January 18th, 2025
Vita, Custodia 5th, 1194 (Continued)
We still haven’t found an area where the gilarabrywn could have been staying or created; Tolm’s manor didn’t show clear evidence of that, and Kyzvyn never saw anything like that in his area. So, we head towards the fungal forest.
Graynor and Luna feel that strange mind effect linger upon entering and, we all hear faint whispers. As we walk, we have a sensation of being watched. The whispers say specific things to each of us, trying to sow discord and fear. Whatever it is, it seems to know personal information about us that we’ve never shared.
Graynor gets tired quickly afterwards and Ralzer uses secure shelter to set up camp.
Mare, Custodia 6th, 1194
We each experience a unique, unsettling dream. An emaciated humanoid comes up to the window and warns us to “give tribute to the Whispering Dark”; that is an alias of Xhal’ith.
Ralzer’s contact from the Umbral Bazzar tells him via sending that he has information on the gilarabrywn and can only tell him in person.
We follow the tracks of this undead creature, and it leads to a dais with runes and pulsating fungus. It looks like some digging has been done in this area as well. On top of this structure is a rolling mass of black fungus; Sigmund thinks it could be an extraplanar plant.
As we approach, the whispers get louder and more clear, with each of us hearing something unique.
Ralzer hears, “A king’s true heir holds fiendish lineage, born from a demon’s bargain two generations past. The royal line teeters on corruption, bound by an ancient promise never fulfilled.”
Ishtar hears, “Deep beneath the labyrinth of shadows, a sealed chamber houses a library of tomes transcribed by chained scribes. Within lies knowledge so potent it unravels the minds of those who read it.”
Graynor hears, “A reverend saint from ages past never truly died; entombed alive by zealots who feared his revelations, he still breathes in a dark crypt, guarded by illusions.”
Sigmund hears, “Each moon, an entire city vanishes from memory, its inhabitants sinking into the shadows. All maps shift to obscure its location; only one who bears the mark of Xhal’ith can rediscover it.” He also hears, “An ancient workshop built by lost artisans molds memories like clay. All who emerge from it recall entirely new origins—and soon become pawns of the shrine’s designs.”
Ty hears, “A prophecy throughout the land was recorded in reverse. Its true meaning forecasts calamity for the very heroes meant to save the realm.” She also hears, “One of the pantheon is a hollow shell, its divinity siphoned by Xhal’ith’s cult. The deity continues to grant minor boons, but only as a tool to lure followers deeper into shadow.”
During the battle with this fungal creature, three much tougher shadows appear, and then a mnemodemon shows up. Mnemodemons collect and steal memories. It tries to tempt us with knowledge of the gilarabrywn. When it dies, shadows pull it under.
After the battle, we still hear the whispers.