The hidden

THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER
08 EXPLORE THE HIDDEN
SEGMENT 149
“Glow Bug Centipedes”
11/03/17

BARRAKAS 3, 1000

Tyson is no expert tracker but when following twenty plus men and women marching it helps him. Sleep was not great for them. The ground remained warm and damp…. Very organic to them Ayru swore it breathed at times. But nothing disturbed them which was good. Zig thought about his Hidden Butter but decided to wait. Kyr pouts and goes to sleep thinking of tentacles and hugs. He is disturbed for sure.

They are walking through a shallow waterway. They are in the shadow of the cliff wall which shades them and reduces the light. They enter a wide pool of water with several water falls or rapids that lead into it. Within the darker areas of the vegetation Tyson spots a flash of blue light.

Feldrix wishes to inspect it first feeling he can withstand an attack better than the others. He steps down onto the pool and finds there is a serious current and under tow here. He loses his footing and finds himself being gently swept down the water way. His armored body gets caught up in mangroo tree-like roots of a blue bush.

The source of the blue flash- now a lighter blue appears. Four very long centipedes burst out of the brush. Though they do not seem to swim well, they float on the water’s surface easily and plow into the trapped knight with great force.

Ayru and Zig jump into the water to help him and either are forced to stop or fall or slide down the water way while on her feet. Tyson looks to take the long way around by hopping from “dry” ground to “dry” ground.

Kyr.

Kyr is looking for berries to find his father…. Or at least what he believes is his father.

Suddenly the centipedes begin to strobe black-white-black-white which hurts Tyson’s eyes as he misfires his arrows. Feldrix eventually gets his feet under him once more and he stands up right. Ayru and he begin to attack by sword and short spear rapidly. Either the creatures die or are swept away.

Seeing what Kyr is doing, Ayru slowly makes her way to him and spins him around and she decks him. He falls into the water with a bloody nose. “Wha-wha-whah……”

“If I ever see you doing that again when a member of the team is in danger….” She holds up the spear in a threatening manner.

Prismatic large monstrous centipedes.....

THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER
08 EXPLORE THE HIDDEN
SEGMENT 150
“Skeletal Blue Dragon”
11/03/17

BARRAKAS 3, 1000

“I believe it was them.” Answers Tyson as he warily leans over a section of gently moving water. “The stuff here that passes as grass has been mashed down and recently. Either by a very large creature or a large number of smaller ones.”

“Many of those strange beetles around here.” Observes Ayru. Throughout the valley known as The Hidden, they have seen the strange brightly colored beetles. Kyr has shown some special interest in them in the past few days.

Spotting a clearing ahead they follow the stream to it. A large pool of water with….. a gargantuan dragon skeleton in it.

“Dragons don’t seem to do well here.” Comments Zig as he wades to it.

“Careful. That is exactly why I don’t like it here.” Adds Tyson.

“I do.” Whispers the summoner.

“I do not… see how…. It was killed.” Comments Feldrix of the 387.

“Magic?” suggests Ayru.

Zig checks on Kyr. “I want another….ugh… trophy.”

Kyr works on pulling a tooth and finally does.

Tyson is not impressed by this disrespect of such a powerful creature.

“What….type is it?” asks Feldrix.

“A blue. A Blue dragon.” Answers Ayru.

Moving along, they come across a structure within another large pool of water close by. An entrance leading to the underground.

Zigland, ever fearless and impulsive, rushes up to it.

A few loss items are found. A coin purse and a dagger. The dagger has a faint wavy flame symbol (E Claw but worn). There is a rope anchored to a piton here. The rope leads down into the underground area.

Smiling, Zig grabs the rope and begins to go down.

THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER
08 EXPLORE THE HIDDEN
SEGMENT 151
“Background Events”
11/03/17

BARRAKAS 2, 1000

“They are close. Closer every day.”

The half-orc sorcerer speaks to her air elemental aid.

“Tarkandarque will want to know. They are now in The Hidden.” She lies back and crosses her legs and sips from her red liquid drink.

“Adoo, please have Garross come here. I need him for a special mission.” The only hint of her aid leaving is the slight ripple and flicker of the lit candles in her scrying room. Deros Frist returns to her crystal viewing ball with a curious smile on her face.

===============================================================================

“Lord Spyder…. I have news from Yrlag.” Whispers the goblin kneeling before another goblin in nobleman level clothes.

