”Maybe have Pheliks sit on her till we’re ready to go?” Ari suggests to Sasha, semi-seriously. ”I know we’re in a rush but we definitely need to stick together.”
Kiley skids to a stop at Sasha's warning about what being caught alone could mean. She shivers and rubs her arms as she tries not to picture what that would be like.
"I...I suppose you're right." Verik says, his voice definitely sounding defeated. "What...what happened to her? Was it painless at least?" he asks, before shaking his head. "Actually, don't tell me. It's better I remember her as she was before." he adds, his face seemingly hardening with resolve.
"I spoke to the pretender, whoever or whatever it is, about two hours ago. It came to me right after you left for Lady Silvermoon's manor. Quickly, since you seem to be in a rush, what happened there? What is at the well that would interest this 'skin-wearer' so much? And where are you going, exactly?" he asks, his emotions apparently compacted to be dealt with later.
Rutilux's features soften a bit, "Yes, best to recall the good moments if you can when it comes to lost friends." And he ponders what else is said, "Did the pretender mention anymore details on where she might be going, who she might meet? Even her excuses and lies might be a clue?"
"Rutilux is right," Ari replies gently. "We're still working all of this out," she hedges in reference to the question about what has been happening and what may happen next. "But it would be fair to say there's more than meets the eye and things go deeper than I think any of us expected."
"Mister Verik," Kiley says as she bounces from foot to foot. "I think it best if you speak with Lady Silvermoon. We'll be back to help tell the rest later."
She looks to her friends, clearly wanting to continue on to the Lunar Well.
"Was it painless at least?"
Shaggar tries to be as optimistic as he can be, "It was quick."
The gnoll begins looking for fresh 'Lucina' tracks.
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"I think it best if you speak with Lady Silvermoon. We'll be back to help tell the rest later."
Verik looks somewhat disappointed at the answer, but nods and doesn't object. "I think I'll go do that now if you don't mind. Is she recovered from her illness, I wonder? Hope she's taking visitors." he says, obviously trying to keep the mood high but clearly failing. Unless you have anything else to say to or ask of him, he moves off towards her manor.
The gnoll begins looking for fresh 'Lucina' tracks.
Unfortunately even with the gnoll's heightened senses, he can't catch on any specific tracks from whatever it is that the group is now hunting. That leaves just heading to the Lunar Well, and after taking a small stop at the general store (run by a lovely older couple, Clara and Clive) for supplies you make your way over to the forest to the northeast of the town where Verik told you the well was.
As soon as you enter the forest and pass under the canopy the trees create, it almost feels as if you're back under the 'curse' of the moon-filled sky. It's so dark and eerie here but somehow there isn't any feeling of dread, instead being replaced with a calm tranquility. The clearing with the well itself is right ahead, a break in the trees showing off just how large it is. The well is nearly 20 feet wide, and the area surrouning it is still shrouded in moonlight even though the bubble has been broken. As you come into sight of it, you can feel a presence almost absentmindedly watching over you as you observe what is ultimately a relatively unembellished stone well full of perfectly clear water. This time it is not as malevolent, however, and you feel somewhat safer even being in the clearing than the rest of the Glade.
A cool refreshing breeze sweeps through the group as you take your first few steps towards the well, and a voice rides along with the breeze that can only be described as ethereal and distant, almost like the soft echo of the wind through the trees or the faint chime of distant stars. It is soothing, calm, and layered with a gentle power that feels both reassuring and ancient.
"My children of the mortal world... The darkness you’ve lifted from this sacred glade has not gone unseen. For your courage, for your kindness, I offer you my thanks, and grant you a small favor. Walk in the light, and may the moon ever guide your steps."
Shaggar’s ears fold back against his skull briefly as he takes a knee. His eyes remain lowered but he speaks to the sky, ”. أشكرك على نعمك يا إلهي العظيمأشكرك على نعمك الكثيرة يا إلهي العظيم، وأرجو أن أكون أهلاً لرضاك”
He takes a moment before rising. Then he begins looking for ‘Lucina’ tracks with renewed vigor.
