Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Babe can make it down. I'm more worried about that ogre. Him going inside the mine means it is likely he has friends in there of some kind. I think I should take a look while the rest of you move a little closer, quiet like.

If the party agrees with this / doesn't come up with a better ideal, he will descend, creep to the opening and peek around the side very low down. If sees nothing he will listen & if hear nothing will go inside as silently as possible.
Skill checks as needed: skill check [1d100]=55, skill check [1d100]=16

[Cwreando]

Durgo

"Sounds good. We'll be careful and go a little slower. Best be careful too.

[DrRenfield]

Bother Symeon

To Fydmar: If you find trouble, or if trouble finds you, we will rush to your aid.

Symeon readies his morning star and shield

[Spearmint]

The not-so-Abandoned Quarry.

Whilst the rest of the group remain on the cliff top, Fydmar dextrously jumps from boulder to boulder and down the crevice in the cliff that has the route of descent.

You get to the bottom and edge you way, sneaking between thickets of undergrowth that cover the cracked quarry ground and along the foot of the cliff.

Ignoring the huddle of cabins that stand a short way off in the open ground, the dwarf heads towards the first dark shaft entrance. Stopping to peer in, crossbow loaded, hand on axe, ready for ogre sized trouble. It takes a few minutes for your vision to adjust, having to step a few yards inside to gain the benefits of infravision.

The tunnel is wide enough for two or three abreast but tapers in length. After fourscore plus of yards, the tunnel branches with side excavation shafts.
The walls are covered with lichen and in some spots various graffiti is scrawled. Most relates to ex-miners comments, "while you're here, I'm shafting yer missus!"

"How do you confuse a dwarf? Put two spades against a wall and tell him to take his pick!" bonus XP to anyone scripting a dwarf mining joke

Then there are a few warnings, "mind the men in black", "don't harken to Spoonie's ghost", "tunnel unsafe, liable to collapse".

You see the debris of previous mine works, broken barrows and rusted lanterns, birdcages long since emptied of songbirds, a ripped backpack here, hobnailed boots there. Of the ogre no sign except a trail of barefoot prints that lead inwards which you follow until you come to a 'Y' junction.

The left passage echoes with the plinking of water droplets, the right descends down into the dark recesses under the hill. A smell of damp and rot permeates the air, a cold chill. Chalky filaments of webbing lead in both directions but the ogre footprints go only left.

Listening you can hear a vague sound of tinkering and the flicking of shadow light playing up the far passage walls before a turn. A camp fire or similar might be lit beyond.

Undetected in your scouting advance, Fydmar can choose to scout further or go signal the others.

Waiting patiently upon the cliff top the miners are with the mule while Durgo and Brother Symeon can descend and wait at the bottom for any wave or signal from the dwarf.

as always the wilderness and Barrow Moor have inherent dangers, but so far no friend or foe, apart from the ogre have been detected.

actions please.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo is more inclined to head down and at least get further along whether Fydmar comes out to say good or bad to the same place, "Best be heading down don't you think Brother Symeon. We can be careful with Babe taking time to be sure of foot.

Written on the wall, "Dwarven women are like axes. As dangerous from the back as from the front."

Durgo adds If Brother Symeon agrees, "Let's follow Fydmar down folks."

Durgo secures things to take Babe's rein/lead rope and starts moving down the cliff.

[DrRenfield]

Brother Symeon

Best tread lightly, lad. If there is danger below, it would not do to give our good dwarf away. Hand off the ass to Ozzie, to bring up the rear.

Symeon will follow Durgo cautiously, mumbling an inaudible prayer.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Good point.

Durgo hands off the ass to Ozzie to bring up the rear.

Slow and steady then...

With his hands free he decides to focus on getting down safely.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Will exit the tunnel & wave the others on down. He will then report on what he has seen.
I think I should continue scouting ahead. I'm inclined to go left at the Y & see who's with the ogre so they're not our backs when we go the other way. Agree? Do ye follow at a distance? Or set up an ambush if I have to flee? Or do ya have a better idea?

[Cwreando]

Durgo

“I think we should either talk to the ogre or drive it off. I can speak ogre. It’ll be tight fighting in the cave probably. I’m good either way. I’ll light a lantern if we need one?”

Durgo gets his sword and shield ready.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Talk to it? Ye must be mad. I like you too much to have you killed trying to talk to one of them. Tight fighting we will have an advantage against one so large, especially if we can surprise and surround him. Maybe call to it to get it to come out into an ambush...not if there be more than we can handle. We need to know how many ogres and its allies we are dealing with. Brother, what say ye?

[DrRenfield]

Brother Symeon

Best go and have a quiet look, friend. If there are many, we may wish to avoid them altogether. A rush to violence could end our expedition before we even near our object. St Ygg commands us to courage, but never to arrogance.

Should they give chase, we will stand ready to support you.

