Dimir's Out of the Abyss

Trill conjures a 1/72 scale replica image of the creature that emerged from the lake, pointing at it and replicating its horrid roar so that one of her companions warns their new buddy about the horrors loose in the area.

Aimon cringes at the sight of the replica abomination. And he gestures for Shushar to take a look.

”Not sure if you’re on speaking terms with the Kuo-toa village back that way, but that thing, a hundred times bigger, came out of the lake and started stomping all over the town. It doesn’t sound like it came this way, but you might want to be careful.”

Shushar sees the illusion and gasps as a fearful look comes across his face. He cringes away and stammers, "You saw Demogorgan, the Prince of Madness?" He looks around him nervously. " If what you say is true, I can no longer stay here. I must distance myself from him. I will take you to Gracklestug by boat as it is several weeks faster. Let me gather my things." With that, he scurries into the mushrooms.

"We'll get your crew back, Trill, don't worry," Caelynn reassures with a gentle hand on Trill's shoulder. As she begins helping to pack up the camp, she asks Jimjar or anyone else who might know, "How long will it take to get to Gracklestug? Is it easy to find food on the lake, or should we stock up now?"

Oak is thoughtful, and moves with Caelynn and the others to pack up the camp, and gather and check his things.

He takes a deep breath while he’s still on solid ground. He’s not looking forward to being on a boat again, but at least he feels about a million times better than last time, before hand. That might help.

He re-checks he has his stuff. It doesn’t take long, but he’s satisfied that his bow and axe are within easy reach. An when the light-weight, invisible chest is packed up, with anything they don’t immediately need, he lashes that to his back again too, ready to head out.

Jimjar says, "Crossing the Darklake should take about 4 to 5 days. It would be three weeks if we walked."

 Eldeth adds, "We can fish for most of our food, but we have to cook it thoroughly because many of the fish are toxic. Also, don't drink from the Darklake unless you have a deathwish."

 Shushar comes back about ten minutes later with a large bundle wrapped across his back. In one hand, he is dragging a large rowboat with seemingly little effort. The boat looks like it is made of spin webs braced with zhurkwood. It looks flimsy, but no twigs or rocks puncture its sides. In the other hand, he is holding four thin oars and 3 fishing rods.

Aimon claps Oak on the back as he moves forward to help Shushar with the equipment. 

"Lots of deep breaths and don't look at the water when we're out there. Focus on things far away. You won't notice the rocking so much. Maybe you'll keep what's left of the contents of your stomach, or is it stomachs, inside."

Then he turns to Shushar.

"Are there extra supplies we can bring? Extra water?" he asks. "We have a way to carry a fair bit without it taking up any extra room."

Oak doesn’t look ‘overjoyed’ at the prospect, of days on the water, with nothing to eat but toxic fish!... 

He shakes his head slightly as Aimon passes by. “Thanks!...”, he says without much enthusiasm.

And then, in an attempt to be helpful, “Yes, any supplies can go in here”. He indicates the invisible chest (if that’s even possible). “That way we can keep the boat light, and free from clutter...”.

He’s ready to head out when the rest of the party is. He’s just trying to savour his last few moments on solid ground while he can.

Shushar "looks" at the invisible chest with a confused expression. He says tentatively, "If you have some portable compartment, that would be helpful. As for water, I have this." He pulls out a bronze teapot edges and engraved with geometric patterns . Seeing the looks on your faces, he explains, "This teapot never runs out of tea. You just say what kind you want and it makes it as long as it isn't too elaborate. It can also shoot out a geyser of tea to push things away. I found it in the ruins on the first day."

He takes the boat to the water and waits for everyone to climb in. It is large enough for everyone to have some breathing room. Noticing that some looked skeptical of the boat material, he pulls out a small knife and stabs the fibrous material. You are surprised when the knife shatters into little pieces. He tosses the shards overboard.

He begins rowing through the gentle river and streams across the grove. You pass ancient stone buildings partially collapsed and covered in plant life. Shushar gives them a fond look as you pass them. 

Eventually, you leave the grove and enter deep water. The peaceful sounds and gentle light fade behind you as you immerse yourselves into the darkness. The only sounds you hear are that of Sushar's paddles and the dripping of water. As foretold, the party feels in Gracklestug plenty of fish for the day. The fish are often blind and a pale with long, splintered teeth. The only excitement of the day is when the boat hits a patch of rapids that would put rapids on the surface to shame. The boat spins and bucks around, but no harm happens to it. You hold on for dear life until the rapids end. Afterwards, Shushar calmly continues onward. 

