Chapter 2: Unearthing the Past

[pygmaelion]

"Gotta point there, Ogbar... If AcheyAirs has been here that long, he ain't gonna let nobody in. Wonder how that stumpy beardling was planning on sneaking through. Maybe there's something more in that book of his? Some kinda Titan secret rite or something?"

Grim shifts to try to get the lumpy earthen floor beneath him to be uncomfortable in the less important places.

"I trust him better'n any traps we can set, and I'd hate to break the Titans' statue if we don't haveta. It's not like they left us a repair tome for him... If he gets broke, he stays broke."

[DoomulusPrime]

"That's a good observation," Garruk says to Ogbar and Grim as the group settles down for the night, "and just what I wanted to say... outside the hearing of whatever is down there, if that's the word. I don't trust that thing's "mindless automaton" act."

"We may also need to head up a larger expedition to truly explore what lies beyond the stone creature's halls. Better we leave it behind until we can get some shamans, peons and more grunts to set up a proper... what's the word the dwarves use? Excavation, I think."

"We can tell Match what we've found. Then I guess we escort this "Venture Co." caravan..."

[Vardaen]

The group takes their finds up to the surface and promtly sets up camp there. The fire going, the worg meat cooking, the group falls into conversations about what to do next with the find below.

Lugar remains quite on the subject for the most part, agreeing with reporting into Match and whatever else Garruk suggests.

Gizzik is leafing through the book, "This book is mostly useless at this point. Our stumpy friend only seemed to know where the place was, but had no idea what was there. He never mentions Troggs once in the book, nor any mystical Titan rites to by pass their guardian. Likely he didn't know what he was getting into, stupid dwarf." Gizzik passes the book around if anyone else wants to read it, but the goblins assessment proves to be right.

The night settles in and the camp is soon eating and sleeping and before you realize it morning has arrived. Lugar meditates on his powers for the day, and among them is a divination power that will let him determine the magical properties of the things you found. He soon goes to work divining the nature of your loot as other break camp.

OOC

A few things. Make sure you check the XP thread about leveling up. Not sure when jigglypuff69 will be taking over Lugar, but I'm hoping by the start of the next chapter at the latest. Lugar has Identify now memorized so the loot thread will be updated with magical item properties. Don't forget to check it.

Also healing: Everyone heals 1/lv over night (2 a this point, as you Icly level up once back at Crossroads.)

I don't plan on having any encounters on the way back to Crossroads, so when you are ready to just go there, you can make nice travel posts and I'll move us along. And Garruk's suggestion about a 'proper excavation' fits perfectly inline with the plot, thanks Doom!

[Brennor]

Ogbar nods. "Makes sense to me. More of us would be good, especially if we have to take that thing out. Just gotta make sure that we are included in it, so that we get our fair share!"

The Tauren grunts. "Now... I think it is time fer some sleep. That stupid, stunted stunty has gone and tenderized me over the moon." A weird turn of phrase, but the cow man had been pummeled into near-death earlier.

[pygmaelion]

Grim settles his jowls into the back of his hand, and lies with his back to the cookfire.

The night will be a short one, and with the morning the Talonbreakers will be off to herd a caravan.

Without the Wasteland sun to scorch him awake, the 5th son of the 6th litter of the Blackblade warren awakes. Unable to distinguish the dampness of the cave from his own drooling, he shakes himself awake, checks up his harness load of gear, and heads toward the enterance of the cavern.

Once the path is shown clear, with no obvious awaiting enemies in obvious view of the entrance, Grim rouses the remainder of the Talonbreakers to break camp, and move out.

[Vardaen]

OOC

Looks like 3rd-I isn't returning. mackaber may be taking over Gizzik starting next chapter along with JP taking over Lugar! So lets keep going here

The Talonbreakers settle in for a nights rest, and then wake early in the morning. The aches and pains from the fight are even more sore today, a good sign that you are true warrior of the Horde. The rest does you all good, and the Druid Ogbar and the Shaman Lugar are able to meditate and speak to the Earth Mother and the Ancestor Spirits respectively to regather their magical power. A few healing prayers and the wounded are feeling fit enough for travel once more.

