The kuo-toa speaks up for the first time since the destruction of his home village. "Let us please be careful. Something about this place... Troubles me..."
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You are rowed along for a while until you hear sounds coming from another boat. You see one approaching of approximately the same size with more kuo-toa on it. A prominent fish man wearing bone necklaces calls out to his rowers. "Attack!" Gargly claorings in Undercommon surround you as combatants leap off each boat and begin spearing each other in the water while the prominent kuo-toa hurls flames at his opponents. Two kuo-toa remain on your boat, steering it. In a hushed and confused whisper, Shuushar intones "That is the arhpriest of the Sea Mother! I know not what is happening!"
Shuushar looks surprised. In a whisper, he explains to those close to him. "Odd. Bloppblippodd is the daughter of Ploopploopeen who has been arch-priest of the Sea Mother my entire life. I wonder why has she turned from the worship of the Deep Mother in this way? And where did this vision come from? No doubt dangerous and strange illusions my people are suffering under..."
Shuushar nods then inquires in his gargly speech. "Who is this great Deep Father you speak of? I have been traveling a long time and have heard only of the Deep Mother."
Shuushar shakes his head. "My people are rarely violent. I will speak wisdom to them that I gained during my long pilgrimage." Galenus knows that Kua-toa are often petty, bickering and mischevious. They are also odd and erratice but he's never heard of them acting in a murderous manner.
Shuushar shrugs with concern and replies in his gargly tone "The Deep Mother is our goddess. She is primarily a goddess of scavenging. I have never heard of this 'Deep Father'."
Shuushar looks very concerned. "The Deep Father? No that can't be right. My people worship the Deep Mother... And unwilling sacrifices! It seems my people gravely need to learn the wisdom I've gained from my meditations!! We must speak to them at once."
Cyrus manages to hold onto the two struggling swimmers long enough for Eddrikk to throw them a rope. Everyone gets pulled back up onto the raft with great difficulty due to the low ceiling. You float on a ways farther in extremely cramped quarters. Shuushar flares his gills and turns his head back and forth constantly. "I fear the waters might be too high when we come to a narrow passage up ahead." You reach said passage and the water looks barely low enough for you to get through. You near the opening. DC 14 pp: You hear gurgling noises that sound like water at first but then they resolve into voices. They are speaking Undercommon on the other side of the opening, conversing of mundane matters of fishing.
Shuushar keeps paddling along and turns to Galenus. "The currents are normally slow but we have found a faster one. I believe we can reach my people after one more rest." He shuts up very wisely and firmly at the discussion between Irdril and Galenus, wanting no part of it.
Galenus:
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." Galinndan: You're pretty sure the minerals are non-magical.
Shuushar pipes up in Undercommon "What did she say?"
You all pitch in together but find the collaborative raft-making process quite difficult. In a hushed whisper, Shuushr irges you on "If we complete this, we can float away from our pursuers. If not, they may overtake us!"
Between the hacking blades and Tiberius' fire, the remaining mushrooms are destroyed and burnt.
Shuushar points to the flowing stream just past the battle. "This will lead us to the Darklake. Can you swim? Or can we build a raft?"
"This way, now! We are getting close to the Darklake! From there we can swim comfortably..." The fish man pauses and looks around at the lot of you "Err... maybe we can build a raft of some kind to travel the rest of the way to my people. Perhaps a wise idea in any case. Swimming in the Darklake poses its risks."
Shuushar shrugs at Galinndan. "It is somewhat difficult to forage along the right fork. There is more life along the left fork. Whenever I have traveled this way, I brought most of my supplies with me."
Galinndan finally manages to free himself from his hated manacles. Others try to do the same, all but the orc accepting aid. NPC attempts:
With a serene look on his face, the kuo-toa slowly breaks off his manacles with Kanzen's help.
The fish-like man shrugs his scaly shoulders at Kanzen's question. "We are in a strange situation. I thought it best for us all to have a choice."
Shuushar heads to a nice corner and lays his weary bones down to rest.
You manage to snag a night's sleep without incident and decide to continue on your way with Shuushar leading.
