XI - Avatar of Abomination - 7.16.23
Tarsakh 6-9
On the morning of Tarsakh 6, the party was beneath the House of Moander with Aria Ilnatar and Escher O'Hara along with a group of Hunters and commoners of Ylraphon. They planned to descend to the fungus-infested caverns below and eradicate the fleshy growth which had been simmering for an unknown amount of time. They were armed with thrown weapons which would produce flame and acid. The party planned to strike with great force all at once in case the amalgam reacted in some way. They approached down the tunnel carefully; Sora Shana and Gremir began to sense undead nearby. The group stepped carefully over the thick patches of fungus which ran all about the surface of the caverns and quarters above.
Sariel Amastacia thought to gain more information regarding the fungus and donned her mask of Moander. Once again, she was bombarded with a steady feed of voices in snippets. Right at the edges of her vision, she felt she could see glimpses of many points of view at once. The sensation was again disorienting and overwhelming. Sariel looked around to see an aura glowing around the fungus she could see. The aura extended out of sight, faintly highlighting what seemed to be the entire complex of caverns. Paths extended far in the distance, like a roadmap.
Once again, she beheld the glow of the mass she knew to be the fungus flesh pit. Even through solid stone, the aura of the disgusting mass was painfully bright to behold. She looked up to see the faint "X" crossing the landscape. Its center nearby Tavilar, an arm of the "X" passed overhead then descended sharply to extend beneath the Dragon Reach. Sariel also saw the cavern complex coalesce in multiple bright spots off in the distance, with the brightest collection of paths somewhere far northeast. Another point of blinding brightness, even larger than the one nearby, lay within that set of paths.
The party proceeded to the room with the fungal mass. It lay unbothered, writhing and breathing as before. The torsos within heaved silent breaths as heads looked about wildly and moved as though chewing. Those who had not yet beheld this abomination recoiled in shock. Escher commanded her lieutenants expertly, and soon the entire group was poised to strike. On the trigger, a wild eruption of flame and acid exploded on the mass. Oliver Thickets unleashed a burst of wildfire across the floor, bolstering the acid-tinted flames of the alchemist's fire. In the chaos, Rhokeion Archos felt a voice stir deep within. He couldn't help but notice a bricked-up doorway across the room. The party had been too concerned with the fungal mass to investigate it before.
Just as the billowing pillar of flame and smoke was beginning to subside, a large hand cut through and slammed into the ground. Another hand did the same. The hands appeared to be made of the bodies that had been within the amalgam, with legs and other appendages making up the fingers. Soon, the fire had run its course and the thing came completely into sight. It had a sort of spherical body with a large arm on either side. Tentacles hung below, twisting and grasping rapidly. Its total mass seemed to have been dramatically reduced, but it was still of intimidating size.
Deafening screams filled the room; new mouths opened across its surface to join the choir of trapped voices. Just as the townspeople were beginning to react to this fresh horror, the thing used its arms to lift itself up in the air. It seemed to be avoiding the magical wildfire below, but it suddenly reversed direction and came crashing to the stone. As this happened, it seemed that space tore open in ragged rifts emanating from the mass. They reached out, seeking and striking everyone in the room. To the core party, this had no effect. They looked around bewildered to see that every suspected Empty Seat accompanying them was frozen in time. Their clothes hung unnaturally flat, and their skin and hair seemed to lose much of its texture.
Careful to avoid injuring or killing the defunct mob, the party waged battle against the abomination. Oliver's wildfire continued to spread and badly burn the monster, but he stopped sustaining the magic when townspeople came into risk. The thing lashed out wildly, shooting spores at its attackers and swiping with its horrible hands. Sora patched up her companions, wielding magical healing with growing skill. Rhokeion and Oliver continued a barrage of magical firepower. Sariel loosed arrows rapidly, seeking to overwhelm the thing. Her perception had changed once they had attacked the creature. The mask's collection of voices and snippets of vision seemed to largely collapse into one point of view- the creature's. Gremir, bold as can be, walked right up to the thing to fight it head-on. He lost a chakram within the gelatinous mass, making a note to retrieve it once the thing moved no more.
Over the course of the following conflict, the fleshy mass shrunk in size. Its bits were burned or sliced away, melting upon the stone floor. Just before its demise, the thing was no larger than the average humanoid. Gremir struck the final blow, splattering the thing across the cavern walls. Sariel's senses "spread out" once more. Suddenly a cheer rang out as the townspeople (including Escher and Aria) sprang to life. Their appearances regained the usual fidelity; they all seemed to think the alchemist's fire and acid had done the trick.
