"We'll she ain't pretty but she's sea worthy." Cyrus says once the raft is complete.
Cyrus grunts at his own failed attempt to catch a meal. "We'll get it next time." He says with a cough.
You paddle along for another hour or so. Then you come into a larger cavern suffused by light from an indiscernible source shining off mineral crystals all over the walls. It reminds you of the strange light in the cavern where the violet fungi attacked you.
"What strange glow?! Hate hate!!"
As they embark on the raft, Galenus orders the little Quipper to keep an eye out for underwater dangers and relate back to him anything he'll need to be concerned about.
Likewise, Galenus will occasionally take a look through its eyes to see what's down there.
Well. Look at these. Hey Shuushar, any idea what they are?
Does Galenus know anything about these? Can we make a check of some sort?
I wonder if we can turn them into some sort of focus? he ponders aloud.
Galinndan stares at the crystals. He still feels the weariness creeping in his bones.
Your quipper sees rocks, crags, strange passages, and occasionally a dark shape move casually on the edge of his vision.
Shuushar nods and responds. "The minerals are attractive but I don't believe they are more than the natural beauty this land can hold. The glow is called faerzness. It suffuses areas and none know why."
You're pretty sure the minerals are non-magical.
"I do not believe that these crystals contain magic, as beautiful as they are."
A focus need not contain magic in and of itself, Galenus explains, It just needs to be a unique item of value that one can use to.. um.. focus their energies.
Buppido dances about madly on the deck of the raft, dancing and swaying while yelling like a crazy derro. "I have brought us to the cavern of beautiful shininess!!!"
You fear his antics could upset the raft or draw unwanted attention.
Galinndan attempts to placate the frolicking Derro.
"Buppido, you may alert foes jealous of your greatness with your voice. Please calm down."
Kanzen looks at Derendil, a look of concern and surprise on his face at Buppido's strange reaction. Then he shakes his head. Thank Eilistraee I have a completely sane friend like you! he thinks at the huge quaggoth that believes he is an elf.
Buppido calms down and whispers "You're right! And those pesky worshipers and coveters can be such an annoyance."
He goes to the middle of the boat and clasps his hands in glee while sitting cross-legged and smiling at everyone around him.
Derendil nods his huge shaggy head. "Indeed. Though I do not worship your goddess, she is one of the few of this dark land who's name I can hear in peace. For my part, I thank Corellon that I am not completely surrounded by maniacs. That other Drow prisoner, Sarith, seemed to have some homicidal psychosis..."
Galenus takes a hard look at the crystals, and tries to determine what kind of value they may hold, for which they may be able to sell in the next port of civilization.
If he feels they're valuable, then: I think we should investigate further. We might be able to use these to buy better equipment when we meet a merchant.
If he feels they're not valuable, then: I think we need to be moving on. Never know what traps these things can lure.
You travel along for several hours and in the quiet, dripping landscape until you hear quiet, sucking noise. You look around in alarm and notice a whirlpool to your left!
Complicating matter, there are several stalactites and other islands sticking up out of the water. One of the larger ones seems to hold some sort of altar that is giving off light from a blue flame that burns continually atop it.
Seeing the whirlpool, Kanzen wordlessly points it out to Derendil, then does his best to start paddling hard to help the raft avoid it.
Galinndan replies to Buppido with a slight smile:
"Indeed."
He then assists with the paddling, or at least tries to:
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Oh shit! Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit... Galenus screams in his own head as he desperately paddles. A last thought occurs - My Quipper! He recalls the little fish back to him and places him in a pocket dimension, ready to be tossed back into the waters when it's safe again.
With the help of Eddrikk and his tools, Galenus manages to pry out a particularly symmetrical crystal that looks to be worth about 25 gp.
Kanzen puts his back into it and manages to move the boat.
You move the boat forward a ways, nearing the strange small altar when suddenly a dark wave leaps out of the water and strikes at Irdril.
You can barely see a dark, watery shape wrapped around you, trying to drag you down. Everything starts going black...
Irdril is struck hard (14 damage) and dragged into the water by a strange, watery figure that is very difficult to distinguish from the rest of the Darklake. Kanzen, Cyrus, and Galinndan leap into action.
You think that a metal weapon passed briefly through the flame on the altar would gain a temporary enchantment (+1 for 1 minute).
A weapon held in contact with the flame at one end and water at the other for 1 minute would extinguish the flame and become a +1 magic weapon.
What the hell is that?! Galenus exclaims over the noise of the rushing water and the sudden strange splash overcoming Idril.
Looking at their surroundings, he spots the strange alter with it's strange blue flame.
Tiberous! Pass your sword through that flame! I've seen something like it before, it'll sharpen your blade for a bit, and give us that edge we need to fight this thing!
Galinndan desperately focuses on rowing.
Cyrus dives into the water after Irdil and attacks the strange creature.
Cyrus slashes into the strange, living water. His attacks seem only somewhat effective.
Irdril tries desperately to get away fron the creature.. She casts Hideous Laughter, DC 13 will, and heals herself as a bonus.j
The water shimmers slightly but shakes off Irdril's spell. It's attention seems to have turned to Cyrus.
Seeing Galinndan take over the rowing Kanzen follows Cyrus over the side, daggers flashing.
Galinndan manages to drive the raft further away from the whirlpool.
Kanzen leaps into the water heroically to help save Irdril and slashes at the strange water with his twin blades. He only damages it somewhat, however.
This is a water weird. You may look up its stats. Your character knows them.
The creature turns in watery wrath and attacks the one who hit it most recently, releasing Irdril from its watery grasp (Irdril, you can try to swim now). You can also try to scramble up onto the nearest stalagmite with a much easier athletics check.
Waves rise up around Kanzen and smash into him (17 dam), grasping him tightly (grappled, restrained, and underwater now: can attempt to escape as an action).
Galinndan shouts as he rows desperately.
"That is a water weird! You need magic weapons or magic which is not fire to properly injure it!"
A water weird? What's so weird about water?
Galenus rows as hard as he can, trying to keep the raft near his companions while also keeping away from the whirlpool.
Irdril will surface and try to get uo one of the stalagmites..
She will heal Kanzen if possible..
Irdril scrambles up the nearest stalagmite, barely keeping a purchase on the wet stone.
Cyrus continues to futily cut the strange creature.
We need magic to defeat this thing! Help me row towards that alter! Galenus exclaims over the road of the water.
Tiberius! Let me cast a spell on you! You can nearly leap there from here!
Kanzen curses his own foolishness as he struggles against the strange watery creature, desperately staving off panic and doing his best to hold his breath.
Kanzen manages to struggle free of it's watery grasp and keep his own head above water.
Heeding Galenus's Eddrikk helps paddle the raft toward the alter.
Tiberius moves closer to Galenus and prepares to have jump cast on him. In the meantime, he draws his longbow and takes a potshot at the strange beast.
WW: -19 hp
The watery monster seems to shiver in frustration at all of the small blows that it is receiving. It turns on Cyrus and surging waters pound into the small goblin swimmer (11 damage and grappled/restrained).
Seeing Cyrus's desperate state, Galinndan decides to join in a more direct fashion against the water weird. He draws his longbow and launches an arrow.
Out of healing Irdril resorts to offensive magic..
Clinging to the wet rock the young woman calls forth force out of the void that blasts into the living water, penetrating waves throughout it. A long lithe tail shows from under her shift as she stiffens and calls a chip off a nearby stalactite on the ceiling which comes rushing down into the water. The glowing stone impacts on the living water, which hisses in pain and anger.