Out of the Abyss

CHAPTER 6: BLINGDENSTONE '

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Bliogdenstone, once called the City of Speaking Stones,

is a deep gnorm: settlement founded more than two

:nillennia ago. The deep gnomes, insular and secretive

by nature, care little about histories and legacies, and

thus most of the ruined city's past is lost to time.

For centuries, Blingdenstonc remained hidden and

olated from the rest of the Underdark, thanks to a

ombinalion of misdirection and magic. It wasn't until

·hey provided shelter to a drow exile named Drizzt

Do'Urden that the deep gnomes began to take a more

• ·tive interest in the world outside their caverns.
  Perceiving the threat the drow represented to all the
  .eoples of the Underdark, the deep gnomes abandoned
  heir isolation when they came to the defense of the
  warves of Mithral Hall. defeating an invading drow
  ·~rce from Menzoberranzan.
  This alliance, howevt"r, would spell Blingdenstone's
  joom. The vengeful drow bided their time, rebuilt their
  "rces. and sent their armies out to strike back hard
  -~ainst the svirfneblin, returning in great force to lay
  ,1ege to Blingdenstone. The deep gnomes were no
  ":latch for the drow army. Thousands of svirfneblin we re

I

slaughtered, and those s urvivors who didn't escape to

Mithral Hall or the surface world were dragged back in

chains to Menzoberranzan as s laves.

Within the past decade or so, the deep gnomes have

returned to reclaim, resettle, and rebuild their city. The

ultimate success of their efforts, however, hangs by a

slender thread. Most of the ruined city is a dangerous

place and remains closed off, with tunnels and

chambers barricaded with gates or deliberately caused

cave-ins. The svirfneblin must contend with incursions

by wererat squatters. insane elemenrals. ghosts, and

a plague of invading oozes controlled by the Pudding

King - a mad deep gnome under the influence of the

demon lordjuiblex. Before they can offer the party any

help, the deep gnomes likely need some themselves.

GOING TO BLINGDENSTONE

Blingdenstone is an obvious destination for characters

seeking refuge from their drow pursuers and a way out

of th~ Underdark. The deep gnomes continue to have

regular dealings with the surface world.

CHAP'l fR 6 ( BUNGDENSTON E

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