The drop into the sewer is successful and the group makes their way towards a metal door. They find it locked and trapped, but Fingers’ Second avoids both obstacles, allowing the group to enter the large chamber where they encountered the Rat King on their previous visit. The gnome’s illusion magic is deployed, blocking the party’s advance, and Zaar’s rope circumvents the illusion’s concealment. When the group is ready, the wizard’s knock opens the door and they burst into the chamber beyond, surprising some of those present there.
The enemy quartet was experienced and quickly recovered from the temporary setback. The battle raged, and Diggin was eventually killed before the defenders were defeated. The loss of the front line became a problem for the remaining party members, and there was a bit of a debate about when to flee. Now, or after one more door was opened. In the end, it wasn’t one more door that was opened, but multiple doors. Luckily, it was only a settlement and no dangerous inhabitants were there. There was a short debate from the rear of the party about whether to proceed, but the front of the party said, “I don’t care about that noise,” and retreated. They got creative in dealing with Diggin’s body, and bought a wagon and horses from the driver. They loaded the door dwarf into the cart and crossed Rivergate Bridge, hoping that whoever was watching would not take action at this point. The return to the new residence was completed without any noticeable trouble, and the wagon and horses were left near the tent village that had appeared outside the southern entrance to the market district. They would be redistributed within a few hours.
The next few days involve travelling and negotiations with the Church, but at the end the wounded dwarf is restored to life, the plunder and booty are redistributed, and they prepare for a return visit to the Apartments and the sewers below.
Despite talk of finding another entrance, the group again enters the ruins of the apartment building. They re-access the sewers and find a metal door. It is closed and locked, and if opened, a magical alarm will sound. The group rushes to the stairs but stops when they encounter a smoke screen, fully expecting to find the room full of guards once the smoke clears, but this is not the case. Alarmed, they rush towards the illusionary wall and open the door to the area beyond…
