Search for the Goblin Lord

[Averagedog]

Morning Dawns over the mountain of Dwdra-ough on a bright spring days, a few days after the spring melts have started. Large drifts of snow crumble as paths long hidden and obstructed now law open allowing travel from the open plains of Herdasgin, the surrounding forests of Emezrel, and Major cities beyond. Back on the mountain, a large sized splendorous city sits on its summit. The walls are made of heavy stone, the doors made of a heavy bronze reinforced by Steel and mithril and large stone like structures within leading to a tall castle at the very edge of the city. This city, and most holy of places to its inhabitants, called Antioch, is inhabited by the Imperious Mojavo, who take it upon themselves to watch over the mountain and the lands surrounding it. Hidden in a large cavern with a large opening to the south side of the mountain, are Large doors made out of a composite of Steel and Mithril, carved by the worn and industrious hands of the Dankil Dwarves and the Mojavo from Antioch. The home of the Dankil Dwarves comprise of a network of caverns and tunnels from that entrance, that also have an entrance to the Mojavo city above them. The Dankil halls lie near the top, close to their allies, for the mountain itself is one of the largest in the world. While the trade routs are more or less secured to the outside world, the rest of the mountain lies untamed for centuries, riddled with monsters, old civilizations, destroyed cities and towns, hidden crypts, and strongholds of those that wish not to be noticed.

A Monastary used to lie on the surface of the mountain, between the Holy city of Antioch and the Dwarven halls of Dankil. One day, a raiding party led by their chieftan, a bugbear named Bandarel the ferocious, attacked the Monastary and slaying all of its inhabitants except for one. A Young Mojavo that was spared in order to spread the news of Bandarels power and destruction to the other residents of the mountain. The Mojavos from the holy city were… unimpressed. The Dwarves from Dankil, nodded their heads somberly and took the survivor in. In the cleaning up effort for the ruins of the Monastary, something extraordinary was found. The sacred scroll of the Monastary that contained all of the ways of their unique brand of unarmed combat. It was given to the survivor, who suffered crippling blows both to his visage and his once brilliant intellect. The survivor though was driven, driven by revenge and everything that he lost and vowed to take revenge for what was done to those he knew and loved.

Several years passed by and the Mojavo’s guardian planned an expedition into the mountain to hunt down Banderel and kill him. But recent news of collecting monstrous forcers within the mountains brought pause to the plan. All of the other dwarves and Mojavo originally in the expedition were re-assigned to creating cunning defenses in the Dwarven and Mojavian tunnels and a few more were sent out to scout for enemy movements. Calls of assistance to allies outside of the mountain were answered. Small troops from nearby cities, towns, and tribes were sent. The Mojavo’s steward managed to procure two, a bard that was known in the area for his special talents and his reputation and a scout that wants and needs to prove himself to those around him though he has that estranged quality of being…jittery.

The members of this expeditionary force for exploration, scouting, and ultimately revenge stand at an entrance in a tunnel to a deeper tunnel network to the lower depths of the mountain. The members of the party check their gear and meet each other for the first time to exchange pleasantries. Though the dwarf and the Mojavo know each other from past circumstances…

Erasmus, the bard of some repute picks through his pack muttering to himself as he went. He appears to be a middle aged elven adult wearing a large top hat, a pair of glasses, and short gold hair with bright emerald eyes and fair skin. He wears a cloak over his mithril chain shirt and a quiver of arrows on top of it. On his hip rests a shortsword and next to his quiver lies his instrument, a strange looking lute of some kind that no one has ever seen before.

“Jitters”, the Scout nervously looks left to right in the passage, then peers deeply into the depths of the passage leading down. He is dressed much in the same way as Erasmus though instead of an instrument, he has a long bow on his back and dagger on his other hip. His boots are special to accommodate his animal like feet and on his head, he wears a bandana covering his short tawny head hair. His fur is colored in a tortoiseshell pattern of mainly varying colors of gray and black. His green and gray eyes glow nervously. He turns to everyone and says, “h-hhh-h-hello gentlmen. I-iiii-I-I take it that you are my companions to be for the quest into the deeper reaches of the mountain?”

