Adventurers
- Bertram (Fighter 1)
- Grumble (Dwarf 1)
- Kevrek Stonemaul (Dwarf 1)
- Perceval (Fighter 1)
- Randel (Magic User 1)
Grumble and Perceval rounded up a few more passing adventurers in Fourtower Bridge to help rescue the last two kidnappees and, with the gold from the initial excursion, they bought up the smith’s supply of chainmail. After checking briefly on their ratling prisoners in the fortified bridge’s makeshift cell, they set off again for the ruined keep.
The gatehouse still seemed vacant, so they lit up a torch and lantern and descended through the trapdoor they’d been shown before. Holding off an initial flurry of ratlings down below, funnelling them into a killing zone before their assailants realised what was happening, they carefully assessed the corridors on offer and opted to head directly away from the sounds of rattling and more rodent squabbling.
They came across an alcove housing a statue of a dwarf holding aloft a drinking horn and a trio of bricks displaying dwarvish script. Grumble and Kevrek translated them, noting somewhat archaic script and spelling, as saying West Halls, Shrine and East Halls. Pushing the bricks showed them to be buttons but with no discernible effect. Rendal tried pouring some water into the drinking horn and, though again nothing happened, noted that the water didn’t ripple as one would expect it to. Deciding to come back another time, they pressed on.
The party came to a room with two giant rat carcases. Long dead, there was no sign of what might have killed them, though the adventurers did note a small hole in each of their spines at the exact same point. Noting warily holes in the walls were brick had crumbled away to show small tunnels with signs of activity, they decided to try and avoid whatever might come out to deliver such wounds.
The party’s torchlight betrayed their presence, though, and as they rounded a corner they were surprised by a pair of ratlings, both astride giant rats, barrelling into Grumble and lancing him upon an ornately decorated spear.
The party quickly retreated back towards the room with the carcases, determined to funnel their opponents once again, but one of the riders disappeared down another corridor and was soon seen charging towards their rear. Frantically the adventurers hacked at the spearing ratling, hacking down its ‘steed’ and withdrawing enough for Pinchy to put a crossbow bolt through the rider’s eye. Seeing its companion downed, the second rider spun round, its giant rat scrabbling for purchase on the slippery brickwork, and disappeared once again into the darkness.
Mourning their fallen companion and looting his corpse, the adventurers carefully explored a little further, goading Kevrel into checking out an old workbench while they watched from a distance. He prodded a hand-sized sphere of metal, winced as it bounced onto the floor and quickly scanned an ancient note which appeared to be someone named Alazar berating some minion into finishing this piece.
Further exploration found them having looped round back to the stairs up and disheartened at the lack of treasure and kidnapped townsfolk, the party extracted themselves from the depths and returned to Fourtower Bridge.