Dethroning The Grell Patriarch

We elected to rest in a small cave near the entrance to the Grell's cave system, after establishing watches and laying some protective enchantments on the area we settled in for the night. During third watch Malthus and I heard movement in the passageway leading to our temporary lair.

Malthus roused our companions while I prepared to loose a brace of arrows into the dark. Three armed Grell proceeded a larger tentacled brain which released a wave of exhaustive magic upon us. The party largely shrugged off the arcane power and quickly closed on the advancing Grells.

The next few seconds were decisive, all of us bar Malthus, the Midget and Tivian were stricken with paralysis and two of the Grells lay slain. Tivian closed on the remaining Grell before it could flee, shutting it down from casting more of its fell magics and between them the beast was soon felled.

After resuming our rest and breaking our fast with some more dried rations and some of Malthus' bitter tea we resumed our explorations. An opening from the Grell nest proved to be both empty and a dead end. Venturing ahead of the party down the remaining passage way I came upon a vast cavern hundreds of feet across and faintly lit with phosphorescent fungi. As my eyes adjusted I noticed two exits, one smaller path to the south and a large opening to the north. What captured my attention however was the floor; a fortune in jewellery, coins and gems were heaped around a central pillar. My eyes were drawn up this fifty foot throne to the top where a vast Grell sprawled across the summit, its tentacles flowing into the piles of treasure below.

After beating a hasty retreat a plan of attack was hastily decided upon, similar to that which was used to great effect in the nest. We rushed into the chamber and launched a volley of missiles, but the Stoneshapes charged by the Cultist and Druid fizzled at the foot of the pillar. Tivian took to the air with borrowed wings of flight and rushed to close upon the behemoth. As thick black tentacles sprouted from the floor around us Mervin and Snagga set about, freeing those caught in their slimy embrace. The Midget and I continued to pound the mighty brain with waves of Ice Storms and volleys of arrows as Malthus blessed us with Kossuth's favour.

Met with several waves of arcane missiles, Mervin drew forth a horde of insects from the local area to engulf the beast and prevent it from casting further spells. Tivian flew back and forth above it cleaving great lumps from its unprotected flesh. Suddenly another large Grell appeared from the Northern entrance sending a volley of magical energy into the party and the Midget quickly sealed it away from combat by erecting a mighty Wall of Ice across its path.

With a final charge and a roar to Helm Tivian dove down at the creature, leading with his sword held in front of him and passed entirely from sight into the folds of its brain. A hush fell across the party as we stalled in our attacks before Tivian came bursting forth from the other side of it surrounded in a corona of holy light and grey flesh fell about him as if rain. The once black bat wings leant from Mervin had been transformed into angelic, pristine white feathered wings.

We dressed our wounds and set about the chamber seeking items of import. Sadly a few potions had been shattered by the pounding arcane storms of ice but we found a finely crafted shield bearing a crest of a boat and spider, an intact vial of potion and an ornate scroll case containing powerful divine spells.

Descent Into the Grell Caves

We continued exploring the Grell caves, their stink lay heavy on the air and the jagged shards of obsidian chipped away at our feet, death by a thousand cuts.

Slipping through the dark ahead of the party I found an opening to large cave, time had worn a cruel reminder into the floor. A tiered depression wore its way down to a central hole, but for the lack of pointed tip the geology mocked my mutilations at the hands of my captors. Cruel fate piled on and put the boot in, after having surveyed the area I turned to return and an unheard assailant dropped from the inky blackness above. Wracked with shocking pain as lightning played across my skin, bare moments before I lost all sensation prickling tentacles swept across my head and shoulders rendering me immobile and helpless as the day Marly first tied me across her bench. Unable to even cry out in frustration I looked on as my companions rushed to my aid, swiftly dispatching the fell creature.

Regaining my faculties I extracted myself from the embrace of Tivian and offered a scowl in retort to Malthus' playful mockery as he saw to my wounds. A careful search of the area revealed nothing of value aside from the Grell's strange lance, we turned to resume our search deeper into the darkness.

We declined the option to explore a vast underground lake, our fight with the abherrant Otuyah fresh in mind and stumbled upon the Grell's Lair. A great pillar of stone 30" wide rose into the darkness in the centre of a 100" diameter room. 8 Grell bobbed in unseen air currents, 2 armed with their vicious looking spears, the others attending to what must have been 3 of their offspring, their smaller size made them no less disgusting to look upon.

After a somewhat protracted discussion of tactics I convinced the reluctant humans to continue our advance rather than retreat to rest first. Tivian must have been more shaken than expected by his bought of paralysis or surely he would have spoken loudly of Helm, justice and not suffering evil live in support of immediate action.

We loosed a volley of missiles from the darkness, scattering 3 of the Grell and their charges; the others drew together to face us as the midget let loose with the wand of frost. The 5 Grell attempted to scatter but it was too late, a deluge of fist sized hail stones begun falling from the ethereal clouds that drew together at his command making satisfying sounds as they impacted into the Grell's exposed greymeats.

One of the armed Grell fell to the floor oozing a thick grey ichor as the others closed on our front line  After another volley of missiles we quickly dispatched the others as they joined the fray. Prideful after this victory we committed our folly and split our party. Moving into the chamber in two groups so as to flush out the remaining Grell while blocking their escape Tivian, Snagga and Mervin took to the left and were beset upon by the two remaining adults who quickly closed into melee and paralysed all three. I and led the midget and the ancient one to the right where we were beset upon by the remaining adult and the 3 little ones. After releasing me from paralysis with a quick prayer I slew the adult and the midget rushed to the aid of the others, attracting the ire of the remaining Grell by sinking a crossbow bolt deep into one.

I left Malthus to crush the child brains and assisted the midget with the adults, we dispatched one while Malthus became locked in a pose of fury after smashing one into ruins upon the floor. They began feasting upon his defenceless form as the midget slew the remaining Grell and I buried an arrow deep in each the miniscule monster and poured a healing draft into the gaping hole in the cultist's head. Being practical men the midget and I decided against posing our companions and set about securing the area. Another pair of lances were added to our stash and an opening marked for further exploration.

We retreated to tend to our wounds, with a whispered prayer Malthus shattered a path through the shards for us. Perhaps venting the frustration of being defenceless against 3 children demonstrating the frailties of one so old and yet doomed to die so young. We drew up watches and settled into the cottage, I feel less wary trusting my safety to these mad fools the longer I come to know them and settle down in a fine bed to dream sweet dreams of broken glass and blood.