Chapter Thirty-Six

The Hold of the Deepking

1485 DR / Day 41

The Blade Bazaar, Gracklstugh

A cloud of unease and doubt hung over the companions' heads as they slipped through the streets of Gracklstugh in the late afternoon. After their separate shopping excursions that morning, they spent the rest of their time gathered in Fraeya and Sarith's chambers, essentially twiddling their thumbs while awaiting a call to arms—but no longer. The time had come. Captain Blackskull's summons came via sending stone not ten minutes prior. The party was to immediately make their way to Clan Ironhead's stronghold on the far western side of the Darklake District, due south of The Shattered Spire. And so, the companions had donned their gear, double-checked their supplies, and spent a few final moments with their myconid companions. Rumpadump and Stool would remain behind in their lodgings at Ghohlbrorn's Lair. As the establishment was tucked away in caverns beneath the surface level of the city, it was the safest place for them. Because no matter how fiercely Stool argued for it, war was no place for a sprout.

"Do not leave this room unless one of us, Vanum or Lizva, calls for you. Do you understand?" Kazimir had told the sprouts.

Rumpadump nodded in agreement, but Stool had turned away like a stubborn child. That action still bothered Kazimir, though he knew Rumpadump and Stool were far safer being left behind. The party had no idea what they would be walking into…

Captain Blackskull's council of war had been held at Clan Thrazgad's stronghold, deep in Laduguer's Furrow. As the companions had never been there before, Blackskull arranged for young Vanum to lead them there. But this time, the party was not afforded a personal guide. Blackskull claimed it was too risky. So instead, they relied on telepathic directions via sending stone to find Clan Ironhead's headquarters. Fortunately, the captain's descriptions were sound, and the nine companions found their way to the meeting place without issue.

Armed guards granted the party entrance to the rocky fortress's receiving chamber. They found Captain Errde Blackskull, Grinta Ironhead, and Amber Thrazgad gathered at a long table with their heads bent over a map. A fourth distinguished individual was also present—an elderly male duergar with a trailing white beard who wore blue and red robes. Fraeya recognized him at once. It was the same priest that had stitched up her grievous neck wound. As the adventurers filed into the space, he pointedly cleared his throat, garnering the generals' attention.

"Ah, you've arrived," Errde said in acknowledgment. "Now we can begin." In contrast to the night before, the captain seemed well-rested, hard-eyed, and ready for battle.

"Please, take a seat," Grinta added while gesturing to the twelve chairs that lined the long table.

"What sort of blessing is this?" Fraeya asked after exchanging a skeptical look with Sarith. As the others respectfully took their seats, the drow elves notably remained standing. Unsurprisingly, Nine followed their lead. All three were on alert for an ambush. But this was, in fact, not a trap.

Amber produced a gem-encrusted chalice and placed it at the center of the table. "Our clans have pulled our funds and have arranged a Heroes' Feast," she declared. "The nourishment provided by the meal will fortify us all in battle!"

Fargas was less concerned with the prospect of a feast and more captivated by the bejeweled goblet. "That is worth a lot of coin…" he said.

"The material components for that kind of spell cost well over a thousand gold," Kazimir sputtered simultaneously.

Amber winked at the astonished pair. "I know. We aren't taking any chances," she said. And so, Fraeya, Sarith, and Nine reluctantly took their seats. When it was clear that everyone was settled, the duergar heartily cheered, "Today will be a day to remember! The clans are stepping up to retake what is rightfully ours!"

"No longer will we sit idle while the Deepking leads us into despair!" Grinta Ironhead echoed as she slammed a fist into the table. "Today we stand!"

"Today, we put an end to the Savants and tyranny!" Captain Errde Blackskull growled.

The priest of Laduguer remained silent throughout the exchange, but the guards in the chamber cheered alongside their leaders. Fargas used the distraction to lean over and subtly garner Kazimir's attention.

"I assume you know a little about this kind of magic…" the halfling whispered. "What becomes of the goblet after the blessing?"

"Unfortunately, the spell consumes all material components," Kazimir said.

Fargas sighed. "Pity…"

"Why?" the wizard asked suspiciously.

The halfling rogue waved him off without answering.

Meanwhile, the others felt woefully out of place during the duergar's battle-hungry exchange. They certainly were not looking forward to the undoubtedly deadly encounter in the way Errde, Amber, and Grinta were. Their group was just trying to do the right thing for the city and had no higher aspirations. But it was not their place to tell the generals how to think or feel about war. So, they remained quiet and allowed the generals to rally their inner circle.

