ootacampaign

[ootacampaign]

-Rya Syme's "Droki" from Out of the Abyss

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Adventure #14 - Whorlstone Tunnels

In a strange city of evil deep dwarves who are slowly becoming mad, they only seek a way to the surface but to find it they must satisfy the Flame Keepers’ request to find the derro rogue named Droki so he leads them to where the Gray Ghosts’ lair is and the stolen secret from the Keepers. But before even starting, the group of Caduceus, Aryn, Ikki, Jimjar, Derendil, Stool, Ront, Eldeth, and Eighteen decide to enjoy their first night in many months on a soft warm bed with their bellies full of fresh food and their minds numbed with liquor.

The next morning most of them ache a painful hangover but are still happy to be somewhat free from looking over their shoulders for drow & monsters. Their breakfast is interrupted by a derro boy with a “Candy-Gram.”

“What’s a ... Candy-Gram?” questions Ikki.

The derro smiles with a practically rotted out toothless mouth, “You give candy and I give gram... which is a message...” 

So Ikki hands over some candied leeches he’s had since Sloopdulop which the boy licks to prove its sweetness and tells Ikki that the Stone Giants of Cairngorm appreciated their actions in stopping their the two-head giant and more importantly the mercy they showed their brethern who is currently under their care. The derro finishes by telling them that the Stone Giants’ invite them as guests to their fortress and to receive gifts as new friends to Clan Cairngorm.

The group instead decides to focus on their mission for the Keepers to track down this Droki character, and perhaps swing by the Stone Giants’ abode later. So they head out to the East Cleft in the rift dividing the city. 

There they discover a jarring difference of lifestyle and architecture between duergar and derro. While the duergar were orderly and had purpose, the derro were chaotic and unpredictable. Shacks made from any materials they could find, grew up and down the cliffs of Laduguer’s Furrow connected with bridges even Ikki felt were dangerous.

Caduceus and Jimjar thought the best place to inquire about Droki would be a gambling hall, so they played some dice games while Jimjar & Eighteen pried information from the gambling derro. Finally after some winning jackpots, they report that Droki is usually in the West Cleft, not the East, so they cash out & give up some more coins to the info providers before booking their taxi back up at the “ground level” of Gracklstugh.

While they could have stopped by the Cairngorm cavern, they are eager to find this Droki and get their reward from the Keepers. In the West Cleft, it is more of the same eclectic mess of shacks build up on top of each other in the cavern valley. Once again they find a gambling den, this time a bingo hall that is true to the derro’s insane nature as the number caller does so in random languages forcing those without the tongue to guess and the others with an advantage.

Aryn, Caduceus, and Ikki put their language knowledge base together while the others join the strange dance floor of 3 different bands playing at the same time. After some games, with Ikki well ahead in coins, Jimjar nudges Aryn to get her attention to the derro that just walked in, a mutton chop bearded derro with patchwork threads and a giant full brimmed hat fringed in random baubles dominated by two stuffed displacer beast tentacles drooped down his neck.

The derro, the know as Droki, makes a quick deal with the bouncer for some coins and leaves quicker then he arrived. The group sprints out to shadow their target but Droki is faster then they anticipated and a spontaneous carnival of derro impedes their path. Ikki flies over, while the others try to bob and weave through the chaos. Ikki struggles to spot Droki, but luckily Aryn easily emerges on the other side of the street party to keep Droki in her sights until the rest catch up. They run down winding streets and in their haste Ikki turns a wrong corner and while on his feet a mad derro stabs him in the back claiming Ikki is a wild turkey that deserves to be in his belly. Caduceus and Ront throw some barrels out of the group’s way while Aryn throws an eldritch blast at the harassing beggar allowing Ikki to escape. Derendil leads them back to Droki’s trail to a purple lit cave in the wall with eerie similar colored fog emerges from a fissure.

Deciding to follow, they drop down into a tunnel leading to a three-way branch, finding strange fungi covered figures in on of the branches they opt for the another where they spot Droki just in time to see him eat a mushroom to turn even smaller to fit into a small crack in the wall! Caduceus looks over the shrooms near the crack and identifies them as pygmywarts and bigmies, one to make you bigger the other to make you smaller. So they all agree to take the pygmywart, and turn to the size of a toddler allowing them to follow Droki into the small crack that leads to a larger tunnel with more stools growing near their exit. Most of them except  Ikki take the bigmies to grow back to their normal size but they lose Droki’s trail so they have to guess which way. 

[ootacampaign]

-Themberchaud

WOTC's Out of the Abyss

[ootacampaign]

Adventure #13.5

The two-headed giant that was previously running amok in the Blade Bazaar of Gracklstught, is now unconscious thanks to Jimjar, Derendril, Caduceus & Aryn. Soon duergar guards come running to the scene, creating a circle around the group.

“Where were these guys when we needed them,” thumbs Caduceus.

