"The Adamantine Tower" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 38

Ser Valerius Adeques, Wielder of Dawnbringer

Ser Valerius, human paladin and wielder of Dawn Bringer, and Pain Grille, halfling rogue and street urchin, returned with their entourage after delivering Derendil the erudite quaggoth to Gravenhollow. There they witnessed the installation of Derendil as a member of the Order of Brilliance, an assemblage of sages from the various savage cultures of the Underdark.

After bidding farewell to the white-furred quaggoth, they had planned on reuniting with the rest of their party in the Vast Oblivium, the former home of the tyrannical beholder Karazikar.

They arrived at the Vast Oblivium to find a stone mausoleum built honoring the evil beholder Karazikar and his chief sycophant, the wizard Shedrak. The rest of their party were nowhere to be found.

Instead, carved into the stone at the base of the central vertical shaft that formed the core of the complex they found a message:

SER VALERIUS AND PAIN
WE HAVE DECIDED TO GET
A HEAD START ON THE NEXT
PHASE OF OUR QUEST
AND HAVE TRAVELLED AHEAD
MEET US IN MANTOL-DERITH
WE SHALL STAY THERE
UNTIL YOU ARRIVE

Ser Valerius looked down at his diminutive companion, "I guess we're going to Mantol-Derith."

The halfling thought for a moment, "I think I'll take a detour to Blingdenstone. I'll meet you there."

OUT OF THE ABYSS, CHAPTER 38

"THE ADAMANTINE TOWER"

Five heroes scour the Underdark

in order to find the ingredients

of an arcane ritual

that will banish the Demon-Lords

back to the Abyss

from which they escaped.

Thus far the expedition has managed to acquire
the egg of a purple worm
and the central eye of a dread beholder.
Now they seek the Labyrinth
in search of the wing of an angel
and the fabled Maze Engine
which could destroy a Demon Lord...

THE LEADERS OF THE EXPEDITION
Sir Valerius Adeques - (PC, human paladin 11, male) Defender and champion of the old gods of nature, commander of the forces from the Order of the Gauntlet.
Willow - (PC, human wizard 11, female) "the solution is always fireball!"
Ront - (PC, half-orc barbarian 11, male) Savage orc of the Iron-Thews tribe seeking redemption for his failures.
Pain Grille' - (PC, halfling rogue 11, male) Wily street urchin from Waterdeep, was turned to stone in Blingdenstone but got better, commander of the Lord's Alliance forces.
Cordon - (PC, human cleric 10, male) Morninglord, Holy Radiant of Lathandor the Sun God, on a holy quest to activate the Maze Engine.

THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION
Thora Nabal - (NPC, human veteran, Order of the Gauntlet)
Sylrien Havennor - (NPC, human veteran, Order of the Gauntlet)
Elias Drako - (NPC, human veteran, Order of the Gauntlet)
Tamryn Tharke - (NPC, human veteran, Order of the Gauntlet), gravelly voiced amazon with the hots for Feral.
Olaf Renghyi - (NPC, human veteran, Order of the Gauntlet)
Feral Killmander - (NPC, human spy, Lord's Alliance), raspy-voiced killer with a hare-lip
Zilna Oakshadow- (NPC, human spy, Lord's Alliance)
Hilvius Haever  - (NPC, human spy, Lord's Alliance)
The Shield Guardian - (NPC, shield guardian) a contribution from Lord Zelraun Roaringhorn of the Harpers.
Phwee-toop - (NPC, owl) Willow's familiar.

ARRIVAL IN MANTOL-DERITH

Ront, Willow, and Cordon accompanied a caravan of deep gnome merchants into the secret trading city of Mantol-Derith. With them was the blindfolded elven druid Sladis Vadir.  The caravan entered the cavernous underground trading post and proceeded directly to the Svirfneblin enclave.