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham Dankil, the unsung survivor of the massacre of his clan and people, frowned at the creature Thoradin called a catfolk. He wore a tattered gray cloak of linen over his body, his cotton shirt and brownish gray trousers covering most of his gray fur. his spaded, five toed feet were fitted with sandals adjusted to fit his needs. Though he did not ever need them, sometimes little rocks would hurt his feet real bad, so these sandals were very nice. On both of his legs were traditional Mojavo Leg bracers, specially designed for fighting with their legs as well as their arms. Set for retracting were a pair of sianghams, poised to unsheath with the right tension of his mucles. His thick, white tail waved slowly in the air as his clawed hand rested on his pouch with shurikens. The hood was pulled over his face so that none could see his red scar or equally red eyes. his snout and nose, however did poke out of the hood. He just nodded quietly to this "Jitters" person thing, having nothing else to say.

Thoradin Stoneshield, the head of this expedition, wore a suit of scale male over a woolen shirt. Standing a good 4'5", He stroked his bald head with a gloved hand. Tied behind his back was a shield of heavy wood along with his short bow, a quiver of arrows resting on his side. Leaning on his axe, he looked up to the elven bard and catfolk scout with a sincere smile, his fiery red beard shining in the nearby light source. "Glad you all could make it. I'm sure that you're all fully aware of what this expedition is supposed to be about and how far we're travelling through it."

[Averagedog]

Erasmus

"Ah yes, good dwarf, Both Jitters here and myself, Erasmus, know why we are here, and we would both love to spin a tale around this adventure that we can bring back to the people outside of this great mountain." Erasmus took a step forward and tipped his hat, but while doing so, he failed to noticed a slight crevice where he stepped and fell into a headlong roll that left him sprawling on his rear in front of the dwarf. The Elf grinned sheepishly and collected himself. His hat still clung to his head through the ordeal though the monocle was hanging off of it's connection on the hat and swinging around crazily.

Jitters

Jitters watched the antics of his companion and shook his head vigorously helplessly.

"E-e-e-erasmus is known for his skill with his instrument and his good luke or misfortune in his clumsiness. T-t-there are st-t-tories of him tripping under swinging blade traps or falling over a ledge only to get snagged onto the edge of his cloak. I-i-i'm here to make a reputation for myself honestly, but if destroying some goblinkind can bring peace to some of the goodly folk in this area, then so be it."

Jitters took a torch from his pack, lighted it then attatched it to the top of his pack so that the torch would rise behind him above his head, secured keeping his hands free.

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham

Siham could only grin at the sight of the bard, finding his appearance funny to see. He couldn't see himself wearing anything so shiny or silly. Still, it was not good to laugh at other people. Walking up slowly, Siham grabbed Erasmus's shoulders and slowly lifted him up. "Careful." He grunted softly.

Jitters was babbling about something, but siham wasn't working on paying attention. He found the cat person stuttering really annoying in to his ears. When he lit the torch, though, Siham proceeded to follow up very close-like to him.

Thoradin

Thoradin laughed, slapping his knee. "Seems to me that he's got two left feet, as well." As fast he made the quip though, Thoradin helped the elf back on his feet. "Well, I'm fairly sure we can trust your skills, both of you. I'm sure that Siham appreciates it too." Siham smirked at his comment. "Well, Jitters, Looks like you've taken the role of leader. Don't wander too far from my shield. I'll protect the lot of you."

[Averagedog]

Jitters nods, then proceeds to lead the group forward into darkness.

Party composition:

Erasmus--------------Siham--------Thoradin-----Jitters>


The group travels down the winding tunnel for a long while, the first of several torches burning low. The walls were made of unworked stone, sometimes with a small vein of a mineral visible on the walls. The tunnel was roughly 6 feet in height and maybe twice that much at the thinnest points. Finally the group came across the first of several forks that only seemed to criss cross several times in a large network of confusing tunnels and caverns.

Jitters eyes darted this way and that as he jerked with an arrow constantly knocked onto his bow at the slightest strange sound, such as the dripping sounds of water, or the flapping sounds of some kind of winged creature.

But Jitters and Erasmus were prepared. Erasmus pulled out a long piece of chalk and proceeded to mark the entry ways of tunnels the group have already visited. While there was a lot of back tracking involved the party made more progress deeper and deeper into the expanding tunnel network.

