If Bitur and Gwaelur will kindly assure us that this miserable hole isn't going to fall in on our heads, well and good. Better see if we can locate this man. Rorimac and the dwarves should be first in, the knights bringing up the rear, as before.
If Bitur and Gwaelur will kindly assure us that this miserable hole isn't going to fall in on our heads, well and good. Better see if we can locate this man. Rorimac and the dwarves should be first in, the knights bringing up the rear, as before.
Librarians rule, Oook
Where Rorimac and the Dwarves lead, Thoroncir will be glad to follow.
The cave is deep and high. It looks like stalagmites and stalactites have been broken off and moved to a pile in a corner. It has a front chamber that is maybe 25' x 30' and single exit that is 12' wide and 13' high and appears mostly natural. The cave is a limestone cave and probably once had water flowing through it. It appears the trolls have smoothed it out a bit for more even footing but it is tough scrambling for the Hobbits and even the Dwarves as the proceed cautiously along the tunnel. The tunnel only goes about 120' and has no doors or alcoves. It is quite dryer, a lot dryer than the front entrance and the air is fresh. A slight movement of air coming from the direction the party is going and flowing out the entrance they came in.
They reach a very large chamber, it is like a large bowl and is 90' across with a the floor dropping gently about 20' to the center. Searching around Freyja leads Mulligan to a large filthy sack that is tied at the top. The sack is rough made and allows breathing but stinks.
Last edited by What Exit?; 29 Mar 2010 at 07:24 AM.
Mulligan will, with a bit of supporting cover, open the sack.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Theogrim will stand at the redy with his sword, in case something unfriendly emerges from the sack.
"You laugh at me because I'm different; I laugh at you because I'm on nitrous."
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Likewise with the bow, but without obviously pointing it at anyone, since I suspect what is in the sack may not be unfriendly.
Librarians rule, Oook
Deor, blissfully unaware of what's going on underground, tucks his pack under his head for a pillow as he suns himself on the soft grass.
The sack is carefully opened and within is a very sickly looking young human woman. She appears barely conscious and has soiled herself. She looks bruised and battered and her left arm is at an odd position. Mulligan sees her blouse is torn and can help her quickly with this at least.
Prestolwen looks aside to Gilraen as she steps forward, her leather flask already in her hand.
"Quickly, m'lady--let us set the bone before this poor woman awakes. I have herbs and heavy mead with which to ease her pain once the deed is done. Mulligan, could you by chance fetch us some fresh water? Her wounds need bathing and unguents applied." Prestolwen kneels beside the strange woman, laying her cloak over the still figure.
Gilraen immediately goes to Prestolwen's aid. Prestolwen takes charge and Gilraen proceeds to begin her magical healing while assisting. Prestolwen realizes the strange woman probably already has several infections. She finds the left shoulder is dislocated. She'll need some help from one of the stronger members of the party that has a delicate touch.
"Luckily, I was wrong about her arm being broken..." says Prestolwen. "Ceol and Gwaelur, we shall need you. Please hold her torso and legs still while Gilraen and I return her shoulder to its rightful form. Are there any blankets or cloaks to spare, Gilraen? She'll need warming. Perchance a small fire, if we've time enough, to heat broth and wine. I have an elixir of poppies that will aid her healing, but it is best warm."
Were Deor down in the dark, cold, no doubt damp, hole, he'd suggest moving the young lady up to the surface and offer to build a fire, at least as soon as her dislocated joint is set.
Last edited by Appleciders; 29 Mar 2010 at 08:51 PM.
Ceol nods to Prestolwen, and moves in to hold the young woman still.
"Milady...Eonwë has granted me the power to cure diseases...perhaps I can be of further assistance for this young lass, once you set her shoulder."
Drindoleth kneels beside Prestolwen and the found woman.
"I can also give her aid if any further is needed. I can cure her wounds and diseases that she has as well."
Hell hath no fury, like a woman's scorn for video games.
Thoroncir is available if another pair of strong hands are needed, but it is obvious that the unfortunate young captive is being very well cared for. He smiles with loving pride to see Gilraen put her skills to such effective use, but will remain vigilant in case some foe tries to surprise the party in the meantime.
Redward, having remained outside with Deor, wonders if he would like to share a small snack?
Gilraen sing a song of healing and uses her bauble to light the entire cave. The woman's shoulder is returned to it proper place though this causes a shriek of pain that Deor and Redward hear even outside the cave.
Ceol cures disease on her and it is decided to send for Deor and his Brazier and a few clean cantrips.
