After resting
and re-equipping in Hillsfar Aerlyn teleported the party back to Dagger Falls
where they reported in to Randal Morn. The advised him that the immediate
threat to Daggerdale had been dealt with but a greater dangers threatened
perhaps all of Faerun - they Silence of Llolth and more immediate still, the White
Banshee and her Great Revenance - whatever that might be! Morn agreed to
summon the Dales Council to discuss a co-ordinated response to the threat, he
would also send word to Elminster at Shadowdale. Randal also paid the party
member the 1000 gp each for dealing with the immediate threat and agreed to
extend their line of credit at the temple for the duration of the current
threat.
After the meeting with Morn, Aerlyn teleported the party back to the entranceway to the Inverted Tower, and once again disguised as drow, they made their way across the web of Szith Morcaine, this time heading to the Commoners' Level and the exit to the Underdark. The Commoners' level was a very large cavern stretching for several hundred feet, lit by an eerie green phosphorescence. The floor of this cavern was covered with weird fungal growths that appeared to have been cultivated and amidst the growths bulbous houses or cottages that seemed to have been grown from giant toadstools other parts were dominated with obviously temporary and more recent accommodations - presumably for the recent refugees from Maerimydra.
Only getting lost once, the party made their way to the exit showing the guards their the House insignia given by the archmage. The guards ushered them through the heavy iron gates with a warning to be careful the Underdark was even more dangerous than usual with the recent disruptions in Maerimydra. Led by Arnelius the party left the relative familiarity of Szith Morcaine and headed out into the Deep Underdark on the long trek to Maerimydra 120 miles distant.
Trusting to Aerlyn's knowledge of the Underdark, and the crude map retrieved from Dorina, the party made good time on their first day's travels through the twisting tunnels making 10 miles. That night as they camped however, the guard's warning proved prophetic as on Arnelius' watch the resting part were attacked by a barbed devil. The devil proved a fearsome opponent - literally! However once Arnelius and Aerlyn overcame their fear and joined Yellyond in combat the devil was sent back to the Nine Hells, but the party had been sorely pressed and many wounds needed attended to.
Next morning after a somewhat late departure, they set off again through the twisting tunnels trying to hold to the main ways and heading vaguely southeast - the direction Maerimydra lay. After several hours innocuous travel the party were suddenly confronted by a pair of hunting umber hulks who burst out from a rock wall. Aerlyn unfortunately fell prey to their confusing gaze but Yellyond and Arnelius managed to dispatch the beasts before they could do too much damage. With the late start and the attentions of the umber hulks the party made a scant 7 miles on the second day.
That night
as Aerlyn stood watch she heard the faint sound of booted feet approaching -
three duergar accompanied by two pack lizards. Uncertain whether to
greet or challenge these newcomers, the decision was made for her as
the duergar charged, enlarging themselves as they did so!
Shouting out a warning to her sleeping comrades she unleashed a cone of
cold - catching two of the duergar as they closed. One of the duergar
reached Yellyond's sleeping form as the elf roused herself from her meditations
and began clouting her with his warhammer. The other two focused their
attentions on the half-drow, leaving Arnelius free to tumble to a flanking
position and sneak-attack. Yellyond meanwhile attempting to avoid the blows of
the duergar above her launched a series of searing light attacks on
the dark dwarves. A combination of those, plus Aerlyn's maximised magic
missiles and Arnelius' sneak attacks soon put paid to the dwarves,
leaving the party in possession of two fine pack lizards. While Aerlyn used her vast experience in raising her
per hamster (the Chronicles are silent at this time whether it was a miniature
Giant Space Hamster or not) to get to know the two pack lizards henceforth
known a Bootsy and Snudge; Yellyond and Arnelius prepared to set out on the
days travel through the Deep Wastes.
After a scant hour or two on
the road, some two or three miles into the days travel. Arnelius suddenly
stopped short as he noticed the roof of the cavern he was about to enter was
matted with spider webs. After brief deliberations, Yellyond found herself
balancing precariously on the rogue’s shoulders, waving her torch about trying
to burn away some of the webs. As Aerlyn, having secured the pack lizards moved
forward, three sword spiders dropped onto the floor of the cavern and advanced
menacingly on the party. As Yellyond dropped to the floor and Arnelius took up
a defensive stance, Aerlyn strode forward and almost contemptuously cast a cone
of cold immediately destroying the vermin. A brief search of the webs after
Yellyond cast detects magic revealed the desiccated corpse of a drow
priestess from which a couple of scrolls and a nice chain shirt were recovered.
Picking up the pace the party
continued the trek, travelling four miles through the twisting passageways when
they came to what appeared to be a fork in the tunnel they’d been following,
before they could do anything three insectoid creatures were spotted marching
up the right hand path. Aerlyn again leaped into action, moving to the junction
of the passageways and casting a cone of cold down as Arnelius and
Yellyond moved to support. The first mezzoloth (cast a cloudkill on the
party while the other two charged the group. As the party retreated coughing
from the poisonous gas, engaging the mezzoloths the first one cut of their
retreat by teleporting behind them and cast another cloudkill. One
of the mezzoloths, stunned by a spell from Aerlyn was despatched by a series of
sneak attacks from Arnelius, while another most of its strength drained by a ray
of enfeeblement from Yellyond, teleported away. The third, isolated, was
soon also killed despite the cloudkill.
