The South Austin Gaming Association

2009-01-01T23:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to S.A.G.A. The Dungeons and Dragons collective for, of, and by Austin gamers. With Three Dungeon masters and ten total players we game every week in a regular noon to six p.m. session encompassing several camapigns. It all started with a playing of the "Expedition to the Undermountain" Module and expanded from there to the World of Eberron and a campaign set in up-to-date conversion/revisions of the old "Against the Giants" modules of TSR's Advanced Dungeons and Dragons. Currently the campaign continues on in Eberron and both encompasses revisions of original TSR modules and completely original adventure material by Dungeon Master Jim Parr. If you're looking for a game in south Austin, specifically the Slaughter Ln and Manchaca area near Southpark Meadows, then CONTACT US.

S.A.G.A. now has a Cyberpunk/Mekton Zeta Campaign

2008-07-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

RevDrWillman is proud to announce the launch of an R. Talsorian Games Cyberpunk/Mekton Zeta Campaign for the South Austin Gaming Association. Commencing at the beginning of June 2008 this Masamune Shirow influenced Appleseed Universe campaign is the product of long hours of development and consideration. Merging the storylines of the Gundam Universal Century and Appleseed manga I have developed a cyborg enhanced, mecha fighting world at war scenario set in the year 2129 name UNIVERSAL CENTURY 3000. Check out the S.A.G.A. Undermountain forum or the UC3K blogsite for in-depth details and ongoing updates.

Welcome to The Undermountain

2007-06-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

No one knows what lurks in the depths of the mad archmage's halls . . .
but you're about to find out.

Day, night, I can no longer tell. Gargoyles carried off the wizard while we were roping our way down Belkram's Fall. Evendur the paladin fell beneath the axe of a blood-maddened minotaur two rests later, then Ironhewer stumbled into a magical portal and vanished screaming. We dared not follow him. It is said that these halls hide treasure beyond imagining, but even if we found Halaster's hoard in the next chamber, we are so hopelessly lost that I doubt I would live to spend a copper of it.

This adventure presents the vastest, deepest, most legendary dungeon of them all -- Undermountain, the domain of the mad archmage Halaster. Below the streets of Waterdeep lie more than twenty levels and sublevels, some miles in extent. Ruined fortresses, secret shrines, subterranean rivers, forgotten crypts, and monsters of every description lurk in the darkness below.

The Campaign

2007-06-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Undermountain. The name conjures images of sprawling dungeons, fantastic adventures, insidious monsters, and wondrous treasures. This expedition presents the Undermountain as a grand adventure. Undermountain contains nine main levels and more than twenty sublevels, connecting to more extensive dungeons and caverns, and ultimately to the Underdark.

The encounters are designed to take a party of player characters from 1st level to 9th or 10th level. Undermountain stretches throughout the bowels of Waterdeep, the famed metropolis on the Sword Coast. Long known in rumor and legend and waiting to be explored.

Before the Adventure Begins...

2007-06-21T16:50:00.000-07:00

Just after dawn on the last day of Eleint in the Year of Risen Elfkin (1375 DR), a long, rolling earthquake shakes the city awake. Cracks appear in walls and crockery rattles, but no buildings collapse.

Uproar ensues. Earthquakes are almost unheard of in the city. Rumors of disaster soon race through the streets, fueled by the anguish of people across the city whose heads fill with sharp, sudden mental visions of a screaming bearded man whose eyes blaze with rage, sorrow, and swimming stars. The visions shift into scenes of pillars cracking and tumbling, ceilings collapsing in caverns and dark rooms, and surging explosions of blue-white sparks. These tides of fearsome force leave many who receive the visions gasping on their knees, unharmed but overwhelmed by the sensation of great magical forces crashing through them. Repeatedly the screaming face returns, with feelings of strong despair, of something left unfinished -- and swept away in great loss and ruin. What has happened? A few wizards across the city who shared the disturbing visions recognize the screaming face as that of Halaster Blackcloak, the infamous "Mad Mage of Undermountain."

Soon everyone knows that something terrible has happened in Undermountain. There's an unknown but exceedingly dark doom approaching the city and the massive dungeon beneath it, and Halaster is very upset about it.

Those who have experienced the visions can't stop thinking of Undermountain, of walking through its chambers, of finding brightly glowing treasures. They yearn to go there, to answer Halaster's urgent call. Undermountain awaits, in desperate need. Something down there must be repaired, or renewed, or rescued. Halaster wants something done now, something vital. A terrible calamity must be set right, or greater doom will surely come.

That night, wizards, sorcerers, a scattering of adventurers, and others across the land dream of Undermountain and a screaming Halaster. They all feel a yearning to enter the infamous, legendary dungeon and do "something that must be done." No one quite knows what that something is, but many momentarily mind-glimpse strange subterranean rooms, weird items, and a rushing Halaster struggling to accomplish various tasks.

Throughout the land, on the morning after the earthquake, wizards, sages, and all sorts of adventurers start packing. The trek to Undermountain has begun. The Council of Waterdeep summons renowned heroes to band together in the interest of the city, these chosen warriors answer the the call to appear before the council...

Mors Sunderly

2007-06-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

Played by Dennis Testa, Mors is a powerful Human warrior of few words and great courage. Mors is known for his bravado and sundering sword of pure Adamantium. A friend of Thad Gritzmacher's Dwarven Cleric Rombard Ironbeard the two share a long history of friendship and adventure. Mors and Mazeppa have a friendly rivalry afoot to see who can claim the most sunderings and the highest body-count in the dungeon.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERMOUNTAIN

2007-06-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

The great dungeon of Undermountain was built by dwarves some twenty-six centuries ago. It was conquered, in turn, by drow, duergar, and powerful wizards.

King Melair I discovered a vein of mithral beneath what would one day be known as Mount Waterdeep in -1,288 DR. Under his able rule, the foundations of the Underhalls of Melairbode were laid. The elf city of Aelinthaldaar occupied the surface above the Underhalls, and the dwarves and elves struck a bargain that has tied the two regions together to the current day.

In the year 168 DR, the wizard Halaster Blackcloak and his apprentices (known as the Seven) came to area. His goal was to explore the Underhalls and claim them as his own. He initiated nine expeditions (known as Halaster's Hunts) to brutally exterminate the drow and duergar who had driven out the dwarves in centuries past. By 309 DR, Halaster ruled the Underhalls.

The Seven (Arcturia, Jhesiyra Kestellharp, Muiral the Mishapen, Nester, Marambra Nyghtsteel, Rantantar, and Trobriand) broke ties with Halaster in 307 DR in the hope of establishing their own holdings in the great depths beneath the mountain. Some left signs of their work that can still be seen today, but most of the Seven went insane or perished chasing their own dreams and desires. Only Jhesiyra escaped Halaster's clutches, eventually becoming the Magister of Myth Drannor in 658 DR.

Beginning in 713 DR, Halaster and his apprentices embarked on a massive campaign to fill the dungeon with all manner of monsters and treasure. For many centuries, the land above forgot about the Underhalls, and in 889 DR the town of Waterdeep was established. It quickly grew in size and influence. However, the long centuries of monster population growth led to an invasion of the surface in 1037 DR. After repelling the invasion, the lords of Waterdeep struck an agreement with Halaster, urging him to keep the monsters of Undermountain in check.

