The Dripping Caves

The Dripping Caves have long held a terrible reputation amongst the wood elves of Ardeep Forest. Every elven child learns pf the horrors of the caves from a young age. No one is to enter here. No one who enters comes out again. No one ever has.

Calla Barlow lead the band of ragged adventurers to the renowned cave's entrance. Tracks in the earth made it clear that the Nightstone villagers had entered the forbidden caves, not knowing the legends themselves, and it would appear that the legend was true so far as none had left. Mythology aside, players were left with no choice but to head in after them.

Some of the cave's simpler residents were quick to reveal theselves. Two ogres and five goblin archers emerged giving the players a run as they stormed the cave mouth. Ultimately the ogres fell  in the face of Calla's deadly Moonbeam and the healing support of The Clanless Baha'Zul. This allowed Players to locate the lost villagers in the northeast corner of the caves, going straight to work leading captives out the front door.

Goblin Boss Hark and his pack of Giant Rats were not pleased by this. Emerging to the sounds of the escape, they charged the players with weapons drawn, but to little avail. Falling quickly to the readied players, Boss Hark and his whole entourage were killed. Leaving players to search the remaining caves uncovering Hark's secret horde and another, less bountiful presence.

Baha'Zul was the first to be surprised by the emergence of a Black Pudding, the true source of the Dripping Caves legends. Puddings can sit dormant for decades awaiting those unfortunate enough to cross their path. The merciless being then attacks, absorbing enitre creatures into itself with its deadly acid attacks. The Party again nearly fell to this powerful foe, but Kindle was able to finish the slime with her eldritch blast as Calla clung to life and Baha'Zul lay unconscious on the cave floor.

With the Pudding dead and the goblin threat removed, the people of Nightstone were returned home safely, though great damage had been done. Many of its citizens were slain, many more had their homes damaged or destroyed, but those that survived know they have the heroes of the day to thank for what remains to them.