The sheer size of it all! The huge, glowing fungi that towered like trees, to the strange drow settlement in the center of the massive yawning cavern. It was like something from a story book, or a horror novel. Though Boris’ kept his face stoic, he was no less taken aback by the sight of the Underdark as his companions. Kara let out a soft, “Dam” at the sight. After the initial wonderment passed, the thief gestured for everyone to listen closely, putting out the torch to not attract attention.

“Alright, so, this is gonna be tougher than we thought. I say we head back.
“Head back?! Why?!” Alydrezea protested.
“I’m sorry, do you not see that whole ass drow city down there? This is not what I signed up for!”
“Kara has a point.” Boris grunted out. “That dwarf king only asked us to investigate. We don’t have to hunt down every drow down here.”
The druid tried to protest, “Well, no, but…but we can’t just leave it like this. I mean, this city is a problem but…maybe we just deal with that weird spider-glove cult?”
The others spared a glance to each other. Kara was firmly against the idea, shaking her head frantically. “We’d have to break into that city, kill them, and get out. I’m a thief, not an assassin!”
“But you are very good at breaking in where you’re not wanted.” Grukk’s comment earned him a smack on the back of his from the thief. “Does that look like some jewelry shop or fat noble’s house? I know how to scan a potential target, whether it’s a person or a building, and that?! That is a death trap! It’s giving me chills just looking at it!”
Boris grunted in amusement, “Coward.” His mocking was not unnoticed by Kara. “Boris! I swear to the Gods, I will grind you into a burger!”
“Now now, let’s calm down and think.” The smooth baritone voice of the half orc cooling the heated discussion. “These dark elves have already seen Drezea and Boris. They know about us. The fact is, we’re too deep in this shit to go back now.” Kara rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration. “Fine. You win. But do we have a plan to get into this place without being noticed?” Everyone exchanged glanced once more, unsure of what to do next. That is, until Alydrezea raised her hand and gained the attentions of the party. “I think I have an idea.”

The drow woman approached the gates, with the rest of the party marching behind her. They were all in makeshift chains, giving them the appearance of prisoners being led by Alydrezea. Boris messed with his fake bindings, grunting in annoyance. Kara shared the minotaur’s feelings. “Psst! Drezea! Are you sure about this?”
“Trust me.” The druid reassured them. “This is the best way to get in without drawing suspicion.”
As they came up to the gates of the drow city, two male drow guardsmen with spears stopped them all. Alydrezea put on her best acting face, “Let me pass! These prisoners are going to…to uh, to the head mistress!”
The drow males bowed and let them all pass through the gates without resistance. Alydrezea held her head up high like those nobles she saw in Iroas, her ‘prisoners’ following her. “Um…could one of you escort me? I mean-! I demand an escort to the head mistress!”
“Of course my lady.” One of the male drow lead them through the city. It was much unlike the city of the dwarves above. Instead of grand stonework in a mountain hearth, this place was oddly cold. The lava flows must not pass through this area. The architecture was oppressive, with the iconography of spiders upon the purple-tinted spires and buildings. Drow women in robes or leather armors patrolled the streets, each one having an escort of several drow men. The sounds of a cracking whip drew Alydrezea’s attention. More drow women, whipping and overseeing shambling slaves, mostly humans and dwarves, that were building something. Piling stone on heavy stone under the lash of their masters. Alydrezea felt her heart sink into her stomach.
Kara gave a warning whisper, “Don’t look at them, just keep walking.”
“Shut up!” Alydrezea responded in a harsh whisper of her own. “Wait for my signal.”
They were led up to a temple, that had a massive spider-carving adoring the front doors. Inside, it was lit up dimly by flickering blue flames in braziers and chandeliers from the ceiling. It was a large open temple with no pews or chairs. No windows to let in light of any kind. The altar room had a twenty-foot ceiling, was rounded off with the carvings of a spider’s web upon the stone floor. Drow men stood by, topless and serving the women wines. They had longswords on their hips but wore no armor. The women wore priestly robes of deep black and purple, with spider-web designs upon them. They were standing before an altar, that was stained with the blood of countless sacrifices. The altar itself was made from iron, a large iron table above which was the statue of a great spider descending unto sacrificial prey. Real spiders crawled along the floors and walls and webs were scattered about the ceiling. The women were all praying at this altar, with one of them wearing far more extravagant robes, she turned to see the strangers.

