There were natural stairs that led off into a larger cavern as well as a small hole large enough to crawl through overlooking the same area. In the larger cavern a slippery stream flowed to the left and seemed to be developing into a small river.
The party cautiously moved inward in silence, using hand gestures for communicating (Player one does two fingers poking near eyes then a walking motion and then a twirling gesture, player two yells "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!") and see three drow investigating a large pile of rocks near a cave wall. As the archer drew his bowstring and the mage stationed readied himself in the cubbyhole, a large pair of mandibles shot through the rock and snatched up one of the drow before retreating backwards into it's hole.
The other drow ran off, knowing it was outnumbered, heading up the stream bed into some unknown area trying to escape the party. The remaining dark elf was immediately impaled by an arrow, lit up by the mage, and charged by the rest of the party. Moments later a large growl and a horrible yell was heard from further upstream.
More kruthiks appeared at the rock face and the party dispatched the creatures before ascending up further into more freshly bored tunnels that seemed to twist about in confusing darkness. Party members heard soft, unnerving skittering noises, when suddenly the ground burst open near the paladin and he found himself locked in combat. Nearby the cleric Jepath was also quickly engaged with one of the creatures, and knowing he certainly was not a fighter he yelled for assistance. The nearby half orc clamoured through the tunnels to offer up a steaming, warm plate meal of heavy mace for dinner.
The party brought the fighting with the kruthiks out of the tunnel ways, when yet again the cleric noticed a stirring patch of dirt beneath his feet that was larger than before. He shouted and moved away as fast as he could, while another Hive Lord roared emerged from below. The party deftly got the flank on the large kruthik and brought it and it's companions down. Later, after investigating the tunnels and finding the remaining drow, they pressed upstream discovering a large bear sniffing through the remains of a dark elf.
The bear turned to face the new intruders and was met head on by the party who easily outnumbered and outmatched the beast. Various bits of kruthik and fresh drow remains lay scattered about the cavern as well as the origins of a stream from above.
The party deduced that the drow had simply ran in here hoping for refuge from the fight above, and maybe a possible exit to reorganize. They had no identifying insignias or papers on them. After searching the bodies, the party realizied the only unexplored areas were downstream.
They started walking next to a small river that was picking up speed the further down they went. Around a bend of algae covered rocks the barbarian lunged forward leading the way and planted himself to catch other party members who might not manage the treacherous terrain so easily. Quinn, whose plate armor made it harder to maneuver the splashing river found himself on his back perilously down the natural slide. Korgul easily scooped up the paladin and brought him to safety with the rest of the group. Everybody else used a system of ropes and timed jumps to easily traverse the rocks, and found a safe embankment to plot out their next move.
Riardon summoned his pseudodragon to scout out the area ahead.
The river in the cavern descended in a downwards slope that roared towards waterfall at the end.
Tying off a rope and determining the mage, not being that heavy and could use magic to silently signal the group if needed, went first. Riardon was speedily consumed by the rushing water and shot out into a system of canals into a gigantic underground cavern. As the mage dangled in midair, he was unsure what he had gotten himself into..
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| Gm's Note: The underground waterfall was a gaming mechanic to put the player's at a "point of no return" |
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