Episode 26 - Hungry Shadows

The party catches their breath in between the two sets of bookshelves that, just moments ago, attempted to smother them to death. While gaining their composure, Fadkat begins to hear a quiet but sweet sing-song voice emitting from the pile of books next to them. Using his sword, Fadkat sifts the book in question out of the pile and begins flipping through the pages. Much to his surprise, all the books in the pile, including the one calling to him, are blank. He continues flipping through the mysterious novel titled "Ancient Sapropes," until he comes to a page that appears to start writing itself. At the same time Fadkat is making his discovery, Davwyn begins hearing deep breathing coming from the otherside of the bookshelf. He peeks around the corner to see what appears to be a transparent figure, floating several inches above the ground, reading a book. Moxt recalls a strange notice on the inside of one of the books they had come across previously in the library. It caught his attention that one of the previous readers was titled "Akorah Snowden," and that it had appeared to be lent out in 157 AFD, the same year the party woke up in the strange hospital. Moxt brings it to the party's attention but Davwyn is adamant that Akorah died during their voyage across the sea to Trade City. After some very poor reasoning, Davwyn feels confident that he is correct and produces a rope that had once been wrapped around Akorah. He locates a single Drow hair that he hands to their new wizard compatriot Vaceren. The high elf uses the hair in a scrying spell and begins to see strange images of a decadent hospital bed, a drow woman giving birth, a large gathering of medical staff, and Aaron Frost. Vaceren reveals this information to the party which only raises further questions, and simultaneously proves Davwyn was incorrect. Finally Vaceren remembers that the last name of "Snowden" belongs to one of the royal Hamman family.
After much bickering, Davwyn pushes forward on their quest to gain knowledge concerning the name Mycorjet. He rounds the corner of the bookshelf and immediately begins questioning the studious specter. After several unfruitful questions, Davwyn eventually makes the mistake of fabricating some historical facts which draws the attention of the ghost. The ghost immediately drives its icy fingers deep into Davwyn's mind, attempting to sift through the halfling's memories. The party comes to his aid and quickly strikes down the Lore-Mancer. The party moves forward through the library and comes to another rickety bridge. Across the expanse appears to be a large nest of some sort and flying creatures, not to dissimilar to wasps. The party begins engaging the Paper Wasps but quickly find themselves outmatched, out of spells, and out of options. They barely retreat by the skin on their teeth and decide to return to the library once they have recovered.
Along the way out, Klork spots a book shelf that has two shadows. After testing the shadows with light, radiant spells, and phsyical attacks with mundane items, Klork stomps on the shadow. As his foot comes down he begins to feel himself falling through the ground, into the shadow. He falls deeper and deeper into the black nothingness of death until he lands on his back in a strange land where rain falls upwards. He lifts his head up to see Pelor and Nerull both turning their backs on him, walking away.
The party grabs the dead tortle and Moxt opens a portal to the nearest known tree which happens to be outside the The Roopty Scoop, near Obad Hai's temple. The singular priest inside the temple admits he is incapable of resurrecting the tortle but shares that the temple of Pelor offers services that could bring the adventurer back frorm the dead. Needing an immediate intervention, the party begs the priest to help them transport their partner to the temple of Pelor which lies approximately an hour away on the other side of the city. Moxt pays the spell fee of 1,000 GP to transport them across town. The priest leads them to the gardens in the back where an ancient apple tree is located. The priest breathes a magical song into its bark and a round portal opens up that leads to the front of a decadent cathedral. The party drags Klork's body through the portal and find themselves at the steps of the Temple of Pelor.
Davwyn walks through the front gates of the temple and is immediately stopped by one of the church priests. The priest sees the dead tortle and advises they are not allowed in due to their association with the excommunicated cleric. Davwyn boasts that he is an agent of Pelor and calls upon the god to show himself. In a strange turn of events, a solitary golden butterfly lands in Davwyn's open palm. The priest immediately recognizes the sign of Pelor and escorts the halfling, and only the halfling, to an office deeper in the confines of the temple. A handsome older human man sits behind a desk in the office and welcomes Davwyn in. The man explains he is willing to help Davwyn with his dead turtle problem but he would need a favor in exchange. The holy lowers his voice, looks Davwyn straight in his eyes, and says "I think the Archbishop is in cahoots with the devil." Davwyn questions back, "which one?"
What unrest rumbles in the heart of the temple of Pelor? Will the party be able defeat the Paper Wasps and continue their journey through The Watchers Arcadia? How will the party rescue Klork from the hands of the god of death?