Dungeon of the Mad Mage: De-cocooning

We started off in the small caves filled to the brim with giant spider webs. We had Selene burn them off. The smoke wasn't that bad, so we advanced - right into the waiting arms of 4 giant spiders. But they weren't really there, and only Okos could see them. Except when it was their turn, and they turned real and knocked Selene out with poison. We killed them and I revived the sorceress, but she was still paralyzed. Good thing Okos can heal that.

Next up the spider lair, where we opened all the cocoons and found no loot. We did find one useless goblin who didn't have a tongue and so we couldn't get anything out of him. The spider webs formed the face of Halaster. We decided to burn everything. The smoke didn't hurt us but it did knock the goblin out. Rest in piece, sweet prince.

We advanced into the next area, to be met by a drow spellcaster and some monsters. I greeted him, expecting a warm welcome and a game of Sava[1]. I got a Lightning Bolt in return. Counterspell and kill everybody.

Next up, some troglodytes mining gold with pickaxes and a giant spider on the ceiling. Kill everything, take the mined ore.

Next up, a giant room with a decorated door. Filigrees, statues and all. We recognized the symbols of Dumathoin. A large socket in the middle of the door looked like it needed a gemstone, so Selene pushed in a diamond and the door opened up. Some drow were chilling out in the company of giant spiders and one dude was tied to the wall with spider web. The spiders attacked and we attacked back, although I did shout out to the ranking priestess to surrender. By the time the dust settled, we had killed everything but the priestess. I took her holy symbol and had the zombies restrain her - no more spells from you, lady! I Counterspell'd everything anyway.

I tried to interrogate the tied up dude first, but by the time I got to him and removed his spider web gag[2] baby spiders burst out of his chest.

And so we started to mess up the interrogation of the drow priestess. We searched her and found only a ring of keys. Selene promised her freedom if she told us what the keys are for. I put in all the effort to subdue and not kill her because of some keys I didn't know about? I don't think so, ma'am.

After some arguing, which the bewildered priestess just looked at funnily, we started asking sensible questions. Starting with her name: T'rissa Auvryndar. And that's as far as we got that evening.

[1] That's how I got to be the friend of Rizzy. Well, before ruining his operation by having his wererats get killed.

[2] Ugh.