Rhokeion felt the voice within him growing stronger. It compelled him to examine the bricked-up doorway. Amidst the celebration, Rhokeion tore down the brick with the help of nearby Hunters. Within, he observed a small chamber which seemed to have been set up for a ritual of sorts. Three partially mummified corpses sat, legs crossed, in a triangular formation facing one another. Each had a strange withered tendril growing out of one ear and up to the top of their heads, obscured by whatever hair may remain. The bodies were adorned in fine Netherese robes. A rack of dusty implements sat at the back of the room nearby a standing mannequin wearing another set of Netherese clothing. Oliver's attention was drawn to the center of the triad, however.
On the floor there sat an intricate glass dome housing a small mushroom. The glass had cracked on one side, and it seemed the fungus growing within the cavern network originated here. Tendrils of fungus had escaped the dome and cultivated upon the floor, working its way out of the chamber through cracks too small to see. Sora, beholding this innocuous growth, was reminded of a great threat to her world. This chaotic fungal growth, left alone, might have spread to control all bodies on this strange plane. In Eberron, the Dreaming Dark threatened to overtake Dal Quor in permanent domination over Il-Yannah. Lost in thought, Rhokeion examined the racks at the rear of the room while Escher sent scouts to determine whether fast travel to the grotto was still possible.
Rhokeion found several potions and three wands, pocketing them all for identification. He beheld the clothing upon the mannequin, confident they would fit him. Oliver burned the mushroom encased in glass, thinking to stamp out any lingering effects of the strange fungus. It smoldered quietly, then was no more. Sariel, gritting her teeth to withstand the mask's assault on her senses just awhile longer, looked around to see what might have changed. The immediate area within the caverns was no longer producing the glowing aura. She could still see it off in the distance, most notably to the northeast. The "X" overhead seemed to have diminished in brightness, as well. Relieved, Sariel finally doffed the mask.
Soon, the Hunter scouts returned to rejoin the group. They claimed it had been just as Escher had said. They had walked to the beach grotto and back in under half an hour. It seemed that during the excitement Aria had stepped away as well. Gremir claimed to have seen her leave to follow the departing scouts, casting unsure glances back towards the party. She had not returned; the party speculated as to whether she had become afraid or simply wished to move on. She had a way of doing her own thing. Those remaining, high on victory, trudged back up the tunnel towards Ylraphon. The party, used to traveling at great speed using this network, was glad to hear it still worked following the death of the abomination.
Back in Ylraphon, Rhokeion set about trying to identify the potions, wands, and magically inscribed clothing. Gremir sought improved armor for himself. Following a serendipitous meeting with Branton Ford, Gremir was gifted a set of armor of his choosing. Twilight Lumber seemed to have it all. Back at the Shattered Dragon Inn, Oliver and Sariel engaged in a game of Dragonchess. Meanwhile, Sora overheard an interesting conversation from a table nearby.
Sora turned to see a group of local women: one Triton and two Humans. They were clearly intoxicated and having a good time. The women were discussing a rash of apparent kidnappings in Ylraphon- all infants. Sora approached their table, curious to hear more about what might be going on. The women were receptive, offering Sora a seat with them. They all spoke, speculating that the "Mage Who Never Dies" might be stealing away babies for some sinister purpose. The Triton woman claimed a good friend of hers had been one of those who lost a child. Asking for details, Sora was told the woman's name and neighborhood of residence.
The party remained in Ylraphon resting up and following leads on the kidnappings until Tarsakh 9. They planned to stay in town for Oliver's Dragonchess tourney on Tarsakh 10, then go to investigate the Mage's Tower they had heard of near Tavilar. Rhokeion had spent much time meditating on the outskirts of the city, attempting to tap into whatever knowledge was coming from within. He felt as if his ancestors might be imparting generational wisdom, but he couldn't be sure yet. During one of the party's meetings with Escher, the Hunter told the party she suspected a hag might be behind the kidnappings. Apparently, a hag would need infants to reproduce and grow her coven.
On the eve of the tourney, Rhokeion set out to keep watch on the commoners' residences on the sunken northeastern outskirts of the city. He hoped to prevent any more kidnapping and learn more about the perpetrator(s). At the inn, Oliver was preparing mentally for the tourney. He hoped to make a name for himself as Ylraphon's authority on Dragonchess strategy. The prize money was also plenty motivating. With any luck, he might double his money; Amrul Ilnatar had sweetened the pot significantly. Regardless of what may come, the next few days were shaping up to be pivotal for the party's time in this plane.
