Chapter 3: Rafting down the pink river

[shaidar]

Garrant

As the raft approaches the island, Garrant studies the strange glow with interest.

[gurusql]

Frannie

Frannie uses her shield as a two-handed paddle to try and keep the boat heading for the island.

[gurusql]

Land Ho
Early Afternoon of Waterday, 20th day of Planting, 597
15th day since leaving Loftwick

Raft
Androgost (AC -6, HP 39/65, Armor 14/26)
Qleceec (AC 1, HP 42/63)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8) (Continual Light Coin)
Boff (AC 5, HP 60/61)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 19/26)

Mushroom Top 1
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 45/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 48/48)

Mushroom Top 2
Hex (AC 0, HP 23/27, Armor 8/8)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 21/21, Armor 8/8)

After several minutes of testing the currents and fighting the river’s stubborn pull, Boff comes to an epiphany. Every attempt to move at a right angle to the flow only leads to resistance and sluggish drift, but by instead steering directly into the current, he finds the raft naturally drifts sideways, achieving the same cross-current movement with much greater control. The strange geometry of water in this underground lake defies surface-world instincts, but Boff adjusts with a pilot’s intuition.

With Frannie giving quiet but steady strokes on the opposite side of the raft, the craft begins to make its way diagonally toward the mysterious island in the center of the lake. Their approach is slow and deliberate, but effective.

The raft glides onto the rocky shore with a scraping nudge, and the group wastes no time anchoring it among moss and jagged stone. The island itself is roughly circular, about 200 feet in radius. The outer rim, a flat, 10-foot-wide ring of rock and mossy growth, quickly begins to rise in elevation, forming a wide, sloping mound that peaks at roughly 100 feet high. At the summit, there is a flat plateau, perhaps 40 to 50 feet in radius, that commands a view of the entire lake and the glowing beams above.

But what seizes everyone’s attention is what stands atop that plateau.

Three humanoid figures are visible, each standing equidistantly around the circle’s edge, facing inward toward the unseen center. They are moving—waving their arms in strange, ritualistic gestures, fluid yet deliberate. From this distance, the purpose of the movements is unclear—a dance, a spell, a summoning, or something older still. But it is clear this is not random. The four beams of green light from the cavern ceiling converge perfectly above them, and each of the three visible figures is bathed in the emerald radiance, making their motions shimmer unnaturally.

Though only three figures are visible, there is likely a fourth, completing a symmetrical circle out of sight on the far side of the mound.

Standing on the edge on the slope, guarding the approach to the summit, are three towering beings, each between 8 and 10 feet tall:

• One is a living column of flame, its form crackling and pulsing with what appears to be intense heat.
• The second is a muscular humanoid, seemingly forged from molten metal, with burning fists that flicker and surge as it turns to watch the group land.
• The third is not glowing with flame like the other two, so he is harder to make out his features at this distance.

And then comes another realization, two others have just arrived.

About a quarter of the way around the island's perimeter, two massive giant figures descend with eerie silence. It takes only a moment for the party to recognize them: the two flying giants they have encountered before, and not under friendly terms. They are still each carrying a chest. Their dark silhouettes land with heavy grace, massive feet sinking slightly into the mossy rock. They remain at a distance, clearly watching, though whether as allies, information brokers, rivals, or something worse is not yet certain.

The tension is immediate and palpable. The light from the beams casts deep, green-edged shadows across the land. The sound of the lake’s current continues behind them, a low rushing whisper that seems to say: there is no turning back now.

Actions?

[shaidar]

Garrant

Garrant speaks, his voice low "I have a spell and a potion to protect from fire, each will affect a single person."

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec readies her both and one of her +1 arrows.

"Your call on who Garrant. We should all prepare for the biggest battle of our lives."

[ravenn4544]

Androgost nods with a slight smile and a tight grip on his blade, "Indeed... it will be epic!"

[shaidar]

Garrant

Qleceec

Qleceec readies her both and one of her +1 arrows.

"Your call on who Garrant. We should all prepare for the biggest battle of our lives."

"Logic would dictate they are given to our two best warriors."

[shaidar]

Garrant

The wizard-priest thinks for a moment before continuing "I also have a spell that would make someone grow to over twice their normal size. Sir Androgost, if it is acceptable to you, I think you would be the best recipient for the spell."

[GreyWolfVT]

Boff mumbles "Yer all insane. Yer thinkin bout fightin all them?"