The party comes across an entrance to a rather large cavern with a spring running on one side and 6 large stalagmites strewn across the room. On the other side is a small campfire, a ring of stones surround the orange gold flames but there are no creatures seen from the entrance.

[Wrathofautumn]

Thoradin gripped his waraxe in his hands, gazing at the campfires suspiciously. He suspected there was a band of people here before, possibly a trap of goblins. Siham growled lowly, stepping forward boldly, his ears waving in the air. He closed his red eyes, concentrating on any noisy noisiness.

<Roll checks>
Listen: 16
Spot: 7

"Siham! Don't stand so close to the fire! It could be a trap!"

"Not know that. May just be frightened." He said quietly, focusing on paying attention to listening.

Thoradin kept close to Siham, keeping his shield up close. He didn't like this, but he couldn't leave his friend's son unprotected.

[Averagedog]

Siham hears the fain whisperings of several creatures in the room coming from behind some or all of the stalagmites.

If the bard heard or saw anything, he didn't show it. Instead he took his strange instrument out and started to tune it carefully and efficiently.

Jitters on the other hand stared every which way, much in the same way Siham did. He cried out in an exclamation then turned towards the nearest stalagmite firing an arrow that skipped off of the side of the small mound then thudded into some lichen on the far wall

"I saw something move behind that mound over there!!!!!!"

The room went deathly quiet. Erasmus muttered to himself again as he tightened a string on his instrument.

Jitter's attack roll:
Roll(1d20)+5:
8,+5
Total:13

Jitter's Spot Check:
Roll(1d20)+4:
18,+4
Total:22

Erasmus's Spot Check:
Roll(1d20)+7:
17,+7
Total:24

Erasmus's Listen Check:
Roll(1d20)+9:
11,+9
Total:20

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham snarled at jitters for firing the arrow. That did not have to happen. He looked out into the rocks, wondering what they were whispering over. Were they friend, enemy? He tried to listen more carefully into the whisperings to sense what they wanted. As everyone else was drawing their weapons, Siham felt pressured to pull out his shurikens. He would wait just a little longer. He would move a little closer(six feet at the most) to see what they were intending to do.

Siham's Move Silently Check
Roll(1d20)+9
15, +9
Total: 24

Siham's Sense Motive Check
Roll(1d20)+2
18, +2
Total: 20

Alarmed with Siham's boldness, Thoradin shouted, "Stop! Wait! Don't be so foolish!" Dashing to catch up to him, the clanking of armor echoing in the caverns.

"Quiet!" Siham hissed.

[Averagedog]

Siham senses fear emanating from behind those stalagmites. Just when Thoradin yells out clanking towards him, Siham saw small reptilian humanoids stepping out from behind the stalagmites with small light crossbows trained on the pair.

"svabol ui wer intent di wux yobolat waethi? tir wux tuor ekess iwisur hesi camp?" one of the Kobolds say angrily.

If your character understand Draconic:

What is the intent of you flesh bags? Do you want to steal our camp?


Erasmus quickly responds by kneeling with one knee to the ground and saying in sweet silibant tones, "yth jahen banprivi exploring wer chanon bensvelk petisse. yth re di thric levnim ekess wux, petranas, origato udoka qe shafaer hesi idol."

If your character understand Draconic:

We were simply exploring the cavern good Kobold. We are of no harm to you, please, let us be on our way.


Diplomacy Roll
Roll(1d20)+7:
1,+7
Total:8

As the Bard knelt, he somehow tripped and fell forwards sprawling to the ground face first. His hand strummed against his instrument drawing extremely discordant sounds bouncing across the room.

The Kobolds Shrieked loudly in response, very startled then started firing at the party.

Amazingly, none of the bolts hit their marks. Siham dodged past one with a quick spin, another two were deflected by Thoradin's helmet and shoulder piece of his scale male armor leaving small dents behind. Jitter's yelped in fear and simply crouched covering his head, two bolts missing the area where his chest when when he was standing.

Roll Initiative:

Erasmus 23
Jitters 15
Kobolds 12
Siham ???
Thoradin ????