In 1148 DR, the Netherese wizard Shradin petitioned Halaster for permission to establish Skullport. Shradin became the Lord of Bones, and Skullport flourished.

In response to the explorations of two noted adventurers, the Yawning Portal Inn was established in 1306 DR to limit access into Halaster the Mad Mage's dungeon and to keep its monsters somewhat contained. This was also the year that Waterdeep began the practice of exiling the worst of its criminals to the depths of Undermountain.

THE LEVELS OF UNDERMOUNTAIN

2007-06-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

Undermountain is huge. It's more or less mysterious and only partially explored. When you are wandering the depths of Undermountain, it can be very difficult to ascertain exactly where you might be. What follows are names and distinctions largely agreed upon by the sages of the city, though the inhabitants of the dungeon might or might not conform to the categorization of the sages -- and even the sages themselves often disagree vehemently over many of the details.

THE UPPER LEVELS

The Upper Levels of Undermountain (the three closest to the surface) are most commonly referred to as the Dungeon Level, the Storeroom Level, and the Sargauth Level. They have always been the busiest areas -- more sorts of numerous, organized beings and more surface creatures roam these levels than any others. As a result, these levels of Undermountain have seen the most modifications down through the centuries. They are still constantly changing, and many spies from the city and prowling monsters roam these levels. Things left unattended for more than a day, unless secured or hidden, are rarely found undisturbed thereafter.

THE DEEP LEVELS

The popular name for these layers of Undermountain, the Deep Levels, comes from an old poem. In truth, they are by no means the deepest levels of the dungeon, and have also (more accurately) been called the Apprentice Levels, because Halaster's apprentices have historically dominated (but in no sense controlled) them. At least three of Halaster's apprentices have recently quit these levels, initiating a power struggle that rages to this day, as various dungeon inhabitants fight to win control of where they live.

THE DARK LEVELS

Sages refer to the many lesser layers of Undermountain that lie between Undermountain's Farm Level and the Seadeeps as the Dark Levels. Many of these sublevels are accessible only through portals and have rarely been visited by adventurers who survived to tell their tales back in the city, and so they are largely mysterious even to Undermountain experts. All of this leaves sages free to invent or ascribe any features to these sublevels as they see fit while hungering for real information.

THE GAUNTLET BELOW

This vivid term refers to the three lowest main levels of Undermountain (the Caverns of Ooze, the Terminus Level, and the Mad Wizard's Lair) plus the interweaving sublevels among them.

This layer of the dungeon gets its collective name from the series of deadly perils faced by creatures attempting to ascend into the heart of Undermountain from deeper locations. Halaster's constructs and immigrants from the Underdark (such as the drow) who want to prevent others from following them upward have set up garrisons in various fortifications built by the ancient dwarves of Clan Melairkyn.

Rombard Ironbeard

2007-06-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

“I, Rhombard Ironbeard, Son Of Glormek The GateSmasher, Of The BattleBorn Clan, Of The Southfolk Branch Of The Deep Kingdom, am a simple Dwarf wandering Good Faerun, by the grace of Marthammor Duin both above and below the earth, helping those who seek aid and aiding those who seek help. Many a year my boots have traversed The Road Of Dust from The Stone Mountains, where I am from, to The Golden Road and beyond. I have even been as far as Amn, visiting The Great Cities Of Baldur’s Gate and Athkatla. It was at The Keep of my good friend, traveling companion and powerful wizard, Lord Yossarion, and his wife, Lady Aerie, when I received the summons. After quaffing many fine mugs of Evermead Ale, and the remembering of many a fine adventure, The Heroes Of Trademeet said our last farewells. Now I am here, in Waterdeep, waiting to hear what The Council has to say. May Marthammor Duin Bless you.”

Rhombard Ironbeard Son Of Glormek The GateSmasher Of The BattleBorn Clan Of The Southfolk Branch Of The Deep Kingdom

Mazzeppa Poppazottee

2007-06-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

Mazzeppa Poppazottee started his career as a WarBlade. His goal,to become the best swordsman alive by mastering new and exotic skills. To accomplish this he traveled to the Far East to study with the "Mind Warriors". From there he made his way to Dwarven Realms, where he fought upon the Great Wall learning "Fighter" feats at arms. This is where he earned his masterwork blade. Today he has traveled to Waterdeep to continue his quest, little did he know how dearly his skills would be needed.

Earo Lin

2007-06-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Played by Chris Archer, a rather crafty and sinister gnome who knows the benefits of companions with magic and arms at their disposal when it comes to getting treasure has joined the group. Though a Rogue by profession, he is known to respect other's property, and even tithes some treasure to the temple every now and again. His skill at stealth borders on the supernatural, and he fears no foe regardless of size. His gnomish magic is rich and mysterious and augments his profession well.

YAWNING PORTAL INN

2007-06-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

The Yawning Portal Inn stands on Rainrun Street in the city's Castle Ward, two doors west of The Empty Keg Tavern. Right next to the inn, between it and the Keg, stands Mother Salinka's House of Pleasure, a shabby, low-coin festhall.

The Yawning Portal Inn is built of stone, with a slate roof and an upper floor of guest rooms. Like both of its neighboring businesses, the inn announces itself to the watching world by means of a hanging signboard. The sign reads simply, "The Yawning Portal." The words are deeply carved in a board weathered to a silvery hue that hangs by two short loops of chain from a black-painted iron pole above the front door.

Durnan, a human, built the inn atop the foundations of the long-vanished tower and fortified warehouses of Halaster Blackcloak. Inside, the place is rambling and dingy, but it gives the impression of being comfortable rather than dirty and forbidding. Well-worn boards cover the floor. Wood paneling adorns the walls, with an elbow rail usually crowded with not-yet-empty tankards. Rich blue tapestries hang at intervals along the paneled walls. Guests entering from the street step right into the inn's common room, which is mostly used for dining and drinking. The Entry Well that leads down into the Dungeon Level of Undermountain dominates the area.

Some of the tables in the common room can't be moved; they're built around wooden pillars that hold up the ceiling. All the furniture is heavy, stout wood. Lighting is provided by candle-wheels (chandeliers made of horizontal wagon wheels hung from the ceiling by chains and filled with thick, lit candles).

Unruly drunkards are usually handled by adding a powerful sleeping powder to their drinks, but Durnan has been known to lift men into the air and toss them bodily through the front door to see how far they fly before landing. There are three floors of guest rooms, reached by steep wooden stairs opening off the common room. In winter, the rooms are heated by warm stones (barrel-ends with rope handles, filled with rocks warmed at the fireplaces at the east end of every floor's central hall).

THE ENTRY WELL

The infamous Entry Well is an open-topped stone ring 40 feet in diameter. A 1-foot-thick rampart wall rises waist-high, encircling air that drifts straight up from Undermountain. The outside of the well wall is studded at intervals with iron torch brackets, and a block-and-tackle hoist is chained to a stone lintel in the ceiling directly over the well. The well's dry shaft descends 140 feet from the lip of the rampart to the sand-strewn stone floor of the Dungeon Level of Undermountain. The shaft tapers as it descends, from 40 feet across at the top to 30 feet across at the bottom.

USING THE WELL

Those desiring to enter Undermountain are expected to provide their own weapons, gear, and light sources. Simple torches and belt flasks of water can be bought from the inn (1 cp each).

