1. Journals

(S03) Under a Rock and a Deep Place

Session
November 30, 2022
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Beginning in furious combat with the golden sheened oozes surrounding the party. Siax moved with incredible speed, exited the small corridor avoiding attacks from the oozes and firing arrow after arrow. Koraliki Verque deftly evaded the ooze streaming from the previously empty room and made her way outside, the light of the sun being a huge relief. Pine was overrun by oozes and almost perished but quick work from the Rockseeker brothers saw him up and about again, with a crystal he claimed from one of the oozes's body. Zenari fired off powerful magic to an ooze but an odd rollback occured, control of the magic lost, flaring back to her. Striking her she vanished from view, with nary a track to follow. Idris showcased great determination, jumping over oozes, bashing through others even being able to grab one within a blanket, attempting to see if propping one on an alatr would destroy them. He was able to test his hypothesis with the ooze. As it hit the shrine it exploded in numerous coins.

With great skill they drove back the oozes, with only one being able to retreat back into the cracks of the wall. Meeting all together the party gathered their wits and rested for a short time. Nundro Rockseeker explained the crystal was an audio recording device and playing it the party found out it was made by an Acolyte of Abathor called Gul'Kathanan. He warned of a Solar Eclipse and that his fellow acolytes have grown soft and complacent and ignoring warnings that their god is not pleased. While re-entering the mine to dispatch the last ooze and attempt to find potential treasure to use against Cryovain and possibly defend Phandalin. Entering they made slow progress, taking it slow and making sure Idris was more cautious than was his norm. Siax found a hollow pillar and after some searching Idris found a switch opening it up, revealing gemstones and Dwarven skulls. Pine spent some time and put the spirits here he could sense to rest.

Further exploration revealed an additional two crystals, revealing further warnings about Abbathors displeasure and how the other Acolytes ignored Gul'Kathanan. Avoiding a pit trap due to Siax's eagle like perception the party found and dispatched the last ooze within the temple. Inside the room with the pit trap two studded leather armor suits were found made out of red leather and golden studs that were covered by more leather. Going deeper into the temple they finally saw a partially collapsed room with odd colors coming from it. Fearing a collapse the party wanted to leave but the Dwarves would not leave so close to their destination and left to go get their mining gear. Pine went to work building reinforcements, ensuring a collapse would be less certain. It took them all several hours of digging to make a small hole, enough for a medium creature to squeeze through at least. Idris went first, becoming fascinated by the odd colorful jewel that rested on a metal piece that itself stood on a pedestal, almost enough that he did not notice this 7 foot tall statue of a Dwarf grinning greedily, looking down at the gem.

Koraliki Verque had been keeping watch for all this time, joined at the end by Siax. She spied on some passing orcs and goblins that we're heading east, apparently looking for a new home. They did not seem to see the ravine the Dwarven Expedition lay in and after a while Nundro Rockseeker came to fetch Siax. Moments before Idris went for the gem, Siax's arrived. He agreed that they should take the gem but pointed out it rested on a preassure plate. Removing it would activate...something. Idris came up with an ingenious plan, to use coins to balance a rock and quickly replace the gem with it. Acting fast, they did the swap but before they could celebrate a coin fell off and the rock fell down. The earth groaned and started shaking. The temple started to collapse. Running in all haste, the supports Pine had made barely lasting for a few seconds but enough time for everyone to make it out. Almost everyone that is, as Pine stumbled and was crushed by rock and earth. Miraculously, the others surged forward and dragged his broken body out, Idris being knocked out in the process only to find that life clung strongly to this cleric. Pine yet breathed. 

Making a small camp, Koraliki Verque and Siax keeping watch, the party was able to rest next to the now once again buried ruin. Waking, nursing bruises and pains, they slowly packed. First to wake was Pine who meticulously performed final rites over the mound that the ruin had become. As the sun came up, it's rays streaming past him, all that could be seen from below was his outline across the sky, methodical movements akin to a dance.

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Audiologs

These four crystals were found in the now buried temple of Abathor. They detail a horrid story.

Crystal One, found in the body of one of the oozes.

An Acolyte of Abathor called Gul'Kathanan. He warns of a Solar Eclipse and that his fellow acolytes are being lazy and ignoring warnings that their god is not pleased

 

Crystal Two, found in the chamber where the three stone frames lay.

The same priest hears the rumbles of the mountain and talks about how the temple is slowly collapsing as the eclipse aproaches.

 

Crystal Three, found in the small stone font that was filled with stone coins.

A recording of an acolyte speaking to the High Priest about Gul'Kathanan's warnings. He is discounted and the high priest orders that he be found and silenced.

 

Crystal Four, found at the final chamber where the mysterious gem was held.

The temple now being destroyed, the acolytes being turned into ooze, Gul'Kathanan tries desperately to escape by casting his soul elsewhere.