There was a new fungus garden planted outside the entrance to the enclave. Within the enclave the caravan encountered disorder. There was no appointed leader. Several deep gnomes sat around with nothing to do. Ront demanded to speak to whomever was in charge. When no one volunteered, Ront appointed Corybar, the leader of the caravan, as Chief Negotiator.

After setting in and storing the shipment of gemstone samples, Ront, Willow, and Cordon explored the bazaar ins earch of Cordon's stolen equipment. Upon inquiring with a drow merchant, they learned that the equipment had been sold to a human merchant named Weazel.

They found Weazel in the Zhentarim quarter. The human was wearing Cordon's tabard emblazoned with the symbol of Lathander. Weazel gladly sold the tabard back to Cordon for the exorbitant price of ten gold pieces. Afterwards, Cordon was able to reequip himself with all new essentials using funds from the party treasury. The one item he still lacked, however, was his magical shield.

He soon learned that the shield had been purchased by Ghazrim Duloc, chief negotiator of the Zhentarim delegation. 

YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ZHENTARIM AND OUR REPUTATION

Cordon requested and was granted a meeting with Ghazrim DuLoc based purely on the reputation of his traveling companion Ront. Ghazrim met with the party in the Zhentarim pavilion, providing them with comfortable pillows, olives, and wine from the Overworld.

He politely listened to Cordon's story. Ghazrim confirmed that he now possessed the shield and that it was a valuable addition to his collection. Cordon offered a payment of five hundred gold coins for the shield.

Ghazrim calmly asked, "let me see the coins in question."

Willow produced a normal-sized coin from the party treasury in their magical bag of holding.

"I would gladly take five hundred gold coins, but only if each coin was ten times the size of that one." said Ghazrim. "What else would you offer?"

Willow rummaged through the bag of holding and produced the magical Gem of Seeing, "Would this suffice?"

Ghazrim rubbed his chin and replied, "Yes. Yes, I think we have an exchange."

Cordon interjected, "Wait."

Everyone paused.

"Gem of Seeing AND- an unspecified favor at some point in the future."

Ghazrim quickly countered, "The Gem of Seeing and you perform an unspecified favor for me at some point in the future? Absolutely!"

"No, the other way around. You will perform a favor for us!" Cordon looked resolute.

Ront's jaw fell agape.

For a fleeting second, a flash of anger flared across Ghazrim's face. He took a deep breath in order to return to his normally preternatural calm demeanor.

He smiled and chuckled, "You, sir, are obviously unfamiliar with the Zhentarim and our reputation! I would never agree to such vague conditions, besides," Ghazrim leaned forward and pressed his hands together to make his point, "that I am meeting with you now IS me repaying a favor." He nodded towards Ront and Willow.

Ghazrim stood and imperiously drew his cape about himself, "The deal is off. Our negotiations are over. My shield is not for sale." He clapped his hands and servants removed the wine and olives. Ghazrim stormed out of the pavilion without a farewell.

Willow held her forehead in her hand. Ront glared at Cordon. The priest slowly realized what had just happened.

There was a long silence as each member of the party quietly weighed their options.

Cordon finally broke the silence, "Well, I guess I messed that up."

Willow tried to reassure the priest, "Don't worry. I have a back-up plan. But that means we have to wait for Ser Valerius."

While discussing their options, Sladis Vadir stood at the entrance to the pavilion, looking through the flap. He told the others he had something to do and quietly slipped out. Ront and Feryl surreptitiously followed. The pair subsequently observed Sladis buying spices, being friendly with other merchants, squeezing their arm and shoulder, putting his arms aver their shoulders, and generally being very touchy.

"What he doing?" inquired Ront in a whisper.

"Don't you get it?" replied Feryl, "He's a thief. He's sizing up his marks."

BURNING BRIDGES

The party spent the next  tridons as guests of the deep gnomes. Willow helped to fortify the deep gnome enclave by raising massive stone pylons and walls around their garden. She would occasionally use the Gem of Seeing to look for and frighten away any invisible duergar spying upon their work. Sladis used his druid powers to rebuild the deep gnome fungus garden.