Returning to the problem of
which passageway to take, some spirited debate ensued and much consultation of
Dorina’s map (which proved singularly unhelpful). Eventually, on the basis that
the mezzoloths must have been coming from somewhere, they decided to take that
path. Two hours later the path appeared to end in a dead-end cavern, however a
rusty ladder led up to a level above where a stream of water poured down from a
hole in the ceiling. Arnelius, after consulting the map and determining that
they were heading towards a large lake decided it might be worth following the
water, shinnied up the ladder followed by Yellyond and Aerlyn.
In the cave above they found
the decomposing corpse of a stone giant, partially submerged in the ice-cold
stream that ran through this cave. Even a cursory glance at the huge corpse
ascertained that huge chunks of flesh had been torn off as if something had
been feeding on it. Clambering gingerly over the festering corpse to
investigate the cave beyond, Arnelius found himself confronted by a snake-like
creature with vaguely humanoid features As the creature gazed at him he felt
the pull of it’s power, however with an effort he shook himself and calling out
a warning to his colleagues, attacked the creature.
Aerlyn and Yellyond, reacting
to their colleague, began the unpleasant task of clambering over the corpse,
noticing as they did so another naga. Aerlyn, meeting the creature’s gaze,
found herself charmed by the aberration, while Yellyond moved to assist
Arnelius in despatching the first naga. As Arnelius moved to engage the second
naga, Yellyond noticed a third emerging from the far end of the cavern and
closed with it. Aerlyn remonstrating with Arnelius for attacking her new
friend, focused her spells - Mindfrost and Heartfreeze - on the third naga and in
short order the remaining nagas were destroyed.
After spending a relatively
unpleasant night in the naga cave, the party began the trek back to the fork in
the tunnel some four hours trek back. This time they took the left hand fork,
which after sever hundred yards swung round to the right. After another
relatively straightforward five hour trek the passageway ended in a huge
cavern. Didagi, listening, could hear the distant sound of water lapping. While
Yellyond and Dalgarth helped Aerlyn with Bootsy and Snudge – Arnelius began
scanning the huge cavern ahead anxiously. As he did so a large rock narrowly
missed his head smashing with some force on the caver wall behind him. The rock
was accompanied by a rumbling voice asking in undercommon what a bunch of
surface-dwellers was doing here!
Spreading his arms to
indicate his peaceful intent, and adopting a friendly tone, Arnelius began to
carefully explain they were travelling toward Maerimydra. Seemingly mollified
by his conciliatory tone the rumbling voice invited him forward. Moving into
the darkness he was confronted by two stone giants. Behind them he could see
another two each with a dire-bear and a third shorted figure in armour that
bore a glowing greatsword. The giants, now inclined to be friendly, warned them
there was no route round the lake, at it was dangerous at the moment due to the
kua-toa – not to mention the kraken that lived in the deeps and the lobster
monster than haunted the shallows! Arnelius continued to discuss the situation
amicably with the giants who agreed to let them see the tribe elders who may be
able to assist in crossing the Lake of Shadows. The giant called over the
smaller figure – a half-giant – and introducing him as “young Darkstrider”,
instructed the half-giant to lead them up to the elders. Inclining his head for
them to follow him, the young half-giant led them past many other stone giants,
through the caverns to the tribe elders.
The tribal elders invited the
party to eat with them and requested that the party tell their story. Arnelius
considered his options briefly then; deciding it would be best to be straight
with the elders told them the whole tale. The two elders seemed particularly
disturbed by the news of the T’sarren’s planned “Great Revenance”, particularly
about the prospect of being caught in the middle of whatever the drow were
planning, and after a discussion amongst themselves agreed to help. They would
provide rafts for the party to cross the lake, but they requested that
Darkstrider should accompany them to see to the interests of the tribe. The
party readily agreed to this and, at the elder’s invitation, spent a
comfortable night’s rest with their new allies.
Next morning, Darkstrider led
them to where the stone giant’s kept their rafts moored. After loading up the
party struggled for a while attempting to launch and steer the huge craft until
two of the giant fishermen offers to tow them across the lake. In stately
procession the two rafts set off, Darkstrider on the lead raft with his two
kinsmen and the others on the second. After a couple of hours slow travel
across the empty dark waters of the lake, Didagi thought he could see the dim
shape of an island to the starboard, as he did so the peacefulness was
shattered by a huge tentacle crashing down splintering the raft. The two stone
giants fell into the freezing cold water while Darkstrider balancing
precariously on a chunk of raft reached for a potion.
