Back to Grimgolir on the Blackrun River (Recap from 3-17-23)

Back to Grimgolir on the Blackrun River (Recap from 3-17-23) 

The Underdark

(Conthsen the 8th of Quen'pillar) Thankfully for the crew and passengers this day's travel turned out to be a quiet routine day of travel. The Drow, feeling more confident, started coming up from below decks and helped out by keeping watch and cleaning the boat. That night during 3rd watch the ship encountered a strong current and narrowing of the river passage. Everyone on deck had to help the helmsman keep course and avoid hitting six angry Kuo-toa in a Keelboat heading in the opposite direction on a collision course. The collision was avoided, but the Kuo-toa yelled some angry sounding gibberish as they continued their journey. The Helmsman mumbles under his breath in undercommon “Learn to sail you fish bait hosers.” 

(Folsen the 9th of Quen'pillar) During the second watch of the afternoon, the party sees what look like pretty manta rays in the water. They are actually six hungry Ixitxachitl who would have attacked any party members who had entered the water. They followed the ship and waited for an opportunity to strike. Being very hungry, they began to gnaw on the hull of a boat hoping to sink it. (the hull is adamitine so no luck chewing though that.) Eventually they give up and disappear into the depths. That night as the night shifts 1st watch starts, Seven monstrous Dark Mantles attack. Again alarms sound and a battle starts. After a long melee battle the party is victorious, the Drow priestess used the last of her spells granted from her previous Deity Lolith to heal Corvar who had fallen in combat.The party butchers the Dark Mantles and gains ten Darkmantle Tentacles which some cultures considered  a tasty delicacy, also  26 sp, and 5 pp (leftover in their digestive tract from the Dark Mantle's previous meal.) The Cook cuts up the remaining pieces of the monster to create sausage, and render the fat. (yum)

(Yulisen the 10th of Quen'pillar) This was an almost perfect travel day. It was a quiet, very relaxing day of routine chores with no encounters, the guest Drow tended to meditate during the day below decks, and help out with watches at night. The crew and passengers were in good spirits. That night on the 2nd night watch, loose rocks fell from the ceiling above. Some hit the water in front of the ship, but some landed directly on the ship. Each character on watch had to dodge the rocks to avoid taking damage. A feminine voice from the darkness ahead yelled “Heave too you fools! or the next stone fall will sink you!” A coven of Sea hags is stopping River traffic demanding a toll of 500 gp to pass. The captain was going to pay the toll but Abnar talked the sag into accepting 100 gp instead. The hags took the gold and disappeared into the depths.

(Da’Leysen the 11th of Quen'pillar) Day 11: During 3rd watch in the afternoon the ship encountered a huge giant zerkhwood Mushroom that had fallen across the river forming a makeshift bridge. The clearance of the passage lowers suddenly to 8 feet above the water's surface. The ship had to de-step the steam stacks and take on ballast to ride low enough in the water to get under it. As the crew were doing this, the party gathered a large quantity of Zerkhwood spores that the cook needed to make fresh biscuits and gravy for the crew mess. During the 4rth Watch, two grell descends from the cavern ceiling, attempting to grab and paralyze two crew members, before flying off with their victims toward the cavern where the Ship encountered the ropers before, they were intending to steal easy prey to feed their matriarch, but overestimated their chances for success and died plunging into the dark river waters below. No loot as the bodies sank into the depths of the river. (I guess the matriarch will go hungry?) As Night watch came on duty there were no further encounters but the first watch steers the ship into the cavernous gallery where the Roper combat had once occurred, the ship sails unnoticed by the resting Grell matriarch.

(Miresen the 12th of Quen'pillar) Another uneventful travel day with no encounters. Giving the crew time to take it easy. That night though many of the crew had uneasy dreams which seemed to be a common occurrence in the underdark other than some bad dreams there were no encounters.

