Colm Teague, the stolid adjunct of ice-blue eyes arrives, delivering a message to Ailith before departing.

Metzger, a great grey shrike arrives, delivering a message to Martino before departing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Eirene before departing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Eirene before departing.


The trip across from Southport to the small town's dock on Caer Morien was a simple affair with an easy breeze bringing the boat in just a swift few hours. No whirlpools this side. Upon arrival, there was little interest in the group from the citizens of the town except by a local sherpa who stepped forward to the group with a simple nod. The silence was the words from the sherpa who led the group out of the town and soon to the cliff edge. A thin path was carved out of the white cliffs, allowing the group to carefully zig-zag down like the people of Caer Morien had done so for years. Down upon the beachside the sherpa grunted, nodded to Clara and continued on without another word.

With nightfall starting to fall upon the group, the sherpa walks quicker along the beach to follow it around. Arriving at the mouth of a cave he nods to the group before sharing the first words of his:

"I am not going any further. It is through there. They live there. Cultists. Monster guards it. No closer."

His left hand lifting up and points within the darkness of the cave as he adds,

"You won't miss entrance. It was more, now collapsed. Now you must crawl. Lanterns. Useful."

His grey eyes settle upon each of the group, watching them before showing his palm to them all.

"Pay."

Zoey slips some silver into the sherpa's hand and looks to the group. "Who here moves the most quietly and has the keenest eye?" she asks. "That is who should go first."

Eirene was asked by the Count to be his eyes and ears on the journey, and she speaks with both his authority and that of Southport's when she does bark orders. But she doesn't. She lets the sailors do their jobs well and stays out of their way. The Malvici wears the red and black of her house but sports a new set of shadowmeld trousers along with her ever-present steelsilk bodice. During the trip, she explains what she knows to Ailith about the cult and how they worship the dark-reflection of the seas, getting the holy woman filled in. "Thanks for the warning, huh. Crawling... I'll go. Unless someone's better at rock delving than me."

Eirene adds, "I'm shit at stealthiness though."

"That would not be myself." Clara admits. "I move as quietly as a mountain would." She looks to Eirene though for order, given she is leading the group and these are Malvici lands. Today she is wearing her leather armor, good quality but simple enough, and as always she's got her diamondplate axe with her. "Hard ta be stealthy movin' through rocks." The Shaman looks about to see if anyone else steps forward as a stealthy type.

Drake has silver. He can offer it, but Zoey beats him to it. "...Crawling. Well, I've done that before. But nothing about a monster." Yet, this doesn't seem to dissuade him. If anything, he seems way more interested at the possibility of a monster. But he looks around at the others with him. "Usually, it's nothing." He looks at Eirene. "I'm a good climber, and a bit stealthy, if you think it'll be important. But we'll all have to go in eventually."

Jules does not speak up during this conversation, content to allow the nobles the opportunity to discuss the course of action. He's relatively cheerful during the waiting, smiling and waving to the sherpa.

"Hm. I had not heard of them in this region, but I am not surprised by their corruption of our seas. It echoes the very hunger of their Master. The eternal battle continues and it shall ease will less of his ilk empowering him to overtake our Goddess." Ailith calmly nods to Eirene while the Legate fixes her lantern upon her belt. "I do wonder what Ayllish would say -- hmm." Her thumb brushes over the moon pendant at her throat, then she pulls on a strap to ensure a fit for her steel wristguards. "If I remove pieces of my armor, I'm likely to make less sound in aeterna," she offers.


Nodding once more, the sherpa points to the river with the fist-full of Zoey's silver as he says:

"Follow river. River take you. You get in. Why? You fools. Me? I alive."

With a grin of crooked teeth, the sherpa turns and walks away from the group as the darkness slowly swallows the last of the sun.

Zoey gets a delicate compass rose locket of iridescite from somewhere safe and close at hand.

