Diary

## Campaign Diary

### January 20th 2024

Returning from Madgoth's Castle after a rest, the group continued their exploration of the Warrens, mapping out the south east of the level and fighting two trolls. Travelling north east the group fought a multi-armed troll mosntroity and a swarm of tiny biting slugs. Skirting the battle between the droll factions, the group fought two monstrous spiders.

### December 9th - The Troglodyte Warrens

After defeating the Auvryndar guard at the post, the group were able to free 22 troglodytes and their children from an Auvryndar mage and solidiers. A nearby treasure hoard contained a silvered long sword, three amethyst spheres and gold coins. Close by was an arcane gate triggered by a mage hand leading to the Lost Level. It also triggered a rune which incapacited Ahner until Feryldis could remove the effect.

Exploring the warrens, the group found a troll disguised as a deep gnome eating drow corpses, attempted to save a group of troglodytes fighting a troll but failed and discovered a pitched battle between house Auvryndar and Freth in the north west of the level. Leaving the drow to fight, the party explored to the south finding caverns marked by claw marks and dead drow and trolls. To the south west was a cave containing two serpentine, multi legged creatures which seemed to breath lightning and nearby was the route to level 12. Also nearby was another gate to Madgoth's castle triggered by a lit torch where the party travelled to rest.

### November 11th - The remains of Mural’s Gauntlet

Near the temple were rooms which appeared to belong to Vlonwelv. Papers here contained a fractured account of the conflict with House Freth and Ascension Day. Beyond a well appointed bed chamber were tunnels leading to caverns were 6 troglodytes were kept captive and slaves for the drow. The leader was named Gauzil. The group freed them and they returned to the Troglodyte warrens in the level below. Most of rest of the tunnels were dead ends.

To the south was a large room of broken statuary mostly of older hero’s of House Auvryndar. North was a cold room with 4 wizened drow corpses and a painting of Halaster on the wall. Here the party were attacked by 3 spectral figures. Beyond at a cave in, Icos found a dead dwarf bearing Gauntlets of Ogre Power.

Travelling back through the level, the group checks and cleared room they hadn’t investigated yet. East of the temple was a large chamber filled with beds and some injured Auvryndar soldiers and a healer. They fought to the death.

Returning to the section of the level between the entrance and the drow complex were 4 separate temple rooms, each with an altar requiring a dark sacrifice such as blood or death, in order to open a secret door which gave entry to the drow area. North of this was what appeared to be an arcane gate in the form of a mirror in a gaping face of Halaster, bearing the inscription ‘Flattery will get you everywhere’. This was a trap however, and stepping through it teleported the user to the top of a deep drop.

Beyond the dinning hall were kitchens full of broken but floating furniture and a deep well. Nearby was a pantry containing a magical chest with spell components and 5 flasks of alchemist fire.

In the west was a room with a arcane gate leading to level 1. The group were then able to open the doors to the madness room with Vorn volunteering to afflicted by the spell Crown of Madness. Unfortunately all that was beyond was a gargantuan spider monster with a rock like carapace.

The group spoke with Mural who told them that the next level could only be accessed by passing the dracolitch. This proved a difficult combat as the monster had a powerful fear effect and multiple attacks.

Descending to the next level, the group encountered a party of House Auvryndar drow who were packing up a guard post in order to join the battle against House Freth at Spiderwatch Keep.

### October 18th - Battle with Vlonvelw

In the south of the fountain chamber was a throne with a large red gem set in the arm which Devin was unable to remove. To the side of the throne was an arcane gateway covered in carvings of gears. A pair of double doors opened to reveal a wide corridor ending in a curtain. However opening the doors triggered an alarm spell. Beyond the curtain was Vlonvelw, her bodyguard and three warriors. The warriors were defeated during a difficult fight but Vlonvelw was able to complete a ritual and disapear and her body guard fled.

### September 6th - Mural's Gauntlet continues

South from the previous room, the group encountered a male drow Interrogating another male drow. The group were able to defeat the interrogator and free the captive who named himself Tazerac of House Freth. He returned to his group on The Maze level and said he would broker an introduction for us later. He said to ask for Tereleth Freth at Spiderwatch Keep. Next to this was an abandoned servants hall with rotted furnishing.

South and east was a room filled with spiderwebs where the party was attacked by trapdoor spiders. Nearby was the sound of mussic playing. A corridor let to a large room with a huge statue filled fountain where a party of halflings were freed from 3 drow captors. They agreed to play a free gig at Trollskull manor as thanks.

Just before this hall was a dirty room with signs of three toed bipedal animals and a tunnel leading to the depths.

### August 19th - A task for The Masked Lord (Interlude)

While Yelrin and Feryldis were busy with other tasks, the remaining party members received a letter from Lyra Silverhand asking them to meet a figure known as The Masked Lord in Skullport at the Flagon and Dragon. On meeting the hooded and masked figure in the Inn, he explained that since the Xanathar Guild had reduced its activities, people going missing from Skullport including three adventurers. He thought this was down to the rise of a new group or cult and asked the group to investigate.

Spotting that their meeting had been watched, the group intercepted and ‘interviewed’ the eaves dropper, Fergus, who pointed them to the Worms Gullet inn where people were being marked for capture by The Cult of Midnight. The group visited the Worm’s Gullet and after Ahner’s attempt to pose as a tempting target failed, the group spoke with Night Shade who suggested the inn’s owner Graz Stonedark would probably be in on it for the money and to also try some of the street seller in Skullport. Icos disguised himself as Jarlaxle Benray and threaten Graz with disruption to his business if he failed to give up the cult. He denied detailed knowledge and pointed the group to The Bin, a butchers shop run by a Minotaur named Cutie who would suppose of bodies for a price.

Heading to The Bin, the group were jumped by 3 vampire like creatures. One was killed before the others fled into the shadows and escaped despite a chase. The dead vampire had a symbol of Shar and note stating the plan was preceding well. On reaching the Bin, Cutie seemed unconcerned with the moral implications and that it was simply standard Skullport business dealing with bodies. Checking the back rooms with Cutie’s permission, the group found items from the missing adventurers.

Cutie pointed the group to the Scent and Shine, a fortune tellers run by Lara Vu. She had foreseen their visit and was able to fill the group in. The new group was called The Cult of Midnight and was run by Austra Tremaine working for a powerful undead called Corestra Delvingstone residing in Vanrack Doom. The cult had a safe house and lair nearby. Lara asked if they could save anyone alive in the safe house. She was also able to heal the group and provide healing potions which would counteract the bite of a vampire. Meeting with The Masked Lord to update him on the investigation, he revealed himself to also be a vampire but in the employ of the Duke of Modan acting as an agent in the Underdark. He was able to dispel some vampire myths and powers explaining they gain power as they age.

The group headed to the safe house but it turned out to be a charnel house with 4 lethargic undead proto vampires who fought to the death. Attacking the lair of the cult in a former temple of Shar, the group were able to kill 4 vampire spawn as they searched the complex. Finding a secret section the party fought and defeated Austra Tremaine and three more vampire spawn, but Austra escaped through a blood powered teleportation circle which was subsequently destroyed.

The Masked Lord was happy will this conclusion and asked to know if the group fought the cult of Midnight again.

### August 9th - Drow difficulties

East of the dinning room was a comfortable living quarters with a bedroom to the north. On the wall was a large mirror with T-U-O-Y-A-W on the stone frame. This was the counterpart to the mirror in Madgoth’s castle. To the south was an office with mostly empty book shelves apart from 2 blank books, The Matron of the Sunless Depths, The Poison Chalice (a book about the Drow matriarchy) and a book about demonic possession.

Passing back thorough the dinning room and south was an east west corridor that was blocked to the east. To the west were a series of doors leading north and south. The south door led to an elven temple of Elestray, god of beauty, dance and the hunt. Singing the elven song Bwalen Drow? (It’s good to be alive) opened a secret door to the south leading to another east-west corridor. To the east was a room full of wrecked furniture and a crack mosaic of a Drow city in the Underdark where the group fought a difficult battle with a party of 5 Drow warriors.

### June 21st - Statues and Drow

The statue of Lloth cast spells slow the melee fighters but was defeated. The remaining three rooms were in disarray but one contained an arcane gate in the form of a mirror with thirteen skulls woven into the frame. It leads to level 12 and bears the incription 'The dead know the secret'.

Returning to the flight of stairs and decending the party found themselves in a huge cavern containing what appeared to be a dracolitch and beat a hasty retreat. The doors on the lower floor of the temple complex were both sealed with no way to unlocked them. One bears a face contorted in madness and the other was smeared in blood. Cirlcing back to the ozze statue was another door bearing a face contorted in madness which must lead to the same room. Further west was another door smeared in blood defended by an animating statue of Varon, the drow god of thieves. A this point the voice of Vlonwelv was heard throughout the level ordering patrol 6 to report to captain Duress.

Returing to the dining room in the east of the level, a secret door led to a dusty passage way with a statue of a male drow with arms extended. Touching the statue, transports the individual to another dusty hallway with a similar statue of a female drow. Another secret door leads to a hallway south and east where the party met and defeated a patrol of 5 drow. After taking a long rest the group found a large dinning room with a fresco of a large elven city from before the split of the elven races.

### June 6th - Giant Drow

The giant drow were tough. They looked as though they had been experimented on and were covered in surgical scars. There were no exits from the large room, so the group headed back to the dorr by the female drow statue. The door opened if a sword was placed in the statues hands. A corridor led south to a large, high room with a pile of bones in the southern alcove. Exits led west and north. Two sets of stairs led up to a balcony which circled the room. Six doors led off the balcony. Two east, two south and two west. In an alcove between the southern doors was a statue of demonic looking drider like creature. The first door on the east wall led to a ransacked room which looked like it belonged to priestess. In the fireplace was a potion of greater healing. The second door led to a similar but empty room. Here the fireplace had a ladder leading to a soot stained cave with a chest containing 120gold, thieves tools and a vial of Oil of Slipperiness. The third door revelaed a set of stairs leading down. On trying the forth door the staue animated and combat ensued.

### May 23rd - Mural's Gauntlet continues

The group returned to the entrance of the level and headed south and west. In a ruined dinning hall were 2 ghasts and 3 ghouls. After defeating them and finding 50gp of cutlery, the party headed back to the west. Passing through a room wher ethe floor was strewn with skulls, they were attacked by Mural in a large room with drow statues and a large tarantula sculpture on the ceiling. After trading blows, the group offered to deal with the drow of House Rindar for Mural for safe passage through the level. Mural agreed and gave them a stone to call him with and a summary of the level. The drow resided in the south east and in the south west was a dangerous experiment.

Moving south and east led to a transforming statue of an ooze hidden in magical darkness. East led to a room containing a statue of a dancing drow female illuminates by a moonbeam. Beyond this, to the west, was a large columned hall containg two huge mutated drow warriors.