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos remains on one knee with his crossbow drawn and waits to see what unfolds

[gurusql]

The calm before the storm
Early Afternoon of Waterday, 20th day of Planting, 597
15th day since leaving Loftwick

Androgost (AC -6, HP 39/65, Armor 14/26)
Qleceec (AC 1, HP 42/63)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8) (Continual Light Coin)
Boff (AC 5, HP 60/61)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 19/26)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 45/53)

Raft
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 48/48)
Hex (AC 0, HP 23/27, Armor 8/8)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 21/21, Armor 8/8)

After the most of the group gets off the raft, planning with Garrant talking about a spell and potion to protect from fire and an Enlarge spell. Qleceec and Androgost talk about how great the tales of this battle would be and Boff has the opposite reaction, "Yer all insane. Yer thinkin bout fightin all them?". Frannie joins here Uncle's side silently waiting for what comes next. Nah Olos on the shore gets on one knee with his crossbow drawn.

The flying giant duo appear to be resting on the beach and certainly not making any hostile actions at this time.

The beings in the green light continue to move around and the three 8'-10' beings remain at the top of the flat part looking down at the actions of the party.

Actions?

[Rex]

Qleceec

"You never know Boff, perhaps not but it certainly looks like this may be the cause of the earthquakes and we best be prepared for combat just in case. Now we should get moving towards whatever is going on over there."

She starts moving towards the light.

[GreyWolfVT]

Boff grumbles nothing intelligible to anyone but himself shaking his head he hesitantly follows Qleceec.

[gurusql]

Frannie

Frannie stays with her uncle Boff.

She asks Boff perhaps rhetorically, "Stone’s Beard! How much bad intelligence can we get? Our kin said it was the Illithids and we never even found them. Those flying giants said it was a giant tentacled creature digging into the core. Now it might all be some wizards. By the Crags, what is going on? Why are those giants that were way ahead of us, coming back to this island. What changed?"

[gurusql]

Two groups
Early Afternoon of Waterday, 20th day of Planting, 597
15th day since leaving Loftwick

Heading up the hill
Qleceec (AC 1, HP 42/63)
Boff (AC 5, HP 60/61)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 19/26)

Waiting on the beach.
Androgost (AC -6, HP 39/65, Armor 14/26)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8) (Continual Light Coin)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 45/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 48/48)
Hex (AC 0, HP 23/27, Armor 8/8)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 21/21, Armor 8/8)

The group, surrounded by the eerie green glow high up the hill and the gentle churn of the underground lake at their backs, hesitates for a moment, trying to formulate a cohesive plan of action. Tension hangs thick in the humid, air as minds race and eyes dart. But a unified decision does not come quickly.

Qleceec, ever the bold one, takes initiative. With a determined nod and grip tightening on her weapon, she signals Boff and Frannie and anyone else to follow her. The three begin ascending the slope of the island’s hill on the best path that Qleceec can lead, angling directly toward the trio of strange figures beneath the emerald beams of magical light. Their movement is steady, measured, but unmistakably assertive.

Nah Olos, wary of any unseen threat, remains back near the raft. He plants one knee firmly on the soft fungal earth, keeping his crossbow trained up the incline. His eyes flicker between the glowing figures at the summit and the large shapes lingering along the island’s perimeter.

Siouxsie, Hex, and Raffi quietly disembark from the raft, the wet mushroom pieces creaking beneath their weight. They regroup with Androgost and Garrant, who have positioned themselves slightly further up the beach, crouched low, waiting for the right moment to act, or react. The atmosphere is tense with anticipation.

Then, movement.

The two enormous beings stationed around the edge of the island and known to the group from earlier encounters, begin to stir. Slowly at first, but with purpose. They rise to full height and collect their chests. With ponderous steps, they begin walking, angled toward the hill but clearly heading up the hill just at an intentionally slower pace then the group lead by Qleceec.

And the green light above continues to pulse, quiet, steady, and watching.

[shaidar]

Garrant

"If we have a chance of succeeding then we need to be proactive, and do this together."

He hurries to catch up with Qleceec and hands her a potion "To protect from fire."

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec takes the potion from Garrant. "Thanks Garrant. Lets wait for the others to catch up, it looks like the giants are now moving."

She waits for the others to catch up.

[GreyWolfVT]

Boff waits for the others to catch up as well.

[ravenn4544]

Androgost also makes his way up the hill. He removes and consumes his potion of (extra) healing to refresh himself before committing himself to the glory of battle and eventual victory.

Do we happen to have a map to help look at our options for tactics?

[shaidar]

Garrant

Garrant looks at Androgost "I have a spell to protect you from fire, and to also to enlarge you to closer to their size. Do you wish both?"