LXXVI. Little Boy Lost

It was a few days later, after treasure had been divided, and professional development achieved. Adam, Troy and Zzyggy were again at the Gargoyle Tavern in Longspear. Adam was listening to the crowd’s various conversations, when he overheard an interesting bit of information.

"Well," said Adam to his companions, "it looks like there’s going to be a festival up in Cryllor." 

"I know where that is," said Troy. "Up the Davish River, in Keoland. Not all that far from here. About a hundred miles."

"Sounds interesting to me," said Adam. "How about we check it out?"

"Let’s check it out!" exclaimed Zzyggy. Troy agreed with the voluble gnome. And so, after making appropriate preparations, the three adventurers mounted up (Zzyggy riding with Troy) and set off north to Cryllor. They figured it would take about three days to get there.

The party proceeded roughly north by northwest, parallel to the eastern bank of the Javan River. At the end of the day, they made camp in a glade in the nearby woods. Zzyggy took the first watch, while Troy and Adam doffed their armor and slept.

It was around midnight when Zzyggy heard noises from the surrounding woods. He tried to wake Troy and Adam. Not soon enough. Four giant spiders appeared as if out of nowhere, and skittered toward the gnome!

But suddenly, four more Zzyggys appeared. The gnome wizard cast mirror image to confuse the attacking spiders. Two of the spiders attacked two of the figments, which immediately disappeared.

"Wake up, sleepy-heads!" Zzyggy shouted. Adam and Troy sprang up. Troy drew his mace. As he drew, one of the spiders bit him. He shrugged off the poisonous bite of the spider, then swung back, smashing the body of the arachnid. Zzyggy moved back, then sent a scorching ray at another spider. The ray went wide. Adam attacked a spider while still prone. His mighty sword skewered the spider, killing it. He then leapt to his feet, assuming a battle-ready posture.

But one of the surviving spiders sped toward Troy and sank its mandibles into the fighter’s arm! Troy managed to shake off the spider’s venom again. Another attacked one of Zzyggy’s remaining figments, and it too disappeared.

The fighter now grabbed his shield off the ground, then attacked the spider that had bitten Troy, slicing off two legs. A magic missile from Zzyggy killed the spider. A second magic missile hit the other spider. Adam charged the spider and slashed the vermin with a vicious blow. But the spider bit back. Spider venom weakened Adam severely!

Troy, Zzyggy and Adam all pressed their attacks against the spider, but the creature avoided their blow. Adam in turn evaded the spider’s bite. Troy swung again with his mace, but almost fumbled the weapon. Finally, Zzyggy ran up to the spider and delivered a shocking grasp attack, which dispatched the vermin.

"That was close!" said Zzyggy. The adventurers searched the nearby area, looking for any valuable items the spiders might have accumulated. They found a small number of coins, along with a nice piece of jade, a potion, and other items.

Troy shivered. The spider’s poison continued to deplete his strength. "Have to sleep this off," the fighter groaned. He tried to go back to sleep, while Adam took the watch. A few hours later, the barbarian awakened him to take watch, and he reluctantly took over.
 Daylight finally came. The party continued to rest until they felt strong enough to continue. Zzyggy prepared his spells. Then the party rode off, continuing toward Cryllor.

Late in the afternoon, the party was almost ready to stop. They came to a cross-road. Sitting in the middle of the cross-road was an unexpected sight: a wounded little boy, begging for help!

Zzyggy walked up to the child, because he was short (!) "Do you need help?" asked the gnome, with a firm grasp on the obvious.

"Bug grabbed my dad, dragged him into a hole!" sobbed the boy. "Please help!" He pointed out where the hole was. "He’s a farmer," the boy further explained.

The adventurers conferred briefly and agreed to help the little boy. The party headed for the hole, about twenty yards away. "I want to go too!" the little boy demanded. The adventurers couldn’t get him to stay behind, so they allowed him to accompany them.

The hole was six feet wide and about eight feet deep. It opened into a tunnel about eight feet high by five feet wide. A sickly sweet smell pervaded the tunnel.

Zzyggy quickly cast dancing lights into the hole to provide illumination. Adam then went down into the hole. "Wait here with the horses," Troy told the little boy. "This could be dangerous." He gave the boy some rations, feed for the horses, and some water also. The boy pouted but eventually agreed to wait. Troy and Zzyggy then followed Adam down the hole.

After about thirty feet, the adventurers came to a large pit, about fifteen feet deep. A hideous sight greeted them: a monstrous insect, ten feet long, with sharp claws and huge mandibles, was chomping on a human corpse. The corpse appeared to be that of the missing farmer.

The insect roared. Spotting the adventurers, it dropped the corpse and burrowed into the floor!

"What was that thing?" asked Troy.

"Ankheg," Zzyggy answered. "Very dangerous."

The party moved back slowly into the tunnel.

Suddenly the creature emerged foom the tunnel floor!

