Plantmonth the 18th, 2:20 PM, 289 of the 29th age (202 years before our time). We did not want to go back to the Nymph for now. So we opted to head back to the other twisted passages, starting with the first one that smelt of roses. We followed the twists and turns, coming by an area where a large section of tree root had desiccated, a split here and again followed the rose scent. Eventually a slight uprise and there were a 6’ carpet of roses growing in the dark gloom some 200’ below the ground.
We had Wilhelm check the entire thing out, top to bottom. Stems, thorns, soil, color, scent – they were in all ways normal every day red roses. Just growing completely in an area and environment and depth that made no sense. We backed up and took another passage, coming eventually to more roots. Then we backed up and checked the other side passages. Twists, turns, dead roots.
No way through except the Nymph’s chamber. We discussed options and settled on trying to keep her away from the pool and overpowering her magic resistance with as many possible attacks as we could. We swapped to non magical items, set up who would tackle the celestial lizards, and figured that early on, Godrick would blast the area with a lightning bolt. The group girded itself for a long fight and we got in position.
And entered. Bless was cast, strength was cast, the group moved closer and in place. And Godrick shot off his lightning bolt. It hit the Nymph in the chest, she failed her magic resistance, frying through her, hit the back wall, and shot back again, and again she failed her magic resistance- before charring her to death.
Entire fight with the Nymph 2.0…31 seconds. After that the fight with the Celestial lizards was much easier. Without the Nymph, their regeneration did not function and the party was done with the struggle by 5 minutes to 4.
We reloaded the lantern with oil and peering into the pool, could see it went down 15’ feet. We tied a rope to Connal and let him slip into the cool water. At the bottom was a wrapped burlap bag and an 8’ trident. As he took it, he could feel a pulse run through it and out from him, and runes shot from the base to the tip and winked out. He swam back up and we went through the bag.
A dozen gemstones of a variety of worth (5 to about 50 crowns per), a potion of Perfect Health (permanent 1d4 hp), and the trident. Wilhelm and Shim gave it a once over. According to the read magic and detect magics, it was a Seshele Trident, a magical weapon from a race of aquatic elves. There were 2 powers, a martial one and an elective one – the elective one had 20 uses and was then done. We discussed who would get and it was either Rhygar or Nathanial – deciding to give it to Nathanial for now. He practiced with it and was very happy with its function.
As for the potion, we decided to give it to Shim, the gnome drinking it down and getting 3 fresh new hp for it. Hooray! We gathered everything up, took some samples, and were on our way south. The passage went on a bit and then ended eventually at a large mass of root half in the wall and a hole going down in the gloom. The light coin trick let us know it went down another 60’, 70’, 80’ . And we had no more rope – all 4 coils had been used.
At this point we discussed options. Climbing down without rope was suicide. So the thought was that Wilhelm and Connal would go back to the 2 other passages and using the monk’s normal skill and Wilhelm’s Spider Climb, scale back to the top, and get the 2 sets of 2 ropes and bring them back here.
It took some time (2 hours) to back track the distance, more light spells were cast, including a spider climb. But eventually all 4 coils had been untied and brought down here to the 2nd level. Then, we tied a pair to the root tree here and let it slither down into the gloom. Then one by one, we climbed down the many ledges and switches until we came at long last to the floor of the 3rd level. It was about 8ish as we set ourselves up and went down the passage.
The chamber ahead of us was lit by a steady purple light. 25’ above the ground was a 3’ length of crystal cluster growing from the ceiling radiating the light. The room had 2 dozen small puddles in it, reflecting the light, and there were 2 passages in here – 1 to the north, the other to the west. No one wanted to go in. Shim summoned a Lizardman, and the Saurial was instructed to RUN around the chamber stepping over and through the puddles.
It did so and we expected it to die – but it didn’t! The Saurial ran without issue around the entire chamber and came to the gnome pleased. With just a minute or 2 left, Shim ordered it to run through the western corridor and yell out what it sees along the way. Holding its weapon aloft, it ran off doing so. We heard it keep up a commentary and then say there was something here. Big! My gods. There are 5 of them!
And then the WHOOSH sound like something either went very fast or was set on fire. And then quiet.
Ok, let’s go north.
We took our time, slow walking it until we got to an area that split by a small chamber – northwest or south west. We discussed options and settled on southwest. Going that way there was a chamber here. 9’ ceiling. Some rocky formation on the south end of the chamber looked like a sleeping giant figure. There were 2 thin passages in here, south and west. We had Shim summon again, getting another Lizardman. The saurial was told to run in and run around, heading to the rocky figure. He got there. Assured us it was just rock. Had him hit it a few times. Still rock. Then Shim sent him to the south crack in the wall and he pushed his way through. It was too tight for the lizardman who we assumed got stuck a few times before the spell expired. Infravsion picked up the floor had odd tubes maybe 3’ wide warmer under the ground.
So we had weapons out and entered, heading for the south side of the chamber. But it was the 3rd set of people entering the area triggered an explosion from under the ground. A huge insectoid monster burst out, snatched Wilhelm in its jaws, and clamped down HARD – making the druid scream in pain. It had a poisonous stinger and the group plied weapons and spells against it. Its AC was high, the chitinous plates turning aside all but the most sure of blows. Wilhelm was getting crushed. Connal jumped his way to the top and began to beat the creature from the top.
It then turned and DOVE, taking Wilhelm with it under the earth, and Connal as well, the monk having his foot trapped between plates. We shot and stabbed as it went by. It was getting dire for the druid at this point, barely alive and running out of air. But the Ankheg turned back to the surface, spat out the druid and tried to swallow Darius – just missing the fighter. And then the last of the blows hit and the ankheg died.
We took time with shovels and crowbars to dig Wilhelm out who was down to 2 hp. His shield was lost and some of his equipment was beat up but he lived. We spent time healing him up, and the group gathered around the ankheg. Darius wanted some of the plates – a skilled armorer could make good platemail out of it. But the group had a hard time cutting the plates well enough and free – spending 3 hours before succeeding. Shim used Prestidigitation to clean us up and then we opened the Hut, climbing in and deciding to rest for now, we were pretty beaten up and tired.
Plantmonth the 19th, 1:45 AM, 239 of the 29th age.
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