DM's Report: Into the Lair
General Summary
Having defeated the spiders and survived the fire, the heroes gathered on the far side of the chasm. Pijarr carefully extracted a venom sack from one of the dead spiders and they prepared to move on.
The large cavern contained a single exit to the South East, however this was blocked by a large group of mushrooms. Various methods were employed to bypass the mushrooms and it was revealed that disturbing them released poisonous spores. In the end, Only Vyth was affected by the poison as she failed to carefully step through them, and she found herself weakened for about the following hour.
Rounding the next corner, the party proceeded carefully. Pijarr crept ahead stealthily into the next cavern where he found an ashen looking dwarf hiding just out of sight of the rest of the group. As they made theirselves known the dark dwarf declared himself chosen of the Great Forge and that it was his duty to find what was stolen. While he spoke the heroes sense a rumbling below him. He stamped on the ground and called on his friends to attack the intruders then grew to three times his own size to engage in the battle.
A great insectlike beast burst forth from the ground--an ankheg--and Pijarr loosed an arrow he had prepared from his bow. It found its mark then the melee began in earnest. The group set to the ankheg, blow after blow hitting the creature. While they all avoided it's jaws, they weren't all so lucky with its acid spray. However they quickly felled the creature.
As they turned towards the dark dwarf a second ankheg burst from the ground dividing the group. George kept on the dwarf and delivered a killing blow as Mortimer brought down the new ankheg with a well cast spell.
With the battle over the heroes gathered themselves and explored the cavern. It was steeped in gore from animals the ankhegs had dragged to their lair. They located the corpse of the missing prisoner in the back of the cavern. Searching the rubble near him George found a torn sack, a book with draconic writing, and some various treasure. He passed the book to Vyth and though the script was old she was able to read the title: Order of the Verdant Serpent.
Trent found a jeweled dagger on the body of the dark dwarf, which he pocketed for himself. He then set about removing several plates from the ankheg's hide.
Finding no further paths the group retraced their steps across the chasm and back to the jail. They met Geoffrey Staltman outside, who was quite relieved to see them safe after the smoke which had protruded from the hole in the jail. Taking their report of the situation, he stated he would have soldiers look further into the issue when they arrived in several days.
With that the group went there separate ways, most going back to the Broken Barrel Inn for rest before their evening meal at Berrek's house. Trent took the plates he had harvested from the ankheg to the local blacksmith, a man by the name of Jorim. In trade for the dagger he promised Trent a shield made of the ankheg plates in three days. Trent also had him sharpen his sword. Pijarr also arrived looking for arrows and possibly information on the moonblade. Jorim could not say much but identified it as an elven sword and suggested they speak to the elf that would be at Berrick's house that night.
Alara, Vyth, and Pijarr made a stop at Things Found where Pijarr traded a scroll of expiditious retreat for magic footwraps which would double his jumping distance. After describing their most recent adventure Helja Hammerk pointed out the torn bag was likely a bag of holding. They asked her where they might acquire such an item and she told them to seek her friend in Dun Dokkas and show him the moonblade. Alara then asked Helja for training. Helja told her to return in the morning when she would know where they were next headed.
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