Vanarel and the others followed Digger and Durik as they led them to the entrance of the dwarf mines. They were led to a huge boulder in the side of the mountain where Durik reached behind a smaller rock, then the larger boulder started to move as Kari noticed, attached to the boulder were many small lines. “Welcome to the home of Clan Battlerough,” Digger said as he stepped inside as the rest of the group followed him and Kari’s and Scratt’s eyes went wide. Digger led the small group into the mountain through a small tunnel which grew larger the further they walked, torches lit the tunnel and there were many doors along the smooth surface as Digger stopped in front of one and knocked. They were met by an older dwarf when the door opened whose beard was beginning to turn white, “Good evening to you all. My name is Krogric and what brings you here this night?” he asked. He then looked at the small group and then he noticed Scratt. “A goblin!” he roared. “What in Moradin’s name is a goblin doing here? You must take him back!” Tuldrum then made his way to the front of the group. “He’s with us. He has saved us many a time and has earned our trust,so if he goes we go.” He said. “Very well.” Krogric said with a more calmer demeanor. “But as you know there has not been a goblin in these mountains for thousands of years, but we will discuss this later and Durik will take you to your chambers.” Durik then looked at the others, “please follow me,” then left the the room as the others followed and he showed them to their rooms while Vanarel stayed behind to talk with Krogric. “As you know the goblins are becoming more greater in numbers and the trolls tried to kidnap your kin,” he said and Krogric looked at Vanarel with a look of disbelief. “How did this happen, the back entrance was suppose to be a secret to our home.” Vanarel put his hand on the old dwarfs shoulder, “I think we were betrayed by a gnome.”

 Kari continued on with Durik and Scratt who was nervously looking around, “Don’t worry Scratt.” Kari said, “Nothing is going to happen to you!” when all of a sudden she stopped. “Durik, do you hear anything?” she asked. The young dwarf stopped and listened, “No I do not, I do not hear a sound,” They couldn’t hear the rustling of the dwarfs or the hammers and picks banging away. Suddenly a dwarf came running towards them, “what’s happening?” Durik asked, but the dwarf went by them and kept running in the opposite way. Darik, Kari and Scratt then turned and chased the dwarf back the way they came. When they finally caught up, he had stopped in front of Krogric’s chamber, he knocked and entering he told Krogric his name, “Elder Krogric, sorry to disturb you. My name is Arkas and I’m one of the scouts in charge of keeping an eye on the East entrance and there is a small group nearing, consisting of four elves and a human.”Vanarel raised his head, “Did you say human and elves?” he replied. “Yes, four in all,” replied Arkas. Krogric then got up from his chair, “We must go and meet them, but we do not know who they are so we should proceed with caution.” he said as he walked towards the door. “Do you know where we are?” Garen asked Shaena as they approached the mountain foothills, “Yes Garen,” she replied. “These are the Ashen Mountains. They use to be the home to a great volcano and a mighty dragon named Bastil,” “The dragon is not still around, is it?” Garen asked while nervously looking at the vast mountain range, “No!” Navena said. “That was many years ago and he just vanished and has never been seen again which everyone in the land thought was very strange.” The small group continued to chat as they walked through the mountain pass through the foothills when they came upon the dead trolls that the other group had come upon. “What happened?” Garen asked. “Looks like they were ambushed.” Cyrlan replied. “But who ever done this is long gone,” Shaena went to examine one of the corpses. “These trolls were killed by dwarfs, theses wounds were made by dwarf weapons.” They all stood around looking at the carnage when Alahel spoke up that they should proceed with caution. The small group continued on their journey when Shaena noticed rocks and pebbles falling from the cliffs around them and before they could say anything they were surrounded by a large group of rock trolls. “They don’t look like they want to capture us!” Cyrlan said as one of the trolls picked up a boulder and got ready to throw, as it raised the boulder above his head getting ready to throw it when it fell on its head when it fell dead with an arrow stuck in the back of its head. “Look,” Garen said excitedly as he raised his bow and released an arrow. “Vanarel and an army of dwarfs.” As another troll fell to the ground dead. After the second troll fell, the rest of the trolls began their attack on the small group they had trapped. The small group dodged and jumped away from the incoming barrage, when a barrage of boulders, spears and arrows fell upon the trolls and Durik shouted out, “That’s for my kin that you tried to kidnap.” Shaena and the rest of the group never gave the trolls a chance to reach them as their bows released arrow after arrow into the advancing trolls. When the battle was done there were troll corpses everywhere but not one dwarf, elf or human corpse. “We better go!” Vanarel said. “How did you know that we were on the mountain?” Garen asked, “We have scouts and lookouts all over these mountains and each has a specific task.”Durik commented. “When we heard you were on the mountain another scout came up to us and informed us about the advancing trolls close to your group and closing fast.” Vanarel continued, “So with the new information we made haste and got to you just in time to rescue you. That’s when Vanarel noticed Navena and approached her. “Forgive me my lady, but I did not notice you there with all the commotion with the trolls,” he said. “That’s quite alright my prince”, Navena replied. “And how are your parents these days? I do miss them so,” she asked “They were so worried about you my lady, you have been gone for so very long,” “I’m sorry Vanarel, but I was captured by the goblins and this young man and Shaena came to my rescue when they told me about the goblin queen. I must speak with your father and tell them all that is wrong.                  

 Back at the mountain Kari and Scratt were waiting anxiously for the groups return, “I don’t know why they would not let us go with them.” Kari said. “We could of helped them and there is much for us to learn”, “They probably thought that we would get in the way cause we are, or you are inexperienced and didn’t want you to get harmed,” Just as Scratt finished speaking, Shaena and Garen walked through the door to their chamber and Kari ran over and jumped into her brothers arms, “I was so worried about you! You guys were gone so long, and then the trolls. I thought I was going to loose you.” Garen looked into his sister’s tear-filled eyes, “You don’t have to worry, everything is alright and we rescued Shaena’s mother too, she then suddenly jumped out of his arms and went over and gave Shaena a big hug as well. To the surprise of the others she accepted it with open arms and a smile came across her face when she noticed Garen looking at her, “Thank you Kari”, she said as she turned towards Garen. “I think we should go and see what the others are doing,” she said as she grabbed Garen’s and left the chamber. They found Vanarel, Navena, Alahel and Cyrlan in Krogric’s chambers where they were looking over various maps and charts. “Which of these tunnels would be the quickest way back to Taurmaline?” Vanarel asked. “One that doesn’t have to many traps.” Krogric then looked at the pile of maps and charts on the table, “These tunnels are like mazes. There are many routes that lead to nowhere and then there are tunnels that will lead you into the depths of the earth where the Dark elves are.” Everyone just looked at the old dwarf, “We want to avoid them if we can!” Cyrlan commented. “Yes you do!” Krogric replied. “That is why my best scout will guide you,” he said as he motioned to a dwarf in the back of the room.