The Pool that Glows at Dusk

Operation Details

During our last missions to the divine/sacred pools, we were able to successfully collect the materials from the divine pool in the caldera, but we ran into issue when we arrived at the divine/sacred pool that glows at dusk. The primary goal of the original mission was to collect the water from the "dusk pool", but we had decided to go to the caldera pool first since we could only collect the water and materials we needed from the "dusk pool" at dusk, and we arrived earlier in the day. In the end we failed to collect the materials from the divine/sacred pool that glows at dusk, so this mission was to specifically go to that pool and collect the required materials. These divine/sacred pools are all located to the north of the camp at the base of Mount Callidyrr.     After talking with Durella, she was able to provide us additional information about this divine pool, and why we had issues in the last mission. She let us know that the pool often doesn't like anyone who has risen a hand to another in the same day. She also let us know that the statues mean no harm. Based on this insight, the group planned to have Doc stealth for the entire journey to the pool, and Aceso would attempt to avoid combat and only heal if absolutely necessary.     As the group was planning to head out, we came across Rudy and his monkey Papavi. He told us that he was here to get revenge against a vampire that serves another vampire that "comes back" and is known for causing "screams". Aujirgix informed him about an encounter he had with a vampire to the south that matched that description of the screams. Rudy and Papavi proceeded to make their way out of the camp likely in that direction.     The team proceeded to head out, following the same path that Aceso had taken to get to these pools previously, by heading north-west through the forest to avoid the town of Lehigh and capital city. About 1 hour into our trip, we came across a small shack which had a strong pungent odor. One of the soldiers informed us that during a mission on the day before, one of them had ate the lunch of the person who was there, and they had turned into a gnome. Aceso decided to take them on a wide berth to avoid the cabin, just in case they had made an "enemy" by eating this person's lunch.     As we continued onward, we started to hear swords clashing and screams of combat in the distance. About 50-60 feet to the south, we saw a huge, armored ogre with 4 goblins on his shoulders, along with 2 other slightly smaller ogres. We discerned that the soldiers fighting them were from Horsa, and we decided to have everyone but Aceso and Doc engage to help out our allies. The two smaller ogres used chains to attack in an area attack around themselves or by flailing at a single target. Two of the goblins on the large ogre carried explosives, while the other two goblins just wielded weapons. In the end we did help kill the ogres and goblins, but Horsa did lose a few of their members in the fight.     During this time Doc and Aceso stayed back and avoided the fight. Doc fed a squirrel during this time, which attracted more squirrels, and led to the squirrels fighting until only one survived. The sole surviving squirrel became attached to Doc, and proceeded to stay with him during the entire rest of the mission.   We had a quick conversation with the Horsa soldiers, including their leader Dancer, before continuing our journey towards the north. We arrived at around 1:30pm in the afternoon and made the decision to wait just outside the "divine pool" until dusk. Aceso would sit with the party, but Doc would hide in the trees just in case we were attacked. After several hours had passed, and just before dusk had arrived, two bears approached from the north, which was also the direction of the pool. As the bears approached and noticed the party, they reared up. Aceso attempted to appease them by throwing the ration he had to the bears, and one did take it, but the other bear approached wanting one as well. Another member threw a ration as well, but it wasn't close enough to the bear. In the end, the bear attacked Aceso, but he didn't fight back. In the end, the party killed the two bears, with a few members being a little put off by it.     The group continued north, and quickly arrived at the divine pool that was glowing in the setting sun. Three of the members stayed at a distance, while Aceso and Doc approached. As Aceso crossed into the area where he had felt a "resistance" during the last mission, he noticed that this time was different. There was no resistance, and the eyes of the statue seemed to be closed instead of open. Aceso then kneeled and noticed that there was also no reflection in the water -- which was the last thing he remembered during his last visit to the pool before blacking out. As he attempted to collect the divine water or pick one of the plants at the edge of the pool, that they both seemed to pull away from him. Thinking it could have been related to being attacked by the bear, despite not attacking back, he asked Doc to try to collect the materials instead. Doc then proceeded to collect 2 vials of divine water, and one of the flowers at the edge of the glowing pool without issue.     Aceso and Doc would then collect various seeds, flowers, shrubs, and other materials from the vicinity of the pool. We also collected 1 sq. foot of dirt, along with all the micro-organisms in it, as well. Aceso and Doc then returned to the party, and the group proceeded back to the camp without issue.