After escorting the freed slaves to Kuldahar, Victor and his band returned to Dorn’s Deep to explore the lower areas now that the way was clear. Upon entering the lower caverns they were greeted with the site of an old dwarven mining fortress with bridges over lava.
They were immediately met by what appeared to by an animated suit of armor, naming itself the “Voice of Durdel Anatha”. It claimed to be the spirit of a paladin of Torm who had attempted to mediate between the Elves of the Severed Hand and the dwarves of Dorn’s Deep, and now paid eternal penance for failure as a servant of Ilmater. Something seemed… off… about this arrangement, but the being attacked before Victor could reason things out with it. They were forced to beat it down, but they could see it slowly re-assembling itself. This would not be a permanent solution.The area had many deep gnomes running errands – obviously fearful. Many were injured. Exploring further they found weak, sickly deep-gnomes forced to mine in an old quarry. Victor spoke with what appeared to be the leader, but he was very suspicious. He would not speak further without proof of good intent.As both a means to help and proof of good intent, Basil invisibly snuck into the palace and stole food for the gnomes. They then helped defend the hidden gnome village from Umber Hulks, and were allowed access. In the gnome village they met a Drow merchant, and learned he had been responsible for the fate of the Severed Hand! (See The Fate of Nym for that tale)In the gnome village they found more sick and injured gnomes, and Maura did the best she could to help them. From the Gnome leaders they learned that the master of the Palace – Maraketh had been torturing and crippling them for some twisted religious purposes. And that a Priest claiming to represent Ilmater – named Brother Poquelin – was the true power behind these factions.Entering the deeper mines to rescue more of the gnomes, they found Fire Salamanders overseeing dying gnomes literally being worked to death. They quickly put an end to this atrocity so that the gnomes could return to their hidden village..They had seen a lot of terrible things by now. They had a lot of twisted perversions. But when they met a little gnome girl bringing food to a guard tower, Jim knelt to ask her who it was for. She pointed to her mouth – which no longer had a tongue. And when he asked who had done that to her, she pointed to a nearby tower…
He gave her a hug, got up, briefly looked at Victor as if daring him to say no. And then turned and marched towards the tower. Arrows shot down at him as he came, but he slapped them away like flies.
It was *NOT* a good day to be one of the guards stationed in that tower….In the Artisan’s District they came upon the residence of the drow wizard Malavon, in what had once been a dwarven arboretum. Malavon appeared insane, having put out the eyes and tongues of his poor gnome slaves. When Victor confronted him, he threatened to murder all the gnomes unless he surrendered. An obvious ploy as there was no reason whatsoever to believe Malavon would honor any such deal. While Rose engaged Malavon in magical combat….Victor and the other were forced to deal with two giant Iron Golems, attempting to bring them down while keeping them away from Rose and protecting as many of the gnome slaves as they could. Eventually they defeated the mad wizard, and searched his residence for any clues or magic which could helpIn the palace itself they met a drow woman named Ginafae – both Malavon’s sister and Maraketh’s lover. She had clearly been beaten. And she claimed to be under a death curse to prevent her from leaving. But still she asked Victor to swear to let Marketh leave unharmed once he had been deposed. Victor reluctantly agreed.When they confronted Maraketh, he claimed to have made Dorn’s Deep more productive and efficient, building a thriving town in the former ruins. When Victor responded that an economy built on ruined citizens was no economy at all, Maraketh scoffed. When Victor demanded his surrender he attempted to teleport away with a magic ring. Unfortunately for him he discovered that Basil, having learned of the ring from Ginafae, had already picked it from him as he was distracted monologuing with Victor.Victor once again demanded that Marketh surrender, and unlike most evil men they had faced in their quest Marketh saw reason and did so. Victor demanded his weapons as well as his signet ring, and Marketh was forced to acquiesce. Then he stormed out of the palace, abandoning his “lover” Ginafae. Fortunately, Rose had discovered a potion in Malavon’s lab which could nullify Ginafae’s