Scarlett's Journal entry 5
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After our escape, we put as much distance as possible between ourselves and Velkynvelve. As we traveled through the caverns of the Underdark, we discussed with our companions which path to take.
Young Stool wished to return to his home in Neverlight Grove. Sarith agreed, offering to guide us through much of the Underdark. According to him, it was the furthest destination—nearly a month’s journey from where we were.
Still… I couldn’t help but find it strange that he was so eager to go there.
Jimjar mentioned that Blingdenstone was also about a month’s journey away, and that we might find a way back to the surface from there. However, he warned that the city had been attacked by the drow more than once—meaning there was a real chance we could encounter them again.
Topsy and Turvy were not keen on the idea of going there, given how poorly the people of Blingdenstone had treated them in the past..
Shuushar admitted he wasn’t familiar with many parts of the Underdark, but if we could get him close to Sloobludop and the Darklake, he could guide us from there. He believed we might even secure a boat from the village, allowing us to travel by water and shorten our journey.
Sarith added that Sloobludop was the closest destination—roughly a tenday away.
Eldeth admitted she had little knowledge of the Underdark, while Buppido suggested Gracklstugh—the duergar city—as his preferred destination, as it was once his home.
After some discussion, we put it to a vote on where to go. Sloobludop received the most support—it was only a tenday away, while the other options were nearly a month’s journey. The possibility of securing a boat there was an added advantage.
We began at a fast pace to stay ahead of the drow patrols and pursuers who would now be aware of our escape from Velkynvelve. By the fourth day of travel through the Underdark caverns, we slowed to forage for food and water. Gereg and Aeshar led the effort.
Aeshar discovered a pale crawler lizard, while Gereg located a Delver’s Delight fungal bloom. According to Aeshar, the bloom could yield up to ten pounds of food once it fully matures in a few days. Derendil climbed a stalagmite to retrieve stonevine fruit, and we thanked him for his assistance.
On the fifth day of our escape, we entered a more barren region of the Underdark. With our food supplies running low, we attempted to forage in the area. Aeshar found some moss snails, but unfortunately it was not enough to feed everyone. Lady Lex chose to skip eating so the others could take her share.
A few days later, we came upon a narrow passage. As we traveled through it, a sudden tremor triggered a cave-in. Several of us sustained minor injuries, though for some reason Topsy and Turvy escaped unharmed. Sarith, however, was knocked unconscious for some time.
We were trapped in complete darkness. I summoned my mace with magic, its light illuminating the tunnel, though Aeshar warned me that the brightness was difficult for her vision and asked to be notified next time. She instead cast dancing lights to guide us.
Another tremor struck shortly after, opening a side passage, and we moved toward it. Verbren and Stool went ahead and discovered water, but their scouting proved dangerous—they came face to face with a gray ooze.
Verbren called back, warning us of a strange sight ahead: a skeleton suspended in midair. To protect them, I cast my spell, Scarlett’s Dagger, striking the gray ooze and dispersing the creature.
When we thought we could finally take a brief rest, we heard a voice coming from the direction of the floating skeleton. We quickly realized the voice was not coming from the remains, but from what was containing them—a gelatinous cube that called itself Glabagool. At the very least, it seemed friendly.