1. The Long Falls

Lower Outpost
Grim roots around in the fire pit, but there’s nothing of interest amongst the ashes.

Vasco - it would be a bit misleading to describe this as a "cave". Although it is a hole within the cliff face, it has clearly been excavated with skill and precision. The walls, floor and ceiling are all smooth and square, and it is perfectly dry and habitable. The only footprints on the stone floor are those from your damp boots. But, aside from the fire pit and the wood, there is literally nothing else within the chamber as far as you can see. There’s nothing to suggest that someone or something is living here on a regular, or even semi-regular, basis.

---
3:30 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (*Lantern*)
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Grim shakes his dwarven head.
Nothing fer ta see r’ do, here. Seems some stone-minded craftspeople musta’ carved out a shelter. Nicely done, too, I must say.
Shall we move on, friends? Da climb won’t be doin’ its OWN self!

"Do you think it's dwarvish work? I mean, can you tell?" Jacky inquires to Grim. "It is awfully tidy!"

It doesn't look dwarven to Grim. More likely Archontean.

Nay, Jacky. No dwarf under de mountain would’ve done dis kinda work. It’s nicely done, but it’s not dwarven done. Certainly made by humankin, Archontean, fer ta be per-cise!

Thrudmarr looks around the smooth, empty chamber with disappointment. "No treasure," he says with a sigh. "No ghosts either. Just big empty box in mountain. Maybe remember later for if we need hidey-hole camp."

"Ah, don't be so glum, my tall friend," Jacky slaps the sighing Thrud's shoulder. "I'm sure we'll have our hands filled with shiny things before the week is done!"

Vasco came out of the chamber entrance and took his designated position among everyone else while tying up the rope to secure himself. At least this chamber was not some dangerous area housing a spectre. Still his mind lingered on the question about who inhabited the chamber.

Tie up, get moving, night will fall soon.

The Long Stair
It takes a turn to rope up again and you begin the next stage of the ascent. This brings you a further 150’ higher, towards the shoulder of Vul, in a little over half an hour. The climb becomes a little easier, mainly because the flagstones are dryer and less slippery.

At the next switchback, you come across another opening in the cliff face. It looks like a stone door originally sealed this entrance, but this has been smashed and lies in shards. Other than a single passage leading into the cliff, it’s too dark to see what may lie inside. However, it is noticeable that the floor of this passage is littered with bits of trash (a broken canteen, some scraps of leather, etc.).

---
4:10 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (*Lantern*)
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Zach shrugs and turns to the group Gumball, Jaxon, another hole in which to stick our noses?

Grim waddled to the cliff side entrance. But not before really giving jazz to ol’ Zach lol!
Blast it, meh name ain’t Gumball, it’s Grimidek. Whatrya, daft?
Eventually regaining dwarven composure, our priestly fellow steps inside, stoops low and examines the floor for any sign of recent activity herein!

"The path is easier now, let us make speed while we dare, under sunlight rather than the stars," Ellagel spoke, looking at the cliff's edge above them. She seemed once more inclined to reach the top, rather than to explore the opening.

"Let's head up top before dark," Jacky says in echo of the elf. "I'd rather spend the night with a roof over my head than the ceiling of a cave while I still can."

"Ella lady and Jacky right," Thrudd says, sounding a bit disappointed. "Sun getting tired. We find safe place up top before dark. Thrudmarr ready. We go up now, find good sleeping place."

Upper Outpost
Grimidek’s infravision allows him to investigate the opening. He sees a 20’ long entrance passage that leads to a small H-shaped layout with two distinct "arms" to the left and right. Both arms are choked with thick, ropey cobwebs. Again, these chambers have been excavated from the rock with skill and precision.

From Grim’s cursory glance, there are no signs of any current inhabitants or recent activity.

It sounds like most party members want to press on towards the plateau at the top of the cliff. I will assume this is your course of action in tomorrow’s post, unless you tell me otherwise.

---
4:10 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’ (*Lantern*)
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Grim rises from cavernous ground. At a mere four feet tall, he hasn’t far to go!
Well, nuthin’ a’ interest ‘ere, den. I ‘spose best we be movin’ on n’ up!

Vasco licked his lips at the sight of another entrance but when he heard everyone else he remained silent. It was wise to complete the climb before sunset and they could always come back and check it later. He nodded to others and followed them up.

Ella took place in the ascending column. The sight of so many webs in the nearby passage made her nervous, and as the party resumed its ascension, the elf kept looking back regularly: she had heard more than one elven tale about the endless appetites of giant spiders, and so vigilance was a high priority here.

Zach sighed as once again, the party emerged empty-handed from their explorations and tied themselves up behind him and Billie. At least no screaming ghosts this time, he thought, as he resumed trudging up the path.