Wednesday, September 20th, 2017
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A week’s worth of waiting for the ramifications of opening a simple door culminates in mundane normality. Beyond the door, our party finds the stairwell that Orik had described, leading downwards into relative darkness save for a few torches providing minimal light.
While the party descends the stairs, Niko sees a flash of scribbles on the far wall; he is instantly reminded of the strange writings that appeared to him in the catacombs underneath the Glassworks. This time, however, the letters are accompanied by a vision of a young, white-haired girl being shunned by a group of children. Another figure reaches out a hand to her, but then locks her in another room. Niko is disturbed and relays the information to the group. There is some brief discussion that perhaps Niko is beginning to go mad.
Beyond a room filled with decaying statues, all of which are engraved with a familiar seven-pointed star, Silas casually walks through a narrow hallway, triggering a mechanical trap. The party had focused their trap-finding efforts in the previous room, but not here.
Two portcullises drop down, trapping Silas between them as a pair of statues swing giant glaives at their new prisoner. Try as they might, Niko and Fobias are unable to lift the portcullis and Silas is slashed again. Just then, the floor opens beneath him! With catlike grace and agility (unexpected from such a top-heavy barbarian), Silas grabs hold of the gate as it raises up. As the trapdoor returns into place and the trap resets, the party jumps across the gap and collects themselves.
A faint flickering light is emanating from beneath the northern door. They enter.
They see a round room littered with grotesque artifacts, scrolls, and drawings, lit by several flaming skulls. At the far end, up near the ceiling, a demonic hound slowly circles, saliva dripping from razor-sharp fangs. On the other side, next to a still fountain, stands the breathtaking figure of a beautiful woman, her back to the group.
She seems to know much about them. More than anybody should.
A puddle of water overflows from the fountain and collects in the middle of the room. It rises to form a two-dimensional mirror standing between the Sandpoint Four and the woman.
The figure directs the foremost party member, Silas, to gaze into the pool and see what the Mother can offer him. One by one, the adventurers each look into the portal, which shows them the possibilities if they lay down their arms and join the Mother of Monsters.
Silas sees himself glorified in battle, fueled by Gorum’s bloodlust. He is eventually overpowered by another figure, who offers him the opportunity to become the Mother’s Champion.
Niko sees a gruesome reminder of his secret past. The woman emphasizes how the Mother can remove the existence of this memory from the face of the earth and finally grant Niko absolution.
Krask sees himself as a gaunt-faced beggar, a kobold with nothing. With the Mother’s help, he can accumulate the largest dragon-hoard the world has ever known and have everything he desires.
Fobias sees a village in which he is not appreciated or accepted. Joining the Mother, he could become a respected chieftain, loved by a thousand faithful followers who would gladly give up their lives for him.
Although they are intrigued and enticed by the offerings of this woman (who they’ve gathered is Nualia), none of them accept, citing valid reasons for their actions. Silas is reminded of Gorum, who would not be swayed so easily. Niko believes that Desna’s grace has already bestowed forgiveness. Krask relishes in the freedom of making his own choices. Fobias acknowledges his loneliness as having made him stronger. Nualia is disappointed and a battle begins.
Right away, Nualia lands a devastating blow to Silas who immediately falls unconscious. What’s worse? The flying hellhound bellows a terrible howl that panics the rest of the party into fleeing from the room at a dead run, and Niko triggers the whirling portcullis trap in his haste. Without knowing Silas’ fate, the other three are forced to wait in pained agony while the mechanisms complete their cycle and the portcullises are raised. Finally, the crash back into the room and see Nualia reopening a scar on Silas’ unconscious face.
What is causing Niko’s seemingly rapid descent into madness? Will the party be able to overcome imminent death and thwart Nualia’s plans? Is Nualia nothing more than Howie Mandel in a convincing cosplay?