Instantly, Adam flew into a rage and charged at the creature. His attack did heavy damage. But the ankheg’s attack did equal damage to the barbarian, and burned him with an acid spray! The monster then grappled Adam, readying a deadly bite.

With a mighty battle cry, Troy ran up to attack the ankheg with his mace. Foul ichor splashed as the mace crushed chitin. Zzyggy’s magic missile barrage did more damage. The monster was heavily wounded, but still on its legs.

Adam struggled to break the ankheg’s grapple, but the creature was too strong. It withdrew to the tunnel entrance, with Adam still grappled! "Get this thing off me!" cried the desperate barbarian. Troy ran up to attack the creature, but missed.

"Let me handle this," said Zzyggy. From the gnome’s extended finger, a scorching ray seared the monstrous insect into oblivion. "Crispy critter!" exclaimed the gnome, as Adam was released from the charred corpse of the ankheg.

"Thanks, Zzyggy," said Adam. He stopped raging and quaffed a potion of cure moderate wounds. The others went to recover the body and search the creature’s lair. They retrieved the unfortunate farmer’s corpse, and also recovered a magic chainmail, a potion of healing, and a hunk of partly melted gold pieces.

Meanwhile, Adam went back up to the surface to rest and stay with the boy. Soon, Troy and Zzyggy returned with the corpse.

"We’re so sorry about your father," Zzyggy said to the little boy. He told him what had happened to his father, and offered to help bury him.

"Oh well, he wasn’t very nice anyway," the boy replied. "Perhaps I’ll play with you!" Before the adventurers could reflect on this odd response, the "boy" suddenly changed – into a doppelganger!

"It’s trap!" shouted Troy. Without hesitation, he attacked the doppelganger with his mace. The doppleganger laughed off the minor damage, then stepped to Zzyggy and tried to grapple the gnome. Zzyggy managed to evade the grapple, but his shocking grasp failed to connect.

Not so Adam, whose raging assault seriously wounded the shape-changer.

Troy stepped up to the doppleganger, but his mace missed its target. But the doppleganger nnow realized that was outnumbered and outmatched. It dropped a small bag, then withdrew and fled the area.

"Well, that put him to flight," said Troy. "So much for trusting strange little boys," grumbled Zzyggy.

Adam grabbed the bag dropped by the doppleganger. The bag held many coins, two fine gems, and a vial of some liquid. "At least we got something for our trouble!" the satisfied barbarian observed. On further examination, the vial proved to contain an elixir of love. "You need this more than I do," Adam teased the gnome.

The party then continued on its way. They camped for an uneventful night, then resumed their journey in the morning.
 On the third day of their journey, the party arrived in the town of Cryllor. While Troy and Zzyggy went to look for quarters, Adam looked for healing potions and other needed supplies.

Eventually Troy and Zzyggy found an inn called "The Home of the Moose". It was a good quality inn, so they checked in, then went to their rooms to rest. In the meantime, Adam had found a magic shop having healing potions for sale. The party obtained a good supply of the potions.

After a hearty dinner, the party retired for the night.

LXXV. The Wellspring

Next morning, the party prepared to return to the mine. At day’s end, they returned to the mine entrance and proceeded directly to the Charnel Pit. They headed across the floor, still piled with dead and decaying corpses. "I hope this doesn’t start again," said Zzyggy to himself.

As if in reply to the gnome’s muttering, five more zombies rose up and assaulted the party.

Once again, Father Sam’s invocation of the power of St. Cuthbert proved deadly to the undead. Four zombies turned and fled, leaving only one remaining. It attacked Troy, but missed. Adam’s attack slashed the zombie, ripping a huge gash in its undead flesh. Then Father Sam pierced it with a crossbow bolt. The zombie swung again at Troy, but failed again. Troy finally cut the monster down. The party then proceeded down the exit tunnel, about eighty feet of zigzagging. At length, they saw a blue-greenish glow ahead of them.

Suddenly, Adam, Troy and Zzyggy stopped in their tracks, wracked with high fever, aches and pain. Father Sam recognized the symptoms. "St. Cuthbert protect!" the cleric cried.  "It’s the Burning Plague!" He immediately realized that the adventurers had been exposed to corpses and rats they day before. "Those corpses yesterday must have been contagious!" he exclaimed.

The three sickened adventurers bravely continued toward the glow ahead, all of them substantially weaker than normal.

At the end of the tunnel, the party paused. They had reached another cavern, almost as large as the main mine: about seventy by one hundred twenty feet. There was a large pool of water in the center of the cavern, from which emerged a single, jagged pillar of rock encrusted with glowing blue-green moss. At the top of the pillar was a fountain, from which water ran down the pillar into the pool. From the pool, a wide stream flowed to the south end of the cavern and into an opening in the south wall.

The party could see a number of glyphs carved into the pillar. A path wound around the pillar, rough and easily climbable except for a section worn smooth by the down-flowing water.

