The Mouth of Doom: Session 43
General Summary
Mossballs
Report Date
07 Aug 2021
Whenever the group had cleared a floor in the dungeon, the spooky fog of Vrokíva moved through the Mouth of Doom, slowly reclaiming the area. The Wrenjers from Castle Calaelen had started to move into the area as well. They had been staying at the castle while the forward group explored and cleared the area but now they were moving to the dungeon. Enya and Vadim had been helping with the process. The two first noticed their impact with the first yellow heads of dandelions popping up through the dead and desiccated trees surrounding the stone skull mouth. Knowing that their help was not needed any longer, Arddan sent Vadim and Enya to the Gut where the others had just finished their stay at the Last One Inn. While they caught up with the group, they walked through the eerily quiet and perfectly carved hallway. Nothing assaulted their journey and they quickly found themselves in the large cavern staring at the 40 foot giant vampire stone statue. Cracks could be seen running through the carving as just a few hours ago the Wrenjers had removed the brilliant and dangerous sapphire. Their eyes moved about the large area noting the pools of stagnant water and mycelium.
Poking just out of the middle pool were two black and white tabaxi ears. Artem had been keeping watch for the last hour. Not long ago there was a small contingent from Greznek investigating the statue’s screaming but they had either moved on or teleported a bit ago. The only thing the rogue could see were his two companions cautiously entering the cavern. With some bird calls, Artem called the duo over. At one moment it looked like the fire druid was going to light the rogue up as their travel through the long hallway had been creepy and had put the druid on offense. As Vadim and Enya approached the water, Artem called out to cover their tracks but it was clear that this wasn’t one of Vadim’s specialties. Leofric had been borrowing the bard’s cloak while they were away assisting the other Wrenjers. It had been quite entertaining as the bard was at least twice the height of the cleric. The cloak had been rolled at key spots to not damage the fine silk. Whenever Leofric had entered the water the cloak flowed free making the wee halfling seem ghostly. With Vadim’s return, Leofric offered the cloak back.
With the last two rejoining the group, they swam through the tunnel and emerged in the small cave they had asked to share with the giant snake. The blind snake felt their vibrations and Artem calmed the creature simply stating that the last of their group had returned. With his magic spent, Enya started the ritual to talk with the cave’s main occupant. They learned that the snake was called Blood on the Wet Stone. The Wrenjers talk about what to do with the sapphire. Their conversation drifts from double wrapping the gem to getting it out of the dungeon. After a bit of thought they determined that this would be a great question for an inaethri. Leofric scanned the area for a significant catalyst for the spell and spotted the discarded egg casings around Blood on the Wet Stone’s nest. The cleric had Enya ask for the casings as they were a great representation of family through diversity. With their group back together and tired, they rested for the evening.
Their night passed without incident and the 2nd of Miha found the group rising from the stones for their day’s travels. Morning rituals are conducted on sore limbs. Leofric settled himself to contact one of the inaethri of the Mender’s Pantheon. The halfling sat cross legged and casted his spell by burning the egg casings with the incense shared by Te’Leyuura. The fire had started normal enough but quickly turned pink has Leofric’s magic flowed out through him. He slowly floated off the ground, levitating, his words penetrating the air around him. “What will happen when we remove the gem from Jarvis’ bag of holding?” His eyes glowed pink as the Inaethri’s words flowed out of the halfling “Old blood magic tethers sapphire to chalice and is not easily destroyed. But distance whelms what time does not and your feet will carry you hence to safety and wealth.” Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the ritual, Zetwuzadi wrapped the halfling in a hug. They decided to have faith with the words given to them by Calelis and started their journey to the gate.
The hall they traveled through was very similar to the one they had traveled the day before, magically worked stone. Sounds of clopping hooves of several horses traveled up the hallway towards the group. Quickly the Wrenjers made a plan to set up several trip wires. Using Te’Leyuura’s silk ropes and Artem’s thieves’ tools, Jarvis quickly secured four pitons with two ropes while Artem dusted the ropes to help hide them in plain sight. The cleric blessed the Wrenjers with superior darkvision. As the skeletal horses’ thunderous noise continued they could finally see the approaching creatures. The wizard held a spell, waiting until the undead reached the perfect point in the traps. Jarvis and Enya moved forward while the rogue held an arrow in case one of the undead skirted off for help. The barding on the horses looked sharp, sharp enough to cut the rope but the first two horses failed and fell. Te’Leyuura’s fireball went off, dealing some initial damage. They could see the zombies hunkered down behind their shields as the bright blinding light of the fire flashed around them. The two horses and their riders right themselves and join the others in their pursuit. In unison all of the zombies lowered their visors ready to attack. From his distance, Vadim launched his own fireball at the group. It hit center mass, slaying a few of the undead horses. The zombies slowly brought themselves back up. Taking a step behind the bard, the wizard released her second fireball. Only the sound of the smoke moving through the area and metal screeching to a halt as the third fireball quickly ended the fight.
Quicker than it started, the battle ended. Only the terrible smell of burnt rotten corpses assaulted their senses. Enya suggested that they just burn the rest of the bodies but with the use of bedrolls the Wrenjers started to transport them. They continued their journey down the southeastern tunnel. After a while, Leofric could see the standing water. It seemed that at some point a large puddle had been carved to create the stagnant body of water they approached. The soft glow of the magical gate radiated out into the darkness as the gate was emblazoned with glowing sigils and runes. Leofric dropped his familiar into the terrible water to scout while the others approached the gate. As they approached they could see that the regular limestone they had been traversing merged with black volcanic rock as if someone had transmuted the stone together. The volcanic rock made the walls of the area behind, below and above the gate. Using the wand, Artem could read the magic auras on the gate. In the middle of the large doors were three symbols: a horned demon skull, a black circle and a red square.
