Session 21 - Under the Sea

24/05/5-10

The party awoke the following morning and prepared for the conversation with Eletheria. She came downstairs an hour after most of the party had gathered, still looking tired, slowly limping down the stairs. Valeyo asked her if she is ready to talk and she confirmed, wondering why we are here. Otto explained that he had done a ritual to commune with Sardior, which gave him the vision of the dragonborn and the sharks which Milivoj suggested it could point to Akulavod. The visions kept coming back, with the danger increasing, the last one having the water itself freeze, which caused the party to rush here. She wondered how long Otto had been following Sardior, to which he responded it had been a few years, but in his own ways, mostly emulating what other priests did for their own gods, but aiming it at Sardior.

Valeyo wondered why she was here, in the cave and suggested going to a more populous town to spread word of Sardior. She remarked that this whole region, was rather hostile to dragons, due to the long-standing relation with giants. She did also say she had been looking after someone, another soon to be acolyte. A child who was living with her in the cave. A couple of days ago, during the attack. the child gave herself up to the Sahuagin to spare Eletheria. Eletheria remarked that the girl has the potential to be of great importance. Sardior had given her signs, that with the right upbringing, she could be a powerful force for good. The Sahuagin took her, because she had obvious innate magical power.

Valeyo asked if the girl is dragonborn, like herself, which she denied, but said that her power would let her breathe underwater. Valeyo asked about Eletheria's ancestry and explained some of the way dragonborn work to the others. Eletheria said that her family was Copper and Red, with duller scales. Since she was born soon after the Red Moon, she might have been changed. The party realized that she is barely 15 years old, but she retorted that she is old enough, as she had to grow up quickly, not having many friends. Otto wondered when she started worshipping Sardior, she explained that Sardior began speaking to her a while back, helping her cope with the loneliness. Eventually Sardior lead her to this girl, but then she was faced with the Ogre. The staff was a gift from "The Sky, She Bellows". On her way here, there was a storm, she heard a voice in her head saying she was doing a great work for Sardior and a lightning bolt hit the ground and there was the staff.

The party then asked about the girl, Eletheria explained that the girl had no family here, she simply ended up here. She would be very grateful if the group could retrieve the girl. She could provide them with Water Breathing which would last 24 hours and they could ask the fish or try to reason with the Sahuagin. The party discussed how they would proceed with in the water, Valeyo struggling with swimming. Cassini could turn into a shark and lead them. The others talked about they combat abilities underwater, Shiek saying he was untested. Milivoj was unable to attune to the trident, but decided to wield it regardless. Eletheria said that girl's name is Nikoleta and she would be obvious when the party sees her.

On the way, the party wondered how she got on with the town. She explained that they warmed up to her after she healed some fisherman, she didn’t start preaching right away, but slowly over time she opened up about it. Otto shared how hostile people were to other religion in Dragomir and she said she understood it, since the Giants and the 3 Draconic Gods had a strong historical rivalry. Valeyo brought up the Giant Hunter going after the "Green Dragon" spreading propaganda. She said that it may be ralted, as she is kind of green and kind of preaching, stories evolve and change so it could well be her. Otto urged her to be on the lookout and stay safe.

The party arrived at the coast and Eletheria cast Water Breathing and they began walking into the sea. For the first 100ft the water never got deeper than 10ft, showing why it made for a good spawning ground as larger predators would have a hard time coming in close. Soon, many underwater creatures could be seen, including many sharks. After the a while the ocean floor gave way underfoot, rapidly becoming deeper. The water was crystal clear near the coast, allowing Cassini and Sapphira to spot a couple of sharks with weird T-shaped heads, significantly larger than the ones they had seen in the shallows. There was also a group of a few Sahuagin, hunting, skewering fish and trapping them in nets. Further off in the distance, the silhouette of a whale could be seen.

