Well met, friends of stone and soil!

If you’ve been following my journey, you know I’ve stumbled upon something deep and mysterious beneath the mountain—a hidden door, ancient runes, and the unsettling sound of footsteps echoing from the darkness. Day 4 promised answers, and it did not disappoint. Today, we stepped beyond the threshold, and what we found… well, let’s just say it was a day for the clan’s history books.

The Expedition Begins

I spent the early morning gathering my crew. I convinced Thrain Rockseer to join me—he’s always had a knack for ancient scripts and he’s got a sharp eye for magic-laden artifacts. I also brought along Orek Ironfist, a stout warrior with arms like anvils and a sense of humor that could lift the heaviest of hearts. Lastly, I invited my cousin Bruni Stonearm, a miner like myself but with a talent for traps and mechanisms—a handy skill if the path ahead proved treacherous.

We packed plenty of supplies: torches, extra lanterns, rope, and of course, my trusty flask of ale (for morale, of course). With everything ready, we set off toward the hidden door.

Through the Hidden Door

Arriving at the tunnel, I showed the others the sealed door, and together we pushed aside the stones I had used to block it. The air behind it was still cold and damp, with that faint hint of magic I’d felt yesterday. I swung the door open, and we stepped inside, one by one, lanterns raised high.

The corridor stretched further than I’d realized, lined with carvings that seemed to glow in the flickering light. The runes were a mix of the familiar and the unknown—some old Dwarvish, some a script even Thrain couldn’t decipher. The walls had once been painted, though the colors were mostly faded. Still, hints of blue and gold could be seen here and there, suggesting this was once a place of significance.

The Forgotten Hall

As we moved deeper, the corridor opened up into a vast chamber, much larger than I’d expected. It was a hall, an ancient hall with vaulted ceilings supported by great stone pillars, carved with intricate designs of long-bearded dwarves, hammer in hand, and mythical beasts like drakes and great mountain bears.

But the most striking feature was a massive stone throne at the far end of the hall, cracked and weathered but still imposing. Above it, a massive iron anvil was suspended, held by thick chains that disappeared into the dark above. It swung ever so slightly, creaking with every sway. A curious sight indeed.

Thrain was the first to speak: “This… this is the Hall of Tharaz-Thul. It was thought lost centuries ago in the great quake!” He explained that Tharaz-Thul was an ancient dwarven hold, one of the earliest, abandoned after a series of collapses and forgotten over time.

“Looks like we found it,” I replied, a grin spreading across my face. “And it looks like it’s in better shape than we thought.”

The Silent Guardians

As we approached the throne, Orek stopped and raised his hand. “Do ye hear that?” he whispered. We all fell silent. The footsteps… they had returned, louder now, coming from the shadows on the far side of the hall.

We quickly turned, holding our lanterns high. Shapes began to emerge from the darkness—figures in ancient armor, their faces hidden behind visored helmets, their movements slow and deliberate. “Stone Guardians,” Thrain muttered under his breath. “Defenders of the old hall. They don’t take kindly to trespassers.”

I could see the faint glow of runes on their chests—more of that mana-infused quartz, no doubt. They must have been crafted to protect this place long after the dwarves had left. I knew we had to be careful; ancient magic is a tricky thing, and one wrong move could have them springing to life against us.

A Clever Solution

Bruni, quick on his feet, was already examining the floor. “Look here,” he said, pointing to a series of pressure plates leading up to the throne. “These might be triggers for the Guardians. Step wrong, and they’ll come at us with those axes.”

“Right, then,” I nodded, “Let’s find another way around.”

We took our time, carefully maneuvering around the plates, staying in the shadows. The Guardians remained still, like statues, but their presence was unnerving. They seemed to be watching, waiting.

The Chest of Secrets

Behind the throne, we discovered a small alcove, partially hidden. Inside was an ancient chest, covered in dust and cobwebs, with a simple dwarven lock. I glanced at Bruni, who grinned and pulled out his tools. “This is my kind of work,” he said, setting to it with precision and care.

After a few tense moments, we heard a soft click, and the chest creaked open. Inside, we found a collection of scrolls, a few pieces of fine jewelry, and a curious iron-bound book with a strange symbol on its cover. The book was locked with no key in sight.

Thrain immediately picked up one of the scrolls, his eyes widening as he read. “These… these are records! Maps of old mines, forgotten paths, and… here, this is a map of Tharaz-Thul, detailing chambers we haven’t even seen yet!”

I felt a surge of excitement. “This could lead us to new veins, new treasures… maybe even more of that starweave quartz!”

Evening Retreat

With our findings in hand, we decided it was best to leave the hall for now. The Guardians watched us as we backed away, their eyes—if they had any—following our every move. We exited the chamber, carefully sealing the door behind us, leaving it as we found it.

We returned to the clan hall with our discoveries, eager to study the maps and examine the strange book further. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of something much bigger than I anticipated.

Looking Ahead

Day 4 has revealed a forgotten hall, ancient guardians, and treasures of knowledge and mystery. Tomorrow, we’ll gather more supplies and maybe even a few more brave souls to help us explore the deeper chambers of Tharaz-Thul. I have a feeling we’ve only scratched the surface of what lies below.

Until then, keep your pickaxes ready, and your hearts brimming with courage. There are more secrets to uncover, and this dwarf isn’t stopping now!