Out of the Abyss is a Dungeons and Dragons (DnD 5e) game set in the Underdark. Play takes place every Friday night at Dragons Keep Roleplay Club in Chislehurst South East London. The Dungeon Master is Joshua.
Cast of Characters
Janek Boone - Human Champion (Tony)
Targonis - Wood Elf Ranger (Steve)
Aur - Aarakocra Rogue (Suresh)
Selya Skag - Vedalken Alchemist Artificer (Daniel)
Sunna Mortas - Tiefling Sorceror (Jo)
Ronald a Sentient Ooze
Out of the fetid waters shlepped a small dog sized blue ooze.
"I was very impressed by your swordplay, those 8 legs didn't stand a chance"
The ooze explained that he had recently acquired sentience and he has been on the run from the Drow who murdered his parents for the last couple of weeks. Janek asks if he has met the Circle of Brilliance but the ooze, who has started calling himself "Ronald" says "no, do they taste nice?". Janek feels sorry for the little fellow and invites him to tag along with their merry band of misfits and maybe they can help him reunite with his lost brother and sister.
The Myconids
Further down the tunnel they hear a strange singing sound and Stool becomes very excited releasing a cloud of telepathic spores "Friends, Family" he calls. Aur sends Hedwig down the tunnel to investigate and the owl flies through a thicket of fungi and through a tunnel until it emerges into a cavern. A bunch of Myconids are singing and swaying in a trance-like state along with two Quaggoth who appear to be covered in a yellow mould. Stool explains that this is a sleeping state known as melding. Droki is getting very agitated and the party decide to move on but promise Stool that they will endeavour to return here.
The Vortex Pool
Droki leads on until their progress is blocked by a rockfall. He grumbles that they will have to take the long way round and enters a side tunnel. The sounds of swirling and gurgling water can be heard up ahead as the tunnel emerges into a strange cave dominated by a large pool. The path diverges with the left path climbing up a slope and the right branch going around the back of the pool and disappearing under the left path into a tunnel. Roland says that the water is alive and at its centre is a swirling vortex. Skag uncorks one of their potions and throws it into the cavern. As the liquid pours onto the ground a murmuring of voices can be heard and the water comes alive, a tentacle lashes out grasping at the empty vial.
Aur sends Hedwig up the slope and the vortex seems to spin faster. Targonis stealthily begins to climb the slope and gets to a point 30 feet above the pool when a tentacle lashes out and attempts to grapple him.
Targonis slashes at the tentacle but does not hurt it much, it grapples him in response and as it drags him towards the edge of the slope he cries "Sunna, hit it with fire". Sunna obliges and hits at another tentacle and it recoils slightly "Use Fire!" she shouts. Janek grabs a flamestalk fungus and lights it. It explodes immediately and in pain he rushes to Targonis aid. Skag uses their boots of speed to dash up the slope. Aur flies up along the ceiling whilst Ronald hugs the wall and Derendel grabs Stool and plods into the cavern.
Targonis fails to break free and gets dragged closer to the ledge. A Tentacle grabs Aur by the foot and pulls her towards the pool. Sunna casts burning hands but the tentacles dodge from most of the flames. Small clouds of steam erupt as they strike. Janek attacks the tentacle grappling Aur and his flashing blades strike twice. Likewise Skag firebolts the tentacle and severs it. Aur soars free once more.
Again Targonis struggles to escape and his feet dangle on the precipice. A Tentacle lashes out at Sunna as she casts burning hands once more. The wide spray of fire emanating from her hands creates more small clouds of steam as the tentacle writes around it. Janek lashes at the tentacle ensnaring Targonis and shreds it and he extends a hand of friendship to the elf. Skag firebolts the vortex and nug spews at it. Badly injured, Aur flies to the safety of the top of the slope.
Targonis looks at his comrades further down the slope and shouts
"Run You Fools"
A tentacle lashes at Sunna as she dashes and shoots her firebolts. Janek lashes out at a writhing tentacle as he moves up the slope to help Targonis as a tentacle grabs the elf once more. A second tentacle grabs Janek and the pair are dragged towards the ledge. Skag and Nug focus their fire at the tentacle restraining Janek.
Targonis and Janek are inexorably dragged closer to the pool as a third tentacle lashes at Sunna knocking her down and encircling her body. Skag and Nug remain focussed on attacking the tentacles. It is at this point that Droki eats a Bigwig and immediately stabs Aur who passes out.
Targonis and Janek are dragged into the water but Janek breaks free and manages to swim to the edge and administer a healing potion to Sunna. Skag fires at Sunna's tentacle and Nug spews at Droki. The derro swigs a healing draft and runs down the tunnel.
Targonis is sucked under the water as tentacles attack Prince Derendel. Janek slays the water weird with two swift strikes of his blades and the vortex and tentacles dissipate. Skag firebolts at Droki and kills him. Roland rolls his oozing form over Droki's corpse and consumes him as the party look on.
Janek contemplates that they badly need a short rest before continuing as Luck does not appear to be on their side...
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