The party enters the room again, the drow remains by the fire at the far side of the room 80' away. Dol sprints towards her with Anvil flying along one shoulder and Angruk running at his other side. Maq lopes along a bit behind them.
As they reach the half way point the floor gives way dropping Dol and Ang into a 20' deep pit, the pit is 20' by 20'. DC20 acrobatcis to make the jump across:
Dol floats down harmlessly to the pit floor, Ang takes
A large black spider drops into the pit and attacks
DC17 Fort save or become sickened and
Maq is able to stop short of the pit. The drow is about 40' away from Maq. Anvil is flying so can continue towards drow or enter the pit.
Drow: "Welcome back my friends, do you like my pet?"
Climbing in or out of the pit is a DC17 Climb check.
Climbing in or out of the pit with a rope anchored to something or with someone holding the rope DC7 Climb check.
Party action.
-19HP
I love spiders; they make great stew!
-23HP
Cast Flaming Sphere and burn the drow
Two legs should learn to fly...
Anvil flies over the pit and attempts a on the drow.
If Anvil is going to trip the drow and Maq is attacking the drow with the flaming sphere, then Anvil will need to make a reflex save or be burned.
The drow dances around avoiding both the trip and the sphere.
The spider misses Dol.
The drow misses Anvil.
Party action.
Continue trying to burn the drow
If the drow is 40' away, than I fire off a Ray of Frost
~retcon~
Anvil flies in a nips at the pesky drow:
You know what has 7 legs a bleeds? YOU!
Angruk casts bull's strength on himself.
Dol connects solidly with the spider but fails to critically injure it.
Anvil and Maq miss the drow. The drow narrowly avoids the sphere.
Spider:
The spider snaps at Dol, finding a weak spot in his armor for 9 damage and possible poisoning.
DC17 Fort save or become sickened and take
Drow:
The drow's greataxe connects with Anvil for 10 damage.
"Come join the fun little brother before they're all dead!"
Attempt to burn the drow again
Fire off another Ray of Frost
-28HP
Uuurkh...
-10HP
Anvil flied up to the top of the ceiling and considers mortality and its next move. Crawls behind the drow's position and waits for an opportune moment to drop and trip.
-28HP
[dice=DC17 FORT]1d20+8Uuurkh...
[dice=STR loss]1d3
[dice=GSPA]1d20+5-2
[dice=]2d6+7
You only lost 2 strength, i rolled in my post.
You only lost 2 strength, i rolled in my post.-28HP
[dice=DC17 FORT]1d20+8Uuurkh...
[dice=STR loss]1d3
[dice=GSPA]1d20+5-2
[dice=]2d6+7
Female drow: -5hp
The drow moves too slowly and is finally burned by the sphere.
"Come brother, I command your presence! Take the pesky spellcaster."
Spider:
The spider's fangs are turned away by Dol's armor leaving a streak of poison behind.
Male drow:
"As you command, sister." A male drow appears from nowhere just on the other side of the pit from Maq and blasts him.
Party action.
Choking back bile...
Cast Infernal Heal and continue to burn the drowess
-10hp 1/10
-23hp
Seeing Dol hack the last bit of life out of the spider, Angruk uses the opportunity to casts bless upon the party members.
+1 attack
+1 v fear
Female drow: -16hp
"They killed Vreth! Blast the foul dwarf invaders brother!"
Angruk and Dolgrin must make DC17 will save or take 16 damage, if you make the will save take 8 damage.
Male drow:
"Of course, anything for you, dear sister."
The male drow blasts a fireball into the pit. Angruk and Dolgrin must make DC19 reflex save or take 25 damage, if you make the reflex save take 12 damage.
Spider's last thought:
I hate frickin dwarves!
Party's action.
Angruk steels his will and resists most of the female drow's negative energy assault, but his concentration leaves him vulnerable to the fireball. He falls to the ground in a blast of flame.
-56hp
-57 HP
Unable to resist the combination of negative energy and fire at the same time, Dolgrin slumps to the ground, his lifeblood slowly flowing out of him.
NNOOOO!!!!!!
Cast Flaming Sphere at the b~@!~ on the other side of the pit
-9hp 2/10
Anvil glides down and attempts to trip the male drow:
After a valiant effort, Maq goes down under the combined onslaught of the drow.
An unknown amount of time passes and our party members slowly come back to consciousness. Dol, Maq and Ang are all gagged and in high quality manacles and chains that are securely bolted into the wall. All your equipment has been removed. You sit awkwardly on the floor with your arms kept raised above your head by the manacles and chains. You each are battered and bruised and feel like you have been through hell. (You each have 1 hp).
Dol sees Anvil clinging to the ceiling, he looks to be in as bad a shape as the rest of the group.
The male drow stands before you.
