Episode 1.11

Tony, Brad, Kathy, Greg, Ernie

Leading the three dozen or so escaped prisoners, the group made their way back to the surface. After leaving the lair and walking into the enormous cavern where they first met the troglodyte guards (episode 1.9), they were challenged by a troglodyte cleric and his entourage of soldiers and grimlock skeletons. The cleric recognized them having met them several days before in a different part of the caverns (episode 1.8). Wishing to avoid a fight when everyone was injured and few people had spells remaining, Greg quickly stepped forward and convinced the troglodytes that they had escaped from a group of grimlocks that had invaded the troglodyte lair. The troglodyte cleric bought the deception and the party escaped before he could figure out the ruse. Before leaving, the he was kind enough to point them towards the tunnel that led to the surface.

Once inside the tunnel, Tony, Greg, Ernie, Kathy and Brad moved out ahead to scout for trouble. Trouble found them as three multi-tentacled worm-like creatures attacked them from ledges above the tunnel. Gwiand had given Kathy a wand of lesser sonic orb to use to protect herself. Kathy used her new wand with good results while Ernie used what little healing spells he had left. Tony and Greg found that their weapons were almost useless against the creatures, but Brad discovered that he had no problems pummeling them with his fists. He quickly finished off two of them before chasing down and killing the third, who had decided to flee down the ledge. While he was there, he discovered some treasure - 120 gold pieces, a potion and a scroll.

Soon after, they found a small side tunnel and after Brad ventured into it for a hundred feet or so, they decided it would make a good resting place for the whole group. While resting, a fourth worm-like creature appeared, but Brad made quick work of it.

While traveling, the group encountered several forks in the tunnel and each had to make a best guess (i.e. make an intelligence check) to decided which way to go. Despite never having a unanimous opinion, they made the correct choice every time.

The next day, they reached the cave that exited to the surface. When they had previously found the cave, it was filled with grimlock and troglodyte bodies. There had been two carrion crawlers feasting on them, which they killed at that time. This time there were no scavengers to be seen, but someone animated eight of the troglodyte bodies into skeletons, which immediately attacked the party when they entered. It was a brief battle, those that were not defeated by Brad's fists or Tony's many spiked-chain attacks of opportunity were destroyed by Ernie when he turned undead.

Upon reaching the surface, the entire group made their way back to Stonekeep. The only moment of tension occurred when a large flying creature ventured too close to the group, apparently looking for a free meal. It was driven off by a pair of magic missile spells from Gwiand before it got close enough to hurt anyone.

Once back at Stonekeep, the residents seemed very happy to see that not only had the party had returned with Gwibaen, but they brought thirty or so more escapees.