Session 46 - Diggy Diggy Hole

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Session Template:Session Number

Date played: YYYY-MM-DD

Summary

Narrative recap of key events.

NPCs Encountered

Locations Visited

Quests Advanced

Transcript

<details> <summary>Show transcript</summary> Session notes, dialogue, and DM narration. </details>

Session 46: Diggy Diggy Hole was the forty-sixth session of the Deez Nuts' Sword Coast Campaign, which took place on January 18, 2026.

Summary

The party continued their mission to create an alternate route through Garmok's Mine to avoid the hostile Myconid territory. After receiving a Scroll of Feather Fall from Ilyra Voss, they set out to find the Svirfneblin (deep gnomes) rumored to inhabit the lower tunnels. Their journey led them into combat with a Drow raiding party led by Commander Viren Tharin, followed by a tense encounter with an Aboleth lurking in an underground lake. After negotiating with the Svirfneblin Foreman, the party worked to repair a broken winch system—battling a Rust Monster and a Mimic in the process—before receiving the legendary Mattock of the Titan. Using this magical mining tool, they successfully carved a new tunnel through solid rock, creating a safe passage while singing "Diggy Diggy Hole" as their work song. The session concluded with the party meeting Derro traders and experiencing hallucinogenic effects from Myconid rapport spores before retiring to the barracks for a long rest.

Detailed Chronology

Morning at Ilyra's Study

The party awakened in Ilyra Voss's study after a long rest. Ilyra presented them with the promised Scroll of Feather Fall to aid in their descent into the deeper sections of the Underdark if needed. The party discussed their plan to find the Svirfneblin and create an alternate route through the mine. Shade attempted to be sarcastic about Ilyra's "least you could do" hospitality, given their unwilling participation in her Mind Flayer experiment during the previous session.

Journey to the Gnome Territory

The party headed toward the lower-left section of the mine where Ilyra believed the Svirfneblin resided. Karma summoned her bat familiar to scout ahead, which discovered gnome guards posted on high ledges approximately 40 feet up. Shade called out to the gnomes with a pun: "Gnomes! We gnome you're out there!" expressing their peaceful intentions and need for assistance (Persuasion check of 23).

Drow Ambush

The gnomes did not respond, but the party's call attracted unwanted attention. A Drow raiding party, led by Commander Viren Tharin, had been lying in wait and interpreted the party's friendly overture to the gnomes as an act of alliance with their hated enemies. The drow attacked with surprise:

Combat Summary:

  • Commander Viren Tharin cast Faerie Fire, illuminating Alexios, Karma, and Xanphina (only Shade saved)
  • A Drow Priestess cast Darkness to obscure the party and flew across the chasm using magical flight
  • Xanphina threw her Javelin of Lightning at the drow forces, killing one drow warrior instantly and damaging Viren
  • Xanphina's second attack with her returning trident knocked the flying Drow Priestess prone, causing her to plummet into the endless chasm to her death
  • Karma devastated the drow forces with Moonbeam, moving it strategically to damage multiple enemies
  • Alexios struck Viren with Guiding Bolt for 21 radiant damage
  • Shade cast Erupting Earth, creating difficult terrain and damaging Viren and another drow
  • The Svirfneblin guards joined the battle from their high positions, using darts to attack the drow
  • Karma's Moonbeam ultimately killed multiple drow warriors
  • Xanphina dealt the final blow to Commander Viren Tharin with her trident

The party looted the drow bodies, finding:

Aboleth Encounter

Following the battle, Shade jokingly suggested throwing a drow corpse into the nearby underground lake. Alexios decided to actually do this, which awakened an enormous Aboleth lurking in the depths. The creature's massive tentacles erupted from the water, grabbing at Alexios, who barely avoided being pulled into the lake. The party wisely chose not to engage the Aboleth and instead threw a second drow corpse into the water as an offering/distraction, then quickly retreated. The Aboleth accepted this "tribute" and left them alone.

Meeting the Svirfneblin

After the chaos, the Svirfneblin finally engaged with the party. The Foreman appeared and explained their situation: the gnomes controlled a network of tunnels but needed help creating a new passage to bypass the Myconid territory. The existing winch and lift system in the northwest area of the tunnels was broken and needed repair before they could proceed.

The Foreman explained that the winch system had been mysteriously rusting and breaking down repeatedly, even after repairs—suggesting magical interference. He offered to provide the party with mining equipment if they could fix the winch system.

Winch System Investigation

The party traveled to the winch location and encountered Derro (dark dwarves/duergar) traders who were willing to provide the necessary gears, lubricants, and mechanical parts needed for the repair—for a price.

