The party gathers at the gates of Winterhaven, a small number of villagers that happen to be near the gate all wave at the passing adventurers, calling out their farewells to the 'Heroes of Winterhaven' as they make their leave of the town.
The road to Shadowfell Keep is arduous. Since the keep's destruction, few travelers use the road and it is obvious that no one bothers to maintain the path. The road is overgrown with grass, ferns, and small trees. The keep isn't in any better shape. Evidence of its destruction can be seen as you approach the derelict ruins.
Ahead, the narrow track widens into a clearing. Great piles of shattered stone blocks and scorched timbers dominate the clearing, sprawling out from its center to the edge of the woods. No plants grow among the ruins or within the clearing. The ground is bare dirt, and although the forest has begun to reclaim the path leading here, it has not intruded into the ruins of Shadowfell Keep.
Yet clearly someone has tampered with the ruins. In the center of the debris, stone blocks and timbers have been gathered into a pile. Someone has cleared a path through the rubble an pulled aside the wreckage to reveal a stone staircase. The staircase descends into the darkness.
"Well it be sure dat none of my kin be involved in da building ov dis keep ... shoddy workmanship"
Varro shakes his head in disgust.
“Well da path be clear as da nose on me face. but I be reckenin ya all be wantin ta take it easy and slow and check every lil spot.
Who be da mapper ... ya best get started on dat mappin"
Varro looks the area over for any immediate danger or targets
Belimir frowns. I`m really not good at...."mappin". Although, maybe I am..........I don`t know, I`ve never tried.......So.........theoretically I might be a mappin` genius! Nah.........It`d probably be a mess.........How did Varro call it? Critter starch?
Out loud, he smiles and just says: "Not it."
Wilam finds a stone from the ruins to sit upon. He begins meditating while the others begin their mapping. He lets his senses stretch out to the surroundings and he tries to get a read on the magical energies in the area.
An underlying sense of ancient, powerful magic emanates from the entire area. It is present but only a subtle feeling. The overwhelming sense of dread and incorporeal evil keeps anything else from being learned.
Wilam finds himself completely lost in the flows of magic. The physical world fades from his consciousness and his mind is enveloped in a swirl of dark energies. He can sense the portal and all of its evil. He reaches out to it but it eludes his grasp. It's here... Terrible and wicked. It's here... we must end it.
With a spasm, he wakes from his trance and nearly falls off the stone. Swallowing hard, he looks around at his companions, trying to gauge the time he was in the trance. To his dismay, he finds it was merely a few seconds and the group is still only discussing who will play the cartographer. The magic is strong if it only took seconds to enter so close, so quickly.
In rubble, the ruined keep looks to be of shoddy make, but closer examination of the blocks used for construction show obvious signs of dwarven make. There is no trouble afoot and danger seems to be only ahead of the party.
Arden looks around the keep for danger and shrugs at the others comments. "I suppose whoever brought the supplies to map, should be the mapper. Not I." He smiles and moves up to the ruins, looking for arcane symbols or other such traces of magic. "This place looks very ominous indeed... I'm sure there is power to be found here."
There seems to be no specific markings or signs found on any of the ruins of the ancient keep. No traces of magic can be found outside the ruins.
"So, nothing is outside. Let`s get inside and see who`s in there." Belimir starts walking toward the keep entrance.
Eager to unleash the dark power raging inside him, Arden follows Belimir to the keep entrance. "I hope to get a little more involved this time, not being trapped in a crypt and all."
Wilam falls in behind the other two. "It might be in our best interest to remove the threat at hand before going about the delicate and time consuming task of mapping."
"I not be givin a speck of dung when da mappin gets done, jus as long as it be gettin done. I be reckenin dat I be agreein dat after we clear da place ov baddies den we can dos da mappin, makes fer a bad map when da first mapper dies and a second finishes da map... a'ight we clear it first... but I ain't no mapper. But sombody needs ta be doin da mappin."
Varro takes back up the lead position in the party, and enters the keep area.
Arden nods at the dwarf's comments, "Again, I didn't see large parchments or quills within the supplied provisions.... so unless someone has supplies to map, we may have to go back to town before we get to that."