The priest of Laduguer spent ten—very—long—minutes praying over the chalice. But it was ultimately worth the wait. A bountiful feast appeared on the long table when the ritual was complete. Numerous bowls, platters, and goblets containing all manner of Underdark and surface delicacies were available for the twelve seated individuals to choose from. It was a spread fit for royalty!

Naturally, Eldeth, Zelyra, Kazimir, and Derendil gravitated toward foods they had been deprived of during their time underground.

"Salted pork!" Eldeth exclaimed as she reached for one of the meat platters. [1]

"Potatoes!" Kazimir and Zelyra said at the same time. The spellcasters looked at each other in surprise and shared a laugh before digging in.

Prince Derendil loaded up on giant turkey legs while Nine and Fargas selected various dishes of the surface and below to fill their plates. Balasar only knew Underdark cuisine and was eager to try new things. The surface-dwellers pointed out several tasty options for him, but the dragonborn particularly liked the blueberry crumble sweet cakes. Fraeya, meanwhile, was pleasantly surprised to find a small bowl of arachnidumplings on the table. When she mischievously dangled one in front of Sarith's face, the warrior pushed it away with a sneer and reached for a platter of battered mushroom steaks instead. Unfazed by the rejection, Fraeya popped the dumpling in her mouth and chewed with a content smile. They were almost as good as Lizva's.

The next hour passed quickly as the nine companions and their duergar hosts shared a fine meal accompanied by surprisingly pleasant conversation, given what was to come in the following hours. But when that blissful hour was up, the spread of food disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared, and the table's topic turned to their upcoming business.

While Captain Blackskull and her honor guard planned to secretly support the adventurers at the palace, the other two duergar leaders would be left to command the main force. Amber Thrazgad would lead the main army into the West Cleff, infiltrate the Council of Savants' Hall of Sacred Spells, and hopefully, retrieve her clan's stolen ore. Grinta Ironhead would remain in the city proper to command the remaining troops. The secondary force would be strategically placed to repel a flanking situation from derro in the East Cleff and curb any resistance from duergar loyalists who might stand against the coup—if an attack on the palace occurred. The companions still privately held on to hope it would not come to that. After all, how could they, a group of rag-tag adventurers, stand against the Deepking, who had ruled Gracklstugh unchallenged for more than a century?

Despite their trepidation, the companions' part of the plan was straightforward. They were to return to the Whorlstone Tunnels, retrieve the dragon egg, and take it to the castle. The three armies would use that time to discretely get into position.

Of the 19 duergar clans that resided within Gracklstugh, eight had been recruited by Captain Blackskull to the cause. Clans Blackskull, Thrazgad, and Ironhead obviously stood behind their leaders. Clans Saltbaron, Bukbukken, Xornbane, Anvilthew, and Coalhewer had also agreed to support a quiet raid on the Council of Savants. Blackskull insisted that these clans' inclusion was vital because they held territory near the East and West Cleff districts and were in a prime position to support a pushback from the derro.

But what the other five clans did not know was that the strike on the West Cleff was merely a diversion to Captain Blackskull's proposed coup against the Deepking. It was risky business as there was no way of knowing if the other clans would still support them if Blackskull's secondary plot was uncovered… It was yet another reason for the companions to doubt the success of Blackskull's plan. And yet, they were still marching forward. The party was loaned a small cart to transport the egg, and shortly after, they were on their way.

It was a short trek to the West Cleff district from Clan Ironhead's headquarters. As they walked through the streets, the group felt numerous eyes upon them, and the occasional clink of armor could be heard. When they looked around them, however, they saw nothing unusual. The streets were practically empty. What few duergar they did pass were lost in their respective tasks and paid the passing party little mind.

For sheer curiosities sake, Kazimir muttered an incantation under his breath to invoke See Invisibility. Once the spell took hold, the wizard saw what the others could not. They were not alone. Dozens—if not hundreds—of duergar soldiers marched alongside them and trailed behind in a long line that surpassed the tiefling's darkvision. This was Amber Thrazgad's secret army. Though the sight of such a large force filled the wizard with apprehension, he could not help but acknowledge the ingenuity. The derro, in their madness, would never see the attack coming.

