OOC Group Game Discussion

  📍 Chapter 4: The Waters of Menehune

The next morning dawned with a clear sky, and the tropical beauty of Maulia unfolded as the fog that had haunted the night before lifted. From the bustling docks to the serene waters of the Menehune River, the village sparkled under the warm sun. Life had returned to its rhythmic pulse, but for those who had faced the undead horrors of Donatello the Black, the shadows of the past night lingered like ghosts in their minds.

The adventurers—Admiral, Cordey, Regan, and the circus troupe—woke to the vibrant calls of seabirds and the gentle rustle of palm fronds in the breeze. Their   📍 mission was clear: ascend the mysterious Menehune River and uncover the fate of the circus troupe’s ship. The warnings of eerie tales and dangerous waters had done little to dampen their resolve, though they were not taken lightly.

Preparations at Martin’s Hideaway

  📍 Following the directions given by the dockmaster, Admiral arrived at Martin’s shipyard later than most, his fur rumpled and whiskers bent from a drunken sleep on the floor of the tavern. Regan was already waiting outside, his arms crossed, observing the shipyard with a sailor’s practiced eye. Cordey joined them shortly, now clad in armor and armed, an unusual look for the typically laid-back half-sea elf. Lelay, his lover, had opted to stay behind after the previous night’s harrowing events, her parting words heavy with concern for his safety.

The shipyard stood apart from the rest of Maulia. Its structures were heavily influenced by Martin’s life in the Grand Duchy of Karameikos, an architectural style distinct from the tropical aesthetic of the village.   📍 The catamaran skiff, docked near an ornate stone warehouse, awaited their journey.   📍 Martin himself appeared shortly after Admiral knocked on his door, a burly man with silver hair and the gruff yet pleasant demeanor of a craftsman interrupted mid-task.

"Ahoy," he greeted, his eyes flicking to Cordey. "Promoting our services, are we? Explains why I’m stuck hammering away at nails this morning."

After listening to the group’s plans to travel upriver, Martin’s demeanor shifted. He warned them of the dangers lurking in the waters, sharing chilling tales of boats and travelers lost to the whims of the fey. Only those seeking Lady Oceana, he explained, had ever returned unscathed. Despite his warnings, Martin seemed intrigued by their mission and presented them with a peculiar   📍 lantern.

"This is for her guests," Martin said, holding out the artifact. "You won’t see its light, but the fey will. It will show them you come with purpose."

The lantern, an unassuming object without oil or flame, was handed to Cordey, whose steady hands affixed it to the skiff. With supplies loaded and farewells exchanged, Martin offered one last piece of advice: "Fey are cunning. Keep your wits about you."

  📍 Journey Up the Menehune River

Under the bright noonday sun, the skiff pushed off from the dock and into the river’s embrace. The waters of Menehune were a mesmerizing blend of blue and green, their depths revealing ancient stone structures that hinted at an older, forgotten time. These ruins, woven seamlessly into the lush vegetation of the riverbanks, gave the journey a dreamlike quality, as if the group were sailing through a living tapestry of history and myth.

The river twisted and turned, its width and depth constantly changing. Cordey, guiding the skiff with practiced ease, remained vigilant, the lantern at his side casting an invisible glow for their unseen audience.   📍 A school of vibrant fish soon joined them, their scales shimmering like gemstones in the sunlight. To the astonishment of all, the fish leapt from the water, chirping playful greetings before disappearing back into the depths.

"It’s magical," Cordey muttered, gripping the lantern tightly. "Stay alert. The fey’s tricks are as enchanting as they are dangerous."

  📍 Encounter at Babbling Brook Falls

Rounding a bend, the group spotted a lively scene on the riverbank: dozens of small, childlike figures splashing in the water and diving from trees. These were no ordinary children. Their seaweed-like hair, large fish-like eyes, and webbed fingers marked them as aquatic fey. Upon seeing the skiff, most scattered, vanishing beneath the water or into the foliage. Two remained—one with bright red-tinted hair perched in a tree and   📍 another with a headband standing in the shallows.

"Look! A boat!" the red-haired fey called, their voice melodic and curious.

As the skiff approached, the headband-wearing fey spoke with a mix of apprehension and hope. "Are you here to help us? Aldrin, our friend, was taken by a hag. She captured our brook, and now the nasty Sahuagin guard it."

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Admiral, leaning on the rudder, gave a confident nod. "We’ll see what we can do."

The aquatic fey erupted in cheers, their voices a chorus of joy. "They will help! The humans, the boat...!and the kitty!"

Admiral twitched at being called a "kitty" but waved dismissively. "Where’s this brook of yours?"

The fey pointed upriver. "Not far, but beware the Sahuagin. They watch the entrance. The hag likes to eat humans…"

"Good to know," Regan muttered, summoning his warhammer with a flick of his wrist.

  📍 Clash with the Sahuagin

As the skiff neared the brook’s entrance, three Sahuagin emerged on the riverbank, their jagged spears glinting in the sunlight. The group wasted no time. Cordey’s crossbow bolt struck the leader, a helmeted Sahuagin, while Admiral’s eldritch blast sent it reeling into the water. Regan’s magic felled another, its body collapsing into the shallows.

The final Sahuagin, retreating toward the brook, summoned two massive, shark-like creatures with vibrant zebra-like stripes. The sharks surged toward the skiff, their presence adding a new layer of danger. Taresh, the Sindhi monk, cloaked the boat in a veil of shadows, confusing the sharks and causing them to veer off course.

Mischa, the snake charmer, unleashed her mental prowess on the remaining Sahuagin, leaving it disoriented. Admiral seized the opportunity, his hex slowing the creature’s escape. Cordey’s bolt followed, sinking deep into its scaled hide and ensuring it would not alert the hag.

As the battle neared its end, the group worked together with precision. Admiral’s eldritch blast struck true against the fleeing Sahuagin, adding to the damage inflicted by Cordey’s bolt. The Sahuagin stopped mid-stroke, floating lifelessly in the water as its strangely hued blood spread into the brook.

"Got him," Admiral said, hopping lightly back into the skiff. "Onward, then?"

Behind him, Regan nodded grimly while Cordey kept his weapon ready. Taresh adjusted his position, his monk training keeping him balanced on the rocking vessel.

Onward to Danger

The waters around the skiff grew quieter as the last of their foes fell. The group’s path to Babbling Brook Falls lay open, but the air was thick with tension. The aquatic fey watched from a distance, their eyes wide with hope and fear.

"We have to move quickly," Cordey said, gripping the lantern. "The hag won’t be unprepared for long."

  📍 The Enchanted Brook

As the skiff glided deeper into the brook, the water changed. Stones lining the riverbed began to emit soft, melodic tones when touched by ripples and eddies. The air filled with music that seemed to resonate with the very flow of the brook.

