Session 55: The Obsidian Isles Report

General Summary

It is the 35th, and the party is at sea.

Back in Port Ountzous, Mystan was informed that the suspected thief of Whelm was one Bluto Sans Pite, a former Talon who was stripped of rank and imprisoned after the River of Blood mass murder. His disappearance from jail was baffling, and Keoish magician-detectives are still confused. But the catch is, he escaped the night Whelm went missing. There’s no way it was a coincidence.

While normally Bubbles takes their rests in a barrel of water, that way they don't have to swim alongside the ship, sometimes the barrel (and Bubbles) are lowered into the sea so that they can get new water. Since heading out into open ocean, on one such occasion they noticed a huge shadow deep in the water, traveling the same direction as the Sea Ghost. It could be a migratory creature, but they also recall a rumor they heard while on the docks in Port Ountzous: a freak tsunami hit the Styes just a few days after the Sea Ghost passed it, and several ships were destroyed. The thing is, there was no tidal recession or associated earthquake; just a cataclysmic flood.

Bubbles notices that the shadow has tentacles, and decides to go down with a rope, having Mystan cast Shield of Faith. They see a huge creature, with blue bony fins and far too many serrated tentacles. A pale yellow-tan body is marred by a blue spiral, and bright red eyes. Bubbles is noticed but the huge creature doesn't engage with them. They return to the deck and talk to Selina about it, and Seklyn gathers the boys.

Bubbles tells them what they saw and why they looked. They also show a drawing of the diagram. Virion matches the symbol to the one carved into the neck of the strange idol found on the Emperor of the Waves. The party discusses if they should fight the creature, and if so how--use the jolly boats, cast banishment, have Bubbles try to antagonize it--Bubbles is not for that--and they discuss bows underwater.

Mystan tries Divine Intervention. He prays to Raan, and at first he thinks it succeeds, but the lightning from the clear sky strikes in front of the boat. A storm suddenly manifests, and the ship is thrown about. Literally: teleported in and out of an insane hurricane, this way and that, rising and falling. The storm lasts not for minutes, not for hours, but days, nearly four. Virion and Seklyn suffered exhaustion.

When they emerge, the seas are too placid, the stars are unnatural, and the creature is still there.

Four hours later, Captain Losoya informs the party of land spotted. Five large islands, one is clearly White Plume Mountain--but others seem to have the lights of activity. They sail to White Plume Mountain, and the dark ship heads towards the islands that appear inhabited. They turn the lights off and sail silently through the water.

800 feet tall, White Plume Mountain is a nearly conical volcano of black igneous rock. The base is about 1,000 yards (3,000 feet) wide, with the rest of the island being but plains of glassy volcanic rock save a river that cuts through it. The name of the isle and mountain is given due to the constant plume of a continuous geyser, sprouting from the very summit an additional 300 feet into the air. It trails off to the east, despite the prevailing winds here being chaotic. The plume's noise can be heard as a rumbling from a great distance.

The spray from the geyser collects in down slope depressions and merge into sizeable streams. Small steam vents are also visible across the slopes, but they are too small for entry.

Anchored near the shores of the island are four large galleys. Two fly the Keoish flag, one the flag of the Silver Crowns, the other the banner of the Sea Princes. They are, respectively, the Salty Wanderer, Intrepid Prince, Bold Shark, and Royal Jester. All are devoid of passengers or crew. The party discusses scuttling or unmooring the ships.

Ultimately, they decide to unmoor the ships. They let the Sea Ghost lay anchor, and a teleportation circle is drawn. The crew, the alcohol, and the cannon are sent through back to Castle Feldren, along with a note by Sir Virion Sylvenne via Teleportation Circle. Mystan also casts Sending stating “We are sending the crew of the Sea Ghost to your location via teleportation circle, please do not attack them on sight. -Mystan”. He hears back an affirmative response and that they urge him to hurry.

Seklyn and Bubbles unmoor the ships after finding nothing of value or interest aboard, beyond bloodstains and scorch marks indicating a battle. No bodies, no cargo. Seklyn raises the anchors and lets loose the sails, while Bubbles and Mystan try pushing the ships. It doesn't do much. The beaches ae crushed volcanic glass.

They find a large cave with a gust of steam coming out cyclically, as if the mountain was breathing. Bubbles and Seklyn explore the cave, finding the trapdoor down to the staircase. Mystan casts Aid

Virion peers around a corner and sees a gynosphinx. The Sphinx does not notice him. Seklyn explains that sphinxes are divine guardians who often ask riddiles. Selina and Virion opt to go talk to the sphinx and determine it's riddle. Bubbles and Mystan hide just in case combat breaks out.

The gynosphinx says "Halt" and explains that they must answer her riddle to pass by.

Round she is, yet flat as a board
Altar of the Lupine Lords
Jewel on black velvet, pearl in the sea
Unchanged but e'erchanging, eternally

Seklyn says "I have no idea," and quickly explains that that was a comment to Virion, not to the Sphinx. Virion heard it in Elvish, Seklyn in Draconic.

The wall of force then disappears, as does the gynosphinx. The party first investigates the bit to the side north, where they see a hatch with a copper wheel. Despite their best efforts, it will not open. They decide to instead head down the right path. Their marching order is Mystand Seklyn in the front, Bubbles and Virion in the back. They roll stealthily, and they get 17, 14, 11, and 10.

They enter the sphere trap. They try the middle one first, getting a fake key and a spell scroll of fear. Seklyn then breaks the top right one, getting the crazy ring from it along with a key.

The party discusses what happens, and Virion and Selina start getting antsy about who should get the wish. They try the key and it works. Seklyn tries to leap through, but Virion tackles her.

"Ah, they're fighting over me, it's good to be wanted."

"I empathize!" - Virion

Bubbles and Mystan pull the two apart and Bubbles proposes breaking the other ones for the loot. Virion and Seklyn stop struggling but do still verbally argue, they let go of the other two, and they stand at to the sides. Bubbles breaks the left middle one, and gets a spell scroll of hold person.

Seklyn then breaks another and gets 600gp worth of gems. The ooze then attacks Seklyn, and misses. Bubbles then and attacks thrice, missing twice with two nat 1's. But they do hit! The ooze then misses Bubbles. Virion says "Luz!" then stabs it with his sunblade rapier twice, burning it to ash, and says "Oscuro."

Seklyn tries to put the ring on in the chaos to protect his family, but Mystan sees and says to her, “do you actually think that’s going to work?”

"I don't think it will work but... what happens when the empire comes at my door? What happens when Keoland comes to fight Aryz? What can I do then!? I can't stop an army. But with this, I could try."

"..What would you wish for?"

"Well, I haven't got the wish sorted yet but, I'll figure it out. I have to leave this place with the ring on my finger. I'll consult with Aryz, and he'll know what to do. Virion, I will use my wish to help you as well. I promise."

“Just make sure that if this does work, and you are able to use that kind of power, that you use it in the right way. The way that hurts the least innocents.”

Seklyn puts the ring on and feels a surge of power. "I wish for the power to protect my family."

"Oh, yeah sorry I'm having an off day so you'll need to wait a moment-"

And Virion casts dispell magic

Selina looks at Virion, "You, I-"

Bubbles says, "Can we just move on? Did everyone forget we're on a cursed island, on a cursed volcano?"

The monk takes off the ring and slaps it into Virion's hand. He pockets it, and they leave the room.

"You, if my family gets hurt Virion-"

"Can you two stop arguing and move on?"

"Our next objective is the weapons. That is another chance for a wish. I intend to claim it."

And then they leave the room.

Rewards Granted

+2,325