Session 24-A: Pit Fiends

## Key Plot Developments

Glyn and Trix process Nigel the flumph's claims: first, Misu isn't a devil; second, there's a mind flayer controlling a group of powerful psions in the tunnels. Nigel continues: there's a hydra in the center of the caverns and he thinks the cultists of the Demogorgon control it. The flumph was attracted to the area by the surge of faerzress, and wants to clear the dark forces out of the tunnels, but lacks the power. He asks for the party's help.

Trix is worried about staying in the tunnels for too long and provoking Themberchaud's ire, so he sends a message to the dragon. Themberchaud approves of his escapades on the condition he return with information as soon as he leaves the cavern. Misu mentions how open-ended this edict is. Glyn spars with her about her general untrustworthiness.

The group, fearing death at the hands of psions, cultists, followers of the Lady of Rot, or even a hydra, rests. Glyn reaches out to Tempus, the god of war, in his dreams. He's greeted by a friendly, mohawked goblin. By the end of the dream, Glyn is more confident that he hasn't lost touch with his patron. He cuts his hair into a mohawk in his god's honor.

Trix, on the other hand, dreams of fishing in a sea of ice cream. He gets a bite; it's a miniature vrock. He doesn't know what this means.

As they keep moving, Glyn recalls the prophecy Pyrite received during Miss Anna's hallucinatory parties; it referred to the tunnels. He asks the Dark Prince about it and receives a message that, if Pyrite can't fulfill the prophecy, Glyn may have to. He implies it may mean leaving Misu and Trix behind if they threaten his plans. Glyn is okay with it.

The group intimidates their captured derro; even under harsh interrogation, they are unhelpful. Finally, Nigel helps read their minds; they discover that Themberchaud's egg was taken by the cultists. The group wonders what they plan to do with the red dragon egg. They continue to a new room.

This cavern is one enormous pit that reeks of death and decomposed flesh. The glow of faerzress is everywhere, seeming to flow like fog around dark shapes shambling across the pit floor. A single derro watches from atop a 15-foot-high ledge. A crack in the southeast wall of the pit leads to a narrow tunnel and is flanked by mounds of fungi and offal.

The group notices a derro savant and several zombies guarding the pit. They attack, killing the guardians (despite the derro's shocking use of invisibility and lightning). They discover Pelek's old hand in the mound; it is reanimated as a crawling claw, but they easily dispose of it. Pelek's ghost takes the now-dormant hand, puts it inside his ectoplasm, and proclaims his undying loyalty to Glyn, Misu, and Trix.

The group, listening to Nigel, hears that the egg is close. They follow his directions.

After a steady upward climb, the tunnel opens into a huge, well-lit chamber. The glow of faerzress and bioluminescent fungi compete with shafts of white light that fall upon naturally formed shelves along the walls as well as a rocky mesa at the center of the cavern. Crudely formed ramps connect the different levels of the mesa up to the height of its two topmost tiers, which are linked by a sturdy bridge. Atop one of those tiers sits a large red egg. Atop the other stands a 50-foot-tall obelisk made of smooth black metal with a few noticeable imperfections, as though small parts of it were somehow chipped away.

A female derro stands close to the obelisk, gently patting and stroking its surface. The obelisk flashes once, the glow of faerzress around the cavern flaring in response. The derro squeals with glee as she snatches an object up from the ground, then writes something down in a small notebook. Across the way, they notice a large egg!

The party sends in Glyn's crystal wraith to steal the egg. The wraith almost gets it, but a spectator (like the one that led to Spiderbait's death) appears and sounds the alarm. The derro, a cultist of the Demogorgon named Pliinki, orders the heroes' capture. Trix bluffs her by referencing his own past with the demon lord, but the others aren't easily dissuaded and easily subdue Misu. Misu is unconscious. Glyn decides to BARELY revive her. Trix, paralyzed by the spectator, watches on.

Misu is left prone with a group of derro cultists. Panicking, she looks at the obelisk. She deduces its magical properties and shoots fire energy at it. In a flash, the fire hits the stone--and she vanishes.

Glyn has the wraith steal the egg, grabs Trix, jumps onto the wraith with Trix, and begins to leave. Misu, as far as they know, is dead. Cultists are chasing them. But the egg is theirs!

## New NPCs

1. Pliinki, derro cultist of the Demogorgon

## Memorable Quotations

* **Glyn:** Trix, why aren't you speaking to me?
* **Trix**: I'm thinking about what to say.
* **Glyn:** You're just standing there and staring off into space. And making faces.
* **Trix:** This is what I look like when I think.
* **Glyn:** Is that the same face you use for Misu to shoot you?
* **Pelek:** Ooh! What is the face that I am making right now?
* **Glyn:** ...toothy?

**Misu:** Loopholes are the best part of contracts!

* **Glyn:** Pelek, can you float through stuff?
* **Pelek:** Can I float through stuff? Now, you have come to Pelek at an excellent time, for Pelek is very willing to float through anything in his path!

**"Tempus":** Death ain't shit, Glyn. It ain't shit!

**"Tempus":** Hey, man. That sounds like harm! And, like I always say, when there's harm, there ain't no foul.

* **Misu:** Who's Slagathor?
* **Trix:** He owns a bed and breakfast.
* **Glyn:** It's good. You should go.
* **Pelek** (staring off into the distance): ...
* **Trix:** Oh! You know who else would really like this bed and breakfast? Hey, Pelek, come over here and let me catch you up on the conversation!
* **Pelek:** Oh! Oh, me? I was just thinking about...my own things. Am I referred, too?

**"Tempus":** Say hello to your mo'....hawk!

* **Trix:** If I'm cursed AND you're cursed, who's gonna un-curse us?
* **Pelek:** I would like to throw MY hat in the ring!
* **Trix:** Really?
* **Pelek:** I just want to help.

**Pelek:** It is fine! If I wept for all of the things I cannot do, I would be in a CRIPPLING depression!

* **Glyn:** Sometimes you need to protect people, Trix!
* **Trix**: By killing your family?

**Pelek:** I did not know if you are for real or if you are for fake. Now, I know you are for real.

* **Nigel:** It's a je ne sais quoi.
* **Trix:** Of course. A Jennifer say-qwa. A juzz-duh-zay-ka.

**Pelek:** If you follow your dreams, it will work out. Every time!

* **Glyn:** Pelek, there are a lot of bodies around here. You could possess one.
* **Pelek:** Of course! Ah, yes. It reminds me of my trauma.

**Pliinki:** What the actual f\*ck is this shit? How DARE you intrude in the work for the Demi-dad! Wait..it's not often a moronic group of sacrifices just falls into my lap. The Demi-dad will be so pleased with his little girl!

**Pliinki:** Come on, buddies! Don't you want to let the greatest dad of all time into your heart?