D&D 5E [IC] Uller's Out of the Abyss

Chapter 3: Shadows in the Water

"Ocean is more ancient than the mountains, and freighted with the memories and the dreams of Time." - H.P. Lovecraft



You finally wind your way down the slope and find yourselves standing upon a stygian shore. The water is still. Incredibly so. Like an obisdian mirror it stretches beyond sight toward the Northeast (which is not far) and for those of you with eyes keen to the dark you can see bits of light reflected dimly off the surface that match distant "stars" of phosphorescent lichens clinging to the unseen ceiling. But every now and again you catch a glimpse of another light or pair of lights...or cluster of lights that have no mate in the stoney heavens above. When you look again they wink out and are gone, never to return. Eyes reflecting your own light? Small glowing creatures? It's hard to tell.

Occasionally you hear a splash and a few ripples roll gently over the surface of the water and lap the shore until it settles down to its eerie stillness.

The path is well traveled where it comes to the shore. It goes on out of sight to your left (Orsik tells you that's Northwest) and also wends along the shore to your right (Southeast). You are looking at a large lagoon it seems. There is light to the illuminating the opposite shore from you. It appears to be a village. It is brightly lit (relatively speaking) with strange blue and green lights. Some probably of magical origin, some maybe not. One thing that strikes you...there is no smoke from any cooking or warming fires.

Not far from you the Southeastern path breaks from the shore and turns into a wide rocky beach strewn with cyclopian blocks the size of small houses. They are of various geometries and may or may not have been made by intelligent hands. Even Orsik is stumped. They seem to stand in mockery of nature and rationality.

Shuushar gurgles "Ah...Home! I never thought I'd return here." He indicates that the path to the east leads to the village.

"So Shuushar, I am guessing that we should not expect the warmest of welcomes. Should we do anything in particular to keep from being looked at like potential slaves?" Ezraen asks warily, as he heads off down the path.

Shuushar replies "You? Slaves? You have nothing to worry about. They won't see you as slaves. They'll see you as potential sacrifices." You aren't sure if he's trying to make a joke...he just stares blankly back at you. Emotion never registers on his face. Then...he decides to add "Either way, you are a well armed group. I doubt they'll just attack you outright. They may even see you as an armed threat."

Eldeth mumbles to Orsik in dwarvish (but you still understand through Drum) "Well that's reassuring."

Ezraen looks thoughtful, "Do you have any suggestions that might help us find passage across Darklake without fighting?" Ezraen grins, trying to lighten the mood, "Did I mention that I hate this place?"