Fully recovered from their fight with the Black Magga, the party decides to head back north towards Skull’s Crossing. Along the way, they decide to check in with Jak and Shalelu at Fort Temros to see how things have gone over the past couple days. According to Jak, nothing has tried to get through the gates. Shalelu has been patrolling the surrounding area and has only found isolated pockets of ogres; there haven’t been any mass gatherings that might be the initial signs of a counter-attack.
Interestingly enough, Shalelu has noticed two sets of strange tracks nearby. One set, created by a humanoid, was leading away from the Fort before suddenly disappearing. The other, more snakelike, appeared to be heading towards the north before also ending abruptly. Fobias decides to investigate these tracks, believing them to be from Lucrecia. Luckily, the tracks pick up again momentarily, leading the party to believe that the lamia isn’t capable teleportation.
After spending the night in the Fort, it’s time to head up to Skull’s Crossing. The view is breathtaking; thousands of skulls dot the cliffs above the valley where the dam is supposed to be emptying excess water. Part of the dam is destroyed, but the damage isn’t extensive enough to alleviate the problems of Turtleback Ferry. It’s time to enter.
The party spends a brief moment scaling the steep cliffs into a rocky tunnel that leads to the top of the dam. While they’re investigating the primitive living quarters, a giant ettin lumbers form around the corner, yelling something about not taking any bribes. Apparently two heads aren’t better than five; the party easily mops up the floor with this creature. Amongst the gruesome bodies stacked up alongside the wall are traces of the Black Arrows including tattoos and other insignia implying as such. The party also finds a few magical scrolls in a small mound of treasure formerly belonging to the ettin.
Once the party has explored the cavern to its fullest, they continue up the next ledge to the main walkway across the dam. As they initially approached, there were several dark shapes (roughly the size of ogres) moving about in this area. Krask peeks his head around the corner to see five tired-looking ogres surrounded by tools and rubble. They charge towards the party but it quickly becomes clear that the ogres’ fatigue is going to be too much for them to overcome.
One by one, the ogres fall to the blades of Barnaby, Fobias, and Trace. Krask’s bolts strike true and Fyn’s acidic darts find purchase in the necks of the filthy monsters. At the end, it’s just the leader of this tiny ogre squad, and he doesn’t prove to be a tough nut to crack either. He falls to the stone ground and the rains begin to pick up once more.
The central structure of the dam looms forebodingly in front of them.
What secrets will be uncovered at Skull’s Crossing? If the Black Magga was causing the massive downpours, why is the weather turning once more? Are there any competent monsters left in Golarion?