Beloved Child 50

Here is another chapter in which little actually happens… In the next chapter they get to meet the loveable dragon and later the even more loveable Phaere!


Beloved Child 50

The dark expanse spread in all directions. Try as he might Groder could not even see the roof of the cavern. Dull grey masses of stone rose to meet the unseen roof and stalactites reached down from the darkness. It was silent and eerily cold.

“This… this is the Underdark.” Viconia said with obvious strain in her voice.

Groder threw his arms up into the air.

“Great, as if things could not get any worse.”

“Hey…” Imoen whispered. “Irenicus talked about his friends in the dark. You don’t think he meant…” She trailed off.

“The Drow?” Viconia filled in. “In order for us to ally with a surfacer then he must have put forth something extraordinary.”

The group huddled together and Groder reflected on how tired they all looked. Nalia and Imoen looked the most haggard. He assumed he looked the same.

“We have to be very careful.” Jaheira said. “We have no idea were we are nor anyway to predict a sound path to take.” She crinkled her brow in annoyance. ” As foolish as it sounds we will have to walk in one direction and hope for the best.”

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

Viconia and Jaheira led the way, both of them having elven ancestry and so had an easier time to see in the thick gloom then the others in the party. Viconia had muttered about the large myriad of wild beasts that inhabited the Underdark and how damned unprepared they all were. Groder thought the dark elf was scared as well and that was not very comforting.

The Drow and half-elf suddenly stopped the group and instructed them to hide behind a pair of large rocks.

“There is someone up ahead. A small trading post perhaps.” Viconia said. “I think they are Duergar and they look unarmed.”

“I think that we maybe should let Viconia do the talking.” Nalia spoke up for the first time.

Jaheira nodded.

“It is the most sensible idea. None of us can speak undercommon.”

The group moved out with Viconia in the lead. When they entered the radius of the Duergars camp fires they saw that there were only four of the obsidian skinned dwarfs there.
Stalls and wagons were lined against the rock wall. The four dwarfs quickly jumped up and Viconia began addressing them in Drow. Three of them immediately began responding in some servile manner and bowing while the fourth stared suspiciously at the group.

“Stop cowering!” He yelled in broken common. “The Drow does not bear any house insignia and she is with surfacers.” The last word was spat. “She is an exile.”

Anger fell over Viconia`s face and she began yelling at them in Drow. The ones that had cowered went back to doing just that while the one that had figured that they were not actually a Drow retinue sneered a bit and snapped a finger. Armoured and crossbow wielding dwarves emerged from the darkness. All aimed at the party.

“Now perhaps we can be more civil.” The dark dwarf that seemed to be their leader said.

Viconia bristled but said nothing. Jaheira rested a hand on Viconia`s shoulder and spoke to the dwarf leader.

“We are looking for two other surfacers that came through here and we will need supplies and most likely a map as well.” The half-elf explained.

At the prospect of trade the leader dwarf seemed to mellow out. He waved a hand and the armoured guards stood down but were still alert. The trade negations which were handled by both Viconia and Jaheira were frosty but manageable. The other duergar merchants decided that it was time to hawk their wares to the rest of the party and soon mobbed the four surfacers not involved in the negotiations.

**

When they left the dark dwarf encampment they had received information about Irenicus and Bodhi. The two had gone to the Drow city of Ust Natha to the north. Viconia supplied that the city was one of the oldest Drow cities. The rough map they had received as well had been translated by Viconia and the Drow had marked places they should avoid. Ust Natha as well as a deep gnome settlement had been marked on the map. The dark dwarfs had suggested that the Svirfneblin there knew how to get them into the Drow city. Viconia had scoffed at this idea but they had no other options.

Traversing through the gloom was hard work despite the dusty pathways. Viconia had ordered them to move slowly and carefully since there where many nasty creatures abound or worse Drow patrols. Eventually the party came upon a line of large jagged rocks and the dust path split in two. A large hexagonal object that was covered in what looked like square scared faces rested against the rock.

“What is this?” Groder asked and waved at the thing.

“I have no idea, Viccy?” Imoen asked.

The Drow shook her head.

“I think you can manipulate the faces.” Nalia supplied and briefly touched one of the faces.

“It is not a good idea to touch something that has just been left here.” Viconia said.

“You are probably right.” Groder said and as he said it a screech came from above.
A large dark grey thing with an exoskeleton dropped from above. It had vulture like head and birdlike legs. But instead of arms it had long wicked looking hooks. The thing screeched again and raised its hook like appendages. Groder fell backwards into the hexagonal construct and hit one of the faces. The construct hummed and distracted the hook horror long enough for Viconia to land a blow on its head with the flail of ages.