The two forces marched as one unit for a while but split upon reaching the abandoned watch towers on the outskirts of derro territory. The companions slunk ahead under the guise of Zelyra's cloaking spell. Amber's army would hold their position until they were given the word to infiltrate.

The streets of the West Cleff district were just as violate and filthy as the party remembered. Perhaps it was a result of the Council of Savants' worship of Demogorgon, but it seemed as though every time the companions passed through, the derro appeared more and more crazed. As before, riots took over the streets, providing an ample distraction for the group to slip by unheard and unseen.

When, at last, they came to the filthy strip of fabric that disguised the entrance to the Whorlstone Tunnels, the adventurers entered one by one. And though they were now well versed in the layout of the tunnels, having spent several days exploring them, they carefully followed Eldgrim's map as they crept through the various chambers. Fortunately, they did not have to delve too deep. After passing through the entrance chamber, Buppido's disgusting lair (which, due to the rotten corpses, the smell worsened with each passing), and the cavern where the companions encountered the dancing myconids, they found themselves standing in front of a familiar fungal thicket.

Zelyra nudged Kazimir and said, "Ask the thicket to allow us to pass."

"Me? But the plants like you better!" the wizard exclaimed.

The druid's lips curled into a half-smile. "Perhaps, but you have the Stonespeaker Crystal," she reminded him. "I'd prefer to save my magic for what is to come."

"Right, right," Kazimir muttered as he fumbled around in his satchel for the gift Stonespeaker Hgraam had given him days earlier. He found the crystal after a moment, and when it was in hand, the wizard called upon its properties, specifically the part that corresponded to nature.

In an instant, the fungal patch woke and swayed as if pushed by a soft breeze. Familiar wispy, half-formed speech slowly filled Kazimir's head like a fever dream. He sensed every thought and emotion of every living plant near him. They remembered him. Fortunately, there was no anger this time, only curiosity.

"Hello again," the tiefling began awkwardly. "Hopefully, this will be the last time I disturb you… My companions and I have come for the dragon egg you are hiding."

A ripple of acknowledgment flowed through the fungal patch, and it parted like a sea to allow the party passage. Sure enough, the dragon egg lay precisely where they had left it. The fungi had camouflaged it well. There was only one problem…

"Uh, that doesn't look good," Fargas said.

The halfling voiced what everyone else was thinking.

The red-speckled shell cocooning the unhatched dragon wyrmling had always been slightly translucent. But now, it had a series of spidering black veins near the base that appeared to be slowly spreading upwards. Zelyra rushed forward and placed her hands on the shell. It was warm to the touch near the top but cooled as she slid one hand lower towards the blackened veins.

"Do you think it's dying?" Nine said as she came up on the druid's shoulder. The others held back with the loaned cart.

"I don't think so," Zelyra replied. "I think it's a sign that Narrack and Pliinki's experiment was successful."

"Can something like that be reversed?" the ranger asked.

The druid frowned. "Maybe by the medicine woman in my village, but not me. Removing a curse like this is far beyond my capabilities," she admitted.

"What about the cleric who presided over the feast—or the stone giants? Perhaps Stonespeaker Hgraam might know of a cure."

"Both are a possibility…except I don't think we have that kind of time. We can't risk traipsing all over the city while seeking out potentially dead ends. Cracks are forming." Zelyra pointed to the egg's midsection where, sure enough, tiny hairline fractures were visible. "Gods! I think it's hatching," she told her fellow half-elf in horror.

"How long?" Nine demanded.

"Hours at best, if I had to guess," the druid replied. "Blackskull's entire scheme hinges on us! If we are to stick to the plan, we need to move. The last thing we need is to have this thing hatch in the middle of Gracklstugh…."

After the half-elves passed that troubling information on to the rest of their companions, Derendil and Balasar carefully team-lifted the egg onto the wagon. Fraeya and Fargas then tied it down with rope. And despite the tense situation, the halfling could not resist cracking a lude joke.

"I'm an expert at tying knots—if you know what I mean," Fargas told Fraeya with a saucy wink as he worked to secure his line below her.

The drow grimaced. "I don't want to know those kinds of things about you, Fargas," she said as she tugged on her own strap to test its strength. "And I don't think anyone else wants to, either."

"Suit yourself," Fargas replied with a hearty laugh.

