While the group was resting from their attack, the paladins from the sanctuary walked up to them. They asked for Aramil's help in breaking the spell of the kobold. After some consultation with the group, he agreed to go and help them while the others explored for an exit out of the cave. Kaylord, Coravel and Quis'Ari finished their preparations and continued exploring the cave, They continued following the foot prints, which led towards the edge of the cave and followed along the underground river. When they found a bridge, they heard a sound off in the distance. It sounded like a humanoid yelling.
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The group discussed what they had heard and decided to try and find out what was making the sound. Kaylord moved up since he could see without light in the cavern. Coravel and Quis'Ari stayed back. When Kaylord moved up towards a large open space, he saw a strange sight. He saw a large humanoid, riding a purple worm around a field, the humanoid yelling as the creature tried to throw him off. Kaylord could just make out two other humanoids who were watching this, while drinking from some type of container. Kaylord called for the others to join him and they slowly walked up. As they watched, the humanoid jumped from the worm, and the worm then turned into a large hole in the ground and disappeared.
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When the large humanoid saw Kaylord, he called out and the other two humanoids became watchful. The Strangers noticed the two humanoids in the back had large boulders at their feet and all three of them looked like giants but not yet at their full growth. After back and forth between Kaylord and the humanoid, who called himself Fjorjek, the Strangers found out that the humanoids were out riding purple worms to test their bravery and dexterity. Fjorjek explained the rules and sneered that if one of the group could best him in a round of worm riding, they would consider them worthy. Kaylord, Coravel and Quis'Ari looked at each other at this taunt and after a few seconds, Coravel volunteered to try the challenge.
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Kaylord and Quis'Ari went up by the cave wall and stood, waiting to see what would happen. Fjorjek hung up a haunch of meat and rung a metal bar to call a worm. Coravel stood at the ready on a small hill above the field and leaped for the worm when it came up to take the meat. He clung to the back and stayed on for almost a minute riding the worm around the field. As he felt his grip loosen, he nimbly jumped down, bouncing on his feet and away from the worm. The worm, freed from a rider, moved into one of the tunnel entrances.
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Fjorjek sauntered up with more meat and hung it. Before ringing the metal bar, he muttered some phrases, then rang for a worm. He also leapt for the worm and made it around but he was only able to hold his gip for a half minute. As he bounced off the worm and ran up to the hill, he laughed and congratuled Coravel on besting him. He invited all of The Strangers into their cave to join them for some Underdeep Mead, made with fungal extracts. Of the three, only Kaylord was able to keep the strong brew down, Coravel and Quis'Ari spewed out their drink and stayed with a plain ale that the young giants offered up.
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As Fjorjek showed them the cave and their trophies, they could see this was like a hunting lodge, where stone giants could gather away from their tribe. After all of them had more spirits and a meal, Fjorjek and the others shared information about the exit from this cavern and the level below. They told about the kingdom of Duergar that was below, a large place, with an arena and fortress for the evil activities of the Duergar and their allies. The next level contained an arena, The Bleak Theater, run by the Impresario, where matches were held between slaves for the entertainment of Duergar, Drow and other evil races. The Duergar had set a trap for the next level that would close in and set off a magical trap for those who don't detect it or know how to disable it. Since the giants were impressed with Coravel's ride and amused by the group after drinking, they told them they could bypass the trap if they said the phrase “All Hail Thane Hrolad Vejik and May His Beard Grow Long” before entering the trigger square. They would then have five minutes to move through the trap to the next level. The giants did not know much about the levels below the Bleak Theater, only that it was ruled by the Thane of Narborg, Hrolad Vejik, who used the Bleak Theater as neutral ground for meeting and making dark deals.
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After several hours of drinking and talking, the group decided to make their way back up to the Paladins and back to town before tackling the Pyramid and moving to the level below. The giants bid them a jovial good bye, a bit unsteadily, as The Strangers made their way back. While The Strangers started moving back to the path, they heard sounds in the small lake they had passed earlier. They moved closer and saw a giant snapping turtle in the water, swimming towards them. Kaylord and Coravel rushed up while Quis'Ari stayed back for range attacks. Coravel was the first to get to the turtle and successfully attacked. He was then grappled by the creature who was attempting to eat him, in spite of several wounds from Coravel. Quis'Ari attacked and then Kaylord rushed in with his axe and struck a mighty blow in the center of the turtle's shell. The blow hit a critical spot and the creature shuddered, letting go of Coravel before it gave out a last gasp. The group quickly finished the turtle and healed themselves before moving on. The rest of their trip to the sanctuary and back to town was uneventful.
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The spell was eventuall broken on the kobold and it was found that she was a half celestial elf, paladin level 10, who had been polymorphed by a wizard in the employ of the dragon Benthosruthsa. Galdiera, had been searching for Benthosruthsa and aided by a wizard, never realizing the wizard would betray her. When the wizard offered to cast a spell for stone skin on her, she willingly lowered her resistance and he polymorphed her into the kobold the group had seen. Benthos came up to taunt her and rewarded his wizard with his death. Benthos left to return to his lair, leaving the kobold to her fate many decades ago. However, while the kobold did not fully remember who she was, she kept to her paladin code of honor and remained true to her code. She is staying with the paladins for a few weeks as she continues to remember more about herself and her quest for Benthos.
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The group went to the Keep to plan and prepare for more underground adventures. The session ended here.
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