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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1558348" data-attributes="member: 6294">"The Hallowed Hills" by Miguel Duran (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 10Once untied, the man introduces himself as Brother Durham, the last - and most senior - of the brethren who entered the caves."Thank you for the rescue, good folk." Brother Durham inclines his head in gratitude, "May I ask thee to aid me in returning to the monastery?  I must tell the Abbott of what occurred.""What did occur?" the Padre asks, in the tones of one who is less-than-convinced of Durham's sincerity."We came down into the caves many days hence ... I do not know how exactly how long." Durham gives a shrugging wave toward the cave walls, "It is difficult to judge the passage of time here." He pauses to cough, then continues, "When we came down to find the missing relics, we discovered that several of them had been removed.  Following the signs of those who took them, we came upon these orcs.  I must confess it was foolish of us to follow at all, but we had not realised the number of the band, and sought to catch them before they could travel too far.  When I saw how numerous the enemy was, I told Brother Nathaniel and Brother Wickham to flee, while I held the orcs as best I could." He shrugs again, "Obviously I did not do so well as to save myself, but at least the others escaped."Sirdros clears his throat,"Actually, Brother, they died.  We found their bodies in another cave.""Really?  I had hoped ..." Durham trails off, lowering his gaze to the floor."Why didn’t the orcs kill you?" Twinkle asks, from where she is poking through the creatures' belongings, "They usually do that, you know.""One of the orcs ... an older, white-haired creature ... made some mention of saving me for 'the master'.  What this meant, beyond the obvious, I do not know."The Padre grunts, still suspicious of the other man."We can hardly refuse to take him back to the monastery," Briar reminds him, under her breath, "That was what they were sent to do, remember."Reluctantly, the Priest of St Cuthbert nods,"Let's get him back, get paid, and get out of here." He glances sourly at the cave around them, "Personally, I've had enough of these caves to last me a lifetime."Whether they have had enough or not, the group finds it in themselves to make a thorough search of every scrap of the orcs' belongings, before heading back through the caves.  When they reach the rope leading back up into the monastery catacombs, the Padre insists that Brother Durham is the last to make the climb."Sorry, but we don't know you." Is his explanation, "And while we've never actually been betrayed by the people we're trying to help, so far, there's always a first time.  I don't want you climbing up there and cutting the rope on us."Brother Durham acquiesces to the decision with a shrug,"You have all been through a great deal, by the looks of it.  I cannot fault you for caution, now."One after the other, the adventurers climb the rope.  The Padre is the last to make the climb, before calling down for the other man to join them."Thank you, my friends." Durham says as he emerges from the hole, "I would have been stuck below, without your aid."And then he lashes out with his fist, striking Briar in the throat.</blockquote>

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