| Session Date | April 17, 2021 |
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| Base XP Gained | Carry Over |
Rested and somewhat recovered, the party decided to visit the Halflings dwelling nearby. They climbed down the rough cliff into the woodland and followed Dimbul along the stream about a quarter mile or so. They could all smell woodsmoke, though there was not fire or smoke to be seen. Dimbul was adamant that they were all around them, though no movement could be seen. Iban finally hailed them loudly, and soon a few Halflings started to pop out, armed and wary. However, when they realized the party included both Elves and Dwarves, they grew less wary and more friendly.
There were two score or so of them in this encampment, they said, the gleanings of several villages to the east that had been overrun by the forces of the Giant King. Fortunately for them, this woodlands (Grampen Wood) was in an unpopulated area and the Giant King's forces had largely ignored it. They claimed the plains beyond, however, were patrolled by spider riders and they dared not leave the woods now, at least at night. They had sentries near the woodland edges at all times to watch for trouble, but now felt as if they were safe for the near future. Indeed, they offered the party refuge with them for as long as they liked. The party asked them if they were aware of the dungeon, but they were completely ignorant of it. Having cleared the entry portion, the party suggested that it would make an excellent and defensible fall-back location if the Halflings were in danger. They liked this option and, when the party returned to the dungeon, several Halflings accompanied them.
The group soon reached the dungeon entrance and entered as before (the wizard lock dispelled previously). They entered and, as before, Iban and Mordecai felt a strange resistance as they crossed the symbol carved into the floor just beyond the door, followed by their hearts racing a short time and a lingering, low-level fever. The party showed the Halflings the gallery and how defensible it was, and the Halflings, seeming pleased, departed. The party, meanwhile, decided to clear the upper area to make sure it was safe for future use. Once again, Iban levitated up and dropped a rope for the others to scramble up.
There were a series of three rooms each to the north and south. To the north, one contained the remnants of a camp, not terribly recent but neither very old. Another room contained a group of four weird creatures never before seen by the party. They appeared like an amorphous head with a huge mouth and great teeth, large membranous wings with many hooks on them, and two eyes stacked vertically. Iban, in the doorway, took the brunt of the attack, though two flew out amidst the rest of the party in the corridor. One of the things wrapped itself tightly around Dimbul's head, sinking a dozen or more hooks into his flesh and latching on. Thunderfist and Bel did what they could to cut it off, but it was Dimbul himself who finally did so with his dagger (leaving his already ugly face yet more mangled with more than a dozen bleeding wound). As the fight proceeded, a Halfling rushed into the fight from the darkness, with naught but a shortsword and loincloth. Screaming a battle cry, he charged...and promptly fumbled and dropped his sword most clumsily. The battle ended shortly thereafter.
The Halfing introduced himself as Beldon Nightfoot. He had followed the party hoping to join in their adventure, having no desire to remain a refugee in the woods forever. Despite his less than grand entrance, the party acquiesced, though Dimbul turned his nose up at a rival thief joining.
With the gallery finally cleared, the party proceeded the same way east and south as on their previous visit. They carefully avoided the statue room where they'd been attacked by the stone bees, as well as the room with the two carved, black columns that did not quite reach the ceiling and the walls of text (Dimbul sniffed that it was merely religious mumbo jumbo, a curse on all Lormyrrians of the old Empire). They soon came to a room within which was many lengths of white, cotton cloth. THere was some talk of making decent clothes for their new companion, and Iban entered the room. Suddenly, the cloths began to whip around and entwine both Iban and Thunderfist (in the doorway). Iban's wrists were wrapped up and his sword flew form his hand. Thunderfist had one wrap around his head, which began to suffocate him. Happily, the things proved susceptible to cutting, as Iban soon had one wrapped around his head, while a second tripped Thunderfist (he was dragged out by Mordecai and Amadon, I believe). Knar lit a torch and used that the bat at the things, while Iban poured out oil on the ground around himself. Knar lit the oil and Iban (with a ring of fire resistance) rolled in the flames until the things on him were burned. The party then escaped and considered their next moves.
Before they moved again, though, a weird humanoid came up from the east. It had greenish-gray rubbery skin, large black eyes, and no ears save small holes. Knar, in usual fashion, webbed it up! As this was a non-lethal sort of attack, the party decided to now parley. It introduced itself as Zarabel and the party spoke with it for a time. It served the glorious goddess Tanit, it said, and it wished for them to come to know the honey of her wisdom under the tutelage of his master. When asked, he named him Zarabel as well, and the party gathered that these creatures were likely some sort of hive mind. Indeed, Zarabel seemed to occasionally be communing with someone else, his eyes closed. Not really trusting this thing, the party indicated that they intended to depart the dungeon and that Zarabel would be freed soon when the spell expired.
Returning to the gallery room, the party began exploring to the north, and soon ran into...Zarabel. It called them deceivers for lying about leaving, and seemed rather hostile. It said that they must come with him to receive the "judgment of Tanit." The party withdrew to "discuss" for a moment" then returned with friendly gestures, right before they cit Zarabel down. As it died, it told the party that "the shadow folk" would devour them.
The party now came to a door which Iban opened to reveal four shadow creatures. He managed to shut the door on two, but the other two proved to be a bit difficult. But, when they were destroyed, the party went after the second pair. ZZ and Mordecai tried to turn them, but their efforts seemed to have no effect on these shadow things. All were destroyed handily enough, however.
The party now came to a four-way intersection. There was a good deal of discussion, but in the end they decided to explore back to the west to clear what they presumed would be a limited area. They passed one open room without entering and eventually came to a rather large room, in the middle of which was a large stone table with two immense ogres apparently playing with a large chess set. The two argued like old men in a park and barely acknowledged the party at first. Finally, grumbling, one asked if the party would like to play. They did not answer for a time and the old man ogres began to grumble about "kids these days" and having to waste time with the "intellectually challenged" and so forth. Finally, Iban said, sure, they'd play. The ogres smiled wickedly and said, "so be it." In an instant, the party felt a brief disorientation and suddenly found themselves on a huge chessboard...