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While Nataya heads to the keep to retrieve Silver, Zendril and Theranion arrive at the base of the ridge about 2 days after leaving the Tethyamar mines. The ridge is over 100 feet high, several hundred feet wide, and extending for a hundred yards or more east-to-west. A thin, winding trail leads up the steep side of the ridge. At the top of the ridge stands the toppled remains of a tower, and a small cave mouth in the side of the ridge.
As they wind their way up the trail, they come upon a deadfall, where years of erosion have created a 20-foot gap in the trail. Zendril and Theranion have little trouble climbing over (thanks to their rogue skills). Just as they reach the top, they are attacked by two eagles, owned by two very aggressive beastmen.
A brief confrontation follows, and Theranion takes a nasty raking from the talons of the larger eagle. Though not life-threatening, it will no doubt leave a scar. After the battle, Theranion and Zendril decide to wait for Nataya and Silver before proceeding. While they wait, they search the area, looking for possible entrances to the dwarves' hidden outpost.
Four hours later, Nataya and Silver finally arrive. To get across the deadfall, they have to rely on Nataya's skill with a rope and grappling hook. Silver's cooshee manages to leap across with a long running start, but his two war hounds are forced to remain behind. With the group all together and no other options, they proceed to the mouth of the cave.
Nataya almost immediately motions the group out of the cave, and a few minutes later is seen escorting a large brown bear out of the cave, carefully feeding it trail rations while the rest of the group sneaks past and into the cave. They get into the cave and find...nothing. A quick search of the area, however, reveals two small holes in the cave wall, obviously artificial. Theranion probes one of the holes with his staff, and nearly shoots his hand off when a large crossbow bolt comes flying out of the hole!
He then proceeds to the next hole, and again probes it with his staff (will he NEVER learn?). Another bolt springs out of the hole, but Theranion is better prepared this time, and stays out of the bolt's path. It takes ten more minutes, but then Theranion finds a soft spot in the cave wall. It turns out to be a roughly square hole, covered with packed dirt to hide it. Inside is a release lever, and Theranion has Zendril check it for traps (YES, he can be taught!) before pulling the lever...
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