The party wades out of the river as it spills out into underground lake.  A thick forest lines the shore and, exhausted from the back to back battles, and the long trek down river, the group decides to make camp and get some rest.  Tang Wu loudly laments being torn from “heaven” as the rest of the party drifts off to sleep in the daytime sun.

Upon waking, Shining Brow discovers that sometime during the day-long exposure to sunlight, his drow-made armor and sword lost their enchantments. Searching the area, the group discovers a large sign in Goblin which reads “The Underdark” with an arrow pointing down-river. The party moves into the woods, and comes to a clearing. Another sign reads “Behold Wyllowswood. Harm not lest ye be harmed.”  The ground cover is dense, and amid the weeds and brush, the party finds a gravestone. The etching reads, “Here lies Crissann, human friend and companion.”

Mantis investigates, while the rest of the party hangs back. A mote of light the size of a candle appears above the gravestone, and he hears an ethereal voice which intones “Take my wand and use it to destroy the elf witch.”  The light twirls in a circle, and darts into the ground.

While the party discusses, Shining Brow summons his unseen servant. With a bit of help, they dig a hole, and the unseen force pulls forth a skeletal hand clutching  a wand lit like an ember at one end in it’s grip. The voice again demands that Mantis kill the elf witch. Shazuu snatches the wand from mid-air, and swears to kill the elf witch. (Mantis casts identify, and claims that it is a fully charged wand of fireballs)  The will o’ the wisp has now disappeared, but in the shadows Tang Wu spots a vision of a tiny floating doll with burning eyes. When he tries to call attention to it, It too abruptly disappears.

The party moves forward into the woods, and hear eerie moaning noises from the west. They investigate, and in the distance they see a large gatehouse, as if the portcullis of a castle had been torn from elsewhere and dropped into the side of the cliff.  Mantis and Shining Brow approach to investigate, and see a tunnel behind a portcullis. Shazuu and Kherek lift the gate with some magical assistance from Alabaster.  Mantis ducks in and activates a winch, holding the gate in place. The low moaning emanates from the caverns ahead. Shazuu leads the group ahead to the pair of shadowy caverns.  A pair of dark shapes drop from the ceiling. One wraps itself around Shazuu. Shining Brow releases a color spray spell, which lights up the forms of two cloakers, but has no additional effect. More cloakers flood into the room, some real, and some illusionary.  Combat is joined, and the cloakers fall. Chaos erupts, as illusions and mirror images confuse the battle, but the party prevails. Tang Wu shoots the last one as it is under a sleep spell, and closes the portcullis to prevent the red eyed demon that is following him.  Tang Wu begins to slip further towards madness.

The moans increase from further in the cavern.  Mantis scouts ahead and sees a cavern covered in crystalline structures. The sound of dripping water echoes in the distance.  The crystals filter a low light. Shining Brow lowers the rope of climbing, and he and Mantis descend to the floor.  As some of the group collect some broken crystals, several cloakers descend, lead by a massive cloaker, easily three times the size of it’s mates. They are met by a fireball from Mantis. Kherek goes into a rage and attacks. Shining Brow bolts across the chamber to attack, striking the beast.  The cloaker swallows Mantis, and his feet kick slowly from it’s jaws. Tygorr looks down on the mess below, and casts a spell of haste on Shazuu and Kherek. Alabaster casts a spell, ripping a wound across the creature. The massive cloaker envelopes the tabaxi arcane trickster and the elven cleric at the same time.  Kherek blinds the creature. Alabaster casts cause wounds from inside the creature’s grasp. The cloaker shrieks, driving fear into the hearts of the party. Tygorr attempts to hold the creature, but it resists. Shazuu fires two eldritch blasts, Alabaster again casts inflict wounds, destroying the cloaker. The fear subsides, the moaning fades, and quiet returns.

Shazuu noticed the cloaker had faded through the wall of the cave, and a quick investigation reveals a small space hidden by an illusion. Using the rope of climbing, the party scales the wall. The cave beyond has a vent, with some light beyond. A dozen corpses litter the floor of this lair, and the party recovers pouches full of gems (13 worth 50gp each) and 900 gold coins.  One of the bodies has a magical rapier +1, and another has an adamantine chain shirt.

For Next Time, from the file of old notes…..

  • Durnan suggested looking for the Arcane Chambers, The Willowood, and Selune’s Tears.
  • There is a vent in the cloaker room.