Turn 74 -- Questions and Downward

As everyone begins to prepare for the descent down the shaft, Garth sidles up to Bob and begins to ask him a few quick questions. Speaking softly and not unkindly, he says, "I know the others didn't see fit to ask yer name, but I'm willing to do so now. Mine is Garth. Yer welcome to use it."

'Bob' eyes Garth suspiciously for a moment as he is unsure of the kind nature of the dwarf after the rough treatment of the others. He simply nods to Garth though and does not offer his name.

"You have explained much about why you and the others are here," continues Garth, "but how was yer party knowin' we were waitin' fer them?"

'Bob' thinks for a moment, considering Garth before answering, "We had heerd of the deeds of yer group from gossip in the countryside, so we know'd ye might be findin' yer way to us sooner er later. We had the wee ones hidin' and watchin' the entrance to the caves. They sayd ye came in makin' a bunch o' racket, you was easy to hear comin'. After ye stopped at the ward, one o' em came to warn us and we come to get ye."

"You mention the magical priestly ward where you met us," begins Garth again. "Who is the priest amongst you and which god does he worship?"

His eyebrows furrowing once again in quiet contemplation, 'Bob' once again considers the question from Garth. Still uncomfortable with betraying his companions fully, he finally decides that giving the name would be no harm. "That would be Shilek, she's the priestess. I don' be knowin' what god she worships, I don' keep up much with that stuff."

"Does your little band have any other magic users or special powers? We'd sure appreciate knowin' this."

'Bob' shakes his head and looks away, "I don' know much about that stuff, don' like dealin' with it neither. Can' trust it like ye can a good steal sword if ye know what ah mean."

Hearing the conversation between 'Bob' and Garth from near the shaft, Dain smiles at the last remark from 'Bob' and decides to ask a few questions of his own.

"What exactly do you do with the slaves after you kidnap them?" he asks as he exhales a big puff of pipe smoke into the prisoners face.

'Bob' coughs and frowns at the mage, instantly taking on a hard edge at the sight of the wizard. "We sells 'em to the orcs. They pay real good to. Don' know or care what 'appens to 'em after." He gives a wicked smile to the mage before continuing, "They pay extra fer magic wielding ones such as yeself too."

"I'm sure they do," smiles Dain, "Well worth the price as well, I'm sure. Have you recently captured a woman by the name of Jelenneth?" He gives the man the description of Jelenneth and lets him think on it.

"Aw, I can't really say," answers 'Bob', "there's been so many ye see. If I sees her agin, I'll be sure an' greet her real nice fer ye." He smiles and Dain and licks his lips, an evil look to his eyes.

"Why you no good," begins Kre as he draws a dagger and moves toward 'Bob'.

"That's enuff o' that, lad," says Ortho as he and Randor step between Kre and 'Bob' who is laughing at the young rogue.

"We've wasted enough time with 'Bob' here," begins Talimar as Kre steps away from the smiling 'Bob'.

"Lookin' at the map, Tal, what say we check the Blue Garl, The Dome, and the Crab Petals before proceeding to the Chamber of the All-Hearing Gods and the Grand Cavern? That way we leave nothin' unchecked behind us. We may even want to stop in the Crab Petals to plan our foray into the Grand Cavern where Ramor most likely will be. What say you, Tal?"

Talimar nods his head in agreement with Ortho, "Good point, we don't want anyone coming up behind us."

"Sounds like a dandy plan to me," offers Dain as the others nod in agreement as well.

Turning to Talimar, Kersath says, "I think I should go down first, before 'Bob' and Ortho, this way I can check to see if the coast is clear, while staying to the shadows. After that, the rest of you can come down and it'll also be helpful if our dear friend 'Bob' tries to do something stupid. If you do not agree, I'll go down right after Ortho."

Gnore nods his head in agreement that Kersath will be best in front and on Ortho's plan of progress through the caves. "If Kersath takes lead, I'll follow Ortho; otherwise, I'll follow the Drow."

