Into the Underdark (continued)
Of course, waiting for the onslaught was not such a good plan. Galena put down a grease spell to counter the inevitable charge we were sure was coming. Instead, a dark elf female poked her head around the corner long enough to cast a fireball into the middle of us. It burned out the grease and convinced us we had to storm the place.
Charging past the old guards, we saw a large cavern. It seems the drow work with crystal too, but theirs look like growing trees. A large pit dominated the center of the room but we could not see inside it even with darkvision.
As we fought the drow guards just inside the doorway, we heard a commotion from around the corner to our left. It sounded like a large number of goblins fighting fiercely. Going around to see what was happening, Karl and I saw that a large number of goblins were pummeling a few drow guards and preparing to rush into the main chamber.
Meanwhile, Liana had scouted forward enough to see that someone was standing by the far side of the pit chanting. The rest of the Champions charged into the room, scattering the guards in front of them. As they arrived near the pit, they could see that another armored figure stood near the back of the cavern with two chain-mailed guards nearby. Galena decided to return the fireball favor, and killed all the guards around the two leaders. The remaining drow guards and the chanter and armored dark elves went through a door in the back of the cavern and closed it behind them.
Karl and I found ourselves cut off from the others by swarming goblins. Having killed the drow apparently holding them in, they began attacking everything in sight, including us. After some difficulty, I managed to force my way through to Karl and the two of us ran for the door.
Cobbe and Toiva tried the door and found it locked. It was made of some strange dark metal and seemed strong enough to resist being broken open. Sighing at the delay, Toiva decided to cut his way through with his enchanted great sword. Several strokes later, he had caved in the door and everyone was able to force their way inside. Beyond lay a short corridor and another door, which Toiva also destroyed.
Inside, we found a large carved out room with twisted crystal columns. The shape of a giant spider had been carved into the floor and an alter stood at the other side. Our quarry stood nearby with their one remaining guard. Ignoring the guard, Cobbe and Toiva attacked. We could see now that the one chanting outside had a symbol of a spider worn around his neck, while the more heavily armored one wore a silver symbol with a dragon on it. The spider priest, sidestepped Cobbe’s attack and poisoned him. As Toiva attacked the dragon priest, the drow tried to slip by him. The bard tripped him.
The Spider priest stepped back from Cobbe’s attack and tried to call down a flame strike on him, but Joy was ready. She called on the Lady’s powers to nullify the priest’s spell even as it was cast. Toiva cut the prone dragon priest in two and then helped Cobbe finish the other. Searching the temple, Joy found a secret panel behind the carved alter. Liana tried to see if it was trapped and then opened it. They had not counted on magical protections! The explosive runes wounded Liana and Joy but the object inside seemed undamaged. A deep red glow emanated from the foot-tall teardrop shaped object. It seemed to glow and move with an inner light. Could this be the heartsblood of the Mountain the great elemental had mentioned?
I stood watch at the outer door as the others investigated the temple. The goblins seemed uninterested in attacking us. Instead I heard the sound of fierce fighting coming from the cavern opposite where the goblins had entered. A number of goblins finally began to gather near the pit and seemed to be preparing for a charge. Before they could, though, Cobbe asked Lux to translate as he tried to negotiate our exit.
A particularly large and nasty goblin finally came forward.
“We hate the evil nasty dark elves (ptui!)” he finally told us.
“The evil nasty drow (ptui!) are our enemies as well!” the paladin told them.
Bringing the body of the slain spider priest, Cobbe threw it to them and they ripped it apart with glee. After some negotiation and much spitting about the drow on both sides, the goblins agreed not to attack us.
Seemingly satisfied that we were allies (though Toiva soon pointed out that the goblins were still evil), they allowed us to help them clear out the remaining drow from their homes in the adjoining cavern. Toiva and Cobbe managed to capture one of the guards to question
Our victory lacked only the most important thing, the objects we sought. Titansbane and the Salutorum did not seem to be in the temple or the living quarters of the drow. Several of us began to look uneasily at the impenetrable dark pit. Our prisoner explained that it was the home of “the god” and that victims were often thrown down to appease it. He also told us that the path out of the cavern opposite the one we entered led to “the world.” It seems there is more to the underdark than this place alone. Satisfied he had told us what he could, Cobbe insisted that the drow be allowed to flee toward “the world” on his own. Several of the goblins chased after him but we do not know if he survived.
Cobbe tried pulling out his perpetually flaming sword and placing it in the pit. The darkness seemed to swallow the sword’s light as though it had been dipped in ink.
“I can ask the Lady for the Daylight miracle tomorrow” Joy said “but I do not have it right now. I can close up a stone passage if we need it though.”
We explored the caverns more closely as the goblins celebrated their victory. A short ways further into the underdark were two abandoned caves. We determined to hole up in one of those and await dawn before going into the pit. Joy used Stone Shape to close the entrance off but for a few holes for air, and we resolved to wait until the far-off dawn.
Sometime in the night, Liana heard the distant sounds of fighting. It did not touch us in our hiding place, but we wondered what we might find when morning outside finally did come.