During this time they learned about the trade situation in Mantol-Derith. The duergar and the deep gnomes were still not trading with each other. The chief negotiator of the duergar, Ghuldur Flagonfist, was still angry about the theft of his gem and the deep gnomes were still angry about the subsequent capture and execution of  their wizard Yantha Coaxrock, whom Ghuldur had correctly accused of the theft.

The Zhentarim and the drow had formed an alliance to take advantage of this situation. The alliance conspired to charge high prices and low bids to both sides.

Willow, Ront, and Cordon met to plan their next move. Sladis assumed he was now a part of the team and joined in the conversation.

"So, what's our next move?"

Everyone stopped. Willow cleared her throat. Ront bluntly declared, "You not part of team!"

Sladis was taken aback. "What? What is this? Have I done something to offend you?"

Ront glowered, "Ront not like you! Ront not trust you!"

Willow scratched the back of her head and Cordon looked away and whistled.

"Well," Sladis sputtered, "I- I can certainly see that my skills are not appreciated! There was no need to be so rude! I'll take my leave at once!"

Sladis turned and stormed out of the deep gnome enclave.

After they were sure he was gone, the team continued their deliberation. They needed to continue on to the Labyrinth. To reach it, they'd have to secure transportation across the Darklake to Gracklstugh.

The only boats going to Gracklstugh belonged to the duergar. Ront had earlier inquired about purchasing passage and was told that, due to their earlier involvement with the duergar/deep gnome altercation, the fare would be 100 gold pieces per passenger - an outrageous sum that would nearly deplete their reserve of gold coins.

Willow suggested a plan, "Let's see if we can't end this feud and maybe get us a discount on that passage."

MENDING FENCES
Their next task required them to meet with Chief Negotiator Ghuldur Flagonfist of the duergar enclave. They were denied a meeting at the gate on the grounds that Ser Valerius and Ront had killed many duergar during their last encounter. Flagonfist did agree, however, to meet with Cordon who was not a party to the attack.

Before Cordon entered the duergar enclave, Willow cast a spell that allowed him to stay in telepathic contact with the rest of the party.

Cordon was led to Ghuldur's office. After a brief exchange where Cordon learned the origin of the duergar's antipathy towards the deep gnomes and the rest of the party, the priest came to realize that Ghuldur's obstinate behavior was the result of subtle madness, a lingering effect of the obsidian gem that once held the power of the demon lord Fraz-Urb'luu.

Cordon said a prayer of restoration and cured Ghuldur of his insanity. Ghuldur woke as if from a groggy dream. So cured, Cordon was able to persuade the duergar negotiator to resume trade with the deep gnomes and agreed to a price of 500gp for boat passage to Gracklstugh for the entire party.

A NEW DAWN

Six tridons after they arrived in Mantol-Derith, Ser Valerius arrived. His arrival was heralded by the intense daylight of the sun-sword, Dawnbringer, filling the chamber with daylight.

Drow merchants and guards recoiled from the bright light as Ser Valerius held his shining energy sword aloft. Ser Valerius was riding his celestial lion and was accompanied by his henchmen, a handful of deep gnome guides, and a train of pack lizards.

The rest of the party ran forth to greet him. He told the others that he and Pain had stopped off in Blingdenstone on their way here and that Pain had stayed behind to take care of some business there. They brought Ser Valerius up to speed on what had happened since last they saw him in the Vast Oblivium.

Willow introduced Ser Valerius to Cordon and told him about the effort to retrieve the priest's holy shield, "Ser Valerius, we need your help."

A short while later, they had once more arranged a meeting with Ghazrim Duloc. This time, Duloc kept them waiting and provided no comfortable pillows upon which to sit and no olives or wine while they waited.

The merchant prince eventually came into the pavilion and impatiently asked what they wanted.

Willow explained that they had a new offer for the shield.

"I told you, it is no longer for sale," sighed the merchant.