### April 25th - Mural's Gauntlet

The fight with Mural was hard and he took out Devin. He then withdrew with the message " Let this be a warning. I will brook no interference in my domain!". Investigating further west, the group found a room with an arcane gate to level 6 but also 3 ghouls and a skeleton.

### March 11th - The Dweomercore and Mural's Gauntlet

Travelling north from Halaster study, the group encountered two statues which killed Devin with the Power Word Kill spell. Beyond this was a room with smoking braziers. To the west was the hag Wormriddle and four flesh golem. The golem were defeated but Wormriddle escaped. A secret door from this room led back to the entrance corridor bypassing the statues. North from the brazier room was a long east west corridor with a ghost examining the west wall. Doors north from the corridor led to a large lecture hall where a blue Slaad had just hatched from a corpse. South from the corridor was another lecture room.

Towards the student rooms was a taproom with Ellan Tanothal and three phase spiders. South of this was a gate leading to the Lost Level carved with stirges, flumphs and beholders. The student rooms were mostly cleared out as the students had fled. In Nialas Jowd room was an ogre zombie containing a spell book. South of the rooms were more mesoloths and a painting of Halaster featuring horrific scenes which caused fear and madness in viewers. In the alchemical laboritory was Cephalosk. After talking he left and returned to the Seadeeps.

Rooms nearby were for the students Violence, Turbulence, Yarick and the lecturer Karstiss were cleared out. Next to this was a garden room where professor Figment spoke at length. A nearby empty room , contained a secret chest revealed by the word Zunderbrock and a secret passage to the dining room.

In a room with a thaumatergic circle where it appeared that Spite Harrowdale had turned himself into a gold statue. The lecture room next door was set up for necromancy teaching where a floating skull called Professor Nestor lectured on basic necromancy. Nearby was an arcane gate to level 14 carved with an open book in the keystone.

A secret door led down to the next level where the party fought skeletons and three banshees before Mural the Misshapen (a drider) appeared.

### February 25th - The Dweomercore continued

While researching in The Vault, Yelrin found that Kuketh's control gems was in the Creator's study in the SE corner of the Dweomercore.Travelling towards it the group encountered two fiends in an empty room. When they entered and engaged them, two mesolith appeared and attacked. After banishing the mesoliths and defeating the fiends, two empty secrets rooms were disocvered on either side. North behind a door was the foyer of the study. The sdouble doors to the study were carved with the face of a demon or devil and it was guarded by a spectral floating skull which triggered two statues to attack.

The door could only be opened with a word of infernal. Within the study was a balck crystal desk and chair, the control gem and a book with a rune inscribed. This triggered and restored Ahners spells.

### January 24th - Zykram's Prison

Zykram was a poweful caster and was accompanied by 3 air elementals. A difficult battle ensued but Zykram was defeated. As Devin removed a moon shaped pendant from Zykram he warned him "You do not know what you seek!". Despite considerable concern from the rest of the party, Devin refused, or was unable to give any reason for his search for the necklace.

Returning to the Vault Ahner was able to research the following information in the Vault:

*You find several fractured accounts of the fall of the Melairkin Dwarves. In paticular one stands out:*

*'Before that which she bestowed upon him sapped the last of his free will, the last King under the mountain ordered that the scholars and priests of his clan should seal themselves within the Heart of the Mountain. There they were to spend what time they had preserving the histories and knowledge of his kin such that it would not be lost with them. It is said that they sealed themselves in the Heart of the Mountain and became one with it, eventually losing physical form and binding themselves into the stones themselves. This collective consciousness would be come known as the Keeper of Secrets Under the Mountain, Custodian of the Malairkin Legacy.'*

As regards the Sun & Moon Gate:

*You find, secreted in a small section away from the main rows of shelves lining The Vault, a small study. Scattered among them are various tomes and note books. Within one you find the following memoire:*

*'Finally I have done it! The gate is sealed and Undermountain is mine. I should have known the work I put in to constructing and perfecting the portal network for getting around Undermountain would prove useful beyond mere convenience. Much like my other Arcane Gates it requires some form of key to activate it, only this time there are two and only I know where they reside. Surely even one as powerful as she cannot find a way beyond that. Especially given her own wardings preventing the use of translocation spells within Undermountain prevent even her from teleporting out or finding some other magical route.'*

You find no mention of Zykram or Jhesiyra.

### **December 12th -** The Dweomercore continued

The party battled the headmaster taking heavy damage from him and his lightning golems before defeating him. Recovering his vault key and spell book, the group withdrew to the Slitherswamp for a rest.

Returning to the Dweomercore, the group encountered the student Cephalosk on the way to the vault. Attempting to deceive him by claiming they were looking for the headmaster to claim their reward for defeating the demon but hadn't found him in his office. He headed to the headmasters study to check. Continuing to the vault, the group unlocked it and entered closing the doors behind them.

The corridor led to double doors which portaled the group to a vast library demiplane filled with books and tomes. In the vault was a being called the curator who acted as a librarian and advisor. He agreed to transcribe the Liber Biologis so the original would not be removed.

Devin searched for the book of Zykram, a former apprentice of Halaster, who was imprisoned for pursuing forbidden magic. The curator warned Devin not to read any of the book in the section however much they begged but was unable to resist and was drawn into the book. The rest of the party followed and were drawn into a fight with Zykram and three air elementals.

### **November 23rd -** The Dweomercore

From the lecture hall the group decided to head back towards the headmasters study. To the east of the lecture was a long L shaped corridor lined with melted weapons and shields in some for of trophy display. Double doors to the east revealed a small room containing 4 statues of Halaster which animated and attacked. These were some form of Helmed Horror.

The back wall of the room was an illusion leading to a corridor lined with old and decaying books. The illusory wall was hidden behind a fresco and another fresco on the east wall hid another entrance to the vault.

To the north a door led to a dinning hall with seating for 12. Devin ordered food and a stew was brought by unseen servants. A door led to the kitchen where two spiked devils acted as cooks and attacked the party possibly after Devin complained about the food.

Moving beyond the kitchen and reaching the headmasters study, the group knocked and were invited in. The door was warded but Ahner naively trusted the headmasters and entered, taking damage when the rune detonated.

### **November 12th -** The Slither Swamp and the Dweomercore

Forestalling a fight, Ahner introduced himself and the group. The man introduced himself as Karstiss, an archmage of the Dweomercore. He offered Ahner the possibility of a place in the Dweomercore as a student and the group a task to deal with a summoned creature which had killed a student. The group agreed to return later for more information. Karstiss recovered a book from the remains of the golem and other things before returning to the Dweomercore.

Travelling further east in the swamp, the group encountered a glowing emerald which had aspects of conjuration and evocation magic but was only magical in the chamber it resided in. Beyond this was a hissing stone, carved to resemble snakes which could answer a question (augury spell). Telas asked if the continuing on would result in the defeat of the Naga and received a positive reply.

Further east were large caverns linking to the main swamp area already explored and a dead end passage with a gateway carved with snakes. This would be triggered by the crystal crown but this had been lost. The caverns were filled with the bones of Yuan-Ti and humanoids marking the battle with the Naga which had killed them.

To the south was a warm chamber with a raised dais at the end. This appeared to be a fighting pit where the Naga watched their minions fight to the death. Two Duergar patrolled the area, Ahner dispelled the control the Naga had over one of them triggering a struggle between them. This attracted the Naga (A bone naga and two others) and battle ensued. Icos, Telas and Devin were able to kill the bone naga, while Vorn and Yelrin tackled the other two. Defeating the naga broke the control spell over the duergar who left the level. The raised area contained a chest with a large sum of gold and platinum.

Descending to the Dweomercore, the group were confronted by a wizard who claimed to be Halaster Blackcloak. He offered safe passage for the cost of a magic item per person or if the group would deal with a summoned devil which had killed a student. He also offered a place as a student if Ahner sat an entrance exam.

Agreeing to deal with the demon, the group were given free access to the level and a rough directions to the summoning chamber. Travelling south the group found various room for study and training as well as accommodation for students and masters. One of the students encountered was Scriana Shadowdusk and her shield guardian. She claimed to be related to Xerion Shadowdsuk source of the decline of house Shadowdusk as described by Sylvia Featherstone.

Before facing the demon, the group were able to rest in one of the student dormitories. In a series of cells were 3 goblins kidnapped from Azrock's hold by a Nighthag called Wormriddle who lives in the east of the area.

Locating the summoning chamber, the door frames of the door to the summoning chamber was engraved with warding runes to keep any summoned creatures from escaping. The main room had a blood spattered tapestry and the body of the student Yareck. To the north through an illusory wall was the demon, a huge bull headed demon. After the group took some damage, Ahner was able to banish the demon on the second attempt. Hidden in a secret room, were 7 iron chests which were mostly empty but contained some money.

The group then searched the Dweomercore for Halaster to report their success but were unable to find him. Encountering multiple students revealed the Dweomercore to be a dangerous place where student were encouraged to eliminate each other to progress with little or no strictures on the morality of any magic cast or actions taken.

Near the summoning chamber was a room with graduation painting of the Dweomercore which magically indicate if the former members were alive or dead. To the south west the group located a potions brewery and the vault which is heavily protected by enchantments and required a key tablet in the possession of the headmaster.

Beyond this was a large room with a shaft descending to the next level, Murial's Gauntlet, revealing a cobwebbed temple like room with statues to the drow goddess lolth.

To the south west was a lecture hall containing Professor Bring, a sentient artefact which taught knowledge of the Outer planes, abjuration, conjuration and other skills. When questioned he revealed that the headmaster was an Arcanoloth, who masquaraded as Halaster Blackcloak a fact also confirmed by Karstiss.

### **October 22nd -** The Slither Swamp continued

Traveling south from the temple ruins, the group fought a giant crocodile and then three Drow, attracted by the noise, who attacked without provocation. Travelling to the east through dry passages the party found another drow chained to the wall.

This was Xerk of House Benray. He was given his freedom for information about the Naga. He explained there are three Naga, 2 magicians and one fighter who also has some magic. They use a rod to enchant or control drow and duergar each day and use them as slaves. The travel together and usually have 3 or 4 guards with them. He also warned us to be careful of Carstiss and his creations guarding access to the Dweomercore.

Moving back west the party found a arcane rune, triggering a Cloudkill spell and an alarm, guarding a dry passage. Dispelling this and moving forward, the party fought 2 wights and a flesh golem before being confronted by a man accompanied by 4 bull headed skeletons.

### **August 20th -** The Slither Swamp continued

After resting the party continued to explore the Slither Swamp. Moving south of the central temple. the group were attacked by two huge oozes with spell casting ability and memory drain (Oblex). The oozes used dimension door to cross the battle field.

At the central temple, the priest Torbir challenged the group and stated the temple was sacred to the Ku-Keth. Icos was able to shadow step inside and obtain a magic taper but triggered a trap summoning two Yuan-Ti swordsmen. After defeating them, the group were 'requested to leave' but not before Devin noticed that Torbir carried a piece of the broken jade staff from the lost level and stole it with mage hand. Telas used mending to fix the staff and it can be used to summon a snake companion.

