Dobin keep a watch on the others and the other cave opens as they search the ogre's cave.
"We really need to find someplace to hole up before it gets too dark."
" Dobin Switch with me and Ill go in And help look at the cave for any secret passages" Dru says as she waits for the fighter to switch with her.
Dobin moves to swap positions with Dru.
After about twenty minutes of painstaking search, Ralina and Finnin - soon joined by Drusilla - have combed through the first cave without uncovering any hidden secrets, and now turn their attention to the adjoining side cavern.
Outside, the waning light of dusk deepens into a murky gloom. Dobin and Amhal strain their eyes against the encroaching darkness, every shadow merging into uncertainty.
Then, Amhal suddenly hears it: a series of high-pitched voices echoing from deep within the cave again, their rapid murmurs growing steadily louder as if something - or someone - is drawing near.
Regnar would be checking for any exit/entrances at the cavern walls and be on "watching duty" after that.
”DRU!!!! They’re coming!!!” Amhal shouts over his shoulder before turning his gaze to the other warrior.
”Quick Dobin - do we hold them here or retreat? I’m for holding, but if you advise retreat I’ll agree. ” Amhal’s eyes are piercing, vibrant, the adrenaline of the previous battle still a remnant in his heart.
”We two can hold this opening and ensure they can’t surround or overrun us…”
"We should get the hell out of here while we still can," Finnin grumbled, casting a worried glance toward the cave's exit. He added, "These caves are the most dangerous part of the region - spending the night holed up in here with all those monsters crawling about is pure madness."
We are at the bottom of a ravine surrounded by caves. We should retreat, to west I say!
" Retreat and regroup" Dru says as she hears the cry and moves
"Retreat...if we are not too late and hope the goblins do not follow us out of the ravine!"
The shouted calls to retreat echo within the small cave. Finnin, Regnar and Drusilla are gone in a flash. Quickly the acolyte dims the light of her lantern and hurries over to the large bear hide. Wrinkling her nose at the stench of the thing, she still picks it up and moves to the nook in the far southeast corner of the cavern.
She blocks the dim light of her lantern with the heavy hide, draping it over her body. Quickly dipping a hand into the mud soaked floor, she holds her breath while slathering a layer of the cold filth upon her face, hair, neck, hands and clothing until all that peers from the hide wrapped mound are a pair of eyes.
She was a warrior of Petra. The Immortal Three did not flee from the beasts and evil creatures of the world. They'd fought to establish a beachhead upon evil's shore. She would not simply give it up again at the first sign of danger. Besides where was there to run? A soft prayer to Petra whispered passed her lips that the crashing sounds of running feet echoed down the ravine. She would wait here. She would either die defending herself, her land, her goddess or she would see the sun's return upon the morrow.
Amhal’s eyes widen slighty, then he nods and prepares to retreat.
”Where is Ralina!?! I’m not leaving her…”
Seeing that Ralina doesn't came out of the cave, Regnar grumbles under his breath: - Dam this priest is as much a good person as she is a worrisome sometimes Regnar peeks inside the cave and shouts: - Ralina! Time to group up Priest! While waiting from an answer or to see Ralina coming his way, the worried dwarf continues his personal grumbling: - C'mon woman move that skinny human's ass before we all got caught in this forsaken caves
Amhal approaches the ogre lair enters, looking for Ralina.
”Ralina!!! The others are fleeing! Where are you!!!”
"Stop that foolish shouting and douse that light." Hisses Ralina from a shadow filled corner of the cave. The acolyte of Petra is wrapped in a soiled mass of bear hide. Her hair, face, and neck are covered in a layer of thick, filthy mud leaving only her eyes peering into the rest of the cavern.
A bag of gold lands at Amhal's feet with a heavy jangle.
"I'll not be running." She says flatly. Her voice a raspy whisper in the shadows."To where do you all flee? The Keep is days away. Back to the road? It did those poor travelers no good. Caught out in the open, in the darkness, easily surrounded." She snorts derisively. "That is how the lizards caught us. We thought we were prepared with fires. but in the open, two dead and nary a blow struck in return."