In the confusion and melee the party missed the thing that had materialised next to the construct. As Jaheira blocked a blow from the hook horror with her staff, the thing that had materialized spoke a few garbled words and pointed at the beast that narrowly missed hitting Viconia in the abdomen. When the light the zipped from the things finger hit the hook horror, the creature disintegrated before the party’s eyes.

They all turned their attention to the thing that had appeared before them. The skeleton wore fine mages robes and a red light burned in his empty sockets.

“I am Alchra Diagott.” It said. “I thank you little mortals for freeing me.” It made a rolling motion with a hand and bowed curtly.

“Lich…” Nalia and Imoen whispered almost simultaneously.

“You’re welcome…” Groder slowly got up from the ground.

“You are not of Kangaxx… ah… but you smell of cities, of Athkatla.” Alchra mused and then he extended a hand and cracked of the little finger. The lich held it out.

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Alchra grabbed Imoen`s hand and dropped the finger in it. The young mage made an “ew” face.

“Do as you are bid or I shall know.” The lich said and began fading away.

“Great, I like gifts but ew…” Imoen commented after the Lich had disappeared. The young mage put the finger in a pocket.

“We have been still for too long.” Viconia said hurriedly. “There might be more hook horrors around.”

Jaheira nodded and pulled Groder further away from the construct.

“I agree we should try to reach the gnome settlement that the duregar marked on the map so we can hopefully plan our next move.”

The party continued traversing the dark, jagged rocks rising on either side of them. Groder reflected on how silent the place actually was. The cave eventually expanded in all directions making navigating the gloom all that harder. Great grey mushrooms grew up like a small forest around them. Where they drained nourishment from or how they even survived below the earth was anyone’s guess.

Navigating by the duregars map proved slightly problematic as it was rather off scale. But soon enough they could see the beginnings of a gorge. Deep in it lava bubbled and cast a yellow light up from the split in the earth. A lonely and solid looking bridge led across one of the tighter sections of the gorge. The party crossed the bridge and found it very securely attached to smooth, hand worked rocks on either side of the gorge.

Once they were over the bridge the cavern narrowed drastically to become a sole tunnel. The tunnel was not natural and bore the markings of obvious and skilled craftsmanship. Five obsidian skinned gnomes in armour and armed with small crossbows stood in the gloom. The small men looked more nervous then anything else and even more so when they noticed the party’s approach.

One of them began addressing the party in undercommon but the seemed to realize that they were not from the Underdark. Viconia walked forward and that seemed to make to gnomes even more nervous then they had previously been. The Drow said a few words and the gnomes began nodding in unison. They spoke in rapid succession to Viconia whom nodded and then turned to the party.

“At least the Svirfneblin know how to properly respect malla Viconia.” The cleric said. “They welcome us to their fair granite home and suggest that we should speak with their leader.”

The party filed past the nervous gnome guards and walked down the tunnel. They past what most likely had once been homes or shops carved directly into the rock. The deep gnome home was depressingly barren. It was obvious that it had once been fully inhabited but left behind mine carts filled with tools or lonely pyramids of crates told their lonesome tale.

As the tunnel split in two, one tunnel lead back in the direction from which the part had originally come and the other went deeper into the rock.

“They said to take right.” Viconia supplied. “That will lead us to their tavern.”

Following Viconia`s directions, the party went down the right tunnel and soon came out on a platform that seemed to have been carved out of the rock. Just beyond the railing that enclosed the platform was the gorge and in it the bubbling molten innards of Toril. Both what appeared to be windows and an archway had been hollowed out of the rock and over the archway sat some deep gnome script.

“I guess that is the tavern then?” Groder asked.

Viconia nodded and led them in, all of them having to duck their heads since the entrance was not exactly man shaped. A few deep gnomes sat around a lone table in the middle of the tavern. Otherwise it was empty of life. The gnomes were engaged in a heated discussion and had not noticed the newcomers. Since their argument was rather loud, Viconia narrated that they apparently had some sort of problem with their newest tunnels. One of the gnomes, older then the others and with a prodigious beard noticed the party. The old gnome waved a hand which silenced the others and then he slid of his chair and walked towards the party.

He bowed slightly. “I am Golander Blackenrock, leader of our fair settlement.” He looked them over suspiciously. “You are surfacers but travel with a dark one…”

Viconia cleared her throat and look sternly at Golander.

“No offence meant of course malla Drow.” The gnome hastily added.

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

“Right, we need to get into the Drow city, Ust Natha.” Groder cut in. “Some dwarf’s suggested you knew someone that could help us gain entry to the city.”

Golander nodded slowly.

“Mayhap…” The gnome said and got a sly look on his aged face. “Though you would have to prove your good will to us first. The one whose help you will be seeking will not simply accept you.”

“Wow, this is familiar.” Imoen commented and sat down on a table.

