Difference between revisions of "Chapter 10: The Battle of the Cyphergate"

Revision as of 21:06, 4 March 2012

What Has Come Before

The heroes ventured back into the tunnels beneath the Gold Goblin and defeated a small tribe of troglodytes as well as their mutant cricket pet. They are now planning to delve deeper into the caverns, seeking the dark elf that Saul claims to have been dealing with.

The Adventure

After clearing the trog lair, the heroes begin working their way through a treacherous set of switchbacks leading underneath Riddleport's Velashu River. They encounter two dretches, demonic creatures in service to the dark elf. They managed to kill one of the creatures, but the other retreated down the twisting passageways, summoning another of its kind for help, and erecting stinking clouds to cover their retreat.

At the bottom of the switchbacks they discovered a large cavern illuminated by strange rocks that radiated a weird orange-purple light and dominated by a large pool filled with deep, black water. This self-same light seemed to dim the radiance of their own glowrods and light spells. As they explored the room they were attacked by three aquatic gricks which emerged from the pool. They defeated the creatures and made two discoveries. First, a passage way off of the cavern led to a small chamber containing a stone ledge containing a white fur blanket, a platinum-plated coffer, and a pair of finely-crafted boots. Clearly this was the lair of ... someone ... perhaps even the elf.

The dwarf Tholyr dove into the pool, and made a second discovery: a passageway leading out that soon branched a "T" junction. In the murky water he found another threat: a hungry scrag!

The dirtside heroes continued their exploration of the sleeping quarters and overheard a female voice speaking in common with two creatures conversing in Abyssal. "Go find the intruders!" she said, "I must gather up my research, and leave this place." The dretches entered the sleeping quarters, and were surprised by the heroes they found there.

An epic melee followed. The elven ranger Kwava pinned one of the dretches to the wall with an arrow, but the other fled into the drow's research chamber. The monk Jheru and the dwarf Jorm followed it, discovering a large cave filled with the huge, curving wall of the Cyphergate! The drow had apparently managed to extract a few samples from the gate -- a task previously thought to be impossible -- and was in the process of putting a few smaller chunks of these into a purse. Seeing the heroes she fired her hand crossbow, and began running up the Cyphergate using her slippers of spider climbing. Much to her surprise the monk Jheru was able to follow her, and they traded blows as they raced up the arch. As they neared the ceiling, where a small passage way paralleled the gate to the surface, Jheru tackled the elf, knocking her from the gate.

They drifted to the floor, the elf using her ring of feather falling, the monk gracefully guiding his fall with a soft touch on the gate. At the floor the drow fought off the monk with the bayonets mounted on her hand crossbow, then raced back up the arch. Exhausted, this time the monk choose not to follow, instead joining Jorm in his fight with the surviving dretch.

Meanwhile in the adjoining room the scrag emerged from the black pool and began lashing out at the other heroes. After a brutal fight, in which Thoylr nearly died, the band was finally able to bring down the troll.

After the fight, Jheru climbed up the Cyphergate after the dark elf. At the surface he caught a glimpse of a ship making its way out of the harbor. In it's topmost crows nest, he caught sight of the elf, her white hair brilliant in the sunlight. She had escaped the city.

Treasure

• n/a

Experience

Active XP

• Jheru: 1300
• Skender: 1300
• Korlandril: 1300
• Tholyr: 1300
• Jorm: 1300
• Emeryon Star-seeker: 1300

Passive XP

• Maturin: 700
• Phil: 700