A fee of 1 gp per person must be paid to Durnan to use the well. You can climb on your own or get lowered by the hoist, as long as you pay the fee. Upon return, the same fee is required to get lifted out of the well. The fee (or its equivalent or better in another currency, such as gems) must be put in the hoist's bucket, brought up, examined, and then accepted before the hoist is used to retrieve returning adventurers.

The 200-foot-long rope of the hoist is as thick as a human's wrist and stout enough to hold the weight of ten armored and heavily laden humans. It ends in a metal hook that usually has a stout wooden bucket affixed to it. Tied through the eye of the hook, as well as the hoist-rope, are two stout leather loops that can be wrapped around a body or clung to, and above the hook, at 2-foot intervals, wooden crossbars have been woven through the rope, to serve as ladder rungs.

Durnan normally works the hoist alone. Not much strength is required to operate it, since the pulleys do the work and the hoist-winch has cogs to prevent the rope from slipping back down the shaft. A release lever can be deliberately pulled to send any weight on the rope plummeting to the bottom of the well, should Durnan decide that whatever is rising shouldn't be allowed to reach the top. If Durnan's absent, any other member of the inn's staff can work the hoist.

Sage Elminster Speaks of the Undermountain

2007-06-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

Undermountain? Ah, yes. A great place to have fun, the most famous battlefield in which to earn a reputation as a veteran adventurer -- and the largest known mass grave in Faerûn today.

-- Elminster of Shadowdale

The following is an account of the tale of the Undermountain as recounted by the Famed Wizard Elminster to Lord Menion Ravenlocke of the Waterdeep nobility. This version is as recalled by his footman and valet Guilford Westfell, who claims to have been in the room at the time, to Sage-for-Hire Mordekai the Wise.

"Over a thousand years ago, the wizard Halaster Blackcloak whirled to the base of Mount Waterdeep, called there from a distant country by chance or providence. Some say he hailed from the Cradlelands, the nearly forgotten empire that spread humanity across Faerûn and Kara-Tur from what is now the Plains of Purple Dust, a wasteland created by conflict with the gods. Whatever his origins, scholars record that Halaster brought with him the Seven, as his apprentices are known, and with their help and his power, Halaster summoned beings from other planes to build himself a wizard's tower. Halaster ringed his tower with a great wall set with lesser towers for each of his apprentices, and he created fields and farms to be worked by his apprentices and their servants."

"For a time, it seemed a good life for the Seven, but as the days wore on, they saw less and less of their dread master. Halaster continued to use fell creatures from other planes for construction beneath his tower, and he kept his dealings with them and the nature of the tunnels from the Seven. At length, Halaster's tunneling broke into the Underhalls, a complex of tunnels built by dwarves around a mithral mine beneath Mount Waterdeep. The dwarves who built the dungeons, the Melairkyn clan, had long ago been killed or dispersed, replaced by oft-times warring duergar and drow. Halaster began a crusade against both races, participating in wild hunts through the tunnels with allies called from the Outer Planes. The duergar stubbornly remained until the mithral was largely mined out, but then they left the drow to fight Halaster and his minions alone. Halaster captured or killed the remaining dark elves, entrapping their souls for dark magic or twisting their bodies and enslaving their minds. When the last of the drow were defeated, Halaster Blackcloak tunneled on, ever downward, continuing his strange obsession with delving beneath the mountain."

"Finally, when Halaster was absent for more than a year, some of his apprentices ventured into his tower in search of the great wizard. They found traps, monsters, and tantalizing hints about power beneath the earth. Individually they plumbed the depths of the dungeons, encountering evermore-deadly traps and more powerful foes. For their efforts, they were rewarded with riches and magic. When the Seven were reduced to five, Halaster appeared to his students and explained that he had built the tunnels to guard his experiments and treasures. He enlisted their aid to make his dungeons even more secure."

"What happened after that is unclear, but only one apprentice is known to have left Undermountain, and she fled the area, never to return. Halaster continued to live beneath the mountain, using it as a base from which he traveled to other planes and distant lands, entrapping strange creatures and bringing them back to live as prisoners or guardians in his home. In time, Halaster sought out magic to extend his life, and some say that it was these spells and items that finally drove Halaster beyond all reason. While before he had been obsessed and deranged, his quest for immortality seemed to drive him truly mad."

"While Halaster quested on other planes and sequestered himself in his tunnels, his tower fell into ruin. When Halaster was yet active in the outside world, his home was considered an accursed place, so settlers in the area largely left the crumbling tower alone. In time, the city now known as Waterdeep came to huddle against the mountain and reach down to the harbor. As the city sprawled outward, it reached and encompassed the ruins of Halaster's home. Undermountain was known to these early settlers, and they often punished criminals by sending them into its depths. So it was for many years until an adventurer named Durnan delved into the depths beneath the tower and returned, laden with riches, to tell the tale. Durnan demolished the last remnants of Halaster's above-ground abode and built an inn over the well he had used to descend into the depths. He called his inn the Yawning Portal, and Durnan works there to this day, serving patrons and inviting the brave or the foolish to try their hands at the halls of Undermountain."

Wallpapers

2007-06-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

1280x1024
1280x960
1024x768
800x600

1280x1024
1280x960
1024x768
800x600

Foes Faced

2007-06-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Though none of the party have ventured below as yet. Rumors abound of late that a tribe of Goblins has staked a claim on the Dungeon Level.

As the story goes, they are exhibiting a strong presence and chasing off thrill-seeking lesser adventurers who descend into the well.

Frightened survivors tell of organized, terrifying ambushes by powerful goblins wielding sorcery and hulking champions. Others speak of being flanked by vicious, poison-employing goblin rogues who strike from the darkness, thieving choice spell components, and pilfering magic items with alarming skill at pickpocketing.

They are said to bear a standard, on shields and breastplates of some sort of snail or slug. No Ranger or Sage has stepped forth to explain this unusual heraldry.

A recent rumor speaks of a rampaging gang of spider-mounted goblins using overwhelming swarm tactics to great success even against seasoned foes, though this tale is as yet uncorroborated.

Joh, the Celestial Warrior

2007-06-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

This mighty ghaele has descended to the prime material plane as a Knight Errant. Seeking out and destroying evil with chivalry and righteous fury. His holy abilities have allready been of good use to the party.

Tebryn the Sorcerer

2007-06-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Tebryn, like many sorcerers is of questionable lineage and descent. His obvious half-drow skin mark him as a man set apart from the norm. With magic in his blood, his sorcerous power has already been thrown about without hesitation or mercy. What kind of ally will this hero develop into?

Zicheng the Disciple

2007-06-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

Zicheng is a human monk who follows the esoteric doctrine of the prophet Woren. Disciples of this order eschew the comforts of human life and seek only personal perfection. They believe that in order to make it to the promised land after death one must defeat a powerful celestial being in single unarmed combat. Zicheng views his entire life as preparation for this one battle. He has joined the adventure under Waterdeep in order to strengthen his body and mind--he does not covet the riches hidden there and is unlikely to get entangled in the dramas of others.

Beholderkin Eyeball Swarm

2007-06-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

These aberrant lurkers in darkness swarmed above the pit in darkness. Placed here by one of the many factions of the Undermountain to hunt and spy, they possess a hive mind in their swarming form, each tiny individual linked to the others to form a devious intellect. They possessed many magical rays in their arsenal but the quick thinking spellcasting of our heroes brought their malice to naught with devastating area-magics that sundered the coherence of the swarms mind and routed the few survivors.