Groder rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Of course.” He sighed. “What is it?”

Golander as well as the other gnomes perked up considerably.

“Well…” He began and rubbed his hands. “There has been a slight problem with our tunnelling and we need to cave in a shaft.”

“So we just go there and cave in the shaft?” Groder asked. “That is it?”

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

“Killing the what now?” Groder asked with eyebrows raised.

“Eh… the demon.” The deep gnome repeated.

“What demon!” Every member of the party yelled simultaneously.

Golander looked embarrassed now.

“The reason we are so few here is that we urm… accidentally raised a demon while we were excavating a new tunnel…” The gnome looked highly uncomfortable.

“You actually think we can kill a demon?” Jaheira asked with a critical eyebrow raised.

“Maybe… you could reason with it then…?” Golander suggested. “We are small and insignificant and maybe it will be more interested in adventurers such as yourselves.”

“As snacks.” Imoen filled in. “You know, it would be nice if you told us who this person who is supposed to help us when we have helped you is. Just so we know that she actually exists.” The pink haired mage cocked her head to the side. “Is she drow or gnome or…”

“She is a wyrm, my lady.” Golander responded.

"Right..." Groder rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

I like this little touch of praying for luck.

“Stop cowering!” He yelled in broken common. “The Drow does not bear any house insignia and she is with surfacers.” The last word was spat. “She is an exile.”

Nice reasoning!

Traversing through the gloom was hard work despite the dusty pathways. Viconia had ordered them to move slowly and carefully since there where many nasty creatures abound or worse Drow patrols. Eventually the party came upon a line of large jagged rocks and the dust path split in two. A large hexagonal object that was covered in what looked like square scared faces rested against the rock.

“What is this?” Groder asked and waved at the thing.

“I have no idea, Viccy?” Imoen asked.

It's a bloody nuisance, that's what it is!

“It is not a good idea to touch something that has just been left here.” Viconia said.

Especially not in this game.

“You are not of Kangaxx… ah… but you smell of cities, of Athkatla.” Alchra mused and then he extended a hand and cracked of the little finger. The lich held it out.

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Alchra grabbed Imoen`s hand and dropped the finger in it. The young mage made an “ew” face.

“Do as you are bid or I shall know.” The lich said and began fading away.

So, you're giving them a reason to do that quest? (I've never actually done it. I tried one lich once by accident and avoided the tombs after that )

Viconia cleared her throat and look sternly at Golander.

“No offence meant of course malla Drow.” The gnome hastily added.

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

Of course she does!

“Mayhap…” The gnome said and got a sly look on his aged face. “Though you would have to prove your good will to us first. The one whose help you will be seeking will not simply accept you.”

“Wow, this is familiar.” Imoen commented and sat down on a table.

Familiar, yes. People either demand your help with very little concern for whether or not you're the one most suitable for the job, but if you need their help, THEN you have to prove yourselves.

“Well…” He began and rubbed his hands. “There has been a slight problem with our tunnelling and we need to cave in a shaft.”

Nalia should be familiar with this kind of tactic

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

“The reason we are so few here is that we urm… accidentally raised a demon while we were excavating a new tunnel…” The gnome looked highly uncomfortable.

I believe the word is 'whoops'.

Here is another chapter in which little actually happens… In the next chapter they get to meet the loveable dragon and later the even more loveable Phaere!

I’m not sure that dragon was lovable.

“The Drow?” Viconia filled in. “In order for us to ally with a surfacer then he must have put forth something extraordinary.”

Interesting how she still says ‘us’ even though she is an outcast without any chances of getting accepted back.

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

At least he now has the Slayer form to protect himself, I suppose that could be a comfort.

Anger fell over Viconia`s face and she began yelling at them in Drow. The ones that had cowered went back to doing just that while the one that had figured that they were not actually a Drow retinue sneered a bit and snapped a finger. Armoured and crossbow wielding dwarves emerged from the darkness. All aimed at the party.

I suppose that if they had been completely undefended, then the myriad of evil beasts would have eaten them long ago.

“I think you can manipulate the faces.” Nalia supplied and briefly touched one of the faces.

That doesn’t mean that you should.

They all turned their attention to the thing that had appeared before them. The skeleton wore fine mages robes and a red light burned in his empty sockets.

Nice… a lich. GJ Groder.

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Alchra grabbed Imoen`s hand and dropped the finger in it. The young mage made an “ew” face.

I think you should probably do as he says, though…

“At least the Svirfneblin know how to properly respect malla Viconia.” The cleric said. “They welcome us to their fair granite home and suggest that we should speak with their leader.”

I think they are just too stupid and frightened to notice that malla Viconia is an exile.