Once the rogues finished tying off the ropes, they were nearly ready to go. They only had to activate the spell that would disguise the egg for transport through the city. But as Kazimir unfurled the scroll and began to read off the first few lines, he hesitated. Something nagged at his gut. For nearly half his life, the wizard had been plagued by visions that sometimes came true and sometimes didn't. This felt like one of those portentous moments, but it came as less of a visualization and more of a feeling.

"I don't mean to be the downer here—but if the egg is hatching, and the Deepking is corrupt, and the egg is corrupt, is it really a good idea to bring it into the palace? What if we're just dangling a piece of meat in front of him?" the wizard said.

"Kazimir is right," Derendil resolutely agreed. "We shouldn't take it to the palace."

Eldeth sighed. "I don't reckon we have much of a choice. We made a deal," she said.

"Deals can be broken," Kazimir argued.

"Says the half-devil," Sarith muttered under his breath.

Kazimir shot an affronted glare in the drow's direction.

"What else can we do? We can't just leave it here!" Zelyra exclaimed.

"If the curse cannot be removed, then the egg should be destroyed," Derendil said.

"I'm not against that option, but we can't do it here!" the druid argued.

"Why not?" the prince said as Kazimir simultaneously declared, "Sure we can!"

"I think we can all agree that if the option of removing the curse is unviable, then the egg needs to be destroyed," Fraeya assertively mediated. When the drow sternly surveyed her companions and found them nodding in agreement, she continued, "But it can't be here. If you recall, we accepted Blackskull's mad plan to help the people of Gracklstugh. They deserve capable leadership. So, we stick to the plan. No sane ruler would allow a cursed, two-headed mount of Demogorgon to exist in their city. We recommend that he destroy the egg before it's too late. And if the Deepking refuses…."

"Then we'll know he is fully corrupt," Eldeth finished.

"Precisely," the drow said.

"And we'll destroy the egg ourselves," Balasar growled as he hefted Dawnbringer over his shoulder. The sentient sun sword flared in agreement, saying, "This evil cannot be allowed to endure. It must be met with swift justice!"

Fargas adapted his posh accent into a rudimental brogue as he quoted a character from a dearly loved chapbook. "Certainty of death? Small chance of success? What are we waiting for!" he said theatrically. [2]

Unfortunately, the humor was lost upon some of the halfling's peers. Prince Derendil swallowed heavily as he exchanged a look with Kazimir. Somehow, they did not trust it would be that easy.

. . .

The companions ultimately left the Whorlstone Tunnels with the dragon egg masquerading as a giant cask of ale. Captain Blackskull was notified via sending stone and would keep tabs on their time. The illusion would dissipate in an hour. And that was well because the Hold of the Deepking was located on the opposite side of the city. It would take nearly that entire time to reach their destination.

Captain Blackskull had suggested that if the dragon egg was not enough to grant them entry into the castle, the party could always fall back on the Keepers of the Flame badges given to them by Gartokkar Xundom. But the party disagreed. Flashing those would only lead to more questions. Because contrary to Blackskull's original plan, the companions decided that given the circumstance, it would be unwise to walk up to the front gates and declare that the missing dragon egg had been found. No, that needed to remain a surprise so that the Deepking's reaction to the cursed egg was genuine. So, what else might serve as a mighty gift fit for a monarch? Something worthy of an audience…

Fortunately, Kazimir recalled the unique seal on the bottles of expensive (and potent) ale that Werz Saltbaron had treated the party to at the Shattered Spire early on in their journey. The wizard improvised on the illusion with some insider knowledge Fargas gave him. The halfling rogue's one concession was that his companion would not ask how he had come by such knowledge. Reluctantly, Kazimir agreed. The party now looked as if they were transporting a giant cask of Darklake Stout through the city.

Zelyra was forced to expend another cloaking spell along the way, but the party made the trip without incident. It helped that they took a path through allied clan territory—Thrazgad and Anvilthew—before reaching the Hold of the Deepking. Their only resistance during their trek was when they skirted the dwellings of Clan Hammercane, whom Blackskull had not allied with. Unlike the rest of the journey, the companions took their time crossing here and chose to zig-zag through alleyways that were devoid of people. Thanks to the conjured veil of shadow and silence that shrouded them, they passed undetected—but that caution came at a cost.

"Your time is almost up."

The warning came through the sending stone as the party approached the castle. Kazimir frantically relayed the message to the others.

"Ask her how long!" Fraeya demanded.

The tiefling did and was given the swift answer of, "Ten minutes."

Kazimir began cursing.