"Knowin Wilam and his sesitivities he is likely goin ta wanta go back ta town each moment he gets tired ... he be a bit ov a ...." Looks to make sure Wilam isn't listening "a bit ov a girlie lich"
Arden snickers at Varro's grumblings... This is quite the entertaining group. At least I know I won't be bored to death.... but there are still a million other ways to die in here I'm sure....
Wilam remains oblivious to Varro's comments.
Francis follows behind Arden "This is assuming the cultists haven't already made a map of their own. I'm with Wilam on eliminating the threat and then mapping a less dangerous keep."
"I can fricken draw a little," Ehud sighs. "Need drawing crap from town, though. Let's do after the bleeding, eh?"
"A'ight ... after da place be clear ...den ya do da mappin."
Varro steps over a bit of timber left in the path, points at it so the others don't trip over it
"So ya would figger der be guards or sumting. We be damn near on da front porch and nuttin."
Varro keeps looking for some sign of life, or a trap.
The stairway leading down consists of finely crafted stone, perhaps the work of dwarves. A breeze chills you to the bones as you take each step down. The flicker of torchlight spills from a room at the bottom of the stairs.
Francis pulls out his shield and handaxe. He motions for others to be silent.
Pulling out his axe and shield, the metal head of the axe bangs against the shield hard, ringing out through the stairway down.
Varro raises his stubby sausage-like finger to his lips as he looks at Francis
"QUIET!" *belly laugh*
Varro leads the group down the stairs, about 20 ft from the bottom he motions for Jiles to take the lead and check it out.
As the party moves cautiously down the stairs, the room below comes into view. They see a room with several pillars in the center of the room. Torches line the walls every so often, lighting the room in bright light.
Across the way from the stairs a filth covered goblin can be seen, lazily guarding the entryway into the keep. He doesn't seem to enjoy his job and hasn't noticed anyone coming down the stairs yet.
Belimir tries to slip behind the columns unnoticed, sniffing the air around him. A goblin. I`ll catch you little man and then I`m gonna........I`m not gonna eat you, but maybe you know something........... He changes his shape into a white panther, but while doing so, he lost his balance on the stairway and went tumbling down. Ouch.
Varro tries to catch his friend, and avoid giving away their position.
“Hmm I be thinkin dat dez fellers are tryin fer a fight ... well I be ok wit dat ... but lets be seein if we can ease up on dis ugly.”
Varro watches the goblin to see if he notices Belimir's botched attempt at stealth, axe at the ready.
Not seeing any immediate reaction from the goblin,Varro eases into the room and awaits the others to advance.
In a bit of a daze as he readies his crossbows, Jiles slips into the shadows, but awaits Belimir. He peers into the room, watching carefully for any other movement and listening for any footfalls.
Francis moves down to the end of the stairs.
As the party makes their way to the bottom of the stairs, the white panther slips down a few steps, causing a bit of noise.
The goblin across the room looks up, a stupid grin crossing his face.
He stands up and begins waving at the party. He hops up and down, hooting and hollaring, waving his arms at the party, trying to get their attention.
Belimir moves forward across the room, past a pillar. He takes one step past the first pillar in the room and the floor suddenly gives way!
He crashes down into a pit trap, landing hard on the stone bottom.
The instant he lands in the pit a swarm of hungry rats fall over him, covering his entire prone body, biting and nipping at his exposed white fur.
More torches light up in the hallway to the south and east of the main room.
As the trap opens and Belimir crashes down to the bottom, Arden moves up with the others, opposite of Varro. "Well no point in being quiet and trying to hide..."
He points his Accurate Rod at the Goblin and curses him, "Into Death!" before unleashing a bolt of dark energy on the creature.
The cursed creature falls from the bolt of energy and as his soul escapes his body, vitality flows into Arden.
Wilam hears the crashing floor. What is going on down there?! He moves down the stairs behind Arden and sees the peculiar scene... A plume of dust and a goblin dancing crazily in the back of the room. Wilam realizes the setup and curses under his breath, All too eager to jump into the fray. He'll learn soon enough.
As the torchlight behind the goblin illuminates, Wilam anticipates a raiding party and conjures a storm of electrical energy near the goblin.
