Turn 95 -- Out of the Caves

Druckner feels dread at the mention of the illithids. He has heard stories about these horrors but never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he might be confronted with them or their minions.

Seeing Druckner's crestfallen expression, Ortho tries to cheer up his friend, "Don't worry Druck, them Spongeys aren't all that tough. We can take 'em. An' ye heard that the Lady said there weren't many things worse than Spongeys below the surface? Wal, there is at least ONE thing....an' that's a pack o' angry, battle-hardened dwarves! An' that's us!"

Unfazed by the cheerful mood of his friend, Druckner has more questions for Carmeneren, "Ma'am, what's it exactly ya have in mind by 'a-provin' ourselves'? I can see yar point about branging the illithids up from the depths on yar heads but we'd like to know more about yar plans. We 'preciate yar help and the deep gnomes are known to be a good and valorous folk, yet we don't serve ye. Our business is saving the Lady Jelenneth and stopping these kidnappers. I'd a hoped that killin' these orcs woulda turned the trick but a'm not surprised they were serving a greater evil."

Arms folded before her, Carmeneren thinks on the questions from Druckner before responding, "The stronghold of the illithids is buried deep below the surface world, several weeks journey from here itself. That journey alone through the wilds of the Underdark would probably kill you all as you are now. The preparations I speak of involve searching around the caverns here, near our community where we can help you, until you are strong enough and knowledgeable enough to survive in the darker depths."

A weary look comes over Carmeneren as she pauses briefly, "We are a small community, we do not have the numbers to survive against the power of the illithids if they choose to come against us. As of now, they know not that we are here. If you go below after them now and fail, they may rise up to destroy anything near the surface to stop any other raids below. Others have come before you and failed, it will not be long before they tire of the intrusions. You serve the missing lady none by dying before even reaching her as well."

"Destroying the orcs here and the men to the south will stop the ferrying of prisoners below for a short time, but there are other entry points and outposts to the depths below where slaves are transported down. To stop the slavers, you will have to destroy those that are funding the operation, that means the illithids."

Satisfied somewhat with her answers, Druckner nods his head slowly, "Nything special we should think of bringing back? Do we need ta cross underground lakes and such? Climbing equipment? Something else?"

"You will be traveling through miles of underground passages that are constantly changing. You will need anything and everything that you can think of. If your companion," a nod to indicate Kersath, "speaks true and grew up in the Underdark, I'm sure he will know what you will need."

Nodding grimly, Kersath replies, "That I do. We will need that time you mention to see our friend properly buried and our affairs taken care of. And if the orcs come back, well then..." Kersath suddenly has that faint glint in his eyes and with a devilish smile continues, "We'll just have to kill them all over again."

The dark elf then goes to pick up his swords, sheathing them in one fluid movement. Turning to Druckner he says, "Alright, it is settled then. We shall return in one week. Let's go and inform Tal."

Carmeneren nods her head and motions for her followers to exit the chamber. Before she leaves, she turns back to Kersath and Druckner, "Return to this entrance in a weeks time and enter, following the course of the tunnel. Our scouts will find you and lead you to our community to talk more. May Callanduran guard your steps til then," she says as she bows her head in blessing before turning to leave.

"Ras, loosen yer purse strings, Ah'm a-goin' shoppin'!" exclaims Ortho as Kersath and Druckner join them near the chest.

"Come on, ye two," says Kersath as he looks at Kre and Ras, "do you want to just stare at that gold for the rest of eternity? We have to prepare!" Thinking of the illithids and their horrors, he shudders again. To himself he adds, "We better prepare real good..."

"Sounds like a plan ta me," begins Ortho as he grabs an end of the chest, motioning for Snagger to take the other as Ras closes the lid. "One week an' we meet them back here. Just enough time ta get Randor seen to an' do a bit o' shoppin' in town. Shall we?"

The others nod as Ortho and Snagger step forward carrying the heavily laden chest between them. Kersath and Kre move once again to the front of the group as Druckner guards the party's rear with his crossbow.

At the chamber of the orc women:

Growing weary of the waiting on his companions, Gnore stands and paces around impatiently, "Where are the others? Knowing me kin, they've probably found some room with a huge feast and all the proper spirits a dwarf can drink! Well, they had better return with an arm load of meats and barrels of drink for me or I'll flatten the lot o' em with me boot!" Gnore rants without any true meaning as he kicks some dust away from the campfire.

"Hmph, come to think of it, I'm thirsty. Where did I throw that wineskin?" Gnore licks his lips as he walks off in search of the skin. Finding the skin near the entrance to the chamber, Gnore picks it up and shakes it as he realizes that it is empty. With a disgusted look, he flings the wineskin into the darkness of the cavern and stomps back to the others. "They had better return soon and with all that food and drink." Gnore frowns, starting to believe in his own fabrication.

About an hour after Gnore's tirade, Kersath and the others walk into the chamber, Ortho and Snagger carrying a rather large chest between them. Gnore rushes forward to greet his companions with a large frown on his face, "Wal, it's 'bout time! Whar's all my food and drink?!"

The others look at him questioningly and Druckner is about to speak when Gnore interrupts, "Ne'er mind that, wot took ye so long?!"