As the party on the second
raft readied for action; they saw first one of the swimming giants, then the
other, dragged down under the water. A second later another gargantuan tentacle
crashed down on the raft they were on splintering it too to matchwood. As
Dalgarth and Arnelius rose into the air, swiftly joined by Darkstrider, and Didagi
began striding over the surface, Yellyond dimension hopped away from the area
where a colossal tentacled form rose to the surface and began swimming through
the icy water, Bootsy and Snudge following along behind.
Following Didagi’s
instructions to head for the island he’s seen earlier - the party arrived on a
rocky islet. The only thing of interest on this islet appeared to be the
half-eaten corpse of a drow manacled close to the shoreline, which Arnelius
speculated was some kind of sacrificial offering to the kraken by the kua-toa.
After resting, for a while, Dalgarth cast wind walk and began to scout
for a way off this island – he found little of interest within a half-mile
radius save a larger island with a building on it to the northwest.
Reporting back to his colleagues, after some discussion they decided that
was their best objective as Arnelius estimated it was at least six miles back
to the stone giants. The party spent an uncomfortable and cold, though
fortunately uneventful night.
Dalgarth transported the
entire party in two lots to the larger island using wind walk, and they
approached the large building. Arnelius examined the doorway cautiously and
disabled the magical trap. He opened the door, to be confronted by a kua-toa
swinging at him with a flaming nunchaku. Tumbling past the monk he attacked.
The monk swung back at him with his nunchaku, slamming the door with his other
hand, just a Didagi was about to come through! AS Arnelius and the kua-toa
fought, Didagi briefly consider the closed door then pushed at it, gasping in
pain as magic coursed through his body. Dalgarth cast spiritual weapon
through the doorway, and Yellyond cast searing light. The kua-toa monk fought
bravely but, against such overwhelming force, futilely – before collapsing in
the doorway.
Moving deeper into the
structure, led by Darkstrider, the party found themselves in a corridor from
which three doors, on a double-door led off. They barely had time to get their
bearings when the door in the east wall opened and a flood of kua-toa templars
poured out. The party made short work of the guards and then Arnelius began a
careful examination of the other two doors, while Yellyond searched the guard
barracks. Arnelius quickly ascertained that both doors were magically trapped,
but both were beyond his ability to disarm. Aerlyn cast knock on the
double doors and Arnelius braving the curse of the trap attempted to open it –
only to find the door had been blocked from the other side and would not budge
mire than an inch. Reeling from the effects of the curse and stymied by the
doorways, Arnelius wandered out outside the building to look to see if there
was another method of entry. His colleagues remained in the hallway glaring
impotently at the stubborn doors that baulked their progress.
A swift survey of the outside
revealed to methods of entry to Arnelius’s practiced eye. As he made his way
back to the main entrance, several kua-toa emerged from the icy waters nearby
and attacked him! Two of the kua-toa were whips and, joining hands, cast lightning
bolt several times against the rogue as he fought a rearguard action
against the templars. Calling to his friends for help Arnelius began to back his
way into the building, being frustrated by the templars as they tumbled past
him flanking the rogue. Dalgarth, hearing her friend call, moved to support but
found the door slammed in her face as one of the kua-toa reached it before her.
As Arnelius continued to fight a heroic rearguard action- Darkstrider and the
others gathered at the doorway and the half-giant used his great strength to
force the door open. As he did so the double-doors which had blocked their
progress earlier flew open and another flood of templars, this time accompanied
by the lightning bolts of kua-toa whips attacked from the rear. Behind them
Aerlyn could see another kua-toa, this one slightly larger than the rest with
spiny ridges on his back swallow a potion and disappear.
As his colleagues found
themselves unable to reach him, Arnelius continued his desperate struggle
against overwhelming odds – the end was inevitable however and the brave rogue
finally collapsed to the ground. Didagi seeing his colleague fall and though sorely
pressed himself, used dimension slide to get to his friend; and quickly
poured a potion. It was too late however; the brave rogue had fought his last
battle. As the battle continued, the party gradually began to get the upper
hand as kua-toa after kua-toa body littered the floor, as Aerlyn, Dalgarth and
Yellyond’s spells took their toll and Darkstrider and Didagi’s blades carved
through them – dedicating each corpse to the memory of their fallen comrade.
At the height of the battle
the fiendish kua-toa, Aerlyn had seen earlier appeared behind Darkstrider his
assassin’s blade poised to strike his vitals – though he staggered from the
blow the mighty half-giant survived and soon struck down the foul creature.
Their leader slain, the few surviving kua-toa fled the scene. A search of the
remaining rooms found the fish-creatures treasure hoard and behind the last
locked door they found the unconscious bound form of a deep-gnome – presumably
the next sacrifice for the kraken - the prisoner’s gear locked in a chest
nearby.
While
Aerlyn searched outside for signs of Bootsy and Snudge, Yellyond and Didagi
tried to rouse the unconscious gnome. After they'd finally awoken him, and
healed the worst of his wounds, introductions were made all round. The
svirfneblin introduced himself as Shemdar a traveller who'd been grabbed by
the kuo-toa as a sacrifice for the aken.
