Beneath the oppressive gloom of the Underdark, the company stood before the imposing, ornate door. The echoes of their footsteps through labyrinthine corridors lingered behind them like whispers of past adventurers whose fates remained shrouded in darkness. Thorn stepped forward decisively, his hand steady despite the quiet unease prickling at the back of his neck, and pushed open the door.

A room unfolded before them, dimly illuminated by their own cautious light. At its center stood a curious stone fountain, dry and silent, flanked by niches carved in unsettling imitation of gelatinous beings—monuments perhaps to sentient oozes akin to their new, peculiar companion, Globagool. Thorn approached the fountain with wary curiosity, conjuring a spectral hand to sift through the stagnant water that pooled darkly within.

“Careful,” Tempest murmured with distracted concern, her eyes flitting around the room in restless observation. Maledurk chuckled softly, his eyes attentive but a grin tugging at his brass-scaled snout, ever the reassuring presence at their flank.

Thorn’s mage hand disturbed the murky surface, swirling sediment into cloudy spirals. Within moments, something glinted enticingly from beneath—treasures hidden from sight. His magical fingers grasped delicately, drawing forth gold bracelets, a finely crafted dagger etched intricately with spider webs, and two mysterious vials of dark, viscous liquid.

Elora peered closer, the dagger reflecting faint magic. “This bears the mark of the drow,” she said grimly, memories of Chult and darker foes resurfacing with uncomfortable immediacy. Thorn nodded solemnly, exchanging a knowing glance with her, the shadow of their past encounters clear in their eyes.

The coins retrieved alongside the treasures sparked further questions. Maledurk examined one curiously, brow furrowing in confusion. “These coins hail from Waterdeep, Chult… places far and wide,” he said, his voice carrying the faint growl of suspicion. “Why gather offerings from so distant lands in such a hidden shrine?”

“Not offerings,” Elora interjected thoughtfully, running her fingers gently along the carved edges of the niches. “Tributes—or sacrifices—to something more sinister. Jubilex, perhaps.”

A shiver of realization passed among them. This was no simple shrine; it was a temple to the demon lord of oozes, Jubilex, its worshippers likely long perished or transformed by their unholy devotion. The implications unsettled even the stoic Thorn, who eyed the carvings warily as if they might burst into life.

Determined there was nothing further to glean, the adventurers turned to retrace their steps. Their route led back to a previously discovered cavern, rapidly filling with water due to a sudden breach—likely triggered by the seismic disturbances they’d felt earlier. Elora swiftly transformed, soaring upward to scout their escape. Upon her return, she reassured them, “There’s an opening above, leading back to the Dark Lake.”

Without hesitation, the party ascended, Maledurk and Thorn deftly scaling ropes that Elora had set, Tempest floating effortlessly in her usual fashion, her expression faintly amused by the exertions of her companions. Finally emerging atop the flooded cavern, they breathed relief tinged with weariness, greeted once more by the oppressive vastness of the subterranean lake, shrouded in perpetual twilight.

They barely had time to recover their bearings when Globagool emerged beside them, oozing through the narrow passage with casual ease. “This is quite spacious,” it remarked with innocent delight, drawing a fond yet bemused glance from Maledurk.

Their brief respite soon gave way to further adventure. Boarding their boat once again, they sailed cautiously across the inky waters of the Dark Lake, carefully following the shoreline in hopes of encountering civilization. Hours passed quietly, the gentle lapping of water against their vessel a deceptive comfort in the eerie silence. Soon, a rhythmic splashing broke the monotony, catching Thorn’s keen ear first.

“Another boat,” Thorn whispered urgently, squinting into the darkness. Sure enough, a shadowy vessel soon emerged into their vision, changing course toward them with evident purpose. Tensions rose, hands instinctively reaching for weapons, until a voice hailed them in an alien tongue. As the boat drew nearer, they glimpsed its occupants—strange, piscine humanoids, their large eyes curious rather than aggressive.

Communication began tentatively until one figure, Shushar, addressed them haltingly in common speech. His words brought cautious optimism: the Kuo-toa fisherman, having recognized them as escaped prisoners of the drow, extended an invitation to his village, Sloobludop. With hopeful anticipation and tempered vigilance, the adventurers followed.

Upon arrival, Sloobludop revealed itself—a curious settlement constructed of fungal timber and glowing gently with bioluminescent flora. Yet beneath its quaint facade simmered palpable tension. Whispers spread rapidly among the villagers at the sight of outsiders, anxiety radiating from their amphibious hosts. Shushar guided the adventurers swiftly to meet the revered arch-priest, Plooploopeen, who greeted them with solemn urgency.

“A shadow has fallen upon us,” Plooploopeen intoned gravely. “A new deity, Leemooggoogoon—the Deep Father—has ensnared many, turning kin against kin.” The revelation was made graver by the betrayal of his own daughter, seduced by dark visions into leading this heretical cult. The venerable priest pleaded earnestly for their aid, suggesting a daring stratagem: infiltrate the heretics by offering themselves as sacrificial pawns.

Thorn exchanged wary glances with Elora, whose solemn nod mirrored his own resolve. Maledurk tightened his grip upon his axe, determination flickering fiercely within his eyes. Tempest, ever mercurial, smiled impishly despite the gravity of the situation, as though chaos held no dread for her.

“We will help you restore peace,” Thorn announced decisively, his words a binding promise echoing solemnly in the modest chamber. Plooploopeen bowed gratefully, relief softening the deep lines of worry etched across his aged face.