Rutilux is frozen. He has worshiped Selune all his life but a few other hin gods as well. But this is humbling and uplifting in ways he's never experienced.
He inclines his head, and prays silently, Thank you, O goddess. We'll try not to muff it.
Kiley falls to her knees as she hears the words. She wants to ask so many questions, to know if her parents are at peace, if her siblings are alright, if they could do anything for Lucina, Aldric, or the other villagers that had been victims of what happened here. The words freeze in her throat as tears roll down her face and follow the curve of the glowing markings under her eyes that the moonlight had revealed.
I'm not worthy of this, she thinks. I'm not worthy at all.
For once Ari has no doubt, no scepticism. It just isn't possible in this situation as it is abundantly clear that this really is a divine message - after all, she has received what she believes to be signs and portents herself before as well. Unsure if she really counts as one of Selûne's children, but happy - or at least happy enough, within reason - to be watched over, she looks up at where she feels the moon to be and offers silent thanks.
The reverent presence dissipates within a few moments, leaving just the silvery shine of moonlight behind. The voice speaks no more.
Even with Shaggar's distraction, he is able to spot a set of tracks that appear identical to the ones you found outside of Amos' farm and the cave in the woods nearby it. They seem to appear and reappear randomly, with the steps seemingly vanishing every few feet.
Before you can really study them too much, however, Luxvoryna flies in from the forest to the north. Her silver wings catch the light of the sun just right even through the canopy of trees that allow her to hide her form, sending reflective rays that announce her arrival long before she actually shows up in the clearing in the elven form she took earlier.
"I sensed that the well had been activated, but it seems as if it hasn't been? I didn't think you could even open it without my help, did something happen while I wasn't here?" she asks, looking over the calm waters of the well, which would really be better described as a pool now that you think about it.
Shaggar debates how to answer the question. ”Several things. Elah, your Selune, gave us thanks and a blessing. Perhaps she activated the well? The other option,” he continues indicating the strange vanishing footsteps, ”is that the skinwalker that captured you, killed Aldric and Lucina (among others)… that creature has gone beneath the well. Do you know of any creature that can flay and wear a person’s skin and leaves such strange prints?”
The dragon takes a look at the prints, before her eyes light up with recognition. ”I haven’t heard of any creature that can…’wear a person’s skin’, but I know that what made those tracks isn’t your mysterious skinwalker. Those are the traces of a creature able to flicker between two worlds: the barghest. It has the ability to blink between the Ethereal plane and the Material. That’s why the tracks flitter about, it’s only here half the time after using that ability.”
”If your skinwalker and the barghest have gone beneath the well, you know their ultimate destination is the loch under Brazenthrone. You should know before you head down, this isn’t a short walk in the park. The first half of the two-day journey is through all sorts of caverns and small crevices and the like, once you get past the worked stone of the well. Towards the end of the first day of travel you’ll find one of the dwarves’ machines: a massive elevator that will take you down the entire second day until you reach the cavern in which sits the city itself. Less physically demanding of a journey, more eerie. Regardless, you should be sure you are more than prepared for an extended journey before heading down, and finish any business you might have around the village before descending. I don’t think you’ll be returning to the surface for some time now.”
Kiley wipes the tears from her eyes and listens to Luxvornya and Shaggar talk. She looks to the others before speaking up.
"Is there anything we can do for Aldric or Lucina," she asks. "If not, we should lay them to rest."
"Barghest blink? That means snaring them or trapping them maybe next to impossible."
"Do any such weapons exist that can hurt such creatures? The way silver blades cut werewolves, I mean," Ari asks Rutilux. "I guess magic that would allow us to similarly flit between worlds."
”Is there anything we can do for Aldric or Lucina”
”In terms of restoring them to life, or even restoring their skin to them? I’m afraid not, such magic is beyond even me, let alone Initiate Lena or anyone else at the church. I thin burying the two would go a long way to restoring their dignity, however.” she answers softly.
”That means snaring them or trapping them maybe next to impossible.”