"Is the water... singing?" Regan asked, leaning forward and peering over the edge of the boat. "I can see why the kids like it here."

Cordey glanced at him, nodding. "It’s a nice place for sure. Magical, no doubt."

Admiral, however, was more attuned to the strange whispers emanating from the water. A faint glow from the crystal necklace he had fashioned for himself pulsed in rhythm with the tones. Humming along, he leaned over the edge and listened carefully.

The brook’s voice grew clearer, tempting him with words of laughter, violin melodies, and dancing under the falls. But as Admiral focused, the song turned somber, mentioning a "mirror of the past" and lamenting the loss of its joy.

"The water’s singing about something... a mirror," Admiral murmured to his companions. "And it’s sad, like something’s been taken from it."

  📍 Approaching the Falls

The brook’s melodic whispers guided them toward a breathtaking sight. A multi-tiered waterfall spilled into a glen filled with lush greenery, its beauty marred only by the presence of five Sahuagin guards. The creatures stood at the narrow entrance to the glen, their jagged weapons glinting in the sunlight.

Taresh’s shadowy veil still cloaked the skiff, masking its approach. Admiral surveyed the scene, then turned to the group. "If we fight our way past these guards, the hag will know we’re coming. We could leave the boat and try sneaking around instead."

Regan shook his head. "Let’s say we do sneak our way to the hag. The Sahuagin will come running anyway, and then we’ll have to deal with her and at least five of these creatures all at once."

Cordey nodded in agreement. "There are too many to think about slipping past. Best we take them down now."

"Fair enough," Admiral said, drawing his sword. "Let’s get started, shall we?"

  📍 The Ambush

Admiral initiated the attack by targeting the nearest Sahuagin with an eldritch blast. The energy struck the creature, its body jolting violently as Admiral’s hex took hold. Regan followed up with his own eldritch blast, and Cordey’s crossbow bolt landed true, sinking into the creature’s torso. Taresh added a firebolt, and the combined damage left the Sahuagin crumpled on the bank.

  📍 The remaining Sahuagin hissed in alarm, their guttural voices barking orders. One dove into the pool and began swimming toward the falls, while the others spread out, searching for the source of the attack.

The Fight Intensifies

Regan raised his hand, firing another eldritch blast at the fleeing Sahuagin. The blast connected, but the creature, though wounded, kept moving. Cordey loosed another bolt, which splashed harmlessly into the water beside it. Admiral, focusing his hex, unleashed another blast that struck the Sahuagin directly. The creature slowed and then sank beneath the water, motionless.

"Another one down," Admiral muttered.

The other Sahuagin, now aware of the party’s location, swam directly toward the skiff. Two reached the pontoons and climbed aboard, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. Taresh moved to intercept them, but the rocking of the boat threw off his balance.

The Sahuagin captain lunged at Taresh, its claws raking across the monk’s side. Another Sahuagin stabbed at him with a spear, the blow landing solidly. Taresh staggered, blood dripping from his wounds, and fell from the boat into the water below.

As the Sahuagin swarmed the skiff, Jin stepped forward, his fingers crackling with energy. "Let’s see how you like this," he said, releasing a bolt of lightning that arced between him and the Sahuagin captain. The creature hissed in pain as the lightning scorched its scales.

The battle grew chaotic as the Sahuagin pressed their assault. The skiff rocked violently, forcing everyone aboard to fight for balance. "Hold steady!" Regan shouted, swinging his weapon as he tried to stay upright.

Admiral, undeterred by the chaos, prepared another attack. "We’re not done yet!" he declared, his sword glowing faintly with energy as he eyed the Sahuagin closing in.

Eventually the skirmish with the Sahuagin concluded, leaving the party bruised but triumphant. Cordey wiped the ichor from his blade with a practiced motion, glancing toward the cascading falls ahead. Regan, ever practical, hefted his warhammer back over his shoulder. "I believe we have a hag to visit," he remarked dryly, tossing the remains of the Sahuagin bodies over the side of the boat.

Admiral hopped onto the riverbank with feline grace, shaking water from his fur with an exaggerated shudder. "We probably ought to get out and walk from here. Sailing through a waterfall might be memorable, but let’s keep Martin’s skiff in one piece," he said, though his whiskers twitched with a touch of curiosity.  📍

Discovery Beneath the Falls

The group advanced toward the misty falls, where the relentless sound of cascading water drowned out their footsteps. Admiral, leading the way, peered through the curtain of falling water and caught sight of a shadowy gap behind it. "There’s a cave here," he called back, his voice nearly lost in the roar of the falls.

The team waded into the pool, the cold water soaking their boots as they approached the hidden entrance. Beyond the falls, the light dimmed to an eerie glow.   📍 Scattered across the cavern floor were the remains of wrecked boats, their shattered timbers a testament to the dangers of the river.

Regan’s sharp eyes noticed the remnants of stonework—ancient and overgrown with moss—that seemed to match the submerged ruins they had passed earlier. "This isn’t just a cave," he said, running his fingers along the carved edges of a stone archway. "This place has history."

  📍 The Tunnel's Choice

The group pressed on cautiously. An archway at the back of the cave revealed two lanterns glowing red ominously. As they stepped under the passage the glow seemed to react to their movement. Above them, two dim red lights flickered like ghostly sentinels, casting an ominous glow over the passage ahead.Despite the danger, suggested by the lanterns' presense, the party continued through the archway.

The air inside the tunnel beyond was thick, its silence broken only by the drip of water. The passageway soon branched into two. A foul stench emanated from the left, the unmistakable smell of rot and decay. From the right came the crisp, sweet aroma of berries and clean water, though it seemed almost too inviting, a fey trick perhaps.

  📍 "Left or right?" Regan asked, glancing back at Admiral.

"Left," Admiral declared on instinct. His tail flicked nervously as he turned toward the source of the foul smell. "If it smells bad, it’s probably important."

The party agreed, though the stench made every step a challenge. Cordey clutched the pendant Lelay had given him, its warmth a faint comfort against the oppressive atmosphere.

The Seaweed Sentinel

  📍 📍 At a four-way intersection, they found the source of the smell—a massive, writhing wall of seaweed and moss. It shifted unnaturally, filling the tunnel entrance as if alive. Cordey’s pendant hummed faintly, and he heard Lelay’s voice whisper, "In her lair, where shadows dwell, a mirror holds the key to break her spell."

Admiral approached the seaweed wall cautiously and gave it a tentative prod with Reaver.   📍 Instantly, the tendrils came to life, wrapping tightly around the blade. "Yikes!" he yelped, pulling back. Reaver vanished and reappeared in his hand moments later. "Nice try!" Admiral taunted, sticking his tongue out at the writhing seaweed.

Regan stepped forward, his torch blazing. The flame caused the tendrils to recoil slightly. "It doesn’t like fire," he observed, handing out torches to the others. "Grab a few—we’ll need them to get past this thing."

