A Quiet Threat

Miscellaneous

The group journey to the cave upriver in search of a solution to the sour water problem.

Feeling refreshed the group heads out in search of the cave Maria spoke to them about. A couple hours walk upriver brings them to the cave mouth. Caution getting the better of them the group moves quietly into the cave and discovers it is the den of an owlbear. Since the cave goes deeper they decide it is better to kill the beast than risk having it creep up behind them. The fight is short and the owlbear is dispatched. They butcher it and discover it had killed and eaten something humanoid recently as it still has a hand in its stomach as well as a ruby ring.

Deeper in the cave the group finds a deep pool with a rocky island at its center. On the island is a clean skull with a pearl attached to its forehead. Despite their best efforts to pick up the skull or remove the pearl they both remain in place until Kithu breaks the floor beneath it so that a piece of rock comes up still attached to the skull. Additionally the group discovers that Mayda has been stuck in this cave for nearly a week. She had a run in with the Aboleth which turned her skin transparent and made it so that she could not leave the water without being gravely injured. With some difficulty the group managed to get her home safely and deposit her in the pool by the town.

Overjoyed to have her friend back Maria and Mayda talk while the group discusses the problem with Emir. They were unable to discover an actual reason for the souring of the water but believe they may be able to speak with the Aboleth again to see if it knows how the issue might be resolved. Unnerved at the mention of an Aboleth so close to his village Emir is nonetheless resolute on solving the problem. He agrees that talking to the Aboleth is the best course of action and he sends a courier pigeon to Stonehill Keep to ask for aid in fixing Mayda's condition. The group retires for the night and discusses their plans for the next day.

The trip to the Aboleth's pool in the ravine is fairly short now that the group knows the way. They are undisturbed by the denizens of the ravine as they make their way towards the Aboleth's pool. With his silver tongue, Orpheus is able to convince the Aboleth to come speak with them. It discloses that the sour water is its doing, though not on purpose. It's mere presence alters the land around it and it is currently stuck in the swamp. It offers to leave if they would be willing to help it escape by making the river deeper. After a short discussion the group agrees and bids the Aboleth farewell.