"I take it not long…." Fargas said.

Zelyra quickly unclipped her fur-lined deep green cloak from her shoulders and tossed it over the egg. When Kazimir shot her a puzzled look, the druid said, "Just in case."

The companions quickened their pace. The Hold of the Deepking was positioned south of Laduguer's Furrow and due north of Themberchaud's lair and the Keeper of the Flames' headquarters. They had passed the intimidating iron fortress once before during their forced march with Gartokkar Xundom but had not paid the Hold much mind then. Now, it was hard to look away. The building was a true testament to the might of the duergar and the indomitable rule of the Deepking. Everything from the architecture, the decorations, and overall design reflected the grey dwarves' militarist nature and their unwavering commitment to upholding order and control in the city.

The outer wall of the Hold was comprised of dark, smoldering rock that rose into clouds of impenetrable smoke. The oppressive heat of Gracklstugh could be felt here more than ever—more so than Overlake Hold or even the forges. This was due to two molten lava channels that flowed from turrets far above them to feed into a mote that separated the Hold from the rest of the city. Blackskull had warned the party of this feature during their briefing. The lava pits made for an impressive defensive strategy, as the only way to cross them was a single stone bridge that led to the front gate. Like the rest of the fortress, it was made of blackened iron and reinforced with barbed spikes. But unlike most duergar structures, which had little to no ornamentation, the gate had a disturbing addition—gargoyles, whose twisted iron forms were seemingly melded into the stone itself.

"I wonder where the lava comes from?" Zelyra said as she stared at the lava channels in awe.

Surprisingly, it was Nine who answered. "There are many lava veins that run above and below the city. The duergar specifically chose to build here to utilize them for industry," the half-elf explained.

Zelyra was not the only one surprised by the ranger's quick response. "Sounds like ye've got a fair bit of knowledge of Underdark," Eldeth said. "Strange place fer a half-elf and her halfling companion to be wandering…."

Nine did not reply, and Fargas purposely ignored the baited suggestion.

"We're on a time limit, remember? Tick, tock!" the halfling sternly reminded the group as he pointed to the egg that could lose its illusion at any moment—or hatch. Neither was preferred.

"Well, here goes nothing," Fraeya muttered as she dared to approach the bridge. But Kazimir quickly clamped a hand on her shoulder and hissed a warning in her ear. "You can't see them, but two invisible guards are flanking the bridge. Perhaps it would be better if I took the lead on this one," the wizard said.

Fraeya grimaced. "Fine. How much longer can you concentrate on that spell?" [3]

"Not much longer," Kazimir replied. He curiously observed the guards' attire before adding, "One of the guards is wearing a black cloak, and the other a blue cloak."

"So, one is likely our ally, and the other is a Darkhaft," Fraeya surmised. Kazimir nodded. The party knew a Stoneguards' uniform well, but a black cloak fit Blackskull's description of the Deepking's secret force of psionic warriors. "Interesting that the Deepking would mix his forces," the drow added.

"It might not be an accident that one of the Stoneguard is guarding the bridge," the tiefling hissed in reply. "Blackskull has been obsessively thorough in her crazy plan so far. Bet she will be rolling when she realizes we've switched things up a bit…."

Fraeya shot Kazimir a brief smile and silently gestured for him to go forward. He approached the bridge with his hands visible. The others followed close behind. Though his focus was on the two guards standing before him, the wizard also noted increased activity further up on the battlements of the outer wall. Their presence was certainly known.

The invisible guards held their posts until the group was a few feet from the bridge. When they swiftly aimed their crossbows at him, Kazimir forced a smile to his lips and called out in Common, "Greetings! There is no need to point your crossbows at us, my friends! We come in peace and humbly request an audience with your Deepking."

"He can see us," the Darkhaft wearing the black cloak, whispered to his counterpart.

"Must be some sort of spellcaster," the blue-cloaked Stoneguard hissed.

The guards quietly exchanged a few more words in their own tongue that Kazimir could not understand. His Undercommon was steadily improving thanks to Prince Derendil's daily lessons, but the wizard knew not a lick of Dwarvish. And because he was unwilling to break concentration on See Invisibly to cast a comprehension spell, the wizard was left sweating while waiting for them to acknowledge him.

Finally, the Stoneguard stepped forward and broke their invisibility. "State your business," they demanded in Common. The Darkhaft remained shrouded under their spell with their crossbow trained on the strange group of individuals.

