Dunkel Warrens

This large system of caves and tunnels can be found a few days northeast of Midtal. There are multiple entrances and exits at all cardinal directions and from on top. Bruised But Not Broken from Tharkathol use it to train new recruits; entering at the eastern side and then making a trek of about a week to the western exit.

Chased

Odrik and the rest of the party make it to the western entrance as fast as they can, hoping to find Oban and the new recruits before their enemy does. They move down the tricky descent and then Odrik leads them in the right direction.

It takes over a day but then they hear the sound of commands being given and they rush towards it. They come across quite the scene, lots of dust still floating in the air. Oban is there, blood streaming down his face, he can't see but he still is ordering his ten recruits about. Beyond him are the telltale signs of a corridor that was collapsed, now filled with rubble. Odrik rushes over to Oban who is quite happy that his old friend showed up. When told about Eganm the Niffug Cam, and the assailant he tells them the following.

“I gave him the thrice cursed thing, enough people have died over it already. But he still attacked, spouting stuff about a thief’s fate. If it wasn’t for Tali we’d be all dead. She saw it coming and pushed him aside just as he spit all this cold towards us. But then he was on Tali and she never stood a chance. Remember the boom gem I won off that Abjura fellow? Never used it but when I saw Tali fall I threw it with all my might, huge explosion, collapsed the ceiling and must have hurt him good. He’s still digging though, not stopping, still coming for us. And can you believe the rock splinters hitting me square in the eyes? What are the odds of that?”

With an implacable enemy still after them they all agree they need to get out as quickly as possible. Unfortunately with Oban blinded and a recruit with a broken leg, going back up to the eastern entrance is pretty much out. But a little ways back is a path to a deeper level of the warrens, Oban is pretty sure there should be a way to the western exit there.

This is what they decide and Odrik assumes command of the company as if he never left. He instructs the recruits and off they go. There are plenty of obstacles, including a wide fissure but they overcome all those with plenty of ingenuity. Suddenly there is a loud chittering and hordes of spooked rats charge at them. The fight is harder than one would expect from 'just' rats but in the end they make it through with only some injuries.

They come to a wide cavern full of stalactites and stalagmites, patches of yellowish ‘puff balls’ dot most of the floor and walls but a path about ten feet wide going across is free of them. Everyone is made aware that hitting any of the puff balls would be very bad as it will release dangerous spores. They slowly and carefully make their way down the path but then suddenly a stalactite falls from the ceiling, hitting Zayn. It turns out that among the stalactites a number of darkmantles are hidden who now attack. It's a hard fight and some of our friends are almost brought low but in the end they are victorious.

They decide to rest before continuing on, eventually coming to a large cave filled with natural columns. In between most of them webs are hung, only where the span is really wide the area is free of webs, creating a meandering path. Not taking any chances they set the webs on fire, though now they have to deal with an acrid smoke. And coming from that smoke are a few giant spiders. Just as those are being defeated they notice something else; a large circular form floating down from the ceiling, there’s a kind of a large eye in the middle of it and a number of stalks wave on the top of it. Deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, the party runs as fast as they can.

Things quiet down after that but eventually their pursuer catches up to them. He manages to catch Odrik alone while the others are otherwise engaged. As he shakes off his hood it become clear this is no lizardfolk; his head looks quite dragon-like! It resembles some of the old paintings of dragons quite a bit, but how could something like a half man, half dragon exist? Not to mention that no dragons have been seen since shortly after the Collapse.

Unfortunately this is not the time to answer these questions as the enemy attacks. His sword skills and strength are impressive and Odrik is soon on the defensive. Fortunately he is wearing the Bracer of Locking which manages to more than even the odds. Strangely the enemy is quite philosophical during the entire fight, questioning many things as they face off. Both are quite severely wounded by the end before Odrik manages to strike a final blow.

"I had hoped it wouldn't come to this," the assailant says with his final breath as he takes something from under his cloak and smashes it to the floor. A sort of portal springs into existence, it is strangely egg shaped and looks rather unappealing. A roar similar to the bark of an angry sea lion, albeit much louder, can be heard and there's the sound of something very large approaching.

Odrik doesn't waste a moment and makes his way over to the others and together they run as fast as they can. Not a moment to soon as around the corner comes charging a large, quadrupedal dragon with dirty-ivory scales and stubby claws, it has no wings though. Things look more than grim with the monster bearing down on them; it is not likely they could defeat it, certainly not in the state they are in.

Then they come to a narrow natural rock bridge across a wide chasm. They run across it but then notice that Odrik has stopped halfway, awaiting the dragon. He tells the others to go on and get to safety. Boldrek throws him the magical maul, which has become something quite dangerous during the last combat. When the dragon scrambles onto the rock bridge Odrik waits for it to get quite near and then strikes the bridge with all his might. The maul explodes with great force and shatters the bridge, making both the fighter and dragon tumble down into the depths.

The others stand there and look down the chasm, no one saying anything at first. After a long while they finally continue on and make it out of the warrens.