The party decided to approach the weird sharks, and swam towards them opposite of the sahuagin. Cassini cast speak with animals as he approached the group of sharks. He asked the sharks not to eat them and question if they had seen a little girl taken by a group of Sahuagin. Otto and Valeyo noticed that the sharks we moving slowly and calmly, but when Cassini mentioned Sahuagin, they noticed the movements of the Sharks become more erratic, agitated. Sapphira and Milivoj, could tell that the whole group shifted to an attack formation towards Cassini, upon hearing the Sahuagin mentioned. Valeyo warned Cassini of their reaction, but the T-headed shark spoke first. It asked Cassini who he is and why he shouldn’t kill them. Cassini said that they are there to fight the Sahuagin and rescue the girl. The others could tell that the other sharks were preparing to flank Cassini. The head shark looked at him and asked how surface people will kill the mind monster. Cassini shot out a guiding bolt to showcase his power and caused some of the sharks to back away. Cassini said that the Sahuagin took his offspring and the sharks, felt anger at the Sahuagin. The shark say they took their young as well and command them to do their bidding. The shark said they hadn't seen the child, but they would help. Cassini told them that the party would help them retrieve their young and kill the sahuagin, as they had already defeated some of them looking at the trident Milivoj had. The sharks all said "Sharksbane!" as they saw it, with the leaded exclaiming that the party had killed Vaas, the controller. The sharks couldn't help find the Sahuagin, but if Sharksbane was struck against a rock when they are needed, they will come help.

The party decided to head over to the whale, while Sapphira stayed to keep an eye on the Sahuagin and follow them, in case they leave from their hunt. The other group approached the whale, which Cassini recognized as a Sperm Whale, which seemed to be pregnant, likely heading north to give birth. He greeted it, but it simply looked at him, not saying anything. He asked if she had been here long and had seen the sahuagin take a child. It said it is only passing, and wondered if the sahuagin are causing us trouble. Cassini said that they took their offspring and the whale said they have a settlement a few miles further north of here, as it passed by it. It also warned them to be careful, as they don’t take kindly to outsiders, it would advise stealth.

Sapphira was looking at the hunters and saw that they had skewered a number of fish and started swimming north. Being a hunter herself, Sapphira could tell that the four sahuagin there were not experienced hunters, looking like teenagers. She started following them, but soon started falling behind, before deciding to swim at full speed. She then sent a message on the sending stones, letting the group know of her findings, Shiek told her to return as they already knew where their base was. Valeyo suggested trying to reason with them, with Milivoj standing back so they don’t see the trident.

After a few miles of excruciating swimming, an outcropping of rocks could be seen. A small town was built around this underwater hill, it was slightly bigger than Akulavod. Cassini suggested that he could turn into a shark and have the trident meld into his form, so it isn't recognized. Otto used Locate Object to detect the nearest shackle, hoping that would lead to the shark spawn or Nikoleta. The nearest shackle, was away from the town, and moving, so the party assumed it would be the sharks rather than Nikoleta. Otto and Valeyo suggested going to free the sharks first, as they could help if things go backwards, when entering town. Milivoj agreed and the party followed Otto.

About 400ft away, the party saw a group of 8 dolphins, chained up with spikes going through their dorsal fins. One sahuagin stood guard and the group decided to have Shiek try and sneak behind him to knock him out, so that he could be questioned. The sahuagin was knocked out and the party set to freeing the dolphins. The chains using to restrain them looked like old anchor chains from fishing boats. Milivoj using his skills to calm the dolphin down and pry the hooks open from its fins releasing it. Soon he had freed all of the others.

The sahuagin was tied down with the chains and eventually woken up. His first expression was one of abject horror and anger at freeing the dolphins. Valeyo asked why they had the dolphins captured and the sahuagin asked why he should tell them. Valeyo threated to pierce him with the chains he used on the dolphins, which scared him into saying they are food. Valeyo asked about the child and the sahuagin asked if they meant the scaled girl, with the horn. Their old champion had left and Vaas was now in charge, but he has gone out reproducing and hasn't been back. The sahuagin said that the champion left on some quest and now they have brought in a new one - the girl. She will be in the spiritual chasm, the high priestess will be with her. He pointed in the direction and the party left him tied up there. Milivoj mentioned that the party should hurry up, as he had seen rituals before and they are never good. The party used Pass Without Trace and decided to approach the cavern stealthily.

Soon they came up to the chasm. Two large T-headed sharks and 2 normal looking ones were patrolling around. Six sahuagin were at the edge of the chasm looking down. An additional T-Headed shark was saddled and being ridden by a commanding sahuagin. At the bottom of the chasm, the party could see the priestess talking to this new champion of theirs. The group instantly recognized the sight of this new champion - a Young Black Dragon.