Gustav follows Terri's pointing noting the things she points out. He sees it all clearly and can point to a few more signs to which way Runt went.
He has his shield up and his glowing Saber ready.

Despite his best efforts, Rolf just can't find Runt's prints in the mess of tracks left by all the coming and going of the slavers, their formally enslaved, and his own group.  However Terri thinks she's sorted out which set of prints is the boy's, so he leaves her to it.

Before long they reach the canyon and a decision point.  Do they follow Runt, or the caves?

"I have a feeling we'll cross Runt's path eventually if we follow the slavers trail, so I say we head to the caves first." he says as he looks the array of tunnels over.

"Let's try the cave where we found the prisoners first.  It's the easiest to get to and we should confirm it's clear before leaving it behind us for the others.  Though I'm not certain how we'll get to the higher one.  Seems a bit of a climb." he adds as he shifts his pack on his shoulder.

Keeping his shield in his left arm he keeps the sack ready on his right should to drop on a moments notice.  He'd love to rather have his crossbow out and ready, but he's been jumped more than once with little to no time to use it effectively.  And certainly hadn't the time to bring his shield to fore.

Which lead to getting his leg slashed quite severely!  This he has not forgotten and plans on not repeating if he can help it.

OOC:  I would like to explore the cave on the right first, where we found the prisoners.

Terri is somewhat surprised by Sajaa's question, for a moment she even seems taken aback, though when she realizes that Sajaa is asking in earnest, Terri backtracks slightly.  "I suppose the could be from earlier, but I don't think so.  We basically followed the same track down the southern canyon wall in before, but I don't remember anyone going this far upriver on the south side...  And the tracks from where we came in before are consistent, all in a line as we were following each, other but these from the boy sort of meander a different path.  Most of all though, they're the cleanest, they're set into the other prints, even if they aren't rubbing them out.  If it were the other way round, Runt's tracks would likely be totally wiped out by the people and horses that weigh four times his weight or more.  Honestly, I doubt I'd be able to find any of his older tracks even if I tried, unless they were off on their own."

As the women converse, Gustav takes a tentative step into the stream, peering upriver for a moment before he points out to the thick scrub hanging down into the center of the river.  It is barely noticeable, but caught on one of the low hanging branches there are few threads of the same sort of coarse cloth which made up Runt's oversized shirt, making it seem ever more likely that he headed, at least originally for the center cave.

Never the less, Rolf argues that the tracks are a day old regardless, and they will be better served by a methodical approach than to hunt and peck to follow Runt's traces.

The five instead wade across the shallow stream and after a few moments of searching out for trouble, they begin up the narrow path to the bandit's cave.

Gustav's saber lights up the entryway of the cave with the brightness of a torch, casting a heady glow which illuminates the tunnel, ten feet wide which travels for several yards to both the left and right before opening up on both ends in various directions.

To the left, there appears to be a larger room ahead as well as another tunnel that opens to the right.  On their right side, the tunnel splits into a 'T', though the group knows that the right fork leads to the prisons below.  The caves have the same cool chill and musty air, punctuated by a soured smell...  something like the stench of decomposing food.

What is missing however, are all of the bodies.

Insects and worms gather at the browning bloodstains which are splashed haphazardly across the stone walls and floor.  Some are smeared, pulling in streaks down the hallway, seeming to converge at a nexus near the entryway.  Near the end of the hallway, there are still freckles of skull and brain littered across the floor from where Magnus nearly decapitated a foe with a mace.

But the bodies themselves are gone, moved from the cave or else obliterated.

"Oh god."  Terry moans as she steps gingerly around a rather larger pool of bugs, which thrums and clicks in unison as it feasts upon the remnants of the gore.

OOC:  Map of what you guys have already explored is below.  You are presently at the entrance marked by 'h'.

Gustav's crit success on tracking gets him an extremely difficult tracking clue (at least to see from that distance!) not to mention a hero point which has been added to his character sheet.

I suspect that the left tunnel leads toward the one higher up and is where the many attackers came from.

