"An Elderly Beholder is Assassinated" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 27

Lorthuun the Beholder was getting too old for this shit.

He was once feared. He was an Eye Tyrant, a villain, a mover and shaker. Men feared him. Monsters paid him homage and sent him tribute. His lair was a death-trap from which no one could escape.

Now he served the Zhentarim as a negotiator. A NEGOTIATOR! He was a joke! He no longer commanded respect and dread. He now took orders from a superior, a HUMAN!

How had this happened? He had grown old and feeble. Four of his eyestalks had become blind with cataracts. He couldn't even negate the magic cast in his presence. Then one day, the elderly beholder was forced to flee his home when it was attacked by a young dragon. He barely survived the encounter.  He fled, clinging to his life.

An alchemist found him. The alchemist healed his wounds and helped him recuperate. Lorthuun the Fearsome was now Lorthuun the forgotten. No one trembled at his name. No one could even remember his name. The elderly beholder found work with a faction of Overworlders called the Zhentarim. He served as an adviser and helped them establish a foothold in the Underdark.

Beholders don't have friends, they have servants and slaves. Lorthuun possessed neither servants nor slaves, but he did have a friend: the human named Ghazrim DuLoc. Although technically his superior, Ghazrim treated Lorthuun as an equal. Lorthuun appreciated that. The two got along well. They bantered like old friends and communicated with each other through an incessant stream of sarcastic insults.

Today they would meet with the Drow. There was unrest in Mantol-Derith. The peace had been broken and the duergar were warring with the Svirfneblin. The peace would be reestablished, of that he had no doubt, but in the meantime the humans of the Zhentarim trade guild would form an alliance with the drow. The allies would then take advantage of the conflict, negotiating new trade deals with both belligerents. Then they would end the fighting and the drow and the humans were reap the profits.

This would be easy. The negotiations should take no longer than a bit (an eighth of a tridon or about an hour). Then he could return to his tent and sleep.

The delegation prepared to leave the warehouse. DuLoc straightened his coat and asked the beholder how he looked.

"Terrible, as always," grumbled the old Beholder.

Ghazrim smiled and turned to open the door.

OUT OF THE ABYSS, CHAPTER 27

"AN ELDERLY BEHOLDER IS ASSASSINATED"

Demon-Lords have escaped from the Abyss

and are roaming free in the

subterranean land known as the Underdark.

Five heroes unite to lead an expedition

into the depths of the Earth.

They must find Gravenhollow,

the fabled library of the Stone Giants,

where it is said all secrets are known.

They have travelled to Mantol-Derith

to meet Ghazrim DuLoc

who knows the way to Gravenhollow.

Now they must rescue the merchant

from assassination by the nefarious

Dark Elves known as the Drow.

THE LEADERS OF THE EXPEDITION

• Sir Valerius Adeques - (PC) human paladin and hero, defender and champion of the old gods of nature.
• Virtue - (PC) tiefling paladin and warlock, a mysterious wild card of unknown allegiance.
• Santaka - (NPC) a baby red dragon, loyal to Virtue.
• Silax - (PC) Human wizard, her name will possibly change to Willow, she's still in flux. 
• Phwee-toop - (NPC) Salix/Willow's owl familiar.
• The Shield Guardian (NPC) - a contribution from Lord Zelraun Roaringhorn of the Harpers.
• Ront, (PC) - orc barbarian seeking redemption for his failures.
• Pain Grille' - (PC) halfling thief from Waterdeep, was turned to stone in Blingdenstone but got better.

THE ORDER OF THE GAUNTLET
Under the command of Valerius

• Thora Nabal - (NPC)  human warrior
• Sylrien Havennor - (NPC)  human warrior
• Olaf Renghyi - (NPC)  human warrior
• Elias Drako - (NPC)  human warrior
• Tamryn Tharke - (NPC)  human warrior

THE EMERALD ENCLAVE
Under the command of Ront

• Brim Coppervein - (NPC)  dwarven mounted scout
• Thargus Forkbeard - (NPC)  dwarven mounted scout
• Griswalla Stonehammer - (NPC)  dwarven mounted scout

THE LORDS' ALLIANCE
Under the command of Pain

• Nazrok Blueaxe - (NPC)  dwarven warrior (deceased)
• Kirsil Mantlehorn - (NPC)  dwarven warrior (deceased)
• Anzar the Brazen - (NPC)  dwarven warrior
• Garganthine Truesilver - (NPC)  dwarven warrior (deceased)
• Splinter Darkmorn - (NPC)  dwarven warrior(deceased)
• Feral Killmander - (NPC)  human spy
• Zilna Oakshadow - (NPC)  human spy
• Hilvius Haever - (NPC)  human spy

THE BLACK CLOAKS
Under the command of Virtue

• Nero Kelvane - (NPC)  human thug
• Lenora Hasku - (NPC)  human thug
• Aligor Moonwhisper - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)
• Gorath Torn - (NPC)  human thug
• Saliyra Dalnor - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)
• Primwin Halk - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)
• Iandro Alathar - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)
• Lhytris Ilgarn - (NPC)  human thug

OTHER HANGER'S-ON

• Derendil - (NPC) a qaggoth, once cursed with a false personality, now fully restored but retaining his unusual gentleness and intelligence, provisional member of the Order of Brilliance.

A MISUNDERSTANDING 
There was a scream from the Zhentarim pavilion followed by a crash, a bright flash with thunder, and the sound of battle!

Valerius called forth his celestial lion, mounted, and charged forth! Pain activated his magical boots and ran ahead. Virtue and the other members of the expedition struggled to keep pace. Ront kept his eye on the gargoyle perched on a high ledge. The gargoyle looked startled and watched the pavilion in nervous anxiety.

Valerius and Pain burst into the pavilion. Valerius sword "Dawnbringer" blazed forth, filling the interior of the large tent with the light of day. The pavilion was long and rectangular with a smaller "room" on the far end, forming a reversed "L" shape. There was a large round table at the far end. A long table with wine and viands was placed in the adjoining "room".

Lorthuun the Older Beholder

In front of the table, Lorthuun the beholder lay bleeding on the ground, dying, like a half-deflated ball. Purplish-black ooze bubbled and frothed from the wound. Ghazrim DuLoc was surrounded by three of his black-clad bodyguards. They were beset by a drow elite warrior. Two other bodyguards moved towards a second elite warrior. Two more bodyguards lay dying on the floor. The drow negotiator had retreated to the table with the viands, her hand still glowing from arcane power. The air smelled of ozone from the recent discharge of a lightning bolt spell.

Valerius moved to intercept the drow warriors and protect DuLoc. Pain sped across the room at blinding speed to engage the drow mage. The mage screamed, "Perfidious betrayers! You planned this trap all along!"

They were soon joined by Virtue along with the other members of hte expedition. DuLoc was hastily escorted out of the pavilion his men and the black-cloaks of the expedition.

Valerius made short work of one of the drow. Virtue fired an arcane bolt at the mage and Pain followed up with a sneak attack to a non-vital area. The drow mage fell, overwhelmed by the shock and pain. The second drow disengaged to protect her mistress, creating a zone of magical darkness to shield her from further attacks.

Valerius checked on the Lorthuun but the beholder was dead. The svirfneblin with the leather satchel was busy cutting off one of Lorthuun's eyestalks. The deep gnome, whose name was Peebles, smiled nervously and paused.

"Stop that!" Valerius admonished.

Virtue noticed a large hole cut into the tent near the big round table. She looked outside.

BATTLE ON THE BRIDGE
While the others fought inside the pavilion, Ront ordered the mounted scouts to ride around to the back of the tent to catch anyone who tried to escape.

Suddenly, the gargoyle took flight, heading over the pavilion towards a land bridge that crossed a pond. Ront gave chase, following as best he could.

The gargoyle was watching something on the ground, moving between the many tents of the Zhentarim quarter. It flew near the ceiling, about sixty feet off the ground, making small circles towards the pond.

It was following someone.

Virtue, having seen Ront following the gargoyle stepped through the tear in the tent wall and case a spell of flight upon herself. She called for her baby dragon Santaka to join her and the two leaped into the air.

From her vantage in the sky, Virtue could see a furtive figure crossing the bridge. It was a drow fleeing the scene of the battle in the pavilion. The gargoyle was nervously following the drow. Ront was following the gargoyle but did not see the figure.

Virtue called to Ront and tried to point out the escaping drow. Ront looked confused, cast his eyes towards the bridge, but saw nothing. He cautiously moved onto the bridge.

Suddenly, the gargoyle was upon Virtue. The two fought in mid-air but the gargoyle was brought down by the sudden attack of the pony-sized dragon. The gargoyle and dragon fell into the lake with a loud splash and a hiss of steam.

Ront was distracted by the spectacular gout of water when suddenly he was stabbed from behind by a poisonous blade! He shuddered but recovered quickly. Virtue swooped down and the two quickly disabled the drow assassin and tied her up.

Kinyel Druu'Giir

PARLEY IN THE PAVILION
Pain attempted to parley with the drow warrior in order to find out what happened. He learned that the black cloaks attacked the drow delegation so the drow fought back. When asked about the missing drow, the warrior was surprised and admitted that she knew not the location of her companion Kinyel.

Pain convinced her to remove the spell of darkness and allow Valerius to heal the mage-negotiator. They moved the mage onto the long table and Valerius called on the forces of nature to heal her wounds.

When asked about a large gem, the warrior said she knew nothing about it.