As they pressed the torches closer, the seaweed retaliated, releasing a deluge of water from above that extinguished the flames. Tendrils shot out, ensnaring Jin in a crushing grip. "Help!" Jin cried as the seaweed tightened around him, drawing a gasp of pain.

Battle with the Seaweed

The fight began in earnest. Regan swung his warhammer with precision, the magical weapon smashing into the dense mass and tearing away chunks of writhing plant matter. Cordey followed with swift strikes from his cutlass, his blade slicing cleanly through the tendrils. Admiral, standing back, unleashed an eldritch blast, the crackling energy burning into the seaweed’s core.

"Hold on Jin!" Tasya shouted, dodging another lashing tendril. She leapt forward, slashing at the plant with her dagger, aiming to free her companion.

Jin, struggling in the sentinel’s grip, managed to summon enough focus to fire a bolt of lightning from his fingertips. The energy coursed through the seaweed, causing it to convulse violently and release him. He dropped to the ground, clutching his shoulder where the tendrils had left deep bruises.

  📍 Victory and Revelation

With one final strike from Regan’s warhammer, the seaweed sentinel collapsed into a lifeless heap. The air grew still, and the party took a moment to catch their breath.

"That is the meanest bunch of seaweed I’ve ever seen," Cordey remarked, shaking bits of plant matter from his cutlass. "Least it won’t cause any more trouble."

Beyond the sentinel, a narrow tunnel led deeper into the cavern. The faint glow from the walls seemed to beckon them forward.

With weapons ready and resolve steeled, the group ventured into the shadows, prepared to face the hag and uncover the truth of her lair.

  📍 The Aftermath of the Seaweed Sentinel

With the collapse of the writhing seaweed mass, the party stood momentarily victorious, their breaths ragged and their bodies coated in a slick mixture of slime and sweat. The tunnel beyond lay dark and foreboding, a briny aroma seeping through the air as the sounds of trickling water echoed faintly ahead.

"Now we can see what is beyond," Cordey muttered, sheathing his cutlass as his hazel eyes narrowed against the shadows ahead.

Admiral, always quick to forge ahead, hopped over the limp seaweed. "Yep!" he called back, his voice filled with forced cheer as he disappeared into the darkened tunnel. Turning slightly, he addressed Regan with casual curiosity. "Say, Regan, this might not be the best time for chit-chat, but I’ve been meaning to ask about your hammer. I saw you vanish it earlier, just like my sword." He demonstrated by flipping his blade, Reaver, in his hand until it dissolved into mist before resummoning it. "Where’d you get it?"

Regan lit a torch as they moved deeper. The warm glow illuminated the slimy walls, coated in algae that shimmered faintly with an ethereal glow. "Part of a deal struck while I was escaping slavery," Regan replied with a shrug. "A means to an end."

"Oh?" Admiral’s tone carried genuine interest. "What kind of deal?"

Regan’s face was impassive. "A deal that provided me enough power to escape," he said simply.

"Aye, but a deal implies two sides. What did you offer in exchange?" Admiral pressed.

"For many beings, belief and power are the same," Regan answered. "As word of my actions spreads, its power will grow. That said, I could ask you the same."

Admiral’s ears flicked. "Fair enough. I didn’t strike a deal. I inherited one. Reaver used to belong to my captain. He spoke, sometimes, of the blade’s master, but never said who or what that was or what they wanted."

Regan chuckled darkly. "I’d be wary. Some beings will argue you inherited the debt along with it."

"Oh, I’m certain I did," Admiral replied, his tone light but shadowed with unease.

  📍 The Tunnel Splits

The party arrived at a fork. To the left, a deeper stench of decay wafted through the humid air, while to the right, the faint rustle of plant life beckoned like a siren’s call. Slimy kelp-like plants waved eerily, as though underwater, even though no water was present.

Regan was the first to break the silence. "That’s weird. Not sure if it’s our path, or a misdirect. Let’s find out."   📍 Without waiting, he took the right tunnel, his torch illuminating the strange kelp that responded to their passing movements.

Admiral followed, grumbling, "I sure wish we’d thought to ask those kids for a map."

The further they walked, the denser the kelp grew, until the walls seemed alive with waving, glowing fronds. As Admiral reached the thickest part of the passage, a hiss filled the air. Spores burst forth in a choking cloud, filling the tunnel with an acrid stench.

  📍 The Poisonous Assault

The spores struck the party hard. Cordey coughed but steadied himself, his constitution holding firm. Tasya managed to avoid the worst of it, though the poison burned her throat. But for Admiral, Regan, and Jin, the spores were devastating. Admiral staggered, his feline agility faltering as the poison seeped into his lungs. Regan dropped to one knee, gasping for air as he felt his strength ebbing. Jin fared the worst, his already battered form collapsing to the ground in violent convulsions.

"Jin!" Tasya screamed, rushing to his side. "Fight it! Fight!" Her pleas fell on deaf ears as the magician’s body grew still.

Before the party could regroup, six algae limbs sprouted from the walls, writhing toward them with malicious intent.

Battle Against the Kelp Lurkers

Cordey reacted first, his cutlass slashing through two of the limbs with precision. "Stay behind me!" he growled, positioning himself protectively between Jin and the attacking flora.

Admiral disoriented but determined, clawed at the wall, channeling energy into a spell. Wither and Bloom surged through the tunnel, draining life from the aggressive plants and revitalizing Jin just enough to steady his breathing. Tasya’s sigh of relief was short-lived as more limbs sprouted, striking with terrifying force.

Regan cast Armor of Agathys, encasing himself in a spectral frost that lashed out at the attacking limbs. Each strike against him sent icy shards into the kelp, damaging the host plants. Still, the relentless limbs continued their assault, constricting Cordey and Tasya in their grasp.

  📍 Admiral hissed as a limb wrapped around his leg. He dissipated into a mist, reappearing farther down the tunnel where it opened into a larger chamber. From his new vantage point, he could see a strange laboratory-like setting with a pool of dark water at its center.

"Let’s keep moving!" Admiral shouted, slashing at the limbs with Reaver. Lightning crackled as he cast Lightning Lure to pull Jin toward him. The spell succeeded, freeing Jin from the grasp of the algae, but the energy surge was too much for his weakened body. Jin collapsed unconscious at Admiral’s feet, his life hanging by a thread.

A Desperate Stand

The remaining party members fought furiously. Regan’s warhammer crushed a kelp lurker, its limbs writhing as the plant died. Cordey struck another, his blade slicing deep, but not enough to finish it off. Tasya, grappling with two limbs, screamed in defiance as she broke free of one, stabbing at another with her dagger.

