(Following: Lost Below)
Led into the darkness of the Underdark by the dark elf Sarith Kzekarit, the Yungbluds escaped imprisonment in the Drow outpost called Velkynvelve. Their minds reel with not only the nightmares and madness that grip the region, but a sudden tear in time (or reality?) triggered by Nass Lantomir, who has now faded from the group. A friend and fellow student of the other two wizards, she is believed to now be safely returned to the Host Tower of the Arcane Brotherhood.
Pictured left to right: Runi (human knight), Sarith (drow elf ranger), Jimjar (deep gnome rogue), Dex (thought to be tiefling wizard), Prince Derendil (quaggoth said to be elf prince under a curse), Buppido (derro dwarf rogue), Nass (human wizard), Eldeth (shield dwarf warrior), Alyks (tiefling wizard), Stool (myconid sprout), Vaxz (wood elf druid), Ront (orc warrior), Shuushar (kuo-toa mystic - left behind in the prison cell).
Pursued
Despite the incursion by the skirmishing flying demons and despite the fires lit by Dex before the Feather Fall escape, the wooden lift slowly and ominously descends from the stalactite outpost, urging the hasty retreat. One of the demons, its wing crushed, spins to the ground blocking escape - until the frenzied orc Ront hacks it to pieces and tears off the birdlike leg (ever attending to his stomach).
Sarith's knowledge of the region proves crucial in evading the initial sweep of the scout party. In fact, if anything, Sarith has undersold what he knows - leading the group through hidden channels and darkened paths to gain a lead on the searchers. Jimjar and Buppido take turns as the rear scouts, keeping tabs on the group's lead. Sarith has worked out hidden signals to leave clues for the trail to take, while the rogues then do their best to cover the group's tracks.
With the very restricted resources stolen before the escape, the party must apply extreme care rationing. The leg of demon-chicken keeps Ront's hunger at bay for a couple days, followed once more by the ongoing complaints. There is a tension between the dwarf Eldeth and Ront that has to be watched every moment, or seems certain to break out in mortal combat.
LIGHT: the Underdark is very very dark, of course - no sky assists here, and the Darkvision still only giving dim perception. With Nass absent, Runi is the only one completely blinded, and the torches and lanterns to assist in bringing longer ranged sight for all. The use of oil for the lantern and burning of the torches is significantly extended by Alyks' constant use of her skills with Control Flames. Fortunately, about half the time on the paths chosen by Sarith are softly illuminated by either colorful fungi (some of which provide bland food options) or the mind-buzzing energies within the deep rocks the Drow call Faerzress.
FOOD: The druid Vaxz almost certainly singly saves the entire party from starvation through his daily use of Goodberry. These somewhat tasty treats provide each in the group (except, apparently, Ront) a whole day's worth of nutrition (and 1 HP!) Without this, the party would have needed to hunt and forage along the way, taking time and exposing to danger.
Reflections, Diagnoses, and Auguries
Mushroom Meditations
The Myconid sprout called Stool has endeared itself to the party, particularly the tiefling Alyks. It can sense the character and conditions of those in the party, though it does not really have a way of making sense of the events going on around it. It (he?) was told to run away by grown-ups. It got lost. As the party has neared Neverlight Grove, it has increasingly received warning-spores that something is wrong.
- Runi buries a sadness and loss of a loved one, but she needs to mourn. She can only push herself to be a hero for so long.
- Alyks Askaria keeps away from feelings, preferring books and facts. The bond she feels for me is the first she has felt since she was abandoned by her parents.
- Dex is a thing (tragically not evil dark fey) that is drawn to another like thing (tragically not evil dark fey) - as sure as he is fond of sweets.
- Sarith Kzekarit reminds me of home, he smells like home - but also of danger and something bad and scary. I can talk with him without my spores!
- Buppido has a mind I do not like to touch. It is damaged and very scary. I stay away.
- Derendil sees and hears everything like it is storyland, whenever that fades it leaves only anger and violence.
- Eldeth shines with honor and courage and seeks a purpose. She works hard not to make that purpose killing Ront.
- Jimjar is very very good at games like hide and seek but very very bad at games where he bets and loses things. And he likes betting lots.
- Ront listens more to his stomach than anyone around him. He is grumpy when it yells at him.
- Vaxz is fun because his brain imagines being all kinds of creatures.
