Tregar looks to Dorn and takes a certain responsibility for being the eldest member of their group. He had been away from the clan for such a long time, but he still remembered their stories, although the fog of time has enshourded them.
The dwarf offered a few pieces of an old tale that his father had told him around the campfire when he was but a lad with only the whiskers of a beard protruding from his chin.
The group scrambles up the rocky face towards the outcropping. Gloomblade says that he would like to check things out first to make sure the area is safe, and Henry volunteers to go with as an extra weapon. The two men advance on the stoneworked cave entrance with weapons drawn and take a quick look inside. They see that the walls gleam in long streaks of crystal, and the cave goes back to a single stone door, currently closed.
Henry does a quick scout of the cave and the surrounding area, but is unable to see anything of note. (Henry Perception DC 10: [6] + 2 = 8 *failure*) Gloomblade wracks his brains, but is unable to come up with anything that might explain this phenomena. (Gloomblade History DC 15: [13] + 1 = 14 *failure*)
Suddenly, both men jump slightly as the elven form of Gala morphs right behind them. She had padded up silently in her jackal form unbeknownst to them, so her transformation causes them to yelp in surprise. Her suspicions about what she had seen below were true... this WAS the kind of stonework that a red dragon would do... the crystal veins being quartz, and the long, flowing curves of the doorway of a draconic bent. (Gala Nature DC 15: [12] + 12 = 24 *success*)
Upon mentioning that this was likely the work of a dragon... Tregar immediately flashes upon a nugget of information that had been buried deep within his memory... a name... a legend of a dragon within the Stonehome. Astra-- Azra-- Aza... pha... laxis? Yes! Azaphalaxis! That's it! (Tregar History Aid Another DC 10: [12] + 2 = 14 *success*)
The name Azaphalaxis brings everything into clarity for Dorn, as he remembers the stories about the red dragon clearly. Azaphalaxis was a student of the arts, oddly enough... not something dragons were normally known for. But legend has it that this particular one used its magical powers and abilities to work the rock in the Stonehome Mountains into interesting and amazing shapes, and it was rumored that even parts of Bordrin's Watch itself bear the marks of Azaphalaxis' work. (Dorn History DC 10: [16] + 4 + 2 = 22 *success*) Many sages thought that the dragon had actually taken Moradin on as a patron, and if that is true... then perhaps this cave and doorway might be connected to Moradin's holy site, the Monastery of the Sundered Chain in some way?
The group gathers together at the mouth of the cave, and Wendigo strides forward to check the door out. It swings outward easily... and you can see a passageway 10' in diameter beyond... moving on into the darkness. The shifter does not need to take more than three steps into the passage before he stops, drops to a knee, then turns back to mention what he's found... tracks. Exiting this passage into the cave. Orc tracks, if he's not mistaken. This might very well be the egress point that the scout party they discovered, used. (Wendigo Perception DC 10: [4] + 10 = 14 *success*)
With congratulations passed all around for what they've found, the six quickly put their heads together to decide what they should do. Take this passage into the mountainside to hopefully either find a back way to the monastery or more of the orcs marching through... or continue the way they have been going, towards the eventual front gate of the Sundered Chain? The passage could easily save time and possibly take orcs by surprise, but Dorn's steed might not be able to traverse the entire way if the walls or ceiling grow narrower further in.
Wendigo peers into the darkness. Turning back to Tregar, the shifter speaks, "How are you at determining direction underground? This could be a good path if it leads to the Monastery. If not, it would be a foolish risk."
Dorn smiles to himself at his memory, then looks at the passageway. It'd be tight with the horse. But he was loathe to leave him. It had almost become a personal symbol, a symbol of the freedom he had been given, a symbol of the need to fight, to endure, to overcome.
He kept the horse near, making clear his intent to keep it with them.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Gala's fingers and palm lie pressed against the stonework. she is pressing her hand into it, as if to embed the carvings on her fingers, a tactile memory.
"If our priority is to make it to the monastery, then we should continue as before. I would prefer to follow this path, as these prints Wendigo has found indicate that this is the preferred route. Also, the knowledge of Azaphalaxis..." she looks quickly to dorn to see if she has pronounced it correctly "...is no accident. If we choose not to take the underground route -- and I know there are reasons for that -- then I would suggest we find a way to seal this passage first, to ensure that its usefulness to our enemy ceases. They will know the path has been found, but the advantage will be ours."
