Sent: 4/25/99

"Ok!" Crayne says sighing, "This place really is a box of tricks! I'm at a bit of a deadend now. I think I'll leave this decision with someone else. For I have no clue to what or where any of these corridors lead. The only thing we know is of something shiny that is situated down a shaft. Now if I don't mind saying I think I would like to steer clear of that for the moment. Thus, perhaps now I come to think of it we could go down the corridor that leads to the grey spot. Urhmmmm!" Crayne says pondering over his words, "Perhaps that would be for the best!"

"I think that we are good for staying a day or two more. We would be stronger for it," Cy says to the group. "If our one of good faith might help to heal us, we could be movin' sooner, but we must re-gain our strength! With that bein' done, I say we go "Grunderdun", underground in the direction that Storm saw the shine. Then we go to our cryptic map site."

Cy then sits on the ground with a pile of junk collected from the chamber. He re-creates the battle the miners must have suffered. He notates the miners injuries on a piece of paper he pulls from his pack. A bit of sketching later, he seems satisified with what he has found, and puts everything away.

Then, Cy gathers the group in for a quick tale... he sounds very... academic. Something that is strange coming from him: "The reason I was mumbling in Storm's tongue is that this entire place reminds me of part of my time with the Stoneforge clan. More of that in a moment.

"I've served in a few armies (blatent sarcasm) and I've heard veterans tell tales of strange monsters. I think I have personally run into this one before, but I didn't realize it until Grunther One-arm was telling his tale at the Battle for the Inland Sea two years ago. He spoke of a Ground Hulk that tore his arm off when it exploded from underground. I too have had a run-in with this creature.

"The dwarven priests called it a 'Umberian Tunneler'. I think human mages call it an 'umber hulk'. We were deep in the Stoneforge clan mines, worrying out a large chunk of adamantine for use in a war engine. I was on lighting detail, holding the lamps so that the head miner could see the lay of the rock. No sooner did I have the place well-lit than a great rumbling was heard. The ground parted right beneath the Second Hammer-striker and a great beast appeared... the poor soul dangling from its huge mandables. It was the size of the tunnel and twice as mean as an Anthrax in heat. I was ready to run. No problem, just leave. The head miner, Henriner Stoneforge, held me steady. Him and the other four dwarves drew their axes and preceded to beat the think into death. They were sorely beaten from the experience, but all save Vrenrre, the second hammer-striker, lived.

"From what I remember, the dwarves all closed their helmets when they fought the Hulk. Something about its eyes made me dizzy. If we do fight it, don't look at it... or have a good helmet (he pats his full helm).

"The pattern of injuries on the miner's bodies and the location we are at seem to fit the patterning of a subterrainian malicious carinivore of voracious apetite."

Cy realizes he probablly lost his audience with the last line, so he concludes simply: "The Ground Hulk is a powerful foe. To use this mine again, it will need to be killed; however, we may not be well enough to do so without some rest." At this point, Cy leans back and chews thoughtfully on his beef jerky.

Storm pipes up upon the suggestion of rest. He rubs his shoulder and inspects his slightly charred clothes. He clears his throat rather disgustingly and says "I not be feelin' fully healed since we met that stranger bastard way back in Rinder. I tink I be likin' at least one more day to sleep. More'd be nicer though..."

Edryd wrinkles his brow, ruminating for a few moments as the group considers its options. Finally he looks them over. "As eager as I am to face what is likely the killer of the miners thus far, I learned at the Temple that the best practice of valor is in taking every opportunity to ensure victory in the name of Anhur. I would submit that we wait one more day, being sure of our readiness and preparation. A watch will have to be set, preferably in pairs as we cannot be sure that these denizens, should they still dwell here, will remain put while we prepare for their demise." He stands and raises one hand over the group, chanting a blessing in the name of Anhur.

He closes his eyes, as though reluctant to release the last word of the Litany of Renewal. He then bows his head slightly, silently commending the company to Anhur's protection, then returning from his reverie to sit among his friends.

With the conclusion of the Litany, the group disperses, each to his own tasks. Cy and Storm mumble between themselves in a mixture of dwarven and common, seeming to find a new aspect of their nascent friendship. Canter, nodding as the group breaks, takes out his sword and a piece of softened leather and begins to polish the blade, shaking his head as if disappointed with its quality.

Edryd approaches Cy as he and Storm finish their conversation. The two discuss setting the watch schedule. "Each should rest as much as be possible," Cy insists. Edryd nods as they work out the plan. Before finishing, Edryd also inspects one of Cy's wounds, invoking the power of Anhur to offer some healing to the warrior.