A duergar begins to verbally abuse their low foreign status and blames them for the destruction, until Aryn & Jimjar is able to persuade the Stoneguard captain that stone giants don’t usually have two heads.

“Well I will let you leave, but it requires names and coin.”

Eighteen seems shocked at the outright corruption of this duergar Stoneguard captain. “And your name, captain?”

“Its Gorglak and you?”

As the group gives their names, a large stone giant comes running through the market and collapses on to the befallen two-head giant, in a giant caring hug and tears. Another group of duergar in black robes lined with flame motifs along their edges, interrupts the scene with a greeting to Aryn & Caduceus.

“We saw your brave deeds in defeating such a wicked foe, and we believe you are the kind of people we have been looking for.”

“And what would that be?” asks Aryn

“Heroes for hire.” 

The duergar introduce themselves as acolytes of the Flame Keepers, those in charge of making sure the forges and fires continue burning throughout the dwarven city. The group agrees to hear their proposal, but the acolytes tell them they will brought to the Red Keep, where the High Keeper will provide them details and aid in the City of Blades. So the Keepers hire a wagon taxi to take them across town into the forbidden parts of the city to non-duergar. The Stoneguard holding them for questions seem to walk away without further incident with the new stone giant and now the Keepers.

While travelling through the city, they see the great Laduguer’s Furrow, a giant rift that cuts Gracklstugh in two and forces them to cross splendid dwarven made stone bridges. Further they see the wondrous Deepking’s Hold, a formidable fortress of stone and iron. Then they are brought the very edge of the cavernous city to see a great red stone keep, where they are brought through the gigantic gates, noting another gigantic gate further another hundred feet up that seems to serve no purpose without a road travelling to it.

The group, especially Aryn the triton, struggles against the quenching heat emanating from the Red Keep. There they are brought inside to meet an older duergar with red hair and beard, wielding a massive warhammer that seems to have a slight glow to it.

“I am  High Keeper Gartokkar Xundorn and I am told you are well versed in battle and even protected the Blade Bazaar from destruction. But this employment does require wits and subterfuge.”

“I assure you great High Keeper, we are not just muscle. I myself control eldritch power of healing, Caduceus himself is an accomplished eldritch knight, Jimjar here is the perfect shadow, Derendil looks like a beast but he is more refined then we will ever know, and we have other companions in our company with other skills and talents,” answers Aryn,

“I see. Well I trust you will be discreet, otherwise I make sure you wished you were arrested by those Stoneguard you escaped in the market.”

Caduceus’ brow peaks with the implied threat.

“But I know there is good in your hearts thanks to your impulse to help those in need at the bazaar. So I need you to track down a derro named Droki. He is a gopher and snoop for many of the black op organizations of Gracklstugh. This includes the Empty Scabbard assassins, the Gray Ghost thieves’ guild, and the Derro Savant Concile. We have tried to track him down ourselves but he has grown very cautious that last three weeks of any duergar, knowing we are on to him. You see the Gray Ghosts stole something from us of great importance and Droki seems to be the best way to follow the trail back to these thieves.”

“And this stolen.... item?” asks Caduceus.

“Well I have a problem telling you exactly what it is, but I can tell you it is responsible for keeping our great forges burning like no other dwarven flames. Trust me, when you see it, you will know what I speak of. Find Droki, find where these Ghosts are, and find my treasure. Do this and I will reward you with supplies, coins, equipment, and information of your path out of the Underdark, for I know this is what you seek above all else.”

The group looks around with implied faces and agree to the High Keeper’s terms. “These pins will give you access to any parts of the city as acting representatives of the Flame Keepers, but remember I trust you to keep this information between us only for it could cause chaos in the city if they knew their fires will soon die within a year.”

They shake hands but their good byes are interrupted by a sudden earth shaking tremor throughout the keep, but before they ask the source a deep and extremely loud voice bellows throughout the stone halls.

“KEEPER! I DID NOT KNOW I WAS BEING SERVED SURFACE DWELLERS!” the voice chuckles with its jest as the group turns to see a red scaled behemoth of tremendous weight & girth.

“Oh Father of Flame, these are foreigners that are going to investigate our enemies for us.”

“WITHOUT MY APPROVAL!”

“Well I did not want worry you with such a small task, and they proved themselves today stopping a two-head stone giant in the Blade Bazaar today. Gentlement please meet the Everburning and the Foundry’s Heart... Themberchaud. ”

“BRING THEM TO MY LAIR, AND I WILL GIVE MY OWN TEST.”

The High Keeper agrees and motions the group to follow him up the stairs but contantly reminds them to be discreet about their mission even with the overweight red dragon that they know realize is the source of the enchanted forge fires. They are brought into a massive lair with a substantial mound of gold and silver coins, dotted with jewels, and tasteful art objects.

