The aboleths bob silently as Kellen carefully descends into the pit.

Destroying the sigils is slow-going, as they seem to be somewhat damage-resistant, but as there is little else of evident concern here, the work eventually gets done.

The last of the sigils go dark as Kei and Gerrard, now assisted by Kellen, are scraped off.

All remains quiet.

Gerrard:

Assuming there is nothing else down here to investigate (any passages or items of interest in this chamber?), Gerrard starts ascending back up through the dark pit.

Kellen

As they rise, Kellen will explain what he gleaned when he examined the runes right before the kraken attacked. So it seems that those runes were channeling energy into that kraken...I would think we just weakened it. I don't like our chances of finding it tonight...perhaps we should go back, rest, and we can start up a search for it when it's light out.

Gerrard:

"I have no idea how we would track it thorough the ocean," says Gerrard, "So there is little else I think we can do until it shows up."

Looking at himself, he adds, "I am not sure how I will even rest in this state."

Kellen

Kellen nods. First things first is getting you to a temple that can remove this curse. Kei and I can take a boat...I suppose you could hold on to the hull like a big ugly barnacle he smirks at his bad joke.

Let me reach out to my contacts again...I'll find us a ship that can get us to another port.

Kei 

Kei begins the slow journey back to more tolerable waters. "Perhaps Nhatharaq and Yalathrok will have a way to track the kraken. They did seem quite interested in enslaving it, maybe they know where it might be headed". 

Kellen

Kellen shakes his head and huffs. I trust those things less than Joell'n's ability to hold a meaningful conversation. But I suppose we can use them....they sure used me long enough he finishes angrily. He stops swimming up for a moment and looks at the other two. Whatever happens, they can't stay here. Not in the Styes. That has to be part of the deal...they leave and never come back. Or we make them.

Gerrard:

”Agreed,” replies Gerrard to Kellen.  

About the boat to get to a cure, he says, “I know getting my condition cured might be harder the longer it affects me, but I can’t leave until the kraken is dealt with and the aboleths return to whatever dark, deep hole they came from.  Let’s finish this, then see to my malady next.”

Kellen

Kellen considers this a moment, then says Ok, I'll make you a deal. We'll spend the whole day at first light looking for any sign of the thing. If we find it, or feel like we're closing in, fine. But if not, we go and get you taken care of. It's all well and good to be noble and self sacrificing if that's your thing, but if you turn into one of those things, then you won't be of any help to anyone except the damned aboleths.

Gerrard:

Considering a moment, Gerrard says, “Done.  If we can’t find it, no sense sitting around waiting for me to mutate.”

 As they continue upwards, he adds, “If the Aboleths don’t know where the kraken is, I say we check out the city proper to see if it is trying to fulfill its prophecy of destroying the Styes or perhaps the submerged wreck where the blue boil undead were coming from.”

Kellen

The blue b-do I want to know what that is? Kellen says, looking mildly disgusted.

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Gerrard:

Remembering the map, Gerrard makes sure they show Thornwell that as well…

”Janore waits in the kitchen, on alert.  "I... I had more visions last night. Something about the halfling's shoes..." – she points to Peri's slippers – "and the sunken Tammeraut, and something about an invasion. One of the things must have dropped a document in their first assault," – she holds up a single piece of damp, crumpled parchment showing barely legible lines and writing. "It's a map, a navigator's map from the Tammeraut, I think. Waterproofed once, although it has clearly spent years in the depths. My vision showed me where to find it – it was in the mess in the larder – and helped me understand it. It shows Firewatch Island, and the nearby coast, and the city – The Styes – and has diagrams that convey a plan for using this island as a staging ground for a full-on assault against the mainland. I think there are more of these dead things. They're coming from the Tammeraut." ”

 
Gerrard relates the story of the fight with the undead and the now-deceased priest’s visions to Kellen.

The party ascends from the pit, joining the aboleths in the runs of Landgrave’s Folly.

"We should have enslaved it, Nhatharaq. You should heed my wisdom sometime," declares Yalathrok to its companion, their conversation quietly buzzing in your head.

"It is free now," replies Nhatharaq. "Free of the religious poison that Sgothgah fed it. We are done here."

Ignoring the party, the two aboleths begin to float toward the northern exit and the open sea.

Gerrard:

”Wait!” thinks Gerrard at the aboleths, “Where is the kraken?  Is it still bent on destruction of the city as the cultists envisioned?  And where are you going?”

Kellen

Kellen shakes his head as he listens to Gerrard's story. Aboleths, undead, krakens...you guys have the worst luck I've ever seen.

Seeing the aboleths swim away, he hears Gerrard speaking to them. He'll add in You will be leaving, but the kraken must be found first. You will help us any way you can, and then you can return to wherever it is you've come from. You think this thing is going to stop with the Styes? It'll come after you next.

persuasion 15

Kei 

Kellen's remark gives Kei the jitters. They had had some awful luck. But they had come though their journey somewhat unscathed. Sort of. He quickly snaps back to the here and now. The aboleths where leaving and taking with them perhaps the only way to track the kraken. "You must help. At least tell us of a way to follow the young monster" he pleads telepathically. 

"The kraken is free. I regret it would have made a potent slave. But what it does now matters not – the mortal world is not of our concern until your filthy infections spread to ours. We now return to the Endless Nadir, and you to yours."

Kellen's telepathic words fall on deaf alien brains. "Go home, mortal. Stay dry, stay elevated. Do not probe the deeps."

"The creature is gone, free of its tether to your city. We know not where it has swum. We only hope your religious infections have not poisoned the kraken's mind permanently."

The two aboleths continue to drift toward the exit.

Gerrard:

Sighing, Gerrard says, “It appears we will get no help here.  Let us travel tonight to get me to healing, unless you think we should ensure the Styes are safe first.”

Kellen

Yeah, yeah, go on and get out of here with your tentacles still intact. Slimy, good for nothing squids. If I see you back here again, I'll kill you myself.

Kellen takes a breath before answering Gerrard, watching the aboleths the whole time. Gotta go back to the Styes anyway to find a boat...we can make sure a giant octopus isn't terrorizing the place. And hopefully get some rest...I feel like I haven't had a real night's sleep in ages.

Unless you have further business in the runs of Landgrave’s Folly, you ascend. The night is black, and Joell'n has drifted a short distance from where the ruined spire breaks the surface. He awakens with a start. Standing and pulling upon his single oar, he slowly directs the vessel toward you. It is well after midnight.