"...in the wrong direction.  I'm very worried about her.... she was going to ask Doc about it and have a note tied to her leg.... I don't think that ever happened." she said hanging and shaking her head a bit. 

Mock just gives a little shrug. Her tail flicks out, curling around Arora's wrist lightly even as she wraps an arm around Raza and supports her weight. "Well, alright, Kash as a bird might be dumber 'n a box of rocks, sure," she says. "But eventually she's gotta turn back into regular Kash. And then she'll remember where we are, and she'll come back." Another shrug, keeping her expression decidedly neutral. These two look like they might need someone to keep their head, and she can do that just fine even covered in blood, guts, and spider venom. "She'll be fine. Lasted this long, ain't she?"

Nephvir's ears perk up at the sound of the dwarf.  "What do you know about the Moonshard and the Drow that are attacking us.  How many are there and what are they trying to do?"  He settles down and says "I forget my manners.  I'm Nephvir.  We are here to help you, but we need to know more about what we are facing."

"I am Miah from the dwarven city of Embla in the Underworld. I have been traveling, both above ground and below, searching for allies to come to the aid my city. En route to Rybalka, 
I was captured by a Drow raiding party and led to the very castle you infiltrated. For my freedom, I thank you all. I am eternally grateful. I am cousin to Quorron, Rybalka’s foremost blacksmith. It is there I was headed to try and enlist people to help my city in defending against the Drow."

"You see, something has changed over the last few months in the Underworld. Relations with the Drow have became strained before being cut off altogether. Whereas there was previously an uneasy truce and occasional trade, now the Drow city of Holoth has declared war on Embla. At first, it was mere trade sanctions, until one by one, all of the Underworld
races withdrew from their treaties and severed ties with us. A short while later, raids on dwarven caravans began as the drow of House Gullion—the recent rulers of Holoth—declared their presence. I suspect House Gullion is to blame for these changes, and that they are planning something larger than harassing a small city of dwarves. I know not what this Moonshard is, but I have the feeling it might be part of this nefarious change in Drow behavior."

"In order to maintain our food supply and economy, Embla built new roads and established new relations with other races. This angered the drow, who responded with force, killing or capturing every dwarf they came across, along with hijacking or looting caravans. As far as I know, the dwarves who survived the attacks were enslaved and dragged back to Holoth, for none have returned. Embla now sits nearly defenseless, its most able warriors killed or missing while the drow of Holoth grow ever stronger. Since I have relations in the Upperworld, I alone was sent to request help from the tall ones. Upperworlders may be our last hope from this part of the world, and asking them for assistance is a first for Embla. I take my role as emissary seriously and refuse to return home without help."

Arora, knowing that she had initially mentioned sending someone to get help and thus planting the idea in Kasha's head, was feeling very low and regretful about it at this point.  "I sure hope so" she says softly to Mock but knowing and fearing the worst.  After a few moments "I better clean off these swords and get these bites looked at" she says solemnly.  She turns and moves a short ways away and starts cleaning the spider and drow guts n blood off her short swords.

Daewen spends the downtime in enhancing the defenses of snipers perch high up in the tree (adding in enough branches and wood to make it three-quarters cover that she can still spy though, but pop out of to take quick shots at oncoming attackers). Once that is all set up, she climbs down out of the tree and takes a short nap, back up against the tree trunk. 

With the final attacker defeated, Doc breathed a sigh of relief that no one was mortally wounded (I'm assuming) and began quickly checking on any of the villagers who may have injured themselves during the fracas.  It wasn't until he overhead the end of Zhi's potential interrogation that he paused what he was doing and headed over towards him.  Before he could do anything though, he watched in a mix of horror and fascination as the Drow literally melted in front of him.  What in the Hells was that?!? he thought to himself before the dwarf spoke up and shared everything he knew.  After pondering for a moment, he turned to the dwarf and said, "Our group was sent here to stop the Drow and whatever they were planning in the region.  It seems that whatever they're up to is more dangerous and at a much larger scale than anything we our intel had gathered previously.  While we honestly should return to our home base, report on this and then return with the full might of the Order, we do not have time for that..." Pausing to look back at the Squad momentarily, well at least most of them (he had no idea where Kasha had run off to this time) he added, "Whatever you need us to do, we'll do it."   He wasn't sure how much his small Squad would be able to do against the might of a full Drow Kingdom, but even if they fell, he was sure they'd take more than a few down with them.

CHAPTER TWO: THE RISE OF THE DROW

The Rybalkans were eternally grateful for the return of their family and friends. While the Moonshard was still a mystery, we had a job to do - as members of Order of the Black Sun - and decided to follow Miah to Krelgar Keep. Within it's dungeon is an entrance to the Underworld. Once there, Miah promises to guide you all to Embla to meet with it's leaders.

