September 22, 349

Good time is made, despite the weather, which remains the same, and during late morning of the 22nd, the party arrives at the base of the mountain. They stop, in order to decide their next course of action.

Urwing says, "We've got the supplies to climb up the glacier side. Lets get started."

She leaves her warhorse in a woody grassy area to avoid easy detection. It can forage in the area while Urwing is gone.

Angus scratches his head and attempts to look thoughtful.

"Why don't we climb it?" he says after a long moment.

Reg smiles at Angus's comment and then says, "I think we should approach the moutain from the most likely side. Sarah, what do you think?"

Sarah smiles. "We're equipped for the glacier, aren't we? Then we go up that side.. They won't be expecting it."

With that, the party sets off up the glacier. The climbing is casual as people find their footings secure. Snow covering on the glacier is, on average, one foot in depth. Ropes and spikes are needed occasionally to climb over fissures in the ice. After climbing for a couple of hours, the party clims around a couple of rocky outcroppings. Just around the second outcropping, the party stumbles upon an opening in the rocks. The opening is about 12 feet in height and 20 feet in width.

Storing his climbing equipment and organizing his gear, Elderitch says, "Mayhaps this is a concealed entrance into the fortress. We should scout it out just in case. What do you all think?"

Reg will head into the opening, keeping his eyes and ears open.

Urwing smiles. "This may be our hidden entrance. Lets check it out." The paladin takes a moment to repack her climbing equipment, and making sure her sword is ready, she takes the lead position.

"Ready everyone?"

Tabrina eyes the opening.

"It could be a 'back door' to the stronghold," she says in a low voice. "I think we should check it out. What do the rest of you think?"

"Let's go for it," says Angus.

The party enters the opening. The tunnel goes south for 20', curving west after 10. The tunnel has narrowed down to 10' wide and 10' high at this point. The passage goes for 30', after which it opens up into a cave. Looking in, it can be seen to be 30'x50' in size, 30' west, 40' north. Along the south wall, in the west end, is a 10' opening going south. Along the east wall, in the south end, is a 15' wide opening going east.

Urwing shrugs. "How about south?"

"Sounds go to me", replies Reg. Reg waits for Urwing to take the lead and then follows directly behind her.

Tabrina eyes the ceiling. If she sees no sign of nasties up there, she will go in and poke around the chamber, signalling Angus to follow her...tapping the floor as she goes with her staff.

Tabrina sees that there are no stalactites or stalagmites present, so she continues her tapping.

Last, she'll look up each passage in turn.

Urwing pauses, looking at each of you. "Anyone here care to try and map this?"

Sarah says, "I'll try, but I would rather someone else did it as well so we can doublecheck ourselves."

Reg pauses at the junction and looks that the party..."Why doesn't Urwing take the lead...She's a ranger right?"

"Naw...she's just a paladin," corrects Angus.

"While both of our professions are dedicated to fighting evil, I am a paladin, not a ranger. Tracking isn't really my specialty."

"Well, lets search this area first," Urwing suggests, deciding to walk instead of using her Kyrie wings.

Sarah scratches her head. "I doubt this is part of the fortress - why would they build an entrance here only to leave it unguarded even on the icy side of the mountain? If this has been here a while, then we may be facing something new here.." Sarah checks the room to try and find out if it was recently used and to see if she can tell how old the room is.

Looking around, the room looks to be old, as the cave walls are rough stone that look to be part of the mountain. The room is devoid of objects.

While searching the room, all of a sudden, out of the east 15, opening, a large, ape-like creature with white fur attacks the party. It attacks Angus and Reg, swiping its massive paws at them. Angus is hit causing 2 hp damage, while its other paw misses Reg.

Angus utters the ancient battle cry of the Dwarves of Kludar -

"HOLY SHIT!!!"

- and attacks the thing with his magic longsword.

Unfortunately, Angus' longsword goes whooshing through the air, only to miss he beast.

"A yeti??!!" exclaims Tabrina, backing up.

Sarah backs off. "Great Kiri-Jolith, a yeti! I knew this place would be trouble. Do you think you can handle it alone, or do you need my help? I would rather I save my spells for later."

Elderitch moves in strategically from the other side of the yeti trying to score a hit from it's blindside.

Elderitch buries his sword into the Yeti, drawing blood. The Yeti howls in pain.
Reg reels back from the ape's attack, drawing his sword from his back in a single swift motion. After a quick moment to ready himself Reg yells, "Die you son of a golbin!" and charges the ape.