Eirene shakes her head at Ailith. "Razi would never forgive me if he found out you went in first, alone. And I'd like to keep on the Dominus' good side." She hums as they look bewteen the two choices. Rock or river. "They won't expect us from the cave-in's direction, so it may be a more quiet way in; however it also means we have a shit way out if we need to evacuate quickly. River then?" She consults with the lot of them.

Drake doesn't like waiting around, so... at the point, he just starts out in front. "I've been in front in a crawl space and not gotten anyone killed. So if we aren't sure..." He doesn't really consider himself a leader, but he CAN be a bit reckless and wait on things to work out... which sometimes turns into leadership, anyway. "We'll risk the river."

Jules looks to those about for a moment and waits till the sherpa is gone before he says, "If someone's sneaking, I do still have my cultist robe someone could borrow." There's a forced smile on his face, "Just in case you know."

Zoey nods. "River it is. I will stay near the middle of the group, if no one minds."

"One of us medic types should take up the rear in case people have to come quickly scattering back out. If ya go in first I'll stay out here an' bring up the rear an' protect our backsides." Clara offers to Eirene.

Ailith wryly quirks her lips in response to Eirene. "My guards and their boss, the Grandmaster, may grumble more than the Dominus. They all should learn I'll get into scraps on my own terms." Take the risk, accept the consequence. As the group debates a direction, she fiddles with armor pieces and puts some into the packs to avoid drowning. "We could pair up by rope so we can keep each other balanced?"


With the group discussing their steps, their voices echo slightly within the caverns. In the distance flickers of white can be seen up against the roof of the cavern near to where the slowly trickling water seems to start.


As the group walks within the cave, there are specks of white that appear and disappear across the craggy cavern's roof. There is something of a hushed, muted, whisper of a breeze that lingers from within the deeper parts of the cavern.

Following along a small trickle of water, illuminated by the flickers of the lanterns, it leads in towards a collapse in the cave wall which bundles forward small rocks.

The broken splinters of wood at the bottom of the crack where a small gap in the side remains alongside half a door.

"Did you get the blood out of it," Eirene quips to Jules with a smirk. "Just in case, we may need you to scout ahead and it wouldn't hurt to have someone blend in." Marching orders seem fine to her, Zoey and Clara getting a nod. As they approach the rocks she scowls and touches one with a gloved hand. "Thea told me they caved in the entrance to the burial chamber when they were escaping. Were you all briefed on what the last team found?"

Zoey shakes her head. "I was not, no. What did they find?"


"I was with Thea," Drake says, looking at the broken door. "Everything in there was likely destroyed, though." Drake squints at the splinters. "There was a body." He kicks some of them aside with his foot.

Clara returns Eirene's nod and goes to the back of the group to watch over their backsides. She listens to see what the other group found because she too had not been briefed. As such, she shakes her head at Eirene to let her know she had not been.

Jules nods to Eirene and says with slight surprise, "I took the one without the blood stains. Eww, I didn't even think about that but then" and then Jules starts to throw the cultist robe on and looking towards those making the decisions with his typical cheerful disposition, "Let me know what you need me to do, of course."


Before the group, as they reach the end of the river's route, the thin trickle of water meets the base of the broken doorway. Drake's foot knocking through and it falls back with a thud revealing the entrance of the ruins itself now.

Just, it's down on the ground and no higher than someone's knee.

Above the group, the flickering of white continues. The breeze from the entrance howling louder as there is a cool chill in the evening's air.


"No, this part I remember. It's not as bad as it was, actually," Drake says, leaning over to look at the small entrance. "But we have to go through one at a time."

Eirene nods at Drake. "Body, of some high ranked ancient cultist. Apparently they're trying to shove his reborn soul into him. At least, that's how I understood it?" She motions to him since he knows what's going on. "I'm a skinny bitch, anyone want to go first or shall I?" But as she kneels to look at the gap, she turns her gaze upward at the flickering white. "What -is- that?"

Eirene is just FULL of questions today

"Some sort of resurrection?" Zoey asks. "I cannot imagine the Queen taking kindly to that."

