Turn 90 -- Cleansing the Caverns

While no one seems to have the heart to make any concrete suggestions

on the party's next course of action, Ras decides to take the initiative

as he turns to address Talimar, "Why don't you, myself, Snagger and Dain

go down and rescue the human prisoner left, and get Snagger's equipment

and etc. It shouldn't take long and that way everyone else can rest.

We are safe here and we need rest but we need to do something with

Randor's body soon. A proper burial would be the best thing but maybe

not possible." He then says to the rest of the group, "Stay here and

concentrate on healing our comrades, we will need everyone shortly.

Also, don't go adventuring down the hall, I have set several traps

there." The short halfling then grabs his backpack and bags, making

preparations to move out again.

Gnore smiles at the halfling, giving Druckner a slight elbow, "Well it

seems Ras has taken to giving orders now, eh? Mind you, I won't argue

with a Halfling that killed a Large Lizard." Gnore laughs from where he

sits. Taking on a serious frown, he stands to address the company.

"About the female orcs and their spawns...What shall we do about them?

If we leave them here, the Bloodskulls may reappear years from now and

plague the land again. Do we leave them for the next band of heroes to

deal with or do we take care of them now and end any possibilities of a

rebirth to their clan? Either way makes no difference to me." Gnore

states flatly with arms crossed over his chest.

With the healthier members of the Red Feather Company discussing the

Group's next course of action, Kersath moans softly and stirs in the

fitfull slumber of recovery. As the dark elf wakes up, he takes a look

around him at the battlefield. "Is it over?" he asks of the others as

they now take notice of him. Attempting a weak smile, he adds, "And I

missed all the fun...Hey Tal, it seems we switched positions here. Up

until now, you got all the sleep in battles." Suddenly noticing the

grim looks of his companions, he quickly looks around, searching for

something. "Where's Brother Randor? What happened?" his gaze finally

homes in on Randor's body lying motionless on the floor.

"Is he..." he asks and looks to Talimar; knowing the answer already the

tough ranger shuts his eyes tightly and surprises everybody, including

himself with a single tear rolling down his cheek. "Not another

one...and he died trying to avenge me, just because I wasn't quick

enough. I wasn't fast enough to block and destroy that filthy orog."

Rising to his feet heavily, still fatigued and badly wounded from the

battle, he slowly approaches the still body of the fallen cleric.

Kneeling down, he quietly mumbles a prayer to Mielikki. "Oh Goddess of

Nature, of things that grow, please allow this man of virtue passage to

the eternal hunting grounds of your domain, for he is a just man, a man

of honor, and I find none more worthy of you," his voice trails off.

Leaning down, Kersath takes Randor's red feather from his cloak and

fastens it to his own right shoulder. "May your spirit of fairness and

justice be with me always, dear friend. Your guidance was unique and

will be sorely missed."

Kersath then returns to where he rested before and with a deep sigh,

shuts off to his surroundings in a form of meditation. Having come to

terms with the loss of Randor on their own already, the other companions

leave Kersath to his mourning as they continue to discuss the next

course of action. Several theories and suggestions are brought forth by

the companions as the focus of the conversation focuses on continuing

down into the caverns and the proper handling of Randor's body.

Having said his prayers for the departed Randor, Kersath gingerly rises

again to speak, "We should not just leave Brother Randor to rot in here.

On the other hand, we cannot afford to return to Milbourne. As far as

we know, orcish reinforcements might come here any day now. I suggest

we give him a proper burial ourselves. That chamber before, what was

it's name? 'Chamber of the all-hearing gods?', sounds like a good idea.

That place did instill some awe in me, even though I know it was

probably my over-developed imagination. Still...maybe that place does

have something special in it..." his voice trails off and Kersath,

fatigued even by talking, sits back and waits for comments from the

others.

Garth listens to the words of the elven ranger and nods, "I agree that

we can ill afford to go all the way back to Milbourne, but we should at

least leave the cave. We are feeling so poorly that we should rest for

at least a day and recuperate. If we stay here in the cave, we may be

attacked again with no where to run. At least outside with our animals,

we can at least flee if we must."

Feeling confident and sensing that he has the attention of all the

members, Garth continues with his plan, "From the outside of the cave,

at a safe distance, we can monitor who comes and goes. Assuming that

the cave has no other entrance. Though now, I am not so sure."

"As for burying Randor here, I say nay. I would not trust the vermin

in here to leave his body in peace. I think we should at least see him

buried safely in the woods or set free upon a pyre as is a warrior's

wont. Let Bob run where he may. If we see him again, well, we warned

him what would happen should he flee."

Having said his peace, Garth moves over to the body of Randor and

begins the task of wrapping him in a shroud of his cloak and blanket.

Garth adds his own cloak to complete the job.

As Garth works on Randor, Gnore speaks up again, "As I've said before,

I'll be more than happy to carry Brother Randor's body to the Temple of

Tyr nearby. Someone will have to help me since I lack the height to

properly heft the cleric."

"Now what are we to do with the orcish filth?" Gnore asks once again.

"If no one answers, then I'll take it that the company is leaving the

decision up to me and all know my stand on this matter." Gnore grins

wickedly as he hefts his bastard sword on his shoulder.

Hearing the words of Gnore, Garth takes a moment from preparing the

body of Randor to address the group, a steely look entering his eyes

along with a harsh, unusual timbre to his voice, "Even for orcs, I have

been known to show mercy. These are already proven guilty of treachery

and cowardice. Kill them before we return or we will have to fight them

again. Let us use Brother Randor's weapon to do the job. It would be

fitting."

Talimar and the others nod at the words from Gnore and Garth, no one in

a merciful mood with the body of one of their companions so close.

