The group spent time deliberating their options for descending into the hole. Fazanna experimented with different methods, using a fly spell and venturing into the hole, but none proved successful. As they discussed their choices, they noticed a shadowy corruption spreading from the ruins above and creeping across the ceiling. Observing that it did not extend beyond the ceiling, they refocused on their task. Shiv recalled that the dray who had descended earlier muttered something before floating down. After several attempts, Fazanna realized that invoking the name of Dregoth would allow them to reach the bottom safely. However, with seven members and only four amulets, they devised a plan: four would go first, and then Safi, the druid, would wildshape into a bird, fly the amulets back to the top, and retrieve the remaining members. 

The group decided to search the ruined buildings on their left and rounded a corner to find a giant bone creature attacking a small scavenging group of first-generation dray. The creature crushed the two remaining scavengers before turning its attention to the group. Shank charged in with his axe, slicing at the creature three times and obscuring it in his ashen cloud. The bone worm bit Shank and then slammed down on him. Anvar vaccinated Shiv against disease, and Shiv rushed in, hitting the bone worm with his hammer and shoving it partially out of the ash cloud before striking it again. Karnos attempted to psionically decelerate the monster, but it shrugged off his attack. Safi cast shillelagh on his staff and struck the bone worm, while Fazanna pulled out her shadowblade and darted in. Shank switched his axe for a greatsword, but his attacks bounced off the creature, leading him to resort to punches, which also had no effect. The bone worm bit Shank again and slammed everyone nearby. Shiv struck it twice before action surging and delivering the final blow. Anvar then provided first aid to Safi. 

The Overlook Estates, once the most coveted homes nestled into the eastern wall of the hill, showcased ornate architecture and elegant ceramic ducts that once channeled water directly into these exclusive residences. Deciding this might be a promising place to search for treasure, the group split up to explore. As Shank stepped into a ruined home, he heard a sudden shuffling sound. From the shadows and debris, cursed undead emerged, their malevolent forms rising with unnatural energy, filling the air with a chilling sense of danger. An undead dwarf reached out and disintegrated Shank's hammer with a touch, forcing Shank to flee in fear.

Responding to Shank's call, Safi and Fazanna arrived. Fazanna cast a firebolt at the undead and quickly retreated, while Safi used magic stones before fleeing as well. The undead dwarf used its life-draining ability on the three of them, siphoning some of their life force to feed its own strength. Karnos appeared and Fazanna struck the undead with a lightning bolt, while Shank continued to distance himself from the creature. The dwarf drained life again, now from all four of them, growing even stronger. Karnos also fled the scene.

Safi summoned goraks and wildshaped into a hatori. Shiv arrived and struck the undead dwarf twice with his hammer. In response, the dwarf unleashed a radiating death field, killing the goraks and injuring Shiv. Shank dashed closer to help his brother, while Safi, in hatori form, swiped at the undead with his massive tail. Karnos moved closer and psionically enhanced Shank with accelerate. Fazanna missed with another firebolt. Now inhumanly fast, Shank dashed in, landed a critical hit with his cleaver, adding elemental flux, and delivered a second killing blow to the undead dwarf.

As the group carefully avoided the grasping, hanged figures in their tattered yellow robes, they approached the Shattered Gates. These colossal structures loomed ahead, their surfaces scarred and cracked from the fierce battle that had torn through the settlement. The gates, once a grand entrance crafted from intricately worked stone, now lay in ruins, with broken chunks scattered across the ground. The northern tunnel, which had once funneled the invading force, framed the gates in an ominous shadow. The scale of the destruction was staggering, offering a haunting glimpse into the chaos that had overwhelmed this place. 

They descended deeper into the tunnel, moving quickly away from the Groaning City. As the passage sloped downward, the tunnel suddenly illuminated, and they were lifted off the ground by an unseen force. A voice echoed in their minds—it was Primik the Mover, demanding to know who they were and why they had come. Despite their efforts, they failed to convince Primik of their intentions. He refused to assist them and warned that he would inform Dregoth of their presence. The weight of their failure hung heavy.