Following Viconia`s directions, the party went down the right tunnel and soon came out on a platform that seemed to have been carved out of the rock. Just beyond the railing that enclosed the platform was the gorge and in it the bubbling molten innards of Toril. Both what appeared to be windows and an archway had been hollowed out of the rock and over the archway sat some deep gnome script.

“I guess that is the tavern then?” Groder asked.

I imagine it is a bit less boisterous than the ones back on the surface.

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

I guess you can understand her, on the surface it’s hard for her to get this kind of respect.

“So we just go there and cave in the shaft?” Groder asked. “That is it?”

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

Well, they have killed demons before, I am sure.

“You actually think we can kill a demon?” Jaheira asked with a critical eyebrow raised.

They come of different sizes, though… what is a danger to gnomes, may not be such danger to you.

“She is a wyrm, my lady.” Golander responded.

"Right..." Groder rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

Groder has been sort of left out of the loop for the whole chapter.

Also, as much as I enjoyed his absence, we sort of lost Haer for the entire chapter. Might have been a good idea to give him a few lines here and there.

Here is another chapter in which little actually happens… In the next chapter they get to meet the loveable dragon and later the even more loveable Phaere!

No problem. You don't have to actually hurry the party through the Underdark, y'know...

Beloved Child 50

Congratulations on getting it to 50, by the way!

“This… this is the Underdark.” Viconia said with obvious strain in her voice.

Cue dramatic music...

Groder threw his arms up into the air.

“Great, as if things could not get any worse.”

...or not.

The group huddled together and Groder reflected on how tired they all looked. Nalia and Imoen looked the most haggard. He assumed he looked the same.

Aww. They went in tired?

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

Aww again. He even fought weird things in a Planar Sphere and he's scared now?

And he forgot his super-Groder powers already? He must really be scared, if so...

“There is someone up ahead. A small trading post perhaps.” Viconia said. “I think they are Duergar and they look unarmed.”

Key word: look.

“Stop cowering!” He yelled in broken common. “The Drow does not bear any house insignia and she is with surfacers.” The last word was spat. “She is an exile.”

I love that banter in the game. Here, too, of course, but in the game, too.

Anger fell over Viconia`s face and she began yelling at them in Drow. The ones that had cowered went back to doing just that while the one that had figured that they were not actually a Drow retinue sneered a bit and snapped a finger. Armoured and crossbow wielding dwarves emerged from the darkness. All aimed at the party.

Well. Key word above?

/Can I beg you to exert a bit and insert some actual drow words?/

“It is not a good idea to touch something that has just been left here.” Viconia said.

Whoa. She's surprisingly civil. No, "Foolish rivvil! Has your mother not taught you not to..."

I think I said it several times already... Your Viconia is definitely a very relaxed one.

A large dark grey thing with an exoskeleton dropped from above. It had vulture like head and birdlike legs. But instead of arms it had long wicked looking hooks. The thing screeched again and raised its hook like appendages.

I think it looks a bit like... Groder?

“You are not of Kangaxx… ah… but you smell of cities, of Athkatla.” Alchra mused and then he extended a hand and cracked of the little finger. The lich held it out.

Oh? Are they going Gaxx-hunting?

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Seems they are! (Where is 'Dalis, by the way? Because he hadn't spoken so far a word! Did he get lost somewhere, and they don't even realise that he's not with them? )

Navigating by the duregars map proved slightly problematic as it was rather off scale. But soon enough they could see the beginnings of a gorge. Deep in it lava bubbled and cast a yellow light up from the split in the earth. A lonely and solid looking bridge led across one of the tighter sections of the gorge. The party crossed the bridge and found it very securely attached to smooth, hand worked rocks on either side of the gorge.

I'm snipping it here, but I rather like this entire description. It's... Well. It feels just like it should. It agrees completely with my image of the Underdark.

“At least the Svirfneblin know how to properly respect malla Viconia.” The cleric said. “They welcome us to their fair granite home and suggest that we should speak with their leader.”

Ooh. And she loves it. We'll see how she treats those duergar once she has House insignia!

The party filed past the nervous gnome guards and walked down the tunnel. They past what most likely had once been homes or shops carved directly into the rock. The deep gnome home was depressingly barren. It was obvious that it had once been fully inhabited but left behind mine carts filled with tools or lonely pyramids of crates told their lonesome tale.

Aww... Like the abandoned gold mines of the Wild West.

Viconia nodded and led them in, all of them having to duck their heads since the entrance was not exactly man shaped. A few deep gnomes sat around a lone table in the middle of the tavern. Otherwise it was empty of life. The gnomes were engaged in a heated discussion and had not noticed the newcomers. Since their argument was rather loud, Viconia narrated that they apparently had some sort of problem with their newest tunnels. One of the gnomes, older then the others and with a prodigious beard noticed the party. The old gnome waved a hand which silenced the others and then he slid of his chair and walked towards the party.