As the day wears on rations are distributed. Each spends some time on his own, tending to his wounds, tears in clothing, the cleaning of weapons, and other tasks. Most importantly, those not on watch take the time to rest. Storm, at one point in the late morning, ventures out into the sunlight with a length of rope. He returns a few minutes later, empty handed. Then, a few hours following, he goes out again to the mountain path and returns with a pair of birds and a wide smile. "Better than 'em pack-foods!" the dwarf says with a chuckle. Guilliam agrees to help with the cooking and a small fire is quickly lit.

The following day sees much the same activity: rest, training, and healing. This day, however, Edryd uses his healing power on behalf of Anhur to address Storm's wounds. By the late afternoon, some are quite sick of resting. Guilliam lets out a loud sign, placing the journal back into his bag, along with the map. "I think tomorrow morning we go back in..."

Crayne nods to the bard. "I feel as good as I'm going to," he says.

Edryd agrees, and soon the plans are set: at first light they proceed inside. Though Crayne had voiced his concern with pursuing the shiny object identified by Storm, the others seem to disagree. Canter offers, "We may have a pretty good idea what happened down there, but we can't be sure. I'd rather go down the shaft we have some idea about then one where we're totally in the dark. Besides, it could be nothing but some shiny rock or an axe reflecting torchlight. Then we'll move on."

The others seem to agree. Crayne let's out a sigh of mild frustration. "I'll just stand toward the back, though that's what I always do!"

At first light Rinder's Six begins to pack up their things after three days of rest and recouperation. Nearly all are significantly healed, though Edryd still looks a bit beaten. "Why don't you heal yourself?" Guilliam asks the Paladin.

"I must always do what I can for the good of the group. I am stronger than three days ago, though not as strong as some. And strong enough to go on. I'll be fine..." Edryd responds, patting the bard on the shoulder as he makes his way to the front of the marching order. Torches are lit and weapons are drawn. (Guilliam and Canter hold lit torches, while Crayne holds his lightstone. Storm leads the party, as he can see the best under darkened conditions.)

The party enters the long, narrow corridor. They pass the heavy wooden door and into the inner chamber. The smell of rotted flesh (from the zombies) fills the room, but they can quickly see that no foe presents itself. Breathing a collective sigh of relief, the party continues moving. Storm takes a moment to reorient himself and then pushes onward toward one of the mine shafts.

"Slowly...." Cy whispers to his dwarven friend.

"Aye..." Storm replies, squinting to see what lies ahead.

The shaft is obviously not complete. The walls are fairly jagged and the ground uneven, but sloping slowly downward. After a minute or two of slow advance, Storm stops, holding up one open hand to signal the rest of the party. "I be seein' the shiny thing." He draws his other sword and slowly approaches. As he gets closer, his arms obviously loosen and he quickens his pace.

The tunnel turns slightly to the right, and as the torchlight begins to illuminate around the curve, Storm lets out a laugh. There on the floor is a scattered pile of coins, along with a ripped cloth and few other shiny objects.

Cy, not swayed by the seemingly trivial nature of the loot, directs Canter and Edryd to stand watch while the others inspect the discovery. Kneeling on the ground, Guilliam, Crayne, Cy, and Storm sift through the small pile of loot.

In the pile they find a small number of scattered coins, along with some shreds of paper. Also, they find a torn robe. Guilliam holds it up for the others to see, and they can see the tear is bordered with blood. Storm then reaches into the pile and picks up three small objects--all rings. Two of them appear to be solid gold bands. The third is a signet.

Storm, obviously puzzled, turns the right to show the others. Guilliam merely shakes his head, and Cy shrugs his shoulders. But Crayne suddenly grabs at the ring. "I've seen this insignia before. This was....oh, no....."

Edryd, listening in on the conversation, calls, "what? Oh no what?"

"Don't stop!" Canter calls, holding his torch.

Crayne swallows hard. "Karelth once told me about this. The Red Dragon School."

"What's that?" Guilliam asks, obviously intrigued by the name.

"The Red Dragon School is an ancient, very secretive -- and extremely dangerous -- school of mages. Nobody really knows when or where they meet or anything about them. My uncle once met a Mage of the Red Dragon, and barely lived to tell about it. He warned me that if I ever saw this insignia--the Red Dragon--to watch out!" Crayne turns to face Cy and Edryd with the warning, his eyes wide, the ring in his hand.

1. HP Status: after healing and rest, according to my calculations:

Canter: 22, Crayne: 6, Cy: 21, Edryd: 16, Guilliam: 16, Storm: 22.

2. A total of 19 gp, 23 sp, and 35 cp were found in the pile.

3. What now? 

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