Efferendil

Leaving Fontainver (Again)

We were ushered into a small room within a monastery, and met with a man dressed only in a plain brown robe. Tak fell to his knees in front of him, so I took a knee as well, but Silanna stood and watched. People were bringing in food and water around us, but the man was focused on Tak, sitting with him and asking which path he had followed. Tak spoke of our journey, which took some time, and Tak's master seemed particularly interested in the monk that looked after the tomb of Hintzu in the mountains, that Tak trained under. He also noted that we would free the water from the dam on the Cloof, and issued some instructions to ensure people were safe when the waters reached Fontainver, leaving us to eat as he did so. The real surprise, though, was that it appeared Tak had made many journeys on his quest, but had always come back to Fontainver. This time was different because I had gone with him, and he had got further than before. The master explained that when Brightbane didn't flow, neither did time, so the flow of time across the world was sporadic, unpredictable, and could even go backwards if the Brightbane flowed in the wrong direction.

We spent some time training and resting before restarting our journey. The waters of the Cloof did indeed return, so we were both resting at Fontainver and destroying the dam at the same time. The farmers were happy, at least, because they were able to expand a little and use the soil closer to the fortress. We also learned that Tak and Silanna had lost some of their memories from when they were younger, possibly because they had traveled through time many times. It sounded like we should avoid doing so too much if we wanted to keep our sense of identity!

Once we believed we were ready, we set off at first light towards the Efferendil (again). It was a couple of days before we reached the forest, and on the second day Silanna saw smoke from the trees up ahead. As soon as she saw the forest was in danger, she urged us to hurry, and I let her carry me for the sake of getting there faster. We could definitely see humanoids moving within the trees as we got closer, seemingly moving away from us... scouts keeping an eye on us, perhaps? We ran straight into the treeline, but it wasn't long before we encountered a Drow ambush. Tak was hit by an arrow, as figures emerged from behind trees ahead and to one side. Silanna was stabbed, so she dropped me and drew swords to fight, cutting a gash into one of them. Tak joined the melee, striking one, and I finished them off but was stabbed from behind. I turned and slashed my attacker, as Silanna's cloak to deflect an arrow. Tak sprinted off to engage the archer, ending up in melee with two foes. Silanna was stabbed again, and I finished off my attacker so that I could move to help her. She didn't need it, though, as she cut down the foe despite bleeding from multiple wounds. Tak knocked one foe out with a punch, abandoning his weapons temporarily. We were unopposed now, so I launched flechettes into the last foe, which struck true, and then Silanna was able to reach Tak's side and strike down the last Drow.

Tak was concerned about the state of their weapons, which did smell a bit funny, so he applied a healing ointment to all of us to draw out any poison. We conducted a quick search, but there was not much of interest on the bodies, so we hurried on towards the fire. It was about thirty minutes at best pace before we reached an area that was charred and still smoldering, with flames visible in the trees ahead of us. It absolutely stank of smoke all around, and it was obviously a large fire. I was more worried about the spiders up ahead, though! They were huge, and looked very hot - their spines glowing in the smoke... did they start the fire? I prepared for combat by cooling my weapon until it was ice cold.

They rush and try to bite us, but Tak parried and we managed to dodge. They're very hot! Fight is protracted, but Silanna eventually killed one. Tak struck one and I skewered one with my chilled weapon, killing one. Thankfully - they're horrible! Silanna was bitten and caught fire!

Silanna managed to riposte and kill it, though, even as bits fell from her equipment. Tak finally found a weak spot and killed his attacker. The bodies were combusting as they fell. Head south to skirt around the fire, reaching the edge of the glade towards the evening.

Quite a dense forest, but Silanna was relieved to see that there didn't seem to be fire in its location. Keep going as it gets dark and reach the edge of the glade. Orcs are there! Seem to have just arrived, following the water.

One shouts something rude and they start running to attack. Silanna carries me forward then looses arrows, killing one of them. I engage the front line as Silanna kills another one. I get surrounded and take some heavy blows, but then all five of my attackers fall asleep! Silanna had used dweomer, but it would only last five minutes or so.

Others run. Disarm the five asleep and get Silanna to shout at them until they leave once they wake up. Tak communes with the water and I take a moment to touch stone and think of my ancestors. Silanna explores tree, but nothing different than the last time she was here alone.