The drow assassin, whose name was Kinyel, was brought into the pavilion and laid on the floor.

Kinyel was revived and questioned. Kinyel revealed that she tried to assassinate the beholder because she believed that her dishonor would be undone and she would be welcomed back into her house as a hero if she killed Lorthuun.

Virtue searched through Kinyel's pockets for the stolen gem but found nothing.

Valerius asked, "Did you find it?"

Virtue said, "No."

Pain interjected, "Yes you did. You put it into your pocket!"

Virtue, surprised, replied, "No I..." She reached into her pocket and was surprised to find it there. "Huh."

Virtue began to daydream. her mind was a million miles away.

"...Virtue! I said put it on the ground!"

"What? No!"

Pain knocked it out of her hand. It fell to the floor. Pain tried to smash it with the hilt of his dagger. It did not break. Before Virtue could snatch it back up, he kicked it across the floor towards Valerius, "Yo! Use your magic sword to break it!"

Before Valerius could catch it, the fist-sized gemstone magically bent its trajectory and flew into the hand of the drow mage, "No! It shall be mine!"

Valerius summoned forth the fiery blade of Dawnbringer and whacked it out of her hand. It once again fell to the floor. Valerius impaled the gem with Dawnbringer's blade of pure sunlight.

The gemstone shattered, causing the ground to tremor. A cloud of glowing gas emerged from the broken shards. The image of a hulking winged humanoid demon emerged from the swirling gas. It rose in the air and stretched its arms and wings. It hissed, "Freeeeeee...." and was gone.

Someone said, "Well, that' can't be good."

DM Notes - I added an additional level of complexity to the crystal's allure. 

In the book, anyone who touches the crystal must make a Charisma save or gain an indefinite madness.

I added an extra step. Anyone who SAW the crystal had to make a Wisdom save or try to steal the crystal for themselves. Virtue failed her Wisdom save and her Charisma save. So did the Drow Mage. Everyone else made theirs.

DM Notes- Perfidy! Betrayal!

Pain came to the conclusion that one of the humans saw the gem on Kinyel and tried to steal it, setting off the fight.

That's an interesting theory. It fits and I'm not going to contradict it.

FINALLY, REST
The drow delegation returned to their enclave with Pain and Valerius' sincere apologies.

Valerius and Pain turned to carry the dead back to the Zhentarim enclave. They caught Peebles the deep gnome cutting off more eye stalks, having already severed three. Peebles was chased out of the tent.

The members of the expedition finally met with Ghazrim DuLoc. The Zhentarim negotiator lamented the loss of his beholder friend but grinned when me mentioned that he automatically inherited all of Lorthuun's shares in the profits.

When told of the expedition's mission, Ghazrim removed his magical ring. He explained that very few mortals have ever been to Gravenhollow and that he was among them. He was given this token that, should he ever wish to return, would guide him to the secret place. He gladly gave the ring to Virtue and explained to her how it worked. He also said that Gravenhollow was over sixty tridons away.

GM Note - The players groaned.
Yes, more travel. Sixty days more travel!

After a meal, Ghazrim explained the current situation in Mantol-Derith.

The peace was broken. The duergar were fighting with the svirfneblin. He was attempting to establish an alliance and non-aggression pact with the drow when he was interrupted. He would try again on the following tridon.

The members of the party urged Ghazrim not to abandon Mantol-Derith, despite the fracturing of the peace. He assured them that he would not. He felt that the situation was temporary. He would figure out some way to get the two sides to stop fighting. Until then, he and the drow were simply taking advantage of the unrest to renegotiate better trade terms and increase their short-term profits.

When asked about their short-term plans, Valerius answered that they would need re-supply for their journey. They needed food, water, pack lizards, and crossbow bolts.

Ghazrim offered them food and pack lizards from his supply. He also sold them a magical item from his personal collection - a fabulous decanter that always produced water in unlimited supplies.

Alas, however, he had no weapons to trade. The party needed to get those from the duergar, and they weren't trading at the moment because of the feud.

After dinner, the expedition was finally able to rest for a shift. They slept in comfort by temporarily displacing a Zhentarim merchant from his personal tent.

PEEBLES THE CREEPY DEEP GNOME
The following shift, they were approached by Peebles. Peebles asked if he could join the expedition.

"I have to, uh, leave Mantol-Derith."

"Why?" asked Pain.

"Oh, no reason. I just have to go somewhere and I'd like an escort, that's all."

"Where?"

"Uh, that's a secret."

"No." said Ront bluntly.

Peebles looked desperate, "Well, maybe I can just follow along with you? You know, for a while?"

"No." repeated Ront.

"I can pay you with a magic sword!"

Pain asked around, "Does anyone need a magic sword?"

Virtue and Valerius shook their heads. Ront asked, "What about you?"

Pain said, "I'm a halfling and a thief. I'm no good with a long sword. Sorry. No swords."

Peebles looked off in the distance, trying to think of something else to say. He eventually tried again, "Please?"

Pain Grille'

Ront and Pain answered in unison, "No!"

Peebles walked away dejectedly.

PATCHING THINGS UP WITH THE DUERGAR
The team needed more crossbow bolts but none of the merchants in Mantol-Derith were open for business. They decided they needed to patch things up.

Leaving the rest of the force behind, Virtue, Valerius, Ront, and Pain walked up to the gates of the Duergar enclave. The wrought iron fence around the mushroom orchard had been replaced with reinforced iron walls.

Pain called out. No one answered. Eventually, after much shouting and commotion, a duergar responded from behind the wall. Pain asked to speak with Ghuldur. The unseen duergar said he was busy. Valerius said that if the duergar didn't get Ghuldur, they'd leave and return with their entire expedition and take the Duergar enclave by force of arms. The duergar paused then said he'd go get Ghuldur.

Ghuldur returned and negotiated with Pain over the wall. Pain asked what it would take to end the feud and reopen trade.

"Valuable property has been taken from my close friend Krimgol Muzgardt by the deep gnomes! On top of that, YOU murdered Krimgol and killed several of my men! I demand the return of my property and 5000 gold pieces in reparations from the Deep Gnomes! Furthermore, I demand you hand over the wyrmling to me in reparation for the murder of Krimgol and my men!"

Virtue crossed and arms and stood in front of the dragon Santaka, "No."

Pain produced the shards of the cursed gemstone. He explained that the gemstone was cursed and that anyone who saw or touched it became insane or possessed. The gemstone was broken now and its curse was lifted. He went on to explain that 5000 gold pieces was too much and haggled with Ghuldur for a lesser price.

Ghuldur revealed that he had heard about the breaking of the gemstone and its cursed nature. He thanked them for their efforts in that regard.

After a moment's thought, Ghuldur agreed to end the feud with the deep gnomes and the heroes on two conditions. First, they would all be forced to lay down their weapons and publically apologize to all of the duergar for the mruder of Krimgol and the others. Secondly, the deep gnomes would have to surrender to him gemstones worth 500 gold pieces.

Pain checked with Virtue and Valerius and they agreed. He looked at Ront. Ront's eyes grew wide and his lips curled back in a snarl, then agreed. They complied.

Ghuldur demanded he repeat the apology louder. They repeated the apology louder.

Ghuldur was satisfied.

The heroes then went to the svirfneblin enclave. It was likewise barricaded and Pain alone was let inside. Pain met with Gabble Dripskillet in her burrow. Gabble was lounging on comfortable pillows, drinking fine wine, and munching on small sauteed mushrooms and tiny fried insects. She was If he noticed a change in demeanor, he did not betray it.

Gabble Dripskillet

Pain told Gabble that the duergar would call off the feud if she paid them gemstones worth 1000 gold pieces. She agreed and ordered an attendant to retrieve the payment. However, she gave him a condition. She and two servants needed escort to transport an important item to Blingdenstone. Pain tried to explain that they had other plans but she said it was only six tridons away and wouldn't be much of a distraction. Pain sighed and agreed.

Pain took the sack of ten quartz gemstones outside the enclave. He was immediately met by several duergar who suddenly appeared from their invisibility. Pan held up the sack with pride. The duergar thanked him and took the entire sack of ten gemstones. Pain's eyes grew wide for a second and his smile froze as he tried to hide his disappointment. The duergar thanked him and returned with Pain to the enclave of the gray dwarves where he showed the unexpected boon to everyone.

The heroes were able to purchase weapons and armor but were unable to buy crossbow bolts. Ghuldur mentioned that the drow sold crossbow bolts. Valerius asked if anyone had maps of the Underdark. Ghuldur suggested the drow named Zilchyn Q'leptin. He sells maps.

Valerius groaned.

RETURN TO THE DROW ENCLAVE
Valerius, Virtue, Pain, and Ront crossed Mantol-Derith to the drow quarter. There, sitting on a bench in the fungal garden, they found Zilchyn Q'leptin. Zilchyn saw them approaching and got up to leave. When last they spoke, Valerius had offended the drow's honor by accusing him of theft. That the drow was guilty of the crime was irrelevant.

They called out to Zilchyn and he stopped. He eyed their approach suspiciously. They explained that they wished to purchase maps of the Underdark. Zilchyn's demeanor changed. His anxiety had been replaced with the zeal of a salesman. He showed them his maps and explained that, using his maps, one could find the way to Menzoberranzan, Blingdenstone, or Gracklstugh.

They asked if he had any general maps of the Underdark. They simply wished to know where things were in relation to each other. The drow thought about it and replied that he had such a map, but not on him.

