Sleeper's Tomb

"I warn ye now, lass, it's nae simple to get there. But if ye can find these critters, ye'll find the meat soft and tender and white. There's a pie..."

Her eyes went dreamy with the recollection.

"Ye'll need to make a special pot mind, and it's not reusable. But take the fish and some cream ... don't overspice it mind, mayhaps a touch of fennel but no more ... bake it up and eat it fresh. I've never tasted anything like it before or since."

I've dreamt of making the Slumberfish pie ever since.

My friends laughed, it seemed an impossible goal. As the years went on I got to know some mighty warriors and adventurers and I continued to repeat my desire to see this dragon's lair and fish there. Finally, by some miracle of Bristlebane, the unthinkable happened. Keys to enter this mighty tomb were found by companions of mine and they rushed to me in Rivervale, still recovering from my previous journey to the Frigid Barrier, and bid me to come with them. They were going to enter the Sleeper's Tomb.

Such an offer doesn't come to a halfling every day; I picked up my bag, making sure I had bait, and quickly returned to Velious. I paused in front of the stone statue for a moment, remembering how often I had stood here before wishing I could enter. Then I wielded my rod and turned the key.

What a dark and gloomy place! All sound was muted except for the incessant flapping of gargoyle wings, it was all I could do not to plug my fingers into my ears! I was relieved to be surrounded by brave companions in such a cursed place.

"Where's the water?"

It seemed to me we should get our fish and leave as quickly as possible.

"Is the Progenitor up?" asked someone else. I didn't know who this was or why we needed to know, but it was confirmed he was to the joy of those around me.

Edashi, the Iksar who rescued me in Cabilis, began running out and dragging horrible gargoyles towards us. The others rushed into the frey while I stood in the back, clutching my fishing rod and praying to Bristlebane that this trip would not end in bloodshed. He shouted at us to move forward and we fairly ran into another room where I was surprised to find a collection of people standing against the wall. I spoke to a dark elf who introduced himself as Ferrin Q'Nyil but he made me even more nervous with his story.

"I may look as though I am healthy and vibrant, though your eyes deceive you. It has been so long since I was imprisoned here, I cannot tell you when it was. To me it seems like only yesterday, but I know deep down that time does not pass for me any more. I, like you, thought that the intrigue and mystery of this great lair was second only to the treasures that lay within. When I arrived however, I found not a lair, but a massive tomb whose occupants were meant to keep a very large, and very powerful beast within."

"I seek these treasures," I admitted. "The Weary Wrass. I'm told others have left with such booty."

He gazed at me but would not answer, I fear his mind has been traumatised by this cursed place. Meanwhile the Iksar was continuing to tempt the foul guards towards us, where the warriors fell upon them. It was a mean-spirited ambush but I was told there was no other way. Slowly we crept forward, around a great hall and up a steep ramp into a corridor.

"Behind us, where the fountain is, is safe," said Edashi.
"So we can fish now? We've made it?"

As I spoke, a guard rushed towards us from the opposite direction. I wished to flee into the safe room but the others stood and fought and I did not wish to be accused of abandoning them. I tried to curtail my impatience, waving my pole shouting threats of Bristlebane at the foul being.

"The Progenitor!" exclaimed someone and an extremely brave although not very bright troll stepped forward. "Keep me alive," he said and faced up to the giant beast. He wielded a wicked blade in each hand and taunted the monster some ten times his size. I hid behind a wood-elf ranger, hoping his bow would keep the thing at bay.

It was a long and painful fight. The troll fell to his knees but a rather cute barbarian quickly took up his place, defending the warrior until a cleric could see to his wounds. Eventually, the behemoth was mortally wounded and after screaming again that we should not pass he crumbled to the ground. Now, at last, the way was clear. I opened the room and saw a large pool of water guarded by a stone dragon.

"We need to move back to the entrance for the Master of the Guard," said Edashi.
"That's the wrong way," I said. "There is water here and I can see the movement of fish."
"We need to be at the entrance," said another.
"The water..."

No one was listening. I clutched my rod tightly as people began to move back the way we came when what I can only assume was the voice of the almighty Bristlebane filled our ears.

"Greetings, All ZONES will be RE-POPPING in 5 minutes. Please Plan accordingly, thank you."

I did not know what this meant but to my relief my companions skidded to a halt and turned back towards me. My face turned red with the cursing that suddenly filled the air.

"We should stay," said a paladin who is a pinnacle of the dwarf community.
"The Progenitor will repop," said another.
"What was that and what does it mean," I asked.

"It means," said the archer who had protected me so well, "that you can fish."

He pulled a fishing rod out of his backpack and opened the door. I rushed through, almost tripping in my desire to finally cast my line into the murky water. I did not and do not know why my companions first wanted to leave and were now staying, but I would not miss this chance.

The others began to move towards us and quite a few pulled out fishing rods of their own and joined me on the cold marble ledge. The fish were biting like mad, I can only guess they do not see much food in these still waters as soon my waterproof sack was fairly bulging with the famous Weary Wrass.

Unfortunately the fish were soon disturbed by the dwarves in the party jumping into the freezing water!

"Today is the anniversary dorfish bath day," shouted Tarrak, who I fear will never become a decent fisherman despite my long lectures in Dagnor's Cauldron.

"The fish!" I cried as I watched Miladir and Laerentia, typically promiscuous elves both of them, jump into the water with the men. But it was too late, the fish were frightened away and only rusty daggers and fish scales seemed to remain in the pool.

Still, I had a stack of the rare fish in my bag, a longtime dream come true. I will need to journey to the gorge near my home to find the clay Niami described to me for the pot and then I will be able to try these pies for myself. I still have much of Norrath to explore, but I can not help but feel that no other excursion will hold the excitement of this one.