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When last we met, the heroes faced a hideous foe guarding the path forward as they plodded through the darkness toward the Kuo Toa town of Sloobludop. Drifting over the softly lapping waves of the Darklake an undead beholder positioned itself to prevent the party from advancing through to the far tunnel. Bloated rotting minions gurgled mindlessly as they came walking up from the depths. The group withdrew, cowed by the fearsome ocular blasts of the beholder. Stumbling over both their myriad companions as well as the waterlogged zombies, the group found themselves unable to effectively advance. The water and shifting gravel lake floor left companions in perilous positions as they strived to reach the far tunnel opening. Disintegrating blasts began to destabilize the tunnel entirely, and pressed the group to move forward.

Onward, led by the kuo toa priest, Shushaar, the group continued forth to reach their destination in several days. Shuushar guided the group through the town wall, consisting of netting, drift”wood”, and debris. The kuo toa guards seemed unfriendly and hostile at first, but your guide seemed capable and smoothed your passage inside. The town is strange and alien to you, with the odd fish-men inhabitants constantly wandering about in a manner similar to fish meandering through the nooks and crannies of underwater rock formations. Some weaved through the town asleep, with disturbing unblinking eyes not registering your presence even as they moved around you as they passed in the street. The group investigated the meagre offerings at the shops and stalls, but moved with some urgency to present themselves to the Archpriest of the Sea Mother, Ploopplopeen.

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Ploopplopeen was excited to see surface visitors, and was disturbingly quick to embroil the group in his local troubles with a rival church. Not long ago, Ploopplopeen’s daughter, Bloppblippodd experienced a vision that drove her to found the shrine to the Deep Father, Leemoogoogoon… a diety that was to be her people’s new and rightful god. Ploopplopeen had a plan in which he would offer the heroes to archpriest Bloppblippodd as sacrifices for the Deep Father. It became clear that surface sacrifices were of greater value than the typical under dark vermin that the Kuo Toa typically catch and offer. In exchange for their help, the fellowship was offered rewards in the form of valuables, a guide, and a vessel suited to navigating the Darklake. The group accepted.

Combat broke out and chaos ensued. Ploopplopeen spoke, her stance eased. Enemy guards moved in, and for a moment the group could not tell if they were in on a plan, or part of some sort of double cross. but when Plooplopeen…”. The shrine was ramshackle, erected of debris and impales creatures from the lake. Tentacled and leathery things, oozing dark fluid into a misshapen bowl. At first, the archpriest of the Deep Father stood defensively behind a line of spear wielding guards, but as Not wanting to waste any time, lest the strange ritual taking place at the docks become unexpectedly complete, the surface dwellers moved toward the docks under guard. Almost immediately, the distant drone of the Deep Father faithful could be heard…

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In the din of battle, strange splashing and burbling sounds almost went without notice, save for the keep eared and eyed of the group. Off in the distance, in the lake where the followers of the Deep Father chanted, kuo toa we being viciously sucked into the water. Their disappearance accompanied by screams, splashed of red tinged lake water, and frenzied movement just barely illuminated by the phosphorescent material in the cave and water. Moments later, the next phase of the ritual came to pass, as something terrible emerged far from the shore, amidst roiling, glowing water, and fanatical kuo toa.

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