• Avuin - RGR, NG, Owes 1,100 debt to Alexios.
• Sapphira - PAL1 of Rook.
• Alexios
• Galador
• Fothas
• Oswald - CLR, AL CG.

We are hiring the following Hirelings:

• 1 Linkboy, also a Torchbearer for 1 sp.
• 1 Porter for 1 sp.

We are traveling through the streets of Mombafra and overhear a few well-dressed gentleman accusing us of unleashing some Toads. He talked about an event from some months ago about the guards dragging an enormous Toad out from his house. Apparently they are plaguing the grounds on his property.

Fothas says he dredges up stuff like that all the time because he is a Dwarf. The man tells Fothas that “It must be how you find your meals”.

Sapphira attempts to DETECT EVIL from the group of men but no evil is detected from these men. The gentleman that bought Icon has been trying to get rid of the statue ever since. The Toads arrived back at his entryway each day and one of the Giant Toads almost ate a child.

We return to the well and head down.

Inside the well chamber, the water level at the entryway has not changed. The corpses that were here have been considerably disturbed, some of them partially eaten, but there is no life in them.

We check the door with the carved face on it but it remains closed. Instead of getting the door open, we go down the alternative method we created by busting through the floor. We go into the chamber with the Elf statue and we can smell more death. The gems are still there. We look in and see a pit with spikes and the body of a man in leather armor that is impaled on the spikes. Hanging on his belt is a heavy looking purse.

Galador lowers himself via our rope into the pit to retrieve the purse. Just before he gets down there, we fire a crossbow at the dead body. The crossbow bolt strikes the corpse and grubs emerge out from the body. These are ROT GRUBS!

The purse is a big sack and there is a small velvet pouch attached to the belt. Maervahr drops a lit torch down the pit to give him a chance to retrieve the pouch and purse.

• 200 ep
• 100 gp
• 1 gem - hematite worth 10 gp.
• A longsword, well kept.

Above the statue the ceiling looks plain. The base has an Elvish word but also has water damage. Something is off about the statue…Suddenly, a stone falls on to the solid ground and makes a stone on stone sound.

We move through the southern door and find an altar to Tralf in here. At the same time, there is the sound of a rapid skittering coming from down the hall.

Avuin forms up at the front line with his two-handed sword. Several Giant Ants emerge from the corridor and attack!

They have AC 3. Avuin swings and hits doing 11 damage. He slays one on the charge.

• Oswald does 3 damage.
• Sapphira does 3 damage.
• Alexios hits for 7 damage.

There are 3 Giant Ants left. Sapphira, Galador and Oswald are attacked but both Ants missed. Oswald is hit by one for 3 damage.

Galador does 8 damage which kills one!

In the next round, Galador is attacked but he FENDS OFF BOTH! Meanwhile, Avuin obliterates one for 12 damage, killing it! Oswald is attacked and takes 2 damage this time. Galador manages to kill the final Ant!

Oswald is healed for 5 damage as he casts Cure Light Wounds on himself.

Out Linkboy has a torch and there is one magic sword that glows for light.

We have some trouble with the final door but it opens on the second attempt. We enter the chamber with the destroyed altar. The water and moisture that was previously in here is now gone and the ring around the altar is dry. We also locate a destroyed stirge nest and see some melted slag that is frozen in place. This was an altar to Sleal.

We tied up 100' of rope in order to descend downward, into the pit.

Galador, Fothas, Avuin will descend the pit first. The entire pit was formed by a melting power as though a hot rod melted directly through the stone. Below is an open chamber seen by our torchlight.

We enter a vast circular chamber with 20' hallways going in four directions. It is a domed, high ceiling and along the curved dome are several helmeted Dwarven faces. Their faces appear squat and bold with a look of imposing determination. Around their heads is some huge Dwarvish script along, carved along the outer ring.

Fothas can read the Dwarvish. Avuin follows the script and reads along with Fothas to learn Dwarvish eventually.

BEHOLD THE HAMMER AND SHIELD OF THE INDOMITABLE BASTION, MON-KARAG, BORN OF 
KOS-TOR, BIRTHRIGHT OF KOPAN-QEL, SEAT OF HIS SONS. IN MON-KARAG, THE BLOOD 
OF THE EAST FLOWS ETERNAL. IN MON-KARAG, WE ARE UNBROKEN BY TIME.