"Our group has been sent to negotiate a trade agreement between Gracklstugh and the neutral outpost, Mantol-Derith, on behalf of the Zhentarim." The words ultimately meant little to him, but Kazimir prayed they would resonate with the duergar—just as Fargas had promised. The wizard gestured to the cask illusion and added, "And as a measure of good faith, we've brought the Deepking a mighty gift!"

The entire ruse had been the halfling's idea in lieu of bartering for entrance with the missing dragon egg. It seemed oddly specific, but Fargas assured them it was just the excuse they needed. Kazimir, nor any of the others, pressed him further about it. They all knew they wouldn't get an honest answer from the elusive halfling anyway.

The Stoneguard and the Darkhaft put their heads together and whispered back and forth. During this tense moment, another message came through the sending stone. It could not have come at a more inconvenient time.

"Two minutes," Blackskull warned.

Kazimir began to sweat. They did not have two minutes. Because at that precise moment, the Darkhaft demanded, "What's under the cloak?"

"A cask of Darklake Stout," Kazimir said. The click of a crossbow could be heard in response, but only he could see it happen. The Darkhaft was not playing games.

"Show us," the Stoneguard said sternly.

Kazimir said a brief prayer to the goddess of good fortune. The others held their breath as he lifted the lapel of Zelyra's cloak…

…and revealed a cask of ale.

Kazimir hoped that the relief did not show on his face.

But the Darkhaft was still not convinced. "The Deepking already has many casks of Darklake Stout," they said.

"But this one is special!"

"How so?"

"It's a ten-year edition that has been aged in port barrels from the surface," Kazimir fibbed without missing a beat. His companions could not have been more grateful for his silver tongue then—even Fraeya was impressed. Meanwhile, the tiefling grinned at the two bewildered guards and said, "Bet your king doesn't have something like that in his collection."

The guards put their heads together once more, and when they eventually parted, the Stoneguard gestured for the party to follow them across the bridge and into the castle. The Darkhaft would remain at their post. And yet, it was a win that the companions weren't ready to celebrate, for they still had many obstacles before them.

The party fell into typical formation as they crossed the bridge in pairs. Fraeya and Fargas took the lead as per usual. Eldeth and Balasar were behind the sleuths, the spellcasters came next, Derendil followed with the cart, and Nine and Sarith made up the rearguard. As the group approached the gate, the Stoneguard made a sharp gesture to an archer up in one of the watch towers. A few moments later, the great iron door opened with a deep groan, and an intense wave of heat accompanied by the acrid smell of sulfur assaulted the companions' senses.

The mote of lava on the outside of the palace was just a taste of what was inside. Indeed, the entire structure appeared to have been shaped by magma. It was a sprawling, labyrinthine network of corridors and chambers with walkways of interlocking iron plates that arched over seething rivers of lava. The party was swiftly led across one such walkway and deep into the heart of the Hold.

Passageways were dimly lit by dark braziers fueled by coal, casting eerie shadows upon the walls. The air was thick and heavy. Intermittent vents in the walls periodically spit out puffs of hot air. They passed through several open chambers without sight of another living creature other than themselves. It was eerily quiet. The only sound came from their footsteps, which created a low, ominous din. [4]

Just before his spell wore off, Kazimir noticed that another five invisible soldiers had fallen into line behind them at some point. They were a mixture of Stoneguard and Darkhafts. The tiefling whispered a warning to Zelyra, who walked beside him.

"Are you able to recast?" the druid whispered back.

Kazimir shrugged his shoulders, but at the same time, his expression morphed into a grimace. It was a wordless gesture that Zelyra immediately understood. Yes, he could recast. But it would come at the expense of possibly being less effective if they were forced to combat the Deepking. Was it worth it?

"It's worth it," Zelyra said. "Fraeya and Fargas chose to lead, and in any other circumstance, I'd be fine with that, but they are ultimately entering rooms blind. Not all of us should so freely walk into a trap."

Kazimir did not disagree, and so he subtly recast See Invisibility.

"You're starting to sound like Nine," the tiefling teased.

Zelyra grinned in response.

The stone beneath their feet began to naturally slope upward. Minutes later, the passage widened, and their Stoneguard escort abruptly stopped before yet another tall door. It was guarded by eight invisible duergar, four on each side.

"Eight Stoneguard are guarding the door," Kazimir whispered to Zelyra.