Continuing south through the swamp, revealed another ruined temple containing another statue of Sseth, the Yan-Ti deity. Here a ghost of a woman called Bronwyn, in soiled black robes and a white mask, told the party that Ku-Keth is a death Slaad, enslaved by Halaster and the Yuan-Ti had been killed by naga called Sseth Scourges.

### **August 2nd -** The Slither Swamp continued

Skirting the temple to the north the group encountered more of the frog like humanoids. Though weary they were not violent and they suggested we speak with their leader Ku-Keth. After, travelling though the village of Black Tongue Isle, Ku-Keth turned out to be another being cursed by Halaster. He offered information on the Eye of the Spider in trade for the recovery of the crystal binding him to amphibian form, which resided in Halaster's sanctum in the Dweomercore.

Travelling south through the Slither Swamp, the group fought another froghemoth. After finding an arcane gateway in a dry cave the party stopped to rest. The gate was covered in small carved gears and appear to lead to level 10.

### **July 7th -** The Slither Swamp

The group returned to the Slither Swamp and continued their exploration, encountering three shambling mounds and a Froghemoth. On an island in a central western cavern was a ruined building with an altar of a snake swallowing its own tail. A ghost of an armoured human  figure searched around the altar but did not communicate.

The altar emitted necromantic magic and on touching it a cold feeling travelled up the arm but not other effect was detected. Heading norther a large temple complex was discovered decorated with winged serpents. It was guarded by eight froglike humanoids and 3 giant frogs.

### **June 18th -** Maddgoth's Castle continued

The next floor, was again well lit with a floor made of coloured glass and crushed gems. The floor surrounds the courtyard below which is enclosed. The NW corner room had a wolfs head in the glass panel and a coin in the door jam. Outside, a mop and bucket and unseen servant were wating to clean. The was empty and filled with cobwebs.

Sounds of crashing came from the central room and the homunculus was busy overturning furniture and emptying trunks. The room was full of trinkets, books and oddments of costume jewellery and other shiny things. He said he thought the invisible creature was nesting here and putting coins in the doors he was going in and out of. We said we would look for it. In the north of the room was a secret cupboard with statues, jewels, a potion of fire breath and coin.

The central western room was an alchemical laboratory with broken equipment, note books and 3 alchemical supplies.

Another mop and bucket and unseen servant were waiting outside the SW room. This room was scorched and contained badly burned fragments of wood and bones. It looked like a meteor swarm spell had gone off.

The central southern room had a large circular rug patterned with a gaping maw. Beyond this was a throne of iron and stained glass trapped with poisoned darts in the arms.

Hearing one of the stair traps go off, the group rushed to the stairs and found the invisible creature was a fairy dragon called Raygar. He had been captured by a Dweomercore mage. Raygar explained that the Dweomercore was a practicing academy for mage of questionable morals, that the arcanloth than runs it is dangerous and not to accept offers of free tuition. He had escaped and taken up residence in Maddgoths castle. We suggested he move to Wyllowwood and gave it directions to get there.

In the central eastern room, were 2 bats and a scroll of stinking cloud in a glass frame bearing the inscription 'Break glass in an emergency'.

On breaking the glass, the bats attacked and on taking damage transformed into 2 large green fiends who were killed or banished after a difficult combat.

The south eastern room was dusty and empty.

The northern room held an arch gate looking like a mirror. In front of it stood an unfinished statue of a merfolk blowing a conch shell. Blowing on the gate, playing music and touching it with a trident didn't open it. At the bottom of the mirror was WAY OUT written in reverse. Around the walls were 4 tridents which animated on touch and attacked.

The final stair case led to the roof which empty apart from another gate which appears to be for planar travel.

Returning to the ground floor, the party examined the courtyard. The statue was simply a statue of Maddgoth but the spell book held by the statue, showed the spell Mordenkanens Sword.

Leaving the castle and descending to the Slither Swamp, the group started to explore. The caverns are filled with shallow swamp water and populated with glowing fungal growths and fire flies. In the SW was the body of a duergar. His journey stated he had been looking for allies to help rescue his sister who had been bewitched by the serpent people in the south east. In the NE were frog people (Kuo-Toa?).

The group then returned to Modan.

### **May 14th -** Maddgoth's Castle continued

Moving to the room behind the courtyard, the party found it was empty apart from piles of small clay bricks. Leaving this, the group circled back to the south east corner of the castle. Here was another store room file with boxes and empty chests but also an arch gate leading to the Dweomercore (level 9). On the wall was a riddle.

"What appears once in an hour, twice in a blue moon and never in sunshine?"

The answer was the letter O and the gate open to an office in the Dweomercore with a desk, three pneumatic tubes and cannisters. A doorway in the south wall led to the rest of the level.

To the north was a dinning room. On entering, a bell rang and unseen servants started to lay the table for dinner. Food was produced from the kitchen in the next room. Within the kitchen were two storerooms which magically repopulated with food when it was removed.

The north east corner room door was trapped with a gold coin. Here Ahner was attacked by an invisible creature with a breath weapon (WIS save). Marking it with fairie fire, Icos was able to chase the large serpentine creature around the level and upstairs but it moved so fast the group lost it. The room turned out to be another storeroom filled with junk. The remaining center room contained a clay oven and two clay constructs which attacked. Defeating them the party moved to the next floor.

The first floor was opulently appointed with rugs and plush chairs and the group trapped the stairs to try and prevent the invisible creature escaping. In the center was a room overlooking the courtyard. Along with a table and plush chairs was an octobase with a naked old man in it. He called himself Zartem and said that Maddgoth had trapped him there. On being released from the base, he transformed into a grey slaadi.

In the northwest corner of the floor was a guest room with a nautical theme. The rug had wave patterns and on dresser was a ship in a bottle watched by a picture of Halaster. The ship in a bottle emanated transmutation magic and looked very realistic.

In the middle was another bedroom with a stained glass M on the door. The room contained sources of Conjuration and Illusion magic.

On the wall were 6 pictures of a fat smiling wizard which were the source of the conjuration magic. On investigation, after mage handing the pictures into the wave bedroom, the center room turned out to be empty apart from the illusion of a sleeping wizard in the bed.

In the south west corner was another guest bedroom, with another arch gate. This led to level 11 and the key stone was carved with a hand holding a lit torch.

In the south, above the entrance hall, was a room with an iron console. This had three levels controlling light, heat and the courtyard doors and 5 buttons marked music, roof, fog, lock down and do not press.

In the south east corner another guest room had two beds, stone chests with pyramidal lids, a brass hookah and on the wall was a sandstone disk carved with the face of a medusa.

The center east ern room was filled with files, mostly old and crumbled, listing wizards as deceased or lich. A door led to a store was sealed with an arcane glyph. After multiple failed attempts to dispel the glyph, Telas changed to a spider to pass under the door and found the room empty.

In the north east was another guest room with a canopied bed, an empty chest and wardrobe. The room was filled with the smell of smoke and behind the curtains of the bed was the charred body wearing robes and holding a wand.

### **April 26th -** Maddgoth's Castle

The party returned to the main cave and Telas transformed into a giant eagle and flew the group to the castle one by one. On entering a loud bell was heard ringing announcing their arrival. In the entrance hall were four flasks filled with green liquid being dusted by 4 animated feather dusters. Beyond this room was a corridor surrounding a large open courtyard in which a large status of a man wearing robes and a large helm with jagged blades was surrounded by beds of blue crystals. THe corridor was lit by crystal globes and windows looked out onto the cavern beyond.

In the south west is a room filled with rubbish, broken furniture, discarded robes etc. On opening the door a coin fell from the hinge as if left there to check if the door had been tampered with. Whilst the room was searched Ahner felt a tap on his shoulder but no one was there.

To the north was a privy and a bathroom with a vanity with combs and powders. To the north the party met and defeated a bone construct but Devin was petrified. After resting overnight in Leomunds Tiny Hut, Telas was able to restore him. The room in the norther west corner was also full of broken furniture. In it was Maddgoth's homunculus, who said the master was away and the party were able to persuade it they were guests.

From this room was a study lined with many wizards foci in the forms of orbs and wands and a desk had been made of spell books. Both had the appearance of trophies. 12 spell books were recovered intact. There was also a large mirror which was some form of planar storage device. Within was the mithril helm represented on the statue. Within the castle, it made the wearer invulnerable to damage.

In the north west of the castle was a room more discarded items such as books, brooms, and armour. These animated and attacked the party.

### **April 9th -** The Favour of House Rosznar, the Eye of the Spider and Maddgoth's Castle

In Modan, the party met with Esvele Rosznar to inform her of the death of her brother and to return the signet ring. She was upset but accepting of her brothers fate and would continue the work of restoring House Rosznar. She paid the group 500gp and promising the favour of House Rosznar in the future if the group needed it.

After she left, a dwarf named Joroth approached and asked the party to undertake a task for the Mirabar Assembly. An important emerald called the Eye of the Spider had been stolen by a group called Falkir's Fist, who had then fled into Undermountain. Through the use of divination magic, they had determined that the member's of Falkir's Fist were all dead and asked if the group could recover the emerald. He offered the favour of the Assembly and 2000gp after tense negotiations.

Returning to Undermountain, the party began their exploration of Maddgoth's Castle. The level appears to be formed of carved tunnels. Travelling around the north of the level, the group encountered 3 Umberhulks, followed by cave bears. The group attempted to pass the bears by befriending them with magic but one attacked. The group killed it only to find it had been defending its young.

In a huge cave to the north east, was a mithril spire atop which a miniature castle floated. When Telas approached as an air elemental, it grew to be a full size castle. Bypassing this for now the group continued exploring the level. In the south west, the group found an adult deep dragon with offspring. Both attacked with a breath weapon causing psychic damage before the group could escape.

After resting, the group explored to the south and east encountering a Stone giant called Gravelock. He and his wife, Kurock, and family lived on the level, extending and decorating it with carvings. Gravelock complained that the passages kept changing and he and the party encountered an illusory wall.

Travelling north, the party found Zorta, Gravelock's daughter, playing the flute. Icos befriended her by playing his flute and she told the group about the nearby rooms. To the south was a room filled with dead bodies in various states of decay and a black drow breastplate with the symbol of the spider queen was found. To the north was a room filled with moss. West was a family room, with Obsidian and Rhodos, Gravelocks other children, carving .

While talking with the children, Devin and Icos noticed some of the tools floating off and returning to the tool shed. Someone with powerful magic was interfering with the family.

### **Interval -** The Lore of Larue

Ahner came to in a meadow at the edge of a forest which stretched as far as the eye could see. To the south was a large, unnatural storm. Behind were mountains but travelling toward them brought them no close and the forest no further away.  As he approached the forest, three drunk satyr appeared and introduced themselves as Tregor, Artellio and Funagi They had been attacked by ravens and other creatures and asked for help returning to Polvar Plateau.

