“If you want the ring, I’ll give it to you, but you have to cut it off my finger, otherwise it is mine by right of beguilement!”  Thaer stares into Jerdren unblinking eyes, visibly not willing to budge on his declaration.  It is a pose that the group has seen all too often from Thaer.

Makaus then leans over to Meric and whispers, “I really believe that Thaer would let it come to that.”

“If Jerdren backs down, which I don’t think he will do, next Thaer will be asking Jerdren for tribute.” says Meric with a little smile.

As the tension mounted between Jerdren and Thaer, Wylaer eyed Thaer disapprovingly, nonchalantly removed an arrow from his quiver, notched it in place, and went back into his usual trancelike state.

In an all too serious voice directed at the rest of the group, Jerdren states, “I have made my choice of the treasure.” He glances back at Thaer with an untold expression of ‘you don’t want to go there’.  The rest of the group chooses their treasure in the order of the bones were tossed, and divides up the gold equally.

At the end of the splitting of the treasure Eddis says, “I am glad that we have all come out of this situation for the better and a little richer, but I must say my goodbyes. The reasoning for my participation in the company was that I very much wanted to rescue any prisoners from the caves and free them from there bondage. It looks as though we have accomplished that goal.” Looking to Jerdren and Blorys, “I did not sign up to destroy a cult that involved a demented Suel goddess and a rumored ambassador to the Old One.  I wish I was stronger than that, but in the end I must admit my own weakness.  I am sorry but this is where M’Baddah, M’Whan and I must depart.”

Jerdren looked a little shocked and tried to persuade Eddis that she has to stay and help out the Keep, as well as amass more treasure.  But he soon realized that he is wasting his time, as Blorys puts a restraining hand on his brother’s shoulder. Eddis gave Blorys a look of thanks and a smile. “Blorys make sure Jerdren doesn’t get you killed,” as Eddis rolled her eyes at Jerdren.  

Next, her eyes shifted to Makaus and Meric. “Now for you two boys,” as she looks them over, “or should I say men now, for you have proven that you are no longer boys, but have the maturity of men, and the heart of a forest lion. What you two do with yourselves now will sculpt you into the grown men that you will become in the future. I would rather you be in no other company than with Jerdren and Blorys. Listen to their wisdom and learn from them how to stay alive, good luck on your travels and goodbye.”

Over the next few days the group takes turns to check up on Thaer outside the gates of Kendell Keep. On the night of Celene’s full moon Makaus tells the company not to worry, but that he has something to do outside the Keep tonight and asks Wylaer if he would like to join him.

The rest of the week passed uneventfully as the heroes got ready and suited up to battle the caves once again!!

The company sans Eddis and company returned the caves prepared to confront the Bugbears.  After preliminarily scouting the forest in the valley below just below the cave, where they had witnessed a small conflict days earlier, Wylaer and Sephyre joined the rest of the company, who were carefully traversing along a ridge on the wall of the ravine, at the bugbear cave entrance.  In what has become standard practice, Wylaer entered the cave with a length of rope tied to his waist and scouted ahead in the darkness.  A few minutes later he returned, noting that he spotted a guard party roasting meat on a fire.  He noted also that there was a large gong in the room which could be used to alert the rest of the cave to their presence.

At the cave entrance Makaus recited a short blessing, in an attempt to bolster the morale of the company.  The company, more confident now, charged into the cave.  The party of bugbears however were not aggressive at all, and rather offered the company to share in the food they were preparing.  Thaer took the meat from the creature, and positioned himself between the bugbear and the gong.  Makaus was right behind him, ensuring that the alarm would remain silent.  Thaer was unable to communicate with the bugbear by more than simple hand gestures, and soon the bugbears became tired of this unwelcome intrusion.  The party was ready to pounce, and as soon as one of the bugbears lifted his sword to protest their presence Thaer immediately began casting.  The battle was short, Jerdren and Blorys rushed into battle, and dropped one before long, Wylaer stood back, the soft sound of his bow almost hypnotizing, as he steadily let his arrows fly, one after the other.  One of the bugbears, attempting to signal the alarm, tried to hurl his axe at the gong, but the axe flew far wide, and Makaus and Meric were on top of him before he could make another attempt.

The company continued down the cave.  Wylaer scouting ahead, noticed the feet of a bugbear sticking out from around a corner.  The company charged him and his three friends who were caught unexpectedly.  One attempted to flee, two stood to fight, but all fell bloody to the floor.  They continued down further down the cave, finding some prisoners, Hebold, whom the apparently mad man Zebos had mentioned, a bugbear, and a few hobgoblins, and a few kobolds.  Meric, plunged his sword deep into the belly of the bugbear.  Seeing this Wylaer let out a little shout, and moved swiftly behind Meric steadying his hand so as to prevent another blow.  “Perhaps we should question this one first.  He undoubtedly has information that could prove to be useful.”  Not caring to involve himself further in the interrogation, Wylaer moved into the hallway.  “I’ll will keep watch so we are not surprised.”

“What should we do with these kobolds?  I imagine they will just run if we send them at the bugbears.  We can’t let them go though, should we kill them?”  Makaus suggests, sizing up the kobolds.

“No we should not kill them.  I have a feeling we may get some use out them.  Let me take responsibility for them.  I will get them to fight.”

“I have some revenge to exact,” Hebold yelled as he charged the door, threw it open, and rushed the bugbear leader.  The rest of the prisoners were right behind him, the wounded bugbear, the hobgoblins, and the feeble kobolds.  Right behind him were Jerdren, Blorys, Makaus, Meric, and in the back, Thaer and Wylaer.  The bugbears stood strong, felling the two of the kobolds and the hobgoblins quite swiftly.  The remaining kobold turned to flee, started to run, and got as far as the door, when Thaer pointed menacingly at it, and enraged, began yelling furiously at the small creature.  The creature froze, began shaking uncontrollably and fell lifeless to the ground.  The battle raged on and before long the leader was bested.  Seeing their leader fall, the remaining bugbears fled through the door.  Thaer was right behing them, and Wylaer attempting to block their retreat was knocked to the ground.  He jumped to his feet and attempted to run ahead of his fleeing prey, but was cracked in the head and fell to the floor unconscious bleeding heaving from his wound.  The bugbears fled out the cave and into the ravine, and were pursued by Hebold and his entourage…