"You're wearing my armour," growls the Shaman "The dead still recognize what they had in life."
The chief's answer is indecipherable but felt like an obscenity directed at the shaman.
"Well maybe yuh be recognizin' this as well?!" Orlan tugs on his beard as he steps between them.
"About three months ago, me cousin Klyndak and a couple more dwarves passed through here. We done found their blasted barge down on the river. There's half a dozen of yer spears stuck in it. And yer chief here tells me yuh done been sendin' me cousin off to die in the Spires. Yer woman down there recognized this...and yer chief says yuh gave it to him."
He pulls the dagger once again to show it to him.
"He sent us to kill yuh. But I'm not about doin' nothin' like that until I get me both sides of a story. Yer woman was takin' us ta see yuh, when this damn lunatic goes and throws a rock down on her head...and tries ta start a fight before we can even talk ta yuh."
"Now, I couldn't care less that the two of yuh obviously want one another dead," he continues, "I'll be happy ta oblige yuh both if'n that's what yer about. But before yuh end each other's miserable lives, I'll be havin' the truth about me cousin. Now talk!"
Intimidate (Aid Another) (1d20+1=9)
Kamris tries to glare at both parties but they are obviously too caught up in glaring at each other.
The chief is obviously displeased with himself for having sent his translator away but attempts to act like he knows what is going on, folds his arms across his chest, and grunts at the shaman in a tone that says "Answer the man." as if he knew what the question was.
The shaman sees the knife and says "I gave this to the half-orc shaman that was with your cousin ... after I stopped the chief from killing your cousin and his men."
"I gave this to the half-orc because they promised to help me find Kerkis Kerrigan. The chief chased them away before they could."
Yin folds her arms over her chest as she observes both the chief and the shaman, utterly unimpressed with them both. Only half listening to their bickering she gives a small sigh. "I believe Orlan asked for the truth about his cousin" She remarks in an irritated tone "So, you" She glares at the chief "why did you try to kill his cousin?"
"And you..." Her eyes drift over to the shaman "where did his cousin and his men go? And stop scrimping on details, it'll save everyone a lot of time and effort. We'll get the information one way or another"
The chief turns his back on the party and bellows in the direction of one of the huts.
The shaman seems put off by Yin. He begins to mutter to himself and clench and unclench his hands.
Yin:
Despite the shaman's using the chief's bellowing as a distraction, you recognize that he is casting a spell before anyone else does.
Yin's eyes widen at the shaman. "Oh, for the love of Nethys" She exhales in an irritated tone as she grabs a flask from her belt and throws it at the other spellcaster.
Ranged touch attack (1d20+1=19)
Fire damage (1d6=3)
She smiles to herself as the flask of alchemist's fire breaks, causing the solution inside to ignite. "Did you realy think I wouldn't notice?" She yells at the annoying man.
The crackle of energy that was beginning to form around the shaman's hands disappears with a popping sound. The shaman, in great agony, rolls on the ground trying to extinguish the fire.
The chief turns around and quickly comprehends the situation including who saved him and how.
"I eat bones of you?" he says pointing at the shaman on 'you' but asking it of the party as a question.
The translator appears from one of the huts where she'd been sent.
You soon learn through the translator that Klyndak was here with a half-orc, two dwarves, and an elf. The chief refused to let them cross the bridge to the spires as the goblins agreed to stop kidnapping members of their tribe as long as they defended the bridge. Klyndak and party took the bridge and fought with the warriors. The shaman took Klyndak's side embarrassing and offending the chief. There's a lot of other stuff about the shaman mating with a daughter of his own seed, which is against the rules as the daughter of the shaman's seed belongs to the chief. That was the woman he killed, a completely justifiable act as she was his property.
The goblin attacks stopped after Klyndak crossed the bridge but began again weeks later.
Any other questions?
He also offers Yin his heart. From the way it was phrased, you are not sure that this was entirely metaphorical. It seems that when he dies, Yin has his permission to eat his heart.