Travelling north with them to Polvar Plateau, they explained that strange thing were happening in the forest. The animals had become more aggressive and strange groups of human hunters were roaming the forest. They said that Wheeldeli would know what was happening and Faenor would know how to find him. After travelling for a few hours, and hiding from group of hunters, Ahner and the satyr reached Polvar Plateau.

Faenor, a huge maple tree, welcomed them home and explained to Ahner that the land was under attack by cultists of Malar and their hunters. The cultists were trying to corrupt the Pool of Eternal Spring and kill the celestial unicorn spirit Larue who resided there. Faenor directed Ahner to speak with Wheeldeli who lived in the village of Dewlight to the south.

Travelling south, Ahner came to a clearing with a hut and barn. On hearing frightened voices, Ahner found Grimoir the hag had captured two dryads. Unable to persuade Grimoir to release the dryads, they fought and she was killed. Freeing the dryads, Trickela and Argentia, they led Ahner to the barn where they freed their friend Hannah and animals from cages.

Carrying on, Ahner reached the fairy village of Dewlight where Wheeldeli explained that the cult of Malar were carrying out a ritual at the winter solstice to corrupt the Pool of Eternal Spring. Hurrying south to the pool, Ahner found the three hunters at a campfire and three cultists at the pool. A huge storm roiled above the pool with red lightning striking the pool. Although able to defeat the cultists and the hunters, Ahner was too late to stop the ritual. A corrupted version of Larue rose from the pool and attacked.

In a close fought battle, Ahner defeated the corrupted spirit. After Larue fell, a brilliant beam of moonlight cleansed the pool and Larue was reborn in the light. The spirit thanked Ahner and returned him to Modan with its blessing.

### **March 12th -** The Lost Level Continues (Part 2)

After the Keeper of Secrets answered their questions, the party continued their exploration of the Lost Level. Moving west through an empty room and north a small room contained the Rust Monster gate which leads to level 2. Following sounds of disturbance, the party killed an Umberhulk. North was an empty room and the route rejoined the main central corridor.

At the west end of the central corridor was a room lit by four crystal pillars with two dwarven statues which only allowed Vorn to pass. Beyond them to the north was a Shrine to the 4 gods Moradin, Berronar, Clangeddin and Marthammor. A brass mouthpiece had been left as an offering.

Travelling south to Melair's Tomb , the party explored east. To the north was an empty room and a triggered pit trap. To the south was a funerary chamber containing urn bearing the dead. The party then saw a figure which looked like Halaster but it was a grey slaad in disguise which they defeated. East was a room with statues of 4 dwarven kings and ruined tapestry. An undead bullete erupted from the floor and attacked. The party rested here.

To the south west was a refectory with two umberhulks and The Ale gate to level 12. In a side room is the Stone Key gate to level 8. To the east is a room with a pit and 2 levers which appears to be a crusher to dispose of rubbish. In a small side room is the Dragon wyrmling gate to level 3 gate. The party use the gate to return to Azrok's hold and complete the task by returning the dagger to Azrok and Lady

East of this is a shower room with a sauna to the south and a secret door to the east. Behind the secret door is a shrine to the dwarven god Abathor. North east of this is an Umberhulk tunnel to level 7. North through a wide corridor with two wide alcoves passages then lead east and west. West leads back to the room with the undead bulette. North leads to a ransacked room with an illusory wall behind which are 4 fragments of a jade staff.

At the south end is a secret door where some old bones float. Devin is possed by a spirit which speaks the following three phrases:

* "The heart of the mountain is sealed behind doors of black basalt that only a dwarf king can unlock. In the mountain's heart, you'll find your own greatness."
* "When you enter a room, speak the word 'xunderbrok' for all to hear. You might be rewarded."
* "Demons invaded our temple, but we trapped them in statues on this level. Beware them."

North and east is a large lit hall with an organ made of stalactites, 2 kettle drum and a tuba which fits the mouthpiece found earlier. Playing the instruments has no effect. An arch gate leading to level 11 can be opened by mage hand.

West and south is a privy where the party are attacked by a grey slaad which was invisible. To the east at the edge of the level are 3 circular ransacked rooms. North is an east west corridor with a carved face of Halaster on the east end.

North is a room with frescos depicting King Melair's obsession with Mithril and his attempts to rid Undermountain of beholders, duergar and drow. The following small rooms depict Melair's life as a prospector, training as a shield bearer, his coronation and life with his wife and children. Each room had a selection of trophies most of which had been stolen by the duergar. The crib held a baby which transformed into a crystal crown.

To the south west was a room with 2 gates. The north gate  is decorated with dancing goblins and the letter D is carved into the keystone. It leads to level 13 The south gate is carved with scantily clad elves holding fingers to their lips. It leads to level 18th.

West and south leads to the main chamber. North leads to a ransacked room with a duergar lying dead by a trunk killed by a trap and two umberhulks. Moving back through the fresco rooms the party headed north into a room lined with picks and shields. Past a pit trap and double doors is a well lit room with wooden manequins and a gate The gate leads to level 5 beneath Tyrolie's nest and is decorated with dancing dwarves.

Travelling west towards the entrance, the party found a library where on reading a locked book Ahner was transported to another plane. The party passed through a training room with animated wooden donkeys. In a secret room to the south was another arch gate engraved with beholders, flumps and stirges. Further west was an abandoned workshop and ransacked room with some smashed statues. Returning the room near the main chamber the party killed the dwarven revenants.

Riding their wooden donkeys, the party returned to Modan.

### **February 19th -** The Lost Level Continues (Part 1)

Returning to Undermountain and the Lost Level, the group continued exploring to the east. Finding more signs of damage by Umberhulks and more undead revenants. In a long corridor was a party of Duergar exploring. They directed the group to their leader Skeller exploring in the south.

Passing through a large antechamber a voice spoke out,

'Neither secrets nor treasures shall you find here. You are not welcome!'

South of this was a huge temple chamber with an altar and two clay golems. Skeller and her party attempted to pass the golems to access a chamber beyond the altar but had lost 4 party members. Negotiating the return of Azrok's dagger and a share of loot found for assistance in defeating the golems, both group attacked with the Duergar losing more people as their non magical weapons had no effect.

The door beyond the altar was magically sealed with the words 'Sealed by the hand of the king'. Seeing this Skeller left in defeat and returned with the hope of good will in future encounter with the iron eye clan. Relising that the hand of King Melair might open the door, Icos shadow stepped to the body and returned with the hand.

This unlocked the door and the party gained access to the sealed chamber finding some loot and a mirror gateway to level 10. This gate led to an abandoned laboratory where Telas found a message inviting Murial to give a guest lecture in the Dweomercore.

Here within this secret chamber, a voice calling its self the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain offered each party member an answer to one question about Undermountain and its denizens.

### **January 22nd -** King Melair's Tomb

After taking a short rest to heal, the party moved into the secret chamber to examine the sarcophagus. The room had a freeze of dwarven warriors on the west wall and ceremonial axes on the east wall. In the rear wall was a secret door leading to a short corridor sealed with another door. Unlocking and opening the door was a dead end. At this point Devin triggered a pit trap but saved himself with a casting of feather fall.

Searching revealed a another secret door in the dead end. This led to a room with a large tapestry depicting Melair and his warriors. There are also 4 statues representing the dwarven god, Moradin, Berronar Truesilver, Clangeddin Silverbeard and Marthammor Duin. Devin discovered that the statues contain the trapped souls of Melair's warriors, who offer to lead us to his tomb if we free them by breaking the statues.

Behind the tapestry is a variation in the wall which isn't true stone and appears slightly different to the rest of the walls. Ahner used dispel magic and the wall faded, revealed yet another empty room. Devin found another secret door and beyond this was King Melair and two grave guards risen from the dead. Devin used mage hand to steal the crown from his head and the group withdrew to the main room under cover from a wall of fire.

A difficult battle ensued with Melair raising the one of the downed guards to fight again but he was defeated and the Hammer of Melair recovered. The grave guards also carried shields bearing runes which enabled them to absorb energy damage.

At the rear of Melair's tomb was an arcane gateway but it is different to the others. It bears no markings relevant to any dungeon level, instead it has the carved stone visage of a leering humanoid female. Located on either side of the gate is a crescent shaped indentation and a circular indentation. Scrawled in Elven around the arch gate it says: 'By order of the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain, the way is shut. Only by the light of the sun and the moon shall the path be made clear.'

Returning to Modan, the group completed their task for the Temple of Gond by providing them with the Hammer of Melair

### **November 20th -** Wyllowwood and the Lost Level

Returning from Modan, Icos, Ahner and Devin, now cured of Lycanthropy, met the rest of the group in Skullport. While in Modan, Lyra Silverhand had offered to pay for all, or parts of, a rune stone made by Halaster, thought to be within Undermountain.

Travelling down to Wyllowwood the group completed their exploration of the southern forest and located the tunnels leading to Magoth's Castle to the east and the Lost Level to the south. To the west of the southern forest against the cliffs were long decayed bodies who appeared to be dressed as followers of Malar.

Descending through the Umberhulk carved tunnels, the party entered a series of dwarven worked stone passages with friezes lining the walls. Moving to the north and west, they encountered an undead dwarf with a gaze which could drain life and render people unconscious. Not making eye contact lessened the effect but made combat difficult. The body wore clothes marking it as one of the lost Malairkin clan.

Further north west and then south were work rooms lit by quartz pillars with Zorn and more undead. Many rooms were sealed behind heavy stone doors making progress difficult. A frieze in a corridor leading south provided many gems for the party gold.

From a meeting room south was the area found behind the portal in the twisting caverns. Here was much abandoned arms and armour of many races but no bodies. On the wall behind the broken sarcophagus was the dwarven inscription 'Our king is with the gods. His bones lie here' but no bones were present.

Whilst Ahner attempted a ritual casting of Detect Magic, the party were attacked by two umberhulks which burrowed in from a room to the south. When they were dispatched and the ritual completed, Ahner could see the black sarcophagus in the revealed room glowing with illusion magic.

### **October 30th -** The Blightstone, Wyllowwood and the Lost Temple of Malar

The Blightstone resisted all damage except radiant damage and produced waves of necrotic energy when damaged. Unable to produce enough radiant damage to destroy it, Wyllow was called for and she was able to destroy it. Within the corrupt grove was some gold and a bark breastplate.

Leaving Wyllow, the party began to explore and map the wood again. To the north, in the outer wood was a cave lined with crystal and crystal creeper. Here the group were attacked by a cloaker. Travelling south along the river edge a passage was seen in the east river wall but left unexplored. Further south the river split east, leading out of  the level, and west leading to a series of caves and abandoned buildings.

In the caves, a group of were goblins were living. These proved peaceable but warned of another of their number to the south called Mobar who wasn't. The abandoned building were all ransacked. There were signs that it used to be a stronghold of followers of the old god of the hunt Malar. When examining an abandoned altar, an undead priest appeared and attacked. This had the ability to cause fear and take over another being. In the altar was a scroll of speak with animals.

