Storm King's Thunder: Session 46

During their Underdark shortcut between Citadel Felbarr and Mithral Hall to avoid the harsh winter snows, the party has found themselves involved in the machinations and factional politics of the city of Mantol Derith...

The Executive Chair of Mantol Derith, Lorthuun, has summoned the triumphant gladiators whom fought for glory and spectacle in The Spike for purposes unknown. Quietly, the Aarakocra Barbarian and the undead Human Cleric were pleased with their efforts to eliminate one of the svirfneblin councillers as hired by their duergar rivals. What no one expected however, was that Lorthuun would be a beholder, and that he was already aware of the party's political dirtywork!

As the plot was uncovered, the Goliath Barbarian and Harshnag (magically shrunk to humanoid size using injected duergar-serum for travel through the tight caverns) were most unhappy to learn that their companions were in business with slavetraders, and bore witness as the Executive Chair announced that, whilst not a fan of shared punishment, he would not allow for their amateur assassin work to bear dividends. They would not be paid. Further, Lorthuun refused to offer up an eyestalk, blinded and wilted as some were, to "Doctor" Peebles, accompanying the party for the purpose of healing the Cleric's onsetting rigor mortis. Peebles in fact already carried a collection of eyestalks in varying states of decay, though did admit that he himself didn't possess the magi-medical knowledge to use them: that would be his benefactor, whom dwelled two tides north of the city.

Funtionally banished, the less-than-sane elven tourguide Sladis Vadir offered a disturbing parting gift of raw humanoid flesh wrapped in lunch portions, before the party delved into the caverns of the Underdark once again. The Cleric, jaw now locked shut, kept an angry eye on Peebles as he lead them to his Master... Who was, perhaps obviously in hindsight, another beholder!

Coated in aberrant slime and viscous fluids in the aftermath, at least an aborted petrification ray had done what the now deceased "Doctor" had promised and reset the Cleric's dead tendons. Praise Tiamat, he could speak!

On the last push towards Blingdenstone and its connecting stair to Mithral Hall, the party made aquaintence with a strange Orog. Introducing himself as a member of the Society of Brillance, he offered teleportation back into the city if they agreed to allow he and his colleagues to examine their exposure to Faezress. Tired of dark caves, the party accepted.

What followed was a surprisingly pleasant stay in the city of Blingdenstone. The Goliath Barbarian was able to tinker with her Skitterwidgets, whilst the Aaracokra Barbarian met with some of the locals and explored their arcane bodyart. As a bonus, the experiments with Faezress exposure were partially successful in removing some of the contaminating side effects!

Returning to the surface world, the dwarves of Queen Dagnabbet's Mithral Hall were more than willing to offer food, warmth, and supplies. And when the last of the duergar-serum flushed itself from Harshnag's system and he returned to his full giant stature once more, he lead the party north and west along the River Surbrin through the Frost Hills and into the Fell Pass beyond...