”An unfortunately correct assessment. They are not creatures native of this plane, and as such do not follow the same rules we do. If you encounter it down there, pray that it has not eaten enough souls to reach its greater form. A greater barghest is a dangerous foe.”
”Do any such weapons exist that can hurt such creatures?”
”As they’re not creatures of this plane like werewolves, silver doesn’t have any particular effectiveness against them over other weapons, although their hide is strong enough to reflect most non-magical weapon strikes. Should you face one, using spells or enchanted weapons is your best bet.”
Assuming there are two of them and they both went below ground - fine.
Sasha kneels at the sound of her goddess' voice, bowing her head and listening in silence. As the others go about exploring the well she directs Pheliks to stay with them as she continues to commune with Selûne in silent prayer and contemplation.
Upon the arrival of the dragon, the oracle smiles and waves, not rising but instead continuing to bask in the experience and cocking her head as if listening to a voice that flickers in and out of hearing. If she hears more from the goddess, Sasha doesn't share what is said.
"Days underground, away from the moonlight?" Sasha asks with an unhappy tone of voice. "To be far from Selûne's light, the Tears, and the rest of the night sky...that is a hefty price to cleanse the well," she continues, more to herself than to the others. After a long, silent moment she nods and says, "It seems her will has been revealed, though, so I will continue.
But first, we should bury the dead and prepare for the journey. How will we avoid being hopelessly lost? Can you provide us a map, or more precise directions so we are not too bewildered by the catacombs and labyrinthian caverns, Luxvoryna? Otherwise, diving into the Underdark without a guide is folly even when not hunting a skin-changer and barghest..."
Although she doesn’t mind dark places - literally and figuratively - Ari is inclined to agree with Sasha. A bit of time beneath the surface doesn’t sound so bad but days or even weeks with nothing but tons of stone above her head? There’s probably a reason you’ve never heard of anything good that seems to come from the Underdark.
How will we avoid being hopelessly lost? Can you provide us a map, or more precise directions
"An excellent question, I think I can do that. It's been a couple hundred of years since I've been down so they may have changed but I doubt it's changed significantly enough to be an issue."
Lucina unfortunately doesn't know or divine anything about the visions or the totem that you asked her about, but is extremely grateful to hear that you recovered her corpse and are putting her remains to rest.
"Thank you. I will remain here until that deed is finished, so do hurry. I'd really like to rest now." she says, luckily not into the angry ghost territory you were worried about quite yet.
Both Sister Lena and Verik join you for the funeral after hearing about it, Verik having brought Lena to officiate over the rites of rest to assure that her spirit is sent on its way.
"In the silver light of Selûne, we gather to honor the life of one who walked in her light and shared her guidance with all they met. Though not of our community, they were part of a greater family — all those who seek the stars and the path beneath Selûne’s watchful gaze." Lena starts, her voice both somber and serene.
"I both did not know her well and also held misguided poor opinions of her, for which I am sorely regretful. I see now that she just had the best intentions for our glade in her heart, all the way to the end. The road of life, like the phases of the moon, has its beginnings and endings. But with each ending, there is also a new dawn. Selûne will cradle this soul in her gentle light, guiding them to their next destination, where pain is forgotten and only peace remains." she finishes before departing, allowing Verik the chance to grieve privately as you move on with your business as well.
After the funeral, Shaggar visits the local shops to buy and sell goods before they descend into the depths of the Underdark. He’s surprised at the generous terms the merchants give him. Clearly, being a local ‘hero’ has perks. Two hours later, his shopping spree complete, the gnoll heads toward the well sporting a finely crafted backpack, a razor-sharp new greataxe, and an ominous black iron heavy flail slung over one shoulder. His shortbow and arrows are gone, traded in for a sling and a pouchful of bullets.
Rutilux isn't sure what to buy for himself, but he'll happily help haggle or bargain for others.
Once shown the totem, Luxvoryna takes a long moment to glance through the scenes carved into the large piece of wood. It takes her time, but she does eventually have some thoughts to share.
"Well it's obvious which of the carvings are of the Lunar Well. And the wolves through the forest fit the glade as well. The crescent moon most certainly represents the Moonmaiden, but I'm not sure what the disk in front represents. Some sort of hindrance to Selune perhaps?" she says, her voice definitely sounding unsure.