(THE ECLIPSE IS STILL ACTIVE AND MIAH IS WITH YOU BUT IS ONLY AN NPC)

Travelling north for two days, you all arrive to a desolate land mostly devoid of trees and life. There is a keep atop a hill at the center of the desolation that appears as little more than a pile of rubble. Huge gray stones smeared with ash and dirt are covered by chunks of ice that glisten in the torchlight. Despite its present condition, it’s obvious the keep must have been grand in its day, judging by the shattered masonry strewn about. The footprint of a massive beast is pressed firmly into the ground nearby; it appears to be a clawed reptile but at five feet across, it must have come from a formidable creature.

A twisted spiral staircase reaches into the sky only to end at the top of the central support pole a score or so feet above the ground. The same stairway also appears to descend through the pile of rubble and into the frozen ground.

AREA 1

At AREA 1 stairway climbs 25 feet into the air, rather incongruously since the surrounding structure was utterly destroyed. The same stairway spirals down to the first cellar level below. The low temperature and air circulation through this hole has preserved much of what lays within. Large fallen stone blocks around the entrance prevent significant amounts of water from flowing into the keep’s intact subterranean chambers (although there is noticeable seepage).

"We'll want to head down." Miah suggests.

Daewen grimly nods in agreement at the suggestion of heading down below. This is her territory. Her home. Her comfort. Where she feels most comfortable. She can’t help but let a toothy grin plaster itself across her pale face. 

The past few days were tense for Centurion.  Though he was relieved that they were able to return the villagers to Rybalka (well most of them anyway), the constant threat of a Drow ambush combined with the eerie eclipse light kept him on edge.  When they arrived at ruins of Krelgar Keep he was almost relieved to know that they were heading straight into danger; at least it would be obvious and not lurking somewhere close by, ready to strike.  Well at least he hoped...

Quote from CrispyDM >>

 "We'll want to head down." Miah suggests.

Doc gave the dwarf a nod before turning around to the Squad.  "Alright team, our new mission starts now.  Let's start off playing this by the book and if things go sideways, well, do what you all do best."  Turning to scouts in the party, "We should probably get some eyes down there first before we all head down there.  Might make sense to send one of you (point to the sneaky people in the party) also with Zhi's familiar (couldn't remember it's name) to see what we can expect.  Unless anyone else has a better idea...?"  After the series of disasters that had occurred since this mission had started, Doc had come to the conclusion as the approached Kreglar Keep that he should evolve and try and be a bit more collaborate in regards to the Squad's plan.  If he could ask Zhi, Neph and the others the change, it was only right that he be open to it as well.

Before heading out with the rest of the party Raza spoke with some of the villagers that were either staying at the manor or returning to the city.  She asked them to be on the lookout for Kasha, letting them know to look for a thrush as well and if they found her to let her know where they were headed.  She missed her terribly and was very worried, but she had an important job to do and would not let her friends or the order down as many people’s lives and souls were depending on them.

Raza takes in the desolation of the place, wondering what it looked like in its glory.  Whatever happened here must have been terrible to witness.  At Miah’s words she steels her resolve and get ready to head down into the darkness, a look of determination on her face.

Neph nods to Doc and looks around at the team.  "Before we descend, Miah can you tell us any more what we will encounter below?  Should we expect resistance and Drow attacks right away, or further in?"  Neph also turns to Daewen and says via message, "I've forgotten what your smile is like!  It is good to see it.  Even if it comes at an unexpected time.  Should we tag team this?  With Arora and Raza as well?  Teams of 2 and 2 and then the rest of us?" he stops the message suddenly.  "Wait a minute!  Where the hell is Kasha?  Is she still out hunting for worms or something, nesting in some tree?"

"Before we descend, Miah can you tell us any more what we will encounter below?  Should we expect resistance and Drow attacks right away, or further in?"
"Most of my journey has been uneventful, but remain on your guard."

You descend to AREA 2A

Barrels of spoiled ale and mead line the north and south walls of this area. A few on the northern wall have had their seals broken and were drained long ago. Behind one of the barrels on the southern wall is the body of an unfortunately individual who sought to escape a blizzard some months ago. 

As the party arrives at Krelgar Keep, Arora notices the large foot print in the ground - she kneels next to it inspecting it to see if she can determine hold old it is or what might have made such a print. "I wonder what left this" she mumbles

Aroraspection: 14

She listens to Doc after Miah had said 'We should head down' and knew he had been addressing her in part of his speech.  Arora moves over to Daewen and gives her a little nudge "FINALLY, this is what we have been training for.... going down into the depths of the earth" she whispers and gives her a little smirk while putting out a hand for a high-five.  She looks over to Neph "You coming, we got a job to do."

