Hammer 26, 1489
Dre'zel my love,
We all climbed aboard the boat that was strapped to Angajuk's back and were encased in a bubble as the whale submerged. Inside the bubble, we were able to breathe and were shielded from the freezing temperatures in the Sea of Moving Ice.
Just to be safe, Rowen cast Water Breathing on us every day.
After a few hours, we faintly saw the shimmering lights of the aurora dancing on the water's surface nearly half a league above.
The wooden deck creaked as we paced the length of the boat. Tattered blankets, graffiti, and refuse from past travelers littered the corners. A glowing crystal affixed to the whale's head emitted dim light in a 500-foot radius, illuminating the cold coral that twisted and spiraled below.
A deep trench opened beneath us. Angajuk's light shone off a grouping of giant mollusk shells aswirl with striking colors. Dancing lights seemed to flit amongst the shells, but they winked out of view as soon as we passed above them.
Angajuk dove deeper and pushed through a kelp forest full of schools of manta rays, which began to follow us. They departed from us suddenly as the forest thinned, the strands of kelp waving as they drifted and swayed hundreds of feet above the seafloor.
Ruins suddenly appeared, bigger than almost anything I’d ever seen before. Ancient temples and plazas littered the sand below, their arched doorways looming at least thirty feet high. The domes of these ancient structures appeared cracked, and some had fully caved in, revealing them to be empty and unoccupied except for schools of sharks that swam through the ruined city. Inside were glittering frescoes depicting a palace in the clouds.
In the central plaza was a towering statue covered in barnacles. It depicted a masked humanoid with broad shoulders, a morningstar in one hand and a smith's hammer in the other. One of its massive feet rested atop the head of a slain dragon.
Taimen grimaced at the sight of the slain dragon. I know she was able to negotiate with the white wyrm, but I didn’t realize she had such an affinity for dragons. I wonder if that is why she was so sullen after the berserker cave…
Hours beyond the sleeping city, the seafloor suddenly disappeared into an enormous undersea chasm. Angajuk quickly dimmed his light as we passed over the inky blackness below. He swam faster than before, angling upward, seemingly putting as much distance as he could between himself and whatever was below.
That night, Talyth cast Sendings.
To Vellynne, she sent: “Nearing Auril's island. Whale taking us transported Nass Lantomir days ago. She did not come back. Any advice if we encounter her? Ily”
Vellynne responded: “Kill her or leave her to die! Okay, that’s harsh, at the very least, find Professor Skant and be sure to give Zeleanor a pet for me!”
To Duvessa Shane, she sent: “Karkolohk treaty offer was made with ulterior motives by Yarb-Gnock. No resolution reached. Be wary of goblins on roads as they may attack.”
Duvessa Shane responded: “Damn. Thanks for the heads up. Rebuilding in Easthaven is going well. Caer Dineval empty.”
To Naerth, she sent on Taimen’s behalf: “Hey boyboss, what's popping? Sorry u got traumatized. I'm doing worse than ever. Ghost say anything about what Auril is hiding? Are you still married?”
Naerth responded: “Marriage annulled due to possession. August leading Zhentarim now. Need to take a long walk. Care to join me?”
Later that night, Taimen asked us if we found Naerth attractive, explaining that she cannot make this determination for non-dragonborn. She later explained that clan elders select dragonborn mates, at least from her tribe, but they are more frivolous outside of their own kind. I still don’t understand why such a capable warrior would have any interest in that pathetic wretch. But if she does care to use him as a plaything, then I don’t know why it matters what anyone else thinks of him.
She asked me why I was mean to her, but when I asked for an example, she could not provide me with any. I had never meant to be mean to her, and I apologized if I had been. But then she asked why I was suspicious of her, to which I pointed out that she had revived the hag we had slain. Her explanation was that since she could not know whether the hag was being truthful, she could not take any chances. I am all too familiar with this kind of blind obedience and those who use their faith as an excuse for their atrocities.
I am, once again, reminded of how fortunate I am to be graced by someone who understands me entirely and the intimacy and liberation that brings. Despite the beauty I have found on the surface, I long for my return, when we will be together once again.
Angajuk dimmed his light, and we were plunged into pitch blackness. Moments later, the deep dark was suddenly illuminated by a shimmering ribbon of bioluminescent microorganisms that stretched for miles. Their pale blue light revealed a large mass of seaweed and vines suspended in the water beneath us, floating with the tide.
After riding Angajuk for several days, we reached Umberlee’s Vale. The water was frothy from heat vents far below.
At one point, I found myself alone with Rowan…relatively speaking, given the close quarters. She asked me why I was there, which I assumed meant on the surface, and I explained my motivations for traveling on this quest. In turn, she explained her tragic family situation, which I swore I would not share. But I was moved by her tale and promised to help her however I could.
Early the next morning, we encountered what appeared to be a sea elf riding a shark. Both rider and mount seemed to be wounded with fresh battle scars. I poked a goodberry through the bubble, and she ate it, but when she quickly swam away, the ‘scars’ washed off, and we heard the loud blowing from what must have been a large conche.
Immediately, dark forms swam quickly toward us, and Angajuk began to dive as the bubble around us disappeared, leaving us exposed to the hot ocean depths. I allowed myself to sink briefly with Angajuk before I jumped off so as to stay close to my companions.
A dozen sahuagin surrounded us, and my blades served me well until I was attacked by their leader and the giant shark they rode, and I was badly wounded. Rowen was soon there, as a plesiosaurus, attacking the shark as I tried to withdraw.
When Talyth revived me, the battle was over. Sahuagin corpses floated all around us, and a half dozen sharks swam away.
Angajuk soon returned, and we boarded the whale, once more in the protection of its bubble.
Soon after, we saw Auril’s Island. It was not a real island, but a large glacier, and from beneath the massive iceberg, its shape resembled a snowflake.
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