Who will win the tourney? Could the abomination's destruction have unforeseen consequences? Is Rhokeion going to hunt hags full time now? Find out next time on... The Domain of the Metamage!
Sariel Amastacia thought to gain more information regarding the fungus and donned her mask of Moander. Once again, she was bombarded with a steady feed of voices in snippets. Right at the edges of her vision, she felt she could see glimpses of many points of view at once. The sensation was again disorienting and overwhelming. Sariel looked around to see an aura glowing around the fungus she could see. The aura extended out of sight, faintly highlighting what seemed to be the entire complex of caverns. Paths extended far in the distance, like a roadmap.
Once again, she beheld the glow of the mass she knew to be the fungus flesh pit. Even through solid stone, the aura of the disgusting mass was painfully bright to behold. She looked up to see the faint "X" crossing the landscape. Its center nearby Tavilar, an arm of the "X" passed overhead then descended sharply to extend beneath the Dragon Reach. Sariel also saw the cavern complex coalesce in multiple bright spots off in the distance, with the brightest collection of paths somewhere far northeast. Another point of blinding brightness, even larger than the one nearby, lay within that set of paths.
The party proceeded to the room with the fungal mass. It lay unbothered, writhing and breathing as before. The torsos within heaved silent breaths as heads looked about wildly and moved as though chewing. Those who had not yet beheld this abomination recoiled in shock. Escher commanded her lieutenants expertly, and soon the entire group was poised to strike. On the trigger, a wild eruption of flame and acid exploded on the mass. Oliver Thickets unleashed a burst of wildfire across the floor, bolstering the acid-tinted flames of the alchemist's fire. In the chaos, Rhokeion Archos felt a voice stir deep within. He couldn't help but notice a bricked-up doorway across the room. The party had been too concerned with the fungal mass to investigate it before.
Just as the billowing pillar of flame and smoke was beginning to subside, a large hand cut through and slammed into the ground. Another hand did the same. The hands appeared to be made of the bodies that had been within the amalgam, with legs and other appendages making up the fingers. Soon, the fire had run its course and the thing came completely into sight. It had a sort of spherical body with a large arm on either side. Tentacles hung below, twisting and grasping rapidly. Its total mass seemed to have been dramatically reduced, but it was still of intimidating size.
Deafening screams filled the room; new mouths opened across its surface to join the choir of trapped voices. Just as the townspeople were beginning to react to this fresh horror, the thing used its arms to lift itself up in the air. It seemed to be avoiding the magical wildfire below, but it suddenly reversed direction and came crashing to the stone. As this happened, it seemed that space tore open in ragged rifts emanating from the mass. They reached out, seeking and striking everyone in the room. To the core party, this had no effect. They looked around bewildered to see that every suspected Empty Seat accompanying them was frozen in time. Their clothes hung unnaturally flat, and their skin and hair seemed to lose much of its texture.
Careful to avoid injuring or killing the defunct mob, the party waged battle against the abomination. Oliver's wildfire continued to spread and badly burn the monster, but he stopped sustaining the magic when townspeople came into risk. The thing lashed out wildly, shooting spores at its attackers and swiping with its horrible hands. Sora patched up her companions, wielding magical healing with growing skill. Rhokeion and Oliver continued a barrage of magical firepower. Sariel loosed arrows rapidly, seeking to overwhelm the thing. Her perception had changed once they had attacked the creature. The mask's collection of voices and snippets of vision seemed to largely collapse into one point of view- the creature's. Gremir, bold as can be, walked right up to the thing to fight it head-on. He lost a chakram within the gelatinous mass, making a note to retrieve it once the thing moved no more.
Over the course of the following conflict, the fleshy mass shrunk in size. Its bits were burned or sliced away, melting upon the stone floor. Just before its demise, the thing was no larger than the average humanoid. Gremir struck the final blow, splattering the thing across the cavern walls. Sariel's senses "spread out" once more. Suddenly a cheer rang out as the townspeople (including Escher and Aria) sprang to life. Their appearances regained the usual fidelity; they all seemed to think the alchemist's fire and acid had done the trick.
Rhokeion felt the voice within him growing stronger. It compelled him to examine the bricked-up doorway. Amidst the celebration, Rhokeion tore down the brick with the help of nearby Hunters. Within, he observed a small chamber which seemed to have been set up for a ritual of sorts. Three partially mummified corpses sat, legs crossed, in a triangular formation facing one another. Each had a strange withered tendril growing out of one ear and up to the top of their heads, obscured by whatever hair may remain. The bodies were adorned in fine Netherese robes. A rack of dusty implements sat at the back of the room nearby a standing mannequin wearing another set of Netherese clothing. Oliver's attention was drawn to the center of the triad, however.
