The Caves Of Chaos: First Blood

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Infamous Caves Of Chaos
Partly Sunny, Mid Morning

After saying their goodbyes to the others, and almost another hour of travel passes, a clear and obvious foot path intersects the road up ahead, leading directly into the nearby trees. This hallowed ground is marred by the boots of untold numbers of adventurers and explorers who’ve trodden this very same trail before you.

Following the winding path through the tight, dark forest brings you at last through the thick belt of trees to the entrance of a large, stony ravine. You'd estimate it's well over four hundred feet long and easily a hundred feet wide. The narrow stream that paralleled the path trickles down the center of the ravine, forming great muddy puddles in several places, its source hidden in the trees that cluster at the far end of the ravine. Several other clumps of trees could hide almost anything within their heavy, overhanging boughs.

IMG_1922.jpeg (128.61 KiB) Viewed 59792 times

The stone walls of the ravine slope up steeply on either side. You have no doubt you can climb them, but you'd need to use both hands. Several cave mouths are visible on the slopes, crude paths leading up to them; more may be hidden by the trees. As a chill wind blows into your face, you feel sure that you have in fact found the famous Caves of Chaos, where many a budding adventurer has sought fortune and fame, but left only their bones behind.

Actions?

IMG_1882.jpeg (47.87 KiB) Viewed 59792 times

Keya Redd AC5 12/12
Loyn Shortbeard AC5 12/12
Bugs Donato AC3 8/8
Crabgrass AC7 7/7
Gyb the Meager AC10 8/8
Haldric Hammerheart AC3 12/12
Rida AC2 10/10

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn-dwarf fighter


“Looks like we’re here”…he feels a bout of anxiety wash over him as he retrieves his map and Stobart’s from his satchel. “May Moradin bless us all on this endeavor, to what end we know not!!!

“Me Dad said to enter the lower level caves first to figure out what’s in them before going to those higher up the ravine. Possibly the more powerful creatures were/are in the upper level caves and the lower caves’ inhabitants are fodder that deal with any unwanted adventure seekers, like a hierarchy of sorts. Who knows, maybe they’re not all evil and out for blood!”

“Now, we can see ground level entrances from here”…Loyn points to the closest caves, labeled E and D on the loaned map. “Stobart’s info on these two caves, mind you, is from his Dad’s adventures 25 yrs ago…goblins and an ogre resided there, his group eradicated them and found a secret entrance as well. Although, me father told me to enter this cave first. ” He points to the cave 1 and looks to the others for their insight.

3808F87D-CB78-4197-9CF0-B2B7AAE0B906.jpeg (121.73 KiB) Viewed 59775 times

3F49BC72-45AA-40C2-9F56-50CA645113AB.jpeg (83.35 KiB) Viewed 59775 times

[Rex]

Rida

"We should take your fathers advice then."

[Jernau35]

Gyb

"But going further down the ravine, to cave one, something could come from four or five behind us" Gyb points out.

"And isn't it valuable to know how four and five are laid out? In cave one we would be
learning the layout with every step. Making the map ourselves." He shrugs. "If the road goes to cave one, Gyb is happy to follow".

[ateno]

Keya Redd

After surveying the approaches, Keya turns and takes a step towards the group.

"My dad left a note with his belongings his band left for us."

His hand unconsciously reaches for his quiver but detours to his flat belt pouch.

"I'll read it now, yes?"

He takes a note out of two pieces of stitches curiboli leather and reads.

''We learned the hard way that the caves deeper and higher up the ravine house the more dangerous monsters. Kobolds and orcs were found in the first caves. They gave us a difficult time invading their territory, and had traps set up everywhere….'

He waits for any questions and puts away the note.

Keya

[Stirling]

Crabgrass

Looks at the map."Lets wait a moment so I can scribble a copy of the map with entrances and contours in place."

Observing 1, 5 & 4 are 'on the valley floor and caves 2 & 3 are higher up. We have been counselled to avoid higher ones initially, indeed my own collection of notes suggest the same advice. I would think if a tribe has been moved out, that only happens when someone stronger comes along.

We have no need to just traverse the edge, let's directly cross the stream, use it for cover and then sneak to Cave 4. The closest on that side.

Crabgrass points the way with his staff. I am half guessing the stream is still being used as a water source for creatures and cave inhabitants alike. So maybe tracks of water-boys gophers might be noticed which could indicate which particular caves are still in use. "Keya come with me, we need your skills to find tracks."

[ravenn4544]

Haldric voices support for the low caves first. "We have on good advice, here, that the low caves are the place start. If men who have come before took the time to write that down and warn the next - we should heed it!"

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

He nods along with the suggestions, even those contradicting each other. "Right. The lower caves were guards for the higher ones—a simple hierarchy." He tilts his head and looks up at a cave. "Of course, that was years ago. Maybe they've gotten older and want less climbing."

Bugs shrugs and looks to Keya. "You had me at traps."

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Infamous Caves Of Chaos
Partly Sunny, Mid Morning

Loyn lays out a few options from the cover of the trees, inspiring suggestions from his group. Being as helpful as usual, Bugs agrees with all of the varying suggestions.

