"The Battle for Blingdenstone" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 22

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 22

"THE BATTLE FOR BLINGDENSTONE"

A rag-tag group of fugitves

experience one adventure after another

as they travel the Underdark

searching for a way home.

While in Blingdenstone,

they discovered that the old

Royal Quarter was controlled

by an insane Deep Gnome

called the Pudding King,

who intends to use

his army of oozes, slimes, and jellies

to take over the city!

Chief Senni has called

a council of war

to decide what to do...

THE PLAYER CHARACTERS
Virtue - tiefling paladin and warlock, a mysterious wild card of unknown allegiance.
Ront - orc barbarian seeking redemption for his failures.
Ficus Asëa - eladrin sword-mage who became lose while helping escort deep gnome refugees back to Blingdenstone.
Breya- human bard, sent to rescue Wulfric from duergar slavers, now seeking a way back to the surface.

NOT APPEARING THIS WEEK
Jimjar - deep gnome rogue who likes to wager on everything.

THEIR FELLOW FUGITIVES
Prince Derendil - Elven prince in the body of a brutish quaggoth.
Starshine - A mute moon elf, an escaped slave from Menzoberranzan.
Mister Floop - a friendly flumph.
Glabbagool - an inquisitive but friendly Gelatinous Cube.
Santaka - a baby red dragon, loyal to Virtue.
Wulfric the Tinker - a male human and expert engineer and inventor.

BREYA AND FICUS RETURN
Breya and Ficus were returning to Blingdenstone after successfully helping Yantha Coaxrock of the Stoneheart Enclave locate the lost location to Entemoch's Boon. There, Yantha had created new Earth Elementals two for the defense of the Stonheart Quarry and one for Blingdenstone itself.

Ficus asked Yantha if he could have an earth elemental. Yantha told him no, they were too valuable and were needed for the defense of the city.

DM Note- True story. This will become incredibly funny later.

Breya, Ficus, Yantha, and a handful of escorts, had just entered the gates and passed through the maze when they were met by a messenger.

"I am here to inform you that you are to be summoned to Diggermattock Hall for a council of war."

Yantha, taken aback, blinked and responded, "Of course. I'll be right there." She turned to her companions, "I'll meet you afterwards."

Ficus and Breya nodded.

The messenger continued, indicating Ficus and Breya, "My orders say that you, too, are invited."

Ficus blinked away his surprise and he and Freya followed Yantha and the messenger to Diggermattock Hall.

A COUNCIL OF WAR

Dorbo and Senni

Senni had assembled representatives from each of the factions of Blingdenstone.

The room was filled with svirfneblin, were-rats, and ghosts.

Before Senni called the assembly to order, Ficus and  Ront exchanged greetings. When asked about the others, Ront said Jimjar wasn't invited and that Virtue was late. Ront did what he could to bring Ficus and Breya up to speed on the events of the last few tridons, but Ront was Ront.

During the introduction, Chipgrin waddled over and introduced himself to Ficus and Breya, saying he had heard all about them and that it was a pleasure to meet them. Ficus was dubious of the were-rat but withheld judgement.

Chipgrin the Were-rat

Senni called the council to order, introducing each of the factions.

• Senni's husband, Dorbo Diggermattock, stood with Sark Axebarrel and the city guard.
• Yantha Coakrock represented the Stoneheart Enclave. 
• Kazook Pickshine represented the interests of the Miner's Guild.
• A few of the city's ghosts hovered near the spirit of Burrow Warden Jadger.
• Chipgrin led a small contingent of Goldwhisker were-rats.
• Ront stood alone but welcomed the arrival of Ficus and Freya. 

Senni looked around the room, desperately searching for Virtue who still hadn't arrived. She soon gave up and asked (sigh) Ront (sigh) to relay his experiences with the court of the Pudding King.

Ront did his monosllyabic best to tell the story of how Chipgrin led them to a back passage, telling how they encountered the "Big Ghee-Hode" and the booming voice that told them to leave. He told of the walls covered in slimes and molds and jellies which shook and jumped along with the loud voice. 

During the story, the assembled deep gnomes looked at each other with increasing confusion as Ront used as many big words that his limited vocabulary could muster. 

When he finished, Senni thanked him and asked Chipgrin to continue, "What can you tell us about this Pudding King?"

Chipgrin told his story and said that the Pudding King was planning to take over Blingdenstone, and that the Goldwhiskers would leave before that happened.

Dorbo shouted, "Good! Leave! Clear out! You've never been welcome here!"

Sark Axebarrel, Captain of the Guard

Chipgrin hissed in defiance, but was silenced interrupted by Ficus, "Stop it! Dorbo, I've seen how many soldiers you have. If what Ront says is true, you'll never defeat the Pudding King with only thirty guards. You're going to have to work together with the were-rats if you want to have a chance."

Dorbo sat down. 

Ficus continued, "What do the rest of you have, what else do you bring to the table?"

Yantha offered, "I brought an Earth Elemental."

Ficus approved and pointed to his former master, Kazook Pickshine, "Master Pickshine, do you have any oil? How much alchemist fire do you have?"

Kazook Pickshine, Alchemist and leader of the Miner's Guild

Kazook answered, "We've got some lubricant but no lamp oil, if that's what you're asking. I only have a handful of flasks of alchemist fire."

"Could you make more?"

"Yes, but I'd need to acquire some more ingredients from the myconids in Neverlight Grove."

Ficus shook his head, "That's too far away."

Dorbo interrupted, "What about weapons? We've fought some of these slimes and our weapons melt away! We need better weapons from Gracklstugh!"

Ront

Ront shouted, "NO GRACKLSTUGH!"

Ficus agreed, "No, it's also too far away. What about you ghosts?"

Barrow Warden Jadjer cleared his throat and hovered higher, "Thanks to the efforts of these brave Overworlders, I believe I can rally the ghosts of Blingdenstone to our aid."

Ficus then said, "Okay, I've got a plan. I say you deep gnomes launch an attack against the Pudding King and all his oozes. This will distract him. Meanwhile, our team can sneak in the back way and attack the Pudding King in his throne room."

Dorbo excitedly interjected, "Yes! A frontal assault! We could put the earth elemental in the front. It would be the point of the spear. Meanwhile, the were-rats," he nodded towards Chipgrin, "could follow behind and be the shock troops. My men would bring up the rear."

Barrow Warden Jadjer, Ghost

Barrow Warden Jadjer offered, "The ghosts could weave in and out of the walls, causing mayhem!"

Dorbo nodded, "Yes! Perfect!"

Ront suggested, "Are oozes like cave slugs? Will salt hurt them? You could hurl salt with slings."

Kazook shrugged, "Couldn't hurt, I guess."