"My name is Eskanor and let me assure you that my sister is a grade 'A' b*$~+ that you don't want to cross. However, I have convinced her that you can benefit her by performing certain actions that she herself cannot be involved with, this has tempered her desire to visit unending pain upon you all. These actions of which I speak involve you ensuring certain other drow meet with an untimely demise so I don't believe you would find them morally objectionable. However, I have heard dwarves can be rather stubborn so let me first put this question to the Sorcerer. Will you be willing to cease all aggression against my sister and to bring about the destruction of a particular female drow that opposes her in exchange for your freedom? Let me remind you the alternative is an eternity of being tortured by my sister, or until she gets bored at the least."
He looks at Maq and removes his gag.
Hmm, my friends and I get to live...and not be tortured....and kill other drow...
You drive a hard bargain sir, but I am in.
Eskanor removes the gags from the dwarves.
"What say you?"
Enthusiastically-Maqej is the brains of the outfit. If he says yes, I says yes.
"I agree with Maqej, we get to live and kill other drow, pretty easy deal to accept, what's the catch?"
Eskanor:
"I expect you to swear oaths to the gods you hold sacred, (looking at Angruk's holy symbol) Torag should do, especially for the dwarves. Once you have sworn your oaths, I will release you, return your gear, and set you on the path to the death of my sister's enemy and your freedom."
You each swear a binding oath to take no belligerent action towards Eskanor or his sister and to kill the female drow cleric Sorann. Eskanor returns all your gear.
"You may rest here until you regain your strength, no one should bother you, my sister is known to frequent this area so most others avoid it at all cost. When you are ready, I will tell you what I can about Sorann."
Welcome to level 5.
Dolgrin swears his oath to the Stone-Klaatu barada ~coughs~ norphu....
I'm ready to hear about Sorann if you have time Eskanor.
"If anyone could be more of a b*tch than my sister it might be her. She is a powerful cleric and wizard and she has many drow of various skills that serve her. She has several pet demons as well, lesser ones mind you, but ones that can kill you nonetheless. I am sure her compound has its fair share of traps and probably other types of monsters as well."
"To reach her you must continue through these tunnels until you surface on the island. Her compound is the one with the blue tile roof."
"I have 3 potions of disguise that will enable you to take the guise of drow, they should last 48 hours at least, but I would not advise taking them until you reach the surface of the island to ensure you have enough time to complete your task."
"Chop off her head and return with it and our business will be resolved. If you are successful, I may find other uses for your particular skills."
Is there anywhere we can sell and trade in equipment and goods here or on the island above? Also, can you think of anyone in her service that might be likely to betray her? No offense, but from what I've heard you dark elves are more than willing to turn on your masters if the opportunity presents itself.
"There are some shops on the island that you might be able to buy, sell or trade at, but don't expect any bargains. Your disguises will be as houseless drow so none will be looking to curry favor with you. As for your second question, I am sure many that serve Sorann would love to dance upon her grave but they are likely far too frightened to turn on her. If you do find someone willing to betray her, be especially wary, as they are apt to betray you in order to ingratiate themselves with her."
Trust me when I say that I'm already actively on the look out for those trying to betray us at the right moment.~Gives Eskanor a knowing stare.
Eskanor, can you have someone take us to the tunnels so we can begin our journey. I think I'm ready to kill some something now.
"Ha, ha, ha, well said Dolgrin, you are right not to trust me or my sister, but you really didn't have much choice, and you are walking out of here more or less intact."
Eskanor leads you to the passage that leads you beyond the room you occupy and towards the surface. You note the door you exit through has a spider design similar to the one you came in. Eskanor sees you notice it. "Yes, your ring will open this door as well, use it when you return and someday you will have to tell me how you came by it. Now be on your guard, the tunnels to the surface are filled with all sorts of dangerous creatures. When you come upon any branches in the tunnel follow the ones that continue straight forward unless it slants downwards."
A dark elf with a sense of humor...what are the odds in these times..
Dolgrin begins to lead the party down the hall when he notices Anvil scurrying up towards them-Well bug, I see YOU are no worse for wear. Convenient of you to show up now. In case you were wondering, we are Stone-sworn to the not kill the drow that nearly killed us and on a mission to kill others of their kind. I'm sure you don't care as long as you get something nice to eat. Well, don't dawdle; let's go...
Anvil clicks its mandibles at the thought of sweet dark elf flesh...delightful! It otherwise ignores the dwarfs commentary, quickly taking to the ceiling once more on the look out for foes.
Great directions...go straight unless you need to go down. Elves...
Scratchin' his beard. "Think he meant go straight unless straight goes down."
After following the tunnel which slopes gently upwards for about 10 minutes, the passage splits and the party continues more or less straight ahead, while another passage heads left and down. Another 10 minutes and your passage opens up a bit, about 30' across with a 30'-40' ceiling with 5'-10' stalactites hanging down and as well as stalagmites rising from the floor.
Hold up. Let me take a look around before we move forward.
Take 20 if possible
You find the cavern to be another wondrous example of the diversity and beauty of the stone.
Continue up the passageway.
Anvil takes to the air, covering the party from above.