You soon learn through the translator that Klyndak was here with a half-orc, two dwarves, and an elf. The chief refused to let them cross the bridge to the spires as the goblins agreed to stop kidnapping members of their tribe as long as they defended the bridge. Klyndak and party took the bridge and fought with the warriors. The shaman took Klyndak's side embarrassing and offending the chief. There's a lot of other stuff about the shaman mating with a daughter of his own seed, which is against the rules as the daughter of the shaman's seed belongs to the chief. That was the woman he killed, a completely justifiable act as she was his property. The goblin attacks stopped after Klyndak crossed the bridge but began again weeks later.
Orlan stoically stands throughout the fiery confrontation with the shaman, unmoving and unmoved by his pain. He then listens appreciatively to the chief's newfound willingness to answer their questions without guile or innuendo. After the translator has provided the initial information, Orlan can be heard to mutter under his breath, "Lovely people..."
"So yuh don't have any proof of me cousin's death then," the dwarf surmises, "Just this dagger reclaimed from a half-blood orclin' that he gave it to. If the goblin attacks stopped, it's 'cause Klyndak and the Kannonfodders busted'em up something bad. And if they came back, it's 'cause that's the way of all cowardly goblins once whatever frightened'em moves away. So that tells me either me cousin has left the Spires...or he's caught up in somethin' that keeps him from scarin' off the goblins again."
"But you..." he turns back to the shaman, "What're you ta these people anyway? Kerrigan built himself a keep down the river a ways a long time ago. Shoddy construction. Never touched by dwarven hands. But that's besides the point..."
"If this chief be wearin' yer armor...cheap Korvosan craft it may be," he continues, "And you be knowin' Kerrigan...then what? Yer some kinda soldier of his livin' up here in the mountains, half-daft with delusions of death and paintin' all yer followers ta look like skeletons?"
"Take a look at yerself, man! Yer a naked fool! Livin' amongst savages that'd sooner eat yer bones and heart as look at yuh. So what're you about? And what've yuh got me cousin inta by sendin' him along to the Spires? Yuh know somethin' about'em? Tell us what yuh know and maybe I be sparin' yuh half-cooked flesh from the chief's stewpot, yeah? Or maybe I'll just be lettin' Yin here finish the fire she started..."
He will ramble for as long as you let him. From what you can gather, he was a soldier in Kerrigan's unit when Kerrigan was a lowly captain. Kerrigan came from a wealthy family and bought himself a commission in the Mindspins -- not that anyone else wanted. They were in the process of building a fortress down the gorge a bit when Kerrigan, Rydak Highgrain, and Sirap Hilltown decided to go on a treasure hunt for the Foehammer spires.
Kerrigan, a complete drunkard by the shaman's reckoning, never got very far. While he was away, the forty men were attacked by these 'lovely people'. He 'woke' in the tribe's cold storage cave amongst the dead and survived on the mushrooms that grew amongst the corpses. He doesn't know what happened to Kerrigan but assumed he was dead.
As for Orlan's cousin, he warned him against confronting the blooddrinker in the spire but your cousin wouldn't listen. The goblins -- which are numerous in these hills -- have become a lot more of a threat since they started training bats and attacking in an organized fashion. They call themselves the 'Bloodworm' tribe.
Yin lazily stretches her arms above her head as she listens to the shaman talk. "And you never considered just leaving? If you have no love for these people then why stay? You're clearly a man of some talent."
Feeling mild irritation boil in her blood at the entire situation she looks over the men around her. "So, are we done here? I've got a heart and got to burn someone so I can safely say I've had a productive day" She comments in a light, amused tone hoping it would be time to move onwards, she was finding it hard to trust all of the people who lived here.
Yin lazily stretches her arms above her head as she listens to the shaman talk. "And you never considered just leaving? If you have no love for these people then why stay? You're clearly a man of some talent."
"The living cannot accept the dead amongst them."
Kamris regards the whole exchange with his usual unreadable expression.
"The living cannot accept the dead amongst them."
"Bah! Yuh're not dead, yuh fool!" Orlan scowls again, "Yuh're probably hopped up on those darn mushrooms yuh been eatin'...and I've got half a mind ta toss yuh off the cliff so yuh can find out what bein' dead is really like!"