Senni brought the council to a close, "Excellent, then we have a plan. We shall assemble at the start of the next tridon. Assemble what you need and meet in the Trader's Grotto. We'll attack the House Center

SNEAK ATTACK
After preparing and resting for a shift, the various teams assembled for their missions. The Overworlders were escorted into the Goldwhisker Warrens to the edge of the Pudding King's court. There they waited for the messenger with the signal that the attack had begun.

A few moments later, a messenger ran up and gave the signal. The Overworlders entered into Pudding territory. Ront, fearing the effect an ooze would have upon his blade, carried a two-handed bone club.

They entered into a large chamber with a pond of water on the left wall. They were met by three grey oozes and an ochre jelly. This initial resistance was soon defeated.

Virtue remembered that the path ahead led to the throne room. However, that path led past a ruined rothe' stockade containing a gibbering mouther, a beast the party was unwilling to confront. The party faced a decision - go forward and risk the gibbering mouther or go right and risk getting lost.

THE RELUCTANT GUARDIAN
Virtue knew that the path to the right led to the old House Center, but perhaps there was another way past the gibbering mouther. She looked down the passage towards House Center and saw a quivering dark mass on the ceiling. She pointed it out to her companions and she, Ficus, and Breya peppered the dark shape with ranged spells. The dark shape retreated into a hole in the ceiling.

The party advanced. Ront led the way until he was standing under the hole containing the black shape. Suddenly the black pudding dropped from the ceiling, barely  missing Ront as it fell to the passage floor with a sickening wet "THWAP!" Simultaneously, two grey oozes emerged from the passage walls, attacking the rest of the party with their pseudopods.

Ront attacked the black pudding with his club. To his surprise the club began to dissolve! Ront dropped the club and switched to his sword. To his further horror, the sword split the black pudding into two halves with each continuing to attack independently from the other! After the others defeated the grey oozes with magical attacks, they helped Ront defeat the puddings.

They advanced forward and found themselves in the House Center where they witnessed the great battle raging near the entrance. They backed away, ignoring a side passage to the left, and decided to take the route past the gibbering mouther.

OBSTACLE CUBED
After returning to the cavern with the pond, they decided to take the path that led to the ruined stockade. Ront led the way and almost walked into a transparent gelatinous cube occupying the hallway. Ront was able to dodge out of the way as the cube advanced.

Ront, Virtue, and Santaka fought the gelatinous cube while Ficus withdrew to a safe distance behind a pillar. Unfortunately, Ficus was then attacked by an ochre jelly lurking in the darkness.

Virtue left the cube to Ront and rushed to aid Ficus.

Both the cube and the ochre jelly were eventually destroyed.

A QUARTET OF PUDDINGS
The party advanced forward, reaching the cavern that was once a deep gnome temple and later used as a rothe' stockade during the drow occupation. In the back of the cavern, they could hear the horrible cackling of the gibbering mouther, but the abomination made no effort to leave its home near the temple.

As they entered, they were met by four quivering black puddings!

Ficus ordered everyone to back up to the passage where they could constrain the puddings. Ront and Virtue held the front line against two puddings at a time while Breya and Ficus cast spells from the rear. Breya was able to damage two of them with a fireball spell.

The other two puddings acted with unusual intelligence, a trait bestowed upon them by the Pudding King, and kept out of sight of the spell casters.

Ront's club continued to degrade as he fought but thanks to the continuous spell attacks and Virtue's magic halberd, they were eventually able to defeat all four puddings and continue.

THE ROYAL JELLIES
The gibbering thing ignored them as they continued towards the Pudding King's throne room. The Overworlders came upon an intersection of several passages. Standing in the middle was an old wrinkled deep gnome wearing a tattered cape. The deep gnome's features were wrinkled and droopy. His body was covered in wet glistening slime.

The Pudding King was waiting for the Overworlders, "I see my welcoming party failed to keep you properly entertained. No matter, my loyal children, Princess Ebonmire and Prince Livid, shall tarry with you while I complete my preprations to welcome the Faceless Lord!"

At his signal, a black pudding and a grey ooze poured from holes in the ceiling, forming roughly humanoid shapes. The black shape was vaguely female while the grey shape was that of a young boy. The female spoke, "Yes, father. We shall have oh so much fun with out guests!"

The boy ooze jiggled evily as he chuckled.

The Pudding King looked pleased, "Excellent! Devour them, my precious children! Make your father proud!" With a wave of his hand he turned into a cloud of mist and blew away down one of the passages.

Ront charged and battle was joined. Prince Livid fell quickly. Princess Ebonmire gurgled a horrid scream at the death of her brother, "You will pay for that!"

Princess Ebonmire began hurling globs of black goo at the Overworlders, forcing Ficus to withdraw in pain. Ront engaged her in a fierce melee.

The Princess proved a match for Ront, splitting several times and reducing both Ront's club and two-handed sword to flaccid ruins. With a howl of anger, Ront was forced to reluctantly withdraw and his place was taken by Virtue.

DM Note- Ront was down to 1 hit point and had to withdraw to drink a healing potion. He had ruined both his weapons and was not reduced to daggers.

Eventually Princess Ebonmire was defeated. As she burst into a large puddle of black syrpy liquid, she disgorged two arcane tomes bound in troglodyte hide. Both books had titles in gnomish, so Ficus put them away for later. The party continued their pursuit of the Pudding King.

THE PUDDING KING
After navigating the confusing passages and caverns of the House Center, they eventually came upon the chamber of the Pudding King's throne.

In the rear of the large cavern was a stone throne, behind which stood the Pudding King. The ceiling dripped with dangling draperies of green slime.

The Pudding King laughed, "Callooh! Callay! Now you can join the party! You can be one with the Faceless Lord! Just let yourselves be eaten and disgorged!"

The Pudding King

The party studied the dripping green slime and hesitated at the entrance. The Pudding King cast a spell upon them and they were engulfed in a cloud of noxious gas! Coughing and gagging, Ront, now wielding one of Virtue's halberds, charged the Pudding King behind his throne, dodging green slime as it fell from the ceiling with Virtue not far behind. Breya moved out of the gas but stayed towards the rear of the room.

Ficus moved into the room and disappeared, only to suddenly reappear behind the Pudding King!

The Pudding King was just about to move the killing cloud over Breya when he was attacked by Ficus wielding the brilliant sun-blade known as Dawn! The Pudding King lost his concentration and the cloud dissapated!

The Pudding King then tried to magically disappear into a puff of mist but was stopped by a counterspell from Ficus.

The Pudding King reached out towards Ficus, grabbing his arm. Ficus began to wither like a raisin as his life force was drained by the magical Blight spell.

Green slime fell on Virtue, singing her with acid, but her instinctive counterattack flared forth into a halo of fire, burning away the slime instantly!