It still feels like the Wild West. Say, there is a grizzly bear near that mine... Who's gonna go and shoot it?

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

The way I imagine Viconia's smile:
Even the eyes are the right colour. Pity that not the skin...

“Of course.” He sighed. “What is it?”

Say, there is that grizzly bear...

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

I'm utterly loving this scene.

“What demon!” Every member of the party yelled simultaneously.

Even 'Dalis?
I'm still loving the theatrics.

“The reason we are so few here is that we urm… accidentally raised a demon while we were excavating a new tunnel…” The gnome looked highly uncomfortable.

“You actually think we can kill a demon?” Jaheira asked with a critical eyebrow raised.

Well. If you thought to ACTUALLY BRING SOME EQUIPMENT FOR IMOEN, it might have been a tad easier.

(Or did she get Yoshimo's stuff?)

“As snacks.” Imoen filled in.

“You know, it would be nice if you told us who this person who is supposed to help us when we have helped you is. Just so we know that she actually exists.” The pink haired mage cocked her head to the side. “Is she drow or gnome or…”

Um. Textual mistake here. Imoen doesn't know that 'she' is a 'she'.

“She is a wyrm, my lady.” Golander responded.

"Right..." Groder rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

Happy grizzly bear demon hunting (or parlaying with, or strangling with Imoen's superpower), Groder!

I loved the descriptions, and I loved the duergar scene and the Goldander scene.

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

I like this little touch of praying for luck.

Thank you.

“Stop cowering!” He yelled in broken common. “The Drow does not bear any house insignia and she is with surfacers.” The last word was spat. “She is an exile.”

Nice reasoning!

I think they say something like that in the game.

Traversing through the gloom was hard work despite the dusty pathways. Viconia had ordered them to move slowly and carefully since there where many nasty creatures abound or worse Drow patrols. Eventually the party came upon a line of large jagged rocks and the dust path split in two. A large hexagonal object that was covered in what looked like square scared faces rested against the rock.

“What is this?” Groder asked and waved at the thing.

“I have no idea, Viccy?” Imoen asked.

It's a bloody nuisance, that's what it is!

Yep but it has items and precious xp!

“It is not a good idea to touch something that has just been left here.” Viconia said.

Especially not in this game.

He he... yep.

“You are not of Kangaxx… ah… but you smell of cities, of Athkatla.” Alchra mused and then he extended a hand and cracked of the little finger. The lich held it out.

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Alchra grabbed Imoen`s hand and dropped the finger in it. The young mage made an “ew” face.

“Do as you are bid or I shall know.” The lich said and began fading away.

So, you're giving them a reason to do that quest? (I've never actually done it. I tried one lich once by accident and avoided the tombs after that )

Yeah, those Liches are tough!

Viconia cleared her throat and look sternly at Golander.

“No offence meant of course malla Drow.” The gnome hastily added.

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

Of course she does!

At last she is a place where no one is dissing her.

“Mayhap…” The gnome said and got a sly look on his aged face. “Though you would have to prove your good will to us first. The one whose help you will be seeking will not simply accept you.”

“Wow, this is familiar.” Imoen commented and sat down on a table.

Familiar, yes. People either demand your help with very little concern for whether or not you're the one most suitable for the job, but if you need their help, THEN you have to prove yourselves.

Yeah and apperantly this is standard fare when we are talking about quests.

“Well…” He began and rubbed his hands. “There has been a slight problem with our tunnelling and we need to cave in a shaft.”

Nalia should be familiar with this kind of tactic

?

I am afraid you have lost me here.

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

He he... Yeah...

“The reason we are so few here is that we urm… accidentally raised a demon while we were excavating a new tunnel…” The gnome looked highly uncomfortable.

I believe the word is 'whoops'.

Yeah, maybe somethinga bit stronger even

Here is another chapter in which little actually happens… In the next chapter they get to meet the loveable dragon and later the even more loveable Phaere!

I’m not sure that dragon was lovable.

I am sure neither of them was...

“The Drow?” Viconia filled in. “In order for us to ally with a surfacer then he must have put forth something extraordinary.”

Interesting how she still says ‘us’ even though she is an outcast without any chances of getting accepted back.

Well, she still consider herself Drow but she will soon realize that she has lost a lot.

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

At least he now has the Slayer form to protect himself, I suppose that could be a comfort.

Indeed but that was not the first thing in his mind.

Anger fell over Viconia`s face and she began yelling at them in Drow. The ones that had cowered went back to doing just that while the one that had figured that they were not actually a Drow retinue sneered a bit and snapped a finger. Armoured and crossbow wielding dwarves emerged from the darkness. All aimed at the party.

