At John's request I will attempt to summarize our latest adventures. Actually I'm pretty busy at work so I've asked Blu to help me out. Opinions expressed do not reflect those of the owner of this email address.
Yow! What a wild day we had! Arcus went on an ogre hunt through our own party ranks, Rupt tried to eat Caernak and Ssrusset was zapping everyone in sight! He sure looked tubby afterwards. But let's do this in order:
As you no doubt forgot, earlier we'd just hoofed it overland between two canals when Caernak's sharp eyes spotted "something" moving in the underbrush over the grotto that was our goal. "Attack!" he screamed and charged forward, casting spells and spittle liberally over himself. This being not meerly The Rubble but the depths of the Puzzle Canal itself, such behavior did not seem like an overreaction. Nor was it, as "something" turned out to be those four evil ogres who'd killed, eaten and cursed our friends; not to mention a broo spirit and a fiend. Our magics and blood were up and we slew them all, the fiend falling last. Huzzah!
No sooner had Mr. Fiend hit the ground than certain unnamed folks began looting bodies. Yum, yum! Quite a haul. Iron fiend hide, iron armor, composite bow, plate armor, nice weapons, more armor, money and some magical items as well. Pretty rich ogres if you ask me. I wonder who bankrolled them? Mayhaps they had some Lunar connections? Ji seemed especially fond of the ogre's heads and took all four to add to his collection. He muttered something about shaman then smiled at me! Eeh! Nice Ji! Nice boy! Blu is your friend!
Having satisfied both our bloodlust and greed we then naturally turned on each other and argued mightily over what to do next. "Let's drag the boats through the thorn bushes and hop into the canal at the mouth of the grotto", said some. "Let's row the boats to the mouth of the grotto", said others. "Let's start a campfire and roast ogres", said Ji. The most common opinion was that we should do "something" before our magic ran out. Laziness dictated that we not carry the boats so while Ssusset flew a quick, low altitude pass over the area to scout the canel we scrambled down to the canal bank and tried to shovel our loot into the tiny coracles. Swamping the boats seemed like a bad idea so we reluctantly left the partially stripped bodies of the ogres behind as we set out to explore the grotto that we hoped was the home of the long sought River Daughter (remember her?).
To our dismay our magic ran out just as we reached the mouth of the grotto. To our further dismay the tunnel into the grotto was completely underwater. We could her strange, almost rhythmic sounds coming from inside and odd, pulsing, purplish light gleamed out. What strange, unearthly goings on awaited us inside? [Ed. note: discos are unknown in Glorantha, at least outside the Glow Line] Time to magic up, thought some. In addtion, those unfortunates who cannot stay long within the bosum of Zola Fel cast what magics they needed to survive (or in one case encased his head in a weird gizmo) and we swam (or walked) down into the grotto's mouth. Kennekuna, Sergio and Chingua stayed behind with the boats. More disquieting circumstances met us when just inside the tunnel, yours truely saw that the purple light was coming from vague, huge, incorporeal shapes roiling the water. Not spirits but more like magic made semi-solid, they enamated tremendous POW. So much in fact that Caernak and Dorgon, recipients of some deliberately unexplained "Pavic blessings" that granted them the ability to see MP's were blinded. I tried Newt-fully to explain what I was seeing but the rest of you paid me no heed. [Ed. note: others report hearing bizarre gurgles and croaking sounds at this time]. After a pause to arrange guides for the blind we pressed onward.
Inside the grotto, which turned out to be completely submerged and brimming with purple magical energy, a pale, purplish, humanoid female materialized. Several pairs of human eyes bugged-out at the sight of her and a few party members hurridly readjusted their greaves before venturing closer. Whatever, thought this newtling. In a strange rising and falling voice the female welcomed us into "her" grotto and introduced herself as Lacuna Morana, Daughter of the River. Our quest was achieved! Hurray, hurray! Lacuna said we were the first to come praise her wonderousness and she looked forward to many more visitors. She invited us to come closer, honor her with magic and drink or her waters. The Zola Fel cult members stampeded forward as best they could underwater to manfully "honor" the bewitching creature while I made or more circumspect approach. Each joyfully drained huge amounts of mana into her, perhaps attempting to outdo each other the way mammalian males often engage in displays before females, then drank deeply of her waters. I made a small, respectful donation myself and sipped lightly.
