Sarusa sheds her armor rapidly, gives Gellig the boot into the water, and slides in after him.
With a concerned look and gasping for air, Karo leaps over the side of the boat into the water.
Chloe joins the others in the water after the others, pleased that she gets to go swimming tonight, after all.
At first, the water brings no respite and your lungs burn for want of something to breath, until one by one you succumb to natural instinct and suck the water into your lungs, at which point you find yourselves once more receiving oxygen. Webs grow between your fingers and toes, and those of you wearing footwear find it melding into your skin and extruding as fins from your toes. A few exploratory strokes and you are swimming, just like fish!
Oi! Where do you think you're going?! Scubber calls out as you swim through the waters, but he is soon distracted as several Locathah clamber onto his boat and offer up beautiful works of shell and sculpture. Soon enough, the old sailor is busy haggling with nails and harpoons, and does not appear inclined to move for the foreseeable future. One of his sailors busily begins reefing the sails while the other stands agog until Scubber scolds him into action and is soon fetching the ship's supplies to aid in the pantomime trading.
The fierce looking fish man motions you to follow him, and plunges into the inky depths of the lake. Very soon you are deep within the waters, and though the depth pushes against your limbs and resists your movement, the warmth never diminishes. Slowly the moonlight from the surface evanesces to pitch blackness, and only the faint ocher luminescence of your guides serves to keep you on track. There is a rushing in your ears from the waters, and occasionally you push through large clouds of suspended plant matter.
Down and down you swim, until you reach the mucky bottom of the lake. The locathah lead you into a crevice, little more than a gash in the lakebed that stretches into a long, cramped, stone tunnel, barely wide enough for you to swim single file. After an indeterminate distance through the chasm, the leader stops your group, and bids you eat more of the oily weed that has allowed your progress thus far. The prospect of running out of air this far from the surface makes the decision to consume more an easy one, and after your rest, you follow once more, deep into the underwaters of Ember Lake. More and more of the glowing slugs appear on the walls, lighting the dark passage in barbaric hues of red and orange, like steady firelight.
You pass small, branching tunnels here and there, and occasionally see other fish men, but they give your group a wide berth, and seem preoccupied with their own business. You take many turns, surrounded front and behind by your guides, and are thoroughly lost by the time you finally reach a large, well lit opening in the cavern wall. Bio-luminescent plants grow from the floors, walls and ceilings, bathing everything in a sickly green light except for the occasional orange spot from the lake slugs.
Come, come! a voice beckons from the hidden depths of the chamber, inexplicably speaking in a heavily accented version of the common tongue. The Great Old Ones, they sing to me of your coming, and here you are, at our time of need. Come, be welcome, we have much need, and much to discuss.
Tekk looks around in wonder, and when he finally hears the voice speaking in words he recognizes, he looks at the rest of the group. "Okay, tell me the truth... Is this really happening, or did we get into some bad lake grog last night?"
Cautiously, he steps forward into the chamber. "I am Tekkis, called Smalltooth. What may we call you, speaker of the common tongue, and what do you need from us?"
Morin takes a few minutes to accept that he can actually breathe underwater, fighting off periodic panics. But the thrill and wonder of it soon displace the fear in his mind. I can breathe! I can swim like a fish!
Morin is a tousle-haired minnow for the next few moments, darting around his friends, flashing past their guide only to turn in a thought-quick arc and dart back to the party as if rejoining his school, revelling in this new experience. As the water darkens, he grows a bit more cautious, keeping with his school and looking about for large predators, like the flying, spitting serpent-creature they defeated above the water. I'd wager he'd win the fight down here, in his element. Could I even swing a sword down here? I hope not to find out.
Concern once more displaced by awe and amazement, Morin looks carefully at the inhabitants of the deepwater settlement as they move through the tunnels. I wonder how many underwater towns like this one I've sailed over, never knowing!
Arriving at the brightly lit cavern entrance, Morin thinks about Tekk's question for a moment and says quietly, "If this is bad lake grog, I want to find some more of it! I've never imagined such a place existed, except in tales!" He then steps forward side by side with his half-orc friend and awaits an answer to Tekk's question.
