Enter the Void Hollow - Episode Eleven

== Summary: ==
"The Void Hollow," also known as the Endless Dungeon, was a tapestry woven from the remnants of ancient caves, fallen cities, and forgotten temples dedicated to obscure deities. Its halls whispered of a history littered with those who never returned and monsters that thrived in the shadows.
The dungeon was not merely a collection of corridors and chambers; it was an entire world unto itself, a realm where the very walls seemed to pulse with a malevolent life. There were secondhand accounts and a curious wizard's notes describing a place where dark fey drifts intersected with the remnants of lost civilizations. The dungeon's inhabitants ranged from lost souls unable to find their way back, to malevolent creatures luring unwary adventurers with hoarded gold as bait.
This place was a crossroad of the vast caverns, exiled fey, and fiendish domains. Legends spoke of dark fey banished from their realms, demons and devils trapped in a purgatory of their own making, and entire ecosystems thriving in the dungeon's depths. Six mercenaries navigated this living, everchanging dungeon, where every step could lead to fortune or death.
In this episode, the party communed with fellow adventurers, swapping knowledge and treasures. Asher and Gobin went on a daring rescue of Harry after realizing that the adventurers hadn’t been warned about their gargoyle allies. The dungeon shifted around the party, blocking their way back, but the group pressed forward fearlessly. They walked right into a harpy trap, but managed to turn the tables and spring their own trap on the harpies, even though Gobin went on a detour and angered a water elemental. Eyalon nearly died, and to the party’s horror, they discovered something concerning: There was another spirit residing in Eyalon’s body.
== Mercenaries: ==
* Asher "Whiffle-Tongue" - Lizardfolk Wizard
* Eisen Mistburo - Human Cleric
* Eyalon Bogpyre - Deerfolk Sorcerer
* Gobin Glowstep - Halfling Druid
* Nwalmë Shadhavar - Shadar-Kai Rogue
* Tar’ren r'Eehp r'Eehp - Warlock
== Adventure: ==
The adventurers that the party had found mentioned that their path closed behind them rather suddenly when they entered the Void Hollow. This was similar to what had happened to the party. The adventurers had been wandering about in a zigzag. They showed the party a map they had constructed of the level, showing that to the south was a hall with stairs heading upwards. However, that path was now blocked: A wall had closed up the doorway behind them, preventing them from returning. The adventurers also stated that the level they were on was their fourth level since entering the Void Hollow. This was a surprise to the party, who were on their sixth level.
Tar’ren, outside of the room but listening telepathically, scratched his chin. He had an inkling of what was happening in the dungeon, but he kept his suspicions to himself.
The adventurers stated that they had fought off a large amount of wererats, various grimms and ambushes, and a horde of undead. As for how they had a map depicting a treasure vault, they had uncovered it by interrogating some Lizardfolk residents of the dungeon.
The party told the adventurers that they had found the vault and looted it. The rogue twiddled his knives and went into the corner, huffing. The heavily armored folk came forward and asked, “Looted? Entirely?”
“No,” Nwalmë said sarcastically, “We left a bunch of stuff there.”
Amren was relieved at this and said that surely there was more treasure for them. The soldier set his glaive to the side and offered if the party wanted to share the campsite. He also offered to share their maps, though he wasn’t sure if they were up to date because of the wall having closed behind them.
Nwalmë walked right up to Ezikiel the rogue and asked, “You got any cool stuff?”
Ezikiel looked him over. One of Ezikiel’s eyes glowed a bright crimson. Nwalmë could tell that the eye was arcanely created by an artificer. It was an Ersatz Eye.
Deeming Nwalmë to be genuinely interested in comparing notable items, Ezikiel showed Nwalmë five separate daggers. He really liked his knives.
Nwalmë whipped his own daggers out and compared them. The five daggers of Ezikiel’s were a set that only worked when they were together. As long as he had all five, he was lighter on his feet, he could detect devils, and he could do extra harm to devils with the daggers.
Gobin started making cabbage soup. Flint contributed Goodberries to the soup.
“I didn’t think of using Goodberries,” Gobin said.
The Half-Elf gave him a look, wondering why Gobin, a fellow nature magician, wouldn’t have thought of that.
