Nike ignores Ogre 2, leaving it for Figwidget and Carran to deal with. She races past him and attacks the 2-headed ogre.
Nike slams into the ogre after calling upon her god to grant her power against this evil...
...and her god grants her power, her horn slams into the creature and punctures it's side, blood flowing out...
Nike skips past the ogre before it can respond and, head down, charges into the flank of the Ettin. Dark blood pumps from a wound as it howls with rage.
With the ogre distracted, Figwidget takes the opportunity to lob another bomb, smoke and shards of ceramic filling the cave as it explodes.
In response, the ogre flings it's grenade...
The two-headed monster though, makes short work of Tychi...viciously stabbing him with it's spear and then smashing the Tengu around the head...knocking him unconscious. The other 'half' of the creature then starts to club at Nike.
Nike tries to look at where they are taking Rand, to at least get an idea for later.
As much as Nike hates to do this, she has no choice.
Nike moves back and away from the Ettin, using acrobatics to avoid an AoO.
Then past the other ogre.
Then back down the stairs. "Fall back, Figwidget, Carran.
Carran unloads a volley at Murg-Nurk and shouts back to Nike.
"You get away as well Nike! Run!"
Carran then takes a 5-foot step to the north-east so the other ogre can't charge him anymore.
Fleeing, Nike does at least see that Major Luke Rand is being dragged towards the west...
As Figwidget sees Tychi fall, he gasps in dismay...and throwing another bomb at the nearest Ogre, falls back with Nike.
The ogre is poised to charge in response to Figwidget's attack but before it can, the two-headed creature, immobilised by Carran's attack, shouts something and it retreats...dragging an unconscious Tychi with it.
Muttering to himself and shaking his head, Figwidget retreats, at speed, down the steps back towards the slaves' quarters.
Meanwhile the Ettin and the last remaining ogre turn and follow the ogre dragging Major Luke Rand away...
Nike will guard the stairs, while the halflings tend to Tychi and the others who were wounded. If necessary, she will get someone to tie the healing wand to her horn, and she'll heal everyone up.
Once everyone is awake and alive again. "We must decide what to do now. We are down one of our companions, and we must accept that he may be dead, or worse. We must not allow the ogres to continue. We have dealt them a mighty blow thus far, but it cost us. This was no ones fault but Major Rand's own overconfidence and stubbornness." Nike says evenly. "This does not mean we allow evil to continue though. We must rest and recoup our strength, as Rand advised against. I believe we have seen the folly in pushing forward doggedly without plan or concern for our health and resources, yes?"
Tychi nods in agreement. "Hai, Mr. Not Figwidget, did you retrieve my sword? I had left it near you when we went to attempt to rescue Major Rand, against my better judgement."
"No...no, I didn't get your sword Mr Tychi...I was too busy running, I'm sorry...I hope it's still up there"
Shylar approaches Tychi when he is recovered, "One of yours has gone? Did he fall?", the Halfling starts to fuss, "They will come for us in time...their revenge will be terrible...I must get my people away from this place"
Tychi nods. "Yes, I'm afraid Major Luke Rand, Retired's bravery outpaced his wisdom. He charged the ogres, while blinded, with only a shield. We will rescue him if we can." He looks at Figwidget. "You should lead them out of the caves, we have cleaned it out. We tried to get them to leave earlier. See if you can get them into that cave we spent the first night in after we arrived, the one where Major Rand killed you."
"You will be alright won't you Mr Tychi? Will you rescue the Major? I think he was alive when they took him...I hope that, just maybe, our paths will cross again back in Alkenstar...come and see me if you ever pass through my city again", the gnome says his farewells to Nike and to Carran...and with his customary joviality, leads the slaves from the cavern. As he leaves, Shylar wishes you luck...and thanks you once more for his colony's liberty.
....meanwhile....
Major Luke Rand starts to notice the voice as he regains consciousness, "You did well to bring him to me Murg-Nurk...a fine specimen...a wonderful offering or maybe servant for Haagenti", feeling soft, feminine hands running over his face, "A shame about his eyes though....oh look, he's coming around..."
When he regains movement, Major Luke Rand realises that he is bound and secured...spread eagled in a horizontal position....
"Who is it that I am addressing?"
"We will certainly attempt it, Mr. Not Figwidget. Please attempt not to die again." Tychi and Nike then take the healing items offered by the halflings, and ensure that the tongueless man is sent along with the halflings, asking the halflings to give him some charcoal and paper to write messages with.
Carran nods as Figwidget leads the ohalflings away to relative safety and sighs, knowing all too well that he and Tychi are not in the same situation yet.
"Seems we've gotten ourselves in quite the pickle eh Tychi?" The black catfolk says as the last halfling disappears from sight.
"Next thing to do is saving Luke, but we'd need more information of the surroundings for that as well as where the other ogres are..."
Carran looks to the caves and the multiple shadows that lay across, down here and upstairs.
