Dungeon Hoe

Two uneventful days passed before a small gnome with large white eyes stepped out from the mass of stalagmites.  She was shorter than anyone in the group, she wore what appeared to be a burlap sack with holes cut into it for her arms and neck.  Around her neck glowed a small necklace. 

"Are you all from the surface rld?" she asked with beaming eyes.
Auren stepped forward, "Every last one of us."

"I must hear of it, I have never been." she replied.

"All in due time." Auren answered.

She looked past Auren to Raddick, "it is beautiful!"

Raddick stepped back in shock thinking that this small creature may have it out for him before he realized that he had drawn his weapon.  The gnome was mesmerized by flames that danced off his blade. 

"It is my instrument of death." he chuckled.

"It is an instrument of beauty." she ogled.

"Rose, we must be on our way." Victran interrupted.

Next up: Gnome town

Fox and Victran have some alone time.

Victran led Fox through a maze of small tunnels with enough branches and turns to render Fox helpless if he had ever needed to find his way back on his own.  Finally they came to a spot where Victran rolled aside a medium sized boulder, removed a wooden box, and produced a piece of parchment.  Scrawled on the parchment was a date, Victran crumpled it and placed it in his pouch before Fox could get a good look.

"We just missed her," Victran sighed, "she will return in two days."

The two headed back to camp where all was well.

Dodge Caravan

Continuing on deeper into the darkness our fearless group of heroes finds themselves upon a structure which can only be justified as a “tube” crossing through the passageway. It was different from all of the other passages and tunnels that they had crossed through, this tube appeared to be manmade. It’s shape and dimensions were much more symmetrical and thought-out.

“We are now in an ancient worm tube,” chimed Victran, the group’s Drow guide. “It is now used by merchants as a trade route.” Victran’s formal knowledge of the Underdark had so far proven helpful to the group along with his blades. Victran was quickly earning over the group’s trust. “It is now safe to use a light source.”

Deeper down the tube flickers of torchlight danced. For the first time they felt mildly at ease in the depths of the Underdark. 

“We are going to an area where merchants barter.” Said Victran in a calm tone.

A mile down, the torch-ensconced tube opened into a massive cavern large enough to hold Lord Tindross’ grounds twice over. The cavern was bowl shaped with a road traversing the rim. On the inside of the road a forest of stalagmites crept in all directions. Another road led down to the center of the cavern which was flat and well lit. Two dozen caravans had been set up in the center of the cavern. On the far side caravans were coming and going, being pulled by sturdy lizard-like creatures. From the distance it looked as if the population consisted of gnome-like creatures. Victran studied the scene intensely.

“I see Daro, Drugar, deep gnomes and two ogres.” Victran relayed.

Looking around Fox could sense figures in the stalagmites. Perhaps it was still not safe to speak out in the open.

“We should make our way down to the market,” Victran suggested, “our informant will be waiting.”
Fox disguised himself as a dark elf, knowing that most underground races, especially dark elves, do not like surface elves.

Approaching the market it was agreed that Dahktor Yang would wear the Helm of comprehension. 

“Game of chance?” a small disfigured gnome had popped out from behind a wagon wheel. “Perhaps a game of chance?” The limping creature smiled.

“No, we are not here for chance.” Dahktor replied.

The gnome’s smile faded into a sneer, it growled and returned to it’s spot behind the wheel.
Fox noticed a female between two wagons. She was short with large blue eyes the size of his fist. She was transfixed on the newcomers as they passed by.

“She is not here, we must go,” Victran led them through the market and up the opposite side of the cavern where they set up camp at the rim amid the stalagmites.

“I must go check the drop point,” informed Victran, “If a drow female comes to our camp you must leave!” His eyes narrowed. “If that happens we will meet up in 1 day.”

Still in Drow disguise, Fox left with Victran. The group waited and wondered, who is this Drow female?

If you need to spew, spew in this.

The group found themselves at the opening of a passageway leading deeper into the Underdark. Victran’s knowledge of the area promoted him to the ranks of guide. The group still did not trust his intentions. It was not normal for a Drow to befriend a group of topsiders, and even more abnormal to lead them into the belly of the Underdark. A mild tension had been building as they moved deeper and deeper.

Victran signaled to halt. "You will need a light source."

Those with low light vision took up the lead while those with glowing light sources brought up the rear. A small stream guided the passage through a series of switchbacks. They traveled in silence. Announcing their presence could spell certain doom.

The passage opened up into a large chamber with a ceiling too high to make out. Eons of subterranean drips had carved deep craters into the chamber floor. The cauldrons held a sloppy mix of water and debris.

Fox was the first to slip in. Above he noticed alcoves on either side of the chamber, darkness had a firm grasp over the area however he spotted something in one of the alcoves. The faint movement of a fine wire caught his eye.

“This is a choke point, proceed with caution.” Victran relayed to the party members.
Auren slipped past and followed the wall to the left. As he reached the first of the cauldrons he feels the tension of a wire from above. He is knocked head over heels, feeling the wire wrap around his legs, he is lifted off the cave floor and hauled up to the alcove.

The group pours into the chamber as Auren is being hoisted off the ground by an unknown force. Wasting no time, Phae releases a fireball up into the alcove. In cries of agony a singed cavefisher tumbles out of the darkness and into a heap next to a stunned Auren.

The noise from the cavefisher aroused something else in the chamber. One by one the cauldrons of sludge began to stir and one by one giant cockroaches clambered out. Preparing for the worst Nera cast a blessing aura on her cohorts. 

Victran charged to meet the massive bugs, carving it with both blades. A foul smelling ick flowed out of it’s wounds as it fell. 

A second creature charged Phae who was caught unaware. It secreted a putrid oil which wafted into Phae’s nostrils. Unable to cast Phae his knees began to buckle as his stomach grinded in pain. His insides began to contract and vomit uncontrollably flowed out. His breast plate glistened with his breakfast. His tunic underneath was wet with acid. He gathered himself inbetween heaves. 

In a complete nauseous rage he loosed a blast of fire which engulfed the chamber and fried the rest of the roaches. He fell to his knees a continued to spew.

Back in business!

The Adventure blog is back.  Sorry for the long delay.  I have added an email alert to the right.  Sign up and receive email alerts when new posts are added.  There should be an app for that.  There will be more added this week in preparation for next weeks game.