Session 28 - A man on the fence and crutches

The party explored the SE region of the Earth Cultists stronghold. The encountered an Etin and killed it.
They then opened the door where there was a light shining from underneath. The met a cultist named Cole, who had two men with him (one clutched a rock) and 4 prisoners.

Cole said he had no interest or intention to fight the party. He instead engaged them in a philosophical discussion concerning his thoughts on how “we are not meant to live like this” (he is still dealing with loss of his wife and son and an old leg injury that continually causes him pain.
He said the party is welcome to let the prisoners go if that is their desire (he figured they’d suffer, either in prison or back out in life - so why bother holding them). He provided information on where the various exits go. He did warn the party that the cult is retaliating on the towns and people of the Desarin valley.
The party equipped three of the survivors (the male, the half-elf adventurer, and the female dwarf prospector) who felt they could make their way to Red Larch. The 4th (human, a female named Orna) turned down all offers for help and said shed go her own way.
The partly left Cole and began to descend down deeper below the lair taking the spiraling stair case.