Welcome to the Underworld is the second episode of season 17 of Dimension 20, Dungeons and Drag Queens.
As the Questing Queens journey into the world of the dead, dangerous new circumstances emerge.
Introduction Recap[]
Last we left off, our Questing Queens had arrived in the village of Greeley, only to discover sinister goings on in and around the tavern of Hero's Hall. For indeed, it seems that merfolk had been sighted with a witch hunter there earlier in the day, and some smell of cedar, reminiscent of the burning of the Foehammer home, clung to the wind. We saw finally some answers to these questions as our Questing Queens descended on a strange figure wearing a corrupted wraith clasp, which you had availed yourself to after some quick thinking and a powerful punch to Bump Williams, the goblin ware hawker who frequented the tavern. Pow! Kablooey. Summoning a panther of thorns and snapping our friend, Wallace, in half (who turned out to indeed be a spirit of the dead masquerading as a living mortal here in this world). As Troyánn turned him to mist, we saw the face of the blood queen Zaria Hex, architect of the downfall of the fairy folk. Indeed, all these things coming together. With some quick thinking and putting together of clues, we realized there there was a small window of time, given that Troyánn's cousin, Keena of Everdeep, ... Cousin Keekee was somewhere in a body of water resting due to the time period that her amulet granting her the ability to walk on land granted her.
So you all made haste. Twyla summoned the shadows and the spirits of grass and leaf, and you made your way up the mountain all the way to face Gargrim, the vulture-headed guardian of the gateway to the Underworld. Troyánn spoke, as she often had, revealing her Amulet of the Soul Keeper, and each of you spoke your reason for taking this dangerious mission on; some telling the truth, and others keeping secrets close to their heart. With a flash of magic, swirling purple-lavender-indigo mist as a wasteland of the dead erupts in all directions. Before you, you see platforms and deserts, some hundreds of miles long floating in endless void. You do not see the surface of a world anymore, but instead a shattered reality of stone held together by what might be branches, or themselves veins of some long dead spirit of unlife. Mist and purple magic fills this endless horizon of dungeons, platforms, and wasteland. As you arrive in the desert, the runs disappear in light, and just remain faintly charred as though singed by fire smoking here in the dust. You see wind blowing and kicking up dust and gravel, and each of you can feel subtly, not enough to cause you any immediate injury, but just your mere presence here in the Underworld, you feel the wind asking to drink your life away; that you may stay here in the realm of the dead forever.
As you look around, Troyánn, you recognize this path here, and you see off in the far distance a winding thread of dark, almost midnight purple water moving through. You recognize this as the River of Sorrow which leads to the place that you have always come here to do your business which is, as strange as it is to say, one could refer to it as a town, but really it's more of a cemetery: the village of Hollowgrave which is the last way station at the edge of the Underworld before you come to this land of gateways to the mortal realm above. There is a lot of waste in front of you. It's a long, dangerous journey. What do you all do in this moment for those of you that are entering the Underworld for the very first time?
Synopsis[]
Having been to the Underworld many times, Troyánn knows that the group would be able to travel to Hollowgrave safely (ie the only place where the living can conduct business with the dead), but not beyond it. So they travel to the undead city, taking a stealthy, though longer, route, knowing Keena isn't far behind. As the mer takes them up a series of ridges spiking up towards a mist, there is a raincloud above that looks as though it's hiding a mirror though which a reflection of the mountaintops can be seen. After a while, the group arrives at the banks of the River of Sorrow, the river bottom lined with bones. Half-formed figures and skeletal froms wandering out of the waste lumber on the other side. In order to cross, Troyánn swims to the center, and, like Aquaman, calls to the spirit of a dead sperm whale. The River of Sorrow is intended to keep the dead trapped using the magic of eternal loss. While looking towards the bottom of the river, Troyánn sees the face of her father amist the bones. The elven man says to her, "Sugar, I'm so sorry. They lied to you," before vanishing. The sperm whale then appears, and ferries the group across the river including Troyánn who is emotionally and physically exhausted from what she just faced.