Jules looks to the others through the hood of his serpent robe and then over to Eirene, "I don't mind going first if need be, or if someone else prefers, that's fine as well." He gives a nod of his head to Zoey and says, "Quite right I think, but little enough they do probably pleases her."

Clara cringes at this. "Why don' people leave blood magic an' necromancy be?" It's less a question and more a statement of irritation from the Shaman and Deathspeaker. She looks up at the flickering white and tries to get a closer look at it. "I'm not sure..."

"Go ahead Eirene. Be careful, watch for sudden drops. I'll try to remember but I'm sure the cavern has a different pattern after the collapse," Drake says, a little wary.


Asher had been quiet the entire time, on the ride over, and when deliberating on the who, the what, and the how. Mostly, he was checking his armor to ensure that it was tight ans not slipping. That's crucial. Now, however, he grumbles out a response to Clara. "Because they're damn fools." He clicks his tongue. "Last time someone managed to get around the Wheel, and become unkillable, it was the Reckoning." It looks like he's staying near Clara, if only because he seems a bit out of sorts. Unsure of just what to do here, perhaps. Following along, and being cautious.

Zoey falls into place in the middle of the group, though making sure it is somewhere near Asher so that she can ask him something quietly.

"They look like eyes," Eirene says as she stares upward. "But they're not. Weird. Huh. I don't get it." Anyhow, there's a tunnel to crawl through. Stowing her gear close, she starts to wriggle through the gap.


"Aye. That's the one, Lady Kennex. Fucking prick." Sounds like, somehow, Asher has personal beef with the Fractal King. That's weird.

Drake takes up the rear of the group this time, keeping tabs on the people in front of him. Of course, it would be his preference to have a lady in front of him directly but one makes do in an adventure. He doesn't hear exactly what Zoey is discussing, but, well, one reason he's eager enough to go on adventures is because maybe some day Proper Nouns will also filter into his line of sight.


Crawling through the small space, the group are forced down to knees and dragging themselves through the tightness of the small doorway sized hole.

Reaching the other side, the group are brought into a partially collapsed tunnel which has now been flooded with water. Where there was once a floor has now been replaced with the murky depths of the unknown.

Churning and flowing quickly through what seems to have once been a hallway, the route crossing into the ruins main is swept away. The rock face having fallen in slightly forms a jagged roof which the rapids splash hard against in flicks of spray.

Opposite the group though is still though a flicker of light. The main entrance, or what once was, to the ruins. A thin strip of light escapes out from a small, rectangular crawl space.

Clara's white eyes stare back at whatever is looking down on them. She stares for a good couple minutes. "Aye, their eyes. But their not human eyes." The skin on her arms has raised into hundreds of little bumps. "Let's just hope it's friendly." With that she takes up the rear as promised and follows everyone through the gap.

Eirene checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 2 higher.

Jules checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 25 higher.

Clara checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 6 higher.

Zoey checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

Asher checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 37 higher.

Drake checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 11 higher.

Perhaps it is the sharkskin leather she wears that gives her confidence, or maybe the lessons from her husband. Whatever it is, Zoey is able to fight the current effectively enough to reach her destination. She wrings out her hair when she gets back on solid ground.

Eirene is glad leather is mostly waterproof. She wades in careful like and grimaces as the speed of the water nearly knocks her over. She then secures her gear and holds the lantern of Lagoma up as high as she can while she -barely- makes her way through to the other side.

Drake is still near the end of the pack, and enters with confidence into the water, at first. The water itself, however, is rougher than he anticipated when he first gets in. At least he's not wearing very heavy armor, which is probably the real difference maker, as his cloak is caught on a bit of rapid a few times and he has to untangle it, which slows his progress a bit. Still, he makes it to the opposite side with all his gear, kicking a rock out of his boot.

Clara has done this swiming thing before apparently and so begins her swim, lantern above the water as she takes her time keeping her thin, short self above the water. Her head goes under the water once or twice but her hand always stays above the water, the lantern safe. There is one time she even gets caught in an eddy and is drawn around a couple of times in a circle before she breaks free of it with a "hhmph" and continues forward to the other side.


