Tolð 21-22, 653 DR: Wherein Jak led the group to the island’s central ridge in search of some evidence of the harpoon. Tressta uncovered a fragment of the temple tomb’s foundation but nothing else. Edahyla communed with the island at a grave cost. Following Edahyla’s disappearance the group entered the island’s twisting passages and were attacked by massive grubs.

Continued from Of Stone, Flesh, and Blood.

Irídor, 21 Tolð 653

After standing around discussing the hole made by Graiç’s leg, Jak led an expedition back to the island’s center to search through the overgrown scree left by the sunken tomb shrine. Suspecting that the harpoon that ‘killed’ the island monster might still exist in the creature’s heart ages later, the team turned over rocks and cleared rubble for hours. Tressta found two foundation blocks that might have once belonged to the sunken shrine but nothing more of interest was uncovered.

Edahyla was asked if she could commune with the island based on their theories that it was an animal. The Faer said she would try back at the hole above camp. After travel back to the island’s eastern shore, Edahyla knelt before the foetid opening and concentrated her magics into the wet darkness. As she sat enrapt by the humid entrance her face and body began to take on exaggerated features of worry, despair, and horror. Finally, she fell backward to the stony slope and began convulsing. The color was gone from her face and eyes as she told that the island was filled with great pain. She had sought to ask questions but instead the presence within had swept through her, pulling unbidden from her the answers it wanted. Finally, exerting some control over her increasingly violent shaking and shifting, she explained that the island ‘has a thorn it wants removed’. Jak asked if she felt the presence was evil and Edahyla seemed confused. She explained with Dammon’s assistance that it was akin to a force of nature, something to be feared and respected, but not evil. Zêla comforted the shaman and the day’s remainder was spent back at camp collecting wormy fruit and preparing the raft for travel. That evening’s conversation eventually steered toward Paldor debating the best route to civilization once the raft is set to sea. It again became evident that the island was uncharted and their location uncertain.

Roydor, 22 Tolð 653

Before the sun rose rose, Dammon was awakened by the stabbing insistence of his familiar. He awoke slowly despite its stabbing claws, which he realized didn’t hurt as much as they once did. His conscience explained to him that the Feyr ‘woman’ had wandered into the hole in the hillside while others slept. Soon, others were awakened when Dorkun reported that the Feyr ‘thing’ was missing. In the early morning, it was decided to enter the hole to find her. After one or two forays into the hot and sticky caves, Zildara cast a magical light on a torch and the group ventured into the splitting tunnels.

Past a number of splits evidence was found something slithering across the loose skin floor of an interior space. Tressta spied ripples shimmering across the walls and floor as she hurried back to the group. Exclaiming that “they’re everywhere!” the group gripped their weapons, not knowing what to expect. Then, toward the back of the line the walls gaped wide and tendrils whipped forward flailing at Zêla and Dammon. Dammon retreated toward the entrance as barbed tendrils tore at and pulled Zêla closer to a maw of ridged tongues. The second giant worm pushed out of the wall, turning toward the sorcerer and blocking the passage out, separating Dammon from the rest of the party. Zêla swung and struggled against the tendrils, freeing herself at the last moment before being dragged whole into the giant maw. Jak moved forward, slashing the tendrils free from Zildara and then pushing Zêla’s unconscious form out of harm’s way and into Zildara’s care.In his own conflict, Dammon Weaved bolts at the monster which quickly bound him with tendrils and swallowed him whole. From inside, Dammon sensed his familiar reluctantly entering the caves and then uttering something arcane. The worm-thing jerked violently in response. Jak turned on the beast fighting Dammon, driving his spear into its side. Within, Dammon summoned a final burst of magical barbs from the Staff of Tharad’Zor, slaying the giant maggot-beast. Zildara cast a couple spells to aid in the battle as Jak stabbed and stabbed again at the remaining monster. Tressta rushed forward as well, stabbing her rapier through the fleshy cave wall and into the worm’s side. Zêla, recovered some by Zildara’s magics, began an inspirational song. The remaining creature began retreating into the wall. Jak charged in after it and finished the monster off.

Returning from the tunnel, he found Zildara and Tressta observing a ghostly Yrūn deeper in the tunnels. Tressta explained that it had stood there on the edge of their lights since the battle began. Dammon questioned his familiar without success and cast an invisibility upon himself to the creature’s insistence that he leave this place. Instead, Dammon wandered down another split to a farther wider chamber filled with viscous pools where some things swam just under the surface. Returning to the group Dammon tried to speak with the apparition, but its response came in the whispers of an unknown tongue.

Continued in Ūlaryalok, Part 2.

Characters

• Dammon Shroudson = 0 CPs
• Jak of Cænden = 0 CPs
• Tressta Drynsval = 0 CPs
• Zildara = 0 CPs
• Balàdâsha (Cook) = 0 CPs
• Dorkun = 0 CPs
• Edahyla = 0 CPs
• Ērēus of Amra= 0 CPs
• Familiar = Unkn.
• Graiç of Mazzam = 0 CPs
• Paldòr Batrūlan (Ship Captain) = 0 CPs
• Zêla ma Ler = 0 CPs

Played: 12 Jun 2004