Return from Olaj

The four of you stare at each other, each silently daring the other to be the first into the cave entrance. Off in the distance you hear the clucking of what sounds like a chicken, or possibly four chickens. The good folks of Falu continue to be sick...

As you reach the bottom of the narrow stairway you find yourselves in a large hallway, approximately twenty feet wide, that curves gently to the left. The walls are smooth and decorated with faded paintings of wild life and serene outdoor scenery. The floor is made of intricate stonework that appears to have stood the test of time. Mogguth's darkvision never kicks in as by the time she reaches the bottom of the stairs a lit torch of to your left provides enough light to keep her eyes in the natural light spectrum.

In the distance you hear whistling and footsteps.

I prepare a Charm Person spell, step into the room and release the spell. "Hello? Is there someone here that I and my companions might speak with?"

Upon Thuron's announcement the footsteps come to an abrupt halt. The unmistakeable sound of a sword being unsheathed is heard as a man responds, "Private Knuff with the great Keletan army." He pauses for a second and then starts to approach. As he rounds the corner you see a large man in full chain mail armor, the proud crest of Kelet adorns his shield. Seeing the wizard before him he quickly sheaths his sword.

"You don't appear to be of Nyugatran stock..." he says and then takes a deep breath through his nose "...and you don't smell of those damned 'gangers either." The blink dog that you followed into the entrance suddenly blinks into existence at the soldier's side.

"And what business do you have in the ruins of Balrang?" he asks, patting the blink dog on its side.

"Sergeant!" the man says as he throws a relaxed but respectful salute in Martel's direction.

"So this 'gangers weed has a useful purpose, does it? Blinky and I have been ordered to clear this area of every plant we can find, so we've been collecting every specimen we come across. Got a pile of the stuff not too far away that we're about ready to set a torch to. Don't want any 'gangers getting a hold of this stuff!"

He brings his hand up to his chin and rubs his scruffy beard for a moment obviously pondering something. "What kind of illness is this stuff supposed to cure?"