"The crying angel is disturbing, but I don't know of any specific connection to either the glade or the city far below. The castle and lake certainly seem to indicate the things you'll find in the loch below Brazenthrone, so keep an eye out for a castle. It'll be important somehow. Along with that device, it looks like some infernal puzzle box. The cult might be looking for it? Or perhaps looking for the answer to the puzzle?"
"Sorry I couldn't be of much use, as I said earlier I haven't left the glade in many years." she finishes, shrugging her shoulders with a saddened look on her face.
"That is helpful. We know more than we did. Thank you." He adds, "Would you keep this carving for us?"
"What about the symbol? We keep stumbling across it," Kiley asks as she tries to resist the urge to give Luxvornya a hug when she sees her crestfallen expression.
”Of course I can take care of the totem for you, wouldn’t want you having to drag it down through the Underdark behind you. Everything within sight would see and hear you!” she says, laughing lightly in a departure from her disappointment.
”What about the symbol? We keep stumbling across it,"
”I presume it’s the symbol of their cult, religion, group, or whatever they actually are.” She says, taking another look at it. [b]”You said that vile alchemist’s journal mentioned something called the Fractured Star? The spiral under the chain looks a little like a celestial body, of the non-angelic kind I mean. Perhaps that could have something to do with it? I’m unsure on the connection or what it all means, unfortunately.”
"We'll keep an eye out for it." Kiley hesitates a moment. Luxvornya looks as if she has cheered up thanks to Shaggar, but the young woman finds herself wrapping her up in a hug anyway.
"Take care of yourself," she tells her quietly before letting go.
Out of respect - and a general feeling of uncomfortableness - Ari stays silent throughout the funeral.
She pays attention to the discussion of the totem and various symbols. It's useful, even if some of it is educated guesswork, but she enjoys the mental challenge of puzzling things out, pulling at hidden strands until they reveal their secrets, just like Leira's teaching. "With a little luck we'll be able to fill you in when we return."
Sasha continues to struggle to find her words, seeing in the recently deceased a possible fate for herself, if she and her friends aren't careful. When speaking with the ghost she puts on a brave expression and at the ceremony says a few words and joins in during the common prayers of the faith. When it's all done she sits in the quiet, not too close to the mourning werewolf, but quietly letting her own, restless thoughts and emotions settle before leaving the chapel.
While purchasing equipment for their trek into the Underdark, Sasha tries to focus on practical equipment she thinks she will need - climbing equipment, a sturdy harness to help Pheliks if climbing over rocks or negotiating difficult tunnels become problems, and so on. "I've never been underground very far, but the stories are pretty dreadful. I think we're likelier to be under-prepared than over-..." she says when explaining her decisions.
As they prepare to leave Sasha bids their draconic patroness goodbye with a smile and joint prayer to their shared goddess. Once everyone is ready, though, she takes a deep breath and prepares to help descend into the dark...
Preparations made, gear bought, and goodbyes given: it's finally time. Luxvoryna awaits you near the well, and when you are all ready she performs the spell needed to empty the water and allow you to descend with a flourish of her hand. "Trust in Her radiance, it will guide you." she says, before ultimately letting the water fall back into place over the well once you've all entered the tunnel beyond.
Said tunnel is extremely dark, however, and at the very least Rutilux requires a light source to even see anything beyond a few inches in front of his face. Once the light arrives, whatever the source is, you can see that the tunnel walls are actually brick-laid walls, clearly constructed. That feature soon disappears as you make your way farther into the dark passage, and said passage opens up into a wider cavern holding a large set of spiral stairs dropping down into the floor. With every step down the air grows colder and wetter, although you're sure that effect is mostly just the mental effect of the atmosphere, right?
