| Session Date | September 9, 2023 |
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| Base XP Gained | 5000 (in-game, Order of the Golden Dragon) |
| Player Notes | ZZ's Notes |
Some months passed…
The party was preparing to depart when there was a knock at their door. Their butler announced that a Dwarf named Harvey Wallbanger Junior wished to speak to them. He was ushered in and proceeded to explain that he’d grown curious about the party’s activities and had spoken to ZZ previously. He wished to join the party who accepted him based on ZZ’s recommendation.
Shortly after, the party was summoned to an audience with the dwarf king, Therrin II, who had remained in the city while preparations for war proceeded. The king was in a smaller chamber, accompanied by a few of his senior advisors and some authorities from the city, including Nali and his father, Fror. The king proceeded to give a short speech thanking the party for their activities aiding the Dwarves, and for what they planned to do next. This was followed by a brief induction of the party into the Order of the Golden Dragon, apparently a notable order bestowed on those who do great services for the dwarf kingdom. The induction included presentation of great medallions depicting a dragon, identifiers of the bearer as of the order. The king then presented the party a small number of magic items to aid their endeavors, though apologizing he could spare more because of the war.
After some brief accolades, the party was dismissed. Nali accompanied them and informed them that the cut into the dungeon was ready for them. Once they had gone inside, there would be at least 30 feet of passage sealed to prevent repeats of the attack by monsters from below. He knew the party could bypass that if need be, so he was not unduly concerned. In passing, he also mentioned that their Elven allies had launched a surprise attack and sunk the entire pirate fleet from Wellidar, with great loss to the enemy. After exchanging farewells with Nali, the party left the dwarf city, escorted by a force of dwarf soldiers, arriving at a camp by the tunnel a few hours later.
The party left the dwarves behind and descended the long, sloping passageway west, down to the Eburnean Vaults (so named for the creamy color of the stone from which they are carved). After a tie, they emerged into the landing hall of the uppermost level, with its nine elaborately carved archways. Faded chalk marks could be seen in various locations, apparently a dwarf-like script but not otherwise intelligible. The party had decided to first make their way to Astraharsis so they immediately crossed the hall to take stairs down. Adjacent to the stars they found more recent graffiti proclaiming that the Troll Kings had claimed this area. The party opted to provide an insulting reply of their own!
Down on the second level, the party moved north to circle around to the east and Astraharsis. There was some noise to the south, which the party took to be coming from the Dark Market. As they continued their journey, Deaglan noted a previously undiscovered secret door, which led to a long-forgotten room and rotted wooden remains. A second passage from this room also led to a secret door opening on another major east-west corridor. They returned north and continued their journey, passing through an area rife with pit traps, but safely as Mordecai had cast detect traps. One door proved to be wizard locked, so magic was used to open it. This set off a magic mouth that, not unexpectedly, alerted Astraharsis to their presence.
The sorceress greeted the party warmly, inviting them into her somewhat cramped quarters, where she happily prepared them some excellent fungal tea. She explained that she was surprised to see them, having expected them to be more directly involved in the war she already seemed to know something about. The party was forthright about their mission in coming here. She answered their questions as best she could but was careful to explain that spying and strange travelers were the norm for this area. Tensions within the dungeon were running high, but that was not in itself unusual. She did tell them she’d heard that the drow witch, Vorlissa, had returned deeper into the dungeon some months back. Traffic too and from the torture cultists shrine above this level continued, while there were plenty of other things going on with the Serpentine Lord, the serpentmen, the Troll Kings, etc.
Astraharsis then asked if the party would be interested in doing some work for her, which they gladly accepted. The sorceress had some prep work to do first but would “find the party” when she was ready for them. Later, they showed her the cubic gate and she grew clearly excited to examine it. She warned them against using it lightly, though the Happy Hunting Grounds shouldn’t be too dangerous for the party. The City of Brass might also be interesting, but more dangerous. Hades, the Nine Hells, and the Abyss were best avoided, she warned them. The party asked about the cauldron they’d left there – she said she’d sold it to some serpentmen as it was steaming and stinking up her lair.
The party now took their leave of Astraharsis and headed south through the throne room of the great statue. They decided to explore some of the nearby rooms they’d previously cleared, finding a half dozen trolls in one. These were quickly dispatched with a wall of fire and the like. Harvey added additional graffiti hear, implying the Drow had done this and insulting trolls in general. A short time later they spotted two hooded figures attempting to run from them. Both stopped cold from a hold person cast by ZZ, and Hans cut one down with magic missiles. The survivor proved to be a serpentman. He and his companion were simple travelers on their way to the Dark Market to trade and who’d become lost – they’d fled from the party fearing their greater numbers. They knew little of the Drow when questioned. He also revealed the level below was home to the Troll Kings, the level below that the realm of the Serpentine Lord, below that dwarves, and below that the Deep Road, where many of his own folk dwelt. He did lie in saying his clan was only a dozen or so in number (ESP ratted him out). When asked about great treasures, he mentioned something about one rumored to be “beyond the quartzite door” but no one had yet passed it, so far as he knew. Although Harvey had already plundered the dead one’s bags (finding some coins and a number of lotus blossoms), Hans gave the survivor 500 silver as a weregild for the dead Seprentman, and the party then released him, saying their attack had been a mistake. The Serpentman lost no time in fleeing the party.
The party now continued on their way, intending to explore to the southeast…