"Yin...Kamris..." Orlan nods, "Why don't yuh two watch over the ledges. I don't be wantin' any more of this fool's cult followin' after him."
"What more can yuh be tellin' me about this blooddrinker in the Spire then?" he asks, "What manner of creature is it? Another goblin? Or somethin' else? Have these goblins allied with it? How many are there, yuh reckon? Have yuh ever gone up ta the Spires? How're they guarded? Which way did me cousin take inta the Spires?"
Once he has his answers, Orlan turns to the translator. "Tell yer chief there that his people can't be livin' here no more," he says, "They got ta be leavin'...'cause this here be dwarven land, soon ta be reclaimed from the goblins. And if'n he sticks around ta defend the bridge on their behalf, he'll be right dead as soon as me brothers come callin'..."
Then he looks back to the shaman. "And yuh better get outta here, too," he explains, "I don't be seein' any reason fer yer followers and the chief's people ta be gettin' along anymore. Yuh done had it out fer each other. So yer either gonna end up in his stewpot...or yuh're gonna kill him, in which case he'll just be as dead as yuh've become and haunt yuh forever."
"So be gettin' outta here," the dwarf continues, "I'd suggest yuh get yerself cleaned up...disband yer followers...and head back to Kerrigan's Keep down in the valley. Yer captain ain't dead...and yuh're not either. So yuh might as well reclaim yer past and seek him out. But if I come back and find either of yuh still in these mountains, I'll take both yer heads and grind yer bones before sprinklin' 'em in that river down there so yuh can wander the land forever. Yuh be hearin' me?"
He blinks at the silence. "Well yuh better be hearin' me," he finishes, "'Cause I don't be likin' ta repeat myself. The time fer words is over. Next time I see yuh, yuh'd better have done as I asked...or it'll be me axe yer talkin' to next."
With that, Orlan makes ready to leave, preferrably in the same direction his cousin's party took...
Yin turns to face Kamris, her expression becoming briefly curious before she smiles again and she rests her chin on his shoulder. "Looks like we've been assigned to look out again" She comments lightly before moving away to a position where she can look down to the ledge below.
"Oh!" She exhales suddenly as she remembers something. Bounding over to the two close combatants she throws her arms around Manfred and grins. "You looked like you needed a hug!" She explains before returning to her lookout spot.
Glaring at the Chief, Sir Manfred slowly sheathes his sword.
"You may give thanks to whatever gods you hold dear that Lord Orlan has had a bout of insanity and decided to let you go. Mayhap it be a temporary one."
Turning away, he lets out a brief yelp as Yin tackles him, accidentally touching one of his wounds. "Thank you milady, you are too kind." As she bounds away he gives a brief smile and thanks the powers that be that it wasn't her bright spirit crushed by that boulder the Chief threw.
"What more can yuh be tellin' me about this blooddrinker in the Spire then?" he asks, "What manner of creature is it? Another goblin? Or somethin' else? Have these goblins allied with it? How many are there, yuh reckon? Have yuh ever gone up ta the Spires? How're they guarded? Which way did me cousin take inta the Spires?"
"The blooddrinker is one who finds no beauty in his death. He has died and risen with a hatred of the living. He is not one of the grateful dead. ... As for how many, we have seen at most 10 batriders but lately no more than 2 or three. ... I would not go the spires: the chief before this chief forbade it. ... The way is clear. You climb the stairs."
As he mentions the stairs, he points across the bridge. From where you now stand you can see a long straight staircase disappear into the mountain.
Once he has his answers, Orlan turns to the translator. "Tell yer chief there that his people can't be livin' here no more," he says, "They got ta be leavin'...'cause this here be dwarven land, soon ta be reclaimed from the goblins. And if'n he sticks around ta defend the bridge on their behalf, he'll be right dead as soon as me brothers come callin'..."
The chief does not seem happy to hear this and seems ready to choke the translator but restrains himself. He grunts an acknowledgement.
"I'd suggest yuh get yerself cleaned up...disband yer followers...and head back to Kerrigan's Keep down in the valley. Yer captain ain't dead...and yuh're not either. So yuh might as well reclaim yer past and seek him out. But if I come back and find either of yuh still in these mountains, I'll take both yer heads and grind yer bones before sprinklin' 'em in that river down there so yuh can wander the land forever. Yuh be hearin' me?"
