The Rescue Begins--and almost ends.

This crew is organized. Baric, in particular, seems very concerned about following procedure. While I can see the wisdom in most of his suggestins, it is slowing down the rescue quite a bit. Before leaving to find the rest of my party, we had to clear the fortress. Then it was necessary to find a new exit so we did not have to leave the portcullis up and the fortress open. Granted, I didn't help things in the case, as my blast collapsed a number of chimneys. Still, I'm worried about Solomon, Dergal and Elspeth. Time is precious.
 
After some searching, a likely open chimney was found on the upper level. Tuath and Oz volunteered to attempt a climb out of the chimney. They let the rest of us and the surviving pack animal out through the portcullis, which they then closed behind us.
 
While waiting for them to climb out and rejoin us, we took the opportunity to look at my pursuers more carefully. They are humanoid, wear no clothing, have claws, and no eyes. No eyes? How the hell did they follow me? Scent? Hearing?
 
Eventually Tuath and Oz rejoined us. I proceeded to lead them back down the mountain towards the camp where the attack occurred. Tuath was able to read the tracks the creatures and I had left, and noted that twice other creatures had joined the pursuit at various points along the way. I don't recall hearing the creatures making noise during the pursuit, but perhaps I couldn't hear it. How else could they have summoned reinforcements? Guess we should just be thankful no more have come looking for their buddies...yet.
 
About 7 miles down the track we came to the wooded area where my friends and I had camped. Further than I had thought; that was an epic retreat up the trail in the dark. Sometimes I surprise even myself!
 
Tuath nosed around the camp a bit, and then led us back along the track of the creatures and up another mountain valley. The valley ended in a steep box canyon. From the tree line, we could see a fissure in the cliff ahead of us, but the tracks continued along the edge of the forest towards a faint bit of smoke. Following the path towards the smoke, we arrived at what appeared to be a small camp.
 
The camp consisted of a shed, a couple hitching posts for horses, and some empty crates. The remains of a fire are smoldering, producing the thin stream of smoke we spied earlier. While searching the camp, we found a pile of armor, which certainly looked like the armor worn by Solomon and Dergal. There was some blood on the armor, but that might have been from fighting the creatures. Or so I told myself. Strange that they would willing shed their armor, and stranger yet that it would be abandoned in the woods. I fear we may be too late. Damn it, I should have circled back and helped them. But I was almost caught myself, and if I had stayed, I would have met the same fate as my comrades. I should have used my larger fire spell; maybe that would have made a difference. I ran a finger over the scarred flesh on my face. Most likely, I'd just have blown myself up.
 
The shed contained barrels of what appeared to be ale. Dash sampled some, and had a strange reaction. Baric used a spell to attempt to counter any effects of the ale.
 
A well-used wagon trail leads into the camp. A foot path leads out. We follow the footpath to a dead end against the cliff wall. It would appear that things are hauled up the cliff by a lift--why else would the trail end here?
 
After some discussion, we decided to backtrack to the fissure, where climbing might be easier. That's a couple miles back down the valley. Tuath seems at home in the woods, but all this trudging around and backtracking is tedious and frustrating to me. Tracking the creatures is taking way too long. Solomon, Dergal and Elspeth are probably dead. I've failed them again.
 
As we approach the fissure, we can see that it is a tall cave in the cliff. Just outside the cave are a couple of large, greenish creatures. They see see us and charge. And they are fast!
 
Before I realize what is happening, the dwarves are in a bad way. Baric is out of the action, and Dash is down. Tuath pulls Baric back and revives him. Baric is able to heal Dash.
These creatures seem to get back up after being slain. Fire is called for, and I fish my two flasks of oil out at lob them at the nearest creature using mage hand, and then fish out my torches.
 
Things are looking grim for us. Maybe I'll be seeing Solomon, Dergal and Elspeth soon after all...