Curbag's Log
The marking on the door definitely has some significance. My orcs would not step one foot through it. I left them to gather there nerve while we ventured on. We found a long corridor punctuated with doors, on the east wall, bearing the same symbol from the flaming plate. Oren also found a secret door in the west wall. This is where Rosia's curiously bad day began. Prying the door open, the room beyond held numerous glowing spheres. Rosia stepped forth to investigate and as we watched the spheres began to draw together and begin to merge. We wondered whether she had time to try a door we could see beyond, but then we noticed a shadow forming within the coalescing shape. Urging Rosia to leave the room she hesitated to satisfy her curiosity. A familiar sound came from the now large dark gateway; a screech or maybe a squawk. Feathered claws grasped the frame, we could not mistake we were about to meet another owlbear. This was not a place to fight such a beast. We almost lost to one when we had prepared a defense in plenty of room. Facing an attack in a crowded corridor would spell our doom. We hastily re-closed the secret door hoping it would remain that way; secret and closed.

At this point we went back to encourage my retinue across the threshold they feared. Following my lead they joined us to the far south of the corridor. Here it was I who felt the dread that they had just over come. Unable to bring myself to take the passage Rosia and Isaac explored the room it lead to. Another floor plate was found within. Her curiosity getting the better of her, Rosia eagerly jumped upon it. A low roar began which slowly grew into deafening thunder. Even from my position in the corridor I could feel the vibration of the enormous sound. The noise ceased and I saw my companions coming out of the passage; blood dripped from their ears. Isaac was cradling his pet rat, whispering shouted calming words. His sideways glances at the halfling told of his displeasure. He looked exhausted. I think Rosia thought it time to make mends for her curious nature. The last time they had used the flaming plate they had all felt better and so she suggested another visit. It was clear how bad Isaac was feeling as we crept past the secret door, and so Rosia tried to get Quercus to heal the sorcerer. He refused having faith in the restoring flame. Once there Isaac stepped onto the plate and the flames rose as expected. He screamed immediately as the smell of burning robe and flesh filled the room. As he collapsed to the floor Quercus quickly applied his healing. Soon only the charred fabric showed sign of the unfortunate event.

We journeyed south again, following more twisting corridors. Finding a magical trap, something which the halfling is definitely improved at, we all withdrew allowing for the good chance she would set it off during the disarm. We were right on that count but not on the safe distance. A fireball rocketed down the passage surrounding us in a fiery plume. More than half of my orcs screamed out their last breaths; their wounds finally taking their toll. Rosia and Oren rushed through the door as she knew the trap would reset. The rest of us took cover at a much greater distance. Minutes later a roar of flame erupted once again and our two companions rejoined us. The room had stored many items which they found to be magical in nature; scrolls, potions, a cloak and a necklace. While the others identified their purpose the orcs and I paid tribute to our the dead.

Following the corridor we came upon another room which held great treasure. From without we could see a racks of armor and weapons all carefully arranged. Rosia, once again, checked the room. Only her fast reactions saved her from a bolt of lightning from the ceiling. Unwilling to risk being hit by lighting ourselves, she relayed what she found. Each rack was labeled with the previous owners name. The items were all of good quality some the product of great craftsman. We each scavenged what we could use and left armed to the teeth; myself the new owner of a well balanced javelin.

The next room we came across was one the orcs had seen before. One of their group could be seen dead on the floor a chest almost within it's grasp. Again Rosia checked it out. She came back reporting that a trap would spring if anyone went near the chest. Given our recent track record it seemed foolish to attempt to get whatever treasure there was; and yet Rosia and Isaac proceed to discuss the options. I left them to it but I'm glad to say they soon joined me deciding not to risk it. At this time we heard the familiar screech/squawk again. The owlbear was somewhere to the west and so we kept moving suspecting it was on our trail.

The corridors continued to twist and turn, and after a few troubles with the map we finally came upon another interesting room. Rosia's checks cleared the door for traps. As we opened the door a strange red glow came out of the darkness. The source of the light was a huge floating red crystal. I felt conflicted. Oren estimated that it would be worth millions of gold pieces but how would we move it. With the memory of the glowing spheres still fresh our instincts told us that this could be another portal. We closed the door; hey we could always come back ;-)

We finally worked out where we were on the map and we returned to a familiar room; the long room where we had laid the failed ambush for the dark mantles. We stood there discussing where to explore next when we heard the screech/squawk. This time it was close, very close. In fact it was in the room with us. Screaming again, the shape of the owlbear came out of the darkness....