Felicia steps to the edge of the pool gazing at the light - it had been so long in this cloying darkness. "Do you suppose it's real?" she asks no one in particular as she imagines the warmth of those lost days.
In place of answering, Pengaal reaches down and dips a finger in the water.
Pengaals hand sinks beneath the surface with only a ripple on the surface of the water. It is cool and puts him at ease. In fact, he feels some urge to go further into the water. It is not a hostile feeling, nor does it feel like his will is being in any way supplanted.
For those watching the only unusual aspect is that the water in the pool is so dark that you cannot see his hand once it goes beneath the water.
Following the urge for the moment, Pengaal reaches farther in until his face is inches from the surface.
Pengaal leans further and further forward. The pool is deep apparently, deceptively so. His full arm reaches inside and he still feels no hints of a bottom...
Suddenly he feels himself unexpectedly slip and fall forward! He tumbles headlong into the pool which swallows him in turn. The water splashes as he disappears beneath the surface, but not violently, and none of it spills past the walls of the pool. You quickly lose sight of your fellow survivor as he slips beneath the surface. The only trace is the gently shimmering image of the sun reflecting peacefully across the water.
As you start to look about for perhaps some means of escape, you spot a point of orange light in the distance.
Yuria reaches out a moment too late to save Pengaal as she gives a small gasp "Pengall-!"
"The pool draws people in.... There is a myth that it contains another world... Perhaps it is not a myth, then. We'll have to follow Pengaal into this black Deep. I am unable to send anything in after him other than myself..."
Floundering, spinning wildly, Pengaal quickly looses all orientation - the inky water yielding no hint of direction save the orange point. He floats, lost, for a moment...
Past the initial panic, there was something comforting about the sensation. In his oldest memories he floats, scourged by Gelid and its icy talons, before being plucked from the water. This was... well, it was much more pleasant. Like a good dream.
Shaking his head, he strikes out for what might be firelight with long, strong strokes.
"Pengaal!" Ludwig jumps to the pool and looks into it, his face almost touching the water. "We don't seem to have a choice."
Ludwig dives into the pool, first his arm, then the rest of the body.
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Siegschwert finished approaching the bookshelf, yet controlled the urge to sit and read the tomes.
Instead he started stuffing as many tomes as he could on his weary backpack, a dozen or more before he had to stop due to the leather container threathening to rip open like a summer fruit.
The Librarian Knight bid farewell to the k owledge that he was about to leave behind, so distracted he was that he almost missed Pengaal slipping into the pool.
"Mmmh... ominous... mmmh." he commebted as he walked towards the magical liquid ln the ground, but he doubted stepping inside for he carried sensible material now. Only a second, though, as helping a friend in distress was more important than knowledge in the dark world they lived now.
And so he jumped.
With half of the survivors rushing into the pool after their companion, things quickly set into a panic. The water churns angrily and sudennly explodes out of the pit, flooding the room. Yuria and Felicia are both submerged instantly along with the Twilight Deserter. A strong riptide drags them down into the dark waters.
Meanwhile, Pengaal approaches the orange light he had seen. As he gets closer he realizes that it is not in fact a fire, but a handprint done in gloppy orange paint that is glowing brilliantly. When he gets close enough to examine it Pengaal feels the twang of recollection within his brain. This is his handprint.
No sooner does the thought cross his brain when he sees the handprint pulse once, causing light to come spilling out into the dark water. He sees before him, illuminated now, the all too familiar sight of the Twilight Tree, complete with the painted marks he had left on it when he first arrived. The rest of the area is revealed as the tide of darkness goes out. The ground around the base of the tree is dry and cracked and the tree itself looks older now, more withered. The witches disciple is there, resting at the base of the tree. Outside of the clearing is thick foliage, but not that of a forest. This is a swamp, with thick, muggy air and low hanging tree branches. In the distance there is the profile of some structure, barely peaking over the treeline.
High above, by some miracle, the sun! The light shines through dark clouds peppering the sky and the chocking canopy of branches to strike all around the clearing. The sight alone is enough to question if you have somehow slipped into some other world. Or, rather, because the Deep is "the other world", if you have somehow entered some new, third place.
The rest of the survivors find themselves in this clearing as well, no doubt just as surprised at the sudden change of scenery.
"First a forest, then mountains and now a swamp. And the sun! Where are we?"