Sarusa floats toward the voice, Gellig frog-kicking gently beside her.
"Our greetings from the world of air-breathers--and the Mushfens. I am Sarusa, a druid of Magnimar. We are honored by your invitation."
She drifts in further, enjoying the surroundings with a contented, closemouthed smile.
Chloe's fish-like eyes adjust quickly to the atmosphere to which they aesthetically belong. She never blinks, and gets along just as well in the lightless depths as she did above... which isn't saying over much, but it's a start.
Anticipating sinking like a rock, enthusiasm grips her when she realizes she can swim with a great deal of competency.
She stays close to the middle of the group, and she laughs quietly at Morin's enthusiasm as he shoots by. Perhaps it is the lack of sleep, but the surreal nature of their current adventure has her more laid back than usual... that, and somehow their current situation appears safer than it actually is.
Once in the chamber where the voice erupts, the vapid expression on Chloe's face is that of awe (despite the lack of variation therein).
She genuflects, reasonably certain that it is an appropriate thing to do, waiting for the same reply as the others.
Karo is silent with awe as he examines the alien surroundings. He slows occasionly to pick an odd piece of rock or seaweed and stuff it in his pouch. When the voice speaks, Karo looks up, startled. Echoing Tek, the elf speaks up. I am called Karozekas. What is this place?
Be welcome to you Smalltooth! And to the one who darts to and fro by your side! Be welcome Sarusa Air-Breather, you and your friend, and Karozekas, and even to the silent one who bows! The voice has a burbling, echoing quality, distorted and inhuman as it moves through the water and the glowing plants that sway in the current. I am Gelphuul, Seer and Dreamer to the Schools of Fire Water Lake. This is my grotto, a place set aside for me, and those who came before, and those who shall come after, for I am of all Schools and none, and my roe are as the stars in the waters above. I bid you welcome and enter. Lishfar, who has brought you to me shall bring you food to eat.
The fierce locathah who led you to this place bows and flips around, somersaulting away from the grotto and into the winding passageways faster than you would believe.
The voice continues, undaunted by the acrobatic display. By your presence, I know the Old Ones sang a true song, and Qarxoosla sings the death song for one of her brood. And it is of her and the rest of her spawn that I beseech your your help. Always they have hunted us, as we hunt our little sister fish, and when they grow too numerous, the young fish sing a war song, and Qarxoosla weeps and scourges her consort until she bears new young, but now, the cycle is unbalanced. Some fury drives her and her spawn. They take more than they can ever eat, and the Old Ones sing of the Great Rot, that ever the Dreamers of the Schools have swam against. The Rot has taken the drakes of these waters, and we cannot withstand the drakes and the Rot. I beg your aid, for the dreams say you are our only hope!
"How can we aid you, Gelphuul? Is there a way to cure this Rot you speak of?"
Sarusa is fascinated with the magical ecosystem of the waters and has completely forgotten anything about missing tax collectors.
Karo listens quietly nodding in awe. What is the nature of the Rot?
Morin says quietly to his friends, "I'm glad you guys got something out of what he said. It sounded like someone trying to describe a dream to me."
More loudly, he calls out, "And who's this Qarxooshishla when she's at home?"
"...Forgive me, but... this Great Rot, to clarify on Karo's... question... is it a being of its own or a being that feasts in the flesh? Contextually... it could be either, honored Dreamer...,"
Chloe can't help but feel an affinity with said title. It indicates Desna's influence, or perhaps that of Pharasma. She feels she might need to know more about which Old Ones the locatha is speaking of, however she daren't invite an epiphany while on her knee.
Gelphuul is silent for several moments while your questions echo through the chamber. Fronds and flat, ribbon-like plants bulge and sway in the water, telegraphing movement amongst the dense flora.
To cure the Rot, you must cut it away, the answer comes, soft and sibilant. The Rot is of the demon worm, who spawns it and spawns from it, who gives birth to the blood fly, and the sucker fish, who feeds on other life, and makes another its thrall. The Rot finds a healthy body, and feeds on it until it is weak and sick, and the demon worm grows strong.
After Morin's question, the voice grows stronger and more confident.
