Session 5
General Summary
It seemed the ghoulish threat to the Necropolis had been dealt with and Nex Pervenio had obtained some valuable historical information. They also had evidence of House Vae involvement. They decided they would keep this aspect to themselves, as it might provide handy leverage in the future.
So they returned to Durin and Overseer Andalg and reported their success. They described a rogue vampire busily raising ghouls, all of which were now slain. This was good news to House Eilservs and it meant the dwarf engineer and his team of labourers could safely return to work, restoring damaged parts of the Necropolis. Overseer Andalg said he would contact them at the Hook Inn if he had further employment.
The rest of the day was spent quietly at the inn, recovering from their efforts quelling the undead menace. They rose early the next day, on 5 December, with much business to attend to.
First they called at the residence of Kharis to see how she was getting on with their gladiatorial promotion. A highly trained spider seemed to act as her butler. She had the idea to arrange an exhibition match, so was working on where, when and who.
Next visited was the Ghetto of Scholars, where two contacts lived, both rescued from Lareth’s base in Maelbrathyr just before it collapsed. Rather than attempt to research for themselves, it seemed wiser to let trained professionals, who owed them big favours, do the hard work.
Mizzrim, a drow of House Shi’quos, was working as a junior clerk in a large library. He was very keen to assist with some actual research, rather than the mundane filing he normally performed. He was tasked with finding out about Forest Monarchs, Gar Morra and Anathema.
Harka took a little more locating. He was eventually tracked down in an enclave of Incunabulum, guarded by skeletal ogres. Nex Pervenio gave Harka the torn cloth binding they had discovered at a battle scene in the Underdark en route to Erelhei-Cinlu. Harka was concerned to discover who it belonged to so he could return it forthwith – he said it was the equivalent of finding a human’s severed hand! Harka was tasked with researching the Crystal of Ebon Flame and deciphering the mindflayer research recovered from beneath Castle Dash. The mindflayer research particularly intrigued him.
Next, the gladiators headed to the Ghetto of Chattel and took Aunrae out to lunch. She recommended a speciality tavern staffed entirely by gnome slaves, specially imported from the Feydark. They talked to Aunrae about their gladiatorial aspirations. They explained Kharis was trying to arrange an exhibition match and wondered if Aunrae might be able to source some suitable fighting slaves with her House Vae contacts. She agreed to look into it and would liaise directly with Kharis.
Shinobi couldn’t resist questioning Aunrae about House Vae granting refuge to Mistress Verdaeth. She described it as a business deal, saying that Mistress Verdaeth had located a potential source of a vast number of new slaves. Shinobi was concerned this meant Anathema, home to yuan-ti sharing his worship of Zehir.
The rest of the day was spent in the Ghetto of Performers, hanging around in the dingy fight clubs. They participated in a few bouts, trying to demonstrate as much entertainment and prowess as possible, to raise their profile as successful gladiators.
That evening, Mizzrim and Harka separately visited the Hook Inn and provided ongoing results from their research. This pattern was repeated for the next few days – exploring the city, hanging out in fight clubs followed by research reports.
On 9 December, Kharis made contact. She was still working hard on gladiatorial matters but had a task she needed assistance with. She used to deal regularly with a House Godeep spider farm, located a couple of days outside Erelhei-Cinlu. She hadn’t heard from it in a while and was concerned. The area it was in was home to a band of ropers, who were employed by House Godeep to guard a set of tunnels known to be a route to the surface. Also in the area was the lair of a three-headed red dragon named Calastryx. House Godeep officially held a truce with the dragon.
After gathering some necessary supplies, Nex Pervenio headed out. The journey was mostly peaceful, it seemed the influence of nearby Erelhei-Cinlu kept many dangerous foes away. On the morning of the second day, the sounds of combat echoed down the tunnels from ahead. Dash and Shinobi scouted swiftly forward and discovered a family of hook horrors assaulting a patrol of House Godeep drow. Nex Pervenio leapt into the fray and devastated the hook horrors without even a scratch to show for it.
The drow were most grateful for the assistance. They were even more helpful once it was established that the surface dwellers were employed by House Godeep. The drow were House Godeep scouts whose routine patrol had taken them to the area of the spider farm but all they had found was devastation and death. Their orders in such circumstances were to report back to the city immediately. In their haste they had taken less precautions than usual, hence why they’d been caught out by the hook horrors. Their initial assessment was that Calastryx must have reneged on the truce for an unknown reason, but admitted they had not spent any time investigating. They sped on their way to Erelhei-Cinlu, agreeing to pass news to Kharis in addition to their superiors.
