8 March 2019

"From the journal of Caius of Reckenmark, date unknown"

We have made our preparations for the Myconid exodus. The intent is to escort those who have not been tainted by the demonic influence to a safer place. A trio from the local Circle of Hunters join me in the Vanguard while Autun, Ezri and Kais bring up the rear. Bree has been struck by the same strange affliction that ailed Ezri some time ago and she is now among the children in the middle of the group.

Not long after we set out through the tunnel that marks the end of Neverlight Grove, Autun made his way to the front to inform me that we are being followed by something. Right as he says this, a pair of vile looking creatures scuttle out of the darkness ahead. Whatever they once were, these pincer clawed monstrosities’ complexion make it clear that these creatures are tainted by the same fungal rot that felled that strange orc-like creature we found outside earlier and they outsize most warhorses. I should have predicted this could happen, the tunnel is the perfect place for an ambush.

We have nowhere to run!

Our best way to defeat this pincer attack (if you will forgive my pun) is to focus our assault on one location. The bulk of our offensive capabilities are currently in the rear. That is where the hammer shall fall and Autun must carry it. I imbue him with the heroic words of my ancestors in some forgotten battle and inspire him with his duty and this seems to have the effect I had hoped. Autun rushes back to where Kais has engaged some form of fungal maggot-bearing abomination and delivers a mighty blow that has the power of gods ringing from it.

I am afraid I missed the rest of that skirmish as I had my own fight ahead. And with one of the hunters beside me, we guard the tunnel entrance against the craven crawfish. My new shield will have to prove its worth today…

One of its pincers grabbed Arnold, the impromptu name I gave my hunter companion, and lifted him clear off the ground! A shout of victory from behind distracts me for a moment and the cunning crustacean quickly clasps its claw on the cataphract that is Caius! As I am hoisted in the the air, I call out for the two remaining hunters to close ranks, the lobstrosity must not be allowed to reach the civilians.

The following moments are a bit of a jumble because my captor decided it would dine on canned meat with mushroom sauce tonight, and thus skittered out of the tunnel retreating with me and Arnold in hand. From my new vantage point I was able to see my compatriots making their way trough the tunnel. With Ezri on the tunnel ceiling in her spider form, she, Autun and Kais made short work of the beast carrying me. It was not long after that my abductor was covered in the sticky silken strands spat from the spinnerets so unsettlingly situated on Ezri's southern segment. Thus saving myself from serving as supper.

We catch our breath, but are not willing to stay here too long. As it is clear that our escape has been noticed by whatever corrupted the grove. During our journey, Basidia tells Kais of Zugt’moi and asks us to follow, away from the rest of the Myconid group. Basidia leads us to a place and digs up a small chest it presents as a gift for our troubles. It holds a precious Diamond! It thanks us for all we have done and explains that their best defence has always been secrecy so this is where we shall part ways.

So now we are making our way back to our boat. It is yet undecided wether we shall be headed for the Grey Dwarves or the Deep Gnomes. My plea to resume our journey towards the surface has fallen once again on deaf ears. I simply do not understand why my fellows insist on us fighting this demonic incursion ourselves. Is it not a sound idea to return to the world above, raise an army there and return in numbers to vanquish these horrors? This must be the difference between us.. For now I will defer to the decision of the group, this thrice damned underworld is no place to roam alone.

I am not one for flights of fancy, but precisely after I decided this we come across a clearing scattered with a good few platinum coins!

A blessing?

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Inventory (incomplete!)

Gained

• diamond worth 300gp
• 17 platinum coins

Party inventory

• <everything prior to 11 Jan>
• a lot of fish
• a Quiver of Ehlonna (like a bag of holding, but only for long thin objects).
• 55gp, 70sp, 22cp
• pouch with incense (worth 5gp)
• 2 gourds of antitoxin
• 1 flask of holy water
• one pair of spectacles of darkvision
• 6# of trillimac
• 10 water orbs
• bag of holding
• 40 drow rations
• 340 sp
• Potions of Greater Healing, 1 each (4d4+2)
• scroll of Protection in a box of surface wood
• shambling mound debris (tinder)
• shield (carried by Caius)
• silvered sickle

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Prior: 1 March 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 15 March 2019