Turn 79 -- Spelunking we will go...

Gnore stands from behind his stalagmite hiding place and grimaces as he stretches his legs. Several hours at watch cause his legs to cramp as he quietly sits and watches the passageway before him. Walking across the short passageway, he shakes the 'needles' from his legs and gets the blood flowing once again. Once secure that his legs will react at the first sign of trouble, he settles back behind the stalagmite again, his heightened dwarven sight scanning the passageway before him. Just the same as the hours before, the passageway is empty and quiet. His mind wanders as he begins to fight the boredom of the watch. Looking back at the shack, he contemplates what his companions may be doing.

"If'n I know 'em well, they be arguing over the split of the loot taken," he quietly whispers. "Ras will take care of me split of the coin," he thinks to himself, "and as fer any other, I have 'ere all I need." he muses as he pats his great bastard sword.

Inside the shack, Gnore's thoughts become reality as the Red Feather Company discusses the distribution of the goods taken from the fallen bandits. The group stands around the pile of loot gazing at it all longingly, the only things remaining being those deemed magical by Dain and any jewelry.

"Wal, it looks like it's time ta divvy up some o' this. At the least, we'll have ta split it up ta carry it," says Ortho to break the silence.

"I guess we all need ta say what we'd like and then Talimar should decide who gets what. Agreed?"

Seeing the approving nods of his companions, Ortho continues, "Wal, if we be a 'choosin' then my preference would be this 'ere shield. Seems Ah 'lost' one of these somewhere."

The others ignore the sarcasm of the dwarven priest as he also picks up the blue cloak. "Ah'd like the levitating boots as well but it seems kinda pointless with me wings of flying."

"Ah can't wear the mail, being a dwarf and all, and Ah can't use the mace or sickle. The clerical scrolls might best be used in Garth and Randor's hands. What do the rest of ye say?"

Kre mutters, "Great, nothing of much interest here. But, if we're going to divvy this up I might as well take something." He pauses to look at the treasures, "That key looks interesting, I wonder what lock it fits? I'll take that and maybe the quartz dragon's foot; always good to have something to bet with. That looks like the most interesting to me. Of course, if anyone has any objections I'll listen..." He smiles as he pockets his goods and walks off to the side of the shack.

Randor looks over the pile of items, "Hmmm," he says scratching his chin, "There aren't too many things I could use. I guess I'll take one of these scrolls." With that he picks up one of the scroll cases and places it into his backpack.

Ras looks up from his book, pausing in recording the possessions of everyone, "Doesn't look like much I can use here but if you don't mind, I will wear this nice sapphire ring until we need to sell it." Seeing no objections from the others, he puts the ring on and then returns to recording the entries in his record book.

Druckner eyes all the loot with sparkling eyes, "Well Ras, keep a good account of all these fine items. When we get back to civilization, this'll be mighty handy for buying a small mansion or the like. Something that could be the RFC's base of operations."

He then picks up the small ceramic house and tosses it gingerly around, "So Dain, what does this do exactly? It looks like a wondrous item. It's too valuable for any one person, maybe this should be a group treasure?"

Talimar takes the small house from Druckner and eyes it for a moment, "I believe that on the utterance of a command, this model expands to full size and can be sued as an excellent place of rest, and storage." The elf frowns, trying to remember what he learned about such items from his master twenty years ago. "I believe that it can only resume full size for a limited time and anyone left inside when it returns to its small size is killed. But any inanimate items are safe...I think. It has been a long time since I studied items such as these. When we have a chance Dain, we will have to try and divine the command word for it, who knows what may be hidden inside."

Dain nods his head at the words from Talimar, "Your memory serves you correct. I was taught much the same, although I know each one has a different command word. It will take some time for us to divine this one I'm sure."

"I agree that it is too valuable for any one party member, but I see no reason why Dain can't carry it around," answers Talimar as he hands the house back to the wizard. Dain quickly deposits the house into one of the many pockets of his robe.

Kersath steps forward to pick up the suit of chain mail left. "If no one objects?" he asks as he lifts the mail up. Checking the fit, he quickly puts the mail on finding it to be a surprisingly good fit.

Garth ambles forward and picks up the mace and the remaining scroll case. "The mace is my preferred weapon," he says in answer to the looks of the others.

"Well that about covers it," responds Talimar. "The rest of these items we will take with us and sell when we return to the surface. Let's get out of this shack and get Gnore with us and decide where to proceed from here."

Back outside, Gnore's thoughts return to the here and now as he tries to remember the words to a great dwarven war ballad. Making a mental note to ask Druckner or Ortho at a later time, he sees the others walking toward his guard post. Keeping an eye on the passageway ahead, he greets the others nonetheless.

"Well we're all healed up and we've divvied up the loot," begins Talimar to the assembled group. "Where do we head now? Any suggestions?"