He explained that the map they wanted was hidden away in a niche a few tridons out from Mantol-Derith. He would need to travel there to retrieve the map. It was dangerous to journey anywhere in the Underdark so he was reluctant to travel there alone. If they helped him him retrieve the map, as well as a few other possessions he had hidden there, he'd happily give them the map for free.

They thought about it but declined the offer. Afterwards, they located a drow merchant and purchased some crossbow bolts.

DM Note- After not purchasing a map, one of the other players asked Valerius' player: "You want a map of the Underdark? Here!"

THE LONG JOURNEY AHEAD
After a long rest, the expedition gathered to begin the journey to Gravenhollow by way of Blingdenstone. They were joined by Gabble and two bearers carrying a box suspended by two poles. Several pack lizards were laden down with supplies and equipment. They set off on their journey.

Like all journeys through the subterranean realm of the Underdark, there was no day and no night. The expedition traveled until they were tired then stopped until they were rested. The first few cycles passed uneventfully. Gabble led the way as they traveled to Blingdenstone.

During the fourth such cycle,  two of the members of the delegation from the Lords' Alliance suddenly fell through the bottom of the passage and disappeared! There was no ambush, no cave-in. They simply fell through solid stone! Zilna Oakshadow and Hilvius Haever simply disappeared into the earth! Several hours were spent in an attempt to locate and rescue them to no avail. Their disappearance was a mystery and caused great anxiety among the other members of the expedition.

DM Note- The Legend Grows

I rolled a d8 to determine roughly which NPCs it would effect. They're all arranged in a line two or three abreast. The d8 tells me front, back, or where in the middle. I rolled a 5. I picked two minis from that area and said, "They're gone." They were spies from the Lords' Alliance.

Pain's player said, "Holy shit, really?!"

"Yep."

"That just leaves Feral Killmander. Feral Killmander survives again!"

The expedition continued on and eventually stopped and laid down in the passage to rest. When they woke, Lhytris Ilgarn of the Zhentarim black cloaks had likewise disappeared. His pack and equipment still on the ground where he had laid.

THE DEAD END
During the fifth cycle of travel, Gabble led the expedition into a large caven. The cavern was filled with a dense fog that restricted visibility to a few feet. Not even the glowing brilliance of Dawnbringer could pierce the milky white haze. Gabble instructed everyone to follow the wall to the left.

The expedition carefully made their way around the chamber when the thunderous roar of a ceiling collapse echoed through the dark. There was a moment of concern as everyone reported in.

Gabble began laughing, giggling at first then cackling maniacally. Her voice changed, becoming deeper and more menacing. The fog began to dissipate as Gabble began to change her shape. No longer was she the diminutive deep gnome covered in jewels. She was now a tall voluptuous humanoid female with purple skin, horns, great leathery wings, and a long tail.

The center of the room fell away into a deep pit. The ceiling was a tall shaft. Through the hole in the ceiling poured a swarm of demonic flying insects. Their infernal buzzing was deafening.

"Ha ha ha! You fool! You fell right into my trap! Now, Virtue, for having me banished from Gracklstugh, I will have my revenge!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

• Zilna Oakshadow - (NPC)  human spy (deceased)
• Hilvius Haever - (NPC)  human spy (deceased)
• Lhytris Ilgarn - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)

"Trouble in Mantol-Derith" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 26

The expedition passed through the secret entrance into the underground trading post known as Mantol-Derith. They were in the bottom of a fifty-foot deep trench. A large cavern opened up above the trench. The wreckage of what was once a large platform made of crystal lay in shattered ruins ahead of them. They found mechanical spring-powered lifts near the first of two bridges that spanned the trench and took turns riding it to the top in small groups.

The cavern was large, nearly five hundred feet long and three hundred feet wide. The ceiling of the cavern varied from thirty to sixty feet and was covered with dripping stalactites. The sound of dripping water sounded like light rain as it fell upon the stone floor and dozens of tarps and tents erected in the center of the cavern. The cavern floor rose gently, creating a basin in the center. One quadrant contained a wondrous garden of usually large mushrooms and fungi around an massive mushroom the size of an oak. The cap of the gargantuan mushroom spread wide and created shelter from the gently falling rain. Another quadrant was an unkept mess of overgrowth. The next quadrant was a well-designed orchard of mushrooms the size of apple trees. The fourth quadrant contained a single large mushroom but was otherwise dominated by a large pavilion and several smaller tents.

The center of the cavern contained dozens of tents and tarpaulins, tables and stalls, like a flea market. The tents were knocked over and tables were upturned. No one was around. The place appeared to be abandoned. Banging could be heard in the distance from the quadrant concealed by overgrowth.

Suddenly, two giant-sized Duergarburst through the tents, smashing tables and knocking down anything in their path as they chased two small figures. The two figures were magically blurred, making them difficult targets. They were screaming in Undercommon, the trade language of the subterranean world, "Help! Help!"

Ser Valerius didn't have to understand the language to know that someone needed help. He drew forth his magic sword, Dawnbringer, and filled the chamber with the light of day! The giant duergar shielded their eyes as Ser Valerius and his companions charged forth into battle!

OUT OF THE ABYSS, CHAPTER 25

"THE JOURNEY TO MANTOL-DERITH"

Demon-Lords have escaped from the Abyss

and are roaming free in the 

subterranean land known as the Underdark.

Five heroes unite to lead an expedition

into the depths of the Earth

to find the underground trading post 

known as Mantol Derith

so that they may learn the way

to Gravenhollow, the fabled library of the Stone Giants

where they hope to find a way to banish

the Demon-Lords back to the Infinite Abyss. 

THE LEADERS OF THE EXPEDITION

• Sir Valerius Adeques - (PC) human paladin and hero, defender and champion of the old gods of nature.
• Virtue - (PC) tiefling paladin and warlock, a mysterious wild card of unknown allegiance.
• Santaka - (NPC) a baby red dragon, loyal to Virtue.
• Silax - (PC) Human wizard, her name will possibly change to Willow, she's still in flux. 
• Phwee-toop - (NPC) Salix/Willow's owl familiar.
• The Shield Guardian (NPC) - a contribution from Lord Zelraun Roaringhorn of the Harpers.
• Ront, (PC) - orc barbarian seeking redemption for his failures.
• Pain Grille' - (PC) halfling thief from Waterdeep, was turned to stone in Blingdenstone but got better.

THE ORDER OF THE GAUNTLET
Under the command of Valerius

• Thora Nabal - (NPC)  human warrior
• Sylrien Havennor - (NPC)  human warrior
• Olaf Renghyi - (NPC)  human warrior
• Elias Drako - (NPC)  human warrior
• Tamryn Tharke - (NPC)  human warrior

THE EMERALD ENCLAVE
Under the command of Ront

• Brim Coppervein - (NPC)  dwarven mounted scout
• Thargus Forkbeard - (NPC)  dwarven mounted scout
• Griswalla Stonehammer - (NPC)  dwarven mounted scout

THE LORDS' ALLIANCE
Under the command of Pain

• Nazrok Blueaxe - (NPC)  dwarven warrior (deceased)
• Kirsil Mantlehorn - (NPC)  dwarven warrior (deceased)
• Anzar the Brazen - (NPC)  dwarven warrior
• Garganthine Truesilver - (NPC)  dwarven warrior (deceased)
• Splinter Darkmorn - (NPC)  dwarven warrior(deceased)
• Feral Killmander - (NPC)  human spy
• Zilna Oakshadow - (NPC)  human spy
• Hilvius Haever - (NPC)  human spy

THE BLACK CLOAKS
Under the command of Virtue

• Nero Kelvane - (NPC)  human thug
• Lenora Hasku - (NPC)  human thug
• Aligor Moonwhisper - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)
• Gorath Torn - (NPC)  human thug
• Saliyra Dalnor - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)
• Primwin Halk - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)
• Iandro Alathar - (NPC)  human thug (deceased)
• Lhytris Ilgarn - (NPC)  human thug

OTHER HANGER'S-ON

• Derendil - (NPC) a qaggoth, once cursed with a false personality, now fully restored but retaining his unusual gentleness and intelligence, provisional member of the Order of Brilliance.

TROUBLE ON ARRIVAL
Valerius, Ront, Virtue, and Pain rushed to the aid of the deep gnomes. Since they didn't know what was going on, they measured their attacks and subdued the giant-sized gray dwarves. Once the duergar were defeated, the two blurry deep gnomes were joined by a third that was hiding nearby. The third carried a leather satchel. They emerged from under the upturned tables and thanked their rescuers.

They explained that the peace of Mantol-Derith had been broken. The duergar, for reasons unknown, have kidnapped a svirfneblin mage named Yantha Coaxrock and, indicating the direction of the loud banging, have laid siege to the svirnfneblin enclave. They were runners sent forth to get help to break the siege. They asked the expedition for aid!

DM NOTE- Who is Yantha Coaxrock?
The name Yantha Coaxrock was mentioned way back in the Blingdenstone chapter. She was the leader of Stoneheart Quarry but had left Nomi Pathshutter in charge during her absence. I had mentioned this way back then but there's no way the players would know this, so I reminded them.

SVIRFNEBLIN ENCLAVE
The expedition followed the svirfneblin runners back to the enclave. The entrance to the enclave was obscured by an unkempt and overgrown fungus garden. A path led through the garden to the entrance. Four giant-sized duergar were using a zurkhwood battering ram in an attempt to bust down the heavy iron doors to the enclave.