The Kenku Sneakthief

2007-06-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

This crafty foe saw the adventurers as easy marks for it's appetite for unguarded trinkets and coin purses. It decided to offer it's services as a guide in order to get close to them and see what they are up to and gauge how best to make a profit from the meeting. His plan to lead them into the deadly swarm of Eyes failed to go as planned and cost him his life, much to the benefit of the party, for he was poised to purloin their best assets when the first opportunity arose.

The Sluggard Tribe Goblins

2007-06-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Goblin Marauders from the newly established Sluggard Tribe set upon our heroes. These tough Underdark goblins are working to establish hegemony over a part of the Dungeon level of Undermountain. They are tough for their kind, bigger, smarter and stronger that the surface goblins from centuries of survival against the more potent races of the subterranean realms.The Tribesmen who attacked out heroes were ferociously barbaric in their onslaught bet crafty in their attack as well. Using the magical power of one of the tribes Adepts, the two Champions who attacked the party hoped to emply surprise and savagery to take the company off guard and found out what seasoned adventurers can bring to bear in the crucial first seconds of a fight. Little was gained from interrogation of the surviving assailant save that there are more.

Undermountain Room Description Generator

2007-06-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

Undermountain has been described as a seemingly endless dungeon beneath Waterdeep -- so vast that efforts to explore it have barely scratched the surface of its many miles of corridors and acres of rooms. Often called the "deepest dungeon of them all," Undermountain has tempted countless adventurers to delve into its depths. Some return with tales of its horrors. Most are never seen again. Yet enough of those few who return come back with astounding wealth to entice others to follow suit and take the chance that the halls beneath the mountain become their tomb.

Yet so vast is Undermountain that an entire team of explorers could not fully chronicle its depths. As a DM, how would you dare populate so massive an area? Or, any dungeon with numerous rooms to fill? Presenting our Dungeon Room Description Generator, A room without an encounter need not be an empty room!

(Launch Dungeon Room Description Generator!)

Download the Dungeon Room Description Generator now (31k ZIP). Unzip it into a directory on your computer. Then simply open the index.htm file in your browser.

Download a PDF version of every room description. (33k ZIP/PDF).

Maps

2007-06-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Undermountain Profile: See how the levels of Undermountain stack up against each other.

Undermountain Profile 72dpi JPG

The Dungeon Level: If intend taking a jaunt into the Undermountain, you could find this map quite useful.

Dungeon Level 72dpi JPG

The Storeroom Level: This level has fewer, larger rooms, and more walls, floors, and ceilings fashioned out of solid smooth stone. Rather than being finished by the Melairbode dwarves, it was a labyrinth of mining tunnels that wandered through the rock wherever the ore-veins they were following went, and large, rough caverns where the dwarves dumped the waste rock of their delvings.

Storeroom Level 72dpi JPG

Sargauth Level: Undermountain's third level is named for the River Sargauth, a slow, inky-water river that begins at one massive water-portal and ends in another.

Sargauth Level 72dpi JPG

Click the link below to view the illustrations.

Dalon Carr

2007-06-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Dalon Carr is an experienced D&D player and former Dungeon Master. ( More info to follow )

Ph: 512-557-2813

email: dalon.carr at gmail.com

Ryan Innis

2007-06-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

A Flood Researcher and Mathematician, Ryan is a thoughtful and soft spoken man with a staggering knowledge of the rules and system of D&D. A player of about 2 to 5 years, he is versed in the 3.0 and 3.5 version of Dungeons and Dragons. With his deep understanding of the rules, he is the co-DM and co-author of this site. Keeping everything in compliance with the authorized rules and assisting players with matters of the system and it's breadth and limitations. With Ryan and Jim in the game-group, there is little doubt that everyone will learn a lot about the rules and system of playing modern D&D.

Ph: 1-817-366-6255

email: rinnis at srgflood.com

Chris Archer

2007-06-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Chris Archer is a student and veteran of about 7 months worth of D&D campaigns. You can spot him at the table for being over 6 feet tall and by his even tempered manner.

email: archershot at hotmail.com

Jim Parr

2007-06-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

Jim Parr is an Austin-based Casemanager & troubleshooter. With 32 years of D&D playing under his belt. You can spot him at the table by his sacrastic sense of humor

Ph: 512-786-3561

email: jparr at austintroubleshooter.com

Dennis Testa

2007-06-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

An Engineer of many years, Dennis is a player with about 2 years of experience under his belt. Having participated in the "Rise of the Black Eagle Barony" and "Villains of Westfell" campaigns, he has sharpened his skills as both an Assassin and Warrior. His current character, Dalvius Stonecrusher, is a reincarnation of his great hero who warred against the Dark Tribe Armies of Baron von Hendrikks and his Demon Generals. Dennis is a man of clear focus and few words. A good player to have by your side who can be relied upon to take the battle to the enemy's doorstep without hesitation of fear. He is guided by an admirable moral compass and a deep personal understanding of dwarvish ways.

Ph: 512-299-3486

dtesta at yahoo.com

Thad Gritzmacher

2007-06-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

A musician and excellent cook, Thad is a veteran of two campaigns, both good and evil aligned, with a little over two years of D&D playing under his belt. He cut his teeth on the Baldur's Gate series of pc games gaining an understanding of the basics and spirit of D&D through countless hours of video dungeon-crawling.

Ph. 512-497-7331

email: thadthebold at yahoo.com

House Rules and Miscellany

2007-06-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

Let's quickly touch on some house rules designed for streamlining the gaming experience for such a large party. These are the brainchild of Jim Parr and I fully agree with their wisdom and efficacy in keeping the adventure rolling. They are:

1. You have sixty seconds to state your characters action when your initiative turn comes around in combat, failure to comply will result in your character losing a round of action due to indecision, rather like being dazed or stunned.

2. If you challenge the DMs adjudication or ruling on a specific spell, feat, skill, ability (spell-like, class, race etc.) you MUST have the book open to the specific rule for that action or the DMs ruling stands as final even if it is incorrect by the rules as stated in the appropriate book. This is to limit the time spent seeking data in books while everyone sits around waiting for the game to go on.

With that stated, let's address some base information for the character creation process. The following is data that will be crucial or at least good to know when you are making your character for this campaign.

1. the starting character level is sixth. This was by decision of available player vote.

2. no evil aligned characters are allowed

3. All races, including monsters are allowed, as well as all classes and prestige classes. All feats are allowed. All skills from any published D&D rulebook or supplement are allowed. Forgotten Realms classes and races are encouraged but not necessary to play. Oriental Adventures races and classes are discouraged but allowed.

4. your character will start with the standard gold amount for a sixth level character to buy equipment and items, arms and armor. Steeds will not be necessary and are discouraged. NPC henchmen, hireling, followers, retainers, companions and cohorts are discouraged unless you are a ranger or druid, but will be allowed if critical to your characters background story. Summoned creatures and familiars are allowed without reservation but with the caveat of "I will probably kill them first" being said on my part.

5. your abilities should be designated by placing two 18s, two 16s and two 14s among them and applying any racial or class bonuses or penalties. This should ensure a minimum of 12 in your lowest stat and a max of 22 in your highest if your play a standard race from any of the "Races of..." books or Players Handbook. This will vary if you play a monster of course and that is acceptable.

