The home of the Counsel of Ages smelled of moss and the humidity hung heavy in the air as water trickled slowly of the many stalagmites and stalactites perforating the caves. As the spirits accompanying the rag shack group body jumped, Mono and Kamon came back to consciousness It took them a few minutes to gather their wits and take part in the ongoing debate on what to help the Naiads with first, if help was indeed what they wanted.
The consensus was fast, they wanted to head to the trade platform first in hopes of removing whatever threat was presented and open possibilities to get their hands on a bit of equipment before taking on the Drakes or the Grindylow tribe.
The Naiads proposed adjusting some of the scale armor they had found to now also haphazardly fir Mono, providing a bit more protection all around. With a bit of ingenious thinking the Naiads were also persuaded to supply a hefty volume of fish for bait, air bags for underwater travel and Sea Peas as flotation devices for heavier armor. The rest of the day was spent waiting for the modifications and for Mono to gather different pieces of knickknack, including a pearl necklace some of the residence reluctantly gave him.
The Naiads had provided them with decently solid raft made up of strong seaweed and more Sea peas with which they embarked on their journey down river, with a net of fish trailing in front of them meant as bait for the two oozes left in an adjacent room during their entrance.
Lo and behold the trick worked and the two oozes now to root in the river leading to the Grindylow tribe and they could in relative safety continue towards their destination let by the strange Eidolon, Mushu acting as scout.
Mushu senses revealed a small sea bank in a cavern ahead adorned with the usual maw of Stalagmites and Stalactites. On the small island several Sea Gremlins called Harivas was digging for treasure with their pet Uriptorids. The engagement was short and brutal and after making short work of the devils a bit of rummaging uncovered a bit of treasure and trinkets worth saving. Some even magical in nature.
Bandages were applied while they continued down the river passage on their little barge. As they neared the trade post wails of pain and misery echoed through the tunnels accompanied by the trailing smell of death and fire. They entered the huge cavern and a macabre scene played itself in front of them. In one end nearest to the dastardly group a small group of wounded survivors were huddled up, crying, and pleading for their life. In the other end the assailants were kicking prisoners on board a barge heading south. An enormous, brutal looking Seahaugine was flanked by two Ice serpents and guarded by three Grindylows.
The two parties met in a bloody massacre, but not before one of the council members who had journeyed with them, namely the seat of Longing was harpooned straight through his chest and pulled to his gory demise in the grasp of the massive Seahaugins sharklike maw. Mushu engaged with thorn, branches and bark and proved a hard nut to crack as it protected everyone and giving his allies ample room to finish all opposition of. Many and epic deed were performed that day, to many to recount.
With victory in hand but seeing that the barge of prisoners had disappeared, they focused on wounded survivors, a group of Naiads and water spirits while liking their own wounds, mainly Shiros and getting back in fighting shape. They were a pathetic lot, crying, wailing and without hope even with the best efforts to calm them. But ultimately one of them managed to get himself together to ask what could be done of his kin that had been taken, and the heroes was quick to promise to save the taken from their pending doom.
They offered way of transport through a portal to their realm while mentioning that the veil between worlds were thinner than usual. Their hometown offered many possibilities as one big trade post.