Valerius ordered his troops to fire their crossbows at the giant duergar while he, astride his winged celestial lion mount, along with Ront and Virtue charged forward to engage them. The giant duergar turned from the door and shielded their eyes from the blazing sunlight emanating from Dawnbringer. Ront charged forward first, singling out one of the duergar with an intimidating snarl. That duergar was shaken and hesitated as his comrades charged at the oncoming attackers, meeting in the middle of the path.

Four additional duergar suddenly became visible in the tall overgrowth. They hurled javelins at the main group of the expedition then closed to engage.

The appearance of more invisible duergar forced the rearrangement of the Black-Cloaks and the forces of the Lords' Alliance. Pain moved deftly through the tall growth to attack with stealth. The mounted dwarves were ordered to move back down the paths to cover the flanks.Valerius, Ront, and Virtue fought the four duergar from the entrance while the rest of the group fired crossbows or charged into the mushroom forest to engage with the remaining duergar.

The battle was fierce but was resolved quickly and the duergar were defeated with minimal bloodshed or fatalities. Two duergar attempted to flee but Pain managed to chase down and stop one while the other was killed in a volley of crossbow bolts.

The svirfneblin runners knocked on the heavy doors and were allowed entry. The enclave was a large cube-shaped room. The walls were covered in burrow-like niches. Deep gnomes cautiously poked their heads out frightened prairie dogs. Crystal platforms magically hovered in mid-air.

The expedition was welcomed by the enclave's chief negotiator Gabble Dripskillet. Gabble recognized Ront, Virtue, and Pain as the heroes of the Battle for Blingdenstone and gave them an especially warm welcome. As a reward for their efforts, the heroes were given a crystal coffer containing a beautiful black sapphire on a silver chain. Gabble said it was a priceless heirloom of the royal dynasty that once ruled Blingdenstone. Ront accepted the gift, sniffed it, and rather insensitively asked how much it was worth.

The heroes inquired about the recent events at Mantol-Derith. Gabble did not know why the duergar suddenly attacked. All she knew was that duergar troops descended upon the marketplace, kidnapped Yantha Coaxrock, and took her  back to their enclave. The deep gnomes marshaled their forces and led an attack against the duergar enclave to rescue her. Unfortunately, the counterattack failed and the deep gnomes were routed. They were chased back to their own enclave while the duergar laid siege and tried to batter down the door.

She begged the heroes for their help in rescuing their mage! They agreed.

DM NOTE - How to Role-Play a Deep Gnome
Deep gnomes are reportedly dour serious folk with no sense of humor. When speaking in "Deep-Gnome" voice, I try to modulate my voice to sound like a munchkin but I speak in depressing monotone. 

Pan Grille'

THE DUERGAR ENCLAVE
The expedition marched through the remains of the bazaar past a lake of dark black water and made their way to the outer gates of the duergar enclave. The outer perimeter was a tall wrought-iron fence. Within the fence was a well-maintained orchard of giant mushrooms. Each mushroom was the size of an apple tree. they were arranged in orderly rows.

Virtue stepped to the front of the throng and called out in Undercommon, "I am Virtue, High Inquisitor of the Deep King."

A duergar guard appeared out of thin air. "We were not told you would be coming."

Virtue haughtily demanded information, "What is happening here? Why is the peace of Mantol-Derith broken?"

The duergar guard replied, "Apparently, a deep gnome mage stole a gemstone belonging to one of our merchants. That merchant is a good friend of our chief negotiator. They demanded its return and the mage refused. So she was taken into custody for interrogation. She's being interrogated now. The svirnfneblin attacked us in an unlawful attempt to free her! We fought them back and our warriors are assaulting their enclave even as we speak! They shall pay for their treachery!"

"I need to speak to the chief negotiator at once!" demanded Virtue.

"The chief negotiator is busy at the moment. As I said, he is interrogating the prisoner."

"That is precisely why we are here. I must speak with him immediately."

The duergar looked at the assembled throng and sniffed. He marched past the orchard and disappeared into a short tunnel. He returned a few minutes later.

"Chief Negotiator Ghuldur Flagonfist will meet with you. But you must come alone."

"Nonsense. I must be accompanied by my entourage, including my personal guards," said Virtue, indicating her colleagues.

The guard examined her "entourage". "Those two may come. But no dragon and no winged.. whatever that thing is."

"It's a celestial lion," said Valerius from atop his leonine mount.

"Whatever. No mounts and no dragons and no orcs."

Ront bared his teeth and growled.

Virtue raised her hand, "the orc must come too."

The duergar sighed, "Very well, the orc may enter. But that is all."

Virtue, Valerius, Ront, and Pain were escorted past the mushroom orchard and into the duergar enclave. The enclave was a large rectangular room with an L-shaped stone building occupying one corner. At least thirty duergar merchants and warriors were donning armor, sharpening weapons, and preparing saddles for their giant spider mounts in the main hall. The guests were escorted into the building.

The building was a warehouse filled with supplies, weapons, armor, and trade goods. A large iron safe sat in the far corner. In the other corner was a tri-lateral creature called a xorn. A female deep gnome wearing a coat covered in gemstones was suspended by a chain over the gaping maw at the top of the xorn's head. The maw kept snapping at the nervous deep gnome.

A nearby duergar held the end of the chain in his hands. The duergar sneered as he threatened to drop the deep gnome into the maw.

"Tell us where you hid Krimgols' gemstone!"

The panicked Yantha cried out, "I tell you, I don't know! A drow thief took it from me!"

Another duergar stood nearby, "You lie! Where is my gemstone?"

"Excuse us. I'm sorry to interrupt. Which one of you is the chief negotiator?" inquired Virtue.

"I am chief negotiator Ghuldur Flagonfist. We were not told you'd be coming. What business does the King's Inquisitor have in Mantol-Derith?"

"That is classified. However, it has come to my attention that the peace of Mantol-Derith has ended."

"That is correct, and this lying deep gnome witch is to blame! She stole Krimgol's gemstone and refuses to return it!"

"I told you, the drow..." cried Yantha.

"I can resolve this immediately," said Virtue confidently, "my colleague here can induce her to speak the truth. But first, I must examine her. May I?"

The two duergar looked at each other. Ghuldur shrugged, "By all means."

Virtue examined Yantha closely, searching for signs of demonic madness. The tiefling sensed the
influence of a demon. Virtue passed her hands over the deep gnome, removing the madness. She stepped aside and allowed Valerius to approach.

Valerius channeled his faith in the old gods of nature, inducing a zone of truth over everyone in the room, including Yantha, Ghuldur, and Krimgol. He opened his eyes and gazed at Yantha. He asked her, "Did you steal the gemstone?"

Yantha reflexively cried, "No! I.. the drow..." She exhaled in defeat, "Yes. Yes, I stole it."

"Why did you steal the gem?"

"I don't know. I.. I just wanted it! I had to have it so badly!"

"Where is the gem now?"

"I do not know."

"What did you do with the gem?"

"I gave it to my assistant, Flink Thunderbonk, and ordered him to hide it."

"Where is Flink?"

"I do not know."

Ghuldur smiled and said, "Well, that's all I needed to know!"

He let go of the chain and Yantha Coaxrock fell into the chomping maw of the xorn.

Virtue, Pain, and Valerius stared dumbfounded for a moment, unsure what just happened.

DM NOTE - Players: "Wait, really?"
Me: "Yes, really!"
Players: "Well, that was unexpected!"

The xorn chewed hungrily while everyone stared in horror.

Ront sprang into action and attacked the xorn. The xorn counterattacked by clawing and biting the rampaging orc.

Ghuldur immediately objected, "How dare you attack my pet!"

Virtue and Valerius drew weapons and came to Ront's defense. Pain, who had been examining the heavy safe in the corner while the duergar were distracted, stopped what he was doing and ran to help in the fight.

Ghuldur became invisible and ran out of the room. Krimgol hefted his pick and attacked Ront. Two invisible guards who had been lurking unseen appeared and attacked Ront and Pain.

Ront and Pain quickly dispatched the xorn and Krimgol while Virtue and Valerius eliminated the two guards. Virtue, Ront, and Valerius moved to defend the door. The room outside had suddenly become empty save for a few giant spider mounts.

Ront charged through the door into the empty room but was immediately beset by giant invisible duergar. One of the duergar closed the door to cut Ront off from his allies. Valerius strained to open the door but was unable to best the giant-sized warriors.

Pain ran up to the door and used his tools to remove the hinges. The door was pulled free from the doorway and Ront was pulled back into the room.

Virtue called out, "Parley! Parley!"

Ghuldur shouted, "How dare you attack my pet? What is the meaning of this unprovoked assault?"

Virtue answered, "Sorry about that! My orc colleague is easily set off. We wish to negotiate a peaceful exit."

Ghuldur inquired, "How fares Krimgol, my guards, and my pet?"

"Your xorn is dead. One of your guards is dead. Krimgol and the other guard yet live."

Ghuldur considered the situation, "What do you offer for your safe passage?"

Valerius interrupted, "You misunderstand. We rather like this place and we could use a base in the Underdark. The negotiation is for what YOU will pay US to not kill each and every one of you!"

Ghuldur was shocked. He blustered at the outrage.

Valerius held aloft the blazing sword Dawnbringer and filled the chamber with the light of the sun. "I must warn you, I'm liking this place more and more!"

Ghuldur had to shield his eyes from the light of the sword. He reevaluated his options, "Very well! I will offer you a treasure from my vault. But you also have to do something for us."

Virtue's eyes narrowed, "What?"

