Session 7 - "Evening" Talks and Deep Diving
General Summary
The "Tiefling" Quill
Teagan throws his hands up as he stares at Quill (lightning rippling across his now scale-covered form), giving the universal sign for "Yo man, chill out, my bad". Aiaoue recognizes what is clearly some very intense mating display and excuses herself. You're supposed to stand on the sidelines for these things after all. Upon seeing a forming storm cloud in the pier, Milo begins to book it while Cadence, seeing darkness, joyfully skips towards the scene. Yenush, as the arcane lift lowers, prepares to fire in case Quill goes in for an attack. Arkyn, oblivious to everything, thinks about how it would be nice to take a walk in the rain.
Quill doesn't seem to process Teagan's words as he takes a half step back, only to breath lightning. Yenush fires and strikes Quill through the arm - who seems undettered by the strike. Teagans decides it would be best to remove himself from the situation, going invisible and retreating. Aiaoue proudly declares to Quill: "look, you won!". Quill does not seem to be celebrating. Quill grabs his katana and begins to move down the pier towards Aiaoue, but then stops... and diverts to Teagan's location. As many of the others arrive on the scene, Teagan settles on grappling Quill after further attempts to reason with him fail. Aiaoue assures Milo that this is just a traditional mating display (she's seen this before) and she's culturally obligated not to interfere. Aiaoue slaps Teagan with a fish to heal him instead.
Now with katana in hand, Quill lands a heavy hit to Teagan who collapses. No longer blocked by an 8-foot tall barbarian, Quill's focus shifts to Cadence. Enraged, Quill yells: I don't have what you demand. Cadence leans into her anger, smacking Quill with a spiritual weapon. Milo charges bravely into the fray and attempts to shove Quill. The large "tiefling" is a bit hard to move. Teagan, after going into a rage upon waking, jumps towards Quill, swings the warhammer around, and slams Quill over the pier edge and into the water. Almost a minute passes and then Quill hauls himself out of the water. When Teagan offers him a hand, Quill seems to recognize Teagan and accepts the offer. What happened to you man? Don't you recognize the work of YoUr OwN SwOrD?!?!? Oh shit.
Sitting down for pier talk with Quill, the "tiefling" reveals that this has happened before and is the reason for him being in Legacy. Quill apologizes profusely to Teagan for his actions – seemingly very distraught over what occurred. Teagan, still bleeding, waves it off and chalks up everything to the miasma. Quill, however, doesn't accept that; he's done this before the miasma. He wagers the lower end of Porcelain Avenue is still being repaired (Cadence: "Oh that place, bah"). Quill disappointed his parents and other very important people (no, we don't have royalty in Caliban, we have ancestry). After prodding about these "important people", Quill eventually stops being vague. His father is Auriga Fél and his mother the Bronze Maw. As the heir to his father, there are expectations on Quill that he failed to uphold when he unintentionally picked a fight at the wrong place and the wrong time... angering the Blood Moon and forcing his father and the Lunar Queen to intervene.
Still unsettled by what he did, Quill at least seems reassured that the choker he wears kept him within his humanoid form even when storm-charged. Whatever allows Quill to summon storms is a power not his own. He's far too young to be doing that (he JUST got his humanoid form like a decade ago). As such, Quill has come to Legacy in pursuit of the source of his problem. He requested that any trace of dragons or draconic ancestry be brought to him, if found. Why don't you join us on the Iron Delver? Quill laughs dryly... he's not going to put himself in a small space and risk doing what he just did. As Quill stands to gather some things, he comments that Yenush is a good shot although guns, where he's from, are considered primitive. Yenush is taken aback; this is the HEIGHT of gun tech! Aiaoue assures Quill that his parents must miss him; Quill would like to think so. As Quill leaves, he offers a half bow to Cadence.
It's an Evening Kind of Talk
Teagan, now having been slapped with multiple "Fish of Healing", prepares to talk to Ironborn. He asks Arkyn to help him remember what he needs to ask. Teagan then proceeds to open the conversation with "Hey". Ironborn raises a brow, but doesn't say anything. What do you do with that bone metal? Ironborn has been pursuing a potential forging process as a pet project, but the material is not compatible with any of Ironborn's current equipment. Teagan proposes sharing the metal with someone with capable skills. Arkyn reminds Teagan that Yenush exists and Teagan makes a compelling enough argument to get Ironborn to agree. Delegation is key, after all!
