista's shield has dimmed, the group moves forward to the sounds of fighting. Illuminated by dim shafts of light, two stooped giants and massive protruding tusks are engaged in battle with two rocky skinned creatures with crystalline teeth. They roar and bash each other with their fists. One of the giants and one of the trolls look battered and near death. Despite the pitched battle, you also catch the sound of something else echoing in the cave.