"Return to Krimgol his gem within one tridon."

Valerius was confused, "What's a tridon?"

Ghuldur pointed to the rotating prism, "The turning of three shifts."

Valerius was still confused. Virtue explained, "Twenty-four hours."

Ghuldur continued, "Return it within one tridon or we shall purge Mantol-Derith of every last svirfneblin. We will kill them all."

Virtue nodded, "Agreed"

Having secured their release, Ghuldur opened his magical vault and withdrew a black cloth sack. Inside the sack was what appeared to be a cantaloupe.

Dawbringer began to whisper excitedly into Valerius' mind, "Oh, I hope that is what I think it is..."

Ghuldur said, "This is an item of great magic from the Overworld. It is cursed and it is anathema to our kind. Take it and begone!"

The bag contained a crystal orb wrapped in black cloth. Valerius removed it and it glowed with the brilliance of the sun. The globe began to hover above Valerius' hand. Dawnbringer became ecstatic, "It is! It is! Yes yes yes!"

On their way out, Valerius confided in Virtue, "You know, we could have taken them."

Virtue nodded, "I know, but I didn't have all night."

The expedition regrouped and worked out their next course of action. Peebles the deep gnome with the leather satchel had apparently tagged along with the group unbidden. "So, what do we do now?"

"We have to find someone named Flunk or Flank or Flink, something like that." signed Valerius.

"Flink Thunderbonk?"

"Yes. Do you know where he is?"

"Not exactly. But the last time I saw him, about a quarter of a shift ago, he was headed over to the drow enclave."

"Then we head there.

THE FUNGUS GARDEN OF THE DROW
The throng of travelers crossed the bridge over the chasm and approached the drow enclave on the opposite side of the cavern from the duergar enclave. They climbed the stairs cut into the hill and entered a lush garden of exotic fungi. It was dark yet glowing with natural phosphorescence. A large mushroom the size of an oak tree spread its great cap nearly a hundred feet in diameter, sheltering the alien scene beneath it from the dripping water falling from the ceiling.

As they crossed through the garden, the heroes spied a drow sitting on a bench. Next to the drow was a satchel filled with rolled up pieces of trillimac vellum.

The drow greeted them in Undercommon. Ront answered back, causing the drow to wince. The drow tried again in his best surface elvish. Valerius replied and the drow's suddenly showed more interest.

"Greetings, greetings travelers. You must be from the Overworld! I am pleased to meet you!"

The drow introduced himself as Zilchyn Q'Leptin. He was friendly and vigorously shook Valerius' hand, offering to be their guide in Mantol-Derith and throughout the Underdark.

"Certainly," said Valerius, "After you return the dagger you stole from me."

Q'Leptin was shocked by the accusation and emphatically denied the charge.

Valerius was firm but polite. He never touched Q'Leptin or threaten violence but he never wavered in his allegation that Q'Leption had just palmed a dagger from the paladin's scabbard.

Q'Leptin became offended and bade the travelers farewell. He took his satchel and walked away. No one stopped him. Valerius simply shrugged.

The party continued on but was interrupted by a small but insistent hiss coming from behind a nearby mushroom the size of a bush.

"Psst! Psst!"

A closer investigation revealed a young svirfneblin.

"Please help me!" whispered the deep gnome.

"Are you Frunk Thunderbottom?" inquired Valerius?

"Flink Thunderbonk!"

"Okay, sure. Come out from behind that toadstool and mingle in with us. You won't be noticed."

The deep gnome complied and the entourage formed a crowd to shield the deep gnome from view.

"I need your help. Mistress Coaxrock is in trouble!"

"Do you have the gem?" inquired Virtue.

"No, it was stolen. Wait, how did you know about the gem?"

"We've been looking for you all day."

"What's a day?"

"WHERE'S - THE - GEM?"

"Oh, sorry. A gargoyle stole it!"

"A wha-? Start over. Tell us everything that happened after Mistress Coaxrock gave you the gem."

"But.. how...?"

"She told us."

"You've spoken with her? Is she safe?"

Ront and Pain uncomfortably looked away and began scratching their heads.

Virtue thought for the right words, "She's... We cured of her madness. That reminds me. Hold still."

Virtue cured Flink of any demonic madness affecting him. The deep gnome became calmer, less paranoid.

"Better?" inquired the Tiefling.

"Yes. Thankyou. Anyway, she gave me the gem to hide. I took her meaning to convey that she wished it to be invisible. So I came to the drow enclave to purchase an eyelash encased in gum tumeric."

"A material component for a spell of invisibility," said Virtue

DM Note- said Virtue's PLAYER, that is. I was very impressed!

"In any case, before I could make it here, a gargoyle swooped down and stole the gem! I'm terribly afraid that Mistress Coaxrock will punish me for losing her gemstone!"

"I wouldn't worry about that," said Virtue. Ront coughed.

"In any case, it was one of the guardians of the drow enclave. They utilize trained gargoyles, you see. I've been watching them for nearly a quarter shift trying to spot the thief but to no avail."

"Could you describe the gargoyle?" asked Valerius.

"Well, it was large, made of stone, had horns, and..."

"...and wings, and claws and a tail." said Valerius, "We know what a gargoyle looks like. What about YOUR gargoyle? Does it have any distinguishing marks?"

"Um.. not really."

"Could you identify it if you saw it?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"Right. Let's go." Valerius stood up and he and Virtue and Ront marched toward the gates to the Drow enclave.

THE DROW ENCLAVE
They throng moved towards the gates made of finely carved jet. Two elite female warriors stood sentinel.

"Approach no further or I will call down my gargoyles to kill you!" Said one of the sentinels in Undercommon.

Valerius explained, in elvish, that they were seeking to find a specific gargoyle because the gargoyle in question stole a valuable gem.

"That is unlikely! And you may not inspect our gargoyles!"

"Look, we don't want to fight you, but we will if that's what it takes to inspect your gargoyles. We'll fight them and we'll kill them," warned Valerius.

The sentinel rolled her eyes, "Yes. Typical Overworlder. Your first instinct is to attack. Your reputation for violence precedes you! Why not return to your little enclave and eat your various meats and cheeses. Your rapacity and consumption is legendary throughout the Underdark. You may not see our gargoyles!"

Valerius muttered under his breath, "I think I'm beginning to really like THIS place and could use IT as a base..."

Virtue intervened, "Really, we just want to see your gargoyles. Could we offer something in trade?"

The sentinel looked at the other, then back. She hesitated for just a moment. "What do you offer?"

Virtue consulted with Ront who carried the bag of holding. Virtue produced a gem of minor value. "We offer you this gemstone."

The sentinel considered the offer and accepted, "Put the gem on the ground and back away. I will summon down three gargoyles at a time from the six on duty. If you threaten them in any way, the other three will spell your doom!"

Virtue put the gem onto the ground and the group backed away. Ront hesitated, spoiling for a fight, and had to be smacked on the back of the head before he complied.

The gargoyles landed in two groups of three.

Flink confirmed that none of the six were the gargoyle that stole the gemstone.

"Are these all your gargoyles?"

"Of course not, fool! Some are on patrol, some are resting, and yet others guard the trade delegation while they negotiate a new bargain at the Zhentarim pavilian yonder."

DM Note- The group let out a collective sigh of frustration and grabbed their foreheads.

"Thank you for your assistance." said Virtue wearily and they turned and marched to the other corner of the cavern towards the Zhentarim pavilion.

THE ZHENTARIM PAVILION
They approached the Zhentarim corner of Mantol-Derith. There was one large zurkhwood mushroom the size of a cherry tree. The rest had been cleared to make room for a large pavilion tent and several smaller tents. The heroes entered into the tent and were greeted by four drow - three elite female guards and a female mage. The guards stood ready to defend their matron.

A nearby table contained an arrangement of meats, cheeses, and wines from the Overworld.

"What is this?" demanded the mage, "You are not the Ghazrim DuLoc!"

Valerius apologized, "I am sorry to interrupt. We are searching for one of your gargoyles." He looked around and saw none.

"Gargoyles are not allowed in trade negotiations and neither are you. You must depart at once!"

"Of course." Valerius and the others withdrew. They gathered near the entrance to the Zhentarim enclave.

Virtue started to knock on the entrance to the enclave but the gate opened before her hand. The man on the other side of the door was as surprised by the guests as Virtue. He was a well dressed nobleman with slick hair and a salesman's grin. He was accompanied by an elderly Beholder, wrinkled with several eyes clouded by cataracts, and six black cloaks.

"Hello?"

"We are travellers from the Overworld. We were sent on a mission by King Bruenor of Gauntlgrym. Part of that mission involved coming here to find Ghazrim DuLoc. I have a letter from Davra Jassur."

"I am Ghazrim DuLoc." He inspected the letter. "Ah. Gravenhollow. Yes, I know the place and I can help you. But first, I have important clients waiting for me in the pavilion." He rolled up the letter and returned it. "Please, I won't be a moment. You may wait within the enclave if you wish." He motioned to the interior behind him.

"No, thankyou. We shall wait here."

"Very well. Lorthuun, this way. We shan't keep Lady Sirak waiting."

The trade delegation proceeded into the pavilion tent. The expedition from the Overworld waited nearby.

Ront was staring towards the wall near the ceiling.

Pain asked the orc what he was doing.

"Ront sees a gargoyle. There!"

A gargoyle was perched on a ledge watching the pavilion. It kept bashfully ducking its head then looking back.

Flink verified that this was the gargoyle they sought. The gargoyle, however, did not seem to be carrying the gemstone.

