The party are hired out to accompany Narvi once again into the Underdark. This time they are to journey to
the 6th and 7th major caves in the complex beneath
Pell's Hold. The '6th cave' is the site of
Szith Morcane,
a Drow outpost of the fabled
Drow City of Maerimydra.
The outpost is well defended and the cave is also home
to a school of magic for male Drow. Utmost discretion will be necessary to avoid attracting the attention
of the powerful wizards. In order to be allowed passage through the cave therefore the party
will pose as explorers trying to set up new trade routes for an underdark merchant.
To avoid making the Drow suspicious therefore the party take a roundabout route through the Underdark starting with
the 'Fungi Cave' and 'Spider Cave' they had previously explored. They then take a long detour which they hope
will take them to Szith Morcane while bypassing the city of Cantal Derath. While on this dangerous road after
a brush with some Quaggoth they hear the approach of a large creature. It turns out to be a giant completely
enveloped in armour of a style unfamiliar to the party. It immediately tries to punch the party out of the
way but dies in the ensuing melee. When they remove the armour from the giant they discover that it is in fact
a Cyclops. Narvi is interested in the armour which appears to be of an unknown metal. After
taking a sample for analysis they carefully stash the suit of mail to reclaim later. The rest of the journey is
relatively uneventful save for an encounter with Driders who try to ambush the party with their spells.
Nearing the '6th Cave' the party suddenly come across a deep chasm with sounds of running water coming from its
depths. The party can not see very far into the chasm's lower reaches, however, as ominously large spider webs are strung
right across it width. Perched precariously above these webs is a single passage rope bridge with drow guards on
the other side of the chasm. The party hail the guards and state their business and the guards tell them
to wait where they are while they consult their superiors. Eventually the party are allowed to cross the bridge
and the guards escort them into the '6th Cave'.
The cave is the largest the party have yet seen in the Underdark, over a thousand feet long and including a
lake at its centre as well as other smaller bodies of water. Goblin and bugbear slaves work the fungi fields
as well as one or two stone giants and cattle-like rothe graze lichen all under the watchful eyes of drow
overseers. Above the dark surface of the lake, hanging down from the high roof of the cavern like a giant stalactite, is a well-lit 'tower',
the triumph of magical engineering that is the wizards' college.
The party are taken to an impressive entrance in the side of a the cavern and are told again to wait. After a
few minutes a female drow appears and asks them why they are here. Narvi gives the well-rehearsed story
about new trade routes and asks for permission to travel to the '7th Cave'. When she hears of the party's
destination a brief smile plays across her face and she agrees to the party crossing the cavern but
insists they have a Drow escort for their onward journey. In due course a male drow appears who is visibly
unhappy to have been chosen for the task.
The drow escorts the party across the cavern to a large iron gate which he unlocks and locks behind them once they
are through. The journey to the '7th Cave' is slightly disrupted by a demon haunting the passageway with unearthly
lights that give all by the most stout-hearted a feeling of horror. At the '7th Cave' the party note a large
portal and some signs of an orc encampment. The orcs appear to have built some defensive walls around the portal.
Narvi makes careful notes, declares he is satisfied with the mission and the party head back. On the way
they give the demon a bit of a drubbing and destroy his hiding places in the walls of the passage. After passing
through Szith Morcane the party take the most direct route back to the surface which is via the old dwarven mine and up the
'well' beneath Pell's Hold.