Rolf gingerly strides across the stream, doing his best to keep his boots dry.  He enters the cave trepidatiously, remembering the last time he was here and how close he and his party came to being overrun.

He is visibly surprised to see all the bodies gone.  The mage pauses to look the room over and wrinkles his nose in response to the rotten smell emanating from somewhere.  He bends down and looks to see if he can tell which way they went.

"Well, it looks like we didn't get them all after all.  Someone tidied up." he says as he looks the floor over and thinks on where to search first.

At Gustav's suggestion he says "The left passage is fine with me."

OOC: Rolf will try a tracking roll to see if he can tell which direction the bodies went.  I'm assuming the cave exit?  In any event he'll propose going down the left passage.

Noting Rolf's efforts at tracking, Gustav looks closely himself.

After Rolf and Gustav cross the stream, Sajaa follows.  She is not eager to drench her boots again, for they had barely dried from the day before. She turns to give a nod to Lisa, to ensure the woman is coming.

Crossbow readied, Sajaa walks slowly behind the two men, trying to identify and analyze any mark that the trackers find interesting. She once more marvels at the woodcraft of Terri and these men, and hopes to learn from the experienced veterans.  But her focus is divided, for she spends most of her time observing the environment around her, seeking out any would-be ambushers.

OOC: Follow others. Keep watch but also try to pick up tracking tips through osmosis.

Gustav and Rolf take a moment to study the scene, looking to be sure which way the bodies were taken, though even Sajaa could guess it was towards the exit.  The pools of blood are smeared like pats of butter all in the direction of the entryway.  Here and there too are drips and drops of blood along the way or else the scrape of a boot marked by a crimson scar upon the floor.

With that information in mind, the five set out into the left tunnel which dead ends into a room, some ten yards square.  Set in the center is an iron brazier, with coals still hanging in the top, though they are ashen white and long extinguished with a thick layer of dusty ash fallen down to the bottom.  Around the brazier are four low stools and set against the two back walls are weapons racks which still boast a handful of weapons including two clubs, an axe, a spear, a knife, and a small buckler style shield, not to mention a rather intricate looking bow, a small quiver full of arrows and another quiver filled with bolts.  There's also a chestguard, fashioned of light scale which has been thrown haphazardly in the corner.

"That's mine!"  Terri bursts out, rushing ahead of Gustav and grabbing the bow which hangs from the rack, inspecting it for a moment for damage.

It takes a several moments, but Terri eventually re-dons her scale armor, leaving her newer mesh chain upon the floor.  She also throws her small quiver over her shoulder to complement the larger one already settled upon her hip and leaves the bandit's bow she has been using in place of her own.

"Oh, this is much better."  Terri smiles, restringing her weapon and pulling it once for test.

Meanwhile, Gustav is shining his exquisite saber up the stairway to the right.  The stairs continue for several yards, then seem to shallow out, so that Gustav can see nothing but the ceiling beyond.

OOC:  Terri has retaken her own equipment, but still left are:  two clubs, an axe, a spear, a knife, a small buckler shield, and a shoulder quiver of crossbow bolts (10/12).  Terri is also leaving some of her equipment which includes a light mail shirt and the medium bow she took from the bandits.

Sajaa gives a glance at the mail armor Terri abandons in place of her own and considers whether or not she should take it for herself.  She knows mail would provide superior protection to the coat and leggings of the studded, boiled horse-leather she wears, but she is loath to deal with the greater weight.

She looks over the remaining weapons to see anything that might interest her and settles on a few additional bolts to add to her quiver.

She thinks back to the ferocious combat that took place here not twenty four hours earlier, noting the congealed blood spattering the cave floor.  She wonders how many more bandits lurk here – and, too, wonders if there are more of the big, brawny bugbears to contend with.

She listens intently for the sound of any distant voices or footsteps, and then falls in behind the leaders, following closely…

OOC: Grab 3 of the bolts and tuck them in her quiver with the rest.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Thu 28 July 2022.

Gustav also adds to his quiver of bolts so he has 12.
Then heads to the stairs and awaits the others.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Mon 01 Aug 2022.