Eventually the party decided the only way forward was to investigate the pool in the centre of the temple. Yellyond, the best swimmer, stripped down, and with a rope tied around her, dived into the icy water. Below, she found a large underwater cave eerily lit by phosphorescence. At one end of the cave she found a large ledge where there was breathable air and, returning to the others, she reported back.
One by one the party dived into the pool heading for the ledge, Shemdar changing into an otter as he dived. Pulling themselves up on the ledge, they found themselves in what was obviously a storage area confronted by four kua-toa templars. in the far corner Bootsy and Snudge were tethered. As the kua-toa charged Yellyond and Didagi moved to engage, supported by Shemdar in otter form. As the battle continued, Aerlyn cast Flesh to Ice on first one then another of the templars -their numbers thus reduced, the remaining two were swiftly dealt with. As Aerlyn went to check on the pack lizards, Yellyond and Didagi began to search the cave - one was of which was virtually filled by a magical portal that led into the depths of the lake. Searching for another way out, they eventually found a blocked up passageway, which Yellyond and Didagi fell to clearing.
On the far side of the blocked entrance there was a steep cleft in the rock reading down. Aerlyn used feather fall to get to the bottom, followed by the lizards who swiftly climbed down. Shemdar wildshaped into a pack lizard and followed them while Didagi and Yellyond roped themselves together and began the slow descent.
At the base of the descent a passageway headed off to the north which Aerlyn began to follow. It was slow going along the narrow passageway and the going was rough underfoot, but eventually after an hour or so, she emerged into a large cavern. To her left she could see the waters of the lake lapping against a stony beach at the entrance to the cave. As she turned her attention to the rest of the cave, noticing the bones strewn about, a large chuul clambered out of the darkness and attacked her. Aerlyn just had time to cast a single spell before the beast was upon her, its huge lobster-like claws grasping her and drawing her to its be-tentacled mouth. Didagi, realising something was wrong used dimension slide to get to the cave quickly, followed swiftly by Yellyond using dimension hop. Shemdar at the rear ushered Bootsy and Snudge forward. As Aerlyn lay paralysed in the chuul's tentacled, Yellyond moved in to engage while Didagi unlimbered his bow and began firing at the aberration. Shemdar, moving into the cave, cast a cure light wounds, mass - almost certainly saving Aerlyn's life - before moving to attack the chuul, calling on Bootsy and Snudge to do likewise. In short order the creature was slain and Aerlyn saved from it's jaws.
After this
experience the party decided to camp down here. Didagi retrieved a number of
magical items and some treasure from previous victims of the chuul. One of
which Aerlyn identified as a folding boat.
The night passed uneventfully and next morning, Aerlyn cast wings of the dragon and scouted the way to the exit - some seven miles along the edge of the lake. While Dalgarth dealt with transporting Bootsy, Snudge; Aerlyn and a wildshaped Shemdar flew over Didagi, Yellyond and Darkstrider as they slowly rowed the remaining distance across the Lake of Shadows - hugging the walls of the cave in an effort to avoid attracting the attention of the kraken. It took them most of the next (fortunately uneventful) day, and finally arriving at the main exit, they settled down to make camp again.
The party’s rest that
night was rudely disturbed, as on Darkstrider’s watch the earth began to rumble
and a huge armoured creature – a bulette- erupted out of the ground! Calling to
his comrades for aid, the half-giant engaged the landshark, but swiftly found
himself grappled by the beast. As the other members of the party roused
themselves from sleep they suddenly found themselves showered by rocks as
another of the fearsome creates burst forth from the sheer rock wall they’d
been resting against. Swiftly organising themselves, Shemdar, Dalgarth and
Aerlyn began casting spells at the creatures while Didagi Yellyond and
Darkstrider engaged in melee.
Returning to rest Didagi took
the next watch which passed uneventfully, save for the passage of a large
spherical shaped creature which glided silently past, pausing only to peer
balefully at the Bedine before floating off across the lake.
An uneventful days travel
through the dark tunnels, culminated in Shemdar finding an excellent campsite
for that night’s camp. The party settled down to rest, and Darkstrider took the
first watch, Shemdar casting spike stones up the passageway in front of
them to deter any visitors while they rested. On Didagi’s watch however he hear
or felt something moving through the sheer rock – true enough and umber-hulk
burst through the cavern wall, though this one seemed larger than those they’d
fought half a ten-day ago. Didagi, calling a warning to his sleeping comrades,
charged the Truly Horrid beast and struck sorely, the umber-hulk’s blows in
return were fearsome indeed and Didagi was sorely wounded. Didagi used his
psionic powers to transfer some of the hurt the beast had done him back o
itself, as his comrades roused themselves. However the beast launched another
fearsome attack on the psion and he fell, mortally wounded to the ground. As
the rest of the party rallied, they found themselves strangely affected as the
gazed on the creature, but as the combat continued, one by one they found
themselves succumbing to the creature’s gaze and acting erratically. Dalgarth
and Shemdar cast mass healing spells on their comrades, and Didagi, rallied
long enough to dimension slide away from the creature before he too fell
victim to the creature’s gaze, – Aerlyn and Darkstrider ever turning to attack
their new svirfneblin friend. Shemdar, thinking quickly as one by one his new
comrades fell victim to the umber-hulk’s gaze erected a wall of flame
between them and the beast. The umber-hulk unable to pass this barrier,
withdrew in search of easier prey and the party fell to healing themselves.