Having seen the woman being taken care of Mulligan will start lighting a small fire and Rorimac will look around to see what the trolls were using for firewood, if any. It will be a good start for the brazier when Deor arrives with it.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
The trolls have a pile of broken branches and dried bovine dung fairly close to an obvious fire pit. The fire pit is about 20' from the patient.
That's do nicely, it would be a shame for Deor to have to waste any spells on it, though that little dragon statue may prove useful if needs be. One fire coming up
If Prestolwen and Gilraen want to move her across shortly, once it is running.
Would Bitur and Gwaelur like to chweck the rest of this cave so we are not going to be disturbed down here?
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Greetings to the lady in the name of King Elessar of Gondor, and are there others she knows of who may be in need of the good offices of us, his loyal agents?
Librarians rule, Oook
With all due respect, Deor has so many fire-enhancing artifacts by now it's a wonder his pack hasn't burst into flames yet. He'll gratefully accept the snack from Redward, then go underground to build up a small fire for his brazier. He's also clean anything necessary with cantrips, because after all, spells are meant to be used.
Ithilneth enjoys the day at her outcrop post, ears perked and eyes pierced for any sign of danger or need.
Gwaelur thinks that Mulligan's idea of checking out the rest of the cave is a good one and says "Come Bitur, it looks like we can be of no further assistance here. Let us explore the cave and allow the healers to do their work."
"Stay with her, Gilraen, while I fetch water." With that, Prestolwen moves away from the maiden, taking up a spare flask. "Has anyone heard or seen signs of water within this cavern?"
There was water back in the front cave and outside the cave was a small brook in the ravine. The Druid should check over the water first before you use it.
Last edited by What Exit?; 30 Mar 2010 at 02:06 PM.
"'Tis a good idea, Gwaelur. It's been too long since I did some real spelunking."
Bitur reaches into his pack and pulls out his Miner's pick. He then addresses the rest of the party that aren't otherwise occupied:
"Don't know how big this place is. I figure we'll mark our path with the pick as we go. Should we not be back in a half-an-hour or so, just wait longer. If more than hour passes, then get worried."
Bitur then proceeds to give the two-minute tutorial on the various markings dwarves would use when exploring caves and what they mean. (i.e. which direction was taken at a fork, collapsed passage ahead, slippery passage, etc.)
With that done, Bitur looks at Gwaelur and says "Ready?" and proceeds to walks toward the exit on the other side of the room.
Prestolwen returns with fresh water. She heats up the mead using the fire. "I am willing to stay with this maiden, if any of the band wish to explore further. She should awake soon, if all went well with her."
"I'll go with you Gwaelur and Bitur. Though, behind you I should think."
Hell hath no fury, like a woman's scorn for video games.
You are more than welcome to join us. This should be fun.
Thoroncir will stay to guard Gilraen and the injured woman, unless the princess bids him go with the Dwarves to explore further.
"I would love to join all of you, but I'm afraid some of my skills would be a bit of a liability inside, namely archery. I would come along though, and provide support through my spells if need be. "
"I will join you as well, though my lance will be little more use than Redward's arrows. There is always the sword."
"You laugh at me because I'm different; I laugh at you because I'm on nitrous."
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Rorimac listens to Bitur. "If you don't mind, I would be interested in seeing what is further in."
Mulligan gets the fire nice and warm, and lays some cloaks down for the lady to lie on. "I'm sure Deor can take of the fire now. I'm going to take a look round in here, see if the Trolls left anything around other than food and wood".
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Ceol notes, to Gilraen and Prestolwen, "By Eonwë's grace, and your own skills, it seems that our foundling is quickly on the mend."
He nods to Thoroncir. "I agree, it shall be good for a strong sword arm to remain here, just in case. May there be little need for it." He claps Thoroncir on the shoulder, and stands, heading to the dwarves and hobbits.
"I shall follow, as well."
"Is it just me, or does it seem like a bad idea to leave those of us who aren't as good in cave-fighting down inside a troll's cave, in a troll-infested area, when there's perfectly good sunlight barely a hundred feet away. I think we should move this young lady out into the fresh air- probably do her some good."
Bitur will welcome anyone who wants to come along on the spelunking adventure.
He tells Throncir:
"Since you're staying behind and there's now more of us, gives us a few hours to explore. If there's any part of the cave that looks different from the immediate vicinity, as if it's been carved out from an earlier time than this...or a more recent for that matter, we'll save that for later since I think it would be wise to have all of us present when exploring those parts. I would guess as well the trolls probably didn't go to much deeper than this cavern, but that's just conjecture."