In a last ditch effort, the Pudding King turned himself into a black pudding. Ront attacked the pudding with his halberd cutting it into two. He attacked again, splitting again. There were now three black puddings, but the Pudding King had been split too many times. Some quick application of firebolt spells and a gout of flame from Santaka finally destroyed all three black puddings.

When the last pudding was burst, it reformed into the wounded body of the Pudding King, "You haven't won! No! We will rise from our children! We will be reborn from the Faceless Lord! Juiblex will consume the banquet of the Queen fo Fungi and we... will... all... grow...!"

AFTERMATH
As the Pudding King died, so too did the intelligence of the oozes he controlled.

Soon after the Pudding King's death, Sark Axebarrel and Dorbo Diggermattock rushed in followed by several battle-weary guards. They announced that the jellies, oozes, and slimes suddenly stopped fighting as an army and began to flee before their attack! The battle was won!

The Overworlders were escorted back to the massive geode palace in House Center where Senni, Chipgrin, the were-rats, and the guards were mopping up and killing every last ooze that remained. When Senni learned what the Overworlders had done, she came over and thanked them.

The following shift, the Overworlders were properly rewarded at a ceremony in the now liberated royal palace. For their efforts in defeating the Pudding King, they were awarded a magical Stone of Earth Elemental Control!

DM Note- Ficus got his earth elemental! 

After the battle, Virtue spent the next four or five tridons curing the were-rats of their lycanthropy. Meanwhile, the deep gnomes prepared an expedition to the surface.

The Overworlders were returning home!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next week: The journey home!

Coming soon: We'll be taking a short break from Out of the Abyss for a few months and playing something different. I'm currently thinking of a science fiction space opera game in a galaxy with magic and space gods. It's going to be a Star Wars knock-off in the tradition of Message From Space, Battle Beyond the Stars, Starchaser: the Legend of Orin, or Starcrash. 

Finally, I leave you with this: Trevor, who plays Virtue, dropped his huge d20 on his own nutsack, causing much pain and laughter, and when the dice landed on the table, it rolled a natural 20! PERFECT!

"Goldwhisker Warrens" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 21

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 21

"GOLDWHISKER WARRENS"

A rag-tag group of fugitves

experience one adventure after another

as they travel the Underdark

searching for a way home.

The fugitives continue their work

helping the deep gnomes of Blingdenstone.

After defeating the medusa Neehedra

and re-consecrating the Steadfast Stone,

they rescued many deep gnome hostages

from a drow trap in the Stonehart Quarry.

Now in order to secure passage to the Overworld

they must carry a diplomatic message

to the wererats of Goldwhisker Warrens.

THE PLAYER CHARACTERS
Virtue - tiefling paladin and warlock, a mysterious wild card of unknown allegiance.
Jimjar - deep gnome rogue who likes to wager on everything.
Ront - orc barbarian seeking redemption for his failures.

NOT APPEARING THIS WEEK
Ficus Asëa - eladrin sword-mage who became lose while helping escort deep gnome refugees back to Blingdenstone.
Breya- human bard, sent to rescue Wulfric from duergar slavers, now seeking a way back to the surface.

THEIR FELLOW FUGITIVES
Prince Derendil - Elven prince in the body of a brutish quaggoth.
Starshine - A mute moon elf, an escaped slave from Menzoberranzan.
Mister Floop - a friendly flumph.
Glabbagool - an inquisitive but friendly Gelatinous Cube.
Santaka - a baby red dragon, loyal to Virtue.
Wulfric the Tinker - a male human and expert engineer and inventor.

A DIPLOMATIC MISSION
Upon returning from their rescue mission to Stoneheart Quarry, the Fugitives from Velkenvelve rested and recuperated. They awoke the following shift and gathered in the common room of the Foaming Mug inn. Ficus, Breya, and Wulfric were nowhere to be seen. Jimjar was entertaining Starshine with sleight-of-hand games. The mute moon elf would sile and clap excitedly at every new surprise.

A few moments later, a runner appeared to summon the Overworlders to Diggermattock Hall. Virtue, Jimjar, Ront prepared to leave. Prince Derendil said, "Perhaps our royal personage may be of some assistance with this matter? We get so lonely and bored being left behind."

They said, "Sure, come along. Starshine, please stay here."

Mister Floop floated up, "I, too, shall join you!" The others shrugged.

Virtue spent a moment looking for Glabbagool and soon all six were returning with the runner.

Senni and Dorbo, the co-regents, had a mission for them. Senni had drafted a letter to be delivered to Chipgrin, the leader of the Goldwhisker clan of wererats. She wanted the Fugitives were to deliver the letter in the hopes that their neutrality would be accepted by the wererats.

Dorbo and Senni Diggermattock

Dorbo handed Virtue the sealed letter and leaned close, whispering, "While you are there, take note of their numbers and defenses. I am confident that this offering will fail and, when it does, I will be sending in a force of city guard to clear out the warrens once and for all."

A DISAGREEABLE WELCOME
The great metal doors that kept the Goldwhisker Warrens sealed away from the rest of Blingdenstone were opened and the Fugitives cautiously entered the forbidden quarter of the city.

Jimjar cautiously scouted ahead. He easily noticed that the cavern ahead was lined with holes in the walls and noted the pressure-sensitive plate concealed beneath the heavy tarp and covered with cave dust. As he disarmed the trap, four deep gnome guards wearing rags and bits of armor came charging out the darkness.

The guards demanded that the intruders lay down their weapons and surrender!

Virtue complied, dismissing her magical halberd and holding up her hands. She showed the letter and explained, carefully, that they had come to deliver a message to Chipgrin. The Diggermattocks wished a truce in order to deal with the oozes that were plaguing the city. The others, meanwhile, kept their weapons in hand but stayed their attack.

The deep gnome guards hesitated. At the mention of the oozes, two of the guards exchanged a knowing glance.

Virtue continued, reassuring the guards that they meant no harm. Jimjar muttered something under his breath.

One of the guards became agitated, "What did he say? WHAT DID HE SAY??"

Ront rushed forward, slapping the guard down with the flat of his sword. The guard went sprawling to the floor, clutching his face in pain. Ront pointed his sword at the second guard and shouted, "NA-GO-SHAY-SHUNS OVER!!"

The other guards shrank back, "Right. Um. This way." and led the Fugitives towards the Miner's Hall.

CHIPGRIN
The Fugitives were led into the Miner's Hall, a large cavern where ore was once smelted into metal. The forges now sat dark and empty but the room was alive with dozens of disheveled deep gnomes. They were lean, wiry, with long noses and beady eyes, and wore pelts and rags.

The largest and fattest among them stepped forward. One of the guards whispered into his ear and he turned towards the outsiders, announcing, "Greetings. I am Chipgrin, leader of the Goldwhisker Clan. I hear you have a message for me. Come. Join me in my office."

