10 May 2019
"From the journal of Caius of Reckenmark, date unknown"
The Corrupt Myconids and us go our separate ways, we decided to bring Rumpadump with us. The Zuggt’Moians didn’t even seem to notice. We went right where they went back to where we came from, we decide to make haste as our guilt over setting the mushroom forest ablaze is still strong. A short trek in we find a bridge over foul smelling water, it reminds me of the dark lake… Though Gracklestugh is not much of a haven, I can appreciate the dwarven hospitality over the endless darkness of that mere…
Going on, the air grows fouler still. The stench of death and rotting meat invades my senses. What we find was a scene of nightmares. The floor was littered with gore and bones, bodies in various states of decay, arranged in some form of spiral.
In the center sat a figure, one I had previously said my farewells to. Bupido, the Elven Prince trapped in the body of a Quagoth! But something was different, wrong… He was muttering some crazy things about being the god DeanKanzeron? I could see pieces of flesh missing from his face and parts of his skin looked dissolved.
Before I could act, Autun rushed forward and viciously attacked him! I was quite taken aback, such fury is not something I would attribute to that oft gentle giant. Autun cleft him in twain with his axe… Such savagery.
I illuminated the cavern to find out what was going on, just in time to see two insectoid creatures carrion-crawling our way. But we managed to quickly take care of these as well. I believe that they are letting off some steam after having to show restraint earlier.
Bree loots Bupidos body and finds [Loot], a walking stick and a portrait of the drow priestess Ilvara done on Black parchment with white paint in typical drow fashion. And a note; Dwarven poetry about gemstones, it’s not that great.. “Mine shining eyes, glitter glamour gleam. Hacking though the ground, look at what I’ve seen. Harder than rock but my face does beam. Blue and Red and Clear and Green, Oh joyous riches, I can just scream. I pick them up, I count Nineteen.”
Things went quickly from bad to worse when we heard a blood curdling scream coming from behind us and we rushed back to investigate. The corrupted Myconids were under attack by a pack of Drow. A set of twins under the command of a priestess and a grey dwarf in the rear. We decided to not interfere and instead retreated back trough the gory shrine chamber. Rumpadump was understandably upset that we left his previous fellows to their fates. I tell him that it’ll soon be over and that they probably won’t feel pain on account of them being mushrooms and all, but Rumpadump failed to see reason. Forgetting that I was dealing with a child, he was soon bribed with an offer of riding on Spider-Ezri’s back… Go figure..
Wading through that filthy room once more, we made our way past to an intersection of sorts. Figuring that left was the way towards the city, we headed in that direction. After some time of walking, we decided that perhaps it would be best to take a short rest. Not knowing where we would emerge in the city and having a drow hunting party on our heels are things best faced ready and rested.
It was not long after we had settled down that we heard those same drow arguing in the distance. It appeared that they were looking for us! As we were able to spot them before they noticed us, an ambush seemed the best course of action. Autun and I stood in the center of the tunnel, appearing to be distracted while Bree, Kais and Erzi hid themselves along the rough tunnel walls.
I must stop underestimating Bree, though small of stature and fickle in nature, the destruction she can bring forth is awe inspiring. A trio of crackling lighting bolts all but tore apart one of one of the drow twins in an offhanded display of power. The Drow priestess must have heard my hesitation, for the insults I casted her way did not provoke her as I had hoped. Instead of doubt, she responded resolutely, bolstering the remainder of the Drow warriors. Kais and Jimjar were able to draw a bead on them though and sent some arrows their way to devastating effect. The final Drow warrior was felled by Ezri as she dropped from the ceiling right on top of him in a fury of legs and fangs.
Though our ambush was a success, we were not able to capture the grey dwarf that was escorting the Hunting party… I suspect that this was not the last we have seen of him.
We [loot] and find 5 Drow insignia, a pendant in the shape of a scroll, a book on drow heretics and what they believe. Spell components. A purse. 4 drow quivers with poison compartment, a set of bone dice. A Rod of the pactkeeper, a pendant of messages and a vail of poisons. As well as a heavy pouch of coins.
Weary of bloodshed, we emerged from the cave in the Derro slums of the West Cleft. This place looks even worse than the city, such poverty and decay, the streets are strewn with filth and the houses seem decrepit.. After all we had just been through, we did not feel safe at all and quickly made our way back to our inn to digest what we had learned that day.
Prior: 3 May 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 24 May 2019