lurking dangers

Fix decides to dig up whatever the glint of gold is. With Forsythe’s help, they uncover a large golden bell. After examining it, Fix rings it. While the group waits and listens, they hear two sounds. One is the crashing of trees from a great distance, the other is screeching in the treetops much closer. A few minutes later a hawk-like humanoid attacks Fix who stayed at the bell. They are able to kill the creature.

Taking a moment, Forsythe communes with nature to learn that the forest seems to guard a particular area at the edge of his spell. He also senses fey and celestial energies from that same area. Wanting to check it out, he takes flight and discovers ruins. He also manages to see the huge gorilla making a path through the forest.

Evangeline pulls out her book and key, quietly asking Tamara to show them the way. The key moves to point in the same direction. Watching, Kadath asks to see the key card and realizes the picture is identical to the key. Evangeline lets them know the direction she believes their goal is and begins to head that way.

Fix rings the bell again, wanting to call the golden dragon, instead seeing another on the horizon. The crashing trees stop as the group sees a huge red dragon flying toward them. With a quick connection to his mother, Fix learns to avoid the red dragon’s fire. As battle ensues, the dragon tells them to let the gold sleep. Once the red dragon is dead, they attempt to ring the bell a third time without any response.

Evangeline continued to move in the direction the key pointed, eventually slowing down and allowing the group to catch up to her. Once they reach the ruins, and through their arcane knowledge, they find a half covered sphere of magic surrounding a platform. In the center is an altar where a fair skinned, golden haired young woman lays. After some deliberation, Kadath takes the key and uses levitation to go over the gap surrounding the platform.

Electric shock stings Kadath as he passes through the sphere and lands on the platform. When he takes his first step, the woman moves quickly into a defensive position. Kadath attempts to talk to her but realizes there is no sound, he also realizes that his gestures also go unnoticed. Forsythe joins him, also being shocked, and begins to speak with her telepathically. Eventually, Kadath is able to use the key to reveal the lock on her shackle and releases her.

Once they are able to remove her from the sphere, she grabs her ears in pain. Fix hands her cloth to muffle the sounds and identifies the jewelry she is wearing, all of them cursed to prevent removal. After covering her eyes, Forsythe removes the circlet cursed with blindness. He then heals her to aid in healing her eyes and ears.

Evangeline pulls out her pendant of the blue starburst and places it into her hands. The woman recognizes the symbol asking if she is a Brightsun. Needing rest, they begin to look for a place for the night.

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Episode 86