"Yes. Kerrigan's Keep down in the valley. I will 'seek him out'." The shaman bows gracefully.
The chief does not seem happy to hear this and seems ready to choke the translator but restrains himself. He grunts an acknowledgement.
Orlan wheels around, ready to finish the fight the moment the chief even takes a breath to protest. When he hears his final grunt of acknowledgement, the steely dwarf nods and looks back to the translator. "Me word will stand as strong as the mountain," he tells her, "If'n yer chief forgets his...I'll be back ta finish this..."
Intimidate check... (1d20+4=23)
He then turns back to the shaman...
"Yes. Kerrigan's Keep down in the valley. I will 'seek him out'." The shaman bows gracefully.
"A wise decision..." the dwarf growls, "Maybe yuh should take yer stuff and get goin' now, 'fore the chief makes ready ta send his warriors after yuh. We'll be watchin' from the mountain stairs. And we'll be able ta see where all of yuh go from here."
Orlan then sheathes his waraxe and spends a bit of time retrieving the smaller axe and light hammer he'd thrown during the battle. Once he has everything ready, he nods at Kamris, Sir Manfred, and Yintarah. "Let's be leavin' these people ta their business then," he whispers, "But keep a sharp eye...I don't trust any one of 'em. And I mean what I said. One more act against us and I'll see this village burned."
He then leads the way toward the stairs. Once they're out of earshot, he comments to Sir Manfred, "That was pretty fine fightin' on yer part. A lot of lads would have balked at scaling those heights in the face of the enemy. But yuh did good, boy. Glad ta have yuh along..."
Crossing the bridge gives further evidence that Orlan's cousin came this way. Stone-tipped spears, some in recoverable condition, litter the bridge. At one point the bridge is littered with rusty caltrops.
The two towers are in good condition and are designed to guard the bridge. Entrances to the towers are on the side facing away from the bridge. Doors have long since crumbled away but stone stairs inside remain.
Once past the towers, the stairs begin. Cut into the rock of the mountain itself, they climb gently before you and continue far beyond the ability of any of the party to see. They climb at a steady rate and when the mountain climbs faster the stairs become a tunnel. When the mountain is not so steep, they reemerge beneath the bright sun of the Cinderlands.
At the base of the stairs is chiseled in Dwarvish:
"By hammer and pick we made a road,
for weary traveller with heavy load.
From mountaintop let dwarf-friends sing,
'We Walk in the Steps of the Dwarven King'."
Another informative stone notice reads:
'The Endless Stair'
Built between 3017 and 3044 A.R.
by the hands of all the clan.
Seven died to ease your journey.
The stairs continue for miles. The stone work retains its quality but in some places, moss, mold, nests, webs, and droppings litter the path. About every half mile, a room has been carved into the mountain allowing shelter. When the stairs are underground, the rooms are as well. When they are above ground, the room opens up into the night sky. Regardless, low benches wide enough to sit or sleep on have been carved into the walls of the room. Weary travellers can choose their place to rest.
You notice that every mile the figure of a dwarf has been carved into the stone wall with a name underneath. It is not until the second or third one that you realize these are both mile markers and grave markers of the seven who died building the stairs. The name 'Highgrain' is familiar to Orlan but others, such as 'Canyonfather,' are less familiar.
"Thank you my lord", replied Sir Manfred. "'Twas only my duty." Throwing a glance back towards the village he continued; "I hope you do not regret your decision to leave that ... creature alone. His word is clearly worthless. Also, could we stop for a few minutes milord? I really need to get my wounds bound."
Glad to be moving again Yin practically dances up the stairs, only pausing as Manfred speaks up. Turning to face the knight she looks momentarily guilty at the reminder that she'd caught his wounds when she hugged him.
"Oh.. We really should stop if you're in pain" She decides and not waiting for Orlan's response she quickly moves over to the nearest room and settles herself on one of the benches.
