(014) The Ravine

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Highbough pops open the ant farm and spills its contents with a few quick shakes. A surprisingly large community of ants, some hundreds, scatter amid the rocky floor in confusion and quickly search out shelter beneath loose rocks and stones...

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:

Highbough pops open the ant farm and spills its contents with a few quick shakes. A surprisingly large community of ants, some hundreds, scatter amid the rocky floor in confusion and quickly search out shelter beneath loose rocks and stones...

Excellent. Perhaps they shall feast upon the Ogre's corpse and grow into mighty ant minions.

In the meantime, Highbough resumes his guard duties at the dungeon door.

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Fair

Now that a good portion of the party has rested a bit, Mads will take a load of his legs and let the others sort out plans for the coming phase.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

"The cart's where we overnighted it, just two score yards up the canyon," gravels Victor, then spits.

"We saw naught beyond a sniffing wolf during the night, and came running when we heard sounds of battle."

"For one, I'm glad you did come a'running." says Olaf, "I'm also glad you three, the cart and supplies are safe. I've been worried about you."

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
[img]defaultavatar.png[/img]/post/61408/threadDec 7, 2010 14:27:50 GMT -6 @ghostofmarx said:" Saxxon is the leader of a troupe of bandits, numbering about 20. Yonder monster and one of his kin," Nidhogg says pointing toward the decapitated remains of the ogre, "came in the night and forged an alliance with the bandits to end your lives and split the gold. I was refuging with the ne'er do wells from the wilderness. Name's Nidhogg and I never had no loyalty t' this lot." saving a glare for Olaf, " I know not where the other entrance lies. "
Olaf returns the glare with an even look, "That's good to know."

"We saw a light coming from the ruins on the other side of the ravine." Olaf points across the river and up, "Up where the ruins of the tower over there are. Do either of you, Nidnogg or Wilbert, know anything about the ruins over there or have you been on this side of the ravine only?"

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

"Gentlemen, may I remind you that one of their number has recently fled, and no doubt informed his comrades of our little coup here", notes Gustave between sips from his wineskin.
"We could send one of our new guests to investigate, given their recent association with the locals, but I fear their cover may already be blown."

Olaf says as he scoops up a handful of pebbles with one hand "To tell the truth, I'd be happier to get out of this ravine sooner than later."

The tall thin warrior casts the pebbles at the river one after another and continues, "We're sitting ducks here and we have to split up every time we want to go into those ruins."

"I favor taking the treasure we've won, and the bodies of our friends and retreating back down the river until we can get up out of this ravine." Olaf continues to toss the small stones making them plunk into the flowing water, "Maybe hide the treasure somewhere along the way, maybe there is something to dwarves being cunning at hiding things...I don't know."

"Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we leave, just that we withdraw and try to come back up there." Olaf points up at the ridge above the ravine."

He stands and finishes, "Saxxon's party might follow us, and if they do *they* will be in the ravine and we will have either the high ground, or at least a chance to *ambush* them rather than the other way around."

"That's what I'm thinking, for what it's worth."

[waysoftheearth]

Guest wrote:
"Well'" Nidhogg says puffing out his mustache, "hidin' s awful time consumin' and labour intensive I can't rightly say I feel much" pausing briefly "INSPIRATION to hide someone else's gold." he says looking at the chests at the ridge above and rubbing his hands together

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
"That's an excellent idea Olaf," Ulric says while securing his equipment. "The only problem is that most of our fallen comrades lie back inside. Do we risk going back for them and carrying them out or set the room on fire as we planned; or do we leave them? But yes, either way let's make our way out of the ravine and find another point of entrance before the rest of the Saxxon's men come."

Ulric turns to Nidhogg. "If you assist us, some of that gold will be yours when we return to civilization. Is that suitable inspiration?"

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
"If reinforcements are on the way, then I agree we should move to a more defensible position," says Highbough. "We can load the treasure on the cart for now until we can establish a safe and hidden cache."

"As for our fallen allies, they can wait a few hours until we have dispatched the immediate threat. There are certain dungeons where the dead should not be abandoned, lest they rise again to attack their former friends, but I do not sense such malevolence here, only the crude brutality of the Ogres."

"Shall I invoke The Trammel upon this door, I wonder? Sealing this entrance with magic may hamper the enemy's movement and buy us a little extra time."

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
"I know little of how these magics work, spellcaster", says Gustave, eyeing Highbough, "but if you can remove your barrier when you want, I think anything that hinders our foes can only be of help to us."