"Think that's a coincidence, or Blackskull's doing?" the druid asked.

Kazimir contemplated asking the captain that very question with his sending stone but didn't get the chance. The Stoneguard soldiers exchanged a nod, and the door to the chamber opened shortly after. What the wizard saw on the other side was straight out of the vision he'd had on the raucous mesa in the Whorlstone Tunnels. An imposing individual sat upon a seat hewn of black obsidian. The male duergar had a long, braided white beard that fell to his knees and wore a blood-red cape accented by heavy black furs. A jagged three-pronged circlet of iron sat upon his brow. Hunched next to him was a well-endowed female duergar who whispered furiously in his left ear. Her salt-and-pepper hair was tightly braided back, and she wore a shining mithril dress inlaid with many other precious stones. [5]

Kazimir frantically tugged on Zelyra's arm. "This is exactly what I saw in my vision," he said.

"Well, so much for speaking to the Deepking without Shal," the druid muttered.

"We could ask for a private audience," the tiefling suggested, though he did not sound very confident.

Zelyra shared his uncertainty. "If they are as corrupt as we suspect, I doubt it will be granted," she replied.

The spellcasters fell silent as their Stoneguard escort led the party into what was undoubtedly the Deepking's throne room. It was a sight to behold. Like the rest of the Hold, lava flowed freely through the space. The throne was a menacing structure, forged entirely of black obsidian, and adorned with jagged spikes and swirling patterns reminiscent of molten lava frozen in time. A two-headed onyx warhammer leaned casually against the right side of the throne, within easy reach of the Deepking. Runes were etched along the warhammer's surface, but none of the adventurers could read them at a distance.

The Deepking did not immediately react to the impromptu guests, but the female—undoubtedly Shal—straightened and barked in Dwarvish, "The Deepking is not accepting visitors!"

Surprisingly, the Stoneguard ignored her. "I got you to the throne room. The rest is up to you," they said to Fraeya and Fargas, who was still at the head of the group.

"Gee, thanks," Fargas drawled.

Fraeya resisted the urge to swat at him.

The Stoneguard gave the party a short nod—a subtle signal that this was indeed one of Captain Blackskull's plants—before stepping to the back of the room. They did not leave the space entirely but instead stood near the door. They were the only guard in the chamber as the eight Stoneguard waiting outside had not entered with the rest of the party.

Fraeya squared her shoulders and stepped forward to address the monarch and his advisor. The drow opted to have the conversation in Common for the benefit of her surface-dwelling companions. "I think the Deepking would like to hear what we have to say," she said. [6]

"The Deepking does not have time to hear the lies of a lowly drow," Shal spat.

Fraeya raised an eyebrow—lowly, she was not. She let the insult roll off her shoulders and tried again, "We have come to return something that was missing."

Again, Shal spoke for the king. "He is missing nothing," she said.

But contrary to Shal's angry words, Hogar Steelshadow V slowly rose to his feet and observed the strange group that had burst into his throne room unannounced with a pair of stern eyes. "Tell me what you think I am missing, and I will decide whether or not I believe you," he said. His voice was exactly as one would imagine—deep, powerful, and unyielding.

Shal pursed her lips and sank back into the shadows, recognizing that she had been dismissed for the moment. The party noted this curiously, as it meant the Deepking was still somewhat in control—unlike what they had feared.

"Several weeks ago, the red dragon egg that was meant to replace Themberchaud was stolen by a thieves' guild called the Grey Ghosts. Gartokkar Xundom of the Keepers of the Flame hired our party to retrieve it. But by the time we found it, it had made its way into the hands of the Council of Savants," Fraeya said.

The rogue explained how they had discovered that the Grey Ghosts had been taken over by the Council of Savants and that the dragon egg had been stolen so that the derro could perform a terrible experiment. The Deepking and Shal remained silent throughout the tale, but the former's eyes were wide with disbelief. The surprise on Hogar's face was genuine. He had not even known that the dragon egg was missing! And here to have a random drow tell him that one of his trusted confidants had kept that information from him and had gone behind his back to see its retrieval? Well, the Deepking was none too pleased.

"Show me," he demanded.

All eyes turned to Prince Derendil, who was manning the cart. With little flourish, he removed the wagon's cloak covering and unveiled the dragon egg in its true, corrupted form. The Deepking's eyes went wide.