Chipgrin Goldwhisker

He led the Fugitives up a stairway cut into the stone to a wide ledge overlooking the hall. There were chairs here and a large throne covered in the pelt of a cave badger.

"Let's get down to brass hobnails, then. You were sent by the Diggermattocks, 'cause they want us out, am I right? Well, they might get their wish soon enough, see, but in a way they ain't likely to cheer about!"

Virtue asked what he meant.

"This whole here city, see. It's getting run over by them oozes, what with the Pudding King controlling them! It's getting rough to survive here in the old warrens. So we figures we might takes our chances elsewhere."

Virtue was intrigued by the mention of the Pudding King and asked for more.

"Oh, I remembers him from when he worked in the tunnels, and my kin saw him when he returned. I know who is he is, what he's doing, and - most of all - where he can be found! I know all about he what calls himself the Pudding King!"

Virtue inquired further, "Is he tied somehow to the demon lord Jubilex?"

"I have no ideas whats a Doobielick is. I ain't never heard of that so I can't say.  But enough about that, what's this about a letter?"

Virtue gave Chipgrin the letter. Chipgrin opened the letter, read it thoughtfully, crumpled it up, and threw it away.

"It's what I thought. Senni wants our help to fight the Pudding King! Hah! The words of the Diggermattocks aren't worth the trillimac its written on! I care not for their offering. I know that Dorbo wants us all dead! It's probably some kinds of what ya call a ruse to get us to leave!

"Well, they'll get their way soon enough. Blingdenstone is doomed and we're leaving it to him. Sure, we could team up with the Diggermattocks, but I don't TRUST the Diggermattocks! But you, you are outsiders. I have no reason to distrust you, yet. What do YOU think? Do you think this offer is genuine? If we were to team up against the Pudding King, would the Diggermattocks honor their agreement or would they turn on us?"

Virtue considered Senni's genuine optimism against Dorbo's antagonism. "I think if we helped, they'd honor the deal. We'd make sure of it. But maybe as a sign of good faith, you could show us where we could find the Pudding King. Do you have a map or something?"

"Hah! We're Svirfneblin! There are no maps! But you got yourself what ya call a deal! We'll take you to where you can find the Pudding King, fair and square!"

THE PUDDING COURT
Chipgrin and a handful of guards led the Fugitives down some abandoned tunnels, past some that reeked with foul smell, and to a dark passage, from which echoed a thousand constant squicking sounds.

"Be careful of this here passage, it be trapped. To the right is the House Center, former palace of the royal family. Keep going straingt and you'll find what was once a Rothe' stockade. Behind that is where I think he hides him what calls himself the Pudding King!"

Virtue said, "This shouldn't take too long. Lets get in there, take him out, and leave!"

Jimjar took a deep breath, "All right, let's do it!"

Mister Floop shuddered, "Mmm.. Your optimism is DELICIOUS!"

DM Note - Jeffy's Back!
One of our long time players, Jeffy, returned for one night only after being gone for over a year. We gave him Mister Floop to play because Mister Floop is right up Jeffy's alley. He slid into that role like he owned it! He had us cracking up every five minutes!

The Fugitives advanced cautiously. Jimjar was sent ahead to scout.

Jimjar went towards the House Center to take a peek. As he approached, he could feel his boots begin to stick to the wet muddy ground, only it wasn't mud it was slime.

In the House Center, he saw the massive hollow stone geode of the palace, over a hundred feet in diameter, suspended from the ceiling by immense columns of crystal. Other crystals rose from the ground to pierce the sides, forming stairs and entrances. It was as he remembered, only now the entire structure was covered in writhing pulsating slimes and amoebas!

The wet slurping sound was deafening. The walls of the cavern were covered in slime - dripping, sickening, green slime! The room was filled with dozens, scores, possibly hundreds of types of slimes of various color and consistency, yellow, green, black, grey, all mixed together in a disgusting stew!

A disembodied voice echoed through the cave, "What this, what's this? Visitors? Now? Not yet! We're not ready! Go away, pests! I will call upon thee and all of Blingdenstone to announce our glad tidings of the Faceless Lord to come at the proper time! Begone!"

Jimjar's eyes grew wide as the waving tendrils and pseudopods waved and danced to the booming sound of the voice. When the voice stopped, the slimes began to slowly move towards Jimjar.

Jimjar bared his teeth in concern and retreated from the room. He rejoined his companions and told them what he saw.

"Let's not go that way!" was the consensus.

Virtue and Jimjar both noticed Glabbagool slowly wandering towards the House Center. Virtue called for Glabbagool and the gelatinous cube snapped out if its trance. "Sorry. I'm here. What?"

"Are you okay?"

"Um. Do you not feel that?"

"Are you still in control, Glabbagool?"

"Yes? Yes! Yes I am!"

They pushed on to the old rothe' stockade. Behind the stockade was an ancient temple, long ruined. This room, too was covered in slimes, puddings, and oozes, blocking the path to the room Chipgrin indicated beyond. The oozes quivered and slowly heaved in their direction.

The Fugitives carefully backed away. Once again, Glabbagool moved slowly towards them. Virtue and Jimjar both called for Glabbagool but this time the call was too great, they were unable to snap the ooze out of its trance.

Ront ran forward and slashed his sword across Glabbagool's gelatinous side, cutting a wide gash. Glabbagool immediately returned to normal. "Sorry! Sorry! Let's go!"

The Fugtives retraced their steps, wary to avoid disturbing any slimes.

MISSION BRIEFING

Upon exiting the Warrens, the Fugitives returned to Diggermattock Hall to report. Virtue said that the Goldwhiskers would consider making peace and helping Blingdenstone against the Pudding King. Virtue reported on the impending departure of the Goldwhiskers and described the scene in the old House Center. Virtue told the Diggermattocks of the Pudding King and of some impending event suggesting that action be taken sooner rather than later.

Virtue was about to suggest some kind of covert mission when Senni cut her off, "We should act immediately! Please offer my invitation to Chipgrin to join us at a council of war. You, too, are invited and your input would be invaluable." She turned to her guards, "Summon all the clans and guilds. We must make plans for war!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next week: the Battle for Blingdenstone!

"Stoneheart Quarry" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 20

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 20

"STONEHEART QUARRY"

A rag-tag group of fugitves

experience one adventure after another

as they travel the Underdark

searching for a way home.

After escaping the drow prison at Velkenvelve,

they witnessed the razing of a kuo-toa village

by the two-headed demon-lord Demogorgon.

They survived weeks of travel in the Underdark

and thwarted a secret demonic cult in Gracklstugh, the city of the Duergar.

They discovered that Zuggtmoy, the Demon Queen of Decay

had taken over the myconid homeland known as Neverlight Grove.

Having arrived in the Deep Gnome haven known as Blingdenstone,

they set about completing a series of tasks in

in order to gain the trust of the local inhabitants

and find an escort to lead them back to the Overworld.

