Many years ago, rumor has it, two noted personages in the area, Rogahn the Fearless (a fighter of renown) and Zelligar the Unknown (a magic-user of mystery and power) pooled
their resources and expertise to construct a home and stronghold for the two of them to use as a base of operations. The location of this hidden complex was chosen with care,
since both men disliked visitors and intruders. Far from the nearest settlement, away from travelled routes, and high upon a craggy hill, the new construction took shape. Carved
out of the rock protrusion which crested the heavily forested hill, this mystical hideaway was well hidden, and its rumoured existence was never common knowledge. Even less well known was its name, the Caverns of Quasqueton.

Construction of the new complex, it is said, took over a decade, even with the aid of magic and the work of hundreds of slaves and laborers. Vast amounts of rock were removed and tumbled off the rough cliffs into large piles now overgrown with vegetation. A single tower was constructed above ground for lookout purposes, even though there was little to see other than a hilly, forested wilderness for miles around.

Rogahn and Zelligar lived in their joint sanctuary for quite some time, conducting their affairs from within except for occasional adventures in the outside world where both men attempted to add to their reputations as foremost practitioners of their respective arts. The deeds and adventures of these two characters were never well known, since they both kept their distance from civilization. Some say, and perhaps rightly so, that their motives were based on greed and some kind of vague (or chaotic) evil. No one knows for sure.

What is known more widely is the reputation of each. Despite their questionable alignment, both Rogahn and Zelligar capped their reputation of power when they joined forces to stop a barbarian invasion threatening the great valley below. In a crucial battle at a narrow pass in the hills, the two combined powerful forces and decisively turned back the invasion. Rogahn slew a horde of barbarians single-handedly and Zelligar's powerful magic put their army to flight. A grateful populace rewarded the pair and their henchmen with considerable treasure, after which the two retired to their hideaway. Most of the reward treasure was apparently used to finance the further construction of Quasqueton, although some of it may yet be hidden somewhere. In any case, the hill stronghold was not completed in its entirety when, years later, the intrepid pair apparently embarked on their last adventure. 

Some years ago, Rogahn and Zelligar apparently decided upon a joint foray into the lands of the hated barbarians. Taking most of their henchmen and associates along in a great armed band, the two personages disappeared into the forbidding alien lands to the north, far from the hills and forests surrounding Quasqueton. Word just reaching civilization tells of some great battle in the barbarian lands where Rogahn and Zelligar have met their demise. This rumored clash must have occurred some years ago, and there are few details—and no  substantiation of the story. The only thing certain is the Rogahn and Zelligar have been gone far too long. If only one had the knowledge and wherewithal to find their hideaway, there would be great things to explore! And who knows what riches of wealth and magic might be there for the taking???

"Get up runt." Snelik grunts as Ulug kicks him in the gut. Snelik glares up at the Bugbear but knows better than to speak. Ulug was always vicious before breakfast.

"The wind is picking up again, we should move soon." Calls Seresh, the hobgoblin female is crouched by the fire warming her hands. Her coal black eyes appear to capture the flames and Snelik can not help but shiver. 

"We eat then we move." Ulug growls. Seresh shakes her head, but says nothing.

Moments later the nearby bushes part to reveal a second hobgoblin female. She strides over to the fire carrying a brace of rabbits and throws them down. 

"Slim pickings sister." observes Seresh. 

"Slim indeed." she agrees, Elsha is the younger of the two sisters.

The group eat their meal in silence before heading out. The ground begins to slope upward as they make their way between the ever thickening woodland. Elsha leads the way, picking out the easiest route through.  As they climb the wind grows stronger and looking up they can see the trees swaying back and forth and hear the timber creaking under the strain. 

A branch snaps and falls toward the party;

Elsha 10, Seresh 8, Snelik 19, Ulug 18

The branch strikes Ulug for 4 damage.  "Gah!" he snarls clutching his shoulder where it struck.

"Quiet look." Elsha points ahead where the trees are thinning out and a great dark rockface looms up ahead of them. As they approach they can clearly see the open maw of a cavern ahead. It appears to have once been fortified, but the stone and metal strewn around the immediate area speak of those fortification being removed.

"Hruggek be damned." Ulug curses, "Others have found it ahead of us."

Elsha creeps forward to the tree line to get a better view. [Stealth 16] [Perception 21]

Elsha sees the remains of a camp to the right of the entrance, but it appears to be long abandoned. There are no signs of movement so she motions for the others to follow.

"What now?" Snelik asks.

"Now we enter." Ulug hefts his Warhammer ready for action and marches forward without waiting to see if the others follow. They do.

As they reach the entrance the wind suddenly drops leaving an eerie silence in its place.

"Well that's ******* spooky." murmurs Snelik.

The opening leads straight into the rock formation, and leads to a set of large oak doors that stand ajar. They show signs of being forced. They pass through into a wide corridor. Alcoves line the walls on either side of the corridor and at the far end there is a large wooden door. The group stand there for a moment allowing their dark vision to adjust to the change of lighting.

"Snelik scout ahead." Ulug orders and the goblin scurries forward as the others follow close behind.

Snelik is most of the way along the corridor when a loud voice booms out, ""WHO DARES ENTER THIS PLACE AND INTRUDE UPON THE SANCTUARY OF ITS INHABITANTS?"