When exploring the remaining caves, Mobar attacked the group and infected Devin with lycanthropy before he was killed. Wyllow was unable to help so the party returned to Skullport and Icos and Devin returned to Modan.

Wyllow explained that to the east was the Lost level which had recently been made accessible due to the tunnelling of Umberhulks. Also east was Magoth's castle and then the Slitherswamp.

### **October 16th -** De'Avon

After resting the group travelled back to Wyllowwood to attempt to lay Deavon to rest. Wyllow could not face him but gave the party wood ring each enchanted with 3 healing wood spells and two wood totems which would form a healing area which would offer protection and healing from the corrupted area where De'Avon.

Travelling deeper into the corrupted zone the party fought an undead Owl Bear before locating the blight stone. This radiated necrotic energy sapping their strength. Switching in and out as required the party were able to fight and kill De'Avon who was able to transform into a T'Rex twice and summoned two tree creature to fight with him.

This left the Blight Stone to destroy before De'Avon could regenerate.

### **September 18th -** The fight for the Shrine of Bulbaslop

The party return to Undermountain and spent the night in Skullport. Returning to the Shrine of Bulbaslop, the party tried to entice Illune to the surface with false offers of treasure and food. When she surfaced, they attacked but it was an illusion. A difficult combat followed against Illune and two lobstrosities but the party prevailed.

In a small secret cavern nearby, were a pair of +2 short swords, Yin and Yang. After notifying the Kuo Toa, the party returned to Skullport to rest.

### **August 14th -** The Xanathar Guild

Lady Silverhand requested an audience with the group. The conflict between the Xentarim and Xanathar Guild had gone quiet but she was concerned about the news the Xanathar Guild were amassing arms and resources. She feared that an all out war between the groups could change the balance of power. If one group gained ascendancy, it could disrupt balance of Modan.

The group headed back to the Xanathar Guild hideout they had stumbled upon during the Dragon Heist adventure. Infiltrating the hideout, the group encountered a gnome (Flutterfoot) who agreed to show them around after his riddle had been solved. After he was asked to show the group the most secret part of the complex, he led them to the main audience chamber and Xanathar himself. He proved to be a full grown beholder and the party rapidly withdrew to consider their options.

Returning a week later the group carefully infiltrated a different section of the complex. After defeating a couple of gazers the party found a fighting pit with two minataurs fighting a lone halfling woman for the amusement of 6 guild members. After defeating the guild members and minataurs the group were able to free the woman (Samara Strongbones) and the other prisoners captured for the fighting pit (Graz a male half-ogre from Skullport, Railin Afrindar a female drow from Undermountain and Gia Shung, Claudio Benzrick and Arthright Greyfalcon human residents of Modan).

After leading the former prisoners to the exit, the party ventured further into the complex. Here the encounter Amerigo, one of the Eyes of Xanathar, inspecting some new troops. (4 humans and 3 Kua Toa). Amerigo called the group forwards, indicating the party had been observed but fled when the fight started. After defeating the troops and seeing an eye stalk in the ceiling watching them, the party followed Amerigo's tracks into the lower levels. In a room with 4 dead beholders in crystal cylinders and beholder shaped urns, the party were able to defeat Amerigo and 3 gazers after a difficult combat.

After disturbing the room, smashing one of the crystal cylinders and emptying the urns the party returned to TrollSkull manor.

### **Interval**

In Modan, the plague was receding and life returning to normal. Telas spent time with Wyllow and found out that Halaster is still alive and busy on the lower levels. He is eccentric but contactable and scrying  one people in the dungeon.

**July 17th -** The Twisting Caverns (part 3) and Wyllowwood

The group travel down the Sargon river and begin exploring the last areas of the Twisting Caverns. The area is littering with the bodies of troglodytes all killed by bites to the back of the neck. Whilst exploring two spawnlings drop from the cave ceiling and incapacitate Icos and Vorn with some form of psychic attack. After defeating the party find a magic smoke pipe. After defeating another spawnling which incapacitated Icos, Telas and Vorn the group encounter three more, one of which was more powerful that the previous ones. Battered but undefeated, the party headed down river to the Wyllow wood leaving Illune for another day.

The party reaches Wyllowwood which is a large brightly lit cavern filled with trees. On the shore is a sign stating "Wyllow protects this forest. Harm not lest ye be harmed". Beaching the raft and going ashore, Telas speak with a bear. He describes the level and says that Wyllow lives to the east in a tower and abandoned guard building lie to the south. Investigating the buildings, reveals the Dead Tree gate which leads to level 2. The guard building are abandoned but contain a lantern of continual flame. Travelling along the overhead walkways the party reach Wyllows tower. Beyond the tower the forest is dying and corrupted. She tells them the sad story of De'Avon, an apprentice of Halaster and her former lover. He stolen magic from Halaster to build the wood for her and was cursed to live as a part man, part tree undead hybrid bound to the Blightstone which is corrupting the wood and keeps De'Avon alive. If we can destroy the Blightstone and kill what remains of De'Avon the wood will be saved.

To the south of the wood is another tower where Tyrolie the green dragon lives. Formerly called Valdemar, he has been transformed since a sword with an emerald blade was driven into his head. He seems content with this change and is now peaceful, desiring only stories and gems. In the rooms below Tyrolie, the group find 4250 gold, a black pearl which glows when undead are near, a potion of gaseous form and a scroll of Heroes feast.

### **Interval**

Icos and Ahner returned to Modan using a Teleportation Circle provided by Taz. Ahner was able to negotiate a cure for Derribeth from the Temple of Mishakell if the group could get the Liber Biologis from Undermountain. This would also cover the debt owed to cure Yelrin of the Slaad infection.

On return to to Trollskull Manor, Ahner and Icos found the place ransacked, the nimblewright, forge and laboratory destroyed and a note from Bregan D'aerthe warning us not to interfere in his business again. The repair cost will be 3000gp as Icos was able to negotiate a free repair of the nimblewright if the group recover Melair's Hammer from Under mountain.

Devin discovered that a race of creatures called the Illithids have lost some of their spawnlings which seem to be misbehaving and killing people. They've offered to 'smooth' any passage the group might have in the Seadeeps if proof is provided that the spawnlings have been dealt . Apparently a race called the Githyanki (who are from a different plane) have a small fortress on that level and are likely to have many strange and potentially lucrative items...

There's a good chance that these spawnlings are the things that have killed the troglodytes in the twisting caverns.

### **June 19th -** The Twisting Caverns (part 2)

After returning to Skullport to rest, Icos managed to track Sylvia Featherstone down to Lower Skullport where she is living in squalor. She greeted him warmly, though all is not well. Several of her clan have gone missing in recent days in the Twisting Caverns. They occasionally head down there to harvest fungus for their home brewed fungus beer, but two of them went down and have not been seen since.

"Ain't nobody around here will look out for anyone but themselves and certainly not folks like us. I know you've already helped me out once and we ain't got much money to spare, but can you help us?'

She also told him the following story about her past...

'I was once a daughter of House Shadowdusk before it fell to madness and ruin. My sisters, Arandraya, Maelween and Yarlithra, were once famed explorers who delved deep into this dungeon and in doing so they came into possession of a strange magical tablet which allowed contact with creatures from beyond this realm. Alas, the tablet fell into the possession of my brother Xerrion Shadowdusk who sought to use it to crush our business and political enemies. The tablet, or perhaps the creatures it allowed him to communicate with, slowly drove him mad and that madness spread to other members of the household.'

She gestures towards herself 'They began...experimenting, dabbling in eldritch magics. Eventually the madness that infected our household spilled out into public view and the Duke ordered an investigation. With the help of the Mage's Guild, they burned down the old family home and slew my three sisters. My brother fled into Undermountain with the tablet and I escaped with the servants I could save and fled underground. We made our way here with naught but the clothes on our backs and we have been here ever since. We serve nobody but ourselves, our house is lost and the once great name of Shadowdusk is now forever tarnished.'

Icos gave her money for food and clothes and promised to look out for her clan members.

Returning to the Twisting Cavern, the party started to investigate the rest of the east side of the level. After Devin fell foul of  an giant trapdoor spider the party found Meleth the Drow priestess which they had met using the Coin Gate on level 2. A fight ensued and Meleth and a companion were slain. A scroll case and spell book were recovered and there was a letter on the desk from Vlonwelv order Meleth, T'Rissa and Pellanonia to return to Murial's Gauntlet to help her defend it from the Freth women who reside in the Maze.

Travelling further south, in a cavern filled with fungus the party found Bard and Brock, Sylvia's friends. They had hidden to avoid a Drow party and were escorted back to the level entrance and returned to Skullport. In the same cave was the remains of a gnome adventurer and their hut containing 2 healing potions. Further travelling mapped the passages on the north side of the Sargoth river which became increasingly polluted travelling downstream from west to east with a smell reminiscent of the Aboleth fought on level 3.

The party returned to the river and cross to the south bank. Entering a cavern with a high dark ceiling containing roosting Hook Horrors, they back tracked and headed south east. Here in a small cave were 4 Koa-Toa. They seemed ill and were eating a mutated crab like creature. Speaking Undercommon, they said that the sickness started after Illune came and we should speak with King Nugaloop. THey also said they didn't venture further south because something bad lived there. Telas gave them clean water and goodberries and told them to eat and drink from further upriver.

King Nugaloop says a creature called Illune has taken the lake and shrine from them and if the party can recover the shrine for them, they can keep the treasure on it. Raft into the lake, Illune speaks with the party telepathically. She has set up home in the lake and the poisoned water make her more comfortable. She seem unconcerned by any damage caused and will not move. THe party with draws to consider options taking the treasure of the shrine as they go.

Returning to Skullport to consider options, Ahner persuades Derribeth to join them and hopes to find a cure for her 'madness'.

### **May 1st -** Skullport and the Twisting Caverns

The party spent a day exploring Skullport and its varying establishments, searching for work and rumours to follow. After a nights rest at the Flagon and Dragon, they discussed their findings in the common room. Yelrin and Ahner had heard the following:

* A group of Duergar are planning to mount an expedition to the Crystal Labyrinth to trade with the Gythyanki there. The Crystal Labyrinth lies beyond Acturiadoom and the Obstacle Course.
* A group of Drow were overheard discussing their escape from the Shadow Dusks who may be demon worshippers. The had to run Murial's Gauntlet to escape.
* A long running feud exists between Wyllow and Valdemar in the Wyllowwood. Wyllowwood is 2 levels down from Skullport and can be reached by travelling the River of Depths from the Twisting Caverns of level 4. This was revealed by Nightshade who also offered money for ingredients from Wyllowwood.
* As you pass through Herald's Meet Square a party of bedraggled looking adventurers pass you by. They look to have been through a lot and some carry burns across their skin. They do not stop to talk to you, intent on getting to wherever they are going as quickly as possible. You catch them discussing the mages of the Dweomercore, somewhere beyond the Slitherswamp. Whatever happened there, it clearly did not go well for them.
* Finally, on your return to the Flagon & Dragon, you see a group of hobgoblins huddled in the corner sipping....something. You are not quite sure what. 'I'm telling you, it was Azrokkog sure as day. I don't care what name he was going by it was him. Best not tell the boss though, not sure how he would take it. Been a long time you know? Besides, Arcturiadoom is a long way down from here. Ain't no chance he would go even if he knew.'