That should keep them at bay...
Varro continues to move along the western side of the pit, careful not to fall in. He takes a quick look down the western passage and seeing no immediate threats, he swings around the south-western corner of the pit to lay a wicked strike on the distracted Goblin. He comes in quick with his axe at the ready and strikes hard to the creatures mid-section. He steadies his stance to prepare for a good fight.
Looking at the rats, Belimir tries to evaluate his options. Fight them or flee? He tries to remember the stuff he knows about rat swarms.
Belimir remembers that rat swarms are difficult to get away from when you are within reach of the rodents. They eat anything they can find, and can easily chew through solid steel if given the chance.
Better make this quick then.
Deciding he has better chances while fighting. Finding new strength, the panther quickly stands up and roars at the rat swarm. He sinks both his fangs in the rats, then quickly jumps out of the pit. Once out, he changes back to his human shape, and moves behind the pilar, breathing heavily, but a smile evident on his face. I made it out!
Ehud moves down the stairs and heads opposite Varro.
Then he calls down radiant vengeance on the rat swarm.
Jiles quickly but silently moves into the fray, attempting to gain a vantage point over the rat swarm below.
After loosing a bolt into the rat swarm, Jiles reloads the crossbow with his one hand and prepares for another shot.
Jiles then takes a good look around the pillar to make sure no more goblins are on their way.
The rats in the pit snip and bite at Belimir as he continues to crawl on the floor. Luckily for the injured elf, none of the bites are serious.
The Goblin across the pit stops waving his hands when Belimir falls into the pit, having done his job. He then begins to move backward down the hall where the torches lit up just a moment before.
Varro, making his way around the pit, checks quickly down the western passage. Noting no pressing threat down to the left, he continues to move on around the broken floor. His growl challenges the goblin as he moves in to strike.
With a wicked strike, Varro cleaves a deep gash into the backside of the goblin, the goblin runs away for the deadly dwarf, blood trailing down the floor as he moves on down the hall.
Arden moves down the stairs and carefully makes his way around the pit. Aiming his rod at the goblin he curses him with an infernal chant, then lets loose a bolt of eldritch energy at the filthy thing. The dark energy blasts the goblin, it's meager soul escaping from its body.
Wilam makes his way down the stairs to check out the commotion. Seeing enemies in the first room of the keep and the torches light up, Wilam acts quickly setting up a defense for the group.
Wilam summons a pillar of thunder and lightning to block any advances from the southern passage.
Francis, seeing his allies having the goblin handled, picks his footing carefully around the pit. Standing behind the storm pillar.
Belimir sizes up the swarm of rats as he stands to his feet, taking a deep breath, centering himself. He then darts forward, jaws snapping at any rodent he can catch in his fangs, then darts into the air, bounding from wall to wall, escaping the pit.
Ehud leaps down the stairs, unleashing radiant vengeance on the rat swarm as he makes his way around the pit.
The holy light sears the rats as it hits them.
Jiles quickly and silently moves down the stairs and hides behind a pillar near the pit. He lets fire a crossbow bolt at the swarm of rats, thinning their numbers even further.
Varro not being satisfied by the lone goblin falling in battle rushes past Wilam's pillar to the chamber to the south.
Once there he again calls down radiant vengeance upon the rat swarm.
Still breathing heavily, Belimir raises his staff and calls forth the element of water to drown the nasty vermin. "कूड़े को नाश राष्ट्रों" A torent of water starts filling the pit.
Jiles moves quickly around the pillar and past his allies, leaving the rat swarm in their capable hands, now that Belimir is safely out of the pit. He shifts to the corner of the wall opposite Ehud, and listens intently, scanning for any signs of an incoming threat.
After the goblin falls, Arden follows the others to the southern room where the goblin was fleeing. There must be some sort of ambush awaiting us if they had this place so cleverly trapped.
Suddenly noticing how dark the room is, Wilam casts Light on his tome. The pages glow with bright light, as if on fire, but they are not consumed. Mind the pit.
With the light of the tome guiding his way, Wilam moves around the edge of the pit to press forward with the group.
