The War Without End – Episode 1.8

Massingleigh is the first to descend into the belly of the wreck. Down below, there are barrels and crates strewn all over the hold, though it would appear that much of the cargo is missing. The reason for this becomes apparent when two zombies lumber into view carrying a large crate out through a gapping hole on the port side of the ship. It is clear that the zombies are former members of the crew. Close behind them are an Aquatic Elf and a large shark that appear to be overseeing the removal of the cargo. When the Elf realises that he has been discovered, he and the shark head out through the hole and set off toward the reef.

Massingleigh bounds back up the stairs, doing his best to warn the others before jumping over the side and setting off in pursuit. Shilaze follows him while Korbin and Ebon head for the hold. Elsabeth and Graffan remain on the deck.

Massingleigh and Shilaze quickly catch the lumbering zombies. Shilaze takes a swing at one and her sword bites deep, causing it to stagger and drop the crate, but as she is about to finish it, she is forced to divert her attention toward a squid that attacks her from amongst a cluster of nearby weeds. At the same time a female Aquatic Elf swims into view and fires a coruscating ray that hits Shilaze and causes her to weaken.

Despite the effects of the ray, Shilaze turns on the squid and dispatches it with ease. It shimmers and vanishes, a clear indication that it was a magically summoned creature.

Meanwhile, Massingleigh charges the Elf and the shark, and Graffan calls for aid from the god Heironeous. The two zombies immediately crumble to dust and their remains drift slowly toward the seabed.

As Massingleigh closes in on the male Elf, the female attempts to cast another spell on Shilaze. Before she is able to complete the casting however, Elsabeth sends a barrage of magic missiles streaking toward her from the deck of the ship. They erupt all around her and in their wake, all that remains is a lifeless body floating in the water.

Seeing this, another Aquatic Elf unwisely breaks cover to throw a poisoned dart at Elsabeth. The projectile skims through the water and hits the sorceress in the shoulder. A flash of anger momentarily crosses her features and then she pulls out the dart and casts it aside. The Elf barely has time to realise his mistake before he too is enveloped in a torrent of magic missiles.

At that moment Korbin and Ebon arrive on the scene. Having found the hold empty, they emerge through the hole in the hull and move to assist Shilaze and Massingleigh.

Shilaze and Korbin take on the shark while Ebon goes to assist Massingleigh with the remaining Elf and an octopus that has now joined the fray. Ebon cleaves the octopus in two and like the squid it disappears. The shark doesn’t last much longer.

“Surrender or die” Massingleigh commands. Though because they are underwater it comes out more like “Blub… Blub Blub… Blub… Blub”. Unsurprisingly the Elf does not comply, and makes one last effort before Korbin expertly finishes him.

Once the opposition are all dead, Shilaze, Ebon and Graffan set off across the seabed in the direction the zombies were heading in, while Massingleigh, Korbin and Elsabeth remain at the wreck and thoroughly search it for the message. Those searching the wreck find nothing of note but it soon becomes apparent to Shilaze, Ebon and Graffan that the zombies were heading for an island that is up ahead. When they reach it they discover a rock overhang that conceals an entrance to a series of underwater caverns.

Massingleigh, Korbin and Elsabeth follow them in the boat and, when they catch up, the company descend into the waters once again. They warily enter the caverns.

For many hours they follow the naturally formed tunnels deep beneath the island. Their only encounter during this time is with a group of fish-men who stay hidden in the weeds and then attack without warning. However Shilaze and Ebon stand firm at the front of the group and Elsabeth supports them with a multitude of magic missiles. Together they decimate the opposition. Only one fish-man survives and he swims off into the darkness.

Fearing the creature has gone for reinforcements they set off in pursuit but, under the water, he is much faster than they are and they lose him.

Eventually they find a passageway that leads upward at a gentle incline and after some time they come to the surface of a small pool in another cavern. At last they are able to leave the water.

While the more heavily protected members of the group drain their armour, Korbin carefully investigates a section of cargo netting that appears to be the only means of getting out of the room and up onto the next level. Once he is satisfied that it is safe, he nimbly clambers up and into the large cavern that extends beyond.