Before crossing, one of the dead souls on the other side of the river walks into the black water, and, after a moment, pops back up to where it came. After a roar of frustration, it calls out to the Queens asking how they managed to get to the other side of the river. The being explains that, when he was alive, he collected keys. He had had a chest full of keys, but dropped them while in the middle of a rainstorm. While collecting them up again, he was struck by lightening and died. When they arrive on their sperm whale, it's agreed amongst the Questing Queens that the dead souls shouldn't be allowed it use it to cross themselves and leave the Underworld. The twelve undead beings there, desperate for another chance at life, attack, including the keymaster. Twyla takes out one with her longbow. As she is shooting an arrow at another, the being recognizes her as a member of Queen Titania's army. He reveals he was a member of Zaria Hex's forces, and is more than happy to take down one last fey folk. However, he is quickly dispatched by a swarm of Twyla's gemstone arrows. Princess flies into a rage, and takes out two more undead. Troyánn somersault's onto a rock, and, firing a few grasping arrows, rips apart two more. Gertrude is initially shocked by her friends' brutality. However, she musters up her courage, and hits the six remaining undead with a powerful Thunderwave, four breaking apart at every joint in their bodies.
With two beings left, one turns to the other, and, with a scream, beheads the other. Turning to the group, the rotting orc looks at Princess, and says, "Princess? My niece?" Turns out this is the undead form of Kerwyn Foehammer, and when she reveals to him that she is not dead, Kerwyn falls to his knees weeping in gratitude. Princess asks him what happened during the destruction of Castle Ravenspear, and replies that, though the fire spread really quickly, he was able to see the flicker outline of a woman in red robes looking like a queen of blood. She had come to the castle in the middle of the night, and, taking his sword, pointed to the orc, saying, "This is the hour of your passing." Kerwyn's heart then stopped, and he fell dead before the fire was able to consume him. He then says her name: Zaria Hex. Since then, he has spent his time searching the Underworld for any other Foehammers that may be around, and trying to piece together what happened that night. His niece replies that she's in the Underworld for the same reason. Kerwyn, though admitting he has yet to find any other members of the family, offers to help however he can. He then makes Princess promise that she won't fall there in the Underworld. The Queens then ask if Kerwyn would be willing to be their guide. He gratiously accepts to show them any place he knows. Recognizing Troyánn, he adds that the person she normally does business, Shalila of the Last Breath, is waiting in Hollowgrave at the Inn of the Empty Glass. Before they head out, they hear a whispered name in the wind: Thanara which causes the elder Foehammer to shudder. He then explains that that is the name of the forgotten goddess of death who reigns there. In order to restore the dead to life, they would need a boon from her.
Before the group leaves to Hollowgrave, they know they have a problem. Since Keena took the soul of Mark Ronson, Troyánn only has seven of the eight souls she needs to give as part of her mother's arrangement with the Underworld. Kerwyn mentions Nyruth, a jackal-headed demon who is a seller of powerful magical wares. He's also been known to trade in souls, and, while he doesn't normally come to Hollowgrave, he's there now. So, with their new companion leading the way, the group sets out to Hollowgrave.
Hollowgrave is a strange place, being a town in the Underworld. Its architecture doesn't make sense as buildings seem to spring up catty corner to each other. Furthermore, those that should have fallen down continue to stand up, leaning at terrifying angles. The people within the city are primarily undead, in constant view of an exit to the living world that they can never access. However, it is also home to many demons as well. Around the city, Troyánn recognizes the Inn of the Empty Glass. Kerwyn points out the shimmering black volcanic stone tower that houses the Archive of Forgotten Things, and the abbey which holds the Longshadow Bazaar, which is where Nyruth will be. The group heads to the Bazaar, and, while most is just made up of street vendors, there is one brick-and-mortar store: Nyruth's Curios. Kerwyn decides it's best if he isn't seen, and keeps guard in the street while the Queens carry out their business.
