Gashelle welcomes the rest of the party back wehn you return to the caravan.
"So, what's the v- verdict? Are we going to explore n- now, or come back?"
"There's nothing else in that cavern, but there may be enough room to move the whole caravan inside - it's big enough, I think, and safe too."
Gashelle nods. "You checked out the p- passageway to the south, then?"
"We can investigate it, but in any event I'd rather have to watch two directions than all of them."
"Ensor, your p- plan was to get to Discam tonight. Is that s- still what you want to do, or are we stopping here for the n- night?
"If we're stopping here, Her L- Ladyship says that there's a large, defensible c- cave just yonder."
"Nay Lass we cam oop aboot ten mile short o' the town bekis o' all the delays...if the ox hiddn't gone lame and thet stoarm hiddn't hit las' ni't we cudda bin there by now"
"Ah leek the iday o' a cave tho' we kin bloak the entrance wi' the waggins tha knoaws"
|"Tamarra we gi Discam the passbye and head for Acre Opposum Keep. Ah dessay th' Preistesses will welcome us"
"Aye" chuckles the cook "Especially th woons o' Aphrodite"
"Wheest..there's ladies present tha' great gowk"
"Good ... there's a tunnel in the cavern we'd like to investigate, just to be sure it's safe. It's better to do that knowing the caravan is safe, I think, and I wouldn't feel wholly confident leaving it unexplored if we stayed here."
Gashelle nods, mounts Madhyarati, and does her part to help move the caravan towards the cave.
You manage to get the wagons in and use them to block the main entrance against anything large coming that way. The oxen and mules get watered from the fresh springs and then are picketed close to the wagons. The cook starts a fire and begins preparing the evening meal
The southern passage is quite narrow..you think it will be easily defensible... and winds away from the cave for about 200 feet before it begins to slope sharply downwards
"Call me strange, but I really want top know what's down there right now," I remark to the others. "Let's eat, then explore a little. If there is anything down there, I want us to know about it before it knows about us."
"Call me strange, but I really want top know what's down there right now," I remark to the others. "Let's eat, then explore a little. If there is anything down there, I want us to know about it before it knows about us."
"Yes, it would be foolish to let something prepare an assault on us while we wait here."
Always eager to explore unknown caves and such, Layjianni silently nods her agreement.
Gashelle works calmly on her owl statuette until dinner, eats, and then prepares to explore.
Aude seems preoccupied during the meal and then ask
'Does everyone know what was it that attacked Layjiani ? '
Avinar spins one of his daggers on the palm of his hand, he looks to the women and the large Skandik, "Well, if we are to go inside further, are we leaving the caravan unguarded? I am more excited to see what mysteries lie beyond that decent than sit here playing guardsman"
"I'm not entirely sure, Aude - I'll have to do some research when we get to civilisation. Clearly, though, it was some form of sedentary opportunist predator that has developed - possibly through arcane influence - to emulate a non-offensive but desirable object in order to lure prey in and attack with surprise," Eltariel surmises.
"Yes, Avinar, I think the caravan will be safe enough from outside as there were no tracks leading in here. With fire and the wagons in the way, they should be able to hold out here until we can be summoned. My true concern is what may lie further inside. A cave like this is normally empty for a reason, and I don't think the creature we encountered was a good enough reason."
"So Eltariel my dear, is this your way of asking me out on a second date" Avinar's eyes twinkle with mischief.
"Well you have to concede, our dates are always exciting," Eltariel laughs.
Gashelle proposes, as a default marching order:
Layjiani -- for trap-spotting and maneuvering behind opponents
Holgur -- sturdy front-line fighter, best able to take a direct hit
Avinar -- agile front-line fighter
Aude
Etariel
Gashelle
Aude ponders some more seemingly ignoring the conversation around her then stands and goes near the remains of the mimic
" Oh , creature , be not angry . Life is harsh and predator can become prey ! This is but a stop in your eternal life . There is no shame in failing before superior numbers . Go fast from here to your next incarnation and be judged according to your life before rather tnah the way you died . We were nothing but instruments of your fate. "
Gashelle smiles to herself. Perhaps 'Keeping Aude occupied' will become a new euphemism for exploring deadly cave systems, she thinks to herself.
