Part One: Like a bridge over troubled Kruthiks..

Hiding behind a large rock formation, the party came to the first of two handmade dwarven bridges standing forty feet over the large ravines, littered with bones and cracked earth. Something was tunneling in the dirt far below them, making it's daily rounds scavenging for food. Meanwhile the party hunkered down and was coming up with an elaborate fool proof plan to deal with the dark elf scouting party perched on the center island connecting the two bridges first noticed by Sevlah. The drow were involved with themselves, unaware of the party.

The historical "Get 'em!" plan was set into motion.

Quinn led the charge being careful about his footing as he was aware the bridge had thoroughly rusted plates and dilapidated cables barely able to support itself, let alone him in his plate armor.

Korgul was hesitant, and wanted a recount. But, realizing half orc barbarians don't use debate skills and he'd lose points for bad role playing, he followed after the paladin.

Six drow, half archers and the others being melee masters, stood up fully revealing their presence. An arrow from Sevlah whistled towards the villians and found it's mark. As the drow blademasters rushed to meet Quinn head on, the dark elf's footing gave way and found itself in panic and hanging from one hand on the side of the bridge.

The dirt below stirred and several man-sized chitinous creatures ascended the middle tower, seeing the dangling drow bandit as a easy meal.

The dark elves found themselves being thrusted over the edge from bull rushes and forceful magic, quickly in a losing situation. The remaining scout fled across the second bridge as the party continued to battle the kruthik that were atop the plateau. The blades and arrows pierced thick carapaces while large hissing masses flung poisonous spikes at the heroes. Across the last bridge the remaining drow tried to find aid from more of his brethren.

The enemies fell off the pinnacle as the party pressed on in certain victory, but as each body hit the ground below, shockwaves of dirt and dust echoed across the cracked, barren earth awakening something big.

More of the kruthiks and a Hive Lord emerged from the earth. However, the nearest prey was the unfortunate drow scout. Thought to be within salvations reach, the Hive Lord blasted him with acid, ending his existence and poising a new threat to his comrades.

The dark elves retreated after more losses to a vertical cave (what us modern folk might call a hole) disappearing into the shallow darkness below.

Now the Hive Lord and the party were at a showdown atop the second bridge. Once again, after closing in, the kruthik widened its mandibles and blasted acid at the heroes, while it suddenly found itself being bull rushed from it's blindside. After a seemingly fatal fall, the large Hive Lord righted itself and stubbornly began to lumber up the side of the natural tower. However, being bloodied and close to death it found itself the recipient of one of Riardon's magic missiles. The Hive Lord fell flailing and screeching to it's demise, falling to the ground below with a thunderous crack, as a halo of dust trailed about the body.

The party quickly gathered themselves up at the hole, ready to descend into the darkness after the evasive drow elves.