Catching the lights of the torches as he passed the eastern path, Wilam doubles back to block that entrance with another crackling ball of energy. We can't allow ourselves to be flanked. "Θύελλα Πυλώνας, guard our flank."
Brann has been deep in meditation while trying to sense the ancient auras around the keep.
The sounds of battle have wakened him from his deep inner focus. He looks around and sees his comrades have already dispatched some foes.
Oh my, I can't believe I became so oblivious to my surroundings. I must not let my curious instincts distract me from my real obligations to defend and protect my companions.
Seeing the obviously injured Belemir infront of him he shouts over at him, "Hold on, this should ease your pain my friend" and channels some of the his divine light into his companions body.
I need to get a better view of the battle to see what else I've missed.
Brann rushes inside and to the edge of the room and looks over trying to get a sense of the battle.
Varro moves past the pillar of storm and presses on further south. Axe at the ready.
Ehud moves his position and calls the radiant vengeance down again upon the rats.
Francis moves again deeper into the room, keeping his eyes peeled for anything interesting.
Belimir clicks open the cap to his waterskin, and out rushes a Torrent of water. It fills the pit, effectively drowning the rat swarm, not a single rodent makes it out alive.
Meanwhile, Brann works his holy magic on Belimir, closing some of his wounds, patching the deep bites from the filthy vermin.
Jiles moves cautiously around the room, sliding into the shadows, senses at their peak listening for any signs of activity around them.
Arden, following the others to the room below, ready to deal with any sort of ambush waiting for them. He pushes past Francis as he rounds the corner.
Wilam moves as close to the corner of the hallway as he can, Ehud blocking his way. He is now guarded in the corner by Ehud and the stealthy rogue Jiles.
Making sure the group isn't flanked, Wilam resummons his Storm Pillar to block the hallway traveling East of their position.
Brann continues healing Belimir, then moves into the room to gain a better view on the action.
As the group enters the southern room, two more goblins jump in surprise, obviously unaware of the threat not reported by their companion.
Even in their surprise, the goblins take aim and fire a volley of crossbow quarrels at the three heroes who made their way into the room.
The bolts strike true, dealing some damage to Francis and Arden.
A cry can be heard from the east, through the doorway nearest to Arden.
A goblin warrior rushes to the door, weapon at the ready, standing defensively in the doorway.
Not liking the look that Hognose is giving the trio, Varro makes a Dwarven curse at the Goblin and Charges past Buttface and attacks Hognose.
"Whatdahell ya be lookin at ya, tentacled milk-drinkin thumb-basher?"
Jiles curses silently as he hears the goblins yell out, followed by Varro. He moves as quickly as he can while maintaining stealth. He then shoots from behind the cover of the wall at the skirmisher, appearing for an instant before ducking behind cover to become once again concealed.
Jiles shifts back further down the hall, then returns to hiding behind the cover of the wall and reloading his crossbow.
Seeing his companions charging south, Brann is once again finding himself falling behind the battle.
"Oi you lot, a bit of thought to those of us without those unsightly long limbs of yours!"
In an attempt to get back into a useful position for his companions, he throws out all thoughts of stealth and defense and sprints full speed towards the battle.
"Right, here we are, whats going on with all these goblins then?" Brann takes a look and sees a goblin in front of the party and shoots a bolt of divine light toward it. He notices Francis has taken a small wound and channels the healing energies back to him.
After drowning the rat swarm, Bleimir hears the shouting in the room up ahead. He wastes no time and goes into the room.
We have them out-numbered, it seems. Wilam doubts if there will be any trouble at all in the next room so sets to continue guarding the flank. He creates a new energy pillar just behind the last one and turns the corner into the hallway.
As Varro sets to work on the first Goblin, Arden focuses on the second ugly creature. Grinning with blood thirst, he points and shouts at the Goblin, cursing him, and then rushes forward to the melee. He points in the Goblins' direction and shouts words of Arcane power, unleashing booming thunder at both foes.
Varro curses at a goblin, charging Hognose with his greataxe.
Quickstepping past the first goblin, the filthy creature gets a lucky swing at the dwarf, but doesnt come close to hitting him.
Hognose, as he has thus far been named, swings at Varro with it's shortsword, scoring a solid blow on the dwarf.