"No. We fought hard to secure a foothold in this place. I'll not freely give it back to the enemy. The Immortal Three did not run at the first hint of every danger. Petra gifted us a victory and a refuge in this warren of evil." Her eyes glance around the stone walls.
"You don't even know what you run from." She recalls her own trick of acting like a grand force was rallying to fight the lizard folk. "Their champion is dead, yet they would suddenly sally forth? Perhaps they just make noises to try and scare us off. Many stories and tales speak of goblin cunning. They are evil and dangerous creatures. But bravery, courage to charge a strong, proven foe is not typical of their kind. If they were going to charge, they would have done so while their champion distracted us. Instead, with a few noises, they broke our band. Sent everyone fleeing and scurrying into the night. Turned their killers into easy prey to be hunted down beneath night's shroud."
"Here there is only one way in and out...although we hadn't completed our search before everyone ran off. Still, even a second entrance is easier to defend than the open road. They may not even search this place for some time, for who knows how much they feared their own ally. So, I will accept Petra's gift. I will fight here. Die here, if that is my fate. Or I will see sun rise again. Should that happen, then I will hunt the beasts and teach them to again fear my goddess and her chosen holy warriors. "
A bag of coin lands at Amhal's feet. "The ogre's treasure." She adds. "You should go. If they truly come, they will be here soon."
Amhal grunts as the bad lands at his feet.
”You talk overmuch. I did not make the choice to flee. I stay here if you do, but the light I keep to see by.”
Dobin sticks his head into the cave.
"So were staying? Well let's get these openings covered up!"
Again the group hesitates, apparently split on their decision on whether to stay and hole up, or leave the ravine.
"That lady has a deathwish or something" - Finnin grunts to Amhal and Dobin as he exits the cave - "And she's got another thing coming if she thinks the only nasty things around here are gooblins" - he adds, shaking his head and spitting on the ground.
"I am heading out to the road and will wait for you there. If you don't show up soon, I'm gone" - the greasy man finished, and began moving away.
Dam it Ralina! If it was that easy there weren't so many people dying in these caves. We don't have a clue on how many goblins are there and I doubt there's only goblins. You saw how many caves' entrances we could spot on the ravine. Who knows how many more we didn't spot. It would be as dangerous out there as in here but we won't be cornered inside a cave.
Turning to Amhal Regnar adds:
Amhal, get the bag man. You want the shield now? You can stay in the front and I put my bow to use.
'Well seems we are making a Stand." She says getting her crossbow and readying it as she steps up.
"I suggest we make a barrier with the refuse then cover it with the hide. Give us some cover. that way better to fight them off and pepper them at range but in one of the smaller chambers." She says as she then gets over and looks to Regnar.
"Do you think we can do it, fast makeshift barricades for goblin grinder...unless I am wrong about the old Goblin Wars trick the Elf and Dwarves used." She says recounting old accounts of wars with Goblins and Orcs against Elf and Dwarf.
You are probably right, Drusilla. Answers Regnar with a disgusting look at the refuse.
With more than a little irritation he started cursing to himself
Cornered in the middle of filth... my mother tolled me I should be a stonecutter or a blacksmith... I should have listen her...
Dobin helps the dwarf move trash to help block the entrance ways.
"Let's hope our killing of their champion will keep them away for at least tonight!"
Not just the goblins but also whatever lives in the near caves.
Dam ogre couldn't possibly have more filth in this god forsaken cave...
Guys, I'm gonna make a kind of a step in this part of the blockade so I can shoot without problems
At least they're goblins, not those dam pieces of rat's piss of lizards...
Blinking in surprise at the sudden reappearance of the others, Ralina stays quiet and readies herself for battle.
Blinking in surprise at the sudden reappearance of the others (...)
As the group wanders back and forth, undecided on what exactly to do next, Finnin moves away and soon he is out of sight.
Drusilla helps with Regnar and others building the barricade.
"Lets get a simple one and then we rest Tomorrow morning"
Sounds like a plan Drusilla.
Hey Ralina? We stayed here because of you at least come and help on the defenses.
Crapy den of caos filth, that's how I'll call this cave...