Stepping out into the village once more, the companions regarded the crude effigy at its heart—a stark testament to division, its grotesque visage a symbol of the impending conflict. The gravity of their promise settled over them like a shroud. Ahead lay danger, deception, and possibly death. Yet, beneath the foreboding gloom, each adventurer felt the stirrings of purpose renewed, bound by loyalty and bravery forged through countless trials.

As the hours waned toward ritual sacrifice, their hearts steadied with quiet courage. The companions knew darkness would test them again, but as ever, they stood ready—prepared to defy gods and monsters alike in pursuit of light and freedom.

Session Notes

  • Underdark Hallway Junction

    • The adventurers (Elora the Majestic, Maledurk, Grestkrendreghk Elassayl Thorn, Tempest) plus their sentient gelatinous-cube companion Glabbagool finish mapping a maze of four parallel corridors that all bend and meet at a single, ornate stone door.
    • They avoid a concealed pit containing an ooze; Thorn vaults the gap to safety.

  • Temple-Fountain Chamber

    • Opening the door reveals a roughly 20-ft-square stone chamber:

      • Centerpiece: a two-tiered stone fountain; water stands stagnant and dark.
      • Around the walls: eight niches holding crude statues carved to resemble amorphous oozes.

    • Elora inspects the fountain with mage hand:

      • Water only ~18 inches deep, heavy with sediment.
      • Discovers scattered coins from many realms, three gold bracelets, a pristine dagger with an intricate spider-web pattern etched on the hilt, and two vials of dark gray liquid.
      • Detect Magic reveals the dagger and both vials are magical.
      • Examination of the coins shows Waterdeep, Chultan, and several unfamiliar mintings, suggesting travelers from many lands have made offerings here.

    • Religious deduction (Elora & Thorn):

      • Carvings, fountain offerings, and overall layout indicate a shrine to Juiblex, demon lord of oozes.
      • Presence of valuables that oozes could not dissolve supports the idea of sacrificial tribute.

  • Search for an Exit

    • A thorough investigation finds no hidden doors; the chamber is a dead end.
    • The party recalls an earlier flooded cavern that had a vertical shaft to the Darklake and decides to retreat that way.

  • Flooded Cavern & Rising Waters

    • Returning to the cavern they find water now pouring through a collapsed wall, steadily flooding the space.
    • Analysis suggests a recent earthquake either caused or was caused by the wall’s collapse; the inflow likely originates from the Darklake.
    • As water rises rapidly, the heroes climb a rope (Elora flies) through the overhead fissure and emerge atop a rocky pillar-island on the lake’s shoreline.

  • Regroup on the Pillar-Island

    • They recognize the locale as the opposite side of the outcrop where their folding boat is stowed.
    • Debate confirms the flooded levels below will soon be completely underwater.
    • Glabbagool slithers out behind them, marveling at the cavern’s “spacious” surface world.

  • Setting Sail on the Darklake

    • Party deploys their boat, invites Glabbagool aboard, and chooses to hug the shoreline while resuming the west-ward course they followed before detouring onto the pillar.
    • Bioluminescent fungi on distant cavern walls and stalagmites provide the only ambient light, limiting visibility to ~100 ft.

  • Encounter with a Kuo-Toa Fishing Boat

    • After several hours, repetitive splashing to port alerts them to another vessel.

    • Attempting to hide behind rock outcrops fails; the other craft—comparable in size—turns toward them.

    • At conversation range, five kuo-toa hail them first in their own tongue, then in halting Common.

      • Spokesman identifies himself as Shuushar, a fisherman returning home.
      • Learning the party escaped drow captivity, Shuushar invites them to his village Sloobludop for shelter and guidance.

  • Arrival at Sloobludop

    • Two-hour voyage brings them to a sizable kuo-toa settlement:

      • Dozens of mushroom-wood huts line a small inlet; narrow piers jut into the water; torch and cook-fire light flickers.
      • Population appears to number in the low hundreds.

    • Shuushar converses urgently with fellow villagers; party senses tension.

  • Blibdoolpoolp’s Idol

    • En route through the village they pass a central square dominated by a 9-ft wooden idol:

      • Humanoid body, head fashioned from the carapace of a giant albino crayfish.
      • Encrusted with shells and colored stones; surrounded by piles of rotting fish offerings.
      • Four spear-armed kuo-toa stand guard—unusual for a communal shrine.

    • Thorn & Elora identify the deity as Blibdoolpoolp, the Sea Mother; armed guards hint at civil discord.

  • Meeting Arch-Priest Ploopploopeen

    • Shuushar introduces the heroes to elderly Arch-Priest Ploopploopeen inside a hut.

    • Through translated Common they learn:

      • A rift has formed—many kuo-toa now venerate a newly revealed entity called Leemooggoogoon, “the Deep Father,” which brings only death.
      • Conflict began weeks ago when an unauthorized shrine to the Deep Father appeared near the docks.
      • Converts, led by Ploopploopeen’s daughter Bloppblippodd, have grown hostile toward traditional devotees of Blibdoolpoolp.
      • Nightly sacrificial rituals to Leemooggoogoon are escalating tensions.

  • Request for Help

    • Ploopploopeen pleads for the adventurers’ aid in restoring peace:

      • Proposes infiltrating that night’s sacrifice—offering themselves to approach the Deep Father cult.
      • Promises guidance out of the Underdark if they succeed.

    • Party unanimously agrees to assist.

  • Session Conclusion

    • Plan established to pose as sacrificial victims during the upcoming ritual to investigate and mediate the village’s religious schism.
    • Game adjourns with real-world scheduling noted; next in-game action will begin at Sloobludop on the eve of the sacrifice.