Unndilar 15-16, 835
In the morning, the Clockwork Companions visited Jamil, who told them the Allegiance and Consortium were stockpiling Ruidium-infused weapons and asked them to destroy the source of the Ruidium within fourteen days, offering them 2,000 gold coins each if they succeeded.
In the evening, after a day of resting and studying, they returned to Cael Morrow.
They found that the Shield Guardian had finished mining all the Ruidium from the temple of Corellon.
Using Sarielle’s Ruidium-infused sword, they opened the rift and entered the Netherdeep beyond. Two massive statues, each missing its head, and one with an outstretched hand, lay in a large underwater cavern. Ayo stood by a tunnel and warned them not to interfere in their mission before disappearing into its darkness. They were attacked by a Slithering Bloodfin and two Light Devourers.
ACHU used his Jewel of Three Prayers to propel Sarielle into the middle of the aquatic assailants with a blast of radiance that blinded one of the Light Devourers and blasted the Slithering Bloodfin with a Guiding Bolt. Dodging the two threatening Light Devourers, Tymlor Mind Whipped all three of the aquatic assailants and retreated toward the rift. Sarielle slashed the Slithering Bloodfin with their Frost Brand. Maneuvering to the western statue, Tik blasted the Slithering Bloodfins with Eldritch Blasts just before it let out an explosion of radiance.
ACHU summoned his Celestial, which bludgeoned the Slithering Bloodfin. Tymlor Mind Whipped all three of the aquatic assailants, killing the Slithering Bloodfin, and manuevered next to Tik. After being bitten by a Light Devourer, Sarielle slashed the nearest Light Devourer with their Frost Brand. The farther Light Devourer engaged Tik as the other one exploded, engulfing everyone in its radiance.
Flanking the Light Devourer with Sarielle, ACHU hit it with Toll the Dead as his Celestial bludgeoned it. Tymlor Mind Whipped the two Light Devourers. Resummoning their Echo, Sarielle tried to retreat and was bitten by a Light Devourer as the Echo slashed at it. A Light Devourer bit Tymlor twice and both of them exploded in radiance, knocking Tymlor and Sarielle unconscious while Tik was encased in a Tomb of Levistus.
ACHU channeled his divinity to Preserve Life and cast Healing Word, reviving Tymlor, Sarielle, and Tik. His Celestial bledgeoned one of the Light Devourers. Tymlor cast Misty Step to get away from the Light Devourers. Resummoning an Echo, Sarielle slashed into the Light Devourer. Tik fell again to the Light Devourer.
ACHU went unconscious from a Light Devourer’s bite. Tymlor destroyed the two Light Devourers with a Lightning Bolt. Sarielle revived ACHU with one of Tymlor’s Potions of Healing. ACHU channeled his divinity to Preserve Life, reviving Tik.
The battle was close, as every one of them fell at one point before Tymlor destroyed the last of them with a Lightning Bolt and they revived ACHU.
The water pressure was too much for ACHU and they quickly retreated from the Netherdeep, crossing back through the rift.
Tymlor cast Tiny Hut and they rested until the next day.
While they rested, they discussed the visions they had when they were unconscious in the Netherdeep.
Tymlor saw a child was born, eerily silent, and the midwife refused to hold him. “Look. Even he knows,” she rasped to his mother as she clutched the baby, trembling. “His little soul prepares for the dread omens that will haunt him the rest of his life.”
ACHU saw two parents place a baby in front of a priest of Pelor and beg a blessing. The priest made a gesture over the infant’s head, then recoiled. “There will be no help for him here. Don’t be foolish. There is no cure for the mark of the red moon.”
Tik saw a baker hide a mussed, dirty boy behind the counter in his shop, slipping him a tart when no one was looking. Outside, children crowed and called for the omen-touched boy, laughing, as a patron furtively muttered to the baker, “He’s full of Betrayer’s blood, I heard.”
Sarielle saw a teenager sleep fitfully under a vermilion moon, its glow washed him in faint red tones. He didn’t rest easily until a cloud drifted in front of the moon, masking its sight from his slumber.
In the morning, ACHU used the ruidium axe to enter the rift. The pressure was no longer as great.
They headed north and found themselves transported into what appeared to be Alyxian’s childhood bedroom, filled with toys. As Tymlor touched his crib, he heard Alyxian’s voice: "You have found me, my friends. Witness my earliest memory. The pain of a child born under the ill-fated sign of Ruidus. We were turned on by friends and kinfolk as war raged around us. Many people suffered from my presence, my parents most of all. My story begins with them. Their story dies with me." With a loud crack, one of the shadowy figures struck Alyxian's father, sending him to the ground.
The Clockwork Companions rushed to aid Alyxian’s parents.
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