Troy and Adam, fighting the symptoms of the Burning Plague, reached the water surrounding the base of the pillar. It appeared to be particularly foul and murky. Zzyggy determined that the water, although not poisoned, was affected by some kind of magic.

"I recognize these glyphs," said Father Sam. "They are related to the worship of Gruumsh, god of the orcs!" None of the other adventurers was acquainted with Orkish, however. The cleric then examined the moss on the pillar, concluding that it was only natural moss.

The rest of the party examined the cavern, checking for other exits and items of interest. They spotted a tunnel near the far end of the cavern, and began to search in that direction.

A cry of hatred and anger resounded through the cavern. In Orkish!

The normally intrepid Adam suddenly felt an uncontrollable urge to flee the area, gripped by inexplicable fear! He turned and ran toward the cavern entrance as fast as he could.

Quickly, Zzyggy cast dancing lights above the pillar, hoping to locate any hidden enemies. The gnome could only see the fountain. And briefly. For suddenly, darkness engulfed the pillar and the area around it, extinguishing the dancing lights!

As Adam continued to flee, Troy was stricken with fear as well, and turned to follow the barbarian. Father Sam fell back to accompany the frightened adventurers. Zzyggy, rather than remaining alone, fell back with the rest of the party.

They reached the tunnel. Troy felt some evil influence trying to impose its will on him, but resisted its effect. Adam maintained his flight, now over one hundred feet back into the tunnel. Troy and Father Sam also pulled back into the tunnel, along with Zzyggy. As he retreated, the gnome readied his crossbow.

A crossbow bolt struck Troy, despite the darkened surroundings. The fighter fled further back into the tunnel, Father Sam following him. Adam’s wild flight continued, past the Charnel Pit.

Zzyggy and Troy continued to withdraw, along with Father Sam.

At last, Adam came to his senses. Instantly, he turned and ran back toward the cavern. Zzyggy, Troy and Father Sam awaited the barbarian’s return, then accompanied him as he rushed back down the tunnel. They ran through the Charnel Pit and reached the entrance to the cavern.

Just as the adventurers burst into the cavern, a creature suddenly appeared and slashed at Troy with a vicious claw. Father Sam recognized the creature: a lemure, summoned from the Abyss! While he identified the attacking demon, a crossbow bolt sailed over Zzyggy’s head from the right side of the tunnel entrance, just missing the gnome.

Instantly, a new assailant appeared, as if previously invisible. A hideous male orc, bearing the insignia of Gruumsh! "The Tornclaws will have revenge!" the enraged shaman shouted.

Wasting no time, Zzyggy loosed a magic missile at the orc, striking him for minor damage. "Your magic will fail!" screamed the crazed orc as he reached out to the gnome. "Feel the power of One-Eye!" Zzyggy immediately felt a terrible weakness as the orc’s contagion spell took effect, afflicting the gnome with the malady of slimy doom.

While the orc battled Zzyggy, Troy struck at the lemure, but missed. "Wait," Father Sam advised Adam. "I’ll help," the cleric continued, as he cast magic weapon on Adam’s sword. The barbarian nodded thanks, then, wielding the newly-enhanced weapon, raged at the lemure. He slashed it with a mighty blow, crippling the demonic creature. But not as severely as the barbarian expected.

A color spray from Zzyggy burst at the orc shaman. The orc’s willpower protected him from its effect. "Pretty colors won’t help you!" mocked the orc. He swung a heavy mace back at the gnome. Zzyggy fell, mortally wounded. Troy, hearing Zzyggy’s scream as he fell, rushed at the orc and slashed him with his greatsword. Behind him, Father Sam cast cure moderate wounds on Troy, healing all injury.

Meanwhile, the raging barbarian kept attacking the summoned lemure. The demon finally vanished under Adam’s assault.

The dying gnome continued to ooze life as he lay on the cavern floor. Ignoring his fallen enemy, the orc stepped to Troy and reached out to touch the fighter. Contagion struck again, and Troy was afflicted with blinding sickness! The weakened, blinded fighter swung wildly at the orc, but missed.

But now the raging barbarian entered the melee. "Time to DIE!!!" he bellowed as he flanked the orc and slashed with all his might. The shaman fell, shrieking an orcish curse as he dropped. The orc was dead!

While Father Sam’s cure light wounds spell brought Zzyggy back from the brink, the other adventurers examined the dead orc. They found a number of valuable items, including a large sapphire.

"Who was this orc, I wonder?" said Adam. "He spoke of "the Tornclaws"", replied Father Sam. "Some years ago, there was a tribe of orcs in this area that we managed to destroy. Perhaps that was their name." The cleric turned his attention to the water around the pillar. "The water is clearing!" he exclaimed. Zzyggy checked the water for magic. "No more magic either," reported the gnome. "I think the plague problem has been resolved."

