June 4th, 2023
Vita, Comitatus 24th, 1194 (Continued)
Farther in we encounter more ettercaps, one of which is a nightmare ettercap. Nightmare ettercaps have regeneration and DR (need good or silver), and they have a fear aura and some spell-like abilities. In their den we find a couple of crystals that Ralzer recognizes as a naturally occurring magic item that can be created in areas of strong magic. The battle was rough, so we rest afterwards.
Mare, Comitatus 25th, 1194
We find one tunnel that leads to the Underdark and we turn back. We come to an ominous hole, about 20 ft. in diameter, and we can hear some skittering coming from it. A giant whip-tail centipede emerges from the hole and it’s venom renders Graynor paralyzed. Sigmund attempts to use our scroll of restoration to heal Graynor, but fails spectacularly, destroying the scroll in the process. We’ll have to rest for a few days while Graynor recovers.
Forte, Comitatus 27th, 1194
After several days of Ty playing nurse, Graynor is better. We continue to explore the Cave of Unreasonable Ice and run into a trio of drow. Their wizard manages to escape via invisibility, but we dispatch the others handily. The drow had a cart, but it was empty so we can’t tell what they were doing here. In that same room Ralzer finds a fossilized white dragon egg.
Later, we find a room that has a bit of that same feeling as the purple haze. There are three piles of bones and one pile of bone and armor in the room, each with a faint evil aura. Each of the armor-less piles radiate a faint magical aura as well. When we approach, the four piles animate into skeletons that have a strange blue light and employ abilities atypical of skeletons. Once they’re defeated, we feel a strange energy enter us.
We find a long, winding passage that slightly slopes down and ends in a very large room. We feel a slight tingle of energy around us and Luna does not like this area. There are multiple statues of a slender hooded figure, with sapphires adorning the hood, which is likely Uunas. The highest priests of the Order of Agony wear gem-studded hoods. There are also gargoyle statues, which are Uunas’s favorite creature. Near the back of this very large, statued room, we find what we believe to be the calendar. The calendar has a large symbol of Nissa in the center and we use the sending stone to tell Nadal about it. He replies to stand by and later Victoria responds with more questions about it. She expresses concern that we didn’t respond to Nadal’s sending, but Ty received no such message. Nadal then sends to us that the calendar is an ancient relic of Nissa’s that was thought to have been lost. They are sending assistance that will arrive in two days.
Sigmund tries to read the calendar using Tolm’s notes and finds the parts about the Slence in Heaven. Sigmund thinks it also mentions that Angelique still has no contact, which is strange since Angelique followers can still cast spells; could Zandru be impersonating Angelique for all this time? The part about massive vegetation growth and diminished (arcane) magic is found, but he also finds reference to the calling of an outer god, which is not in Tolm’s notes. Future eras are much harder to figure out, since we have no frame of reference. While trying to find information on the ancient heroes, Sigmund believes he found references of us instead, specifically Graynor is easy to pick out.
Bellum, Comitatus 28th, 1194
Tharivol and his group will arrive today, he is accompanied by four Guardians of Destiny, a rank just below him. Ty and Ralzer will meet them at the entrance.
The lingering aura in the statued room should have dissipated after about a week. Tharivol tells us that the area was once protected by a mythic version of the guards and wards spell and unhallow, which were both made permanent. Tolm’s journal only mentions that he found the calendar while exploring, why was he all the way out here at all? Could Tolm be from this area?
In regards to Angelique still being silent, Tharivol says there are some people that already believe this; Mikail is one such person. Most do not actively talk about their beliefs, so little is known as to why they think Angelique is still silent. Nearly all of the gods have at least some people who believe that they, too, are silent, but Angelique is the most popular choice. Interestingly, only Avarra and El are never mentioned as being “silent”. Tharivol has some concerns about Zandru being involved–the amount of time is too long to be a joke or trick. However, it could be a very large payoff that keeps him doing this.
Tharivol inspects Graynor and believes he, and the rest of us, have this mythic spark. The event with Graynor and the Mindstone dagger is found on the calendar.
Tharivol is concerned that Nadal’s sending did not arrive and Ralzer mentions the spellgorging areas we encountered on the way here as well.