"You know, I could sneak up and scout ahead when we're ready. Or Serlek could go out and scout, but he might be better used as a Messenger between us two if needed. Now it's just the two, sorry Nike, three of us we will have to take care in how we approach things. The time of brute force is over, now we need tactics."
Nike snorts. "We needed tactics an hour ago." She says tartly.
Tychi winces but ruefully nods. "I believe I now understand why Mr. Luke Rand Formerly Major is formerly. I believe if I were in charge of the city guard, I would not want someone quite so reckless in a position of authority. I do not like splitting up. We handed the Ogres a particularly deadly encounter, but we are now much reduced in both force, and healing. Speaking of which..." Tychi takes the healing wand out, and uses a bit of twine to secure firmly to Nike's horn, along the bottom, about two foot back from the tip, so it won't get damaged during battle. "If your friend would be so good as to scout the top of the stairs, and see if it can retrieve my whipsword, I would be much appreciative. Mr. Not Figwidget left it behind." He sighs. "I suspect it will be long gone, but have some hope that whatever ogre took it is even now slicing his fingers off."
If / When Serlek scouts to the top of the stairs...he will find the battlefield much as you left it...the dead creature that was Waldat, several slain ogres and Tychi's sword...there is no sign of life / movement within this part of the mine...
Meanwhile...
"Shhhh...Shhhh", soft fingers brush against Major Luke Rand's lips, "Time enough for questions...but first, tell me of you and how you came to be so terribly wounded"
The smell of burning incense fills the Major's nostrils...and, for the first time since entering the mine (other than the fight with the magma oozes), he feels the warmth of a fire...
"If Serlek knows what I talk about when I say sword, I would let him pick it up, but I think it's a bit too difficult for him to understand. I'll let him scout out to see if there's still any danger."
With that Carran whispers something to Serlek and sets him flying up to where the fight was.
Serlke scouts around flapping his wings or perching upon a high rocky overlook, pecks at his feathers and then returns to Carran, making a soft noise which indicates no enemies present.
Carran pats Serlek on his back and head and feeds him some of the meaty rations he has in his pack.
"Seems everything is secure upstairs, if you're unsure I'll go up and retrieve your whipsword for you. I'll be just a few minutes at most."
"My name is Luke, and I'm an adventurer. We were hired to check up on this mine, as shipments have stopped. It seems that ogres are responsible for the issue."
Tychi goes with Carran to retrieve the sword.
Upon returning to the slave quarters, Tychi looks thoughtful.
"As much as I hate to say it, I think the two of us should be forward scouts, with Nike bringing up the rear." He suggests thoughtfully, nodding at Nike. "We will need to be silent as much as possible with our reduced numbers. As valiant as Nike is, she is not quite as stealthy as we are."
Nike snorts. "I can move a lot quieter without a bird brain on my back." She says, moving a few feet to the side with very little sound. "The plan is sound though, and I can catch up easily enough. A good 50 or 60 feet back and I can be there in a blink of an eye."
When Tychi, Nike and Carran make their way into the cavern where they fought the ogres, the mine stands quiet…the constant machinery noise of grinding rock, conveyors and occasional ‘wheeshes’ of steam no longer fills the mine. With no one challenging the group, you are able to explore in more detail than you have before…
…following the mine cart tracks north, you arrive at a thirty foot wide steel drum…standing some five feet tall, you are able to look inside at the, now stationary, crushing mill within. It appears that the crushed rock exited the mechanism to the east on a conveyor that now stands immobile. Around the perimeter of the crusher, grating in the floor reveals a chamber below you…there is the occasional snort of something ‘bovine’ in the chamber whilst steps to the south east of the crusher lead downwards…presumably to the chamber.
Looking to the east of the crusher, mine car tracks run towards some lifting machinery… presumably the lifts that Shylar had mentioned previously whilst to the west, the tunnel narrows and darkens…
Meanwhile…
”Aaaah, an envoy from our benefactor then? Strange that he didn’t approach me directly but…no matter…surely he knows that we are working as fast as we can…and, after all, it was his decision to use ogres to keep the slaves in line”
The voice purrs in Major Luke Rand’s ear, ”So…a minor misunderstanding then?…one that has left four of Murg-Nurk’s tribe dead…and you…oh, you with those eyes…”. The soft hand trails across the Major’s face again, ”I...we...could bring back your sight…what would that mean to you? What would you do for that?”
"It would really depend on what you want."
...a soft sigh...."Hmmmm...all we ask is your obedience...tell me what you know of butterflies...". The soft hand moves around the Major's neck...and then, lightly trailing fingernails scratch against his flesh...
"Nothing really."
”…you have never watched the a dying caterpillar enter their chrysalis? …and be ultimately transformed into a glorious butterfly? Oh hush Luke”, the voice playfully scolds, ”Even here in the wastes, we can witness such beauty…the beauty and splendour of transformation Luke”. The voice becomes ever softer…yet more insistent, ”Could you welcome transformation Luke? To be more than you ever were before? That is all we ask of you, to welcome the gift that Haagenti offers you”
"So where now to Tychi? I'd rather not venture into the pit of whatever animal is residing in there. Might be an aurochs that's been put to work in the machinery, but it could also be something more sinister."
