“I will have what he’s having, organically sourced free ranged orphan tears.”
While the Damned retraced their steps out of the catacombs of the temple of Tsathung, a goblin had teleported close to them. They had decided to fall back to find another path down to the Abbot instead of trusting the pit trap that it seemed the cleric had fallen into. This is what the evidence showed; however, it could be a trap. Emil’s spell did indicate that the sickle was deeper into the earth. It was during their contemplation that the Shadow Goblin claimed that their boss, Traipse, had won the Damned in a hand of poker. The idea that the Shrike of Czira thought of them as a resource that could be traded made sense to some of the more pessimistic members but to have been lost in a hand at poker, this didn’t sit well with most of them. After a convoluted explanation, the Shadow Goblin claimed they were just the cook doing a job. While the Damned explained that they haven’t had the best of luck trusting people of late and asked if they were going to stab them in the back. After a bit more of talk about trust and opportunities it was Sinestra that got the group to loosely trust the Goblin. Sure, the druid was agreeing with Kaertas but it was her words of adventure that sealed the deal. The Damned understood that they had a job to do with the Shrike but they also longed for adventure that didn’t result in them becoming enemies with the locals or the Wrenjers.
It should have been harder to get the Damned to follow the Shadow Goblin but as the fey aethrin explained how they were traveling to Traipse, more of them seemed apprehensive of the prospect. The magic was rather layered and complicated and it would curse any non-fey aethrin if any of them stared too long at the magic. However, they were told to stare at their feet and not look up at any point as it would result in something worse than death or so the Shadow Goblin said. Knowing that this would be difficult for the deathly curious necromancer, Vai’len used the last of her green scarf to create a tight blindfold for Kaertas. As the strange thick and dark mist formed, they followed the cook through it, never looking up to see the magic around them. They could spell pine trees and eventually the ground underneath turned to cobblestone. Yet they were not at their destination. The Shadow Goblin continued to move, the Damned could hear chittering around them, like large insect armor plating rubbing against one another. Soon the cobblestone turned to a soft rug and they stopped.
Mahogany wood and velour was used in the crafting of the furniture in the cabin they had found themselves in. The welcoming roaring fire was pleasant and it seemed like a rather nice place for a rest. Before leaving them to rest, the Shadow Goblin cook asked what they would like to eat when they meet their boss. The Damned seemed wary of trusting even after following them to wherever they were. Sinestra explained that they were content with their Goodberries and Amo explained that they were a hexblood and didn’t require food for survival. Upon hearing Amo’s fey ancestry, the cook offered that they could provide whatever they wished and had offered a couple examples. These were provided in Sylvan, which most of the party happened to understand. Amo was offered a glass of pure happiness or orphan tears. The latter was explained to be organically sourced, free ranged tears but this was still a bit startling for the Damned who could understand. Amo did request them while Kaertas asked for a glass of pure happiness. The others all ordered fancy yet traditional fare for their meeting with their new boss. Draggo, Lord Thevius’ fey familiar asked for a glass of happiness as well but the cook had to decline because as a pseudodragon they could share images of what they experienced and they didn’t want to be liable for the side effects for the non-fey aethrin in the party.
With their meals ordered, the Damned settled for rest. Games were provided for those that don't need to sleep or only needed a light four hour nap. Upon their waking they were escorted into another elaborate decorated room, which seemed to sit well with their Lordling, the wood details of the room had changed from mahogany to rowan wood. A crimson red and gold banner hung behind Traipse. Their food was presented and it was all lovely, the cook was rather impressive. Amo sipped the orphan tears and they tasted lemony and left the taste of ‘glad I’m not that orphan’ in his mouth. Kaertas was only part fey and when he had taken a sip of happiness his face fell flat in the duck he had ordered. While the necromancer experienced a rather joyous picnic with a family in a meadow, the others watched and debated about if they should wake him. Some had tried but the necromancer lost in the experience, this was fine as Terrance ate his food and the others talked and joked. It was a rather nice meal with the group actually bonding and not arguing. They found out that they were to help the King of Crabs with a rather unruly group of sea hags who couldn’t be killed by anyone of Tlalli, or so the prophecy claimed.
The Damned have traveled all the way to the feywild of the Tlalli. By the time Kaertas had awoken, he was feeling the lethargy of experiencing pure happiness and Sinestra had stripped one of his skeletons of the armor it was wearing. Apparently the druid had tapped into something while they were in the woods. Kaertas was barely able to shake the fog of napping in his food when they were told to prepare themselves and hoped that they knew how to swim. Abruptly they were dropped on a moving ship in the water, but surprisingly they all landed on their feet. The Damned quickly took in their surroundings. The boat only had a few crew and a rather odd and large pot on the deck. The dragonborn mumbled that there were more than they were told but continued to greet their new occupants. Not long into the sailing did Kaertas lose their sea legs and found himself puking happiness over the railing. Captain Sethrelar Jerynomonos shared that they would arrive at their destination in a couple of hours. They spent the time talking with the crew. Most of the crew had been cursed; however, only the captain would break his curse when the Damned slayed the sea hags. Sethrelar was cursed that they could sail anywhere but home where their lovely husband was stuck as they were magically bound to the land. He explained that his he didn’t have many to share his frustration with as the “witch” was scared to leave her pot, the boseman never paid any attention and Masky was some sort of medical professional. She doesn’t know if it is because of what they have gone through or the food she had consumed, but Vai’len could see ghosts around the dragonborn. The rogue had seen something similar around one of her party members but it was a quick glimpse and something she thought she had made up.
