Pausing to dump a few healing spells into the recumbent Ti’Karu, the group discuss options. Dalliance takes off her pantaloons and puts them on the unconscious illusionist. This makes him light enough for Demming to carry and the group retreats to the lair of the stoned basilisk.
While they try to rest, they are disturbed – first be a dry chuckle that seems to emanate from the stone walls – but is eventually traced to another speaking tube located in the ceiling near one of the pillars. The second disturbance is in the form of an insistent rapping at the chamber door. Paranoia levels spike as the group nervously awaits further intruders…but none come.
Tunneling out through the Wall of Stone they used to seal off entrance to the room, the group wanders through a sort of entertainment district for travelers. Demming immediately summons an earth elemental to lead the way. There are lounges filled with comfortable furniture, a pair of bars, a washbasin and privy as well as a storeroom full of goods all marked with the signs of one or more of the Drow trade guilds. There are also a few traps, including one that summons a dozen disembodied arms to beat on the trapped person with spectral clubs. Luckily they vanish from sight before any serious damage is inflicted.
This exploration is boring, right up until the part where they discover a small reinforced gatehouse, stocked with ballistas and armored hill giants. When the elemental is sent forth to lead the way, it promptly falls through a section of illusionary flooring. The group decides to put off the assault on the keep and backtracks, exploring the rest of the area and finding an apparent door to nowhere as well as a temple filled with ink-black water and sporting columns depicting flayed humans that support the ceiling. An undead summoned to explore falls into a giant sinkhole beneath the water’s surface and the group seems none too inclined to explore the area.
After hours of meandering, the group retreats to the boudoir, although Dalliance expresses some reservations about returning to a place which is so central – given that the teleport that led them here will likely funnel further funseekers to the group’s front door…
Maybe that was what the knocking sound was… Another half burnt up adventuring party. May have passed up our best chance for good loot. Wasn’t that or best source last time we were shown here, getting the drop on another party?