“LEAVE US GARTOKKAR.” commands the red dragon then when the High Keeper is gone it continues its threats, “ANY OTHER SPIES IN HERE WILL BE ASHES IN A FEW MOMENTS SO TAKE THIS TIME TO LEAVE!” Aryn notes faint invisible footsteps running across the gold littered floor to the door out and then is shut by the invisible spy.

The dragon laughs at the door shutting.

“THOSE DAMN DUERGAR! I KNOW THEY ARE UP TO SOMETHING. AND YOU WILL BE MY EYES AND EARS OVER THEM. TELL ME WHAT DOES GARTOKKAR REQUIRE OF YOU.”

Caduceus is the only one able to speak to the frightening up-close dragon, “He wants us to find a duergar named Droki, so they can discover the location of the Gray Ghosts’ hideout.”

“OF COURSE. YOU WILL DO THIS BUT YOU REPORT TO ME, NOT THAT SIMPLETON. YOU WILL ALSO DISCOVER WHY THESE DUERGAR SEEM UNTRUSTWORTHY AS OF LATE. THEY KEEP SECRETS FROM ME AND I DEMAND TO KNOW THEM AND SOON.”

“Of course great Themberchaud.” replies Aryn.

“NOW LEAVE ME, I FIND MY SELF HUNGARY NOW THAT YOU ARE NOT MY SECOND BREAKFAST.”

The group hurries out and the High Keeper seems nervous, “Please find the Gray Ghosts and the object they stole, otherwise this city will be an empty and dead.”

They leave the Red Keep and given a handful of taxi tokens to get around town with haste, so they travel back to the Bazaar to speak with their companions to make their next move.

[ootacampaign]

- Tyler Jacobson

[ootacampaign]

Adventure #13 - Gracklstugh

After a week on Darklake, the group has finally reached Gracklstugh in hopes to find a way to the surface. Docking in the district, Hemeth deals with the duergar dockmaster to attain a permit of stay while the others look over their supplies. Buppido grumbles about getting some fresh meat, Ront agrees but with ale to which Jimjar bets he could drink more then the orc, and Stool asks what the big deal is about ale. Hemeth then goes to find his contacts about selling the duergar ship while the crew stretches their legs. In an hour, the smuggler returns and throws Caduceus a bag of gold.

“She was a tough negotiator but I was able to get two thousand gold for ye. Now to our agreement I will take some of the gear & booty before I leave for my city & friends.”

“Of course, good Hemeth. Thank you for your aid, we would done so much more poorly without you,” replies Aryn to which Hemeth gathers up some items and is given some coin & jewels from their previous adventures.

“If ye need a smuggler...”

“Of course.” and with that the duergar lugs his heavy sack into the streets of Gracklstugh.

“Well shall we find a buyer of some of these extra weapons and armor?” asks Aryn.

“And I could use some actual clothes. Can’t believe I’ve worn these slave rags for three weeks!” exclaims Caduceus.

“Derendil, Eighteen, and Jimjar; you’re with us. The rest of you keep an eye on the ship.” says Aryn and looking at Ront, “And don’t get in any trouble.”

“Aye aye captain.” grunts Ront with a touch of sarcasm.

“Ikki is in charge,” adds Caduceus as the aarakocra fluffs up his feathers proudly.

A few blocks away the four find the Blade Bazaar, the best market in town. Every underdark race could be seen, with a few oddities thrown in. They find a smith sharpening a blade.

“Good dwarf, may we bother you a moment,” greets the eldritch knight.

“Hmmmm, surfacers. Whatcha need?”

“Well I am in search of a suit of fashionable plate armor.”

“Fashionable? You humans always looking for something flashy. Whatcha got to sell? Those for me?” answers the duergar as he looks through the assortment of extra arms & armor they brought with them.

“Yes of course.”

“Oooooh, I like this. Oh and this! I couldn’t live without this. My favorite color, metal! Hahaha.”

“Yes and the plate armor you have?”

“Oh yes, good suit will fit you quite well. Here look here.”

Caduceus looks over the suit while the dwarf continues to look at the pile.

“How much?”

“How much for yours here?” asks the dwarf.

“Well what do you offer?”

The duergar begins naming off prices, but to their surprise it was all retail value. 

“Yes that sounds great, but the armor? Say 1,500 gold?”

The duergar spits at the human’s feet. “No sale!”

“2,000?” and once more the dwarf spits.

Aryn changes the subject back to the looted equipment, “We have more back at our ship, why don’t you take it off our hands and Caduceus will walk away with the suit of armor.”

“More ye say! Love it bring it all to me!”

Aryn points to Derendil and Eighteen to go back and fetch the remaining unclaimed gear for the smith.

Caduceus begins trying on the plate while the smith continues looking over the loot.

“I am glad we can come to an arrangement duergar.”

“Name’s Kuip, Kuip Gathergood.”

The two return in haste with a larger selection.

“Oh yes this is so good!” exclaims the dwarf.

“And we have a deal?” asks Caduceus.

