Book 1: The Seventh Arch
Chapter 3: Memories of the Green
After prepping for the day, the party heads out with the Oatia who had collected all of the needed items for the offering. The Oatia lead the way to the offering spire of She Who Walks Through Seasons. During the walk Zephrym reveals that he dreamt of a finely dressed man with a frightening mask he cannot focus on. The group realizes they have all dreamed of him but are not sure of the importance.
The party, preceding the group of Oatia carrying the offering by about a half-mile, come upon a blood-red river which only has a single rope left of a previously built bridge. Sammakko determines that the river is red because of iron in the liquid.
While attempting to cross the river, Shylock falls in after Zephrym and Sammakko safely walk the rope. He is able to grab the rope and not be pulled into the rapids. Sensing sexy and appealing prey, an amelekana explodes from the water and attacks Shylock and the group. Shylock struggles in the water while Sammakko and Zephrym distract the amoeba-flinging snail monster. After a pitched battle, the amelekana shrivels under the fire damage of Sammakko.
Continuing on for another 6 hours, they come upon the offering spire in jungle. Atop the spire, a fungal horn can be seen and windows dot the exterior. While Zephrym blasts a dead body in the distance and Shylock scouts for danger, Sammakko climbs a tree. He spots a hieracosphinx and climbs down to tell the group. Sammakko uses a fireball from the tree to surprise the hieracosphinx, who glows red with the explosion and seems to absorb it but also be hurt by it. Spotting Zephrym and Shylock at the base of the tower, it swoops down and shrieks at the group before launching melee attacks against the stunned and deafened party members. Shylock is torn by beak strikes and falls unconscious. Zephrym revives Shylock as Sammakko explodes the beast with a lightening strike. After healing up, the group investigates the area and finds a +1 striking shortsword which Zephrym takes.
They enter the tower and climb to the top without incident. There is an engraved circle and a fungus horn grows from the floor. The Oatia explain that they have to put the offering into the circle before blowing the horn. After hoisting the offering up to the top of the tower, the party places it in the circle while Zephrym investigates the hieracosphinx nest. He finds a Gate Attenuator.
Shylock blows the horn and She Who Walks Through Seasons arises. As she sends flocks of birds to gather the offering the group tries leaping onto her back and thank goodness for Zephrym’s ability to lower them down safely with magic wind powers. Sammakko, as a frog, easily leaps the distance and allows the group to climb up using ropes.
Once on the forest colossus, the group heads towards the pool along a green path between gigantic ice walls. Three bug-turtle beings, who call themselves We Who Defend, mill about in front of the path before the magic pool of water. While Shylock and Zephrym take cover, Sammakko attempts to talk to the bug-turtles, causing them to attack.
After a pitched battle the bug-turtles are defeated and the battered group approaches the sacred pool of boiling magic water. When Zephrym attempts to take the water, he is shot with a boiling blast of water, but he survives and collects the magic liquid.
They repel down the flank of the great forest beast and return to the town. Back in town, the Oatia use the water to create a cure for Alleli. She is instantly healed and the party are considered heroes! One of the alchemists applies the water to the Shadewither key and destroys the curse for good. Other alchemical items are made for the party from the magic water and now the party rests while waiting for Alleli to find a way home.
Treasure: amelekana shell (15 gp), +1 striking shortsword, Gate Attenuator, 3 lesser healing potions, 2 bottled omens, 2 drafts of stellar radiance, 4 lesser antidotes, 4 lesser antiplagues, 4 lesser comprehension elixirs, 2 barkskin potions, 2 potions of water breathing, 1 potion of leaping, and a Spacious Pouch.