Bruzbid's Last Blunder

Back in Cauldron, during an impromptu visit to his father, Morgan discovers that something sinister is afoot at one of the mines in the foothills. The story as his father tells it takes place at "Jabb's Strip", one of the farthest mines from Cauldron, and has seemingly had an incident involving the humanoids working the mines. One of the first groups to be heavily supplemented with humanoid workers, weeks ago the crew stopped following the vein and began to mine in what appeared to be a random direction, by orders of the humanoid bosses. The day before, the miners had ran into some underground complex, but were quickly brought back to the surface. As they lingered in their bunks, they were surprised with little forewarning by the humanoids who now beat and subdued the human workers they could. Some were quick enough to flee, some were not. Kreed, Hollin, Jurdin, Payden, Teedum, and Baleson, all young workers of the mine, were still at the mine, supposedly now prisoners or worse of the humanoids there.

Morgan explains the situation to the larger group and it is decided that they should go investigate.

The arrive at Jabb's Strip at mid-day. The Strip consists of large piles of loose rock surrounding a trio of crude circular huts and a fourth unidentifiable structure that has burnt to the ground. Even from a distance, large humanoid guards (bugbears) are visible, patrolling the perimeter.

The three crude huts are made from dead wood, stones, and other such debris. One is clearly larger than the others and it has numerous animal trophies nailed to the door. Jonl does some scouting of the situation and determines some rough numbers of the occupants of the huts.

In a coordinated attack the group goes on the offensive. Chul seals the entrance of the mineshaft behind the huts with webbing from spider-decor cloak. Morgan and Snake lead the charge with Jonl taking up a position advantageous for a back attack on creatures coming out of the larger hut. Modisto plays artillery with Salla beside him.

A massive combat breaks out. In all, over 20 bugbears are killed. Highlights include the slaying of a familiar face, the bugbear they now know as Bruzbid, whom escaped from Whitefang and seemed to be involved in an ambush on the return trip, is caught coming out of the larger hut and slain. Snake comes face to face with mortality as he fights with a well combat-trained bugbear, whom after the battle is recognized from his belongings as trained in the method of hunting down and exterminating elves. A small handful of the bugbears also seems well-trained with the bow and in more advanced combat techniques.

Inside the central hut they find a well-used war banner bearing a bull's head of silver thread. It is taken as a trophy.

The blackened husk of a building that lies to the side of the huts is investigated. Thoughts are that this may have been the barracks for the human workers. A charred trap door is discovered beneath an inch of ash in the center of the ruins. The lock is melted shut. It is bashed open.

The stench of rot belches forth from the rank cellar below. Several mutilated bugbear corpses lay strewn about, the sources of the reeking stench of decay. The bricks and single table are covered in blood-stains, as is a single human curled up against the far wall, shaking uncontrollaby in a state of shock. He is recognized as one of the miners, Baleson.

Due to his unwillingness to leave the wall, Modisto has to put him to sleep so that Baleson can be carried out of the cellar. The party discovers his body contains multiple wounds from the strikes of morningstars. They also discover that the bugbear corpses died from large cuts and bites.

Baleson is awakened and questioned about what has occurred. He confirms the story that Morgan's father had.

It is decided that the party should rest to recover spells. As night falls, the party is accosted by a small group of bugbears. Snake and Chul get split up from the main party hunting down a single bugbear that breaks off the main group. Otherwise, a small battle escalates in front of the mine and the party comes out no worse for the wear.

After spells are readied, the party enters the mine. Noting that it appears that Chul's web has been cut through at some point during their rest.

The mine shaft leads the one for a distance before dumping them into a second, older shaft which quickly leads to a large rectangular chamber where they discover a half-dozen bugbears tearing apart a large obsidian obelisk in the middle of the room. The stone walls bear carvings of dwarves toiling in mines and smithies. The bugbears are quickly slain, and the party takes a few minutes to piece back together some of the obelisk which bears carved dwarven writing.

The pieced together obelisk says "...Toil is the only true path to Salvation. Those who will not work shall have their blood boiled in the Dark Furnace for all time...there is no decadent paradise awaiting us after death, as our corrupt forefathers claimed, only industrious labor in Droskar's Forge awaits the faithful, this great work is its own reward...the unfaithful, they will serve in the end, their blood and bones shall stoke the fires of our industry...the world will burn to the glory of Droskar."

To their right a hallway exits the chamber, one of three (another opposite their entrance and another to their left), but a foreboding, thick, acrid smoke billows out of the hall. The party decides to investigate.

The smoke makes it difficult to see beyond a few feet, it is blistering hot, and lit with a strange orange light. The choking odor of burnt hair and flesh wafts through the smoke.

The hallway leads to a large stone chamber, wherein the center is a deep pit filled with molten slag and sizzling blood that casts a hellish red gleam on the walls. Between the pit and the entrance stands a massive anvil, and nearby rest hammers, prongs, and other blacksmithing tools. Three narrow chutes open in the ceiling directly above the pit.

A hulking dwarf wrapped in heavy steel links works a chain on the anvil. Its face, hands, and body are riddled with glowing hot hooks and half-melted razor wire. Black smoke rises from its smoldering beard, framing its freakishly contorted face in ashy darkness. The tormented creature hefts a black iron hammer and the chains draping its form spring to life.

Laying curled up beside the dwarf are a pair of large, powerfully built dogs with short, rusty-red fur, their markings, teeth, and tongue are sooty black. They have red, glowing eyes.

To be continued...