curse, so that she too could leave to find a new life.In the main palace garden, they discovered large doors leading to what had once been a temple of Berronar Truesilver, but which now appeared to serve a darker purpose. Inside they were once again met with the “Voice of Durdel Anatha”, but this time Basil was able to show him what had really happened with the Severed Hand. That it was not a failure to mediate on his part, but drow treachery. The long dead paladin was finally able to break free from the fake Ilmaterian priest and move on to his eternal rest.Inside the temple Marua confronted the Priest Brother Peridem. She was absolutely incensed at what had been done in the name of Ilmater, and the Brother’s attempts to justify the behavior just made her angrier. Before long they found themselves in full battle with the false priests and their undead servants. But Basil noticed that the priest’s behavior seemed… odd… unnatural. And he could sense their minds being clouded from elsewhere.He quickly located a dark idol near the back of the temple. Its corrupting influence was so great that he feared none of them could approach it without being similarly overcome, but Angus insisted that he could do it. As the others engaged the priests – trying not to permanently harm them – and struggled with their hordes of undead servants – Angus charged towards the idol. Ignoring the foul energy it radiated, he smashed it to pieces – releasing the priests from their dark cloud. Most were left psychologically insensible by the ordeal, but a few vowed to work to undo that which they had done under Poquelin’s corruption. They explained how he had corrupted their faith, and how to reach his sanctum upstairs.In the sanctum Victor confronted the vile priest, and learned that he was the “ancient enemy” whom Yuxonomei had noted. Poquelin laughed as dismissed Victor’s ability to interfere with his plans, claiming that he was tapping into the ancient artifact Crenshinibon to control vast armies in the Spine of the World. He taunted them that Easthaven already lay in ruins. He summoned pillars of fire and enemies poured in from all directions as Victor and his crew fought back.It was a long, hard battle. Angus and Big Jim fought hordes of Salamanders. Maura kept legions of undead at bay. Basil and Rose were kept completely occupied countering Poquelin’s magical assault. And Victor engaged Poquelin directly – finding him supernaturally strong with arcane tricks to back it up. But Victor’s ability to dismiss magical influences and pierce illusions allowed him to keep up the assault, and eventually the Priest cried out.. and vanished. At which point Victor and his crew were sucked away as well… to the icy ruins of Easthaven.
5 responses to “Victorians on Ice: Lower Dorn’s Deep”
atcDave
Big Jim with Fegli is awesome! That is always a good motivating sort of moment, and I love the two step graphic of it!
The story with Maraketh and Ginafae is a little maddening. I truly want to split him in half, but you can’t really help Ginafae if you do. I like the renders for that story. And obviously you found a better one with Victor than what I saw before!
Yeah. Jim grew up an orphan. Started rough himself. The minute we talked to her there was no doubt how he’d react. That’s about as big a berserk button as you could possibly press for him.
Letting Marketh off the hook always sucks. But it’s not like you can have him arrested, and he does surrender once cornered. Without Ginafae we might let Jim rough him up a little first, but we’re not going to a murder him when he actually complies with our demands.
I found rendering the cavern irritating,because it kept putting sky and cave openings behind everything. Could not convince it to let things fade to black in back. Also wanted Maura denouncing the whole set of corrupted priests, but just couldn’t get a render that captured that well. Either looked like she was preaching or throwing a temper tantrum. Usually the problem is getting the characters look right. There I just couldn’t get the emotions and reactions I wanted. C’est la vie.
I’m working on the Underdark right now, so I completely hear you about the frustration of getting a dark underground! And I’ve about given up with drow renders, it makes everyone African! Maybe I’ll try dark blue?
For drow either just say drow, or use elf if you don’t like that look. Then either ebony skin or charcoal skin. And white hair. Obviously Ibises purple skin for Nym. I traded back and forth between charcoal and ebony for Ginafae. “Black” – as you say – the word has too many other connotations.
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