Session 53: Fish Gods

General Summary

Palace of Earsmoor

59th of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era
The Regulators defeated the giant clam cephalopod with minimal difficulty, severing its limbs one by one. When the creature died it fell back into the water. Zuko dived after it to check the inside of the shell for a pearl, and discovered one that was about 2 feet in diameter. While he was under the water, he realized he had aquired just under a dozen leeches. Crawling out of the river he began to remove them and discovered that they were not conventional leeches, but a fae variety that painlessly siphons a creatures life force through arcane osmosis. These are likely what killed the deer they discovered a day or so before.
After a short rest, they headed down the ridge and back into the swamps. They found themselves surrounded by uniform and evensly spaced pools of swamp water before reaching the largest of all of them. Protruding from this lake like swamp was a large and once regal multi-story structure that could only be the ancient palace of Earsmoor. The entire first floor appeared to be submerged, but the structure was still largely intact. They heard a disturbance in the water far to the right and Zuko beckoned the rest of the party onto the flying carpet. Ascending to 25 feet they spotted the source of the noise, a giant fish head was skimming the surface of the water towards the palace, and behind it was a bulging sack. The creature noticed them and dove beneath the water. They flew over where the creature dissapeared and when it did not reemerge, Zuko tied a piece of jerky to a rope and dunked it in the water. A moment later he was pulled into the swamp and attacked by what appeared to be a humanoid fish. With a volley of accurate shots from above, Malcolm killed the creature. As a joke, he also danggled a rope with jerky on it to pull Zuko up. Zuko attempted to repeat what had been done to him by the fish person but failed. As he was nearly back to the carpet, Malcolm let go of the rope, but this time Zuko was able to grab his leg, which caused both of them to plummet into the water.
Meanwhile Meara spotted a breach in the second floor wall where the fish person was likley headed. She recovered the two of them and proceeded towards the gap.

Temple of the Hydra

Once inside, they checked the contents of the sack. Inside was a mix of various metal items, such as goblets, plates and jewelry. It appeared that these were some of the items being stolen from Laurum Sor; however, it was clear that the fish people had different understandings of precious metal, as the items were made of cheap materials.
They began exploring the ruins, and started to split up. Malcolm found a trip wire across the door he wanted to enter, but in trying to disarm it he caused the roof over the halway to cave in. He managed to dive into the room but when the cieling hit the floor, Meara and Wulffric plummeted into the water on the floor below, and Wulffric was pinned by falling debris.
Meara swam out of the water and used her recall bracelet to teleport him out of the debris, then healed him and stayed with him while Zuko and Malcolm continued to explore. Malcolm found his way to an open area ont he first floors that allowed him to swim to the far east side of the palace and ascend into what was once a feast hall. As he approached the doors leading into a central chamber he heard noise from beyond. It appeared to be some sort of unfamiliar vocal communication. Looking through the keyhole he spotted a gather of the fish people in what was the council chamber. One of them, the apparent leader, was dressed in what seemed to be an outfit denoting a priest, and their religios idol was a metal sculpture resembling a hydra.
Wanting to avoid an unnessecary fight, Malcolm summoned his horse and burst through the door casting thaumaturgy. The ground shook, the sound of thunder filled the chamber and his eyes glowed. His initial spectacle scared the fish people, but when he made it clear he was there demanding fealty, the priest indicated the sculpture of the Hydra. Malcolm fired a storm round at the sculpture, causing a lightning bolt to melt it down to slag. Then he magically opened the door by Meara and Zuko, having them ride in on horse back; Meara with her wings out and hair glowing, Zuko with his bow lit.
The priest finally relented and bowed to Malcolm, the others following suit. Malcolm did his best to overcome the language barrier learning that the hydra they worshiped was in the throne room, and it seemed likley that the next champion's weapon was in there as well. He told the fish folk to go gather materials to build a new sculpture of him, and the Regulators discussed their next move. They chose to bust into the throne room suddenly to gain the element of the surpise on the hydra.
Meara told Wulffric to hide and they barged through the large double doors, finding the room littered with half eaten fish people. The hydra burdst out of its watery nest near the throne and prepared to defend itself.
To Be Continued...

Report Date

13 Jun 2021