The leading goblin turns slowly and gently closes the book he was holding and looking at. (strangely enough, the leader of The Web is illiterate). “What news do you bring?”

“The egg….. it is missing.” He swallows hard. “The compound is emptied of the living. All goblins…. Dead.”

=============================================================================

Auteetoo and Fraise have been running for a very long time down. They fell into the underground maze two days ago. They are running out of food and supplies. They are thus…. Running out of time. “Is that light…. Real light… ahead?” asks the elven archer.

“I…. hope so.” Answers uncertainly the elven mage.

They enter a room…. A very large room. A very large tube protrudes from the one wall. From it slowly running New Water falls complete with beads and debris. Among the debris is a body. A warforged body.

“Is it …… active?”

“The only way to know is to check it out and…. Prey.”

This space is being saved for the completed map (s) once this adventure is completed

THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER
08 EXPLORE THE HIDDEN
SEGMENT 152
“MAP 46 8-14”
11/14/17

BARRAKAS 4, 1000

Zig reaches a landing. Feldrix grumbles (as well as an undead can) and follows quickly. “I should always …. go first….. more resilient…. To damage.” He lands hard and steps away drawing his sword.

Zig mocks him working his hands like a mouth and smiles as the others begin to descend the rope. Tyson is next, then Kyr (with his raven on his shoulder flapping its wings) and finally Ayru whom is not impressed with this idea. The last time they went into one of these entrances there was a vampire. Undead. Emerald Claw spells evil and undead combined.

From the landing is a stairway leading down.

“Has anyone ever considered the purpose of these entrances?” asks Tyson while calling up a light spell on a ball that he can hold out or close his hand around if required.

“They go down.” Answers the changeling thourghly enjoying himself as he activates a sunrod.

Being more curious and sincere, Ayru asks what the inquisitive meant.

“These entrances are welcoming. Easy to access. No guards, no defenses, no structures…. Why do they exist?”

“Hey hey hey they must have a reason to be. Explore- explore and maybe we can find out.”

This what Tyson fears……

The spiral stairs end and a hallway begins with corners in it. Perfect for ambushes. They move more slowly and carefully down the hallway.

This leads to a door. Feldrix is ready to kick it in when it is noted the handle and lock has been melted away. Melted by something green. “Is that green…. Slime dangerous time after time?” asks the summoner.

“I doubt it but let me check it out.” Offers the changeling alchemist.

“Why do you doubt it?” asks Ayru.

“Metal is melted away.” Answers Tyson and Zigland as one. Each look at the other and smile at the shared knowledge.

“Ayup…. Acid…. Short acting. Already non-lethal …. More of an irritant.” Tyson watches him through his experiments. Noting the chemicals and items used to test the green stuff. The inquisitive is always eager to learn.

The door slowly opens when barely touched. “Someone did this recently.”

“How recently?” asks Ayru.

The changeling shrugs his shoulders. “A few hours ago….. maybe less.”

“Is it the Claw?” asks the Honor Knight.

In part, the answer is revealed on the other side of the door. A body wearing a dark green cape and black boots. Before the inquisitive can stop him, the knight kicks the body over to have a look at his face.

“Hurrrmmmmm” he says in annoyance and at what is revealed.

“Where is his face?” asks Zig.

“Its more than his face…..” adds Ayru as she adjusts her grip on her shield instantly.

Before them is a male Emerald Claw soldier whom is dead. He has no skin. Only his muscles and the “meat” remain under his clothes and armor.

“Was he…. Like that before being killed?” asks Zig. “Was he an undead that lost his skin?”

The inquisitive motions for everyone to step back. Kyr is reluctant but does so…. While leaning over Tyson’s shoulder. Tyson pulls out a head piece with various lenses and gem cuttings. He has a special pair of gloves he puts on and uses other things to hold or touch the body or clothes.

“No weapons or items. Based on the appearance of his belt, the coin purse was taken he fell to the floor. Suggests he was alive, not undead, at this point.”

“Why oh why would you say that?” asks the summoner greatly annoying the inquisitive.

“Undead, unless free will, generally do not keep coin. Now back up.”

“oh.” Says the summoner whom them motions for everyone to back up while he stays where he stands…. Leaning over the inquisitive.

“No signs of a knife being used unless he has Jorasco training. No lose pieces of skin remaining……” He turns the body slightly and tears open the shirt. “Even under the clothes and armor….. the skin is gone.”

“Magic.” States Kyr.