I suppose that if they had been completely undefended, then the myriad of evil beasts would have eaten them long ago.

Yeah, a few unarmed dwarves just haning around seems a bit of a target.

“I think you can manipulate the faces.” Nalia supplied and briefly touched one of the faces.

That doesn’t mean that you should.

Exactly!

They all turned their attention to the thing that had appeared before them. The skeleton wore fine mages robes and a red light burned in his empty sockets.

Nice… a lich. GJ Groder.

Luckily it is not hostile!

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Alchra grabbed Imoen`s hand and dropped the finger in it. The young mage made an “ew” face.

I think you should probably do as he says, though…

That would be advisable yes...

“At least the Svirfneblin know how to properly respect malla Viconia.” The cleric said. “They welcome us to their fair granite home and suggest that we should speak with their leader.”

I think they are just too stupid and frightened to notice that malla Viconia is an exile.

Poor gnomes... they just have no luck at all do they?

Following Viconia`s directions, the party went down the right tunnel and soon came out on a platform that seemed to have been carved out of the rock. Just beyond the railing that enclosed the platform was the gorge and in it the bubbling molten innards of Toril. Both what appeared to be windows and an archway had been hollowed out of the rock and over the archway sat some deep gnome script.

“I guess that is the tavern then?” Groder asked.

I imagine it is a bit less boisterous than the ones back on the surface.

Yep apart from them being gnomes it is almost empty!

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

I guess you can understand her, on the surface it’s hard for her to get this kind of respect.

Yeah, it is kind of sad that the respect mainly stem from fear though...

“So we just go there and cave in the shaft?” Groder asked. “That is it?”

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

Well, they have killed demons before, I am sure.

No... not really... no...

“You actually think we can kill a demon?” Jaheira asked with a critical eyebrow raised.

They come of different sizes, though… what is a danger to gnomes, may not be such danger to you.

You go in there and find an imp!

“She is a wyrm, my lady.” Golander responded.

"Right..." Groder rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

Groder has been sort of left out of the loop for the whole chapter.

Yeah, not his home turf this.

Also, as much as I enjoyed his absence, we sort of lost Haer for the entire chapter. Might have been a good idea to give him a few lines here and there.

Kind of embarrasing really...

Here is another chapter in which little actually happens… In the next chapter they get to meet the loveable dragon and later the even more loveable Phaere!

No problem. You don't have to actually hurry the party through the Underdark, y'know...

I really don`t know how long it will be...

Beloved Child 50

Congratulations on getting it to 50, by the way!

thankee

“This… this is the Underdark.” Viconia said with obvious strain in her voice.

Cue dramatic music...

Something low and suggestive then?

Groder threw his arms up into the air.

“Great, as if things could not get any worse.”

...or not.

The group huddled together and Groder reflected on how tired they all looked. Nalia and Imoen looked the most haggard. He assumed he looked the same.

Aww. They went in tired?

They are a bit worn at least.

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

Aww again. He even fought weird things in a Planar Sphere and he's scared now?

And he forgot his super-Groder powers already? He must really be scared, if so...

Sometimes the terror you know is more frightening then the one you don`t.

The slayer will hopefully provide some comfort later.

“There is someone up ahead. A small trading post perhaps.” Viconia said. “I think they are Duergar and they look unarmed.”

Key word: look.

Aw yeah... A bunch of unarmed merchants in a dangerous place seems kinda... dumb.

“Stop cowering!” He yelled in broken common. “The Drow does not bear any house insignia and she is with surfacers.” The last word was spat. “She is an exile.”

I love that banter in the game. Here, too, of course, but in the game, too.

Ah yep. She can`t get no respect at all. Poor lass.

Anger fell over Viconia`s face and she began yelling at them in Drow. The ones that had cowered went back to doing just that while the one that had figured that they were not actually a Drow retinue sneered a bit and snapped a finger. Armoured and crossbow wielding dwarves emerged from the darkness. All aimed at the party.

Well. Key word above?

He... They should have looked harder.

/Can I beg you to exert a bit and insert some actual drow words?/

Eh... I don´t think I can form Drow sentences just yet...

“It is not a good idea to touch something that has just been left here.” Viconia said.

Whoa. She's surprisingly civil. No, "Foolish rivvil! Has your mother not taught you not to..."

I think I said it several times already... Your Viconia is definitely a very relaxed one.

She knows that you should not yell in the underdark.

A large dark grey thing with an exoskeleton dropped from above. It had vulture like head and birdlike legs. But instead of arms it had long wicked looking hooks. The thing screeched again and raised its hook like appendages.

I think it looks a bit like... Groder?

It is a happy coinsidence that the hook horror and the slayer kind of looks the same...