6. If you play a non standar race you must apply it's modifier for level. For example, if you play a Drow, which has a +1 level modifier, the maximum class level you could have is 5th. And so on.

Somehow, and in retrospect I don't know WHAT I was thinking, I allowed Jim to talk me into having the council of waterdeep supply your characters with a ludicrously expensive Handy Haversack filled with basic magical adventuring items probably equal in cost to your level based gold allotment. I really need to reconsider this as it will probably force me to pit you against ever-more challenging foes. But he presents the haversacks as a sort of payment for your willingness to heroically face almost certain death in the deepest and deadliest dungeon in Faerün, so I will probably give them to you. Even though I will probably regret it. They contain:

1 Blessed Bandages
1 Potion of Feather Fall
1 "Everlasting Rations"
1 Everfull Mug 3x/day
1 Heward's Handy Haversack

So when you buy your gear, consider this stuff as already bought and paid for, freeing you up to purchase ever-more-powerful weapons and armor.

Matt "Ryan" Pierson

2007-06-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

Matt Ryan has worked as a broadcaster, writer, and producer in Victoria, Austin, and Round Rock. His current projects are focused on building community and creating media focused on technology and internet related news, reviews, and advice.

512-663-6932

matt at mattryan.tv

Jacob Castillo

2007-06-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Jacob Castillo is married with children and lives in Austin, Texas.

jacob.castillo at austinenergy.com

Alex Candelas

2007-06-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Alex Candelas is fairly new to the role playing genre. He’s just started the UC3k campaign, but is familiar with role playing rules. Its been years since he’s read the books of Shadowrun and another friend of his has now introduced Rifts to Candelas.

512-535-8976

alex.candelas at austinenergy.com

"Ezra" Smith

2007-06-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Kandace "Ezra" Smith is a long time roleplayer with experience in Shard Studio's Dárdünah Role Playing Game marketing under the name of SHARD. She also has many years experience playing Advanced Dungeons and Dragons.

512-785-1553

headsdown.gunsup at gmail.com

Darkmantle Hoard

2007-06-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

A natural predator of the Underdark, the squidlike darkmantles rose from the lower depths after the earthquake to prey upon the oft-travelled byways of the upper realms of the Undermountain. Bestial in intellect and socially organized like a pride of lions, the darkmantle colony followed it's biggest male and clustered above the rope bridge built by the Sluggard Goblins to cross the new chasm. For days they have fattened off the easy pickings or weak goblin children and messengers, growing stronger and preparing to spawn. That is, untill our heroes came along and completely destroyed the entire pack in about 18 seconds.

Seth Nishimura

2007-06-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Seth Nishimura lives in Austin, Texas and works for the local Municipal Utility Company "Austin Energy" in the commercial division. He is a long time console gamer and Anime enthusiast with moderate RPG experience.

seth.nishimura at austinenergy.com

The Caryatid Column

2007-06-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

Placed almost 1000 years ago as a shepherd by Halaster himself, this stony foe has ushered countless beings into the western halls of the Dungeon Level. Crafted in the likeness of Halaster's one-time paramour Celeste Na'Camarinth, a noble patricienne of his far-off homeland, her utter destruction at the hands of our heroes marks the end of one of the last vestiges of Halaster's long forgotten life as a common man, with mortal concerns and desires. Perhaps her destruction will awaken a memory in the mad Mage, reminding him of his humanity in the days before madness and magic became the quintessence of his being.

Rev. Dr. Eric Z. Willman

2007-06-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Co-Dungeon Master and co-author of this site, The Reverend has been playing D&D since 1982. He is a veteran player of several role-playing game systems including Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu, Palladium's Stormbringer, Robotech and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, R. Talsorian's Cyberpunk and Mekton Zeta, White Wolf's Vampire, Mage, Changeling, and Werewolf games as well as their lesser known Ars Magica, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying, Hero System and Fantasy hero, Villains and Vigilantes, Marvel Super Heroes, DC Heroes, the little-known Nightlife system of splatterpunk games, Twilight 2000 and Traveler. With about three years experience as DM under the version 3 and 3.5 rules system, he seeks to improve and expand his skills as an entertaining and engaging adjudicator, ally and adversary to his players. His goal is to become a proficient storyteller, weaving scenarios and campaigns that challenge, delight, and ultimately, entertain his players memorably.

Ph: 512-657-1970

email: revdrwillman at gmail.com

Day One: Descent into Darkness

2007-06-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

Receiving their commission from the Council of Waterdeep, the Seven heroes meet at the Yawning Portal Inn and with a final gear check, climb aboard the winch rope to be lowered into Undermountain. A capacity crowd fills the Common room as townsfolk crowd in to see the Council's chosen heroes make their descent. An ostentation black slate board, crowded with betting odds and side-betting pools has been erected just on the far side of the well from the door. All of the character check their rankings, some with displeasure at the bookie's lack of faith. The crown presses in and many folk, shouting encouragements, warnings, advice and requests, jostle for a moment with the team. One merchant pushes his way through and hastily bids the team to visit his outpost camp on the second level , where his brothers sell supplies and trade for treasures accumulated by adventurers in the dungeon. Then they are whisked to the edge of the well and climb aboard without word or ceremony to be lowered. The barhands of the Inn work the winch and down they go into the pit.

At the bottom they find the scrawl of countless bravos and treasure seekers graffitied on the walls of the entry room, including a well marked secret door which cannot be opened from the room. Off they eventually go after many attempted to bypass the door.

Within a matter of a few paces they are set upon by goblin marauders of the Sluggard Tribe. These hardy goblin champions and their Adept companion open the fight with a fireball! Catching three of our heroes in the conflagration. Then burst from behind their shielding door to smash the weakened party. This was a mistake.

Within moments the Mazeppa the Warblade and Mors the Fighter have sundered the single massive greatswords of the two Goblin Barbarians and left them weaponless and reduced to grappling. One marauder is quickly overwhelmed and dispatched by the numerically superior party and the second nearly follows him to hell swiftly thereafter. The Adept is cut down the moment she attempts and fails a grasping attack on a surprised hero and then is near-instantly sliced to ribbons by half of the crew while the other half make quick work of hacking down the last barbaric goblin until it begs for it's miserable life. The Celestial, Joh, chivalrously spares his cowardly foe and interrogates him on the dungeon, with some success and much still left to be discovered. The creature claims to know the way to the next level down, he is trussed up and forced to act as guide.

Carrying on, they come to a many pillared room with exits in the four cardinal directions. They find chalked-on warnings that the south leads to certain death and the north leads to even worse death. Then, one of the many columns transforms into a beautiful statue with a mighty greatsword and within moments a battle ensues to secure passage. The party's monastic disciple, Zicheng, heedless of danger, attacks the living marble statue with his bare fists as it rushes to kill the trespassing Warblade, succeeding in pounding chips of stone from the behemoth. Mazeppa evades the stabbing sword of the guardian and returns blows skillfully just as all magic ceases to function in the room. Casters feel the creeping doom of their connection to their power stripped away leaving them virtually harmless. However Zicheng quickly recovers and lays on the attacks striking the vulnerable areas where Mazeppa had cracked the torso of the statue and within seconds, the Caryatid Column is rubble on the floor. The crew travels quickly onward, mindful of the need for alacrity.

