Moving and Shaking
After a good night's sleep the group is awake by a brief earthquake. After making sure there was nothing unnatural happening in the area that may have caused it, the group continues on their journey to Kakura. Carna suggests they head west to the Maisha River Canyon which will allow the group to follow the river north to the jungle. This should make the journey easier to make. After almost two days of travel the group approaches the river and finds a collection of tents.
Afternoon Tea
Upon approaching the tents the group learns they are the current home of a group of nomadic Goliaths that people refer to as the Canyon Walkers. These Stone Giant descendants live off the land around the river, moving with the seasons and their needs. Mala, one of the tribal elders, greets the group and invites them to seek shelter from the sun with them in their tents. She is intrigued by the group and offers them tea and friendly conversation, though the other Goliaths do seem a little suspiscious of the group.
While the group is talking with Mala, two young men of the tribe, Tomar and Urvic, return from their scouting yelling for help from Mala. The scouts are carrying an unconscious Jobra. Mala had told the group that Jobra was out scouting and that she is the tribes best fighter. Tomar and Urvic explain that the earthquake unearthed an ancient cave and they found Jobra just inside the cave having sustained serious injuries. The group helps the tribes healer out with some healing magic for Jobra before offering to scout out the cave. Bluud has them worried there might be a desert vampire inside.
Into the Dark
With a few light producing spells and some careful investigation the group enters the cave, noting the unusually high ceilings. After passing by a doorway that was caved in by the earthquake, the group comes across a chamber with a Stone Defender. This magical construct seems to be protecting something and attacks the group straightaway, but they are able to overcome its resistances and dispatch it. They are then able to take stock of the paintings on the walls that depict an ancient Stone Giant army at battle. This seems to explain the high ceilings, the cave is somehow related to the Stone Giants that once lived in this area.
Venturing further into the cave the group encounters a second chamber which has three giant skeletons which animate and attack as soon as the group gets close. While these skeletons seem to have trouble moving in their animated state, when they do hit they pack quite a punch. Fortunately the group is able to team up and dispatch them as well. The paintings in this room depict the Stone Giants again, this time it is the scene of a royal ball.
After a short break the group continues into the cave and encounters a fourth room. This one has no guardians, it is a weapons cache. The wracks along the walls contain fine weapons, all of which are sized for a Giant. There are also two banners which Lorelei recognizes as a house crest of some sort. Amérre takes the banners intending to give one to the Goliaths and one to the sisters of the Shifting Sands.
Recognizing that the room they are in offers a strategic advantage as easy to secure, the group decides to setup watches and get a night's rest before continuing further.
The Party Reaches Level Seven
The party reaches level seven.