Out of the Abyss

72

TREASURE

Scattered around the floor are 10 gp. 11 sp, and a damp

piece of lizard-skin parchment with the words "Worship

Buppido" written in shaky Dwarvish.

2. DISEASED POOL
   This pool is fed by a river that flows from the Darklake.
   The river carries many things from the subterranean
   lake. including the carcasses of countless creatures,
   fouling the pool (see the "Wborlstone Tunnels: General
   Features'" sidebar).

The tunnel slopes down to the edge of a large pool that

fills the cavern ahead. The opposite shore is nearly one

hundred feet away, but nothing can be seen beneath the

surface of the black water.

The water is heated by a thermal spring and pleasantly

warm. However, the pool is disease-ridden. Any c reature

that starts its turn in the water must make a DC 13

Constitution saving throw. On a failed save. the creature

is infected with cackle fever (see ''Diseases" in chapter 8

of the Dungeon Master's Guide). Gnomes are immune.

The characters can try to get around the pool without

swimming it, by using magic or climbing along the

walls. Climbing the slippery walls of the cavern requires

a successful DC 13 Athletics check. On a failed check. a

character falls into the water.

3. P A RADE OF FOOLS
   Myconidsjourneying through the Underdark were
   attracted to the enriched fungal life in the Whorlswne
   Tunnels and made a stop here. They arc friendly, but
   there is something seriously wrong with them.

The tunnel opens into a natural cave, wherein you see

several fungal creatures dancing to a silent tune. Three

of them stand five feet tall, while the others are half as

tall. One of the small ones stands apart from the rest,

its movements not nearly as frantic. Hunched nearby

are two larger creatures that resemble apes covered with

mushroom growths and yellow mold.

Characters who know anything about myconids know

that myconids don't dance. If Stool is with the party.

it points this out. This group is composed of three

myconid adults and five myconid sprouts. Stool

recognizes one of the sprouts the one not dancing-

as his buddy. Rumpadump (see "Development"). The

ape-like creatures a re two quaggoth spore servants,

and each one is covered with a patch of yellov .. • mold

(see "Dungeon Hazards" in chapter 5 of the Dungeon

Master's Guide). Whenever a quaggoth spore servant is

touched or takes damage, it releases a cloud of yellow

mold spores until its mold patch is destroyed.

The myconids are too swept up in their silent revelry

to notice the characters. If the adventurers attack, the

CllAPTER 4 I GRACKl.STUCll

myconid adults fight frercely while the sprouts run and

hide. The spore servants join the fray if either they or

the myconids are threatened. Otherwise. they remain

motionless.

If the characters If} to communicate with the

myconids. they relt>ase rapport spores so that everyone

can speak telepathically. The leader of the myconids

is an adult named Voosbur. who speaks on behalf

of the others. Sharing thoughts with these sentient

mushrooms is an odd and strangely intoxicating

experience (and feels quite different than the rappon

the characters might have shared with Stool). Voosbur

happily tells the party how its ''troupe'' was attracted

by the special mushrooms in these tunnels, and it tells

the characters about the magical properties of the

pygmywort and bigwig mushrooms. Voosbur further

explains that the myconids didn't wander into this

area, but arrived here by traveling ''through the Lady's

dream." Voosbur describes "the Lady" as a powerful

being that loves and guides all myconids. He offers to

share "the Lady's gift" with the characters. allowing

them to travel "through the Lady's dream·· as the

myconids do. Characters who accept the offer gain

Zuggtmoy's gift (sec the sidebar).

If present, Stool tells the characters it has no idea

what Voosbur is talking about. Additionally, Sarith

Kzekarit starts to act erratically. trying to warn the

characters away from the myconids, but unable to shake

off the influence of Zuggtmoy's spores.

The myconid sprout standing by itself is named

Rumpadump. It sends a subtle warning as a feeling of

distress through its own rapport spores in response to

Voosbur's offer. saying that the other myconids aren't

behaving right.

ROLEPLAYING RUMPADUMP

Rumpadump is as introverted as Stool is outgoing.

preferring to hang back and not usc its rapport spores

unless absolutely necessary. Whether Stool is present or

not, Rumpadump can ~uide the characters tO Neverlight

Grove (see chapter 5), where the sovereigns might know

of a way out of the Undcrdark. However. the myeonid

sprout is worried that Voosbur's "strange spores" might

have infected the rest of the myconids back home.

DEVELOPMENT

Voosbur takes no offense if the characters refuse

his offer to teach them how to travel "the Lady's

dream.~ simply bidding them farewell as the myconids

resume their dancing. If the characters have shown

Rumpadump any kindness. it asks their permission

to join the party. especially if Stool is present. At the

same time. Sarith breaks away from the party w join

the myconids. The drO\\ turns one last time ro give the

characters a look of terror and despair before his face

loses all expression. He and the dancing myconids then

enter a mushroom patch and use the tree stride ability

granted by Zuggtmoy's blessing to vanish from sight.

XP AWARDS

Award 50 XP to each char·acter if the party parlayed

with the myconids.