You come to a split tunnel. You hear water gurgling from the left fork, which leads down. The right fork leads on without ascending or descending. Shuushar turns to you. "We can go left or right here. Right leads more directly to my town. Left takes 1 day longer and requires crossing a small stream."
The way of the sword always turns upon those who walk it... I wandered the Underdark, searching for enlightenment. The Drow found me and took me as a slave.... You continue along in some silence. GM Screen:
DC 11 passive perception and Darkvision: Until you hear some shuffling behind you. You see two Drow warriors about 50 feet behind you!
Shuushar nods at the suggestions and heads out.
You move through strange caverns, some lit with glowing fungi, others completely dark. The dripping of water and occasional whistling of an air current are the only things breaking the silence. How came you to be here? Shuushar inquires of those walking near him.
Shuushar nods at Cyrus' words. Yes we should resume moving. More quickly, if possible. Is everyone ready to go further? He glances around at the elf getting to his feet and the passing around of weapons.
The kuo-toa begins looking around him and picking certain fungi off the walls. He does something with them for a few minutes then applies them to the unconscious party members.
Shuushar turns to Cyrus. I have seen how you act. You understand that fighting is not the only way. You avoid a fight when you can. I've seen you help your friends instead of striking down your foes when you must intervene.
Shuushar NPC card: Shuushar: 1/minute: Having wandered alone through the Underdark, Shuushar has become adept at navigating its twists and turns. Make a survival check to navigate or forage with advantage. 3/day: Shuushar’s knowledge of the medicinal fungi of the Underdark allow him to aid those around him. Over the course of 10 minutes, Shuushar creates a poultice of fungi and applies it to the wounds of a creature, healing them for 1/5 of their max hp (rounded down). Inspiration: A speaker of peace, Shuushar can persuade even the most obstinate to listen to him, at least temporarily. A single creature that can understand Shuushar (only speaks Undercommon) will not move or take hostile actions for 1 round as long as no hostile actions are taken toward that creature.
The kuo-toa nods at Tiberius' complaints. Undercommon:
I can't absolutely guarantee we wouldn't be bothered. Sometimes my people get bizarre ideas in their heads but generally it's nothing too harmful. Hearing Tiberius' complains, Shuushar holds him back and thinks to the others. Do be careful! There are some dangerous beasts to our left.
Before the fight: Shuushar tried to free Irdril at her request but the Kuo-Toa can't get a good enough grasp on Irdril's chains. Some of the other prisoners also attempt to free themselves. Topsy manages to nimbly slip her bonds while none of the others were able to.
Shuushar stares ahead with tranquility and responds to Galinndan. Undercommon:
My people are known for madness. It is only through long weeks of contemplation and tranquility that I have overcome this flaw of the Kuo-Toa. I will teach my people to do the same.
The kua-toa speaks calmly. Undercommon:
Now, now, we must not judge any sentient creature merely by their race. After all, Derendil is nothing like other Quaggoth. And I am rather different from other's of my own kind.
Darkvision:
The strange ooze in the middle of the pool shudders its way towards the group but stops once its slimed its way a little bit out of the pool. You all hear again Flesh for the Faceless Lord! The kua-toa leans on his knees, breathing hard. He looks around. Ah! Excellent! We can go to the Darklake this way, though it will take quite a while. We can share my teachings with my people. Above you, you hear an other-worldly shriek. Those with 120 feet of darkvision:
The four strange creatures seem to have just finished off the other two and are flying away through the south tunnel. The Drow are attempting to restore order in the outpost.
I believe we will find a way to escape. These things tend to work themselves out. Whatever comes, violence will serve us ill.
Escape... A fine idea. We will leave this place and head to Sloobludoop where we will rest and recuperate. I will teach my people what I have learned...
This is strange and wonderful. Thank you for including me in this experience, my new friends.
A scaly, fishy humanoid managing to sit cross-legged in the corner (despite his chains) speaks up without opening his eyes. Jimjar, why must you gamble on pain? Would it not be better to dwell in peace? |