Session 2: The Mine Office and the Whispering Cairn

Session 2:
After divving up the treasure, Arath and Lath were called away to go hunting with their host, so were unable to continue exploring the cairn. Vance and Mouse were afraid that their discovery would be noticed by the rival adventurers, went in search of more folks to fill out their band.
They came across Feldnar, an apprentice of Allustan. Feldnar had been looking to join a group of adventurers and after being turned down by the trio from Greyhawk, he met Mouse. Another likely candidate was a none too smart dwarf named Bornir. Bornir is an axe wielding cleric of Clanggedin Silverbeard, Dwarven god of battle. Gothen’s habot for not bathing and eat overripe cheese aside they made a formidable team.
Mouse had heard of an old abandoned Mine office in the vicinity of the Whispering Cairn, and they figured it would be a good base of operations to launch their continued forays into the Cairn.
They four traveled to the old run down building. They fought off some stirges nesting in a tree, then entered the building.
‘Breee Yark!’ came the yell from a band of spear hurling goblins inside! Vance led the charge, and the goblins fled. Feldrin caught some in a sleep spell, then more goblins burst from a side door. Their leader cast a sleep spell knocking out Bornir and Mouse. Feldnar was left to hold these new goblins off lest they slay his new companions! He cast a color spray, which knocked out most of the goblins, and fought staff vs. sword with a remaining goblin. He fled and woke Bornir. Vance had pursued the fleeing goblins and run into some starving badger pets. He was pressed by the badgers and was unable to help the rear fighting. Bornir used his Enlarge spell and grew very large, he then lay about with his mighty axe, cleaving goblins like wheat, while Feldnar went and woke Mouse. The battle was finished quickly, and the four looted the goblins then explored the rest of the house. They found some rations and gear, along with some treasure, and in the basement killed some dire rats. The lit a fire in the old fire place and rested for the day.
Looking around the building, the roof was partially collapsed, and they thought they would discreetly check with a local carpenter to estimate how much would be involved in fixing the place up. Feldnar and Mouse found a man the next day and paid him a gold to come and give an estimate. He said that a team of carpenters and masons could fix the place up in 2-3 months for 500 gps. The group decided to buy a sturdy canvas tarp and cover the section of roof around the fireplace to keep the rain away, price 20 gp.
With a hovel for a home, the four then looked towards the Whispering Cairn again. This time they explored a flooded section. Feldnar swam into the water with the ever-burning torch with a length of silk rope tied to his waist. Vance and Gothen had the other end of the rope and waited for a tug in case of emergency.
Feldnar quickly tugged as he came face to ‘face’ with a humanoid water creature, composed of water and swimming rapidly towards him. He must have startled it after a long time of inactivity for he was able to out swim it. It took a swipe at him and missed. Then as he heaved himself from the water the creature emerged from the water and started attacking Vance with watery fists. Vance quickly dispatched it, but they thought next time someone should dive with the frail mage, lest he be overwhelmed. Vance took off his armor and glaive in hand he and Feldnar dove into the submerged room.
This time they explored further, until a side passage took them to an underwater room where a yellow skinned ghoul wearing tattered red leather armor lunged at them. Feldnar again swam for the surface while Vance tried to fight the creature off. He would up skewering the creature, but not before it clawed his torso bloody. Vance barely fought off a creeping paralysis that would have spelled his doom. A few quick swipes of his glaive later and the creature was no more. Beyond the pair found a missing red lantern that belonged in the sarcophagi room.
The foursome took the lantern back, hung it, and lit torches in all seven of the lanterns. Nothing seemed to happen. Shrugging the four wondered where else to explore. The only place left in the cairn was a tunnel forty feet off the ground, accessible by a lanterns chain. Mouse scurried up and hammered a spike in place then lowered a rope to the other three. Up they went.
Down the hallway was a large face, 20 tall with a mouth open in a yell. Beyond the mouth/doorway was another room. Mouse checked for traps around the face and finding nothing, shrugged and they went through. Beyond lay a room with a walkway 1’ wide spanning a floor 10’ below filled to an unknown depth with softball size spheres of iron. When Mouse tried walking across the walkway a hole opened up in the side wall and an iron sphere shot out and narrowly missed his head. He scurried back to the others and pondered what to do next. The four decided to call it a day and return to the Mine Office to rest.
The next day Feldnar went to meet with Allustan and he was set to various tasks which would occupy him for days to come. He regretted being so delayed and promised to seek out the others at the Mine Office when his tasks were done.