Shade attempted to investigate the winch mechanism, but triggered a surprise attack:

Rust Monster Combat:

  • A Rust Monster emerged from the machinery, attracted by the party's metal equipment
  • Shade successfully identified it with a Nature check (22), warning the party about its metal-destroying antennae
  • The Rust Monster attacked Shade's crossbow, reducing it to a "Crossbow -1" (penalty item)
  • Alexios used his Battlefield Command ability to force the Rust Monster to walk off the cliff edge, killing it instantly with fall damage

Immediately after, Shade continued investigating and was grabbed by a Mimic disguised as part of the winch equipment:

Mimic Combat:

Repairing the Winch

With the threats eliminated, Shade successfully investigated the winch system (Investigation 20), determining exactly what parts were needed. The party negotiated with the Derro traders, offering the Moonstone Chalice in exchange for the necessary mechanical components. Alexios negotiated for a bonus lever to be included in the deal.

Xanphina (Athletics 15) and Shade (Sleight of Hand) successfully repaired the winch system, which now functioned properly for transporting materials and personnel between levels.

Acquiring the Mattock

The party returned to the Svirfneblin Foreman to report their success. Impressed with their work, the Foreman presented them with the legendary Mattock of the Titan—a magical mining tool of incredible power. He explained that this artifact could carve through solid rock as if it were soft clay.

The Foreman directed the party to a specific location in the southern tunnels where they should dig a new passage that would bypass the Myconid caves entirely.

The Great Dig

The party traveled to the designated dig site and began their mining operation. As they worked with the Mattock of the Titan, someone started singing "Diggy Diggy Hole," and the entire party joined in the work song. The magical mattock made the work surprisingly easy, and they successfully carved out a complete tunnel passage in relatively short time. The new route would allow safe travel through this section of Garmok's Mine without encountering the hostile Myconids.

Derro Traders

After completing the tunnel, the party encountered Derro traders again (or possibly the same ones from before). These merchants were interested in the new tunnel route and requested to be notified when it was fully operational. The party also acquired an Ever-smoking Bottle from these traders, though the exact terms of this transaction were unclear.

Myconid Rapport Spores

As the party prepared to rest, they were exposed to Myconid rapport spores that had drifted into the area. Shade experienced vivid hallucinations, describing disturbing visions and sensations. The party decided it was best to retreat to a safer location.

Rest in the Barracks

The exhausted party made their way to the barracks area of Garmok's Mine and settled in for a long rest. The session concluded with plans to continue their mission next game on February 1st.

Notable NPCs

  • Ilyra Voss - Wizard researcher who provided the party with a Scroll of Feather Fall
  • Foreman - Svirfneblin (deep gnome) leader who requested help with the winch and provided the Mattock of the Titan
  • Viren Tharin - Drow commander who led a raiding party against the party (defeated)
  • Drow Priestess - Unnamed drow priestess who cast Darkness and flew before being knocked into the chasm (deceased)
  • Derro Traders - Dark dwarf merchants who traded mechanical parts for the Moonstone Chalice

Locations Visited

  • Ilyra Voss's Study - Starting location
  • Garmok's Mine - Lower tunnels and caverns
    • Underground Cavern with Waterfall - Site of the drow ambush and Aboleth encounter
    • Svirfneblin Territory - High ledges with gnome guards
    • Winch System Location - Where the party fought the Rust Monster and Mimic
    • Southern Tunnel Dig Site - Where the new passage was created
    • Barracks - Where the party rested

Factions Involved

  • Svirfneblin - Deep gnomes seeking to create a safe route through the mine
  • Drow - Raiding party hostile to the gnomes and party
  • Derro - Underdark traders dealing in mechanical components
  • Myconids - Fungus creatures whose territory the party is avoiding (not directly encountered but their spores affected the party)

Items Acquired

Items Lost/Traded

  • Moonstone Chalice - Traded to Derro for winch repair components
  • Crossbow (damaged to -1) - Rusted by Rust Monster

XP and Rewards

XP awards to be determined by DM

Character Moments

  • Shade made an excellent pun when greeting the gnomes: "Gnomes! We gnome you're out there!"
  • Alexios inadvertently awakened an Aboleth by throwing a drow corpse into the lake
  • Xanphina's precision strike knocked a flying drow priestess out of the air, sending her to her doom
  • Karma's strategic use of Moonbeam devastated the drow forces
  • Alexios creatively used Battlefield Command to make a Rust Monster walk off a cliff
  • The entire party sang "Diggy Diggy Hole" as their mining work song
  • Shade experienced disturbing hallucinations from Myconid rapport spores

Notable Quotes

  • "Gnomes! We gnome you're out there!" - Shade
  • "Diggy Diggy Hole!" - The entire party during the mining sequence
  • "I think we just do a gracious bow and dip the fuck out." - Shade, after the Aboleth encounter

Trivia

  • This session featured only 4 party members, with Gootcha and Keyleth absent
  • The party successfully avoided combat with the Aboleth through clever distraction
  • Shade discovered that the Eye of Gilbraxia cannot be unattuned—it is permanently bonded to her
  • The Rust Monster combat was resolved in a single action thanks to Alexios's clever use of Battlefield Command
  • The Mattock of the Titan made mining significantly easier than expected
  • This was the second time the party encountered a Mimic in Garmok's Mine

See Also

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