To Durgo: How do you give the ogre imperative to "Submit" in their tongue? I have petitioned the Saint for the invocation of "command" today and we may find need of it.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo says,"I'm a young lad so I'll heed your council Fydmar..Brother Symeon the word to submit is Bowgerz. We have the safety of these miner and Babe to consider my friends as well."

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Find a good spot in case I come out in a hurry. I'll scout the left tunnel and see what I can see. Be back as soon as I can.
He will enter and move down the left tunnel cautious and quietly as possible, same as before w/X-bow and axe ready.
skill checks as needed: skill check [1d100]=62, skill check [1d100]=100

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo nods at Fydmar, "Right..Let's find a good spot folks. About 20 yards away in an arc surrounding the entrance. Make sense? Secure Babe to something too. If we can be hidden even better."

Durgo takes a spot along the wall on one side or the others. If it's just the ogre coming out behind Fydmar he wants to be able to move to the opening to close that off from retreat. If there's more, he'll have to decide that later.

[DrRenfield]

Brother Symeon

Wise thinking about the mule, lad. Ozzie, secure him back away from the danger.

To the Ozzie, Meatloaf, Plantie, & Lemmy: You fellows let Durgo and I take the beasts' ire, then move in to strike at its flanks. I do not wish you to risk yourselves, but the safest place for men in a fight is supporting one another in a strong line.

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. "

Symeon takes up a position, planning to get in front of any monsters pursuing Fydmar.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

“Good thinking brother I shall stand at your side to meet this beast head on if it comes.”

Durgo gets in position with brother.

[Spearmint]

The not-so-Abandoned Quarry

Plans are put in place, veteran expedition wisdom and Ecclesiastical words. BabeRuth and the miners to the rear, inside the shaft but prepped with hard hats and picks to form a defensive line should an enraged ogre charge. Durgo and Brother Symeon walk a little behind Fydmar. He sneaks ahead, flitting from crevice to boulder, using his racial infravision to discern the tunnel features then to the mouth of the left side passage of the Y junction.

The dwarf tries to tip toe but his hobnailed boots scuff the scrabble of pebbles and chalk stones in the floor and echo his movements.

Progressing down the left side, the tunnel inclines down, the soft chalk rock hewn out in a circular shaft unlike the main branch which seems to follow as naturally formed tunnel. You pass many thick sets of cobwebs that line the walls. Old though for you can touch them and not be stuck, so much chalk dust and grit testifying to their being spun a long time ago. Tangled inside a morbid relic; the husk of a strange white furred ape. Dry of blood and home now only to cave gnats and crickets that buzz annoyingly if you poke among them.

A short bow shot and the mined passage opens to a larger cave of natural stone rather than chalk. From the threshold you can see an open area about sixty feet across that leads to a sludge filled pool fed from waters that trickle over a series of rocky ledges.

The are many claimable routes to get above the waterfall where an area of cavern stretches back into the darkness. To your immediate right are three distinct caves; like little Neanderthal hovels, probably no more than 15'ft chambers. Outside the middle one is a small campfire, the embers sizzling and steam rising suggesting that the flames have been recently quashed.

That in itself alerts Fydmar that his presence has also been noted and by instinct you duck as a boulder the size of your head crashes above sending shards of rock to cascade about you. A "Grrrrr ..." from the depths of the cave.

Expecting danger to suddenly rush upon you, you dodge back up the tunnel but no one follows.

Ogryn surprise [1d6]=3[1d20]=8[1d10]=9

actions please.

[scottjen]

Fydmar
Retreats up the passageway back to his friends. It's me he says as he approaches where he left them. Quickly telling them what happened, the ogre knows someone is out here. Unfortunately I failed to ascertain if there was anyone else. Didn't see anyone, mind. And the campfire was awfully small. We could set an ambush, but might be waiting a long time. Shrugs. Plan B?

[Cwreando]

Durgo

"This ogre and maybe more have probably held up the silk harvesting for some time. I believe Brother Symeon was sent to get the silk harvest moving along.
I personally took the job to help bolster the 1st aid kit production. I say let's get in there and remove the risk for future silk farming crews. We need that silk and we don't need to be hassled while getting it. Not that this ogre is the only one or thing out here, but it will be one or more less to deal with if we are successful. What say you Brother? What was the lighting like in there Fydmar?

Durgo readies to go into the cave. If it's dark, he'll prep his lantern. If able he'll carry it in his shield hand while still holding his shield. Sword in his other hand. He'll grab a bit of ration and a swig of water. Durgo will focus on the ogre if they go in and try to protect the miners and Brother Symeon as much as possible.

[DrRenfield]

Bother Symeon

Well said, my friend. As much as I would like to avoid the distraction to our purpose of reconnaissance, this mine will never be able to operate properly while it serves as a shelter to these creatures of chaos.

Moreover, our original fear of leaving the beast at our backs is of greater consequence now that we have alerted it to our intrusion.

Durgo, do you think you draw it out with it's mother tongue? There’s no harm in an attempt now.