Crossing the bridge gives further evidence that Orlan's cousin came this way. Stone-tipped spears, some in recoverable condition, litter the bridge. At one point the bridge is littered with rusty caltrops.
Orlan pauses upon noticing the caltrops. "Hunh..." he muses, "These seem right handy. Let's collect these and I'll be takin' 'em with us. Rusty or not, they're still serviceable, I think..."
The stairs continue for miles. The stone work retains its quality but in some places, moss, mold, nests, webs, and droppings litter the path. About every half mile, a room has been carved into the mountain allowing shelter. When the stairs are underground, the rooms are as well. When they are above ground, the room opens up into the night sky. Regardless, low benches wide enough to sit or sleep on have been carved into the walls of the room. Weary travellers can choose their place to rest.
"Ahhhh..." Orlan seems at his happiest in days. The effect of traversing such a well-made dwarven stair even offsets some of the surliness left over from dealing with the chieftain and his shaman. "They don't make 'em like this everyday," he tells the others, "I'm a builder, too. Trained in me father's footsteps at stonecutting. And I can recognize a fine piece of work when I see it."
You notice that every mile the figure of a dwarf has been carved into the stone wall with a name underneath. It is not until the second or third one that you realize these are both mile markers and grave markers of the seven who died building the stairs. The name 'Highgrain' is familiar to Orlan but others, such as...
Once he realizes the significance of the markers, Orlan pauses at each one to offer up a simple prayer to Torag in thanks of their sacrifice. "We honor those who came before us..." he says, occasionally wiping away a bit of...grit...from his eyes at each stop.
"I hope you do not regret your decision to leave that ... creature alone. His word is clearly worthless.
"Aye," Orlan agrees, "But he be knowin' now that my word ain't worthless. And if'n he be crossin' us again, we'll finish the lesson we done taught him. I also think it's better if we be givin' him this one last chance ta learn from his mistakes. Yin done saved the man's life by stoppin' the shaman. So, if'n nothin' else, he'll be rememberin'...and hopefully honorin'...that much."
Also, could we stop for a few minutes milord? I really need to get my wounds bound."
"Yeah, I believe we'd better..." Orlan nods, "Yuh took quite the beatin' back there while swingin' yer blade. But take pride in yer scars, boy. They be tellin' a tale of honor about yer sacrifices in this world."
With that, Orlan too sits down to bind and treat the minor wound he took at the hands of the spearmen. While the knight receives similar treatment, he meanders around the stone room, examining the craftsmanship of the dwarven benches. He finally approaches Kamris while Yin continues to fuss over Sir Manfred.
"Looks like we're makin' good progress up the mountainside," he comments, "Why don't we take a day or two ta rest up before we hit the Spires. If there be goblins ahead, we'd best be at our best. And between you and me, I think that Manfred fella could use some more time to heal his wounds. It'll give me a chance to sharpen these caltrops and take the rust off of 'em, too."
Kamris nods at Orlan's suggestion. "If that is your decision. It is wise to rest."
As Orlan and Kamris talk Yin tries to make herself useful tending to Manfred. "Just yell at me or something if this hurts" She tells the knight with a small smile, she has no training in first aid but is fairly certain she can help through application of a little common sense.
From the stairs, even at a half-mile distance, you can see the primitive's camp. You can't make out individual figures but it does look like the whole tribe starts to get ready to move before nightfall. The next morning, you see smoke rising from burnt huts. Either they torched it before the left or hostilities broke out again.
After making sure Manfred is all settled and comfortable Yin sits herself on the floor beside the bench the knight is resting on so she can keep her eye on him. After a while she starts to make the most of her free time and begins catching up on scribing some new magical incantations into her spellbook, slowly becoming oddly quiet as she concentrates on the task.
After a while she starts to make the most of her free time and begins catching up on scribing some new magical incantations into her spellbook, slowly becoming oddly quiet as she concentrates on the task.
Orlan uses the evening to painstakingly clean and sharpen the caltrops they obtained from the bridge on their way out of the village. Doing so, gives him ample time to reflect on his reason for coming on this journey...mostly to save his cousin, Klyndak, from whatever fate befell him. But also for the adventure and the mission assigned to him by the mad priest of Torag to recover the throne of the dwarves. He could still remember the priest. And he'd always felt bad about the dwarf's slow loss of sanity.