Carran then points to the lifts.
"We could use those lifts there to continue, however they will probably make a lot of noise."
Carran looks up and down the cave wall beside the lift.
Walking towards the lifts, you see they comprise of a pair of vertical shafts, disappearing into the roof of the mine some twenty feet above you. In one of the vertical shafts, a round steel platform dangles from a pair of iron chains whilst in the second shaft, there are chains, but no platform.
Standing to either side of the shafts, two immense statues of dwarven miners face impassively to the west…initially you think that they have a visage that is designed to make you feel that you are being watched, their eyes seemingly following you as you move…until you realise they are really watching you and, with a rumble of stone, they lurch forwards…
Carran, you haven't got close enough to really assess the climb but, so far as you can tell, for a skilled climber...it might be possible.
"Well that's new. Though I don't think I should be too surprised with those golems back inalkenstar." Carran grumbles as he takes aim at whatever construct Tychi's attacking.
Carran takes a 5-foot step north, nocks the first of four blunt arrows and looses them one after the other at the construct Tychi's attacking.
Tychi adjusts 5 ft as well, spinning out his Kusarigama to it's maximum length. He uses the weighted end, assuming blunt will work better against stone. Then he waits for the stone statues to advance. Once it comes close enough to attack, he will flurry against it.
Tychi's whipsword grates and smashes against the stone of the leading golem...sparks and fragments of stone fly as the blade strikes again and again...
Carran focusses his attention on the same golem, his arrows crashing into the same area that Tychi targeted....and the golem cracks and splits into lifeless lumps of stone...
The second lumbering golem impassively steps over the remains of it's 'brethren' and smashes at Carran...
...at the same time, Tychi and Carran feel their reactions slow and muscles stiffen.
Nike shuffles forward, and touches the back of Carran's neck with her horn.
Tychi spins in place and flings his Kusarigama over and over at the golem.
Carran resists the slowing spell and drops his bow and draws his greatsword in the same smooth motion.
"Let's get some hits going!"
Again, Tychi's flurry slams repeatedly into the slow moving golem and, when it starts to ready an attack and lean forwards, Carran's blade lops its' head clean off.
The lifts embedded in the walls of this area consist of long chains of ore carts attached to a series of pulleys and tracks that, when operational, presumably push the carts upward. The carts disappear into the ceiling before returning down the other side of the pulley contraption, ready to take more ore from the adjacent conveyor to the surface.
North from your position, there are two holes within the floor....crudely cut, they appear to be wells of some form; and, directly east of those, a set of stairs leading downwards...
...with a splash of cold water followed by the lightest of kisses on Major Luke Rand's forehead, he is jolted awake...
"You passed out on us there Luke...oh, you have been through so very much...but we are here for you now...just accept our gift, that is all we ask...and all of the pain, the hurt, the sorrow...will melt away"
...the words are like honey, dulcet insistent tones singing in the Major's ears...
...elsewhere...
Carran looks for any drag marks or tracks indicating where they took Luke to.
If Carran finds the tracks lead to the elevator, he'll halt at the lift and look up to see if he could climb the wall.
"And what gift would that be?"
”Why…the gift of transformation Luke…your arm, your arm is a marvel…a wonder…the start of a transformation into something new…something unique…and Luke, my sweet sweet Luke…your eyesight…”
As the honeyed voice talks, Luke start to become aware of a raise in temperature…as if something very hot was nearby…
…Meanwhile, in the main cavern…
The floor of the caverns are dusty and littered with rocks…but, nothing indicates that anything / anyone was dragged in a particular direction, indeed, the indication is that there is / has been fairly heavy traffic throughout this area. Whilst it isn’t obvious that Major Luke Rand has been taken up the lifts, Carran still takes the opportunity to look up the vertical shafts; shafts which rise up to a distant dot of sky…the lift shaft is around three hundred feet high at your first estimate and, whilst it might be possible to climb it, a fall would surely be fatal.
Fleeing, Nike does at least see that Major Luke Rand is being dragged towards the west...
Carran looks up and then back at Tychi.
"Well I've got no doubt Luke has been taken up with those lifts, but I've got also no doubt that we will be noticed when we take the lift. I could climb up to scout out the place, but that will take some time."
"Major Luke Rand, Retired, was rather bloody. I find it suspicious that there are no blood drops leading onto the lifts. I don't see how a human of his size and heft could have been moved in his condition without leaving a trail of blood drops, at least until the blood dried on his clothes. The blood he got on him from the creature and his own... And the ogres were wounded as well. Something is not right..."
The lift shaft is quite clear of internal structures, handrails or ladders – it is quite smooth although the chain that comprises the lifting mechanism is quite robust and would provide handholds…
…meanwhile, Carran takes a second look, this time specifically looking for blood trails, and whilst there isn’t anything on the floor of the cavern; there are spatters of blood on the rocks that make up the walls of the cave…leading you towards the northwest of the cave…