Session 21: Prophet of Shargon
General Summary
Sypheros 27
The Black Lake
Disguised as Drow, the party travels deeper into the Underdark, through 10 miles of difficult terrain (rocky tunnels). Reaching a massive cliff, they've found an underground lake (about half a mile wide). On the far side of the cavern, faintly glowing with a soft yellow-green light, is a massive stone structure, shaped like a prehistoric spined fish. A wide stairway can be dimly seen leading up into the fish’s mouth. At the water's edge, the party is attacked by a creature in the lake with spiked tentacles. It is defeated and identified as a distant cousin of the dreaded hydra family of monsters. Retreating to the clifftop to heal, the party watches a boat slowly approach the pier. Piloted by a single fish-man wearing a tattered blue banner as a cloak who introduces himself as Aabhaca. Ardillon, disguised as the Drow Matriarch Lady Maltrea ir'Lhalbar, convinces the ferryman that he needs passage to Bhal-Hamatugn to trade slaves. It takes fifteen minutes for the boat to cross the lake.Temple of Bhal-Hamatugn
Guards greet the party and offer a blue-purple grog, which the party politely declines to drink. They are taken to see the temple's prisoners. Only one human is caged there - Cherr White-eye. Garekk, the prison warden, informs the party that a dwarf matching the description they are seeking, has ascended to become the temple's prophet. He leads the party to an audience with Zenith Splintershield. Zenith sits on a throne made of stitched skin, surronded by twitching corpses. A teleportation circle glows on the floor of his chamber. His left hand wears a claw gauntlet, while his right hand bears an invisible symbol (Gwen Frost can see it with Truesight), later revealed to be an aberrant dragonmark. When the party enters, Zenith is pondering a glowing white pearlish orb. After diplomacy fails to reason with Zenith, battle breaks out in the throneroom. A powerful critical hit from Zenith's warhammer fells Ardillon, and Garekk proves to be a tougher foe than expected. Desparate, Cadrug steals the white orb and the party steps onto the teleportation circle. They find themselves in the Shrine of Shargon - a seventy foot tall obsidian statue of the Devourer towering over them. Ardillon is restored with some quick healing, and he takes the white orb from Cadrug . Holding it aloft, he declares himself the new prophet of Shargon, and denounces Zenith as the Deceiver, a false prophet. The high cleric of Shargon, Mangh-Mictho, is stunned, and grovels. The party starts moving towards the exits. A few moments later, Zenith teleports into the shrine, fuming. Mangh-Mictho summons the Spawn of Shargon in a vortex. This massive grotesque crustacean is coated with thick slime, and moves to attack Zenith. A gong begins to ring above, and grates begin letting water into the shrine. The party moves to the door. Zenith is slain by one of the warriors guarding the shrine. War chants of "Shargon! Shar-gon! Shar-gon!" ring out. Ardillon rallies the remaining warriors and high priest, and they process into the rest of the temple, bringing the news of the False Prophet's death to every inhabitant of Bhal-Hamatugn. Ardillon declares a Blood Tournament must be held, to determine who will be Shargon's Champion. He demands the release of Cherr White-eye, and takes Zenith's body with him. The ferry takes the party back across the lake.Sypheros 28
The party travels back to the staircase to reach the surface.Aryth 1-4
The party travels back to Cauldron.Aryth 5
Resting at Pike Manor, Detlev d'Cannith informs the party that Blue Fists mercenaries are now patrolling the streets, apparantly hired by the city guard.Rewards Granted
Reached Level 7
Missions/Quests Completed
Found Zenith Splintershield.
Cadrug
Detlev d'Cannith
Gwen Frost
Tim
Report Date
22 Jun 2024
Secondary Location
