Bator and the Stone Path
Having made their way through the tunnel leading from the goblin settlement of Shim, the heroes found themselves before a deep chasm—the Serades River. The only passage across the abyss was a narrow bridge, crudely assembled from yellowed bones, sticks, dry vines, and other materials tied together with rags, ropes, and debris. On the other side, the silhouettes of fortified structures resembling a military outpost loomed. In the dim torchlight, they could make out short but sturdy creatures in heavy armor—resembling dwarves, yet darker, more alien, and ominous.
Brothor, being a dwarf himself, decided to negotiate alone. As he approached, the truth was revealed: these were not ordinary dwarves, but duergar—their long-lost kin who had long ago delved into the endless depths of the Underdark. Their skin had darkened, and their souls had grown even more severe. Brothor did not know their language, but a guard descended from the fortress wall, bringing with him a dwarven slave who explained that this was one of the entrances to Dergorai—the capital of the dark duergar. However, the conversation did not progress further. The wary guards grew suspicious and moved toward him. Realizing that diplomacy was turning into danger, Brothor fled. Fenris, his companion, ran onto the bridge and shouted “FIREBALL!” A fiery explosion engulfed the outpost, igniting everything flammable, including the bridge itself, which burst into flames and collapsed under the weight of the travelers. However, Surina—the dragonborn woman accompanying them—cast a spell, summoning magical wings, and in midair managed to catch both Fenris and Brothor. Using all her strength, she pulled them from the abyss and brought them back to the tunnel where Saya awaited them. As Surina saved her companions, Fenris, hanging above the chasm, noticed a heavily guarded cart traveling along a stone road to the north.
With this passage to Dergorai now inaccessible, the adventurers decided to seek another route. They returned to the goblin mushroom-eater settlement of Shim, where Fenris replenished his stock of hallucinogenic mushrooms, and then ventured deeper into the caves. In the darkness, they pressed on, entering a grand cavern that stretched before them like an underground forest. Towering mushrooms, velvet moss, and softly glowing crystals filled the vast chamber, where an ancient stone road faded into the darkness.
They followed it eastward, and when their strength waned, they stopped to rest. Searching for provisions, Brothor and Saya stumbled upon a field of Royal Mushrooms—a rare delicacy of the deep. Their flavor was rich and spicy, revitalizing the weary travelers.
The next day, they continued their journey and reached a stone bridge. Opting for a detour, they soon arrived at the duergar mining town of Bator. Here, they were met with a surprisingly warm reception, likely because news of the events at the Dergorai bridge had not yet reached the town. They were allowed inside and soon found refuge in the tavern “The Elf’s Skull.” Amidst the scent of strong ale and roasted meat, they traded some Royal Mushrooms for food and lodging, then attempted to purchase a map of the area. However, the innkeeper demanded an exorbitant price beyond their means.
Late in the evening, as they sat by the hearth for supper, the same guard who had greeted them at the gate approached their table. He offered them a job: to deal with the undead emerging from Nekar. When asked why so many corpses were assaulting Bator, the guard—named Surim—explained that the necromancers of Nekar likely retrieved the bodies of fallen slaves that were thrown into the abyss known locally as the Serades River.
During the conversation, the guard also revealed that there were two great cities in the Underdark: Dergorai, the domain of the duergar, and Menzoberranzan, the city of the dark elves—the drow. Between them stood the mysterious Ruby Obelisk, ruled by the enigmatic mistress of the Jade Coven. He also mentioned that their old acquaintance, the druid Iskar, had visited Bator a few days ago, inquiring about the Cult of Mimir. The locals, uninterested in collecting legends, had advised him to seek answers in Dergorai.