The adventurers left the mine, but set up camp in order not to expose the town to any remaining contagion they might be carrying. After three days, all afflicted members of the party had shaken off the diseases they had been stricken with. Father Sam’s spells brought all back to full health.

When they returned to Duvik’s Pass, Mayor Sendars and his staff ran up to greet them at the town gate. "You’ve done it!" exclaimed the mayor. "People are already starting to recover from the plague. We can never thank you enough!" And turning to the citizens who had gathered around him and the party, he led a rousing cheer for the victorious adventurers.

The mayor then invited the party to his office, where he listened raptly as the adventurers described how they had cleared the mines and defeated the orc (whom they had identified as a shaman named Jakk).  "The mines will have to be decontaminated," said the mayor.  "Probably need to be burned out."

All the adventurers were gives a hefty reward in gold, as well as lifelong welcome in the town and free lodging and meals (within reason). They enjoyed several days of the town’s hospitality.

When the rest and relaxation were over, Adam, Troy and Zzyggy prepared to return to Longspear. Graves and Fiora bid the town and their companions farewell for the time being. "There are a few things we need to attend to," said Graves. "We’ll see you soon." And with that, the adventurers went their ways.

LXXIV. The Charnel Pit

Zzyggy took the lead in negotiating with M’Dok, as he spoke draconic. "You speak of a demon. What kind of demon is this underground dweller?" the gnome wizard inquired.

"He causes the sickness!" M’Dok replied, fearfully. "You want him, no? Has much wealth, much gold!" the kobold leader added.

"Where can this demon be found?" Zzyggy continued. "Take tunnel beyond our camp," answered M’Dok. "But beware! Many traps, many monsters! Demon well-defended!"

Zzyggy, properly wary, was skeptical of the kobold’s offer. "How do we know this isn’t a set-up?" asked the gnome.

"Oh no! We wouldn’t deceive you!" M’Dok assured the party. "You too smart for us!"

"OK, in that case," replied Zzyggy, "we’ll take a few of you along as guides." The kobold leader nodded his head vigorously. Zzyggy could tell that the leader wasn’t bluffing.

"Go, go!" insisted M’Dok. "Take demon gold. We just want to leave! Many of us sick too, many die!"

"Give us one of your warriors as a guide," Zzyggy demanded again. "If he leads us well, he’ll be rewarded." M’Dok pointed to the kobold nearest to Zzyggy. "Yes, yes! Take that one with you!" The designated guide looked fearfully at his leader, but obeyed the order to go with the adventurers.

The party accepted the proffered guide, and allowed the rest of the cowardly creatures to flee. Only M’Dok did not flee with them. "Must get son! Then go!" the kobold leader chittered. The creature promptly left for the area in which he had left his son, and thence to exit the mine, never to return.

Father Sam then cured the wounded party members, and they proceeded onward. The kobold guide pointed to the tunnel where M’Dok went in and came out. This tunnel was fairly narrow at ten feet square. While the rest of the party advanced, Fiora and Graves briefly went back to the main cavern to ensure that kobolds had indeed fled.

The tunnel proceeded about thirty feet west, leading to an open area on the left. This was the site of the kobold camp, where the bands’ treasure had been stored, and also where two kobold children, including M’Dok’s son, had been left for safe keeping. "Are we heading to your lair to get to the demon?" Zzyggy asked. "Yes, yes, we sleep here," said the kobold guide. "No more. All in cavern. All you chase away!"

The adventurers proceeded onward. The main tunnel continued, veering left. About ten feet further down the tunnel, on the left, the party noticed a wooden door. Zzyggy listened at the door, but didn’t hear anything. When he checked the door, he found that it was locked.

"What’s behind this door?" demanded Zzyggy? "Oh, nothing, nothing!" exclaimed the kobold guide. "Just food." Satisfied, the party continued down the main passage. After proceeding roughly seventy feet to the southwest, the parties noticed that the ambient temperature was increasing; it was now uncomfortably hot. They advanced slowly.

"Getting closer to demon!" cried the kobold guide in response to the party’s inquiry. Father Sam, expecting the worst, again cast bull’s strength on Adam. Regrouping with the fighters in the lead, followed by Zzyggy, Father Sam and the kobold, the adventurers entered a small room. Waves of heat immediately assailed them. Breathing was difficult.

This chamber was bowl-shaped, and its floor was littered with humanoid corpses. Rats skittered about the corpses. Some gnawed at the corpses. Bodies of other rats lay on their backs, some still twitching. The adventurers mastered their disgust and began searching the bodies. "Be careful handling those corpses," warned Father Sam. "They may have died from the disease."

As Zzyggy, Troy and Adam searched, Father Sam advanced into the room, holding his holy symbol before him.

Standing in the midst of the bowl, Zzyggy asked the kobold guide, "What is this room?"

"Bad place!" chittered the kobold. "Demon makes monsters here!"