Talimar shakes his head in disagreement with Kersath and Gnore, "I don't think that would be a good idea. We don't know what sort of traps may be placed down the ladder. We shall send Bob down first, followed by Ortho, then you can go down Kersath followed by Gnore. After that, I will go down, then Druckner, Ras, Randor, Dain, Kre and Garth to protect the rear."

Shivering from the natural chill of the cavern as well as some slight effect from his chilling near-death earlier, Ras grabs another coat out of his pack and puts it on, "That's better. Was kinda getting chilly and it really looks kidna cold down there. The order is fine with me. Let's go." The small halfling slips on his warm boots and gloves as he prepares to descend the ladder.

Kre nods glumly, "I never did like caves, much rather be out in the woods or some alleys, but if we must then we must. Perhaps there's some treasure down there for the taking, who knows?"

Everyone stands around for a moment longer, anxious to descend the ladder and be going on but concerned with the inevitable trap below them. Talimar looks each companion for a moment, searching them for any sign of weakness before nodding to Ortho to lead on. The stout dwarf nods and nudges Bob forward. Randor helps Bob position himself on the ladder, offering his arms to the side tied to Bob's side as Gnore and Druckner take up positions guarding the shaft. As Bob moves down, Ortho steps onto the ladder and follows him, about three rungs behim him as Bob slowly descends. The other companions follow in turn and within a few moments, the entire group in on the lower level.

Stepping onto the ground floor as he brings up the rear, Garth sees Gnore off to the right flank with sword in hand and on guard as well as Druckner to the left with his crossbow level and ready. Ortho is a step behind Bob with Randor, Dain and Talimar standing together. Knowing without having to see, he knows that Kersath, Ras and Kre are somewhere in the shadows making use of the natural darkness and the flickering shadows of the torchlight to offer protection. They have come down at the southern wall of a chamber running north to south about ninety feet in length and perhaps fifty feet at it's widest. Some rotted wooden pick-axe handles and rusted axe heads lie around this small chamber. It is otherwise bare.

Kre and Ras simultaneously step from the shadows before Talimar, each from a different side of the cavern. "We've searched both sides of this chamber," begins Kre, "No traps or hidden passages to speak of."

About that time, Kersath steps forward as well, "Coast is clear to the end of the chamber. All quiet ahead."

Talimar nods at the information from the companions, "Ok, we proceed as planned. Ortho will lead Bob forward with the rest of us behind. Look sharp, we know they've got to be ahead of us."

Ortho rises from the feet of Bob with a satisfied smile on his face. Looking down, the companions see makeshift shackles on the feet of Bob, Ortho having placed them there to slow him down if necessary. Hefting his axe, Ortho nods to Bob and whispers, "Lead on, and know that this axe can find it's mark in ye backside at the first sign o' trouble."

Bob nods to Ortho and turns to slowly walk toward the exit from the chamber. The companions fall in behind Ortho, each with their weapons out and at the ready, nerves tight and muscles ready to spring into action. As the group moves through the chamber, the torch casts strange shadows along the cavern walls. Randor, Kre, Ras, Talimar and Dain, being unfamiliar with the particulars of being underground jump at almost everything flickering shadow that moves across the stalagmites and walls of the chamber. The dwarves silently laugh at the reaction of their companions while Kersath simply remains focused on the way ahead. Within a few moments, the others have settled their nerves somewhat and no longer jump at the shadows, although eyes constantly search the area around them.

Once they reach the end of the chamber they are in, they see the passage continuing north for quite a ways and branching off to the west as well. Nothing but darkness may be seen beyond the range of the torchlight. Bob begins to move to the north before Ortho grabs his shirt from behind.

"We said to the west," whispers the dwarf with as much venom as he can muster while remaining quiet.

Bob simply nods his head and leads to the west again. The passage looks the same as all the others in the mine complex and continues in darkness for another sixty feet or so before opening up to the north into a vast cavern. The shadows from the torches seem to travel farther in this cavern than the other cramped passages. Perhaps fifty feet or so to the north of the entrance where the party stands is a small shack or building of some sort. Nothing can be heard in the cavern beyond the occasional scurrying of some small furry animal or the dripping of water in the cavern.