Artem and Jarvis approached the gate first, while the others remained across the water or down the stars. They could see through the ½ inch spaces between the bars. The light was clearly magical and without knowing much more they fell back to the others to discuss what they should do next. Most wanted to travel west down the other tunnel to the plantoids. They wanted and needed to know if the plantoids they had heard about were corrupted by the Master. Te’Leyuura wanted to make sure they don’t just assume that everything down here was corrupted by the Master. She wasn’t naive but as they had met the kind and charismatic roachman they wanted to make sure they didn’t greet everything they encountered like the zombies. Before they traversed Artem and Jarvis wanted to test the gate. As the scouts moved forward, Te’Leyuura wanted to join them but it was clear that they didn’t need another so the wizard observed as best she could from across the shore. Once again Zetwuzadi joined the forward scouts, bathing them in her aura. They could see two sets of handprints in a common pattern. A thin layer of grim centered on the square and the skull. Moving one image at a time, they decided to start with the skull and it moved in front of the circle. But as they released the image it quickly bounced back and a loud knock resounded throughout the area. Hoping to gain the knowledge before anyone investigated the knocking sound, the scouts moved both images at once and the skull overlapped the circle while the square fell behind. A small seam split the doorway and the door opened loudly. Behind them they could see a similar hallway with two inky pools of darkness flanking the middle of the hallway and written in abyssal on either side of the darkness was one simple word, “RUN!”
Before they travelled west, the group made tracks heading north down the tunnel they had just traversed. They travel for another hour heading west toward the plantoids at this point they would typically find a place for rest but they continued to press on. During the next hour Artem started to flag but Jarvis adjusted his bag and they were able to continue their journey. As they decided to keep traveling it was clear that two were not able to continue. Vadim and Enya were exhausted. Unfortunately they were unable to find an area to make camp as the hallway was a straight path. They were forced to place their magical huts in the middle of the path; however, they did place the sturdier folk in the bubble near the gate while the squishier casters were facing the plantoids. About halfway through their rest they could hear the sound of loud shuffling and deep resonating footsteps. A fair number of creatures were heading towards them. As they woke up Leofric they could hear the footfalls and about minute later he could see eight ogres in hide armor and wielding clubs, approaching. The leader of the group stopped the ogres and in giant complained “Hold up, Fucking Wizards!” They were forced to climb over the bubbles, some of them slipping but the bubbles held their form to much of the Wrenjers’ relief. Zetwuzadi’s fey bear companion wasn’t able to join them in the magical bubbles and as the giants skittered over, they stopped confused with the different magics but they pressed forward leaving the troublesome wizards alone. With the ogres gone, Vadim voiced “best song ever” before falling back asleep.
The rest of their night was uneventful and they all woke rested and ready for the third of Miha. They continued to head west and after an hour they could smell tilled earth. During their travels throughout the underground highway their footsteps haven’t been muffled but as they approached the plantoids whatever lay ahead of them were muffling the sounds of their feet. The area ahead of them was dimly lit and Leofric could see the small movements of humanoid creatures. They were hunched over large plants that were growing out of earth rather than rock they had been traversing through. Floating around the humanoid creatures were what looked like mossy boulders tending the creatures who looked to be gardening. They continued their approach, remembering the warnings from both Urovok and Hyrakin. The floating boulders of moss were plantoids, they were naturally buoyant filled with air pockets that could be manipulated. Furthermore they knew that they were intelligent but xenophobic and their lore was deeply tied with Vrokíva. Wrenjers had fought them before and they figured that the humanoid creatures were being controlled by the floating mossballs. Their entire goal was to investigate if they were corrupted by the Master but this would require them to get closer.
As they approached they gained more insight into the area, there were blue flowers spread about the area giving off light. These flowers looked almost crystalline and the gardeners were gently arranging the plants to face them. With the Wrenjers’ approach the closest mossball gained elevation to gain a better vantage on the trespassers. Enya called out using their magic to talk with the plants and as her words reached out, all the humanoids stopped what they were doing. Telepathically the druid heard “One of nature, why do you disturb us?” The voice was ancient druidic. She responded that they were seeking answers. Jarvis might not understand what was being said but he could read the room well enough to know they shouldn’t waste the plantoid’s time. Enya asked if they were working with the Master; it was clear that they were not that the “petty squabbles” were beneath them. Quickly the druid offered her services to help and the plantoids agreed and after some clarification the druid shared that she could make the earth more nutrient rich. The area had been damaged long ago by those that stood against the Brume and they welcomed the help as penance for what had happened. However, only Enya is allowed to enter the heart of the area. The large plantoid in the center floated toward her, greeting her with their tendrils and led her down the path to the heart. She is led to an egg shaped domed room covered in beautiful plants, the nursery in which many aethrin had donated their lives to feed the dirt. A plantoid covered in red lichen greeted the druid, “we have sensed you coming, you may do your work here.”
The others were forced to leave their friend with the mossballs hoping that Enya would survive. It seemed that the druid wanted to help and the others did not want to interfere. They pressed forward wanting to map the rest of the hallway but knowing what day it was they did not want to stay the night in the Inn on an odd day. Instead they turned back and walked back through the plantoids, giving Te’Leyuura more time to map the area. They continued their journey, heading back to the imposing gate.