After defeating the evil Medusa Neheedra,

a battle in which they lost three of their comrades,

the remaining fugitives reconsecrated the Steadfast Stone,

creating a bulwark against the extradimensional entity

known as Ogremoch's Bane.

THE PLAYER CHARACTERS
Virtue - tiefling paladin and warlock, a mysterious wild card of unknown allegiance.
Ficus Asëa - eladrin sword-mage who became lose while helping escort deep gnome refugees back to Blingdenstone.
Ront - orc barbarian seeking redemption for his failures.

NOT APPEARING THIS WEEK
Jimjar - deep gnome rogue who likes to wager on everything.
Breya- human bard, sent to rescue Wulfric from duergar slavers, now seeking a way back to the surface.

THEIR FELLOW FUGITIVES
Prince Derendil - Elven prince in the body of a brutish quaggoth.
Starshine - A mute moon elf, an escaped slave from Menzoberranzan.
Mister Floop - a friendly flumph.
Glabbagool - an inquisitive but friendly Gelatinous Cube.
Santaka - a baby red dragon, loyal to Virtue.
Wulfric the Tinker - a male human and expert engineer and inventor.

A RESCUE MISSION
After a long rest, the fugitives were recounting the events of the previous tridon when they received a summons from Diggermattock Hall. Only Ficus, Ront Glabbagool, and Virtue, accompanied by her ever-present companion Santaka, were present, so the foursome followed the runner and were met by Senni and Dorbo Diggermattock, the co-regents of the provisional government of Blingdenstone.

Dorbo and Senni Diggermattock

The co-regents informed the party that a runner had just arrived from Stoneheart Quarry, a hidden cavern outside the city proper. The runner reported that the quarry had been found and taken by a party of drow. The druids and wizards responsible for creating the spell-gems of Blingdenstone had been taken prisoner. The drow demanded that the fugitives of Velkenvelve be returned else they would kill every last member of the Stoneheart Enclave.

The situation was dire, for the Stoneheart Enclave were creating more powerful spell-gems to increase the range of the warding creating by the Steadfast Stone.

Senni cautiously inquired, "You came to us seeking shelter and asylum from the drow, and we gladly gave it to you. We will never hand you over to them. However, as you know, we are very short-handed right now and, as it happens, you are the only ones best capable of resolving this situation. Would you be willing to help us rescue our captives?"

Ficus responded, "Well, It's obviously a trap, so of course!"

The trio were assigned two guides to lead them to the secret location of the Stoneheart Quarry.

A FRIENDLY TROGLODYTE
The Stoneheart Quarry was several hours outside of Blingdenstone. On the way they encountered a lone traveler - a pale white troglodyte shaman. They immediately suspected a member of the Society of Brilliance but approached with caution.

Skriss the Troglodyte

The troglodyte introduced himself as Skriss and confirmed his affiliation with that learned society. He told the fugitives that he was searching for the Stoneheart Quarry in order to study the magical faerzress aura. He wished to determine the influence of demonic chaos on the magical sites within the Underdark. The fugitives took Skriss into their company. In exchange, the troglodyte shaman answered any questions they had about recent events as well as the history of the Tomb of Khaem and the city of Blingdenstone. Skriss was also highly interested in Glabagool. He was astonished for he had never seen an intelligent gelatinous cube before and wished to know more!

DM Note - Exposkrission
Meeting Skriss turned out to be an excellent and well-times random encounter. Not only were the players excited to meet another member of the Society of Brilliance, I was able to provide the players with LOADS of unknown back story for a lot of the things they've encountered. Skriss allowed me to provide an historian's perspective on the history of Blingdenstone and the history of the Tomb of Khaem, Nethril, and Dawnbringer. Really, I just read the intro sections for those chapters in-character, but the players really appreciated the context as well as a chance to ask the DM questions while in character.

UNWELCOME GUESTS
The svirfneblin guides halted the party, indicating a nondescript side passage that led into the Stonehart Quarry. The fugitives thanked their guides but instructed them to stay here. The guides were also their escort back to Blingdenstone so they didn't want their only way back to get injured or killed.

The party geared up for battle and proceeded with caution.

They entered a large cavern with stepped-back walls. The walls glowed with an eerie energy, providing strange coruscating illumination like an underground aurora. Ahead of them were three quaggoths. Two giant spiders lurked on the raised areas above them. Ront, Virtue, and Ficus entered with Glabbagool staying behind with Skriss. They were immediately set upon by four additional spiders while one of the quaggoths ran down a passage in the back to get help.

One of the spiders sprayed sticky webbing all over Ront who was held fast until he subsequently broke free from his fibrous impairment.

Ront took the right flank while Ficus took the left, both climbing up to engage the giant spiders on the raised areas. Virtue fired ranged attacks at the approaching quaggoths before engaging in hand-to-hand combat. Santaka left Virtue to fight alongside Ront.

Ficus cast a spell and immediately felt the effects of the faezress that suffused the cavern - he grew to ten feet tall! With his next spell, Ficus grew a third eye! The encounter went on like this with each of Ficus' and Virtue's spells producing unexpected and chaotic results! At one point, butterflies and flower petals burst from Ficus' hands. At another point, he grew again to twenty feet tall! Then he disappeared from the combat entirely, only to reappear moments later! Madness reigned!

Soon, the quaggoths were joined for four additional quaggoth reinforcements.

Meanwhile, Ront was immobilized by spider webbing but soon broke free and he and Santaka killed the beast. Another spider climbed down to aid the quaggoths fighting Virtue. Ront leapt from the elevated area onto the spider's back, killing it.

Having killed all the spiders, the party fought the quaggoths until they, too, were dead.

They cautiously advanced into the next room.

THE KILL ZONE
The second chamber was larger than the first. The elevated step jutted out into the center of the room, creating a bend that curved around to the left. Here the fugitives encountered a cadre of drow short-bow archers and more quaggoths. The drow archers were located on the elevated step behind a series of low makeshift walls of loose stone. In addition, the channel before them was blocked by four barricades of rubble, creating a kill zone into which the archers could fire from above. The quaggoths were at the end of the kill zone and were led by a drow officer wielding a katana. The leader pointed at the intruders and cast a magical spell upon them, illuminating Virtue and Santaka with an aura of faerie fire.

DM Note- Kill-Zone
The drow archers had light cover (+2 AC). The barricades were five feet wide but cost fifteen feet of movement to cross. You could not attack from one side of the barricade to the other unless you had a weapon with reach - which Virtue did.

Ficus acted immediately, casting a magical spell of flight upon Glabbagool. He told the cube, "You can fly now. Go kill those archers!"

Glabbagool nervously responded, "But they have thoughts. You told me not to eat things with thoughts."