She turns and heads down into the keep.  As they enter the area of 2A, she quickly scans about seeing the the barrels with broken seals on the southern wall and then noticing the body... 'I'm sure he's better off now than what he was' she thinks as she kneels down to inspect and search the body.

"Neph, Kasha hasn't been with us since the Drow fight at the manor.  I don't know when we'll see her again."  Raza's face betrays her anguish over their friend's plight, she turns and follows Arora down into the keep.

Zhi's sole response to the laughter of the Drow was to spit more poison in the man's eyes before he melted away. He sneers - there weren't even any intact skulls for him to interrogate. The moody Zhi continued the day more snappy and passive-aggressive than normal as he curled around a fire and adamantly refused to be helpful in any way except if it involved getting back to the Orzhov. Somehow. And there was talk about continuing the mission underground? To Dwarves? Zhi rolls his eyes - they were often idiots. This would be an irritating setback to his ultimate return. 

And then there was the issue of Kasha. Where had she left? She was a useful asset to the party. She was capable of healing. A sudden thought strikes Zhi - had he driven her off with his attitude? No, surely not. His actions had been in line with what everyone expects of him. Did he do something wrong? The realization strikes Zhi. Why did he even care? He shakes his head and softly hisses to Iskri. Entertaining the possibility Zhi could hold some empathy was a frightening sensation to the Yuan-Ti. One that should be ignored. Right?

Portent rolls: 8, 7 
Usual daily spellcasting: Mage Armor

Zhi softly hisses to himself as he witnesses the destruction of the village. He takes a moment to reflect on the notes he read pre-mission on the dangerous wildlife and possible creatures which may have been responsible for the track left behind. Nature? 25

"I suppose entering the Underdark is a wise plan. Perhaps it will be warmer than the outside," Zhi hisses. "As for Kasha? Perhaps I will prepare a spell which can contact her via magical means over any distance. I refuse to read any poems, however." 

"Is there anything we wish to know of the corpse? I am capable of speaking with the dead," Zhi snarls, unlooping his snake familiar and uttering a command to have the snake join the stealthier party, presumably around the neck of Nephvir or someone else who doesn't rely on invisibility. 

The travel itself doesn’t do much for Mock. She’s used to the long treks, and she spends most of it just hiking along and humming under her breath the entire way. 

She spends a little too long staring at the giant footprint before realizing she’s gotta catch up with the others. Maybe Doc would know what it was; he seems smart enough. She makes a note to bring it up to him later.

Inside the building, Mock lets out a happy noise as they get out of the wind. She’d been walking alongside Zhi for quite a bit of the journey, attempting to use her mass to try and block the wind from him. If only to make him a little less grumpy. Her tail perks up at the barrels of ale, only for it to droop again when she realizes they're long empty. Of course. She knew she should've stocked up on ale before they left town. Tuning back into the others, she bites back a sigh as the others talk about stealthily scouting forward. Now, she knows she can be sneaky when she wants to be; she’s kept up on the skills she’d learned in childhood. It’s just not something she particularly enjoys. Charging into the unknown is so much more fun.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Mock shoves a shoulder against the wall and leans. She wrinkles her nose, her tail flicking toward the corpse. “See if it came in here alone or somethin',” she tosses to Zhi. "Maybe there are more bodies we oughta look out for."

Daewen high-fives Neph, and then leads the way down below. In a weird transition, as soon as they head underground, she literally fades out of existence, becoming completely invisible.

Time to send some Drow scum to meet my Queen…

Seeing the dead, desiccated body piques absolutely zero interest in Daewen. Death means absolutely nothing to her.  Just another day at the office, as far as she’s concerned. She waits impatiently for the rest of the crew to get their jollies off with the corpse, wanting to move on further down where she’s more and more comfortable. 

Arora stood there holding a hand out to Daewen for a high-five and she ignored it instead going over to Neph and giving HIM a high-five instead.... she was left hanging, but that's one of those little jokes that Daewen often played... it's OK, I'll get her back for that she thinks to herself and then heads to the body to inspect it as in her original post...

The body appears to be a decomposed human. The Barrels are spoiled ale. Both have been here for a very long time. Nothing too interesting otherwise.

'Lucky fellow... probably drank himself to death and froze down here' Arora thinks to herself.  "Nothing to see here.... Zhi, he's all yours"  Arora heads over to 2B (or not 2B) and ponders that question in her head and investigates the west 2b.