Varro crashes down with his greataxe, swinging at both goblins as he charges forward. Axe cutting deep into green goblin skin as he continues his charge.
Jiles stealthily moves around his companions so he has a clear shot around the corner at the goblins who made themselves so audibly known.
Popping out from cover, Jiles fires his crossbows at 'Buttface' and sinks back into the shadows of the corner.
Brann, realizing he is falling behind a bit, dashes off through the room, past the pit, down the hallway.
He stops short, seeing the goblins, and warms the room with a Sacred Flame, burning the goblins and comforting his allies.
Unfortunately, the goblins barely seem to notice the prayers of the dwarf.
Belimir races down the hall and leaps into the room, ready for action.
Wilam refreshes his Storm Pillar, still blocking the eastern hallway, and moves around the corner.
Arden grins evilly at the goblins, sharing an infernal curse on 'Buttface' he moves into melee range, disappearing into the shadows of the lit torches and appearing in front of the pair of Greenskins, unleashing a Clarion's Call onto the both of them.
The so-called 'Buttface' grabs its ears in protest, unable to escape the thunderous power of the spell.
Francis aknowledges the threat through the doorway, challenges the newcomer and move into the open doorway, handaxe leading the way.
Two brilliant swipes strike the goblin warrior, causing holy, radiant damage to the greenskin.
The two goblins, Buttface and Hognose move away from the dwarf and warlock as they try to escape the obviously dangerous room.
Taking nasty hits from both Varro and Arden, they make it to the corner of the stairs leading down to the next room.
They both let crossbow bolts fly, impressively accurate for rugged goblins. Both bolts finding their mark.
The goblin warrior, not one to turn down a fight, steps up to Francis, both combatants coming eye to eye with one another.
The goblin thrusts out with his spear, scoring a hit on the paladin.
Varro chases after the wounded goblin that he has deemed Hognose.
With a powerful swing of his axe he slices thru his target and hits the other goblin.
Wilam wonders if his protective actions on the party's flank is even worth it. Still waiting for a goblin to attempt to move through his static field, he shouts over his shoulder to the rest of the group, "How are you faring in there? It's silent at the rear."
Due to all the sounds of battle (and Varro's own battlecrys and belly laughs) in the southern room, Varro can't hear Wilam's question.
Unphased by the Goblin Warrior's strike, Francis smiles and strikes him again.
"It's a bit more active up here!" he says back to Wilam.
Through the excitement, Wilam yells at Ehud, "I can hold the rear, go up and help the others!"
Jiles, once again, peers from around the corner leveling his crossbow and firing, this time at the goblin skirmisher because he is easier to see.
Shifting quickly and slinking back into the shadows, Jiles moves to his left and reloads his crossbow.
Seeing another combatant near Francis, Jiles shifts his aim, firing another bolt in that direction in an attempt to find the goblin warrior.
Hearing Varro merrily hacking away at the goblins Brann turns his attention to the others. He sees Francis move out of sight ahead of him and hears him entering combat with another opponent.
"Any idea how many of them are around?" Brann shouts out at his companions ahead as he assumes a better location to assist.
As he moves into the chamber he attempts to aid Francis by blasting his opponent with divine light and bolstering Francis.
Arden shouts into the other room "Three Goblins in here!" He moves closer to the melee between the two Goblins and Varro, cursing the other Goblin and unleashing a Chaos Bolt on the bloodied creature. "Die you wretched beasts!" His eyes flash with anger as the dark powers flow through him.
"Only three Goblins? I guess Varro is getting a bit slow in his old age. Good thing the rest of you guys are around to give him a hand."
They should be fine if there's only three goblins, Wilam makes a quick mental check... three goblins, four of us. I'll keep this hall closed.
Wilam peaks back around the corner and sees no activity. He says a quick word of dismissal and re-conjures a fresh pillar of energy in it's place.
Belimir moves closer to the two goblins and lifts his staff, calling another rush of water to drown the green creatures.
Ehud finally manages to shake off his hang over enough to move.
Varro chases after the goblins, not wanting them to escape down the stairs.
The warrior cleaves through both goblins on the stairs, missing the monsters and slamming his axe heavily into the wall, chunks of brick flying everywhere.