Gyb wisely warns against moving too far into the ravine when the distant caves are suggested as a starting place. Keya shows the others more of his fathers history, happy it coincides perfectly with what they had learned earlier. Crabgrass scribes the notes and maps into his journal before suggesting they simply check out the first opening available to them.

Moving out into the open gravely floor of the ravine, the group crosses the tiny stream and wide puddles towards the first cave on the left; the same cave Stobart shared his partial map of with the dwarf. A clump of trees is blocking the view of the next cave over (E), but the one they can see (D) is wide open without any sign of posted guards.

As Crabtree suggested, small bare humanoid footprints litter the ground between the opening of the cave and the Goblinwater, proving his theory that at least some of these caves inhabitants likely use the stream as their main source of water.

There are larger bare footprints in the mud closer to the next batch of trees, but those are few and far between compared to the smaller tracks.

The rocky cave opening in front of you (D) remains dark and silent.

Actions?

IMG_3404.jpeg (74.26 KiB) Viewed 59710 times

Keya Redd AC5 12/12
Loyn Shortbeard AC5 12/12
Bugs Donato AC3 8/8
Crabgrass AC7 7/7
Gyb the Meager AC10 8/8
Haldric Hammerheart AC3 12/12
Rida AC2 10/10

[Rex]

Rida

Rida moves along with the others. Keeping his crossbow loaded and ready and himself scanning and alert for any potential threats, including behind them.

Whispering, "Quite time."

[ateno]

Quietly....This is the cave we want, or the hidden one?"

Keya looks at the trails and sees if there is any coming from E.

Keta Redd

[Stirling]

Crabgrass

A clump of trees is blocking the view of the next cave over (E), but the one they can see (D) is wide open without any sign of posted guards.

We can either go straight to the mouth of 'Cave D' or hid ourselves in the clump of trees to observe and check out 'E'. Mind you my own thoughts are if we can conceal ourselves there as an ideal hideyhole to spy from, that will be true for orcs too.

"Watch those trees in case we flush some watcher out." he says. I hope someone more sneaky than we go check trees out.

[Jernau35]

Gyb

Gyb keeps a javelin in hand, ready to throw. "Gyb can't see in the dark. Coming in with a torch first means none of you will either". He waves his hand at all his demi-human companions. "But the monsters will see the light and be alarmed."

"Best if Gyb stays at the entrance and watches the tree for a few minutes. Then follows you inside with a torch."

[ravenn4544]

Haldric studies the dark opening of the cave unable to peer beyond. "If there was going to be traps, it looks pretty inviting to lure someone in. Since we know there is going to be traps, why not go through the front door and surprise them?"

Well, the logic makes sense to Haldric, anyway....

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

The Gnome creeps up to the cliff wall next to the cave entrance D. He peers around, looking into the cave for a moment, trying to get accustomed to the darkness.

He knows that traps are a common rumor of the caves, so he'll look for a tripwire alarm near the entrance. FRT (35): [1d100]=94 Let's just say the (possible) trap placement was perfect to take advantage of the dark transition.

[Stirling]

Crabgrass

Having made the suggestion, will check out the trees nearby if no one more dextrous goes ahead.

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn-dwarf fighter

Loyn listens to the others suggestions and agrees with the starting point, hoping Stobart wont mind them testing out his valuable information. He moves as quietly as he can with the others, his eyes searching for any traps or hidden construction on the exterior of the cave entrance as they approach.

“This seems easy, walking right in. Maybe too easy.”

He shrugs at Bugs and motions him in a little further.

[Rex]

Rida

As they prepare to enter the cave Rida moves up to the front and takes his place behind Loyn. Crossbow at the ready.

He then nods to Loyn.

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Infamous Caves Of Chaos
Stoberts Cave D
Partly Sunny, Mid Morning

Crabgrass moves along the ravine floor towards the clump of trees hiding the next cave mouth. There he sees even more of the much larger bare footprints in the mud, the toes of this creature far longer than the little ones in front of cave D. He doesn't see any sign of what made them, but he does notice something else. The natural sounds of animal life is almost nonexistent in this area. No squirrels chattering anywhere and very few bird sounds at all. There is also a distinct sour stench coming from the area marked cave E on Stobarts map. Keya senses this as well, not finding many tracks coming and going between the two openings.

Peering inside the open cave mouth, no traps are noticed. Loyn warns the group about how easy their ingress has been so far, while nudging Bugs inside even further. Just inside the natural cave mouth the walls quickly give way to worked stone tunnels, carved just high enough for a human to stand upright inside. A few steps further, the passage divides into three separate tunnels.

No signs of heat are sensed with infravision down any of the three passages, and each tunnel remains eerily silent.

Actions?

Cave D.jpeg (35.05 KiB) Viewed 59613 times

Keya Redd AC5 12/12
Loyn Shortbeard AC5 12/12
Bugs Donato AC3 8/8
Crabgrass AC7 7/7
Gyb the Meager AC10 8/8
Haldric Hammerheart AC3 12/12
Rida AC2 10/10

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

He nods at the prodding by Loyn and creeps deeper into the cave. Bugs stays along the cave wall to the east, avoiding the empty 'square' of the intersection. He hopes to be able to look down each path and learn more.

He will then report back what he sees.