Reg's sword bounces off the Yeti's body.

In the mist of combat Reg yells back to Sarah, "Yes. Hold onto your spells....we'll need them for nastier beasts than this!"

Sarah replies "As well as to make sure you're living afterwards."

Urwing unsheaths her sword and charges the creature. "Tabrina, keep an eye out for others."

Urwing smiles as she strikes at the beast. "Actually I do not think they are related to goblins in any fashion whatsoever."

Urwing's sword manages to penetrate the Yeti's fur, more blood appearing.

With a grin, Reg shrugs and replies, "I couldn't think of anything better to say."

The Yeti strikes back. First, on Angus, it's paw bounces off of his armor. Its other paw grabs Reg, inflicting 4 hp of damage. The Yeti squeezes Reg for an additional 6 hp of damage. Reg is held by the Yeti's large arm.

"Don't worry...uhhh...Reg! We'll free ya!" exclaims Angus, as he presses the attack.

Angus misses with his attack.

Tabrina keeps watch, glancing around nervously.

Elderitch continues his attack, hopefully stiking a vital spot.

Elderitch doesn't manage to find one, but keeps up the attack.

Sarah calls out, "Aim for the legs, knock it down - Reg will be let go of quickly then."

Reg yells, "Ahhh...you bloody bastard!" and tries to strike at the beast's head with his sword.

Urwing moves to strike at the creature's rear to avoid hitting Reg. "Let him go you abominable snowman!"

Her attack is unsuccessful.

Angus' next attack is more successful as he buries his sword into the creature, causing it to let go of Reg and collapse to the ground.

Looking into the 15' wide opening where the Yeti came from reveals it to be only 20' deep. In the alcolve is a pile of branches and leaves. It looks like the Yeti slept here. Also found here are scraps of food and a skeleton of a large creature with small horns. It looks like it belonged to a minotaur, although how it met its fate is anybody's guess.

In the 10' opening to the south, the party finds a pile of items. Amid clothes, bones, and belt buckles are coins, gems, and a pair of gauntlets. In total is 3000gp and 4 gems @500gp each.

"YOWZA!" Angus exclaims in truimph at the sight of the fallen Yeti.

"Hey, cool!" the stupid dwarf says, and tries on the gauntlets.

Sarah calls, "Hold on, they're probably magical. Should I check? I can cast the spell once per day as a gift from Kiri-Jolith so I will always have it. I'm thankful I have it, it's damned useful sometimes."

"Why waste the spell?" he asks with a grin, as he puts them on and flexes his fingers. "I'll know soon enough."

Tabrina rolls her eyes.

Sarah glances around the room, still keeping an eye out. "Reg, how badly hurt are you? I can heal you if need be.. or perhaps Urwing?"

After Angus tries the gauntlets, they shrink to fit his hands. He feels much more powerful.

Urwing will lay hands upon whoever is most wounded if they wish. "Shall we head south now?"

"Let's," says Tabrina.

Urwing will lay hands on Reg. Reg recovers 10 hp, which brings him up to full health.

"Hey...one size fits all!" exclaims the dwarf, then takes them off. "Who want's 'em? I know I sure do!"

Urwing waves to the dwarf. "You are a warrior correct? Then they will serve you as well as anyone here. Keep them."

If no one else protests then Angus will put them back on.

"Great," says Tabrina. "He's already as dumb as an ogre...now he's got the strength of one as well."

Angus puts the gauntleets back on, despite Tabrina's comment.

Looking south, the hallway goes for 40', ending in a wall.

Tabrina goes down and looks at the wall, wondering whether it is natural or man/minotaur made. As far as she could tell, it looks natural like the rest of the cave.

Sarah speaks to Tabrina "Similar to what I wondered earlier, does the wall look newer than the surrounding cave."

Elderitch speaks up, "What about the treasure? I suggest we at least take the gems and some of the gold. Just in case we don't make it back this way, or we have to make a hasty retreat."

If no one else has done so he will proceed to stuff several of the gems into pouches for safe keeping.

Urwing tells Tabrina "Lets check it carefully. Odd that they'd make a hallway for no purpose."

Sarah remarks "It could always have been for storage - the place is cold enough to keep cheese and the like."

Elderitch will step forward to examine the walls for any secret doors or panels, "let's see if there is anything worth while here."

Reg watches for signs of danger while the group explores the southern passage...