Hours later, Shushar pulls the boat ashore on a rocky surface that juts from the surface of the water. It is about 50 by 30 feet and rises nearly 60 feet from the water at its highest point. Shushar says you will camp here for the night.

Aimon hops out of the boat and helps unloading. He then heads up as high as he can to get a better look at what’s around them.

It's just water as far as the eye can see.

Eldeth will take first watch, Jimjar second, and Shushar 4th. Someone needs to take third and make a perception check.

Offer getting everyone settled down, dinner consists of sour fish and herbal tea from Shushar. While eating, he says, "To let everyone know, I have taken an oath of pacifism. I will not harm another creature no matter how vile it is."

Oak is pleased not to have to sleep on the boat (for tonight at least). Actually, he found he coped quite a bit better this time: maybe it’s because he’s not exhausted any more; or because this boat is better than the raft; or maybe he’s just starting to get used to it? He can only hope!

At Shushar’s last comment, Oak replies “Hmm... an admirable oath... very honourable. But easier to maintain if you keep away from everyone I’m sure! Don’t worry. I will try to protect you if we hit any trouble. Or perhaps you can help all of us avoid trouble where possible!”.

Oak is happy to take the watch. If anyone would like to keep him company he would welcome the company.

Perception check: 19

((can’t remember what we do for dim light / darkvision... if you need a disadvantage roll, here one is: 6 ))

Aimon comes back down to where everyone else is and does his best to eat the sour fish without grimacing.

"The first thing we're doing when we get out of the Underdark is I'm bringing you all home with me for a truly magnificent feast. My parent's chef is an incredibly gifted gourmand. I think he could even take this," he says while gesturing at the fish, "and turn it into something delightful."

He loses himself in thoughts of home for a moment. They must think he's dead.

"I'm not too tired, Oak. Mind if I keep you company on your watch? You puzzle me as much as Caelynn. You came down here intentionally."

(Perception if Oak says it's okay to join him on watch: 20  )

"Turn it into something delightful..." Trill repeats, and Aimon's next bite tastes like roast beef simmered in a brown gravy with braised vegetables.

Aimon laughs with true joy for the first time in what seems like a lifetime, almost choking on the food.

"Now, my fair Lady Trill," he says once he gets the food back down. "Where have you been hiding that skill?"

((Oak will gladly accept Aimon’s company during the watch, when we get there))

Oak sees Aimon choking and laughing about the food. “What’s that? You got a tasty bit?? Aww fair play. What did it look like? Is it these little translucent blobs if cartilage? Or these chewy scales?...”. Oak starts picking through his own fish bits to see if he can find what might have provoked such a reaction.

”Personally I’m missing grass.... Plain old grass.... I’d never thought I’d be somewhere where I wouldn’t just be falling over mountains of the stuff.... Or any greens!... ...I had a tour in the north once. Mostly snow, but you could still dig down to get green leaf from the previous summer.... “.

Trill chuckles.

Oak's next piece of fish gristle tastes like grass, as best Trill can guess. 

She provides flavor disguising services via prestidigitation for the party as they eat.

Caelynn spends the journey meditating and trying to make sense of everything that's happened. Demogorgon... she's sure she recognizes the name from somewhere. She thinks back to everything that she's learned in her schooling and experience.

(Now that we know the name, would you allow me to make another check to try and recall information? If so, arcana, history, and religion all have the same modifier: 22 Also, I believe you mentioned advantage on everyone's next roll earlier, but I could be wrong, so here is a second roll just in case: 15 Edit: damn, guess it doesn't matter much anyways)

Once they arrive, she helps Shushar prepare the meal in any way she can, adding whatever edible plants and fungi she can find nearby.

"You know," she says between bites, "This actually isn't that bad. It's far from the worst I've had down here." Suddenly, her next bite tastes a lot better, like some sort of roast meat. "That's a lot better, though. Kind of tastes like home. Thanks, Trill."

“Oh my!!”, says Oak to Trill. “Miss!.. Yes, that’s a good trick indeed!! Best meal I’ve had in weeks.. or is it months.. I’m losing track!”. He smiles wide and tucks into the now delicious fish chum!

Trill bows, and varies things up a bit, she can keep multiple flavor sensations going at a time, and can heat and chill things as needed, so has a bit of fun making their humble dinner taste like it belongs on the finest tables in the land above. 

Every now and then she probably looses track of a bit of something, and people end up getting a bite of sour fish.