"Is there anything from our c- compiled treasures that anyone w- wants to take with us? The m- magical sword? The ice-c-cold mace? A b- bottle of saffron?"
Barring any objection, I take it that we head down the south tunnel after dinner?
ok...down the tunnel you go....you descend the slope by a winding path that leads about 500 feet down to a small cavern with a second tunnel exiting from it.
...checking for anything unusual...
...continuing on...
"This is a long way down ... I think we can safely say very little will come this way tonight," Eltariel remarks. "We'll go a little further, but if there is nothing I suggest we mark this for later exploration - I do not want to leave the caravan too long."
I quite aggree. I have no wish to visit the darklands yet !
You push on another two or three hundred feet and find no trace of any inhabitants..it looks like you have found a little used entrance to the underdark and it cofirms Eltariels supposition that the mimiic was an opportunist hunter rather than a set guardian
"Back to the c- c-caravan, then?"
If no one has any objections, Layjiani has an interest in the following:
-a flawed, redspeckled gem [bloodstone 40 gp].(somehow reminds her of her past)
-a spool of strong black thread[3 cp].
-two large-eyed needles stick in the thread coils [needles, 5 sp each].
-two candles
-white linene Handkerchief
-a collection of inks,quills, sticks of differently coloured waxs and about a dozen carved wooden seals along with several blank sheets of parchment. Also a small book with a locked hasp.
(For maps and she's thinking of keeping a journal. Actually, Wellard, being as Layjiani has always had an interest in old ruins and maps and such, can we say that she has always been and always will be mapping any such place the group explores?)
-a tiny silver key dangling from a fine silver chain [8 gp] (only if this is the key for the lock on the small book, if it's not, she doesn't want it)
"Layjiani, the locked b- book and calligraphy equipment were h- hidden, and possibly tools of some s- sort of s- spy. I'd like a chance to r- research just what might have been g- going on with that so-called m- m-merchant before we distribute his p- possessions. Who knows: the book or parchments m- might have invisible writing or m- maps already on them!"
"Indeed ... and I can find a use for that spell-book too. In the meantime, let's return to the caravan and set our watches."
Do you think we can also block this entrance for the night as we blocked the other one ?
"Easily - if not, we can at least ensure that access is difficult enough to give us warning," Eltariel agrees.
You manage to rig up a barricade of sorts and settle in for the night. Hours of boredom ensue for the guards as the night passes peacefully. In the morning you pack up eat and head out for the Tarshian border.
The morning is clear and as hot as it has ever been. By noon however the bridge on the border is in sight and you can relax a bit from your normal vigilance. As you cross the sturdy stone built structure which looks well maintained and hit the paved road on the other side the wagons appreciably pick up speed.
One incident however occurs just as you get off the bridge..A slim figure mounted on a galloping horse it's flanks streaked with the foam of hard use dashes past you and into the wild lands you have just exited.
About 2 miles further on you see what appears to be a disciplined patrol riding down the road towards you.. The keen sight of Avinar and Eltariel picks out a single Figure in plate mail..a second in a breastplate, 6 in chain mail and 4 in studded leather(the last 4 bearing bows, all the others armed with lances and all carrying swords or axes of some sort). Each wears a white surcoat and cloak with a lions head embroidered upon it.
Also in the middle distance the elves can see the smoke of a town rising to the air though the buildings themselves are hidden by the folds of the landscape
Does Ensor recognize the heraldry?
"Whoever he was, he seems to be in a hurry," I remark dryly. "Let's see who we have to meet now. Friend Ensor, are these patrols trustworthy? I've heard of more than a few guardsmen who decided to supplement their income by offering 'extra protection' and such nonsense from honest folk."