Ask Tak for help with my wounds, which he gladly does, although he splashed some water on my head as he did so. Start to drag bodies and weapons out of the glade, wishing to make it clean for Silanna. Then rest - Silanna inside and me nearby outside, with Tak watching. Night passes fairly uneventfully, but does see some forest animals come to drink. Speaks to them, talking of the return of water - and excited to drink. Fires have gone out.

Orcs have camps on the south bank and ships - come from upriver? Deer run, warning of things approaching. Clear the weapons remaining that we couldn't see in the dark and sweep the rest of the glade for impurities. Birds fly in and around, also warning of approaching intruders, so ready ourselves for a fight.

A horde approaches! Flying demon, ten foot tall ugly things approach Tak as orcs approach my side. Both shout warnings and I loose a bolt, striking the one at the front, and Silanna looses an arrow that thuds into the same one, knocking him down dead. Then puts another one down straight afterwards. Tak joined in and killed three!

Tak dived into the water, swam rapidly across, and emerged quickly to move near me, still aiming at the approaching orcs. They turned and ran! Silanna hit by magic missiles from demon, and seems winded. Tak raised his hand and shouted "Power" in Gnomish and there was a bright flash and the demon was gone!

Tak and I loose arrows at the large creatures, but don't manage to hit. Silanna bizarrely moves towards them, and Tak shouts at her to get behind the water. I fire flechettes into one, and Tak targets it with arrows, finally putting it down. Lots more, though!

One of them started to tip rocks into the stream - trying to dam it. Silanna and I hit a couple more, and one fell. Silanna being charged by one, but puts an arrow into him. Tak hits another. Some have managed to bridge the water. I sent one to sleep, but Tak nearly hit me with an arrow! He hit one soon afterwards, though.

They're now bridging the stream and closing, although I managed to put one more bolt into one of them. Silanna killed one near the tree, but we were being rushed by the rest. Tak legs it and jumps into the pool! I strike the one that closed with me, whilst dodging his spear, but now was facing them all alone!

Tak springs back out of water, and rushes my opponent from the side - looks angrier! Silanna chants something and multiple images of herself appear. I manage to kill one. Now completely surrounded, but manage to fire a cloud of shredded oak leaf to cause them irritation.

Tak hits one, but hit by two in return. Silanna kills two orcs (they had got brave since the big guys joined the fight). I manage to finish one off. It was a mad melee and there were Silannas everywhere, but I killed a big one and so did Tak and the rest started to flee. Tak was enraged about the desecration and draining of life from the glade, but we managed to talk him down.

Clear one of the dams but then notice a rider coming at pace. Male elf looking above until he notices us. Asks Silanna about the demon, but when he learns it's gone he relaxes a little and sheathes swords. Farion - knows Gnomish as well as Elven, and recognised the Ironcloaks. Tak kneels knowing something of his history - stuff of myth and legend.

Helps us to remove the dam. It is important to restore and protect the tree. The pool itself is a gate, but there is a blockage somewhere. More elves join as we are working to clear the glade until there are about twenty here. They also agree to send a messenger to Fontainver to warn them of the ships on the Cloof.

Interested in Tak's bow, but decide it's not for them (couldn't use on a horse), but offer to replace Silanna's because it's a bit basic. They are seeking to reopen the natural gates. Bathomet fights for half folk, not good or ill but fights for them. Lich King Mercantire Carass rules over LockLastar.

Rest before we explore underwater. Tak explores first, seeing lots of holes and bubbles but not an obvious way through. We all get in the water, after I drink potion of free action, and then I create a bubble to put on my head so that I can breathe.

Gather around a rock and lift it free, then descend further and find a hole with bubbles that starts violent but then sucks downwards and starts to whirl around. Enter the hole and start to spin but eventually get spat out the other side into darkness. Now gently rotating, but pressure significant.

Debate find the path use and everyone reticent so I just quaff it eventually and do get a sense of a direction to go in. Carried by Tak onwards, but about an hour later Silanna had to quaff some more water breathing potion. There is a rocky floor below. After the hour Tak notices walls to the sides, but notices a current acting against us so moves up a bit to avoid it. Thirty minutes or so later, Tak notices difference in colour of rocks and it seems to make an opening up ahead. Strong current so try to rope up - some faff as drift apart in the current but eventually get together and connected to continue.

Tak swims through "entrance" and find more Sahauagin on the other side. I launch flechettes at middle one but they start to close - many more than I thought! About a dozen. Magic missiles fly into me from below. Silanna quaffs a potion, granting free action, but that somehow cancels the water breathing so she has to hold her breath.