Druid Diagnoses
The wood elf druid Vaxz has profound concerns over disruptions to the natural balance in the Underdark. Even miles below his forests, he can sense there are demonic intrusions on the natural order, and he has chosen to take a form to meditate on these troubles. He knows several party members have already begun the corrupting process, and he is calling upon greater powers to give him the arts to help restore them.
Vaxz's use of Detect Poison & Disease has helped him sort the status of each party members and form plans, but without a cure it seemed of little help to point out the problem. There is a strengthening infestation growing in Sarith, who has opened up to Vaxz about his infestation, swearing the druid to secrecy while they try to work out a cure. The druid has taken Wild Shapes to travel in the backpack of the knight, but also scurried out and on the person of the drow ranger - in spider form.
- The knight Runi is the exhibit of physical health and focus. She seems to be the most stable of the entire party.
- Tiefling blood is always suspect for its ties with the infernal, but that is to the Nine Hells, not the Abyss, and that seems to help Alyks reject their influence.
- So exposed to Sarith, Dex is likely the next one to become infected. He is not a Tiefling, it seems - and its blood no protection.
- Sarith's fungal growths are becoming more difficult to prune and cauterize before being noticed by the party.
- Buppido's multiple madnesses are very complicated, and he has no desire whatsoever to be cured.
- Derendil is more than simply mad, he seems to be possessed, and a great deception at hand. Whether an elf or otherwise, if removed we must remember that the Quaggoth remaining is an enemy.
- Eldeth has been much less useful than expected. What she might offer in dwarven intuition and skills is overshadowed by the distraction for vengeance.
- Jimjar has kept his distance usually. I notice his reliable use of hygiene to keep himself protected from becoming infected.
- The same mellowing treatments applied to Sarith are being applied to Ront, with less success - but his is orc-rage rather than infestation, for now at least.
- The proximity of Stool could either be making Sarith's infestation worse, or offering some opportunity to save him. It is unclear.
Feather and Fang
In the first, Alyks suggests sparing Ront. In the second, a great curiosity and guessing begins, mostly suspecting Buppido's claims to being Diinkarazan may have substance. The third sets the tone for excusing the short-tempers and continued struggles against nightmares, sleep deprivation, and madness among the party.
A Month in the Dark
Nobody in the party reliably recalls well the events along the way. Among each other at times of rest, there is often disagreement even in remembering recent days. The timing approaches nearly a month of travels, when a narrowing of the tunnel leads to discovery of a fallen group of dark elf raiders, their bodies being looted by four goblins. One goblin, noting the party's approach places a finger to mouth (Shhhhh!) pointing at the wall to the party's left. A gentle touch to the strangely patterned surface senses slight warmth and movement and notes the pattern of scales, their color difficult to make out in the greys of the dim lighting.
Whatever creature's hide forms such a gargantuan wall certainly merits staying asleep - or at least unaware of the parties. The group notes strange characteristics of these goblins: they are unarmed, and are only looting coins, food, and supplies from the dead. None recall even a children's story of goblins in anything but vicious battle-thirst, which allows enough pause to not only choose silence, but not even draw weapons. One goblin notes bodies of wizards among the dead, where Dex and Alyks each gain a new spellbook to enhance their own.
The goblins motion to invite this polite group to follow them, and away from the wall of scales, twisting tunnels (small, forcing the group to hunch and Derendil to crawl) open up in a cavern with a shrine at its center. A fountain bubbles up sweet and carbonated water that is a refreshing delight (particularly for Dex). The goblin troop residing here wear clothing resembling Shuushar's and share his calming peace of mind in their manners and the look in their eyes. They speak only what is minimally necessary, in Undercommon, or Goblin tongue with each other.
The party is exhausted and stressed and this place of peace urges a much-needed long rest (of course with carefully set watches!) A full day unfolds, with the wizards gaining new spells, using supplies provided by their hosts. Alyks: { Comprehend Languages, Identify, Flaming Sphere, Knock, See Invisibility }, Dex: { (formula for the Light cantrip), Magic Missile, Darkness, Gentle Repose, Vortex Warp } Runi watchfully practices her maneuvers, and Vaxz meditates by the fountain, continuing to tend to Sarith, who for a time falls into a far deeper than normal trance.
(Next: Down the Tubes )