With thanks to Elthmar - @nepu, Hilas - @UtilityBeastEU, Thorgrimm Embershield - @Tiero, Erin - @CatLady43v3r, Martha - @SkyeThere1 and Happy - @Toya for traversing the hexmap and venturing into the abandoned quarry & derelict mines.
Arriving into the town of Ashley, following tales of strange riches being found by other adventurers, our heroes are commissioned by Elena the arcanist to investigate a rumoured lost dwarven mine, hoping it is recoverable after one of the largest mines in the region was recently destroyed. A night of carousing is held with the villagers before our heroes set off in the morning.
Hiking out past the disorienting graveyard, over the (temporarily quiet) ancient battlefield and up the escarpment to overnight at the goliath village above. After discussing stories of local mines and what might have happened to the destroyed mine. They get some local stories, trade their own and leave with an invite to return.
Hiking out through the forest, the paladin holds them from hunting while they seek a beast to commune with - not until they are deep in a dripping cloud forest do they find a flying frog that can tell them news of the workers escaping from the now-burned dead mine.
Continuing, they find some displaced goliath and goblin miners, who are deeply suspicious of help just turning up and offering to assist for free. Guided onwards by one of the goblin, they head towards the mine before stumbling upon a group of skin-wearing insectfolk. Garbed in their person-pelts and wielding sharp daggers, there is a brutal close quarters fight that leaves many of the party badly cut-up.
Choosing to press on, they are brought through the upper works of what is revealed to be an old dwarven mine by the goblin before they venture alone below grounds.
Following tracks they find veins of crystal grown all over the walls and delving deeper find piles of crystals and dead insectfolk encrusted with crystals. The party identify this as crystalline fungus - dangerous to harverst and liable to cause those who die to it to rise once more as puppets of the fungus. Most of the party decide they know enough to report back that the mine is unrecoverable and head out while the dwarf decides to venture deeper and find the source of the crystal. The elf rogue decides not to let their companion die alone in the dark.
Deeper, they find more insectfolk carving a crystalline giant out of a wall and after a brief rest the engage the insectfolk in their works. A brutal fight through the tunnels wakes more of the crystalline husks. The elf flees to carry word of the dwarfs last stand, hearing the sounds of battle fading behind them as they go.
Most of the party heads directly back to Ashley, reporting to Elena and getting paid. The elf stops first at the goliath village, carrying the tale there and overnighting before the next day returning to Ashley, surprising everyone that reports of their death were exaggerated.
Everyone gets 60gp payment from the arcanist and a Potion of Healing thrown in for everyone recognising the contact with the dangerous crystals.
D&D Beyond 2014 Character Creation
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