Tefarek

Thorgill looks at Sigille and shrugs, saying moderately quietly, "An' why don' we jus' kill the spider princess? Ah'm na' wantin' t' keep payin' these tolls t' git where we wan' t' go." Sigille gives him a glare and she shakes her head. Jaco muses on how the spider came into its position of royalty among spiders. "How does one become a spider princess? " Jaco asks the merchant. " Is a spider born into the role? Or do they just have to eat enough other spiders until they are named princess?" Pieltch answers, "Is similar to your bloodlines. Spider is born into the role. And yes, also spider eats many offspring who might challenge her. She eats enemies too. We do not want to be eaten." Roderick says, "Perhaps offering tribute would save a caravan from dealing with her nest and her. I believe she is not alone. " Mart asks Thorgill not to antagonize the spiders, then appeals to Trixie and Lysme, "Ladies, since we are going to have to pay homage to a Princess, and I dare say that you might have better manners than us men, would you please do the honors and represent us when dealing with the Princess? She might be more lenient on us and see you closer to an equal than I, Rogerick or Thorgill. I am not sure if Leo can do a better job than you two." Trixie answered Mart "yes of course we can, I believe that women rule down here so they would be preferable to men" Srileena speaks to one of the Drow, "I have never heard of a spider princess; but would assume she is related to Lloth? Do you know where her relationship is to those of Kiaransalee?" Roll The Drow replies, "Yes, related to Lolth. All spiders are related to Lolth. No relation to Kiaransalee..." At this point, Pieltch tosses some hunks of rotten meat into a side passage. Almost immediately, an enormous spider emerges from the shadows. She is shiny and black, with six stout legs, a bulbous hairy back, prismatic eyes, a barbed stinger, and strong mandibles. You hear the spider squeak out some sort of language, then she grabs the rotting flesh and bone, and begins to wrap it with her silk. After spinning and storing the meat, she crawls up and around the rock walls, watching over each one of your party. Pieltch speaks again in Drowish, seemingly vouching for your presence, and after an uncomfortable pause, the Spider Princess retreats to the ceiling of the cavern, still keeping a close watch over you. Pieltch says, "Is ok, we must go quickly now..."

After reaching safety, Roderick pats the lizard, and the enormous beast turns its head and flicks out its tongue to smell the air. Thorgill's lizard hisses quietly when the barbarian touches the reptile's snout. Mart endures the ride, but doesn't enjoy it. Jaco says, "We are all blind in the dark, so we cannot see any real danger." Pieltch replies, "That's right, little person. And there is much danger down here." Trixie and Lysme climb down from their lizards, and share a glance between them that they aren't enjoying their travels in the Underdark. Once you are all ready to go, the crates are reloaded on the lizards, and Pieltch whistles for his Drow companions to move out. You continue forward down dark caverns for the remainder of the day, although you can't really tell that it is daytime. You only sense the passing of hours by your internal clocks, and how tired you get. Throughout the journey, you hear echoing squeaks of vermin and flapping of bat wings all around you, always unseen. The air smells cool and dank. Meanwhile, the pack lizards march onwards relentlessly. They are very useful for finding the easiest footing through tunnels. After many hours, the main passage you are traveling through opens up into a larger cavern, and you are assaulted by a horrible stench of rotting meat. Pieltch raises his hand, and the caravan comes to a stop. "This is the Passage of Zorfal. She is a spider princess. Tribute must be paid. Show her the utmost respect at all times, or she will be offended." He steps forward and starts speaking loudly in Drowish toward the dark passage ahead.

You follow Pieltch's orders, and grab onto the ties on the pack lizards. Your only comfort is that the Drow on this merchant caravan also grab onto the lizards, and you all travel together. The pack lizards' skin is warm and dry beneath you. The reptiles clamber up the loose rock hill, and duck into a claustrophobic tight tunnel. You can't see anything, but you feel yourself being bumped against the rock walls as the beast probes its way through the mazelike passage. The air is dank and foul here, and you can hear one of the Drow curse loudly as his head hits a rock. The lizards move remarkably fast on this terrain, and you quickly understand how valuable they are for travel down here. After a few minutes, you emerge from the tunnel onto a narrow ledge above a steep drop. The reptiles traverse this ridge easily, even though you can see it is a long way down if you fall. They wind down the path, and then down a long and treacherous descent, until you arrive at the safety of ground level. Pieltch is waiting for you, and his Drowish guards. "What is the matter?! You look scared!" He laughs and laughs, while his Drow team quickly load the crates back onto the backs of the beasts. Meanwhile, Pieltch throws some hunks of rotting animal flesh to the lizards, and they quickly devour it as a treat for navigating the tunnel... You have about another half day journey before you reach Kiaransalee.