The group make a decision:
“What goes up must come…….” Or “Can you fit a round Dwarf in
a square hole?”
The morning after the attack the Gnome Kings called a
meeting in the throne room. They asked for help whilst they awaited the arrival
of more members of their clan who should be arriving at Gnomengarde within the
month.
It was agreed that Gnomengarde, for the present, would make
a secure base for the group whilst they were in the area and that the group
would aid the Gnomes before the arrival of the remainder of their clan.
For 7 days the group remained in Gnomengarde, healing wounds
from the fight with Klarg and the Hobgoblins and taking stock as to their next
moves. Some honed their weapons, Bron, had decided to follow a path he struggled
with over many years, he would become a fledgling Eldritch Knight. So he used
his days attuning himself to bow and sword then he made a scroll that he could
use without wasting time and effort if needed for other spells.
On Towerday, 2nd
day of Palesun 1491, the group bade their farewell of the Gnome Kings. They
left Lionel and Heimund behind to protect the Gnomes as the others headed for
the Dwarven excavations (mines) some 2 days to the west of Gnomengarde.
The Gnomes gave them directions as they traded with the
Dwarves at the mines, oil, wine and bread. The group headed west and made good
time before setting up camp for the night in a small depression.
Morning came
early and with it clouds, rain but the heat of the day would remain as the sun
rose above the clouds. Fargrim walked aways from the camp and stumbled, falling
to the ground. What he saw could not be, for the rock that had ‘tripped’ him
was no ordinary rock but could only have been Dwarven cut. He got up and began
clearing the tufts of grass away. Gimli wandered over and began to give Fargrim
a hand. Before long they had uncovered a section of what could only be an
ancient Dwarf Road some 6ft by 3 ft in length and width. But in which direction
did it go? North-South or East-West? Fargrim had the group walk out in straightish
lines. Eglath remained at the camp site for it seemed a second small grouping
of stones was found in a northerly direction. None was found east or west, but
another 2 groups were found to the south. Fagrim gathered his equipment and set
off south, towards the mountains. The rest of the group followed.
It wasn’t long before the group came across what looked like
a cleft cut into a smooth rock face. On closer inspection and after removing
some overgrowth the ‘cleft’ was now a definite entrance way leading into the
mountain some 25 feet and ending at a heavy portcullis, rusted in place. With
as many that could lay a hand on the portcullis it could not be shifted.
As Fargrim
split the group into ‘shifts’ to keep trying to move the portcullis, Eglath
noticed what looked like arrow slits, 1 on one side wall and 2 on the other.
The group, all except Bron, went and investigated the slits further. Bron had
noticed something as he was walking round outside and was intent on finding out
what it was. He was talking to himself as he unpacked his pitons, hammer and
rope.
Eglath decided to use a pebble, which Gimli cast light onto,
he threw it on the other side of the portcullis. It bounced and skidded along
the floor before dropping down what could only be steps. He decided to cast
another into one of the slits. He could see a huge ballista type device on the other
side. Using the 10ft pole he activated it and triggered the firing mechanism. His
speedy reaction saved his life as he caught the bolt, nearly 3ft long, in his
hands.
Bron had succeeded in climbing some 20ft up the smooth cliff
face. Banging pitons in as he went. As he climbed the next 10ft he slipped
several times before he was lowered to the ground. The noise of his ascent had alerted
the group and Eglath and Gimli had arrived in time to lower Bron safely to the
ground. Hagnulf took over. After a few mishaps he made it to the 40ft point and
Bron joined him. They now had a ‘hand-rail’ rope in place and were able to use
a second as a ‘pulley’ to assist Bron climbing up. He made himself secure,
providing an anchor point for Hagnulf as the wily Elf climbed to the top of
what looked like a chimney of sorts.
It was decided, well he kind of volunteered, that Bandur
would join Hagnulf at the chimney top and enter the Dwarven hold, find the
mechanism and raise the portcullis. Hagnulf could fit down the chimney with
ease, Bandur had to remove armour and equipment. Tying the equipment to a rope
it was lowered down the chimney, coming to a stop some 20ft below. Hagnulf and
Bandur were soon standing in a room some 15ft by 25ft having entered by a very
sooty fireplace. Bandur was soon dressed and approached a darkened space in the
far corner. Hagnulf put his hand on Bandurs’ arm and whispered in his ear, it’s
a door!
The door swung open easily and they could see more details
in the room beyond as shafts of sunlight spilled into it from the right
somewhere. On closer inspection the light was coming through various arrow
slits in another open room to the right. The void room to the left had enough
light that they could make out it was large. Four large pillars holding up the
ceiling and in the centre 3 large metallic vats. In front of these 3 channels
leading to 3 holes next to a wide opening through which they could see the top
of the portcullis. But of a mechanism to raise the portcullis there was no
sign. As they investigated the vats 3 giant spiders climbed out and attacked. 2
more scuttled around the floor by the south walls.
Bandur was covered in a sticky web as a 2nd
spider attacked him. 2 spiders tried to ‘web’ Hagnulf but missed as a 5th
spider tried to bite him but missed. For some time, the spiders could not
penetrate the armour of Hagnulf nor Bandur. Bandur managed to break free of his
web bonds and struck a spider down as Hagnulf succumbed to wounds from 2 spiders.
Bandur managed to knock a spider down and was attacking 2 more as Bron and
Fargrim burst into the room.
Bron and Fargrim had heard sounds of fighting and climbed as
fast as they could. Fargrim slipped and fell the 20ft down the chimney as Bron
landed softly beside him. Helping Fargrim to his feet both rushed into the
large room where the sounds of fighting could be heard.
Bron and Fargrim aided Bandur by sinking their blades into a
spider, killing it instantly. Another spider was scuttling away as Bandur
dropped and killed a 2nd spider. Bron and Fargrim drew bow and
crossbow as a spider was dragging Hagnulf up to the ceiling. The spider fell
dead, bolt and arrow sticking out of its body. They turned their aim to the
last spider and bolt and arrow felled the last.
By now Gimli and Beorwulf had managed to make the climb and
joined the others in the room. They all combined to make a stable support so
Beorwulf could cut Hagnulf down. Hagnulfs’ prone body, covered in sticky web, slammed
into the floor. Gimli rushed to stabilise Hagnulf as Beorwulf attempted to cut
him free. Hagnulf free at last lay on the floor badly injured. Fargrim prayed
over him and some vitality came back to his battered and bruised body. As Fargrim prayed over Hagnulf the others spread around the room and searched the area. (See map above).
Eglath remained on the smooth cliff face outside as he felt……………