Elderitch manages to find a secret door in the east wall in the 10 to 20' section from the south end.

Elderitch picks up the gems and 100gps to carry.

"Someone with good ears should listen first..." says Tabrina.

El listens, but hears nothing. The door is carefully opened to reveal a passageway. The passageway, 10' wide' and made of smooth stone, goes east for 120 feet, after which a four way intersection is seen. Looking the other three directions, the hall north runs for 10' and ends, the hall east runs for 60', an opening on the north side in the 30-40' section, and continues, and the south hall goes for 20' and then ends.

Quickly checking out the north and south halls reveals nothing. The party moves east down to the t-intersection. The north hallway gpes for 60' and beyond, a door in the east wall in the 50-60' section. The east hallway continues beyond another 60', a four-way intersection running north- south in the 30-40' section.

Tabrina looks at Reg...desperately trying to map.

"Hurry up, will you?"

Reg sneers a Tabrina.."Hold you hoses woman..I'm doing the best I can!"

Reg finally finishes with his map and shows it to the rest of the group (looking sternly at Tabrina)...

Tabrina boxes Reg's ears.

"That map looks nothing like these tunnels!" she snaps. "Use your eyes for something other than glaring!"

Reg flushes red, "Fine Miss Map Maker....You want to try it...you do it!" Reg then forces the paper and *pen* on her and starts walking eastward.

Tabrina refuses to take it.

"I'm the only magic user here," she says. "I have enough thinking to do as it is! You're never going to learn by trying to pass the job on to someone else! Now look around you and draw what you see!"

As Reg and Tabrina are babbling, The others decide to go to the door to the north. Looking north from there, the hallway continues for 20', then forms a T-intersection with a 10' hallway running east-west.

Sarah looks around. "Pretty dull place to be in. I wonder if it connects to the fortress at all." She glances back at the two, rolling her eyes. "If Reg messes this up, they'll be fighting till the end of the next decade."

Overhearing Sarah's comment, Reg just glares and starts drawing on his paper. After a moment you see him scratch his head and then look up at all of you. "Okay...how's this look?", he says holding up the map for all of you to see...

Urwing smiles. "We'll let you handle the next yeti or monster that pops out of the woodwork. That should enliven the situation."

"Someone quietly listen at the door."

El listens at the door, but hears nothing.

"That's better," says Tabrina. "See? You're not as dumb as you think you are. Someone open the door, will you?"

Reg growls at Tabrina's jibe, but says nothing. Instead he walks over to the door to help Angus.

Angus opens the door with a smile.

"Avon calling," he says.

Behind the door is a room 20'x30' in dimension (20 south and 20 east). The room has a musty odor to it. The room contains furniture that is piled about. There is a fine layer of dust over everything, giving the appearance that this room has not been visited in a long time.

Is the furniture cheap or expensive? "Should we search the furniture? People have been known to hide money inside furniture. I doubt anyone would mind if we damage the stuff here a bit."

"Damage it? I hope not!" says Tabrina. "When I build my arcane tower of magic, I'll know where to get the furniture for it!"

Reg nods, "Never know what treasures we might find among this stuff."

After entering the room, Reg scribbles some more on this darn map of his....

Angus goes in and farkles.

The party farlkles the room, checking out all of the human-sized furniture, taking care not to break it. Nothing of interest is found. The party leaves the room and heads north to the T- intersection, looking both ways. The passage west goes for 60', ending in a door. In the 30-40' section of the south wall is a passage going south. The east passage goes for 30', ending in a door.

Reg scribbles some more....

Afterwards he looks up and says, "Let's check out the door to the west first."

"Let's do the door," says Tabrina.

The group goes down to the door at the west end of the hallway, looking down the south hallway as it it passed. It goes for 20', ending in a door.

The door opens onto a 10' wide passage going north-south. It goes 20' south and ends in a dead end. Going north, it immediately turns west. Turning the corner, the hall continues, from the corner, 20', also ending in a dead end. A search for secret-concealed doors at both ends reveals nothing. Standing at the door, the party wonders what to do next.

"Let's look south down the passage east of this door," says Tabrina, heading that way.

Urwing nods, and takes her position on the front ranks.

The hallway goes 20' before ending in a door. Nothing is heard when the party listens at the door. Opening it reveals a 10' by 30' room (10'south, 20' east.)

The room is totally empty.

