Albertus: Into the Mines

Upon leaving the shop of the reprehensible Marvin we found that the cart was ready (and a sturdy and secure looking thing it was too) and we began our journey to the abandoned mine.
Upon reaching the entrance to the mine we met our first challenge, the system of pulleys and ropes that lowers the miners into the pit was broken and so had to find a way into the mine.

Aeilbeth deftly climbs the wooden framework and ties a rope so that we can shimmy down into the blackness below, which she does effortlessly, Ulalume shows her acrobatic skill and Tanyth showed her lack of such, then came the turn of the brawny dragonkin.
I should have realized the simple wooden beam would not carry the weight of a over six feet of muscle and scale not too mention his armor and after a creak and then snapping sound he plummets into the pit, Ullalume again revealed her speed and agility and nimbly caught the dragonborn warrior, however her hand were not free for the rigging that followed as it landed with a crash.
With no rope to climb down on, i decided this would be an excellent time to test the scroll I acquired a short time ago from Marvins Shop, I would not allow such a valuable tool to sit and gather dust when it could be used in the service of the town, I intoned the words and as i did so green flames consumed the scroll and i could feel the aura of the spell upon me, i stepped into the pit and held my breath and it seems I was in luck, I floated down the shaft into the chamber occupied by my companions.
We left the chamber and soon found ourselves at a circular chamber and the main shaft, sat around a crude table 4 creatures, (rather like the dragonkin but mush smaller and with none of the majesty or nobility of his baring) they appeared to engaged in some kind of dice game and kept fiddling with sheets of paper and small carved figures of humans in strange but mundane costume.
Suddenly and without warning Ulalume charged the table steel flashing and weaving like a dance, one fell dead as she yelled "Bleed", I found the incident curious as she lacked subtlety and stealth which i assumed she possessed, she did show however that she was lethal with her blades.
One of the creatures attempted to run and raise the alarm, while more of the creatures joined the melee, it was all over so quickly, in seconds the creatures were dead, either by the flashing steel of Ulalume , or skewered by Aeilbeths arrows, however the runner got away, and we were left wondering what dangers awaited us now that they knew we were coming.
Shortly after the quick but bloody encounter a drum pounded in the distance and echoed through the cavern, the creature had alerted his allies, and anything else that dwells in this dark place, they would be waiting for us.
We followed the passage for a while, Gnarhan the dragonborns lantern barely pushing back the darkness, I decided it was time for another experiment, with a few gestures and a short sharp tap of my staff upon the ground, I managed to evoke light to filial of my staff.
As we approached the mouth of a larger chamber we heard a few faint sounds and cautiously edged our way to see what the commotion was about.
Several of these draconic creatures were dragging a barricade, constructed of old logs to centre of the chamber and we climbing it to get the advantage of higher ground, the wood looked dry and old and I reasoned that I could eliminate the threat quickly perhaps even scare the creatures into submission by burning the barricade.
I began preparing myself, magic is not just gesturing and magic words, it requires immense concentration, I gestured forcefully the barricade and began to invoke the powers that would incinerate my target, in seconds it would be ablaze, but almost simultaneously i spotted a blur rush past my vision, What was that idiot doing! that fool dragonborn had charged the barricade and run right into the path of my spell, I tried to suppress the forces but it was too late and fire erupted from my palm and engulfed the dragonborn, the kobold creatures charged my companion and set upon him with their weapons, Ullalume charged to help him and Aeilbeth strung her bow, I gestured frantically to invoke orbs of forces to slam into the kobolds but my concentration was ruined, my thoughts dwelt on the plight of my companion and my magic missiles struck Ullalume as she ran into the melee.
After a brief battle the kobolds were dead, and i rushed to Gnarhan and Ullalumes aid, Gnarhan did not seem badly hurt, this Dragonborn was tough and resilient, however Ullalume had taken a nasty blow from my spells and i did what I could to help her.
We were faced with another obstacle, the passage stopped here and a small pool was present in the corner, an underground stream perhaps? though I have not heard of such in a mine before.
I assisted my companions in turning over an old mine cart and found it covered a pile of strange rocks, that bore streaks and streams of many different metals, in my studies of the natural world i have never seen rocks and it was my opinion that the processes that resulted in these strange ore stones was not natural.
I took a couple for further study and found them rather heavy, disproportionately so, some of the others tried to carry more, no doubt taking them for the gold or silver they possessed, i was more interested in the origins of these strange rocks.
After decided to leave the rocks until we leave we were now confronted with how to move on, underwater rivers can be dangerous things, the currents can be strong and sometimes strange creatures could be found in such places and i had little desire to be pulled into a water grave.
Gnarhan lept into the water, a strong swimmer and after a short time returned, I sat down to ponder this while my companions leapt in and explored and returned, sometimes without their weapons.
I lit my pipe (The pipeweed helps me concentrate) and allowed my thoughts to wander, I was dimly aware that the results of this was minor illusions and patterns forming my pipesmoke.
Then the idea came to me, I could use my magic to freeze the water and using the mining equipment that lay strewn about the chamber we could dig our way through, it would be safer than merely swimming, however this sounded like too much work and would take too long.
The chamber was still dark and i decided that if the barricade was burnt it would provide heat for my cold and wet companions and light so that we could spot an ambush, however the air vents of the mine must have been blocked and smoke began to gather high up in the chamber, despite this setback the heat was useful as was the light and the smoke served to motivate my companions to work harder at this obstacle and shortly after a rope was tied to a hook in the wall while a companion swam with the rope, in a short time we had a rope running the length of the underwater passage that lead to another chamber beyond, and with the problem overcome we swam further into the mine.