What began as a few minutes of uncomfortable walking through a wet cold tunnel turns into hours of traversal, the path ahead seemingly an endless descent—a claustrophobic maze of narrow passages and steep, uneven stairs cut into the rock. The only light comes from your lights (assuming Rutilux casts dancing lights when needed), their flickering glows casting long, dancing shadows that twist in unnatural shapes along the walls. Occasionally, the tunnel opens into wide caverns where strange fungi glow faintly in the distance, illuminating nothing but your anxiety. Strange, faint sounds—dripping water, distant skittering—follow you, though nothing ever emerges from the darkness.
The deeper you go, the more the atmosphere shifts. The stone takes on a darker hue, and you notice strange markings scratched into the walls—ancient dwarven runes, so faded and worn that only the briefest words are legible. Warnings, perhaps? Or the names of those who were lost here long ago? No one knows, for they don't appear to be actual words. Whatever the case may be, it's clear that no one beyond the recent visitors (and now you) have used this tunnel for many years.
Then, as the end of the day draws near and it is nearly time for rest, the passage suddenly widens, revealing a massive cavern ahead. Across the ceiling, natural rock formations hang like jagged teeth from a beast’s maw, and the ground beneath you is rough, littered with shattered gear and rusted tools long abandoned. The walls of the cavern shoot straight up and are riddled with dozens of holes about the size of a dog, which only add to the tension in the air. The silence here is deafening, broken only by the occasional sound of dripping water that echoes far too loudly in the stillness.
Here in the cavern, illuminated by the floating lights hanging around the group, lies what remains of an abandoned camp. Two large, multi-person tattered tents cling to the stone floor, their canvas ripped and shredded by time, or something more sinister. Scattered supplies lie half-buried in the dirt—rusted pots and pans, broken weapons, and moldy bedrolls forgotten in a rush. A campfire, long extinguished, is little more than a pile of ash and charred wood, cold and silent.
To the right hand side from where you stand, a clear path continues through the large cavern and you can see a hint of what looks like some large red-metal structure beyond the paths' entrance.
The gnoll seems unbothered by this descent into the depths of the world. At the abandoned campsite, he quietly roams around looking for clues as to what happened here and if any interesting creatures were involved.
Rutilux has a light source so that's no trouble. The lights dance near him merrily... for about 3 seconds before they turn eerie and cast the aforementioned twisted and creepy shadows. He shivers a few times as the chill grows.
Putting on an unperturbed air, something she has had plenty of practice with, Ari nevertheless is largely content to keep herself to herself as the group makes their way underground. The darkness genuinely doesn't bother her but something about the oppressive mass of stone overhead feels like it's weighing her down and idle conversation therefore feels somewhat inappropriate. Not that she's necessarily bothered by social norms. She instinctively pulls her furs around herself to keep away any chill, even if thanks to her infernal ancestors she doesn't really feel the cold.
When they reach the abandoned campsite she joins Shaggar in poking around. "Lovely spot for a picnic," she offers.
Kiley's already somber mood turns darker as they make their way deeper into the Underdark. She'd read tales and her about the time her parents braved its uppermost reaches, but neither had truly prepared her for what she experiences now. The weight of stone overhead seems intent on crushing her spirit as she delves into the gloom. The sight of the camp only adds to the growing tension within as she stays with Sasha and Rutilux to hlep keep an eye on them.
Despite her self-absorption, Ari senses that she is not the only one lost inside their own head. Kiley is unusually quiet as well, exuding neither the upbeat side to her personality or the concerned one that the tiefling has started to get used to. With a prayer on her lips that is barely a whisper, she touches her hidden holy symbol and takes a deep breath to steady herself for what she is about to do. Not a big deal for most people, but for Ari it is both a baby step and a big one all at once.
She pads quietly over to Kiley and gestures up with her head towards the rock overhead. "Yeah, I don't like it much either. I'm guessing that's what's keeping you locked up tighter than a paladin's breeches."
Sasha, with Pheliks padding along silently, seems content to hum tunelessly to herself as they travel. She's not as strong or agile as the others, so when the rocky tunnels become challenging she's louder and sometimes needs help, but she doesn't make noise carelessly. "Sorry - this is slow going..." she might say, quietly, before lapsing back into a focused silence.
