Not That Kind of Rapping

The Thursday game, recapping 2/4/21 – Back in Phandalin, our Druid orders two cloaks made from the manticore’s hide. With Davik’s blessing, we set out to the ruins to warn two dwarven explorers about the threat of the white dragon. After travelling some ways, we camp uneventfully for the night.

The next day, we pass through a canyon that ends in two massive doors. Piles of rubble have been carefully removed from the area in front. Dwarven runes around the doors read “It is by his hand that the faithful shall acquire the riches of the world, unto the possession of the very bones of the earth itself. Unbelievers are unworthy to possess even the smallest trinket.” The Wizard knows this temple is dedicated to Abathor, the dwarven god of greed.

The party enters the temple area noting that cart tracks appear between the doors. In here is a cluster of buildings destroyed by fire, but again, most of the rubble has been carefully removed. Two statues of dwarven priests with evil grins stand on each side of some collapsed doors.

Behind the two fallen doors, a campfire burns where two dwarves are involved in conversation. One introduces himself as Dazlyn and says his companion is Norbus. Dazlyn is trying to calm Norbus who, Dazlyn explains, has become obsessed with getting into the temple insisting great riches await.

The Paladin begins to hear a tapping sound coming from inside the temple. Dazlyn states the rapping has been going on as long has he has been here. Norbus breaks free and runs into a passage east. The Wizard sends in his familiar to investigate and sees Norbus clawing at rocks in a room with four pillars in front of an altar stained with old blood. As the party begins to enter the room, two giant oozes fall from a collapsing ceiling. Battle with the annoying oozes begins as they split again and again. Finally, we vanquish them all. During battle Dazlyn falls but is revived with a lay on hands.

The tapping sound begins to annoy other party members. The Sorceress succeeds in convincing Norbus to come with us and fight, if necessary. The Wizard finds a secret compartment in the altar that contains some money and a silver mirror, but heeding the runic warning, we leave the items for now.

Investigating, we find several secret doors leading deeper into the temple complex. One room has a wardrobe which contains some rotting leather garments with the symbol of Abathor, but nothing else. The sound of tapping is getting louder from the south. As we open a southern door, we disturb a ghostly undead dwarf, a holy symbol hanging from his neck states “Greed is good.” We have found the source of the sound, the Dwarven Rapper!