The adventurers had suspected as much. They headed east along the south wall of the room, heading for another tunnel exit in the eastern wall.

Without warning, from among the pile of corpses in the room, four corrupt forms rose up and assaulted the party. Zombies! Reacting quickly, Troy swung at one of the zombies, slamming its undead flesh. Adam attacked another and chopped it to bits. Zzyggy blasted another with a ray of frost. The three zombies stills standing slammed Troy and Zzyggy. Troy was battered severely, but Father Sam rushed to his side and cast cure moderate wounds, restoring him to full strength.

As they fought, the kobold guide fled from the zombies, and raced between Zzyggy and Father Sam, looking to escape the room and abandon the party.

More bodies stirred and rose: four kobold zombies this time. All moved to attack the adventurers. One slammed Adam, scratching the barbarian with its filthy claws. The barbarian in return destroyed two of the kobold zombies with a single stroke of his sword. "Well done!" said Father Sam.

Troy destroyed another of the original zombies, and evaded the return blows of the two still engaged in combat. But Zzyggy lost his nerve and retreated from the undead onslaught. The kobold guide likewise remained out of the battle.

Father Sam held out his holy symbol. "By St. Cuthbert, I expel ye!" the cleric cried. The kobold zombies immediately fell to the floor, destroyed by the power of Father Sam’s faith. The other two zombies turned and fled from the room. No others rose to take their place.

The adventurers looked around the room, and located the cowardly kobold guide, still trying to hide. "Get up!" Adam ordered, disgusted at the sight. The pathetic creature got up and stood, terrified of the barbarian. "Get lost, you miserable coward!" the barbarian snarled. "And never come back." The kobold didn’t need to be told twice. He turned and fled the room, never to be seen again.

"I think we should go back to town," suggested Zzyggy. "We’re pretty beat up, and I for one am about out of magic."

"As am I," said Father Sam. The rest of the party agreed. They proceeded to retrace their path back to the mine entrance without further combat, and safely returned to Duvik’s Pass. They checked into their quarters for the night.

LXXIII. The Mines at Duvik's Pass

Duvik’s Pass was a small town located in a valley in the eastern foothills of The Jotens. Historically, the town was a rest stop for travelers and adventurers crossing the mountains in search of adventure, or of a good drink to drown painful memories. For several years, the town’s fortunes had been on the upswing, due to the discovery of a large deposit of silver in the surrounding mountains. Local men burrowed into the hillsides, and others from lands as far away as Cryllor, Longspear, and even Loftwick in The Yeomanry flocked to the town, hoping for a big strike, or at least a share of the riches to be found. The town population swelled to over 1600 souls, mostly humans with a few halflings, dwarves and other races mixed in.

Business took a turn for the worse about three months ago. Rumors began to spread that some kind of unknown disease was spreading throughout the town, and had shut down mining operations. It was true that the flow of silver out of Duvik’s Pass had slowed to a trickle and then stopped altogether.

The adventurers had these developments in mind as they reached the town limits.

"State your business!" demanded one of the guards, while the other watched warily from the guardhouse.

"We’re here to help," replied Fiora. "We heard of your distress."

The guards looked at each other, surprised expressions on their faces. "You must be very brave indeed, to come to this town that has been so afflicted," the guard said to Fiora. "Go to the mayor’s office and introduce yourselves. I’m sure he’ll be happy to have your assistance." The guards directed the adventurers to the mayor’s office, which was nearby. They all hastened to the office.

The town seemed unusually quiet. While Adam stood guard outside, the others went in.

The staff inside seemed nervous, depressed, almost panicky. One of the staffers greeted the adventurers, then went to the mayor. Soon he returned, and admitted the party to see the mayor.

Mayor Christofar Sendars was a middle-aged, low-ranking nobleman. He was having a difficult time. He didn’t know what it was that was afflicting his town, and was desperate for help.

The adventurers introduced themselves. "We’ve heard you are in distress," Fiora told the mayor. "We’d like to help." The mayor eagerly welcomed them to town, and proceeded to describe the recent events.

"It began about four months ago," Sendars began. "Some miners started coming home at night complaining about being sick. They had blistering sores, and they also had a burning thirst. Not long after this, the local livestock died off. Something started killing the crops too.

"Our local elders said that some unknown disease had soured the town well. They called it "the Burning Plague".  By then, the young and the sickly in town started to die. And it kept getting worse." The mayor made sure the door to his office was closed. "This doesn’t leave this office," said Sendars. The adventurers nodded agreement. "The few men who were still strong enough to work the mines never came home. They were all wiped out by a sudden attack by a kobold warband. About a month and a half ago. The townfolk are still hoping and praying for their return, and for an end to this illness."

The mayor looked over the adventurers before him, sizing them up. "Do you think you can find the source of this illness, and help recover the mines?" he asked, hopefully.