The party goes north, then east, going to the door at the eastern end of the hallway. Nothing is heard when the door is listened to. Opening it reveals a bedroom. There is a large bed along the middle of the east wall, with ruffled blankets on it. The bed is framed by two wooden dressers. The room is 30'x30' in dimension (10 south, 10 north, 30 east.) In the south wall, west corner is a 10' niche with a door against the southern wall.

Urwing checks out the bed to see if it looks to be recently slept in.

The blankets have been ruffled.

Urwing draws her sword, and pokes at the blankets carefully, wary of things that like to wrap about their victims...

The bed feels cool to the touch.

The room does not look ancient. The floor is not covered with alot of dust.

Sarah pulls open the dressers and peeks. Inside one of the dressers are clothes that are larger than human, presumably minotaur. They consist of shirts, pants, robes, etc.

The other dresser is empty.

Tabrina searches the room.

The room is searched thoroughly, revealing nothing else.

El listens to the door in the south. Upon hearing nothing he opens it. Revealed is a 20'x20' room (10' west and 20' south). The room looks like a bathroom of large dimensions. Along the south wall is a large 8' cast iron bathtub. It has a few inches of dirty water in it. Along the west wall is a basin on top of a stand. The basin is empty. Along the east wall is a large chamberpot, which is also empty.

Sarah comments "Not much here, I wonder who lives down here."

Urwing will poke her sword into the water, to see if it may be hiding anything.

"I wonder if this little maze is connected to the main fortress above..?" asks Tabrina speculativly, before turning to Reg. "Got that map updated yet, Michaelangelo?"

Reg replies..."Naa, been to busy poking around this place. Give me a few more minutes and I'll have it updated."

Urwing comments, "I would guess that it was. But since this place seems somewhat deserted, the question is if any connecting tunnels are still passable, or was this place deserted because it somehow got disconnected by a rockfall or other accident."

"I doubt if it has been deserted for long...otherwise the water in the tub would have evaporated."

"Good point. Guess we'll see. Lets move on."

With that, the party closes the door and moves on. Going back out into the hallway, then south at the T-intersection, they arrive at the hallway running east-west. From the party's vantage point, the hall continues beyond sight. In the 30' to 40' section is a 4-way intersection with halls running north-south 10' wide.

Moving up to the 4-way, the south hall goes for 30', ending in a door. The north hallway goes for 30' then ends. The hallway continues east for 60' and beyond, an exit in the 30'-40' section of the north wall running north.

Deciding to check out the door, El puts his ear to it. From behing the door can be heard faint sounds. It sounds like talking, although what is being said can't be made out.

Urwing takes position at the door. Placing her shoulder next to it she prepares to enter. Quietly she whispers, "Ready?"

Elderitch keeps his sword at the ready and prepares to enter combat.

"Let's go for it," says Tabrina, as she backs up...

Angus readies his sword.

Reg smiles. "Finally...some action.", he says as he readies his sword.

Sarah steps back. "If they aren't mages or clerics, let them come through the door if they have to. It will make our lives a whole lot easier."

Elderitch readies his sword also, and opens the door.

In front of the party is a 10' wide hallway running esat-west. Immediately accross the hallway is a closed door. Standing in the hallway, 10' east of the door, are two minotaurs. They are carrying sheathed swords. They are facing each other, one being turned away from the party. They do not notice the party entering the hall.

Taking advantage of this, the party quickly moves in to attack. Reg, El, and Angus move in on the first one. Reg's sword draws blood. El's sword mangles its arm, while Angus spews blood all over the place as the minotaur falls.

Assaulting the other minotaur, El's sword deflects off the minotaur, while Reg and Angus plunge their swords into it. A shrill scream comes from the minotaur. Continuing their attacks, the minotaur is polished off. Looking around to see if anyone or thing heard the scream, the party sees that the hall goes, from the door, east for 30' and ends in a door. It also goes west for 60' and beyond. In the 30'-40' section of the south wall is a hallway going south.

Searching the bodies, 120gp are found.

Elderitch places an ear to the door nearest to the group and listens for any noise.

No sound is heard from behind the door.

Sarah mutters a curse under her breath. "Next time, knock them out only. We do not need a hallway splattered with blood to announce our presence! I suppose there is no point in hiding the bodies either. Who will keep track of the money?"

Urwing notes something down on a piece of paper. "I will. I think all of you know I won't be stealing from the pot."

Urwing then gets a mischevous smile. "Although there is a charity which I know wouldn't mind some extra funds. Perhaps each of you could make a mandatory donation off the top."

