The Black Spider.

Following the death of the Hydra Aralon suggests harvesting some of its blood in the hope that we will be able to make us of it. Saphira swims down to the body and is able to cut off a sample and bottle it. The group then move to explore the area where the Kobolts appeared from. This appears to be a cave with a rocky tunnel which leads through to a courtyard. Dotted around are supplies of the Kobolts which appear to contain mushrooms. Standing stark in middle of the room stands a delicately hewn Hydra statue with a plaque at its feet. Saphira is able to read the draconic inscription which indicates that ‘The Dark One’ introduced the Kobolts to the Hydra. Agrippiana is well aware that the Kobolts are obsessed with anything draconic and connecting themselves with it. In the middle of the statue is a small keyhole, Thraback uses the key which he uncovered in the water while being almost drowned by the Hydra… As he turns the key the statue begins to slide away into the floor below, revealing a portal hidden behind it. Aralon takes a close look and recognises that the magic aura surrounding it is transmutation. Vandal moves closer and makes the first plunge into the portal, with the rest of the group following after him. We find ourselves floating through the darkness, eventually landing in what seems to be another plane of existence. Everything here is twisted from what we expect, more jagged. We are in a roughly hewn cave with a purple haze lighting the area around us. Above us we see a dark slender figure watching us carefully. He addresses us with a voice as sleek as silver, “A pleasure to meet you all… I have been watching you carefully. I have followed your movements for a long time. My name is Nezznar D’Rinn or as you know me, the Black Spider. If you wish to escape with your lives, all you have to do it leave my dear brother ‘Vorn’ behind and the contents of the cleric’s backpack…”

Vorn and Agrippiana hazard a glance at each other as Nezznar continues on, “You have been puppets all along. The Hag’s eye has allowed me to watch you closely. I had a deal with the Hag… You covered my tracks perfectly….”

Vorn wants to listen no longer and calls to his brother asking where Fingers is.

Nezznar chuckles, “Oh he is alive but he has loose lips, it was easy to take his place. He is in Waterdeep. I am here with the blessing of the great one Lollith. Shall I tell them what you have in your bag Agrippiana?”

Agrippiana turns her head away from him and the group, bracing herself.

“These pages make up the book, the Demonicron, made from the skin and flesh of a powerful necromancer. It holds the world in the balance….”

“All 3rd sons need to be sacrificed in our kin, to Lollith. Our mother had a moment of weakness and stole Vorn away. This caused our house to fall, we were usurped. The 3rd son must be sacrificed and we will regain the power that was taken from us!”

Vorn steps in front of the group and, with feeling, prepares to fight his brother, shouting, “Listen to me now brother, while I have no great love for anyone in this group, we have accomplished things we never thought we could. We have overcome many trials, we have survived things we never thought we would and we will overcome you.”

Nezznar fixes his eyes on Vorn – “So you’re choosing that hard way then?”

Thraback bursts to the front of the group – axe at the ready and bellows with joy – “That’s the only way I’d want it!”

At this Nezznar summons 20 Drow who appear to emerge from the wall in front of us. 2 Dryders slink down from the roof above and fix on the two clerics. Nezznar calls his strongest Drow fighter – Gromph who sets his eyes on the real challenge, Thraback.

Vorn takes the first move firing his crossbow at Nezznar, yet he is able to block it with magic. Chaos ensues as Mushu and Aralon begin to make use of their fire spells on the hoards of Drow hurtling towards us. Vandal finds himself faced with a Shadow Demon, floating before him.

Gromph and Thraback square up to each other. Gromph using two scimitars to fight, Thraback with his trusty axe. A real test of brawn.

Aralon takes out 10 Drow with one cast of burning hands much to the appreciation of Mushu. Vandal makes use of his new skill from the diamond he found and is able to land a hit on the Black Spider who spits at him – “You have angered me dwarf!”

Agrippiana summons her spirit guardian, the bear who appears ready to defend her from the dryder. Lukas is fighting valiantly against the Dryder facing him but is getting badly injured by the blades and the bites.

Suddenly Thraback falls amidst all the fighting, unable to see and is clearly disoriented. Agrippiana calls from him, trying to get him to run towards her. He gets close but falls again unable to work out where he is in the battlefield. Agrippiana throws a fire spell at the Black Spider to break his concentration – lifting the spell off Thraback allowing him to join the fray again. Aralon, still burning all around him, summons Death and sends him to help Agrippiana. It is then we notice that the Black Spider has disappeared and there is no magical trace that Aralon can see anywhere in this room. Aralon then takes out his sword as the remaining Drow close in, yet to his surprise it seems the imp Ictar has been merged with his sword, giving it an even more demonic look than before… and a nagging voice in Aralon’s ear! Meanwhile Vorn is hiding under the corpses of the charred Drow in the hope that he will not be found by the others, who want him alive… for now. Lukas, despite his best efforts is felled by the Dryder, with Luna and Saphira, freshly healed by Agrippiana, swooping in to help.

As the spirit bear is tackling the Dryder in front of Agrippiana, the Black Spider reappears, turning his attention towards it and Agrippiana. He dispels the bear before her eyes. The bear turns to her, beginning to fade away, clawing at the ground trying to fight the spell. As it finally disappears a single tear rolls down its cheek, and then it is gone… the Black Spider laughs at her, “Maybe you shouldn’t have lifted that curse after all…”

Vandal summons the strength to defeat the Shadow Demon and it evaporates before him. Agrippiana is able to heal Lukas, reviving him and also healing herself. The Black Spider, with no consideration for his own men, used Firebolt on the party – killing Gromph, much to the annoyance of Thraback. With the rest of the Drow and Dryders finished off. We all turn and focus our attack on the Black Spider, Luna with her angelic wings was able to fly and deal the final blow with her great sword. Nezznar, unable to deal any more damage, slumps the ground dead. Met with silence. The group catch their breath and gather themselves. As they look around however, they realise that Dante is nowhere to be seen, and the portal from where they came is still closed…

Until next week!