"Those drow? They are the enemy and they want to kill us and they want to kill you. It is allright to kill them first."

With that, the gelatinous cube lifted off the ground, warbling uncertainly, and dashed through the air towards the drow archers. The cube swept through their line, swallowing up three of the four archers who dissolved nearly instantly!

But Ficus' spell had an unwanted additional effect. Glabbagool was now confused! After consuming the three archers, Glabbagool hesitated in mid-air for most of the next minute.

Meanwhile, Ront charged forward, taking a poisoned arrow from the remaining archer. Virtue followed closely behind, fighting quaggoths over the barricades with her magically summoned pole-arm.

The drow officer rose up into the air, hovering over the melee below, and took several missed shots at the intruders before finally hitting Virtue with a poisoned arrow. Virtue fell to the ground, unconscious!

Ficus, who had climbed the wall to take the left flank and killed the remaining archer, ran towards the hovering officer, jumping off the elevated step and slashing the officer as he passed.

On the ground, Ficus turned and cast a spell at the officer, only to instantly turn into a potted ficus plant!

DM Note- Faezress Wild Magic is the Best!
He turned into a potted plant, so Ficus' player of course said he turned into a potted ficus. What ELSE could he be?

The drow officer, sensing imminent defeat, descended and fled. Ficus, no longer a potted plant, used his magical boots of speed to easily catch up to the fleeing officer and cut him down. In so doing, Ficus was surrounded by a swarm of frightened flumphs!

What Ficus saw ahead caused him to pause and wait to let Ront, Virtue, and Santaka catch up.

STANDOFF
As they rounded the bend, they saw before them a group of sixteen svirfneblin, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. Standing over them was a female drow with short white hair. Virtue recognized her immediately as the drow in the Gracklstugh marketplace that was bidding against Pain!

Xalith

The drow wore the robes of a minor priestess of Lolth. In her right hand she held a stoppered glass flask filled with a green gas.

"You are COVERED in flumphs!" she noted incredulously.

Ficus waved the annoying creatures away.

The drow priestess continued, "Well, I see my welcoming committee failed to capture you. That is too bad. You truly ARE formidable."

Ficus moved forward, but the drow dangled the flask in her fingers.

"Ah ah! Step no closer! We wouldn't want any of these precious deep gnomes to suffer, would we?"

The fugitives paused, sixty feet away.

"Here is what I want you to do. You will lay down your weapons and surrender yourself to me. I will return you to Mistress Ilvara as my prisoners." The priestess held up an amulet in her left hand and spoke to it, "Did you hear that my mistress? I was right. They did seek shelter in Blingdenstone. I will have them in my possession shortly and will be ready when you arrive."

The disembodied voice of Mistress Ilvara spoke through the amulet, "Excellent work, Xalith. You will rewarded. We shall arrive soon."

Virtue tried distracting Xalith with conversation, all the while creeping slowly forward, inching closer and closer. They continued to debate until Virtue was less than thirty feet away, at which point Virtue cast a spell of suggestion on the acolyte. Virtue suggested that Xalith walk forward slowly.

Xalith looked momentarily confused, then slowly began to walk forward. Once she was twenty feet from Virtue, Xalith's confusion turned into a sneer of anger as she fought off the effect of the spell, "You swine! You will pay!"

Xalith threw the flask through the air towards the ground near Virtue's feet and turned to run away. Ront ran forward to catch the flask but neither Virtue nor Ront were able to grab the glass container before it smashed at Virtue's feet. Green gas billowed out along the floor, covering Virtue, Ront, and half of the bound svirneblin. Everyone so affected began to violently cough, many collapsed to the floor dead.

DM Note- Poison Gas Bomb
I treated the flask as a Cloudkill spell with a 20 foot radius, doing 5d8 poison damage to anyone failing a CON save vs. 13 (Xalith's spell save).

Meanwhile, Ficus once more utilized his magical boots of speed to catch up with Xalith, whom he quickly cut down with two strokes of Dawnbringer.

As Ficus stood over the dead priestess' body, the amulet continued to speak, "Xalith? Xalith what has happened?"

Ront, still coughing from the poison, limped up and lifted the amulet, "Your priestess is DEAD! We never return to prison!"

"You insolent fools! I will have my revenge! You will soon be recaptured and I shall ensure that what is left of your pitiful existence will be.."

Ront crushed the amulet.

In the aftermath, five of the sixteen svirfneblin had died from the poison gas. Among the survivors was Yantha Coaxrock, the interim leader of the Stoneheart Enclave. She thanked her saviors and provided them with the enhanced spell gem needed for the Steadfast Stone.

Ficus suggested she either move their operation within Blingdenstone or better fortify the quarry. Annoyed, Yantha countered, "Look, I appreciate your help, but do I go around telling you how to do YOUR job?"

Ficus held up his hands in protest. Yantha apologized, "I'm sorry, it's been a stressful couple of shifts. We'll create new Earth Elementals and get to work."

DM Note - A Plot Hole in the Ground
The module says the Stoneheart Quarry is where they make the Earth Elementals that excavate the svirfneblin tunnels. The quarry was probably defended by Earth Elementals. Where were they when the drow attacked? I don't know. I didn't think about this until after we were done. It's possible the drow force had some way of dealing with the elementals, or perhaps they just defeated them in a fair fight. I mean, how did the drow find the hidden quarry in the first place? 

The fugitives took possession of the spell gem and rejoined the guides waiting form them outside the quarry. Skriss wished to stay behind and study the quarry. They bade their farewell and returned to Blingdenstone.

TO BE CONTINUED...

"Ogremoch's Bane" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 19

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 19

"OGREMOCH'S BANE"

A rag-tag group of fugitves

experience one adventure after another

as they travel the Underdark

searching for a way home.

After escaping the drow prison at Velkenvelve,

they witnessed the razing of a kuo-toa village

by the two-headed demon-lord Demogorgon.

They survived weeks of travel in the Underdark

and thwarted a secret demonic cult in Gracklstugh, the city of the Duergar.

They discovered that Zuggtmoy, the Demon Queen of Decay

had taken over the myconid homeland known as Neverlight Grove.

Having arrived in the Deep Gnome haven known as Blingdenstone,

they set about completing a series of tasks in

in order to gain the trust of the local inhabitants

and find an escort to lead them back to the Overworld.

After dispatching a pair of unruly ghosts

and losing three members of their party

defeating the evil Medusa Neheedra,

the remaining fugitives return to the Foaming Mug inn

to lick their wounds and recuperate.

THE PLAYER CHARACTERS
Virtue - tiefling paladin and warlock, a mysterious wild card of unknown allegiance.
Ficus Asëa - eladrin sword-mage who became lose while helping escort deep gnome refugees back to Blingdenstone.
Jimjar - deep gnome rogue who likes to wager on everything.
Ront - orc barbarian seeking redemption for his failures.