“You are not of Kangaxx… ah… but you smell of cities, of Athkatla.” Alchra mused and then he extended a hand and cracked of the little finger. The lich held it out.

Oh? Are they going Gaxx-hunting?

Yep, so much later though...

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Seems they are! (Where is 'Dalis, by the way? Because he hadn't spoken so far a word! Did he get lost somewhere, and they don't even realise that he's not with them? )

I forgot about him...

He will be happy in Ust Natha though... someone has their eye on him.

Navigating by the duregars map proved slightly problematic as it was rather off scale. But soon enough they could see the beginnings of a gorge. Deep in it lava bubbled and cast a yellow light up from the split in the earth. A lonely and solid looking bridge led across one of the tighter sections of the gorge. The party crossed the bridge and found it very securely attached to smooth, hand worked rocks on either side of the gorge.

I'm snipping it here, but I rather like this entire description. It's... Well. It feels just like it should. It agrees completely with my image of the Underdark.

Thankee...

I always want to add something about radiation but they would not know that so...

“At least the Svirfneblin know how to properly respect malla Viconia.” The cleric said. “They welcome us to their fair granite home and suggest that we should speak with their leader.”

Ooh. And she loves it. We'll see how she treats those duergar once she has House insignia!

She will be happy with her newfound power but happines is fleeting...

The party filed past the nervous gnome guards and walked down the tunnel. They past what most likely had once been homes or shops carved directly into the rock. The deep gnome home was depressingly barren. It was obvious that it had once been fully inhabited but left behind mine carts filled with tools or lonely pyramids of crates told their lonesome tale.

Aww... Like the abandoned gold mines of the Wild West.

I imagined it to be desolate.

Viconia nodded and led them in, all of them having to duck their heads since the entrance was not exactly man shaped. A few deep gnomes sat around a lone table in the middle of the tavern. Otherwise it was empty of life. The gnomes were engaged in a heated discussion and had not noticed the newcomers. Since their argument was rather loud, Viconia narrated that they apparently had some sort of problem with their newest tunnels. One of the gnomes, older then the others and with a prodigious beard noticed the party. The old gnome waved a hand which silenced the others and then he slid of his chair and walked towards the party.

It still feels like the Wild West. Say, there is a grizzly bear near that mine... Who's gonna go and shoot it?

Fits with the cow girls Viconia and Jaheira then.

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

The way I imagine Viconia's smile:
Even the eyes are the right colour. Pity that not the skin...

Ah... her eyes would be burning red down there...

“Of course.” He sighed. “What is it?”

Say, there is that grizzly bear...

A balor that looks like a grizzly!

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

I'm utterly loving this scene.

Thankee

“What demon!” Every member of the party yelled simultaneously.

Even 'Dalis?
I'm still loving the theatrics.

Yes even `Dalis!

“The reason we are so few here is that we urm… accidentally raised a demon while we were excavating a new tunnel…” The gnome looked highly uncomfortable.

The risks of mining, gas, tunnels collasping and demons...

“You actually think we can kill a demon?” Jaheira asked with a critical eyebrow raised.

Well. If you thought to ACTUALLY BRING SOME EQUIPMENT FOR IMOEN, it might have been a tad easier.

(Or did she get Yoshimo's stuff?)

No....

Imoen will get equipped in Ust Natha...

“As snacks.” Imoen filled in.

“You know, it would be nice if you told us who this person who is supposed to help us when we have helped you is. Just so we know that she actually exists.” The pink haired mage cocked her head to the side. “Is she drow or gnome or…”

Um. Textual mistake here. Imoen doesn't know that 'she' is a 'she'.

Ouch... got to fix that!

“She is a wyrm, my lady.” Golander responded.

"Right..." Groder rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

Happy grizzly bear demon hunting (or parlaying with, or strangling with Imoen's superpower), Groder!

We shall see what happens... most certainly they will not be maimed.

I loved the descriptions, and I loved the duergar scene and the Goldander scene.

Thankee.

“This… this is the Underdark.” Viconia said with obvious strain in her voice.

I'm betting Viccy is not happy with this development.

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

Daddy Bhaal's here to help! Like the proverbial nightlight, only evil.

“I think that we maybe should let Viconia do the talking.” Nalia spoke up for the first time.

Definitely a good idea. The language barrier would otherwise be insurmountable. Unless you had draconic assistance.

“Stop cowering!” He yelled in broken common. “The Drow does not bear any house insignia and she is with surfacers.” The last word was spat. “She is an exile.”

Yowch. Viccy got served.

Anger fell over Viconia`s face and she began yelling at them in Drow. The ones that had cowered went back to doing just that while the one that had figured that they were not actually a Drow retinue sneered a bit and snapped a finger. Armoured and crossbow wielding dwarves emerged from the darkness. All aimed at the party.

How uncommonly smart of them.

