Walking through town, we hear whispers of a sinkhole. While we don’t really have Knowledge (Geology), it is interesting.
While people seem to be wary around us, I do seem some friendly faces. At least, they seem more friendly to me. One of them, an acolyte, finds us – he says that Father Zantus wants to see us. When we make our way to him, he’s waiting with the Mayor and the Sheriff. They’re happy to see us, if rest of town isn’t.
Apparently, there was a tremor and this sinkhole appeared recently, and it roughly lines up with the recent adventuring of my associates, and specifically their dispensing of Mokmurrian. It’s sizable, too: roughly 30ft wide and 15ft deep.
While it is an interesting development, we recall some events of old and decide to go check out the Old Light. But, it seems that there’s nothing to be found, so we proceed to the sinkhole.
Mister and Kali go in, while the rest of us want to rest first. So, while they do some preliminary recon, the rest of us head to the Rusty Dragon. I was hoping to see Ameiko again, but there’s a different bartender on duty instead. She says that Ameiko is looking into issues at the glassworks – the glass they’re producing is apparently problematic. I’d wager that it has something to do with Ting! throwing that accursed statue into the forge.
And perhaps a bit surprisingly, it’s a quiet night at the Dragon. We have some drinks and chat with some locals and re-establish our credibility. They apparently didn’t know that the group had avenged the town and slain both the dragon and the stone giant that had wreaked havoc upon this town. We all get our own rooms, and I decide to call it a night – although I really only need two hours of rest now.
In the middle of night though, I hear the baying of hounds in the distance. And then, screaming. Not screams of revelry. Not screams of fear (although there are notes of it), but screams of torment, of pain.
This can really only be coming from one place. The sinkhole.
We run over to it, and Firfus and I talk to Kali about what he saw. From where the sinkhole is, it sounds very likely that it is the same place as that underground chamber where we fought the meffit. In fact, we’re sure that it is that same spot.
So, we go in. And sure enough, it is indeed both the old dungeon with the meffit, and the source of the screams and the barking.
This time though, we find a stairway that was formerly filled with rubble. The stairway though is now cobwebbed, and the baying is emanating from wherever it leads. We make it down staircase, and it looks like dead end. Firfus though, finds a hidden door.
Beyond the door, we find Thassilonian writings covering doors and ceilings. One set of doors is carved with a three eyed jackals head – Lamashtu’s symbol.
On the other side of the door, we hear a voice say in common, “What happened to Thassilon?” Having spent much time in Magnimar studying the events of old, I answer. The voice then asks what nation has control now, and I reply with “Varisia”. The disembodied voice then asks who’s in control now, and another partymember answers that the Mayor is. I think it was looking for a larger leader, but that works well enough for me.
It also asks of Karzoug and Alaznist. I know of both, and tell of a great war. With that, the voice seems to have disappeared.
This room though, seems most unholy. It appears to be a sort of cathedral to Lamashtu. We go down the hallway before cathedral, finding series of rooms.
I am able to read some interesting writings on the walls though:
“On eastern shores of steamy mir,
at end of dawn when dusk is near,
where seven faces silent wait,
encircled guards at Runeforge gate”
And elsewhere:
“If magic bright is your desire,
to old Runeforge must you retire!
For only there does wizards’ art
receive its due and proper start.”
As we walk into cathedral, this purple and red miasma starts swirling, and a HUGE creature is revealed. Looks like a good time to make Kali’s weapons “keen”.