You mark the location of this cave on your map so you won't forget it later and then begin your trip back to Crossroads. The trip back is quicker than the trip here for several reasons, the first is you know the way, the second is you aren't attacked by Kolkar Centaurs. Racing north back along the Gold Road you hurry as fast as you can hoping to avoid confrontation with the Kolkar and to meet your time limit for this little side trip.

** Crossroads **

It takes a day to get back to Crossroads, but you are well within your timeline. The Talonbreakers arrive in the dusty Orcish town a few hours after dark has settled in. Crossroads is alive and well at this hour of the night. Lamps are lit all around the town, and rowdy drunken orcs are milling outside the man ale halls and mead tents scattered about the frontier village. You stroll past a pen filled with kodo beasts that weren't there when you left Crossroads, perhaps these are the Venture Caravan's kodo. You make your way back to "The Cracked Spear Taven" where you last met with Lt. Match.

The Cracked Spear apears to be hopping tonight. There is loud singing coming from inside, the windows are lit, and the smell of too many seaty drunk Orcs pressed into too small a space assults the senses as you enter. The common tap room is filled with a collection of two or three dozen Orcs that are rowdily drinking and singing victory fight songs with one another. Everyone is in good spirits, and as you arrive a few of them give you a tooth smile and hoist their mugs at you before going back to getting drunk.

Standing among some drunk Orcs, a mug in hand, is Lt. Match carowsing along with the other Orcs here.

Lt.Match

Bing

Quest Partially Completed: Bael Modan - You discovered and scouted the location on the dwarven map marked Bael Modan southwest of Crossroads. The Trogg infestation was cleared out, but the deeper Titan Ruins remain unexplored.

Quest Completed: Venture Company - You have returned in time to act as caravan guards for a Venture Company caravan heading to the boarders of Durotar.

Crossroads

[pygmaelion]

Grim shuffles through the beef witted crowd toward the bar to fetch a half dozen tankards for his crew and the Lt. Match.

"Ey, kegbreaker... Six deep daughts of whatever the Lt. over there drinks... We been out in hot dust and damp caverns for days."

Looking down at the skin of koomis he lifted from the centaur (who already drank his last koomis before giving it up), Grim slings the skin up onto the flat of the bar.

"Curious if you might be interested in this... It smells awful, but it never goes bad... Well, It never goes ~worse~. Think you can do something with it? got most of a skin here I'd be willing to swap ya for a jug of somethin' else."

[Vardaen]

The barkeep fills up half a dozen tankards of common orc ale for Grim, the frothing headed mugs slosh together spilling some of their foam over the sides. "Koomiss? From the Kolkar? I know a local that loves that stuff, stinks to high heaven, and the vomit it bring up after a night of heavy drinking is so bad I banned him from drinking that swill in here." He rubs his chin, a whisp of beard (partially burnt off) plays in his hands. "I can trade you a bottle of War Drum Brandy if you like, its been opened, a few shots missing, but its a fair trade, and you won't puke your spleen up if you drink too much of it." He grabs the bottle of the bar back and puts it on the bar, holding the neck. There are a few fingers missing, but otherwise it appears good. He can see Grim's face wrinkle a bit, "And I'll throw in these here ales, he adds as a kicker."

[pygmaelion]

"Done an' Done" says Grim, hitching the bottle of War Drum Brandy into his pack straps.

Gathering up his tuns of drink he heads back toward Lt. Match, hoping the other Talonbreakers, lured by the thirst quenching contents, will join him in regaling the Lieutenant with tales of Kolkar country, the trog battle, and their meeting with OckyOrieyarse the doorman of the Titans.

"Comin' through lads" says Grim to Match's assembled admirers "Ell-Tee, we're back from Bael Modan... thought you might like an ale with the tale"

The yarn is spun quickly, leaving directions in a hand waving haze of Totem pole caber tossing, Kolkar ambush wrecking, Trog smashing, Spider stomping, and Statue bantering.

"and now we're back, ready to get them teamsters back on the road."

[Brennor]

Ogbar grunts in appreciation of Grim's offer of ale and a quick tale. He drinks from the draught deeply, draining it nearly fully, before pulling the mug back down and looking over at the Lt to hear whatever response is forthcoming.