The party decide to venture deeper into Undermountain, return to the entrance to Azrok's Hold and descend to level 4. The air becomes fetid and damp and the passages are carved from the rock opening into caverns filled with giant fungi and Zerkwood trees. In one of the first caverns they meet an Ettin who mentions a feud between the fishy folk and the stinky lizards, the river is poisoned and that spider people live to the east.

Heading further east there is a side cavern to the north set up as a laboratory. Here works 'The Alchemist', a young human male, who works to develop his craft without the oversight and rules of the surface world. The fungi provide good supplies and he sells the party a potion to prevent magical sleep and a potion of Understanding (Comprehend Languages/Tongues). He also fills in more details of the Ettin's story who he calls Jibber Jabber. The Fishy Folk are Kuo-Toa and the Stinky Lizards troglodytes. The poisoning of the river has driven the Kuo-Toa mad?

In another cavern to the north sits a woman in a robe talking to a toad. She is Darabeth, a mage who travelled deep into Undermountain 2 or 3 years ago from Winterhaven searching for knowledge and Lore. She seems lost and disturbed asking if her wife Zergala sent us or if we are demons. She had been captured by demon in the Shadow Dusk and was deeply disturbed by the experience. She was searching for a book guarded by an powerful undead creature. She warns of a lake to the south with something big in it and that Zerkwood Grove can be reached crossing Zerkwood Bridge. The toad turns out to be a quasit called Tir who has stayed with Darabeth as it is safer than his own realm who doesn't know he is a demon.

Further east is a sloping cavern containing traps leading to a chamber with 2 drider and 5 giant spiders. Avoiding the traps the party manage to surprise and defeat them. In the corner of the cave is an gate. This has a keystone with a mountain topped by a moon with a hole in it. Surrounding the gate are niches containing statues of a Black Dragon, Unicorn, Umberhulk, Owl Bear, Minotaur and a Manticore. The unicorn figure activates the gate but an Eldar rune appear and the party lose non magical items and gold. A goblin called Boggle also appears, transported from the Caingorm peaks to the west. Beyond the gate is a worked stone area of level 6 which is sealed behind a door. The area appears untouched and contains a sarcophogus. The far side of the gate is surrounded by niches for statues and a keystone of a mountain topped with a sun but it has no hole to activate it. After a brief scout of the far side of the gate by familiar and Ahner, the party return to Skullport with Boggle who would like to accompany them and possibly return to Trollskull manor with them.

### **April 10th -** Azrok's Hold and Skullport

After a nights rest, the party explored Azrok's Hold. The gate in the hold has a gold dragon wyrmling with an open mouth. A gold coin doesn't activate it. The building are decorated with a yellow banner with a bloody hand in a red triangle. The party gains an audience with Azrok to inform him the Drow were defeated. He is thankful but wearily expects them to return. He believes that they are trying to develop a staging post in Undermountain to attack Modan and explore the lower levels. He relays the fate of Kresando Roznar who was trying to set up a slave trade between Modan and Undermountain. After failing with the Xanathar Guild, he tried Azrok's Hold but was killed and fed to the Otiug. He also states that the Xanathar Guild have an ambassador in the Hold called Ulkwiss who is a Mindflayer.

Azrok's partner, Lady Lurkana, asks us to join them in a private audiance to discuss work. While waiting for the appointed time, the party investigated the orphanage and discover that child are regularly being sent to Kinrob and that he isn't what he appears to be. Azrok and Lurkana ask the party to recover a magical dagger which allowed Azrok to see. They believed that it may have been stolen by two Duergar of the Iron Hand clan who came to the Hold to discuss business. They offer us 1500gp and Roznar's signet ring if we recover the dagger and kill Kinrob who is an Oni who they have had to placate by giving him children to eat.

After defeating Kinrob, the party travel to Skullport, searching for any sign of the Iron Hand duergar. Icos uses to disguises to ask the smiths of Thaglar's foundry if they had seen them. They though they had stayed at the Black Tankard Inn. Again speaking with staff and customers suggest the duergar were returning to their home on level 6.

### March 20th - The ruins of Stromkuldur (part 4)

After defeating T'rissa and finding no sign of the imprisoned wizard Marta Morningstar, the party headed down river on a raft examining the caves discovered on the way. Reentering the domain of the hags revealed caves filled with bones, the wreckage of ships and a goblin Lurke) and human boy (Devin Stormshare) held prisoner by the hags. After releasing them and triggering a trap the party fought the hags but Devin was killed in the cross fire.

Heading further downriver, other caves contained old but lifelike statues, some spectres searching for their lost treasure and an abandoned guard post. Heading back into Stromkuldur and Azrok's hold the party fought an undead beholder and haggled with some goblins for a broken statue. Entering the hold, the party had to register and get papers before being allowed to enter and explore.

### **February 27th -** The ruins of Stromkuldur (part 3)

On returning to Modan, Feryldis was called away my the church to help with a plague. After purchasing some healing potions the party returned to Undermountain. Clearing the area taken by the Drow, the party found a cell containing Talas Hawkmoon, a male wood elf druid.  He was manacled with arcane binding to prevent shapeshifting. He and a party of other druids and rangers had entered Undemountain to investigate a source of corruption but had been ambush and captured.

Agreeing to travel together, the group cleared more rooms encountering quaggoth and grimlocks. Finding a kitchen and hearing sounds within, Devin attempted to block the chimney and flush out the people but fell through the roof. Crashing into the room, the rest of the party joined him to fight 3 drow guards and free some goblin and hobgoblin slaves who returned to level 2.

Returning to the temple area and hearing sounds of chanting from the behind a locked door, the group waited for the door to open. As the door opened revealing T'rissa, Palonia, 2 drow elite guards and a dryder, they group tried to rush the door but were frustrated by a web spell. Combat was difficult, but with Talas in the shape of a sabre toothed tiger and Devin riding him, eventually successful.

### **February 13th -** The ruins of Stromkuldur (part 2)

Departing the room with the stone basin, the party headed south finding a barracks with 11 bedrolls and chests containing changes of clothes. Exiting through the opposite door and heading south again the party found another barracks, but this one containing 6 drow soldiers and a warrior. The soldiers proved easy to defeat but the warrior cast magical darkness and had poisoned weapons.

Continuing to investigate southwards, the party found multiple abandoned rooms and encountered a giant spider before entering a passage leading south and east to a cavern forming a beach on the Sargoth river with rafts and poles. Another passage headed south to another beach. Here a black gondola with a skeletal ferryman waited to take passengers to places unknown.

Set into the rock wall to the north west are large stone doors carved with chipped and vandalised dwarven figures. This leads to another set of doors which were magically locked. As the party investigated, they were attacked by a large aquatic aberration.

Unable to open the door, the party followed another passageway to the south. The branching passages lead to a bloodstained chamber littered with poisoned hand crossbow bolts. Beyond this was a chamber containing 3 troglodyte corpses and an arcane gate with a keystone bearing an old man with a staff. Unable to activate the gate, the party headed back though the passages and found a party of Hobgoblins. Approaching carefully and speaking the name Lorash, the party parleyed with the Hobgoblins who share map information. To the north east are the Hobgoblin controlled ruins of Stromkuldur ruled by warchief Azok. To the South is the passage to Skullport. To the Northwest is the passage to level 4.

On the way back into Stromkuldur are identical carved dwarven doors which presumably lead to the same area as the door on the beach. These are unlocked and lead to a large room filled with partially carved stone blocks and a sleeping elemental of some kind. Icos and Devin investigate and find one of the blocks is a fake made of plaster covering an alabaster throne carved in the Elven style. Carefully recovering this without waking the elemental, it is identified as an enchanted throne where the person sitting it it cannot tell a lie. The party carried the throne back to Modan.

### **January 30th -** The ruins of Stromkuldur

The party returned to Stromkuldur and began to investigate the ruins. The buildings in the north are all long abandoned and damaged. In the north west it appears that the cavern had collapsed, possibly deliberately, to seal the area.

In the south there are signs of occupation and the party found a guard room with the stuffed heads of goblins and hobgoblins mounted on the walls and 3 high level Drow warriors using poisoned blades. After defeating the Drow the party searched the room revealing a dresser containing robes with scarab symbols and a locked chest. The chest contained an onyx spider figurine, incense, a dagger with a poison reservoir, a black silk robe woven with gold spiders, a healing potion, a birch wood wand and a spell book belonging to Marta Morningstar.

Travelling on, a locked and apparently abandoned room contained a mirror etched with spiders. This showed a normal image at first before changing to a liquid like figure with a single eye which screamed and disappeared. A drow patrol of 5 was then encountered and killed and the bodies hidden in the room with the mirror.

In the south east was a room with an empty stone basin and a vein of turquoise and granite carved to look like fish in a stream. Aligning the movable fish with the stream caused water to flow and fill the basin with water and a magical fish. On capture the fish turned into a gem of water Elemental summoning.

### **January 16th -** The Sargoth River

Returning to the cells the party freed a hobgoblin named Lorash of the Ashrock clan. He had been captured by the Drow whilst fighting with the Drow in Stromkuldur. The Drow had taken over the south east corner of the ruins and were using it for excursions into Modan and deeper into Undermountain. Lorash returned to his clan travelling to the South East.

The party followed later finding a route filled with howling winds and spider webs. The way was blocked by a centaur like creature in the form of a Drow male and spider. Tormented by the winds he let the party past after silence was cast. He explained he had failed a trial for Lloth and had been cursed to this form. At the end of the passage was the Sargoth river. Here writing indicated Skullport was downstream and a pirate treasure hoard was upstream.

Crossing the river the party found a cave and were attacked by 10 humanoid creatures with grey palid skin, wispy hair and ravenous expressions. Beyond them was a cave with 3 old women with pale skin covered in barnacles and seaweed in their hair. They were peaceful and indicated Skullport was 2 to 3 hours downriver by boat. Travelling upriver and avoiding combat with a giant lobster like monstrosity, the party found the treasure hidden in the ceiling but were attacked and badly injured by 2 Barlgura released by the trap.

The party then travelled back to the north west and entered the ruins of Stromkuldur. This was a huge, but partially collapsed, cavern filled with stone buildings mostly badly damaged. Travelling down the east side the party found a cavern with a Chimera lying on a nest of treasure. A huge 3 headed monstrosity with the body of a lion, the heads of a goat, a lion and a dragon, dragon's wings and the back legs of a goat. After defeating it the party were able to return to Modan with its gold.

