7. Return to the Halls

"Thrud just want hat back. If little thief get back, Thrud is friend!" Thrud listens to the groups conversation but his eyes quickly glaze over at all the complicated words and arguments. When Jacky mentions throwing Roskelly "a bone," he perks up slightly and pats at his pack.

"Thrud got no bones. Got meat though. You want Thrud feed?"

To keep things moving, let’s address the current list of questions …

"What other ways in and out of the Halls exist that Plumthorn's gang are aware of?"

"I mean, there must be other ways in and out of the Halls. Logically, given their sheer size, there must have been easier ways than the pyramid stairs of moving people and goods in and out. But as to where they might be, or whether they are still accessible, I have no idea. That’s why Plumthorn’s operation works so well."

"Which other adventuring groups have the halflings accosted or left alone?"

(Roskelly ignores the obvious jibe in the phrasing of the question). "In recent times, as well as the Darlings who you’ve already met, we’ve had The Broom, the Survivors of the Stone, and Hama and Company come through. Also, the Five Fingers of Destiny. They all … errr …," (choosing his words carefully) "… take a more … pragmatic … approach to Plumthorn. There’s plenty of treasure for everyone, and I guess they’d rather take home 90% of something than 100% of nothing."

"By the way, you really ought to come up with a name of your own. Before others start making up their own."

"Any information on Plumthorn?"

"Plumthorn is, first and foremost, a businessman. He’s here to make money. He provides products and services, and expects his customers to pay for them. But if you try to rip him off, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect his business."

"Where's the headdress?"

"Any unusual items are passed to Blandveg to see if they might be magical, or whatever. If Plumthorn takes a fancy to an item, he might keep it. Otherwise, it’ll most likely be sold. About the headdress specifically? I don’t know."

---
10:10 am, Mitrasday 26th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 90’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’ (Hooded Lantern)

Link to Jacky’s maps …

"Interesting way of putting it," Jacky says to Roskelly's description of what Plumthorn and his gang does. "And you're telling me that not one party gets past you lot without paying the fee? None so rough and tumble that you'd rather look the other way than get on their bad side? You can tell us."

Unless Ella and/or Zach put their foot down, Jacky will do as he offered and untie Roskelly's hands. He will tell the other halfling that he'll remain as a hostage rather than a hireling, but that he won't be molested while they travel together.

Zach looks at Jacky as he goes to untie Roskelly. If Rolando slits our throats in our sleep, I will haunt you forever, Jiffylube! Harrumphing as only a 19 going on 29-year old can, he walks over to Ellagel. Holding out the dagger and vial, Zach says Pardon me, Lady Epidermis, but these were on that confounded halfling, Rumpole. Would you kindly look them over for magic or poison?

"I assume more experienced parties, those that survive long enough, eventually find other ways or means of entering the Halls. Particularly, the deeper parts. But Plumthorn’s got a good-sized crew - around thirty or so. Plus the wizard Blandveg. So far, you’re the first adventurers to seriously challenge him."

---
10:10 am, Mitrasday 26th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 90’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’ (Hooded Lantern)

Link to Jacky’s maps …

"Then I guess that's where we're headed. Deeper into the Halls! You're still a hostage for now, I'm afraid." Jacky makes out the equivalent of a "I tried my best" in Cant to the other halfling.

"Good! Find new way out! No thieves!"

Thrud adjusts his gear and hefts his axe, ready to move out.

Zach waits on Lady Ellagel's analysis of Roskelly's loot.

Ellagel, still concerned with crawlers on the ceiling is somewhat aloof to the discussions nearby. Zach’s question stirs her out of her dreadful reverie: "I will look at these, Zacharias."

She begins by examining the make of the blade, the quality of its craftsmanship, seeking those telltale signs of deterioration and rust that usually signal a more mundane item.

Cave of Gog
As far as Ella can tell, the dagger is in good repair, but there is nothing remarkable about its design or craftsmanship. However, she can see that the blade has had some sort of coating applied - a thin layer of a sticky, green substance.

The potion is in a stoppered glass vial. It has a watery black colour and contains small black flecks. There is no indication on the bottle as to what its effects might be.

---

Jacky leads the party northeast to investigate the sloping passage. Its entrance is roughly 50’ from the secret door at the bottom of the stairs, and it slopes down very steeply (80-degrees), in a northerly direction, into another natural cavern 25’ below.

As Hector sweeps his bullseye lantern across the cavern, you can see that it's far wall is approximately 60’ to the north, and that it is approximately 30’ wide in the east-west direction. You can see a single exit from the cave in its north-east corner.

Hector’s beam also picks out two humanoid bodies lying motionless and face down on the cave’s moist, rocky floor.

(Just to confirm - Roskelly’s hands remain bound, right?)

---
10:20 am, Mitrasday 26th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 90’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’ (Hooded Lantern)

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Following Ellagel's example from before, Jacky looks from the bodies to the space above them for any danger lurking there. If there's no cause for alarm, the halfling will scoop up a stray pebble and toss it at one of the bodies.

Zacharias takes the rear position, not his customary front, as he wants to keep an eye on the prisoner. Despite Jacky's proclamations, he has grave doubts about the murderous little fiend. He is probably paying too much attention to Roskelly and not enough to the environment, which could contain grave dangers like the undead, dragons or—shudder—bullywugs.

Grim waddles into middle of marching order. Well now, I can also march up in front if ya want, he kindly offers. Our clerical dwarf also offers to examine the newly-acquired potion as well.

Ella gladly hands the black potion to Grimideck, but keeps the dagger secure in her pack. "Some kind of venom, I’d wager…" she announces to the group, looking a bit longer at Jacky, to see if the item might, perhaps, interest the halfling.

Thrudmarr moves to the front of the group as they approach the steep slope, taking point with Jacky and Hector.

"Torch boy! Point light there!" Thrud points to the bodies on the cavern floor.

Jacky scans the ceiling of the newly discovered cavern. There is nothing up there that appears out of the ordinary. It is a natural rock formation with a multitude of stalactites.

The two bodies are lying face down on the floor of the cave, so it’s difficult from this distance to make out much detail. However, one is larger - the size of a human or an elf, and the other smaller - perhaps a halfling or a goblin.

Jacky tosses a stone at the larger body. It doesn’t flinch under the impact. However, within seconds of the stone coming to rest on the cavern floor, a 4’-long stalactite comes crashing down from the ceiling, narrowly missing the body.

If you wish to descend into the cavern (or subsequently climb out of it), any non-thief will need to use a rope. It won’t require a roll, though. As a thief, Jacky may climb freely without a rope - it would be easy for him.

---
10:20 am, Mitrasday 26th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 90’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’ (Hooded Lantern)

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Jacky hisses between his teeth. "I'd say climbing down there would mean the end of us without a way to deal with those stone fangs," he murmurs.

"Did the noise do that?" the elf wondered out loud. "I mean, do stalactites just fall. like that with the noise of a pebble hitting a corpse?" The elf is surprised by this turn of events, and observes the fallen stalactite with great interest, despite the distance.

Jacky has no idea what the elf is talking about, but he does have an idea. "Say, Zach, you were keen on looting Plumthorn's cronies earlier, weren't you?" He gestures a hand at the unmoving bodies. "Well, these guys probably don't have reinforcements on the way. I can climb down and snag the bodies with something, then drag them right up to the wall. A grappling hook'd be best, but if not, a lasso might do the trick."

From Ella's current vantage point, which is some distance above and away from the fallen stalactite, in a gloomy cave, she has no reason to believe it is anything other than a normal mineral structure.