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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rune" data-source="post: 318374" data-attributes="member: 67">Session 2, part 3The two halves of the dead centipede spiral faster and faster toward a central point that lies beyond the range of even Wroth's superior darkvision.  Brunta calls out to Thrallin over the gap of water separating his half of the makeshift craft from the brothers' half."Ye durned fool!  Did I no tell ye tha' ye should no ha' gone killin' tha little buggers every time they cross yer path?  Now look at tha mess ye put us in!""What's yer problem?  Ain't ye ridin' a big dead center-vermin?  Everythin' turned out all right in tha end.""We ain't at tha end, yet," mutters Brunta under his breath, "but we might well be in a minute."  Bagger, still uncomfortably wet, growls in agreement.  "An' what about Wart an' Pikkit?"Soon the focal point of the spiraling waters comes into view; it is a massive rock island, perhaps one hundred feet in diameter.  Strangely, the water appears to be flowing into crevices at its base.The dwarves have very little time to ponder this new phenomenon, for their impact is imminent.  Thrallin and Wroth both leap from their semi-centipede as it is crushed into the jagged rock formations of the climbing island.  Brunta, with Bagger in his arms, follows the feat in like manner a moment later.  There is very little left of the centipede carcass as its bits float into the crevices at the base of the island.Brunta is knocked unconscious again from the impact of his landing.  This time, Thrallin and Wroth just let him sleep it off.  In the meantime, Thrallin takes the opportunity to explore the jagged island.  Before he has gone more than a dozen steps, however, the nature-loving dwarf comes to with a start...just as the island lurches forward and begins a slow, but steady, advance into the unknown."It's alive!  This durned island is alive!"Wroth wears a puzzled expression, but Thrallin beats him to the question: "What the hell are ye talkin' about, nature-boy?""It's a big turtle, fool!  That whirlpool was caused by it standin' up!  It's a durned turtle!""Real damned rocky, fer a turtle.  Well, what now?""I can talk ta it.  I think."Thrallin has a list of questions on the tip of his tongue ready for Brunta to ask, but the druid is already chanting his little nature-chants and walking toward the massive head of the animal.  He leans over the edge of the shell and speaks in the turtle's own tongue, or head, or something."Well," asks Thrallin impatiently, when the druid is finished, "what did it say?  Where are we goin'?""Says he's goin' home.""Where's that?""Tha place where he lives.""Where's that?""Home."Without another word, Thrallin leaves in disgust, to explore the rocky cave-island-turtle.Brunta takes the opportunity to take a much needed rest.When Thrallin returns, he is leading a pasty-white human in shredded clothing through the pitch-black of the cavern, because humans have weak, useless, human-eyes.  Apparently, Thrallin found the fellow unconscious and freezing in a rocky crevice, healed him up with another potion of ass-saving and dragged him back.  The remaining dwarven warriors take turns interrogating the pasty surface-dweller (except for Thrallin, who doesn't speak that Nancy-folk human tongue).  For some reason, he seems terrified."What're ye doin' here?""I've been estranged from my adventuring troupe.""That don't answer our question.  What're ye doin' here?""We came into the East side of the mountains, in pursuit of a young brass dragon that has been ravaging our crops, our pastures, and our villages.  We intended to kill it, but, alas, we were lost.""East side?  Hell!  Tha's the other side o' tha mountain!  What're ye doin' here?""I know not where I am.  I have been lost and terrified in this evil blackness.  I sought shelter on this rocky outcropping and have had no food or water since.  It has been a week, or more, I would guess, but I know not, with certainty.""Well we ain't goin' yer way, wherever yer goin', so don't tag along wi' us!  Reckon we can give ye a little food an' water, though."The turtle is still advancing (slowly, but with great strides) and the dwarves consider jumping off, but realize that the water has become too shallow with the turtle's rise to safely leap from the back of the massive creature.Once again, they ride an uncontrollable craft.  After some time, the dwarves can finally make out a wall of the immense cavern.  They are heading straight toward it!  A tunnel no more than thirty feet in width and twice that in height opens up in the wall, but the turtle gives no indication of slowing, much less stopping.The turtle runs into the wall.The cavern shakes and hundreds of bats fly forth in a frenzy above the party.  The dwarves ward them off as best they can, but they can do nothing to avoid the stalactites that are randomly falling as the turtle continues to ram into the wall.Suddenly, the ramming stops.  They are grinding forward.The rocky growths on the turtle's shell are cutting through the tunnel as a hot knife cuts through butter.  Thrallin runs up to an outgrowth and takes a good look.  He is surprised to see a large amount of ore in it, black in his dwarven dark-sight.Thrallin grins, takes up a pick, and starts to merrily mine the turtle.In irritation, the turtle attempts to roll into the wall.  The dwarves manage to safely avoid a crushing death as they roll to the tunnel floor, but the pasty human is not so lucky.  There is really nothing left of him when the turtle moves on down the tunnel, delving as it goes.The dwarves shake their beards in amazement as they look after the massive beast.  When it has finally passed beyond the range of their vision, their wonder shifts to Thrallin's hand, in which a small chunk of stone and ore seems to reflect a dull glow even in the pitch black of the mountain's eternal night.So intent are the soldiers' gazes on this new treasure, that they almost miss the torch-lights coming up behind them in the distance.</blockquote>

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