"Wherever everyone else wants to go is fine with me," answers Ras with his usual noncommittal response. "I would kinda like to make sure we explore all the areas. I will follow, don't worry," he answers as the others eye him suspiciously for a moment.

"I don't really care where we're headed either," begins Kre, "as long as we can get out of these damp, dark, smelly, dank, confining caves soon. I never liked caves, never like them at all."

"I second that," mutters Ras as he shivers involuntarily. "Way too cold down here."

"I'll follow Talimar," begins Gnore, "That's why the elf gets to sleep during combat, because he makes all the decisions." Gnore laughs at his own joke then stops in thought..."Although lately he's been awake for most of the recent battles. Peculiar that...." Gnore rubs his chin and waits for the rest of the company to decide a path to take.

Talimar just scowls at the dwarf then pulls out the map and speaks to the rest of the group, "We are currently here in the Blue Garl Cavern. We should search this cavern while those wounded recover further. Then we move on, checking The Dome, and then the Crab Petals as we move on." The elf's finger traces the route through the caves.

The gray elf looks back up at the party for a moment, "We need to move, pushing Ramor's cronies in front of us, allowing none through to escape or attack from the rear. When we investigate the side caves, we will need to leave a guard in the entrance for protection as well as anyone trying to sneak past us."

Talimar looks at his companions for a long moment, thinking, "We should also change our marching order. Rather than a strict order, we should move in three groups. Point, main and rear guard. The point would be the dwarves, they know most about the caves and tunnels to spot problems. Maybe preceded by Kre as an advance scout. The rear guard should have say Garth and Ras. The rest of us in between." He looks around at everyone before asking, "What say you all?"

"Sounds like a fine plan to me, friend Talimar," answers Dain.

"Fine with me," answers Ortho to the nods of Ras, Randor and Garth.

"Ok Tal," begins Druckner, "I'll go on point with Ortho, Gnore and Kre. Kre and I should be a bit ahead because with all that metal armor, Ortho and Gnore will be a bit too noisy. And I don't think we need to tarry here any more, I'm fit and ready and so's Kersath."

After thinking a moment, Druckner amends his first thought, "Well, maybe it is best if Kre goes on point alone. Kersath and I can stick back with Ortho and ol' grumpy Gnore. That way Kersath and I can use our crossbows. Although it's dangerous work for you Kre, just say so if you want some reinforcements."

Kre smiles, "Dangerous. Ha! I'll take main scout position until Kersath feels better, no offense Kersath but you got hurt badly and you need to rest as much as possible for a while. Trust me, I hate caves as much as you hate cities but you still look a bit sore. I'll make the familiar sound of a panicked brown chested, feather headed, rat-tailed gorman if I need help. You all know what it sounds like right?" Kre laughs at his own joke.

Watching the young thief brag, a wide grin comes over Kersath's face. Flexing his muscles and moving towards the group from his position near the cavern wall, he says, "I appreciate your concern, Kre, but I think I'm fit enough to do what needs to be done. Besides, when you off a horse you need to get right back on it. Perhaps we should both go on point and you'll also get the benefit of my crossbow's cover."

Kre smiles again, "I admire your fast healing, I suppose there are some things about Drow that I have yet to learn. I like the idea of both of us on point and I like the idea of your protective crossbow even better. I've learned early on as a thief that it's always good to have your backside covered, especially in dark, damp, smelly caves.

"Then it's decided," begins Talimar. "Take your positions and let's be off."

"I'll take right flank on point," answers Gnore as he takes up his position.

Within moments, the group is in position and sets out exploring the caves once again. Having explored the cave to the north of the shack and knowing that nothing is there behind them, the group sets out right away to the area on the map marked as the Dome. Kre and Kersath quietly and eerily disappear into the shadows ahead soon followed by Druckner with crossbow handy, Ortho and Gnore. Talimar, Dain and Randor make up the main body of the group, followed by Ras and Garth to the rear. Dain carries a torch in the center of the group, allowing the humans in the party to make their way through the cavern but still allowing the dwarves at point the benefit of their heightened vision.

The only sound heard by the advancing party beyond their own is the occasional drip-drop of water falling from the ceiling or running along the walls and the scurrying of some small rodents about the caverns. As the group moves deeper into the caverns the chamber becomes colder. Ras quietly remarks several times about the chill of the cave and pulls his cloak tighter around him.

After several hundred yards of walking, the party enters the chamber marked as the Dome. The ceiling height here is about 25 feet above the surface of the water and the water appears to be about 15 feet deep in the middle of the pool. A huge pillar dominates the chamber, it appears to resemble a mace of some type. As the party looks on, Ortho steps forward to whisper, "Ol' Grizzler made mention that the mace was of the hero Marthammor Duin. He didn't say much else though."

In the center of the pool is a body floating just beyond the pillar. The body is face-down and the black cloak on the figure spreads out on the surface of the water like a dark cloud of ill-omen.

"I don't like the feel of this," mumbles Ras as he looks around the chamber, pulling his cloak even tighter around him.