"Shit!" Elsha readies her bow as a second voice booms out, "ONLY A GROUP OF FOOLHARDY EXPLORERS DOOMED TO CERTAIN DEATH."

"Show yourself!" Seresh challenges the voice as she draws deep on her inner power.

The voices do not answer but instead intone, "WOE TO ANY WHO PASS THIS PLACE-THE WRATH OF ZELLIGAR AND ROGAHN WILL BE UPON THEM!" Deafening laughter sounds out then and the group clutch their ears as the taunting sounds overwhelm their senses. Eventually the sounds dies away and silence fills the room once more.

"Bastards." Snelik rubs his ears and glances back to the others, "So much for sneaking." he calls back.

"It was just a trick, designed to scare of intruders." Seresh says.

"Well it bloody worked." Snelik replies.

"Move." orders Ulug his mood growing darker by the moment. Past the third pair of alcoves and at the end of the corridor are two steps up. At the top of the steps, the corridor continues straight ahead for a short way before crossing another running from east to west.

"Well this just gets better and better." Snelik says. The crossing is littered with bodies. A bloody battle has been fought here and it becomes clear now what happened to at least some of the visitors who had arrived before them.

"Search the bodies." Ulug orders as he himself reaches down to search the nearest. INV : 17

Three of the bodies appear to be human, though they are all in various states of decomposition making it difficult to be sure. The remaining two are orcs.

Elsha plucks a coin pouch containing 5 gold from the belt of the one of the humans. He sits slumped over the remains of his broken sword. Seresh moves over to a robed human who has been impaled by a sword and stands pinned to a wooden pillar. She attempts to pull the blade free. STR 7

The sword will not budge and Seresh eventually spits at the dead mans feet and leaves it there. Reaching into the dead mans robes she snatches out a couple of loose gold coins and a small pouch containing garlic cloves. 

Ulug searches the third human and gives it a vicious kick when he finds nothing of value. 

Snelik searches the two orcs and on the second body finds a small sheathed dagger on an ornately decorated leather belt, which would appear to be worth something, except for the
bloodstains ruining its appearance.

"Which way now?" Seresh asks.

Ulug thinks for a moment before pointing to the corridor ahead, "That way."

"Straight on it is." Snelik agrees.

The corridor carries of for a short way before reaching an ornate oak door. Snelik checks the door over for locks and traps. 3

As far as Snelik can tell the door is safe and when he pushes on it, it opens. The area beyond is reminiscent of a ballroom of small size, although it is impossible to know the room's actual purpose. Pillars rise to the ceiling either side of a raised platform which stands at the rooms centre. Upon the platform two ornate thrones overlook the room below. The floor is smooth slate, while the pillars and raised platform seem to be constructed of great blocks of red granite. The two chairs are sculpted from gigantic blocks of white marble and due to their bulk and weight, are for all intents and purposes permanent fixtures. Great draperies in alternating panels of yellow and purple hang on the wall behind the platform.

Standing between the party and the regal seats are a pair of orcs who appear to have already been heading toward the door. Upon seeing the intruders they immediately draw weapons and attack.

The first Orcs attacks Elsha Attack: 23 Damage: 11

The second attacks Ulug Attack: 16 Damage: 14

Elsha retaliates drawing her short swords and making two attacks : Attack: 15 Damage: 5, Attack: 17 Damage: 8

Her opponent drops to one knee in agony as the rangers blades slice into his torso. It spits out blood and looks close to death.

Snelik slips around to attack Ulugs opponent from behind with the fury of the small. Attack: 6 Damage: 7, 5, Attack: 21 Damage: 2

The first dagger misses as the Orc moves aside, but the second finds its mark and slices into the Orcs arm leaving a deep bloody gash.

Seresh raises her hand and draws upon her unholy power, aiming at her sisters foe. Toll the Dead 15

The orc glares at her for a moment as the power hits but manages to shrug off the effects.

Ulug begins to rage and with a mighty cry brings his Warhammer down toward his opponents head, Attack: 15 Damage: 11

Ulug brings down a crushing blow upon his enemy, caving in half of its face and chest. The orc swings its Greataxe in a wild arc toward Ulug as it struggles to remain standing Attack: 7 Damage: 4

The Orc facing Elsha is looking in equally bad shape as it attacks once more Attack: 14 Damage: 5

The axe flies wide and Elsha slices into it once more with her blades Attack: 8 Damage: 5, Attack: 15 Damage: 5

However, the orc staggers back as Elsha moves in and manages to avoid the would be fatal blows. 

Snelik attacks now first with his short sword and then with his dagger Attack: 19 Damage: 7, 5, Attack: 9 Damage: 1

The first blade snags on the orcs armour but the send takes it in the throat and drops the beast to the ground. 

Seresh raises her hand once more toward the remaining Orc 16

And again the orc shrugs off the effects. This time he grins back at her in defiance and she releases a string of curses that would make her mother blush.

Ulug rounds on the Orc and brings down his hammer Attack: 18 Damage: 10

The orc crumples to the ground, dead.

"Bar the door." Ulug orders clutching his wound, "Snelik search the room. We rest here for a moment."

After checking on her sister Seresh moves over to see to the door 14, while Snelik searches the room 16

Ulug searches the Orc bodies 1

SHORT REST 6