It was then that I suddenly understood, for the first time, the true virtue of the Lunar Empire in its efforts to civilize the world's rabble. The revelation left me giddy and I could not help but giggle as I gazed upon my inferior travel-guides. Below me a strange altercation was taking place. Caernak was making strange burbling sounds, Rupt's tongue was lashing out at Caernak and Arcus was ramming his spear at Rupt while declaring that he'd never much liked frogs in the first place. I drew back from the insanety and in a spirit of charity becoming of a civilized person I pulled poor, blind Dorgon with me. Ji drew Magasta's Wrath. Arcus thrust his spear at Rupt in a killing frenzy. Caernak tried to avoid harm. Ssrusset writhed in confusion. Oh, what a show! Oh, what sacriligous behavior in this holy place! Magasta's Wrath shrieked with the voices of the drowned but with strangely little effect. Arcus impaled Rupt through the head with his spear and quelled the beast's rampage. "What should I do, Caernak?" wailed Ssrusset. "Do not blame him", said Caernak, "I am a vile creature that needs to be cleansed."
I thought perhaps things would quiet down now but alas Arcus turned his baleful gaze on Ji. "Die ogre!" he cried and attempted to skewer him. While Ssrusset used his touch to first save Rupt from death and then render him unconscious, Arcus and Ji began to engage in a wrestling match with Arcus' spear as the prize. "Enough is enough", I thought and called out that they should all cease profaning the sacred grotto least I smite them in the named of the Holy Red Goddess. I should have known better than to expect such rabble to heed a call for rational acts. Not only did they ignore my entreaties but Dorgon yanked himself free from my supporting grasp and swam blindly away towards the outside world. Such ingratitude. Calming my mind as befits a Lunar citizen (in my heart if not in fact) I decided to try and limit Arcus' abilities with a carefully applied dose of Demoralization. The result of this was disappointing as I watched Arcus spear Ji through the throat, leaving him to settle to the grotto floor in a murky cloud of blood. In another context the scene would have had a certain, harsh beauty but I had other matters to occupy my mind as the crazed Sun Domer next came after me!
As Arcus could only walk on the bottom in his heavy armor while I could swim easily out of his reach I wasn't truely in any danger but I couldn't resist the urge to taunt him playfully. Beyond I could see Ssrusset diving to save Ji while Caernak made mewling sounds before the Daughter, something about the need to become cleansed. Frustrated with being unable to reach me, Arcus decided to see if he could perform his impaling trick a third time, on Ssrusset. Tsk. I'd warned him. Now it was time to for harsh measures. "Dispel Magic 4", I chanted. I was quite low on magic but hoped to removed his Breath Water. If it worked the fight would end immediately. Alas, and quite perplexingly, there was no effect at all. Fortunately a suddenly revived Ji intercepted the mad Ylemalian and recommenced the wrestling match for the spear while the Air Snake alternately sucked mana from Arcus and healed Ji. Quite a neat trick I thought idly, and wondered how the Empire could put it to good use. Finally Arcus collapsed and peace returned to the grotto.
It was then that the rudest shock of all struck me, as the "River Daughter" announced that she was the offspring of Zola Fel and the Red Goddess. At first this seemed like a matter for joyous celebration but the being then proceeded to recite sacriligious doggeral which spoke of the Red Moon being eclipsed by the White! I could not listen and fled the defiled grotto as rapidly as I was able. At the boats I commanded the servants to take me out of the canal At Once, but they would not obey me. They even had the temerity to suggest that I could go alone if I was in such a hurry! I would never have tolerated such disrespectful behavior were we not in such a dangerous place but I had no alternative but to wait for the other ruffians to come straggling back. I grudgingly accepted that I'd be marginally safer with them around so long as no more of them went mad. We proceeded to retrace our path and head out of the canal.