With some trepidation, the gladiators continued to the spider farm, wary that they might soon be faced with an angry dragon…
Research
Forest Monarchs Primeval trees dating back to the creation of the world. Sadly they were destroyed during the Dawn War, when primordials and gods warred. However, their root tunnels reached incredibly deep in the Underdark. Here and there, scattered pockets of their essences linger on still. The area around such pockets is magically imbued with some of the characteristics of the relevant tree. It seems difficult to ascertain precisely where these pockets might be found. Blood Oak Before the Blood Oak fell, trees didn’t turn brown in the autumn, their leaves remained green even as they fell. The Blood Oak stood for life, courage, vigour, strength and passion. Even in death it still represents those things. Red veins thread throughout the tunnel walls, remnants of roots occasionally leak coppery crimson sap, with blood dripping down walls and pooling on the floor. The tunnels now draw life from the living, making them dangerous for all but constructs and undead.
Golden Dawn This tree represented hope, even in the face of the darkest night. Eating its apples could lift curses and cure diseases. The gods could make the apples into a beverage capable of granting eternal life or bringing back a god from death. Sadly long gone now. Tunnels near the roots glitter with fools gold, though light is dimmer as if the fool’s gold steals brightness to feed its gleam.
Thoughts of missed chances, regretted actions, and dreams that failed to find their promise come to travelers. Hope seems a shadow and there’s a glowing sense of despair.
The Darkroot Market can be found in the Golden Dawn tunnels. Oni night haunters, night hags, mind flayers and worse trade broken dreams and night terrors alongside dark secrets and lost souls.
Ivory Winter Archfey, gods and Ivory Winter together celebrated each new year. After the tree died, the archfey turned against all others. The season of winter itself raged at the tree’s demise. Even today, winter at its most bitter and grasping seeks redress for this ancient grievance. Deep-seated chill flows down the root tunnels of Ivory Winter. Cold clasps the heart, numbs the mind, stifles mercy.
Silver Yew This tree stood as a source of purity, fidelity, music, love and magic. A betrayal amongst the gods caused it to sicken and ultimately to die. Stone in the Silver Yew tunnels sparkles with flecks of silver. In rare places, mirrorlike wood of the Silver Yew remains embedded in the walls. This may be extracted and used for the creation of potent magic bows.
While walking the Silver Yew tunnels, feel watched and vulnerable. Trust is difficult and treachery common, betrayal is always in the offing.
Crystal of Ebon Flame A fist-sized, black, flame-shaped crystal artefact. It whispers menacingly when grasped. It offers power but warns of corruption. Some claim it to be one of Tharizdun’s tears, cast forth upon his confinement. Others declare it a seed of evil he planted in the Elemental Chaos. A group of gods tried and failed to destroy it so instead they placed a divine curse on it to oppose the artefact’s will. The Crystal of Ebon Flame works to free the Chained God, but the divine curse embedded in it has its own, opposite, goals. Mindflayer’s Research The mindflayer beneath Castle Dash had been researching the divine curse placed on the Crystal of Ebon Flame. The intention was to see if such a curse could be replicated, to help thwart the Cult of Elemental Evil. There seemed to be correlation with Callindrill’s Research which was found in Maelbrathyr. Gar Morra 1000 years ago, the Seven Great Clans (dwarfs) departed the shallow Underdark on a mass migration deep, deep into the Underdark to found a new dwarven empire, centered on the new city of Gar Morra. This is located in a truly gigantic stalactite in the centre of the Spire Sea, a vast underground sea similar in scale to surface oceans. The Spire Sea is plagued by a ruthless band of pirates called the Spire Spiders, which include troglodytes, grimlocks, drow and oni amongst their motley crew, riding giant bats to raid ships which brave the vast underground sea. Also to be found in the Spire Sea are dwarven ghost ships, sunk during the migration to Gar Morra, now returned in undeath.
Alas the tale of Gar Morra was not a happy one. A huge aboleth army arose from the Spire Sea and was poised to annihilate the dwarfs when they made a desperate bargain, turning from Moradin to the service of Asmodeus. This turned the tide and they defeated the aboleths but at a heavy price. The city and those dwarfs are now said to be cursed and they are now allied with duergar of all people.