Qarxoosla is the mother of the drake you slew, little fish; larger, stronger, and more cunning by far. She makes her lair on the hidden shore where wave and air meet. Her children bring her food and tribute, and she usually does not choose to bestir herself, but now that you have slain one, if the Rot has hold of her as the Old Ones sing, I fear she will bring her rage to you above as well as us below.
Tekk tilts his head slightly, "So let me get this straight? That thing that vomited worms all over me has a mommy? And it's angry that we killed its baby? And now you're telling me that she's going to go berserk down here and up above the water unless we stop her?"
Nodding, he continues, "I'm in. We killed it, might as well finish the job. Don't mean to cause trouble for you fish people down here, or the human town above the water."
"Two questions though - can you tell us how to find this hidden shore? And do you know what creature it is? I've never seen anything like it."
He rubs his arm with one hand, then sheepishly looks up, "And um, do you have any armor... er... hard shells, or rocks, or something... that would fit me? Mine was heavy, and metal, and well... I don't wear it on boats or when I go swimming. I'll give it back, or trade for it, if that's what you require."
"H-how unfortunate." The woman sighs. It didn't sound like the broodmother is inherently evil, and the locatha knew as much, but danger had been incited.
"Tekkis, you.. you can always borrow mine. You were nice enough to let me use yours, after all...?"
"This hidden shore, does it have vegetation like this in the waters it touches?" asks Sarusa, her eyes gleaming.
I am grateful for your bravery, Smalltooth. Lishfar and his hunters can show you where Qarxoosla lairs. The Schools all know this place, and shun it for the most part. As for armor, a low chuffing sound breaks through the waters, the meaning obscure, the young, they spend most of their lives gathering the shells they wear. One must do it for themselves. It is a thing of the Schools, not for outsiders, but the chuffing sound comes again, why should you fear to wear your heavy armor? You will not drown while you chew the mergil weed.
As for the plants of the hidden shore, I have never laid eyes on them, Sarusa of the Mushfens, but if you and your friends will wait, I will sing the dream song, and seek the wisdom of the Old Ones to aid you.
Karozekas shakes his head vigorously at the thought, rapt with awe and interest.
Tekk frowns, not entirely certain he hadn't just been called a baby fish. Figuring that he just doesn't understand the voice, he responds, "Er, well, it's mighty tough to swim around wearing all that metal, but if you think it's alright, I'll bow to your wisdom."
He turns to look at Chloe, "Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather go without than to take yours. You gotta be upright to heal us. Plus Sarusa would make fun of me for wearing girlie armor."
Morin looks at his companions, a bemused smile on his face. "Gotta go with Tekk's read on this one. The worm-spitting thing attacked us, so we killed it. Now it's ma, Qarzoosisherwhatsit, is angry at us, so we have to kill her before she destroys the nearby towns, wet and dry. Or maybe we can cure her of this Rot, so her rage isn't quite so, er, angry? Either way, looks like we're paying her a visit."
"Indeed... I'm... ready to go at any time, actually."
Chloe squints, as if trying to catch an invisible bug in an impossible gaze.
"...Though we need to make sure that Tekkis.. is battle-turtled, first..."
"Swim back up and croak at Scubber to hand you your armor. Did you bring a bucket of lard to grease it up against the lake water?" Sarusa's expression is unreadable--was that a joke or not?
"I know, I know. And I oil it down every night. You know that, Sarusa, I've seen you watching!" Tekk says with an exaggerated wink and a gentle nudge to Chloe's ribs.
Yes, yes comes the dreamy burbling of Gelphuul's voice. Lishfar will take you back above the waves before you go, but hush now, I sing the dream song with the Old Ones.
The plants sway as a soft crooning carries through the water. There is a quiet squelching sound, like mud being squeezed by powerful hands. The orange lights of the lake slugs begin to flicker, randomly at first, but finding a strobe-like, pulsing rhythm as the crooning crescendos in volume to an ecstatic wail.
They venture forth! Gelphuul cries out, and a deep and fearsome echo trails her voice, like a dull and rusty spike driven into your ears. .....................Strong when the lights are weak!
........................Weak when the lights are strong!
............... They ebb and flow with the waters!
