Three days pass before you're told that the Ancient Prugg will see you. During that time, the members of the party are able to make contact with Willa, who will send word to Fjall and Valda further up the tunnels. You see your weapons being reforged with mithril. You are given comfortable accommodations, though you discover that the svirf sleep on rock beds without covers or pillows.
You discover what "yarm fruit" is, as you're also reintroduced to the green, glowing pods that you discovered earlier when you encountered the ticks. You learn that these are a subterranean melon, which sustain one another with ambient light. They taste sweet, somewhat dry in your mouth (like apricots) and have a slight sophomoric effect that dulls your body to pain and helps you sleep at night. Each yarm has a single large pit about the size of a human's fist. They grow everywhere, providing a soft light for much of the svirf's lair, a light that does not compromise infravision. You're told they are difficult to raise as plants; they would require a special sage ability.
As you are taken through the tunnels to visit Prugg, you come to a chamber where the walls are covered with apparently carved reliefs of svirfneblin. The carving is remarkably smooth and glossy; the images are kindly, pleasant and restful. Each one has eyes closed, with a smile, as though sleeping.
At the end of the corridor, with these reliefs on both sides, you are introduced to the Ancient Prutt. He smiles as you approach, and nods without speaking. He is clearly more ancient than any svirf you've met. His visage, his body, is more rock-like than the others; in appearance, he is nearly like that of the reliefs you've just seen on the walls. He moves heavily, ponderously, as though his limbs are too heavy to lift.
One of the two svirf that have led you here, a fellow named Trag, asks that you be free with your questions, that nothing is hidden here.
16 comments:
I respectfully greet the ancient Prugg and ask question about the Ugglig, their temple, and the guardians.
"Direct, a young man's question," answers Prugg, speaking slowly. "It is a place of death, of great evil. Victims were pushed from the cliff, where their bodies broke on the frozen lake, made frozen by the Toad Mother. The lake consumed their souls, and the bones were returned to the surface, though this last I do not know for certain.
"The guardians are two demons from a lower plane of existence, who maintain the lake and ensure it remains frozen. The Toad Mother has died, but she has left three of her children, lesser creatures, who enable the guardians to keep the lake frozen. The demons are lemure; immortal in spirit but not in body. Their bodies can be destroyed, driving them back to their own plane."
And what about the second demon - you mentioned a pair of guardians, one of whom was the Toad Mother, but what manner of creature is the second?
There's some confusion there, Embla. The Toad Mother came first; she died, but gave birth to three children, who are ice toads. The Toad Mother was never a guardian. The toad children are not guardians. The guardians are two demons, which are lemure. Here is a link:
http://tao-dndwiki.blogspot.com/2018/04/devil-lemure.html
Thanks for clearing that up.
Would slaying these creatures be enough to free the souls trapped in the lake?
Thank you your insightful answers. If I understand properly, defeating either the lemures or the Toad mother(s children would stop the process that keeps the lake frozen, wouldn't it?"
"Once the toads are destroyed, the lake with thaw; and then the gates can be closed."
He will pause.
"Do I have your trust?"
"You certainly have that of your parents, and they have been nothing but useful and reliable so far."
"Yes, you have my trust." I'll wait a moment, then continue. "You say the gates *can* be closed once the ice toads are slain. Does that nean we will need to know how to close the gates?"
And mine as well.
Prugg will say, "It will be easiest if you each take hold of my arm, so that you may see as clearly as I see, for once I was there."
I will nod and do so.
I take hold of his arm.
I'll need one more to confirm the full party.
I take hold of his arm.
The next post is up.
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