Making me into a rabidly loyal, haughty Lunar citizen was one of the best jokes ever played on me and when I realized what had been done I couldn't stop laughing for quite a long time. For some reason no one else seemed to appreciate the humor though. Perhaps having to lug the unconcious bodies of Arcus and Rupt around damped their spirits. We grabbed the remaining ogre loot and headed back for the Grey Eel. Along the way there was a minor inconvenience with a flying menace that spewed armor-and-cover-eating acid and flicked volleys of spikes at us from its tail. We killed it and moved on. We found the Grey Eel and our extra gear just as we'd left it, loaded up and pushed off. After a very short argument we decided to get out of the cancel as fast as we could. Part way out Arcus woke up, stirred and farted loudly. Several times. It seemed like whenever he moved he farted. Arcus was sane again so Ji untied him. Arcus found an air bladder underneath him that made farting sounds when squeezed but this joke went quite unappreciated. I don't know where I'll be able to get another one of those anytime soon.
Back at the Temple Barge Che'enshashan was quite dismayed at our news about the River Daughter's Mother. He went into hiding, I mean meditation, and said he'd send us a message soon. Our own travails were not over as we would have to set out the very next morning for Corflu if we were to reach the "chaos island" in time for the Zola Fel Holy Day and the "open gate" that would allow us to cleanse it. Hee hee. I keep saying "we" even though I'm not really a River Voice but Caernak and the others said I could come along. Whee!
The next morning, still not fully recovered, we set out down the river. We left a lot of un-assayed loot in safe keeping at the Temple Barge as there hadn't been time to take care of it properly. There hadn't even been time to gather or buy special supplies. Fortunately our trip was uneventful and by the time we were approaching Fort Raus (I spit upon that name) we were rested and at our full powers. As we rested in a village (I ran into some old buddies there) a motley group of newtlings approached me and begged to speak with The Mighty Caernak Blessed Voice of the River. The water rats were brining a message from Raus(ptoo) himself. I was excited to be considered important even though I dispised the messengers. Before Caernak they pleaded that we interrupt our voyage to meet with Raus(ptoo) on an urgent matter. While the others debated I tormented the newtling-rats. Finally my partners decided to make a brief stop to meet with him. The next day we indeed pulled up at That Place and were whisked directly before Duke Spitoon. He spun a wild tale of Tusk Riders having kidnapped his daughter and asked that we deal with them for him -- the coward. At first he seemed to want us to slay the riders but eventually it became clear that he wanted us to reclaim his spawn. He pointed to a chest of 3000 Lunars and said we could take it with us if we meerly agreed to try and help. The riders are holed up in a tower southeast of That Place. Assuming no complications (ha!) we would just have time to free the whelp and still reach the chaos island in time.
Oh yes! And shortly after we set out from Pavis we had gotten a letter from Tison reporting that after a few 5 Eyes newtlings gave some of Raus(ptoo)'s people a little come-uppance that He had sent an army to 5 Eyes that tried to (and maybe succeeded in) defiling a sacred place! The monster!
And now we must decide what to do....
[Ed. note: below is the verse of Lacuna Morana]
As blood preceeds a birth
As a child becomes a woman
As night passes into day
As summer follows winter
So shall the White Moon follow the scarlet
The worst war of the world
Can only be followed by
The best peace of the world
The White Moon is the moon of peace
For none can be warlike
When all weapons are broken
The White Moon is the moon of calm
For none are quieter than the dead
The White Moon is the moon of beauty
But who shall remain to admire her?
[Ed. note]
Those touched by Lacuna's madness gained a degree of Illumination and also the insight that the secret of Puzzle Canal can be learned by circling the canal once and then passing near the Sea Slaver (?) which is reputed to be found near the canal's center.