Past the rock-cut portico and its adjacent rooms, a narrow passage led to a damp and glittering cave (1). Water drips from above, and the stench… The awful stench! The PCs already know that somewhere inside lies the Sting of Decay, a spirit of corruption whose very existence was aimed at striking terror into the hearts of the unfaithfuls…

Characters:

• Shin (level 5), Tabaxi Fighter (Arcane Archer), Outlander; big-game hunter, has no patience for weakness; Shield Guardian Vorn in tow
• Kalohan (level 4>>5), High Elf Wizard (Evoker), Inheritor; noble Elf, ill-suited for adventuring life
• Leon (level 3>>4), Human Monk (Way of Shadow), Outlander; long dead hunter whose tribe worshipped Zotzilaha, has been reincarnated due to recent events
• Anfi (level 3), Locathah Fighter (Eldritch Knight), Outlander; medicinal herbs collector, wants to see how is life above water; Muck Dweller companion in tow

Let there be Light!

Let’s try to be discreet, they said, as they walked down a narrow slope, surrounded by shadows created by Leon. And then they spotted a dozen Dirges hanging from the large cave’s ceiling.

Kalohan: “Burning Hands!”

So much for discretion. This, of course, attracted the attention of the main denizens of the caves…

Troglodytes

An ambush! The awful stench now overwhelming, from left and right horrible Troglodytes hurled javelins at them. At the same time, in the front, a fearsome Champion of Laogzed led a Subterranean Lizard by a leash.

Shin let fly of an explosive arrow at the 2 more dangerous foes, softening them up, while Kalohan put to sleep most of the javelin hurlers. Things got a little more tense when the Subterranean Lizard swallowed whole the poor Locathah but his companions could rescue him in time and kill the beast.

The Champion of Laogzed fled the scene but only, they soon discovered, to get backup and prepare another ambush… The PCs did see it coming though. Despite the presence of a Shaman, the Troglodytes were defeated and there were no survivors this time.

Shin and Kalohan had exhausted much of their magical ressources while Leon and Anfi were quite battered by now, so the PCs chose to retreat closer to the entrance and take a short rest before going further in the caves.

Slithering Disturbance

Unfortunately, just as they prepared to rest, two Gricks attacked them (2). Kalohan roasted one with a well-place lightning bolt from her wand. The other tried to flee but was hacked to pieces before it could.

Dead Dwarves

On the move again the PCs got into room where two dead Albino Dwarves had been left  to rot. A disgusting layer of fungus covered their corpses. One still held a sinister-looking Warclub. Shin sent the Shield-Guardian to seize the impressive weapon.

Friendly Stalagmite

Now back in the vast cavern where they had defeated the second wave of Troglodyte, the PCs saw that the corpses of their slain foes were now missing. There were traces of more creatures moving around but those had took measures to mislead tracking. As the PCs wondered what to do next, something whispered at them: a Roper! The dreadful creature asked them to approach…

“No way!” they all said. Except overly curious Anfi.

“Come closer”, the Roper said… “I’ll tell you a secret… But first, bring me tasty, juicy meat!”

Anfi had the idea to bring back the dead Gricks and the Roper seemed quite  happy with the meal. It even upheld its part of the bargain and told the PCs about the hidden lair.

Behind the Mud Door

More Troglodytes, ready to fend off the invaders. This time they had an Otyugh. Another shaman lobed spells from the back. Anfi almost died from the continuing damage of a Witch Bolt and Leon was severely wounded by the huge tentacled beast. Kalohan helped turned the tide with liberal use of her Lightning Bolt wand and Shin’s arrows were as deadly as ever. The fight was almost at an end when non-combatant Troglodytes approached and threw heavy bags at the feet of the PCs. From the bags soon poured out a much gruesome content: an entire Rot Grubs Swarm! Squirmy grubs tried to bury into the flesh of Leon, to the dismay of his companions, but fortunately, Anfi’s Muck Dweller companion could dislodge them in time. (3)

The Sting of Decay

In the next cave, the PCs could see a grisly idol made of bones and decaying matter. The Troglodytes‘s Chieftain, a magic-user, who had been invisible when they entered, cast a scorching ray at the adventurers. Meanwhile, the Sting of Decay (4), incorporeal until then, took control of the idol and hovered menacingly toward the PCs. Shin and Kalohan almost simultaneously sent an explosive arrow and a fireball, severely damaging the two monsters. Leon hurried to finish the troglodyte chieftain (5) with a flurry of fists. The Sting of Decay healed itself by absorbing the bodies that littered the floor and then tried to overcome its foes with its deadly sting. It went on like that a few more rounds, Leon and Anfi almost died (again) but the combined efforts of the adventurers proved to be enough to win the day.

DM’s notes

1. I used the nice map and (part of) the encounters from Forge of Fury‘s glitterhame level
2. I rolled low on my hide check, again…
3. Isaac’s idea, I approved gladly
4. I reskinned Yestabrod (Out of the Abyss), with flight and more hp basically
5. The troglodyte chieftain sported a disgusting leather armor that spawned oozes when he was hit in combat:

Slimy Padded Vest of Ooze Summoning

Armor (Padded), very rare (requires attunement)

+1 leather armor.  In addition, you have advantage on Strength (athletics or acrobatics) checks to escape a grapple.

Each time you have lost 22 hit points (cumulative) while wearing this armor, a gray ooze appears 5′ from you and is under your control until next dawn (and then liquefy). You can have up to 4 oozes under your control at the same time.