Gala does not speak the other plan in her head, that even if they take the underground route still they seal the path behind them, in case they do not make it back.
"I would suggest we take the underground route, we have a better chance of succeeding if we do it this way. If we march right to the front door, it'll be a harder battle." Tregar adds.
Gala dislikes the silence. She wants to move -- time is wasting, and here they stand at a chokepoint, where they are likely to be seen. She pulls back her hand, and insects the patterns on her palm from the rock, rubbing them with her thumb as if trying to work her way through a maze. She steps into the darkness, lightly, drawing forth her everburning torch from her backpack. It is currently hooded, but she knows that a quick pull on the cord will release the sheath and reveal the magical nonconsuming flame that burns eternally beneath it.
She takes a few steps into the cavern, to see if there are any light sources within. She doesn't need the torch for her first concern, which is the roof. This is an old passage, and as she taps the basalt with the end of the torch, she sees flakes of shale fall away. Yes, the entrance could be closed, with a bit of work; she was sure of that. Each of the falling stones, she thinks, are like the ones she used to skip across the lake, back when she was a child. A hundred years ago. Before she discovered who she was.
Who she was.
Gala puts back the everburning torch in its place, and shakes off her elven form. On all fours once again she raises her tail, swishing it along as she feels the stones on the ground press into her forepaws, and leave their shallow impressions.
Wendigo stands at the entrance to the tunnel looking back and forth at his companions. "Perhaps this is a sign from Moradin, this is what he wants us to do. He has shown us the way, it is only up to us to take it."
"He has shown us the way, it is only up to us to take it."
"I agree" said Henry "we are too few to assault the monastery frontally. Surely the Gods have guided our steps here. It would be foolish to forsake their help."
The jackal at their feet begins padding deeper and deeper into the opening. She wants to close off the entrance, but she is not going to do it alone, and none of her companions have seen the value in it.
Here eyes begin to adjust to the dark, and as she turns around she finds she can barely see the opening, now above her and several hundred yards away, the thin silhouettes of her companions carved in outline.
The path is well-worn and easy to follow. That in itself is disappointing, for it points to the size of the foe they are facing. Gala warily proceeds, and hopes that her companions follow.
Dorn adjusts what weight is still on the horse to make sure it can fit through the entrance. The horse was becoming a symbol to the half-elf... and symbols had power. Carefully, he did his best to coax it into the tunnel.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Wendigo enters the cave, standing sure. Moradin has shown them the way. If they were not to go this way, he would show it. Keeping to the shadows, the monk follows the jackal.
The group slowly but surely makes its way into the passageway, the light from the torches reflecting off of the embedded crystal veins that run parallel to the way they travel. Tregar is amazed at the work of this tunnel, as it on the one hand seems a completely natural fissure within the rock, but on the other hand has intricate patterns, swirls, and designs ever-so-lightly carved into its sides. To a normal person they would be almost imperceptable, but to one blessed with the eyes of Moradin, the walls almost give off the impression of a man's (or more to the point a dragon's) life story. A draconic prophecy, if one were so inclined to think in that manner and lived in a world slightly different than their own.
The footfalls continue echoing for more than a half-hour, as the journey takes everyone a couple miles within the mountain. As the travel continues, the group makes note that thep passage never widens, never splits, never opens into a larger cavern or room, and gently slopes downward. Dorn is thankful for this, for it has allowed him to lead his horse without much problems. As far as what you are walking down... the best opinion you can fathom is that it is indeed a direct path from somewhere to the outside. An entrance, or an escape, depending on how you look at it.
Finally, after an hour's travel... the druid's jackal eyes spot a change several dozen meters ahead. The tunnel ends. Or more specifically, the tunnel appears to open into something larger. You may have finally found the head (or tail) of this passage. She yips for silence, and then everyone moves back several more meters to give you all more distance with which to speak to each other without echoing into the chamber ahead.
Looking over the walls as they move, Tregar let's his hands run over the crystals and nodding his appreciation and amazement.
