Soon after starting out under a leaden sky, the wind begins to pick up and it begins to snow. At first you are unhindered, but by midmorning the wind is gusting over 60mph, the wind chill is at -27F, and you are in a whiteout. In other words, it is a blizzard.
Unable to go on, you look about for some form of shelter, knowing that you cannot stay outside in this. Through the blowing snow you spot a copse of trees a short distance off the road. Dismounting, you lead your horses to it.
The leafless trees will provide you with little shelter, you realise, but in the middle of the copse is an outcropping of limestone, and at the base of it is a dark opening. Obviously a cave...you wonder if it is already occupied...
"Somebody light me a torch and I'll check it out," Dor suggests. He leaves his shield with his horse and takes the torch and his drawn sword. "I'll yell if I need help."
"Seems we have little choice. Dor, I will go with you," Logan says as he unsheathes his magical blade and steps into the cave with Dor.
Using Logan's glowing sword for light (a torch will not light in this wind), you pass through the dark opening.
You find yourselves in a cave...not a very big one, opening up to perhaps 40' in depth and 20' in width. It is certainly large enough for the party, their mounts and animals. The floor is littered with bones, but there is no sign of any occupants. Walking about, you note that the place has not been disturbed for quite awhile. Also, kicking the bones about with your booted feet, you come across a leather bag. Opening it, you find 4 large diamonds (1300gp ea.), and an ankle bracelet (500gp).
You head back outside with the news, and everyone moves in to wait out the storm.
The morning passes. The storm intensifies.
Right around noon, shadowy forms appear in the entrance to the cave, out of the blinding snow. You see about two dozen men and women there, leading horses and mules.
Apparently also travellers seeking shelter from the storm, they seem to be surprised to find you in the cave.
"Well met, I am Logan, who might you be and why are you traveling in such hellish weather?" he asks.
"They call me Dor," says the large, handsome warrior. "That's because it's my name."
He bursts out laughing.
"I am Falwell, and this is my flock," answers one of the men, apparently a cleric. "We were returning to Calamlad from the Holy Shrine of Heimdall when this storm caught us. We - are those orcs, over there?"
He motions to Umboth's congregation.
"Well met, Falwell," Logan replies with a smile. "Heimdall?"
Nuanna nods her affirmation that Heimdall is indeed a good god.
"Ah, yes, recent converts to Forseti!" he says regarding the orcs, with a wide smile. "We were caught in this storm as well, and as my teacher used to say, 'the more the merrier!'"
He chuckles.
"Converts, eh?" the cleric says suspiciously. "I find that hard to believe."
"The only good orc is a dead one!" says one of the pilgrims.
"That goes for the people who associate with them, too!" cries a third, drawing his sword.
"FORSETI! FORSETI! FORSETI!" reply the orcs and the converted bandits.
"Put your swords away," Dor says. "If we wanted to kill you, we would have left you out in the blizzard."
"Most of us still ARE out in the blizzard!" says another one, angrily. "Orcs get to be nice and toasty while we freeze to death!"
"Well then, come in, duh. And if you try to hurt me or my friends with that spell, I'll pop you one in the nose," Dor says to the hand waving cleric.
"Sheath your weapons. If you are the cleric of a goodly god as you proclaim, try a non violent method. Cast Detect Evil on me or any of my companions. To use your blade to solve a conflict is foolish and most likely to result in your flock's deaths," Logan says matter of factly.
You see another clerical type start to cast a spell.
The pilgrims wait until the other cleric finishes his spell.
"Good, for the most part," he reports. "Those orcs are tending towards the evil side of law and neutrality. I'd watch 'em."
The newcomers reluctantly crowd into the cave. Given the choice between freezing to death in the blizzard and fraternizing with orcs, their instincts for self preservation prevail and they choose the latter. They do keep away from the orcs, though.
It is very crowded in the cave, now.
The rest of the day passes, and so does the night.