After slaying Orieoth, the self-proclaimed Lord of Lance Rock, the party returned triumphantly to a seemingly upbeat Red Larch.  The party reported their success to Kaylessa Irkell, the owner of the Swinging Sword inn.  Their celebration was cut short, however, when an earthquake suddenly rocked the town.  Moments later, the screams of children could be heard echoing from the roadway.  The ground had given way and four children had fallen into a dark underground cavern.

Three villagers attempted to stop the party and other townsfolk from entering the sinkhole, but the party paid little attention.  The group sprang into action and rescued the children, much to the relief of the worried townsfolk.  Intrigued by the dubious warnings and the structure found below ground, the party chose to explore further.  They discovered a room with several giant rats feasting on the grisly corpses of three seemingly human corpses.  They quickly dispatched the giant rats and the wererat that appeared moments later.  Each corpse had a mysterious symbol roughly carved into their foreheads.

The party found other rooms with enigmatic features, including a large floating rock in one room and a lifelike statue of an ancient dwarf in another.  Finally, the party ended up in a room containing a thuggish half-orc watching over a small human boy that was brutally pinned under a number of large rocks.  The party exchanged words and eventually blows with the half-orc, ending his life and freeing Braelen from captivity.



-b0b