Suddenly there is a loud hissing and clicking and a gigantic insect scuttles out of the shadows. It towers over Korbin, spitting acid, its wicked looking mandibles snapping at him menacingly. Massingleigh is the first to react. He charges to the rescue, scaling the net in an instant and joining Korbin in the room. But with alarming speed, three more of the gigantic insects converge on them. One grabs Massingleigh from behind, crushing him in its mandibles and dragging him away from the entrance.

Seeing her friends in trouble, Shilaze makes short work of the netting despite being burdened by her heavy armour. And together she and Korbin valiantly try to save Massingleigh while fending off the insects that are all around. Unfortunately Ebon, who is also desperate to help his friends, finds the climb more difficult and can only struggle in vain to reach them.

Though it is difficult to see what is occurring from the room below, things appear to be going sufficiently badly that Elsabeth risks throwing a fireball into the fray. Luckily it is well aimed and though there is a wave of searing heat, only the insects are burned.

Realising that Massingleigh is on the verge of death at this point, Shilaze takes advantage of the distraction and risks everything to reach him. The attempt results in her being scalded with acid and a deep bite being taken out of her shoulder, but she succeeds in getting there and cutting the legs out from under the insect that has him. The creature crumples, dropping Massingleigh to the floor. Then Shilaze calls on the powers given to her by Heironeous to bring Massingleigh back from the brink of death. Thankfully she is just in time and he starts to come round.

While this is going on, Korbin tries to protect Shilaze’s back but then he too is caught by one of the insects. Though they have saved Massingleigh the situation now looks even worse than before. Shilaze is badly wounded and Massingleigh is down. Ebon is still struggling with the climb. The insects have them trapped inside the room.

In the end it is only a last ditch attempt by Elsabeth that turns the tide. She calls upon her magical powers once again and risks casting another fireball. This one is huge. It incinerates two of the insects and scorches everything else in the room. Korbin, Massingleigh and Shilaze are all rather singed but now there is only one insect still alive, the one that has Korbin. Resolutely Shilaze advances toward it and brings it down. It is a miracle that everyone has survived.

Afterward, Ebon keeps watch while lots of magical healing is done to restore his friends to health. He feels rather sheepish about his inability to climb the short distance into the room. And worryingly there is more to come, because the chamber before them is now empty, and the only way forward is to scale more cargo netting that leads to the levels above.

Once everyone has been healed, they set off again, climbing the netting toward the next opening. Massingleigh, Korbin and Elsabeth are much faster than Shilaze, Graffan and Ebon, who are all burdened by their heavy armour, and they reach the parapet first. As soon as they do so they come under attack from a hidden adversary in the room beyond. It appears that whoever it is has been lying in wait for them, probably having heard the commotion while they fought the insects below.

Suddenly Massingleigh spots the fish-man they have been pursuing and recklessly charges into the room. He reaches him and strikes him down with a single blow but then discovers that he is not the only occupant. There are also a female Aquatic Elf and a large Tiger in the room.

The woman blasts Massingleigh with a barrage of magic missiles while the Tiger morphs into a half-Tiger, half-Hobgoblin and bounds out the door toward Korbin and Elsabeth who are still on the parapet. A brief scuffle ensues.

Massingleigh takes advantage of his close proximity to the woman, to grapple her to the ground and pin her arms so that she cannot cast any more spells on him. Meanwhile Korbin keeps the Hobgoblin Were-Tiger at arms-length while Elsabeth peppers it with magical missiles. The combat is over pretty quickly once Shilaze and Ebon complete the climb and join the fray.

Lying on a table in the room is the letter that they seek, though none of them can interpret the strange cipher it is written in.

Their prisoner refuses to talk but it is apparent from items in the room that they have crossed paths with members of the Doomguard once again.

Notes:

After recovering the message the Med-Jai return with their prisoner to “The Swift” and continue on their journey, intending to reach a portal and then return to the Fortress of the Second.