“Don’t disturb the water!”

We re-join our group of adventurers after their defeat of the Spectator as we move into the room where the loudest booming can be heard. Before us is a massive stretch of water within an expansive cavern. As we are gathering ourselves in our new surroundings, we hear the sound of rowing coming from an entranceway into the cave. From the shore we can make out the figure of a female struggling to row a canoe down towards us. Agrippiana calls to her and we are able to recognise the form of a half elf. She asks for our help, Agrippiana throws a rope to her and pulls the boat towards the shore. She jumps off the boat and Vorn immediately sizes up the equipment in the boat, disappointed to see that it is only normal provisions. We introduce ourselves and she in return tells us her name, Saphira and tells us that she had been prospecting for gold, it seems that there is much more to her story than meets the eye. She tells Agrippiana what she is really seeking and asks to come with the group, after being briefed as to why they are in Wave Echo Base. We make our way down a small cavern with the smaller members of the party able to fit through with no issue, while Thraback having to squeeze through. With the water continuing to run through this area we find before us stone pillars and it seems we are standing the ruins of a dwarven temple, as far as Vandal can gather we are in the Temple of Dumathoin. Aralon uses his powers to detect magic in the area and notices a purple hew coming from a set of downward leading stairs, they are covered in rocks, blocking the way down. Agrippiana walks down to the shore and notices at its edge some writing in the sand in a language she cannot make out. She asks the other members of the party if they recognise it... Saphira informs Agrippiana of what it says, and she in turn relays it to the group, rather worried about what this could mean, “Don’t disturb the water” – which was written in Draconic… The group move back towards the collapsed stairs and shift the rubble together in order to clear the stairway and make their way down to find the source of the magic, with Vandal taking the lead with Lukas close behind. As we get to the bottom we reach a corridor. Lukas tries to walk down it but seems to come upon an invisible barrier. Because of his active spell, Aralon can see that an abjuration spell is blocking the path. As the group try and figure out a way to break through, Vandal steps right through to the other side with no issue, making his way into a room at the end of the corridor. Before him is a sarcophagus with dwarven runes etched into the side. This appears to be the resting place of King Graygar Boneflayer. Vandal prays to the dwarven gods’ and as he does this, the sarcophagus begins to glow and then slowly slides open. Vandal stands and moves over to look inside slowly with his axe at the ready. There indeed are the remains of Graygar and in his skeletal hands, a rather large glowing diamond. He reads the inscription inside the coffin which makes reference to, “aim being true…” Vandal lifts the diamond out and its beings to pulse as it begins to have an effect on his right eye. He brings it to his eye and they merge, giving him magical improvements to his archery as well as a pretty purple sparkle to his eye. He then joins the group and tells them what he found. We all then make our way to the shore to investigate further the strange writing. As we do this we are able to make out small dragon-esq. footprints, which seem to be fairly recent – this in turn would make the message we found, also recent, Saphira surmises. There are also sets of knee marks, belonging to a creature or creatures, no more the 2 of 3ft in height. Aralon, still sensing magical forces, feels something further down the shore and we follow his lead. We come upon manmade stone pillars and the remains of a camp site. Tied tightly to one of the pillars is a small figure which is not struggling and seems strangely content as to where it is. Aralon can sense a dark cloud over it and warns the group to be careful… While making our way towards the figure, we also notice below us the shape of massive dragon-like footprints along with many of the other small sets we seen previously. This is more than enough to give the group pause. Vorn, Aralon and Saphira move closer to the figure that appears to be a goblin. However, he is twisted, almost a dark version of a goblin, who addresses the group with a sinister high pitched cackle. Vorn beings to question him and the strange goblin seems to be very interested in him… “Are you looking for treasure? I fear you will be disappointed… How long have you been looking for treasure hmm? I know why the Black Spider wants you!” At this, Saphira jumps in to try and attack him with what appears to be a magical amulet around her neck, yet it has no impact and the dark cloud around the goblin seems to repulse it. He then mocks the group, “Do you know what I am? I am Nilbog…” “We want to see you again…” – As he says this his eyes roll back into his head and his voice makes a drastic change to a deep howling demonic tone… “I wish to see you all on the Island of Nosferatu!” Most members of the party are horrified at this sudden revelation, some more than others. The voice of the Nilbog returns and his eyes appear as they were before… “One of you was born to die… He turns his head and fixes his eyes squarely on Vorn. “Eight legs, a beautiful woman – your soul is hers! The Black Spider is close… now, let, me, down.”