The head priestess was a drow woman. She was six-feet tall, with a lead build, and was shapelier than the other women. She had a near perfect slim hourglass figure, with silvery-white hair done up in a ponytail. All other women near her had short cut hair and were wearing spider-masks. It was hard to tell on the women, but the topless drow men all had that same branding mark that the spies from the Obsidian Pass had. “Goodness.” The high priestess’ voice was unsettlingly charming and cold as bare stone. “I was not expecting guests. Sister, do you bring us and our Spider Queen an offering?” Alydrezea stiffened up as the high priestess addressed her.
“I uh..y-yes. Yes I do.”
“Bring them here.” She made a gesture, and one by one the ‘prisoners’ were inspected up close by the head priestess. She dismissed Grukk quickly as nothing special.
Inspecting Boris she grinned, “A minotaur? That is an impressive catch. How did you manage it, sister?”
Alydrezea swallowed dryly. “I…I used my magics. It was easy to capture him when I did so.”
“I see.” The priestess responded. The doors shut behind them, making the druid of stars tense up even more.
The priestess continued. “He is impressive. Large. Strong. That horrible cow face isn’t much to look at, though. Still, he should work. But this one!” The spider-robed woman got in close to Kara, taking her by the chin and looking at her very closely. “This human is a beauty. Rajan, correct? I always loved that amber skin tone of these ones.” Kara gritted her teeth, amber eyes glaring at the drow women. She saw spiders crawling in and out of the priestess’ robes.
“Sister? You have not told us your name, nor why your slaves still carry their weapons. That’s a bit dangerous, don’t you think?”
“W-well, no. I mean…My magics were so strong I felt no fear of them. And…and my name is Lia.” The priestess’ eyes narrowed at the druid, but she smirked. “Well, I am impressed, Lia. Let us not wase any time.” The drow woman pulled out a dagger with a thin blade, designed to slip through ribs and pierce the heart. “Start with the half orc. We give this sacrifice unto our great Lady. Lolth! Queen of Spiders! Mistress of the Demon Webs! Accept this blood we spill in your name!” As Grukk was forced towards the sacrificial altar, Alydrezea let out a spell! Vines sprung from the ground and bound the priestess in place. “Now!” She cried out.

Taking that as the signal, the chains that bound her friends fell off. They were never locked in the first place. Boris let out a braying cry, and charged a male drow servant, impaling him upon his mighty horns! Killing him in one critical blow. Kara had no time to get her crossbow, so she drew her scimitar and slashed at a priestess of Lolth, slicing the drow woman across the neck. Two dead. Grukk grappled with the two male drow that were forcing him down onto the iron table. He kicked on of them right in their family jewels, and broke free of their grasp. “You elves need to work on your strength!” The half-orc went for the claymore sword upon his back. The only drow that was not surprised at this, was the high priestess. Though bound my magical roots and vines, she chuckled. She was unnervingly calm. “Well done, sister. Treachery at its finest, though I did suspect something from the start.”
“I am not your sister, you heartless witch!” Alydrezea snapped back.
“Not yet, but you have promise. I will make you into a fine priestess of Lolth. Return you to her warm silken embrace. Though, you will need to be taught a harsh lesson!” The high priestess of Lolth flared with magical power of a deep purple hue. The two drow males that were struggling against Grukk stopped as that purple glow of arcane magic enveloped their bodies. They convulsed in pain! Their forms were magical changed from that of dark elf males, to enormous brow tarantulas, each the size of a horse. The remaining two priestess in the room drew daggers from their cloaks, each baled coated in a suspicious black venom. One of them ran over to help free the high priestess of Lolth from her magical bonds.
“No one may leave the temple! The traitor must be captured alive. Kill the others.”
Spiders came crawling down the walls of the temple of Lolth in hungry swarms, and the party was caught in a dangerous web.