Ront blinked in sudden recognition, "Ront think it has crush on someone in tent."

Pain was taken aback, "What? How can that...?"

Pain was interrupted by screams, shouts, and the sound of battle from within the Pavilion.

The heroes drew their weapons and ran towards the sounds of danger!

...TO BE CONTINUED!

"The Lost Tomb of Khaem" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 13

What follows is an illustrated dramatic retelling of my group's play through of the D&D campaign setting, "Out of the Abyss". SPOILERS for anyone wishing to play in this campaign.

CHAPTER 13

"THE LOST TOMB OF KHAEM"

A rag-tag group of survivors

escaped the drow prison at Velkenvelve,

witnessed the razing of a kuo-toa village

by the demon-lord Demogorgon, 

survived weeks of travel in the Underdark,

thwarted a secret demonic cult

in Gracklstugh, the city of the Duergar,

and rescued a baby red dragon whose existence 

could throw the city into war and rebellion.

They had just chartered a boat

to take them to Neverlight Grove

when Hemeth the boat capatain

betrayed them and ordered his men

to steal the baby dragon

and return it to his master

Themberchaud, the Wyrmsmith....

THE PLAYER CHARACTERS
Angolwen - Wizard of mixed human/elven parentage.
Kettle Bearclaw - Halfling baker living among dwarves.
Talorean - Half-drow abandoned at birth to be raised by wolves.
Pain Grille' - Halfling street urchin from Waterdeep.
Virtue - Tiefling paladin and a mysterious wild card.

THEIR FELLOW TRAVELLERS
Jimjar - a roguish deep gnome who likes to wager on everything.
Ront - Thuggish orc from the surface world. Follows Talorean's commands.
Rumpadump - A shy and laconic myconid adult.
Stool - A myconid sprout that follows Kettle like a pet follows its owner.
Prince Derendil - Elven prince in the body of a brutish quaggoth.
Starshine - A mute female moon elf, an escaped slave with no name.
Mister Floop - a friendly flumph.
Santaka - a baby red dragon.

ESCAPE FROM GRACKLSTUGH
Everyone except Virtue was loading their newly purchased supplies, including four pack lizards, onto Hemeth's lake boat and making preparations to leave. In the distance arose the sound of an uprising. The derro were attacking the Stone Guard of Gracklstugh. Hemeth muttered something under his breath, put his crate down, and shouted orders for his crew, "Capture the dragon! Kill the rest!"

Hemeth the Duergar Trader, Agent of Themberchaud

The duergar crew picked up picks and hammers and moved menacingly towards the passengers. Kettle sprang into action, moving to protect the wyrmling from capture. Hemeth moved towards Angolwen but was waylaid by Talorean. Ront sprung at the duergar and clove his head with an axe. The crew used their innate duergar magic to become giants, causing the boat to rock underneath.

Virtue came running down the steps to the quay and towards the boat shouting for them to cease fighting. One of Hemeth's crewmen on the quay intercepted Virtue. When she was close enough, she cast a magic Suggestion spell on him, saying, "You should gather your men and storm the Keepers outpost to get to Thumberchaud! Now is the time to take the throne while the guards are fighting the Derro! Tell our Master quickly! I will get in the palace by offering the baby dragon to the King so I can attack from within. The all powerful Thumberchaud can breach the palace and eliminate two adversaries at once!"

The crewman nodded and called to the rest of the crew, "Quickly! We have been ordered to storm the Keeper's outpost! Our master is betrayed!" With that, four of the six remaining crewmen left the melee on the boat and ran back towards the city.  The remaining two were quickly dispatched.

Santaka the Dragon

Virtue called to the baby dragon, "Santaka, come!" The wyrmling leapt off the boat and rushed to Virtue's side. Virtue looked at her confused friends on the boat. "I'm sorry. I can't go with you. I have things to do here. Good luck!" She and Santaka turned and ran back towards the city.

DM Note -
Virtue's player has classes on Friday night now so he's dropping out for a while. He gave me detailed instructions for what Virtue did that night and her plans for Gracklstugh during the next several weeks.

While the attention of the Stone Guard and other duergar was turned towards the derro uprising, the remaining fugitives from Velkenvelve untied the boat and pushed off. Kettle looked to Rumpadump, "Which way?"

Rumpadump the Myconid

The myconid pointed towards the left, "That way."

Kettle turned his face towards the dark expanse of subterranean lake before him and said, "That way!"


DEATH IN THE DARKLAKE
The fugitives of Velkenvelve took turns manning the oars in shifts, four rowers at a time. The first shift spent eight hours rowing while the second shift studied, took inventory, or crafted necessary supplies. Then they'd swap. The third shift was spent adrift, with everyone resting.

The rowing was uneventful. The only interesting thing that happened was the time they encountered a low ceiling. The roof of the cavern kept getting lower and lower until everyone had to duck low into the boat. Talorean, however, conked his head on the ceiling.

Pain was on watch during the third shift while everyone else was asleep. Pain heard a small splashing sound. He got up to look and saw four creatures climbing into the boat. Each had a humanoid torso that ended in a long fish-like tail. Their bodies were covered in scaly piscine skin. Each possessed two heads. Each head possessed fish-like features - covered in fins and trailing long tentacles. The arms were clawed and each carried a harpoon in one hand attached to a line.

Pain called the alarm and everyone came awake. The two-headed fish-men climbed aboard, one on each quarter of the boat, croaking "Blood and salt for our abyssal lord!" They stabbed their harpoons at the closest targets. Kettle and Talorean were each harpooned and dragged into the water!

Pain quickly killed the mer-creature that threatened him and rush to the aid of Rumpadump.

Kettle managed to kill his opponent and swim back to the boat, but Talorean faced difficulty. His opponent dragged him deeper and deeper under the inky black water of the Darklake.

After finishing off the third mer-creature, Pain activated his magical boots of speed and dove into the water. Following the sound of Talorean's struggles, Pain soon closed with the combatants, but it was too late. Talorean had ceased struggling and was being dragged down further and further. Pain tried in vain to wrestle Talorean's limp body away from the aquatic creature but failed, ultimately giving up and returning to the surface.

Talorean was lost.

RIP Talorean

The fugitives, wet and forlorn, settled down to mourn their lost friend and complete their rest.

DM Note -
That was the first PC death this campaign and it was pretty brutal! Talorean was resting so he wasn't wearing armor, which made him easy to hit and damage. Dragging him underwater separated him from help and made it difficult to get healing potions to him. Overall, the merrow random encounter was bad-ass and scary! It did a good job of showing how dangerous the Darklake can be.

A CHALLENGE FOR COMMAND
The surviving members of the party were awakened by Ront. Ront followed Talorean, and Talorean was now dead. Ront declared himself leader of the party. Pain, Kettle, and Angolwen objected.

Ront

Kettle stepped up to Ront and tried to intimidate him, but his small halfling stature and friendly demeanor betrayed him. Ront threatened to eat Kettle but the halfling refused to back down. Ront picked Kettle up and tried to throw him overboard, but Kettle's feet found the gunwale and pushed back. Ront tried again but could not throw Kettle over the side. Kettle stabbed Ront with his new black-bladed katar. Ront screamed in anger but backed down. Kettle ordered Ront to man an oar. The brutish orc complied.

A few hours later, Angolwen spotted a strange creature descending through the dark. The shadowy silhouette soon resolved into a bizarre giant brain with a terrible beak. The brain trailed long writhing tentacles. Kettle identified the beast as a grell but knew little about it.

The grell moved over the boat and began to dangle its tentacles towards the party. Angolwen launched a fireball spell high overhead, detonating it above the grell. The fiery shockwave threw everyone to the deck, but the grell's flaming body hit the boat and bounced in the lake.

Thirty-six hours after they left Gracklstugh, they arrived at a waterfall that emerged from a subterranean river about a hundred feet above the level of the lake. Rumpadump indicated the direction. They put the boat ashore, offloaded the supplies, and used the pack lizards to pull the boat out of the water.

The party then climbed the rocky wall to the cavern's mouth. The pack lizards made short work of the rough surface, climbing the wall with ease. Soon they were following the small river into a tunnel that measures about a hundred feet across.


A VOICE IN THE DARKNESS
Kettle, who had learned the secrets of survival and navigation in the Underdark from Hemeth and Sarith, blazed the trail ahead, scouting the easiest path and making easy work of the difficult terrain. He turned what would have been a four day journey up rough obstacle-strewn river into a two-day journey. They made excellent time before resting and encountered no surprises during this time.

Halfway to Neverlight Grove, every member of the party heard a telepathic call for help. A soft feminine voice spoke directly to their mind, "Hello? Is someone there? Oh please, I need your help! I have been trapped in the dark for so long! So very long! Please, won't you help me?"

The party tried to communicate back but found that the voice was one-way. They could not respond.

Fearing a trap, they nonetheless investigated. They could sense the direction of the telepathic voice and followed it into a rift recently opened by tectonic shifts. They followed the voice to an ancient bronze door. The door was covered in bas relief carvings from the ancient Netherese culture.

The party hesitated. They debated the merits of opening the door and decided that the potential rewards outweighed the risks.

DM Note - 
The actual conversation went something like this:

The PCs warily follow the voice and find an ancient sealed door. 

PC 1: "Oh hell no! It's a trap! I ain't going in there! There's going to be undead and traps and stuff! We should move on."

PC 2: "Wait, (to me) just to be sure. Is there an inscription on the door? Any sort of writing?"

