Week 17 – Into the Depths

Following the explosion, the group pulls their remaining party members on board, and pulls the one remaining Halfling from the sea. They attempt to question him with regards to why The Crusher was there, but he yields no answers, despite Gabriel’s promise that he’d be kept from harm if he answered. Some of the party members however grow tired of his tight mouth, and decide that if he’s not going to answer, then he hasn’t earned said protection. Lynus flings a spell at the Halfling, which Gabriel intercepts. Del’anoth, realizing that the Halfling is useless to them in life, plants an arrow in it’s throat while Gabriel is staring Lynus down. There is tension between the two, but Del’anoth shrugs it off and reminds Gabriel that neither of them have any love for Pirates, or any other breed of Bandits… and he considers what he did a favor to the War-Forged.

Quick questioning through a Ritual reveals the answers that the Halfling wouldn’t share in life. The Pirates were looking for the same Temple the Party was looking for, and even seems to have been in the right general direction.

The Zephyr continues onward, and the party is joined by Aphis, via the Teleportation Circle. At this point, some secrets are revealed as to Lynus’ interactions with Urik Harken, and what Brohm actually saw at the Waterfall.

With the help of Aphis, they are able to pinpoint the location of the Temple, and use Gabriel to find the actual entrance underwater. Through a Ritual of Underwater Breathing, the entire party descends into the depths and enters the Temple proper.

They are greeted by the smell, and inexorable aura, of Death. Most of them are afraid, but Del’anoth, with his allegiance to the Raven Queen, is not hesitant at making the first steps down the corridor. They quickly find themselves at a large Stair-like structure, which after investigation, reveals itself to be a giant machine of Dwarven make, which they re-activate. They then use this to descend into the depths.

As they travel, they pass a small statue with what looks like markings of Lloth. They pay it no heed initially, and continue forward, coming to two large bridges spanning over some sort of intensely corrosive liquid, in a room with a giant eye painted on the ceiling. They are rightfully cautious and find that the bridge will not support them… finding no other way across, they return to the statue, and this time notice a small plaque with an inscription on it that gives them a clue. With this new knowledge, they are able to solve the puzzle and pass the bridges, leading them directly into an ambush.