Unndilar 11, 835
In the morning, they returned to Cael Morrow. At the base camp, Professor Insight indicated that she didn’t know how long it would take to replace the collapsed barrier.
The Clockwork Companions swam through the underwater area where the barrier had collapsed, passing through the tavern and eventually back to the dry library.
As Tymlor began casting Detect Magic, Sarielle and ACHU entered the final tower. Under the rubble, ACHU found runes on the floor and alerted Tymlor who stopped casting and examined the runes. He discovered that they were the sigil sequence for a permanent Teleportation Circle, and made a note of the sequence.
They headed east, entering the underwater area once again. After half an hour, they circled a structure and found the entrance to Corellon’s Temple. A barrier surrounded the temple, and they were unable to pass through it so they continued east.
After another half an hour, they reached a building that matched the description Professor Insight had given them. The walls were covered in faded murals depicting orcs and drow working together to build a city in the heart of a verdant jungle. Dozens of clay tablets were scattered across the floor.
As Tymlor was casting Detect Magic, ACHU noticed four Scuttling Serpentmaws emerging from the rubble and cast Aura of Vitality. Two of the aberrations attacked Tik, killing him. Another attacked Tymlor, who was protected by his Shield Guardian and Shield. Another bit into ACHU.
ACHU used his aura to heal himself and cast Word of Radiance on two nearby Serpantmaws. An aberration hit the Shield Guardian. Tymlor cast Slow on the aberrations, slowing three of them, and withdrew behind his companions. Summoning their Echo, Sarielle slashed into a nearby Serpantmaw. The Shield Guardian picked up Tik and placed him behind Sarielle. Expending some diamonds, ACHU used Revivify and his Aura on Tik to revive and heal. Tymlor lashed the fourth Serpantmaw with Mind Whip. ACHU was bitten by a Serpantmaw. Sarielle cut down one of them and was bitten by the others. Tik tried to flee but was slapped by a Serpantmaw and fell. ACHU lashed two more with Mind Whip. Sarielle slew the fourth Serpantmaw and was bitten by the two others and fell. The Shield Guardian slammed one and Tik blasted the other with an empowered Eldritch Blast. ACHU channeled his divine Preserve Life ability and Aura, reviving Sarielle and Tik. Tymlor lashed the two Serpantmaws, killing one. Sarielle slashed the last Serpantmaw and the Shield Guarding slammed it as it flailed at Tik, dropping him until ACHU revived him with his Aura and cast Cure Wounds on Sarielle. Tymlor finished the last Serpantmaw with Mind Whip.
As his companions took a short rest, Tymlor instructed the Shield Guardian to collect the tablets and took ten minutes to cast Tiny Hut. Then he took another ten minutes to cast Detect Magic but none of the tablets were magical.
Eventually, Tymlor found a few that looked like they might match Professor Inisght’s criteria, but he couldn’t understand the language, so he took another ten minutes to cast Comprehend Languages. He then found one that had writing in Celestial:
"I know not who will read this, for if I survive, reading it will not be necessary, and if I die, none will be alive to do so. Yet I feel compelled to record my thoughts. The Ruiner and his legions close upon us. The walls are breached, reduced to rubble by the one-eyed god. Thousands have already died, and thousands more will as well, unless I can muster the courage to stop him.
Already the people call me “Apotheon.” I do not deserve the title—but I shall claim it. If calling me a demigod gives them the courage to fight alongside me, I shall bear this mantle. And even if I am to fall in the hours to come, they will honor me by letting this sacrifice fuel their fight against the Betrayers. To that end, may the memory of this day never die."
As the Clockwork Companions prepared to return to the base camp, Tymlor cast Locate Creature, looking for an aboleth, which he detected to the north.
As they were making their way back, they were attacked by a Swarm of Evil Fish. Tymlor cast Haste on Sarielle, who diced up the fish pretty quickly, but not before Tymlor had to use Chronal Shift to prevent Sarielle’s infection from getting worse.
They made their way back to the base camp and gave the tablet to Professor Insight. She explained that the entrance to the Netherdeep is a rift in a glowing red crystalline dome north of the temple, but a ruidium-infused greataxe is the key required to enter, which was lost while exploring a building beyond the ruins. Prior to losing the key, her expedition briefly entered the rift and found the areas still submerged underwater, light did not travel as far as it normally does, and there were two massive headless statues just beyond the entrance.
She also mentioned other landmarks, including a collapsed building east of the rift, a kelp forest northeast of the temple, a tower east of the kelp forest, and more ruins east of the building where the tablets were found, which is where the key was lost.
The Clockwork Companions returned to the Cobalt Soul and rested for the night.
No comments:
Post a Comment