"Yes, we do!" Zzyggy piped up confidently. "We’ll do our best," added Troy, more soberly. "How far to the mines?" Mayor Sandars told them. It was only about half an hour away. "I’ll see that you’re well equipped. Ropes, lanterns, tools, spikes, whatever you need."

The mayor also arranged for the town’s cleric, Father Samual, to accompany the party. "You may need him and his cures," said the mayor. The party gratefully accepted his aid. With that, the party were taken to a comfortable inn to rest and prepare for their mission.
 Early the next morning, the party made their way to the mine entrance. A cool breeze drifted down from the surrounding Jotens. There was still frost on the ground at this time of the year, and it lay on scattered tools, picks and shovels. A dirt path led into the depths of the mine, surrounded by wooden supports. Some burnt-out torches were strewn around the floor of the tunnel.

Troy, Adam and Fiora took the front rank, followed by Graves, then Zzyggy and Father Sam. Zzyggy held a bulls-eye lantern, and Father Sam carried another lantern.

The party looked around, examining the area. Father Sam spotted that the wooden supports were damaged and bloody, as if a battle had taken place. Nothing of value was to be seen.

Proceeding about 120 feet down the tunnel, at last the party reached a small, roughly rectangular chamber. From the information the mayor had provided, they recognized the Greeting Room, which served as a common area for sorting, weighing, cataloging and shipping out ore. There were exits leading east and west from the room.

The party could tell that the room had been the scene of a bloody battle. They could see dried blood smeared across the northern wall of the room. The lanterns in the room had been smashed. Scattered chunks of rock surrounded a pair of overturned carts.

Adam noticed the legs of an apparently human body protruded from under one of the carts. He lifted the cart off the body. As he did so, a huge clap of thunder detonated in the room: a thunderstone trap! The barbarian managed to cover his ears in time, as did Father Sam, Fiora and Graves. But Zzyggy and Troy shook their heads violently, trying to restore their hearing. They were deafened!

Father Samual recognized the body: it was Jacen Tungsten, chief engineer of the mine! "I can’t tell if Jacen died of the disease," the cleric observed. "His body is too damaged."

"I’m guessing he died of a kobold’s sword," Troy opined. Meanwhile, Adam was examining the rubble strewn about the room, when he spotted a number of chunks of silver ore.

The party pulled back into the main tunnel, heading back toward the entrance, waiting to see if anything responded to the thunderstone trap. While they waited, Father Sam cast bull’s strength on Adam. "We will certainly need all the strength we can muster," said the cleric.

Nothing responded to the noise of the trap. After waiting long enough, the adventurers blocked the west tunnel, using the carts in the room. They then looked to the east, searching for enemies. But nothing came from either direction.

So the party headed east. The exit opened into a gradually sloping ramp that led downward. After about forty feet, the slope increased to thirty degrees downward, and the party had to take care not to slip and slide downward. Ahead, the adventurers could see a dim blue glow.

Another twenty feet, and the tunnel suddenly narrowed to a width of ten feet, and opened into a huge cavern. The party continued toward the opening, Adam in the lead.

Suddenly, Adam disappeared into a pit that had opened up beneath his feet! The barbarian fell twenty feet, landing with a hard thud and much noise. "Now you’ve done it!" accused Zzyggy. "Clumsy barbarian!" Father Sam took a more constructive approach. He went to the pit, looked down, and cast enlarge on Adam. The enlarged barbarian now reached up and transferred the rest of the party across the pit, then climbed out himself. "Brilliant idea, Father Sam," said Adam, impressed with the cleric’s savvy.

The pit trap now behind them, the party entered into a chamber that extended upward at least a hundred feet, extending far into the mountains. Glowing blue and green lichens crawled over the walls and ceiling of the cavern, and man-sized stalagmites rose up from the floor. Several cables hung down from the edge of a hollow in the western wall of the cavern, about twenty feet above the entrance through which the adventurers passed.

"This used to be the main mine," Father Sam informed Adam. Troy, looking carefully, spotted a large open mine in the chamber. He fixed a rope to a rocky outcrop, then went down the rope into the cavern, with Zzyggy following.

A sudden flurry of cross-bow bolts struck both of the adventurers, mortally wounding Zzyggy!

Quickly, Father Sam cast shield of faith on Adam, then went on full defense. Troy took cover behind a nearby stalagmite. Adam pulled Zzyggy back up the rope and out of the cavern, as crossbow bolts continued to fly, then gave the gnome a healing potion. The gnome was pulled back from the edge of death by the potion. He cast shield on himself before readying to re-enter the cavern.

Graves readied an arrow shot, as Fiora attempted to climb down a cable into the cavern. She came within about five feet of the floor of the cavern. Three crossbow bolts struck the bold woman, and she screamed in pain.

Father Sam spontaneously cast cure light wounds on Zzyggy, restoring him to full health. The gnome immediately climbed down the rope into the cavern. On the floor of the cavern, Troy moved to the north of the stalagmite, attempting to locate the origin of the crossbow bolts.

