The strange events in the Great Tree left the party reeling with much to discuss. Returning to their camp they find their horses tied up but no sign of the silver-haired wood elf Simmerah. Collapsing for much needed rest, they sleep a dreamless sleep.
In the morning, Odion broods and finally raises the topic of his missing wife. He tells the others about her disappearance in Aelsburg and the mysterious book that came into his possession. Swearing he never read the book, he talks about a strange man who offered him its knowledge. Since then he has had access to his eldritch powers. The provenance of which he doesn’t know although the strange ghostly apparition they met last night seemed to suggest she could give him more of it. So much more that he would be able to conquer the world.
Nox seems sympathetic and asks the most questions. Kazaban is dubious about those who wield magic without real talent or hard work. Gryff seems troubled by his killing of Kazaban in the other-world or dream state they were in the day before. Catalina remains quiet throughout.
The conversation circles around a few times before the group seem exhausted and decide to move on. Without the wood elf to guide them, the party are unsure which way to go. Nox sends his owl familiar Shadow up to take a view of the landscape above the treetops. He finds a trail of sorts – a path through leafless deciduous trees that stands out amongst the mixed forest.
They follow the path and Kazaban notices some silver markings on the trees. Arcane sigils that guide the traveller. He meditates until he is attuned to them and can spot them at a distance. So he leads the party deeper east into the forest until they reach a stream where the silver markings end.
Deciding to go up stream in the hope of finding the onyx cave they are looking for, the party leave Catalina and the horses. Soon they are clambouring up the rocking path by the stream until they find a waterfall in a small rock outcropping.
The water cuts through the rocks in a small cave. Cautiously they check the entrance and despite there being no sign of onyx inside, they decide it is worth checking out.
Clambouring into the cave they are led by Nox who uses his spear to test the path ahead. He is surprised when the spear tip goes deeper than his feet as if the ground is much deeper than it appears. Spotting a shelf of rock from which the water springs, he throws a grappling hook to the rock. But the hook slides right through and descends deep. Nox loses his footing at this surprising turn of events but Gryff is right behind him to catch him.
The strange behaviour of the grappling hook shakes the party’s senses. All but Gryff come to see that the path ahead is an illusion and instead, there is a deep drop into a cavern below. A cavern of black stone with white mottles. Nox begins to clambour down a rope to investigate but Gryff tries to stop him, still seeing the illusion. Eventually the party convinces the dragonborn that his eyes are being deceived and the party gingerly climb down to the cave.
The first warning sign is the great cobwebs that cover parts of the cavern. The next is when Nox hears the pattering feet of a monstrous spider approach. A silky stream of webbing shoots past but soon he is defending himself against the creature’s pincers and bite.
Gryff comes alongside Nox to fight but is restrained by the webbing. Nevertheless he valiantly struggles and tries to land a blow on the creature. Alas, to no avail.
Odion is similarly restrained by the webbing shot by the spider but Kazaban shows remarkable strength in freeing him. Despite this, Odion fails to land his magicks on the creature.
The party trade blows with the creature and finally overcome it. They gingerly venture forward further into the cave whereupon they come upon another one of the giant monstrosities.
Gearing up for another round, Gryff and Nox cut a swathe through the cave’s webbing. But the mobile monster skirts past them on a higher ledge and tries to get its teeth into Odion. After facing the creature, Odion clambers up the rope back to seek higher ground. And if necessary, a quick exit.
However, out of the ether another spider appears. This one different to the others – its white fur and silver fangs harbouring a mocking intelligence. Nox tries to even the odds by placing a darkening cloud around the spiders. It confuses the giant monstrosity they were facing before and they manage to kill it in due course.
The white furred creature proves more deadly. As Gryff comes to face off with it, the creature takes one big bite and swallows his head and torso clean. The paladin’s legs fall goreishly from its mouth and the brave warrior is no more.
Kazaban meanwhile rushes round hoping to draw the creature away from the rope leading up. Nox drinks a potion and becomes the size of an ogre. He tries to distract the phasing spider with jabs of his spear. And from above, Odion peppers it with ineffectual blasts of eldritch magic.
Kazaban’s plan fails to work. The creature moves in on him and with another enormous bite, the elf is swallowed and being chewed by those sharp silver teeth.
The sight of the elf dying turns Odion’s stomach and shouting an apology he runs away, leaving Nox alone. The two large combatants face off as Nox keeps pushing the spider back in order to get the rope to climb up. The spider’s fangs bite but Nox manages to swing about on the rope to avoid the worst of it.
Eventually Nox is on the ledge and crawling out of the cave. Running to catch up with Odion, the two survivors head back downstream hoping to find Catalina with the horses. They leave behind two dead companions and the precious blade-hilt they recovered for their quest in the Great Tree.