The discussion to collapse the shaft and to what extent ensue. The stables are empty after the departure of the wagon, but there are tools in the workshop nearby.
Sigvald and Tibold, one with hardwon battlefield experience, the other with an amazing intellect, describe the difficulties of an encounter under the conditions at the bottom of the rope.
It is a fight that will be more difficult than normal. With a significant head start, there is surprisingly no sign of the cavalry force that was sent ahead. The top of the hill has only horse tracks leading from the stables to the closest woods trail.
I just hope there are no innocents, and that there is no other entrance.
"While you guys argue over the most catastrophic way to destroy this mine, I'm going to take a hike around and look for another entrance close by".
GM
Edoom will make sure that his search includes the patch of woods where his paramour awaits and ask her if she thinks there are any other entrances, or if she has seen any signs of innocents taken into the mine to work or anything.
Perception
Stealth
"Alright, I'm convinced. Let's collapse it." Saoirse says, beginning to haul the knotted rope up. "If Edoom finds another exit...well we can always set up an ambush if need be since it's the only way out,or pass on a message to warn those coming to claim it."
"Oh thank the gods, I did not want to go down there!" Remis said with a sigh of relief.
If we are going through with this, it may do us justice to look for any weak points that will make things easier on us."
Remis took a step back and eyed the structure.
"Hmmm...anyone else want to take a look with me?"
The collapsing of the 200 foot shaft begins. Sigvald uses his muscle to dig and smash reinforcing braces in the upper part of the tunnel and dirt begins to drop to the bottom as he digs. After fifteen minutes whole chunks begin to fall, but the tunnel isn't yet fully collapsed as most of the earth is dropping all the way below, and the tunnel below must be large, but then a the large pieces impact farther up from the bottom.
Edoom heads out to explore.
A short backtrack back to the hill reveals a cave entrance that may have been hard to find before a large armed party left the cave, but now an elven child could find the tracks leading in.
Coiling up the knotted rope, Saoirse cuts the anchored end loose, stowing it for future use, before looking over the work of collapsing the shaft to see if there was a way to expedite it.
Brightberry, assuming that they are done here, mounts up on Brambles, checks on Redleaf, and readies himself to go. Not seeing a use for the tools, he temporarily dismisses them. Then a thought occurs to him.
"The tools in the workshop will be worth coin. We should gather them and bring the back with us."
I need to start stocking up on more coin if I am to give life to more forest spirits.
Unless there is any alchemical assistance Tibold can provide, he leaves to go investigate the stables where hopefully some horses are housed so they can actually retrieve any of the tools and other loot found so far.
As he steps out, he asks, "Care to join me, Remis, Brightberry? I'd feel better not going alone around here. I think Saoirse and Sigvald have this well in hand."
He checks the surroundings carefully as he approaches the stables.
Brightberry shakes his head.
"I've already checked for horses. They all left with that wagon before we got here."
Shovel Shovel Shovel
Pits and disembowel
Endschineering genius
our foes will throw the towel!
Sigvald hopes to createively use his utter lack of singing skills to inflict some psychic damage on listening foes.
"In that case, perhaps we could take the lead on some of these other buildings?" Remis suggested. "Perhaps one of those furthest from Sigvald's singing?"
The collapsing operation is fully successful as the tunnel is fully clogged with over one hundred feet that will have to escavated to somehow escape.
Edoom returns to camp and describes an alternate entrance to the mine he found on the north side of the hill hidden in the woods. He had seen the gnome Tertuccio and the scarred Segeant Krayquer in the company of orcs leaving the cave.
Near the centipede infested barracks a mess hall is found, but the supplies have been cleaned out. The remnants of recently finished meals are on a few of the tables.
The buildings turn out to be highly flammable, and the distance to the woods make any fire on the top of the hill highly containable. It is easy to make sure this cannot be used as a base again.
