The Age of Worms/ The Spire of Long Shadows pt. 11 / Bora the 1st, 3593 CE / 11-12-23

Not By Choice are engaged in a dark descent into the heart of Kulath Mar. The only way forward is down, as they ride Nari's flying wagon to the very bottom of the pit at the center of Caius's ancient ziggurat. In the midst of this plunge into a darkness, they have passed many strange tunnels in the in the chasm's walls, and now learn to their horror what those passages may contain, as a large, worm-like creature plunges into their midst thrashing upon the deck of the wagon. As the party scrambles for footing, they attempt to beat back the beast until Rados attempts a risky gambit, thrusting his hand into the worm-creature's maw, which it predictably encases in its razor sharp teeth and letting loose two magical fireballs down its gullet, exploding the monster from within. In an instant the writhing creature is turned into a disgusting mist streaking the walls of the hollow with its slimy remains. The remaining descent by comparison proves rather uneventful. At the bottom of the chasm is a plain stone chamber, with corridors leading east, west, and south. Its most distinctive feature seems to be the shattered body of the Caius knight which was previously plunged into the chasm by Jozu. Nari approaches the fallen knight, looking for loot or clues, when suddenly, a wave of green worms emerges from the wall to sweep over the knight, Nari and Jozu. The bites of the worms carry a venom with effects both immediate and stultifying. The pair withdraw as the worms are splatted by the Victry siblings and blasted with the magical flourishes of Rados. The swarm, diminished but not destroyed, withdraws into the corpse of the fallen knight, rejuvenating it with Caius's dark magic. The archon recognizes the undead creature as Indarna, one of Caius's most faithful lieutenants in life and a dangerous opponent. This time there is no question of diplomacy as the fight is immediately engaged with the restored Caius knight, but Indarna proves to be a powerful foe, holding his own singlehandedly against Not By Choice's combined might. A turning point in the battle comes when the knight lowers his sword but raises his arms not to strike but to grapple, seizing Jozu and running down the southern corridor and right off a ten foot drop and into a lake of writhing worms. Nari, fearing the loss of another companion, responds with lightning speed, using her magic to turn into an air elemental and conjuring a whirlwind to recover her "feather dragon" from beneath the squirming waves. She watches as Indarna calmly sinks into the inky depths of the lake, realizing also that the worms cover only a surface layer of the watery pool. Recovering once more topside with her companions, Nari and Not By Choice plan their next steps.