This is repeated, with the occasional lull while the cave floor is easy to traverse. Pheliks follows with the quiet confidence of a cat that couldn't care less for the tons of earth above. When the scenery changes and the massive cavern opens up, Sasha audibly sighs in relief until she sees the ruined signs of previous campers. We aren't going to stop here, are we...? she asks the others with a concerned expression on her face. As the Ioun torch orbiting her head passes steadily the others can see her looking around for signs of danger...
As Shaggar and Ari make their way into the abandoned camp, Shaggar gets a strange feeling that something is watching him. It takes him a bit to identify where said feeling is coming from, and he looks up just as three bizarre crab spider insect looking things the size of large dogs are crawling down from the cave ledge from the holes you saw earlier towards the group, claws clicking.
Init Round 1
23- Ari
20- Rutilux
19- Sasha
18- Shaggar
16- Them
10- Kiley
Shaggar readies his axe and shuffles forward to potentially intercept two of the scuttling creatures. ”Three cave fishers are coming at us.”
HP: 28 / 28 | AC:16 / T:11 / FF:15 | CMD:18/17
Arrows (20):
Arisen 3HP (1):
Effects:
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard
The three cave fishers move a little bit closer (still staying 10 feet of the ground) before lashing out with their extraordinarily long filaments, launching them towards the party, one each at Shaggar, Ari, and Rutilux.
Ari and Rutilux are surprised by the appearance of the weird vermin, and the two filaments latch tightly onto both of them.
Init Round 1 (actual round 1 this time)
23- Ari
20- Rutilux
19- Sasha
18- Shaggar
16- Them
10- Kiley
Shaggar drops his axe, pulls his sling, and fires a stone at the nearest fisher.
HP: 28 / 28 | AC:16 / T:11 / FF:15 | CMD:18/17
Bullets (20): x
Arisen 3HP (1):
Effects:
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard
Well, there goes stealth as Rutilux YELPS in surprise and has a filament attach onto him. Unfortunately, the darn thing's main body is too far away for most of his spells, and he's not sure if the strand pinned to him is conductive.
He goes over what he has... a dagger? NO, stabbing with that would never cut the darn filament. "Anyone got a nice keen edged sword or..." realizing he is going up a bit, like it or not. He invokes the Shield power of his half staff.
Before Kiley can answer Ari, she hears Shaggar shouting a warning. Lost in her own thoughts, she's slow to react and stands frozen for a moment as her mind races to catch up.
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Seeing the filament and hearing Rutilux's call for help, Sasha looks to Pheliks and says, "Guard him!" Then she whips out a sickle and slashes at the filament deliberately.
Pheliks huffs and gently, but firmly, takes the halfling in his mouth at the waist, much as you might envision a large cat taking a kitten in its mouth. Then he holds him there, pulling back against the fishing cave-vermin.
Taken unawares by a horribly sticky strand of, well, Ari didn't know what, and probably didn't want to, she flicks knives down into each of her hands and attempts to cut her way loose. Whatever these creatures were, she wanted to stay well clear of them unless it was on her own terms.
Shaggar's bullet goes wide, scattering against the cliff face even as the thing abandons its filament and rears back, aiming for a second try.
But it misses.
Ari luckily slashes the filament off of her, destroying it in the process. The fisher has to reset and launch another one just as Shaggar's one did.
Another one strikes her squarely on the shoulder, preparing to drag
Rutilux, however, is not as lucky and the filament attached to him attempts to reel him in towards the fisher.
It does so, forcibly dragging the unfortunate halfling 10 feet towards its rocky abode.
Init Round 1
23- Ari
20- Rutilux
19- Sasha
18- Shaggar
16- Them
10- Kiley
Round 2
23- Ari
20- Rutilux
19- Sasha
18- Shaggar
16- Them
10- Kiley
The gnoll drops another bullet in the pouch and whips it, a little more deftly this time, at the same cave fisher. Then he picks up his axe, certain that it will prove useful at any moment.
HP: 28 / 28 | AC:16 / T:11 / FF:15 | CMD:18/17
Bullets (20): x
Arisen 3HP (1):
Effects:
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard