4pm 26 Hammer

Having cut their way through the Bloodstone Mines the HoW find themselves at the magical Duergar elevator device.  An enormous platform of wood, with large iron chains wrapping around a stone capstan.  The elevator platform appears large enough to hold 15 dwarves at a time.  Using the command stone from the slain marilith, the party descends in utter silence aside from the iron chains turning over the stone capstan.

The platform descends 300 ft below to a damp cavern.  The ambient temperature is much warmer than that from the top, and the heroes stow their blood-spattered cold weather garb for more appropriate underground attire.  DonBrapp raises a bemused eyebrow as his dragon armor of faith and devotion is unsmirched by the attacks and the air around him remains pleasant and refreshing.

Everyone else can taste the spore-filled damp air that almost drips from sheen rock walls and stalactites that run from floor to ceiling.  Utter darkness save for the glimmering light of various iridescent mushrooms and fungus that line the walls and corridors of the deepearth.  Plants and lichen of mottled grays and bioluminescent hues brighten hidden corners of the rock tunnels.

Feeling the dry crack of blood on his traveling coat, Quilro balls his gore-crusted outer garments and throws them into a shadowed corner. He hates the darkness.  It scares him and the dark filth disgusts him, causing his body to shake with anger and revulsion.

Gripping the stone, DonBrapp assumes they are more than 400 ft below, but that the larger caverns may be still under the mountains above.

Petra and the Bloodstone Solder require a handhold to be led in the deepest darkness.

Leaning directly and uncomfortably close Jonleth whispers to the elves “Well it’s a good thing we brought the underdwelling slaves with us, is it not?”

Jonleth attempts to build rapport with Quilro in high elvish. The thief mage storms away, clinging to what grasp he could maintain of reality.

Petra reaches out from the shadow and grabs Quilro’s wrist in a momentary gesture of solidarity.  Dropping his arm, she smiles “I’ll take boy above and wait and watch.  Perhaps I can find your god’s love, even under a mountain.”

The elevator platform lands within an undulating 20’ tunnel that the party notices is frequently traveled.  A thin layer of decomposing material masks sound but lines the rock surface.  The overwhelming darkness is brightened in places; the fluorescent glow of infrared leaves and fungus creates pockets of dim light, but only those with infravision can move with confidence.

Kailute senses a biome similar to surface bogs and that the way to the southeast is well-travelled.  The ranging members note the tracks of a cloven beast that touched down before regaining flight, and the corridor itself was routinely traveled.

Maruf the svirfneblin signals over his gray linen tabard, its bright purple and crimson stitches marred by years of life lived under constant persecution.

After forming a circle for security, the heroes discuss their intent in the upperdark.
Quilro rebuffs the immediate suggestion of DonBrapp to fly out and perform reconnaissance and the dwarf demeans the mage-thiefs endurance.

As Quilro pops a potion of healing from his pouch, staring at DonBrapp Jonleth drapes his arms around both elves and asks for further magical attention.

Jonleth further antagonizes the coinfather for additional healing, insulting the dwarf’s knowledge of common.

Reluctantly the elf takes flight down the tunnel, passing aside the waterfall into the enormous undercavern that opens below.  The tunnel opens 500 feet above a huge cavern.  Description of the terrain, agricultural mushrooms with duergar irrigation systems farming mushrooms.  Enormous stalactite graystone carved cave dwellings filled with duergar going about their day.  The mushroom fields ascend in a terraced mushroom field.  The elf assesses nearly a thousand duergar could live here.

Squads of slave overseers tend rothe, a buffalo-cow like beast of meat and milk.  An path rises to the open face of the temple of evil carved into the rock face.  The path rises perhaps two carts wide flanked by cliffs that grow to nearly 250 feet.

Quilro grasps his dagger, and instantly the voice connects. “If you can provide me the way out of this, I will use you exclusively.”

“How long have you waited to find this truth”

Quilro believes the Lady Christine is within the temple, and Aknor has retreated to a location outside the temple but not apparently approached the temple.  There is a tent of skin and bones to the southwest where his squads make their camp.
The dagger tells the elf the maiden is to the north, and his blade is the best way to cut their way through.

“Think we all can agree that the closer to evil we get, the more powerful evil becomes.  And perhaps the best way to fight evil is by maximizing your enhancements from evil.  Which is me.  The blade.

The elf wings back to the group.  Jonleth attempts again to rally the elves to an exclusive cabal while asking intrusive questions.

Maruf suggests sneaking with invisibility.  He also pledges the fealty of King Ruggedo to those who will assist him.

The elf is shaken, but it is agreed that flying is the way to go.
Kailute is not confident in Quilro carrying him, and has begun to suspect the elf may be unhinged, if not racist.

DonBRapp remains convinced disrupting the ceremony is the most important thing.

Surveying the warmth of the stone and his knowledge of day cycles, they believe they still have more than several days until the ceremony.

Jonleth offers his superior magical prowess to the group if Quilro agrees to share his spells.  The elf is able to fly several of the party around for more than forty minutes, should Kailute agree to engage in magical activity.

Time in D&D
Spell resting
Airwalks vs. cure critical wounds

Draxos and Kailute hear a long low whistle from below.  The group explores an alcove to the northeast along the wall behind the waterfall they pick a camp among the mushroom glades.