Last edited by Hoopy Frood; 01 Apr 2010 at 06:21 PM.
"I counsel her staying where she is, at least until she awakes. We have good men outside on watch and a strong party on the lookout for what dangers may lurk in the inner caverns." Prestolwen settles herself near the small fire with one eye on the strange, sleeping maiden, whose eyelids are fluttering as she moans softly.
Last edited by eleanorigby; 01 Apr 2010 at 06:49 PM.
Deor makes a fair point, but Thoroncir will defer to the healers' good judgment as to whether the young woman can - or should - be moved out into the sunshine.
Prestolwen, Gilraen, Gil-Gandel, Thoroncir and Deor stay with the injured woman. Ithilneth maintains her watch at the top of the ravine, Sala and Ceol outside the cave down near the bottom of the ravine.
Mulligan explores in detail the two caves already found and cleared. She finds little of value until finally she checks under the pile of dried bovine dung. Beneath this pile is a rough hewn board and beneath this is a metal strong box far too big for her to handle. It is 6’x4’x4’ and locked but not trapped. She will need help to pull it up. Thoroncir and Gil-Gandel cannot quite lift it until they get the levers used to open the cave. Then they slowly lift it and Mulligan pulls it to solid ground and swiftly unlocked the simple lock. Inside is a vast treasure, gold, silver and copper. Amazingly, all the coins are shining and sorted. On counting there are 2300 gold, 3400 silver and 2200 copper coins.
Bitur and Gwaelur lead a small party consisting of Rorimac, Drindoleth, Theogrim and Redward. After the first 50’ Rorimac finds the tracks are few and many weeks old at least. Bitur and Gwaelur find the cave to be mostly natural. It shows all the signs of having been carved centuries ago by water. They cautiously continue back about 500’ before finding a side passage too small for trolls. A quick check reveals the trolls stuffed stalagmites into it to block it off though. Probably about 80 years ago by Dwarven reckoning. Another 200’ down the party finds a massive cave-in completely blocking the large tunnel. It appears to about 20 years old.
"Have we run out of options, then? I am curious about that side passage, but we have a rescued woman to watch for an a mission, do we not? I'd say lets go back; we've found what we can. "
I think you may well be right Redward. We have had enough adventure in this cave already. We do have another mission and a wounded lady to attend to.
Thoroncir's eyes widen at the sight of all the loot. He is puzzled, though, that the oafish trolls would have the coins so carefully sorted; perhaps it fell into their hands already thus arrayed. The Sea-knight captain will look at a representative three dozen coins or so - who minted them? How old are they? Do they appear as good as new, or worn but well-polished?
The coins are varied is size, wear and age.
"Agreed Redward. Though, I am curious as to what would put trolls off so much that they'd block a cavern with stalagmites, and leave it blocked for as many years as they have. It's definitely something to make note of, especially since all too often the answers to such mysteries tend to find you whether or not you are looking for them."
*listening, watching, singing softly*
*pauses*
Yes. For now it sounds as though it would be much trouble to investigate what has been blocked away, and if it has not been out for many years, I for one am content that it remain that way. Indeed if Bitur and Gwaelur think it feasible, I would have no objection to seeing the trolls' handiwork improved upon; but not if it be likely to cost much time and trouble.
*continues*
Librarians rule, Oook
The strange maid opens her eyes and gasps. Prestolwen turns to see an expression of fear on the young woman's face. "Gilraen! Our patient is awake!"
Deor quietly tends the fire- no need to frighten the girl by having too many people speaking and moving.
Thoroncir agrees. He will stand by, watchful in case the young woman feverishly or maliciously strikes out against her healers.
Prestolwen speaks in a low tone to the others, "Our patient is awake and weeping. I know not how best to comfort her. She seems afeared of her own life or safety. I will speak with her as best I can. Perhaps she can tell us something about this place."
"Dear lady, please do not weep. We none of us mean you harm. What harm has befallen you and how best can we aid your recovery?"
The strange maiden looks beseechingly at Prestolwen. She seems to struggle with collecting her thoughts, and gladly takes the cup of wine held out for her. She is calmer now, but still sorrowful.
Prestolwen presses her advantage. "Come. Sit closer to the fire. Here is a soft cloak to wrap yourself in. Mayhap you hunger? We have foodstuffs aplenty."
Last edited by eleanorigby; 04 Apr 2010 at 02:29 PM.
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