The rest of the group, move closer, in case Vorn would need aid. Lukas cuts the Nilbog down on the promise that there would be “no funny business.” As the Nilbog slides down the pillar we are able to make out the ripped, torn and bloody jester outfit which adorns him. He jeers at us all, “You are all walking in to the Black Spider’s trap you know… There is no such thing as Wave Echo Base”

We look at each other in disbelief and at Gundrun who is equally as bemused. The Nilbog continues with his revelation:

“I will tell you of the Underdark, of the plot of house D’Rinn to overthrow another noble house, D’Vere. A child was to be sacrificed to Lollith, the 3rd son, but that child survived… That child was stolen away and raised by mercenaries and cutthroats, and given a new name… you now know him as Vorn. The Black Spider is the 2nd son, not to mention the sister… “The Council of 8, they have been gathering strength. That child must die.”

There is not a breath between the other party members who look from Vorn back to the Nilbog, with Vorn looking to the ground, not daring to meet their gaze…

“Dwarven greed is easily manipulated… Vorn was chased yet he escaped. However, your friend Fingers is a chatty drunk, it wasn’t hard to get all the information needed about you. We manipulated the wizard Glastaff that was not difficult either. We employed the Redbrands, Craigmaw Caste, Hallia, Sildar Hallwinter – all manipulated by us. And you fell for it all. Gundrun only had to be given a map to this place and here you are. Do you remember the Doppelganger? Don’t you think it strange, that once you defeated him, Fingers was nowhere to be seen?”

At this Vorn is visibly angered, meeting the gaze of the Nilbog.

“Do not worry, he is alive…”

Vorn demands to know who this creature really is, at this the Nilbog smiles a sinister grin,

“I am many. I am the voice of the Black Spider. I am the demon who inhabits Nosferatu!”

At this the Nilbog runs towards the water, the group quickly throw daggers and spells in an attempt to stop him from reaching it. The creature does fall and the atmosphere can be cut with a knife as the brief moment of relief is shattered. The creature simply stands back up and jumps into the lake…

A booming draconic voice echoes through the cavern,

“Who has awakened the Hydra?!”

Appearing from the shadows slink Kobolts chanting in almost worship to the Hydra, along with Urds flying above us. The water begins to bubble and froth and out bursts the huge scaly mass of the Hydra with its numerous heads and massive form. It regards us, and then slides back into the lake. Agrippiana attempts to flee and is attacked by an Urd and explodes on impact, injuring her slightly. A strange glue like substance covers her but she manages to break free from it and join the fray. Vorn readies his crossbow, killing one Urd with one shot and it falls into the lake, he then sneaks behind one of the pillars, readying his next move. Thraback follows suit with his long bow, taking the 2nd of the three flying reptilian like birds out, leaving only one left, he takes another shot at a Kobolt – killing it in one swift motion.

The Kobolts begin firing arrows at us with Lukas managing to catch one in his hand. They then being to close in on us… Mushu steps forward and unleashes her Burning Hands, finishing of the last of the Kobolts. After a brief moment of celebration, the booming noise can be heard again as the Hydra reappears, bearing its teeth, fangs and its heads as it moves towards us. Agrippiana summons her Spirit Guardian to help defend her and the others, while Aralon also summons Death, as we ready ourselves…

Vorn, without hesitation fires a crossbow bolt at one of the heads, dealing massive damage, knocking the head off completely. However, it does not take long for two more heads to reappear in its place… It is then that Agrippiana recalls that fire is the only way to stop the regeneration of the heads and shouts this to the group. The group all jump to action, with Saphira and Mushu feeling the first attack by the Hydra. Vandal runs to the Hydra, attacking its underbelly, but managing to leave himself open to the fire attacks which the spell casters had to dish out, even managing to get hit by the new adventurer Saphira…

After our spate of fire attacks, we notice that the heads are no longer regenerating! Mushu, on her final fire attack, causes Vandal to fall. As Thraback runs in to take a swipe at the beast, one of the heads grabs our half orc and hold him under the water. Agrippiana aims her Sacred Flame towards this head, hoping to save Thraback. To her surprise, the creature falls down into the water dead… with Thraback bursting out of the lake gasping for breath, and holding a key in his hand….. Aralon quickly stabilises Vandal and the group pause to rest and to take in all that they have been told…

More next week! Exciting revelations!