Battle cries and the sound of battle ensue through the rooms.
Jiles peeks out from the corner firing his crossbow from his hidden position at one of the skirmishers.
The bolt sinks deep into the goblin, dropping the greenskin to the floor, tumbling down several steps before coming to rest.
Sliding back into the shadows, Jiles sidesteps and fires another bolt at the remaining sharpshooter.
This bolt deflecting off of the floor next to Varro, missing the goblin.
Brann, trying to gather information about the numbers they faced, moves into the southern room, covering a goblin warrior in sacred flames, burning its skin.
Arden unleashes his dark power upon the remaining sharpshooter, a bolt of black and purple chaos flies free of his body. The cursed goblin, some how, dodges the wild magic bolt.
Dismissing his old Storm Pillar, Wilam summons another thundering column of lightning to block the passage of any foes from the eastern room.
Belimir, lifting his staff, brings forth another wave of torrential water to crash into the goblin on the stairs. The incredible amount of water consumes the creature, drowning it almost instantly, smashing its wretched body against the walls and ceiling of the stairway.
Ehud shakes off his stuppor and takes off running up the passage to the North-West alone.
As Jile's bolt tears through the Goblin, the cursed being releases vitality which flows into Arden.
The goblin warrior, hearing the rushing waves and the screams of it's companions, takes off running back through the storeroom.
Francis, seeing his chance, makes a quick swipe with his weapon, stinging the goblin in the back of the legs.
Through his teeth, Francis says, "By Oghma, you're not getting away!"
Hearing the paladin attacking the final goblin and eager to make up for his earlier lapse in concentration Brann charges past his companion after the last goblin.
"You'll not escape our wrath, filthy wretch", and resolutely calls forth the light of Moradin on the goblin.
Arden hears Brann and Varro give chase to the cowardly Goblin and almost pauses to rest for a moment. Then he remembers Varro aggravated assault on the wall, and his own Arcane failure and quickly decides to follow suit. "Don't let it wake the entire place!"
What is going on back there?! And must they be so... vociferous?
Wilam decides the threat from the rear is gone and abandons his post to join the others.
"What is going on in here that we must awake the entire keep to our presence? One dead goblin?" Wilam looks at Varro and Belimir sternly.
Jiles curses as his bolt misses, and moves quickly to attempt to intercept the running goblin.
From around the corner, hiding nicely in the shadows, he squints and takes quick aim at his prey. *Find the slimey creature's head!*
Pausing only a moment, Jiles reloads his crossbow.
Ehud continues to move through the northern hallway.
Varro scoffs at Wilam's comment.
Hearing the shouts of Francis and Brann, making the assumption that there is an enemy combatant on the run, and using what he saw earlier of the northern room and the other passages out of it, he quickly determines an intercept route. Varro makes a dead sprint past the "Johnny-come-lately" wizard, trying to cut off the Goblins escape.
Wilam raises a hand to say something but is cut off by the dwarf's wild sprint out of the room. He's left standing, mouth open and finger raised... astonishing.
Curious at what lies ahead, Belimir wild shapes into a panther and stealthily approaches the staircase, stepping over the dead goblins.
Belimir moves to slowly open the door and take a peak at what`s behind them.
Francis, moving quickly to close the distance with the running goblin, draws strength from Oghma, and throws his handaxe, only to whiff as the goblin continues to move forward.
Brann, acting as with brilliant heroism, moves in past the paladin, calling forth the light of Moradin onto the escaping goblin.
A holy aura passes over the greenskin, causing minor pains across its body.
Arden slips into the Shadow-World as he moves quickly after the rest of the group, giving chase to the goblin.
Wilam finally decides to enter the southern room with the rest of the party. Very surprised to see only one dead goblin in the room, the group races past him towards the east. A curious expression on his face as they do.
Jiles tries his best to stealthily move into the room to the east, stalking the goblin warrior. As he is loading his crossbow, he bumps into Brann, giving his location away. The goblin warrior glances back and looks directly at the rogue.
Jiles fires off his crossbow, hitting the goblin causing damage, even if it was not surprised.
Varro, not wanting to miss any of the action, takes off running, pumping his short legs as fast as he can.