(Grissen the 13th of Quen'pillar) As travel continued along the river the glowing pink mist like faerzress seemed to get thicker and swirled around the cave ceiling, but still no encounters. The night watch came on duty and a couple of the crew as well as the  party succumbed to the dream madness. Nesdeth was paralyzed in terror for several minutes, and Grok had a full on screaming night terror. Thankfully there were no combat encounters, and the crew and party managed to get a long rest.

(Whelson the 14th of Quen'pillar) Travel on the Blackrun River is getting monotonous, the party and crew seem ready for the journey to end, no encounters. That night the captain breaks out some potent Grog called “Fade” and says “Yo Ho me hearties drink up!” The strong slightly slimy beverage burns going down and a warm sensation of peace fills the person drinking it. Problems and negative feelings seemed to drift away and the party as well as crew got a long rest without any troubling dreams or encounters. 

(Conthsen the15th of Quen'pillar) During the last watch of the day the clearance of the cave or passage lowers again to 7 feet above the water's surface. By now the crew is very skillful at battening the hatches, removing the steam stacks and taking on ballast to ride low in the water to pass the low ceiling area. As night watch came on duty the Ship made its way through the tight passage that opened up into a large grotto filled with eerily verdant glowing water and a ceiling that soars to hundreds of feet in height. 

In this verdant lake was anchored another ship similar to the Theurgeme. The 4rth watch on deck hailed the keelboat known as the “Writhing Tentacle'' crewed by Captain Lasryl Stoutrest duergar(Female), with First Mate Redra Brightbeard duergar(Female), 2 duergar sailors Wegrola Heaveback, Nandru Hammergrog (both female duergar), and 4 Grimgolir dwarven sailors Durma Barrelchest, Abroia Boneflayer, Darezean Drakesunder, the sole male on board Hukdruth Sapmire, and  the Chief Engineer Larbess Muvan gnome(female). They were taking a brief rest in the Grotto called “the Tears of Melora” A peaceful magical Grotto free from the oppressive nature of the underdark, They were heading out in the morning to follow the trade route to Mantol-Derith and possibly meet up with the Theurgeme which was due back soon. The dwarves and duergar have a small impromptu party forgetting the troubles and dangers of the underdark. Swimming in the verdant warm waters restores all health and vitality. Not to mention imparts a feeling of extreme well being. The Writhing Tentacle was carrying cargo destined for Mantol-Derith and her Captain took the chance that the Theurgeme and the adventurers had cleared the way for trade to resume. Naturally she was very relieved to have crossed paths as she hoped the journey would not involve a lot of monster fighting. 

As the two groups parted ways the Writhing Tentacle warns of Stirges in the Caverns ahead of the Theurgeme. The Theurgeme warned the other crew of the Demon Lords and the increased “tolls'' in darklake, Captain Griliggs Firehorn, gave Captain Lasryl Stoutrest an extra 500 gp to help with the Sea Hag “tolls'' they would surely encounter.

(Folsen the 16th of Quen'pillar) As the Theurgeme continues on and the 2nd watch came on duty the ship encountered a cavern filled with the stirges that cling to the ceiling like bats. Since the party was warned of the stirges, the Theurgeme slips quietly past. The first night watch came on duty. They hear the sounds of music, laughter growing louder and see the first lights of the Underdark Outpost at which point they and they signal their arrival at Grimgolir’s Underdark Trading Post. 

The completion of the Journey ended with transfer of the cargo to the contingent of Monoliths waiting on the docks. The captain said it is tradition to celebrate after a successful run and invites the party to go with them to feast at the “Abyss Inn '' to celebrate with the Crew of the Theurgeme.

The group, though happy to be back, was not looking forward to the trip up the long stairs, 16 miles, 36,000 steps upward out of the underdark which takes 2 days, and incurs a point of exhaustion at the end of each day's travel. The Captain then said “You know, most folks pay for the Deep Delver Tram!” He explained that this was a series of inclined trolley cars hoisted up and down by steam wenches. This smooth quick trip takes about 4 hours, with no exhaustion and with common seats costing 1 gp per person, and those folks getting access to common 3 tier bunks, (on a space available basis), this was a very popular choice with folks traveling up to the great hall.

