Dugan turns-tail and heads back topside to get some R&R and consult the local mage's guild about what to do next with the whole "breach" situation. Meanwhile, the crew decide to retreat back into the kobold lair for a little nap. Talos' trance gets interrupted by the 'ole aboleth again, suggesting that a conversation needs to be had, so they about-face and head back into the Underdark for round 2.
Their first trek involves a somewhat lengthy climb up a series of mounds covered in human-sized mushrooms. Fhasys makes her uneasiness known, and her fears are confirmed when several mushrooms start lashing out at their legs. In a dramatic display of fire, Talos manages to set of a group of nearby shriekers who alert everything within the cavern to their presence. A giant wolf spider is the first to respond, descending upon the heroes in a stealthy attack. Finally, the duo makes it to the top of the mounds to find a space clear of mushrooms, home to the trapped spirit of an old adventurer. The spirit makes an impassioned plea to slay the resident aboleth once and for all and release her from her bonds and Talos comes into possession of the fallen adventurer's spear.
Pressing forward, toward a mysterious and pale dot of light in the distance past the mounds, the heroes descend the opposite side of the mushroom hill. After another half-hour's walk, the terrain begins to shift into a more spider-appropriate theme, complete with webbing floor cover and towering pillars of silk. Almost immediately, the party is slung into battle once more with two more giant wolf spiders and an ettercap. They barely manage to keep it together as reinforcements start arriving (more spiders and ettercaps), and quickly decide to make a hasty retreat.
Finding a quiet spot along the Southern wall, the heroes make camp to tend their wounds and then strike out toward a curious dancing light show rippling along the Western cavern walls. As the sounds of a distant waterfall begin to fill-in the ambiance, the two stumble upon a small creek that leads them to a stinky, putrid subterranean lake (another spider sneak-attacks). Talos announces his presence--to what, exactly, Fhasys is unclear--and the two argue for a moment about the finer points of sharing information with one another. The aboleth makes an appearance.
Quar-Jezz't is his name, and power is his game. Talos and Fhasys quickly discover the perils of communing with a sentient telepathic being. First, Talos is grilled about the spear and warded from touching it at all. Then, the silence of Talos and Jezz't's telepathic conversation proves too much for Fhasys to stomach... She makes a play for the spear to put an end to this creature once and for all. Unfortunately, the aboleth was already two steps ahead of her and blasted her mind with awful, evil visions and pain. Her body froze in place, convulsing from fear, and Talos grew a bit worried. Fortunately, the aboleth released Fhasys from his grip shortly thereafter as he explained to Talos the task before him. He must capture the soul of his ex-mentor, Weshryn, using his strange glass orb in exchange for their lives. Agreed. Talos is fine with this arrangement as he already hates the guy--something the aboleth had already taken into account--and the two are guaranteed protection on their journey out of the Underdark.
However, instead of opting to take the "safe route" back to the surface, the heroes decide to milk their new aura of protection for all it's worth and head back toward the ettercap farms. Strangely (and predictably), neither spider nor ettercap is anywhere to be found. Discovering a dimly lit tunnel, the two wind their way topside and stumble out into a corrupted swath of forest, full of spider webs and decaying flora. As the aura of protection dissipates, it becomes painfully obvious that creatures are fast on their heels.
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