"We do wish to purchase. We wish to trade. We have an item we believe you may be interested in acquiring for your collection. Would you be willing to trade the shield for the egg of a purple worm?"

Ghazrim froze in mid-thought. He eyed them suspiciously. "Only drow harvest the eggs of the great worms and they do not part with them."

"We have one for trade."

After some incredulous questions, Ser Valerius showed one of their eggs to Ghazrim. Ghazrim's cool demeanor gave way to giddy interest for the briefest of moments before he regained his composure.

"Yes, well, I think we agree to an exchange. The shield for the egg."

They clasped hands to seal the trade. Ghazrim clapped his hands and moments later servants brought the shield and took the egg away.

Thus re-equipped, the party left a message for Pain and set out for Gracklstugh

DM Note - How the heck much does a Purple Worm egg sell for? I dunno! What's their rarity? They seem relative rare but not unobtainable. I figured it was equivalent to a shielf worth 500 gp. I also figured it would be a good addition to Ghazrim's weird collection of pickled creatures. That's right, Ghazrim's gonna pickle that egg!

GRACKLSTUGH

The journey over the Darklake was uneventful. The party was impressed by the duergar locks connecting two lakes of different elevation but they were otherwise unmolested.

During the journey they had the opportunity to learn of the situation in Gracklstugh from the boat's crew. They learned that Themberchaud, the red dragon responsible for keeping the most powerful forges of Gracklstugh alight, had learned of the plot to replace him with another more easily controlled dragon.

Themberchaud believed the Deep King still possessed the hatchling and demanded it be turned over at once. The Deep King tried to explain that no such hatchling existed but Themberchaud refused to accept the Deep King's word. At first the elder dragon demanded more tribute to keep the forges lit. The dragon's demands soon drained the city's depository. Enraged, the dragon refused his services.

The Deep King, in an effort to force the dragon's compliance, sent the Stone Giants  to subdue Themberchaud. Themberchaud retreated into the depths of his lair and collapsed the ceiling.

That was over a hundred tridons ago and the great forges remain unlit. Gracklstugh is getting by using lesser forges fueled by the blood of the Earth.

A reward has been offered for information regarding the location of the dragon. Ront and the others, knowing that the dragon hatchling had bonded to and now accompanied the renegade tiefling Virtue, pretended to know nothing.

The boat approached the docks and they were soon met by customs inspectors. The inspectors recognized Ront and agents of the secret police soon appeared to escort him to their leader Commander Errde Blackskull.

Commander Blackskull interrogated Ront about his presence in Gracklstugh. Ront answered truthfully that they were merely seeking to resupply and continue on to the Labyrinth. He asked permission to enter the city with the secret intent of meeting with the stone giants and possibly resolving the conflict with Themberchaud but his request was denied. 

The party left a message for Pain and immediately set out for the Labyrinth.

DM Note- My players HATE Gracklstugh. They all told Cordon's player what a crappy place it was.

THE ADAMANTINE TOWER

The magical Tablet of Garmin hastened their journey and they arrived at the outer entrance to the Labyrinth in just over a tridon.

The Labyrinth was once a duergar mine that had long since been depleted and abandoned. Now it was a vast network of carved tunnels and passages that formed a complex maze of dead-ends and circuitous routes.

The entrance was covered with the carvings of horned bull heads and decorated with minotaur skulls and crude rock paintings of bulls' heads. The Labyrinth now belonged to the minotaurs.

The gate opened into a large chamber that had once been a quarry of some kind. The chamber was filled with carvings and statues, many half completed or broken to bits.

At the far end of the chamber was a wide pit, once the entrance into the mines. Adjacent to the pit was a tower made of the dark metal known as adamantine. The tower was smooth with no windows. It had a single door on the ground floor and another door in a protruding nodule at its top. The tower looked as if it had been dropped there from some height. The ground around the tower was compressed and flattened. All around the tower and on top of its battlements were crude statues like the others found throughout the chamber.