Finnegan approached Asher. His left arm had a buckler attached to a gauntlet covered in gemstones. His sword was silver. “I presume you are the arcanist of your group?” he asked.
“That would be so,” Asher said.
They compared magic items and components. One treasure of Finnegan’s that was interesting was a rod that had two veins, red and blue, looking similar to anatomical drawings. It was a Wand of Wound Aggravation. It could cause enemies to become more vulnerable to piercing or slashing attacks, though it could also backfire and harm the wielder. Asher was intrigued by it, as was Gobin.
Asher mentioned that there were others in their party coming to join them. “And take this with all the lightness I give it: There is a gargoyle, Marv, amongst us. He has chosen to become one of our traveling companions.”
Amren shrugged and said, “I’ve seen Finnegan do stuff to monsters. If you can keep control of it, it’s fine.”
“Did you call him an it?” Nwalmë asked. “You ought to rethink your words, buddy.”
“If you’re being mean to our friends,” Gobin said, “no soup for you.”
Asher reiterated that Marv had joined them as a companion. Amren’s lips pressed together, and he knew not to push the subject.
Marv heard the conversation over the telepathic bond and said, “I can be a monster for Eyalon.” He did a zombie walk as he entered the room.
Amren noted that he had a Glaive of Shattering. He was happy with it, though he might be willing to trade it for a better weapon.
Eyalon saw a scrawl along the back wall. He recognized it and could read it, much to his surprise. It was a basic description written for others to follow it, telling them how to open a secret door. It almost looked like damage and scuffs to the walls, but the language was Draconic.
Asher asked about spell scrolls, being a wizard who loved to expand his repertoire. Flint approached and said he had some priestly and nature knowledge, along with a few scrolls. Of them, the one that interested Asher was the Hold Portal scroll, a spell he’d never heard of before. Asher was eager to learn new magic and bought the Hold Portal scroll for twenty gold, intending to take time during their next rest to scribe it into his spellbook.
The two adventurer warriors looked towards Flint, aghast that he had given up some loot.
Flint shrugged. “What? It’s my treasure share.” Then he winked. “As if anyone could beat my spell save anyway.”
Gobin was interested in the Wand of Wound Aggravation. He offered in trade his Sun Sickle. Gobin said it could help them light their way out.
The adventurers whispered to each other that it could help Amren, since he didn’t have darkvision. The three chuckled while Amren rolled his eyes.
Finnegan asked if the party could sweeten the pot. Asher offered gold, but when Finnegan asked how much gold, Asher was stumped. He looked to Nwalmë and asked for help telepathically. Nwalmë sauntered over and hyped up the items, talking about their historic and sentimental value rather than just their monetary value. It would be a good trade without any gold.
The adventurers debated for a moment. Finnegan was convinced and decided to trade the Sun Sickle for the Wand of Wound Aggravation. Gobin shook hands with Finnegan.
The cabbage and Goodberry soup was finished, so the group sat for a meal. Afterwards, they all took a long rest. Eyalon and Eisen felt stronger, as if their time in the dungeon had increased their power.
After the rest, the adventurers moved on, hoping to find the treasure vault. They wished the party well.
The party did their morning rituals. Asher cast Mirror Image and condensed it to give to Gobin for later use.
Eyalon inspected the text on the wall once more. It spoke of a wall fountain that could pivot, from which “my children” met in reverence. Eyalon thought it was fancy. Eyalon asked Asher for help understanding the message and translated it to Asher. The wall spoke of four elemental temples and to seek out the temple of water, where they could manipulate a fountain to form a secret door that led to the meeting chamber.
Given that the words were written in Draconic, Asher deduced that “my children” meant followers of Krolevadrek. He explained that to Eyalon, but said that otherwise, Eyalon understood the translation quite well.
Tar’ren suddenly realized that they hadn’t told the adventurers not to kill Harry and his gargoyle friends. Asher sat bolt upright and said they had to stop them.
“Well, let’s go!” Gobin said. He wildshaped into a giant goat. Asher climbed on and cast Longstrider on Gobin. They dashed away as quickly as they could.
Within twelve seconds, they found the door to Harry’s chamber open, with Flint standing in the entrance and the other adventurers battling the gargoyles.