Ludwig sits under the tree, resting and enjoying the rays of the sun.
Pengaal doesn't answer for a long stretch, enamored first by his handprint and then by the sun. He stands facing it, eyes closed and luxuriating, and answers without turning away. He's surprisingly tall, when he's not hunched over.
"Where we were, I think? We traveled down an inverted mountain only to find the sun." That the swamp has found me again, is more troubling. Does the Gelid travel through here too? He sets those thoughts aside for the moment, though, content to savor the warmth.
With light steps, Pengaal approaches the witch's disciple and touches her lightly on the shoulder, trying to wake her.
The Disciple rouses gently, blinking away the sleep. When she sees the survivors a weary smile spreads across her features. "Ah, you've returned" she says, quickly rising to embrace you and then sit on her rock once again.
"Please, tell me, what have you seen?"
"The last stand of the Twilight Order, or perhaps just a part of it. They fought against the Kingsmen to protect a library; we killed the last of the Kingsmen including their Prince. We swam, through darkness, and returned here. Tell me..." he pauses, whetting his lips, not entirely sure he wants to ask the question. "When we spoke last, you said that this place was somehow spared from the 'turbulent tides of change'. Does this still hold true? I see a swamp, where before there was none. Is this a memory?"
Aster the Disciple blinks and looks around. Sorrow crosses her face as she says "I'm sorry, I see only darkness surrounding us..."
But she continues, gripping Pengaals hand as if to reassure him. "But you are the Twilight Marked, so of course you would be the ones blessed with purpose. So perhaps it was not this place that was spared, but you!"
She leans back, releasing Pengaals hand. "Memories are a strange thing. They are not entirely real or unreal, but something between. A rejection of the flow causality, we cling desperately to these things as proof that we have existed. Is that what you see? The pleas of a dead reality to continue living on in the mind of the survivors?" She shakes her head "No, I'd think not. Such an idea fills me with despair. There must be some meaning to all this, some reason to go on. I will believe that no matter what."
"It is not just a swap... we see the sun. Perhaps this place seeks to not to simply live, but to motivate? What is coming may be horrible indeed...
I had a request, if you would. We recovered several items from the Prince and his men, and were hoping that you could help us explore their abilities."
"Of course"
"Thank you. These, if you would." He passes over the whip, the ring, and the Prince's jerkin.
Aster nods and takes the three items.
She closes her eyes and places her hands over the whip first. Her brow furrows after a moment and she speaks without opening her eyes:
"I see...a life lived apart from others. Surrounded by something alien, something that mortal minds are not meant to comprehend. Fear, loneliness, and then a loss of self. To this, life is a perversion."
The cruel device wielded by the nefarious entity known as the Prince.Oh God, why am I alone? You have left me here behind.
Oh Lord, what is the meaning of this? I feel only pain.
Damned Spirit, who can answer? I will tear down the pillars of heaven.
Once Aster has finished with the whip she exhales and quickly hands it back. When you give her the ring she smiles. "Ah, I remember this"
She closes her eyes once again:
"Blessed be those with heedless ambition. Blood for coin; care to strike a bargain?"
Ouroboros Ring
A plated ring depicted a coiled serpent consuming its own tail. Traditionally a symbol of greed.
When the bearer of this ring strikes the killing blow against a creature, they increase the amount of souls gained by 10%
Finally she takes the cloak:
"Ah, I sense such sorrowful warmth. This cloak once warmed the heart of a caring soul. She was isolated by her own darkness, yet never truly alone. Yet...some chose to rob her of even this small solace."
No matter how one moves while wearing this cloak, they will feel as if they are being constantly embraced.There was once a blind maiden who was last of the faithful. Though she could not see the world around her, she knew the truth of it. Only this cloak survives her
Ludwig, dozed off while sitting under the tree, gets up and stretches. "And again, we venture forth into the unknown. Whom will we meet now, I wonder? Another madman? A beast?"
"Thank you. They may be cruel, but they still serve."
Rain begins to fall gently in the swamp. The sun has start to set, now hanging just above the treeline. The structure you had seen earlier is framed perfectly in the center of the sunset, causing the building to look as if aflame.
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The Librarian Knight had been silent since they crossed the water portal. He was struggling to decide but he couldn't.
As Ludwig mentioned venturing into the unknown yet again, he knew what to do. With almost ceremonial calmness, Siegschwert walked to the Disciple of the Witch and took out his backpack.
