Urist, Belabor, Bucklebrick, Dedric, Alice, Valen, and Hilda continue to investigate the dark elf bazaar (Deep Carbon), this time starting from the top of the chain elevator.
The party finds a large sized set of merchant scales, but the values are determined by writing a noun vs impossible weights such as “holiness, or 15 years of pain” the device then projects the ratio. The players (correctly) surmise this device was designed to weigh the values of slaves or objects that came through the dark elf bazaar. They move to the next stall.
Here they find an underdark greenhouse; large wire cages full of boxed dirt. On shelves Bucklebrick discovers several small closed terrariums 1 full of strange alien plants, molds, and fungus each the size of a small melon.2 They climb down to another stall below them.
Here they find a room full of black and white cervit, a ceramic-glass material that dark elves used to forge arms and armor3. They mark this room to come back for in the near future and jump below to the next chamber.
Enclosed in a bubble with a gaping portal to another realm they discover a Chlordan Alchemist, described as a toxic-treebeard (moldy bark, poisonous leafs, fungal growth). His prices are steep and esoteric as the alchemy he creates can kill anything , such as curses, or ideas. 4 The players ask more questions, leading to the removal of the curse Vaathor-Vash placed on them, and he says to come back tomorrow after he thinks about a price. Hilda wants to know if he can remove the curse a Nakkin placed on her, and he offers the price of a dwarf’s toe, but she decides it’s not worth asking Urist for. They bid him farewell—despite Bucklebrick asking exceedingly more complicated questions on the way out.
You find a Halls of Silk with the dead husk of a giant spider whose silk was weaved into fabric by dead slaves shackled to their looms.
Climbing down to the next level they encounter a pair of salt dryad sisters, one of whom is missing her black heart. They’re kind enough to the players, who convince them that waiting down here for eternity in sorrow isn’t going to return her heart, which the dark elves likely ground up for a delicacy. They agree and wait for them next to the exit. The move on.
The next stall is a series of exotic nautilus shells. Alice proudly claims a large rainbow shell for herself and Bucklebrick grabs a shell shield. And everyone gapes at a cute trilobite statue of a creature that stands upright with a spear. They move on to the next stall.
This room is underwhelming. Core samples show off strange rock from deep within the earth. They do find a core sample that is pure black and rejects lights, Alice offers it could be ground up into a paint.
With everything explored they decide to grab the ancient dwarf tools and egress quickly and quietly to avoid the ghoul giant that is lurks in the dark.
House Vestigård
Topside they bump into Fenn who was standing watch over the hidden door should anything try to crawl out while they were down there. He’s stunned by salt dryads and requests they be clothed in something. Dedric commands a few guards who are watching this spectacle in the hallways to arrange a meeting with his lord father.
Everyone gathers at the Great Hall of the throne room where Dedric presents the ancient dwarf tools they’ve uncovered and Lord Ulric asks Urist Shalebeard questions about what the dwarves intend to do with the anchient tools and Urist offers to share in the technology as both cultures can benefit. Ulric agrees then questions Urist about his exile and the troubling state of current affairs in the dwarf kingdom; the will of the All Fathers have been usurped by the dictator Josrick, and Urist betrayed by the same man he once called friend.
Lord Ulric become more deeply concerned as he hands over a prophecy to Dedric that his mother Runa had been translating.
Major Decisions & Actions
Ask Ulric if he can spare troops (quickly denied).
The Dwarf mining tools were gifted by Urist to be shared, studied, and (if possible) replicated.
Return in a day to ask Myco his price for removing the curse of Haathor-Vash.
Nonplayer Characters
Myco, a Chlordan Alchemist
Naelea and Nacla, the salt dryad sisters.
Locations Visited
The Merchant Scales - New
The Greenhouse - New
Cervit Armory - New
The Chlordan Alchemist - New
Hall of Silk - New
The Salt Dryad Den - New
Underdark Shell Stall - New
Core Samples Den - New
House Vestigård
Treasure
Left Behind
Cervit: 80 bar-sized kilos of White Cervit (fireproof), and 10 kilos of Black Cervit (fireproof and magic resistant).5
Snow-globe Sized, Closed Terrariums: Underdark roots, ice filagree, miasma flower, and a spindly fungus.
Spider Silk: Five bales of Whipsilk (evening sky). Three bales of Stormsilk (storm sky and rough). And one small bale of Clippersilk (blue-black, incredibly tough).
Ancient Dwarf Tools: Jackhammer, Air Hammer, Core Drills, Water Pumps, Cut Off Saw, 50-pint tank with a hose to connect to the tool. All the machines are two handed and heavy.
Character Development
Urist reveals much of his backstory and the fate of the dwarves to Dedric and Ulric.
Hilda confessed she was cursed by a Nakkin (after she pilfered his bouzouki) to Belanor and cannot cross large bodies of water or she’s doomed to drown.
Fenn is worried about the souls of his friends after Bucklebrick told him about Myco and his offers.
Ulric is pleased with Dedric and his efforts in the dungeons below, but he’ll never show it publicly.
Ulric is worried about the prophesy, Runa knew more than she let on and her ghost appearing is proof enough for him.
Plot Threads
The players have a means to remove the curse form them, but the price is going to be steep.
The Salt Dryad sisters don’t belong on the surface world. This could end in tragedy.
The Ghoul Giant has returned to hunting you and waits in ambush, striking when you least expect it, and you will hate me for it.
Bucklebrick wants a taste; a taste, please... my preciousss. 🧂
We haven’t discovered why Runa’s Ghost wants Dedric to investigates this cursed place.
Belanor might not want to roll Lore Master on the Middarmark Prophesy, but he's compelled to.
Next Session
You can have a Town or Camp Phase or head right back down into the depths! We’re almost done with this arc.
Middarmark Prophesy
In the realm of Middarmark, as the weather cools, a fateful prophecy unfolds; hidden forces guided by plans forged centuries ago, will set their machinations in motion. Their audacious aim is to manipulate the lay lines beneath the earth.
To recognize the impending events, watch for these signs:
The dead rise and make war.
A brilliant bolt illuminating the night.
The black flag unfurls above a sacred mountain.
The ravens, deprived of sustenance, facing hunger.
The Wyrm forsakes hibernation and leaves its cave.
The Horse and the Hammer collide with resolute force.
AI calculations say you could make 3 suits of armor out of White Cervit, and 1 Shield out of Black Cervit, assuming you can find an artificer or smith knowledgeable enough to try. Weapons use up 2-3 kilos. A skillet would use 3 kilos, but be incredibly light. ↩︎
Could be ground up into a fine black paint or powder. ↩︎
She honestly has no ideas what she’s going to do with this, but it looks stunning in the sun. ↩︎
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