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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Softwind" data-source="post: 1262995" data-attributes="member: 13893">Leaving Merikest, onward to adventure!Seventeenth Session (Jan 03) The Companions spend the next few days tying up loose ends, informing Ujaset of his vengeance (and receiving a final parting gift – a nice suit of elven chain for Skylar), finalizing purchases, paying the fine levied against them, and wondering where the next days will see them.  And while no one in town mentions it, there is a general air of discomfort around the party.On the day they decide to leave, a messenger by the name of Guy arrives and hands Brynn a request for audience at the Miners and Merchants Guildhall, Merikest branch.  Curious as to what the guildleader would want of them, the party wastes no time in heading to the hall.  They are quickly ushered into the office of Harncar, regional guildmaster.“I have heard of your situation here, and your desire to journey elsewhere.  Perhaps I can be of assistance to you in directing your steps, and you can return the favor by investigating a, shall we say, difficulty my Guild has encountered?” the old human behind the desk says, after greetings are exchanged.  “I assure you, you will be well compensated”.“What manner of, difficulty, is your Guild having, Master Harncar?” Athena asks politely.“Financial, actually.  Or rather, loss of income.  We have lost contact with one of our most productive mines north of here.  We have not heard from the miners in some time, or of the follow-up bands of dwarven scouts and warriors.  Even another band of adventurers were sent in, and not heard from since.  Based on what I have heard of in regards to your actions here in Merikest, I believe you may be the right group for the job, to discover and, hopefully, rectify the issue at hand.”  The old man looks hopefully at the party.  “What say you?”Brynn steps forward.  “We will have to discuss this amongst ourselves, and learn more of the specifics before deciding.  A moment, please.”  The Companions discuss the offer, and in moments, come to a unanimous decision to take the job.  It solves numerous difficulties at once – knowing where to go, what to do, and exposes them to more of the world.  Perhaps providing further clues to the whereabouts of their home valley as well.“We’ll take your offer,” Brynn tells Harncar.“Excellent!  My messenger, Guy, will make all the arrangements.  Good day to you all, then.”  “Abrupt, is he not?” the messenger asks the party, as they are lead out of the Guildmaster’s office.  “Not to worry, he is always like that.  Now, let’s make preparations to get you on the way, shall we?”“Wait jus’ a minite! How much is this’n gonna pay us?” asks Grimnyr, cutting to the quick.“Er, the payment for services is 250 gold, per person.” Guy stammers, taken off guard.After dickering, the party is given half of the fee up front, to finish paying for purchases in town, and to lay in supplies for the trip north.  They return to the Guildhall to see Guy has acquired a wagon with a team of horses, to carry the party and their gear to the Silverhall Mines, which Guy describes as they travel.The trip takes several days, and the party learns more of the situation within the mines.  Silverhall Mines has been providing silver and gold to the Guild of Miners and Merchants in Everlund for decades.  Every month, a caravan loaded with processed ore arrives at Everlund, where it is readied for sale.  Recently however, the monthly shipments have stopped arriving.  A band of dwarvish scouts were sent to the mines when the first shipment was missed.  When they had not returned after a second shipment came due, a group of dwarven warriors were dispatched.  Again, no word came out of the mines.  Desperate, the Guild looked outside itself for assistance, and a group of adventurers were hired to determine the cause, and find a solution if possible.  They too have not reported back to the Guild.  The leadership was getting desperate, and rapidly losing valuable income.  “And here is where the Companions of the Valley come in.  (“That is your company name, right?” He whispers to Brynn.  At the dwarf’s shrug, he continues) “With your help, I’m confident you can discover exactly what is going on in there.  The Guild cannot afford to keep sending in people, and not resolving the issue…” Guy looks worried.The party arrives at the entrance to the mines, at the base of the Nether Mountains.  A chill wind belies the warmth of summer below, and the party bustles about the wagon, gathering gear, tightening cinches on backpacks, and gripping weapon handles tightly.  The mountain seems to rear up before them, the mine opening like a mouth, ready to devour them.  Not a few shiver, although from the wind, or something else, is hard to determine.  They bid the messenger a good journey back to town, free up the horses to be left for them, and make a temporary corral for them in the mine scree and tailings.  “Enough grass grows around here, and that water seeping off the mountain side should keep them free of thirst.  My only concern is of anything that may be wandering the woods that would find them tasty…” Genoa says.“Not much hope for it.  I’m sure they can take care of themselves.  We’ll try not to stay in the mines too long, and check on em frequently.  Best we can do.”  Brynn tries to assure her.“Bah, don’t need them horses nohow,” Grimnyr grumps, his backside twinging in remembered pain of previous journeys taken on horseback.  “Either they’re here when we get back, or they ain’t.”  At Genoa’s scathing look, Grimnyr finishes weakly, “But, we ken check on em from time ta time, I’m sure.”Brynn looks to the sky, checking the wind and amount of daylight left.  “We can make camp here now, and tackle the mine in the morning, or we can head in now.  Day or night, don’t matter in there.”  He looks to the party.  They decide that they are not tired, but itching for action after the several days of bumpy, spine-jarring travel in the Guild wagon.  Checking their gear again, they continue up the hill, towards the mine opening.  The path leading from the mine has been paved with stones taken from the mountain itself, finely placed, an example of dwarven stonework.  The twin grooves worn into the granite attest to the generations of wagons that have traveled the road.The Companions pass through the mine opening, and descend a ramp leading downward into a large cavern, most likely natural, with subtle improvements made by the dwarven miners.  Recent seismic activity is apparent in the piles of rubble strewn about the large underground room, and the remains of a miner’s shack is buried from a recent fall.  The remains of a dwarf, dead some time, lay within the rubble.  Grimnyr says a few words over the fallen, but does nothing with the remains, figuring his clan will soon be able to return to properly bury him or her.The shack’s twin, on the other side of the entrance is untouched, and the party quickly makes use of the barrels of oil and lanterns found within.  Rope and pitons are also added to their gear, in case of need.  The other tools – picks, shovels, rakes – are left behind, but their presence noted.  On the far side of the chamber, the passageway continues, with enough headroom for the non-elves in the party.  Skylar, however, does not much care for the cramped quarters.   She has to constantly duck to avoid the low ceilings as they go deeper into the mines.  Her shorter companions barely succeed in hiding their mirth, as a series of *thump*, *OW!  %&#%&* is heard.  “Plenty o’ room ta swing me axe,” Grimnyr chimes in, his mood improved by the solid stone surrounding him, and his tall Elvin friend’s predicament.  “Grrr,” is the only response.</blockquote>

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