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.

Cat senses nothing of interest.

Down the ladder:

Alice once more borrows the Ring of Dark Shadows from Yulya and descends into the shaft, her spear ready.

The water wheel shafts and gearing make their way down along the same wall as the ladder but stop short at a watermark, this area was at one point flooded, this was a maintenance shaft to the area below. About 40ft down, a long passage heads East. Alice follows the desolate and deserted path East. Under rocky overhangs and in nearly every wall, passages exit in every direction but they're dark and the integrity of the walls is suspect as rubble is piling up. Many have collapsed, even the timbers have been removed or rotted away. Anything steel remain now only as rusted dust and flakes, that which was made of dwarven metal alloys remain. Powered by this contraption, now aging poorly, ruins of a grinding wheel and other stations that have long since been salvaged and scavenged for parts though some are remarkably intact. A machining table, drill press, and other metal shop equipment lead you to believe something very significant was made right here in the mine.



[The machinery are shown in these rings as pictures rather than rendered on the map.]

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.

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. It is very likely this chamber has not seen another living soul in centuries, no footprints but your own grace the dusty trail.

Whatever the mythical 'FORGE OF SPELLS' was, is truly gone without a trace.

Alice considers her next move when another light catches her attention. Bursting into a green flame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y48Wdsr1KHs



The terrifying hovering skull, no larger than that of a human's head, slowly moves toward Alice.

Cat's rage has expired.

[interactions Required]

Yulya sees Ashley off wishing her good luck and kindly refuses Alices ale

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.

Yulya cant believe her eyes
How peculiar!
Who would cast such an illusion here? Surely not your average bandit or miner! There must be a spellcaster here. I wonder how long it has been up. Clearly they didnt want anyone to see this. But I doubt it was cast to distract bulettes. So this was made to fool - us? Of course this had to happen after Ashley left and despawned her summons!



Yulya steps back and first casts GUIDANCE on Cat then on Alice handing her the Ring of Dark Shadows before she goes down.
[If Yulya can only cast one guidance she will use it on Alice]

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.

Cat looks at the passage in surprise
Nyaa what was that Nya, I've never seen anything like that Nya!


Cat carefully approaches to sniff and listen into the passage from above.