"Gnore, you take care of it." is all that Talimar has to say on the

matter. Gnore nods to the party's leader and walks over to retrieve the

warhammer of Randor. Without a word, Gnore walks over to the two orc

captives. Ignoring the fear in the eyes of the creatures, he brings the

warhammer down on the head of each of them, crushing their skulls and

killing them instantly. Gnore simply spits on the bloodied body of each

of the orcs before turning away, the lack of the battle surge keeping

him from supplying his usual array of curses.

"We need to make sure we're done here afore we leave," begins Ortho as

Gnore returns from his execution of the orcs, having returned the bloody

axe to Randor's body. "Let's at least see what is down yonder passage."

Ortho motions toward the passage from which the orcs issued. "As to

the orcspawn, wal, we should encourage them to leave these here caves as

they might not be safe. An' we gots to collect Snagger's equipment an'

see what other loot the orcs have. Then there's the mention of the

other captive. No, we can't leave just yet. Let us see what is down

the passage an' collect the booty an' roust the vermin. Randor will

wait fer that. Leave 'im 'ere fer a time. Ah do agree that we could

stand to get oot o' these caves ta rest. Let us tidy up these matters

with the Bloodksulls, then we'll go rest a mite an' tend to our dead."

So saying, Ortho turns once again to healing the injured, working his

prayers and healing energies into the bodies of Kersath and Kre

especially.

At the mention of retrieving his equipment, Snagger nods his head

vehemently although Gnore curses and spits on the cavern floor as he

frowns in distaste, "Bah! we should burn it all and never pay heed to

the spoils of these filthy dung-maggots! No telling how many innocents

paid with their lives for these rat-bile spawns to horde such tainted

trinkets!"

"Easy, friend Gnore," begins Ortho, "the spoils of war should not be

ignored if they can be used fer good. Ah'm sure meself and Garth could

find a use fer the tainted trinkets as you say that would feed many an

unfortunate soul. Besides, when battling the forces of darkness, one

needs a full stomach!" Ortho laughs heartily at the last comment and

manages to bring a laugh from Gnore and Druckner as well, although

Druckners laugh is cut short as the pain in his ribs continues.

"Ok, then, I believe we are in general agreement," begins Talimar as

the laughter dies down. "We will rescue the remaining prisoner and

collect Snagger's equipment while seeing to the remaining orcs in the

caverns. We also need to look for any further clues to the kidnappers

and Jelenneth. I find it hard to believe that orcs could have been

behind these kidnappings. I don't believe they were working with those

we killed in the old Parlfray Keep. Something or someone must have been

making them work together." Turning to face the priest Garth, he

continues, "My friend, I am afraid we will need to leave Randor's body

here for the time being and get it on the way out. It would not be wise

to have two of our members carrying him throughout these caverns not

knowing what evil may lurk around the next corner. Is there no ward

that you or Dain could place on the body to protect it? I know that is

beyond me."

Garth nods at the words from Talimar and thinks for a moment as Dain

ponders the question as well, puffs of smoke rising from his pipe as his

brow furrows. After a moment, Garth smiles, "I think I can do

something." Walking over to the form of Randor, he begins to pray

softly to the goddess Selune. After a few moments of prayer, he

releases the magical energies and completes the spell. At first the

party notices nothing about Randor or the surrounding area as Garth

rises and walks back to the party, a satisfied smile on his face.

Taking a closer look though, Kre and Ras are the first to notice the

shadowy form of the wyvern much like the one that guarded the entrance

to the caves up above. Both thieves smile at the work of the dwarven

priest. "It worked for them," Garth says as he shrugs his shoulders,

"Anyone disturbing the body will be paralyzed now and we can deal with

them when we return. The ward will last several hours."

The others nod approvingly at the work of Garth and the other dwarves

slap him heartily on his back.

"Make your preparations to leave and Ras and Kre will lead us out of

the passageway after Ortho and Garth are sufficiently rested from

casting. Anyone who hasn't done so already, break your fast and we will

move out when they give the go ahead," Talimar gives the orders to the

companions and everyone moves out to make their individual preparations

to leave, each checking to insure their weapons are readily accessible.

Within an hour, the party is once again ready to move out and heading

down the eastern passageway. The mood of the group is once again somber

as they realize that for the first time since the death of Zir'zool and

the departure of Beleg, they are moving out once again without one of

their members.

Ras confidently leads the party through the darkened passageway beyond,

pointing out the traps that he placed so that everyone can easily avoid

them. The passage continues east for perhaps a hundred yards before

turning slightly to the south and continuing another sixty yards and

opening into a large chamber that is perhaps ninety yards across by

eighty yards at its widest. A large pool dominates the eastern and

southern portions of the chamber. The pool appears to be perhaps eight

feet deep at its deepest with several sunken narrow passageways leading

out of the chamber. The passageways appear to be large enough for a

small orc to swim through but too small for an adult. The chamber is

littered with what appears to be the possessions of the orc women and

children. Several small cookfires dominate the chamber as well as some

rotten and smelly bedrolls.

Huddled in the far northeast corner of the chamber are the remaining

women of the Bloodskull tribes. Too small to fit through the exit

chamber, they have huddled here to await their fate. There appear to be

twenty six women in all, with one of them being a rather old grizzled

orc with straggly hair and a withered left leg. She has a fine gold

neckchain hung with silver miniature decorative skulls and what appears

to be real elf teeth around her neck. Long, unnatural claws protrude

from her hands as she steps forward to address the group in Common.

"Yoo have killed men of tribe. Leave women be. We mean yoo no harm."

The women cower in the corner of the chamber terrified. None of the

women have weapons that you can see.