Session 26 - Into the Shadow Pool
General Summary
The Final Hours in the Kel'Nok Mire
From the Shadow Pool, green spectral figures rise and begin to mingle with the living. It's easy to see that some of the spirits belong to loved ones as they embrace some of the Gyésar present at the Mire. Milo hangs out near "Red". What did you mean when you said see Eresh as she is? "Red" notes that most depictions have Eresh as a silhouette of darkness, but the gods can take many forms. Hadúr, for example, might be a dragonborn one day and a tiefling the next. It is the nature of changeling. Milo then asks about Vahlair Victoria (and Victoria's Horses). "Red" knows little about her directly, but from what he heard, she kept her face covered and her mount was more formidabble than she.
Cadence swings by for her Q&A time with "Red". Given that "Red" has lived a long time and seen a lot, what would he do if he was trapped between the wills of two gods? "Red" is perplexed by the question, but responds that he would keep the faith. To which god? The one that came before. "Red" explains that where he grew up, there was Hyperion and the draconic Maws and there was Hadúr. Despite how the dragons might groan and sour, "Red" stayed faithful to Hadúr. Cadence doesn't understand WHY one of the gods ended up in the picture in the first place; why her? "Red" notes that pondering the inner machinations of gods will not lead to a satisfying answer. If you feel your faith in Eresh slipping, perhaps you are in need of cleansing by rot?
Teagan returns to Lady Nok who is more than happy to entertain his many questions, though she is perplexed by his interest in religious figures. Lady Nok notes that followers of Thana tend to graves. Or at least, so she's heard; they don't ever come here as the Gyésar don't have graves. Lady Nok knows little about Vahlair Victoria, but knows that there are many horses to the East. Regarding Kesar'Arrat, Lady Nok notes that usually the Gyésar have little need for him, as they travel by the protective veil of Eresh rather than by silver light. She's heard is followers tend to be sad and melancholic. Lady Nok seems a bit more familiar with Pyrus Fairmane, or at least his "Valkyries". She notes that rumor has it that all the Valkyries are daughters of Pyrus. Very promiscuous that one. Does he get along with Faust? Lady Nok notes the Gyésar are told to travel with caution near Fortune's Coast; she suspects Pyrus wouldn't like a conniving cheater who finds loopholes in laws. On Adore, Lady Nok notes that, on a few rare occasions, the Matchmaker has set up matches for the Gyésar. Has she ever done anything bad? What is your definition of bad? Making a bad match?
As Teagan asks about the miasma. Lady Nok stutters. Sorry, dear, what was that? What's the deal with the spectral people rising from the Shadow Pool? Oh, your parents didn't have that talk with you! (Teagan isn't sure if he has parents). The spirits are those who have died in the past month. They migrate from the Swamps and gather in the Shadow Pool, rising to say goodbye and tie up loose ends. Hey, we saw a really pretty lady who put the spectral figure back in a body. Lady Nok's disposition changes. You stay away from that one! She tries to drive back decay and stop the rot. Elsewhere, Yenush - religious as he is - notes that there are animals among the spectral figures. Assuming what he's seeing are souls, this sheds light on how animals function in the world. Though, there is a slight difference in how the humanoid souls and animal souls manifest.
Eresh's Arrival, the End of "Red", & the Shadow Pool
The group gets front row seats to "Red's" final moments and Milo distributes some Eye of Eresh that he found. As darkness consumes the Mire, Cadence finds that she can still see while everyone else is left in the dark. The lone Gyésar woman steps forward from the crowd, transforming into the rot-covered Eresh. Once a silver-haired head has been summoned upon "Red's" neck stump, Eresh pries open "Red's" rib cage and produces a heart, soon covered in rot. She places the heart in her own ribcage before taking "Red's" soul by the hand and leading him, alongside her Kel'Nok, back into the depths of the Shadow Pool.
And then time plummets and a tall, blue-horned woman stands on the shore. Holding a silver-haired head in her hand, she calls out to Eresh and, after receiving no answer, dives into the Shadow Pool. As the wasteland and the miasma return, very little of the Mire remains. The Shadow Pool is drained of water, but still full of bones. And skulking about are creatures that look like Kel'Nok... but with extra appendages wedged into their slimey flesh. They seem to be swimming despite the absence of water. Quill notes that the taller woman was certainly a dragon (he can tell by the vibes alone).
