SESSION 41: EVIL DOES….
Lothar and Trone are slightly apprehensive about going to the caves of chaos but their pride won't allow them to admit it, even to each other. Lothar has observed the other party of adventures and their cautious nature and planning they put in before they go to the caves. Last night they had returned and were telling tales about how they had defeated Magor the orc warlord but had almost lost their own lives in the process. The little halfling, Risandor, was singing songs and carousing with the locals but he could see that the party had been through some hard action. Trone and himself would need to be more cautious. Whilst Luki and Luther will add some capability they are few in numbers and should the two humans fall unconscious, Luki or Luther wouldn't be able to revive them.
Lothar brings Trone quickly up to speed with the plan. Halee had kindly showed her map of the caves to him and had described how to get there. He does a quick equipment check with Trone. It's limited, besides their arms and armour Lothar has a scroll of Cure Light Wounds and Trone has a healing potion.
At first light they don their armour and bid their farewells to Eldred. Before they leave he warns them "be careful of the big dog men who live very high up in the caves." Shaking hands with Eldred, Lothar replies, "Thank you. But don't fear. We'll be back before nightfall. Kindly ask Karla to prepare our room for us if you would."
As they walk down the short track leaving the hamlet around the Keep, Luki and Luther run around Trone and Lothar with playful energy.
Turning east they head towards the caves but the encounter nothing on their way. They come to a place where the path narrows and the woods on the east close on the woods in the west and Lothar knows this is the place to turn off towards the caves.
Remembering the map shown to him from Halee he turns to the north west and searches for a cave low down in the valley. He finds a small cave entrance along the southern floor of the valley but remembers that Halee had said this was the caves with the goblins. He leaves this be and turns to the north and shortly after comes across another small cave entrance, this time along the northern floor of the valley.
Before entering the cave Lothar bends down Luki and in a firm voice gives him a Guard order to guard the entrance to the cave. This is a DC 10 10 Handle Animal check and Lothar has a Handle Animal skill of 3 so needs to roll a 7. He rolls an 8 and Luki seems to understand the command as he sits down at the cave entrance.
He then gives a Handle Animal check to Luther to guard Trone but he rolls a 3. Luther is clearly distracted by the excitement of the new surroundings. He tries again and rolls a 10 and Luther starts to guard Trone.
Trone and Lothar draw their weapons and begin to enter the cave.
DEW