Amhal sighs and picks up the bag as ordered by Regnar. He tosses into a corner, and removing the grisly trophy from his belt (the ogre head) places it next to their hard won loot. He looks for an available “sconce” or spot to place his torch and then, once he has retrieved his shield from the dwarf and stowed it, with sword in its scabbard, sets about assisting the others with creating a suitable barricade.
turns.
As the group frantically scrambles to gather trash and debris from the cave, Regnar's experienced eyes catch something unusual at the back of the secondary cavern. Reaching for a larger piece of wood, he stops short - something about the stonework doesn't sit right. Running his calloused fingers along the surface, he frowns. The seams are too clean, the alignment just a little too perfect. His instincts, honed from years spent in the depths of the earth, confirm it - this is no ordinary wall.
Suddenly forgotten about the debris, Regnar calls out to his companions - Guys! I've found a secret passage back here. - while trying to get his bearings - I'm pretty sure this leads in the direction of one of the tunnels with goblins.
"Oh great...another way for the little blighters to get in!"
Dobin moves over to see the secret door the dwarf found.
Ralina goes to check the newly discovered door, grabbing whatever bit of metal or stone might be among the debris littered cavern on her way over.
"Well, we could either use it to infiltrate their layer or we could jam it up." She says holding up a thick wedge of stone. "If they have divided their force thinking to come at us from two sides, then they'll be in for a surprise when they can't bust in. That'll leave us facing only half, or maybe even less of their number at the entrance."
Amhal frowns at the discovery, seemingly displeased at the added twist in the skein of their predicament.
”If we knew it was…not a secret to the goblins…then I’d say yes - make it also secure. We don’t want them coming in at our backs. But if they *don’t* know it exists…ach. I’m sorry to be cautious again, but I’ve no wish to enter their lair while they are all riled up and can come in after us unaware. And to go through, and make it fast after us - well, then we are stuck with no way out. I vote we stay here, defensive, jam the secret door…and see what the goblins do next…”.
Regnar, thinks for a moment how doors were concealed back home. He remembers that they could simply be just made to look like its surroundings or have some disguised contraption to open it... He goes for the easiest first and tries to push the door opened by applying pressure along the door. If it does nothing then he tries to find a contraption starting from the door and moving away from it.
" Could stretch the Hide over it. Should it open in" She says as she helps work more on the refuse barricade then the door jamming.
As the others continue to discuss their options, Regnar moves to the secret door, pressing his shoulder against the stone in an attempt to pry it open. Despite his efforts, it remains stubbornly shut. His frustration grows, but he knows better than to force it. With a muttered curse, he begins inspecting the surrounding area for any other hidden mechanisms or clues.
Meanwhile, Drusilla continues to sift through the refuse, her hands grimy from the debris. Her eyes narrow when she spots something unusual - a heavy, moldy bag hidden beneath a pile of trash and old bones. The smell is foul, but she can hear the unmistakable jingle of coin inside, mixed with the soft clink of other objects.
" Another Bag of coins and something" She will set it aside and continue her work to try and have some helpful barrier, if only a tripping hazard.
Amhal grunts appreciatively as the bag is found. He continues to work on the barricade.
”You need any help Regnar? Dru - be careful of that bag, could be anything in an old moldy bag…besides jink…”
Dobin kneels down and opens the bag to see what is actually in it.
"Anything that might help us is welcome!"
Dobin rummages through the large sack, his fingers brushing against the rough fabric of several smaller pouches nestled inside. With growing excitement, he pulls them out one by one. One jingles with silver pieces (crona), a satisfying weight in his hands. Another contains a round of hard cheese, surprisingly well-preserved despite its grimy surroundings. A third is filled with a jumble of copper (kopec) and electrum (halav) coins, while a fourth holds a heavy stash of gold (royals).
As he digs deeper, he finds a small keg, the faint scent of brandy seeping through the seams, and another pouch overflowing with copper coins. At the very bottom, he pulls out yet another sack, and as he unties the string, a cascade of gold pieces spills into his palm.
Mixed in haphazardly with the bags, he also uncovers a bundle of six arrows tied together, a flask containing an unknown liquid, and a scroll marked with some symbols he cannot decipher. A veritable hoard of treasure!