Beneath the group in the darkness, there is a flicker of movement, it would seem, or just the rapids of the water catching something of an odd shine while the light on the opposite side, along with a small ledge, awaited those who arrive first.

Before plunging into the water, Jules takes the cultist robe and his shirt off, tucks them in his backpack to try to keep them mostly dry. He hops in to swim across to the far side, jostled about here and there. When he gets to the far side, he shakes himself off and throws on his shirt and robe again.

Cautiously Zoey pulls her bow from her back and frees an arrow from her quiver. She does not nock it yet, but her eyes return to where she saw the movement.


Asher's leather armor is not made for swimming - however, it's been made waterproofed as best as possible, because he has to work through things in the snow, being a protege of House Crovane. He manages to make his way through the fast-moving water by clinging to rocks, holding his breath, and some swift maneuvers to ensure his survival. It's not too difficult for him, but it'll be cold, afterwards. At the other side, he begins to pull himself up and out, immediately drawing his dagger, ready to defend himself. never know what kind of fell ambush could be hiding in secret places like this!

Drake nods to Zoey. That's probably the right idea, he thinks, seeing also the flickering light in the darkness. He pulls out his sword, but it's not likely to be as useful at a distance. He's careful for now to draw out his older blade. Surely these are just cultists and not a monster unless he sees some evidence otherwise.

Drake wields Breath of Fire, a Rubicund Broadsword.

Eirene eyes whatever is in the water suspiciously. She uses the ledge to put her back against a wall in case it decides to come out. If it's something that -can- come out of water. She draws her rubicund dagger while keeping her lantern held close so they can still see. Water drips down her coat although the umbra seems largely resistant to it.

Asher wields a plain dagger of excellent make.

Eirene wields Vulture's Talon, a rubicund dagger.


Reaching the other side, the group hoist themselves up and those who glance back to the water now see nothing where there was once a shadow. Instead, there is the sound of the water churning against the roof while the flicker of light behind Eirene's thighs for the entrance into the ruins proper.

Diamondplate axe in one hand, Clara sets the lantern on the ground and prepares herself for a fight, eyes watching for an attack.

Eirene slowly continues forward, watching her steps and trying to make no sound. It's likely she can't, though, because she's not Nova or Fiora. The flickering light ahead makes her lower the lantern a little and carrying it at her side instead of high above.

Once there's no motion... Drake isn't convinced, and he keeps the sword out for a bit longer. He keeps his eyes focused as much as he can in the darkness... "Maybe it was nothing. Keep moving in..." Looking now for the right direction to move in.

Martino has joined the line.

Eirene has joined the line.

Clara has joined the line.

Drake has joined the line.

Zoey has joined the line.


Asher looks to the water, to the small spaces that they have to clamber through. He seems... Hyper-focused, and after a time, closes his eyes, to listen. It takes him a minute, but after he does, he steps towards the crack, so that he can go in. Clearly, he thinks it's best that he does so before Clara. And everyone else, if he can find the proper way onward. "Be ready for anything."

Asher has joined the line.


As the group gathers anew they shift through that second small crawl space, this time dripping and sodden from the rapids. Dragging themselves in, lanterns lifting aloft reveal a large room that is devoid of any markings. The caverns walls painted in what is now a faded white with green moss, black mildew, even, growing upon it.

The air is heavy, damp in what may have been the mess hall of whoever was here before. The room is empty though. There are scratches on the floor that rake from near to the crawl space to a faded, point in the middle of the room. Darker spots lining it. From this point in the room, two new exits exist.

A heavy-looking iron door pressed into the cavern on the east wall while a smooth arch carved out on the west wall opposite.

Turn in line: Martino

Turn in line: Eirene

Eirene wraps her crimson silk scarf around her mouth, soaked as itg is, to keep from smelling the mold and mildew. That stuff's not healthy. She stops in the middle of the room where the scratches go to study them carefully. "He did say there's a monster in here, right?" She's looking at the doorway though. "I don't like open spaces at our back. We should check out the hall and then come back to the door if it's clear."