During their trip across the water, Amo had handed out some magic and rested. Eventually they learned that kissing the pot would grant them the curse of water breathing. Feeling adventurous, the rogue went first and upon not growing fins or dying Sinestra followed suit. They all kiss the pot. Vai’len and Draggo practiced loading some cannonballs and they were able to load a couple but this group of the Damned were not the strongest. The rogue even dropped one on her foot. Ace shares an abridged version of what brought them in their sort of curse with the Shrike. At some point Vai’len tried to talk with the boseman and it was clear that talking wasn’t her forte. Near the end of their travels a couple rather strange creatures land on the deck. A opossum-seagull, an armadillo-owl and an odd looking fish. Each of them produced a letter one for Amo, Kaertas and the captain. Amo had taken a gamble and tipped their seagull a gold for their troubles. Somehow their conversation turned to trash gryphons and how some magic users in Eslaiqeza had tried to make more tressyms but had accidentally created the trash gryphons instead.
Eventually they arrived at an island where the coordinates had directed them to go. Not knowing what they would find, the dropped to the old wooden dock and moved across the small island. Vai’len scouted ahead and as she neared both caves she could hear a low wailing. Informing the others they all moved up the island as they could see a small cave on the rise as well. As the rogue neared all she could see were a bunch of skulls. But as Ace moved closer they could hear “Crab, Crab, Crab, Skull, Crab” over and over again until they were forced to move away from the small cave. After some time and testing, no one could talk to the crab who was using a skull as a home. Not finding anything, they all fell back to the two lower caves. Taking the western one, they moved through the tunnel that opened up into a very large sandstone cavern. They could tell that this wasn’t a naturally formed cavern. It was at this point that they remembered their conversation on the boat about sea hags. They were nearly impossible to kill unless they were beheaded and at least this group has something to do with the number thirteen.
The cavern held three large ships from various places. They still had cargo and magical items on them but the Damned didn’t touch anything as they wanted to explore the entire area. Also, they had found some script that none of them could read but they could tell that it said something about not touching the loot. Each figurehead the boats radiated evocation and enchantment magic. Showing restraint, they all moved back to the eastern cave on the island. The low wailing was still present but this one headed abruptly in a wall that upon closer inspection revealed to be an illusion. Vai’len turned back to Kaertas and simply called his attention to her while she moved through the secret wall. Behind this ‘wall’ was a real wall with a door that was clearly a mimic. The poor excuse of a mimic was hungry and Thevius offered the round of cheese they had and was close to becoming a friend until Amo quickly eliminated the creature. The mimic was hiding a lever that moved the wall, this cave was just another way into the cavern. With no better option, as none of them wanted to swim under the island, they moved back to the only magical area on the island. Their plan was simple enough: poke one of the figureheads and draw the sea hags out. In their positions, Vai’len released her bolt and the island shifted. The ground below them moved as the large crab they were on started to animate. They had heard that some of the crustaceans near the hags might be under their influence and the Damned started to attack the gargantuan crab with Kaertas dropping a fireball across the back. Amo launched a sapping sting while Draggo moved away. The ship's crew were bewildered but stayed out of the fight. The rogue held her ground and lined up a perfect shot, nailing the crab with a sharpshooter’s aim. Sinestra was the only one with her wits about her and tried to talk with the crab before casting sanctuary on the rogue who was clearly a tiny yet large target.
Sinestra did not hear a response but as the crab changed their claw’s direction from the sea elf rogue to her, she was able to tell that the crab must be taking them to their King. Feeling rather foolish, the others stopped their attacks and let the massive crab descend into the water. As they delved deeper, sea folk swam up and offered candy and they could hear them whisper about the prophecy. Upon eating the salty taffy they were able to withstand the pressure of the water around them. Their onlookers scattered when three large polar bear sharks swarmed the Damned, hungry. The crab continued their descent with them attached but the sharks still attacked. In quick succession, the rogue was buffed by both Kaertas and Ace. Unfortunately Kaertas was attacked by one of the sharks and lost his left hand to the creature. This knocked the concentration of Haste off of the rogue who became rather sleepy and was glad that she was at least invisible to the predators. Lord Thevius and Amo both launched some eldritch energy towards the sharks while Sinestra summoned their flock of raptors, knowing that they would only last in the water a few moments. Amo dropped a hypnotic pattern on the sharks but one was able to shrug out of it. The shark continued their assault dealing massive damage to the necromancer, however the rogue was able to shake her sleepiness and straight up deleted one of the sharks, sending a bolt up their snout. The raptors quickly shredded and devoured another shark. The one that had taken Kaertas’ left hand however got away.
While this was happening the crab had continued their descent and without even a flinch, Kaertas brought out the mummified hand of the revenant they had found and attached it, even though now the caster had two right hands. They finally arrived at the King and Sinestra thanked their guide. The shell they arrived at was illuminated by bioluminescent crab and other sea life. The King greeted them and was glad to have them here. They learned that their information on the sea hags was outdated and it was now much worse. It seemed that wherever they went in Tlalli, they were offered food and during their rest they were provided seafood while the crabs, accompanied by Ace, created lovely rave music. The King informed them that an old prophecy stated that the hags could only be felled by those not of Tlalli and the king shared that the coven had been eaten by one of their own and has become a sea fury.