The biggest mountain to the east is called DI-TOR. KOS-TOR is different. Fothas does know that MON-KORAG is a place and the other words are the names of individual Dwarves.

These are 20' hallways. This might be Mon-Korag. The faces look ornamental in nature but do not look like persons. They are similar only in their basic features.

Meanwhile, everyone else in the party descends.

The air smells of a mixture of very stale and a kind of dry stale. Fothas drink a potion of gold detection and feels like there is gold somewhere.

There is no airflow down here. Fothas carefully checks the stone but finds no rocks or dust anywhere on the floor. We wonder if a Gelatinous Cube has been in here…

There are stairs to the left that are going up on the north and south. There is also a door to the south and a set of double doors at the end of the hall.

We open the south door.

This reveals a curved wall going west and another door to the south. The stairs go down on the east end. There are several lantern hooks on the walls and we find two crates that are already open. There are currently a couple hooded lanterns hanging from the wall hooks. The crates are not entirely full, they all appear to contain flasks of oil.

We all grab 4 oil flasks and Avuin grabs a hooded lantern and lights it. We open the door after listening.

We see two full rings of stone beds about the same as the entrance chamber and to the left is a corridor. There are also many racks on the walls with many swords and longswords and some two-handed swords. We also find 4 horizontal levers with 2 positions each.

Crawling about inside this chamber are 5 Giant Ants.

Avuin throws an oil flask to the ground to deter the Ants. NVM, HE CANCELED THAT.

A crossbow bolt is fired but misses and bangs off the wall, which disturbs an Ant.

• Avuin prepares to receive a charge.
• Alexios holds the door.

The Ants charge and all 5 Ants survive the charge.

There are 3 Ants on Fothas and Avuin, who has AC 0. He is bit for 6 damage and Avuin is bit for 5 damage.

Sapphira hits one for 7 damage and Oswald hit one for 6 damage. None of them are killed yet but there are 3 wounded Giant Ants. There is 1 attack against Sapphira who is HIT for 3 damage. Avuin is attacked by 3 of them and takes 5 damage. AVUIN IS DROPPED!

In the next round, Oswald or Alexios heals Avuin for 4 hitpoints and he is no longer bleeding out!

Sapphira kills one and Oswald kills another. The remaining two ants flee!

Avuin is pulled out by the party as we make our way back to the center of the top floor of the dungeon. When we arrive, we find that the rope is presently missing and is dangling 6' above the floor, but the rest of the rope is missing along with the coil.

The party forms a “human pyramid” to get a rope tied off to the dangling rope. It works and they manage to get out! Then, they pull Avuin out of the well with the rope.

Adaeril joins, replacing Avuin.

On the next day, we hear that Hired Mercenaries were looking at our party. We are currently located in a populated area of the city.

We come across several Ruffians but we just walk past them.

We climb back down the well and make our way back. As we head to the bottom level, Adaeril ties off another rope and then casts Strength. He gets an 18/40 which grants him +1 to hit / +3 to damage!

We ignore the levers in the room and go north.

We find a room with a hole in the east wall, some stone table and some shelves and chairs.

Oswald throws a flask and we block odd the exit with the stone table. Then, Oswald throws some copper on the ground to track a potential Gelatinous Cube, if one is moving through. We might see it in a room if there is a Cube in here.

We go south through the door and find some cramped quarters. The walls are impressive with carved patterns that simplify the structure of the walls and create a “harmony” feeling for Dwarves. Otherwise, the chambers are not impressive and there is a door to the south.

We open the door.

There is another cramped area that was not made for a king. We notice the 4 Stirges that are attached to the wall.

Adaeril casts Magic Missile. We do notice that unlike the previous ones we faced, these are regular Stirges. The Magic Missile explodes one of the Stirges in blood and guts and one is now destroyed.

Galador and Fothas each kill one stirge each leaving only one left. Adaeril charges in as the remaining Stirge tries to fly away in panic.

Adaeril does 5 damage to it and it is destroyed.

There is a big curved table in here that is meant to serve this room however there are no chairs. There are two doors.