The tunnel continued beyond the lava flow and opened into a vast cavern. At the entrance, they encountered the shattered remnants of a once-grand stone gate, with debris scattered across the ground. Beyond the rubble, a precarious rope bridge spanned a river of boiling magma, just ten feet below, casting an ominous glow. Despite the relentless heat and sporadic bursts of fiery rock, the bridge held firm as they crossed. On the other side, a deep rumbling voice called out from a roofless building. There, they met Bracorr, a fire giant who revealed that Dregoth had kidnapped and questioned him before he escaped. Trapped in this place, Bracorr sought a way back to his world, knowing Dregoth had a portal but unable to use it. A fire shaman by nature, Bracorr had lost his connection to his god. He allowed the group to rest briefly in his shelter. 

Around the same time, Fazanna and Safi stumbled upon a nest of fire snakes. Fazanna hastened herself with a spell, but a fire snake charged at Safi, missing its bite but successfully spitting fiery venom, paralyzing her. Alerted to the danger, Shiv rushed in, pulled Safi to safety, and then returned to kill one of the fire snakes, skillfully dodging its bite and venom. Fazanna cast Toll the Dead, killing another snake. As the snakes drew closer, one managed to bite Shank, who then charged in recklessly, killing two snakes before switching places with Shiv. However, a snake bit Shank, paralyzing him with its venom. Shiv pulled Shank away and killed another snake with his hammer. Fazanna cast Toll the Dead again, wounding another snake. A snake retaliated by biting Shiv, but he disengaged and killed the wounded snake. Shiv was bitten again, but he retaliated with his gauntlets, killing the snake. Karnos then appeared and blasted one of the snakes with his psionic crystal. The last snake bit Safi but failed to hit Shiv with its venom. Fazanna cast Flame Blade and Toll the Dead as Shiv killed the final snake. 

As they approached, the group noticed a cluster of ancient buildings with worn facades that showed signs of habitation. Despite the well-maintained structures, the tense atmosphere suggested constant vigilance and readiness for unexpected visitors. Suddenly, more than a dozen tall figures emerged from the shadows to surround them. These figures, nearly seven feet tall, wore ragged hides and patchwork leather armor, carrying crude bone weapons. With hunched backs, long necks, and reptilian heads atop snaking necks, their scaly crimson skin and black spikes resembled drakes or even the Dragon, yet their shape was humanoid. These dray were led by Mosak Eggstealer, who urged the group to accompany them to the settlement to share food and drink.

In the settlement, they were treated as children, having not yet passed the rites marking a Kragmorta dray’s progression into adulthood. During casual conversation, they learned that the first-generation dray constantly sought Dregoth’s forgiveness, with each dray offering prayers and expressions of regret, revealing their belief that their god was angry with them. Despite their prayers, they also cursed Dregoth’s name, hating him for banishing them to Kragmorta. The first-generation dray looked down on their second-generation cousins, referring to them as lesser dray, seeing them as inferior and spoiled.

After their victory over the drake, the group was celebrated as heroes and warmly welcomed. Mosak then requested their help to defend the community from invaders. As they searched through a gently curved building ahead, they initially appeared to be gith, but closer inspection revealed their ornate and functional armor and helms. When one of the intruders spotted them, its face twisted into a sinister grin.

One enemy used psionics to compel Shank to grovel. Karnos attempted to use his psionic ability, Pandemonium, but it failed. He then provided Shiv with advantage. The enemies dropped their illusions, revealing their true forms. One enemy swooped in and attacked Fazanna, clawing her and then paralyzing and poisoning her with its tail. Shiv attacked with his hammer, hitting once and grappling the enemy. Another enemy flew in and clawed Safi, who responded by summoning goraks and wildshaping into his hatori form. A hatori then attacked its own kind, while the goraks engaged one of the enemies.

Shank, following the command, groveled on the ground but was still hit by the enemy’s tail, which paralyzed him despite his attempt to cast Shield and turn invisible. Passk pulled the paralyzed Fazanna away from harm. An enemy swooped in on Shank, who was paralyzed by the tail. Shiv switched to punching the enemies, used Second Wind, and dragged the grappled enemy away. Another enemy attacked Safi, causing him to lose his wild shape. Safi teleported away using Dimensional Step and cast Lesser Restoration on Fazanna, ending her paralysis.

An enemy clawed Anvar, while Karnos used a Psychic Blast to stun five enemies and kill one. The enemies teleported next to Karnos, who turned insubstantial to avoid their attacks. The goraks killed another enemy. Anvar disengaged and provided first aid. Fazanna then struck and killed another enemy. One enemy teleported but did not reappear. Another attacked the goraks, and yet another was incapacitated by their hypnotic frills. The group managed to kill the last remaining enemy.