Me (the DM): "No. Not really, just some bas relief carvings and some undecipherable hieroglyphs."

PC2: "It sounds dangerous! Let's move on!"

Other PCs: (general sound of agreement and nervousness pointing towards avoiding the side-quest entirely)

Me (getting slightly annoyed): "Wait, there IS an inscription. It says 'ARE YOU FUCKING ADVENTURERS OR AREN'T YOU?' "

They got the point and opened the door.

AN ANCIENT SORCERER

Inside, they found an entrance room. The walls were covered in carved friezes displaying the great deeds of a powerful ancient sorcerer. Stairs led down hundreds of feet into a shrine. The shine appeared to be recently defaced and clawed but the dust of the floor showed no disturbance. 

There were two doors in the shine. The took the exit opposite the entrance. The passage opened into a crypt. Four sarcophagi sat undisturbed, the burial vault of the ancient sorcerer's most trusted servants. Pain moved into the room to investigate a sarcophagus. In so doing, four spectral figures rose and attacked.

Kettle, Pain, and Ront attacked the spectres while Jimjar fired his crossbow. Angolwen attacked with spells from the entrance. Ront was seriously injured and had to withdraw but was saved by Pain and a healing potion. The spectres were soon defeated. Kettle and Pain opened each of the sarcophagi to reveal treasures in the form of burial jewelry and ornaments.

Having looted the crypts, the party was about ready to leave when the disembodied voice once more called out, "No! Please don't leave! You are so close! Please don't leave me here!"

They looked around again, inspecting each corner of the room. It was Kettle that noticed one sarcophagus could be moved, revealing a pit in the floor that opened into a hidden chamber below.

THE TOMB
The party descended by rope into the dark chamber below. There they found a single sarcophagus atop a raised platform. After they entered, a wraith-like apparition appeared. The apparition spoke in a different voice altogether from that of the disembodied voice, cursing and threatening them as it attacked!

"Who disturbs my tomb? Who wakens me from my eternal slumber? I, the great and powerful Brysis Khaem, will destroy you!"

After defeating the ghostly sorcerer, they could still hear the friendly disembodied voice, "Yes! Closer! Within the sarcophagus!"

They opened the sarcophagus to find the mummified remains of Brysis Khaem. Atop the body was a golden sword hilt.

"You have found me! I am free!"

Kettle took the hilt. He tried to ask the hilt questions, but all it would say was that its name was Dawnbringer and that all would be revealed to him who bonded with it.

FALSE TOMB
As they went to climb out of the tomb, the party found that Ront, who had stayed above, had raised the rope. They yelled at Ront, ordering him to lower the rope. Ront considered leaving them to die but eventually lowered the rope and allowed them to climb out.

On their way out, they explored the unopened door. There they found what appeared to be a tomb with another sarcophagi and canopic jars. Angolwen cast a Detect Magic spell on the sarcophagus, sensing illusion and abjuration magic. They opened the tomb and activated the ancient spell. The spell had lost its magic, however, and it fizzled and sputtered.

Angolwen the Wizard

After determining that this final tomb was a decoy, they left the tomb of Khaem and returned to their campsite where they left the pack animals with the non-combatants.

NEXT WEEK - Neverlight Grove!

"Secrets and Spies" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 12

What follows is an illustrated dramatic retelling of my group's play through of the D&D campaign setting, "Out of the Abyss". SPOILERS for anyone wishing to play in this campaign.

CHAPTER 12

"SECRETS AND SPIES"

A rag-tag group of survivors

escaped the drow prison at Velkenvelve,

witnessed the razing of a kuo-toa village

by the demon-lord Demogorgon, 

and traveled for 28 days to 

Gracklstugh, the city of the Duergar,

where they have become involved

in the scheming machinations of

the various political factions 

vying for power in this city of madness...

THE PLAYER CHARACTERS
Angolwen - Wizard of mixed human/elven parentage.
Kettle Bearclaw - Halfling baker living among dwarves.
Virtue - Tiefling paladin and a mysterious wild card.

THEIR FELLOW TRAVELLERS
Jimjar - a roguish deep gnome who likes to wager on everything.

NOT PRESENT THIS EPISODE
Talorean - Half-drow abandoned at birth to be raised by wolves.
Ront - Thuggish orc from the surface world. Follows Talorean's commands.
Pain Grille' - Halfling street urchin from Waterdeep.
Rumpadump - A shy and laconic myconid adult.
Stool - A myconid sprout that follows Kettle like a pet follows its owner.
Prince Derendil - Elven prince in the body of a brutish quaggoth.
Starshine - A mute female moon elf, an escaped slave with no name.
Topsy and Turvy - Deep gnome twins who everyone pretty much knows are were-rats.
Mister Floop - a friendly flumph.

VIRTUE'S DRAGON
When Virtue saw Buppido, she was overwhelmed by her manic paranoia. She turned and fled, carrying her seventy pound dragon egg to safety.

She blindly ran through the Whorlstone Tunnels until she came across the chamber of the Whispering Mesa. It seemed a safe defensible location so she climbed.

She sat down at the top of the mesa, surrounded by the whispered thoughts of the people of Gracklstugh, and considered the dragon egg. There she sat with her egg for what felt like days, or possibly only hours, it was difficult to tell in this alien subterranean environment.

While she sat, she caught a snippet of a thought from Themberchaud the dragon, the Wyrmsmith of Gracklstugh. She knew then that if she returned the egg to Themberchaud, the dragon would destroy the egg as a potential rival. She also sensed growing impatience in the dragon, and a growing desire to destroy the Keepers of the Flame, kill the Deepking, and take over the city.

She decided she wouldn't turn the egg over to Themberchaud. She would hatch it herself.

At first she used her own magical flame to heat the egg. Then she downed a potion of fire breathing and exhaled flame over the egg.

The egg cracked.

Out hatched a wyrmling. A sixty-pound baby dragon that burped fire and loudly squawked, "MAA!"

Virtue fed the wymrling what edible mushrooms and rations she had but the dragon was unsatisfied. It needed meat.

He left the dragon momentarily to obtain some more meat from a nearby cavern, but the dragon was still dissatisfied.

DM Note-
Me: "Where will you find any meat?"

Virtue's player: "We've left dead bodies in every room we've been to in this dungeon!"

Me: "Good point."

Virtue gathered up the egg-shells into a sack and loaded the dragon and into her backpack and ventured out of the cavern in search of more food.

THE SPIDER KING
While harvesting some more mushrooms from a nearby patch, she came upon a fissure in the wall. She remembered that this fissure probably connected to the fissure in the back of the mushroom garden of the alchemist's lab. Knowing that the door to the lab was locked and figuring that the lab was a safe place to be, she consumed a pygmywort mushroom and gave one to her dragon.  Tnhey both shrank down to the size of a halfling and ventured into the fissure.

She came upon an split in the tunnel and chose left. At the second split, she realized that she had fallen into a trap. She was surrounded by three giant spiders! The largest one with two heads said something in a language she did not understand. She drew her hex blade.

One of spiders in front of her showered her in sticky webbing. The dragon exhaled fire upon the two-headed spider behind them. The spiders approached, biting with their poisonous fangs. Virtue managed to kill one of the spiders in front of her but ultimately fell to the other's poisonous bite. The spider wrapped up Virtue's fallen body in a cocoon while the baby dragon fought and killed the two-headed spider. Upon defeating its foe, the baby dragon then turned and killed the spider dragging Virtue's body away.

The dragon pawed at the un-moving cocoon, crying, "MAA!" The dragon dragged the cocoon out of the fissure and back to the chamber of the mesa.

SECRETS SHARED

Angolwen

After leading Ylsa Henstak into the Whorlstone Tunnels and the chamber of the Obsidian Obelisk, Angolwen and Kettle decide to head back to the cavern of the Whispering Mesa to ask some more questions while Pain Grille' went back to Gracklstugh to help make preparations to leave.

To their surprise, they find a halfling-sized cocoon and a baby dragon.

"MAA!"

The baby dragon took a defensive posture over the cocoon but Kettle managed to ease its fears and convince it that they were friendly.

DM Note - 
Animal Handling!

Kettle pulled one of his blades and cut open the cocoon. He found the halfling-sized Virtue unconscious and blue. He applied a healing potion and helped her to come around. There they waited for the paralysis to wear off.

Once Virtue regained her senses, she realized that her overwhelming paranoia had finally passed, though some lingering suspicion remained.

The three caught up on the events of the previous tridon (an Underdark "day"): the death of Buppido,  the ghost and the quest to find the missing ring, the thwarting of the derro savants and the cult of Demogorgon, etc. Virtue caught everyone up on his deal with Themberchaud, the duplicity of the Keepers of the Flame, the theft of the dragon egg by the Grey Shadows on behalf of the derro savants, the subsequent hatching of the baby dragon, etc. Then they discussed what they wanted to do next.

DM Note - 
Unbeknownst to them, while they were sharing all their secrets and strategies, they were being observed by invisible agents of Ylsa and the Merchant Council.

ONE LAST MEETING WITH YLSA
They decided they needed more information so they made one more trip back to the Obsidian Obelisk to ask Ylsa some questions about the politics of Gracklstugh, specifically what would happen if various factions were eliminated or made more powerful. On the way, they realized they had a baby red dragon that was in high demand, so Angolwen cast a Minor Illusion spell to make the dragon resemble a large dog.

"MAA!"

Close enough.

Ylsa Henstak

Ylsa was still examining the obelisk when they arrived.