"Excellent!" whispers Tabrina, pleased at the turn of events. "Shall we get the next door?"

Urwing is ready to open the next door.

"Ohhh. About the bodies Sarah,sorry..." says Angus sheepishly. "But it was fun!"

"I will keep track of the money from now on," says Tabrina.

Sarah asks, "Charity? Which charity are you talking about Urwing?"

Urwing laughs. "Why the Holy Order Retirement Fund for Paladins of course, of which I am the chair."

"That figures," mutters Tabrina.

"Paladins..." says Angus with a grimace.

Urwing smiles. "I am joking of course. I will keep the money in good faith and split it fairly. For myself, I do give much of my money to the poor and to those who uphold the faith of the Gods."

Urwing turns to open the door to the south. Revealed is a hallway going south. It runs for 60' in total before ending in a door facing south. In the 10'20' section in the east wall is a door. In the 30'-40' section is a 4-way intersection with a hall going east-west. Moving to the last mentioned door in the east wall, it is opened to reveal a room, 20'x20' in size (10' north, 20' east). The room is filled with miscellaneous junk, ie: boxes, crates, rubbish. Searching the room, nothing of value is found.

The party moves down to the 4-way. Looking west, the hall goes for 60' and beyond, a door in the 30-40' section of the north wall. Looking east, the hall goes for 60' and beyond. A 4-way intersection, with hallway running north-south, is in the 30-40' section.

Elderitch looks toward Tabrina, "Which way now?"

"I'd like to hit that door to the south," whispers Tabrina.

The party goes to the door to the south. Listening, El hears nothing. Opening the door reveals a 20x20' room (10' west, 20' south). The room looks to be a large walk-in closet. It contains mops and brooms hanging on the wall, with pails, rags, and other cleaning supplies on a shelf. Also in here are two minotaurs lip-locked and in each other's arms.

Urwing quickly says in common, "Keep silent or be slain."

"Get outta here! Cn't ya see I'm busy?" the male minotaur yells, in crude common, at the party.

She holds her sword ready. "Someone tie them up. There's some rope in my bag. Gag them too."

Sarah steps back to watch the corridor. "Hopefully we won't have any trouble here."

"Hey, what are they doing?" wonders Angus.

"Attack them, you dumb fool!" snaps Tabrina, encouraging the dwarf with a firm foot to his rear.

Angus goes in and attacks.

Urwing says to Angus, "Stop! Give them a chance to yield."

Angus stops, sword upraised to strike.

Tabrina glares at anyone and everyone.

Tabrina, after leaving her imprint on Angus' behind, looks incredulously at Urwing.

"What do you propose to do with them?" she asks, "Convert them?"

"Just tie them up for now, where they won't get in our way. Its likely they won't be discovered, or they'd not have come down here as they did."

"Once we're done upstairs, we can release them to do what they will. We are not here to kill innocents."

The battle is quick and bloodless. The minotaurs are gagged and bound. Searching the minotaurs and around the room is fruitless.

The party leaves the room and closes the door behind them.

"Save your anger for the minotaurs, or other monsters. That door has done nothing to you." smirks Urwing.

"I suppose that qualifies as paladin humour?" asks Tabrina. "Strange...I didn't think you guys were allowed to be funny."

"Not intentionally, anyway," says Angus with a chuckle.

Urwing answers back "And since when is the desire to make people feel better not a noble trait? Humor is as much a gift from the high gods as a blessing or prayer."

The party stands at the 4-way intersection, deciding which way to go.

"Let's do the door to west," says Tabrina.

Urwing will shapechange to look like a minotaur.

After the process is complete, the party proceeds to the door to the west. Listening, El hears nothing. Opening it reveals a hallway going north for 30', after which a T-intersection is seen with a hall running east-west. The party realizes that the T-intersection has been seen before, only from the east.

Closing the door, the party proceeds west for 70' past the door, then a T-intersection with a hall running north-south is seen. The north hall goes for 10', ending in a door facing north. Looking south, the hall goes for 40', ending in a door in the south. The party is getting tired from the day's adventure.

"I'm getting tired from the day's adventure," complains Tabrina. "Let's head back to one of those deserted rooms and hole up for the night."

"Which room? Reg, any rooms you could recommend by looking at the map? I�have a spell which can help guard us if necessary."

The party decides to go to the 20x20' room just north of where they are to hole up for the night. Making themselves comfortable and taking turns being the watch, the night passes uneventfully.

Go to September 23,349.

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