The Journal Of Varion Lightbringer (continued)

We managed to buy time for our magickers to rest up. I parleyed under a flag of truce with a representative of the raiders. I, for one, was surprised that the white flag was honoured by the Orcs. Could it be that the tales of their savagery and bestial natures are more to do with our own need to show our enemies as savage and barbaric? We were still wary enough not to come out into what would surely be a killing ground in the courtyard. Amongst ourselves, we came up with a plan to gain respite and much needed rest. We told the goblin that we would release our prisoners one per hour, and then make our way out. Thus, we could ensure their ongoing goodwill and trust them not to rush our last barricade. We hope that there must be another way out, if only to ventilate this underground fortress or mine, or whatever we are in. Hopefully, we could make our way out a second way, as yet unknown to the raiders? During the course of our negotiations, I chanced to ask the goblin how long the raiders had been operating in this area. He said "Two moons", which we can guess is more than likely a bold-faced lie. The crates we found the day before were obviously three months old or so, given the layers of dust and detritus on them.

The goblin came back, telling us that their leader agreed to our offer. We set a watch at the barricade. Tod, the poor lad, was all in. After making sure we were all fed with a delicious lamb stew, he bedded down for the night. I said a quick prayer over Michael’s still serious looking wounds, and bedded down also. I left a few instructions on how to keep the various bandages and so on fresh. Come day break, we could see the radiance of blessed Pelor greeting us, down the tunnel of the entranceway. Litheem told me that the goblins had been taunting us through the long night, which leads me to believe that they will not let us out alive. Michael and Humble had broken into the chest that we had found. Within it were three potions and some sort of salve. Quite what they are is beyond my meager learnings. If we had a Wizard of alchemist with us, we might yet know. Ah, well. I will have to learn a little about arcane matters soon, if I am to continue adventuring in the world at large. Nestled underneath these items was a silver cutlery service, no doubt looted from another poor caravan or some unfortunates. There were also two silver daggers. Michael took one of these, as did Robin, I think. There were also eight arrows, etched with some sort of arcane runes. Litheem's eyes lit up at this find, and he shared them with Finni. Both bowmen looked well pleased.

With the last hostage freed, we came to a decision.

We would brave the dank interior and what we assumed to be haunted levels below us. We guessed that whoever made this place (Dwarves?) must have created a second exit, at least. Robin and I rushed the last ballista to a strategic point. The last barricade was set afire to buy us time, and we hurried toward the lower level of this place. What we found (having negotiated our way past a somewhat clumsily concealed pit trap) were dank, dirty, and seemingly unused rooms.

There were five cells, all locked, one of which held the grisly remains of some poor unfortunate, still chained to the walls. It did not appear to be either of the youngsters that we were looking for. Then we came across three chambers.

One of these chambers, a vaulted and unhallowed place, appears to have been transformed relatively recently into a shrine to the Red Claw. I have made an educated guess that this is an aspect of Erythnul, Lord of Slaughter. In front of us was a rotten wooden ladder laying across the floor, as if flung somewhat carelessly. There was a pit in the floor, obviously for sending poor unfortunates into. Their, they would suffer some sort of agonising doom at which I can only guess. The remains and broken bones were strewn across floor of the pit. An altar was to our left, in front of the pit. Rotting tapestries adorned the walls (I assume that this was originally a dwarf shrine to Moradin, or another of their gods, later corrupted into this evil place). Two larger tapestries with red claws, fairly new and in good repair were on the walls. One chamber, off of this main one had what appeared to be a font of unclean waters (I suspect unholy water), and a bench with pegs above it. I would further assume that this is where a priest of Erythnul would prepare for his disgusting ceremonies. The other chamber had about a dozen skeletons, all stood to attention. They did not appear to be animated, and one stood over a trap door. They were quite obviously the product of some necromancy, as the bones were clean of muscle and sinew, and yet were still held together by some magick. I suspect these were left to prevent the temple being desecrated. What puzzles me is that this area is reasonably well-kept. Dust, grime and filth indicates that no-one has come down the corridors to this place for many months, or years, and yet the altar, tapestries and so on all seem to be much more recent. Is there someone below us? We must return to destroy these affronts to Great Pelor, but we were pressed for time to find another exit. This foul place is marked in my mind, for future cleansing!