"I have... a duty... that makes any other purpose... pale in comparison." he said as he offered Aster the books and scrolls he recovered "Without knowledge... there's no hope for humankind... but I might die... in the void world... that we live now... Would you please keep these safe until... our return?"
"Time to leave, I agree. This place is pleasant, but we can hardly stay here forever, and I see some building in the distance. Perhaps its occupants, if any, can answer our questions?"
Standing and stretching the kinks out, Pengaal ties the whip to his waste and fastens his newly-looted cloak around his shoulders.
The Librarian Knight had been silent since they crossed the water portal. He was struggling to decide but he couldn't.
As Ludwig mentioned venturing into the unknown yet again, he knew what to do. With almost ceremonial calmness, Siegschwert walked to the Disciple of the Witch and took out his backpack.
"I have... a duty... that makes any other purpose... pale in comparison." he said as he offered Aster the books and scrolls he recovered "Without knowledge... there's no hope for humankind... but I might die... in the void world... that we live now... Would you please keep these safe until... our return?"
Aster nods quietly and gingerly takes the books from Siegschwert. She splits them between a wooden box and leather satchel for safekeeping.
Felicia cracks her neck and gives a thought to Ludwig's musings, "A mad beast perhaps?" She sighs lightly, letting the breath slowly leave her body - it had been a long journey. With a smile and a chuckle she continues - "Maybe the Deep will shock us all with a friendly face and good food?"
With that she dons her armor carefully, checking the straps and noting the many nicks it had taken for her. She places her pack on her back, her shield over it all like a large shell and says "Let's continue I suppose - towards the setting sun and into another wonderful adventure."
Yuria stands from meditation, dusting the dirt off her knees as she sighs "I sincerely doubt there will be a friendly face, but...."
"Sorrel.... Perhaps...."
"I suppose there is always a chance... Regardless... I suppose it is time to move. I will do what I can to unveil mysterious beings as we travel."
The group of survivors trudge into the swamp in the direction of the swamp. Some among them are weary from the trials they have faced thus far, but they move forward all the same.
Once they've passed the tree line they lose sight of the building. Rain continues to trickle down from the canopy overhead, soaking into the soft, spongy ground. There are no marked paths or trails in sight to follow.
The survivors quickly find this area of the swamp has become flooded. Pools and small ponds have formed by the dozens, filled now with murky, stagnant water. The ground here gives way easily and the survivors must step carefully lest they find themselves sliding into the water.
Why risk the ground at all? Being familiar with this kind of terrain, Pengaal scurries up into the trees like a snake and leaps from bough to bough as they move.
Felicia does her best to trudge through the loose earth and water as the group ventures further.
The wilderness is not his preferred terrain, but Ludwig does what he can to move forward.
Pengaal climbs into the trees while Felicia leads the other survivors from the ground as best she can. However, Ludwig inadvertently finds himself on a slick incline, sliding away from the group and towards one of the larger pools of water. Both Yuria and Siegschwert move after him, catching him before he slides into the water.
Now that you've made your way into the swamp you see the clear signs of hunting traps having been placed in various places, all around you. It's miraculous that one of you hadn't accidently triggered one alreadu/ There's at least 5 in the near area, with the majority of them being around where Ludwig, Siegschwert, and Felicia ended up.
In fact, it seems most of the traps you can see are clustered near the edges of the various pools of water...
From your spot in the trees you have a clearer vantage point than some of the other survivors. When you stop to check on the other survivors you see what look like figures lingering in the pools of water. No, that's not quite what they look like...
Then it hits you: they look like the bodies that you had once seen flowing along the Gelid, except there is no current to carry them here so they've simply sunken to the bottom of the pooling water. Could it be that this entire swamp has been flooded by that cursed river?
Dropping down in front of the others, Pengaal hangs from one arm while speaking in a hushed whisper. "You have been walking through fields of traps, and the waters are full of the dead. This place... it is most familiar. Come, I will do my best to point the traps out to you as we travel."
"Thanks! Damn swamp."
Ludwig looks around but sees nothing. "Field of traps? It's a miracle we haven't triggered any."
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The librarian knight heeds Pengaal words drawing his massive blade. With but a nod he turns around calmly, trying to gaze at the bodies, yet they evade his sight.
"Let me lead... The march... I trust your senses, my friend." he says to Pengaal before walking to the front of the group with his sword resting over the shoulder yet firmly grasped.
