Session 296 - The Deep Roads
General Summary
23rdto 30th of Saraju (Third Month of Spring) 726TRThe Story So Far
The rugged bounty hunter Cassius and his sidekick Salvador, the wandering priest of Ilvir, have decided to help Berda, a young dwarven woman from a wealthy family, on a quest to find a husband in the faraway dwarven Kingdom of Kuzjera.
This is the continuation of Session 288 - The Pinctagrex.
Location - West of the Vathran of Stimby in the Kingdom of Menglana.
Part 1 – The Deep Roads
Using ancient dwarven maps, the heroes locate the ancient long-lost entrance to the deep ways, a network of underground passages in the mountains west of the Vathran of Stimby. This was used centuries ago by the dwarves as a form of highway under the mountain ranges. Berda uses the stone key supplied by the Oracle Rafna Rald and the characters in the underground passages.
They find a chamber with imposing statues of dwarves glaring at them. The floor is littered with pressure plates, and stepping on them results in spears jabbing at the heroes. They dodge and leap over the ancient traps, entering a short passage guarded by another dwarven statue. Near the statue is a vicious Scythe Trap, and worse, the statue animates. It is tough and impervious to the hero's weapons; however, Cassius pushes the Stone Guardian into the scythe blades destroying it.
Hidden under loose floor tiles, the dungeon delvers find some ancient alchemical potions and a mysterious enchanted ring shaped like a Ram's head.
Part 2 - Flaming Rats
Fortunately, that is the last of the dwarven-made traps; however, further in, the characters enter a large chamber with a river of molten rock and a stone bridge crossing it. Out of the magma are hot white, elemental shapes similar to rodents. The voracious Cinder Rats cause some difficulty being cloaked in blinding lung-choking smoke but are eventually eliminated.
Part 3 - Eye-eaters and a Troll
The next few days are more peaceful, the passages are deserted, but it eventually opens into what looks like a ruined dwarven supply room. The party hears a chirping sound and the movement of something big across broken rocks and debris. Half a dozen Vlasta run at the heroes wanting a tasty feast of eyes, but the tiny dinosaur-like Ivashi are quickly dispatched. The Troll following behind is another story altogether. The huge creature charges forward, smashing Cassius's pet Bear and knocking him out before the party can react. Berda deflects several more massive swipes, and Cassius delivers multiple arrows into its tough hide, only to note that it almost immediately heals its injury. Salvador throws his last vail of Alchemist Fire, and the Troll catches alight, screaming and dying in terror and pain.
Nearby, the characters find a Dwarven shortsword in relatively good condition, a collection of metal needles, small crossbow bolts, and a strange mechanical bracer.
