We made camp back in the cave near the entrance and the
night passed uneventfully. Felix the Midget identified the shield as carrying a
major enchantment of protection and Tivian was decided to make the best use of
it.
After yet another breakfast of dry goods made palatable
by Malthus’ bitter tea we returned to the large chamber where an unpleasant
stench hung in the air, but as we moved north away from the behemoth brain’s
corpse the air worsened. The adjoining chamber was half the size and yet seemed
no less vast, the light of the group’s torches disappearing into the inky
gloom. The chamber was filled with great piles of detritus and shallow pools of
murky brackish water. Shards of broken bone jutted from piles of rotten cloth
and leather and in the low light hundreds of glints reflected from scraps of
metal and scattered coins.
We entered cautiously; fanning out slightly and wary of
the potentially treacherous footing we began searching the detritus while
keeping an eye out for the last remaining Grell. Malthus let out a cry of
warning as a shadow detached itself from the roof and made speed towards the
entrance. Tivian took to the air and I let loose a volley of arrows that set it
bobbing drunkenly in flight.
As Tivian closed the distance he suddenly yelled out in
alarm as he became aware of a malign presence and the entire floor began to
shake. Clumps of refuse fell from piles destabilised by the sudden motion,
kicking sprays of rancid water into the air. Suddenly six tentacles tore up
around the chamber. Mottled in shades of brown and grey, three ended in large
snapping maws, arrayed with viciously pointed teeth. The other three were thick
as a man's waist at the bottom and tapered over their 20 foot length to a finger's width; along their length one side was studded with cruel suckers
lipped with tiny teeth.
Felix was lifted into the air by one as the other lashed
and snapped at the rest of us. The Grell finished its flight, dropping from the
air in front of the cave mouth trapping us within. Felix slipped efficiously
from its grasp and we all made haste to regroup at the entrance. I shot wildly
at the flailing forms as suddenly eyes on thin stalks erupted across the
chamber and Mervin began chanting words of magic. Tivian held the Grell at bay,
blows from lightning lances and paralysing tentacles deflecting in rapid
succession from his kite shield.
The tentacles disappeared along with the eyestalks as a
great sphere of flesh pulled itself clear of the rubble and began rolling
towards us at speed. Mervin finished his casting and chunks of rock from the
ceiling crashed down in its wake, missing the abomination by scant seconds.
Malthus threw up a circle of protection in front of us but the summoned wyvern
guardian was scattered like mist and it reached us unhindered.
Tentacles and eyestalks erupted from the flesh of the
sphere, Snagga stepped up to stand off against the brunt of its attacks and
Mervin let out a howl as he shifted into the form of a vicious wolverine.
Felix unleashed a wave of raw energy into the party, accelerating us beyond the
normal confines of speed. As I was infused with the hastening magic time itself
appeared to slow before my eyes, and I was able to deftly avoid the slow and
clumsy tentacles while raining arrow after arrow into the horror.
The body of the beast went still and quivered; I stared transfixed as a seam opened across the flesh and a wet sack burst forth.
Motions inside tore the flesh sack asunder as tiny hands clawed out to be born
unto the world. A fully adult and yet slack faced gnome stood before us
gripping a dagger and began to chant under his breath before blurring out of
clear sight. Felix followed suit and the two tracked one another warily as the
fight continued around them.
After weathering a storm of attacks and scoring none too
few of its own, the tentacles and eyestalks once again retracted. We felt a
surge of exhaustive magic sweep over us, stinking fog erupted from the sphere.
Fortunately none succumbed to the deadening influence but as we watched with
growing fear the wounds of the abomination closed before our eyes. Again Felix
followed where the other gnome lead as both vanished from sight in quick
succession.
Renewed and obviously intent upon myself the Deepspawn
attempted to knock Snagga from its path, yanked Mervin up by his hind legs with
another tentacle and tore several mouthfuls of flesh from my arms and legs
leaving me barely able to stand. We too renewed out efforts. I placed four arrows
deep into its body as Snagga hew a tentacle clear off with a mighty blow from
his axe.
Tivian returned to us victorious over the Grell and in
his rush to join the combat was struck from the air as the Deepspawn used
Mervin to strike him like an angry hairy club. As another wave of debilitating
nausea washed over us several of us fell stricken with the sickness, unable to
act beyond retching uncontrollably. Mervin twisted out of the tentacle's grasp
as he shifted back into his human form and rushed to bolster Snagga with his
restorative magics. Malthus did the same for Tivian who boldly re-entered the
fray, stealing its attention briefly before burying his sword to its hilt, deep
into the beast.
Malthus attended to Felix and Snagga's wounds but as
Mervin approached me the gnome reappeared behind him mid-cast and buried a
dagger deep into his side. Malthus roared up striking a mighty overhead blow
with his flail and caved the wretch's head. He reassured Mervin he'd worn
stronger pants than that as he tended to his wound.
After resting briefly and taking stock of the situation
we resolved to pick through the detritus for items of value. Felix produced a
ring of major protection which I have taken for myself, the magics proving stronger
than my full suit of armour and freeing me from its constraints. Other items of
note were a flask holding two doses of protection from magics, an enchanted
mirror of charisma and two backpacks overflowing with the many coins we had found.
We retreated to our resting cave and discussed what to do
with our growing horde of treasure. We could simply stash it here somewhere
safe by carving a cache out of the living rock. But we decided it might be better
put to work by purchasing any assistance the Svirfneblin might be able to offer.
After a rest and a hearty meal of the last of our cheese and dried meats we
journeyed back to the Svirfholm, pausing to speak with the Quaggoths.
Most of their group seemed to be 'away making preparations'. I am becoming increasingly concerned that they may strike at our Svirfneblinfriends. Allies are in short supply in the depths here and the thought of the
only two hospitable groups we know of going to war with one another leaves me
feeling worse still. We spoke with them about the now cleared Grell caves and
offered to guide them back there upon our return, perhaps a conflict can be
avoided?
Unfortunately the Svirfneblin were quite mystified as to
what they'd do with eighty thousand gold pieces and explained that they have no
use for such shiny metals in their economy. They had no magical items or
services they could offer for our small collection of gems and jewellery either.
As we took their hospitality a plan began to form; could
we return to the service and yet delay our quest by no more than a score of
days? Mervin would fly to Tauster carrying the gold held in the cottage while
we travelled on foot. We would contract him to attract the roaming salesmen of
potions and magical items we had previously encountered in Thurmaster and have
him reach out to his arcane contacts to procure us a fabled bag of holding.