  📍 But the kelp lurkers continued to grow new limbs, their numbers seemingly endless. Cordey and Tasya were both grappled again, the limbs constricting tighter with each passing moment. Jin lay motionless, his life slipping away as the battle raged on. Tasya then looses consciousness as well.

Admiral glanced back toward the chamber ahead, his eyes narrowing. "We can’t hold this position forever," he growled, his tone urgent. "Push forward or we won’t make it out alive!"

The Final Kelp Lurker Falls

Regan’s warhammer swung with righteous precision, crashing into the final kelp lurker. The magical plant quivered, its writhing limbs momentarily still before collapsing into a desiccated heap of seaweed dust. Cordey, clutching Lelay’s pendant, managed to slice one last tendril before the battle ended.

  📍 "That’s the last of them," Regan declared, his voice resonating in the now eerily quiet tunnel. His gaze shifted to Tasya, who lay pale and unconscious on the damp ground.

Admiral, tail twitching with frustration, hissed, "She’s still down. Someone do something before we lose her."

Cordey, moving with urgency, knelt beside her. "I’ve got this," he muttered, pressing his hands against Tasya’s cold form. His rudimentary skills were enough to stabilize her, and soon after, Regan knelt beside them, channeling divine energy through his hands. The faint glow of Lay on Hands brought life back to Tasya as her wounds closed and her breathing steadied.

Her eyes fluttered open, wide with fear and awe. She said awkwardly, "I... I heard my mother’s voice," she whispered, trembling. "She said I cannot perish and that I must seek her in the demon realm. My role is vital to saving those enslaved to the Demon Lord."

Jin, leaning heavily on his staff, looked confused but said nothing, his concern evident in his furrowed brow.

  📍 The Hag’s Laboratory

Regaining their bearings, the group realized they had entered what could only be described as the hag’s laboratory. The chamber was illuminated by an unnatural glow emanating from a central pool of water. Its surface shimmered with magic, swirling in a hypnotic dance.

Cordey’s sharp eyes scanned the room. To one side, a table was cluttered with spell components, including strange seaweed, dismembered tentacles, and several ancient books stacked haphazardly. On another table, lanterns in various states of completion hinted at the same design as the one they had used earlier. Crates lined the walls, and small patches of algae clung to the damp stone.

As Admiral wandered closer to the pool, its surface flickered, revealing images. The first was of the cave’s entrance. There, sahuagin marched through the archway, heading toward the falls. The image shifted, showing the deck of a slave ship eerily similar to the one Tasya, Taresh, and Admiral had escaped the port city of Jahore on. In the image, Iron Ring agents harshly handled captives, their actions overseen by an armored, masked figure brandishing a blade.

"Looks like those fish creatures are heading toward our skiff," Admiral muttered, turning to Jin. "Think your troupe can handle them??", Hopefully, Taresh is hiding the boat like before!"

Before Jin could respond, Admiral’s attention shifted to a faint noise. His ears perked as he approached one of the crates. Inside, he found a cube of shimmering energy, overcrowded with squid-like creatures. The adjacent crate held a similar cube, this one filled with various seaweed specimens.

  📍 The Glass Sphere

A faint peep drew Regan’s attention to a glass sphere resting on a table near the lanterns. Inside was a tiny fey creature, its expression one of exaggerated sadness.

Regan leaned closer. "Where is the hag?" he demanded.

The creature replied in a dreary tone, "The hag is gone. She’s making the Fossergrim play for her in her great hall. But she keeps me locked away when she’s gone. I’m bored."

Its mournful expression twisted into one of desperation. Its eyes flared red as it pleaded, "Let me out. Let me out now! Before she comes back and tortures me more."

Tasya approached, her curiosity piqued. When she approacxhed, the fey’s eyes widened in alarm, and it pressed itself against the rear of its glass cage.

Tasya asked gently, "What’s wrong, little one?" "I have a friend named Petalwing who’s much like you. She’s probably wandering happily in this fey forest."

The creature did not respond to Tasya, its gaze darting nervously between her and Regan.

  📍 Cordey’s Discovery

Cordey’s attention was drawn to a pile of books on one of the tables. One in particular seemed to call to him. As he picked it up, his amulet vibrated warmly, and he felt Lelay’s gentle  presence. Though he couldn’t read the text, the symbols on the cover were unmistakably Old Makai.

 Holding up the book, he said, "I feel this may be the answer. Someone more familiar with words needs to look at it."

Tasya glanced over and gasped. "I don’t recognize that language," she admitted, "but the writing on those other books... it’s Infernal! I don’t know much of it, but Misha taught me some when I was very little."  📍

The caged fey began pleading again. "Let me out! The hag deals with demons! Let me out! I can help you!"

Its tone shifted as it harshly hissed the word, "!Nul’zerebi!"

Tasya stiffened. "What... did you call us?" she asked sharply. "You speak Infernal? Is that why the hag keeps you here?"

Admiral smirked. "I think this little shrimp is trying to trick us. Seems like some kind of imp or demon in disguise to me."

The Makai Tome and Hellglass Prison

  📍 Cordey carefully flipped through the brittle pages of the Makai tome, the amulet from Lelay pulsing warmly against his chest. Words once foreign began to reveal their meaning. "The Eternal Barrier and Demons' Bane," he read aloud, his voice tinged with awe. The text spoke of ancient Makai shamans who, alongside the power of the Sea, the Old Ones, and the Fey, created a ward to block demon portals. Yet one portal remained, its location obscured in symbols Cordey couldn’t decipher.

One page, marred with dried blood, caught his eye. The heading read: "Hellglass Prison." The ritual described a means to bind demons using their own blood, an ancient spell the Makai shamans employed to contain those who defied the ward.

Cordey looked up, his expression grim. He quietly whispered, "This book is powerful. "

The amulet Lelay had given him seemed to hum faintly as he flipped through the brittle pages. The symbols swirled in his mind, and their meaning became clearer.

"‘The Eternal Barrier and Demons’ Bane,’" Cordey read aloud, the words rolling off his tongue with reverence. He scanned the pages quickly, certain fragments jumping out to him. "The peoples of this island… taken by demons to a fire realm…"

He continued flipping pages, pausing at a drawing of shamans surrounded by waves, stars, and ethereal figures. A caption beneath it read:

"Shamans call on the power of the Sea, the Old Ones, and the Fey."

  📍 📍 Further on, he saw an illustration of a great barrier with glowing runes.

"The Great Ward, a barrier that angers the vengeful demons," he read aloud.

Cordey’s brows furrowed as he continued to scan the tome. The text described how the demons had managed to force open one portal, though its location was either obscured or written in symbols he could not yet understand. He flipped a few more pages before stopping abruptly at one marked with a dried bloodstain.

"Demons’ Bane," he murmured, his tone thick with dread. The page detailed powerful incantations and rituals used to bind demons, all requiring demon blood as a key ingredient. A particular spell caught his eye: Hellglass Prison.