A noise came from behind a stalagmite about seventy feet from the party, drawing their attention. Graves still held his shot. Fiora dropped the remaining five feet to the floor, then hid behind another stalagmite to the south. She quaffed a potion of cure light wounds.

From about thirty feet above the hollow in the west wall, screeching could be heard. The party looked up toward the sound. A celestial eagle had appeared, summoned by Father Sam. It flew into the cavern, seeking to draw fire and reveal the location of the concealed crossbows. And draw fire it did: a crossbow bolt struck the bird and brought it down. "The eagle has landed," sighed Father Sam.

Taking advantage of the redirection of fire due to the eagle’s presence, Troy ran up to the next stalagmite heading east. Adam climbed town the rope to the cavern floor. Graves still held his fire, while Fiora ran behind the next stalagmite heading west and took a defensive stand, Zzyggy following close behind her.

Another storm of crossbow bolts targeted Adam. All but one missed the barbarian. Father Sam promptly treated him with a cure light wounds spell.

Troy rushed to the next stalagmite from him, greatsword drawn, looking for the source of the noise he had heard. When he looked behind the stalagmite, he saw nothing. Strangely, he still heard something. Then he heard something else–the swoosh of an incoming crossbow bolt. The bolt struck the fighter, doing minor flesh damage.

Running up to the same stalagmite, Adam, now returned to his normal size, joined Troy in assessing the battle. Fiora likewise moved behind a stalagmite, near the south wall of the cavern, then took a defensive stance there.

Graves was still readying a shot when a hail of projectiles sped toward him. One struck the targeteer, and he gasped in pain. He immediately fired his readied shot in the direction from which the crossbow bolts had come, but his shot struck a large rock behind which the enemy were hiding instead.

But now, Zzyggy had a line on the shooters: a band of kobolds. He shot his crossbow at the enemy. Even though it had cover from the rock, one of the kobolds took Zzyggy’s arrow in the throat, and fell dead.

Now that the party knew where to direct their attacks, Father Sam shot his crossbow. The kobolds managed to duck. Troy now charged toward the enemy, shield up, wielding his greatsword one-handed and yelling his war-cry. He ran up to the rocks where the kobolds were taking cover. Adam ran closely behind him.

While Fiora ran up behind another stalagmite, heading toward the kobolds, Graves loosed another arrow. This one struck one of the kobolds for severe damage. Graves looked at his target. The kobold appeared to be the leader of the band!

Suddenly lacking in courage, the kobolds pulled back. Their wounded leader pulled back, then uttered mystic syllables. A summoning spell!

While Father Sam moved farther into the cavern to support the rest of the party, Troy attacked the nearest kobold. He swung a mighty swing. Overconfidently! The kobold ducked beneath the blow.

Behind Adam, a small viper materialized, and bit at the barbarian. Its fangs pricked Adam’s leg, but not deeply enough to poison the barbarian. Adam, ignoring the snake, swung with his full power against another kobold, but like Troy, also missed. Graves, attempting to loose another arrow at the kobolds, fumbled his bow instead!

The kobolds now backed up, dropped their crossbows, and set spears against the onrushing adventurers. But their leader, trying a different approach, laid his spear down and tried to parley with the party. The summoned serpent likewise stood down.

Adam looked skeptically at the kobold leader. "Name yourself!" he demanded.

"I am M’Dok," replied the kobold, speaking draconic in a chittering voice. "I am leader of my tribe! I can tell you where the demon is!"

LXXII. A Minor, Localized Outbreak

After reporting to their superiors at the Enterprise (maintaining the promised discretion), the three adventurers took a much-deserved sabbatical (Aloysius having been released with thanks and a hefty reward for his efforts). Lina researched the properties of her newly acquired vest. Green Arrow went hunting. And Edward paid frequent visits to Miae’s brewery, and invited her to do likewise at his estate. Firiona was still gone on her own quest; the rest of the adventurers decided that she should be left free to do so. No news was good news, they agreed.

The Enterprise, however, never took a sabbatical from its vast, intricate and long-term plans. Its recruiters were constantly on the watch for potential new members.

Meanwhile, in the Yeomanry League, in the town of Longspear (population 9,000), a male gnome wizard named Zzyggy was looking for adventure at the Gargoyle Tavern.

The place was filled with working men of all races, drunks, carnies, pickpockets, mountebanks, cardsharps, and assorted other unsavory characters. Zzyggy looked around the room. Among the rowdies who packed the common room, he spotted two male humans, one fighter, one barbarian from the looks of him.

The barbarian was also looking around. He noticed a male gnome wizard and a human fighter, neither of whom seemed to belong in a crowd full of drunks and carnies. Turning back to the bar, he took a seat and waved the bartender over to him.

"So, barkeep," the barbarian began, "anything exciting going on in these parts?"