Tak engages one and kills it. I was sent asleep. Tak killed another. Silanna drinks another potion, but has no effect. Tak notices I was drifting off and gave me a good tug to wake up. Silanna tried another potion and thankfully that worked so she was able to breath again.

Tak distracted by coloured lights. I grab weapon and stab at one in front of me, landing a hit. I'm taking a lot of damage, though, and Silanna was swimming down whilst fighting. Tak paralysed one and killed another. Silanna gets electrified. I desperately try to heal myself, as does Tak, but then he is blinded. Really suffering, and just can't get any advantage. Finally manage to land a strike, but it wasn't enough. Silanna did kill one, though, running it through with her long sword. Tak landed some blind shots and killed one. I got one with my next attack, giving me some breathing space.

Tak came to me and asked for a target - blind - pointed him down and he slashed in that direction, killing one! I land a blow at my level, and Silanna started to hurt the magic user. She is hurt, though, and so is Tak. He lands a wild swing on the one below me. Silanna finally killed the shaman. I kill the last one on my level. They start to flee, althogh Silanna killed one as it turned.

Have to "ride" Tak to direct him as blind. Eventually reach a stone door. Similar serpent symbology and bridge to the dead above, plus the eye symbol. Six sconces have glowing blue/green gems. Silanna goes ahead with no reaction, but then reacts as I approach. Massive shockwave pushes us both back painfully, straight into Tak. End up with head in between Tak's legs, deafened. He grabbed me but Silanna hit into us both and grabbed me.

Tak and Silanna manage to stablise the tumble, so we are no longer moving. Finally gets his hand on my throat and then realises it's me and relaxes a bit. Reorientates me and can communicate. Deaf so a bit of a faff, but understand that Tak suggests approaching from above and using ring on symbol. Thankfully able to heal me, as I was in a lot of pain.

Slowly get hearing back as we approach, and orientate ourselves at the top above the symbol. As Tak's hand passes triangle it projects forward, as ring passes the centre of the eye there is a bright blue light from the centre of the eye and light from the door below. Silanna drained - opened the wrong door! Have to close it and open the other, then enter from the side and Silanna above us as we go.

Tak senses that water more aereated, and current subsides as we enter. Faint light up ahead, but Silanna thought she saw something, so get magic torch out to get some light. There is a floor so go down to it and jog forward, leading Tak with Silanna just behind. At far end there is a door with a gnarly old serpent/fish guy guarding it, huge - nine feet just above coils. Hackles up (red), patterned green and brown skin that look beautiful.

Try to warn Tak of thing ahead, Silanna draws swords. It circles around on Silanna's side but disappears into the darkness. Pause and Tak speaks a strange tongue into the water. After a few minutes walk forward cautiously until the door ahead is illuminated.

Single door version of the right hand side of the door before, still with six points of light, serpents either side and above but none on the door and no bridge above. In the middle of the door is the eye symbol. Approach carefully, with Tak front and centre and try touching circle, but nothing happens.

Snake thing appears and screams in my face, making me jump backwards, but otherwise doesn't attack. Silanna goes for sword again, and moves around slightly to be closer to me. Tak moves hand to right lower triangle and gems on that side glow brighter. I get his attention and tell him, and he punches the door in anger, causing a dent and the whole door moves backwards, and all gems stop glowing. Current now carries it slowly backwards. Serpent sticks its head in front of me, stopping me from moving towards the opening.

Silanna shoved Tak through the door and tried to grab me, but didn't get a purchase. Still blocked by creature. Suddenly unable to move. Forced to drink potion to travel to border ethereal, which at least lets me walk through walls. Does mean I cannot communicate, but I can see what's happening back with the others.

I walk through the wall , seeing the heat of the others on the other plane. Serpent confused and starts searching frantically for me, and Silanna was eventually able to swim through a gap into the next room. Makes contact with Tak and starts leading him forward. I follow, although unable to join them physically.

Continue for thirty minutes or so before Silanna notices there might be a surface up ahead. Swims up and surfaces so is able to talk to Tak again. Explains what I had done, and Tak was cautious about leaving too quickly without me. Decide to wait underwater to see if I appeared, but rope up in case something happens.

Continue swimming, as the rock is rising towards the surface. See heat signatures up ahead... lizardmen?