....................... Strength with strength, weak with weak!
.......................Strike when the tide is low!
...........................The young were as the elements, but now are as the seasons!
.......................Beware the consort! Beware the worms! Beware the mother of drakes!
As the pronouncements come, time passes, but after a quarter hour Gelphuul's voice is still, the red glow of the lake slugs steadies, and there is no further sign of the oracle but the swaying weeds of the grotto.
Eventually, after what seems an interminably long time, Lishfar returns with more mergil weed, as well as what appear to be boiled muscles, clams and fish, with sodden, bitter greens. The fish man disappears into the glowing plants, and though you can hear quiet rustlings, whatever passes between the two is beyond your knowing.
He returns and waits for you to finish eating, before leading you back into the tunnels of the underwaters.
Chloe hums with the state of epiphany, mulling over the words being drawn from Gephuul's lips. She does flinch from time to time, though, the power of the vagaries not lost on her.
She eats, again proving that hers is the palate of the starving. The mess that she can sustain in the water, however, is understandably limited.
"I a-assume she's telling us to attack during the time of dancing lights, and that each of...of the mother drake's children -nomf- has different abilities that have expanded to forces of-of nature."
Once they are led back out into the main waters, Chloe floats around leisurely, turning off the absolute panic for the first time in a long while.
"Morin... I think I see wh-why you're so at home in the water... The weight of the world is... shouldered by Gozreh's s-skirt, yes? Oh... on that note... Sarusa, Morin? Do lakes have... tides?"
Tekk listens as Chloe dissects what she heard. "And don't forget the worms. I'm just telling all of you, if that mother drake vomits worms on me, I'm going to lose it." He shudders involuntarily as the memory fully hits him.
"But I agree, and maybe one of you magical types knows of a spell that creates light? Maybe brighter light hurts her worse?"
I know a light cantrip, but alas it is not commited to memory at the moment. Karo says as he begins taking stock of his gear in preparation of the inevitable confrontation to come.
Morin listens to Gelphuul's pronouncement with an expression of rapt confusion on his face, aware that something of great significance has been communicated, but unable to puzzle out exactly what.
As Chloe begins to explain it, he nods, pleased that she's able to make some sense of it all. "You're a wonder, lass, teasin' out what you did from the submarine poesy we just heard. But did he happen to mention how many children that there mother drake has got? That would be a powerful useful piece of information, I'd say."
"As to your points about the waters. Yes, swimmin' does lift the load a bit, and even more so when you can breathe the stuff as we can now. I'l never get used to it! And whether lakes have tides, I'd find it hard to say for sure, not having spent much time on 'em. But I don't believe they do, even the bigger ones like Ember Lake bein' puny compared to the sea."
Turning to Tekkis, he swims up to his shoulder and gives him a friendly punch, saying, "Here's the trick with the worms, Tekk. When the drake's about ta spit a whole mouthful of glowing worm-goo on ya? Step out of the way, quick-like. Got it?"
Morin's question about how many children there might be sparks a different train of thought for you, and you think that the references to the elements (of which there are five) and the seasons (of which there are four) might refer more to the number, than any special abilities they might possess. You are also fairly certain that bright lights will hamper the drakes in some way, and will be even more effective against the worms.
"Four.. four seasons. That's a reference to the number of drakes, then..."
F..f..f.ff..four!
"One is dead, then. Five elements, down to four seasons. And yes, we'll need a way to create light. Strong light."
"Okay, great. So they were like the elements, now they're like the seasons. So we need to make them like the masts on a xebec, next the feet on a handsome halfling, then the horns on a unicorn, and then the teeth on a hen. Though perhaps my poesy’s not so grand as what we’ve just heard, eh, Chloe?”
Looking at his more magically inclined companions, he says, ”Any ideas on making the bright light?” Then, he thinks of something and calls out, ”Oh watery one! Do you have a way of making a very bright light? Maybe something that your glow-slugs make can be used to make one really bright light? There sure are lots of bright ones on the lake.”
"If Karo and I had an evening to rest and then study and pray, then we'd have something...even something simple. Alas, I do not. Should we ask to come back after a night's sleep--I mean, preparation?"