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham went into a combat stance, growling. Crouch low to the ground, his tail lashed in anger as he prepared a shuriken. That music man costed them getting past these kobolds unharmed. Now they would have to fight their way through. Not that Siham minded the extra practice.

Thoradin rolled his eyes. "So much for the negotiations." Holding his Axe in hand, Thoradin prepared to stain his axe with kobold blood.

Initiative Rolls
Siham: 20
Thoradin: 5

[Averagedog]

Initiative Order:
Erasmus 23
Siham 20
Jitters 15
Kobolds 12
Thoradin 5

Round 1:

Erasmus
Erasmus grimaces then rolls towards the enemy twenty feet en, end over end over end. He grabs his instrument, channeling his bardic magic into it and strums it violently. A Keening wail bursts forth from the instrument as visible musical notes burst forth, black and shaped with jagged edges, and slam into the Kobolds that revealed themselves. All of the Kobolds groan in pain as blood came forth from some of them from their eyes and eyes and even their mouths. They all stood there in a slight daze as the music tore into their insides.

((All the kobolds within range took 5 damage each and failed their fortitude saves. They are not actually dazed mechanically. Just for fluff.))

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham

Going into a sprint, Siham grunted softly as he did a flip on one hand, his sianghams unsheathed from his leg bracers. Flying straight at the closest kobold, he proceeded to stab the kobold.

Attack Rolls:
Siangham Weapon 1(1d20+7):20 dmg(Piercing, 1d6+9): 10(only if it hits)
Siangham Weapon 2(1d20+7):19 dmg(Piercing, 1d6+9): 11(only if it hits)

[Averagedog]

Siham stabs the poor Kobold in the neck with both weapons, spinning over it then throwing its body over him as his flipped over and landed on his large feet. The Kobold hit the far wall with a thud, then slid messily to the ground unmoving.

"Jitters"

Jitters watches the Mojavo deal death with fascination, a moment of peace for the eccentric catfolk, then launches an arrow at an encroaching Kobold that was nearer to the camp fire.

Mighty Longbow: (1d20+6):21 dmg(Piercing, 1d6+3): 7 DMG

The arrow slams the Kobold in the chest, tearing through a lung, then burying itself deep into the Kobold's tiny little heart. The Kobold grasps at the wound gibbering in its own language, then falls on its back, dead.

Kobolds

The three remaining Kobolds look to each other then quickly reload their weapons to fire again. This time they decided that it would be best to take out one person at a time, for it was their only hope of possible survival.

All three Kobolds aim their weapons at Siham's turned back. Thoradin notices and yells, "Siham, look out! They've got you at point blank!" Siham turns his head just as the bolts leave their respective crossbows. Siham responds by leaping towards the side, elongating his body, then tucking for a tight roll. A bolt flies just above Siham's back and just under his knees as he tucks, but one quarrel slams into one of his arms just before he lands.

Siham takes 5 damage.

[Wrathofautumn]

Thoradin

"Siham! Hold on now!"

Shield in hand, the stout dwarf recovered from his sprint as he moved to protect Siham from the front, swinging his axe down with all his might on a kobold's skull, just as it seemed to grab for another bolt.

attack roll:
Dwarven Waraxe: (1d20+5): 25(CRITICAL HIT!) dmg(Slashing, 1d10+3)x2: 26 DMG

[Averagedog]

the Dwarf's axe cleaved cleanly through the Kobold's skull, tearing a chunk of the Kobold's head off into the flames of the fire. The smell of burnt flesh started to permeate the room at the meat crackled and popped in the conflagration. The Kobold is very much dead.

ROUND 2

Erasmus

Erasmus Strums his guitar again, dealing an additional 3 damage to the remaining Kobolds as they clutch at their innards for a brief moment as the deadly notes deal a little more damage. He then reaches back into his quiver draws an arrow, then fires it using several strings of his instrument to knock the arrow and let fly.

Instrument: (1d20+6):19 DMG (Piercing, 1d6+1): 5 DMG

This arrow hits the already half dead Kobold in a lung, collapsing it. The Kobold, overcome by its wounds, succumbs to the pain and dies.