On the floor there sat an intricate glass dome housing a small mushroom. The glass had cracked on one side, and it seemed the fungus growing within the cavern network originated here. Tendrils of fungus had escaped the dome and cultivated upon the floor, working its way out of the chamber through cracks too small to see. Sora, beholding this innocuous growth, was reminded of a great threat to her world. This chaotic fungal growth, left alone, might have spread to control all bodies on this strange plane. In Eberron, the Dreaming Dark threatened to overtake Dal Quor in permanent domination over Il-Yannah. Lost in thought, Rhokeion examined the racks at the rear of the room while Escher sent scouts to determine whether fast travel to the grotto was still possible.
Rhokeion found several potions and three wands, pocketing them all for identification. He beheld the clothing upon the mannequin, confident they would fit him. Oliver burned the mushroom encased in glass, thinking to stamp out any lingering effects of the strange fungus. It smoldered quietly, then was no more. Sariel, gritting her teeth to withstand the mask's assault on her senses just awhile longer, looked around to see what might have changed. The immediate area within the caverns was no longer producing the glowing aura. She could still see it off in the distance, most notably to the northeast. The "X" overhead seemed to have diminished in brightness, as well. Relieved, Sariel finally doffed the mask.
Soon, the Hunter scouts returned to rejoin the group. They claimed it had been just as Escher had said. They had walked to the beach grotto and back in under half an hour. It seemed that during the excitement Aria had stepped away as well. Gremir claimed to have seen her leave to follow the departing scouts, casting unsure glances back towards the party. She had not returned; the party speculated as to whether she had become afraid or simply wished to move on. She had a way of doing her own thing. Those remaining, high on victory, trudged back up the tunnel towards Ylraphon. The party, used to traveling at great speed using this network, was glad to hear it still worked following the death of the abomination.
Back in Ylraphon, Rhokeion set about trying to identify the potions, wands, and magically inscribed clothing. Gremir sought improved armor for himself. Following a serendipitous meeting with Branton Ford, Gremir was gifted a set of armor of his choosing. Twilight Lumber seemed to have it all. Back at the Shattered Dragon Inn, Oliver and Sariel engaged in a game of Dragonchess. Meanwhile, Sora overheard an interesting conversation from a table nearby.
Sora turned to see a group of local women: one Triton and two Humans. They were clearly intoxicated and having a good time. The women were discussing a rash of apparent kidnappings in Ylraphon- all infants. Sora approached their table, curious to hear more about what might be going on. The women were receptive, offering Sora a seat with them. They all spoke, speculating that the "Mage Who Never Dies" might be stealing away babies for some sinister purpose. The Triton woman claimed a good friend of hers had been one of those who lost a child. Asking for details, Sora was told the woman's name and neighborhood of residence.
The party remained in Ylraphon resting up and following leads on the kidnappings until Tarsakh 9. They planned to stay in town for Oliver's Dragonchess tourney on Tarsakh 10, then go to investigate the Mage's Tower they had heard of near Tavilar. Rhokeion had spent much time meditating on the outskirts of the city, attempting to tap into whatever knowledge was coming from within. He felt as if his ancestors might be imparting generational wisdom, but he couldn't be sure yet. During one of the party's meetings with Escher, the Hunter told the party she suspected a hag might be behind the kidnappings. Apparently, a hag would need infants to reproduce and grow her coven.
On the eve of the tourney, Rhokeion set out to keep watch on the commoners' residences on the sunken northeastern outskirts of the city. He hoped to prevent any more kidnapping and learn more about the perpetrator(s). At the inn, Oliver was preparing mentally for the tourney. He hoped to make a name for himself as Ylraphon's authority on Dragonchess strategy. The prize money was also plenty motivating. With any luck, he might double his money; Amrul Ilnatar had sweetened the pot significantly. Regardless of what may come, the next few days were shaping up to be pivotal for the party's time in this plane.
Who will win the tourney? Could the abomination's destruction have unforeseen consequences? Is Rhokeion going to hunt hags full time now? Find out next time on... The Domain of the Metamage!
Key Items
- Tentacle Potion (Moderate) (4x)
- Wand (Contagious Frailty)
- Wand (Empty) (2nd-Level)
- Netherese Explorer's Clothes (+1 Resilient, Quenching)
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