Sent: 3/13/99

Guilliam tries to appear calm and collected but he can't stop the tremble of tremmors shooting down his spine at the sound of the unnatural wail. "I'd like..." he mouths, shocked that the sound of words don't follow. Quietly clearing his throat he begins anew "I'd like to read this journal a little more. It might give us clues that will let us know what we're up against and how to survive." To promote his arguement he speculates "I have a feeling that for one, we're going to have to watch our feet. The writings in the journal lead me to suspect that whatever is down their attacks from beneath. I can see how one could break their leg walking on this uneven flooring, but I can't imagine how one would go so far as to lose his foot unless it was through an attack."

Canter nods, "That's good thinking. I don't want to lose any of my feet, thank you very much..."

Crayne, crouching on the ground looking closely at the journal, wipes away some sweat that trickles down from his brow. Wincing and adjusting his eyes to the light he lets Guilliam take a closer look at the journal all the while looking ahead into the gloom. Crayne whispers, "It seems likely that these caves house some sort of beast of which we are unsure. Thus, it is crucial that we rid the caves of this beast in order to continue on with our mission. Now, most of us are at a disadvantage in this light except for our good friend Storm. Thus, I think at the moment the crucial thing is information. We need to know what we are up against and then we can weigh the odds and formulate a plan. So then, we need to sight this creature unless the journal tells us more or provides us with a clue. Come! Come Boy! What does it say Guilliam?" Crayne looks at Guilliam leaning in closer with the lightstone impatiently trying to read the words himself.

Edryd's jaw has a grim set to it and, at the sound of the wail, he reacts as Storm, drawing his long sword and raising his shield in an attack posture. After hearing Guilliam's assurance that the source of the sound is still distant he relaxes, but does not sheathe his weapon.

Upon hearing the words of the journal page and witnessing the blood stain, he whispers a prayer from the Ritual of Final Rest for the deceased represented by the deserted campsite.

He says, "I agree, we need to go through that journal immediately. But I am not comfortable gathered around it like a bunch of old women around a butterchurn. My suggestion is that Storm and Crayne and his lightstone join me in surveying the new passage for at least a dozen yards or so to be sure we are not imminently set upon by this nameless threat. Cy and Canter would remain with Guilliam and the miners outside in the light to maintain this area safely as well. Do remain near the cave opening in earshot in case we meet with trouble."

Edryd looks toward the new passage, then glances back over his shoulder to see if Storm and Crayne will follow.

Storm, waiting apprehensively, stares down the dark tunnel from where he stands, trying to discern any threat with his infravision. He tentatively removes his Bastard sword from his back and holds it in front of him with two hands, at the ready.

As Edryd suggests his course of action, Storm gives a gutteral growl in approval and moves to flank the Paladin as they progress down the passageway.

Cy draws his bow, and nodding to Guilliam and Canter as he passes by them, moves to follow Storm, Edryd and Crayne as they explore the passageway.

The passageway is very dark; Crayne's lightstone is bright enough to cast a cool yellow glow on the walls for a few short feet in front and behind. The corridor is just wide enough for two to stand side by side. Storm and Edryd take the lead, with Cy behind Storm (so as to shoot his bow over Storm's head) and Crayne behind Edryd. They move very slowly as they enter the passageway, the walls seeming to close in on them.

After a few short minutes, Storm clears his throat and whispers, "I don' see nothin' ahead, but I can tell yers we're slopin down."

Crayne runs his hands over the wall of the passageway, feeling the rock. "I believe this is certainly man made, these cuts are too jagged to be washed away by some mountain stream." Just as he finishes, the unnatural wail sounds again. All stop dead in their tracks. The sound is louder than before, reverberating down the narrow corridor. It slowly dies down, as before.

"How close is it?!" Edryd asks, tightening his grip on his sword.

"I can't tell," Cy replies, "the boy Guilliam and his ears are back there with the journal."

"Gentlemen, I don't really want to go any further until we know exactly what we're dealing with here. I say we turn back for the moment and see what Guilliam has found, I'd also like to look over that Journal for magical influences," Crayne pleads.

Storm growls in response, wanting to continue on with their exploration. But Cy and Edryd agree with Crayne. The party slowly turns, beginning to head back to Guilliam and Canter in the front cave. As they move through the darkened passageway, the faint light from the cave ahead like a beacon in the distance, suddenly they hear a rattle.

All four stop in their tracks, weapons drawn, poised for the attack. But there is silence. Storm Edryd inches forward a little, and the rattle sounds again, like a scraping sound. Cy immediately fires and arrow into the dark ahead, but there is no sound of impact, just the wooden arrow coming to rest and sliding across the passageway floor ahead.

Slightly amused, Crayne chuckles. Realizing what is happening, he taps Edryd on the shoulder and leans forward for effect. "Why don't you pick up your new friend at your feet?"

Edryd is a little confused, but as Crayne lowers the lightstone, a set of bones comes into view--Edryd had been kicking them across the floor. With a slight smile, Edryd turns around, saying only "thanks."

As the four spelunkers emerge from the passageway relatively unscathed, they approach Guilliam who is just finishing up another page of the journal. "What have you found?" Orders Cy.

"Well, this is very interesting. Did you know that this poor fellow had a sister in Merriam? I may just have to stop by next time we're passing through!" Guilliam jokes, a wide smile on his face.

Cy is not amused. "Anything of importance?!"

Guilliam quickly changes his tone, but not before noticing Canter trying to hide a laugh. Satisfied that at least one person liked his little joke, Guilliam turns back to the journal, reporting what he has read. "Okay. The men in this journal are from the second team sent to open up this mine. When they arrived, they could not find any trace of the first team. After giving up their search, it seems they continued digging out the mine for a couple of days when they began hearing this wailing and moaning sound--just like we were hearing. They were a little scared, but kept working. It was only when one of their members disappeared down one of the mine shafts that they got worried. Their little rescue team met up with some kind of beast or monster, this fellow doesn't describe it that well, but says that it killed a couple of their team, broke a few bones, and tore off a few limbs."

"Sounds like that's the problem up here we've got to deal with," Canter says.

"It seems like it," Guilliam agrees. "From what I can tell from his description of the layout, it seems that that corridor leads down into a large cavern, naturally carved out inside the mountain, and that from there there are a number of smaller mine passageways tha they were going to get the ore from. I've also found these four torches in the guy's backpack. I don't think he'll need them." Guilliam pulls out the torches, showing them to the group.

"Well done, Guilliam," Edryd says, patting the bard on the shoulder. "Is there more to the journal?"

"Yes, I didn't get a chance to go through the whole thing. I don't think there's much more of importance; before the wailing started it was just business as usual for those guys. But if we have a chance, I'd still like to look it over."

Crayne then speaks up, "I'd also like a look at it, when we have a moment."

"Right then," Canter starts, "it seems a waste of time to sit here twiddling our thumbs. Shall we head over to the inner cavern?"

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