Ront and Ser Valerius tried to open bottom door with no success. Willow used the Gem of Seeing but could see no illusion. The tower was as it appeared to be. Willow flew Ront up to the top of the tower with her magical broomstick but the upper door was likewise unopenable.

Ront began playing with the statues. He put his hand in its mouth. He slapped it gently. He rubbed its face with his palm.

Suddenly the statue came to life and attacked, biting ront and clawing at him! The statues revealed their true form as gargoyles!

One gargoyle pushed Willow off of roof and flew away. She was caught by Valerius and the two tumbled to the ground. Willow grabbed Valerius and flew him to roof to help Ront. Afterwards she flew to a safe distance.

Ront quickly shattered both gargoyles on the roof with his great sword. Valerius dove off the tower and attacked one on the ground. Willow hurled a fireball which engulfed three of the stony beasts. Cordon called down a pillar of holy fire on one of the gargoyles. The remaining gargoyles ganged up on Cordon, surrounding him and laying into him with bites and claws. Thankfully Cordon was able to hold them off with his holy shield. Ront threw himself off the roof, landing with a hard thud on the ground, and joined the fight. All the gargoyles were soon defeated.

Afterwards, the party turned its attention once more to the impenetrable tower.

"Do you have any spells which might help?" inquired Valerius of Willow.

"Let me think about it," was her reply.

Ront mused, "Should we just skip it and go down hole?"

Valerius looked frustrated, "Not yet. This tower is an oddity. I don't want to just LEAVE it!"

"But what we do?"

Valerius mused.

TO BE CONTINUED...

"The Holy Radiance of Lathander" - Out of the Abyss, Chapter 37

Cordon shook off his grogginess. Had he been asleep? If so, how was he standing?

He looked around, confused. He was surrounded by thin emaciated people wearing shifts and loincloths made of coarse material. There were humans, dwarves, blue-skinned elves, drow, and deep gnomes. They looked as confused and disoriented as he did. Each of them had an eye tattooed onto their foreheads. Cordon noticed that he was wearing the same shift and loincloth. He touched his forehead wondering if he too bore the same mark as the others.

They were all milling about in some kind of stone chamber. The only light came from magically glowing crystal sconces growing from the walls. The sounds of fighting could be heard echoing down a nearby corridor. He and a few others cautiously advanced.

He saw a motley group in life-or-death struggle with a massive floating beholder in a massive vertical shaft. The group consisted of a pint-sized male halfling, a brutish male orc, a male human knight, and a female human wizard. They were traversing a corkscrew walkway that wound its way down the wall of the shaft while the beholder flew, hovered, and weaved.

Suddenly the halfling leaped up onto the beholder. The beholder moved out over the shaft as the halfling began stabbing it. The two plummeted over a hundred feet and crashed to the floor. Cordon winced at the meaty sound of the impact.

A few moments later the halfling was joined by his companions as they seemed to be butchering the beholder.

Cordon and a few of his fellow captives advanced. Cordon held up his hand and smiled, "Greetings, I am Cordon the Morninglord, the Holy Radiance of Lathander!"

OUT OF THE ABYSS, CHAPTER 37

"THE HOLY RADIANCE OF LATHANDER"

Five heroes scour the Underdark

in order to find the ingredients

of an arcane ritual

that will banish the Demon-Lords

back to the Abyss

from which they escaped.

After defeating the purple worms

at the worm nursery

and obtaining six purple worm eggs

the expedition now travels

to the mysterious Vast Oblivium

in order to harvest the central eye

of a dangerous beholder...

THE LEADERS OF THE EXPEDITION
Sir Valerius Adeques - (PC, human paladin 11) Defender and champion of the old gods of nature.
Willow - (PC, human wizard 11) "the solution is always fireball!"
Phwee-toop - (NPC) Salix/Willow's owl familiar.
Ront - (PC, half-orc barbarian 11) Savage orc of the Iron-Thews tribe seeking redemption for his failures.
Pain Grille' - (PC, halfling rogue 11) Wily street urchin from Waterdeep, was turned to stone in Blingdenstone but got better.