“Necromantic magic.” States Ayru.

“Or a flesh reaver……beaver beaver.” Stampers the unbalanced Summoner.

“A…. what?” asks Feldrix.

“Indeed. What and where did you hear of it?” asks Ayru.

“Artificers manipulate magic. Some ….. play with flesh.”

“Personal knowledge?” asks Tyson while still looking at the body on the floor for more clues.

“No silly….. ah….. Rumors! Rumor I heard.”

“convenient” thinks most of the group.

Bored with clue collecting, Feldrix of the 387 looks at the door next to him. It has been forced open. Most likely kicked open. It remains a few inches ajar. He pushes it open using his shield and protecting himself with his sword. His darkvision allows him to see a set of short stairs before Zig steps up with his Sunrod that wipes out his darkvision.

Everyone but Tyson follows as he continues to try to puzzle out what has happened to this man. Zig and Feldrix find a small room with an alter and a lightly glowing series of runes and designs within a circle. The closer they come to the circle the brighter it glows.

Kyr hurries to a corner to look at it. He mocks it by moving close then away over and over again. “What kind of circle of magic is it?” asks Ayru.

“Summoning….. I think a dink.”

The protector rolls her eyes. “What kind? Specific area? A planar one?”

“Don’t know.”

“Any way to find out?” asks Feldrix.

Tyson hears this and immediately leaves the body. “Zig don’t……”

It is Kyr that acts first. He summons a cute little pug puppy with a green tongue. “Oh- a puppy.”

“At least it is not a Puppy Monkey Baby.” Comments Ayru. ( Mountain Dew Energy anyone? )

“What are you doing…..” begins Tyson as he tries to get around everyone at the doorway. The puppy is dropped onto the circle. Nothing. Then it barks a strange bark and begins to sink into the circle. “Bye bye lil’ guy.” Kyr responds with. It disappears.

“What have you done?!?” demands Tyson.

“Tested portal.”

“What if it returns as a colossal anti-magic terror beast and destroys all of Eberron?!?”

“Tarrasque?”

“They have a name for such a creature? Such a creature exists!” questions Zig to Ayru.

“You are a loose canon Kyr. A dangerous loose canon.” Declares Tyson.

“At least I am not a tightass.” Says the summoner with hurt feelings. He wonders if daddy was misunderstood also while growing up.

“Let’s get back to searching for the Claw.”

“Beyond the money…. how do we know they exist here?”

“The body makes it obvious and these coins given to the alter.” Declares Tyson. “They are Karnnathi and Brelish. Fits if they were here. Recent print also.”

As they leave, Ayru looks at the coins then takes them.

They turn around and go for the next door.

Ooops.... missed an image..... The Skeletal Blue Dragon.....

AND THE SUMMONING ROOM.......

THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER
08 EXPLORE THE HIDDEN
SEGMENT 153
“MAP 46 15-20”
11/14/17

BARRAKAS 4, 1000

The door is locked but Ayru picks it. No one asks or says anything about it. Tension is high enough between Tyson and Kyr.

The door opens and thick webs are exposed. Dead rats can be seen within the webs. Feldrix goes to push the webs away and finds them incredibly thick and strong….. even for him.

“Allow me.” Responds Zig and he opens his pack and pulls out his cooking pan.

“What are you going to do with that?” asks the undead knight.

“Burn it away.” The changeling cook rubs his thumb over a series of small gems on the handle and a flame opens up directly under the pan. Instead of heating up the pan, the flames melt away the webs little by little. With a smirk, he clears the area of the sword and it is free. The knight nods a thanks and wonders about his student once more.

Suddenly, two yellow and black spiders drop from the ceiling and Feldrix stops Zigland and kills both spiders. “You didn’t need to protect me!” declares the cook.

“No but you… lacked…. A proper weapon.” Answers the knight.

“So this isn’t a weapon?!?” grumbles the changeling while waving his flaming pan about.

Ayru begins to wonder if magic isn’t driving emotions at this point. Everyone is fighting.

Zig clears the last of the webs and they step into a small crypt.

There are two sarcophagi and a stature of a fiendish frog-like creature. The covers suggest hobgoblin warriors.

Kyr checks out the statue. “Nice puppy. I once had a puppy. He melted.” He whispers to the statue. “Hi Daddy.” He adds.

He finds inscriptions under the dust and thinner webs. He knocks the webs and dirt aside. There are inscriptions here written in two languages. Kyr reads one and Tyson the other. They look at each other then translate. The translations match.