Of course, waiting for the onslaught was not such a good plan. Galena put down a grease spell to counter the inevitable charge we were sure was coming. Instead, a dark elf female poked her head around the corner long enough to cast a fireball into the middle of us. It burned out the grease and convinced us we had to storm the place.
Charging past the old guards, we saw a large cavern. It seems the drow work with crystal too, but theirs look like growing trees. A large pit dominated the center of the room but we could not see inside it even with darkvision.
As we fought the drow guards just inside the doorway, we heard a commotion from around the corner to our left. It sounded like a large number of goblins fighting fiercely. Going around to see what was happening, Karl and I saw that a large number of goblins were pummeling a few drow guards and preparing to rush into the main chamber.
Meanwhile, Liana had scouted forward enough to see that someone was standing by the far side of the pit chanting. The rest of the Champions charged into the room, scattering the guards in front of them. As they arrived near the pit, they could see that another armored figure stood near the back of the cavern with two chain-mailed guards nearby. Galena decided to return the fireball favor, and killed all the guards around the two leaders. The remaining drow guards and the chanter and armored dark elves went through a door in the back of the cavern and closed it behind them.
Karl and I found ourselves cut off from the others by swarming goblins. Having killed the drow apparently holding them in, they began attacking everything in sight, including us. After some difficulty, I managed to force my way through to Karl and the two of us ran for the door.
Cobbe and Toiva tried the door and found it locked. It was made of some strange dark metal and seemed strong enough to resist being broken open. Sighing at the delay, Toiva decided to cut his way through with his enchanted great sword. Several strokes later, he had caved in the door and everyone was able to force their way inside. Beyond lay a short corridor and another door, which Toiva also destroyed.
Inside, we found a large carved out room with twisted crystal columns. The shape of a giant spider had been carved into the floor and an alter stood at the other side. Our quarry stood nearby with their one remaining guard. Ignoring the guard, Cobbe and Toiva attacked. We could see now that the one chanting outside had a symbol of a spider worn around his neck, while the more heavily armored one wore a silver symbol with a dragon on it. The spider priest, sidestepped Cobbe’s attack and poisoned him. As Toiva attacked the dragon priest, the drow tried to slip by him. The bard tripped him.
The Spider priest stepped back from Cobbe’s attack and tried to call down a flame strike on him, but Joy was ready. She called on the Lady’s powers to nullify the priest’s spell even as it was cast. Toiva cut the prone dragon priest in two and then helped Cobbe finish the other. Searching the temple, Joy found a secret panel behind the carved alter. Liana tried to see if it was trapped and then opened it. They had not counted on magical protections! The explosive runes wounded Liana and Joy but the object inside seemed undamaged. A deep red glow emanated from the foot-tall teardrop shaped object. It seemed to glow and move with an inner light. Could this be the heartsblood of the Mountain the great elemental had mentioned?
I stood watch at the outer door as the others investigated the temple. The goblins seemed uninterested in attacking us. Instead I heard the sound of fierce fighting coming from the cavern opposite where the goblins had entered. A number of goblins finally began to gather near the pit and seemed to be preparing for a charge. Before they could, though, Cobbe asked Lux to translate as he tried to negotiate our exit.
A particularly large and nasty goblin finally came forward.
“We hate the evil nasty dark elves (ptui!)” he finally told us.
“The evil nasty drow (ptui!) are our enemies as well!” the paladin told them.
Bringing the body of the slain spider priest, Cobbe threw it to them and they ripped it apart with glee. After some negotiation and much spitting about the drow on both sides, the goblins agreed not to attack us.
Seemingly satisfied that we were allies (though Toiva soon pointed out that the goblins were still evil), they allowed us to help them clear out the remaining drow from their homes in the adjoining cavern. Toiva and Cobbe managed to capture one of the guards to question
Our victory lacked only the most important thing, the objects we sought. Titansbane and the Salutorum did not seem to be in the temple or the living quarters of the drow. Several of us began to look uneasily at the impenetrable dark pit. Our prisoner explained that it was the home of “the god” and that victims were often thrown down to appease it. He also told us that the path out of the cavern opposite the one we entered led to “the world.” It seems there is more to the underdark than this place alone. Satisfied he had told us what he could, Cobbe insisted that the drow be allowed to flee toward “the world” on his own. Several of the goblins chased after him but we do not know if he survived.
Cobbe tried pulling out his perpetually flaming sword and placing it in the pit. The darkness seemed to swallow the sword’s light as though it had been dipped in ink.
“I can ask the Lady for the Daylight miracle tomorrow” Joy said “but I do not have it right now. I can close up a stone passage if we need it though.”
We explored the caverns more closely as the goblins celebrated their victory. A short ways further into the underdark were two abandoned caves. We determined to hole up in one of those and await dawn before going into the pit. Joy used Stone Shape to close the entrance off but for a few holes for air, and we resolved to wait until the far-off dawn.
Sometime in the night, Liana heard the distant sounds of fighting. It did not touch us in our hiding place, but we wondered what we might find when morning outside finally did come.
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