Game summary for June 28, 2007; present characters included Ashkor (lizardfolk barbarian/battle sorcerer/dragon disciple/fighter), Iapetus Hasur (hu-charad giant rogue/vigilante), Lady Aridarye Phylund Brokengulf (human aristocrat/harbinger cohort), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Pitamian Kalal (human yang monk), and Taravin Truesilver (human gray guard/paladin of honor).
After some discussion, the Mercenaries began to free climb the waterfall chasm. They traversed around outcroppings, narrows, and mini-lakes for about 1,800 feet. The going was slow and tedious, and they used Pitamian, tied off to a couple of ropes, as their plumb and scout. As he found “safe” ledges, the others would make their way to him, and then he would be lowered further into the darkness.
Eventually, Pit discovered the end of the waterfall in a massive room filled with crystals in the ceiling. A strange green light refracted off the water and crystals to cause a twinkling like starlight above. The Mercenaries all went into the room and swam toward shore. There, they were greeted by a well-groomed man with pale skin and dark black hair. He wore no armor but carried a massive sword across his back. In his hand rode a green-lit lantern that cast cool rays about the chamber.
Although leary, the group spoke to the man, who introduced himself as Moreto, Marquis of Ravenstone. Taravin used his paladin senses to determine the man, if he is indeed a man, as evilly-aligned; however, Moreto made no aggressive moves or threats. They discovered Moreto seeks to do some undisclosed research on the surface but ran afoul of Flycatcher above. The party revealed they made a deal with the spider to kill the Marquis. At this, Moreto laughed and made a counteroffer. He wished to reach the surface and would help the team back up the waterfall and engage the spider as well as give them a strange crystal he had stolen from the spider. Lack of trust made the team debate for a long time, and they finally reached an agreement. Moreto’s companions, a pair of mohrgs, were of particular concern to Taravin. They agreed the mohrgs would accompany them up to the chambers above, but they would have to stay within and not go through the Daggerford portal. Moreto agreed to this stipulation only because the Mercenaries offered to protect him until he got to a surface library.
In a show of good faith, Moreto gave the crystal, wrapped in cloth, to Taravin but warned that unless one spoke the correct words of power, touching it would cause monsters of air to appear and attack. When the portal is reached, Moreto will give the command words allowing safe handling. The Marquis then cast levitate on the party and then shifted into the form of a bat. Approximately a third of the way up the waterfall, Taravin noticed the glowing outline of a door that only he could see. He and the team investigated and found a massive staircase. As Moreto and his minions arrived, the team climbed the stairs to discover a pair of gigantic 50-foot-tall metal doors of gleaming black metal.
What riches, and dangers, lie beyond?