Moving on, our heroes are met with a great chasm rent in the very rock of the Undermountain by the recent earthquake who's aftershocks have only recently subsided. Strung across this expanse is a rope bridge which must be carefully crossed. Tebryn the half-drow spots movement on the ceiling above the bridge and magic missiles streak from his fingertips, instantly killing one of the squid-like monsters. He follow that spell on it's heels with a devastating fireball which burns clear all but two of the lurking horrors. They are quickly felled with further magic missiles and then the party starts across the expanse in earnest. Near the far edge a luckless woman fighter is found, a tangled corpse in the roping of the suspended bridge, her body yields a magic sword and a few items of adventuring gear which are quickly looted and divvied up amongst the group.

They travel onward, moving into an area partially submerges in oily water as they probe the murky depths with swords, a pair of skeletal undead hands, clutching a bastard sword rises from the deep and savagely attacks these living intruders. The quick thinking Monk rushes forward and grapples the wrists of this disembodied threat, allowing the Warblade to execute a masterful double-stroke, destroying the foul dead thing. Rhombard the Dwarven Cleric is reluctant to get wet in this greasy (and probably befouled by corpses) water and asks to be carried by a larger teammate. Mazeppa agrees and "accidentally" dumps him halfway through the pool unceremoniously into the drink. The crafty dwarf mentally notes who shall be LAST for healing when the next battle comes. As the party emerges from the dank waters and all wring out their clothes, the Warblade scouts a few paces ahead and accidentally triggers a crafter flame-trap placed to take advantage of the now-oily victims. Most burst into copious flames and immediately have to occupy themselves with putting out their burning gear and clothing. Many suffer painful burns that must be healed with Ironbeard's divine magic.

On the heels of this misfortune come another, as we will see, bad luck comes in threes. They are hailed as they are healed by a strange figure from out of the shadows further up the hall. A small black bird-man approaches cautiously and after a brief conversation, agrees to guide them forward, seeing as how their Goblin guide, beaten down the within inches of his life and not allowed to heal, did not survive the perilous fire trap. The group follows the Kenku to a wall of magical darkness, impenetrable even to Tebryn's piercing darkvision. Their guide agrees to carefully check it out while they wait. Within a minute the the black feathery form of their guide streaks shrieking out of the darkness in a wake of frosting, bitingly cold air, flying over the heads of the party to land skidding well down the hall in a flurry of feathers and curses. A second later a bleak abomination swarms out of the shadow-wall, a swarm of apple sized flying eyeballs with horrid, tentacled stalks sporting even more baleful eyes surges forth bursting with dazzlingly bright lights near-blinding the foremost adventurers. The Warblade responds in kind with a burst of searing light from his weapon. The Sorcerer wastes no time in lobbing a fireball, into the swarm and slaying half of it's numbers instantly. The swarm of eyes surround Zicheng and Mazeppa, nearly nauseating them with their fleshy, unwholesome presence. Quickly, more spells are flung and withing seconds, only a handful of the former hundreds of eyes remain, those quickly turn and flee back into the darkness from whence they came, utterly routed.

As the Warblade tumbles forward acrobatically into the dark corridor, he is nearly taken by a pit trap just inside the magical dark. catching himself with one hand on the lip of the precipice. At this point, the kenku who had been flung to the hall behind the party when evading the rays of ice from the beholder-kin swarm of eyes, starts to creep stealthily off into the passages from whence the party came. Joh spots him sneaking away and realizing the trap set by the Kenku, races after him and captures the beast, beating him to the ground and dragging him back to the party. When Joh forces the confirmation that the Bird man led them into this trap from the scoundrel's own lips, Mazeppa runs him through instantly killing him. Then advises the party to move on, away from this place. All agree.

Passing beyond the pit and the dark concealment, the gallants are assailed by an abominable sonic moaning wail so powerful that it causes pain to all who tarry too close to it's source. It's origin is a ten foot high, demonic stone face carved into the wall at the opposite end of the hall. This unholy bellow emits as soon as any approach within 90 feet of it. Mors and Mazeppa brave the innards-shaking soundburst to run up to the passage beside the face and escape it's line of effect. Surviving the trial, the others are emboldened by their success and Tebryn retrieves the carcass of the villainous Kenku and rushes the open mouth of the trap face and stuff the body firmly into the hole, blocking the sound enough so that it is earsplitting but no longer damaging.

The team checks the doors at the opposite side of the face-trap from the hallway they have gathered in and finding a short, defensible hall with stout doors, wizard lock the side facing the bellowing trap with Dwarmij's Key and post sentries on the opposite doors and bed down to rest and replenish their spells.

Universal Century 3000 Characters

2007-06-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

Zen Paine - Recon Trooper

Zen Paine is the neko son of two neko parents who spent the latter parts of their lives fighting for the rights of his people. When Neko went from scientific creations to a breeding race, prejudice and discrimination became a hot button issue for parents as they fought to give their children the chances to make their own decisions without hindrance from the burden of their genetic results.Zen’s parents were killed by order of unnamed executives that worked within the Arcology his family spent much of their time around. It is his belief that they were caught overhearing something they shouldn’t have, and as a result, were the subject of a bounty. At that point, the then 16 year old Zen began to train himself in eluding and hiding from those that would mean him harm.His brother, Malek, whom was not around when his parents died, seemed to blame the event on Zen. He believed that he caused their discovery and demise due to his consistent wanderlust. After a small campaign of seeking Zen out Malek attacked him, making it quite clear that Zen would not escape the situation alive. They fought for several hours, meeting the point of sheer exhaustion. Zen ended the fight abruptly when in desperation he threw his blade at Malek piercing his heart and causing a slow, agonizing death.Zen’s sister Shyn never forgave him for this, feeling that there had to have been some way to avoid fatally wounding their mutual sibling. To this day she refuses to acknowledge his calls or messages. His other two sisters, Gwen and Persephone, are on good terms with him and communicate with him regularly.After the confrontation with his brother, he joined the military in response to a call for aid against a rising threat against the Earth. And here he is…

Atma Dunes - BattleMech Pilot
Atma Dunes is guy who grew up in a rich neighborhood gone bad with his family in the mafia. Due to poor management they lost everything and had to go into hiding to protect him.He has one older sister who hates him. And younger brother that he gets along with.He has a rather powerful old friend who is now an enemy (if he wanted could come after him with a large army). Hence he joined the opposing force.Has a lot of respect for his friend, Commander A.T. Wilson, a mech instructor.

Jacob Castillo is married with children and lives in Austin, Texas.

Sergeant Stu Dirth
Sergeant Stewart Dirth is the Earth Federation Army designated Team Leader for Special Strategic Attack Team 13 (S.S.A.T.13). He is a graduate of the Olympus Officer Training Academy and has an M.O.S. (Military Occupational Specialty) as an Interrogator and Small Unit Tactician. He posseses a mighty Omega Class Linear Frame and direct satellite uplink to Command and Control Tactical and the team's Liaison Officer, Vickie.

