We returned to the beach from the island of the rotted corpse. Tim tasted some of the wine we’d found and it was, indeed, lovely, though it seemed to confer no magics to his person. By this time the drunks had sobered up and the magical bloodlust had ended. We formed a marching order and headed back to the main hallway.

On our way back we heard mad, insane laughter echoing through the tunnels, but could not determine its direction. By way of clarification, Menka is carrying/wearing the original Bag of Holding while Cathal is wearing Heward’s Handy Haversack. Lycovyne donned the Bag of Holding we found among the rotted corpse’s loot pile. We left the rotted food and funerary vestments behind.

Back at the main hallway we turned right, heading northeast, toward the colony of grimlocks. We took another right, heading more or less east down a side hallway. The druid smelled fresh air and rotting vegetation in that direction. Fresh air would be nice.

Slime Creatures From Outer Space#

The tunnel ended in an underground beach. Glistening wet and covered with slime, which dripped from the stalagtites over head. A body of water lead underground, due east. Cathal detected no evil in the area. Lyncovyne applied burning hands to the stalagtites. It did not destroy the slime, but it did burn it back and cause it to recede. It was plain to even the most casual of observers that the slime did not like fire.

Seven slime-covered humanoids approached, and they were open for business.

• initiative tie
• Lycovyne shot a 14-point fireball out of his wand - several creatures were damaged. They did not like fire…
• Tim zapped them with a 31-point lightning bolt but it had no effect
• Menka cast prayer
• Lycovyne got scratched for 3 points - the wound was covered in slime
• They missed Cathal, but nailed Menka for 14 points (29/54), leaving wounds covered in slime
• Kyril hit one but his attack had no effect
• Gonchar hit one with his flame tounge, doing 9 points of damage
• Seamus hit one with his flagon but did no damage
• Cathal ran one through, hearing the rattle of steel on steel, but did no damage
• initiative win
• Tim cast fireball, damaging many of the creatures, and removing the slime completely from 2 of the stalactites
• Flint and Gonchar did more damage with their firey weapons
• Cathal held his attack but did not detach, taking 6 more points of damage (47/67)
• Somehow, Tim cranked out a flaming sphere
• They missed Lycovyne
• Flint hit again and did more damage
• Gonchar hit another one for 10 points
• Menka cast cure serious wounds on himself, getting back to (45/54)
• initiative win
• Cathal hurled a flask of oil, covering several creatures
  • The flaming sphere ignited the oil, doing a total of 16 points of damage to several creatures
• On hit Gonchar for 4 points (74/88)
• They missed Cathal
• made a save vs. poison due to the slime in his wounds
• initiative tie
• They missed Cathal again but hit Gonchar for 6 more points (68/88)
• One of the creatures dropped, destroyed by fire
• Tim moved his flaming sphere, destroying another creature
• Flint dispatched the last of the creatures
• Menka and Gonchar did not have to save vs. poison due to slimy wounds
• 7 slime creatures from outer space, 36 hp

Cathal applied post-battle medical aide all around and cast cure disease on Lycovyne for good measure.

The creatures seemed to be random humanoids which had been killed and taken over by the slime from above. The fire seemed to have removed the slime from their bodies completely. 6 of them were grimlocks, while one seemed to be an elf, perhaps the missing member of Celias party? The elf was wearing a lovely set of chain mail - Cathal removed it from the corpse and put it in his haversack.

Ahead of us, most of the stalactites still dripped slime. Lycovyne hit them with an ice storm from his wand. The slime seemed to freeze and fall off the stalactites, crashing to the earth; destroyed.

The Fish That Ate The Beaver#

We examined the area, looking for a place to rest before heading northeast and battling our way through the grimlock colony on our way out of the caves. The presence of the water was intriguing. Kyril shape changed into a giant beaver, Lycovyne used his Ring of Swimming, as did Seamus. The 3 entered the water to explore. The humans relied on the light from Lycovyne’s sword to see underwater.

A long time passed while the rest of the party waited near the shore. Lycovyne suddenly appeared out of the water, telling the party that Kyril had been swallowed by a giant catfish and they were fighting to free him. With that the elf disappeared back under the surface. Tim entered the water, immediately returned and began gesticulating, setting up a magic missile, then re-entered the water. Seamus also jumped into the water to join the fray.

Lycovyne used bladed weapons. Seamus used his fists. Both to little effect (although Seamus rolled a natural, and them rolled poorly for damage). Tim launched some magic missiles, at least 2 salvos. Cathal started stripping down to no avail, as the kerfuffle ended before he was able to shed armor and start lap-dancing for the fish.

As the battle progressed, Lycovyne was also swallowed. The fish seemed sated and began to slowly turn around to go sleep the big meal off. However, indigestion in the form of Lycovane’s blade and Kyril’s teeth freed the duo of consumed creeps, just before Lycovyne ran out of air, and all returned to the surface, gasping and swimming in intestinal goo.

Presently, the 4 underwater troopers re-emerged and joined the rest of the party on the shore. Cathal applied some healing, getting Kyril to (40/61) and Lycovyne to (34/47). Kyril changed back into an elf, gaining 6 more points (46/61).

Not trusting any body of water which 44’ long catfish call home we decided to head back to the underground pub to rest. We piled the dead elf onto the carpet, intending to speak with him once Menka got a chance to pray. We encountered 2 cave crickets on the way back but nobody and nothing seemed to respond to their alarm. We made it to the pub without further incident.

The pub was much the same as we left it, prior. Well outfitted for a party of 8 with a corpse mouldering in a corner. We setup watches and Gonchar and Flint once again quaffed a few flagons from the cask of ale on the bar. Flint passed out cold while Gonchar gained 3 points and a case of inebriation. The watches passed uneventfully.

We laid on the healing spells and improved our situation somewhat.

The Dead Elf#

Menka began to pray, asking Thoth for permission to speak with the dead elf. Thoth complied, and the ritual began.

• What is so special about this statuette?
  • The elf knew nothing about the statuette Celia was looking for. He had his own reasons for being in her party, namely treasure.
• Who are you?
  • Legola, of course.
• How did Celia know the statuette was down here?
  • Celia was looking for the statue, he knew nothing about it, nor particularly cared. He signed on to the party because they were a stout group, and he had heard of a particular treasure to be found down here. The wine-god’s temple had fallen into disrepair some years back, when the temple’s high priest had become ensorcelled by forbidden secrets, loathsome books which spoke of long-dead gods and dangerous rituals. His obsession with these dangerous writings and arcane, unspeakable ceremonies infuriated his god, who jealously punished him for dabbling in Elder powers. That deposed priest was buried by his former flock somewhere below the Temple and, in addition to what is told to be great treasures, he was rumored to be buried with an Elder Sign, a device which can bind minions of the Elder powers, and also protect against their evils.

Menka released the elf who was apparently in great pain. We planned to rest for 4 hours to regain healing spells and then have a chat with Legola again before moving in.

end