They received several reports of activity at the caves. The Orcs of the Purple Claw are augmenting their ranks from the wild coast. And, they are moving into the goblin and hobgoblin caves the party cleared out. Nilbog thinks they are being drawn to Macrobius (whether they know it or now). The forest rangers, mostly high elves and wood elves, banded together and strike the orcs daily. About sixteen of them engage the orcs daily; mostly hit and run ambushes outside the caves.
All rested up, they went to dig up Zoltar. You remember they buried Z in a shallow grave outside Blueheart’s tower. Worm-food now, of course, they did find three magic items as Chopper promised they would: a ring of protection +1, a wand of returning, and a wand of ray of enfeeblement. They reburied Zoltar, ending this grisly little side quest. Before they returned to the keep, Chopper said a few words for Zoltar since Nilbog, who tending to matters in the Temple of Mitra back at the Keep, was not present.
Upon returning, they found the keep in turmoil. Guards were on high alert. The Castellan summoned them to his inner ward and reported that his men discovered a secret passage in lower cold storage. He explained that he then sent an exploration team, but they returned minutes later fearful and in literally in flames. All of their uniforms blackened by intense fire. Two sergeants did not return. The found a deep cave guarded by a fell beast. Descriptions of the thing were vague, but most reported it had the body of a lion and a snake tail that breathed fire (at them!).
The party knew what was next. Yes was the answer. Of course they would (try to) slay the beast for the Castellan. They stocked up on mostly free supplies and began their descent soon after. They found the stairs to be terraced and narrow; a combination of natural and man made elements. It appears there has been about 50 years of inactivity in this lost place.
They entered a large cavern that was absolutely dark. The humans couldn't see an inch in front of them. There was a torch and a spot lantern for light. As a group they crept along the right-side wall until they saw it: a massive chimera prime, awake and upset; body and head of a lion, another head of a single-horned bull, a fire breathing serpent tail and in other places grotesque tentacles wiggled out of it.
Chopper began climbing to see if he could hide, but fell to the ground, missing a foothold. The others did what they could before its tail breathed fire on them all. Burnt and clothing blackened as a group. Morgan practically died and now has permanent facial scarring. Only a sleep spell from Melkin slowed the thing. It provided just enough time for the group to heal Morgan and disengage.
They regrouped upstairs and reported to the Castellan. The cone of fire caught their attention. They spent the next day healing and planning a return attack.
On the second attempt the chimera appeared to be sleeping. The humans stayed near by the entrance while Baum and later Melkin quietly explored the surrounds. Ultimately they awoke the chimera, but before that they found a room of yellow mold and another with a sinkhole to the abyss. In the Chimera battle, Morgan cast a remarkably powerful sleep spell that knocked the chimera out (along with most life forms in a 1500 yard radius!). The magic users slew the thing with a flurry of magic missiles. They took its heads to the Castellan and the celebrations began. The Castellan encouraged them to continue their investigations and use his keep as a base as appropriate. Keep guards keep watch at the secret entrance 24/7.
Next time down, Baum summoned a magic disc to convey him and Melkin on a reconnaissance mission around the cavern’s perimeter. Morgan stayed back keeping watch with the darkness-limited humans. The other two exploring found the passage nearest to the chimera lair led to an underground stream and then across it, a well-hidden intricately locked secret door followed by a cavern possibly filled with ghasts. They were on the run from the ghasts at first. When they found the things stopped, swaying, seemingly helpless to cross the stream, they calmed their pace. Continually the pair’s investigations they flew to the other side of the chimera cavern. They found another sinkhole and the narrowing cavern transformed into a pillared hallway.
From the top of front facing pillars four gargoyles slowly spread their wings and made it straight for the elves. They used their quickness, back peddling and knocking them off one by one with magic missiles. Morgan stepped out and nailed a few as well. There was only one gargoyle left by the time it made it near the humans. Darthon simply stepped forward, swung his blade, and severed the stone creature’s neck is a very casual fashion.
With the gargoyles dead they grouped up and investigated. The pillared hallway led to some sort protected structure. Was it some lost temple? Possibly it led to the crypts of the original keep builders? Maybe it was something else completely?
The party retreated to research and rest. They visited the place a few hours later to find a six inch high ten foot wide swath of vicious goo smeared across the cavern floor from the far sinkhole to the chimera’s nest. They thought better of it and decided to leave, but were determined to return.
2/8/14
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