So they returned to Durin and Overseer Andalg and reported their success. They described a rogue vampire busily raising ghouls, all of which were now slain. This was good news to House Eilservs and it meant the dwarf engineer and his team of labourers could safely return to work, restoring damaged parts of the Necropolis. Overseer Andalg said he would contact them at the Hook Inn if he had further employment.
The rest of the day was spent quietly at the inn, recovering from their efforts quelling the undead menace. They rose early the next day, on 5 December, with much business to attend to.
First they called at the residence of Kharis to see how she was getting on with their gladiatorial promotion. A highly trained spider seemed to act as her butler. She had the idea to arrange an exhibition match, so was working on where, when and who.
Next visited was the Ghetto of Scholars, where two contacts lived, both rescued from Lareth’s base in Maelbrathyr just before it collapsed. Rather than attempt to research for themselves, it seemed wiser to let trained professionals, who owed them big favours, do the hard work.
Mizzrim, a drow of House Shi’quos, was working as a junior clerk in a large library. He was very keen to assist with some actual research, rather than the mundane filing he normally performed. He was tasked with finding out about Forest Monarchs, Gar Morra and Anathema.
Harka took a little more locating. He was eventually tracked down in an enclave of Incunabulum, guarded by skeletal ogres. Nex Pervenio gave Harka the torn cloth binding they had discovered at a battle scene in the Underdark en route to Erelhei-Cinlu. Harka was concerned to discover who it belonged to so he could return it forthwith – he said it was the equivalent of finding a human’s severed hand! Harka was tasked with researching the Crystal of Ebon Flame and deciphering the mindflayer research recovered from beneath Castle Dash. The mindflayer research particularly intrigued him.
Next, the gladiators headed to the Ghetto of Chattel and took Aunrae out to lunch. She recommended a speciality tavern staffed entirely by gnome slaves, specially imported from the Feydark. They talked to Aunrae about their gladiatorial aspirations. They explained Kharis was trying to arrange an exhibition match and wondered if Aunrae might be able to source some suitable fighting slaves with her House Vae contacts. She agreed to look into it and would liaise directly with Kharis.
Shinobi couldn’t resist questioning Aunrae about House Vae granting refuge to Mistress Verdaeth. She described it as a business deal, saying that Mistress Verdaeth had located a potential source of a vast number of new slaves. Shinobi was concerned this meant Anathema, home to yuan-ti sharing his worship of Zehir.
The rest of the day was spent in the Ghetto of Performers, hanging around in the dingy fight clubs. They participated in a few bouts, trying to demonstrate as much entertainment and prowess as possible, to raise their profile as successful gladiators.
That evening, Mizzrim and Harka separately visited the Hook Inn and provided ongoing results from their research. This pattern was repeated for the next few days – exploring the city, hanging out in fight clubs followed by research reports.
On 9 December, Kharis made contact. She was still working hard on gladiatorial matters but had a task she needed assistance with. She used to deal regularly with a House Godeep spider farm, located a couple of days outside Erelhei-Cinlu. She hadn’t heard from it in a while and was concerned. The area it was in was home to a band of ropers, who were employed by House Godeep to guard a set of tunnels known to be a route to the surface. Also in the area was the lair of a three-headed red dragon named Calastryx. House Godeep officially held a truce with the dragon.
After gathering some necessary supplies, Nex Pervenio headed out. The journey was mostly peaceful, it seemed the influence of nearby Erelhei-Cinlu kept many dangerous foes away. On the morning of the second day, the sounds of combat echoed down the tunnels from ahead. Dash and Shinobi scouted swiftly forward and discovered a family of hook horrors assaulting a patrol of House Godeep drow. Nex Pervenio leapt into the fray and devastated the hook horrors without even a scratch to show for it.
The drow were most grateful for the assistance. They were even more helpful once it was established that the surface dwellers were employed by House Godeep. The drow were House Godeep scouts whose routine patrol had taken them to the area of the spider farm but all they had found was devastation and death. Their orders in such circumstances were to report back to the city immediately. In their haste they had taken less precautions than usual, hence why they’d been caught out by the hook horrors. Their initial assessment was that Calastryx must have reneged on the truce for an unknown reason, but admitted they had not spent any time investigating. They sped on their way to Erelhei-Cinlu, agreeing to pass news to Kharis in addition to their superiors.