Cordey closed the book slowly, his voice low and heavy. "This explains how the Makai managed to imprison demons… and why the hag kept this tome hidden."

  📍 The Promise

Meanwhile the interaction with the creature in the glass continued. "I think you can stay right where you are for the moment," Regan said offhandedly to the creature, shooting the apparent "pixie" trapped in the glass sphere a sidelong glance as he poked through the cluttered table. His tone was dismissive, tinged with a faint disinterest, but his sharp eyes betrayed his wariness.

Cordey, standing nearby, shifted uncomfortably. He hesitated before asking, "Would not freeing the fey aid us?" His question carried genuine concern, though he glanced at the creature warily, as though mistrust lingered at the edges of his thoughts.

Regan’s gaze remained fixed on the hag’s possessions. "If it were fey, probably," he replied, his tone cool and measured. "But I’m not sure that’s the case. And I don’t think Tasya does, either. That book sounds important though—good find. You should probably hold onto it until we’re out of here. It might answer some questions."

Admiral, who had been casually inspecting the glass sphere, tapped on it lightly with a claw. His voice carried a hint of mockery as he addressed the creature inside. "Aye, it’s definitely no fey, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be helpful. What do you say,? What can you offer us in exchange for your freedom?"

  📍 The imp relesed a huff of exasperation. The illusion of the fey dissapated and it showed its true form. the imp’s wide eyes narrowed slightly, its pupils sharpening into slits. A faint red glow flickered within them. It seemed to consider its words carefully before finally replying, "I know the hag's secrets! I know how she charms the Sahuagin and the Fossergrim. And..." It paused dramatically, curling its thin lips into a twisted, mischievous smile. "...I know where she hoards the treasures she's kept from all her human victims... or should I say, her dinners." The imp spat in disgust, the sound echoing faintly within its glass prison.

Admiral’s ears pricked up at the word ‘treasure’, but he feigned disinterest. "Hmm… I don’t know. What’s to stop you flying away or helping the hag once we release you? How about this: we’ll bring you with us and, if you make yourself useful and help us navigate these tunnels and find that treasure you were talking about, we’ll free you once we’ve killed the hag."

Cordey nodded, his agreement apparent. "Now that is a plan," he said, carefully tucking the Makai tome into his pack.

The imp scoffed and looked around its prison. "I have no reason to help that witch who broke our pact and instead imprisoned me and used me to study the secrets of my kind. You can trust me not to help her...But..." At a loss for any other tricks the imp conceded, "I have no reason to help you if you let me out either. Do what you will! Take me in this cage. But release me after I give you what you want!"

  📍 "I think we could all benefit from a quick break before we press on," Admiral said. He stowed the imp in his bag and crossed the room to admire the shiny knick-knacks Regan found. He was not much of an expert in magic items, but they sure were pretty!

Huge Cordey said in reply to Admiral, "I think we all could use a short break to get our breath back."

The group rests a bit in the laboratory. There's not much activity except for the occasional movement of the tentacled creatures in the crate and the magical swirling of the pool in the center of the room.

The imp on the other hand, who was tucked away in Admiral's bag, began to tap incessantly on the glass with its sharp claws, creating a constant, irritating scratching sound. It also sang an off-key, grating tune, driving everyone to frustration with its incessant, discordant noise. Some of its 'lyrics' mimiced the voices of the party members in a mocking tone, making it even more aggravating.

Admiral found a comfy spot to sit between the crates and watch the squid swimming around in that weird energy cube. Fascinated, he completely tuned out the annoying imp.

  📍 Rest and Tensions

"Will you make that thing shut up?" pleaded Jin, handing Tasya some hardtack and a water skin. "Tasya really needs to rest... for at least a minute. This has been a lot for her. She doesn’t look too well."

The imp, hearing Jin’s complaint, grew louder, modifying his lyrics to mock Jin's tone:

The imps sang mockingly, "The daughter prophesied to bring hell down,

Yet all she is, is a circus clown.

Flipping and tumbling, now off her feet,

But can she take the demon heat?"

Jin turned sharply toward Admiral’s bag. "!By tides and tightropes, if you don’t shut up, I’ll make you wish the hag had never captured you! Silence yourself, imp, or I’ll find a way to make that glass prison much less comfortable!"

Admiral sighed, fishing the sphere out of his pack. The imp fell silent momentarily, letting out a triumphant sigh as it was freed from the confines of the bag. Admiral frowned. "What’s the plan here, mate? Annoy us all to death? At this rate, I’ve half a mind to put you back on that desk and leave you there." His gaze shifted to Tasya, then back to the imp. "Also, what do you mean by prophesied to bring down hell?"

Revelations from the Imp

The imp grinned, savoring the attention. "Oh, I’d be delighted to explain," it said, its tone feigning sincerity. "Your precious little acrobat here is the daughter of Tiana, the Dark Prince’s prize slave who became a rebel and defies the Dark Prince."

Tasya’s face twisted in confusion and fear. "What do you know of my mother?" she demanded weakly, her exhaustion evident.

The imp scoffed. "I know she is foolish to think she can overthrow the Dark Prince. The more she resists, the more powerful he becomes. He feeds on defiance. And you..." It turned to Tasya, its grin widening maliciously. "...are supposed to be the hidden key to salvation. The rebels believe you will deliver the wielder of the dragon blade to free the Deep Dragon from the Dark Prince’s servitude. Quite the destiny for a circus performer, wouldn’t you agree?"

Admiral’s ears twitched at the mention of the dragon blade. He felt Reaver vibrating faintly at his side, its energy responding to the imp’s words. "?The dragon blade?" Admiral inquired, glancing at Tasya.

The imp’s grin grew wider. "Some call it Reaver. A weapon of immense power, forged from the essence of Sekkor, the Deep Dragon. But the greedy drake was outsmarted by the Dark Prince and now remains his prisoner. The blade desires nothing more than to return to its master."

Admiral gripped Reaver’s hilt tightly, unease settling over him.

"That is enough of that," said Admiral, discomforted and overwhelmed, as he abruptly shoved the imp back into his rucksack. The idea that Reaver was connected to all this demon stuff made his fur stand on end, and, in any case, he didn’t have time to think about any of that right then. There was a hag to kill, after all, and Jin and Tasya certainly didn’t look up to the task.

"Is she all right?" he asked Jin, referring to the unconscious Tasya. "I reckon you ought to take her back to the skiff. That way, you can check on your troupe as well and make sure the Sahuagin we saw didn’t get the better of them. Regan, Cordey, and I will take care of the hag."

"I think you are right Admiral," replied Jin. "Tasya is in no state to face the hag. It's best that you, Cordey, and Regan take care of that business. I'll take her to the skiff."