Turn in line: Clara

Clara grabs her lantern once she is certain they are not going to be attacked right away. She then follows behind the group waiting for them to select the direction. When Eirene makes her decision she nods in agreement. "Agreed."

Turn in line: Drake

Drake nods to Eirene. He agrees with her tactical assessment. Since the nod alone may not be so clear in the light, he also steps forward toward it as Clara does likewise. He gets a good look around, but doesn't see any immediate dangers, so he just approaches the archway and passes in

Turn in line: Zoey

Zoey knows better than to separate from those better able to defend than she, and thus falls in line with Eirene and the others with a nod before prepping her bow once more.

Turn in line: Asher

Turn in line: Martino


Asher sets himself ready to act, and does find that he's got the proper weapon for what he suspects. "If there is a monster... It lives here. It knows the place better than we do." He looks around, and up, and to the shadows of the area that the lanterns may not reach, to ensure that they're not missing anything. Anything important, or... Some manner of trap. "And I guarantee you it knows we're here. Whatever it is. We're not quiet enough to go unnoticed." He does, of course, follow the rest of the team's lead. He's just far more worried about an ambush than getting lost.


Walking through the open archway within the west wall, the group find themselves entering a long rectangular room.

It has a scatter, a litter even, of papers across the floor with sconces mounted into the walls that have been extinguished seemingly recent.

There are beds spaced out, lining each wall, relatively even with several still having a small wooden crate at the end of it.

At near the end, a wooden table with a wide silver bowl and papers upon it sits.

Within the room the smell of damp lifts, instead there is a slow drip that seems to splash down into a puddle yet, along the floor, there is not a sign of water.

Turn in line: Eirene

Clara checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 9 higher.

Eirene checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 50 higher.

Asher checked intellect + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 3 lower.

Zoey checked intellect + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Eirene is glad she wears gloves. There's something in her expression which says she'd be disgusted if bare hands were handling the silver bowl. "Water, and blood. Waves with a broken wheel. That makes sense if they were going to bring that crusty corpse back to life." She ponders it for a moment. "Clara, anything you can sense about this?" She looks to the Shaman and holds the bowl carefully out. "It's pretty filthy, sets the hair on my neck raising."

Turn in line: Clara

Clara looks to Eirene and shakes her head before she suddenly jumps and the bumps on her skin are back. She starts to look around and then answers verbally. "Aye, somethin' is hear. Somethin' said... Do you really wish to tell them?" She shakes her head. "I don' know what they mean though..." She starts searching for the source of the creepy stuff. She picks up the bowl then curiously looking at it something happens to the poor woman. She looks overwhelmed, maybe a little horrified, and she drops to her knees with the bowl in hand and clutches it tightly to her chest like she can't let go of it. After a few seconds of... whatever is happening... she tosses the bowl to the side and just vomits at Eirene's feet. Ewww...

Turn in line: Drake

Drake checks out one of the crates, which doesn't require much of his investigation skills. There's a few possessions in there... "More robes, if... we all wanted disguises." Seeing then a journal folded under the robes, and a little silver... he takes the journal, and flips it open to see if there's anything critical written inside.

Turn in line: Zoey

Zoey reads one of the papers and shivers. "They have disturbed us," she reads. "They have found where we are and so we must hide. They attacked our shrine to Mudros Tsu'nis and so we will drown them. Each of them. At morning soon, as the winds and the waves allow, they will be swept up in our sea. The town shall burn until nothing is left. Mudros Tsu'nis will rise again from the drowning of the soul."

Turn in line: Asher


As soon as Clara drops to the ground, Asher is over to help her. Not to her feet, not if she doesn't feel up to it. And vomiting? Yeah, no, she's not standing any time soon. "Weapons up," he notes to those capable, and goes for the bowl himself, before attempting to... Burn it with the Lagoma-fire torch! "Silver won't melt at normal temperatures like this. But we can cleanse it, perhaps." Almost under his breath, he murmurs something, almost to the wind. It's a prayer, perhaps to Lagoma herself. "...Clara, can't tell if it's corrupted or not, but it's pissed, seems like. Spirit, maybe." And then a glance to Drake. "...Or something that bleeds." He's still waiting for the bowl to heat up, though. Just in case.

