Throk guided us out of Gracklesnark Pass through a series of meandering tunnels and into what he called the Kreigskraven region of the underdark. Central to the region was a large lake of lava around which towns were dotted. The lake was quite the blessing as the glow of the lava allowed for much more visibility. The size of the new underground domain dwarfed what we had gone through in Gracklesnark Pass. Whereas Gracklesnark took maybe two days of travel to traverse, Kreigskraven would take around two weeks. Luckily, we do not have to traverse it. The tunnel we walked through became a valley and then it opened to the massive regional chamber close to the location of the Great Forge.

My hope that the Great Forge would be a simple structure that might be equally easy to disrupt was proved wrong long before we arrived. The site was more of an accumulation of forges and ironworks with a massive central forge and surrounding the production buildings were the town-like necessities needed for their permanent function. The massive forge was being worked by some oversized metal construct; its repeated banging was audible from far outside the city. Soot and waste were being pumped into the lava lake and into the sky making me sick to my stomach. I could feel the itch to tear apart the forge owners scraping at the back of my mind as we walked towards the place.

Throk left us as we entered the town and said that he would stay at the Shield Bearer Inn for a few days in case we wanted him as a guide for the return trip. We thanked him for his effort and told him we would likely be seeking him out. Unfortunately, my plan to stop the forge was non-existent and I am embarrassed to admit I did not spend much time thinking of one while travelling. I had been assuming the place was a single forge where I could threaten the owner into submission. That was not going to be feasible.

Olrok needed to get a new axe since the black slime thing had dissolved his previous one. A goblin shop advertising low quality good at high quality prices was refreshingly honest. The prices were high and the quality low, as advertised. Olrok managed to get an axe that looked suspect but still worked. Phelenia asked about how to get out through the mushroom patches and the shopkeeper laughed about needed some sort of mask to not breath in the spores. Zephyr started snooping around the shop but was not able to find any to steal.

After entering town it became apparent that the place was only able to function due to the extensive use of slaves to work the forges. Ronin suggested getting intelligence about the place by purchasing our own slave, which was quickly agreed to by Olrok and Phelenia. Although I think for the latter two it was for more ethical reasons. The slave taker had five slaves for sale and we ended up buying two of them. Zephyr also purchased a warg to ride on. One dwarf that we bought was old but sturdy, the other was slow moving and did not talk; but was purchased at a discount. To talk safely we obtained a room at the inn and began our interrogation.

The old dwarf that could talk said his name was Grey. He has been a slave for nearly fifty years now since the goblins took over the region. Apparently, they had help from dark magics or demons or something and managed to take control of the large construct that works the forge. The slow dwarf with the messed-up mind was Sloth. Sloth apparently used to be the controller of the construct, but his mind was warped when the control of it was ripped from him. I also got the feeling that Grey and Sloth were not the real names of the dwarves we were talking to. Maybe once they trust us we will get their real names.

To help facilitate trust, we started planning our dwarven rebellion right in front of Grey. After several suggestions that were doomed to failure and ideas about key people that we could push into the lava lake, Grey suggested getting in touch with a dwarf called “The Smith” who had previously tried to start a rebellion. The Smith was moved to the Razorember Mines far to the north, but if we were able to free him, then he might be able to organize any dwarves that have managed to evade capture. Grey implied that there were a few hidden dwarven encampments that escaped slaves can get to and some might be able to send fighters if an actual rebellion seemed likely.

We went back and purchased the remaining slaves as a show of good faith to Grey and then proceeded to purchase some extra weapons and food. We left the Great Forge with the slaves and once we were clear of the place gave them enough weapons and food to reach safety. We told them to spread the word to whatever dwarven strongholds were around that a rebellion was going to be happening soon. Grey told us that he would send a message via firebug with a trusted dwarven phrase so that we could prove to the Smith that we were allies.

We walked back into town without the slaves. When a goblin asked about where they went Ronin shrugged and said we came across some monsters, so we left the dwarves as bait and ran back to safety. The goblin thought it was hilarious and complimented our ingenuity. We took a scenic route through the forge back to the inn to meet Throk. Passing though the area of the forge on the shore of the lava lake we could see slaves being whipped mercilessly by their masters. Several of the slaves were dwarves that looked like they were make of some type of firestone. Those were hammering in unison. It made an odd sight. Phelenia looked aghast at the brutality of the slaves and the periodic pleading. I ushered her through so she wouldn’t do something dumb. Seriously, if those people did not want to be slaves, then they should have gotten strong enough to avoid getting caught by the slavers. We met Throk here at the inn and will leave tomorrow morning, heading for the Razorember Mines and the Smith.

Throk knew of a place in town to purchase travelling spiders. The long distances across the Kreigskraven would be very demanding and dangerous to traverse by foot. By mounted spider it would be faster and safer. Seeing a ranch for trained giant spiders was fascinating and they really do obey commands better than horses or Zephyr’s warg. We travelled by spider for most of the day. The only thing of note being a crack in the ground where voices in abyssal were murmuring. We detoured around it and then from a distance saw demons being to emerge. Thankfully they did not pursue us.

Today has been a very humbling experience. I will need to keep a close eye on Olrok from now on, but for now it appears that everyone is alive and sane, if not mentally scarred.

The main trail Throk intended to lead us through had collapsed and we had to travel much closer to the Yawning Abyss than any of us would have liked. The Yawning Abyss is many miles across and slowly growing portal to the abyssal plane. Demons spawn from there periodically and the concentration of demons is high near there. As we passed by, demons in the air noticed us and chased our spiders. Several of them divebombed towards us, and as we fled, we spotted a cave that we could potentially use as a defensive point. The largest of the winged demons, a twelve-foot-tall bird of shifting darkness, called off the others and landed in front of the cave entrance. We all charged crashed towards it, trying as much to run by it as hurt the thing. While I did not have a magic weapon, I was still able to call on my connection to Zhatkeenmora to enhance a few of my arrow shots. Phelenia blasted the creature with some radiant magic and Ronin insulted the thing which somehow also hurt it. Olrok was stunned by the creature’s squawk, but Zephyr was somehow able to pull him inside the cave. Phelenia was gashed as she ran by and Throk tackled the thing allowing me an additional shot. I used the last of my magic and the additional magical force damage from my arrow pierced the creature’s skull. The smaller demons that the big one had call off then descended to feast upon its corpse as we sprinted deeper into the cave.

The pitch-black cave immediately revealed two things. First is that I am apparently invisible when in total darkness. Praise be to Zhatkeenmora. All my allies can see in the dark and none of them could see me. Less happy was the creepy voice whispers that were being spoken in abyssal. Everyone else could hear them but none of them spoke the language, so I translated. In retrospect I really wish I hadn’t. The voices said that if we went past the dark corridor and the hall of screams, then we could find our host’s chamber and be given our desires. When I told my allies what the whispers said, Ronin and Olrok were immediately keen on following them. I went with Ronin and Olrok to continue translating, and Phelenia and Zephyr followed. Throk elected to stay at the cave entrance to keep an eye on our spiders and watch if the demons outside left.

We eventually found our way to a tunnel of magical darkness. Phelenia was able to use a light spell and we continued. When we reached a hallway lined with screaming skulls, Phelenia and Zephyr decided they would stop. Olrok and Ronin continued, and I followed them. Olrok eventually wised up and stopped, but Ronin would not be swayed. The hall eventually opened to a chamber consisting of only four pillars and an oversized throne. On the throne was a large horned creature made of twig and moss. Ronin entered while I stayed just outside.