A large dark grey thing with an exoskeleton dropped from above. It had vulture like head and birdlike legs. But instead of arms it had long wicked looking hooks. The thing screeched again and raised its hook like appendages. Groder fell backwards into the hexagonal construct and hit one of the faces. The construct hummed and distracted the hook horror long enough for Viconia to land a blow on its head with the flail of ages.

Eep.

“You are not of Kangaxx… ah… but you smell of cities, of Athkatla.” Alchra mused and then he extended a hand and cracked of the little finger. The lich held it out.

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Ooh, interesting! Is that actually a part of that quest or is this bit your invention? I never did the lich quests because I'm terrible at fighting mages.

“At least the Svirfneblin know how to properly respect malla Viconia.” The cleric said. “They welcome us to their fair granite home and suggest that we should speak with their leader.”

I respect you, Viccy! Er... Viconia, I mean.

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

You don't get to intimidate gnomes every day.

Well... maybe you do in certain circles. But on the whole, you don't.

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

“Killing the what now?” Groder asked with eyebrows raised.

I'm confused... did he think that or actually say it? It looks like Groder is psychic if he really said it "silently."

“She is a wyrm, my lady.” Golander responded.

"Right..." Groder rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

Ah, poor Groder... the life of a Bhaalspawn is never easy...

“This… this is the Underdark.” Viconia said with obvious strain in her voice.

I'm betting Viccy is not happy with this development.

Nope and she will find that home is no longer home.

So they set out down a dusty path leading further into the darkness. Groder could not keep from muttering prayers to Tymora. He had not wanted to admit it but he felt scared, being lost in one of the most dangerous places on Toril and having had his soul ripped from his body. Yes, that scared him.

Daddy Bhaal's here to help! Like the proverbial nightlight, only evil.

An evil nightlight... that is a good idea. You plug it in and then it terrorizes your child until it faints. The child that is.. not the nightlight

“I think that we maybe should let Viconia do the talking.” Nalia spoke up for the first time.

Definitely a good idea. The language barrier would otherwise be insurmountable. Unless you had draconic assistance.

Yep. But that assistance is coming up soon enough.

“Stop cowering!” He yelled in broken common. “The Drow does not bear any house insignia and she is with surfacers.” The last word was spat. “She is an exile.”

Yowch. Viccy got served.

Yep, the dwarves proved a bit cleverer then she thought theu would be.

Anger fell over Viconia`s face and she began yelling at them in Drow. The ones that had cowered went back to doing just that while the one that had figured that they were not actually a Drow retinue sneered a bit and snapped a finger. Armoured and crossbow wielding dwarves emerged from the darkness. All aimed at the party.

How uncommonly smart of them.

Unarmed and unguarded merchants in a blighted wasteland filled with monsters is not really ogical.

A large dark grey thing with an exoskeleton dropped from above. It had vulture like head and birdlike legs. But instead of arms it had long wicked looking hooks. The thing screeched again and raised its hook like appendages. Groder fell backwards into the hexagonal construct and hit one of the faces. The construct hummed and distracted the hook horror long enough for Viconia to land a blow on its head with the flail of ages.

Eep.

Yep and they got lucky. Hook Horrors usually travel in packs IIRC.

“You are not of Kangaxx… ah… but you smell of cities, of Athkatla.” Alchra mused and then he extended a hand and cracked of the little finger. The lich held it out.

“Take it and if you return to that city you shall find the tomb of Kangaxx, you will do as you are bid in exchange for you lives here and now.”

Ooh, interesting! Is that actually a part of that quest or is this bit your invention? I never did the lich quests because I'm terrible at fighting mages.

It is my own invention. It seemed silly for them to just find a tomb in a house.

“At least the Svirfneblin know how to properly respect malla Viconia.” The cleric said. “They welcome us to their fair granite home and suggest that we should speak with their leader.”

I respect you, Viccy! Er... Viconia, I mean.

He he... We like her atleast

“You love this don’t you?” Jaheira whispered to Viconia whom responded with a slight smile.

You don't get to intimidate gnomes every day.

Well... maybe you do in certain circles. But on the whole, you don't.

Gnome intimidation is really not a hard sport. Drow seem to do it very often though.

“Well… that and killing the demon.” Golander said silently.

“Killing the what now?” Groder asked with eyebrows raised.

I'm confused... did he think that or actually say it? It looks like Groder is psychic if he really said it "silently."

Golander said it quietly and Groder did not really hear him which is why Groder posed the question.

“She is a wyrm, my lady.” Golander responded.

"Right..." Groder rubbed the bridge of his nose again.

Ah, poor Groder... the life of a Bhaalspawn is never easy...

Nope but fear and loathing in Ust Natha awaits... less drugs and more pretty boys though