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[lumendelmari]

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Aftermath

1485 DR / Day 41 

The Hold of the Deepking, Gracklstugh

The hatch slammed shut with a resounding—bang—and with it, the weight of all that occurred in the past few hours fell heavily on the Grey Warriors’ shoulders. The mutated dragon egg had been destroyed, Shal was revealed to be a succubus who served the mysterious ‘Dark Prince,’ and the red dragon, Themberchaud, had razed the city before ambushing the Hold of the Deepking. They’d lost two of their companions in the ensuing battle…

The surviving party members escaped the collapsing royal chamber alongside Deepking Horgar, Captain Blackskull, and Broot via a secret passageway beneath the throne. They found themselves in total darkness, unable to make out even the slightest detail of their hand when held just inches from their face. Fortunately, their other senses made up for what they could not see. A blend of earthy odors hung in the air. The atmosphere was chilled and stale, but it also felt heavy. Somehow, the stone-shattering din of the collapsing room above them was absent. The only sound that reached their ears was the scrape of their boots against the stone and the occasional rat scurrying by.

Kazimir was seconds away from summoning his dancing lights when Deepking Horgar struck a flint against an oil-filled channel affixed to the wall. The duergar alone had the sense to shield his eyes as a long line of blinding flame raced down the chute, filling the space with heat and bright light. Sarith hissed, and black spots danced in Prince Derendil’s vision. Captain Blackskull and Broot also turned their heads and shied from the flames. But Fraeya appeared only as affected as the surface dwellers among them and blinked hard—once, twice—before settling. Horgar thought that was odd for a drow but left it alone. [1]

“Follow me,” the duergar said as he descended the staircase. His impressive, black fur cloak swept the dusty floor behind him.

. . .

Read more: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/129783106

[lumendelmari]

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The Grey Warriors

1485 DR / Day 41 

The Hold of the Deepking, Gracklstugh

“You will not be leaving the palace,” Deepking Horgar Steelshadow V announced as his hand closed around Brimtongue, the enchanted warhammer that had been in his possession for decades. He muttered its command word under his breath, and the faint runes began to burn red hot. Kazimir immediately recognized them as Infernal.

“That’s not good,” the tiefling muttered.

“But that’s even worse,” Fargas said as the iron door to the throne room swung open. The eight Stoneguard waiting outside marched in to join their counterpart. They held loaded crossbows in their hands, which they promptly pointed at the cornered adventurers.

“We knew what we were getting ourselves into,” Balasar said gruffly as his eyes darted around the room, seeking a secondary exit. There were none that he could see.

“But did we?” Kazimir yelped.

“The egg must be destroyed,” the dragonborn answered.

“And the people of Gracklstugh need capable leadership,” Fraeya added sharply.

Zelyra rested a comforting hand on the tiefling’s shoulder. “We’re doing the right thing,” she said.

Kazimir sighed in defeat. He knew they were right—but why did doing the right thing consistently land them in ‘chance of certain death’ scenarios?

The wizard quickly relayed the spiraling situation to Captain Blackskull via sending stone. Shal was an obvious threat, and the Deepking was not in his right mind. It was enough for Blackskull to surge forward with her coup. But the captain blatantly recommended that the companions not engage the Deepking until she was present. But more than fifty Darkhafts, the Deepking’s secret police, stood between Errde and the throne room. It would take time for the captain and her honor guard to work their way in and for the word to spread amongst the Stoneguard to break their cover. For now, the adventurers were on their own.

“Bind their hands!” Horgar commanded.

The guards began to quickly advance.

But the companions had no intention of going willingly.

. . .

Read more here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/123922831

or

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13962836/37/The-Grey-Warriors

[lumendelmari]

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[lumendelmari]

Captain Errde Blackskull, Captain of the Stoneguard, from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Shal, duergar consort and advisor to Deepking Horgar Steelshadow V, from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Deepking Horgar Steelshadow V from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Sarith, drow fighter/rogue from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Eldeth Feldrun, shield dwarf fighter from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Prince Derendil, cursed elf prince/quaggoth berserker from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Fargas Rumblefoot, halfling explorer/rogue from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Balasar, dragonborn fighter, from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Nine, half-elf ranger from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

or

[lumendelmari]

Kazimir Oussnddare, tiefling wizard, from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign. (Not going to lie, his character portraits might be my favorite. :D)

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Fraeya, drow rogue, from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915

[lumendelmari]

Zelyra Erenaeth, half-elf druid from 'The Grey Warriors,' a retelling of a completed Out of the Abyss (Dungeons and Dragons) campaign. I can't get over how adorable she is! After I got such good 'spellcasting' results for Kazimir, I had to add some for Zelyra.

The last image is probably the closest I'll get to a depiction of her fire sword, Flameruin.

Read the story here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/35100307/chapters/87436915