Wiki of The Dungeoneering Crew

The Svirfneblin were having a kind of reunion, checking on each other and asking how they were each faring. They shared stories with each other of being captured by the Duergar and Drow. Eventually they caught each other up and Tivra told the group they had done more than they knew, but the road ahead was not meant for surface-folk due to its narrow ways and hidden paths.

Dorrick explained there were two ways to reach the Hidden Veil: the first is a well-known and heavily guarded slave road, if you go that way, you will not go unseen. The other way is a place of old stone and old memory, a path through an abandoned fortress deep beneath a passage to the surface. In elder days, it stood watch beneath a valley of great wealth and estates of shinning halls and soft living. Not the kind of place you would find Svirfneblin.

But then came the fire from the mountain, the Flamen Blunte. It buried the fortress and the estates above were burned and abandoned. But since then, new folk came, different folk. That fortress below was never reclaimed. The gnomes offered to show the party the path toward the “Great Stair” as far as they dared.

The party chose the mysterious path and traveled east for a full day. As they moved into a confined tunnel, Tivra felt the stone reverberating and realized a Duergar recovery party was surrounding them. They discovered discarded chains and shackles on the floor, and Tivra grew pale, wondering how their pursuers had gotten ahead of them.

Two Cave Trolls rushed from the darkness. Audra charged full tilt to knock one back, while Kipp and Brandy attacked with their swords. Eleanor cast Magic Missile, and Oglesby fired his bow, bringing the first Troll down. Suddenly, more enemies appeared from the rocks and the ceiling, some riding Giant Spiders. These attackers used chains to snag the gnomes, dragging Tivra, Brumli, and Fenrick away into the darkness. A voice from the distance warned the party to leave if they wished to live, claiming the gnomes belonged to them.

Pyreece was struck by Duergar who grew to giant size, causing her to lose concentration on a spell. Eleanor cast Slow on the attackers, and Kipp drank a Potion of Speed to rejoin the melee. Audra fought a Duergar who tried to use a gnome as a human shield, but she skillfully maneuvered her strikes to avoid hitting the prisoner. Brandy fired arrows with great speed, killing a spider-rider and several other foot soldiers. Audra delivered a critical hit that killed a Giant Spider.

A named Duergar leader, Thuldrek, stepped from the darkness and chained up Dorrick, dragging him toward the rocks. Brandy fired from behind attempting to stop him. Thuldrek slammed Dorrick against the stone and then drew a warhammer to face Brandy. Liri and Sela fired their crossbows in defense, hitting Thuldrek. Brandy pulled out her short sword and faced Thuldrek directly. Between her attacks, with her temporary added speed, and Liri and Sela firing on him, they killed Thuldrek. They all finished off the remaining Giant Spiders and Duergar guards. One Troll managed to stand back up and bite Oglesby before Brandy shot it down again, and Eleanor used Burning Hands to ensure both of the beasts were truly dead.

Though the battle was won, the party realized Tivra, Fenrick, Tavra, and Brumli had been successfully hauled away by the enemy. Sela, Liri, and Dorrick had been saved. Pyreece used her magic to heal herself as she was nearly dead. Kipp had been hit particularly hard as well. The group searched the fallen and found Thuldrek carried a warhammer, scale mail, and a potion, while the other soldiers carried about 300 gold pieces in gems and coins.

Dorrick gave the party directions to continue the forgotten way, telling them to move east toward a stream and a shallow ford. He warned of a chasm and an old fort where the stairs to the surface would be found. The remaining deep gnomes—Dorrick, Sela, and Liri—thanked the group. Eleanor gave them a Dagger of Parrying +1, and departed for their home city of Corundy.

The party took stock of their gains, before preparing to follow the ancient road into the deep.

This is where the session ended.

Please start the recorder!

Exp: 3700 + 370 = 4070