2025-12-11 As Above, So Below

Moving on towards the High Hall, a flying construct barred the way along the avenue, pronouncing, "Forbidden! Turn back!"

The construct attacked when we did not retreat, and we eventually brought it down. Our creepy follower verified the construct was what it had called a "Gardener". Pern also noticed a patch of new, green grass growing amid the ashen remains of the tree-lined avenue, in defiance of winter's chill. We considered the possibility entities like this may be responsible for the reconstruction around Elturel. We also considered they might be celestial in origin, given the way the construct ignored necrotic and radiant attacks.

Completing our journey to the ruins of the High Hall, we found the only likely destination the staircase into the catacombs beneath the ruins. Brightstar, her enthusiasm for adventuring seeming dimmed, chose not to accompany the rest of us into the crypts. In the dimly lit and half-collapsed catacombs, we confronted the last inhabitants of the catacombs: an acolyte of Torm called Pherria, clutching the Tome of the Creed Resolute to her bosom, and a half dozen other folk.

Sadly, none of these people survived the return of Elturel to the material world. Pherria was crushed by a collapsed section of ceiling, though her devotion to Torm permitted her to linger as some form of corporeal undead. The rest also died, becoming spiteful specters and shadows. Pherria insisted someone named Paelias was coming back to rescue them, but the specters and shadows refuted and mocked her. Fisk, with whom the rest of us had confided the goal of our journey, engaged Pherria in conversation, and revealed he knows this Paelias person, and that he is not returning. When the specters and shadows manifested, Ovak attacked on instinct, triggering a battle with the incorporeal undead. We destroyed the shadows and specters, then faced Pherria. We traded a few words, then she attacked when Ovak lifted a shield found lying with a small, neat pile of apparent valuables. Pherria channeled staggering power, and our eventual victory was hard won. With the catacombs now cleansed of undead, we are alone with the Tome of the Creed Resolute and a few other treasures.