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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jeremy" data-source="post: 1394620" data-attributes="member: 4036">Cormanthor, Galath's Roost16th of Deepwinter in the Year of Wild Magic Unsure of what vines would animate again or not, or how to tell if it was truly dead, Titus took up his torch again and eventually got some of the vines to take. They gave off a greasy black smoke that drafted poorly out the sinkhole in the roof Revan had widened earlier. The party retreated until the fire burned itself out, or to possibly find another way around. As they left, Revan made out forms moving to investigate on the other side of the flames and informed the company of such. Galdur brought Elayne back around with one of his remaining spells. "Thanks Galdur, I don't know what we'd do without you." "Or me." Titus chimed in. "Or you Titus," she smiled at him and then made to continue on. "Hang on a sec, you forgot something."  When Elayne turned around Titus was grinning, tapping a finger to his cheek as he turned his head. Elayne blushed and began to turn but Titus was not having that, he grinned and continued, "Aw c'mon princess...  You know I deserve it.  Just one, right here." Elayne persisted, turning away, "So we were going to try down the west side right?" Titus laughed and the company pressed on. ***  Galdur found another way through the back of the cavern and into an area of roughly hewn stone walls, further back, there were bits of old shelving still clinging to the stone walls, but from the cave was curving back around towards the fire and through the smoke came a pair of ants that were almost four feet long and another ant near six! The group stopped dead in their tracks at the site, not ready for another battle so soon, and the ants paused. The two smaller ants scurried away back towards the south east while another large ant, a soldier, moved just into the torch light, watching the biped’s cautiously. After a moment the large ants simply settled in to watch. Skirting along the wall, avoiding the ants and the passage towards their apparent nest did not seem to draw the ire of the creatures so the party slowly left them behind and entered another area with broken shelving, this one with old bits of broken colored glass lying scattered around and a low lying section that had filled with water from the passing stream before it turned off to the east. The group cautiously looked over the area and found some stone steps leading up out of the area to a solid looking door. As they made their way around the pool, something flickered in the torchlight that caught Galdur’s eye. “Eh? Titus, brin’ that torch ova ‘ere.” Titus swung the torch out over the water a few times near were Galdur was peering down and he too caught a couple of glimmers. It looked like there might be a number of coins under the water and maybe even a gem or two, or at least more of the broken colored glass. Checking the door to make sure no one would be coming through anytime soon, Titus began stripping off his armor to have a look. Revan got out a length of fine rope, which he offered to tie around Titus. “Never can be too careful, Titus.” “Sure ya can,” he grinned, “What’s life without a little risk?” Galdur inspected the rope, and finding it suitable enough, called upon Dugmaren’s ingenuity to manipulate the rope. The far end of the rope slithered up and twined itself about a pair of stalagmites and back to Galdur and Revan who each took a hold of it. “Well that’s handy,” Elayne whispered. Titus shrieked and jumped out of the water almost as soon as he got in it to worried exclamations of the rest of the group. “What is it? Giant fish?” suggested Elayne. “Eel?” Galdur guessed. “No. It’s just cold!” Titus grinned. “Bloody…” Galdur started as he shoved Titus into the water with a splash. Titus clamped his chattering teeth shut and put his face under the water, apparently the water had eroded away the top of a cache of treasure, perhaps some of Galath’s hidden loot. For a moment he thought he saw the mound move, but he dismissed it as a trick of the light and moving water. Coming back up he told of the countless coins tucked away under the water and had Elayne toss him a couple tough sacks over with the rest of his gear. Titus took a deep breath and went back under and was reaching for the pile of coins when he noticed two gem-like orbs—set in a big snakes head… And they blinked. Titus yanked hard on the rope and kicked off the bottom, pulling himself back up the rope. Feeling the yanks on the rope Revan and Galdur tugged hard on it pulled Titus bodily from the water with a huge striking snake leaping out right behind him. Titus hit the ground and rolled away towards his gear even as Revan and Galdur were taking up their weapons. Elayne sent a magical bolt sizzling into the side of the enormous snake that made it pause and reconsider its snack. When Revan punched an arrow into it and Titus came charging back with his great long staff the snake fled quickly back into the water and into the stream. Revan lowered his aim while Galdur continued muttering about giant this and giant that, it was uncomfortable being in a place where even the bugs were bigger than he was. ***  Securing the last bit of treasure to Galdur’s pack, the company finished distributing over one hundred pounds of coins and gems they had dug out of Galath’s cache. It was more money than most people see in a lifetime and was a fitting reward for the risk to life and limb they had endured already on Mistledale’s behalf. Titus and Galdur were almost giddy. Heading up the stone steps to the door that they hoped lead to the kobolds and the captured raider they hoped was still alive to question they were in a downright festive mood. The door however did not share the mood, nor did it budge so much as an inch when Titus tried it; not even when Titus and Galdur tried it; nor even when Titus and Galdur AND Revan tried it. Galdur placed an ear up to the door and was able to make out a low droning hum from the other side that caused Revan and Titus to share a look. The dwarf looked back at them and prompted, “Well? Whut?” “There is another way in…”</blockquote>

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