### **December 5th -** Drow Dungeons

The party returned to Undermountain without Feryldis who had temple business to attend to. Beginning exploration where they left off last time, they were ambushed by giant spiders which could phase in and out. Checking the cocoons after the fight, revealed a live goblin, who had been fed to the spiders by a nearby drow cult. Freeing the goblin, the party headed south in the area controlled by the cult.

Passing through a series of corridors and rooms, defeating 4 Quaggoth and a drow mage, the party came upon a prison containing 3 drow prisoners and Keldex a male half elf abducted from Modan for sacrifice by the leader T'rissa. Keldex said that a cell nearby contained Marta Morningstar a sun-elf who had entered Undermountain and tried to join the drow Passing further into the complex the party fought and defeated 6 guards and T'rissa herself who were found in the act of torturing willing victims. The female drow, Palonia, found claimed to be a daughter of the house of Rindar and worth more alive than dead.

The area also contained some form of summoning / travelling circle written in blood and entrails in Abyssal. Also found were a symbol in the form of an obsidian scarab with a carved sigil in the belly

### **November 21st -** The Sea Maidens Faire

Over the last few months, Icos had been trying to infiltrate the Xanathar guild as part of an attempt to gain intelligence and disrupt their activities from the inside. He had hired an office in the less salubrious part of town, posing as Hector Nado, an Elven arms dealer, looking to expand his business by selling arms to the guild.

As part of the next stage in gaining their trust, he had been tasked with retrieving a fish that a drow had stolen from them. He had tracked the item to a collection of three ships in the harbour known as The Sea Maidens Faire travelling carnival. In fact this is the base of operations of a Drow thieves guild called the Bregan D'aethe led by Jarlaxle Baenre.

The ships are called the Heartbreaker and the Hellraiser which are docked either side of a pier. The Eyecatcher is the biggest and moored further offshore. Icos staked out the ships and managed to identify that each ship has roughly 20 crew and that the ships are guarded in eight hour shifts by at least three people. They are always disguised while going on deck and the leader has not been seem coming or going .

The party gained the use of an experimental submersible craft from the Temple of Gond. Waiting until night, and after disguising themselves, Icos, Yelrin, Devin and Ahner used this to approach the Eyecatcher unseen, while Vorn and Feryldis approached in a rowboat disguised as fishermen. A hatch is found in the underside of the Eyecatcher and Icos, Yelrin and Devin left the submersible and swam into the ship whilst under a spell of invisibility.

Making their way through the ship, they located the fish in the captains cabin but couldn't enter due to a magically locked and protected door. Using a distraction by Devin to divert the captain, Icos shadow stepped into the room to recover the fish. The captain noticed this and raised the alarm. After exiting to the deck, Icos raced to the moon pool to escape. Devin and Yelrin were involved in a brief but dangerous combat with the Drow crew and the Captain who proved to be a powerful spell caster. Devin, and a severely injured Yelrin, escaped over the side whilst Vorn, Ahner and Feryldis provided distraction through fireballs and cross bow fire.

Recovering Icos, Yelrin and Devin from the water, and after banishing a shadow demon, the party were able to return to shore with their prize.

### **November 7th -** Statues and Skeletons

Heading east from the caryatids reveals a long corridor with side rooms filled with very lifelike statues of humanoids and animals, even an Illithid. These are likely the petrified denizens of the Undermountain. At the end of the corridor is a secret room containing a statue of the mad mage.

To the west of the caryatids is a room filled with broken sarcophagi and two Owlbears. After defeating the Owlbears, a search of the room reveals a Pot of Awakening and a secret room containing a carved alabaster sarcophagus of a High Elf. To the west is another room containing 3 broken tables and ceramic shards.

Following a rising corridor, the party narrowly avoid a rolling bolder trap and find a room with sloping tables fitted with manacles and bowls which may have been used for corpse preparation or worse. Attached to this was an office containing books on Elven and Dwarven history, alchemy, gem craft, a book of monstrosities and a spell book containing 8 spells. The alchemy and gemcraft tomes were beyond saving but the others were readable. In one of the funerary jars lining the walls was a white pouch of illusion dust.

Returning to the Temple of Dumathoin, the party entered to find 5 dragon skeletons arranged on wires for display. At the end of the temple was a tomb containing a dead tiefling adventurer.

Heading for the stairs, the party descended via an arch bearing ruins of abjuration magic. At the bottom of the stairs and heading east was a dwarven tomb with a rough cavern to the north with passages containing 3 Grick. To the east was a passageway southeast with more caverns to the sides. THese web filled caverns contained 3 humanoid creatures (Quaggoth) with wolf like features and clawed hands and feet.

### **September 26th -** Automata, Aberrations and Beer

After a short rest, the adventurers returned to the leaky door and opened it carefully. Water flooded out and, when it had subsided, revealed the corpse of a drowned mage, ruined papers, basic robes, quarterstaff and a glass wand arcane focus. Travelling south to the previously explored areas, another gate was discovered in a secret area. This had dead trees in the key stone and was activated by a magic wand. Scouting with a familiar, revealed a 40ft by 30ft room containing the corpse of a dead halfling with a silvered sword.

South of these rooms, the group heard signs of activity and found two floating undead aberrations with large single eyes and multiple small eyes on stalks. After an initial sneak attack, the creatures were defeated after doing heavy damage with multiple types of magic ray fired from the eye stalks. The next chamber was a sleeping chamber marked with the symbol of the Xanathar guild. In a secret area the Rust Gate was discovered.

To the south again the party were attacked in a long corridor by automata balista shooting firebolts. Beyond this was an abandoned dwarven brewery containing another undead aberration and, behind a series of traps, a cache of dwarven beer preserved by magic.

In the SE quadrant of the level, is a temple to Dumathoin. The friezes have been partially defaced and the dwarves replaces by tentacles. Nearby is a room with 4 pillars carved into female elven caryatids holding flowering branches facing inwards. This is guarded by another automata figure with a bow which challenges anyone who who entered the centre of the pillars.

Returning to Rizzeryl, to notify him that Shunn Shurreth had been defeated. He gave the party the stone key and stated there were 2 routes to Skull Port:

1. Heading South West on the Sargoth River
2. A tunnel in the south west quadrant

He also said that the elven caryatids performed restoration magic and would turn stone to flesh and that the temple of Dumathoin contained a hall full of dragon skeletons.

### **September 12th -** Duelling Drow

The party returned to Undermountain and opened the Mural door. These turned out to be the rooms belonging to Rizzeryl. He agreed to provide the party with information on Skullport and level 3 if they would deal with the Xanathar guild led by Shunn Shurreth. The guild were located in the north east and south west of level 2. Rizzeryl had also taken a stone key from Shunn Shurreth which bore the Dwarvish inscription "Meet me on the Lost Level. Find my twin in the Slither Swamp".

The party returned to the goblin market and headed into Xanathar guild territory. Here a room and altar dedicated to Jubilex were found and despite appearing to be covered in gold, were left untouched. The party headed north until they encountered 2 bug bear guards. After responding to a password password challenge, the party were beckoned forward but took damage from traps before locating Shunn Shurreth. He offered the party a deal to recover the stolen key but the party declined and a fight broke out. 7 humans, 2 bug bears and Shunn were defeated.

Heading south through various store and sleeping rooms, the party encountered and defeated a huge gelatinous cube before finding Midna, one of the remaining Fine Fellows of Daggerford, in a room with invisible servants and food. Haleth and the party fought Midna and the servants. After all were defeated, Haleth took a Symbol of Levin from Midna's body and, having completed his vengeance, turned to dust.

### **August 29th -** Mines, Mouths and Haleth's Revenge

The party returned west to investigate a closed door. The room contained 3 ghasts, abandoned mining equipment and gnawed bones. The adjoining room was empty bar another page torn for the journal of the mage who created the copper floor trap and the ghouls.

In the northern alcove of the long rectangular hall was an altar to Dumathion, the dwarven god of secrets. Moving the east the corridor passed though an unfinished mines. A the following T junction the party were attacked by three fleshy monstrosities of mouths and eyes (Gibbering Mouthers). The ground around them was difficult to escape and they spat blinding goo.

Deeper into the former mines the party heard sounds of combat and found Rex the Hammer, leader of the fine fellows of Daggerford locked in combat with 2 Nothic and a 4 armed bug like creature which could cast cloud kill. The party and Haleth were able to defeat the monsters and Rex. The party were able to recover some gold, a rope and a silvered sword.

Heading east was a corridor with a route north back to the dwarven altar blocked by a wall of bones. To the east were a sequence of finished and unfinished rooms, some filed with giant spiders. In these rooms the party were able to recover a chain shirt, a silvered dagger and a ring of swimming.

Further unfinished and abandoned rooms rooms and what appeared to be a magical dwarven cold room yielded no further knowledge or treasure. The final door bore a mural of a dark mantel descending onto a dwarf was barred by abjuration magic. At this point the party returned to Modan.

### **August 15th -** Empty chests, Drow and Experiments

Returning to Undermountain, the party headed south west, via room with a water pump and basin, then north into the abandoned chambers. Behind a barricaded door, a construct carried out what appeared to be alchemical experiments. It wore a shoddy cloak covered in patched shaped like eyes. Though it spoke it seemed trapped in an endless cycle of forgotten experiments and ignored the party.

North of this room, was an abandoned camp with the recently killed corpses of three bug bears and an intellect devourer. On one of the bugbears was a note which said 'As many as there are stars in the sky'. A corridor led north but circled back to a room next to the one with the bugbear camp. Within the loop of the corridor was a secret room containing a gateway with a keystone carved with falling coins. Next to the arch was a slotted stone. When a gold coin was inserted, new symbols flared into life on the arch and a portal formed within it.

Scouting with Ahner's familiar, revealed a large cavern containing three Drow warriors, who exited the portal and warned the party not to enter their domain, ruled by someone called Meleth. They also derided the adventurers lack of understanding of the portal system.

Moving on, the party found a harpsichord made of bone playing a haunting tune. On the room of the wall was a worn series on notes forming a melody. Icos was able to play it on the harpsichord unlocking a secret compartment bearing a scroll of raise dead.

Returning to the pump room, the party went west into more abandoned chambers, which belonged to a former servant of Halaster called Calabash. His room contained a damaged summoning circle under a rug, some books and a locked and trapped chest which proved to be empty.

Returning to the pump room and travelling east, the party found a series of abandoned laboratories, One room contained barrels, 3 containing copper ore and 6 containing ghoul which attacked. Beyond this was a room with a flesh golem, and a copper plated skull floating above a copper floor. As the skull floated about, lighting bolts arced from it to the floor. a difficult fight ensued with the skull casting spells and resisting most attacks.

A tunnel lead east to a long rectangular hall running north to south.

### **August 1st -** Mirrors, Maps and Markets

Deciding not to further explore beyond the mirror, the party returned to the remaining unexplored door in the South. This led to a room containing a pit in the floor and a floor to ceiling map displaying a cross section of Undermountain revealing in has 23 levels in total. Trapped in the pit was Haleth, a former member of the Fine Fellows of Daggerford. Murdered by his colleagues after he accused them of hording treasure and now a Revenant seeking revenge for his unjust death. After some negotiation, the party agreed to help him from the pit to allow him to complete his mission.

