Deep within the lies of Lolth

After the encounter at the North Gate The Hand of Tyr was certain that Alak was in great danger. Immediately they began forging a plan. Meanwhile they encountered Drow and their kin beneath the earth inside The Reach. Put down quickly by THOT and Canderak. 

In Candlekeep Aramis uncovers lost volumes of Drow history. In these Tomes, bound in Drow flesh, it is discovered that there is a place where Lolth may go. An unnamed place where she prepares her chosen. 

The Icerim mountains is where they would go. A paralyzing, cold and foreboding place that is home only to the likes of frost giants, remorhazes and white dragons. Yet perfect for a God to hide herself and those who do her bidding. 

Aramis discovers in his research that THOT had less than 24 hours to find this lair and destroy Khareesa Ky'orl, Chosen of Lolth, before this assassin would aquire her quarry and be turned loose upon Alak. A fate that even The Hand of Tyr may not have the power to overcome.

With the help of teleports and VOS, THOT reaches the white caps of the 9,000 foot Icerim peak in a few hours. Alak had spotted the opening as if he were meant to. It was well hidden and only by flying above with the purpose to look offered but a small chance to see the entrance. 

Lolth would not have this intrusion! She manifested in a gathering of grey clouds not but a hundred feet above THOT as they exited VOS. Lightning of sorts emitted from the red glowing eyes of the massive forming face. This struck most and nearly killed Zoey. Yet they all made the opening; inside an unwelcome.

This was a cave. Inside the 20 by 20 foot area, was a single, rugged round-like, 10 foot diameter exit to go further. There was the droppings and slop of horse-sized spiders. No surprise. Acid flowed and dripped from the jagged rocks and made the air heavy and hard to breath; even painful. THOT would fly via a spell to explore further. From here I will say that the battles were unfit for the likes of THOT. Spiders and others. A lightning spell from Aramis took down 18 spiders in one swoop.

I will also mention a discovered lair that looked as if it was the home of a colossal spider. I put this here because there was also a treasure in this area that made even THOT take notice.

Leaving the treasure for later (perhaps...) the heroes decide to take the formed hallway they discovered to the east. I say hallway because it was. Carved and well placed black marble 15 feet across and nearly 12 feet high. The floor slopped about 30 degrees downward. No acid or spider left overs in here. On the wall were the symbols of Lolth. Other artistic flourishes where there too, but not one of THOT knew if they had meaning or translation.

The Hand of Tyr entered the hall and it then sealed behind them. Ace had not seen any mean for this before they entered. It was the working of Lolth no doubt. From here there were attacks of great magic that were thwarted by Tyr. The devoted prayers not a moment before brought the intervention of their patron!

Down and down they went in the hallway. Aramis noticed the markings changed; wards and protections by the Goddess Lolth herself. She was able to conceal the arcane aura as well. This place was being hidden from even the other gods! Lolth resided here Aramis acknowledged! AO did not permit any god to live in the physical plane. Yet here she was - brazen and insane.

At the end of the hall, some 45 minutes of travel later there was a section of 50 feet in length with many wards and spells on the floor, walls and ceiling. At the end of this were golden double doors a bit larger than the hall entrance. An ethereal female elf appeared. She was beautiful. White robes flowing in a ghostly breeze.  She toyed with THOT with her breathy words but it soon was clear that this was no welcome. The battle was on!

The ghost (or whatever she was) began to change into a large bristle spider. THOT could sense Tyr and Lolth were struggling. Tyr hindering the control Lolth had on her spider warrior.  Whoosh and blood and spells and then it was over. The spider was dead as it sputtered and broke apart on the floor. The magics in the floor held THOT back most of the battle and the damage they gave was done delivered by ranged attacks. Alak seemed to be favored with a bit more aggression then the rest of the heroes however the group was well and strong yet.

The large, golden doors opened to another chamber. This one was splendid and beautiful. Perhaps a hundred feet round with a dome ceiling. Many marking and liknesses here and a great treasure lie scattered about (greater even the the first they found in this mountain and did NOT take ..yet). However, there was also a great guardian. Across this chamber, just before more great double doors waited the legendary Drider King!