After taking shots of slime, everyone boards the Iron Delver... and sits down for a chat while Omen chauffeurs them to the depths. Teagan has been thinking, isn't Elios a mountainous place? How did you even MEET Omen? Aiaoue states that she's never been to mainland Elios; she hails from a small fishing village called Sun's Last Glance. And Omen is a family friend. So did your parents like talk to him? Did he visit? Well, Omen can go wherever he wants now that he's awake. Aiaoue explains that VAROONA can DESTROY her city and that's okay, but OMEN makes ONE creature and he gets immediately put to sleep. But her people visited him while he slept. Regarding Aiaoue's aversion to water, that's a recent thing. There were people in her village that didn't take a shine to her and they may have done something to bring about her current condition. What about the singing lady you told me to kill on sight? Aiaoue isn't completely sure how that fits in, but still kill on sight.
What about your family Teagan? Hesitantly, Teagan mentions that he has two daughters. He also had a brother and a son... but there was a mistake in the mines. Teagan pulls out a wallet with a single family portrait of Teagan, a tiefling woman, and 3 satyr-like children. You always want to do everything you can to make them proud. As Milo gives Teagan a shoulder pat of reassurance, they both temporarily stand at the edge of a barren field. There is a sense of kinship, sorrow, apology, and acceptance. Huh, that was weird. Regarding why Teagan's in Legacy, he mentions trying to get a "leg up" in Legacy; anything he can bring back to Dremora. While he's here, his daughters aren't in Ragna, but instead are in Carmenthia with their mom. So what about your angry punching thing and the red eyes? Teagan mentions that the punching and the visions are new, but he's pretty sure Ragna is haunting him or something. He's seen a figure in full armor (though shorter than him). She speaks to him occasionally.
And what about your happy family Milo!? Milo pulls out a collection of baby pictures of Marcus. Of course Milo secretly hopes that Marcus' first word will be "dad", but either way, he hopes that doesn't happen until he's back home. His wife, Chloe, is currently at home taking care of Marcus. He's written to her and asked for updates. Milo, as a reporter, is used to asking the questions and not being asked so many questions in rapid fire.
Do you have any siblings, Arkyn? Biological or by proximity? Arkyn mentions having a brother and a sister, and then two sisters and a sibling. For most of his life, he's been in "school" with Auntie who has helped him deal with his "affliction" by teaching him not to touch. Arkyn mentions that when he touches people, they tend to be left hallow. The exploding part is new. Have you tried gloves? Yes, and that didn't work. Arkyn searched for an answer and a cure to his affliction, but couldn't find it on Dremora so Auntie sent him here.
And you Yenush? Aren't you looking forward to seeing your brother after three years? Yes, but we'll have plenty of time together once we go back to Nacheevi. Oh, are you doing the enforcer thing? There's some confusion from the group as Yenush realizes that not everyone is aware of why he might in Legacy; he thought the garb was a clear indicator. Yenush plans to arrest his brother and bring him back to Nacheevi. What's his crime? Can't say. However, Yenush explained that his brother chose to run and even if Legacy is a place where criminals are sent, he still has to see Trial. If we guess a bunch of crimes, will you tell us if we get it correct? No.
Wow all these siblings! Cadence, however, is an only child, though she had plenty of children growing up in the caravan. She's on Legacy looking for her babysitter. Well, her babysitter AND mentor, Aria. It was Aria who inspired Cadence to become a cleric. When did the darkness thing start? Cadence says its a recent thing. Caliban appeared to her with a message and a request, but something intervened... and a woman spoke to her, saying that Cadence was the perfect vessel to spread her darkness. Something – or someone – interfered with a message from a god? It seems so.
As everyone starts to wonder if they should include Omen in this conversation, the eldritch horror announces their arrival in the general area. With relative ease, the group aids Omen in navigating the depths and then navigating even deeper. As dark forms take shape through the window of the Iron Delver, Omen announces the arrival at something of import, dropping to rest on the sediment of the sea floor.
The Edge of the Abyss
Beyond the window of the Iron Delver, a dark black monolith vanishes into the depths and darkness of a chasm. A pile of half-decayed, dark flesh is draped across the black monolith. The seafloor in the area is littered with bone and the odd bone-metal material. Disembarking, the miasma sinks into the minds of Arkyn and Teagan... and the silence of the depths is shattered by hundreds, if not thousands, of screams. The flesh no longer draps across the monolith. Bones still cover the seafloor... but there are now bodies suspended by shackle and chain, trapped in a cycle of torment with no escape. Moving carefully towards the monolith, Teagan notes that many of the shackled individuals... are dragonborn.
At the archway to the dark monolith, a familiar abyssal creature emerges, flesh-like robes drifting behind it.
The Lord of the Depths welcomes you, blessed of the Shadowed One Below. This way; stay close. For your Lady does not claim dominion over this darkness. It may warp and bend your mind... Should you stray too far from my Lord's grace.