INTRODUCING
Cordon - (PC, human cleric 10) Priest of Lathandor the Sun God, was on a holy quest when he was captured and enslaved by Karazikar the Beholder

THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION
Thora Nabal - (NPC)  human warrior of the Order of the Gauntlet
Sylrien Havennor - (NPC)  human warrior of the Order of the Gauntlet
Elias Drako - (NPC)  human warrior of the Order of the Gauntlet
Tamryn Tharke - (NPC)  human warrior of the Order of the Gauntlet
Feral Killmander - (NPC)  human spy of the Lord's Alliance
Pok-Pok - (NPC) winged kobold.
Sparky - (NPC) trained fire-beetle.
The Shield Guardian - (NPC) a contribution from Lord Zelraun Roaringhorn of the Harpers.

THE PARTY SPLITS
The freed slaves of Karazikar consisted of:

• 21 shield dwarves from Gauntlgrym including Anzar the Brazen of the Lord's Alliance, Brim Coppervein and Thargus Forkbeard of the Emeral Enclave, and famed explorer Amarith Coppervein.
• 17 humans including Cordon the priest of Lathandor, Lhytris Ilgarn of the Black Cloaks of the Zhentarim as well as Zilna Oakshadow and Hilvius Haever of the Lord's Alliance and Olaf Renghyi of the Order of the Gauntlet. 
• 11 moon elves
• 9 drow
• 5 deep gnomes
• 23 goblins
• 15 orogs
• Derendil the intelligent quaggoth.
• An insand modron

All of the slaves wore simple shifts and loincloths and each bore the tattoo of an eye on their forehead.

The heroes discussed their plans with the freed slaves.

The orogs simply left without a word with the goblins in tow. Likewise the drow vanished with nary a farewell. Derendil, however, desired to continue his quest to find Gravenhollow.

The deep gnomes offered to lead the dwarves, humans, and elves to Blingdenstone. There they could accompany a trade caravan to Gauntlgrym and the Overworld. The journey would take sixteen tridons.

Ser Valerius and Pain decided to lead Derendil to Gravenhollow with their contingent of warriors and guards. Using the magical Tablet of Garmin the journey would take eighteen tridons to travel there and return.

Ser Valerius announced that they had no time to waste so they gathered all the food they could carry on the pack lizards and set out for the fabled library of the Stone Giants.

Cordon informed Ront and Willow that he had no wish to return to the Overworld. He had important work to perform in the Underdark and wished to continue his mission. Cordon was disappointed to learn that his weapons, armor, and magic shield had not been found within the Vast Oblivium. He was outfitted with an extra mace from the party's inventory.

WE ARE MODRON
A short while later, Willow asked Cordon if he could pray for a miracle of restoration for the insane modron. Cordon prayed for the bio-mechanical creature and the modron's wits were returned.

Willow followed up by casting a magic spell which allowed everyone nearby to telepathically communicate regardless of language barrier.

The modron and the Overworlders found it difficult to communicate. The modron communicated only in plural pronounds. The modron had no sense of individuality and constantly referred to themselves as "they" and "we" and "us". Indeed, they had no sense of "you" or "it" or "me" or "him" and the modron became confused when Willow or Ront would use these strange words. This greatly complicated attempts by Ront and Willow to communicate with them.

Ront, Willow, and Cordon soon learned that the modron was part of "the Great March", an event that Willow understood to be a great modron tour of the multiverse. The modron, which identified themselves as "duodrone", explained that they had became lost, then they were captured, then they lost it completely, then they were returned to order.

When asked about the Maze Engine, Duodrone admitted that they knew of nothing by that name. However, they could detect an Orderer approximately 289 miles south of their present location. The Orderer brought order to chaos and set things right.

Willow looked a the others, "The Orderer must be this Maze Engine."