“Yes yes,” the dwarf was more preoccupied with the new weapons, “Kuip happy.”

“Then we can walk away now?” and with that Caduceus and the group walks out of the stall.

“What was that Eighteen?”

“I don’t know, the smith seemed broken in the head.”

“Agreed, he had plenty of items for sale so why buy more?” asks Aryn.

“Things don’t seem right in my city.” answers Eighteen.

“Now let’s get some answers and see about some magic,” says the triton as they walk to a spider silk hut with a star for a sign.

They walk inside to find an ancient drow female witch sitting at a table pulling a rat’s internal organs out of its dead body.

“What can Spiderdust do for you lads... and lass?” asks the drow.

“I have some backgound in the arcane and was hoping you had some simple scrolls of detecting magic and identifying it.” asks Aryn.

“Ah yes, I do.” she replies leaving the rat to look over a bookcase full of tomes and scrolls.

“And some answers, is there anything strange going on in the city?”

“Well, depends on your definition of strange...” cackles the witch, “duergar are acting like derro, and derro like duergar.”

Caduceus thinks over this omen. The duergar are quiet, hard working, and loyal to a fault while the derro were chaotic, unpredictable and never shut up when you need them to.

“Plus derro are showing up with surface coins.”

The three surface dwellers peak their interest at the news.

“What kinds of coins? Where do they get them from?”

“No idea, but the coins are from various regions... Waterdeep, Calimshan, and even the Dales.”

Thinking of Ikki, “Do you have an goggles to see in the darkness?”

The witch laughs at the request, “Why would I have that? It seems like an odd request but I guess ye are surfacers... I’ve had a pair but sold it... three maybe five years ago.”

“Thank you Spiderdust. That is all.”

The group leaves to rejoin the marketplace full of its activity and noise.

“I don’t know how much longer I could stay in that crone’s presence,” grunts Derendil. “I am certainly not a fan of magic nor drow.”

“But my prince, she gave us some interesting news. Keep an eye out for some derro. We need to know if they have a way to the surface,” commands Aryn.

“Can we get some clothes now?” asks Caduceus with Jimjar shaking his head in agreement.

The group walks a little through the busy bazaar to find a tailor stall run by four goblins who share a passion of fashion with the eldritch knight. In the end Caduceus walks out with a new suit of finery: wool pants, fashionable leather boots, long silk shirt and a leather vest fringed in wolf fur. Jimjar himself walks out with some pantaloons and a hooded caped shirt, which the goblins called a hoodie.

Derendil asks Aryn, “You do not need new clothes?”

“I am from the sea, what use do we have of clothes? You?”

“I sadly cannot hide the my cursed appearance with simple clothes.”

As they debate where to go next the bazaar noises and anvil sounds are droned out as to their surprise a two-headed stone giant comes rampaging through a gate and takes out the duergar guard in one blow. The giant continues its charge toward the five. Running on instincts Caduceus activates Dawnbringer and goes into a wall stance to protect his companions while Jimjar and Eighteen leap for cover behind a now empty stall.

“Stop giant or we will put you down!” commands the triton, but the giant only replies with a foamy maw shout and charges Caduceus who luckily throws a shield spell into the way of the attack. Derendil sweeps through the panicked crowd to get behind the giant and slashes out with his quaggoth claws. Jimjar answers with a hand crossbow bolt, while Aryn unleashes a Gust of Wind to keep the giant at bay. The defending eldritch knight tries to look over his opponent and is puzzled why a stone giant would have two heads, and then sees the eyes different from the two heads.

“I think its been corrupted by demonic forces!”

“More like possessed! Why does this kind of thing always follow us no matter where we go?” replies Aryn with magical blast to the giant’s face. 

“You were the one that suggested we bring only five of us!” shouts Caduceus as he holds off another strong blow with a Shield.

The giant moves past the knight to take a swing at the giant dragon statue in the middle of the bazaar. Finding his chance from an assault, Caduceus casts Protection from Evil on the giant, in hopes to break the possession but the giant just seizes up and its red eyes go white. “Take out the right head, its unnatural!” shouts Caduceus. Jimjar taking the advice kisses his hand crossbow before launching a bolt straight through the giant’s mouth, while Aryn finishes off the giant with a blast to the face, with Derendil luckily jumping out of the way from a tumbling unconscious giant.

[ootacampaign]

-Pathfinder?

[ootacampaign]

Adventure #12

Only days from Gracklstugh, the crew of the kuo-toa koan plot their way through Darklake, but they began questioning their captured duergar pirate. Named Atetin, but called Eighteen by those speaking the common tongue, he was a new recruit aboard the pirate crew out from Grackstugh. They wait for weak prey and trick any foolish enough to investigate an empty boat. Asked about their new ship, Hemeth reported that duergar are very contract oriented, so everyone will know who’s boat they now have, but he knows some black market contacts that would take the boat off their hand at a lower price.