Ensor does indeed know the insignia
"Thon's the ' Lions of Mitra' They hoald Discam for the Tarshians..and the toons the betta for eet..clean streets and honest merchants...just dinna go rilin' them oop"
The patrol come nearer and halts as the wagons approach. The plate armoured man lifts his visor and calls out
"Hail Travellers..may I ask who you are and from whence you have come"
Assumng Enzor or Eltariel will speak for them, Layjianni remains quiet.
She finds one of the guardsmen, the blonde on the roan horse, extremely comely though and the quiet scout keeps finding her gaze drawn to him. Far bolder in these matters than most of her companions are yet aware, she begins smiling suggestively at him.
"Good morrow to you sir," I bow courteously, "we are escorting Master Ensor here from Lepas, he is come to trade. We are Avinar Selintiel, Gashelle Smith, Holgur of the Skandik, Aude Cooper, Layjiani Dunnsfell and I am Eltariel Elesande," I introduce us, reasoning that they will be more interested in armed men and women who can cause trouble than in merchants there to trade.
"We trust there is no trouble on the road ahead of us?"
With the holidays , I'll be far from my computer till monday. Feel free to make the character act if necessary
"Trouble?,,,here?....i hope not or I'm going to be taking names. Penniman Prawer, Liuetenant of Discam at your service. The roads round here are safe as anywhere in the wilderlands can be but we keep the riff raff away don't y' know"
"I must ask however have you seen anyone on the road..we hunt a thief"
"Aye, my lord lieutennant. About a half-hour p- past. Riding a l- lathered mount."
"Yes, he seemed to be in a hurry, but there was nought else suspicious about him," Eltariel adds thoughtfully.
"What did this theif do?" Avinar asks with a curiosoty fit for a feline
"Stole a number of scrolls and potions from our infirmary...we are not sure why..the services of our healers are freely given trto those in need..I can only assume the thief wishes to make a quick profit"
He turns to the man in the breastplate
"Well it looks like our quarry may have passed beyond our reach Sergeant..but we might as well finish the patrol"
The lieutenant wishes you safe travel and leads his patrol away down the road towards the bridge..to the distinct relief of one young man at least.
you move on passing the walls of Discam(a decent sized town dominated by its castle and monastic complex) and heading up into the hills that mark the way to Tarsh.
towards evening you approach a fine castle.
"Acre Opposum Keep" announces Ensor.."Weall stiy heah fur the neet"
The gates are guarded by a squad of armed women each clad on breastplate armour and bearing spears and shields with a Medusa's head painted upon them. They offer you challenge and Ensor pays the toll to enter the complex.
Inside the castle courtyard there are many fine buildings of marble.(think ancient greece). At least 8 in every ten people you see are female..
There is a large temple to Athena and smaller shrines to various other greek deities including Apollo, Artemis and Aphrodite.
"Why would anyone steal that, then ... unless they had somebody to heal the healer's wouldn't - or couldn't - help. But then ... he'd need a healer too."
Eltariel looks around the keep. It certainly seems a safe, well-cared for place. She then glances at the sun, estimating the time of day.
"I wonder if Ensor could spare us a few hours again? I'm thinking we could chase that thief - he won't have ridden hard much further, and I'm curious as to his cause. Perhaps there is more to it than we think?"
If our trip is representative , I fear he is already dead. This land is really dangerous : skeletons , fire outsiders , chest monster ...
Also , we would need mounts for each of us .
I moreover suspect he is trying for the bandit town we avoided to sell his loot . somehow , I don't think the priests there are the benevolent type who give healing for free
Pss Eltariel , do you also have difficulties understanding Ensor ?
"I'm inclined to agree w- with Eltariel, if there's time enough."
"I don't know, his horse was ridden hard, if he had any sense he'd rest it knowing the patrol would not follow him over the bridge. For myself, I can travel swiftly through the woods at need," I smile secretively. "Layjiani and I could easily track him, I think - what say you?" I ask our scout.
Glancing at Aude, at her question I draw her aside.
"Ensor speaks a dialect I know reasonably well. It's obscure, but intelligible. Give it another week and you will not see how you failed to understand him."