Alice is taken by surprise and struck by the blast. While realizing her glorious ambush failed, she must witness Cat's disposal of the precious dwarven ale
Damnit Cat! Couldn't you have used a barrel of blast component instead? And where are your running off?

Alice considers her options but realizes she can only follow Cat and drags Yulya along.
For now we must retreat and regroup!

Alice dashes out of the door behind Cat

Dear viewers, before any misunderstandings occur, everything my host said is happening in minecraft D&D

Unexpectedly, host gained weight while abroad. Hhe did eat a lot but also worked a lot. Well, looks like I'll have to put him on 300 kcal for a week. A few vegetables and mushrooms per day. Also saves money. I like saving money.

Well, you said we can't do anything else than choose a position.

[You each may choose a location within 30ft of the ladder before the skull can arrive at the ladder, but due to the order of events, take no further actions until the start of next round. The Skull has initiative.]

That didn't turn out so well, I didn't expect it to go kaboom. Not bad...
So what do we do now? If we go down we face the same problem as before. I propose we just wait up here but out of range of the kaboom. Either the skull comes up, then it gets a boosted spell from Yulya. Or it stays down then we rest.

Alice dashes up the ladder like a squirrel and pops up at the higher floor like a penguin jumping out of an ice hole.


Movemovemove!
Green Mormesk incoming! Looks happy but not too peaceful!

Alice tries to determine what the light source she saw from above was and goes deeper into the undisturbed cave.
Hmm, I was wrong! Clearly none of the bandits made it down here. They probably didn't see through the illusion. Well I wouldn't have either. That's Yulya for you!

Remnants of FORGE OF SPELLS:
A pedestal catches your attention, the source of light, a fine orange glow emanating from the air itself as if generated from something out of phase of space and time. Markings can be seen and read in three distinct languages explain the forge of spells once sat here but now it's nothing but an impressive foundation. With a heavy heart, The Great Works are abandoned.
This impressive chamber was the heart of the Wave Echo Cave machining operation for the mines. Here, and in secret, the dwarves, gnomes and halflings took raw metal and made all they needed. A now dry channel is where the dwarves diverted the water from the waterwheel above to power another set of waterwheels here, all rotted to the point that only fragments remain. The 'Great Works' marks a fascinating history of the work done here. Of all the rooms this one is the largest thus far, the only thing keeping it from collapsing in on itself is the way its ceiling was domed.

Alice inspects the large chamber with amazement.
What's this?
Remnants of more advanced human technology before this planet fell back into the stone age? Is this the place those dwarves wanted us to reach? Then the jewel we were supposed to bring back must be on that pedestal...

Alice is relieved all the machinery looks very humanoid-made and shows no signs of the alien technology of the Men of Iron.

More than a dozen withered corpses lie scattered around the machine shop room—individuals still wearing remnants of aprons smocks and heavy gloves for working, they appear to be smaller than dwarves, perhaps more gnomes or halflings. All unceremoniously thrown into the now dry channels.

Alice looks at the skeletons with unease.
Is this another bulette nest? Should I get rid of their skulls or not?

Alice considers her next move when another light catches her attention. Bursting into a green flame.
The terrifying hovering skull, no larger than that of a human's head, slowly moves toward Alice.

Alice is delighted and claps her hands
Ohhh a green Mormesk! How cool! Are you related to the blue guy one floor higher? Where's the rest of your body?
Hey hey! Do you wanna be my familiar? We could have lots of fun exterminating pests together!



Before you attack me listen! Do you understand me? We're the NPWC, the Neverwinter Pest and Weed Control! We were sent here because you have a pest problem! Bandits and some crazy drow elf necromancer have infested the Wave Echo cave! We're only here to get rid of them! So don't pointlessly attack me, let's fight those guys that cause trouble in your home together! I don't know what they're up to but it's no good!



Alice pauses and thinks for a second.
Oh, might you be the Undead Watcher? I have heard about you! You appear to be quite famous! I am Alice, a traveler from another world, professional pest remover and passionate ear collector. What's your name?

Alice sincerely hopes she is able to befriend the skull as her pet, but in case dialogue is impossible and she is attacked, Alice will use her full movement of 3x40ft (dash+bonus dash) to retreat back up and report.

Alice takes out the ale, finding cups, she begins to pour. Tasting it:
She determines the quality is high and the alcohol content is 5.4%, as ales go, Dwarven ale is known for it's smooth texture, strong bitter flavor and crisp sharp kick. 9/10 Dwarves agree, other ales all taste watered down by comparison.

Ah excellent! Finally something worthy in this damn mine! You have some, Cat! We'll have some fun until Ashley's back.

Ashley then takes off her robe and ties it into a bundle using the straps. She begins to undress. "No looking! That goes for you two too!"

Alice rolls her eyes.
Yeah yeah...
Nobody wants to see that scrawny body of yours! You really should eat more of Cat's cooking so you don't have to be ashamed to run around naked. Like me!

Yulya sees something odd about the Eastern wall. She approaches and tries to touch the wall, the illusion protecting the area suddenly becomes clear and a passage leading down is shown.
There is a ladder leading down, it seems to be made for smaller humanoids to access, but it's large enough for passage by humans. Remnants of a hoist remain where heavy loads and a space just large enough for a minecart could be lifted up and down the shaft and placed on a rail, again the rails have all been removed in this room long ago. Yulya is certain there are no traps, the ladder seems to go down about 40ft to another room, barely lit by some unseen source which could be a torch or glowstone.

Alice looks over Cat's shoulder down into the passage
Owo what's this?
I KNEW they were hiding under the floor like rats! Didn't I say it?

Alice waits for Cat's sensory report, but exchanging a few looks, it's clear who's job it is to scout that passage out. Alice once more borrows the Ring of Dark Shadows from Yulya and descends into the shaft, her spear ready.

Relatively.
There were niggers, it was still relatively civilized. Lots of trash though as expected. And fucking hot