Storm King’s Thunder: Session 21. Shadows Under Ancient Boughs

9^th Alturiak 1458DR

As the battle raged on, the Barrowghast eventually fell to a barrage of blows from Korrak and Amadeous and with that the tide of battle turned in the Griffon’s favour. Carlan and Darius slew the zombies before banishing the wraith leading the horde. As the battlefield turned silent they became aware of a shadowy figure observing the battlefield from a distance. The figure called out “You cannot defeat me! Now you will join my army and serve Lord Dalbrek!” before disappearing into the night.

After ensuring the village was secure, Darius spoke to one of the wounded villagers. His name was Artagan and he owned the general store. Clutching the wound in his side he thanked Darius profusely for saving the village and Darius cast Lay On Hands to heal his wounds. They agreed to speak further in the morning and the party decided to try and rest.

Restful sleep proved difficult as they were visited in their dreams by the image of an elven woman who spoke to them in the same voice that urged them to wake up earlier. She introduced herself as Tenaria Moongleam: warrior-priestess of Angarradh (Elven goddess of growth and protection). She pleaded with them to stop Lord Dalbrek: a fallen paladin from ages past who was raising a fell army of the dead to destroy the nearby towns. She knew he dwelled further in the forest but his powerful magic stopped her from scrying his true location, known only to a denizen of the forest named the Queen of Spiders. She and her brood lived in the forest and knew it’s shadowed reaches well. Not wanting to see Triboar, Westbridge and Red Larch (among others) fall to the undead and hoping that this may win the favour of Claugiyliamatar, they agreed and fell back into sleep.

In the morning they asked around and visited Artagan’s store. Darius asked him about Dalbrek and he said he remembered an old story his grandfather told him of a kingdom named Elfrin that once lay in the region in ages past. When Claugiyliamatar arrived to Kryptgarden she lay waste to the kingdom and Dalbrek led the forces of Elfrin against her. Unfortunately they failed and Dalbrek was the only survivor. Artagan didn’t know who the Queen of Spiders was but did know that there was a phase spider colony in the southernmost part of the forest.

They bid farewell to Artagan and resolved to seek out the phase spider colony and headed into the forest. The terrain soon became difficult to follow: the trees formed a thick canopy and the paths seem to shift and change as they travelled. After a few hours they felt a light rain that rapidly progressed to a violent thunderstorm. Maganose pulled out Daern’s Instant Fortress and it rapidly grew full size and they resolved to wait out the storm in the magical tower. Lightning crackled and the storm raged for several hours before eventually passing.

They resolved to head on and after several hours found themselves in a clearing that seemed to be older trees than those they had passed before. They noticed the plants appeared unhealthy and blighted, when suddenly they were surprised by the largest tree ahead of them pulling itself out of the ground and revealing a hateful face that spoke to them, demanding that they leave: this was their sacred grove and outsiders were not permitted. Korrak managed to persuade them that they meant no harm and the Griffons agreed to leave and walk around the area, however they soon found themselves lost. Carlan had the idea of speaking with the local flora again and knelt down to a nettle bush by the trail. She spoke to the plants and asked for help finding the phase spider lair so they could save the forest and the nettles waved gently (as in the wind) specifically in one direction and Carlan took this as their indicator of the way to go.

After further walking they reached a small clearing: webs criss-crossed between the trees and covered the grounds. They heard clicking and immediately found themselves under attack from spiders and ettercaps. The spiders seem to phase in and out of reality, appearing one moment to strike and disappearing in another. The Griffons fought back and managed to drive them off, seeing a small cave in the far side of the clearing. As they entered the cave they heard a silky voice in their minds: “So, you have come seeking knowledge. But knowledge has a price, and my children will ensure you pay.”

As they descended into the cave it became dark incredibly quickly. Maganose cast light and they saw the floors and walls were covered in webs, which he then burned away with Firebolt. Carlan sent her imp scouting ahead, seeing more ettercaps and spiders heading towards them and the sudden light. Another battle ensued with the phase spiders in which they emerged victorious. The next chamber appeared to be a hatchery and they quickly crushed the spider eggs.

Treading in further they found a large central chamber and an enormous spider crawled down from the ceiling as they heard the silky voice in their minds again: “Welcome seekers of knowledge, I see you have made it to my chamber and have earned the right to speak with me.”  The spider queen was known as Merageth and was vexed by the death of her children but seemed slightly amused as she told the story of Dalbrek: a fallen paladin whose failure to save his kingdom had led to him fleeing the ash and ruins of his home but he had returned recently a very different person, although how she would not say. Their mind flashed with a mental image of a graveyard with undead monsters stalking outside and the path towards it. Thanking her, they bid her farewell and turned to leave but she informed them: “This has been most entertaining. I hope that you have the answers you seek. Unfortunately, they will do you no good as I am now going to kill you all.” 

She rushed forward and set upon the Griffons as more ettercaps and spiders crawled out of the darkness. Maganose cast Storm Sphere, engulfing the area in violent magical energy that lashed viciously at the spider queen’s brood as the rest of the party fought back against the spider queen and her minions. Carlan’s fey fell to her claws and fangs but after a short but bloody battle she collapsed and died. Relieved, they explored the rest of the cave and found another chamber filled with cocooned victims of the spiders. In one of them was the remains of a elf clad in blue wizard robes with a spellbook enscribed “Kelaria Moonstone of Silverymoon” and Maganose stored away for study later on.

They prepared to press on towards the lair of Lord Dalbrek and his undead horde.