Chapter 3: The Darklake

As you nod your acquiescence to Plopp's plan, he and his group turns and heads back from whence they came, leading you along while continuing to make idle small talk. They leave the bodies of the other kuo-toa where they lie, without so much as a prayer.

After a few minutes, you come upon a towering wall that appears to be a massive net, heavy with knots and razor sharp bone hooks woven into the threads themselves. In the middle of the gate, you see a large gate erected into the net, allowing the city to be closed off from invaders. Four kuo-toa bearing carved driftwood staves stand outside the gate. As various kuo-toa approach the gate they look them over and allow them to pass through without interruption.

Ploop stops you about 100 feet out from the gate.

We must pass through the North wall to get into the city. The safest thing to do here would be to split up into smaller groups, and go through a few at a time. We won't be separated by more than 10 or 15 feet, and only long enough to get through the gates without raising overmuch suspicion. he says as he looks you all over. He looks to Cemos. You - you appear to be a devotee of a sort. It would be best if you would walk with me, as we can easily talk about religions. Everyone else should pair off as they see fit. And someone should carry that small myconid friend of yours. I don't think anyone would attack him, but he will slow us down as we move.

Once you are all through the gates, with very little attention from the guards thanks to your kuo-toa escort. Plopp leads you all to his smallish room near to the shrine of the Sea Mother.

A nine-foot-tall statue stands here. Its body is roughly carved from some kind of wood in the shape of a humaoid female, its head and forearms formed from the severed head and claws of a giant albino crayfish. These parts are lashed on with strands of gut, and emit an overpowering stench of rotting shellfish. Shells brightly colored stones, mushrooms, and rotting fish are piled at the statue's feet and strung in garlands around its neck. four stern kuo-toa slowly circle the statue, alert and on guard, while a few others mill about, gazing up at the statue and bowing repeatedly while chanting.

Yes, that is our rendition of her, at least. None have truly seen her, though most have felt her.

The room is small and relatively spartan. There is a simple cot and a plain sitting area with a few benches and a single chair. Plopp has a footlocker that sits open at the foot of his cot. In it, you see another robe and a wooden scepter.

We have only an hour or so until we can move. I have sent word to several of the faithful. If there is anything you would like to do to rest, you should do it now. I can send for food or beverage, or possibly anything else you feel would be helpful. We don't have much in the way of magical items, but we do have some poisons, a few potions, and simple weapons, though you all seem equipped enough.

I may have some in my trunk over here, let me check.

After a moment of searching, he pulls up a pair of sealed tubes with a label in scrawled Undercommon.

I've these alone. Plopp says, holding them out to Bildaweer.

As for potions, I have three of healing and one of Hill Giant's Strength.

Plopp clicks his tongue at Dustin. Lad, if you listened as well as you moved silently you would have already heard that we can get some poisons. I would agree we want things to move quickly. In fact, there is a poison that we brew here, especially, using things found frequently in the Darklake. If it is successfully applied, it can cause enemy spellcasters to fail in their summoning of divine or arcane arts. You have to be close enough to wound them, however. A very dangerous prospect.