"Traps! What cowards would not stand and fight!?" Felicia hisses angrily, covered by muck and sweat. This swamp was already wearing on her thin patience. She happily falls back behind Pengaal "Thank you for taking the lead."
Siegschwert moves to the front of the group and goes to lead them back towards the path. Unfortunately, the tremendous weight of his armor and weapon are not conducive to delicate movements in uneven terrain. No sooner does he start picking his way across the ground then he feels a hard metallic something under beneath his boot.
Fortunately, what incredibly heavy armor IS good for is protection. The jaws of the rusty bear trap loudly snap closes on Siegschwert's shin but stop when they hit the steel greave. Still, his leg remains partly trapped by the device.
Still watching from your perch you notice some of the bodies laying at the bottom of the pools of water have begun to move.
Felicia moves to help free Seigschwert, putting her foot on one side of the trap and pushing on the other with all her might.
"Traps..." She mutters with disgust, shaking her head.
Pengaal drops down from the trees again, still not letting his feet touch the ground. "Shhh! The bodies, they're moving. Like the wretched in the Flower Witch's forest. We need to do the same, and quickly."
Pengaal rushes down to deliver his warning to Felicia and Siegschwert, while they are both doing their best to deal with the trap clamped around the latters leg.
Too late! No sooner do the words leave his mouth when a wretched figure bursts forth from the nearby pool, showering the survivors with disgusting, fetid water. The thing lunges at Yuria, who happened to be lingering by the pool while the others dealt with the trap. With ferocious, inhuman strength it grabs hold of the woman and tears her violently from her feet, dragging her beneath the water with such speed that Yuria can only manage to yelp before being submerged. The water thrashes violently as a struggle is clearly taking place beneath the surface.
Meanwhile two other shambling figures rise out of other pools around the group. One staggers towards the group on broken legs, murky water pouring from it's mouth and twisted, ragged features. The other also makes to head towards the survivors but just as it begins moving you hear a loud *snap* and the thing reels back, letting out a gurgling moan that fills your souls with dread. A quick glance tells you that this thing has also found itself caught in one of the various hunting traps that linger around the edges of the pool. Then, finally, a third figure begins to appear near the group, emerging into a comprehensible form in the falling rain. It is not nearly as horrifying as the other two creatures or the thing that took Yuria, as it appears to have clear, recognizable characteristics (even if they are contorted by fear and pain). It is not quite fully formed yet, instead floating two feet off the ground. It faces the group, watching them with hollow, lifeless eyes.
"Yuria!"
Ludwig first wants to rush to her help as best as he can in this swamp, but then realizes that the creatures will certainly interfere with his help and moves to strike the one caught in the trap.
From the trees, Pengaal lashes out with the Prince's whip at the un-trapped creature before dropping down to close the distance.
(1d8 + 3 of each attack is Positive Energy, as I assume these are undead).
Felicia moves to intercept the third figure, swinging her shield wildly. She curses herself for not being more prepared for this eventuality.
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Siegschwert gruts as he quickly stops trying to force the trap open and braces his sword low with both hands. Moving towards the rain formed figure.
As he is about to tackle the creature, the Librarian Knight suddenly stops [b"Behold! The Twilight Might!"[/b] he roars as he attacks with an upwards slash sending water and mud flying around by sheer speed and strength.
Ludwig immediately closes in on the thing caught in the trap. A quick blow from his scythe tears open its side, causing stinking fluid to pour out across the ground. The thing shifts its focus to the trap on its leg to Ludwig, flailing its bloated limbs at him ineffectively.
Pengaal lashes the other thing with his whip, causing it to squirm and wretch horribly as the whip leaves searing scars along its torso. However, he notes that the wounds actually begin to knit themselves...When it finally recovers it charges Pengaal, attempting to catch him in its gnashing maw. A mouth filled with a mixture of shattered teeth and splintered bone catches Pengaals arm.
Felicia and Siegschwert both move to attack the floating figure. Felicia misses entirely, while Siegschwert is shocked to see his weapon pass partially through the creature. The spirit, as it now appears to be, takes the opportunity to reach its spectral hands out towards Siegschwert. The touch passes right through his armor, causing a chill to come over his body that runs to the depths of his soul.
Floodslain 1 30/52 - trapped
Floodslain 2 28/52
Riverswell Spirit 50/75