Re: Balak the Duergar's Tale
Eagle transforms into his namesake and takes his leave of his companions, alighting up into the dark shaft, intent upon exiting The Darkness Below and returning with haste to Stormhaven.
The others will be left to fend for themselves, holing up in the grand cavern at the bottom of the deep shaft which offers entrance to the Darkness Below. There is but a single heavy stone door in this room, the one the party bypassed by way of Eagle's magic, before entering the Abandoned Duergar Under-City.
The door itself consists of six wide steps, carved from living rock, which lead up to the double doors. An octagonal pressure plate is located in front of the door and is set into the floor. The corresponding stone, which seemingly fits into the depression, is located off to its side. The stone is propped up against the wall.
The loose octagonal stone contains a glyph at each of its eight sides. Fortunately, these runes are in the dwarf script, which Norion can easily read:
West, Northwest, North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest
A direction for each side.
Unfortunately, the heroes were unable to puzzle out how to work the cypher, and instead resulted to druidic magic to bypass the door. A gaping hole now exists on the right side of the door, cut right through living rock.
The group then has two known portals to guard: the shaft, which leads up to Demonstone, and the gaping hole, which leads to the Duergar Citadel...and somewhere therein, the dracolisk.
None of this is of any concern to Eagle however: he has his own concerns...
***
Eagle's Return to Stormhaven
Eagle flies up to the caves within Demonstone, perhaps expecting to find the manticore having returned to reclaim its nest, but this does not come to pass. Demonstone stands abandoned. Eagle takes his leave and spends the next several hours flying back south, toward Stormhaven.
Once there, the druid proceeds to the Mage's Guild, where he inquires about his magical needs. Eagle is eventually directed to, and received by a wizard by the name of Ryiz, an immaculately-dressed gentleman with an easy-going and friendly disposition. Ryiz seems quite interested when asked about acquiring a stone to flesh scroll, and presses for more details. Upon learning of the dracolisk, the wizard's curiosity is piqued considerably.
For a sum of 2,500 gold pieces, Ryiz offers to travel to Demonstone with Eagle and cast the scroll on his companion. Additionally, Ryiz asks to be escorted back to Stormhaven, upon completion of casting the spell.
***
Meanwhile, back at Demonstone, and completely unaware of Eagle's fate, the group prepares to camp in the darkness. Eventually, after several hours, the remnants of Saliq's illusionary dweomer fades, and the group becomes visible once again. Even Saliq is visible, his statuesque form a reminder of the danger that lurks within the Darkness Below.
OOC: Group is currently split up, so we will try to wrap up both sides as quickly as possible and get everyone back together shortly. Eagle, please let me know if you intend on hiring Ryiz. Others: please let me know what sort of precautions you are taking and what kind of camp you are making, i.e., fire or not, watch rotations, etc.?