The folks in the group with really high perception caught sight of a cloaked figure following the party, but lost them in the crowd. By taking the tram their journey up out of the underdark was quick and restful. The group arrived at the Palace and waited for an audience with the King. The King, who was very pleased to see they returned safely, and that the trade routes were open again greeted them personally. In Gratitude he gave the party 20% of the profits for the run which came to 1,969 gp in rare gems for each party member. After hearing details of the adventure in the underdark, he had his advisors take the Drow to record their testimony. 

The new Starosta Lord Ichabod Ashelon pointed at Svela and demanded she be arrested for attacking him back in Nogvurot. The King said “These are serious accusations, child (referring to Svela) is what this man says true?” At which point the frightened Svela recounted the story of how she was working on her fathers farm when the nobleman saw her and tried to have his way with her. She said “I fought back and seriously beat this errant fool to teach him some manners!” Hearing both sides the King called for the Oracle to determine the truth. He said there is a way to see that which was.

The oracle was a frail ancient Dwarven woman named Galvira with Telepathic abilities. After she read Svelas mind She replied “Sire what this young girl has recounted is true. She has suffered a huge unkindness at the hands of this one” she pointed at the new Starosta. The King immediately requested that the Starosta Lord Ichabod Ashelon submit to the mind reading,  which he promptly denied sealing his fate. The King had him sent to the pits of Justice to “think about his life choices!”. The King then escorted  the party to the noble quarter so they could see their new home, the Hucksters Heroes Clan hall, in reward for their service to the City. 

They saw a lavash three story stone mansion complete with two large pots of magically blooming rose bushes framing the great Zurkhwood Doors, inside were more magically blooming potted rose bushes lining a great hall and familiar dark wood overstuffed red velvet furniture that strangely looked just like the elegant furnishings they encountered at the Sleepy Pillow in Alfield. 

As they pondered this, a familiar pale skinned lady with long dark hair and crimson eyes wearing a long elegant black dress greeted them with a deep bow. She said “I hope it was ok that I took the liberty of providing some housewarming gifts, and some feminine touches.”  Aside from the roses and furnishings, there was a large ornate dark wood framed silver mirror standing 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide against a wall in the ballroom. Lady Arabella then bowed deeply and wished the party much happiness in their new abode as she took her leave taking the King's outstretched arm. “Thank you again, we will leave you so you can explore your new home.” He then escorted the dark lady out of the building off toward the palace. 

The Group explored the mansion then looked around the nearby Shops and Buildings in the Noble quarter. Elmo and Abnar made introductions at the “Pipe and Page Bookstore '' a place that sells books, bindings, inks, parchments, and calligraphy implements. The owner also sells smoking pipes, but sadly has no tobacco or pipeweed for sale as the tobacconist in the great hall seems to have cornered the market on pipeweed. Mallik opened the Package Ophelia had left for him and found a polished silver mirror as he gazed into it his reflection blurred and became the familiar face of Ophelia Mardoon. She told him the story her spies had relayed to her about an expedition funded by the The Trebain family, that may have found the source of the corruption of the Savalirwood in the ruins of Molaesmyr. The contacts report that the Trebains requested the help of the Jagentoths to help recover the “artifact”. She asked if the group could stop them from possibly bringing an ancient weapon from the age of Arcanum back to Shadycreek run to use against the other families. The party attained 9th level at the close of the session.

Kobold Mining Profits for the fourth week of the third month, the Kobolds uncovered 2800 gp worth of platinum ingots, (Subtracting the mine expenses of 325 gp each party member gains 412 gp once they get back to the mine of course.  (also six new pups were hatched and 8 new eggs were laid in the lair, the Kobolds continue to be fruitful) Going forward the expenses of running both Hupperdook and Gimgolir will run 505gp per week.