The Temple itself does not adhere to normal rules of space and time and the place instills a vague, underlying sense of uncertainty, paranoia, and fear. A door rests ajar as the group swims past; the smell of rot somehow managing resist any suppression the water might provide. Those hallucinating choose to ignore it, staying close to the guide. Milo, Teagan, and Cadence notice water currents ahead. Teagan grabs and moves Aiaoue out of the way. Arkyn and Yenush are just able to dodge out of the way of the currents that they cannot see, mostly because Yenush was focused on Aiaoue who clearly was caught in some seaweed.
A door opens in the ceiling as a shark-like humanoid swims out with a bag made of flesh. Within, biolumnescent eggs rest in a honeycomb like structure. Something within the darkness drifts lethargically about the room, huming an eerie tune and tragging a tentacle across the eggs in an almost loving fashion. Everyone sticks really close to the guide. The next room is oddly brightly lit. Far below, a shark-like humanoid delivers the bag made of flesh. A squid-like humanoid selects multiple spheres from a shelf and places them in a large vat lined with arcane runes. Arkyn and Aiaoue recognize this as a forge of some sort. Yenush chooses to linger and watches as the forge activates, converting the spheres into... a shackle and chain. Yenush is just able to use the staggered line of friends to catch back up with the guide. Cadence and Teagan, meanwhile, manage to keep everyone who is hallucinating from swimming through poison bubbles.
The hallways narrow for a moment before the guide leads the group through an open "Courtyard". A four-armed shark-like humanoid drags a merfolk wailing and crying into the room. When the shackle closes around her tail, she releases a wail of terror. Teagan tries talking to the guide - on behalf of our lady, release them. The guide only scoffs. Cadence, the only one not hallucinating, notes that a door has closed and jammed shut. She tries to open it, but fails initially as the other five run into an invisible barrier. Teagan and Arkyn immediately start shoving against the nothingness in front of them, which helps Cadence shove the door open.
In a large room with chains criss-crossing the space, a dragon is kept bound and restrained. Her wings are punctured and her tail cut off. Through gritted teeth, she releases wails of agony that seem to delight the abyssal creatures in the room. Aiaoue and Milo approach, though neither recognize what type of dragon this is. A voice rings out in everyone's minds.
Timeless travelers. You have come to a dark and cruel place. One life struck down in a storm-charged rage. One death to unite the shadows as one. A cruel tyrant, a wounded goddess. Here, where Sun and Storms cannot reach. For my love's mistake, I shall suffer. Yet I feel the end to my agony drawing near. For when my other half breaks... My heart shall cease to beat. And I, along with the trace of the cosmos that blessed me, shall greet the Void that awaits. Timeless travelers. Your time is not mine, yet I sense my love there. A small fragment. Perhaps his vengeance? Or perhaps a final cry for help? Timeless travelers... Mercy for what remains of my love. Mercy for the Tyrant who binds me. Mercy... for the Shadowed One who made the request.Aiaoue, moved by the love story, sends a totemic assault at the dragon. Although her misery is ended for a moment, she is jolted back to life (to the joy and delight of hte abyssal creatures watching). The dragon whispers that mercy is not needed; her end will come soon and it will not be averted then. Meanwhile, Teagan starts ripping apart bone-metal chains blocking the bath forward. He looks down to see Cadence doing an equally good job despite lacking 3 feet of height.
Conversation and cheers echo from a door in the floor (a "floorway"). Abyssal creatures are gathered around an air bubble fighting ring enclosed by a meshwork of jagged bone and wire. Teagan chooses to approach. Within the fighting ring is an elven woman with ashen skin and multiple bold tattoos. Her eyes are feral with fear and her hands bloodied. Opposite of her is a triton with dark clothes and a skull affixed to his collar. Although he wields a trident, there are no blood stains on it. The Triton, for a moment, looks directly at Teagan before the elven woman lunges and wraps her hands around his throat. With a look of resentment at the crowd, the triton drives his trident through the woman and through himself... as Teagan feels 3 stabs through his own abdomen.
Rest now, my friend, honored of valor and victory. Together, we shall go to the gates of the Death Scribe. Oh, sleeping Thana hear my plea. On this violent death, may the vengeful one awaken. Bring forth an end to this mockery... and to this desecration.
The Depth Bound Chamber
At the bottom of the monolith is a single chamber with walls of undulating flesh constrained by darkened stone. Perforated pillars contain bioluminescent eggs with flesh pulls taunt over it, contorted into screaming faces. A throne sits in what might be the center of the room and beyond it... darkness that causes dread to twist in your gut and uncertainty to settle across you mind. Cadence alone is the only one who does not feel fear grip her heart in an iron grasp. Watched, yet the threat is undetectable... until a form appears seated upon and coiled around the abyssal throne.
Her offering has arrived... good. I have been... bored. The rot bringer is... generous. In honor of our accord, oh kin of the Shadowed One Below. Death or the Depth's Boon. Your choice.
Two abyssal figures wielding swords step forward, flanking the flesh-robed guide.
Report Date
20 Sep 2024
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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