Adaeril uses Detect Magic from the Rod of Alertness. We do not detect anything but we open the door and the room to the east opens.

It feels a bit clammy going beyond the door to the east.

Adaeril attempts to detect illusion, evil and magic in here but finds none. There is a stone stairway that descends down into a cavern where it looks like the wall has been mined out. The air is quite cool.

We find several 3' diameter balls arranged in a line and Adaeril can detect magic coming from the balls. There are no magic runes just a magic force enveloping the area. Sapphira taps on one of them.

When she steps into the chamber, suddenly a panel opens on the top of one of the balls. Like a circular top hat, it lifts off from the ground on three legs, all 3 extending out in union. A bunch of machinery also comes out below it. The mechanical nature of this thing is just a torso and a long head. There is also a circular panel, like a shield, from which another arm ends in a claw as long as a short sword.

The Mechanical Creature stares at Sapphira as she approaches and with this, one claw begins to spin quietly. This “Sphere Person” has no mouth and it makes no reaction. It makes no move as we approach.

Fothas asks, “Are you created by my people”? He tries to communicate and the Sphere notices Fothas speaking however, it makes no noise from its face.

There are actually three of these Sphere Creatures. They move to shift out, to basically fan out, to face the party.

Now, Oswald tries to talk to them. He can see that they are made out of some sort of alloy that is gold in color but is not gold.

He says, “We are seeking Ain the Traveler”. The central sphere extends out a clawed arm and then opens its claw. A sharp spike emerges violently. The Sphere then points to the west and lowers its arm.

We hear whirring noises as the door closes.

The party departs in peace.

We go through the double doors toward the south of the central chamber. We are checking another set of double doors and then move in.

The party steps into an arena or fighting circle with a central section, like a fighting ground. This is where they would hold stone clad fights, carrying huge weights to weigh them down in battle.

As we enter, all of our magic swords flicker out…and we notice a huge disgusting beast! It has the wings and body of a Stirge but is also like a Hydra, with five heads each ending in a proboscis. Each head is like a Stirge…

We see other creatures, more Stirges, that Look like large Goblins but we are not in melee but they are an inch away from the Hydra. The massive Stirge thing shoots out black liquid at all of us except for Oswald.

Sapphira, Alexios and Fothas fails their saving throw and are now blinded. Adaeril saved.

The 5-Headed Hydra Stirge charges into combat. Galador throws oil flasks and burns the thing as he does 8 damage to the Hydra. A Stirge neck erupts in flame and also splashes onto another flying Stirge. This does 3 damage on the 1 Stirge and to 2 Hydra Heads for 3 and 2 damage.

The splash actually kills another head so now it only has 3 functional heads. The 5 other Stirges charge the party.

Fothas hits one for 7 and kills it, though Fothas is blind. Adaeril hits for 6 damage and kills another one!

He also takes 3 damage from a Stirge which begins to drain him. There are still 3 other living Stirges and a huge Hydra creature that has emerged off from its burning mound.

Adaeril attacks the attached Stirge while Sapphira removes all of their stuff and Alexios just leaves.

We must hit AC 8 to hit big one.

Oswald hits for 6 damage with his SLING OF SEEKING! This destroys one of the heads.

Adaeril does 5 damage to the one Stirge attached to him and kills it! Galador attacks a Hydra Head and HITS! He only does 1 damage.

Galador is hit by a Stirge next and then takes 3 damage as it attaches. The Hydra moves off the mound and attacks us in melee as the nest behind the creature erupts in flame.

Adaeril casts Magic Missile at a Stirge and a Hydra Head but the Stirge hits him causing him to lose the spell.

Galador is drained for 4 damage by the Stirge and the STIRGRA engages us in melee.

Both of the Hydra Heads attack Oswald and one hits, then attaches to Oswald, dealing 6 damage and draining his blood at a rapid pace. Sapphira does 12 damage and cuts off a head! Adaeril kills the last head on the Stirgra!

Meanwhile, Fothas kills one of the flying Stirges and there is only 1 Stirge left. It does 2 damage to Galador as the Stirgra body crumples to the ground. The domed ceiling of this chamber fills with a brown smoke and we are now sweating from the fire due to the intense heat of the roaring flames.