Rolf notes the blood and guts leading mostly out of the cave exit, or entrance depending on your point of view, and wonders where they were taken.  And where the man, or men, who took them are?  But these are questions likely only to be answered by exploring.

He follows Gustav's beacon leading to the left and finds an array of weapons scattered about.

"I could use some bolts too." Rolf says as he picks up the remainder to replenish the ones he's spent over the last day or so.

"Anyone want the shield?  It's not very big, but it could save your life if we encounter heavy fighting again." he says he picks up the buckler and gives it a once over inspection.

OOC:  Rolf surely could use at least a few crossbow bolts to replenish his supply.  If no one wants the small buckler shield he will put it in his bag of holding as a backup.

After a few moments looking at the equipment on the racks, the group only pilfers the ten bolts from the quiver.  Though Rolf picks up the buckler and finds it entirely serviceable, no one seems to want it so the party simply moves on up the stairway opposite.

Slowly the group climbs, with Gustav's saber held high and lighting the way ahead, though they find rather quickly that the way does not go far.  After climbing a short way the corridor levels out and only goes on for a few dozen feet before stopping entirely.  At each wall near the dead end are two doors fitted into the wall, each of them open and showing beyond a barracks of sorts, with rows of straw mats visible from the hall.

OOC:  Crossbow bolts were taken from the armory, with Sajaa taking three, Gustav four, and Rolf three.  All have been added to your character sheets.

Crossbow held at the ready, Sajaa steps quietly into each room, scanning the rough, spartan furnishings for anything of interest -- whether valuables or clues as to the remaining bandit's whereabouts... The enchanted light of Gustav's magic sword dances in her golden eyes.

"It appears to be a dead end." She whispers. "We should go back and seek a new route..."

OOC: Examining both rooms and contents for any items of apparent value, clues as to the occupants current whereabouts, or, perhaps even secret passages if any might exist.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:38, Mon 01 Aug 2022.

After the short climb, Rolf silently motions them to head out into one side of the barracks.  "Lets look around first.  Make sure the area is clear." he says softly to Sajaa.

OOC:  I would like to give the area quick once over to make sure no one lay in wait or is hiding.

Raddek, I intended to pick up the small buckler and stash it if I ever need it.  I will PM you.

Let us verify that there are no hidden ways out or in here.  He looks for paths and or signs of a door opening or the like.

Lisa returns the nod to Sajaa and follows, so looking for tips on owing trails..

***

When they reach the unattended equipment, Lisa tries to assess whether the chain might fit and what it might weigh.




OOC: Long weekend away, out and about without my phone.  Back now, sorry for holding you folks up
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Tue 02 Aug 2022.

The five take a moment to scan the two rooms, taking care at first to ensure the whole area is empty.  With that assured, Lisa, Sajaa, and Terri scan the rooms with their eyes, while Rolf and Gustav take a little more pains to search for hidden tricks or treasures.

The room on the left seems the common barracks, for it is larger, and has some ten beds set up in two rows of five, one pressed up against each wall.  Each bed has a small trunk at the end, thought the meager belongings therein seem more bare essentials than treasure.  Between the ten there are blankets, dishes, flint, waterskins, and boot knives, a few pints of oil, and twenty yards of cordage.  There is even one small satchel and a roll of bandages.

While at first the other room appears to be just the same, with the obvious differences of being much smaller, and only having two beds as opposed to ten, after a few moments of searching, Gustav pulls away several small rocks and some dirt to reveal a small niche where a silver necklace and a knuckle-sized gem are hidden.  The gem is pearl like in appearance, though it shimmers with an internal flickering blue.

OOC:  Amongst the bandits personal possessions, you find several personal basics, several blankets, several water skins, two pints of oil, twenty yards of #90 cord, a 1 gallon leather sack with a shoulder strap, and a roll of bandages.

The obvious finds are the silver chain and the gem.  Feel free to make merchant/jeweler rolls to appraise them.


The large gemstone

Lisa has a bit of a search around the area and then examines the valuables.

