The Keep

[Bloodaxe]

Very large= you would say they are the largest human like prints you ever saw. Easily two or three times bigger then a large man. You thought it might be some kind of animal, but appears to have crude footwear.

[Mister-Kent]

Gustav the Grasping, greedy bastard

"Hooves," Gustav says. "Hooves means horses, right? Or maybe cows? But if it's people riding horses, it could be worth investigating." He rubs his hands together. "I hope its bandits. Bandits have things. And when one kills said bandits, said bandits' things are up for grabs..."

Anne, fighting farm girl
Anne raises her hand to silence Gustav. "Not so fast." She kneels to inspect all the tracks, but looks closer at the hoof marks--cloven or equestrian?

[Bloodaxe]

The hooves look like some kind of ox or large livestock you would guess. Large prints, but several days old you would guess.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Dreaver, former locksmith-journeyman
Clay Dreaver smiled - with a not-so-kind smile - as a beautiful idea dawned on him. He looked at the tiniest member of the group. Lobo. You're... small. Go on up to that cave and listen in for a moment. See if you can hear anything telling. Clay pointed to cave E. We will come most of the way with you so you aren't alone.

[Mister-Kent]

Anne, fighting farm girl

"These are bovine in nature," Anne announces, pointing out the tracks. "Pack oxen, perhaps?"

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Dreaver, former locksmith-journeyman
A mix of emotions wash over Clay. Frustration at the glassy-eyed halfling, a yearn for treasure and a drive - as leader of this group - to not look like a fool. Clay suggests that, of all the prints here, the humanoid are likely to have a treasure - and possibly the merchant because that is the pretense for being here... To his chagrin, he encourages the group to follow him to the edge of Cave E, staying back slightly. He shoots the halfling a dark look, If you want something done right... Hey Jeswrath, people say you know how to talk in different languages. Come with me and listen at the cave entrance. Clay then approaches the cave entrance as stealthily as he can to hide and listen for a minute or so. If possible, he will peak in and try to avoid wetting himself.

Gunther Biltimere, eighth son of a peasant farmer
Gunther tries to focus on Clay's words, but cannot. He keeps darting his head left and right at any sound. The farmer is not used to being so deep in a forest. He is unsure what is going on as the group starts walking, so he follows, sticking close to Clay.

Gared Harth, surly woodcutter
Better that runt than me... Gared thinks. Gared agrees to follow, bringing up the rear. He is ever-watchful of the other caves and the forest around them. Don't want any surprises creeping up on us, he whispers to anyone nearby.

[Mister-Kent]

Anne, fighting famr-girl
Anne follows Clay to the edge of the cave (E), awaiting further instructions. It seems clear he's attempting to goad the halfling into something potentially dangerous, but with few other options, Anne does not shoot down the idea.

Gustav, greedy bastard
Gustav silently competes with Gared Harth for who can be the furthest back in the party while still technically traveling with them.

[Bloodaxe]

At the the entrance to the cave (E) you notice a strong sour smell. Possibly sweat and an animal odor. Large prints lead in and out of the cave. You can hear a faint sound coming from within the cave.....snoring?

Among the very large footprints are a few much older prints, probably a bear.

[jdluna]

At the the entrance to the cave (E) you notice a strong sour smell. Possibly sweat and an animal odor. Large prints lead in and out of the cave. You can hear a faint sound coming from within the cave.....snoring?

Among the very large footprints are a few much older prints, probably a bear.

Would Kavam and Keram be able to identify any droppings?

[Bloodaxe]

At the the entrance to the cave (E) you notice a strong sour smell. Possibly sweat and an animal odor. Large prints lead in and out of the cave. You can hear a faint sound coming from within the cave.....snoring?

Among the very large footprints are a few much older prints, probably a bear.

Would Kavam and Keram be able to identify any droppings?

You haven't seen any to identify near the cave entrance.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Dreaver, former locksmith-journeyman
Clay sneaks back to the others to report what he found.

Gared Harth, surly woodcutter
Gared drops to the ground and commences to light a torch. Once it is lit he addresses the group. You all thinking what I'm thinking? Of course you are! No one here has ever seen a giant before. Let's go. Gared starts into the cave, confidently assuming the rest of the group is with him.

Gunther Biltimere, eighth son of a peasant farmer
Gunther shrugs. I suppose we need to start searching somewhere. At least there aren't bones scattered around... I can take the torch. He hushes up once at the edge of the cave, but follows Gared down the tunnel.