"Well, for starters," replied the bartender, "how about our exciting lunch menu?" He handed a menu with the day’s lunch special to the barbarian.

The barbarian took the menu and looked it over. Unlike most barbarians, he was actually able to read. "OK," he said to the bartender, "I’ll have two!" He laid sixteen silver pieces on the counter, which the barkeep happily accepted. The order went to the kitchen. A few minutes later, a waitress emerged from the kitchen with two hearty trays of tasty meats, vegetables and bread.

The barbarian dug in to the first tray, with all the manners expected of a barbarian. As he devoured the meal, he paused long enough to mumble to the barkeep, "Like I said, I’m looking for excitement! Anything you can recommend?"

Zzyggy the gnome overheard the barbarian, and went over to him at the bar. He started dancing around, seemingly looking for tips! The human fighter came over too, and had a good laugh at the gnome’s performance.

The barbarian found the gnome sufficiently entertaining to invite him to have lunch on him. "Come join me, little guy!" he laughed. Zzyggy readily joined the barbarian, and hopped up on a barstool. Once seated, he quickly cast dancing lights. A fine light show added to the entertainment!

The fighter watched the show for a while, then asked the barbaria, "What are you drinking? A round on me." So all three enjoyed big pints of dark ale. The fighter introduced himself. "I’m Troy," he said. "Pleased to meet you."

"Adam," said the barbarian, "and likewise." They both looked to the gnome. "My name is Zzyggy. You can call me Zzyggy!"

The three new acquaintances finished lunch, after which Adam followed up on his previous question to the bartender. The bartender looked around, then quietly replied, "Well, there’s been talk about something . . . unhealthy going on in the mountains to the west of us."

"Sounds scary," said Adam, somewhat intrigued. "Where in the mountains is this?"

"It’s in Duvik’s Pass," the bartender answered. "They say people in Duvik’s Pass are suffering from some kind of illness." He lowered his voice. "Smart folk’re staying away. Unfortunate, because Duvik’s Pass has a lot of mining activity and other economic benefits to this area."

"How do we get there?" the barbarian asked. "It’s about a hundred miles west, in The Jotens," replied the barkeep. "About two days’ ride."

Adam looked to his two new friends. "Don’t know about you, but that sounds interesting enough to me!" He tipped the bartender a silver piece for the information. Zzyggy added two more, and the three then left the tavern.

"My horse is at the stable," said the barbarian. "What say you two?"

"Let’s go!" said Troy. "Me too!" agreed Zzyggy. And so the three adventurers saddled up and rode out of town, heading toward Duvik’s Pass. They rode until dark, then camped out for the night.

The next morning, the party continued roughly westward, into hilly, wooded country. The elevation gradually increased. Travel slowed. That evening, they again made camp. Zzyggy took the first watch. Troy doffed his armor and slept. Adam slept as well.

At the end of his watch, Zzyggy heard something. He cast flare to provide more light, then woke Troy and Adam. "Doggie-monsters looking for trouble!" he cried.

Four dog-like creatures with loose skin appeared, circling about the party. The first creature advanced on Zzyggy. It screeched. Suddenly, the creature retracted the skin of its head, revealing a hideous skull. A krenshar! The sight scared Zzyggy, who began to lose is grip. He fled away from the creature.

Adam charged in the opposite direction–directly at the krenshar! The barbarian raged at the ugly creature. He swung a mighty blow, and the monster fell dead. But then, three more krenshars appeared. All three converged on Zzyggy.

Troy, without armor or shield, nevertheless charged at one of the approaching krenshars, and wounded it severely with his greatsword. Adam ran up to aid Troy.

Another krenshar assaulted Zzyggy as the gnome continued fleeing back toward the party’s campfire. It missed. Two more targeted Adam. Claws drew copious blood from the barbarian. Trow slashed another krenshar, killing it too. Now Adam charged at a third krenshar and slaughtered it as well, then moved behind a nearby tree to gain cover. Needlessly, as it turned out. The surviving krenshar was smart enough to run away.

"That was close," huffed Troy, as he extracted some fangs from the krenshars for a trophy. Adam had nothing to say. He was busy quaffing a potion of cure light wounds. "OK, my watch," said Troy. "You two get some rest."

No more krenshars troubled the adventurers. Next morning, the party consumed rations, then resumed their journey toward Duvik’s Pass.

A few hours went by. Suddenly, Zzyggy spotted two individuals approaching from afar. One was a human female; the other, a half-elf male. "Ho, Troy!" one of them called out. They seemed to recognize the fighter. He recognized them too.

They rode up to the party and introduced themselves. The woman was Fiora; the man, Graves. The adventurers told the newcomers what had happened previously, and what their mission was. "Why don’t you join up with us?" Adam invited the newcomers. "Just what we had in mind!" replied Fiora.

Now five strong, the party proceeded to reach Duvik’s Pass. They rode up to the town limits, where they were questioned by two guards.