A storm, an undercurrent

[Session 14 12.03.2024 ]
 
A storm, an undercurrent
 
At some point while talking with the… Lobster - he never gave us a name, too old and alone to still keep using it - I realise how chilly it is in the castle and find my clothes again. We promise to help him out of here, no matter the cost, but first we ought to investigate the rest of the area, in case there’s something we can use to our advantage. Kazys recalls there being something on the other side of the bridge he ventured onto earlier.
 
We find a platform, like yet another crumbled shell of a temple building. Before any of us steps on it, I notice carvings on the stone that seem far more recent. It looks like it could be a ritual circle of sorts, definitely magical in nature. It could be a ward or a trap. Rusalka steps closer to investigate it more, her senses far keener to magic than mine. When she tells us that all she feels is positive, probably conjuration-based spell effects, I make the mistake and step on the first stone plate inside the circle. As I do that, the spell activates, arcana crackling in the air around me as it engulfs me. One second I’m in the dim cave, the next I’m transported back into the castle. It’s certainly someone’s private quarters, but I cannot tell whose before I’m interrupted by the rest of the party slamming into me as they also manifest into the room. Someone kicks the rich rug on the floor aside to see that there’s a similar pattern of a ritual circle drawn on the floor, so likely the connection goes both ways.
Others don’t seem to recognise the part of the castle where we are currently, and why would they, when they haven’t been to the private quarters of those who live in the castle? When I glance out of the window, I see a very similar view as I did from the window of Valerian’s rooms, so it has to be somewhere in the same wing at least. We sneak closer to listen through the door, and Luciano hears voices outside the door - too muffled to be recognisable. I desperately want to open the door to see who it is, but even I know that’s a stupid idea. Instead we step out of the ritual circle and step back in. The whooshing motion leaves me feeling somewhat motionsick, not something I often feel. The rest of our party seems to fare just as well. Briefly, we consider whether we could get the ancient creature out through the teleportation circle, but quickly scrap the idea. Our safest bet is through the cave-in, most likely.
 
But because I am after all a child at heart, I see a waterfall, I have to investigate it. My senses tell me it’d be a stupid idea to slide down it and into the lower pool, but the drop to the second tier of the cavern doesn’t look too high. It doesn’t really even require much scaling, I’m almost tall enough to drop down without letting go of the ledge. The others watch as I once more rid myself of my armour, dropping it to the lowest level of the cave. I wince as the sound echoes around the cave, but nothing happens.
 
Behind the waterfall there is indeed, a small indent of a cave. It’s not truly a cave, but enough space for someone to come sit down and meditate. On the walls there are scritches and scratches, most rather juvenile. I am compelled to add my own name to the list of notes, it does not take long to scrape with the edge of a pocket knife. When I leave, I notice the rest of them heading back down to the creature as well. Since I’m already on the second level, I might as well just jump down and dive into the pool. Despite my best efforts, my clothes have gotten wet after walking through the waterfall. It happens when you don’t think, so I might as well. I already know the water should be deep enough for me to dive, and I take a leap, gliding through air and head-first into the cool water. It takes me a moment to orient myself, but when I do, I see the littered bones on the pool floor, most gathered around the waterfall. I remember the creature, and the fact that it too, has to eat something. The sight of the bones is chilling enough for me to double back to the shore, and if I swim faster than I normally would, no one else has to know.
 
For a while we ponder the best ways to get through the cave-in, until eventually me and Eira head back down with weapons in hand. While the others play games with the creature, we hack away, slowly clearing a tunnel through the rubble. After a few hours of hard work and only a little grumbling from us, Kazys joins to help. He’s crafty, with spells of his own. I always forget he has them, magically shifting the rocks without much effort at all. We manage to clear the route for the creature, and before we know it, he’s out of the pool that has trapped him for who knows how long. I can’t blame him. Me and Eira swim through to see where the fruits of our labour have led us, and we see the familiar shore of the castle where we noticed parts of the pier having crumbled down. It makes sense. We swim back to the cave, knowing that Rusalka can’t swim so the tunnel is not really a viable way through.
 
We take a moment to dry out a little, and Rusalka’s warm cantrip helps the chill of the cave to stay at bay. We decide we should look further into the teleport, perhaps the room is unoccupied this time. As we head back to the higher ground, my stomach drops. The glyphs are glowing again, magic crackling in the air and this time it’s not us. Slowly we start seeing the shapes of three people manifesting into the space, two of them horned. One of them very familiar.
 
No nonononono no. No.
 
I don’t want to talk, my heart feels like it’s blocking my airways. Thankfully the ladies of the house seem to focus on Luciano, who handles the situation with grace as always. It’s a shame grace isn’t enough to let us pass. I try to say something about getting lost, a pitiable excuse really. I do not believe anyone either believes or listens to me, aside from Valerian, whose eyes have not left mine, not once since his arrival. The Hanivers seem incensed about the loss of their pet lobster, the ancient creature who does not belong in a cage. They do not wish us to leave, not if we’re alive to tell what’s been going on here. Eira’s intimidation seems to only anger them more. I’m too far to do anything, and I can only watch as Rusalka of all people casts one of their spells, vicious acid sprayed with a simple word and a flick of a wrist. I do not care what happens to the Hanivers, but Valerian does not escape in time, and his scream hurts me. Before I get any further to stop Rusalka, I feel warmth wrap around me, the smell of roses and cedarwood, the summer night spent in a garden in lantern light, the heady kisses that taste of wine and strawberries. Safe.
 
My heart swells at least two sizes. Perhaps Valerian does care about me, perhaps this is something more than a simple ruse.
 
It’s all a blur after that, I concentrate to keep him safe from harm, but the summoned blizzard is nearly enough to freeze my pants off, and I have to focus on killing the summoned water shape, an elemental. I see as it hits Eira and instead its own arm begins to slowly freeze. There’s something I should talk about with Eira, clearly there’s something more to them than they let on. Still freezing, I summon the coldness from within and cast that to kill the creature. We manage to shatter it into small shards of ice that quickly melt into a puddle of unassuming water. At one point, Kazys casts another spell, and I feel my hair stand on end, and he asks the Hanivers why they've kept a creature in captivity. I sense how answering with a lie might be a supremely bad idea and clearly I’m not the only one. However, the lady of the house (I still can’t remember who is who, Letitia and Jennett?) simply tells through her teeth that he helps them with the celebrations. The celebrations are arranged to get the favour of the Lady - of course, it’s something in which only some can succeed. What happens to those who don’t is irrelevant.
 
I make a choice to not step out of the zone of truth, but my focus is still on Valerian, who has scrambled through the running water and to safety on the other side.
 
Hearing the ladies talk so callously gives me a headache, and eventually I snap at them, asking what is it that they really want from all this? What is their endgame? They tell us that it is to help the Lady return, and truly, truly I hope that this is something that Valerian has been tricked into. In the midst of it all, the headache, the talk of the gods returning, all of it gets too much and I hold out the conch strapped to my belt. I know it helps me, I know there’s a link, or at least I want to believe. I ask whether there really is anyone listening to us, or if we’re truly all alone now. In response I only hear the constant waves of the sea, but louder, much, much louder.
 
It doesn’t help the pit of emptiness. Have we been abandoned? Have I been abandoned? Has my faith not been enough, after all?
 
I believe Eira’s patience has worn thin as she finally stabs the tiefling lady of the house, Jennett? She’s bleeding on the ground but still alive. Eira’s intimidation tactics may be harsh, but at least they seem to be working. Letitia drops her weapon.
 
I only hear the sound of her weapon hitting the ground, as I watch Valerian slowly come closer.