"As you can see, the derro's experiment was a success. We have just cause to believe that it was intended to be mutated into the two-headed mount of Demogorgon. The Council of Savants has turned into a cult," Fraeya revealed.

"We also should stress that it is close to hatching," Balasar added. "It must be destroyed—quickly."

But to the party's surprise, the Deepking waved a casual hand. "That will not be necessary. I have several clerics at my disposal that can remove the curse," he said. "The dragon wyrmling will serve as a replacement for Themberchaud as planned."

Balasar frowned. "I'm afraid you misheard me—it's close to hatching. I don't believe you have that time," the dragonborn said sternly.

"Hours at best," Zelyra cut in.

"And that will be my problem to handle," the Deepking said sternly.

"As you have handled other problems in this city?" Fraeya boldly accused.

One could have heard a pin drop in the throne room.

But Fraeya was not yet finished. The drow stormed full steam ahead, letting her stubbornness drive her. "You clearly did not even know the dragon egg was missing until we told you. Meanwhile, the Empty Scabbard Killers are causing panic in your city. The derro riot in the streets. Your people are about to fall into civil war and lose faith in your rule. The Council of Savants aims to summon Demogorgon into Gracklstugh and offer the city as a gift to the demon lord! And none of this would have been uncovered if not for us," she gestured widely to her companions, who were presently torn on whether they agreed with her handling of the situation. "We have seen first-hand what terrible damage a demon lord can wreak—how they can turn the most ordinary individuals into monsters. I would not so idly dismiss this threat. Destroy the egg and be rid of it," the drow concluded.

For a moment, the Deepking appeared conflicted. But then Shal sidled up to him and whispered a few words in his ear. Something about that action hit home for Nine, and her gut told her that Shal was not all she claimed to be. Her suspicion proved correct as the Deepking's eyes glazed over very unsettlingly. But before the ranger could warn her companions, Hogar swiftly reached for his warhammer as Shal's artful words took hold.

"You know too much about my city for my liking…."

[1] I couldn't resist throwing in a few Renfair foods and a LOTR reference :D

The rules specify a 'gem-encrusted bowl worth 1,000 gold' as the material component, but we've always used a chalice in our gameplay. Not sure it really matters.

By partaking in the Heroes' Feast, the party was granted the following benefits: cured of any basic diseases or poisons; immune to poison and the frightened condition; had advantage on wisdom saving throws for 24 hours; and they each gained 9 temporary hit points. This was a prime example of DM/husband showing us a bit of mercy before throwing us into shark-infested waters.

[2] Apologies. More LOTR references. I just can't help myself…

[3] After finishing this chapter, I realized I made a boo-boo. Per rules, See Invisibility only lasts for an hour…and so does the spell scroll of illusion that Blackskull gave the party. Kazimir should have already lost See Invisibility at this point. You could assume that maybe he recast it earlier, but that would negate the scene I later wrote of Zelyra and Kazimir discussing that very same thing before entering the throne room. I like the flow as is, so I won't fix my mistake.

[4] For those familiar with the module, you'll notice that I have overhauled the Hold's description. This was for two reasons: 1) I forgot that there even was a description until DM/husband reminded me, and 2) the book makes it seem like the gate opens into the throne room and the Deepking is just sitting there—that doesn't sound like a palace to me, so I made some tweaks.

[5] Referencing chapter twenty-seven.

[6] The OOTA module states that the Deepking knows Draconic, Giant, and Dwarvish, but I think a monarch would be versed in more languages (Undercommon, at the very least). Thankfully, his stat block in our revised edition includes Common, Infernal, Elvish, and Undercommon to Hogar's known languages. I started writing this sequence in Undercommon but felt it was too limiting for Zelyra, Kazimir, and Eldeth's characters. So, I tweaked it.

Does the ending feel too rushed? Thoughts would be appreciated! I had planned so much more for this chapter—I teased a returning guest star, after all—but the past month IRL has been so chaotic, and not always in a good way. DM/husband and I are leaving for a two-week vacation in a few days, and since I probably won't get much writing done while we're gone, I've been spending any free computer time trying to get this chapter to a good stopping point. Now that it's done, I plan to catch up on comments before we head out for our yearly visit with *Krom and Arlathan's players* (if you don't know who those characters are, go check out Zelyra Erenaeth: Origins!) :D Hoping a good dose of vitamin D, a couple overdue DnD one-shots, and time away from work will make the next chapter a breeze to write.