Session Preface
With the treasure chest of goods secured from the discovered private chamber, you find yourselves in an empty, relatively quiet hall. Further west, the remnant sounds of what seems to be a failed slave rebellion echo out from the chamber beyond your current position. Standing in the massive throne chamber of the now assassinated drow priestess of House Auvryndar, you’re able to spare a moment’s appreciation for the hauntingly beautiful fountain statues which watch on from the central column of the chamber. Eight towering figures glare downward towards you with malice and judgement across each of their carved visages, the Demon Queen of Spiders herself with a particularly wicked smile which sends an unsettling shiver down your spine. One of the halfing members of the Sing Alongs steps forward, drawing your attention from the imposing statues.
“I be begging your pardon, but my band and I have trapped down here for a pair of tendays or more, and if you are indeed willing to help us be on our way and make it back to Waterdeep, we’d much prefer not to tarry, if it’s all the same to you. Thank you again for saving us. We are forever in your debts.”
Session Summary
The party, with their halfing companions in tow, wind their way back through the drow fortress, sending Hawk in the cover of invisibility to check for threats. Before ascending back to the first level, Hawk decides to investigate the mirror gate Sornnozz said the drow could never get working. Reading the script "Flattery will get you anywhere you want to go," Hawk makes an aggrandizing statement about Halaster while thinking of the first floor of the dungeon and the mirror gate gives way to a dark hallway. Stepping through, Hawk falls through a sixty foot chimney, landing safely thanks to his feathered tunic's magic properties. Worried about his friend, Thaust charges in after him, falling and collapsing unconscious when he lands. After Hawk finds Thaust and returns him to health, the party darts forth, avoiding the scorpion monstrosity and the remaining drow thrown into chaos after the assassination.
As the only party member still in relatively good health, Fenris assumes the front position as the party returns through the mirror gate to the top level of the dungeon, only making it a few steps before the previously banished gelatinous cube attempts to engulf him. Making quick work of the cube, the party presses on, returning their bardic friends to the well where they ascend to the Yawning Portal to great cheers of relief and promises to Hawk, Thaust, and Fenris of songs written of them and future rewards given by Durnan.
Pushing onward on their own quest, the party ventures further south in search of the stairs to the second level. Along the way, they discover Halleth Garke, a cleric of Waukeen and former member of the Fine Fellows of Daggerford who was beaten to death and left to die in a pit after accusing his companions of not sharing in the treasure they'd discovered evenly. Halleth seeks exclusively to exact revenge upon his selfish former friends and will offer the party all of their treasure, as well as a rare map of the third level of the dungeon, if they help him complete his task. Running low on trust, but offering to help all the same, the party bind Halleth's hands and continue onward, eventually descending the winding stairs down to the second level.
After an initial fork in their path, the companions find themselves fighting against flying pots and pans and apparitions before exploring the bed chambers of an arcane scholar whom they have the displeasure of meeting after completing a summoning circle inscribed upon the floor. The mage shouts at the party in a rage before disappearing once more. Pushing onward, the party meets a puppet of Halaster who believes itself to be working towards a solution for filth fever with dusty and inoperate alchemical tools. Following searching through an abandoned camp once held by the Xanathar Guild, Hawk finds yet another mirror gate and despite his companion's protest, cannot help himself but go through. Hawk then finds himself in a small cavern with the sound of running water echoing off the walls surrounded by a trio of sleeping drow. Thaust follows Hawk and convinces him to return through the portal before it closes. Even after this potentially dangerous decision, Hawk is once again compelled to test his luck when he discovers a magical harp made of bones with a melody written on the wall. Despite the present dangers, Hawk performs the song and thanks to his skilled playing, discovers a secret compartment which opens, providing a scroll of Raise Dead for his efforts.
The party then finds a simple workroom filled with barrels, copper ore, and notes of arcane experiments conducted in these chambers. Gathering the copper ore of value, Fenris stumbles upon a ghoul in one of the barrels and several of the undead creatures sprawl out of other containers around the room, threatening to overwhelm the party. Once the ghouls are dealt with, the companions retreat to the bed room of Kalabash and rest before venturing further into the arcane chambers.
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