With some trepidation, the gladiators continued to the spider farm, wary that they might soon be faced with an angry dragon…
Research
Forest Monarchs Primeval trees dating back to the creation of the world. Sadly they were destroyed during the Dawn War, when primordials and gods warred. However, their root tunnels reached incredibly deep in the Underdark. Here and there, scattered pockets of their essences linger on still. The area around such pockets is magically imbued with some of the characteristics of the relevant tree. It seems difficult to ascertain precisely where these pockets might be found. Blood Oak Before the Blood Oak fell, trees didn’t turn brown in the autumn, their leaves remained green even as they fell. The Blood Oak stood for life, courage, vigour, strength and passion. Even in death it still represents those things. Red veins thread throughout the tunnel walls, remnants of roots occasionally leak coppery crimson sap, with blood dripping down walls and pooling on the floor. The tunnels now draw life from the living, making them dangerous for all but constructs and undead.
Golden Dawn This tree represented hope, even in the face of the darkest night. Eating its apples could lift curses and cure diseases. The gods could make the apples into a beverage capable of granting eternal life or bringing back a god from death. Sadly long gone now. Tunnels near the roots glitter with fools gold, though light is dimmer as if the fool’s gold steals brightness to feed its gleam.
Thoughts of missed chances, regretted actions, and dreams that failed to find their promise come to travelers. Hope seems a shadow and there’s a glowing sense of despair.
The Darkroot Market can be found in the Golden Dawn tunnels. Oni night haunters, night hags, mind flayers and worse trade broken dreams and night terrors alongside dark secrets and lost souls.
Ivory Winter Archfey, gods and Ivory Winter together celebrated each new year. After the tree died, the archfey turned against all others. The season of winter itself raged at the tree’s demise. Even today, winter at its most bitter and grasping seeks redress for this ancient grievance. Deep-seated chill flows down the root tunnels of Ivory Winter. Cold clasps the heart, numbs the mind, stifles mercy.
Silver Yew This tree stood as a source of purity, fidelity, music, love and magic. A betrayal amongst the gods caused it to sicken and ultimately to die. Stone in the Silver Yew tunnels sparkles with flecks of silver. In rare places, mirrorlike wood of the Silver Yew remains embedded in the walls. This may be extracted and used for the creation of potent magic bows.
While walking the Silver Yew tunnels, feel watched and vulnerable. Trust is difficult and treachery common, betrayal is always in the offing.
Crystal of Ebon Flame A fist-sized, black, flame-shaped crystal artefact. It whispers menacingly when grasped. It offers power but warns of corruption. Some claim it to be one of Tharizdun’s tears, cast forth upon his confinement. Others declare it a seed of evil he planted in the Elemental Chaos. A group of gods tried and failed to destroy it so instead they placed a divine curse on it to oppose the artefact’s will. The Crystal of Ebon Flame works to free the Chained God, but the divine curse embedded in it has its own, opposite, goals. Mindflayer’s Research The mindflayer beneath Castle Dash had been researching the divine curse placed on the Crystal of Ebon Flame. The intention was to see if such a curse could be replicated, to help thwart the Cult of Elemental Evil. There seemed to be correlation with Callindrill’s Research which was found in Maelbrathyr. Gar Morra 1000 years ago, the Seven Great Clans (dwarfs) departed the shallow Underdark on a mass migration deep, deep into the Underdark to found a new dwarven empire, centered on the new city of Gar Morra. This is located in a truly gigantic stalactite in the centre of the Spire Sea, a vast underground sea similar in scale to surface oceans. The Spire Sea is plagued by a ruthless band of pirates called the Spire Spiders, which include troglodytes, grimlocks, drow and oni amongst their motley crew, riding giant bats to raid ships which brave the vast underground sea. Also to be found in the Spire Sea are dwarven ghost ships, sunk during the migration to Gar Morra, now returned in undeath.
Alas the tale of Gar Morra was not a happy one. A huge aboleth army arose from the Spire Sea and was poised to annihilate the dwarfs when they made a desperate bargain, turning from Moradin to the service of Asmodeus. This turned the tide and they defeated the aboleths but at a heavy price. The city and those dwarfs are now said to be cursed and they are now allied with duergar of all people.
Report Date
23 May 2025
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