Evening passes without incident. The party climb from the comfy extra-dimensional spaces a bit sore but refreshed after getting the first full night sleep in almost a week.
The complex is again searched. Nothing new is found. No traps are found. No additional magic is found.
Outside the bodies of the fallen enemy remain and scavenger birds have begun to discover them.
Enthar’s body is gone. Wren recalls to the group seeing the trio of fleeing orcs on horseback take a body with them.

Farouk examines the Zhent signet ring. A detect magic reveals a faint dweomer. He believes that the item may take a combination spells or effects to activate it’s true purpose.
Maltron is able to determine with a detect magic spell the ring has some sort of messaging or maybe..empathy? magic woven into it.

When discussion of exploring the double gated tunnel arises, Ein pipes up. “I’m anxious to get back. We have what we came for and I’m not interested in chasing the snake down the rabbit hole. We’ve smashed the clan, now we need to continue on and smash the rest of the slavers. Go in if you like, but I’m heading back. I’ll return after I deliver the head, signals, and the situation if you need me too.”

Wren would not have climbed into the dimentional space (she does not like that type confinement) so she would have stood watch with Ein She is very thankful for the daggar as she looks at its fine craftmanship and thanks the group for honoring her with such a bestowment. In the AM she will go out at first light and see if she can locate a plain short sword among the dead (she is profiecent but does not keep one her at all times)and greet the others as they rouse from their slumber. As Ein speaks his desire to return Wren says; " This locked gate you speak of is the one located in these caves correct? If there is a demon actually involved with this group of miscreants it would seem logical to assume they would be afraid of the creature which gives them control over you. That would explain why the gate is locked from the inside, to keep it out of their lair here and to keep it in as a useful tool. It is my suggestion that we explore that area before we leave here just to be certain, it should not take that long to check out and once done I will be happy to help find the fastest possible route back to town" Finna would you ask Freya for guidance as I am certian she will send us on the proper course?"

Farouk listens to Wrenns take on the gates, “Wrenn my dear, do you think a demon would be used as a tool by bunch of dimwitted orcs?”

“Earlier we found out that this clan is named after a demon… We suspect that a demon for what ever purpose is using this clan to further its own ends… It seems this clan was balls deep with the slave trade if they were working with Kargan, and Zhent mages. If there is a demon, it is she thats pulling the strings around here.”

“No, I think they locked and broke the keys in there because it is a place they do not want us to go. They are protecting something. I saw no females or brood… perhaps they escaped that way and locking those gates was to slow our our pursuit…”
Kistol, nods with Ein’s words, “That’s how I feel. I think it’s the escape route and orcs were scared of Ein-Bear over here. They didn’t want him following them so the collapsed the tunnel and locked this end. If it is the escape route, it will take awhile to check it out thoroughly, plus, like I said, they caved in the other side, so we’d have to double all the way back here and then go back the long way anyways. I’m itching to get back to town. Wren, we never saw a demon. I can see you feel strongly about it, but that orc might have just thought there was one. From what the orc said, though, the demon was more like their boss, so he wouldn’t be locked up. The mission’s done and the more time we spend here the more time the nasties have to regroup and the harder it’ll be to get out of here. Mal, I know I said I’d check it out, but I’m with Ein, I say we go.”“Im all for going back to town too… been out here in these woods way to long… But since you guys know the way… Ill do whatever your doin.”Holding the whip in his hands and giving it a swing at some walls, testing it out, Francis stops and look’s oddly at the rest of the group, “We’ve got plenty of Ale, I say we’re good for another week or so. Go back now?” He thinks to himself, if only I had a bunch of minions, I’d have them hole up here and back at the Pirate lair. We keep finding such great places to occupy, and then just leave them. Francis notes to get some minions soon. He also searches around for any jars or vials of oil that he can use throw at enemies and then ignite them with his sword and whip.

Trist says, “Thanks Wil for helping me. I hope to see you agains someday”.

Trist prays to Freya with Finna at dawn or when Finna does.

She tells everyone, “Lets loot the bodies and then set a bonfire with the remains to ensure they do not become undead. This means the ones up on the hill too. I need to recover as many arrows as I can from the bodies also and hopefully a Shortsword as well”.

“I’d like to get back to town as well and see if my donkey – Jack is there. We also need to get this head back to the Guardians right away”.

“The sooner we get going the faster we’ll get back”.