Turn in line: Martino


While Asher's flame is heating and slowly scorching the side of the silver bowl, there is a crashing and a shuffle in the direction of the previously visited mess room.

The sound of metal upon stone echos for a moment through the caverns, dragging itself, while a breeze is felt stronger through the room.

Papers spitting up across the room and fly off in seemingly random directions which flicker and fight against the Lagoma Flame torches carried by the group.

Turn in line: Eirene

Eirene was heading to grab a robe and clean off her boots, nodding to Zoey. "That tracks with what we know, but we better put a stop to them before they can torch the village. "The crashing din makes her eyes go wide. "Protect Clara until she's recovered," she says, drawing her crimson blade instead of the dagger. "Something just came through the door," she guesses. But she's pretty confident in that guess. She glances at Asher and seems to make a mental note.

Eirene wields basket-hilted longsword with a blood red blade.

Turn in line: Clara

Clara backs away from the mess she's made once she's just gagging and nothing is coming up. As the papers start to attack she seems a bit dazed and just sits there for a moment while she catches her breath. She is with them enough to know there is danger though and she works quickly to try and calm her body from it's mistake of touching that bowl so that she can defend herself if necesssary. For at least a minute though... she's not moving, she's meditating through it.

Turn in line: Drake

Drake listens to Zoey's reading, and nods... seeming unimpressed, or at least, trying to quip away any uncertainty about it. "They seem mad about the burning, then." But suddenly a gust flies up, and it's startling, sending pages all in different directions. The strange behavior around the flames is certainly notable. Drake starts to move immediately TOWARD the sound - if it really is a monster, or a creature, he's going to have a better chance than some of fighting it off. He makes brief eye contact with Eirene as she has the same idea.

Turn in line: Zoey

Zoey draws her bow, nocks an arrow, and goes to stand closer to Clara, eyes going to the entrance with hawk-like intensity she generally reserves for deciphering more difficult texts.

Turn in line: Asher


Though it may take a bit for the bowl to even be heated enough to start being painful to hold, that doesn't mean he isn't trying. But, with the papers flying about, Asher isn't exactly keen on doing much but putting himself between the door and Clara. So he does, if only so that he can be first to get hit, if something does barrel its way in to the room. "Then let it burn, I say. Either let it all burn, or have it show itself, make its case of why we shouldn't do that." That sounds like it was said more for whatever may be watching, honestly. "Be careful." It's not like he's in charge here, not at all. He's just worried all the same.

Turn in line: Martino


Returning back to the mess room with Eirene and Drake in the lead, Zoey over their shoulder with an arrow nocked, there is no sign of life in the eerily still room. The room opening up to how it was when the group had left before with Clara gradually getting to feet and breathing slowly with Asher close beside.

|[The corners of the room, as light hits it, flicker as the feeling of lightness this time in the air. The Lagoma Flames seemingly lifting whatever was once here. Whatever had caused the crash but leaves just the iron door opposite remaining.

Walking towards the heavy looking iron door, there are faint scratch marks to the edges of the unrusted surface. With lights and lanterns held up to the door, worn and faded markings can be seen.

"To see our glory you must give us the gift.
It brought you here, it keeps us safe.
For all that lives, needs it.
And Mudros Tsu'nis accepts no false hearts."

The surface of the door gives little else away except for a while cup that spreads out in the middle. Shaped like a chalice with small black gemstones pressed into the front.

Turn in line: Eirene

Zoey checked intellect + investigation at difficulty 40, rolling 27 higher.

Eirene checked intellect + occult at difficulty 40, rolling 25 higher.