He knelt by Tasya's side and placed his hand on her forehead. He said tenderly, "Tasya...Tas...we must go...wake up my dear." When she stirred, he brought his water skin to her lips. "Drink some more. Let me help you stand." He pulled the hood of her cloak over her head; she went invisible.

Jin passed Admiral a sly look. "We circus folk have a few tricks up our sleeve should we run into any problems."

Not long after the circus members made their way out of the laboratory, Cordey, Admiral, and Regan, weapons readied, also left the Seahag's experiment chamber.

  📍 Toward the Hag's Chamber

Passing dried lifeless kelp that they had just a short time ago battled fiercely, the three soon came again to a fork in the tunnel, the one they had previously taken toward the laboratory.

"Let’s see if my new friend knows his way around this place," said Admiral, pulling the imp out of his bag again. "It’s the least he can do after annoying us half to death. Right, imp?" He turned the sphere so that the imp was looking down the tunnel Regan was talking about. "Do you know what’s down that way? Keep in mind that the sooner we kill the hag, the sooner you get out of this ball, so it’s in your best interests to be helpful."

The imp let out a bothered sigh, clearly less interested than before.

"The fork to the right leads to the hag's sleeping chamber," replied the imp disinterestedly. "But she's not there. She's in her 'grand' hall, making the Fossergrim play for her and gloating in his praise of her 'beauty'." The imp said this last part with clear disgust, finishing with a dismissive "blah."

The small demon continued, "If you want to disarm her of guards and the fey's devotion, you'll have to get the mirror. She keeps it in her chamber."

The imp almost reluctantly provided this information; the party could see it processing its thoughts and trying to give away the least amount of useful details, perhaps to protect its own worth to the party.

Still, it assured with a forced smile, "Now, remember, I'm being helpful here. Don't forget that."

Taking the right fork, Cordey, Regan, and Admiral proceeded down another tunnel lined with sea plants. The smell of low tide grew stronger as they moved. The walls were lined with algae, but at least these didn’t seem actively aggressive in any noticeable way.   📍 Soon, they came to the hag's bedchamber, just as the imp had revealed.

In   📍 the chamber, oddly, there was a large octopus—out of water—that lifted its eyes when the party entered, as if the creature had been in a sound sleep and they had startled it. It lay in front of a bed covered in messy sheets made of seaweed, with a seaweed curtain serving as its headboard. A small rock pool near the octopus and an ugly small statue, possibly of a hag, added to the strange decor.

A large mirror balanced in an ornate stand stood near the bed. From it, a ray of white light shone across the room.

Behind the mirror, it looked like there was another area around a bend of rocks.

Cordey's Resolve

Cordey, observing the room, felt Lelay’s amulet warm against his chest. Her words echoed softly in his mind: "Love. da charm knows da call of da sea and da old words of Makai. Read, love. Me heart is yours. Our bond will help you know dem words."

  📍 Drawing the Makai tome from his bag, Cordey flipped through the brittle pages, his focus unwavering. He found the section on Hellglass enchantments. Reading aloud, he translated:

"By the strength of the ocean and the guidance of night skies,

Expose the darkness, reveal the lies.

Hellglass reflects the truth,

Unmasks devils, dispels their sleuth."

He looked up, his expression resolute. "The mirror’s enchantment can be reversed with this incantation. We’ll need to purify it first and use a Sea Shaman’s Charm—Lelay’s amulet fits the description."

Preparing the Mirror Ritual

"But we have to perform a ritual to use it, right? That's what the book says?" Regan clarified, his tone cautious. "So we need to take the mirror to the hag, cast the spell... or maybe we can cast the spell then take the mirror to the hag... but we need to keep the mirror and the caster safe?"

Cordey frowned, looking at the ancient text. "I can read much here and understand less. I'm just unsure of everything, but I will translate all that I read." He flipped through the brittle pages, his gaze resolute.

Admiral interjected. "It sounds to me like we only need to keep the caster and the mirror undisturbed while the spell is being cast, so it would be better to cast the spell first and then take it to the hag." He turned to Cordey. "I think you would need to be the one to cast it."

"I agree with your thoughts there, Admiral," Cordey replied, nodding. "I shall start now while we are good here." With that, he began preparing the ritual.

Peering over the pages that looked like gibberish to Regan and   📍 Admiral but made sense to Cordey, the three discuss further. While they did, the octopus pulled itself over to the stone pool. Slimming its body it sliped into the water. Disappearing into its dark depths...apparently it was not a shallow pool.

In the dimly lit chamber, Cordey knelt before the mirror, the Tome of Old Makai secrets open in front of him. He carefully lit a candle made from seaweed and beeswax, holding Lelay's amulet tightly in his hand. The flickering candlelight cast shadows across his face as he recited the incantation:

"Nā kola wela ka huna, zali lilo i kāna,

Hulu zaha dula, melo hā nala.

Tiranoke vetahi, lilo hā fala,

Vena zaha makora, duna vele nala."

The mirror began to glow, its white beam morphing into a soft blue. The air grew heavy with magical energy, and the hum of power filled the chamber. Cordey repeated the incantation, the mirror’s surface rippling as the hag's enchantments were stripped away and replaced by the true magic of the Old Makai.

With a final burst of light, the ritual concluded. Cordey looked up, confident the mirror was ready. "Now to the hag," he declared, hefting the heavy artifact.

The Grand Hall of the Hag



  📍 ​

 Following the imp’s grudging directions, the party made their way through winding tunnels, the mirror's weight slowing their progress. Smoke and flickering firelight signaled their approach to the hag’s domain. As they peered into the vast cavern, the scene unfolded:  📍

In the center, a chained fossergrim played a melancholic tune on a violin, his eyes locked adoringly on the sea hag.

  📍 The hag, seated on a throne of twisted seaweed, appeared as a mesmerizingly beautiful queen. Her ethereal facade concealed her true monstrous form.

Sahuagin guards stood vigilant, their weapons gleaming in the firelight.

Bones piled ominously near the throne, a grim reminder of the hag’s past victims.

  📍 Regan, stepping boldly into the cavern, addressed the fossergrim. "Do you take requests? How about 'The Day the Hag Died'? I love that one."

The fossergrim hesitated, his devotion faltering for a moment. "Stranger, you do not understand the beauty and majesty of my queen. She is the light in the darkness, the beacon of my existence," he replied, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

Turning to the hag, Regan grinned. "So, there’s a small problem. Seems like this place was a popular play area for some kids before some hideous old bag scared them off. I’m here to ask you to give it back to them." He spun his hammer, his grin widening. "Please say no."

The hag's eyes narrowed, her laughter echoing through the chamber. "You insolent wretch! Do you not think I was expecting you? My guards will tear you apart, and your bones will join the others after I’ve savored your flesh!"