“HERE LIES SAAZ AND HEDAAR GRUNGER,
BELIEVERS OF THE MASTERS OF ALL KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING.”

Tyson asks if that was Xoriat and Kyr asks if that was goblin.

The fight is on.

Ayru loses it first. “Enough with this crazy crap. What is your game Kyr?”

He smiles and shrugs before giggling.

“You are clearly insane and getting worse. What are you about?” Demands Tyson thinking of a solution he didn’t want to use.

“I am fine like sweet wine.” Kyr answers with a hurt face.

“I can make you, everyone here, to speak the truth. I had hoped to avoid this but it seems I cannot.” Begins Tyson, the Master Inquisitive Bard. With a gentle whistle to steady himself and a few waves of his hands, he begins. Kyr looks with a look of astonishment and the others look on in wary stance.

“It is done. Now- Kyr….. ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF XORIAT?”

Kyr squirms. He feels compelled to speak truthfully unless he plays dumb. However, not to answer may mean they will not help him find ‘father’. “NO.”

This answer surprises the group. Tyson realizes he needs to be more careful in the choice of words.

“Are the creatures you summon from Xoriat?”

“Well…. They are not from here anyway. I call…. They come and help me.” He makes a charade of his fingers waving then walking along.

Kyr figures since this spell works both ways…. What does the inquisitive know? “Who are the people of Xoriat?”

“Very well Summoner, they are now known as the Dragon Below and also known by lesser names of smaller cults. Many are aberrations. Unnatural creatures.” Answers the inquisitive honestly.

“I do not follow these. Any of these. I study them only.” Replies Kyr truthfully.

Ayru speaks up now and asks the summoner a simple question. “What language did you speak? What did you read aloud?”

With his head bowed and slumped shoulders he answers. “Xoriat. I speak and read their language.”

She follows this answer with the next obvious question. “How did you learn this language?”

Again, he looks to the ground then to each member. He doesn’t want to answer but knows he does not he will never have their trust or aid again. “I met a creature….. an aberrational humanoid…. (the spell works on him) a Dolgaunt. I met him in the Mad Woods in Karrnath. He was friendly and kind to me. He wished to share stories and adventures. He did this with others, including a half-golem halfling (Morgrave Adventures) . I learned the basics of his language. I got better by studying texts written by them found in libraries across the continent of Khorvaire.”

“What good do you hope to gain by studying these creatures and their makers?” asks the Inquisitive.

“Just knowledge?” adds Ayru.

“Yes. I wish to gain knowledge. I thirst for it.”

There is a moment of silence as Ayru and Tyson digest what has been said thus far. “You are aware of the dangers of this path Kyr. People whom study the Realm of Madness will always suffer from madness. It has begun for you.”

Kyr shrugs and smirks. He gives a goofy smile and giggles. “So you say.”

Ayru presents the question they all feared…. Especially Kyr. “You have heard his defense. Who believes he should no longer travel with us? Should we send him through the very same portal he sent his aberrational puppy?”

Tyson’s response…. “No one should be punished as such.”

Zigland…. “No…. he is my friend. There is good in him.”

Feldrix follows the changeling’s lead.

Ayru sees the group has accepted him and the dangers he presents. She nods her consent.

“One final question from me…. Would you leave us if you could?”

Tyson wishes she worded that differently.

“I have been a help. Why would I just leave?” he says. Then follows it with…. “As any of you, if the conditions were…. Well right-ite-ite….. you would.”

“The spell effect will end at any moment….. any last questions?” asks Tyson.

“Was my Gator Gumbo too spicey the other night? I thought I used too much pepper but thought I should ask just the same.”

Tyson rolls his eyes.

THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER
08 EXPLORE THE HIDDEN
SEGMENT 154
“JOCASTA THE HALF-ELF”
11/14/17

RHAAN 27, 995

“Is the Forge ready?” commands the warforged legend.

“Affirmative my Lord.”

“Then let it begin.”

Several warforged artificers, once loyal to House Cannith, work the controls. Their leader and Master, The Lord of Blades, watches with keen interest.

When the warforged leader that would summon the others to the Mournlands came to the just created Mournlands, he had visions. Visions of the Steel Nation. Visions of Undead hordes that would fight for the use and control of the land. Visions of the Forge….. and its great creations.