“We will soon reach the Stone Teeth triton, then we shall see how skilled you are with this vessel,” reports Hemeth, the duergar smuggler.

“Ssheee willll preeeevaiiillll,” answers Shuushar the kuo-toa mystic.

In a hour, Hemeth was correct, as shouts of rock croppings ahead, it was if the Darklake itself had massive sharp teeth ready to chew the boat apart.

With the flying scouts and the darkvision spotters, Aryn skillfully steered safely around numerous teeth, but the duergar ship they were pulling made it difficult but sure enough after an hour of careful navigating they didn’t hit a single rock.

“May Asmodeus be praised! I have never seen a newcomer to the Teeth not hit a single rock in all my years as a sailor,” exclaimed Hemeth.

Before they could celebrate a new shout interrupted, but not another rock to steer around but creatures falling from the ceiling.

“DARKMANTLES!”

Sure enough, creatures like umbrellas glided down in an ambush, but thanks to Aryn’s boat steering, the Darkmantles landed farther in the rear onto their dragging duergar pirate boat where Shuushar, Caduceus & Stool manned. A giant darkmantle landed on top of Shuushar, its cloak-like body wrapped tightly around his kuo-toa head while sharp fangs from underneath its body pierced through his neck.

“AGH! Miiiii eyyyyyes! Iiiii caaaan’t seeeeee!”

Caduceus looked in dismay as half a dozen landed around him, since none of them saw Stool as food. “Could use some help here,” he shouted to the leading ship as Dawnbringer extended her sunblade ready to slay all who stand in her way to get to the surface.

The main crew hurried to the stern, but they still had to traverse the rope attached to the mushroom raft then another rope line to the duergar ship. Aryn bravely dove into the Darklake, while Ikki flew at full speed with his crossbow finding its mark.

Two even larger Darkmantles came down on Caduceus, one blocking out his vision with its “wings” as he felt the sting of its teeth on his head. The eldrtich knight forcefully pulled the Alpha Darkmantle off and went into a defensive stance against the eight Darkmantles now surrounding him, and the darkmantles failed to get through Dawnbringer’s twirling wall of light.

Ikki took out a darkmantle with a bolt, but soon found the darkmantles could also fly and one blacked out his vision and felt the similar bite. He struggled to fly in the cavernous lake and tried to break free but instead knocked his head into one of the boats, falling into the cold waters.

Aryn let off some eldritch blasts on the darkmantle on Ikki, but soon sensed the life energy of Shuushar go out. She knew she must do something drastic or lose the rest of the crew to these aberrations. 

Stool came rushing to Caduceus’ aid with a fungi-punch, taking out one of the smaller darkmantles. But Caduceus took many attacks and finally his vision blacked out as well as his mind. 

“Noooooo!” screamed Ront as he jumped to the boat flattening one of the darkmantles with his maul.

Aryn said a quiet apology to her Patron, Shuushar, and Caduceus, as she pulled a bead from her enchanted necklace.

“Get back!” she commanded to Ront & Stool, as the bead arched through the air and to deck of the boat filled with darkmantles. In an instant the boat was engulfed in a fiery inferno, most of the small Darkmantles exploded into meat chunks but the Alphas survived still on fire, but the pacifist kuo-toa Shuushar was incinerated in ash. Ront and Stool took advantage of the situation to take down more darkmantles, while Ikki shook himself out of the water to take out one of the Alphas with another bolt. Aryn climbed aboard to praise the Preserver as Caduceus survived the fireball.

The crew had a quiet service for their fallen comrade Shuushar. The ashes left behind was gathered up into a jar as they swore to return him to his home in Sloopdulop for burial.

Another quiet day goes by without any interruptions, but the crew almost wished something would stop them thinking about the dead Shuushar. It wasn’t until another day later, when they started seeing more ships they started to plot their next moves in Gracklstugh.

[ootacampaign]

Aryn Ahlorsath

Triton, Warlock of the Preserver, Soldier (Medic), Good.

Preferring her wits & knowledge to defeat most situations, but when she can’t solve it through peaceful means her Patron, Avangion, has given her eldritch powers to stop violence and punish hostiles.

Ayrn aids her people along the Sword Coast, keeping her people and all innocents along the coast safe from monsters & villains. In her journeys, she keeps a tome, a Book of Life & Death, to store all her gained knowledge of the arcane & medicine.

In a series of visions from her Patron, she knew that she must join the confederation of scouts representing the Sword Coast to investigate the rise of demonic corruption in the lands. This expedition brought them to the dark depths of the Underdark, where Aryn fell in love with the alien fauna and life teeming in the mysterious caverns. But this childlike wonder would curse her forever, as she left her sentry post to watch a mating ritual between cave fishers, the allied company was ambushed by drow. Rushing back, she was appalled by the death and wanton of destruction left by the dark elves. Before she could use her healing powers, she took a dart of sleeping poison. When she awoke, she was in chains being brought to a drow outpost called Velkenvelve before being sold in the drow capital of Menzoberranzan.

