Y
our party has survived the Lakerest Cave, the journey through the Wildwood, the heist of Pais Vai, and now two separate Idalian temples. This article serves as a run-down for all of the important information you've collected thus far.
What in Meridia's Name is that Bug?
Outside the Idalian temple on Merchant's Trail, the path into the Wildwood, the party encountered a medium-sized insectoid creature. It had clicking mandibles and several, clawed legs. At one point, it impaled it's barbed tail into Serpica, leaving behind a near-deadly wound and a collection of eggs. It should be noted that this creature matched the statue of the head of a slain monster, which was held by an Idalian soldier -- also a statue.
These eggs were collected and stored in a jar. Gorlac dumped old soup on them. They seem to be deteriorating.
The Lost Temple
Inside the temple within the woods, just off of Merchant's Trail, the party found an unidentified, yet seemingly magical book. Serpica took this item for himself, but couldn't decipher it's mysteries yet. There was a globe with unknown landmasses - it didn't seem to look like Utera as you know it. Pais Vai also had a globe that mirrored this. Weird.
There was a series of statues in one of the rooms, many of which appeared to be soldiers or more of the creepy bugs. One of them, however, looked like a lion; Chi found special interest in this.
Further into the temple, the party encountered an odd pool. Stepping inside of it, the Highborn members of the party found themselves having a vision. They witnessed the point of view of an Idalian warrior as they overlooked a bloodied battlefield, and an insect monster as large as the mountains in the distance, until their bodies flared with pain, and their host was impailed, ending the vision.
Viv's vision, however, didn't end there. She found herself with fragmented vision, tainted with red. The need to feed, consume, and reproduce overtook her. She watched as she uncontrollably attacked the first thing in her sight - a warrior. She tore him limb from limb before awaking to the party. Blood poured from her eyes.
They're permanently crimson now.
Chi's Being Weird Again...
Following the events of Pais Vai, the party took to the Midriver Meadows, intent on moving towards the Dread Walk, and eventually, Harcross. It was during this walk, hugging the tree cover, that Anya's companion and Eidolon, Chi, began to feel odd. He pointed out feeling pulled to something northeast of the trail. Following this sensation, you were led to a serpentfolk temple. It was odd, because though Serpica identified the serpentfolk existing in tandem with the Idale, he wasn't certain they ever interacted.
Moving through this temple and dispelling your enemies, you came across a variety of interesting artwork and architecture:
First, was the mural of a bug-like monstrosity fighting a strange, foreign creature. Viv identified it to be a chimera. The symbol on Chi's chest and Anya's hand was painted in between these two creatures.
Second, was the portraits on the walls. There were five, each depicting snake-like humanoids, with pointy scale-ears and silver eyes. They each held different body types and features: one was tall and thin, with emphasis lines circling it’s head; one appeared to be frail; one was small and short, and seemed to be posed to move nimbly; one was large and muscled; the last one appeared to be large and wide, though seemingly still tough and capable.
Finally, the barrier between the room you stood within and the final fight of this temple was made up of glintering, silvery runes and odd, disjointed shapes. It seemed to match the eyes of the paintings prior, as well as the eyes of Gorlac and Anya.
A Big Ass Snake, and a Sparkly Elf Man
Coming to the crux of this temple, the party was faced with a large snake. It stood 15 feet tall when active, though it's length and girth remain unknown. It was coiled, and couldn't move due to the four large chains keeping it in place. Black and red boils marred it's body. They opened up to red eyeballs, and spewed poison when popped.
When the snake was eventually killed, it's body didn't fall to the floor. Instead, it dissipated into silver, sparkly magic runes and shapes, flooding towards Chi. Both the Eidolon and Anya fell to the floor, seemingly unconscious.
Anya experienced a vision, in which she watched as the Chimera braced itself for a fight. She listened as haunting laughter filled her ears, filled the surroundings around the Chimera. Anya watched, from the Chimera's point of view, as black and red took over, as silver flashes tried to pierce through, but were unsuccessful. Anya watched as the unknown owner of this laughter, known only has "Her," according to the Chimera, claimed the beast for herself. And then Anya felt as the Chimera was split into five pieces, as it was sealed away, only coming to again to the face of a blue-haired elven girl, in an abandoned church. Anya watched, this time from Chi's point of view, as she found her companion for the first time.
Then, stealing her thunder, of course, Gorlac just had to have a moment of his own. Noticing that there was another creature within the chamber the stood inside of, Gorlac ushered the party out before the barrier reformed. He, however, was trapped within, and stood to face his fate. The creature was reminiscent of the first insect that the party had fought outside the Lost Temple, though this one was much larger.
Instead of dying a gruesome, horrible death, Gorlac was encompassed by fire, and the visage of a flaming snake whipped all around the room - the same snake he had dreamt of long ago. This flaming snake, having vanquished the insectoid threat, circled Gorlac before moving to the edge of the chamber, where it transformed.
Suddenly, the snake became a flickering visage of a seemingly elven man, though with sharper, more angular features, a bulky, capable body, and pupiless silver eyes. They seemed nor male or female upon closer inspection, but something else entirely. They flickered in and out of this appearance, and one that was more unfathomable, one more alien.
They said they had been watching Gorlac since he took the Trident of Sethrak within the Lakerest Cave. They said the Eldron, also known as the Parasite, were returning, and that it was the duty of those who cared about this plane to vanquish the threat, or watch the world wither away. They introduced themselves as Cons'ten, Aspect of Constitution, and claimed Gorlac as their Champion, before dissappating into thin air.
Comments