Keep on the Shadowfells – Session 6

On with the Quest

With Aecris in hand, our noble adventurers resume their quest to save Winterhaven and keep the Shadow Rift sealed. Heading back to the pressure runes, Korbein bravely volunteers to see what lies on the other side. Leaping across, the dwarf discovers an empty room smelling faintly of rotting flesh and another set of stairs descending downward. Rather than proceed further underground, our heroes decide to return through the goblin lair to explore the cavern into which Fat Balgron, and presumably Splug fled.

Leaving the finely hewn stone corridor behind, our heroes venture into a network of natural caves. The floor and ceiling are rough with stalagtites and stalagmites, while the sounds of lizards, insects and vermin scurring just beyond torchlight abound. Tallow explores the passages ahead, keeping to the walls and staying just within sight of the others. Only this time he ventures a step too far, and giant spiders drop from above onto him. Cirlandir, too, finds himself exposed and beset upon by arachnids. As quickly as the spiders attack, they skitter away into the shadows and crevaces of the cave. Having led the way for long enough, Tallow insists the party move forward as a more cohesive unit.

His fears are not unfounded, for the spiders return. They are not alone this time, for a giant slime has emerged from the dank corners, attracted by the sounds of fresh food. Surrounded by spiders on one side and an ochre jelly on the other, our company is forced to divide its firepower. Korbein and Lorik form the rearguard and face the spiders. Most fall quickly, but the last proves surprisingly difficult to hit. Darting in and out of shadows with preternatural speed, the arachnid seems to mock the heroes until its last breath. The slime, however, is far less subtle, filling the corridor with its gelatenous mass and lashing out with amorphous tentacles. Ganak and Tallow hold the line against the beast, buying time their comrades time to deal with the spiders. At the signal, they begin to give ground, masterfully bating the creature further into their midst, where they surround quickly surround and dispatch it.

Stay Out! Really!

The battle over, our party turns to find a double set of heavy bronze doors, green with age and covered over in a thick layer of blue and purple fungus, set into the natural wall. Carved into the mold is a warning: “Stay Out! Really!” Heeding neither the warning, wisdom nor intellegence, the party decides to open the door anyway. A set of fungus coated stairs lead down into a small chamber. Most of the room is filled with a stagnant pool of brackish water. A small patch of land rises from the foul water, and on the little island rest a few scattered bones, spilled coins and other small objects amid a carpet of multi-colored fungus.

As our approach the bank to get a better view of the island, the dank water erupts suddenly, disgourging a blob of blue slime that dazed all but Ganak, leaving our adventurers weakened and disoriented. An amorphous mass pours forward out of the pool, extruding long tenticles dripping with goo. Ganak bravely works to hold the creature’s attention, buying time for the others to regain their wits. When all have recovered, the cry goes up, and each member of the party unleashes their best at the slimy beast. Acid rains and blades flash in a heroic outpouring of effort. Though the fight is close, the Heroes of Winterhaven outlast the creature in the end.

Having already demonstrated his agility, Korbein is nominated to leap onto the island and recover anything of value. He does so successfully, and returns with an armload of coins, a potion, an enchanted shield, and perhaps most interesting of all, a wooden message cylinder. Inside are three sheets of vellum. On the first is a map of the region, showing the location of Winterhaven and Shadowfell Keep. On the second, a letter:

Remember, don’t wet the nodule – unless kalarel is not receptive to the offer. Then, wet it only from a distance, and then, turn and run. Water will bring the creature out of its dormancy, and it will consume anything it can reach.

And on the last is another letter written in the same hand:

Greetings, Kalarel.

I have recently learned of your activity in the area and have an offer for you. During your time in this region, if you should capture any humanoids, we are eager to buy them. We have duergar allies in Thunderspire in need of slave stock. If you are interested, send an envoy back to me. My messengers will show the way.

Chief Krand of the Bloodreavers

Restocking in Winterhaven

Exhausted and spent, our heroes decide it would be prudent to return to Winterhaven in order to renew their supplies and learn of any news in the last two days. Arriving back at town late in the evening, they find the town gates closed. The parapets are manned, and none other than Lord Padraig himself hails the party. “We are in peril!” he calls out. “Several villagers have disappeared, and the dead in the cemetery have risen. Will you aid us once again?” The party, weary and wounded, look at one another. A hero’s job is never done in these dark days.

Post-Session

XP: 275/PC (Level three is in touching distance!)

Treasure: 33 gp; 157 sp; a potion of healing; a shield of protection