SESSION 19: ITS DARK IN HERE…….
Trading caravans come and go several times a week and over the past couple of days the party has hired four men at arms. They charge 1gp a day EACH for service and are equipped with a spear, large shield and leather armour. The party debate whether they should put in more party funds to buy them better equipment but decide against it. "Life too long," says Thomas, "And I need my funds for my retirement." Ansic agrees and they hire the four men as is. Their names are Dedrik, Ghislain, Lorah and Penn.
The party gather their equipment, make last minute preparations and leave the safety of The Salty Tusk.
They quickly move along the eastern road, past where they first met the hermit, past the wolf ambush spot and then turn northwest through the woods and into the valley of the Caves of Chaos [DM Note: Rolled for random encounters but didn't get any].
They decide that they must finish off the orcs first, although they are a little apprehensive that the orcs may have reinforced their defences.
They decide to use a stealthy approach with a quick reaction force not far away. Uthalin refuses to go anywhere but the front rank given his hatred of orcs and so its decided that Risandor will scout ahead 20ft backed by Uthalin and Dedrik. The rest of the party will form up behind Uthalin and Dedrik. The three party potions of healing are distributed to Halee, Thomas and Ansic as they are seen as being the most responsible and able to help out if someone gets into trouble. Lorah and Penn will form the rear guard.
They quickly pull out Halee's map to check their prior progress.
And focusing in on the orc caves the remember that last time they had a large battle in the first intersection where there was the net trap, that Uthalin had cleared the western room but that they hadn't investigated the eastern or northern corridors.
They decide that Risandor should sneak in, quietly followed by the others, and that Risandor should quickly check the western room to make sure it's still empty then go down the eastern corridor, backed up by a small detachment, whilst the rest of the party guard the intersection.
They learn that the western room is still abandoned. Halee and starts to check the walls for secret doors. She is guarded by Lorah (just in case something sneaks up on her whilst she's focused on searching). Uthalin and Dedrik guard the northern corridor, Thomas the intersection and Penn the entrance to the caves. Risandor starts to move down the eastern corridor, closely followed by Ansic, Ghislain and Cord.
"It's like a maze in here," Thomas thinks to himself. "I thought with 10 of us we'd be able to cover everything but you get spread out quick. I've got a bad feeling about this."
Continuing down the eastern corridor, it turns south and then east again and then opens into a large 50 x 30 ft room. Similar to the room in the west, this room is squalid and full of debris. A large fire pit is on the northern wall but its embers are cold. The room appears to have been abandoned. Risandor calls up the quick reaction force to help him search the room.
They find nothing of value and meet up back in the main intersection. They call back Halee and relay to her that there is another room in the east and that they've given it a search for treasure, hidden doors and secret passages.
They decide to press further into the caves.
Risandor sneaks up the northern corridor which turns right. He sees a door some 30ft down the hall in the northern wall. The hall itself continues on into the darkness. He moves quietly up to the door and listens.
He hears nothing. He checks for traps but finds nothing. He motions for Uthalin to come up.
The fighters which stack up around the door. The decide that they'll boom the door rather than try to open it. They want to maximise their chance of surprising whatever is inside.
Ansic will try to break down the door and Cord will assist.
It's a simple stuck wooden door, DC 13 to bust open. Cord needs a DC 10 to assist. He rolls a 15 + 4 str = 19 and provides a valuable assistance. Ansic rolls a 4 + 2 for the assist, + 5 str = 11. He fails to open the door. They try again, Cord rolls a 8 + 4 = 12, Ansic rolls a 1 + 2 + 5 =8. They bounce of the door again. Looking at each other they shrug their shoulders and go again. Cord rolls a 6 + 4 =10, Ansic rolls a 12 + 2 + 5 = 19.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM crack and they smash in the door.
The enter a 20 by 30 room with a corridor leading to the east located in the north eastern corner. There are stacks of crates and a barrel in the room. A dirty mattress is in the south western corner. There is the smell of rotten food coming from the crates.
The advance into the north eastern corridor which leads to another 20 by 30 room. In it there is a bed, large chest and some buckets and ½ barrels.
They search the for valuables and secret doors but it's obviously been stripped of any treasure and there are no secret doors.
The leave the room reform and go to the end of the hall and check for secret doors. And they find one at the end of the hall.
DEW
