The Northern Mountains

As you make your way out to the light of day, down the passage with the small streambed, Elyse does note that the rock formations are about right for the area to have gemstones of some kind. Though with a settlement right in the area she doubt that there are any easily accessible veins nearby as those that are easily accessible tend to be harvested as soon as they are found. If there were any mines in the town they must have been connected the the building at the end of the cavern with the strange ooze that attacked Blornvid.

The passage leads downhill and narrows a bit, though still quite tall, before opening up morea and you find yourselves under an overhang that opens into a deep cleft in the mountain side. The old trail continues under the overhang and splits with one path leading up the ravine while the other path leads down hill. The path, like the cavern village is old and well worn. Some plants are scattered around the ravine floor with occasional brush and even a couple trees where the soil is deep enough to support them. Remembering the stone steps your observed from above you begin searching the area and find them after a couple minutes. The stairs are well crafted but not uniform. In fact you believe that they would be quite hard to notice if you were not expecting to find them. As you look then over you note that there are signs of use, a faded foot-print and other traces, indicate the stairs have seen recent use within the last couple of days. The size and shape of the print lets you surmise that whatever left it was likely a monstrous biped slightly larger than a human.

Based on the print size, shape, and depth you guess it is something like a ogre, troll, formian, ettin, or cyclops. or one of the other lesser giant kin. All of these races stand 8-12 feet tall where true giants are known to be 15-30 feet tall. Ogres are known to be large, tough, and strong. Trolls are renown for their ability to heal from wounds quickly with innate magic regeneration. Ettins are recognizable by their 2 heads and feared due to being able to use both hands at once as good as others use a single arm. Cyclops are famous for their large single eyes, throwing stones, and wielding heavy clubs.

The sky above is still full with the light of day and a gentle breeze wafts down the ravine from above.

Up the stairs, up the ravine, down the raving, or DM choice (toward the nearest story content, good, bad, or ugly)?