Cordon observed his new friends in reserved silence.

A CHAT WITH THE DECEASED
While Ront and Cordon scoured the rest of the Vast Oblivium for anything useful, Willow prepared the bodies of Karazikar and Shedrak for use with the Stonespeaker Crystal.

She touched the crystal to the beholder. The magic returned a semblance of life to the butchered aberration. She interviewed the creature regarding the modron and the maze engine. She appealed to the creatures vanity and self-importance by promising to create for it a stone mausoleum and crypt if it truthfully answers her questions.

Karazikar, flattered by the prospect of an imposing tomb, answered as best he could but the questions were poorly chosen and his answers were ultimately vague and unhelpful.

Willow turned to Shedrak. She once again offered an imposing burial place in exchange for truthful answers. Shedrak wanted only to be entombed forever with his beloved master. She agreed. She asked the dead wizard about the slaves' belongings. He told her that he traded them to drow merchants for food. The drow merchants had last visited three tridons ago and were likely on their way to Mantol-Derith.

Afterwards, Willow kept her promises and, via the casting of stone-shaping spells, created imposing tombs for both villains..

ENCOUNTER WITH OROGS

Told that the drow merchants had left only three tridons ago, Ront decided to take a contingent of dwarven scouts and decided to explore the area around the Vast Oblivium to search for signs of their passing.

After a few hours of reconnaissance the dwarven scouts came running back around the bend ahead. They were being chased by two mutated orogs!

The orogs were highly deformed. One of the orogs had two heads and carried a weapon in each arm. The other had one head but four arms. The dwarves made it behind Ront. The orog attacked Ront with each weapon. Ront counterattacked with his greatsword. After another attack Ront cleaved through the orog, cutting him down. Ront continued forward and slew the second orog with a single strike!

The search party continued their search but returned to the Vast Oblivium after finding nothing.

JOURNEY TO BLINGDENSTONE
Ront, Willow, and Cordon decided to accompany the deep gnome expedition to take the humans, dwarves, and elves to Blingdenstone.

From there they would continue on to Mantol-Derith to find Cordon's belongings. They left a note at the Vast Oblivium telling the other expedition of their quest and asking them to meet up with them in Mantol-Derith.

They walked until they were tired, resting until they were sleepy, and sleeping until they were awake. Thus they traveled for over a dozen cycles, encountering various hazards and wonders of the Underdark.

On the fifteenth cycle their route took them to a vast chasm spanned by a frayed rope bridge. Willow once again cast her stone shaping spell and crafted a stone bridge which they were able to safely cross. She decorated the bridge with the mark "W".

After sixteen cycles they arrived at the secret entrance to Blingdenstone. Ront was welcomed as a returning hero. Ront informed the guards that he needed to return the royal gemstone. Ront and the others were ushered to an audience with Dorbo and Senni Diggermattock, co-regents of Blingdenstone, who had since moved their base of operations to the throne room within the royal geode.

Blingdenstone was active. The population had doubled since they left from just over three hundred to over six hundred. Repairs were being made, stone elementals were carrying heavy loads and reopening tunnels, life was returning to normal.

On the way, Ront encountered two familiar faces: Topsy and Turvy. The twins were as annoying as ever and Ront did his best to resist the urge to murder them where they stood. Willow was unable to determine whether the twins still suffered lycanthropy or not. When the twins were told that the party was on their way to speak with the co-regents, the twins became evasive and ran away.

The meeting with Dorbo and Senni went well. They greeted Ront warmly and welcomed his new friends. Ront presented them with the gemstone recovered by the box carried by the succubus pretending to be Gabble Dripskillet. They thanked Ront and brought him up to speed on what has happened in Blingdenstone and Mantol-Derith since they left. Ront and Willow provided news on their own adventurers.

Ront asked about the fate of Kettle and Angolwen, the two party members who were turned to stone along with Pain by Neheedra the Medusa. They told Ront that the same alchemy that saved Pain saved the other two and that they were searching the Underdark for clues to the fate of the royal family of Blingdenstone.

