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From the Journal of Pura Lindh, Bard and Historian


CHAPTER FIVE: Misery Acquaints a Man with Strange Bedfellows

Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds. .
     - Franklin D. Roosevelt

           1 - 3 Eleasias 1389 (Year of the Forgiven Foes)
The gang escaped the clan of hook horrors and fled back to the underground lake. Following the shore to the other side they found a stone pillar with a rope tied at the top and the other end disappearing into the lake. Some wanted to move on, but it was decided to pull on the rope to see what was on the other side; it was a magical boat. Venin, Cethric, Mordecai and Petro got into the boat while Ely flew overhead. Rikulf pushed the boat out and took up the rope with Selena. The boat did not float, sinking deeper into the water towards the waiting water creatures, which turned out to be giant leeches. Rikulf and Selena pulled on the rope, tugging the boat back towards the shore while its occupants battled the leeches. In the end, they escaped the leeches and decided to leave well enough alone. Following the wall away from the lake they discovered a large natural tunnel leading out of the cavern. Moving down its dark depths they encountered two minotaurs who, remarkably, did not attack. Pura used a tongues spell to communicate and negotiated being lead out of the Underdark in exchange for a magic item. Venin donated his keen dagger. Later while they were sleeping, a carrion crawler snuck up to attack. The gang quickly jumped into action, though Selena and Rikulf were paralized by the crawler. Working together they defeated the aberration.

The gang cut open the carrion crawler in hopes of finding something valuable, but were left disappointed. Following the minotaurs through the twisty mazes that made up this part of the Underdark, the gang stopped when they heard the sounds of whips and grunting in goblin. Petro snuck in invisibly with Mordecai's spell and returned to report there were four duergar overseeing about twenty goblins digging. The minotaurs told them they need to pass through this area, or take another tunnel that will add at least a day in their trip. Approaching the duergar, Mordecai negotiated passage through the deep dwarves lands (though they had to give up their weapons and magic and had to wear blindfolds). He also bought food for the gang. The next 26 hours were difficult and unsettling, but they made it. Next they reached a marker showing five directions, including a drow city and goblin lands. The minotaurs led them through the tunnel towards the Moondeep Sea, where they ran into an undead creature called an Allip, which Cethric destroyed. Next they approached a dilapitated bridge across a wide and deep chasm. Ely flew across with a rope and was attacked by four gargoyles. Venin rushed forward onto the bridge to help, followed by Selena and Petro. Pura sang and Rikulf threw his weapons. Cethric summoned a bee. The gargoyles tried to crash the bridge and Venin, Petro and Selena managed to hold on. Venin and Petro made their way across to the other side. Selena was attacked by the gargoyles, though one fled when Mordecai used a silent image of the Allip, and Cethric used his ability to heal from a distance. Ely flied a rope that Rikulf held and tied Selena with it. The remaining gargoyles attacked the fey investigator, rendering him unconscious. As he fell, Selena let go of the bridge and grabs Ely as Rikulf struggled to hold them both. The boards of the bridge started to snap, lowering the dangling people to the ground below. The gargoyles destroyed what was left of the bridge and flee. Rikulf pulled Selena and the now stabilized Ely up. The gang reconstructed a bridge across the chasm, but were briefly interrupted by the arrival of a giant spider on the side Venin and Petro were on. Venin cast a web and the spider left. Once the bridge was complete, everyone crosses (slowly).

Updated: September 23, 2009.
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