"Hmm, Edoom said he saw them leave via another tunnel. Should we investigate to see what they left behind, or just get on out of here?" Tibold muses aloud stroking his chin.
"I'm, pretty sure that'll be the other way out. I say we torch the camp, since it's all pretty clear o' the trees, collapse the cave entrance and move on!" Saoirse replies.
"And if collapsing the cave entrance proves to be a bit more difficult," Remis said, "We could always post up and ambush the orcs as they flee. It is not ideal, but it might mean the difference between us being ambushed from behind later."
He knelt down to scratch Ava behind both ears. "I'm so happy to not have to leave you!"
Brightberry points at Saoirse and nods in agreement and shakes his head at Remis. "I think we are done here. We've marked this as ours, or at least not theirs. Now, let's go plant our own roots."
Edoom hears the rumble of the collapsing mine as he hustles back to the group, once again wistfully staring at the patch of woods.
"Well I guess this place can't be used as a base without some extensive renovations... but there is another entrance back over there... so they can still use the cave... unless you want us to go see what's left before we leave".
Sigvald is sure he can cave in the entrance to the cave complex with another thirty minutes of digging in the woods.
"Aye, let's pack it up and get moving. We've got ourselves a kingdom to claim." Saoirse replies with a grin. "Oy Edoom, maybe we'll run into your new girlfriend." she teases with a wink.
"Girlfriend? Hmm?" Tibold blinks as if suddenly realizing the others are standing nearby. "What now? You brought your betrothed on our mission, Edoom? I know I'm oblivious sometimes, but I'm shocked I didn't notice something like that!"
He starts to look around. "Where is she? Introduce me properly to your fiancée."
Saoirse breaks out into a full on giggle of amusement, turning to look at the relatively shy elf.
The party considers the direct route to their granted kingdom, marching directly east through the wild riverlands, or the safer route back up the river and through Brevan territory to Oleg's Trading Post.
Oleg's Trading Post is an established fortified compound that is the suggested base of operations for the new settlers. Given the state of the roads back to Greatwall, it is hard to conceive that the direct route would be faster or safer.
Edoom considers how much to share with his companions upon his return. Tracks from the collapsed cave show at least twenty orcs, orogs and the small booted Tertucio headed north-northeast and have significant lead.
"We might as well head to Oleg's Trading post first,and get ourselves better equipped if needed. It's as good a startin' point as any." Saoirse says as they leave the burning mining camp.
Redleaf walks up to Saoirse and pats her on the knee.
In common, Brightberry says to the group, "I agree. Setting up a camp and meeting our first people seems wise.*
"Well I didn't share immediately... but there was a party of about 20 I saw escaping from that other cave entrance... so all we've really done is break a cave. The threat still lives, and has a head start on us".
He looks again for Whisper
Perception
He then turns to his teasing companions. "Well. I can't say she's my girlfriend. We've never even had a date... but she is... Interesting. Seems like she's a bit shy however around strangers".
"Well, it would seem that our next destination is set then, yes? Maybe take the chance to plot a course without the threat of something creeping up on us out here in the open?" Remis said before adding, "Perhaps this mystery woman will make herself known to the rest of us then as well."
Remis's lips twitched as he wrestled with a smile that desperately wanted to escape, "I would not fret too much, Edoom. I remember several boys at school who had girlfriends at other academies."
Saoirse smiles at Redleaf's gesture of support, reaching down to rustler fingertips through the leaves at the top of his head. "The Open road might be the more exposed route, but it'll definitely be faster."
"Well, first we need to return to the druid's place and get our stuff!"
Humanoids and their 'stuff'.
"Trading post people. What will they be like? Would they mind me growing a few friends at their... Post?"
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"Well, let's get moving!" Saoirse proclaims cheerily, taking the lead.
Edoom looks wistfully back over his shoulder at the patch of woods, then shrugs and follows the others.
** spoiler omitted **
Brightberry seems to perk up a bit.