In addition, Orlan himself had always been a faithful follower of Torag, god of the dwarves...patron of craftsmanship and a mighty protector of his people. Spending so much time on the trail and now among the powerful relics of his people in the Foehammer Spires, he feels humbled. Later that night, Orlan decides to spend a moment in prayer while keeping watch...rededicating himself to his god.
'Be watchin' over us, Father Torag,' he prays in the Dwarven language, 'And watch after me cousin, wherever he might be. Help us ta find him. And help me ta bring honor, glory, and blessings ta our people. I forever be yer humble servant. This I swear here on the mountain of muh kin. Protect us and help us ta reclaim and rebuild that which was lost.'
The next morning, Orlan rises with much improved spirits. Indeed, his spirituality is far more enhanced. He can feel the blessings of Torag this day. And he looks forward to the path ahead. He once again sets to work on the caltrops, humming an ancient Dwarven song of crafting.
Kamris regards Orlan blandly as the dwarf hums to himself.
"Our luck is changing, it would appear. Orlan is in better spirits, in any case." he says to Yin.
Yin smiles a little at Kamris' comment, her gaze drifting over to the dwarf. "I think the rest will do us all a lot of good." Slowly she shifts a little closer to her fellow Shoanti.
"So, Manny is resting well, Orlan has perked up and I'm more or less caught up with my reading. What about you? Do you have any wounds you need help with? Or anything else you've been meaning to do?" She asks curiously.
"There is some small hurt. It is nothing." Kamris says simply.
"Don't say that!" Yin objects "Any hurt is serious, let me help you. Otherwise I'll just worry about you"
"Lovely mornin' ain't it?" Orlan comments as he strides past Kamris and Yin to take in the view from the mountain's edge once again. He sighs contentedly. "Now this is the place fer a dwarf," he states, "Top of the world...with a whole mountain of rock under yer feet ta mine and shape and build upon. All the problems of the valleys and rivers look so much smaller from here."
He turns back to the others for a moment. "I plan ta keep us here one more day," he informs them, "Give everyone a chance to heal up and get their legs back 'fore we make the next climb. Looks like that last mile marker puts us about halfway, I reckon. So, if'n we get an early start tomorrow, we should reach the top with plenty of light left ta explore the Spires."
"We got rations we can eat," he continues, "But I figger maybe the elflin' and I can hunt around a bit fer somethin' fresher'n that. What do yuh say?" He looks to Kamris expectantly. "Yuh up fer somethin' like that? Maybe we can find a mountain goat out here..."
He finally notices Yin still fussing over the half-elf's wounds and he comes forward. "Ah...that ain't nothin' more than a little scratch," he scoffs, "Surely that ain't holdin' yuh back, is it?" He scratches his beard for a moment then says, "Yuh know, I got me a sense that Torag's lookin' favorably on us today. Let's offer up a prayer ta him and see if maybe he can't put us back together."
He stands halfway between Sir Manfred and the other pair, holding his hands out toward them. "Lord of the mountains, hear me words," the dwarf says, looking up at the clouds, "I entreat yuh ta be mendin' me friends and applyin' yer blessin's on us. They're all on this journey ta help find me cousin and the throne of the dwarves. So they be an honorable sort...and good friends ta a dwarf's cause."
Yin gives a bright grin at the dwarf's enthusiasm and watches closely as he focuses some sort of divine power and heals them all. "Well that was fairly impressive" She murmurs, watching Orlan closely "Do you think Torag will be granting you other gifts? I think I have a book in my bag that has a chapter or so on the divine magics if you're at all interested.."
Yin gives a bright grin at the dwarf's enthusiasm and watches closely as he focuses some sort of divine power and heals them all. "Well that was fairly impressive" She murmurs, watching Orlan closely "Do you think Torag will be granting you other gifts? I think I have a book in my bag that has a chapter or so on the divine magics if you're at all interested.."