Trist talks to Ein and asks if she needs to do anything more to advance in her station as a Frontier Ranger?

Trist tells Wren, “I sure hope you can stick around for a while. We sure could use a skilled fighter like you with us. Where do you come from? How did you get so skilled with a bow? I liked to learn a few tips from you some time to improve my skills if you don’t mind”.

Trist tells Finna, “Sister I hope I am doing my prayers correctly. Freya has not fully blessed me with the powers you have. I know I must prove myself and that may be a lengthy road. With part of my share of the money I plan on donating a bit to the shrine I am funding to Freya. IF there is enough left I will need to purchase a few more arrows. Our loot will probably not go far with so many to divide it up I may need time to make some arrows when we get back to town I may have to head out to the forest and make some or work for a Fletcher in town for trade”.

“I’ll take point if we decide to go back to town and if so
if Maltron can cast invisibility on me again that would be great. If no invisibility that’s ok too”.Farouk chimes in “Trist, I saw a storage area a little ways in (Cave 7) I think you can stock up there… also a few things that could earn us coin. With all these horses they left behind we should have no problem cleaning this place out!”

Stretching her arms, Finna quickly realizes her surroundings. She stops moving and listens, hearing some movement from another room. Thinking back, she remembers the group celebrating and starting to divy up the magic items. Her concern over the sword kept her up and after she cast detect evil and found it safe, she returned to he seclusion and fell asleep. Glad to see we made it thought the night without incident. Let’s see what this day brings.

She packs her gear up and moves into the room with the fellow travellers. The lovely elf, Wren, is still with them but she sees no sign of Wil. Upon seeing her arrive, Trist immediately sets upon Finna with questions and concerns. Finna takes it all in, remembering how she was exactly like Trist when she first started along the path of serving Freya. The thought of her former mentor causes her to choke up a bit and keeps her from immediately responding to Trist. She swallows hard to speak. “Do not worry, young one, all these questions and concerns will be answered in their time. I know you are saying your prayers correctly, it is how I said them when I started following Freya so many years ago. Do not be worried about what abilities I have been blessed with that you have not been given access to. As it is, I feel that something is still between myself and the full blessings of Freya. There is a great desire to head back to the town you started from, Frontier, and find a temple to Freya. Once there, I can present myself and you to the head priest and to Freya herself. With that, I feel we shall be granted access to the goddess’s power.”

Finna turns to the group to address them. “I make no presumption to have the right to decide what the group’s next course of action is. By the fact that my path was entwined with Trist by the direction of Freya herself, I shall stay by her side. I will tell you that there is something still holding back the full power of Freya from myself and Trist. Until we both can return to a temple, our true abilities to assist you in the fullest will be crippled. Still, whatever path Trist starts on, I shall accompany her to the end.”

Max plays with his sword, making it get longer and shorter again and again, staring at it in awe. He’s all for whatever Maltron says and will vote accordingly if asked.

Wren can obviously see Max manipulating his weapon, turning it from a short sword to a two-handed great sword. She also notices he seems to have a another short sword which seems likely to be a spare weapon at this point. Max notices her watching him and grins happily, “Do you like my sword? I have a lot of them! I’m not sure I need all of them anymore, this one is like having two in one. Maybe I’ll sell my others. My old two-handed sword has served me well, but this one is much better. My drusus is good too, but with this one, I won’t need it anymore, ‘cept to fight in the pits. I have three fights left, and usually they don’t allow magic weapons.”

If Wren indicates interest in Max’s drusus (non-magical gladius (short sword) +1 that requires daily sharpening), he’ll oblige. If she asks to borrow it, he says “Ok, but I’ll need it back for the pits.” If she asks to buy it, he offers it for 25 gp (it’s 50 gp list price in the fighter’s handbook), “I’d give it to you, but I have a lot of debts to pay off so I need to save all of my money.”

DM Edit: Giantkiller can only enlarge when the rune is visible. After Wil leaves the rune fades away. It will only appear when giants and certain giant-kin are nearby.

Maltron ponders the situation.