The forge was damaged but fixable. The Lord of Blades sought artificers to follow him and to repair the Forge located within the Mournlands…. The ruins of Cyre. The first two creations were all mutated in strange ways. Good ways. The warforged built took on new looks and appearances after being given life. This was to be the third creation.

But not all peoples agreed or believed in the Steel Nation.

=========================================================================================

The five of them have been traveling for several weeks now. They met in Korth, Karrnath then traveled south. The Mournlands were a dangerous adventure…. The team consisted of three Dark lanterns, John Play, Nadia and Felix. Also joining them were two Royal Eyes, Caleb and Jocasta.

They had fought ghouls, spell-like energy with feral intelligence and pirates from Darguun. They found the damage rended onto the country of Cyre was immense and beyond description.

Scryers from both Breland and Aundairian governments felt there was something developing within the destroyed lands. Fearing a new undead nation, a joint mission was agreed on.

They discovered raw energies leaking from a secret Cannith Forge. It is built within a short hillside with rocks and a small stream. The stream turned out to be an illusion. It was really a road and an entrance.

====================================================================================

Unknown by them, the Emerald Claw was still active and looking to mine and salvage magics and weapons from Cyre’s corpse. Vollax, a very dangerous and violent member was leading the group currently in the Mournlands.

Together with Quintos and a small group of seasoned warriors, they followed the spies to the forge where the Lord of Blades was experimenting yet again.

========================================================================================

“Then let it begin.” Commands The Lord of Blades.

The other warforged move about pulling switches and pushing buttons. They are still learning how to operate the Forge.

The theory was sound and gave birth to the race known as the Warforged. Inert bodies were made from wood, stone and metal. Some even had gems or glass that often reacted to the energies being poured into the “statues”.

“Power is building for #SN 003 Lord.”

“Excellent.” The Lord of Blades looks over this creation. It has a slender body. Magic conductor stones have been placed within the arms and chest. Number SN (Steel Nation) #3 should be a sorcerer or warlock by nature. A warrior magic user.

Suddenly the window on the roof created to resemble a series of rocks in grass (by illusion and design) suddenly bursts in.

“Wah-hoo!!!!! Guess who!” calls out a black leather dressed young man whom throws down a rope. He slides down it quickly with a woman also dressed in tight black leather follows him. A half-elf dressed in dark and light blue Dimension Doors to the floor.

“This will stop now. This Forge is reported to be illegally operating by non-House members.”

“That means you Lobster.”

“What?!?”

“Lob-ster….. Lord Of Blades and ster. Get it?” calls out John Play as he pulls out a sword that begins to glow.

“I will deal with these interlopers…. Finish it and bring #3 to life!” he declares.

Suddenly the doors rattle as sounds of a new combat begin. They burst open with a vicious TK blast from a skeletal being. The two warforged guards are massively damaged by the blast. A long haired elf dressed in dark green and black steps past his troops. “Take the machine. Our Queen will demand it for her own use!”

“The Claw!” calls out Nadia as she telepathically attempts to learn whom they are and how many are with them. Most are living members but there are others here. Unique members from a special crypt…. Force 387.

Vollax, part rogue, part cleric and all evil moves behind Jocasta and pins an arm and places his magical dagger onto her throat. “Stop attacking us or I kill the slut!” The demented elf grabs her ear by his teeth and bits hard enough for blood to flow and yanks until she calls out.

“No Vollax! We end this now!” calls out Nadia.

Caleb freezes. His fellow Royal Eye is in grave danger and this hesitation costs him greatly as the warforged known as Shaft enters the lab. It places an arrow into Caleb’s neck (nat 20….. confirmed with a 20….. with a sneak attack). Jocasta loses it and moves to tend to him. Instead , her head is removed by the powerful negative energy dagger.

“Oh poo….. I had hoped to break you later when I had time to play.”

“Play- the mission has failed…. Plan C.” calls out Nadia, the psion. The plan is for everyone to gather up and use a one way teleport disk to leave. One problem, as most of the team gathers, including holding the dead bodies, Play charges Vollax.

The two battle and trade crude quips and barbs at each other. Left with no other options, Nadia snaps the clay coin and they teleport back to a safe distance in north-western Cyre near the Aundarian border.

Vollax notes that many of his undead have been destroyed as new warforged guards arrive. He gives one last crude gesture to the Dark Lantern and Lord of Blades when he too teleports away with a few survivors.

“What was your name deadman?” asks the warforged leader.

“Play. John Play.”