Enter the Void Hollow - Episode Ten

== 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 spent a quiet evening at camp, having various discussions. Asher linked Eisen to Roger, giving Roger a new form. The party found gargoyles, where Eyalon played the part of a deity and gained the service of the gargoyle Marv. The party then found adventurers who were seeking treasure, a treasure that the party had already plundered.
== 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: ==
Roger and Nwalmë were chatting during the party’s rest. Roger felt abandoned by his former party, but he enjoyed seeing the current party doing so many things for each other, working together and trying to keep each other alive.
As they were returning to the group, Nwalmë bluntly asked, “How did you do it?”
Roger created a Mage Hand. “I imagine my hands to still be around.”
“No.” Nwalmë shook his head. “Roger, you’re supposed to be dead. You died. How are you still here?”
The skull thought for a moment. “Maybe it’s this place? There’s cursed shadow stuff here.” He tried to recall what happened to him specifically. He recalled his friends not looking for him when he tripped a trap, and he remembered fire. He knew he was hungry and trapped down in the pit, but that wasn’t what killed him. It was the fire.
Nwalmë didn’t look satisfied. “Forgive me if I’m being crass, but I’m used to having people die. What I need to know is how to bring them back. Please tell me if you remember anything.”
Roger did remember one little thing. When he started seeing again, everything looked red. He thought it was the gem eyes. He didn’t remember stealing them. Maybe they were keeping him together. Still, he didn’t know if an undead existence was for everyone. It almost made him go crazy when Mr. Asher told him the truth about his form.
Nwalmë looked over the rubies in Roger’s skull. He was aware they were blood rubies, which he had seen occasionally on the market.
Meanwhile, Gobin had been poking Tar’ren in the face and touching his horns. Using his Gob Tags hadn’t made Tar’ren’s face and body go back to normal, and he was disappointed. There had to be a way to restore his friend’s form.
Tar’ren extricated himself from Gobin and went to Saval. Saval was using a whetstone on his brass blade.
Tar’ren cleared his throat. “You got a chance to see what happened to the manticore, right? It disappeared for a moment before getting exterminated?”
Saval nodded. “You sent it to the astral plane, right?”
Tar’ren explained that he could send things to other planes of existence temporarily. He also assumed that the party would find an exit along the line, but in theory, his Banishment spell could send them home. He wanted Saval to test that out, even though he didn’t know where Saval would appear on Embrel. Asher could cast Sending to talk to him, but Tar’ren also recommended Saval write a letter explaining what happened to him in the Void Hollow. He hoped that Saval could handle himself if he appeared where there was danger. Or, if Saval preferred, Tar’ren could maintain concentration for the whole minute so that Saval could stay home.
Tar’ren added, very somberly, that complex things could happen when traveling between planes. His countenance made it seem that he was saying that planar travel could occasionally be non-instantaneous.
Tar’ren also recalled a Riot House mercenary talking about going through the astral plane and that they needed to heal more than their life to shunt them back to the material plane.
Saval wrote the letter and Tar’ren cast Banishment. Saval disappeared.
Tar’ren pointed to Asher. Asher cast Sending, asking if Saval made it safely home.
Saval instantly responded: “I think I’m in the Sunward inn where I was before I came to the Void Hollow.” He rambled on without stop past the thirty second mark, when Tar’ren broke concentration. Saval reappeared, still clutching the letter.
In the morning, Tar’ren prepared a delicious breakfast for the crew. Eisen awoke early and went off to perform his constitutional stretches. Asher watched the old Human, then gestured for Roger to come with him and interrupted Eisen.
Asher told Roger that they would do all in their power to restore him to a body, and that Eisen was willing to sacrifice much to maintain Roger’s vitality. Asher thought they were linked already, and he could make that bond in a way permanent so that Roger could always have someone with him to help him on his quest for a body. His magic was strengthening, now allowing him to cast a ritual that could let Eisen and Roger be bonded—That is, if that was something Roger and Eisen wanted. Asher warned them that this could weaken Roger and might have other unintended side-effects, but it would prevent Roger’s life force from dissipating if his skull was destroyed.
Eisen said that he thought dearly of Roger and would be glad to share a bit more of his life to keep Roger safe, happy for the companion. Roger said that he was eager to not be in danger at all times and would love to be bonded with Eisen.