The Deep Wastes Day 8
Next morning after a brief
dalliance with a passing purple worm that almost swallowed the half-giant
whole, the party emerged from the tunnel they’d been following onto the floor
of a huge chasm. An impassable cliff reared before them and to their left,
affixed near the entrance to the tunnel they’d emerged from was a large
iron bell!
The party prevaricated in the
entrance to the tunnel about whether to ring the iron bell or not. Shemdar -
with his superior darkvision - spotted a cave about 70 feet up the smooth
cliff-face opposite. As he did so, he saw a series of winged humanoids, similar
to gargoyles emerge from the cave mouth and swoop down towards the party.
Dalgarth, Aerlyn and Yellyond, made wary by the continued attacks from the
denizens of the Underdark, reacted instantly launching a fusillade of spells
towards the Kir-Lanan. Shemdar tried ringing the bell, to little effect, as the
Kir-Lanan retaliated launching a series of fly-by attacks on the party as they
stood there. Darkstrider moved away from the spellcasters giving him room to
fight as he readied attacks against the gargoyles as they swooped in. The
Kir-Lanan held their own for a while, their debilitating attacks weakening the
party, particularly when they began alternating their fly-by attacks with rays
of enfeeblement, eventually however the parties superior spell-power took
its toll until their leader was the only survivor, fled blindly after being hit
by an orb of cold spell a from Aerlyn.
After some much needed
healing, Aerlyn cast wings of the dragon and flew up the cliff face to
reconnoitre. She by-passed the mysterious cave and headed upwards. About 140ft
up the cliff there was a second cave. As she neared the cave, three Kir-Lanan
swooped from the cave mouth and attacked her! Passing out from her wounds, the
half-drown began spiralling down rapidly, slamming into the ground with a
sickening thud. Rushing forwards to the crumpled form Dalgarth swiftly cast a
healing spell to stabilise the sorcerer.
After Aerlyn had received
more healing, the party pondered their actions. Darkstrider began trying to
climb the sheer cliff-face, but made little progress until Aerlyn offered to
cast spider-climb on him, after which he made splendid progress towards
the first cave. In the cave he found the last survivor of the first attack who
surrendered abjectly. Back on the ground Aerlyn cast spider-climb on
Shemdar and Yellyond and rose up into the air on her dragon wings, Dalgarth
cast air-walk and followed her, while the deep gnome and elf began the ascent
of the cliff.
Darkstrider, leaving the
abject Kir-Lanan, resumed climbing up the cliff accompanied by the dwarf and
half-drow, some 20ft ahead of their other spider-climbing comrades. When they
reached the level of the second cave a flood of Kir-Lanan, led by a powerful
female half-dragon, flew out and attacked. A furious airborne melee ensued, as
Kir-Lanan wheeled and attacked the flying members of the party and swooped down
on those clinging to the rock-face. In the face of the furious assault and
still reeling from her previous experiences, Aerlyn withdrew, dropping 60ft
like a stone, and began casting spells, swiftly followed by Dalgarth and
chased by two of the Kir-Lanan!
Sixty-odd feet above them,
those spider-climbing scrambled for the mouth of the cave where they could get
a sure footing to fight, all the time being subjected to debilitating fly-by
attacks from their foes. Darkstrider was first to make it, only to find himself
facing another three of the gargoyles, which unlimbering his greatsword he
immediately attacked. A round or two later Yellyond and Shemdar joined him on
the ledge at the mouth of the cave and ferocious battle was joined.
Sixty feet below, a tragedy
was being played out, as the valiant Dalgarth finally succumbed to his wounds,
Aerlyn closely beset by her own foes watched in horror as, weapon falling from
his hand, the dying form of her comrade flitted slowly to earth. In fury,
Aerlyn began unleashing her most powerful spells against the hapless Kir-Lanan
Fighters. Above her, in the cave mouth the tide of battle had begun to swing in
favour of the party, Darkstrider concentrated his attacks on the half-dragon
that led the Kir-Lanan, who retaliated in kind. Shemdar summoned fire
elementals to aid the battle, while the duskblade’s sword spun its usual tale
of magic and death.
Finally dispatching the last
of the Kir-Lanan below - Aerlyn turned her attention to the battle above; as
Darkstrider struck a series of telling blows against his half-dragon foe who
turned to flee, Aerlyn cast a heartfreeze spell at her. Failing to
resist the half-drow’s magic, the half-dragon fell. The surviving Kir-Lanan,
seeing the demise of their leader immediately fled.
