Standing in the Doorway, Part 8: A Hole in the World

Cave Without End: The party begins the long descent into the Cave Without End, first disturbing the lair of a roc which they dispatched easily.  As they did not hear the heavy thud one would assume accompanies the fall of a large body as the roc’s the Champions grew worried of their course.  Still, they continued down into the depths of the world.

 Three days later, their path had leveled off as if gravity had altered itself to align with the walls of the cave instead of the floor.  At this point, as well, their magic equipment began to fail, eventually ending with all of their magics failing altogether.  It was decided that Drakath and Jesnia would return to Karameikos for supplies and lanterns that the group might continue the trip succesfully.  That shopping expedition completed, the Champions once again continued into the depths.

For five more days the party trekked through the featureless cavern.  They then came across a pair of insects which would not yield to their passing, a pair of broodkeepers who stood their way and challenged superiority of the tunnel.  The magicless party did their best against the beasts, with Aramil and Malhavoc taking the brunt of the broodkeeper’s assault, but the Champions pulled through despite their environmental limitations.

The tunnel stretched on for miles more, but the Champions would not be diswayed.  Another five days passed before magic again could be felt in the world, and three days after that, the party emerged on the other side of the Cave Without End into a world of pristine beauty, with floating continents and eternal daylight.  Aramil and Krogoth recognized it from memory, and Lightning Claw knew it from the legends of his peoples.

It was the Hollow World.