Somewhat stymied, Litheem and Michael suddenly noticed a secret door. Perhaps the Orc leader had lone access to this area? Following the passage beyond, we came upon a suite of rooms. One was obviously the kennel for the raid-leader’s Hell Hound, complete with chain and the remains of a goblin. I assume it was the Hell Hound’s meal. The leader’s room had a bed and an attractive tapestry in it. Also there was a crow, on a perch, and a spider in a brass cage. The crow seemed quite tame, and Finni seemed quite taken with it. We did not examine the spider too closely.

There was a third room. In it, was what can only be described as a library of scrolls and several books. There was a desk, and Robin found a map and scroll bearing the signature of someone calling their self "Sharramak". It was written in Orcish, and Robin declared that it seemed to be a message of congratulations to the raiders, after some moments attempting to decipher meaning from it. It would seem that my worries were well-founded. Enemies of Keoland have set themselves to cause troubles here. I can feel it in my bones that war is coming, and this would seem to be an early move to cause havoc and chaos. Raiders this close to Gradsul cannot be good tidings. If nothing else, we must warn our rulers of this!

Whilst we were rummaging, I also found a scroll. It seems to have some sort of magical spell on it, although I could not decipher its meaning. When I get a chance I will pray to Great Pelor, to shed light upon its meaning.

Michael, in the meantime decided to explore a dim hallway that led from the study. He managed to locate the three large crates of perfumes belonging to our employer! This proved the Goblin's story of selling these to the east to be a bold-faced lie! Suddenly Michael cried out, in pain and in anger. We rushed, somewhat pell-mell into the darkness, to see a large spider biting him repeatedly. With a sickening crunch, Michael fell limply to the floor. The Spider had poisoned him and was wrapping him in webbing. Rushing in, we beat it off; Finni staunched Michael’s unhealthy looking wounds as I was bitten by another spider! I channeled my Lord’s radiance into Michael once again, fending off the nasty arachnid. Humble faced down the third one. Our smith was very close to death, but with my Lord’s power, we brought him back. Another spider assailed us. Tod sent sparks against them, Litheem shot with his mighty bow, with Humble and Finni (despite being injured) dispatching the other foul arachnids. The close quarters prevented Robin from getting into the spider’s lair, and he alternated between shouted encouragement and cursing his being unable to join the fray, from behind us. He is a brave soul. With the spiders finally slain, Litheem gave his battlefield salve to Finni, and this one seemed to be of a better batch than the last lot. Perhaps I should investigate the art of Alchemy more closely at some time? Perhaps this is something I can encourage Tod to look into? He seems to have some not inconsequential magick ability. Nursing our wounds, I realized that Finni and Michael both would need extended rest for several days to leech the poison from their bodies. For now, we must needs press on.

The layout of this place leads me to think that this is not just some abandoned mine. I cannot help but wonder, what lies below us? I assume this was a level to guard whatever lies in the lower levels. It does not seem like this is just some mere mine.

Finni took a walk to attempt to clear his head, and watch our backs as we continued our search of these quarters. He was in the corridor, just past the raider-chiefs rooms when he suddenly yelled a fierce battle cry. A further secret door had been opened, and there stood the chieftain! Finni bravely charged forwards and smote him twice, despite being weakened by the spider venom. The first blow seemed to be no more than a glancing blow, the second was more telling. His blade bit deeply, orc blood spurting from a grievous chest wound. The chief fled, before Finni could finish him off.

Finni’s cry of victory was suddenly cut off, as he saw who was behind the leader. In the large hall beyond stood the leader's Hell Hound, its baleful glare staring hate and malice at our Northman ranger. Also in the room were three goblin warriors, and three of the females. All turned as one to see what had caused their leader to cry out and run…

Author: Jon Burfoot