Asher leapt off of Gobin, spread his hands out, and yelled, “Stop!”
The gargoyles and the adventurers continued to battle.
Asher pointed to Harry. “Stop at once.” He pointed at Amren. “Desist this combat.”
Gobin let out a goat scream.
Finnegan turned and glanced at the two, leaving himself open to a strike from one of the gargoyles. He took a blow to the head that left him bleeding.
Ezikiel Misty Stepped out of the chamber and appeared next to Asher and Gobin. “What are you doing?”
“There is no treasure in there,” Asher said. “Leave that room be.”
“There’s plenty of treasure.” Ezikiel showed off some of the command stones they had fetched from other gargoyles. “These will be worth a pretty penny.”
“Those gargoyles are friends of our companion Marv.” Asher’s eyes darkened. “They are not to be touched.”
Gobin bleated in agreement, the two making an intimidating pair. Ezikiel hesitated for a moment, then yelled at the adventurers to retreat.
Amren scoffed and sent out a Shatter from his glaive, harming the gargoyles. Then he and Finnegan ran. Flint slammed the door shut behind them, deftly locking it. A gargoyle rammed the door, but it held fast.
Asher bowed and thanked the adventurers. The adventurers didn’t quite know how to react to the party protecting monsters, but they didn’t think it was worth the trouble.
Finnegan asked if they could at least patch up his head wound. Gobin dropped his wildshape and inspected the wound. It was bad. Nevertheless, Gobin said, “You’re fine,” casting Healing Word. He explained that they shouldn’t be surprised because the party told them not to hurt their friends. The adventurers thought their friends had already come. Gobin said that Harry and the others were slow because they were made of rock.
The adventurers shook their heads and moved on. Asher turned to Gobin and embraced him, saying that he was amazing. Gobin thanked him and asked to be carried back to the camp. Asher gladly obliged, carrying him piggyback.
Back at the camp, Marv was trying to make a rock explode by tossing it in the fire. Gobin explained that a rock had to be filled with water before that would work, with the steam making pressure that caused it to explode. Marv tried using his water spout ability to fill the rock with water, but it didn’t work.
Down the south hallway, the group found open treasure chests and a solid wall. It was probably where the path had closed behind the adventurers.
Gobin inspected the wall. Eisen helped him with Guidance. Gobin discovered that the wall was quite thick. “Yep, that’s a wall.”
Asher asked if they could Stone Shape the wall. Gobin put his ear to it and said it sounded too thick. Asher nodded and thanked him for his good work.
Tar’ren slipped the empty treasure chest into the Bag of Devouring.
Eisen couldn’t find any switches or levers. It looked like the room was looted. But as he was poking around he saw a couple of gargoyle faces in the walls. Marv said they looked dead.
Eisen touched one of the faces. A mist came out of the mouth. Asher held his breath, and he kept from taking in much of the air, but Eisen took the brunt of the poison gas. He coughed and choked with the poison.
Roger flew into the gas and hit it with a radiant bolt, but it did not do damage. The party ran out of the room.
In the next room, the party found the remnants of a camp with a bed made of driftwood and a calcified piece of meat on a rack.
Marv poked the meat and said it looked like gargoyle flesh.
Asher joked that the meat looked perfectly good to eat. Gobin checked out the meat, and while he couldn’t tell that it was a 30lb bulette leg, he did think it looked good. He said he just had to cook it the right way. Asher looked appalled and told Gobin that he was just joking. Gobin, however, was quite serious. He had Purify Food and Drink. He took the leg and planned to sneak it into a soup.
Eyalon thought the camp looked like it was built by someone who had hunting skills. It was a base meant to last.
On the north side of the room was a pair of double stone doors. Before opening them, Asher suggested they check under the bed. Tar’ren flipped the bed. There were no monsters, but there was a little bit of treasure. A few gemstones glinted: a golden yellow topaz, a moonstone, and a violet garnet. Tar’ren handed them to Asher for safekeeping.
Nwalmë checked for traps on the door, then Asher and Marv pushed open the double doors. There was a faint flicker of torchlight as the door flew open. Musty air seeped forward.
Nwalmë and Asher went down the hall, with Nwalmë using a spear to test for traps. Roger shed light in the hall. Saval watched the group’s back as they moved forward.