INTRODUCING
Breya- human bard, sent to rescue Wulfric from duergar slavers, now seeking a way back to the surface.

THEIR FELLOW FUGITIVES
Prince Derendil - Elven prince in the body of a brutish quaggoth.
Starshine - A mute moon elf, an escaped slave from Menzoberranzan.
Mister Floop - a friendly flumph.
Glabbagool - an inquisitive but friendly Gelatinous Cube.
Santaka - a baby red dragon, loyal to Virtue.
Wulfric the Tinker - a male human and expert engineer and inventor.

BACK TO THE FOAMING MUG
While Virtue, Santaka, and Jimjar were taking the head of the medusa Neheedra to Sark Axebarrel and seeking out Gurnik Tapfinger, Ficus and Ront were trying to figure out what to do with their petrified comrades. Ficus was able to break away the petrified backpacks and belts and remove the magic armor, boots, and other worn items, but was unable to remove the magical sword Dawnbringer from Kettle's grip without breaking his fingers.

Ficus and Ront each carried a petrified halfling while the intelligent gelatinous cube Glabagool carried Angolwen inside its oozy transparent mass. They carried their comrades back to the Foaming Mug inn, setting them just outside the entrance. There they were reunited with Virtue, her dragon, and Jimjar.

They entered the common room of the inn, tired and injured. Tappy Foamstrap welcomed them and brought them hot food and cold beer. Tappy was especially animated. This was a momentous tridon! New Overworld guests had arrived in the last shift! Never had he seen so many Overworlders in his inn at one the same time!

He asked Ficus to entertain the visitors with the story of their adventures in Rockblight. Ficus sighed and gave a brief and curt report of their activity. The result was depressing. Tappy, visibly shaken, offered his condolences for the loss of Kettle, Pain, and Angolwen.

A voice from the back called out, "Adjectives!"

Ficus, confused, replied, "What?"

Breya the Bard

The female human stood up, "Your story needs adjectives! It needs description! It needs embellishment, exaggeration, grandiloquence!"

"It needs what?"

"...bigger words."

Tappy, broken out of his reverie, introduced the human, "Many pardons! This is the other Overworlder about which I spoke. I'm sorry, I have forgotten your name. Overworld names are so difficult to pronounce, much less remember."

The human stepped forward, hand outstretched, "Breya the Bard. Pleased to meet you."

Ficus gave her an appraising look. She was thin, pale, and covered in the dirt, grime, and wounds of Underdark travel. Ficus introduced himself and his companions.

Breya, in turn, introduced herself and her travelling companion, a human male named Wulfric the Tinker. She told her new friends how she had descended into the Underdark with two other companions in order to find Wulfric. Wulfric had been kidnapped by the Duergar and taken to Gracklstugh. The party successfully rescued Wulfric but the two companions had since died or disappeared. She swore an oath to return Wulfric to the surface and had made it as far as Blingdenstone in search of an exit from the Underdark. So far, none of the svirfneblin were willing to help her find her way to the Overworld.

Ficus told her they, too, were seeking escape and that they were providing assistance to the deep gnomes in order to earn their trust and gain access to the exit. He asked Breya if she wished to join their two groups. Breya agreed and offered her help in finishing their tasks.

After a short rest, the fugitives from Velkenvelve took care of some minor business. Ficus meditated upon the sword Dawnbringer, earning her trust and becoming her new wielder. Ront and Jimjar, meanwhile, sought out the Caves of Clatter to purchase and commission new weapons while Virtue and Santaka purchased a spell gem from Kazook Pickshine in the Trader's Grotto. Afterwards, everyone rested for a shift and prepared for another foray into Rockblight.

DM Note - Removing Magic Items from Petrified Characters
Kettle, Pain, and Angolwen all carried significant magic items. magic items are not turned to stone, so the surviving players wanted to remove the magic items. The items would either be held in stone hands, worn over stone bodies, buried in stone backpacks, or carried in stone sheaths or belts.

I ruled that backpacks and clothes were turned to stone with the wearer, but were not a single solid mass. They could be broken off or easily removed from the stone person underneath. Stone backpacks could then be broken open and magic items retrieved.

Potions and scrolls could not be retrieved without spilling the potion or ripping the scroll and were therefore lost.

Worn items could be easily loosened and removed.

Hand-held items had to be removed with a DC14 Strength or Dexterity check. Failure damages the hand holding the items. Ficus was able to use his strength to remove the items from Pain and Angolwen but failed to remove Dawnbringer from Kettle without damaging Kettle's hand. 

THE STEADFAST STONE
Following their much needed recuperation, the fugitives, along with their new companion Breya, gathered outside the Foaming Mug and planned their shift. Ficus, Ront, Jimjar, Virtue and Santaka, Breya, and Glabbagool would once more delve into the quarantined section of Blingdenstone known as Rockblight. Their mission was twofold: insert a spell gem into the menhir known as the Steadfast Stone and confront the evil entity known as Ogremoch's Bane.

They once more met Sark Axebarrel to receive the secret knock for the shift and were allowed entrance through the lock and into the forbidden area.

En route to the Steadfast Stone, the fugitives noticed that they had been joined by a ghost. The svirfneblin ghost looked vacant with dark hollows where his eyes should be,  his mouth slack and slightly agape. The ghost followed them, stopping when they stopped, moving when they moved. It failed to respond to all attempts at communication. It simply followed and observed. After failing to elicit any response from the ghost, the fugitives shrugged and continued on their way.

DM Note - A Pointless Random Encounter
The ghost was the result of a random encounter:  Ghost - indifferent but aware. It was pointless but managed to distract the players for a while as they tried to communicate with it and discern its purpose, of which it had none.

They descended past the crystal garden and into the grotto of the Steadfast Stone. The tall menhir stood alone in the center of the room, the floor below was smooth but the walls were rough, showing the outlines of four large shapes, all vaguely humanoid.

Virtue placed the gemstone given to them by Gurnik Tapfinger into the niche. The stone began to glow white but quickly turned dark red. Immediately, one of the humanoid shapes burst from the wall and the fugitives were set upon by an evil earth elemental!

The earth elemental fell upon Ront. It was soon illuminated by a faerie fire spell cast by Breya. The magical aura made the elemental an easy target for the rest of the combatants. Finally, Breya cast a Shatter spell at the stony entity, causing it to burst apart. In its place was a rocky humanoid creature, like a headless boulder with arms and legs. Jimjar called the creature a "galeb duhr" and said that they were the protectors of the menhir. The galeb duhr sank into the floor and rose again near the menhir, facing away from the standing stone.

Suddenly, another earth elemental emerged from another wall and attacked. This second elemental avoided Breya's faerie fire and survived longer than the first, but was eventually defeated. The second elemental was followed by a third, then a fourth. Each from a different wall and each attacking the party in turn. As each was defeated, it revealed a galeb duhr that sank into the ground only to re-emerge near the menhir, facing outward.

