The river deep

Serig decides to stay behind with 3 of the crew while the rest of you go with the priestess. She guides everyone, save 2 guards left behind to watch the boat and crew, to the far side of the cave where a damp path leads behind the waterfall before descending further. Glidbem notices that as they walk her amulet is glowing increasingly brighter. The way is cool and mist continually wafts down the passage from the waterfall causing your torches to flicker and gutter. After several minutes the passage opens into a large cave.



Before you is a large town or small village set into stone and water. The cave is dimly illuminated by a variety of glowing crystals, plants and magic. Though the water is dark and the surface in constant motion from the may streams, boats, and waterfalls, you dimly perceive lights below the surface as well leading to the assumption that the city extends beyond what you can reach or see. The priestess guides you into the town and its many citizens openly gape at you. Children squeal and are shushed and pulled back by fearful parent. The priestesses escort falls back to flank your party as you begin winding through the twisting paths. Soon you find yourself descending into a dark passage that splits between a watery way and a dry way.

The guards will escort you while I go talk to the my superior and the council and she slips into the watery darkness.

The guards take you along the dry tunnel and you find yourself in a comfortable waiting room with a low pool occupying half of it and low padded benches on the other. After several minutes of waiting a splash from the pool alerts you to company and you turn to see several large and noble triton men and one extremely old triton female

The newcomers stand in the shallow pool and give you all short formal bows. They then seat themselves and of the the elders mumbles something and you feal a wave of magic before he speaks and you understand.

We learn from the priestess that you are from the above surface and were pulled below by our magics. We do apologize. We meant not to call others as we had not knowledge there are people still above. We can take you back but the boat may be a problem.

He goes on to tell that the people of this city once lived in Paphos and when the Shattering broke the lands their ancestors tried to flee on the river but were swept up by the current and storms and awoke here below the surface changed into what they are now. Every time they went to the surface they found only danger and monsters and so gave up trying years ago. Unfortunately things have started changing recently and many monsters from the deep caves have started entering the Triton caverns where they would normally avoid them. In addition new and fierce creatures they never encountered before have also been seen and driven off but with a great cost. The High Priestess sought guidance from her goddess and was shown how to activate an ancient magic, form the Dawn Age, which allowed them to control the water currents and flood more of the caverns to drive the beast off. However the longer the item remains active the more unstable their control of it becomes. Your recent trip below the surface was caused by them trying to have the currents bring additional food and other resources to town as most men were still forced to fight off beasts, weakening their own ability to find and secure foods.

After telling their story they ask you where you are from and if there are other people nearby that they might be able to buy food, weapons, and other supplies from.

Who sends you to sell the list relic asks the priests and your catch a hint of suspicion as she looks you over.

The elder waves this of and send excited There are towns nearby? Are they large? How far are they?
He seems very interested in learning all you will tell about the situation on the surface and about selling string allies to help protect the Triton village. He continues to ask more questions but the high priestess just watches you carefully.

Dree picks up a hint of fear and greed, which does not surprise her as they seem like politicians, from the elders. The high priestess is more distrustful and concerned

The watery current grow fiercer as you all struggle to hold on to the tunnels walls and the rope tether. Unfortunately the current pulls down debris which bounce around the passage slamming into everyone, knocking you all free of the walls and breaking the rope. Glidbem, Dree and Ishtara manage to cling to each other as you are swept away and the priestess glows dully. You notice that the glow forms into a bubble around the three of you, protecting you from most of the damage. Roll a Save tes (2d6). Pass to minimize damage to 1 point. Fail and take 2 damage.

After a minute of this your bubble bobbs up and pops to reveal another cavern, with one addition to your group floating nearby.