((1 kobold left))

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham
Not caring for the arrow caught in his arm, Siham turned his attention on the last of the kobolds, who seemed to have a very nervous look around him. He did not look as though he was planning on running. He was shakily putting on another bolt as he watched him. Siham would make sure this creature earned a swift end.

Running up, he bounced off one of the stalagmites and dived downward, smacking the kobold's face with a clenched fist, letting out a quiet grunt.

Attack Roll:
Unarmed Strike:(1d20+7): 22 DMG(bludgeoning, 1d6+9): 11 DMG

[Averagedog]

There is a loud and audible crunchy as the Mojavo sinks its fist into the Kobold's face above it's snout. Its eyes cross over inexplicably as blood flew out from around them. With this expression, the Kobold flew backwards skidding to a stop on its back. It breathed its last in a long mournful hiss.

+188 XP for everyone.

...

Some time passes as the party loots the dead bodies and summarily disposes of them by throwing them into the underwater current. The camp is summarily destroyed in order to avoid additional unwanted company that may be attracted by the heat and light.

On the bodies, the party members find, out of the useable remains, 26 iron bolts, 4 small light crossbows, 4 small daggers, a pair of glasses with lenses made of crystal, 54 silver pieces, 8 torches, several small sacks, some flint and tinder, moldy bread and cheese, some random knicknacks made out of bones, some dice, more chalk, and a masterwork siangham.

Siham recognizes the Siangham as one that was forged within the monastary before of course the monastary was raided and destroyed. It has that special mark, a tiny crest of the monastary.

Erasmus picks up the glasses, and examines it. He waves his hands around it casting a spell of identification. His eyes light up happily as the item briefly glows...

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham
Picking up the strange siangham, his eyes sparkled at the sight of the special weapon. It had a strange shininess to it that attracted his attention. As he washed himself with water from the river, he detached his weapon on his leg in favor of the newer weapon. As he connected it, he recognized that this was a sacred piece from the sacred monastery owned by the Dankil Clan. Standing up, he exclaimed, "Thoradin!"

Thoradin
Thoradin was examining the dice dropped by the kobolds when he heard Siham's cry. Jogging over he saw Siham waving over with wavering finger at the leg blracer. "Look!"

Thoradin examined the symbol closely. This is indeed the Dankil Clan's Coat of Arms. They've been known to fight alongside the goblins from time to time, as well as scavenging from their their raids. This could mean that we're not too far from your home. Well, what's left of it."

Siham's face frowned, his eyes wincing at the sound of home. Patting his shoulder, Thoradin left Siham be to tell the others of their finding.

[Averagedog]

for the first time that Siham has seen, Jitters seemed to be calm and complacent after the conclusion of the fight. Maybe it was the false security that killing or removing all enemies fromt he immediate area brought to oneself? generally, JItters was unresponsive to Siham's exclamations of the rediscovered weapon.

Erasmus on the other hand took greater interest and surmised that the item was most likely taken as loot from Siham's former residence when it was raided. He then explained to the rest of the party that he found a pair of magical glasses that enhanced one's vision in spotting things from afar ((+ 5 competence bonus to spot checks)), or noticing hidden enemies. He gave them to Siham and explained that no matter how loose they may look, they won't fly off unless the wearer willed it.

Erasmus took out a strange contraption that he called a "pocket watch" which he claimed was made by some gnomes and declared that it was around noon time on the surface world, there is still much time for traveling left.

[Wrathofautumn]

While Siham admired his new glasses, Thoradin hung his axe on his shoulder as he asked Erasmus, "If the ruins of the Dankil Clan are still intact, we could use them as a place of rest and as a means to withstand a siege. Would we make it there when sundown hits?"

Siham took his glasses and placed them inside his pouch. Testing out his new siangham with a few kicks in the at imagined foes, practicing the martial arts taught to him by his mother. This he would make sure to take very good care of during their travels. Still his eyes couldn't leave sighting Jitters, who for some reason was unusually quiet. It was a strange way to act for one so hyper as Jutters.

[Averagedog]

Erasmus makes some pronounced thinking sounds as he "hmmmms" and "Hurrrrmmmms" He pulls out a map from a scroll case that maps out the upper tunnels noting many that have been collapsed to prevent the advance of monsters from the area of the ruins of the Monastary.

