Chapter 2: Into Darkness

The fishman in white robes looks about as Dustin's mystical hand flutters his robes. His face turns and stares Dustin directly in the eyes, recognizing the arcane machinations necessary to generate the mage hand. His scepter whips around, pointing it at the rogue, words dripping from his mouth.

Dustin, a Wisdom save, please. :)

As you feel a wave of arcane energy wash over your body, you realize that the fish is setting magics to your joints, trying to prevent you from moving. You shake it off, thanks to much of your training in the arcane with Bildaweer. He clucks his tongue as he realizes it doesn't take effect. He turns and clobbers another fish with his scepter, rendering it back to the earth from whence it came.

The only one remaining up now is one of the 'leader' Kuo-toa Monitors.

Bildaweer's missiles slam into the monitor's back. He turns and snarls at the deep gnome. As he does so, three of the other kuo-toa move in behind him and slam their spears into his back. As the middle one goes to stab him, one of the other monitors walks forward, slapping the other fish out of the way. He takes the spear and jams upward. Those of you now looking at the captor's bass-like mouth gaping open in surprise see the end of a spear shoot outward through his mouth, a chunk of spine impaled on it. His eyes go dull as he drops forward heavily, with the life spilling out of him.

The fish in white robes looks around at the mass of dead kuo-toa and shakes his head. He raises his scepter and points at Dustin, Derendil, Bildaweer, Francis, Jimjar, and Sarith. Golden streams of light flow out from the head of his scepter and wrap around you all. Warmth floods your bodies as you feel vitality come back into your limbs (you all regain 17 HP). Then, he touches his own head, speaking another incantation.

You all understand his next block of speech, though you can't state exactly why.

I am Ploopploopeen, archpriest of the Sea Mother Blibdoolvpoolp. She answers my prayers by delivering you. Help us, and you will be rewarded for your service.

My people, the inhabitants of Sloobludop, have lived in harmony with the will of the Sea Mother for ages. We had the occasional visionary he says, casting a glance toward Shuushar that would stir up trouble, but nothing serious at all. A few weeks ago, however, my own daughter Bloppblippodd had a powerful vision of this Deep Father. This "Leemooggoogoon". She's proclaimed him the new god of her people and several of the kuo-toa follow her. Her magical power has certainly increased, but it cannot be good. We are split in two, the kuo-toa of Sloobludop. We fight among ourselves, primarily over how we worship. Followers of the Sea Mother, as Shuushar there can attest to, are relatively peaceful in our worship. Prayer and innocent offerings of fish bones after we enjoy their flesh as a meal. These Deep Father worshipers, they are different. Darker. They demand blood sacrifices, then cast the bloody chum into the waters of the Darklake! It's consumed by - by something. We don't know what.

Shuushar nods slightly. It is true what he says, about Sea Mother worshipers at least. Even the normal ablutions, offering the bones, was too much for me. It is why I left. If Blopp is truly sacrificing humanoids, then something is well and truly broken in the Darklake and needs to be stopped. the pacifist says calmly.

Plopp nods at Shuushar's words. As for my plan, you would all be very helpful - instrumental actually - in helping. My thought is to use you all as bait. While Bliddelploopal he says, as he toes the fish with a spear through his mouth wanted to use you as actual humanoid sacrifices, I would use you as infiltrators rather than helpless pawns. I would "offer" you as a token of peace and reconciliation to Blopp. We would not bind you, nor take your weapons. The Deep Father believers fully believe that their superior numbers and their divine might in Sloobludop is so great that nothing can harm them there. I only need you to disrupt their rituals enough that my true believes can come remove the head of this cult. You will be well rewarded for your aid. We are only about 15 minutes from the city now, so we will need a decision quickly.

She renounced all claim of my vengeance when she began sacrificing our people to her foul god. If you come across her, you have not only my blessing, but my desire that you put her down. The Sea Mother will set her soul in place. Once someone goes that rotten, there is no restoring them. Plopp says, a trace of sorrow in his voice.