Jzadirune II

14th Patchwall, Freeday 586CY

After some frustration with dealing with Jzadirune's rune emblazoned gear doors, the party decided to adjourn back to the Drunken Morkoth and regroup. It was rapidly approaching 48 hours since the orphans were abducted and Heoldon the cleric was losing hope that they would be found alive.

Deciding to take in a good meal and then proceed back into the gnome enclave they were greeted by a new arrival to Cauldron, and through a stroke of luck a scholar with some familarity with the gnomish language. Andrik Krage, travelling wizard, threw in his lot with the party and after a couple of equipment purchases the group was once again treading the stairs beneath Ghelve's Locks.

After battering down another of the many gear doors along the main hall to the west of the entrance room and encovering nothing of interest, the party decided it would be better to avoid the doors if possible.

Using the old leather map they had taken from the gnome's shop they decided to head for a large open room to the south. As the rogue approached the end of the hallway a pit opened up beneath his feet and he was able to just barely jump backwards to the floor's edge. The trapdoor swiftly slammed shut and the party heard the ominious sounds of metal gears and heavy clangs of stone, wood, and metal grinding together.

Unfortunately past the pit trap (which the rogue quickly disabled from opening again) there was a stone wall where the leather map showed an opening to a 30x30 foot room. Examining the wall closer the wizard discovered that it was a simple illusion and no wall actually existed.

The large chamber had two more gear doors to the east and west and the south wall was carved with an elaborate map identical to the one they carried. Some magical dweomer caused the carvings to glow with a faint light.

Studying the map the party discussed if it wasn't more prudent to find a logical way through the gear doors before proceeding. The fighter, Kahodon, decided to go through at least one more door and quickly hacked a way through the center of the gear with some help from the cleric.

With torch in hand Sicarus slipped through the center of the newly created opening and almost before both feet touched stone he was struck by one and then another crossbow quarrel. Without a sound he collapsed to the volcanic flagstone in a pool of his own blood.

The party quickly came to his aid, first the fighter and then the cleric squeezing through the carved hole. With a prayer the cleric laid his hands over the rogue and the remnants of the bolts clattered to the floor as his wounds knit back whole.

Kahodon and Saydi scanned the dark hallway but could see no sign of their attackers. Undoubtedly the same gray creatures that seemed to almost magically blend into their surroundings were nearby.

Andrik carefully poked his head through the door and with a few mystic phrases and gestures cast a spell designed to hypnotize any of the creatures if they happened to be looking in his direction.

Carefully proceeding further down the hallway and around a corner the party searched for any sign of the gray humanoids. The wizard, extimating they were probably at the intersection of the two hallways gave an arcane shout and flung some sand from his outstretched hand which became vivid clashing colors but nothing seemed to happen.

The hallway passage opened into an enormous chamber to the east, the far wall barely visible and two pillars within the lantern light supporting the ceiling far above. Just then a crossbow became visible around one of the pillars as a skulk fired a quarrel from behind cover and missed.

Another skulk seemed to almost appear magically in the middle of the party thrusting its rapier into the clerics back.

(To be continued...)