04 - 1/19 : Give and Take

Rested and ready to continue their exploration of the mysterious underground fortress, the group returned through the sewers and navigated through the winding crevices into the underdark. With the key at hand, the group considered investigating the mysterious dragon door, but decided to begin their search for the Amethyst kobolds dragon first. Meepo led the party back to the main hall, and began the foray into the goblins territory.   Meepo knew that the goblins trapped the entrance to their array, and with a bit of searching the group was easily able to avoid them. Ahead the party encountered some bewildered goblins. The goblins drew their weapons, but did not immediately attack. They tried to speak to the party, but with Pascal deciding to hang back, none were able to communicate! Carmen had enough and felt that a dead goblin was easier to negotiate with, and began to march forward. Though the goblins were nimble, they proved no match for the group and were cut down before they could get reinforcements.   In the next hall a large amount of doors ventured off into new areas of the goblin hold. Peaking into the western room appeared to be their living quarters, before riling them up the group decided to see what lie beyond the other doors. To the north was a passage that looped around, and two goblins appeared to be patrolling! The group caught them off guard, and before they could call for reinforcements were struck down.   Another door appeared to have a crude drawing of a dragon on it and was barred from the outside. The group guessed that perhaps the Amethysts 'dragon' lie within, but before entering wanted to make sure nothing would interrupt them as they looked inside. To the west, more goblins appeared to be doing some target practice. The group interrupted it and in the surprise were easily hacked down. To the south the path appeared to go back to the kobolds area, as well as a small dungeon the goblins had. Inside the party freed some captive kobolds, and released a gnome who introduced himself as Erky Timbers. Erky was a scholar and sage, and had learned about this mysterious place from his friend Xavier in the Endhome Housing and Sanitation Department who had discovered it in the sewers. He of course wished to investigate and see what ancient history could be unearthed! Unfortunately he was captured by the goblins who did not appreciate him intruding on their turf. Erky was thankful, and offered to join the group and help translate or explain anything they encountered, in return all he wished was to document and investigate the ancient history of the mysterious dungeon.   Finally the group ventured towards the dragons door, and after unbarring it proceeded to enter. They were greeted by an Amethyst dragon (played by a returning member of my group!) and the negotiations began. The dragon knew little about this mysterious place, but having him as an enemy would also prove a difficult situation. finally it was agreed upon that he would join the party, and the group set off in search of treasure and adventure.   Before dealing with the goblins, the party went right past the Amethyst kobolds and met back up in the main chamber. Pascal was still working with the new Ostrich, and would join the party soon, but in the meantime the rest pushed on through the southern door that was previously locked. The draconic key opened the way, and revealed rooms not touched in a millenia. A mysterious sound eminated from the first room, but no ill effects were observed. Ahead the group saw a pit and a green, sickly glow illumating a coffin. A southern passage was found, and the group skirted the pit and noticed draconic srawled on the walls that read, "A dragonpriest entombed alive, for transgressions against Vix'Thra."   In the chamber, a Quasit suddenly emerged from a pot! It seemed somewhat friendly if a little mischievous, and lamented about being bound to this wretched tomb for what felt like an eternity. It promised if you could break the bindings that kept it to this wretched chamber, it would gladly follow the group. Carmen, with the assistance of her new dragon friend Pindyr, began to use a crowbar to wrench the coffin lid open. As the ancient seal was breached, the quasit cried out about being free, but discovered he was actually bound to Glint and could not leave.   From the coffin, a gust of air shot out with dust eons old. The dragonpriest began to rise, and it seemed that his curse was eternal torment in this tomb. He was now free, and would enact his vengeance. Buried with the priest was a lot of treasure, and the group prepared for battle!   The group sprung to action, but the priest summoned ancient servants entombed with him that began to walk from their place in the walls. One, a gigantic behemoth, and other skeletal warriors joined the fight. The priest used his power over magic to launch horrendous attacks on the group, but they held steady and began to destroy the priests minions one by one. The fight continues on, what more tricks does the long-forgotten priest hold? And what treasure was he buried with? Find out next time!