Once the arrive at the chamber, the dwarf leans on his staff and whispers "Should one of you, or two maybe, check ahead out of sight and see what you can see?"
Wendigo's amazement at the cave's walls was short-lived. Once they were fully underground, the shifter fine tuned his senses to his environment. When they came upon the end of this place, the shifter says a brief prayer to Moradin for blessing them. "I can go, who else?"
Henry looked ruefully down at his heavy armour. "I doubt I would be quiet enough for that" he whispered. But I will be ready to come swiftly to the aid of whoever does the scouting."
OOC: Writing at the airport, and I just lost a nice message. Am about to board, which means this one will have to be short. Sorry.
Gala hears Wendigo's offer and turns around, pressing her muzzle against his calf as she circles around him, indicating her willingness to go forward. As she walks along the cave wall, the dark stripes of her pelt seem to extend into the shadows themselves. Her ears are pricked, and she is ready to charge if she is noticed.
OOC: Stealth +10. Low light vision; move 7; nearby allies get the elven bonus to perception +1
Wendigo and the jackal silently move forward, easily reducing the sounds of their footfalls echoing through the tunnel. (Wendigo Stealth: [15] + 12 = 27) (Gala Stealth: [14] + 10 = 24)
The tunnel opens into a small room about 10 foot across, and Wendigo immediately recognizes it as one of the personal cells of the brothers of the order! You're within the Sundered Chain! In the sleeping and living area of the monastery several hundred feet below the temple proper! Wendigo is surprised, as he did not know that one of the cells concealed a secret passage out of the monastery, and when he silently crosses the room to look out upon the giant Hall of Heroes, he sees that you are in the room of Kalad, the dwarven high paladin of the order.
The corner cell you are in is closest to the giant northern opening of the Hall that leads to a huge set of switchback stairs that descend further down into the mountain, and the forge and workshops of Moradin's disciples there. Standing sentry here flanking the exit, is a pair of 30-foot tall statues of grim dwarf warriors, each holding an axe, with the head down, between its feet. The statues wear helmets that conceal all but their beard. The statues do not depict particular dwarf warriors, but rather are idealized versions of Moradin’s chosen servants.
The Hall of Heroes is a good 150 feet long. Two rows of 10-foot diameter columns support the ceiling that reaches 100 feet overhead, and a massive statue of a dwarf warrior battling a hydra dominates the center of the room, standing nearly as tall as the ceiling. All along either side of the room are stairs that climb 30 feet up to a landing and the entrance to one of the priests’ cells, at which Wendigo himself still stands and looks out over the room. Braziers in each of the four corners shed light in a 10-square radius, illuminating all but the center of this massive room, and the monk knows that at the far southern end of the Hall is a circular staircase that ascends to the Sundered Chain temple.
Wendigo and Gala sneak to the edge of Kalad's cell and look out and down from the staircase into the Hall. And the view, almost makes them both faint dead away.
The carnage in this grand hall is obscene. Dead dwarves, some still in their nightclothes, litter the floor, blood painting the gray stone tiles, walls, and columns. In the light cast by burning braziers, you see the butchers: more orcs. They must have come up from the depths and taken the brothers and sisters by surprise... slaughtering every one to a man. Wendigo knows that if he had been here and not on his walkabout... he would be lying there amongst his brethern as well.
Gala notices the steel resolve of Wendigo starting to icily harden, and quickly nips him on the ankle gently with her teeth... doing her best to lead him back to the others. Centering his breathing, Wendigo closes his eyes for just a moment, and then follows her out of the Hall and back down the passage. A plan must be made... one to eliminate this threat to the Vale, as well as avenge his family. Thankfully... none of the orcs milling about and gruffly laughing down in the Hall seems to expect anybody entering here at all.
As the reward for succeeding in the skill challenge, the party will receive a complete round's worth of actions (Standard/Move/Minor) during the surprise round, and then their complete first round. So every character will be able to take two rounds of actions before the orcs go at the end of Round 1.
And although the map shows half the party still back in the tunnels, assume each of your actions in the surprise round begins at the doorway of Kalad's cell (Q5), where Wendigo currently is. You can begin your move or standard actions starting from that square.
Linear Mode
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