After watching the warped Kel'Nok for a bit (and picking up on their patterns), the group stealthily moves across the Shadow Pool. At random, everyone briefly feels as if they are trying to breathe water and can feel the sting of acid on their skin. Yenush and Aiaoue are able to note flashes of Sapphire moving through the darkened water, avoiding the shadows that pursue her.
As two Kel'Nok bar the path forward, Teagan goes Allosaurus (oh no, this was a mistake) and Aiaoue notes that they are about to be "real fucking detected" as she activates the Spring Boon and goes bird. Teagan spends the combat either ass in or ass out of darkness. He and Aiaoue tango with one of the Kel'Nok, physically unable to let go until the creature is eventually felled. Arkyn moves to the pile of bones and sees a vision of Vil'Ashri moving bones and descending; she is not pursued by the acidic water or the Kel'Nok. Before Arkyn can do anything, he is charmed and compelled to move away. Cadence gets Spirit Guardians up to try and hold off another pair of Kel'Nok that arrive. Yenush suddenly experiences bouts of seizures until Milo dips over to rectify that. Teagan breaks out into hives but he hardly notices... he doesn't wear armor.
Teagan makes his way over to the bones as Aiaoue goes to pick up Arkyn. He's able to find the entrance... but it seems to be blocked by darkness. You might need someone else to open up the Temple. Once Cadence makes her way over, the Temple opens, and everyone ducks inside.
The Temple of Eresh
Despite the land outside being desolate, there are still mushrooms that grow here, warped as they may be. There is a ring of mushrooms in the center of the room, incomplete. Looking eveyrthing over, the group surmises that completing the mushroom ring may activate whatever trap door lies in the center.
Entering one chamber, the group briefly sees Eresh before a vision of Vil'Ashri enters. As Eresh vanishes, figures of light pry themselves free from murals partially obscured by fungus. A wave of darkness then consumed the room. Avoiding the figure of light, the group is able to find six lights and turn them off either via moss-carpet turned drapery, molding earth, smacking it, or literally casting darkness on it. With darkness and the protective veil of Eresh restored, the dim lighting returns and the entrance opens. A mushroom, identical to those in the Foyer, waits just before the entrance.
Beneath mushroom and vine are multiple murals:
- A changeling woman chained and beaten by featureless figures that glow ever so faintly.
- A changeling woman performing servant-like duties; while she is beautiful and obedient on the outside, her heart is painted as withered and rotted.
- Under the cover of darkness, a changeling woman flees into putrid swamps.
- The changeling woman rests at the base of a rotting tree; her exterior - covered in rot and pestilence - now matches her rotted heart. She looks peaceful, content.
- A hand is offered to the changeling woman and she takes it.
- Eresh is seated upon a rotted throne with humanoid figures being consumed by Kel'Nok at her feet... her Shadow Pool.
- Eresh surrounded by Kel'Nok and other creature of the bog. In one arm, she holds a young Mushroom Folk as a line of Mushroom Folk follow behind her.
- Eresh stands over a beaten woman in the process of being transformed in a half-humanoid, half-rotted plant creature: a Rot Dryad.
- Hundreds of Gyésar are consumed by Kel'Nok as a Rot Dryad – Lady Nok – and a Gyésar are at the foot of Eresh's rotted throne.
- A depiction of the Kel'Nok Mire, though composed only of afew buildings. Eresh observes from a distance flanked by her Kel'Nok.
- Eresh extending a hand in offering to a group of Gyésar. Bark covers their limbs, mushrooms take hold, and rot paints patterns upon them.
- A depiction of the Gyésanti Caravans, stilt bugs carrying at least 5-6 Gyésar.
- Eresh upon her rotted throne as a silver-haired changeling offers his blade, a red line drawn across his neck.
- A depiction of Eresh summoning pestilence and rot to defend the Gyésar against lizardfolk riding dinosaurs.