Upon meeting Nyruth, the team tries to trick him into taking a pack of playing cards Twyla has, claiming they are of far more value than they are truely worth. However, Nyruth easily sees through the lie, and warns them of what will happen if they try to trick him again. The back and forth between the four Queens gets heated, and Twyla, in a huff, disguises herself as a puddle of deep water, an act that Nyruth is very much amused by. He then goes on to explain that, while the playing cards themselves are common, Twyla's attachment to them is not. Nyruth tells her that he can see (before she turned into a puddle) that she has the bearing of a fey soldier, and the memories within those cards are surely connected to long nights of soldier comradery, joy, and friendship. Memories like that are "like nectar to the gods" to the damned souls that dwell in the Underworld. The rare ethereal and ephemeral things like joyful memories are something that he can sell, and is very much interested in. When Twyla expresses concern that, taking those memories would take away too much of her motivation, Nyruth reassures her that he would only be taking the memories attached to playing with the cards themselves. Still unconvinced Gertude tells the shopkeeper that she has a corrupted wraith clasp, something of considerable value to the undead. Happily, he goes to his collection of souls, and gives Troyánn that of music producer Oliver Lieber. Soul in hand, Gertude casts Darkness, enveloping Nyruth's Curios in a red fog, though the shopkeeper is able to dispel it. The Queens try to sprint away as fast as they can. However, the angry demon had called for the guards, and, before they can get away, run into a Genari demon, one of five that have made their way to the disturbance. The force of knocking into the hulking guard causes Troyánn to drop Oliver Lieber's soul, which is snatched up by the Genari. He then looks (and smells) at them a little closer, and realizes they are still alive, a suspicious occurance to have a group of so many in the Underworld. Knowing that they are outmatched by the guards, as well as Nyruth who is running their way, Troyánn casts Fog Cloud to give them all, including Kerwyn, cover as the flee, leaving the soul of Oliver Leiber behind.
So once again, the Questing Queens find themselves one soul short, and the deadline to meet Shalila coming ever closer. The group decides to head to the Inn of the Empty Glass to rest and figure out what to do. They arrive at the Inn, a place made of coffin wood and filled with cobwebs. Troyánn is warmly (well, as warm as a vampire can be) by the inn's bartender, D'Hamia who offers them all a room. She also mentions that Shalila, while out now, has been waiting all day. In turn, Troyánn asks that D'Hamia not mention that she is there. Getting an upgrade to a suite, the Queens rest for the "night," Gertrude making some tea to help her friends heal faster as an attempt of friendship. Kerwyn offers to keep watch, ready to warn them if there is any sight of Keena or Shalila. After an hour Kerwyn returns, saying that Shalila and her entourage had returned to the inn, and are waiting downstairs. While the group tries to figure out how to get around Shalila, Kerwyn suggests a way to buy them some time. Once given to Shalila, she takes them directly to her mistress, Thanara. While Thanara will easily be able to tell which souls are worthy, Shalila, a mere servant, might not. So, if they can trick Shalila into taking a lesser soul temporarily, they can appease her until they are able to take the soul of Mark Ronson back from Keena. Getting D'Hamia, they make the vampire an offer. If she can get them a soul, she can drink drink the blood of one of them. It turns out she has the soul of someone who, in college, stood around with a 'Free Hugs' sign. Princess volunteers to give her blood, and, after giving the soul (a soul that glows a much dimmer red in its soul stone than the others), D'Hamia begins to feed. After having her fill, she thanks Princess (who, as the vampire had previously mentioned might happen, enjoyed the experience), and leaves feeling a deeper connection to the orc.