Exploring the cave within,
Darkstrider and Didagi found and freed a captive. The erstwhile prisoner
introduced herself as Bethany D’Aubec, a Dragon Shaman who had come to
challenge Glauroth, but had fallen foul of the Kir-Lanan. The party decided to
rest that night in the cave. While on watch in the small hours Darkstrider felt
he was being watched – this was confirmed when a hissing voice came from the
cave entrance – promising to meet the party on the morn. As the conversation
ended, Darkstrider suddenly found himself engulfed in a swirling smoky mass of
shadows, which although they appeared to do n0o harm, the half-giant felt
somehow less than he was.
The Deep Wastes Day 9
Next morning he told the
party of what had happened, and that they should prepare for battle. Shemdar
remained with Bootsy and Snudge. Fly potions at the ready, the group
climbed up to the entrance of the cave and prepared to move out. As they stood
there they were surrounded by the strange smoky shadows that had affected
Darkstrider the night before – this time they all felt the strange lessening of
themselves. Aerlyn, sharp-sighted caught sight of a sinewy winged form
disappearing into the gloom. Downing their potions and Aerlyn casting wings
of the dragon, the party launched themselves into the chasm.
As the others deployed level
with the cave, Didagi, ever impetuous flew straight upwards a hundred feet.
Unfortunately he immediately fell foul of the waiting Glauroth, who cast dispel
magic on the Bedine who immediately started falling. As Didagi, fell past
her Beth tried to grab him to no avail and the tribesman slammed into the floor
of the chasm.
As Didagi, swallowed potions
of healing, above him the airborne battle continued as Glauroth commenced a
series of flyby attacks, now attacking with his bite, other times his spells
still other times his fearsome level-draining breath weapon. The party
retaliated with Aerlyn’s spells, Didagi’s greatsword and Beth’s own breath
weapon – a line of lightning.
Eventually after many rounds of cat-and-mouse combat, Aerlyn’s spells in
particular took their toll on the dragon, who fled the battle.
Determined to finish the job
off the airborne party members followed to the mouth of Glauroth’s cave – which
seemed to be the source of the strange uneasiness pervading the chasm.
Darkstrider was first in, and again first to feel the effects of the shadow
dragon’s breath weapon. Once Beth and Aerlyn joined the combat however,
Glauroth was slain.
Once Didagi and Shemdar had
joined them, the party swiftly looted Glauroth’s hoard and then untroubled by
further assaults, completed the ascension of the chasm, where at the top they
rested – lamenting the loss of their cleric who might had aided against the
shadow dragon’s terrible breath weapon.
The Deep Wastes Day 10
After resting at the top of Glauroth's chasm, Aerlyn announced that she may be able to help Darkstrider, with a spell she'd recently acquired she felt she might be able to penetrate the faerzress and get him to Hillsfar where he might get help, it was risky but it might work! Darkstrider readily agreed and, after the two vanished, clutching a sackful of gold to buy supplies, the rest of the comrades settled down to wait. Where then were met by Sshumath, a drow half-dragon, on this way to Szith Morcaine, who quizzed the party about conditions there. Sshumath also volunteered that information that the army of the Hellspawn had captured most of the city of Maerimydra and only the citadel held out against them.
Aerlyn and Darkstrider appeared safely on the outskirts of Hillsfar and each donning a hat of disguise they headed into the city heading straight towards the temple of Tempus to make arrangements for a Greater Restoration. Convincing the priests that the level drains had been gained in honourable battle, the two were told to return next morning and spent the afternoon shopping for supplies.
The Deep Wastes Day 11
Next morning, they returned to the temple and after a suitable donation, the half-giant was restored to his former abilities. Leaving the city Aerlyn began the attempt to return them to Glauroth's chasm - this time her attempt failed and they found themselves standing outside the walls of a ruined city which Aerlyn quickly recognised as Myth Drannor! Realising that it wouldn't be long before the fearsome denizens of the city spotted the two hapless travellers, she swiftly prepared again to penetrate the faerzress. Again her spell went awry and the two found themselves standing on a windswept cliff overlooking the Moonsea. Exasperated, Aerlyn tried a third time, and a third time the magic failed him and she and Darkstrider found themselves standing outside a small city over which the ensign of the Zhentarim flew proudly Having no further Greater Teleport spells available, the two settled down to camp nearby and await a further try in the morning.
Meanwhile back at the Glauroth's chasm the remainder of the party waited patiently. The first night, at first all had been quiet save for some flocks of dire-bats, which flew out the tunnel - obviously migrating, or fleeing from something. Next night, Didagi discovered what as a pair of bodaks ambled down the corridor. Shouting a warning to his comrades, he got off a single bowshot before falling before their deathly gaze. Beth, rousing herself dashed quickly to his side and was able to provide some curative magic to stabilise the bedine before he died. Shemdar, also rousing himself from slumber cast a flame strike at the undead. Ensuring Didagi was stable, Beth launched herself at the wounded injured bodaks and between them she and Shemdar finished them off. The party returned to their rest after casting the bodak corpses into the chasm.
