The dwarven hospitality provided Tolir, Ebi and Stathra with a meal of minced quarry bush leaves and ale, a place to sleep, and an audience with the elders, Momuz Bermesttos and Rith Bercog.
Rith looked like a kindly dwarf matron, but the mace hanging from her belt didn't look ceremonial. All dwarves here were warriors; they had to be.
"Aye, it's good to see adventurers. We're having trouble with troglodytes stealing our supplies, and we can't spare the militia to clear them out. If you take care of that, we will reward you, and you'd be welcome to use Asteshdatan as a base in your treasure hunting. Any friendly blade is good in these tunnels."
"We also need scouts on the surface", Momuz added. "We're under constant threat from the elvish savages. They've been sending patrols into the eastern mines, and there ain't anything we can do but bide our time."
***
Stathra took lead as they descended further down. Tolir and Ebi were discussing what they knew about this dungeon when sounds of movement echoed from below. Troglodytes, no less than two dozens!
The dice are rolled!
Adventurers roll: 8.
Troglodytes roll: 3.Using the advantage of high ground, the adventurers made their stand on one stair platform looking least likely to crash and fall down. The first few attackers were quickly disposed of and the rest fell back, allowing the humans some time to breathe.
"Look out!" Ebi suddenly shouted, pointing towards a far wall, where several troglos were climbing up the shaft. They moved with frightening speed, without any need for stairs, or even rope. It was time to try the crossbows they'd acquired from the dwarves.
With a thwack of the string a steel bolt shoved one of the troglodytes off the wall and sent it screaming into the darkness; more shots followed until none of the attackers remained.
"Sister, this is officially my new favorite weapon."
***
With the Troglodytes defeated, the adventurers took everything they could loot from the tribe's campground and went back to the old dwarven halls to receive their reward. There they were told that a scroll had been left for them. It said simply: "Come fishing spot", with an amphibian pawprint below.
She was indeed waiting there, by the lake's fishing spot. Dismissing their angry questions about where she'd been during the fight, Gloomf showed them a gold coin from Ineth Nil and explained about a young hive of Antlings with a huge pile of loot.
The adventurers have no way to reach the dragon because all possible approaches are submerged (the dragon himself and his Triton servants are able to traverse underwater). Next time, Gloomf will make sure to deal with this problem, but for this year she is content to destroy Vîrfesh's sources of income and recruits.
Gloomf also notes that a new group has arrived to the dungeon, coming from the east: a band of goblins led by one Azstrog the Wicked.