(081) Journeymen Returned

[mushgnome]

Highbough focuses his mind and transitions into silent-hunter mode. He takes a curious look toward the bridge, wondering if it even still exists, and noting whether any parts of the bridge or its suspension are made of metal. Satisfied with the answer, he skips lightly toward the cave mouth, sniffs the air, and slips into the gloom...

waysoftheearth... can you help orient Highbough in relation to his previous adventures? Where is he in relation to familiar landmarks like the bridge, gatehouse, secret entrance on the ravine floor, etc.?

[waysoftheearth]

Invisible Highbough steps into the cave proper, silent as... an Elf. The air within smells earthy and feral; he doesn't hear even a stir of wind or chirp of any bug. Proceeding inside, he sees the cave is rather deep into the rock face, but looks long-disused. Whatever ogres are about, it is doubtful they are still using this particular entry to the cave complex. He passes the site of a long disused cookfire; a ring a charred stones now half buried in the dry earth. Right at the back of the cave, a large, round boulder has been rolled across to in front of the rear tunnel, fully blocking the way.

Digging deep down into the memory archives... the (formerly) Blasted Abbey is on the same side of a rocky, Hinterland ravine as is the Ogre cave highbough is about to enter. The rope-bridge that crosses over the ravine leads to a path that eventually descends the hills and runs out into the rolling grasslands, and--several days further off to the south and east--lies Ket. Highbough came to be here in these Hinterlands via morning's ride on the back of a Hippogriff, so he hasn't personally marched over those grasslands, although Dorgan has trudged over some of it firsthand.

The affair of the two gatehouses either side of a canyon--one held by Deggerhund and the Ogres, the other by Saxxon the bandit king--was all conducted even farther off to the south of Ket, many leagues hence.

[mushgnome]

Highbough completes a circuit of the cave, to see if there are any other exits he might have missed. If it is truly a dead end, then he backtracks to within sight of Dorgan and draws a chalk arrow indicating it is safe to approach.

[sully]

Dorgan pops out from his hiding place. He walks to the chalk sign and says, seemingly to the air, What'd ya find in there?

[mushgnome]

"Large boulder. Dwarf needed." replies the out-of-breath invisible voice.

[sully]

Dorgan calls out, C'mon. I need you inside, Wen.

The dwarf enters the cave and, assuming nothing bad happens, attempts to move the boulder.

[mgtremaine]

Wen follows along bow at the ready....

[waysoftheearth]

Dorgan, Wen, and Invisible Highbough return to the empty cave to assay the prospect of moving the boulder. Upon close inspection it appears to be an onerous task. The rock is roughly round and almost Dorgan's full height; whoever put it there must have possessed an exceptionally strong arm. Perhaps the task could have been done by two ogres, but it is unlikely to be undone by one dwarf. Dorgan also notes sourly that even the gaps around the rock have been cemented in with mud--now long dried and hardened--to make a virtually air-tight seal. His dwarf-mind automatically starts thinking about levers and fulcrums and mines...

Okay folks; I'm soon gonna need a stat line for each PC. It would also be helpful if you could remind me what armor/weapons/important items each PC is carrying. Something like: Name [AC f/r, MV x", HD X+Y, hp n/m, AL X] plate+helm+sh, axe (or whatever it happens to be) would be very helpful. Thanks

[waysoftheearth]

Let's do this thing

[mgtremaine]

"That's big a rock, any thought Dorgan"Wen says

WEN [ AC 9, Mv: 12", HD 4, HP ? not rolled after level, AL L] No Armor + Helm + Bow
Notes:
Leather Armor, Shield, Sword carried
Wand of Cold, Enigma of Pro Evil as readied Magic Items