"Aye...I might be interested," the dwarf nods with a curious expression, "I'm not sure I be understandin' how these blessin's be workin' through me. But I done me some soul searchin' last night...and I pledged muhself to Torag. I figger that's got somethin' ta do with it right there..."
"And with all this..." He gestures around them at the mountainside and dwarven-carved stair. "...I felt compelled ta pray ta him for guidance. Seems like Torag's answerin' me directly now. Some might think me baptism in that river had somethin' ta do with it. But I think it's more ta do with what's in me heart and bein' up here in mountain country. I can't wait ta see what else we find of me kin in the Spires. This is all very inspirational fer a dwarf my age...and it must be important ta Torag, too, if'n he be guidin' me down this path."
Sir Manfred rises on the second day of rest, feeling fully well finally. He had spent the previous days of rest clumsily repairing rents and large holes in his and Lord Orlan's chain armor. He sighs just a little before he settles the less than elegant bucket helm on his head.
He goes to Yin and kneels while taking her hand. "I have no words that are adequate to how much I appreciate your healing touch." He gives her a brilliant smile. "I hope you can someday tell me how I may repay you."
Standing he goes to the dwarf; "Shall we continue on milord Orlan?"
Kamris has been doing some target practice. He looks on at Manfred's display with an unreadable expression.
Standing he goes to the dwarf; "Shall we continue on milord Orlan?"
"Aye...I reckon so," Orlan nods, "Let's strike camp and keep a-climbin'..."
The day is pleasant and warm. Each time the mountain climbs faster than the stairs, the stairs become a tunnel and you regret being out of the sunshine. You travel about five miles of the stairs in an almost straight line with a very steady climb.
You enter one tunnel and travel about 60' before Kamris' feels something sticky touching his foot. Looking down, he sees a strand of something shiny, wet, and white about as thick as a silk rope.
'So.. many.. stairs..' Yin sighs lightly as the group trudges up the mountain but doesn't say anything. Her Shoanti roots showing she refuses to be the weakest and complain, instead she keeps her bright smile.
As Kamris stops she looks over at him with a curious expression. "Found something?"
Kamris holds up his hand. "Wait." He examines the sticky strand. "Spiders."
"Big Spiders."
Yin's nose wrinkles at the news and she replies in a low tone "Great.. Want me to burn the webbing? It'll annoy them but decreases our chance of getting caught in the web"
"We have faced the water and the air, now we have the fire and the earth." Kamris adds gnomically.
"I swear you're one of the only people alive who can make me feel stupid Kam" Yin replies with a small affectionate smile "Then again, maybe I just overthink everything you say"
Kamris holds up his hand. "Wait." He examines the sticky strand. "Spiders....Big Spiders."
"Well...would yuh look at that..." Orlan peers over the half-elf's shoulder. "They gotta be feedin' on somethin' pretty frequent ta get that big," he comments, "Keep an eye above yer heads as we go through the tunnels and pass along the higher walls. They could be livin' or crawlin' around up there."
Yin's nose wrinkles at the news and she replies in a low tone "Great.. Want me to burn the webbing? It'll annoy them but decreases our chance of getting caught in the web"
"Aye...if it comes ta that," Orlan nods, "Yer a handy lass ta have along on this trip. Fer now, let's see how far we can make it without gettin' caught in the stuff or announcin' our presence. But be ready ta burn us a path and fry a few spiders when the time comes."
He puts his hand on Kamris' arm and suggests, "Why don't yuh be lettin' me lead the way fer now. Yuh stay back behind me with Yin and the two of yuh can watch fer spiders with yer fire and yer bow. Manfred? Look alive, boy! Yuh bring up the rear for us and guard our flank. And try ta keep up, alright? All that armor's weighin' yuh down, son. But this ain't no hikin' trip fer fun now. We may need to clear out these beasties so they don't be sneakin' up on us while we're in the Spires...or ambushin' when we come back out. And we'll need yer sword arm fer that fer sure..."
With that, the hardy dwarf continues onward, being careful not to step on any of the sticky stuff. He carries his shield at the ready and hefts one of his throwing axes for now.
You travel along the tunnel a bit further when you hear a skittering sound behind you. Looking back about 140', you can see that something big is blocking that entrance.