- The remaining murlas are depicted to notable people: Gyésar, various Rot Dryads. An entire wall is devoted to masked individuals wearing dark leathers and the red line of Hadúr across their throats. There are thousands.
Heading to the small chamber, the door immediately seals behind the group. While everyone explores the room, Teagan decides to go for a swim and, as he accepts the cold embrace of death, he reappears in the Foyer with a mushroom. After trying and failing to pry open the door, Teagan notes that you just have to jump in the pit. It's going to be bad, but that's what you got to do. Everyone experiences visions of a future plagued by a paranoia and fear... and they all reappear in the foyer with only one mushroom missing.
Aiaoue: We're about to be real fucking detected
Report Date
18 Apr 2025
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Related Characters
Eresh's Arrival (Full Text)
"Red's" Offering to EreshNear Death Scenes
Aiaoue:Your skin burns as you are submerged within the shadowy water’s acidic embrace. The physical agony fades, as images flash interspersed with shadow. That which was stolen from you… mounted and pinned, a trophy for another, never to be reclaimed. Glance is hollow as you stand at the threshold of a now empty home… Alcide’s body your only company. Despite the lack of life, he ages before your eyes until what little time you would have shared has passed. Alone on the surface you remain, unable to return to your family that swims off towards the horizon. Although last to fade, even Omen’s presence vanishes.
Arkyn:
Your hands burn as you are submerged within the shadowy water’s acidic embrace. The physical agony fades, as images flash interspersed with shadow. The Iron Arrow paints a blurry backdrop, though your eyes are focused on the still shocking corpse… the blood that pools from Sayah. And you feel numb to it all. No remorse. Corpses line the train. Time passes, the flowers wilt and grow around Nefeli, but her eyes remain empty. Wrinkles mar her her face as she ages yet is denied life. Silence is shattered by maniacal laughter as you are driven to the depths of insanity in your loneliness.
Cadence:
Your heart burns and aches as you are submerged within the shadowy water’s acidic embrace. The physical agony fades, as images flash interspersed with shadow. The moon’s gentle silver glow is drowned beneath the waves of darkness that spread like pestilence to every corner of the world. Caliban’s influence fades with the moon. You find Aria hollow; devoid of purpose and path, the red threads ripped from her hands. Wherever you turn, only darkness remains. Alone. And even as your caravan screams in agony and pain, you can never return to them. Bound away by tradition.
Darkness weaves with threads of red. The scene beyond blurry and shifting like the tides. One moment, you see drakes pulling familiar wagons beneath silver moonlight… and then a trio of Stilt Bugs with silhouettes riding atop moving swiftly beneath the protective veil of the Shadowed One Below. And then a sickly fog. The Stilt Bugs are destroyed… by rot. And the drakes travel not beneath the full silver moon of Caliban… but beneath a Blood Moon.
Milo:
Your head throbs with pain as you are submerged within the shadowy water’s acidic embrace. The physical agony fades, as images flash interspersed with shadow. A simple piece of parchment is pinned to your home in Eredet. Your home is no longer yours. Inside, rooms once filled with laughter and joy are silent and hollow. A single letter is all you fine. She has left you and taken your boy with her. Written words once built your livelihood… but are now the means through which it is destroyed.
Teagan:
Your lungs burn as you are submerged within the shadowy water’s acidic embrace. The physical agony fades, as images flash interspersed with shadow. Your knees sink to the hard, red-soiled ground of Ragna. You feel desperate fingers claw into your forearms as you are pulled forward. Fear radiates from your daughters as they stare at you in desperation. And they slip… falling into the sink hole churning below. Daggers pierce your heart. The obsidian shatters. You lose everything… and they all remain unburied.
Yenush:
Your arm jerks and pierces your flesh as you are submerged within the shadowy water’s acidic embrace. The physical agony fades, as images flash interspersed with shadow. The courtroom you stand in is familiar. The scale above the justice’s stand tilts; a bell tolls, the sword swings. Yelkin’s corpse is carried out. You protest the injustice; this was no trial. Unfair. The metal arm is ripped from you, and you are cast out. The wheel turns and breaks; and you are helpless to intervene. The world shatters.
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