Asher pulled out his bronze brazier and filled it with coals. He marked it with chalk in a variety of symbols. Nwalmë and Tar’ren both recognized the ritual, Nwalmë realizing that it was similar to the spell Asher had cast to gain his familiar, Gyp.
After an hour or so, the flame in the brazier changed to white. Asher reached in and, seemingly unburnt, grabbed the fire in his claws. He crushed it, and when he opened his hand, a gray marble sat in his palm. He gave the marble to Eisen.
Eisen bounced his brow and coughed, looking between Asher and Roger. He squeezed the marble until it popped.
Immediately, Eisen started to glow. His essence reached out and mingled with the flames of Roger. Roger’s flames engulfed Eisen, lighting up his hair.
Suddenly, Roger’s skull fell to the ground, the blood rubies clattering out of the skull. All that remained was the light within. Roger had become a witchlight, the fragments of the crushed marble swirling within his luminance.
Roger was ecstatic, telling Eisen that he felt so much lighter and could sense that he was bonded to Eisen. He thanked both Eisen and Asher, though only Eisen could hear him. It seemed that Roger had lost his ability to speak. Asher cast Detect Thoughts and was able to hear Roger’s gratitude, but the Lizardfolk winced. That was an unintended consequence. Hopefully they would find ways around it.
In any case, Asher smiled and held Roger in the palm of his hand. “From now on,” he said, “You shall be known as Current. You flowed with the currents of life even when they led you to dark places, yet here you are, reborn.”
Then he put his hand on Eisen’s shoulder. “And you shall be known as Swain.” He winked. “You may have become venerable, but you still have more than enough vitality to share with your allies. That is a commendable trait worthy of celebration.”
Nwalmë scooped up the blood rubies and Eisen stowed Roger’s former skull in his pack.
With the camp business done, the party gathered up their supplies and headed south. Nwalmë led the way and quickly saw a pair of stone doors to the west and a slitted door to the south. Through the slitted door was a treasure and an altar, as well as four statues. He reported this information to the party.
Nwalmë tossed a ball bearing into the room through the slit door. Immediately a statue pivoted and swiped towards the sound. Nwalmë looked back at the group with a wide grin and said, “Eyyyy?”
The party discussed possible ways to get past the statues. Eventually, Eyalon cast Minor Illusion into the room, shaping it as a shadow clone of himself. One of the closest two gargoyles was completely motionless, but another leapt up and struck the illusion. The other gargoyle turned and spoke in a language that sounded like the rumbling of rock. Even without knowing the words, the party could tell the gargoyle was angry. The other sheepishly went back to his pedestal.
Nwalmë went back to the stairs, well out of earshot of the gargoyles, and pulled out his Stone of Holding, which could hold sounds. He said, “Quick, hide behind this statue, they won’t see us over here.” He then went back to the door and tossed the stone behind the gargoyle that hadn’t moved. The dumb statue lurched forward and grappled with the other one, looking for the source of the sound.
Nwalmë looked at Eyalon and said they should egg them on. He tossed a ball bearing at them. The smart gargoyle opened his mouth and blasted his companion with water. The dumb gargoyle was knocked on his butt and fell prone. The back two statues started to chuckle.
Deciding that they could negotiate with the statues from a position of strength, the party sprung into motion. Eisen used Thaumaturgy to slam open the door, letting out an intimidating rumble that scared the gargoyles.
Gobin wanted to powerwash a gargoyle with his Nearly Empty Decanter of Endless Water, but he didn’t have enough pressure to harm them. However, he theorycrafted soaking them so that Asher could use Rime’s Binding Ice to freeze them in place. They enacted the plan and sprayed them, encrusting two gargoyles in ice.
Nwalmë slid into the room and placed the Almost Immovable Rod behind the heel of the smart gargoyle to trip him. Meanwhile, Eyalon’s job was to make sure they could actually negotiate. He ran up to the dumb gargoyle and flashed a card, slapping it against the gargoyle’s thigh and casting Tongues on the gargoyle. The dumb gargoyle, named Marv, started cursing because of all the special powers going on around him. He called the smart gargoyle Harry.
