Chapter 13: Hell Mouth of the Dark Mother

[Zhym]

Grothnak hefts the iron halberd once or twice to get a feel of it. He considers sparring, but is concerned about the noise.

When the others are ready to proceed, Grothnak climbs down the rope.

[wolfpack]

Brevos will climb down and at the bottom observe the terrain for past movement to see if he can gain any information

[1d100] = 72

[Inferno]

Within the Hell Mouth, the Rushmoors, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Ten. Nightfall. Tuesday, October 25th, 576 CY
Cloudy, damp, cold, foggy







The remains of the tortured, mangled revenants are dragged into the secret room, and the profane diptych returned to its position of unholy worship.

As the looking glass is rehung, the heartbreaking voice in the mirror pleads in anguish to be viewed, to no avail.

The rush of the fetid waterfall pouring down the Hell Mouth shaft almost drowns out the fiendish piping here. The revolting stench only grows stronger. Needing two hands to climb, Urdur extinguishes his torch and the heroes descend in darkness into the bottomless pit.

The climb down into the rocky chasm is arduous in armor. Pelias determinedly shoulders his bound cultist as the party delves deeper in single file on the thick, knotted rope, parallel to the column of putrid falling water.

Soon, sickly torchlight flickers below them, illuminating a vast, high cavern.



Near its roof is a tunnel (at "X"). Brevos and Telkis, first down the rope, detect a fell stench at the tunnel's maw, different than the rank odor of these hellish caverns.

The swampwaterfall cascades down into a rancid pool in the center of the large cave. The water's roar is louder here and its misty spray reduces visibility.

Dangling from chains high above the cavern floor are six iron cages that surround the waterfall and the pool. The heroes have seen their likes before.



Dark, shadowy shapes are imprisoned within most of the cages.

The thick rope trails down past the reeking tunnel to the bottom of this cavern, where no other signs of life are visible.


Actions?!


Cutaway View:

West is left. East is right. PCs' front rank is near the red "X."
Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.





PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/27
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC 5, HP 9/15, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl
  Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/28
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 17/22, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl and 2/4 2nd lvl
  Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 2/3: Move: 9", AC 3, HP 11/12, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 6, HP: 23/30, Spells: 1/6 1st lvl, 1/3 2nd lvl and 2/2 3rd lvl
  Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 3: Move: 6", AC: 2(0), HP: 19/30, Laying Hands: 0/1
  Pip, Human Monk 2: Move: 16", AC: 9, HP: 11/12
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 17/28
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC 6, HP 9/9, Spells: 0/2 1st lvl and 0/1 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far, in words)
  Graven Images (the story so far, in pictures)
  The Innocent and the Condemned (npc's)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[wolfpack]

Brevos asks telkis

into the tunnel or on to the bottom?

[ChubbyPixie]

”Let’s investigate the tunnel,” replies Telkis, straining as he dangles from the rope. ”If there’s something in there, we don’t want it dropping down on top of us, I imagine.”

[AleBelly]

Pelias collects his breath after carrying his heavy load down the rope. "Freeing those prisoners now is tempting, but your counsel is wise, Telkis. Let us investigate the tunnel of stench first."

With his free hand, he fingers his prayer beads, begging Pelor that the Cades are in those cages and can yet be saved.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo is not a fan of climbing around on soaking wet, slimy ropes. He hopes the dangling conversation is a short one.

"I agree with Telkis as well! Lets all get to this first ledge and regroup."

He marvels at the paladins great strength, certain that he could not match the feat of carrying another down a wet rope with him.

He stares into the cages every chance he gets, trying to get a clear look and hoping to see the familiar face of the Gades or some other misfortunate townsfolk that needs to be saved.

"A prisoner that has not yet been brainwashed might be able to give us some inside information about this place. Perhaps one of them has seen these masters that the guards spoke of."

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur follows the others into the tunnel. Before relighting his torch, he scans the tunnel with his infravision.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser follows the group down the tunnel

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Hoom follows behind Mouser.

[Zhym]

Grothnak spares a conflicted look toward the cages. But freeing them here will do them no good. He follows along, strange halberd in his hands.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Fearing the worsening stench could be an advance indication of some variety of walking dead, the cleric makes sure she is towards the front, holy symbol held in front of her, prepared to call upon almighty Tritherion if her concerns prove to be warranted.

[drpete]

Pip will follow into the stinky passage. He examines the cages as well as he can from the rope. He looks for either a way to get to them (someone put them there, after all) or maybe a winch to lower them to the ground.

[Inferno]

Our spine-tingling tale of terror continues in... Chapter 14: Abyss of the Damned