You mistakenly assume that surface folk know about and are impressed by your people's history.

I can stare down a hell hound without flinching.

Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good)

I'll never forget the crushing defeat of my company.

I made a terrible mistake in battle that cost many lives-and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret.

Picture by Joel Thomas (Stormwrack)

[ootacampaign]

Adventure #11

Back on the waters of Darklake toward Gracklstugh, the crew spots a storm ahead as the waves begin challenging the wheels and navigator.

“Put your backs into it!” encourages Caduceus.

“Hooold onn, thhiss wwilll beee bummmpyyy.” replies Shuushar.

Indeed the waves crashed upon the koan bringing with them all kinds of debris ripping up the hull.

“Think this will hold?” asks Aryn.

“Let’s hope so, cause there only 2 swimmers and 1 flyer in this crew.” adds Jimjar.

Even Ikki had trouble flying in this wind but he continued as he shouted out rock croppings ahead. Aryn skillfully moved them aside without damage, but the ship and crew was wet as Darklake itself now.

More waves, more rocks, more debris but this crew knew their talents: Ikki spotting with the familiars, Aryn & Shuushar navigating, Stool & Buppido as runners, and the rest as the muscle working the paddle wheels that power this kou-toa ship.

After an hour the storm subsided and as they relaxed their tired bodies, Eldeth shouted, “Boat portside!”

The crew looked over to see an empty boat taking on water.

“Its empty.”

“Thats a duergar boat.” replies Hemeth.

“Theees arre duuugaar waaatersss.” adds Shuushar.

“Well she’s empty and sinking, law of the seas says she is open game. Prepare the raft,” commands Caduceus.

Jimjar, Ront, Caduceus, Aryn, and Ikki decide to investigate the mysterious boat with their mushroom cap raft they’ve been dragging since Sloopdulop. With a crack against the starboard, Jimjar throws a grappling hook and Ront brings them up close while Aryn and Caduceus look around. The below deck is full of water and some supplies.

“This is too weird,” says Aryn.

“Maybe they were washed off by the storm,” adds Caduceus but Aryn’s reply is only a confused and frustrated brow & lip.

But to their dismay the boat was indeed not crewless, as a dozen duergar became visible with an assault on the crew. Caught unaware, almost all of them took some strike flat-footed. Three duergar grew to large size and shouted a haughty war cry.

Caduceus brought up his patented defense trying to keep Aryn & Jimjar from the frontlines while Ront bellowed a raging strike with his maul into one of the large duergar pirates. The duergar recruits, while young were still deadly with their javelins finding their mark on Ikki.

Aryn knew this was a deadly encounter, so she called for everyone back to the raft and retreat to the koan. As they moved back, Aryn gave one last warning before she broke a bead from the newly discovered necklace from the Lost Tomb of Khaem. The bead hit the pirate deck and exploded with the power of a mighty explosion taking a few recruits and damaging two of the large duergar. 

But the dwarves were not ready to let them escape as they jumped aboard the mushroom raft bringing their assault to Jimjar and Aryn. The gnome fell off the raft into the water, but Aryn was prepared with her own Armor of Agathys nipping back at the attacks against her. Ikki kept his attacks on the recruits hoping to draw some of their fire from the rest, while Ront jumped back to the raft finding his mark smashing one of the pirates brains to pulp. The orc gave out a blood-curdling cry wiping the dwarf blood into his mouth, and charged the next duergar.

Caduceus broke his defensive stance to bring his own attacks, now empowered by the mighty Dawnbringer. The dwarves grimaced as the bright sunbeams poured forth from the enchanted blade and they could not defend quick enough as Caduceus took down another pirate. Jimjar struggled to get back onto the raft but his companions fought a bloody battle without his aid, and with Ront unconscious again only one duergar remained and throw down his weapons in surrender.

Caduceus looks over to Aryn healing Ront, “I told you this was a good idea.”

“That’s duergar blood all over you right?”

“I’m fine. Now for the spoils of battle.” laughed the eldritch knight.

They found some cork stowed away that perfectly fit the holes bringing in water, as if they dwarves planned this whole ambush. The crew with Hemeth’s advice decided to take the boat with them, hoping to trade it in at Gracklstugh.

[ootacampaign]

Tale #3

While Aryn tends to the wounds of Derendil, he enjoys conversing in elvish with the triton. His high elven accent seems so ironic coming from a giant white furry beast. The healer hears his tale of his betrayal by the court wizard and hopes his sister is safe in his absence. He sings an elven song of his kingdom and when he done he asks, "I trust you with my life and my story, so how does a triton find their way this deep in the Underdark?”

