Chapter 6: Escaping Certain Death

The Loud Boys in the Lost Mine of Phandelver, a D&D report

The dank mouth of the cave loomed before them. Human, halfling and elf stood looking at the uneven stone steps, just visible inside, leading into a gloomy chamber. Snarls could be heard from within, and moving shadows, but it was too dark to make out the details of the creatures.

"Anyone have a light?" asked Uayak.

Kila eventually produced a torch from the depths of his pack. "If I hold this, can I still use my great sword?"

"You've got two hands, don't you?" snorted Jake.

They proceeded in single file along the bank of the stream. The gloom settled about them almost tangibly. There was an odd smell as they stepped into the cave, somewhat musty and mouldy but definitely with a tinge of rotting meat. And, oh yes- wet dog.

The flames of the torch cast a flickering light up the steps revealing the source of the snarling. Three mangy, vicious wolves, their teeth yellow and ribs showing, bounded and yanked at rusting iron chains tethering each animal to a stalagmite. The growling and snapping grew louder as the adventurers paused on the step.

"What do you think?" asked Kila.

"Burning hands?" suggested Jacob.

"And then my turn?" said Kila.

They turned to look for the third member of their party, but he had already sneaked behind a rock and hidden himself.

Jake readied his spell, fingers flashing and flickering, and released the cone of fire at the closest wolf. He managed to singe the one behind it as well, and both jumped back, yelping and cowering as their fur smoked. Kila ran in, wielding his greatsword in one huge hand as though it were a short sword, and with a quick flip of his wrist sliced the first brute in the ribs. The second beast leapt towards him but missed, its claws coming within a breath of his face. Casually, he piroutted and stabbed it in its exposed stomach, killing it instantly. Jake had his short sword out and finished the first wolf off without fuss.

Uayak suddenly appeared from the doorway, aiming his bow at the third wolf, who was now enraged and straining at his chain. Cracks were beginning to appear around the iron ring fixed to the stalagmite. The arrow flew straight into the beast's eye and it keeled over without a sound.

"That was so easy," said Kila. "I think we're really good at this!"

"Well, you do have me with you," said Uayak. "Let's keep exploring, shall we?"

Gritty dust rose from the floor with every footstep as they looked around the wolves' kennel. There was a mass of rubble at the back with darkness above. Finding no other items, they turned and continued into the cave, following the burbling stream at their left. The torchlight cast odd shadows on the walls. Their footsteps were masked by the sound of the cheerful stream. As they continued into the darkness, a looming shape appeared around the corner.

"Is that a bridge?" said Kila.

"Think so," said Jake. "It's too high for us to reach though. Let's keep going."

"Hang on," said Uayak. "Is that a goblin on the bridge?"

High over their heads, they could just make out a small humanoid who seemed to be leaning on his shortbow and dozing.

Quietly, Uayak aimed and pulled back his bowstring. They heard the 'thunk' of arrow hitting flesh and a cut-off yelp as the goblin tumbled into the stream.

"Easy," said Kila.

The path curved to their right, the stream continuing to hide the noise of their passage. Ahead, light from a cooking fire was visible. They stood in the shadows peering into the open space. They had found the origin of their guiding stream in two pools of water filling the northern end of the cave. The splashing of a waterfall kept the pools filled and fieldstone walls dammed the water, keeping the southern part of the cave dry. Three goblins sat squabbling around the cooking fire, their backs to the opening at the south of the cave.

"Same plan as before?" said Kila. "Right, let's go!"

Before the other two could respond, Kila rushed into the cave, screaming a blood-freezing war cry and waving both torch and greatsword wildly in the air. One slash brought down the first goblin and another deprived the second of his hand.

Jake had decided to use a different spell. With a change in the pattern of his hand movements, he shot three shining darts of force that slammed into the three goblins, temporarily slowing them down. Screeching, two goblins ran towards Jake, drawing their scimitars and slashing viciously at his legs. He buckled, surprised, and landed on the floor, a puddle of blood starting to ooze from his leg wounds.

The third goblin screeched into the opening on the southern side of the cave, then turned back to the fight. By then, Uayak had crept behind it and stabbed in it the back. It gurgled briefly and then fell to the floor.

Kila was looking, horrified, at Jake moaning on the dusty ground. His eyebrows drew down and anger screamed out of his mouth. The mighty greatsword swung through one goblin neck and then another, taking payment for its wielder's rage. But it wasn't enough.

A large humanoid stood in the southern opening, roaring. It had pointed ears and pointed eyebrows and was covered in tan fur that bristled with aggression. Its fists were as large as the head of the morningstar it clutched. Beside the bugbear stood another wolf and more goblins could be seen emerging from the room behind it.

The bugbear snarled. "Who dares to disturb Klarg?"

Two huge strides brought it to face Kila; the morningstar lifted and smashed down on his helm, stunning the human instantly. Beside him, Jake finally lost consciousness. The bugbear looked around and caught a glimpse of Uayak running out of the doorway they had entered by, into the darkness beside the stream. The bugbear followed without thinking. As he turned the corner, he stopped and looked around, his eyes adjusting easily to the darkness.

"Klarg knows there is another one. Where is it?"

Hugging the wall in the shadows right behind the bugbear, Uayak held his breath. He tried to still his racing heart and to think very quietly. In a few quick blows, their little party had been decimated. He was their last chance.

The bugbear peered down the path, shrugged, and headed back into the room with the twin pools. After a while, Uayak heard the bridge above him creak, the patter of wolf's paws following. He let out his breath explosively and looked around. He considered simply abandoning the boys, but that wouldn't do; they were barely out of childhood, and still had so much life left, if they didn't die from this little episode. He sighed, and crept back up the path, peering into the large room. It seemed that the bugbear had taken his pet wolf to search for Uayak, and left the two goblins to clean up the mess. Goblins being goblins, that meant they had slacked off and were in Klarg's room instead of the cave with the twin pools, rolling on the furs he used as a bed and giggling. Uayak stepped back quietly, thinking. Both Kila and Jake were laying still, breathing in shallow but steady breaths. The blood around Jake's wounds seemed to have congealed. They would probably recover, although neither would be getting up in the next few minutes.

Kila was a human. Jake was an elf. Both of them were much bigger than he was, a halfling. It would be impossible for him to carry them as well as all their gear out. There was nothing for it. He would have to abandon all their packs in order to be able to pull both of their bodies out. It almost killed him to leave behind the various bits and pieces he'd picked up, but he consoled himself with the thought that he'd just have to come back for it later; it wasn't a permanent loss. Even having hidden all their packs, armour and weapons in a darkened corner outside the cave, it still took all his strength to drag Jake and Kila down the path beside the stream, hoping that the bugbear wouldn't come back.

Uayak made it outside to the clearing, and collapsed exhausted next to Jake and Kila's unconscious bodies. The sky was starting to sink in the west. There was nothing for it now except to wait for them to wake. Uayak lay back and closed his eyes against the glare of the sun. Next minute, he was asleep.

******************************

Here is Chapter 7;

Here is Chapter 5;

And here is Chapter 1 in case you missed it.