The Battle Unfolds

At the hag’s command, the sahuagin surged forward. Regan stood his ground, casting blur to distort his form and confuse his attackers. Cordey charged with the mirror, his massive frame knocking aside guards like pins in a game. Despite his careful movements, the mirror cracked faintly upon impact, drawing a triumphant laugh from the hag.

  📍 Admiral, taking advantage of the chaos, darted across the cavern, his feline agility allowing him to reach the hag’s dais. As he struck with Reaver, the hag’s seaweed throne animated, shielding her from the blade’s impact.

Regan’s hammer swung with force, connecting with a sahuagin guard and sending it reeling. Meanwhile,   📍 Cordey, undeterred by the crack in the mirror, hoisted it high and shouted, "Let truth show!"

The Hag's Fury

Seeing the mirror so close, the hag’s laughter turned to a shriek of rage. Animated seaweed tendrils lashed out, attempting to entangle Admiral and Cordey. "Fools! You think a mere mirror can defeat me? I am the queen of these waters!" she bellowed.

Admiral stepped back, his eyes narrowing as he cast lightning lure. The spell surged forward, crackling as it attempted to pull the hag from her throne. The seaweed shield held firm, but the hag’s anger was palpable.

The fossergrim’s music faltered, his expression shifting as he watched the battle unfold. A flicker of doubt crossed his face, and his next note was sharp, dissonant.

"Good luck, boys," Regan quipped at nearby sahuagin, as he dodge their strikes in his blurred state. He then steadily moved closer to the hag. "Let’s see how she handles her own reflection."

The Hag's Wrath Unleashed

  📍 As Cordey rotated the enchanted mirror, the hag’s grotesque reflection came into view. Admiral’s lash of lightning tore through her protective seaweed barrier and yanked her from her throne, dragging her into the open, between Cordey and Admiral. The hag gasped in shock, her composure faltering.

The fossergrim, pulling on his chains, wailed, "What foul play do you intend for my beautiful queen!?" But his words trailed off as the hag’s disguise began to unravel. The sight of her true form left everyone shaken, her facade of beauty replaced by a hideous visage: her skin bubbled and blistered, her hair writhed as seaweed tendrils, and her jagged maw twisted with rage.

"You! You changed the mirror back! You did this to me!" she screamed, her voice a guttural wail. Her claws extended menacingly as she lashed out in fury.

The Battle in the Flooded Cavern

The hag raised her hands, screeching a mind-rending cry. The cavern began to flood as the lake surged in response to her commands. Seaweed tendrils animated further, lashing out at the adventurers. Cordey, holding the mirror, was struck by a tendril and pulled into its grasp. Admiral, despite deflecting another attack, yelped in pain as the deafening thunder of the hag’s power filled the chamber.

The adventurers struggled to hold their ground. Regan, battling his fear, lashed out with an eldritch blast, striking a sahuagin frozen in terror. Cordey, shrugging off the seaweed’s grasp, set the mirror down and charged the hag with his cutlass. Though his first strike missed, his second found its mark, drawing black ichor from the hag’s side.

Admiral, determined and fierce, broke free of the seaweed and lunged at the hag. His twin blades cut deep, Reaver’s necrotic magic causing her wounds to fester. With a final stroke, the Defender Shortsword landed a devastating blow, leaving the hag staggered and shrieking in agony.

The Hag’s Desperation

The hag reeled, black blood spilling from her wounds. "You will ALL pay for this!" she screeched, her voice resonating through the cavern. Lightning crackled above the flooding lake as she vanished in a thunderous boom, reappearing next to Cordey. Her claws lashed out, their ichor dripping with venom.

Cordey braced himself, his cutlass ready. "You won't win here, witch," he growled, stepping forward to engage her once more.

Admiral, recovering from the thunderclap, steadied himself and glanced at the hag's distorted reflection in the mirror. "The truth stings, doesn’t it?" he quipped, readying himself for another strike.

The hag placed both of her hands behind her waist, grabed somethings from within tangled seaweed hanging there,   📍 and then quickly flung two spiky sea urchins, one at Admiral, one at Cordey. The spiky creatures ark with electricity in the air as they fly. Both hit their mark. The shock overcomes Admiral and he falls unconcious.

A Rising Tide of Peril

  📍 The water in the cavern surged higher, threatening to drown all within. Regan, with Admiral’s unconscious body slung over his shoulder, fought to keep his balance. The hag, now flanked by Regan and Cordey, unleashed a bone-chilling scream. A burst of icy magic radiated outward, freezing the water around her into jagged, crystalline formations.

Cordey braced himself as the wave of cold washed over him. Though he avoided being frozen, the icy blast tore through his defenses, leaving him staggering. Regan, holding Admiral tightly, managed to avoid the worst of the freezing magic but found the encroaching ice restricting his movement.

Sahuagin guards, caught in the blast, were not as fortunate. One froze solid, its body encased in ice, while another managed to resist the spell, its movements frantic   📍 as it tried to recover.

The Hag’s Assault

The hag lashed out with her seaweed tendrils, their sharp edges slicing through the frigid air. She grabbed Cordey’s cutlass mid-strike, twisting it aside with monstrous strength. With her free hand, she retrieved a spiked sea urchin from her tangled seaweed hair and hurled it at Cordey. The spiny projectile missed, splashing into the icy water beside him.

Regan, his warhammer glowing faintly with booming energy, took advantage of the hag’s distraction. Swinging with all his might, he struck her side, the force of the impact resonating through the cavern. A sharp cry escaped her lips as necrotic energy pulsed through her wounds.

Cordey’s Gamble

Cordey, undeterred by his injuries, reached for Reaver, still gripped loosely in Admiral’s limp hand. As his fingers wrapped around the blade, a sudden surge of power flooded his mind. Visions of an obsidian fortress, a bound dragon, and a nightmarish demon realm assaulted his senses. The psychic onslaught left him gasping, but he managed to focus, gripping Reaver tightly.

With a roar, he swung Reaver at the hag. The blade, imbued with its own malevolent magic, sliced through her defenses, leaving a deep wound in her side. Black ichor spilled into the water, mingling with the rising tide.

The hag’s voice dripped with venom as she hissed, "You think a borrowed blade can defeat me? Foolish mortal!"

A Desperate Defense

Regan, still burdened by Admiral’s unconscious form, maneuvered to flank the hag, his movements slowed by the rising water. Swinging his warhammer again, he landed another solid blow, the booming energy resonating through her form. The hag screamed in rage, her icy barrier cracking under the assault.

Admiral, still unconscious, floated precariously as the water reached Regan’s shoulders. Despite his dire state, the bond with Reaver flared briefly, channeling a faint warmth through the blade in Cordey’s hands. This flicker of energy seemed to bolster Cordey, giving him the strength to press forward. And Admiral experienced a vision in his unconcscious state:

Admiral’s eyes snapped open, but instead of seeing the cavern, he found himself floating in an ethereal void. The void began to take shape, forming into a dark, desolate but fiery landscape—the Demon Realm. The sky was ablaze with sickly green and crimson hues, and the ground was littered with the remains of forgotten battles. In the distance, through an open portal, Admiral saw the Obsidian Fortress, a massive, foreboding structure of black.