Dorbo then took Ront aside and offered him the use of a dozen Svirfneblin guards to accompany him on their mission to destroy the demon lords. Ront refused their aid for the greater mission but did ask if they could accompany them to Mantol-Derith. Dorbo agreed.

The team re-equipped and resupplied themselves in Blingdenstone. Cordon sought out a tattoo artist to convert the eye tattoo on his forehead into a sun, symbol of his god Lathander. The work took the better part of a shift but the results came out better than expected.

They stopped off at the Foaming Mug where they were treated as honored guests and encouraged to tell their stories to the innkeeper. Ront asked about the dour barmaid but was embarrased to discover that he had confused the inn with the Grohlborn's Lair in Gracklstugh.

After a comfortable rest, Ront, Willow, and Cordon left the humans, dwarves, and elves in Blingdenstone. The next trade caravan would take them to the Overworld. Ront, Willow, and Cordon then took a complement of a dozen deep gnomes to Mantol-Derith.

ONWARD TO MANTOL-DERITH
The next leg of their journy took them to Jewelshine-on-Darklake. The journey was uneventful. They took a long boat from Jewelshine-on-Darklake to Mantol-Derith.

The boat arrived in a hidden niche on the shores of Darklake, the secret Svirfneblin entrance to Mantol-Derith. There they saw an elven druid sitting on a rock dangling his feet in the water. A shoulderbag and staff sat nearby.

"Hello there," said the druid, "care to join me?"

SLADIS VADIR
The party introduced themselves from the safety of their boat. The elf introduced himself as "Sladis Vadir", a name Ront immediately recognized. Morista Malkin of the Emerald Enclave tasked Ront with, should they find Sladis in the Underdark, returning the druid safely to Gauntlgrym.

Ront surreptitiously gave Sladis the secret hand-sign of the Emerald Enclave. Sladis provided the correct reply and Ront came ashore.

When asked what he was doing there, Sladis answered that he had been a member of a mission. The mission failed and Sladis was the only survivor. He tried to keep a positive outlook, however, and was just sitting on this rock enjoying the beauty of the Darklake.

Sladis asked about the recent travels of the party. Ront explained that they had come from Blingdenstone and were on their way to Mantol-Derith.

"Ah, Blingdenstone. I've been there."

Ront decided to give Sladis a little test, "What the name of Inn there?"

"Hmm.. Right, the Foaming Mug! I love that place! The patrons there are delicious."

Ront replied, "Yes, well... wait- you just say patrons delicious?"

"What's that? Oh no! I said the pastries there are delicious!"

Ront narrowed his eyes, "Hunh." He shared a glance with Willow.

"You say you are heading to Mantol-Derith? I've never been there! I've been all over the Underdark but that location has yet eluded me! May I join you?"

Ront cautiously answered, "Yes. But way is secret. You need wear blindfold."

"That is acceptable!"

With that, the druid gathered his shoulder bag and staff and accepeted the blindfold.

The party passed through the secret door.

As they passed through the long dark tunnel that led into the city, Cordon walked up next to Ront and Willow. "Ahem. I thought I should tell you now. I think I trust you well enough to tell you about my mission.  I was sent by the high priests of Lathander to find the Maze Engine. We believe that the Maze Engine can be used to banish Demon Lords back to the Abyss. This may be a solution to the Demon Lord problem. I just thought you should know about what because I think we need to journey to the Labyrinth and find it and activate it. Good? Thanks. Right then."

Ront and Willow exchanged glances of disbelief that the priest waited until now to share that bit of information.

TO BE CONTINUED...

DM Notes - This was a fun week. We had lots of time to role-play and the return to familiar locales was a treat to the players, allowing them to interact with known NPCs and see the effect their actions have had on the world. Nothing builds a sense of place like returning to a known location and meeting known NPCs, especially old friends. 

"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!