The Deep Wastes Days 12-15
Early next morning, Aerlyn tried again - this time her magicks worked successfully and penetrating the faerzress, she and Darkstrider found themselves back with their comrades, and reunited the party set out on their journey once more. After a few of days uneventful travel , the party found themselves confronted by a large cornugon. The devil advised them that he had been seeking them and they had been unwise to make an enemy of his mistress, with which he cast a fireball in the middle of the party. As the party deployed to face this threat two bearded devils appeared, summoned, in front of them attacking Beth and Darkstrider, one doing Beth an infernal wound with his glaive. Seconds later, two barbed devils teleported in and attacked Didagi and Shemdar. Didagi got a shot off at the cornugon and Aerlyn cast a maximised orb of cold at the cornugon, swiftly followed by another one, as her colleagues dealt with the lesser devils attacking them.
The cornugon launched a series of crushing blows on Beth with his chain, before Shemdar cast sleet storm to slow the devil down. Meanwhile the rest of the party were having varying degrees of luck with the lesser devils they were engaged with. Beth, badly injured, was holding her own against the bearded devil attacking her while Darkstrider easily overpowered the one on him. Didagi held his own in combat with the barbed devil attacking him, but then suddenly felt the unwelcome chill of fear enter his heart. Shemdar virtually ignoring the devil attacking him called on the party to retreat and regroup.
Didagi fled, Aerlyn withdrew immediately followed by one of the barbed devils who teleported to her new location. Beth - badly injured - collapsed falling prone after another fireball detonated where she and Darkstrider stood. Darkstrider, pausing to administer a potion then found himself the focus of the cornugon's attention as it lashed at him with it's spiked chain. The chain's stunning effect hit the half-giant just as Shemdar cast fog cloud to cover the attempted retreat and Aerlyn withdrew again. The cornugon teleported out of the fog, and was joined by the bearded devil. One of the barbed evils ignored Aerlyn, assuming she had fled and went to join his colleagues, the second barbed devil continued hunting fruitlessly for Shemdar in the fog cloud.
As one of the barbed devils cast an unholy blight into the fog cloud further hurting Beth who retaliated with her rod of thunder and lightning, Aerlyn returned to the fray, targeting another maximised orb of cold at the cornugon, this time with spectacular results - slaying the devil instantly. Another orb of cold finished the remaining barbed devil, while Darkstrider shaking off the effects of the stun, finished off the last bearded devil. The last remaining devil after fruitlessly chasing Shemdar through the fog and sleet, realising he was now alone, wisely teleported out.
The Deep Wastes Day 16
Finally,
after a brief altercation with a party of troglodyte raiders, the party
arrived at the location shown on their map as the Lich's Mire – only 40 miles
from Maerimydra. Led by Darkstrider, they followed a narrow stream flowing in a
gully down a narrow series of passages. At one point when the passage narrowed
so it was little wider than the gully the stream ran through, Darkstrider had
to clamber over the lover half of a broken statue of what looked like a drow
warrior. Passing this obstacle, on the other side the passage widened into a
fungus covered cave, dimly lit by phosphorescence.
Two drow warriors who had been tending the fungus, immediately swept up their rapiers and attacked the half-giant. seeing his comrade thus engaged, Didagi used dimension slide to bypass the obstruction (and the combat) and drawing his bow, engaged the drow from behind. The other members of the party led by Beth bunched up behind the broken statue, unable to progress.
Didagi, suddenly realised he might have been a touch hasty when a series of magical rays hit him. Shrugging off the worst of their effects, he looked around for their source, to see a Beholder descending from a hole in the roof of the cave. He fired off a couple of shots, as another series of eye-rays hit him, doing some more damage but no other serious effects.
The Beholder turned his attentions to Darkstrider whom he managed to charm and instruct to hold the passageway. Darkstrider launched a devastating series of attacks on Beth, who was trying to clamber over the broken statue to his aid. The two drow turned their attentions to Didagi.
Catching a fleeting glimpse, Aerlyn somehow managed to target the Beholder with a couple of spells while Didagi fought the drow and also managed to resist most of the worst effects of a further series of eye-ray attacks from the Beholder, before using dimension slide to get back to the safety of his colleagues, leaving the corpse of one of the drow behind him.
The Beholder meanwhile, used his telekinesis ray to bring two potions to heal himself.
As their colleague, Darkstrider held the entranceway against them and Didagi & Beth had retreated, the party seemed baulked by the situation. Shemdar wildshaped into an eel and swam down the stream, as he swam towards the rear of the cave he felt a cold alien voice in his mind instructing him that he would be "better to reconsider his actions".
The alien
thoughts of the mindflayer echoing in his mind, Shemdar retreated warily
upstream, just as Yellyond took a hand, deciding to dimension hop into
the beholder's cave and then use regroup to gather her
colleagues to her. Unfortunately she neglected to inform her colleagues of her
plan and they resisted the call of her magic. As the beholder turned his
attentions to Yellyond, Didagi used dimension slide to come to her
aid, drawing the attention of the mindflayer and his grimlock thralls as he did
so.