======
OOC: Search 9 versus skill 12; Merchant 5 versus skill 12

***
Edit: Afterthought - does Lisa's handling of these items to evaluate them also allow her to tell if they're magical? (She has Magery 2.)
If so, is a roll required?
Thx!
This message was last edited by the player at 09:12, Mon 08 Aug 2022.

After a quick scan the barracks are all clear which is a relief to Rolf.  They rummage through the meager belongings of the trunks in the larger room, but it is the smaller room where Gustav finds some valuable baubles.

"Let me have a look." the mage says as he reaches to briefly tumble the necklace and gem in his hands.

OOC:  On the off chance they are magic, Rolf will touch both the necklace and gemstone to see if he can detect any.

Rolf touches the necklace and the gem, hoping for some trace of magical residue, but to the best of his knowledge it appears both the items are mundane.

Lisa too takes a look at the items, handling each for several moments before handing them back.  She too deems the items mundane, though she gets a better feel for their worth.  She estimates the silver chain to be somewhere between forty and fifty farthings.  The gem however, she is happy to report, is a moonstone and quite large.  If she were to try and sell the gem on her own she imagines she could ask as much as a two or three marks.

OOC:  Sorry it took so long to just get an admin post out.  No magical traces noted on either of the items.  The necklace is between $40-$50 and the Moonstone $400-$600 based on Lisa's merchant roll.

Lisa shares her valuation of the items.

======
OOC: Has the values be updated into the loot thread, please?

Nice little find then. we should be aware, there may be more stashed about.

"Good find." Rolf says as he hands the trinkets to Lisa to inspect.

Satisfied they are finished with this area, Rolf says "Let's keep moving.  I want to head back down and explore more."

Hoisting his pack back on his shoulder he waits to fall in line behind Gustav and Sajaa.

OOC:  On the main floor I would like to investigate the northern tunnel we passed.  This would still leave the "T" on the right hand side, or eastern part of the caves, to explore. See msg#11.

Raddek:

To the left, there appears to be a larger room ahead as well as another tunnel that opens to the right.  On their right side, the tunnel splits into a 'T', though the group knows that the right fork leads to the prisons below.

Sajaa observes the others in her party admiring the gemstone. She has little knowledge as to its appraisal value and doesn't particularly care, much. Matters of money were not something the women of her Clan worried about back home, though more than a few of her female peers would complain about their father's, husbands or son's mishandling of finances and many quietly voiced that they would be far more fiscally conservative than their male superiors.

As long as she can keep her and her horse fed and sheltered, Sajaa is fine with that. Though her now-dead groom boasted to her about how financially elevated her station in life was going to be as the newest of his wives, Sajaa couldn't care less.

Aljashae hu eubudiat dayimatun. So said the Imam at one of his sermons. Greed is permanent slavery.

Sajaa wholeheartedly agreed.

Crossbow ready, she begins advancing in the direction indicated by Gustav her eyes and ears peeled...

After finding the jewelry, the group maneuvers back down the corridor, turning left at the end of the hallway and back across the entrance hallway to the last corridor they missed.

The group climbs up the shallow sloping way, bending around to the right before the corridor ends in a single doorway.  This one, unlike the last is pushed all the way open, showing ahead what appears to be a store room, though it appears to be completely disheveled and trashed.

A large water barrel has been turned on its side and appears to have leaked most of its contents out onto the stone floor beside.  Ropes are scattered this way and that, some of them looped around a large pickaxe which lays across the floor.  Animal tack is thrown in various places, leather cases are open and spilling wooden hammers, and cutting tools amongst other gear...  All in all, there is little room on the floor to walk without stepping on some tool or piece of gear.

OOC:  Rolf, I think you may have double counted passageways.  I have you going back to the T intersection on the right and choosing the northern passageway there.  Map is below to make things clear.

While there is a lot in the room that is openly visible, it is all splayed out in a chaotic fashion.  Still, it looks like the following items are there:

Various ropes
Pickaxe
Carpentry Kit
Sledgehammer
Iron spikes
Climbing gear
Lead rope and Bridle
Torches