IC XIII

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys shrugs and steps forward, indicating his willingness to again act as the scout.

[thirdkingdom]

Invisible, Rhys advances into the mouth of the cave. After a few moments letting his eyes adjust to the gloom, he sees that after perhaps a dozen feet the mouth opens up into a largish chamber, roughly circular with a diameter of about forty feet. The ceiling is low, about eight or so feet off the floor, which has been polished smooth by many feet. He can see two tunnels leading deeper into the hill at the back of the chamber, but because of the gloom he can discern no additional details.

The room itself is largely empty. A crude wooden table occupies the rough center, on which are a number of wooden plates and pewter tankards. The plates have not been cleaned, and bear the remains of a meal. Several of the tankards are half-filled with what appears to be a bitter ale. Rhys listens carefully, but can hear no activity.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Donning his special goggles, Rhys moves into the chamber. Carefully heading towards the back of the chamber, he looks down both tunnels to see what he can see.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan stands ready with his sword and shield in case Rhys calls out.

[thirdkingdom]

One corridor leads into a another, similar sized chamber redolent of horse and mown grass. The room appears to be empty, and Rhys can see no passages leading out. The second corridor opens up into another largish chamber, that smells of woodsmoke and garlic. With his goggles on, Rhys can see a residual amount of heat in a circle in the center of the room. There are two more corridors leading out of this room. Again, he neither sees nor hears anything.

[thirdkingdom]

Sorry guys, I've been crazy busy at work the last few weeks. I don't know why I'm dragging this bit out.

Rhys finds the remaining two corridors lead to a sleeping area and what can only be described as a spring house. The entire network of caves seems deserted, and those searching it are left with the distinct impression that it was abandoned recently and in rather a hurry. Non-essential, broken or uninteresting items have been left strewn about the caves.

I think it is safe to assume that the rest of the group joins Rhys and is able to explore the caves as desired.

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

"If we can find no tracks that lead from the cave to wherever they have gone next, then I think we must give up on this detour."

[thirdkingdom]

Anohir searches the ground outside the cave. He finds no trace of the bandit's tracks. They appear to have melted away into thin air.

1d20=17

[Alethan]

Rhys the traveler

Rhys likewise searches for tracks.

[thirdkingdom]

Rhys is also unable to find any tracks.

[Grognardsw]

Aquar the cleric searches for secret doors in the inner cave rooms.

[thirdkingdom]

Aquar the cleric searches for secret doors in the inner cave rooms.

Aquar finds none.

[Wyzard]

Does anyone have anything else, or are we ready to go?

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys shrugs. "No idea what happened to the trail. It just went cold, like they disappeared without a trace. Lets head back to town, then. We can try and track them down later, if need be. At least we tried..."

[thirdkingdom]

I see two votes for returning to town, at least for now. Are there another two votes to support this suggestion? It would also be possible, if you guys are willing, to spread out and spend more time searching a wider area around the cave in hopes of picking up the trail.

FWIW, keep in mind that you guys, in addition to getting up in level (relatively), are traipsing around with a small army.Do not be surprised if you find that dudes decide to flee rather than stand still and fight.

[shaidar]

Mursley, mu

why not head back to town and return with a smaller group, although I doubt they will return here

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"We have accomplished our quest to break the orc banditry," says Aquar. "If this trail is cold, there is little to do. Let us burn this place to hinder its future use, then be on our way."

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Yes, back to town now".

[thirdkingdom]

Aquar, cleric

"We have accomplished our quest to break the orc banditry," says Aquar. "If this trail is cold, there is little to do. Let us burn this place to hinder its future use, then be on our way."

Are you sure Aquar follows a water-based Immortal and not, say, the Immortal patron of pyromaniacs? Anyway, this is a cave. What was Aquar going to burn?

[Grognardsw]

Aquar looks about the cave. The useless trash left behind is not enough to start a fire.