As Shemdar wriggled out of the water and wildshaped back to his natural form, Beth began clambering over the broken statue into the room drawing the ire of Darkstrider as she did so! The mindflayer moved into position to use his mind blast but it proved ineffectual against the strong wills of the adventurers. Shemdar began casting a summon nature's ally as two of the grimlock's and the surviving drow officer closed on Didagi, Yellyond cast scorching ray against the beholder hurting him badly. The Beholder retaliated and then moving across the cave opened his central eye in an attempt to negate Yellyond's magic. This had the unfortunate consequences of freeing the thrall's from their masters and two of the gridlocks began to flee. The drow officer on the other had her hatred of surface dwellers overcoming her better judgement remained to fight Didagi and was quickly slain.
As Yellyond swiftly ran behind the beholder and cast another scorching ray, slaying the aberration. As the creature died it's magic-suppressing effect died with it, and the mindflayer quickly re-established control over one of his thralls who resumed his attack on Didagi. Didagi, badly wounded used dimension slide to escape after using his hostile empathic transfer power to heal some of his injuries.. Darkstrider stood in shock for a moment as his "friend" the beholder crumpled to the ground, allowing Beth to move and assist Didagi. At that point two huge elasmosaurus appeared in the room and began attacking the mindflayer and the grimlock barbarian who'd remained to guard him. The third grimlock, still free from the mindflayer's control continued to flee.
The mindflayer faced with the huge opponent used his charm monster power to take control of the beast from Shemdar, who retaliated by summoning two dire weasels to continue the attack. The companions continued to deal with the grimlocks, the third of which had now been brought back under the mindflayer's control and returned to the fray, even Darkstrider joined in returning partially to his senses with the death of the beholder.
As a dire weasel fastened it's teeth into his leg and the elasmosaurus continued to snap at him, despite it's brother dinosaur's attacks, the mindflayer decided that discretion was the better part of valour and plane shift-ed out - leaving his thralls to their short-lived fate. The thralls finally disposed of, the comrades found the beholder's lair after a brief search and recovered the aberration's treasure. Deciding to forgo rest, they ploughed on, discovering in the next cave what was obviously the mindflayer's lair - although the illithid was not at home.
The Deep Wastes Day 17-19
Three days
of uneventful travel later, the party was nearing Maerimydra, emerging into
what felt like a large dark cave, they could hear sounds of large numbers of
creatures moving in the darkness ahead of them. A second later the darkness of
the cavern began disgorging goblins who whooped and yipped and they launched
themselves fearlessly against the party. As the party took up defensive
statures they could see the larger, more threatening figures of ogres
rushing out of the darkness, accompanied by a rain of longspears and a
large boulder that smashed into them.
As battle against the ogres was joined, another rain of spears flew out of the darkness, the goblins proved little more than an inconveniences as they dated about the combat mostly getting under the feet of the ogre barbarians, save those who died instantly, caught in a cone of cold from Aerlyn. Suddenly the cavern was filled with an unearthly shriek, the sound ringing unpleasantly in their ears, the party continued fighting, save Aerlyn who like the surviving goblins, seemed stunned by the sound. Yellyond cast a strength-draining spell on the ogre opposing her.
The battle continued unabated the injuries began to take their toll, Darkstrider and Didagi were bleeding from numerous wounds, as was Yellyond, Aerlyn collapsed unconscious under the weight of her injuries, though fortunately Shemdar was close by and dashed forward to cast cure serious wounds on the fallen half-drow. As Darkstrider, Didagi, Beth and Yellyond, traded blows, and injuries, with the ogres, another rain of spears and rock emerged from the darkness. Tiring of this Shemdar cast a sleet storm into the depths of the cave in an attempt to shield them from the ranged assault. As one of the ogres fell, to Beth's breath weapon, the combat was further confused as a vrock teleported into its place and released spores, infecting Yellyond, Beth and Darkstrider.
More ogres fell, one as Didagi used his psionic powers to heal himself at it's expense, and Shemdar began casting the first of a series of flame strike spells, damaging the ogres and slaughtering goblins wholesale. Aerlyn recovered somewhat rejoined the fray with her magics as another wave of goblins emerged howling out of the darkness, accompanied by more, even larger, ogre champions and behind them, an enormous fire giant carrying a huge maul.
As the second wave joined the combat, the vrock teleported away, badly wounded, unfortunately this allowed the fire giant to charge forward and swinging his maul over his head he crashed it down on the sorely pressed Darkstrider. Aerlyn began targeting orbs of cold at the fire giant, which injured him sorely, but not before he was able to crash through Darkstrider's assaults and fell the brave half-giant. As he lay helpless on the ground, one of the ogres swung his morningstar and smashed the half-giant's head to pulp.
The two groups trade blows, as Shemdar's flame strike spells continued to hurt the ogres. Yellyond cast scorching ray, finishing off another ogre - a second later, the fire giant was killed by Beth's breath-weapon providing the final impetus on top of the massive cold damage done by Aerlyn and the wounds inflicted by Darkstrider - just as Didagi finished another ogre champion off with another hostile empathic transfer.
Seeing their leader fall one of the ogres and the few remaining goblins fled, however two of the ogre champions were made of sterner stuff and continued to press the assault until they too were vanquished.