Belimir changes form into a panther and quietly approaches the doors blocking passage to the west. He silently nudges the doors open to see.....nothing. There are stairs leading down into pure darkness. A bitter cold air travels up from the stairway, a feeling of dread fast on its tail.
The goblin warrior rushes past a heavy curtain blocking the passage north.
Varro watches as the runt greenskin slips and skids around the corner and quickly bolts through the closed door to the west. Slamming the door shut behind it.
Ehud can see bright light coming from the room to the north.
The panther closes the door as if nothing happened. He looks around to see where everybody is. With a heavy sigh he rushes to help the others deal with the running goblin.
Francis moves, picking up his handaxe on the way. When he passes the curtain, he sees Varro and Belimir to his left and the closed door to his right. Varro, Belimir, closed door. Varro, Belimir, closed door. He hesitates, and looks at Varro.
"You didn't...eat him, did you?"
The panther licks his lips, a smile evident on his face. A second later, a loud belch escapes his mouth. He changes back into his elven form, smiling at the halfling. "God no. They`re gross. All that filth! It can make you constipated for weeks. What happened Varro? I thought dwarves ran faster than those green turtles." Belimir tries to tease the dwarf.
Francis points to Varro. "I was talking to him. Good to know, I suppose."
Varro with one hand on his chest and bent over from such a run points his axe at the closed door.
Wilam moves to join the group. He remains silent and scans the room.
Old rotten crates and boxes fill the store room. Nothing of interest is in this room of the Keep. A heavy curtain hangs in the hallway leading north.
Arden runs through the curtain as he hears the door slam. "Damn!..... where is Ehud? We should move together... we may be walking right into another trap at this point." He scans the room, curious where the wild one ran off to.
Huffing and puffing a bit after his mad dashing around Brann catches up with the others.
"More beer and maybe some lamb shank would be good. All this running around is making me hungry."
He takes a look around and takes a guess, "I'm guessing you didn't have time to strip the goblin of all his gear and stick him into a cupboard yet. Well at least we won't have an easy fight now everyone in this keep is going to know we're coming"
"Didn't Kalarel's letter to the elfess say he'd be on the second level of the keep? We should look for stairs going up... Somebody should also remember the pass phrase. Something about dirt and magic?" asks Francis.
Wilam comments, "Judging by the condition of the exterior, I wouldn't figure there to be a second level up. We'll probably have better luck going down."
Regaining his breath, Varro moves to the door to check to see if it is locked.
The door is not locked and the handle turns easily with little effort.
"Da bugger went dis way"
Varro opens the door and assumes a defencive stance.
Varro heads down the stairs and motions for the others to follow.
"Lets be gettin dis witless lilly-livered fossil"
The room through the doorway is obviously brightly lit after the short stairway. The sound of picks on stone can be heard echoing up from the room.
"Ere ya green piggy, whered ya go green piggy"
Varro continues down the stairs and takes a look around.
Francis follows closely behind.
Arden looks to the other three standing in the hallway and shrugs. "Well down it is I guess... I assume the others will follow?" He moves after Varro, staying a good five to ten feet behind the Dwarf.
Jiles moves through the store room, past the curtain and to the others. Seeing the group moving down the stairway, he follows with his crossbows ready. He takes up position near Arden, though in front of him, moving quietly and watching closely.
"Last I saw Ehud, he was in the room with the pit, but I didn't see where he went in all the comotion." Wilam begins to worry, in the back of his mind, about Ehud's safety. In the name of Morale, he decides to put it aside and remains positive, "I'm sure we'd hear him if he was in any sort of trouble."
Wilam joins the group and stays near the rear. He does his best to remain silent.
Flaming hate goblins. Just then Ehud notices Varros booming voice growing fainter. Here piggy? No, that can't be right. But then again... Ehud sighs, backs up carefully and then hurries to meet his companions.
Many of the party members exit together through the doorway to the East.
Realizing everybody else left the room through the door, Belimir is quick to follow.
Well, this should be interesting at least. Lets see if we can find the source of all the evil that's been plaguing Winterhaven and put an end to it.
Brann follows the others through the door to the east.