Eirene eyes the door. "Accepts no false hearts. Well, we're pretty false. What do you think, grab robes and then pour a little water in here to see what happens?" She shrugs at Zoey. "I would think it wants water, hopefully drinking water, and probably a few drops of blood. I mean, what's a cult without some gods-damned blood magic, right?" Blue eyes roll in the firelight but she goes for her waterskin from her pack to pour. No blood though. Just water. She waits to see what Zoey thinks, though.

Turn in line: Clara

Apparently, being able to see the spooky stuff isn't always fun and games. Clara takes a moment to recover the bowl's presence in her mind. She looks to Asher and grabs onto the man for support. She pulls out some water and takes some into her mouth. She swishes it about before spitting out excess pieces and gunk from her mouth. She then actually drinks some of the water nice and slowly. Her eyes begin to clear. "I think they might be laughin' at us..." She leans against Asher, if he lets her, and looks up into the air. "These are angry demons... these aren't ghosts or spirits." She informs Asher before nodding to the group. "Let's move over to them... Best keep together."

Turn in line: Drake

Drake moves into the room warily. He uses all his senses to check out the inside, and what strikes him first is not a visual, but... a sound. He looks in the direction of the noise, and seems startled by... something, moving forward with determination and his blade still drawn. He points it in the direction of a shape in the darkness. "Show yourself," he says.

Turn in line: Zoey

"Agreed," says Zoey. "Let us try water first. Failing that, you did bring your scalpel, right?" She pulls her water skin from her satchel, uncorks it, and pours some in.

Turn in line: Asher


Asher agrees with Clara, and heads out first, putting the bowl away in his pack quickly. Hopefully, that will work to keep it safe for now. He leads with his torch, keeping an eye on things. "Demon, y'say, Clara? Hrm. Might not know who it's laughing at, then. Could be good, in that case." Once back in the main room, he keeps an eye to the shadows, but only for a moment. His eyes close and he listens... Maybe it's easier for him, in the contrasting light, to hear rather than see. "I advise against giving blood to something that you do not understand," Asher notes to the group, "for that could be offering your oath in binding you to it."

Turn in line: Martino


As the door's latches click, it seems to release itself and slowly it creaks back from the final droplet of Zoey's flask into the goblet. The hushed scream of unused bearing within the door drags itself through the room.

When the group steps forward, before them a tight looking square room. Within it, there is a religious font that has been built into the floor forming a deep recess. Mildew and water markings pattern the floor with the light outline of several feet.

Behind the font, a white marble statue is sat upon a high throne with a tattered blue draping curtaining off the back wall. Flies buzz and swarm across the room, bouncing off of each other and dancing near the statue.

Within the room, there is a foul stench of meat.

Turn in line: Eirene

Eirene walks towards the statue, boots against the mildewed floor. She narrows her eyes as she surveys the statue and the image there. "That's got to be ten feet tall at least," she says in a hushed voice. "Black eyes, so they used somekind of jet or obsidian, and there's a branched crown. And the sword," she says, looking it over. "It's not anything I'm immediately familiar with."

Turn in line: Clara

"I am so glad I already threw up..." Clara says as she and Asher look behind the drapes, pulling it away to reveal a pile of corpses twisted and mutalated, broken, and tossed aside. The blue and bloated corpses are covered in flies... which probably means maggots as well. "Beautiful..."

Turn in line: Drake

Drake doesn't get a response, but... it doesn't entirely surprise him. He should at least do his best not to act unnerved by the sounds in this place but he hasn't done a terrific job of that. He keeps his wits about him as they enter the next room. Going to the font, he peers in, looking at the sides. It seems like there's letters... clear enough to read. His eyes follow around the edges. "Through water we open their eyes. Their love for us is known. Enough water. Enough love. Let their lives become ours," he reads aloud, in an even tone. "More water." His squinting turns into a look of surprise as he glances up and sees the corpses. "...That explains the smell in here."

Turn in line: Zoey

"It could also be Onyx," Zoey points out after examining the statue. "Fairly common in abyssal magic."

Turn in line: Asher

Eirene mutters, "... was hoping ... ... ... onyx but ... ... found ... ... of it with ... leader's corpse."