A long whistle below denotes a shift in duergar labor activity below.

“Quitting time! Shrugs Kailute.

Petra and Bloodstone agree to 1st watch;  Draxos takes up next
.
Petra offers to cast invisibility on a party member, but recognizes their inability to fight int his environment.

The ichor of daemonic blood has degraded the heroes equipment.

DonBRapps armor represents an investment in proper equipment, and an excellent return to the health of the party.

“Fanciest dwarf I have ever seen…”  Petra chuckles.

Jonleth approaches DonBrapp about the negative material plane.

DonBrapp discusses a trade the two discuss the exchange of information.  Jonleth launches into his diatribe of the endless power of death due to the all things dying.  Doesn’t quite land well.   Harvesting negative material plane is leveraged.

DonBrapp digs through his pack to find something he and the elven mage can learn from however reluctantly.

As the pack is opened, Jonleth is drawn to the attenurarium and reaches to grab it…   and DonBrapp stops his wrist immediately.

Jonleth meekly retreats and asks permission to study the item.

“That kind of examination requires the procedures that need be attended and witnessed by others; and we don’t have the time for that right now. The dwarf utters.    It is acknowledged that the portal will be opened during the high moon.  Definitely can be used to shut a portal.

Portal manipulation.  Jonleth is left with the treatise.  The elf agrees to share his planar knowledge assuming a negative material shared understanding.

DonBrapp administers healing to Kailute.  Kailute flips the ionic stone to Draxos for expedited healing.  Jonleth narrows his eyes, but the dwarf produces forth a feast that all find delicious and filling.

The cleric begins to scratch the ground with a defensive glyph, but Quilro grabs his wrist with a curt shake of his head.

Elf and dwarf retreat to study while the warriors take defensive positions.

Jonleth again entreats Draxos and Quilro on the superiority of elves, and speaks a society of martial arts the Eldreth Valuuthra.  He attempts to share his perspective on the negative material plane, but neither are very interested in the allure of the dark plane.

“When the undead walk my woods, I cannot abide.” Draxos states plainly before slinking into the shadows to assume a watch.

10pm 26 Hammer.

During the first watch Kailute observes what look like a large squat mushroom, and one a third smaller are moving themselves surreptitiously from east to west, through the fields.

Directly above the half-orc wyvern-sized, elongated cocoons come to life as winged appendages open.  Bat-like creatures the size of ponies hang inverted from the ceiling, take a look at the group before dropping from the rock roof and swooping out and over the mushroom-filled cavern.

Past midnight Draxos tiptoes around the snoring dwarf, as he repeatedly stressed how important his sleep was.  The elf and half-orc watch as the ‘mushrooms’ continue to sneak across the valley floor.  Early morning, they appear at the base of the cliff.  A sneeze announces their approach to the lip of the cliff, and Kailute and Draxos ready themselves.

Soon the exertion of dwarven voices;  familiar dwarven voice is heard cursing with effort.  The silhoute of a decaying mushroom, with eye holes punched and arms askew;  an exhausted dwarf rolls onto the ledge.  “C’mon Metuken!”  A smaller mushroom husk mantles over edge.

“Dwarf friend, be quiet.”  Kinison eyes go wide and he collapses in exhaustion.
Kinison and Metuchen fall in safe asleep.

At around 0400 in the morning, there appears to be a large changing of duergar guard from the temple above and the village below.  Activity begins at 6, as an almost imperceptible light.

“HOW DID YOU GET HERE?”  Kinison exclaims, welcome to be back in the company of the heroes.  Metuchen explains the support of King Ruggedo.  The duo relate the wicked torturous treatment of the duergar.  The temple is the center of activity.  The svirfneblin recommends sending word to the gray gnomes king.  A two week schedule is kept working the mines;  and there is a double shift of activity in the temple.
Kinison grabs a mushroom, rubs it on his face, and spits at Quilro “You afraid elf?”

The duergar work day began at 0400;  and the second shift is about be changed.  The group decides to wait until the hour of least activity.  He relates how the Gnomish City of Urmdaryk is under Duergar control.  King Rugged could mobilize 2,000 gnomes to fight.  It’s the demons are the key enemy they need assistance.

The temple is carved into the side of the cliff face. An evil visage etched in the rock.  Two enormous double doors open onto a plaza surrounded by a cliff.  The long winding path rises no more than 15’ across.

Kinison looks intently at the dwarves boots, noting they would help in the speedy dispatch to King Ruggedo.  The dwarf declines, and Jonleth observes behavior that won’t help the group.

There are several thousand slaves in the city of  a variety of pens.  The guidance is to have the kings gnomes attack as soon as possible.  DonBrapp has the pair sketch a map of the underdark as the group continues to be vigilant while encamped.
Jonleth explains a primal gate to the negative material plane during the high moon.  Jonleth explains the power of proximity to the negative material plane. Closest to the source.

Jonleth affirms his worship of Azuth, the human god of magic. The dwarf flips Jonleth a handful of gems as he allows the ranger to copy mending out of his book.
While awaiting the next available night shift of 27 Hammer, another patrol of duergar ascend from the village, march toward the apparatus and are lifted up into the darkness above.

During one evening dark shadows float through the air into the temple.