Mantis investigates the chimney in the large cloaker’s lair, and finds that it seems to lead back out to the forested area. The group decides it would be easier to walk back the way that they came in, and retreat back to the gatehouse.
Emerging back into the forest, they again see large stone arches spliting the wide open space, connecting some of the buildings which are scattered across the forest near the large central tree. Shazuu climbs up an arch to get a better view, but can only make out the branches of the canopy above, and not much in the distance. The rest of the group checks the two out-buildings, only to be encounter a closed, locked door. Kherek takes a direct method to gain entrance to the structure, breaking the door down on the gatehouse.
Inside, they find a small arch standing away from the walls… another mysical gate. The sides are carved like trees, and the keystone is carved with a dead tree. Mantis finds the corpse of a halfling, shoved behind an iron stove. Outside, Shazuu finds his way into the nearby building by falling through the roof, narrowly missing both beds which could have broken his fall. Unfortunately, this building looks to have been cleaned out.
Mantis casts a spell, and identifies the nature of the gate. He learns that it can be activated by a dead tree branch. He retrieves a dead tree branch from outside and, touching it to the arch, opens the gate. The stick burns to ash in his hand, and he quickly steps through. Half of the party follows, but the portal winks closed before Shining Brow, Alabaster, and Tang Wu can enter. Shining Brow grabs several more branches from outside, re-opens the portal, and the rest of the group moves through the portal.
After arguing about their new location, Mantis leads the group off, down familiar halls. After a few twists and turns (and more arguing), he hears guttural speech coming from a side corridor. Following the noises, he finds two goblins guarding a door. As he prepares to try to negotiate, and gestures the party forth, Kherek misinterprets his signal, and barrels around the corner with his axe raised. He terrifies the goblins, who beg the group to refrain from violence in the market beyond the door. The door opens to a very familiar scene…. the goblin market that they passed through many days ago.
Inside the market, some members of the party are recognized by the goblins. Kherek and Shining Brow are taken to the new leader, Copperhead. He is surrounded by goblins and bugbears. Kherek asks the chief about drow in the area, and Copperhead tells him that he knows of a few… one of them has a map of the area in his lair. Copperhead offers to draw a quick map to find him, and he’d be willing to pay a small sum, since the drow’s group and the goblins have had friction in the past.
Meanwhile, the rest of the party meets with a group of halfling merchants looking to establish a trade route from the Downshadow into Undermountain. In an effort to communicate with Kherek, Shazuu purchases a magical hat that allows him to comprehend other languages. Tygorr also does some shopping, and obtains some equipment for Kherek. Copperhead leads Kherek, Shining Brow, and the rest of the party to a treasure room to discuss payment for dealing with the drow. Although several items look interesting, the group agrees on a chest of silver. Mantis also eyes a naked painting of Yek, the former leader of the market goblins, and purchases it from the tribe. Copperhead draws them a map, and the group begins to hunt the drow.
Mantis leads the party along the mapped route, passing through a cistern, a workroom filled with alchemical equipment with a kitchen, and eventually they stop at a door. Mantis finds an electrical trap on the handle, which he disarms. The door opens into another alchemical lab. Shining Brow finds a page of a journal. It appears to belong to an apprentice of Halaster, detailing his work with copper. The next door opens into a large chamber with a copper floor. A large humanoid creature stands in the middle of the room. Its body is stitched together, and the flesh looks dead. A skull floats through the room, and lightning crackles from the copper floor. A cackling laugh seems to resonate through the room.
Shining Brow decides to roll a barrel from this room across the copper floor, but the barrel shatters, releasing an undead ghoul. Several other barrels in the chamber also break, and ghouls pour out and attack the party. After several close calls, the group defeats the undead. Mantis decides to bypass the copper floor, but as they wrap around, more undead with long, snake-like tongues emerge. The group defeats the ghasts and investigates the room. It contains mining equipment, gnawed bones, and a corpse in torn robes, wearing a pair of thick boots. A cave leads to a small copper mine. Shining Brow finds another part of the apprentice’s journal, describing a place called ‘dweomercore’, and how he used wire and lightning to create ghouls.
For Next Time, from the file of old notes…..
- Durnan suggested looking for the Arcane Chambers, The Willowood, and Selune’s Tears.