Asher similarly has to cover his nose as soon as the corpses are found, coughing a bit. "Gods above... That's not pleasant at all." He steps back, and looks for the statue instead, not wanting to deal with the corpses. "You say a crown and... Black eyes? Could be the Thricedamned. He did try to sunder the Thinnest Point using the Will of the Sleeper, a demon shaped like a greatsword."

Turn in line: Martino


Looking down into the font Drake can see what is now left only as puddles at the bottom. Intricate markings follow around the edges that when the lantern's light meets it reads, "Through water, we open their eyes. Their love for us is known. Enough water. Enough love. Let their lives become ours."

With Eirene and Zoey walking towards the statue, the darkness of the eyes in the statue is obvious, seemingly it is two solid black gemstones set in against the white marble. A twist of white marble thorns sits upon the head of this male statue. Within both hands is a solid sword pointing down to the ground. Proud the man sits on the throne at roughly ten-feet.

Beyond the tattered draping, as the curtains pull away from Clara and Asher, found instantly is the reason for the flies and that stench hanging in the air.

A pile of twisted corpses have been abandoned, blue and bloated, there is a good count of twenty tossed back with their clothes still on. Several at the front with their eyes still open, bloated tongues hanging out over their faces as they live in a state of some decay.

The lanterns begin to flicker more carried by each member of the group as what seems to be the sacrificial chamber is disturbed by the group. The winds begin to howl louder, that scent of the corpses filling the nostrils of each in the group forcing them to step back and away.

The clattering of metal upon stone drags once more upon the floor as this time a voice can be heard clearly.

"Leave."

"I'm aware of the name and intent," Eirene replies to Asher, "but not any depictions of him before. Let's hope that's not what we're -- " She cuts off when the metal drags. "Maybe we should go. Come back with a better armed party. We've got the bowl, they likely can't do their ceremonies without it. And we can warn the villagers too." She stops and thinks, "Maybe we can wreck that altar so they can't drown anyone else ritualistically. Or would that piss off whatever it is even more. Hum."

Turn in line: Eirene

Turn in line: Clara

Clara nods her head in agreement with Eirene. "Aye, best ta leave now and come back later. I think that is a wise idea. Better gear, better mental preparation, maybe some way ta bring these corpses back ta the villager so they can tend to their dead..."

Turn in line: Drake


"I'm not really inclined to take orders from you," Drake says... but maybe not as loud as he could have. The corpses are certainly a deterrent, the smell of them causing him to cough. "...Maybe burn them like the last, just to be sure." His sword is pointed in the direction of the sound. But is it really any person or creature making it?

Turn in line: Zoey

Zoey turns her bow toward the voice, ready to either fight their way out or lay down cover fire for an alternative exit. "I think it is best that we get out now and plan anything and everything else later. We can discuss it somewhere safer than this place."

Turn in line: Asher


"I think that's the point, to not have any record of what you look like. The Eater's an asshole. Leaves just enough clues-" The scraping of metal, the demand of leaving. "...Fine. We should go as well. But," he notes to the room around, "when we come back, I expect we should bring more than just torches. If this... Mudros guy? Wants sacrifices? Then he'll find it hard pressed to do so without a head." It's not a threat - it's a promise. There's almost no malice to it. Just stating what must be done. "Next time, we bring water blessed by Mangata. See how they like -that-." He'll ensure that he's close to Clara, defensively. "Watch yourselves on the way out. Could still be waiting for us."

Turn in line: Martino


As the howling of the wind kicks up more stench, the breathing seems to become louder within the group's ears. The group begin to bundle through the caverns and out into the main hall. the flies wafting and beating upon them harder as the voice calls again -

"Leave. We shall strike it. We shall strike them soon. Leave."

Ducking through the hole, swimming through the rapids, there is again that sound of dragging metal on the stone while a shadowy figure is on the opposite side of the ledge that the last person can see. Their fingertips wiggling as that broad grin comes on display.

The group escape back into the cavern itself, the main point where the sherpa had left them. Breathing deeply. They are able to suck in fresh air at last.