A Violent End

5 November, 595
Part One

Heading back into the ruins, the group decides to explore more of the tunnel in the same area they had left. Jimmy, moving stealthily down the hallways, comes upon a pair of snoozing "tall ones." He jumps into the room and attempts to hypnotize the pair. One apparently succombs to the trance, but the other rushes at the magician with rapier raised. Nodonn charges into the room and prompty runs into a wall. Jimmy casts a spell which stuns the two foes for several vital seconds, during which time Nodonn and Bruinor wrestle with them on the ground. Finding the situation hopeless, the two creatures throw down their weapons and surrender to the group.

This time our heroes are more merciful, attempting to communicate with the beings. They can not speak nor understand their language, but when Bruinor speaks in Gnomish, one seems to understand. He indicates that he would lead the group to the children if they would let them go.

Following the two creatures, the group is taken to the wooden barricade they had discovered previously. Bruinor cuts down the makeshift wall with his axe, and the two creatures bolt, attempting to flee. One is felled by a few arrows in the back, but the other escapes into the darkness.

Enterring the room, they discover a large workshop, with two large balconies and a huge gear suspended from a high vaulted ceiling. Lyra decides to explore one of the balconies, and Jimmy scrambles up the other. As he looks around, Jimmy is attacked by a large brain-shaped creature with dangling tentacles hovering in the air. Attempting to flee down the stairs, he is struck by one of the arms and paralyzed in place. While the creature wraps its tentacles about Jimmy, other members of the group attempt to get in position to attack. Lyra and Plenty hurl daggers while Nodonn shoots arrows at the beast. With a lack of ranged weapons, the group is unable to save Jimmy from becoming the breakfast of the creature. Getting greedy and with the taste of blood in its beak, it makes a run at Nodonn. Lyra heroically leaps from the balcony in an attempt to land on the back of the creature. Unfortunately, she misjudges her jump, and ends up with a splat on the ground. Throck's healing spell returns her to form. Bruinor's axe and Plenty's scimitar prove to be the bane of the creature as it drops to the ground in a heap of quivering membrane.

Nodonn attempts to cut the great beast open and the foul creature makes him wretch, but alas, poor Jimmy has been devoured in the most gruesome way, and only pieces of him are found in the belly. After saying a touching prayer for Jimmy's soul, the group searches the room and finds an expertly made dagger set with a compartment in its hilt, along with a few potions.

The remains of Jimmy's corpse are brought up for the final time, and he is taken to the Church of Wee Jas for burial. However, on the way out, Bruinor spots a well-hidden door on the stairway up to Keygan's shop. So obscured is this portal that the group had passed it numerous times before it was noticed. As the sun continues its ascent into the sky, the group ponders on what to do next, and how to proceed in this search that has now claimed one of their lives.

Trapped Like a Rat

4 November, 595
Part Three

After given healing by Throckmorten, Jimmy is still feeling the detrimental affects of the poison. It is decided to return to the surface and pay a visit to the Temple of St. Cuthbert. Jenya agrees to cure the poison for a reduced price, and the group also purchases some potions, cashing in on the blue spinel gem that was found.

After a private chat with Jenya, Joseph learns that he is to be sent on an urgent mission to Sasserine immediately, and needs to leave the group that day. Brisk also learns that he has some important family business to take care of, as one of his relatives in Hollowsky has fallen ill.

The group decides to have a quick meal (provided gratis, thanks to Plenty's music and Jimmy's hypnotic spell), then head back to the gnome ruins. Before reentering, the group hears from behind the keysmith's shop curtain a debate between Keygan and someone who had entered the shop. Moments later, the curtain parts to reveal a well-groomed elf garbed in chainmail, bearing the religious symbol of Wee Jas. The elf introduces himself as Nodonn, and states that he has learned of the activities through a revelation from his goddess. She has directed him to them to aid in the search for the lost children.

Now 6 in number, the group ventures back into the ruins. Returning to the room behind the ajar "A" door in the mask room, they come to a tunnel ending with a stone ladder leading up to a hole in the ceiling. Poking his head through, Jimmy is swiped by something sharp. He immediately leaps down and warns the rest of the group. Nodonn leaps up the hole with his sword at the ready and finds himself in an empty room. A quick search of the small room reveals a hidden door. Opening the door, Jimmy moves into the room and is immediately ambushed by another "tall one." Stepping over Jimmy's fallen body, Nodonn enters the room and engages the creature. He is quickly joined by Bruinor and Lyra. Finding himself surrounded, the creature throws his arms up and shouts something in an unknown language, but is met by the merciless answer of steel. Bruinor's axe carves a fine arc through his midsection, and it is Lyra's sword through his back which finishes him off.

Found in the room are several chests and a cage containing a rat with a white starry patch on his head. Plenty grabs the cage, and Bruinor takes to smashing chests. After finding some loot among the smashed remains, the group drags the beaten body of Jimmy out of the ruins. The rat (Starbrow) is presented to Keygan and he is overcome with joy to be reunited with his companion.

Off to the temple again and this time an assistant cleric helps with the healing, and the rogue decides to purchase some additional healing potions. By this time it was dark and everyone decides to get a night's rest before embarking on another expedition.