ESPer Agent Jaqueline "Orbital Jack" Smith
'Agent Etranger' Jaqueline "Orbital Jack" Smith is an ESPer defector from the Principality of Near Earth Orbitals and 'Special Expatriate' under dispensation from A.E.G.I.S./Olympus on assignment with the Earth Federation Army through Executive Order 65394. She is a 'Special Agent' in the same sense as with the former U.S. F.B.I. in that she possesses special skills on requisition for Earth Federation Army use as a condition of her political asylum. She is an enigmatic representative of the near-mythic "ESPer" evolved human minority which is thought by many not to exist due to their extreme rarity. She has the M.O.S. of Covert Ops Officer and a master's degree in psychology with a minor in Psy-Ops Warfare.

Combat Cyborg J.O.E.
One of the last remaining aspects of the former United State's G.I.-J.O.E. top secret anti-terrorist program. J.O.E. is a "Spider"-model full-conversion body cyborg currently in service to the Earth Federation Army as a Recon Trooper and Sniper. His signature modified-ammunition, super-heavy cyborg rifle is allready gaining him a deadly reputation, though his disregard for the safety of teammates is not winning him any trust or acceptance.

Seth Nishimura lives in Austin, Texas with Alex Candelas and work for the local Municipal Utility Company "Austin Energy" in the commercial division.

Passage to the Wyllowwood

2007-06-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

After a solid rest, the party sallies forth into the western reaches of the Dungeon Level. Earo Lin the gnomish Rogue and Joh the Ghaele lead the way seeking any traps or hidden passages Halaster may have placed. Passing the Howling Face they come to a large alcove in the western face of the passage which is mostly occupied by a peculiar block of stone unlike that which the rest of the dungeon is crafted from.
Careful investigation with Joh's supernatural abilities and Earo's Goggles of Minute Seeing reveal a secret door and thenafter a plastered over keyhole. Eschewing their Dwarmij's Key, Earo deftly applies his roguish craft to the complex lock and opens the door. Inside is the remnant of a once-extensive library. Now only bare shelves and a writing table with wing-backed chairs remains, along with scraps of paper, bits of scribner's flotsam and a centuried rug near-crumbling into utter ruin. Joh inspects the remaining scraps of paper on the table while others seek hidden compartments and possible secrets within the chamber. He finds an interesting page with a burnt edge, torn from some book long ago. It reveals the names of The Seven, Halaster's original apprentices and most powerful followers. A few of these names had been lost to the centuries and this information will have value to Sages in Waterdeep. He tucks it away in a scroll case and then he and the rest of the party, who have found nothing more, move on.
Splitting up and investigating the nearby passages the group finds a landing and stairwell leading up into darkenss. Earo searches for traps on the landing and the fist few steps and fortunately finds nothing. Meanwhile Tebryn and Joh see with their canny darkvision, a strange glowing portal in a room at the end of an eastward hall. The party regroups and proceeds toward the room and it's intriguing portal.
In the room the party's attention is immediately drawn to four corpes on the floor. They are adventurers, partially eaten, with their gear still on them for the most part. The group sets to looting the bodies and from out of nowhere, Tebryn is set upon by an unspeakable chaotic horror from the ceiling. This shifting beast of chaos exerts a mutating power which begins to change the very form of Tebryns body but with his doughty constitution, he shrugs off the initial assault and attempts to escape the enfolding clutches of the semi-fluid and fleshy horror but it proves a feat beyond his skill. Mazeppa rallies and grapples the creature prying open one of the larger of it's seven mouths and Earo dumps in an entire bag of caltrops, quick as a flash. The creature shifts form in an instant and Joh hacks a grievous wound into it's flesh with his greatsword. The Warforged Psion enfolds Tebryn in an ectoplasmic cocoon, protecting him from the hideous, deforming effects of the creature's touch.
The thing's new form is that of a large tree made of glistening, exposed muscle and pulsing viens. It towers over Mazeppa, intent on revenge for his grappling assault and brings it's many branches down in a thunderous slam, bashing Mazeppa grievously and nearly driving him to the floor. It follows with a second sweep of it's tentacular branches but Mazeppa's quick reflexes and mithril chain shirt protect him from further damage. Rhombard strikes it with a ray of enfeeblement as Mazeppa grapples it, grabbing two of it's main branches and twisting them into a knot. Mors Sunderly grabs Tebryn, still pinned beneath the creature's bulk, and strives to pull him free, but the monster's malleable hide grows horrid toothlike talons and grips relentlessly, unwilling to release it's prize. Mors retreats to plan his next attack.
The monstrosity become a creature like a foul mixture of mushroom and turtle, the spiky caltrops incorporated into it's shell. It's body, ropy with dense muscle, shrinks down to the size of Earo and Rhombard and seems to shake off the effect of the enfeeblement by altering it's physical makeup. It lashes out with two incredibly muscular praying-mantis-like forelimbs and grabs at Mazeppa's knees to bear him to the ground but the Fighter shifts his stance and stays afoot, still grappling part of what is now the creature's tortoise-like shell. Mazeppa tumbles away from the horror, gaining clear ground.
Joe flanks the creature and stabs it deep with his heaven-forged sword and it finally gives up the ghost, perishing in a pool of foul smelling gelatinous bio-mass.
Rhombard turns his attention to the room's corpses and arranges them for final rest after joining the others in looting the bodies and divvying up the useful gear. He prays their last rites and set's them alight with oil sending them on their final journey. Meanwhile, others find the corpses of the adventurer's orginal assailants, four Grell, in a side room. Apparently dragged here by the chaos beast.
Mazeppa is certain that the glowing blue and green portal in this room will lead to a deeper level of the Undermountain. He entreats his comrades to go forth into the unknown. Many are reluctant. Sure of his glory he goes through the portal alone while the rest of the group decides whether they have the nerve to follow their rash companion. After much argument and deliberation they all pass through.

Through the Wood and Over the River

2007-06-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

Finding themselves in an enormous cavern beyond the Portal, the party scouts about a bit, taking in the warmth and light of the artificial sun some powerful magics maintain here. All about then are the lush and vibrant trees of the Wyllowwood. Birds call and squirrels scamper through the amazing woodland. Tebryn climbs a tree to scout around and far in the distance espies a vine-choked black tower over miles of woodland. The party quickly decides to investigate, setting off on the road Mazeppa discovers, overgrown on the forest floor not far from the portal. Before long they catch sight of a young, fair-skinned peasant girl picking her way through the trees. The Warforged Psion greets her and she cautiously responds. She is fascinated by the living statue, as she percieves the Warforged to be and curiosity wins out over better judgement. She speaks to him freely about the forest and the community of people living here. Then she discerns the Ghaele Eladrin and has the most unusual reaction. Distrust and fear overcome her as the Angel approaches, she warns him to stay away and speaks plainly that he is not welcome here. Having lost her stomach for conversation, she politely departs into the woods. The Party travels on.

Not much further down the road, they come upon a Satyr or Fawn sitting on a milestone and smoking his pipe, apparently resting during some travels. Curious as to there presence here, the Sylvan denizen asks and answers many questions, some evasively and other quite directly. Though though it all, not much is revealed, he doesn't seem to be lying. Eventually he undertakes to employ the party as an escort to help him bypass the Black Eyes of the Water that lie between the Wyllowwood and the Underdark City of Skullport. After some wrangling and promises to render payment in this or that form, the Satyr runs off to fetch his trade goods and returns after a short while toting a colossal sack, like a goaty Santa Claus. Then he leads them off through the woods. In the depths of the forest, they see awakened trees and even speak briefly with a talking Raccoon, whom they feed like a park animal after some conversation.