"I don't think the Monastary is reachable since we are in the deeper tunnels. We would have to backtrack back to the Dankil Clan hold then travel on the surface to reach it. The only other way to reach it requires being in the Mojavo holy city as far as I can tell. If you know of a tunnel down here that can reach that area, then I think it is possible to reach it sometime tonight."

Jitters seemed to be pulled out of his peaceful reverie by the sound of Erasmus's voice. Immediately he starts to restlessly pace the room as the more talkative members of the group talked logistics.

[Wrathofautumn]

When Erasmus turned to Siham to answer his remark. Siham shook his head. It had been too long since he'd ever seen anything of the Dankil Clan since its destruction. Thoradin, he thought, might know where the monastery is from here. How could they track it down though?

Thoradin's eyes sparkled. He then turned to Jitters. "Jitters, how well are you a tracker?"

[Averagedog]

"wuh-wuh-why do you ask?", The jumpy scout said. "I am an accomplish scout and tracker in the open lands, but there are no foot prints or broken twigs to be found in these ceaseless towers... I am simply out of my el... el...... Element."

Jitters looked a little downcast for a moment, but then an idea occurred to him.

"If you can tell me what to look for, I-I-i-I think I can track it"

[Wrathofautumn]

Thoradin gestured to Siham. Siham strutted forward with a hint of confusion. "I need that siangham of yours." Siham gaped at him. "Don't look at me like that. Do as I say."

Reluctantly, Siham detached the weapon from his bracer and presented it to Jitters. "Here. Try to find where this weapon came from with your nose."

Siham didn't like the idea of the cat person defiling a sacred weapon of his family, but Thoradin seemed to know what he was doing.

[Averagedog]

"m-m-my nose?" Jitters asked confused, "my ability to smell things may be better than a dwarfs, but I am no dog..."

Before Jitters could spiral into a downward spiral of depression, Erasmus interjects, "There are other scouts sent out by the Dankil Clanhold and the Mojavo. If we run into any, I'm sure they may have a better idea of this mountain than us."

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham gladly took his siangham away from Thoradin, reattaching it onto his bracer. "Let's go, then. Jitters, lead way." He moved ahead of the party with his pack in hand, continuing to glance back at the party.

Thoradin shrugged. "Well it was only a thought, Jitters. So sorry for the mistake." Patting the catfolk on the shoulder, he turned to Erasmus. "Well, sjould we get a move on, again? I don't think that we should stay in one place for too long. There are worse things than kobolds in the darkest places of the mountains."

[Averagedog]

The party moves forwards in short order finding that this tunnel was much more consistent and led deeper into the mountain due to the slight decline that everyone felt. After about an uneventful hour, the group comes across a cavern, this one much larger than the ones containing those 5 Kobolds.

The Torch that Jitter's carried couldn't even begin to cover the gigantic dark cavern, the other three walls and cieling were obscured from vision. It soon became apparent that that the cavern was multi floored as Jitters nearly fell off of the edge of the platform the party stood on.

There are two paths, it was soon discovered. One leading up and one leading down.

Thoradin could see further than the distance the light offers due to dark vision. He sees what appears to be a gigantic dark object further into the cave, but is unreachable on this floor. It also appears to be larger than the platform the group now stands.

[Wrathofautumn]

Using his knowledge of Dungeoneering, Thoradin attempts to get more out of the large tower out in the distance. Meanwhile, Siham seems to notice that Thoradin is gazing out into something, and he grunts over to Erasmus and Jitters, "Come! Come!"

Siham tries to glare out in the darkness with Thoradin, though he's not exactly sure what he's looking at. "Siham, I'm spotting something very tall and grand. Why don't you try and find which trail would lead us somewhere?"

Nodding, Siham then tried to spot anything that would tell them which path would lead them to what Thoradin was talking about.

Siham's Spot Check
(1d20)+7
7, +7
Total: 14


Thoradin's Knowledge(Dungeoneering) Check
(1d20)+0
15, +0
Total: 15(10 is Max, since he's untrained)

[Averagedog]

Siham couldn't tell which direction seemed to be the right one to reach whatever Thoradin was staring at.