Ortho and Snagger put the chest down near the fire as Kersath moves forward to relate the encounter with Carmeneren to Talimar who listens intently to all that was said.

"Well we are sorely in need of supplies," remarks Talimar as he thinks on the empty wineskin of Gnore, "and we have to deal with Randor. So I suppose that we couldn't continue underground now anyway. Well let's be off then, if my calculations are correct, it should be a little past nightfall by the time we return to the entrance to the mines."

The others nod and collect their belongings, Garth waking up the slave who has yet to offer a name, helping the man to walk. A few minutes later, the party is heading north back up the passageway laden with the traps from Ras. The halfling notices that several of his traps are tripped but there are none of the expected bodies of the victims or any trails of blood to signify the passing of those setting off the traps. The women moving through the tunnel set the traps off but apparently avoided injury. Ras scratches his head as he walks through the tunnel pondering this situation.

Walking through the main chamber where the orc males camped, Druckner moves over to the putrid smelling form of Garundzer, the orog. Turning up his nose at the carrion and cave worms that eat at the body of the dead beast, Druckner takes out his mighty axe. The fiery dwarf brings it crashing down on the neck of the beast, severing its head in one clean blow. Taking up the great spear of Garundzer, Druckner mounts the head of the orog on the end of the spear, "A trophy fer the folks in Milbourne, they'll 'preciate my thoughtfulness a'm sure." Druckner grins as he lifts the spear high. The dwarves cheer at the display from Druckner as the others in the group turn their eyes away from the disgusting sight.

Pausing no more in traveling through the tunnels, the group easily makes their way back out of the caves of the orcs and the slavers and up through the mines again. Just as Talimar had said, the party reaches the entrance to the mines about an hour or so after nightfall. Druckner and Gnore pause just inside the entrance to the caves and quickly dig up the equipment and loot that the group buried there before entering the mines.

Stepping out of the entrance, Dain takes a deep cleansing breath at the chill night air.

"Oh, it's good to back to natural air," he says as he sighs deeply. "I wish I had tabac for my pipe..."

"I think we should go ahead and camp here," begins Talimar. "Should be relatively safe and it would take us the whole night to make it back to Milbourne travelling in the darkness, plus we still have to find the horses."

Any further words from Talimar are cut short as a quick screech of joy comes from the man rescued below. Stepping into the moonlight, the man runs around the members of the company waving his hands in the air and yelling excitedly. He says nothing intelligible but it is easy to see that he now recognizes the fact that he is free of the orcs.

"Easy there," says Garth as he corrals the man and tries to calm him down. "Don' be bringin' anythin' nasty up to us here..."

Within moments the company has set up camp in the opening to the mines, Dain cooking up what turns out to be the last of the rations brought by the company as the others go about their individual tasks. Following the meal, Kersath and Talimar head out into the surrounding countryside in search of the horses and ponies the party left. Just before dawn, the two finally have rounded up all the animals. Garth is rather excited about the return of his pony and the animal in return. Speaking softly into the ear of the pony, he pulls his hand out of a coat pocket to offer it several cubes of sugar.

As dawn breaks over the treetops, the Red Feather Company is mounting up and heading south once again to Milbourne. As the group heads away from the mines, Druckner and Gnore turn back to survey the many red feathers swaying in the breeze that they left strown about the entrance. The mood of the company is somewhat jovial as they set out, although the body of Randor draped over his warhorse and the knowledge of the illithids waiting deep below weighs heavily on their minds.

Just before noon, the Red Feather Company makes their triumphant return to the streets of Milbourne, the head of Garundzer proudly on display at the end of the spear held by Druckner. Townspeople rush out to greet the conquering heroes and after a brief explanation as to what it is, take up the spear and head of Garundzer from Druckner to parade around the town. Within moments there is a train of townspeople following them, men asking questions of the triumphs of the company, women hugging and kissing on them and children rushing around excitedly trying to get a glimpse of the heroes. Andrenn runs out excitedly from the Baron of Mutton, hoping against hope that Jelenneth will be with them but his head falls as he sees that she is not.

Garyld comes forward out of his shop to walk alongside the procession as everyone comes to a halt outside the Baron of Mutton.

"Glad to have ye back," he says as he clasps Talimar's hand. "We didna know wat happened to ye, bein' gone over a week and all. Come on inside and tell us about it," he says as he motions to the Baron. Finally noticing the body of Randor draped over his horse, he pauses, "I see the trip was'n a complete success. I'll see to the preparation of the body fer burial," he says as he takes the reins of the horse. "Ye can bury him tomoree if ye wish."

Talimar nods his head in thanks as the companions enter the Baron of Mutton. As the townspeople file in after them, mugs of ale and beer are thrust into the hands of the companions as the people mill around them wanting to hear the tales. Barthelew, the owner of the Baron, yells at the waitresses to bring food as the companions take a seat. Ol' Grizzler comes forward to greet the dwarves and seeing his great-nephew lets out a loud yell as he grips the lad in a huge bear-hug.

"Ah, that ye was lost ta me fer good!" he exclaims.

The remainder of the day and evening is caught up in celebration as the townsfolk celebrate the return of the Red Feather Company and their victory over the kidnappers. No one in the Company has the heart to tell anyone of the further threat of the illithids, instead preferring to enjoy the revelry for the moment.