“I was send by Admiral Korsath to lead a small scouting party with instructions to map the water ways of the underdark, and look for a route to and from the ocean. We were ambushed by group of Drow, and I was taken prisoner. My soldiers were all killed.“ “I trust that everyone in this group wants to reach Gracklstugh as much as you and I have to admit I haven't thought much beyond that. I don't think we need to trust in anything beyond their motives of self preservation until we arrive. I feel that the hounds left me with a terrible disease, and my Patron has not granted me the power to lift it. Then your question of trust will be more important. I don't know what to expect, if this were a party of Tritons, there would be no question that I could rely upon them.”

[ootacampaign]

City in cave by SnowSkadi

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Adventure #10

The group decide to go back to the boat to recover from their wounds, while Ront & Hemeth keep an eye on the tombs just in case of newly risen ghosts. Of course the two wanted to stay behind and loot the empty crypts with the rest of the crew gone healing...

Once fully rested, the group looks into the secret door discovered by Aryn, which reveals a long drop to a chamber below with familiar stone engravings and a metallic coffin.

“That’s it you’re getting closer...” whispers the voice in Aryn’s head.

They secure two ropes and begin repelling down to the newly discovered crypt. Ront, very proud of his actions so far charges the coffin before Caduceus can show him up, but with the sudden throw of the lid another ghostly visage appears, this time a woman in noble robes and flowing hair.

“Fools, you awake Sorceress Bryss of Khaem. And you mortal existence will fuel my return to this forgotten realm!” shrieks the wraith as she unleashes magical flames engulfing the room with Ront, Hemeth, Caduceus and Ikki with it.

“I can help!” screams the body-less voice.

Aryn looks down and spots a beautiful gold shimmering sword inside the open coffin. “Caduceus, get the sword!”

The eldritch knight bravely runs past the newly risen wraith to pry the sword from the death grip of Brysis’ mummified corpse. Once free, the sword jumps with the power of the sun: “I am freeeee!”

Brysis the Wraith cries in agony of the radiance of the sword in Caduceus’ hands. “I will not be slain by my own blade,” she screams as she lashes out at Caduceus but his talented defense keeps her at bay while Hemeth and Ront slam down upon her.

“Keep it up, I can’t hold her all day.” shouts the knight.

Aryn leaps down, releasing her own magical assault on the wraith with Ikki supporting with his own dead-eye shots from his crossbow.

“Our attacks do nothing to her!”

“Keep your wits and strength, we will use our magical might!” answers the triton.

Ront yells in agony as the wraith strikes him in the chest and drains part of his life essence. Caduceus lurches forward with his own attack, but a backbiter’s curse forces the newly found blade swinging back slicing his arm.

“I swear that wasn’t me!” pleas the feminine voice now in Caduceus’ voice.

Hemeth and Ikki coordinate their attacks onto the dead sorceress but their attacks do little to the incorporeal body defending the tomb. Aryn throws another eldritch blast while mending to Ront’s wounds.

The sword speaks to Caduceus, “I am Dawnbringer, slayer of evil and this is for a thousand years of darkness next to a mummy!” as it pierces the dark veil of Brysis once and for all. She cries in pain, “Noooooooo!” as she fades out of oblivion.

“Thank you for rescuing me,” answers Dawnbringer.

“Of course, I am Caduceus Abraxas. This is Ikki, Hemeth, Ront, and Aryn.”

“Yes I felt your good energy coming this way. Luckily the triton heard my pleas. Are we going to the surface soon? I need to rejuvenate in the sun’s radiance.”

“Well it will be some time, but you have my word that you and I will return once we find the path back home.”

Eldeth spots something peculiar next to Brysis’ tomb. “Something is here. I believe its an invisible box.” Ikki comes to help her and together they find a lid that opens revealing a cache of ancient coins, sparkling gems, and some jewelry. Aryn investigates further with her magic and finds one of the necklaces as a dangerous magical weapon, capable of launching fireballs from its remaining beads.

“Now that was a prosperous expedition for a hidden tomb.” 

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Tale #2

While foraging for food in the Underdark, Ront offers his help to Ikki. The two get to talking and discover he was left for dead in a battle with dwarves when the drow found him and took him to Velkenvelve."I don’t know about that female bearder, I think she is going to kill me ‘n Buppido the first chance she gets. You got any problems?”

"Chirp chirp,  I was a long way from home scouting for my clan when my war party was chased by a green dragon, Chirp...  Few of us managed to escape him in a gorge, but for the sake of the others I drew his attention deeper and deeper allowing my companions to retreat.  The gorge turned into a tunnel and the dragon collapsed the passage around myself and a few fated others........ CHIRP!..  The next thing I knew I was bound, maybe the drow finished him off, or maybe he escaped,  but I'm sure the collapse drew many attentions.  Chirp, Chirp" "As for trusting, our current situation doesn't quite allow for trust.  I do feel if I am ever to see the surface again, we must use all the help we can.  Click Click CHIRP!!..

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Caduceus Abraxas

Human Fighter (Eldritch Knight); Knight (Fallen House)

6' 0" tall slender but athletic build, silver hair and pale blue eyes. Handsome but cold.