Thoradin similarly couldn't make heads or tails of what he scrutinized. Jitters also peered into the depths but couldn't see what Thoradin saw in the darkness. He tittered nervously.

Erasmus casted a spell quietly as the rest were looking into the darkness. a group of dancing lights appeared around him as he directed a few of them both up and down the paths. At the limits of his influence, he revealed to the rest that the downward sloping path seemed to curve in the direction of the large object.

"It appears we have our answer as to how we could reach whatever Thoradin is staring at. Perhaps when we can get close enough, I can examine the truth of this object and see how we can use it to our advantage."

[Wrathofautumn]

As Siham examined the paths closely, he stepped away as ghostly lights zoomed past him, revealing much of the pathway further up. From what he could see, the pathway did not show the way to what Thoradin was looking at. Then he overheard Erasmus and Thoradin talking and they seemed to start heading downwards into the chasm on the other path.

Hurrying to catch up to the Siham almost lost his footing on slick cavern flooring as he finally caught up with the others. He stayed closed to Thoradin, slowing his pace so that he wouldn't wind up running into anyone. The caverns were very large and expansive, and every second, something seemed to screech of move in his ears. Hopefully, they wouldn't come across anything too soon.

"So, Erasmus," Thoradin said. "Tell me. What's a Bard like you doing so far out here on the edge of the Holy Land?"

[Averagedog]

Erasmus was inwardly surprised by the question posed to him. He stopped walking for a second to think of a quick answer, anything that may satisfy the dwarf. With a flourish, Erasmus said with demonstrative movements,

"I am one of those people possessed of a great wanderlust and a thirst for adventure. What is the point of singing ballads about ancient heroes and heroines that saved the day, when I myself can hope to do those things, make a difference in a world so plagued by monsters. It is my goal to weave a tale about our journey and spread those stories to others in hopes that I may inspire them to also do great things..."

While this was all well and true, Erasmus had other hidden motives, motives that he was determined that the dwarf would never learn and truths about him that remain hidden both under his hat and within his very soul.

[Wrathofautumn]

When Erasmus finished talking, Thoradin nodded silently. The answer seemed typical for any bard of his age, but there wasn't anything suspicious about what he said to him. He decided to ask the same thing to Jitters.

Siham eyed the surroundings cautiously while listening to the conversation. He wasn't any good at speaking for anything longer than small talk, so he preferred just to stay quiet and listen.

[Averagedog]

Jitters jumped when Thoradin called to him and nearly fell off the side of the path itself. When his heart stopped hammering, his response was much less noble.

"I-i-I-.... I want to l-l-learn how to be brave" the scout said nervously, "I learned how scout out enemy lines, I learned how to kill living creatures, but I never learned how to be brave. I have always killed out of fear all the way back to when I can remember-"

The scout stopped speaking abruptly as if he didn't want to talk about a painful subject.


***

The party walked down the precarious path carefully until the path finally expanded into a wide platform leading into the center of the chasm, for this platform was a dead end as far as going lower into the cavern is concerned. The edges only lead to blackness and the sacrifice of a torch was in vain.

The platform led towards the large object now gaining shape as something that appeared to be cut as opposed to natural.

[Wrathofautumn]

Thoradin looked up in awe at the great spire in front of them. "What on earth is that?" He stepped closer, taking a good look at what he could see with his dark vision.

Siham stepped forward, also aghast at the sight of something so great and large. "Is this Dankil Clan?"

[Averagedog]

As if in Answer, Erasmus gestures with his hands as the dancing lights started encircling the large object revealing it to be a gigantic piece of cut, flawless, crystalline quartz. At least it used to be flawless... The dancing lights revealed the neglect that only the time of centuries could inflict. Years upon years of dripping mineral water has created murky coatings over it, though the lights still revealed the emblem of the Dankil clan, a large thing, cut at the middle of the object before them.

Further along the path there appears to be a table with Dwarvish script on it. The table itself has 3 sphere like alcoves, all of which are empty.

[Wrathofautumn]

Siham gasped in awe as he looked upon the grand structure in its crystalline from his family. He wasn't sure if he was familiar with what this was, if this was one of the projects his family had achieved. Using his spectacles, he saw Thoradin examining the alcoves closely, and he shuffled slowly next to him. "What is it?"

