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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 290720" data-attributes="member: 2323">Part 5: We Ain't In This Alone"Aye, Malak, it seems tha brothers have left an' nae be here," Karak grumbled. "Where ye figure all tha monks be at?""I dunno," Malak replied. The Battleguard shifted his scimitar to his left hand and blew hot breath through his right fist. His fingers were getting stiff from the cold and it wouldn't do to have his weapon hand fail him in battle.Karak nodded at his twin, acknowledging his discomfort."Aye, me chalak. 'Tis colder than a tombrapper's pickaxe in 'ere," the warrior replied with a grim shudder. "As soon as that damned darkness runs its course, I say we shou' close tha front door afore we freeze solid."Malak was pacing the room, looking closely at each of the figurines. Karak took one look at his brother's face and knew that he had a few moments... probably more. He shrugged off his backpack."I want ta get this ichor off me armor," Karak said to no one in particular and began rummaging through his backpack.In it he found: 50" Rope; sealed packages of mutton jerky, and dried mushrooms; and 2 loaves of trail bread; two metal flasks (one filled with water and the other oil), 3 tightly rolled cloth strips good for bandages or wicks; his sewing kit; a good-sized cooking pot; his flint and tinder box; and his pewter mug. Cradling the last in his hand he licked his lips. A pint or three of fine dwarven ale would taste good right about now, but he feared it would be a good long while before he tasted its like again."Blast," he said with a resigned sigh, tossing his mug back inside his pack. "I seems ta have forgot me armor cleanin' fluids. Me nae can find 'em."Malak seemed not to be listening. He was staring at the worn wooden statue of Shaharizod and running his fingers through his beard."Malak, did ye pack me fluids? I know how ye are always takin' me stuff," Karak went on but got no response from his brother. "Oh, I figure I will just have ta wipe it clean with yer shirt.""Try it, me chalak, and ye'll be findin' tha point o' me scimitar planted firmly in yer arse," Malak said with a wicked smile."I'm jus' tryin' ta get yer attention," Karak smiled back. He pulled one of the tightly wound cloth strips from his pack, unfurled it and began to clean himself with it as best he could. "What do these statues mean, and why are there clay bowls in front?""I think it is a shrine where tha monks wou' receive religious pilgrims," the cleric replied. "None of tha represented deities is given prominence o'er any other. Tha wooden bowls wou' be used ta collect offerin's. Tha straw mats cou' be used for kneelin' in prayer.""Hrmmpff," Karak snorted. "It seems a good enough explanation."The dwarf had finished cleaning himself as well as he could without his armor cleaning supplies."I reckon tha best course o' action is ta check this whole place out first then we can set up camp," he said as he tossed the filthy strip of cloth into a corner.Malak scowled first at the darkness that still filled the entry chamber and then at the archway that led off in the far corner. He nodded."But we touch nothin' save door handles," he offered. "And then only after we've searched them for traps.""I take tha point, ye follow me just as we used ta play Fighter and Mage in tha tunnels at th' old hold," Karak said as he hefted his two-handed axe. "What say ye?""I say, aye. Just so long as ye dinna start callin' me 'Wizard'," Malak replied with a distasteful grimace.The archway in the corner opened onto a hallway that ran toward the right. The hallway was empty, but they could see the archway that led back into the entry hall directly across from another archway that led deeper into the mountain. A closed door was set into the left-hand wall about midway between the archway to the shrine room and the others at the far end of the hallway.They cautiously approached the door and examined it closely. It was latched but had no lock and like all human doors was hinged along its side. Karak stood ready as Malak went about the business of checking it for traps as best he could. When the Battleguard pronounced it safe, he drew it open and Karak went through the doorway axe-first.A large wooden trough filled the center of the room. It was filled with frozen water through which he could see a few clay plates. The ceiling was stone with two thick wooden beams set with hooks running along it parallel to the trough. Two large ovens were nested into the walls of the room, one to the left the other nearly opposite the door. Tables covered with pots and eating utensils lined the walls. To the right of the door was an open stairway leading down. A railing set into the floor prevented anyone from accidentally stepping into the stairwell. A second staircase led up against the far wall and the area beneath it was inset with cupboards.  A door was set in the right hand wall, between the two sets of stairs.Malak peered in around Karak's shoulder."Which way?" he asked, tilting his head in the direction of the stairs and the door."Back," his brother answered and he stepped back into the hallway, forcing his brother's retreat in the process. "We'll search tha whole floor 'fore we go creepin' up an' down staircases."It was Malak's turn to harrumph now, but he knew better than to argue with his brother on martial matters.They crept along the hallway, their breath pumping out in silver clouds as they went. Reaching the archway, they looked first right and saw that it did, in fact, lead back to the entryway and that the hall was still filled with a dome of darkness. A look left revealed another room similar to the last.Where a wooden trough had dominated the previous room, a large wooden table filled this one. Several chairs had once lined the table, but it seemed there had been some sort of struggle here. Now all the chairs were scattered on the floor. The table itself was still set for dinner with ten clay plates but there was no food to be seen and a thin layer of white frost covered everything. A door was set into the center of the left-hand wall, likely leading directly into the room they had just seen."Our first sign o' foul play, chalak," Malak said into Karak's ear."Aye," Karak groaned. "Me likes this nae at all."</blockquote>

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