Session 22: The Warrens
General Summary
The Ratcatcher's open the door and find themselves in a collapsed room filled with water and wooden planks crossing the water. The planks prove to be treacherous to walk across however that is not the major danger that lurks within this room. The Ratcatcher's are ambushed by a pair of Invisible Stalkers who prove to be incredibly dangerous wind elementals. The party fights to the very end and just barely survives the encounter. Fedi patches everyone up to the best of her ability before our Ratcatchers move on.
Entering the next room they find a large well with a large barrel sitting within. Searching the area reveals scratch marks on the well leading well below the water line. The Ratcatchers quickly put one and one together and realize the barrel is part of an elevator system that has been rigged up. Unfortunately the Ratcatchers are unable to find any controls within the room they are in. So they decide to tie a rope to Masari so she can swim to the bottom of the well to investigate. Below she finds a sizable room with a door and what appears to be a stone wall with scratch marks on it. She also finds a lever in the middle of the room. Masari braces herself and pulls the leaver causing the water to quickly empty the room. The rest of the Ratcatchers climb down the rope to join Masari, before they head through the door they quickly check for traps. It proves to be clear of anything malicious.
Beyond the door they find themselves in a long hallway with two large wooden door ways on either end as well as four wooden single doors on the far wall. The Ratcatchers check the four single doors to find a series of bunkrooms. Searching these bunkrooms they find a list of names that have been crossed out. Investigating this they learn that these are names of Doppelgangers who have already been caught and killed. The Ratcatchers also find jewelry and fine clothing easily able to dress multiple people into high societal clothing and not seem out of place in any form. The group grabs what they can and continues to search of the hallway. As they head to the left most door. Masari detects something magical before the door. Fedi slowly creeps forward to investigate and finds a cleaver trap before the door. Removing the false floor reveals a pit and in that pit is an illusionary floor. Axto lowers a rope and Elora climbs down to investigate. The Ratcatchers quickly learn that below the illusion is a deadly spike trap. Elora climbs back to the top while Fedi fires a grappling hook to the other side of the chasm. Fedi then carefully climbs across to investigate the door that quickly becomes apparent to be a fake. The Ratcatchers regroup and head to the other set of double wooden doors.
When they slip inside they find themselves is a large office, and upon the tables are maps and documents. The Ratcatchers check out the map and discover that the Doppelgangers are slowly attempting to take control of Cloudbreach and their influence is far and wide. They also find some documents that suggest beneath Cloudbreach lies ruins and catacombs that are ripe full of treasure and only the old families know their entrance. The group gathers all of this evidence for later. As they travel into the room beyond they end up coming into a large chamber with a raised platform and throne. Sitting upon that throne is Allustan Neff. He congratulates out Ratcatchers for coming this far but he is afraid that they will now have to die by his hand. Fedi quickly realizes that this is yet another doppelganger. The battle proves to be dangerous when Allustan Neff who had managed to cast a couple of spells, to a brutish Orc who wields a great axe. Masari is struck with a deadly attack almost killing her. However thankfully our Ratcatchers manage to concentrate their powers and defeat the doppelganger. The dead body reveals a strange symbol carved into the doppelgangers forehead. As they search the room behind the throne, they discover a letter that the Ratcatchers must be killed, that the Thrall is to meet his Master below the Cold Forge, it is signed by someone who calls the doppelganger his thrall. The Ratcatchers also find more jewelry and fine clothing. They also find a magic rug, and magic mirror. They also discover to strange stones that give off a pulsating heat.
As they gather themselves the Ratcatchers are ambushed by four Drow who step into the room. Followed by worst of all a creature with tentacles on his face and a long bulbous head. He speaks to the Ratcatchers through telepathy. He states that the Ratcatchers must die and that his Drow Thralls will be the ones to do it. The Drow quickly charge the Ratcatchers while the telepathic creature creates a blast of psionic energy that stuns most of the Ratcatchers. Maybe it is luck the creature only sticks around for a few more seconds before quickly popping out of existence. The drow prove to be deadly combatants as they manage to whittle down our Ratcatchers. This battle is costly. Axto fights bravely against one of the Drow but is unfortunately cut down and is killed. The rest of the Ratcatchers manage to regroup and kill all four of the Drow. Now they must carry the fallen Ratcatcher's body out of these Warrens. For Axto deserves a proper burial and funeral. Before they leave they investigate the Drow and notice there is a phosphorescent fungus on the boots of the drow. Fedi recognizes this as a fungus that only grows in the waste runoff of blacksmiths.
Notes
Note in Telakin's Sanctum
"I have a task for you, thrall. Meet me at the sewer junction beneath the cold forge and I will give you the details. There are some troublesome small minds that must be removed."
The document is signed with some sort of symbol made to look like a spiraling tentacle (identical to that on Telakin's forehead)
Report Date
27 Jun 2024
Primary Location
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