Mysteries Abound - Episode 41

Seeing the waters clearing where they are, the group decides to explore Philolio while they are nearby. While traveling northward, they see the waters in various pools clearing as they head out of the swamp and into the forest. Forsythe keeps an eye out from above, scouting ahead to guide the group. On the third day Forsythe spots ruins in the distance and, scouting closer in, confirms the ruins are of an ancient city long gone and reclaimed by nature. He also finds a large pit that appears bottomless. 

Making their way into the area, the rest of the group spot a sign on one of the ruins carved out in ancient elvish. The sign commemorates the ancestors of the elder elves with a list of surnames. Among the names listed, they recognize a few from their recent stop in Ephremon: Kolleth (same surname as Genlan), Ollinn (Farven’s surname), and Vedrathi (Zybella’s surname). Moving on, they join Forsythe at the edge of the pit and send down TTC to take a look. 

TTC reaches the bottom of the pit and finds a 5’ hole that opens into a chamber below. Looking through this hole, they make out that it is the ceiling of a 35’ circular room dimly lit by a light blue glow. Deciding to investigate further, they each descend into the pit with little trouble. As they are making their way downward, a voice speaks about having a better view of the stars from here. Entering into the room, the group quickly finds a discarded elven skeleton under rubble and a machine that seems to be powering an unstable portal.

The group uncover the skeleton and a ghost appears. This ghost encourages the group to go through the portal to see the stars and steps through the portal. After some investigation and tinkering they confirm the machine does power the portal and are able to fix it so that it is stable. They step through to find themselves in a sphere of dark metal and glass surrounded by what appears to be stars. After disabling a machine that responded quite aggressively to their arrival, they investigated the sphere and made a few unusual discoveries.  

They discovered a suit that was protected by a shield and a set of doors leading to the outside. They also discovered that they are looking down upon the world they know as if looking down on large maps, and soon realize they are much higher than even the sky. The ghost that they followed into the sphere then attacks, attempting to possess one of the party but fails. The party quickly causes the ghost to dissipate then turns their focus to the suit and door. As the shield is disabled Forsythe puts on the suit and with Evangeline’s help he is able to step through the doors of what is an airlock to the outside. Forsythe explores the outside while the rest of the group continue to explore inside where they find three salvageable numenera devices and a lot of obtainium. 

Satisfied with their discovery, they decide to return through the portal. Once inside the previous room, the voice speaks again. This is Illarian Vedrathi, a king and sorcerer who ruled the land, who was killed and left here by his enemies to wait untold years to be found among these ruins and laid to rest.  Giving it a little thought, they gather the bones to take back with them for a proper burial and head toward Ephremon. As they leave the ruins they spot claw marks on the ground, remembering the ghost had mentioned ratfolk they make a cold camp and keep a vigilant watch.

Watch Episode 41