A study of the wall map, revealed that the room beyond the mirror was on the 10th floor and that buttons indicated that portals to Skull Port (level 3), Star Dock (level 16) and Halaster's Tower (level 23) were inactive.

A secret door led South to a room with a statue of a two headed dwarven king. To the North East were a series of room containing goblins, bug bears and two headed humanoid giants with tusks bearing a brand of the Xanathar guild, all of which the party fought and defeated. Following this the party found an old forge containing a sack of coin (150gp) and iron bars (120). In a passage containing  elven statues, the party were attacked by a creature disguised as, or transformed into, a statue holding a golden spear. It suddenly developed eyes and a large gaping maw. This is likely to have been a mimic.

Returning to the two headed king the party found stairs in the west leading down to the next level. After descending for 10 minutes the party reached level 2. Here to the East was a series of room containing a large goblin market, presided over by Yek, its human leader. He said that Kresando had passed through on his way to Skull Port. He gave the party some information about level 2. To the South are abominations, creations of failed magical experiments. The Xanathar Guild has an outpost led by Shunn Shurreth, a former drow. They are currently at odds with another drow group led by Rizzeryl.

It was here the party returned to Modan to rest.

### **July 11th -** Undermountain - The Troll Lair

The party returned to Undermountain and the lair of the troll and manticores. The surrounding rooms bore signs of the troll butchering people for the manticores and itself to eat but little else apart from a copper tankard and a tin tankard in the abandoned rooms.

To the south of the manitcore room was the corpse of a basilisk holding a Drift Globe. Two centipede like creature burst from the corpse and were dispatched. Further south was a room containing 11 disturbingly life like statues which the party later found out were victims of the basilisk. The party were attacked by a black pudding masquerading as a statue. Nearby was the corpse of a long dead dwarven adventurer. Feryldis cast speak with dead and the party learnt she had been called Brocknar. She had been searching for treasure many centuries before and told of secrets to the south. Here the party found a copper crown with 6 malachite peaks.

Returning to the far south, the party encountered another gelatinous cube and were observed by an arcane eye. Nearby was a mirror which when touched by a magic item turned into a doorway, leading to a large room with decaying archery targets and the corpses of 4 dwarfs.

### **June 20th -** Undermountain - The webbed statues

The party continued down the corridor of statues. To the right was a short corridor. Behind a door was a small room containing nothing but spirits. These passed through the party and into the wall​​​ opposite. Despite a long search, no secret doors were discovered to indicate where they may have went.

To the north, a door led to a descending corridor, which ended in a room containing a statue of a four armed sahuagin holding a locked stone box. Above the statue floated a bubble of roiling green liquid. The box was opened but the acid trap triggered, damaging Devin. The box contained a withered humanoid heart. Feryldis identified it as a sort of necromantic joke. Attuning to it kills the holder and replaces their heart with the withered one. Their heart appears in the box, for the next unwitting victim. On removing the box to transport the heart, the statue animated and fought the party.

At the end of the corridor stood double doors marked with an Eldar rune. When touched, the runes can randomly bestow a boon or bane. In an effort to learn more, Feryldis and Ahner touched the rune and Ahner gained the effects of the Freedom of Movement spell and could cast the Knock spell for 24 hours.

Behind the doors, the party encountered three manitcores and entered battle. Combat went well until a cursed or undead troll joined the battle. This radiated necromantic energy and downed Ahner and Icos before all creatures were defeated. At this point the party returned to TrollSkull Manor to heal.

### June 6th - Modan

Yelrin was healed by the Temple of Mishakel but now owes them a favour in lieu of payment.

Feryldis’s research found nothing on Harria Valshtar but that Jhesiyra Kestleharp was a Modan guild mage around 200 years ago. The party headed to the Mages' Guild and spoke to Gwynn, the head archivist. He revealed that Jazera grew frustrated with the politics and slow progress of guild training and entered Undermountain to train with Halaster Blackcloak.

He said the guild would be interested in any further knowledge of Jhesiyra from Undermountain and any discovered magic items. He took the Slaadi tadpole for further research

Undermountain - Undertakers to the Undertakers

The party descended into Undermountain from the Yawning Portal and returned to the temple complex in the ‘vampire bandits’ area. The dead creature was a wyvern and the crystal shards a broken magical containment device of some sort.

Harria Valshtar and her group were located. She controlled a flesh golem and was persuaded to meet with Uktar Krannoc in a neutral location. The party returned to Uktar and persuaded him to do the same.

On meeting, the party engineered a confrontation between the groups and a fight between both factions ensued. The party were then able to defeat the survivors. On searching their quarters, it was revealed that they had been a travelling dramatic society called the Undertakers, before turning to a life of crime.

Further investigation to the north found a dead body with small bites marks, a room of pillars and a long corridor of statues full of cobwebs and a dead giant spider.

North through the pillar room led to another damaged arcane gate. Heading south found a room full of skulls that spilt out into the corridor. The corridor ended in a secret room with a copper throne and helmet. Wearing the helmet and sitting in the throne caused a Wand of Secrets to drop from a hidden compartment.

The party returned to the statue corridor which stretched east and contained 38 granite statues (19per side) of human warriors.

### May 23rd - Undermountain -  The room of the bronze mask

The image of Halaster Blackcloak offered to answers three questions, but the answer to one would be a lie. The questions posed by the party were:

* How do we defeat the greatest danger in Undermountain?

*You'll find the thing you should most fear*

*Deep within the lower tiers*

*A beast once noble, regal, hallowed*

*Corrupted now, consumed by shadow*

*To speed it to its final breath*

*Seek you out the power of death*

* What is the greatest treasure in Undermountain?

*That with you doth seek to muster*

*Lies with a house shorn of lustre*

*Its holder blue, its contents read*

*In hands once living, now undead*

*To claim this prize, to make it yours,*

*Those hands shall have to die once more*

* What is the greatest secret in Undermountain?

*Keen of wit, a mind as sharp,*

*I speak of Jhesiyra Kestellharp*

*She who served then fled the master*

*The one in black, the mad mage, Halaster,*

*Deep within the stone surround,*

*Her body gone, her spirit bound,*

*And yet for all his knowledge great,*

*Even he knows not her fate.*

After receiving the answers, the party travelled to the south east of the level and encounter multiple Grick (wormlike monstrosity with barbed tentacles and beak). After killing them, Devin found a survivor, Kellin, hiding in a cupboard. He was a member of a group called the 'Fine Fellows of Daggerford'. After speaking with him, he departed Undermountain leaving us with a spell book he had found.

Further investigation of a temple area revealed an obelisk covered in bloody hand prints and logos of the Xanathar Guild. Yelrin made a bloody print of his own and received a vision

* A perilous descent lies in your future. The Two Headed King looks to his left at the passage you are destined to take.

To the north-west was a large room with pillars of black painted bone containing 2 Grell (sightless aberrations that resembled giant floating brains with tentacles and a beak).

Returning to Uktar Krannoc and the 'vampire bandits', he requested that we kill his former ally Harria Valshtar. To the north of his location was an old sleeping area containing a coffin filled with earth and a vial of holy water. To the east of this was a former throne room containing a dead flying creature and trapped throne which animated and poisoned Icos when he sat in it.

The party then returned to Modan to rest and heal Yelrin owing a debt to the Temple of Mishakel.

### May 9th - Undermountain -  Goblins, Bugbears and walking brains

Chasing the trail of the intellect devourer led the party to a room filled with bugbears and goblins, but a successful charm spell allowed them to be defeated with relative ease. Nearby was found a cloven shield bearing the name Nimrath.

Travelling back more slowly over the chase route, the party found an archway bearing arcane symbols which led to a long corridor. The symbols were badly damaged and the arch bore the hallmarks of wild magic. Whatever its original purpose, it is unlikely to be safe to use.

Travelling east the party found an alcove containing a bas-relief of a man playing a harp. Underneath were the words

* Gaze upon me with bronze visage and secrets will be revealed

The passage west from the headless statue led to a temple area. After dispatching 2 more bugbear guards, the party found a secret area that held 16 heraldic shields of pre-Realm barbarian tribes. After being observed by some form or spell and fighting an air elemental, the party found a series of chambers decorated in a dwarven style.

Heading south through a secret passage, the party were attacked by a gelatinous cube before finding a corridor filled with statues of dwarven warriors. Here they met a female wererat called Silvia Featherstone. She was searching for treasure to buy food and told us of Skullport, a city located further down in Undermountain. This is a trading city populated by many races and she had heard the name Kressando Rosznar mentioned recently. The party offered to pay her to act as a guide if they reached Skullport.

In a room to the west the party encountered a large blue, amphibious creature which appeared to be raising young in steaming pools of water. It attacked, Yelrin was injured and infected by its claws. He was left unable to heal.

The party returned to the mirror corridor and used Unseen Servant to recover the bronze mask. Wearing the mask and stepping into the alcove, Ahner was transported to a room where an illusion of Halaster Blackcloak offered to answer three questions, though one of the answers would be a lie.

### April 11th - Modan - The Yawning Portal

The party received a request to meet at the Yawning Portal Tavern from the Lady Esvele Rosznar to rescue her brother from Undermountain The lady Esvele introduced us to Feryldis, an high Elf cleric of Gond who has promised to assist her. She offered the party gold and the favour of house Rosznar if they agree to help her.

The proprietor of the Yawning Portal, Durnan, told the party that Undermountain was a huge Dungeon populated by many different factions and monsters built by Halaster Blackcloak, the Mad Mage. Magic is unreliable and communication and teleportation spells often do not work as intended.

Returning to Trollskull Manor, the party found Devin Nalarys searching Vilari's room. He was persuaded to join the new quest as we hadn't seen Vilari for a while.

**Undermountain**

The party returned to the Yawning Portal in the morning and descended in the lift into Undermountain. At the base of the lift was a room lined with shields. Behind one of them was the following written in Elvish blood

* Behind the pillar forest, the mad mage waits casting spells behind magic gates

Further on was a room with demonic reliefs on the north wall. To the west was a lower room filled with pillars. To the south a secret door lead via a rocky passage to a partially flooded room with a Saughin statue. To the north through another secret door was a blood stained wooden armour stand with a sword stuck in it, the handle gripped by a skeletal hand. This was a cursed blade which cannot be dropped once held.

Heading north the party found a room with 9 pale figures wearing aristocratic clothes with claws and fangs. Their leader, Uktar Krannoc, asked the party to deal with bugbears which had been troubling them. The party returned to the pillared room where a sign pointed south stating

* Certain death this way

Straight on was a long room full of mirrors with a bronze mask lying in the centre. The party was attacked by a party of goblins and bugbears. When defeated, Intellect Devourers burst from the heads of the bugbears and ran south. The party followed the trail south passing a headless female statue.