“Though I would prefer to enter the locked cavern to seek out and destroy whatever lies below, I do not believe that all of the hearts of the party are vested in this endevour. This could lead to mistakes and second-guessing. Therefore, I propose we return to Frontier as quickly as possible and find out what the Guardians want us to do. We have these horses and we should take everything of value. It is important that we get Klembsy’s arm healed if possible.”
Farouk agrees with Maltron, “We have been pretty fortunate, lucky even, lets not push it!”To Ein and Kistol, Wren says “If you geninuely feel that this was just their reference to their “boss” then I will concede to your judgement as you are more familiar with orc clans in your lands than I” turning towards Trist “You honor me with your compliments” she smiles “I think I would enjoy traveling with you all for awhile, if that is acceptable to all” and it would please me greatly to aid you in achieving mastery with your bow. My father was a very patience man (she seems pained at the mention of her father) and he helped me grow into the archer I am today. I come from a place that was once very beautiful, far west of here across the great sea. I am sure we will have plenty of time for me to share tales of my home as we journey" to Farouk “Did you happen to notice any additional quivers? I have 2 which I refilled from the field prior to our introduction last eve, but a 3rd might be warrented.” ((ooc: if I did locate a short sword on my morning trip then I will put it in the pile of things to be sold)) turning agian to Trist “If I am offered any coin from the sale of this bounty, I give it to you as aid towards hommage to Freya. I am simply here to help.” turning towards Max “It is a well crafted blade and handy that it shape shifts to your needs. I had only need of a bladed weapon for the close quarters the tunnel would have warrented. However if the need arises again, I would be proud to wield your shorter blade in combat if you allow” she says smiling broadly.

Max will hold on to his other 2-handed sword.

Max grins broadly at Wren’s compliments. “Ok! Let me know whenever you want to borrow it. It’s a lucky drusus, I haven’t lost any fights with it.” Max doesn’t count losing on purpose as losing a fight.

Walgold said, “Winning is when you get what you want, so losing on purpose is still winning because you wanted to lose.”

Max never really understood why he would want to lose, but it seemed to make perfect sense to Walgold and that was good enough for Max. Maltron would probably have understood, but Max can’t ask Maltron because Walgold said Max should never tell anyone he ever lost on purpose.

Klembsy pipes up about the ‘demon’. “If someone is interested to see a demon destroyed, it would surely be someone of the clergy. But without sound evidence, I don’t think we must waste time here, at least not for now. Perhaps this mage Enthar used an illusion of a demon, as Farouk does successfully, to overrule this orcband and use them to do his bidings. I would suggest returning back to the Frontier, and this suggestion comes not only for my lost arm”.

Trist set out to reclaim her masterwork arrows then looks for a whetstone. Depending on how many arrows of hers she finds she may pull some from the stockpile. She thanks Wren for helping her out.

If there is enough room, Francis will bring the Dwarven Ale and Dark bitter Ale kegs on the return trip.

Seeing as the decision as been made to return to the Frontier, Francis readies himself. He continues to play with his whip in his off time, seeing what it can do.

“So, Wren, what are you thoughts on travel by sea? I’d love to give you a personal tour of my ship, if you ever come down to Phlan with me.”

Searching the orc bodies reveals: 40 GP, 120 SP, 230 GP.
Francis is able to bring the pony keg of dwarven ale but the large cask of Dark bitter ale is too cumbersome to stow on a horse and there are no carts or wagons available.

Wren is able to find a decent short sword in the armory and both her and Trist are able to replenish their arrows from the orc stock. Trist also finds a whetstone, Wren takes an additional quiver, and a small cask of oil is discovered and Francis locates 3 stoppered clay bottles which he is able to fill.

Collecting any salvageable weapons and equipment from the orcs and storing them on the horses takes most of the morning. Because the horses are being utilized as pack animals, the party will have to make the return trip on foot.

Ein advises against piling and burning the bodies. “I’d rather not send up a signal if there are any nasties still lurking in the area. Especially those winged elk pokkers. Sides, Wil told me that on his way back he’s planning on doing some ‘re-decorating’ with the bodies as a message for any other greenskins who think it’s a good idea to setup shop in his mountains.”

Total GP value of orc goods sold once back in town:
Horses: 1500
Weapons: 1300
Misc Equip: 120
Total 2920
Orc bodies loot: 40 GP, 120 SP, 230 CP.

Divied: 296 GP, 12 SP, 23 CP each.

Francis extreme disappointment in not being able to take the cask of Dark bitter Ale is evident. “I can’t wait to get the pong keg back to the Fury’s Eclipse. It will make a fine addition to the ship.”

he readies to leave.

On the way back Farouk keeps an eye out for anything that he can use with alchemy and herbalism.