When the fourth elemental was defeated, the menhir was surrounded by four galeb duhr. As the fourth joined its brothers, they looked towards the fugitives, giving them an appreciative nod as they turned into inanimate boulders. When they did so, the red light of the spell gem turned brilliant white, bathing the entire area in consecrated energy. The region around the Steadfast Stone was now free of the influence of Ogremoch's Bane.

DM Note - That's the Treasure?
The players rolled their eyes. "That's our reward? A thumbs up and a subtle nod?" 

DROW STATUES
Once the Steadfast Stone had been re-consecrated, the fugitives turned their attention towards Ogremoch's Bane. Having encountered no sign of the entity, they deduced that it must be hiding within one of the Rockblight caves yet unexplored. They chose the second passage in the floor of the Crystal Garden and descended with caution.

They entered into a large cavern. The cavern was populated with thirty statues of drow warriors, each turned toward the entrance with a look of confused horror. The effect was startling but Ficus correctly deduced that they were the warriors of Neheedra, turned to stone by their former priestess-commander. The fugitives entered into the room and split up to look for clues.

They spread throughout the cavern, examining each statue closely, looking for magic items or evidence of Ogremoch's Bane. Suddenly, eight of the statues became animated and attacked! Two attacked Breya, two fell upon Ront, and two fought against Jimjar while Ficus and Virtue were each beset by a single statue.

With the party separated, they were forced to fight as individuals. Breya announced that she had a plan so Ficus used his magical boots of speed to rush over and help Jimjar, leaving the bard to fight three statues. Breya quickly realized she had made a mistake and called for Ficus to return. Ficus ran back to help Breya while Jimjar moved to aid Ront, leaving the two statues to Glabbagool, who had squeezed through the tight passage to join the fight.

Ficus cast a spell of flight on Breya who then flew into the air. From there, she could safely cast spells without fear of counterattack.

Overcoming their initial chaos, the party was once more working at a team. They quickly learned that once one statue was destroyed, another statue animated and took its place.

Virtue warned Ront and Jimjar that she was about to cast a fireball spell into the center of the room. Instead of seeking cover, Ront yelled, "Do it!" The fireball exploded, damaging most of the statues along with Ront and Jimjar.

DM Note- Keeping Track of Statues 
I used my plastic drow minis to represent the inanimate statues. When one became animated, I took the drow off the table and replaced it with a generic blue warrior mini from Wizards and Warriors that I usually use to represent animated statues. That way, we could track which were animated and which were still inanimate. 

Likewise, I kept track of which statues had taken damage from fireballs using colored beads - red for Virtue, green for Breya, and purple for Ficus.

Breya followed up with another fireball spell, likewise catching Ront and Jimar in the blast.

Ront shouted, "HIT ME AGAIN!!!"

Jimjar, burned and smoking, weakly whined, "Ehhhhhhh!"

"HIT ME AGAIN!!!"

DM Note- Look out, Jimjar!
After the two fireballs, Jimjar had 3 hp left! He wisely disengaged, climbed the wall, and started sniping from above.

Ficus waited for Jimjar to escape the area before following up with more area effect spells. Glabbagool even got in on the action, moving into the room and sweeping up and destroying statues within its acidic interior and smacking them with its pseudopods.

DMs Note- Acidic Interior
We decided that Glabbagool can choose to apply acid damage to stone or not. That way he can carry stone items or dissolve them at will.

Thus it was that all of the statues were eventually defeated.

OGREMOCH'S BANE
As the last statue was demolished, the air in the cavern began to swirl, picking up all the gravel and debris of the fallen drow. The swirling air became a vortex, a maelstrom of dust and rubble. The fugitives had finally encountered the evil entity known as Ogremoch's Bane. The fugitives shielded their eyes and mouths from the stinging wind but were otherwise unhurt. They felt an emanation of unwelcome dread from the vortex. They gathered together in the center and shouted to each other over the roaring wind.

"What do we do?"

"I don't know!"

"What can we do?"

"Does anyone know a spell of banishment?"

"No!"

"Then we are helpless to stop it!"

After a few more minutes of brainstorming, the fugitives could think of no course of action that would dispose of Ogremoch's Bane. They decided to leave the cavern, frustrated by their failure.

DM Note- Great Encounter, Terrible Ending
Everyone loved the fight against the statues. It was challenging, unique, and fun. I liked it as a DM, the players really liked it. However, the manifestation of Ogremoch's Bane at the end was anticlimactic and boring. The only way listed to defeat Ogremoch's Bane is with a Banish or Dispel Evil spell. Neither of which were known by anyone in the party. 

The encounter should have provided an alternative option for parties - something else they could do to defeat Ogremoch's Bane. 

Part of me feels bad. As Dungeon master, I should have known that the party had no way of dealing with the entity and I should have planned ahead by providing an alternative. However, ultimately, this is the fault of bad writing. Whoever wrote this chapter should have provided an alternate solution. See below for an idea I had after the fact.

Advice to Other DMs - Merge the Two Encounters
With the benefit of hindsight, I should have merged the Drow Statues + Ogremoch's Bane encounter with the Steadfast Stone encounter. I would have surrounded the steadfast stone with thirty statues. When they were defeated, then ogremoch's bane would manifest. Everyone within the maelstrom should make a DC 12 Constitution save or take 1d4 damage each round. PCs would have to place the spell stone in the menhir and fend off all of the earth elementals in order to reconsecrate the stone, banishing Ogremoch's Bane upon successful reconsecration.

BLESSINGS OF CALLADURAN SMOOTHANDS
Upon abandoning Ogremoch's Bane, the fugitives returned to the Speaking Stones to inform Gurnik Tapfinger of the re-consecration of the Steadfast Stone. Gurnik said he could feel the presence of the holy stone and thanked them. He awarded them with the holy benediction of Calladuran Smoothhands, patron deity of the Svirfneblin.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next Time: Oozes and Slimes! An enclave of were-rats!

DM Note- A Fair Exchange
At first, I only awarded the blessing to Jimjar and Virtue because they were the ones who took the quest from Gurnik. The other players who helped on the quest felt kind of put out and glared at me. 

Afterwards, on an unrelated matter, I looked up the notes on drow magic items and noticed that they lose their magic when exposed to sunlight for 1 hour without interruption.

I pointed out that Dawnbringer's glow produces sunlight.

Both players who have wielded Dawnbringer said "Yeah, we'ved use her WAY more than that!" and everone agreed that all the drow magic items were lost.

Because they just took a heavy blow to their arsenal of magic items, I decided to give them all blessings instead. Jimjar's player felt a little put out but most everyone agreed that it was a fair exchange.