Episode 78
The End of the Mines at Last

The Biscuits Dollin - Druid 7th Level (PC)
Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC)
Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC)
Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC)
Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC)
Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/3rd (PC)
Locale Dwarven Mines
Date 7th day of Goodmonth, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time afternoon?

The Biscuits moved on for two more days with no encounters. The old dwarven tunnels sometimes went up, and sometimes down. They were rough and poorly maintained, if at all.

The end of the second day saw them at a dead end, but by morning Gimar had found and expanded a crack leading to the next set of tunnels. Despite his lack of sleep, he pressed on into the mines.

Nicola Wow, these walls look much better.
Yodavan Hmmm, maybe some dwarves we will run into?
Dollin If so, they'll be the only living things here. This tunnel is deader than the last.

A few broken tools indicated that the tunnel had been more recently occupied. The party continued to follow the marks left by their dwarven guide. Close to what must be lunchtime, they found a confusing set of marks.

Dollin Well I can't figure it out.
Nicola The mark leading to the left is crossed out.
Yodavan The mark leading to the right is also.
Little John Here's one pointing towards the ceiling that's crossed out also.
Wed Is it possible somebody else has some chalk?
Nicola Don't even joke about that.
Dollin Say, Little John, do you want to scout off in that direction?
Little John I am not expendable, I'm not stupid and I'm not going.

Instead of searching, the party took advantage of the time of day to satiate their rumbling stomachs. They unlimbered their packs and found a place to sit near the wall, but away from the small puddle of water at it's base. Silently and thoughtfully, they chewed on their iron rations. In fact it was in one of the quiet gaps that Wed heard a distinctive ringing sound.

Wed What the heck is that noise?
Yodavan It's coming from that wall there.

The sound of metal on stone rang louder and louder, and within a short time a small section of the wall crumbled. When the dust settled, Nicola shined her light into the hole. The face of a familiar warrior peered back at them.

Gimar I take it you missed my correction.
Wed Correction?
Gimar Yep, when I couldn't get through here I doubled back to that spot by the descending crack. I marked the wall . . .
Little John Ah, we must have missed that one.
Gimar I noticed that water drained under the wall, so I was hoping there was a low route to follow. It was a tight squeeze, but it came back up just behind this wall.
Nicola So you figured through was better than around?
Gimar Sure, and it gave you a chance to have lunch. Anyhow, this new tunnel is some sort of spur, created by different miners. There's a natural cavern not too far away, either.
Dollin If you push back, we'll finish opening this up.

Gimar assented, and pushed his tools through the hole. Little John and Dollin went to work, and before long they had widened the hole enough for first Yodavan and then Nicola to squeeze through.

Working from both sides now, the hole was rapidly opened up for the rest of the party. The packs were passed through and the Biscuits then lined up to move forward. Turning the corner, they almost stumbled over a sleeping Gimar.

Dollin What the heck?
Nicola Hey, Gimar, you alright?
Gimar (opening his eyes) Sure, just taking forty winks.
Little John How could you sleep with that racket?
Gimar Oh, you mean the ringing of tools on stone? It's like sweet music to my ears.

The Biscuits Dollin - Druid 7th Level (PC)
Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC)
Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC)
Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC)
Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC)
Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/3rd (PC)
Locale Dwarven Mines
Date 8th day of Goodmonth, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time evening?

On the other side of the large natural cavern was another mine entrance, also well maintained and clean. Gimar smiled knowingly and predicted that the party would reach Irongate in just a few days.

Indeed the going was now quite easy through the mines. That evening, the found a storeroom to stay in that still had a door and a dwarven lock.

Nicola Rheaphlyndar would have loved to break in here.
Wed Well I'm glad that it gave me a chance to try out that "knock" spell.
Yodavan (interested) Fascinating. Do you have an hour or so to teach that one to me?
Gimar (exploring the room) We can stay the night here. Say, what's in this crate here.

Little John pried the top off with his staff. Dollin grabbed one of the dark clear bottles within, inspecting the liquid then removing the stopper. He sniffed, and then smiling, he took a large drink and pronounced it safe.

Dollin Grab a brew. Don't cost nothin'.
Gimar Beer? Hot dog!

Late the next day the party reached a sealed portion of the mine shaft.

Gimar explained that when the mines were played out, they were often sealed to prevent undesirables from getting into or out of the shafts.

Nicola So we're at the top then? This could be the exit?
Gimar The bad news is that these caps can usually only be opened from the outside. I'll have to think about this one.

With that the party sat to ponder their newest situation.



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