Maahes fluttered forward. Nwalmë booped him on the nose, causing Maahes to disappear into his pocket dimension.
Tar’ren was ready to Bubble Hex Nwalmë in case some trap tripped.
Eyalon noticed that Saval had turned around and drawn his sword. He looked back and saw that the door had disappeared, turning into a wall. There was a faint rumbling in the ground, as if the walls were shifting.
Eyalon let the party know about what he saw. He went up to the wall and inspected it. After a moment of deduction, he was sure he could headbutt it open. He headbutted it, the impact causing his antlers to vibrate as they did little effect. He felt the draconic presence on his person bemoan having the cute, derpy Deerfolk rather than the buff, intelligent Lizardfolk.
Gobin felt along the wall and felt that there was at least a good thirty feet of stone beyond the wall. “That’s not a wall,” he said, “That’s solid rock.”
Asher and Tar’ren said that it wasn’t that surprising. Besides, they didn’t plan to go backwards anyway.
As they moved forward, the group felt like they were being brought into something by the spiral path they were walking. What it was, they weren’t sure.
Nwalmë saw another set of doors. He checked for traps and picked the lock, revealing a spiral staircase leading down.
Eisen coughed, feeling sick from the poison. Gobin offered to cast Lesser Restoration, but Tar’ren said it was a minor poison. Tar’ren used his herbalist skills and detoxified Eisen with his herbs.
Gobin and Asher led the way down the stairs. The party held hands as they descended, moving stealthily. At least, they tried to be stealthy. Gobin gave himself away by softly singing, “Don’t be suspicious.” Eisen laughed and sang along loudly. Asher shushed them, but it was too late: They heard an ethereal song start to ring out.
The party heard the siren-like song, but none of them were charmed. Asher looked at Gobin and said, “Remember the mountains?” They had once encountered harpies during their time at the Crystal Academy.
Gobin said, “I remember the lyrics. She’s definitely not singing ‘don’t be suspicious.’ ”
The party looked around. The seventh level was a grand temple with a forty-foot tall ceiling. Four branches led to chambers in the corners, with a fountain of water to the southwest, statues sitting on benches in the northeast, bubbles in lava-pooled chalices to the northwest, and an incense burner in the southeast. From the southeast came the song. They could see the bones of previous people who had been lured. There were a few harpies waiting for them eagerly.
Tar’ren suggested one of them pretend to be lured so that they could launch a surprise attack. Eyalon pretended to be lured, with Asher and Nwalmë following close behind. Gobin meanwhile wended southwest towards the fountain.
Marv asked if the harpies were also gargoyles. The harpies didn’t respond.
When they got close, Asher opened the combat by casting Slow. The lesser harpies were slowed, but the queen forced herself to resist his magics. Eyalon stopped pretending and cast Cursed Bolt, but missed.
Tar’ren listened to the song. He tried to memorize some of it and ended up learning it in one try.
Eisen cast Bless on the party.
Gobin reached the water fountain and stuck his Nearly Empty Decanter of Endless Water in it. A water elemental rose up, mad that he was trying to drain it. Gobin asked for the water, but the water elemental didn’t seem keen on sharing. Tar’ren knew it was a water weird, which was usually bound to sacred areas. Gobin had just tried to put a sacred fountain into his Nearly Empty Decanter of Endless Water.
Saval rushed forward towards Gobin and cast Shield of Faith on him.
Roger shot a light ray at a harpy, but missed. Marv dashed behind Asher while Nwalmë shot a harpy with a sneak attack, doing good damage.
The harpies shrieked. One slowly trudged towards Eyalon, weighed down by the Slow spell. It slashed at Eyalon and hit.
Asher was afraid for the vulnerable positions of both Gobin and Eyalon, wanting to end things quickly. He rushed into the fray and gathered some of his most powerful magic, casting Steel Wind Strike. In a flash, he bashed each harpy, flitting faster than the eye could see. He then hopped backwards past the closest harpy, who was too slow to react and slash him.
The water weird tried to constrict Gobin, but the shield of faith protected him. The water weird slammed Gobin with its tail.
Marv blasted two harpies with water, knocking one prone.
Tar’ren cast Control Water to pull the water out of the basin, trapping the water weird in the fountain. The bubble of water floated towards the center of the room.