Tar’ren observed, already able to hear what all the gargoyles were saying.
Marv heard the sound of Eisen’s booming voice and said he must be an elemental.
Asher told Marv to be their interpreter, demanding that the gargoyles stand down if they wanted amity between them. His smooth tone was commanding; Marv said that God had chosen him. Marv was a prophet. Harry was about to blow his top while the other two gargoyles giggled and guffawed, practically rolling off of their perches.
Marv picked out Eyalon to be the God of the party and said, “God’s smiting us. We’ll stop.” He patted Nwalmë on the head. “Sorry, adventurers.”
Harry said, in Terran, “We don’t pet them, they’re not dogs.” Harry tried to slap Marv, but tumbled over the Almost Immovable Rod, crashing to the ground. Nwalmë picked up the rod as if it were never there.
Marv looked towards Eyalon and back to Harry. “See? God’s angry with you.”
Nwalmë sauntered over to Eyalon and whispered, “Tell them you’re here to collect the tribute due to you.”
Eyalon almost smiled. Instead, he gazed over the room and raised his hands. “Time to take the tribute.” He looked into Marv’s eyes. “Are you ready?”
Marv folded his wings reverently and bowed. Then he looked back at the other gargoyles. “Guys, where’s the treasure for the tribute?”
Harry approached, but his wing snapped off from the ice. Morale devastated, Harry gestured for Marv to approach the altar and take the treasure that was there.
Asher mentally told Eyalon to play along, then bowed in deference to his “God” and verbally said, “By your command.” Eyalon waved him on. Asher approached Harry and said that God was magnanimous. He cast Stone Shape, reattaching the wing to the body. Marv called it a miracle.
Marv approached Eyalon with a king’s crown and a queen’s crown. He put them both on Eyalon’s head, one on each antler.
Eyalon held out a finger of blessing. “You have done well this day.”
Marv stood at attention, then gladly pranced to the leader pedestal and stationed himself there.
“Hey,” Harry said, “that’s my pedestal.”
“This is the leader pedestal,” Marv said, “and I’m the prophet. It’s mine now.”
Harry grumbled about his place being supplanted, but took the other pedestal.
Asher cleared his throat. “Well, Marv, you know, if you wanted to join us on our quest, we’d be glad to have you.”
Nwalmë put his arm around Asher. “Are you sure Marv is worthy?”
“He’s already performed well,” Asher said. He blinked. “Or, they. Or it, or she.” He looked apologetically at Marv and asked, “Do you have pronouns?”
“Can you eat them?” Marv asked.
“No.”
“Hold on.” Marv reached into his body and pulled out a black marble. As soon as the marble was out of his body, the life left him, causing him to become still. Asher was appalled.
The party saw little runes engraved on the black pearl. Tar’ren understood that the words were orders carved in Terran. The words on it said that the gargoyle was to guard the room and all its treasures. Tar’ren’s thoughts were to release the gargoyles from their tasks or let them get back to work. Asher and Eyalon wanted a gargoyle friend to come with them. Tar’ren asked to examine the pearl to determine if the gargoyle was soulless or not. Tar’ren thought that the commands were simple, but the gargoyles may have gone mad from the shadowplane. He didn’t seem to be bound to a soul.
Asher was still appalled that Marv had virtually killed himself. He gestured for Harry to put the pearl back in Marv. Harry debated giving Marv a kick, but decided not to do so in front of divinity. He pushed the stone back in, causing Marv’s stone to ripple.
Marv shook himself, active once more. “Thanks for returning my pronouns, Harry.”
Nwalmë discreetly went over to Eyalon and asked how his passenger was feeling with the God treatment. Eyalon didn’t know what Nwalmë was talking about; he didn’t think he had a passenger. Nevertheless, the whispers of Krolevadrek tempted him to be enamored with the power, but he resisted.
Gobin apologized for spraying the gargoyles with water, but added that it was part of the christening.
Asher once more extended the offer for Marv to come with them. Seeing an opportunity, Harry said that it was great for Marv to guard the treasure while the others guarded the room. He winked at the other gargoyles.
The two looked at each other. “Oh no,” one said, “Marv, you can’t leave.”
“Yeah,” the other added. “We need you here.”
“Shut up,” Harry said.