Clay Dreaver, former locksmith-journeyman
Clay follows as far as the edge of the cave, but he cannot make his now-numb legs go farther. Giants were not part of his find-treasure-in-the-wilderness plan. He feels much hotter suddenly and his legs grow tingly. Don't giants grind bones into bread? he mumbles.


So Gared and Gunther are going into the cave; Gunther is carrying a torch. Clay is staying on the edge of the cave.

If anyone wants to try another cave, Clay is happy to avoid this one for now. If Bloodaxe is okay with it, we can have multiple adventures going.

[Bloodaxe]

This looks to be a large natural cave (unworked stone). The snoring sound is quite loud. There is a large furry thing asleep in the south west corner of the cave. A large bear. Bones are scattered about the floor and in one corner is a large pile of them.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Do any of the bones look to be human/humanoid? And can we see all the walls or are there darkened recesses that might hide exits deeper into the caves?

[Bloodaxe]

Do any of the bones look to be human/humanoid? And can we see all the walls or are there darkened recesses that might hide exits deeper into the caves?

You are only at the mouth of the cave, you cannot see much. Many of the bones look "humanoid", there are skulls......

[Rusty Tincanne]

Gared Harth, surly woodcutter
Gared sets the head of his warhammer on the cave floor and turns back to the group. Dang. Just a bear. But bear is good eating and if we're lucky, maybe it's shit out a few coins from the creatures it has eaten. That said, I'm happy to leave well enough alone. This thing is one of the few predators around that are keeping the monsters in check, like as not.

[ybn1197]

Adair Dabney; Merchant's Illegitimate Son
Adair stays towards the back of the group, praying to every god he can think of and making up a few of his own in a feeble attempt to ward off any evil monsters that are in the area. At Gared's suggestion to leave well enough alone, Adair lets out a lungful of air he wasn't aware that he had been holding. "Here, here! Another cave would be an excellent suggestion. After all, we know it wasn't a giant or a bear that carried them away."

Kennard Harrisson; Town Gravedigger
Kennard follows behind Gunther into the cave. Though the idea of tangling with a sleeping bear wasn't a good one in his mind, he knew he wasn't the smartest one here. And if Gunther and Gared thought it was a good idea then it must be. But as Gared stops and suggest checking another cave, Kennard pauses and inwardly agrees with the man. He had no inflated sense of his abilities that would suggest he had a chance of beating the bear.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Dreaver, former locksmith-journeyman
Clay was heartened slightly to know it wasn't a giant, but a large bear was not anything he wanted to interact with either. ...Without any next-of-kin, it doesn't seem worth looking for the merchant's remains. Garen, Kennard and Gunther, go look in that cave. He pointed to cave F.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Gared Harth, surly woodcutter and Gunther Biltimere, eighth son of a peasant farmer
Head to the mouth of Cave F with the torch and listen and peer in. If nothing seems amiss, they will venture further in.

[Bloodaxe]

As the group leaves, you notice the snoring stops. You hear a rustling sound, of movement. And what is definitely a very large voice in the direction where you saw the bear.

Huh? Wuzzat?
A very large voice still groggy with sleep.

===============

Actions?

Stay?
Go?
To cave F?
Something else?

[Rusty Tincanne]

Gared Harth, surly woodcutter
Gared turns excitedly on his heels. He motions for the group to hide in the bushes nearby while holding Kennard and Gunther still. He whispers, That ain't no bear talking words to us. Might-could still be a giant! He moves back to the cave entrance and speaks slowly and purposefully. Hey friend. I am looking for a merchant and his wife taken by some hobgoblins. You know anything about that?

Gunther Biltimere, eighth son of a peasant farmer
Gunther took a few deep breaths to steady himself while kneeling to pick up some soil and rub it into his hands. found himself recalling the words of his Great Uncle Bartemus who had given him his sword. When the blade was given to him he was told of how it had been used to defend their village during the last Goblin Raids. "It's short, but sharp. Just poke your enemies with the pointy end and you can't go wrong. And don't die out there... I want this thing back." Sound advice.
The eighth son of a peasant farmer stood again and whispered, I'm with you Garen, but are you sure about this?

Clay Dreaver, former locksmith-journeyman
Without thinking, Clay finds himself pushing to the rear of the group behind a nearby tree. Later he will say he was attempting to lead the group away from danger, but for now he isn't bothering with any reason. As he peered through the leaves his hands shook and his weapons were the furthest things from his mind. I can always find another Master-Locksmith to work for...