Nwalmë gave Asher a round of applause for the Steel Wind Strike. He shot the harpy closest to Eyalon for massive damage.
Gobin tried to talk to the water weird, but it didn’t seem to understand him. Gobin cast Dust Devil beside the water weird. He tumbled out from another constriction attempt as he moved his Dust Devil onto the water weird’s head.
Saval moved close to the Water Weird and clashed with it.
A harpy attacked Nwalmë, and despite its sluggish actions, the attack looked to be a critical hit. Suddenly Asher’s eyes flashed as he used Repercussion, preventing the attack from hitting. While Asher was distracted, however, the harpy queen took flight and flew over Eyalon’s head, landing in front of Asher. She cast a Cursed Bolt that rocketed towards the Lizardfolk. Eyalon cast Silvery Barbs, but it was too late; the magic slammed into Asher’s face, causing him to reel back and leaving dark tendrils clinging to his body.
In the same breath, the harpy wheeled around and slammed Eyalon with a morningstar, a critical hit to the chest that sent him to the ground. His eyes fluttered as he lost consciousness, dying.
Then Eyalon’s body stood up. A cruel whisper chanted incantations from his lips, and suddenly a swarm of malevolent Spirit Guardians burst around him like a hurricane. They moaned and howled, clawing at everyone in range.
Eisen shuddered at the darkness emanating from Eyalon. He prayed to Lianda and lifted his hand in the air. A soft purple glow spilled from him and flowed over the ground, creating a Twilight Sanctuary. Then he said, “Don’t die, please,” casting Healing Word on Eyalon.
Eyalon shivered as he regained consciousness, confused to find himself standing and a spell flowing through him; nevertheless, he was able to hold concentration on the Spirit Guardians.
Roger was focused on the water weird. He shot a light ray at it and hit.
A harpy scratched the surface of Marv, but didn’t do damage to his stony body.
Gobin mentally screamed at the party that there was a situation going on with the water weird. Asher mentally yelled for Gobin to disengage and help with the situation going on with the harpies. Marv bellowed out loud, “Why are we screaming?”
Asher shook his head and refocused himself, ignoring the lingering curse and shaking off the clinging spirits. He cast Wither and Bloom, burning the harpies with necrotic energy while infusing Eyalon with their vitality. One harpy let out a whimper as she fell to the ground, defeated. The harpy queen took a critical hit, the necrotic energies sapping its strength. Meanwhile, the lifeblood flooded Eyalon, restoring his health. Asher took comfort in the Twilight Sanctuary, feeling somewhat revitalized.
The water weird grabbed Saval, attempting to drown him. The Dust Devil pummeled it, but did little damage.
Marv moved to the remaining lesser harpy, biting and clawing it. He missed.
Tar’ren looked at Saval and said, “Harpies are the priority, get over here.”
“I’m a bit busy,” Saval said, water snaking up his neck and beginning to pour into his mouth.
“When you’re done with your lunch break, then.” Tar’ren tossed a couple Eldritch Blasts at the harpy, one critically missing and hitting Marv, the other blasting into the harpy.
Nwalmë looked to Eyalon and debated whether they needed to shift focus to save Saval, but he had to save Eyalon. He suffered from Eyalon’s spirits, but whipped out some chainblades, tearing the harpy to shreds and leaving it a bloodied mess on the floor. He struck the queen, then moved out of the spirits.
Gobin cast Wall of Stone, raising the rim of the fountain and cutting off the water weird from Saval. Saval fell loose from the grip. Gobin then moved back towards Eisen.
Saval grabbed his sword, coughing up water. He pulled out his heavy crossbow and attacked the harpy queen, but the wet crossbow string was weak, thunking the bolt nowhere useful.
It didn’t matter, however: The harpy queen screeched as the wrathful spirits clambered over her. They smothered her, slowly ending her life.
With the immediate threat gone, Eyalon’s dour aura faded. He rubbed his head, a headache blooming. He didn’t know what had happened to him or how to react to it.
Roger flew up to the water weird and taunted it, shooting at the water weird. “That’s what you get for hurting my friend.” He nodded at Saval.
The water weird thrashed in its stone prison.
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Enter the Void Hollow - 11