Downstairs, Shalila's entourage consists of four suits of armor without bodies within them. Instead is a pale, ghostly mist with two points of white light for eyes. The mist is the spirits of fallen knights, their souls animating the armor they once wore. They surround Shalila (also called Shalila of the Half Mask) who sits at a large table in the common room. While initially upset at having to wait so long for Troyánn, and skeptical at the new faces, Gertrude is able to convince her that they are in training to be assassins. After taking the seven souls from Troyánn, she introduces herself to the others as Shalila of the Half Mask, and asks the group what they plan to do now that their task has been completed. Troyánn tells her they plan to return to Kelvorda for they must get back soon as Queen Inira can be a bit of a harpy if kept waiting. Shalila agrees, saying, "Well, of course. Anyone who had made a deal to live forever would be." She is confused by the mer's shock at this revelation (as her mother had told her the souls were the price of protecting Everdeep), and explains that Inira had made a deal with Thanara herself. In exchange for the twenty-eight souls a year, the goddess would grant the mer queen eternal life. Shalila continues that she thought Troyánn would already know this based on what happened to her father. Since Troyánn continues to not know what she is referring to, Shalila further explains that Roy of Karkyn had had the job of delivering souls before Troyánn. When Troyánn asks if he was killed for not bringing enough souls, Shalila simply replies, "I believe it was a little more complicated than that."
In an attempt to get more information, Gertrude casts Detect Thoughts. She is able to see a memory from the guards who are old enough to have been present between Roy and Thanara. He apologizes as he didn't know the true intention of Queen Inira's deal, and expresses remorse for condemning all the souls he had given her for a cause that was not true or just. He then asks that the souls be set free. When Thanara asks what he is willing to pay to do so, the elf replies that he is willing to do everything to right the wrongs he has done. Accepting his payment, Thanara points a finger, and begins to cast a spell. As she does so, Roy is only able to say, "Wait, before I go, can you tell my daughter..." before he dies, having given his own soul in exchange for the release of those he had brought to Thanara in his years of service. Thanara swallows his soul, and even within a memory, the goddess is able to pinpoint the sorceress watching in, asking, "Looking for me, Gertrude?" Gertrude snaps back to the present, grabs the hands of the Queens, and tells them they need to leave right now. With that, the group runs out the door of the inn, Shalila yelling a thanks for their business, and adding she'll be at board game night (The gang had previously mentioned wanting to play Dungeons & Dragons.) if she can make it.
Away from the Inn and Shalila, Gertude, after much thought, tells Troyánn truth of her father's death, and the nobility of it. Furthermore, she tells everyone that Thanara knew she was there watching, and that she didn't seem happy at the witch's presence. Not long after, Shalila and her guards leave to go further into the Underworld to deliver the souls. Kerwyn Foehammer, who has been waiting for them outside, mentions that, while the reason for their being in the Underworld is different than what they initially thought, if they want a boon, they need to find Thanara. To do that, they need to follow Shalila. As they look in the direction that Shalila is headed, red lightening flashes in the mountains as crimson storm clouds gather. Twyla and Princess recognize this, Twyla from her time on the battlefield, and Princess with the red glow over her family's burning homestead, as Zaria Hex. Continuing their gaze on Shalila across the wasteland, they realize that, while the wasteland of the Underworld may seem untouched, it is actually covered with thousands of footprints of the people who have travelled it, specificially Zaria's undead armies. Furthermore, those armies headed to the Thanara's castle, the Tower of Tombs. With a farewell from D'Hamia, the team head off towards the Tower.
Outro[]
And the four of you head off on the trail of Shalila and her four death knight guardians as red clouds gather overhead. Crimson lightening strikes as in the distance, you see it. Raised aloft, the Tower of Tombs.
Locations[]
Kelvorda[]
- Darktide
- The Fish Tank (mentioned)
- Castle Ravenspear (mentioned)
The Underworld[]
- Hollowgrave
- Archive of Forgotten Things (mentioned)
- The Inn of the Empty Glass
- Longshadow Bazaar
- River of Sorrow
- Tower of Tombs (mentioned)
Featured Characters[]
Questing Queens[]
New[]
- D'Hamia (undead)
- Kerwyn Foehammer (pretending to be undead)
- Nyruth
- Roy of Karkyn (†)
- Shalila of the Half Mask (undead)
- Thanara
- unnamed beetle-headed apothecary
- 4 unnamed death knight guardians (†)
- 5 unnamed Genari demon guards
- 11 unnamed undead (†)
Mentioned[]
- Queen Inira
- Keena
- "Free Hugs" guy (†)
- Mark Ronson (†)
- Oliver Lieber (†)
- Zaria Hex