The vision shifted, pulling Admiral inside the fortress. He found himself in a vast chamber, the depths of the fortress, where a great forge dominated the room. The air was thick with heat and the acrid scent of molten metal. Standing before the forge was Sekkor, the Deep Dragon. His scales were a deep, shimmering black, but his eyes burned with a fierce blue-red light—the same light that now pulsed in Reaver’s gem.

Sekkor commanded a servant, a blacksmith, as he, with meticulous precision, hammered at a piece of metal—a metal unlike any Admiral had seen before. Sekkor reveled at the sight and called the metal Abyssium, the magical ore gifted to him by the Dark Prince. The metal seemed to shift and change, its surface swirling like liquid darkness, reflecting the deceptive nature of demons.

The work continued tirelessly. Sekkor focused his essence on the gem, and the smith fused the gem to the blade, which channeled the dragon's life force through the gem that sat at the hilt of Reaver. With each strike of the hammer, the gem glowed brighter, absorbing Sekkor’s power, his very soul, until finally, the blade was complete—Reaver was born.

The scene shifted again, and Admiral saw a new figure—Ezber, the dragonborn, but a cultist, not a captain. Ezber stood at a similar portal to the first Admiral had seen in his vision. It opened to a shadowy corner of the Demon Realm. Ezber faced a demon general who wielded Reaver with a terrifying ferocity. The demon general, drunk on the power of the blade, led an assault on a group of cultists who seemed to be protecting a group of human slaves, brought to the Demon Realm portal. The general seemed to be taken by surprise by the revolt that appeared to be led by Ezber.

In a cunning and brutal battle, Ezber outwitted the demon general, seizing Reaver from his grasp. The blade seemed to willingly recognize Ezber’s strength and cunning and bound to him as its new wielder. At that moment in the vision, Admiral felt Reaver's sense of freedom from demon servitude and drive to free Sekkor. As Ezber gripped the hilt, he felt the essence of Sekkor pulsing through the gem. The pact was sealed—Ezber became a warlock, bound to Reaver and the sentient power within it.

Suddenly, the vision took a darker turn. The scene shifted to the deepest pits of the Demon Realm, where Sekkor, betrayed and bound by the Dark Prince, was imprisoned. The once-mighty dragon was now a shadow of his former self, shackled in chains forged from Abyssium, the very metal he once used to create Reaver. The Dark Prince loomed over him, a figure of unimaginable evil, relishing in Sekkor’s torment. The dragon’s roars of pain echoed through the infernal landscape, each cry reverberating through the gem in Reaver, through Ezber, and now, through Admiral. Admiral felt the pain, the despair, the longing for freedom that Sekkor endured.

The vision faded...

The Turning Tide

The hag, now severely wounded, unleashed another wave of cold energy, attempting to freeze her attackers in place. Cordey and Regan braced themselves, their determination unwavering. As the icy tendrils formed around them, both adventurers broke free with sheer force of will.

The sahuagin guards hesitated, their morale breaking as the hag’s power began to wane. One guard, still frozen in fear, fled toward the cavern exit, leaving its comrades to fend for themselves.

  📍 The Hag's Defeat and Its Aftermath

The climactic battle against the hag reached its breaking point as Cordey, now wielding Reaver, delivered a decisive blow. The blade pulsed with an ominous energy as it drew life force from the hag, transferring it directly to the unconscious Admiral. The hag shrieked, her power visibly drained, leaving behind only a withered shell. Reaver hummed with satisfaction, its sinister glow dimming momentarily as it completed its task.

Admiral awoke gasping, his vision blurred as fragments of a foreboding realm and the oppressive presence of Sekkor filled his mind. Regan held him steady, driven by survival and shared purpose. Meanwhile, the cavern began to change—the rising waters ceased, and the frost coating the surfaces melted away.

The Sahuagin's Retreat

The remaining sahuagin scattered, but not without resistance from the party. Regan’s eldritch blast struck down one fleeing creature, while another succumbed to the effects of the freezing water. Admiral, still regaining his strength, but also secretly uncomfortable dealing death to a foe that has no fighting chance, hesitated before sending a half-hearted blast after another sahuagin, feigning frustration as the energy missed. "Nice shot," he muttered to Regan, a flicker of genuine admiration in his voice.

The Fossergrim's Revival

Cordey turned his attention to the chained fossergrim, its form fragile and lifeless. Acting swiftly, he performed chest compressions and administered breaths, his determination unwavering. After a tense moment, the fossergrim gasped, coughing up water as life returned to him. Cordey helped him to his feet, noting the deep wounds left by the enchanted chains.

The fossergrim spoke haltingly, his voice hoarse but grateful. "The hag’s spell no longer binds me," he murmured. "But I am weakened. I must bathe in the falls to restore my strength."

Treasures and Decisions

Admiral searched the hag’s remains, uncovering a pouch of cursed items: a dark vial, a necklace of petrified fish bones, and a rusted key imbued with Abyssium. The imp, still trapped in its glass sphere, offered insights into the treasures. "That key can unlock much more than chains, if you’re not careful," it warned, before slyly adding, "But I can show you where the hag stashed her victims' treasures."

Admiral, intrigued by the imp’s knowledge, raised the sphere to eye level. "I promised to free you, and I will. But what will you do once you’re out?" The imp hesitated, calculating its response. "I’ll head to Glantri to find another magic wielder to...," it paused in thought before concluding somewhat sarcastically, "...um, serve. I mean, what else can an imp do in this cursed realm?" Admiral smirked, unconvinced but willing to honor his word.

Cordey, however, had other ideas. With a mischievous grin, he slammed the sphere onto the cavern floor. The glass shattered, releasing the imp in a puff of smoke and sparks. It stretched its wings, glaring at Cordey. "Was that really necessary?" it hissed.

A Moment of Rest

The fossergrim described to the the group the way toward a hidden garden where they could recuperate. "The water will restore me," he said, his voice regaining a measure of its former strength. "And you will find peace among the little ones’ sanctuary."

You are practiced in the art of crushing your enemies, granting you the following benefits:
○ Increase your Strength or Constitution by 1, to a maximum of 20.
○ Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, you can move it 5 feet to an unoccupied space, provided the target is no more than one size larger than you.
○ When you score a critical hit that deals bludgeoning damage to a creature, attack rolls against that creature are made with advantage until the start of your next turn.

When you are wielding a finesse weapon with which you are proficient and another creature hits you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to add your proficiency bonus to your AC for that attack, potentially causing the attack to miss you.