Occult Family Lineage: Prior to the fall of House Abraxas, his family was from a known Draconic bloodline, and practiced occult arts. His study has allowed him mastery over the element of water, which is reflected in his defensive fighting style, and stealth training.

Blade Mastery & Tunnel Fighting: His unique family fighting style, puts emphasis on defense and counter-attack. Training simultaneously deflect incoming attacks, and lash out with fast strikes while maintaining defenses. Preferring to use long sword and rapiers, creating the "Perfect Defense".

Tarot cards: His family practiced the art of cartomancy, and while his skill was not perfected, Caduceus still consults the cards when able.

"No one could doubt by looking at my regal bearing that I am a cut above the unwashed masses."

"Respect is due to me because of my position, but all people regardless of station deserve to be treated with dignity."

"Nothing is more important than the other members of my family."

"I secretly believe that everyone is beneath me."

"Treachery and betrayal, I will never forget!"

Picture from Le-Yan

[ootacampaign]

Tomb

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Adventure #9

On their way through the watery labyrinth of the Darklake to the duergar city of Gracklstugh, the party continues their simple chores on the koan from Sloopdulop. The next day they find themselves in an old duergar engineered passage for ships. Travel signs in dwarvish remind them they are about 4 days away from the City of Blades.

While in these well planned passages, Aryn turns to the person speaking to her... but no one is there. The healer senses something in the darkness ahead of them. “Help me...” it seems to whisper to her with a strange divine purpose to it. Her questioning of her sanity is interrupted by Eldeth shouting from port.

“Any one else see that?” she points to a almost indistinguishable door.

Hemeth looks at it, “That ain’t duergar, thats for sure.”

Aryn turns to rudder as if the voice is behind that door and needs her help. Cadceus turns to her with a inquisitive look, “We are stopping?”

Aryn ignores the question trying to keep her ears open for the voice again.

The crew eases the koan to the hidden door, while Ront & Caduceus plan their technique to get the old stone door open.

“Watch tis, puny human,” barks Ront as he crushes the door with his maul, shattering it into large bricks and dust leaving a dark passage into a room beyond.

Ikki chirps commands, “Excellent heave Ront, your with me. Caduceus, Hemeth, and Jimjar lets go.”

“I will be joining you, you might need a healer,” adds Aryn.

The away party slowly moves into a dark antechamber lines with alien carvings of lands unknown. Sorcerers command the elements with floating cities behind them. No one is able to translate the script lining the stonework.

Jimjar stealthily leads the way, careful to be wary of traps or other dangers. They progress down a sharp weaving staircase up, leading to a large room with an altar lined with similar script from before. 

“Don’t touch anything,” exclaims Hemeth with Caduceus agreeing.

Two doors reveal different ways out, so they open the eastern door to a crypt of 4 sarcophagi with more alien pictures of magic and castles unlike anything they’ve seen. 

“Netheril... it must be,” says the eldritch knight, “It was an ancient empire ruled by powerful sorcerer-kings and queens. They commanded the very elements and stars, until it all came down crashing upon them.”

Ront grunts and Ikki adds, “A tale of caution for those that put too much trust in magic.”

Everyone turns to Aryn as she quickly jumps hearing the familiar whisper.

“Preserver, are you... ok?” asks Jimjar.

Aryn ignores the gnome and points to the far corner, “There seems to be a secret chamber underneath that sarcophagus.” 

Ront jumps at the chance to show up Caduceus again and runs with full speed to throw off the lid. As he does just that, a ghostly being arises from the grave.

“Fools, how dare you disturb our sleep!” it shrieks as three more specters reveal themselves from the other tombs.

“Get behind me!” shouts Caduceus as they scramble out from the newly arisen ghosts.

While the eldritch knight sets himself as the only target, the specters ignore him and float right through the walls and appear back in the chamber with his teammates. One specter weakens Jimjar with only a touch as another chills Ront’s soul.

“I should’ve thought of that...” curses the eldritch knight as charges the other two forcing their attacks onto him but his blade just barely phases through the specter.

“Aryn, we could use some of that magic of yours.”

The warlock agrees and unleashes her eldritch might upon the specters now in the rear, while Ront tries swinging his greataxe but only finding it worthless. Ikki tries giving him some reassurance and forces the specter to acknowledge his skill with the crossbow.

Hemeth pulls out his warpick, “Time to even these odds!” he shouts as he beings growing to be a dwarven giant, swinging his weapon through the specters but hits only stone wall.

The specters try going through Caduceus but discovers his own magical Booming Blade curse, so they stand their ground with the knight. Aryn takes down one of the specters with her magical shillelagh and helps Jimjar with his wounds while the other three finally get enough damage on the other to disappear from existence. 

Now without a threat from the rear, the group takes down the last two specters through pure brute strength of weapon strikes and warlock magic.