Eventually they reach the shore where, as promised, a dwarven boat lies hidden in the underbrush. A rare sight, the boat is fashioned entirely out of stone! The party boards and as they begin to push off, they are assaulted by the Horror in the Black River. A Monstrous Shadow Weaver, long ago bound here by Halaster, to keep the riff-raff of the underdark from simply walking into his apprentices' Arboreal Experiment. It is a ferocious creature indeed. it emits a 120 ft diameter area of intensely magical darkness, strong woven with Shadow-matter from another plane. All who are caught in it's field learn to their dismay that the web holds them fast if they try to escape the darkness, but lets them freely pass toward whatever doom lies at it's center. Even the powerful DAYLIGHT spell, seems only able to penetrate it for perhaps five feet. Then, the tentacles begin to attack from out of the darkness.

Against the Dark tentacles

2007-06-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

As the party drags the heavy stone boat to shore, a horrible, web filled darkness springs up, capturing a few of our heroes in it's black embrace. Strange shadowy power permeates this field of night. As those entrapped try to move away from the center they find their way trapped by a powerfull web that seems to part to let them pass ONLY if they travel towards the center of the deadly gloom. Meanwhile terrible tentacles slither through the darkness, grasping and dragging two of the team into the murky black water. Spells fly as the mages of the party cast Daylight into the field of blackness only to find that it is subsumed in the dark, illuninating only a 5 foot sphere and failing to help those trapped within. Arrows soar from the champions still without the evil shadows, only to be cause within the outer few feet of the terrible web of night! Our hapless heroes who were dragged beneath the water quickly drink potions and otherwise enable themselves to breath in the utter stillness of the silent depths, just as the tentacles of the hungry beast lash out en-mass to crush and bind them and drag them toward the maw where they will be consumed. The Darkweaver of the water is indeed a mighty foe, grown large from feeding on all manner of Halaster's monstrosities and the fallen from among the many adventurers who cross this way, it has waxed powerful and thirsts for the blood of the creatures of this world.
With rgeat struggle, the band manage to bring it down, the valiant effort of Zicheng the monk beat it below the waters until it flees to the shoreland to seek easier prey, there the full might of the party is brought to bear upon it, and it is quickly blasted with eldritch magics and riven asunder with mighty blows from the warriors , ready and at-hand.
After a retreat to the home of RedLeaf the Fawn, they rest and heal and start out again the next morning to brave the dark and perilous waters. Mazeppa dives and seeks the treasures of the defeated blasphemy from the realm of shadow and is rewarded with both coin and magic items who's dweomer preserved them against the hard environment of the black water these many years. He surfaces, glad to have reaped some benefit from the woe of the strange encounter. The party board the Dwarven stone boat and sets off down the river. After a time the channel splits into two and divining magic is used to choose the correct path. Left they go and pass beneatht he titanic husk of a huge spider, yards across who shed it's outer skin here centuries ago, that it might grow even more great and terrible in the dark places beneath the Earth. near it's legs are other passages, smaller but that lead into darkness and the unknown.
The party continues down the river and one among them hears a quiet splash as something enters the water behind them from the tunnels at the spiders feet. they ready themselves for battle.
All of a sudden, they see a massive invisible barrier divide the water before them and their boat smashes into a wall of force casting some of them into the inky blackness while others fly and franticly climb to dry safety. Tebryn summons magical force and creates a wall beneath he churning waters to keep the boat from sinking when a large force strikes the vessel from underneath and topples all into the water, capsizing the boat. The grateful party regains their footing, knee-deep in the waves and set about righting the overturned boat. Meanwhile the DarkTentacles attacks the party on several fronts, grasping and crushing, a terrible reminder of the deadly DarkWeaver of the day before. Several are dragged beneath the surface and others are tripped and entrapped in binding tentacles. Magic sears the air as Tebryn and Joe fight to save their friends and destroy the horrid beast beneath the water, but none can see it and it is wily and hard to target with any success. Powerful electricity blasts the water from Tebryn and Joh the Ghael send holy bolts of searing light into the darkness after their assailant. Under the waves, Tobor and Mazeppa struggle against the powerful grappling tentacles and break free and attack the horror only to be grasped again the crushed in their embrace. Though the beast is mighty in it's element, it is eventually vanquished through tireless, stalwart efforts from the party, cast down by magic and the sheer violent tenacity of the warriors in it's grasp. The group rejoins and Earo seeks and discovers the creatures lair, prying treasures from the offal and debris in it's nest. Again the intrepid explorers carry on by Dwarven boat.

Finally, the Dwarven Quay of which Redleaf has advised them comes into view, thankfully the party clambers onto dry land and leaves the Black River behind. Into the ancient Duergar tunnels they go. Earo seeks traps and they all examine the fortifications of the vanished civilization. They are excellent and strong. It took a terrible foe to drive them away. Onward they trek through the gloomy passages.
Redleaf is surprised as they come to a solid stone wall blocking the passage with an ancient symbol of evil upon it so hoary with antediluvian age and forgotten eons that even the celestial does not recognize it's source of meaning. Them from out of the wall streaks a horrifying blast of black, reeking blood as though drawn from a mass grave of thousands of stinking corpses. This diseased blast strikes Rhombard the Cleric full force and drives him back under it's nauseating onslaught. Only though the luck of the godly does he avoid contracting a horrible malady from this vile spew. For it is powerful with eldritch contagion. Then, from beyon ghte illusory wall strides a stony hell-spawn eidolon of a forgotten, unholy God. This rogue eidolon attacks without thought or mercy, mad from eons of absorbing horror and dark sacrifice for it's long dead master. It's terrible rocky claws rend those it slams in it's enraged attacks. Rhombard and Tebryn cast terrible magics upon it as Joh flies ahead down the passage toward some unknown purpose. Tobor and Zicheng attack it with mind and fist as well. To the horror of the party, it seems to shrug off magic with ease and it's rock-carved hide is nearly impenetrable to good , solid weapons. Deep magics that penetrate resistance and Psionic shard of crystal are brought to bear against it, and these potent attacks, combined with the doughty efforts of the warriors doing all that they can to overcome it's innate resistance to harm, finally bring the terror down and burst it asunder, this causing a terrible 'Dark Retribution" which releases the last of it's energies from it's age-worn form blasting vile and unholy energy down the hallway in each direction and encompassing many in the party with it's terrible harm. Though finally, it is beaten.
Then, as the team look to healing and rest from their arduous ordeal, Joh finds a peculiar area of floor where the illusory wall once stood, writing tiny and intricate adorns this seeming lintel-piece that spans across the floor of the passage. It speaks of a dark and forgotten temple near this place and how those that worshiped there were privy to the ancient magics which could allow one to trade their soul for the stuff of shadow, becoming neither mortal nor shadow, but a greater being with the strengths of both! Mazeppa in his rage sunders the floor whereon this is written of, fearing that it itself might reveal such a blasphemous secret, though is only hints at the location of the Temple and does not indeed reveal the ancient formula by which this state is achieved. Joh seeks in the walls for a secret passage and finds it. and in it, some unhallowed, desecrated stairs leading up into what must be the ancient, unholy temple of Rhyxali, Queen of the Shadow Demons! He dares not pass therein and keeps this terrible passage a secret, choosing not ot tempt his comrades to brave it's corruption.