There is one attack from a Stirge, this one on Galidor, and then the Stirge tries to flee. Before it flees, Adaeril does 11 damage to it. The Stirge is dead.

In this chamber, all of our magic items are disabled but fire still rages in the center. We try to spray blood from the Stirge bodies over the raging fire and eventually, it extinguishes.

Adaeril investigates the nest but much of it is carbon now. After 10 minutes, Adaeril finds:

• A blood covered object buried in the nest.
• The head of a small statue or idol that is completely covered in blood.

Adaeril cleans the small statue head. Fothas knows that this is a golden idol of Rook, an aspect of a Dwarven sentinel. The idol holds a hammer and shield and is decorated with brown and green garnets. It weighs 300 coins.

There is no magic in the room or on the idol.

• Gold plated idol with garnet gems.

We stay on the same level and go north and west. In the main entry room, we find the same bottom of the main rope and see that it is burned through again.

Adaeril has 20 turns left on his STRENGTH SPELL, which did not go away due to the anti-magic in the previous chamber. This effect only temporarily nullified magic in the room.

At the bottom of these stairs we find spears that point upwards, toward us. There are two “U-shaped” benches on a circular platform.

Adaeril uses the Rod of Alertness but detects no magic and no illusions here. There is nothing of note except the platform and benches.

We began searching this chamber but do not find anything.

We are not surprised.

We look to our left and see a form just 20' away. It is floating in mid-air along with some coins and a vial.

This creature is a Gelatinous Cube and it is 10' wide! Adaeril casts SLOW. Some of the other party members are throwing burning oil flasks. They must hit AC 8.

Alexios hits for 3 damage and another flask misses and lands 1' away, It shatters and both together cause 2d3 damage from the splash. Oswald is struck by the Gelatinous Cube and takes 5 damage.

At this point the SLOW spell goes off but normally the Cube can move 6“ on a charge. It charges at us and both Galador and Fothas are slammed! Galador manages to leap out of the way but now it is in melee with everyone, except Sapphira.

Adaeril disengages and then shoots and then we all disengage, except for Galador.

Galador hits for 1 damage and Adaeril misses. It does not get an attack this round as it is slowed so it just burns.

Just as the fight is going in our favor, we must…

Adaeril shoots a full round of arrows as 6 Goblin creatures with spears and javelins move into the area. They are taller than Dwarves, maybe about 4' tall.

The Cube slams into Galador as it burns. The Cube takes 5 damage and the fire DESTROYS THE GELATINOUS CUBE before it slams into Galador!

The 8 Goblin creatures attack with their javelins attacks and Protection From Evil is in full effect as they are evil.

There are 3 attacks against Alexios but they all missed! Sapphira is hit for 6 damage while Adaeril and Fothas are missed. Galador is also missed.

Adaeril shoots and hits with 2 arrows. One hits for 4 and one for 6 damage. Three of these Goblins have been killed by our missiles so far. A thrown oil flask misses them and splashes against the wall about 5' away. There are 5 Goblins remaining, positioned at the foot of the stairs.

During the fight, Fothas checks the remnants of what was inside the Gelatinous Cube and finds no gems but a vial of liquid. It is gathered by Fothas.

Adaeril shoots more arrows at the Goblins as Hold Person is being cast. He hits twice for 6 damage each. This kills one and wounds another.

We cannot see anything at all suddenly! Some sort of magical darkness has enveloped our group. Can we shoot from darkness?

Adaeril fires his arrows blindly but we all miss our shots. Next, Galador hits for 2 damage as Fothas hits for 4 and 2. Eventually, the darkness dissipates and we see that all the Goblins have been killed.

We leave the dungeons of Mon-Karag and head back up the well without any encounters.

The statue has a value of 5,000 gold. We decide to sell the vial which is worth 2,500 gp.

We will split the gold in Discord.

• 6,608 gp total

• 1,321 gp each
• 40 ep

• 1321 xp each

There is 3 gp leftover.

• 1341 gp to Sapphira,
• 937 gp
• 264 gp and 8 ep?

We get 1,101 gp and 33 ep EACH.

After the split, we each get 1321 gp, 40 ep with the total xp from the treasure is 1,341 each. Each of us then donates to Oswald so each person ends up getting 1101 gp and 33 ep.