Marv did not need much convincing. He gladly joined the party.
The group left the other gargoyles to their guard duties. The door behind them slammed shut as they continued on their way.
“Are we in the great beyond?” Marv asked, having never been beyond his chamber.
“Not yet,” Eyalon said, “but with your help, we’ll get there.”
Tongues would wear off soon, and then Marv would only be able to talk to Tar’ren. Plus, Roger was still unable to communicate with any but Eisen.
Asher blinked and facepalmed. He told the group to gather around and re-cast Rary’s Telepathic Bond, including Marv and Roger in the group so that they could communicate with the others. Unfortunately, they had to leave Saval out. Saval teased that he wasn’t one of the cool kids anymore, but Asher said he was still a valuable companion.
The party looked at the western double doors, which were stuck shut. Asher rolled his shoulders and looked to Marv, saying they could work together to muscle it open. Nwalmë passed his crowbar to Marv.
Marv nodded and vigorously banged the crowbar against the door, to no avail. Asher sighed and kicked the door, causing it to smoothly slide open without issue.
The hallway beyond was ominous, with the sconces in the walls already lit. Nwalmë gathered Maahes and scritched his chin, saying that Maahes knew the drill and could poof back if he got hurt. Nwalmë sent Maahes down the hall.
Maahes saw a lack of rats scurrying around. He peeked down a winding corridor while Nwalmë looked through his eyes. Nwalmë guessed it was a maze. Maahes saw smashed statuary, the remnants of gargoyles, then returned to Nwalmë.
Eyalon targeted one of the lit flames in the hallway with Control Flames, putting it out. Marv immediately crushed another flame to put it out. The flame burned Marv. It didn’t appear that the flames were magical.
The party moved forward. Nwalmë took out a piece of charcoal and marked the walls to show where they had been.
They approached the shattered statuary. Marv and Nwalmë peeked around the corner while Roger illuminated it with his light. As they walked, Gobin talked to Eyalon about all the animals he had seen that had antlers. He also added that he had seen a weird deer without antlers, which was his description of a horse, an animal unknown in Western A’lune.
Marv stuck close to Eyalon, ready to guard him.
The party reached a crossroads. Ahead were the destroyed gargoyles. To the west, Asher heard laughter beyond a hallway with lit torches. Maahes was turned invisible and went down the hall, finding a camp with adventurers. Nwalmë described the adventurers to the group. Saval didn’t recognize them, and neither did Roger. They looked like mercenaries.
Tar’ren saw that all the gargoyles had been shattered by the throat and head. He believed the adventurers had broken the golems to get the cores.
“Do they have any food?” Gobin asked.
“Because we can give them food,” Asher added.
The group decided to leave Marv behind so that he didn’t scare the adventurers. Tar’ren, Gyp, and Maahes stayed behind with him.
The group moved west and reached the camp. They saw a cloaked figure, an archer, a magic user casting Tiny Hut, and a decently armored fighter with a nice cloak and cloak clasp.
The knight gave a greeting, looking for symbols of rank. He noticed their sigils and guessed they were part of the Auric Chain, maybe Whispering Cutlass. He introduced himself as Amren, the cloaked man as Ezikiel, the archer as Flint, and Finngan the caster.
Finngan shot Amren a look, as if saying, “Don’t tell them I’m the vulnerable caster!”
They were adventurers from Oldirin scouting out the dungeon. Amren asked if the party had found any of the lost adventurers. Gobin said they’d found lots of people. Amren said there was a reward for finding lost people, five gold for bringing them alive, two for dead bodies that could be identified.
Gobin said that his party had just found the four of them, so if they could be nice, the party could collect the bounty.
Amren chuckled and said they weren’t lost. They were looking for treasure. He spread out a map that looked very similar to the vault the party had found on the fourth level.
Asher tried not to look suspicious, giving a side-eye to Nwalmë and using telepathy to say that they probably shouldn’t mention that the vault had already been cleared by them. Nwalmë agreed that they should keep their information close to their chest for the time being.
At that moment, Gobin stuck his finger out at the map and said, “Hey, I recognize that place!”
Eisen grabbed Gobin and clamped a hand over the Halfling’s mouth.
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Enter the Void Hollow - 10