Beneath the Surface - Episode 40

After Juric left, the group continued to travel deeper within the swamp, where the waters grew darker with the red and black liquids. Fix, using levitation, and Forsythe, using his eagle form, both saw gray patches among the pools of the swamps. Investigating one, they found it chipped much like slate. 


Moving onward, Forsythe flew ahead to scout and dropped off TTC to scout from the ground. They both came across a construct with whips as arms. They also spotted one of the creatures described as being riders for the broken hounds and followed him to spot three others. Watching them for a moment, they seemed to be waiting on something, while the construct was guarding the area. As the party approached, rather noisily, another construct made itself known as it approached. As they fought these creatures, they noticed more broken hounds came up out of the hardened gray pond they seemed to be gathered around. 


Once they were able to kill all these creatures, they began to investigate the pond, which was now melting back into the red and black liquid. Between them they gathered that this liquid had necrotic and enchantment magical auras with a stronger concentration of necrotic magic deep in the center of the pond. They also discovered that this liquid would absorb fire and cause nanites to replicate. 
Fix used his decanter to send fresh, clear water down to the center of the pond and discovered the onyx stone which Forsythe had described seeing. As Forsythe changed into a tentacle to see if he could pull the onyx loose, Fix attempted to dispel the necrotic magic, discovering the crowned skull symbol of Velsharoon. Upon his second attempt, Forsythe was also able to pull it loose and drop it at the edge of the pool. The onyx broke upon hitting the ground. Fix touched it and received psychic damage as it caused an instant headache. 


Again, they investigated this stone to see if they could destroy it. Eventually, Kadath decided to use his sword, shattering the onyx into several pieces. Fix pocketed a couple of the larger ones, while Evangeline gathered the rest and placed them into one of her pockets. Forsythe then felt a nudge as Eldath asked him to again, “heal my land” and he tossed the aquamarine into the center of the pond. Soon clear water sprang up and cleared the pond of the red and black liquid. Forsythe then drank from the pool and received a blessing from Eldath. 


Seeing the pool clear, Kadath checked the Sun card again and saw it had returned to normal. With it completed, they placed it with the other completed cards.

Watch Episode 40