(Jan. 16, 2005) Chronicler: Isaku
Month 11, Day 8, Year 1562 –
Our desmodu guide, Veday, led us into the ruined spider city by a somewhat circuitous route, to avoid detection by the Beholders. The ceilings were fairly high, about 200 feet or so. In the distance was a very large structure that seemed to be leaning at an angle, probably from the earthquake. According to Veday, the structure was some kind of temple, and now the main headquarters for the Beholders. The floor appeared to be covered with an old lava flow, so it was a bit uneven, slowing us down a bit.
We set up camp for the night. During second watch (Isaku, Mulan, Ashiko, and Gorvak), we were attacked by something large with multiple reptilian heads (a Hydra). Gorvak charged the creature, surviving attacks from several of the heads, and Zenako quickly joined him. The Hydra reared up and blasted fire from its many heads, crisping Gorvak and Zenako around the edges a bit, but not knocking them down, much to the Hydra’s dismay. Others soon woke up and joined the fight, eventually killing the beast.
We moved the camp about 100 yards away from the corpse, and settled down for the rest of the night. During third watch, Noku heard what sounded like something eating the Hydra corpse. Abu turned invisible and flew over to investigate, and saw several giant lizards eating the corpse. They did not seem to pose a threat to us, so we left them alone.
Month 11, Day 9 –
We kept moving across the ruined city. Til’k picked up the scent of some kind of squid-heads (Mind-Flayers), and Mulan thought a few may have passed through the previous day.
We saw an active underground volcano further in the distance, with active lava flows oozing down the sides. We kept going passed it, and found another place to camp for the night, which passed quietly.
Month 11, Day 10 –
We continued on our way, and soon reached a corridor with some noxious sulfur fumes. Ashiko cast some Delay Poison spells on a few people, and we attempted to pass through the corridor. The fumes temporarily affected several of us, so we used a few more Delay Poison and Lesser Restoration spells
We came to a large crevasse with a rope bridge across. We all managed to either climb or fly across. Veday helped us get past the sentries on the other side. The sentries suggested that we visit Baandar, the head priest. Abu and Ashiko recalled that the bat god is named Vesperian, and is basically benign. Veday took us through the desmodu enclave to the shrine to meet Baandar. Some of us thought we saw some humans, or at least non-desmoudu, in the market as we passed through to the shrine. Veday didn’t know about any humans, but then he’s been out of circulation for a while.
We entered the Shrine of Vesperian and saw a large incense burner hanging from the ceiling, which might be magic. It looked like it may have been adapted from some kind of spider design to some kind of bat design.
Baandar came out and said “Hello” in Drakaran. He appeared to be an older bat, and wore bracers, a cloak, and a great bow of some sort. Veday introduced us to Baandar, who thanked us for buying the freedom of Veday. Hatori presented an Amulet of Natural Armor to Baandar as a gift. Baandar thanked him and asked if there was anyway he could assist us. Ashiko informed him that we wanted to destroy the Beholders and what was left of the spider god. Baandar replied that this was a worthy goal, and invited us in to sit and talk.
We joined him inside the shrine, and he commented that we appeared to have been in battle, but had no visible wounds. We explained about our battle with the Hydra, and the damage from the sulfur corridors. We also told him that we belonged to the Drakaran Empire.
Baandar expressed his concerns about the effect of the volcanic activity on other areas. He also told us more about the war with the kumo (spider folk), and how they eventually had to take drastic action, though it turned out to be a bit more drastic than they intended. The elders of the past used Walls of Force to dam up the magma and divert the lava flows to the spider city, destroying it.
Baandar confirmed that there were indeed other humans down here, but he did not know where they were from. They claim that they only wish to trade, but Baandar suspects they have other motives. Baandar also explained that the desmodu are divided into different factions (as Veday explained earlier), and barely get along within the cavern. The different factions want to make war, trade, explore, or stay home.
The desmodu usually trade with the salamanders that live near the volcano, but trade was interrupted recently, so a delegation of desmodu went to try to smooth things over. Unfortunately, they had not returned after two weeks, so Baander was very concerned.
Hatori requested permission for us to stay for a couple of days to recover, and Baandar offered us some rooms in the shrine. Baandar introduced us to his assistant, Mekmet, who woke up to take the night shift.
Month 11, Day 10 –
Various party members attempted to gather information about the other humans in the area, and learned that they seem to be different from us in some way. Maybe some are hengeyoki or spirit folks? Some of them seemed a little lizard-like, with scales and odd-looking eyes…maybe a little too much dragon blood?
Ashiko teleported to Drakara (and back) to buy some potions and scrolls of Lesser Restoration (for us), and some scrolls of Plant Growth (to help the desmodu).
Noku attempted to Scry the desmodu delegation to the salamanders, and discovered that they appeared to have been turned into slaves in some kind of forge. Baandar listened to Noku’s description, and said it did sound like one of the salamander forges.
Hatori attempted to Scry on the leader of the other humans, and found a human with a different skin color, apparently a barbarian from outside the Drakaran Empire. He appeared to wear some kind of metal armor (not chain mail) and shield, and an odd-looking weapon (morning star).
Abu told us about salamanders: they are immune to fire, and have a number of fire spells. We decided to prepare various fire protection spells and anti-toxins for the next day.
Month 11, Day 11 –
We finished our preparations (including casting Fly on everyone, and Invisibility on some folks), and flew through the sulfur corridor and on to the salamander’s citadel. Visibility was about 20 feet, due to the sulfur fumes, so Ashiko used Control Winds to blow some of the fumes away.
When we reached the volcano, Til’k flew ahead while invisible to look around. He saw some figures up ahead, and was able to get in a sneak attack to start the battle with the salamanders and their allies.
On the upper level of the salamander citadel, we eventually defeated 2 average salamanders on sentry duty with 2 hell hounds (all slain); 8 noble salamanders - 4 who had been "resting" in various mud baths and 4 who were in the main hall (all slain); 2 efreeti visitors who came out to support the group in the main hall, but decided they were in trouble and fled into the lava and disappeared (plane-shifted away); 1 noble salamander leader (who we later found out was a "wizard", or some sort of wu jen type) and his slave efreeti - named Kelkitrin and Zubenel respectively, who escaped to their home; and 1 greater fire elemental cook who ignored us and was in turn ignored - not really defeated so much as acknowledged as a non-combatant.
On the lower level, the enemy surrendered under the lead of the one noble salamander remaining, who seemed less "nasty" than the rest (probably LN in alignment). He was a skilled smith, crafting weapons and such. There was also an elder fire elemental helping in the smithy, plus a total of 10 average salamanders - 4 had been at work in the smithy (guarding the working desmodu slaves) and 6 had been resting in a barracks set up for 12 (the other two were the sentries upstairs).
The noble salamander smith agreed to give information in exchange for being allowed to return to the elemental plane of fire. He told us that the efreeti had a portal to a part of the spirit world that was full of elemental fire. He also said that some humans (one of the unknown barbarians?) came and told them that the desmodu were planning to extinguish the volcano, which would essentially put them out of business. As a result, the salamanders planned to ally with the beholders to enslave the desmodu. After speaking with us, he decided that it wasn’t such a good plan after all.
We allowed the remaining salamanders to leave. We then freed all 16 desmodu slaves, which accounted for all of the missing envoys (other than the ones whom their fellows say died when the group was captured), and included some random other desmodu who had been purchased by the salamanders from a beholder.