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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Seravin" data-source="post: 1063599" data-attributes="member: 6783">Further OnThe group stood in a cavern that was little more than a wide spot in the tunnel.  They had been traveling for at least ten straight hours and in that time had discovered two side passages that had led to the surface.  Those exits had been carefully concealed on the surface.The journey had been predominantly northwards, but for the last two hours had been eastwards.  Kestral wasn’t sure, but she reasonably certain that they were not too far from Kupier’s farm.  Though tired, they had been willing to continue onwards a little further.  The doors had stopped them though.  The double doors were fifteen feet tall, ten feet wide and shod in bronze; they were the first sign of intelligence they had seen all day.  The doors were unadorned save for a massive lock mechanism on each one.  Ashimar having seen a lock or two in his time thought that the work might be dwarvish.  Regardless of the door makers though, Kestral and Ashimar both determined that one of the keys they had recovered from Broken Spire would turn one of the locks; but both keys were needed in order for the doors to open.“Is there anyway we can get through the doors?”  Asked Kellron.Ashimar shook his head.  “No.  That’s bronze plating on those doors.  They look to be solid stone.”Jallarzi finished scanning the door.  “The doors have some sort of aura on them.  It’s weak, but it’s probably means they’re strengthened.”Kellron snorted in disgust.  “Great.”Kestral, who had been kneeling near the doorway stood up.  “If I remember what Kupier said correctly, these are the boot prints of orcs.  The points are from the claws they hang off the boots.  It looks like they came through the doors and some went each way down the passages.“Great.  We have a pair of doors we can’t open which orcs go through.”  Kellron looked at Jallarzi.  “Do you think we could get help from Tauster?”Jallarzi shrugged.  “Maybe.  He seems to like me but he doesn’t owe us any favors.”“We could just wait here until they open the door.”  Suggests Panther.The others nodded at the suggestion.  It had merit.  After some discussion though it was discarded.  There was no place to set an ambush and the thought of a three prong attack didn’t appeal.“There must be another key.”  Pointed out Ashimar.  “We just have to figure out who has it.”“Squirrel did say that they hadn’t seen Jelenneth.”  Pointed out Kestral.  “Maybe another group?”  She nodded down the far passage that they had yet to explore.  “We could follow after those orcs.”Ashimar and Kellron both nodded slowly.  “Not a bad idea.”  Admitted the paladin.Suddenly Kestral’s face screwed up in disgust.  “No it isn’t.”  She said flatly.  “We have that prisoner.  His food and water will run out tomorrow.”No one liked it, but the courier was right.  There was no help for it but to head back.“We can’t camp here.”  Noted Panther.  “Let’s go on a bit further.  Maybe we’ll find a side passage or cave.”And true enough they did.  Not five hundred feet down, the passage turned and sloped up sharply.  It ended in a small, concealed cave that led outside into the Thornwood.  They spent the night under the stars.It was going to be at least six days before they could report back to Count Parlfray.</blockquote>

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