Occupied

After our few days of rest we finally decided on going to the mine like our original plan. This time we were able to buy a mule and cart to pull out extra gear. The trip there was uneventful which was nice compared to the hits we took last time. When we finally got to the entrance I asked Hemdan to look about the entrance for us as a spot to park the cart out of view. It took him awhile so I just rechecked our gathered gear to make sure it was packed down well. Alani did a sniffaround and said that she could smell orcs in the area. All the more reason to get the cart out of view. Hemdan came back after a bit saying that he tripped a trap and that there was room for the cart and mule just inside. That was all I was hoping for.
After moving it all in and lighting up a torch, Alani was getting uneasy again due to the closed spaces. Not exactly her forte. In the first room Ganderman even managed to pull a whole sconce and torch off thee wall... I guess if he wants it... After passing a few corridors and what seemed to be an outhouse, Alani eventually figured that it had been about a week since the last person came through here, well orc probably. We looked at the trap that was triggered. Turned out to be a battle axe on a tripwire. It was a little worse for wear, but could be shined up. I wanted to go look at the cave in but just as I was getting over there I heard a bunch of pots breaking in the distance. Turned out Hemdan tripped another trap, well more of an alarm but still. We all regathered by the point and went down the stairs. No real use sneaking after that. Alani said that orcs were defiantly nearby by this point. Ganderman found and dug out a broadsword form a pile of rocks somewhere. Hemdan confirms Alani and since fighting wouldn't be ideal here, decide on peace talks. From what I was listening in on they seemed to be Rokas. The largest, most organized, orc group in the land and one who strictly follow a hierarchy. After some disgussion we came to find out that other than the alarm with the pots, they didn't set up any traps and that they'd been here for about a week. They were taking their time to search the area to find the treasure and ghost. They are trying to prove their worth as the strongest to some head honcho by doing this. At first the orc Tul seemed pretty reluctant to let us explore, but they eventually let us in the form of a race of sorts. Well, so long as we take the dangerous route, and pointed us to a freight elevator with a trapped doorway. We took the offer as it still gave us a chance and if these orcs are as honor bound as they sound it will be a clean competition. We managed to disable the trap easily enough and walked around the corner to the elevator. There was a little crack in the wall that you could see were the orcs were camped out at. On the other end of the room was a mostly blocked hall with he elevator on the other side. I ended up getting stuck trying to squeeze past the rock. had to suck in the gut a bit more than I thought. I looked over the elevator and save for a few rotted boards I told the others about it seemed to be in working order.
Overall the ride down was a little bumpy, but it still worked which was the important thing. We ended up landing a few floors down and opened up to a room with an old forge in one corner, a partially submerged door, and a door to a room completely under water. Alani also said that any farther down the elevator is flooded. I went to look over the forge. Only a couple very water damaged tools and a big chest that Ganderman picked open. Inside were some more tools, dishes, and other assortment of melting material. There was also a scroll, several books, and a bag full of silver coin. Ganderman pocketed the coin, and Kayla looked over the books. I unravel the scroll to see that it was a map of the level we were on. Hemdan and I talk about the best path toward the main chamber and conclude that a few uses of Huge's will to wither openings in the walls would make an excellent shortcut toward the main chamber.
raw
we decided on mine, ask Hemdan to look at the entrance for us, took awhile, so I check the cart and gear to make sure it's packed down, Alani says she smells orcs in the area, Hemdan says he tripped a trap, and there is room just inside for cart and mule, Alani uneasy about closed space, Ganderman pulled a whole sconce and torch off the wall... about a week since last person through here, thinks there orc -Alani, axe could use some work, but is a battle axe, I want to go look at the cave in, but I heard a bunch of pots breaking in the distance, it was an alarm that Hemdan tripped, after going down stairs, Alani says there are orcs nearby, Ganderman dug out a broadsword from a bunch of loose rock, Hemdan confirms Alani, talk to orcs for peace, seem to be Rokas, largest group in land, really obey their hierarchy, most organized group in the area. orcs say that the dwarves set all the traps except the alert one. they been here bout a week, but taking time to look through cave for treasure and to fight ghost. they are the strongest and trying to prove their worth to show up some head honcho, don't seem willing to let us explore, might let use use an old freight elevator that has a trap at the entrance, tul the orc will let us race them if we go down the dangerous path. got stuck squeezing past a rock, the freight elevator seems to be working, I warn of a few rotted boards, little bumpy, but the elevator still works, there is a partially submerged doorway, and one room completely filled. an old forge in the corner with some water dmged tools, and a big chest that ganderman picked the lock, inside were some tools, dishes, melting material, and a scroll several books, and a bag that is full of silver coin. ganderman pockets the coin, Kayla looks at the books, i look at the scroll. its a map of the mine, hemdan and I figure I could open the wall toward the main chamber.