Our trip north was uneventful for a long time. The dwarves were good company, and their ponies had no trouble keeping up as they helped us find shortcuts. Mountains loomed in the distance, getting closer with every passing day. Vegetation got more sparse and hardy looking. Finally, we got to a rocky valley providing a path through the mountains.
As we rode through, I noticed wire strung across the path, leading to a stick supporting a pile of boulders. Mical cut the wire, knowing that less tension should disarm it. We continued into the valley. Large boulders littered the ground, and there were only a few patches of grass. Three gaping caves were in the walls, about 20 feet off the ground. Mical moved ahead while we covered him with our bows.
As he rounded the first boulder, a man in chain mail jumped out swinging a sword at him. He missed, and Mical slashed him with his hand axe. Two glowing magic missiles flew through the air and slammed into Lagasse. Another man, armed with a whip, emerged from behind a boulder. Lagasse charged toward him, but arrows shot out of the first cave at him.
I hid behind another boulder, but found another guy there. I parried and backed up as I saw four more men run toward Lagasse. More arrows were fired from the first and third caves, one of them hitting the female dwarf. Two more magic missiles hit Lagasse, and obviously came from the second cave.
Mical killed the first man, and set to work on another. Two arrows hit Lyra, but she kept swinging her sword. The dwarven thief managed to stab one of our opponents, but was cut extremely badly. The dwarven fighter gutted another, and went to help his friend. Lyra cast 'prayer' just as the thief got hit again. The dwarven healer ran over to help.
Just then, we saw a man climbing up the wall above the second cave. Lyra and Mical both cast 'hold person' at him, but neither had an effect. He disappeared over the cliff top. I was tired of parrying, so began to attack, despite the fact that I am not very good at it.
Lagasse was fighting a big guy in plate mail and gouged his eye out. Lyra then commanded the man to 'die,' so he slumped to the ground unconscious. Mical ran to the first cave, getting shot twice, as Lyra killed a man and I finally defeated the one attacking me.
I climbed the wall to get a better vantage point. An archer ran from one of the caves, so I shot him. He ran for a moment, then fell with my arrow sticking out of his side. I climbed the cliff to the top, hoping to see the mage. There was no sign of him, but there were horse prints. I don't know how he could have disappeared from sight so quickly though. There seemed to be no place to hide.
We retrieved over 8600 gold pieces from the bodies of our foes. We took some of the armor and weapons in case they should prove to be better than our own. Some alternative food was also among the spoils of our victory. Yes, we had done well for ourselves! Lyra and Gotunia were able to heal the wounded, even the hapless thief.