"Welcome back. You weren't gone long."

"We'd like to ask you some questions about Gracklstugh."

She nodded and turned around from her inspection of the obelisk.

"What.. is.. that?" she said with alarm, pointing at the disguised dog.. dragon.. thing.

"MAA!" bleated the roughly canine quadruped.

"It's a.. um.. it's a dog." declared Kettle, hesitantly.

"A what? What is that? Is that some kind of Overworlder animal?"

"Yep! That's exactly what it is!"

"Keep it away from me!"

They asked her some questions about how politics were run in Gracklstugh. Who was in charge? What was the line of succession? Who was the current heir? Who was at odds with whom? What was the relationship between the stone giants of Clan Cairngorm and the Deepking? She shared what she knew.

DM Note - 
After they left, the invisible spy informed Ylsa of everything he had observed. 

CLOSING OUT THE REMAINING QUESTS
Afterwards, they decided to hunt down the crawling hand with the ring they sought. They tracked it to the chamber filled with discarded corpses and two-headed zombies. Angolwen stood on the ledge and safely dispatched all the zombies at range using attack spells. Kettle noticed the hand with the ring crawling in the back of the room. He climbed down and grabbed the hand. The hand fought back. Kettle wrestled with the hand and managed to pull the ring off. He threw the hand across the room and Angolwen zapped it with an Eldritch Blast.

The Crawling Claw

DM Note-
I thought about having the zombies reanimate as soon as Kettle was in the back of the room, but it's kind of a pointless encounter, so I just skipped it. 

On their way out, they investigated an unexplored passage. They found their way blocked by crude bars made of scrap. Within was a mosaic spiral pattern built into the floor surrounded by glowing stones. In the distance were nine large animal cages, several of them filled with cave bears. Two derro were camped in the room, both arguing with non-existent, or invisible, companions. The party decided to leave the room alone and return to Gracklstugh.

DM Note-
Party rolled an average stealth score of 9. The players were certain they'd be spotted. However, the passive Perception of the derro is 7. Nobody saw nuthin.

THE STONESPEAKER HGRAAM
Their first task upon returning to Gracklstugh was to request an audience with Stonespeaker Hgraam. They considered the Stonespeaker to be the only being they could trust in Gracklstugh so they wanted to make sure he was informed of all that was happening in Gracklstugh.

Stonespeaker Hgraam

Stonespeaker Hgraam met them as requested, "I did not expect to see you again so soon."

They told the Stonespeaker about Themberchaud's growing impatience and plans to take over the city, as well as the Keepers' plot to replace Themberchaud. They asked what the stone giant response would be in the event of Themberchaud trying to take over. The Stonespeaker replied that they would fulfill their oath and fight the Wyrmsmith to protect the Deepking. However, if the Deepking were to die, his line would come to an end and Clan Cairngorm would be free of their oath. He also pointed out that the current consort has been unable to produce an heir, a situation that has caused some concern among members of the royal court.

Afterwards, they told Hgraam about the Whispering Mesa and the Obsidian Obelisk. Hgraam expressed alarm and said that they had to take this information directly to the Deepking. He would arrange an audience with the Deep King at once.

AUDIENCE WITH THE DEEP KING
Stonespeaker Hgraam took the trio, along with their strange looking "dog" to the Deep King's hall. Lava poured down troughs flanking the wide boulevard that led into the immensely tall arched entrance. Massive basalt pillars held aloft a soaring vaulted ceiling. At the head of the hall sat the Deep King Horgar Steelshadow V on his heavy throne. His consort stood by his side.

The Deep King Horgar Steelshadow V

Other than the Deep King and his consort, they were completely alone. No guards, no courtiers, no advisers.

Stonespeaker Hgraam introduced the party, informing the Deep King that they had vital information that affected the security and well being of the kingdom. Kettle stepped forward. As the only member of the party that spoke Dwarvish, he spoke for the party.

Kettle repeated his information for the Deep King, informing him of the power of the Whispering Mesa, the Obsidian Obelisk, the involvement of the derro savants in the cult of Demogorgon, and the cult's attempts to destabilize the influence of the stone giants.

While Kettle spoke, Angolwen cast a spell of Comprehend Languages upon herself so that she could follow and provide support if needed. Virtue, remembering a rumor she heard somewhere regarding the possible true nature of the king's consort, observed her closely trying to get a reading on her.

The Deep King thanked Kettle for the information. Then he asked where they obtained the wyrmling. He had seen right through the illusion.

"MAA!"

Kettle replied that it was their dragon and not for sale.

The Deep King offered to purchase the dragon for 1000 gold coins.

Kettle replied that it was not for sale.

The Deep King increased his offer to 2000 gold coins.

Kettle replied that it was still not for sale.

The situation became tense for a short moment. Then the Deep King informed Kettle that, as a reward for the useful information he provided, he would allow them to keep the dragon. However, he warned them to leave the city immediately lest they garner the wrath of Themberchaud the Wymrsmith.

Kettle agreed and the party ended their audience with the Deep King.

UNWELCOME INFORMATION
Hgraam escorted the party back to the gates to the Darklake District. On the way, Virtue told the others that the king's consort was a fiend, probably a succubus, confirming the rumors he had heard.

Virtue

DM Note-
This led to some debate about whether succubi were demons or devils, a detail that changed with each edition. After some research I determined that "fiends" were both demons AND devils and that succubi served both sides. This was important because Kettle's favored enemy is demon. 

Stonespeaker Hgraam was shocked. He said that this was a major allegation and could not be repeated without proof or evidence.

Virtue really wanted to go back and immediately deal with this information. She offered several strategies that allowed her to reveal the consort as an agent of demons. Angolwen and Kettle managed to talk him out of it. They really just wanted to leave the city. They promised they would deal with it later.

At gate, party bade farewell to Stonespeaker Hgraam, who suggested that they should probably not return to Gracklstugh.

PREPARATIONS TO LEAVE
The trio next went to Overlake Hold and chose equipment from the armory, their reward for serving Commander Blackskull. They briefly met with the commander. She was by now almost paralyzed with paranoia. Nevertheless, they told her, too, about Obsidian Obelisk and the Whispering Mesa. She admitted that she already knew this. She has had invisible spies following them for some time. She warned them to never believe for a moment that they were alone, for her spies were likely not alone. Before they left, Commander Blackskull collected her badges and gave them exit passports, allowing them to exit the city.

Commander Errde Blackskull

Afterwards, they went shopping in the Blade Bazaar. Angolwen purchased crates of spell components. Kettle purchased pack lizard and supplies, then picked up his new weapon: a katar made of black glass-metal, made from the missing chunk of obelisk found in the alchemist's laboratory.

DM Note-
As a non-magical bug exceptional blade, I'm going to give it the property of re-rolling damage rolls of 1. 

Virtue returned to the Gohlbrorn's Lair to gather everyone up and prepare them for leaving. She told them to meet down at the Darklake Docks.

Virtue and Kettle met early down by the docks and found Hemeth, the duergar merchant they helped return to Gracklstugh several tridons ago. Hemeth was overseeing the outfitting of his new ship. They chartered his ship to take them to Neverlight Grove. Soon, the others arrive and they began loading their equipment and supplies, as well as their young dragon, on board.

PARTING SHOTS
While the others loaded the ship, Virtue said she had to go take care of some final things and went back to the city.

On her way to the gates, she was waylaid by Gartokkar Xundorn, leader of the Keepers of the Flame. Gartokkar demanded to know where the dragon egg was.

Virtue said the dragon died and gave Gartokkar the egg shells. Gartokkar suspected treachery and demanded to see the dragon's body. Virtue admitted to Gartokkar that Themberchaud employed her as a secret agent to bring the dragon to him to kill. She added that Thermberchaud was growing restless of the Keepers of the Flame and was going to take over the city soon. This Gartokkar knew, of course. The duergar warned Virtue that Themberchaud had other agents. If Virtue had the dragon, the dragon was in danger.

"Other agents? Like whom?"

"Like Hemeth."

Virtue's eyes got large. She suddenly remembered that it was Hemeth that brought her to Themberchaud's lair, and that it was Hemeth that introduced her to the Wyrmsmith. She said, "Oh. Oh that's right. Uh oh. Gotta go!"

As she turned to run back to the ship, she heard the sound of battle. The derro were uprising!

Hemeth

Back on the boat, Hemeth gave a signal and he and his agents drew their weapons. "Capture the dragon! Kill the rest!"

"MAA!"

TO BE CONTINUED

After Action Report - 
We were missing Talorean and Pain Grille' this week. 

Virtue's player really wanted to foment rebellion and strife everywhere she went, which is totally in line with the character's backstory and goals. The other players just want to get the heck out of town. They're ready for Neverlight Grove.

In a way I'm glad that Talorean's player missed this week because it was filled with the types of machinations, plotting, speculation, investigation, and duplicity that he kind of hates. He becomes bored with political drama and "what should we tell to who?" kinds of strategies. He prefers clearly defined enemies and clearly defined goals where anything else is extraneous and to be ignored.

However, this kind of play is right up Virtue's and Kettle's players alleys. They eat this stuff up. It helps immerse them into the world and it gives them a sense of impact in the setting.

Most of this week's game was just Kettle and Virtue and Angolwen talking in character and interacting with NPCs, and they had a blast! 

I'm a little sad Pain's player missed it because he likes this kind of play also. 

Next week- I built a boat for them to fight on and/or steal to take to Neverlight Grove!