Thoradin waved over at him and asked, "Siham, do you mind looking at the other alcoves and try to spot or search something. I'll my natural talent with Stonecutting to search for something unusual with these alcoves."

Siham nodded and the two of them went to work.

Siham's search and spot checks:

Spot Check
(1d20)+7
15, +7
Total:22

Search Check
(1d20)-1
5, -1
Total: 4

Thoradin's search and spot checks:

Search Check
(1d20)+2(Stonecutting)
4, +2
Total: 6

Spot Check
(1d20)+0
14, +0
Total: 14

[Averagedog]

Siham notes that the bottoms of each of the three alcove have subtly different openings, as if something needed to be put into them to fit. the ravages of time have not ruined these locks though, some magical or divine force seems to keep it clean.... or maybe frequent use has kept it clean. There has been no tracks or signs of recent life in the area... Jitters would have noted it. Siham notices little else. The paths to the higher level of this great chamber may lead to these keys, or maybe other tunnels that leave the area altogether.

Thoradin doesn't notice anything of the alcoves nor does he find any secret compartments on the table. He does however understand the dwarven script with ease.

Only those with the three keys can light the way to their destination, But the three keys themselves do not guarantee safe passage.

Once three are placed, the great chamber shall be lit, But only one of three paths will be revealed or one of three perils will be dealt.

choose wisely, for clues shall be given in the places where the keys lie.

[Wrathofautumn]

Making notice of his discoveries, Siham turned to everyone and attempted to communicate. "Jitters! Erasmus! Thoradin! I know something!"

Thoradin, still looking at the dwarven script, finding the Mojavo's excitement almost like that of a dog. "What is it, Siham? Did you find something? Not so loud!"

"Oh! Sorry! Please, follow!" Siham waved over to them as he dashed up the path to the higher chambers, keeping good footing as he scaled up the path of stone.

"Wait a second, Siham! We don't know if there's anything here!"

"No tracks, Thoradin! There is nothing!" Siham reached the end of the path, hearing clanking armor echoing not far behind him. He had a look around at this higher part of the cavern.

[Averagedog]

the rest of the party, curious of the discoveries follows the excited Siham into the upper areas of the cavern. The slope lead to a ring like landing where there were 5 openings Three of these openings, nearest to the entrance of the landing have dwarvish runes. The other two are unmarked.

before going up the landing, Erasmus stole a look at the dwarvish runes and nodded.

[Wrathofautumn]

Thoradin looked closer at these dwarven runes to try and see if he could decipher them. They seemed clear enough that he could read them. Siham looked around the room for anything out of the ordinary that was worth their attention.

Siham Search Check (1d20)-1
14, -1
Total: 13

Spot check (1d20)+7
1, +7
Total: 8

[Averagedog]

In this order, the three door ways read, "Honor, Valour, Sacrifice"

Siham poked his head in each of the alcoves seeing nothing in the doorways with the dwarven words but seeing long tunnels leading away in the other two tunnels.

Jitters didn't have much to offer in the way of words, but he held the torchlight close for Thoradin's inspection of the walls.

Erasmus read the letters comfortably, then took an interest in the other two doorways Siham explored briefly before looking to the giant quartz, then to the altar, then the three marked doorways.

[Wrathofautumn]

Thoradin pondered the meanings of the doorway. Honor, Valour, Sacrifice: what did it mean? Perhaps they had to give up something in order to go ahead. Hopefully not one of the party members. He couldn't give up any of the party for this. What did Valour mean? Perhaps it was a monster they had to fight bravely? Honour, however, seemed the easiest. This must have been centered around one of their dwarven laws concerning the law. What could it have all meant though?

Siham looked out into the long tunnels, wondering what was beyond them. Something tempted him to go but he could leave his party behind. If there was danger out there, he'd rather not go alone.

[Averagedog]

"It appears," Erasmus said, "that we have to go through each of these marked doorways and face whatever tests may befall us."

Jitters nodded in agreement as he stuck the torch to a sconce he found near the doors.

"W-w-w-which door do we try first?" He asked. None of the doors looked very attractive to him unfortunately for his nerves.