The Weeping Well of Willowdale

## Brief overview

The group traveled to the small town of Willowdale where a strange crack with faces carved into it's walls had recently been revealed. . Over the next few days investigations revealed a cavern below a nearby farm; dedicated to one of the mythical Titans of old. Within they met and battled with an ancient ghost who forcibly aged Neil, but not before revealed the source of the corruption: A Lich by the name of Darthoridan. After briefly retreating to tend to their wounds and investigate a number of relics they had found, they returned to the enter the upper sanctum of the temple caverns. There they found the source of the water, which they proceeded to destroy, leading the entire complex to start crumbling. After making their exodus our heroes regrouped at the Inn and began planning for the future, having stopped the foulness from spreading.

## The whole story

### Omens & Arrival

Having left Violl's Garden through the forest with the aid of the Wandering Wolf, the party made their way north along the road towards Glenarm. Moving through the peaceful pastures they discovered a blackened but strangely alive tree, emanating mildly necrotic energies. Unable to find a cause a decision was made to move on. In a nearby tavern they met an out-runner from Willowdale, bearing news of a strange uprising of specters in the area, as well as a curious pit with water-weeping faces carved into its walls. In the knowledge that they would need to pass through anyway, it was decided that they would stop and investigate the matter.

On their arrival they moved past a military encampment of the Sapphire Guard. There they first met with a beatific buffoon of an elven warrior by the name of Lianthel Shan'dor Sundelar. After exchanging greetings of mixed pleasantness they requested Lianthel bring them to the ranking officer of the camp Captain-Commander Ellion Drannor who, when offered, accepted the groups aid in the investigation on account of their diverse set of skills.

After investigating the pit with little results it was decided that the group take a closer look at the specters haunting the area at night. Thanks to Morral's divine gifts they were able to attract a number of specters to the edge of the protective barrier, permitting them to observe and destroy one from moderate safety. Having gathered some of its' remains as well as gotten access to some of the Pit's tainted waters the group decided it was time to rest at "The Wandering Rabbit".

### Investigation

Over the course of the next day the group pursued multiple lines of investigation: Argus began to modify a device designed to capture fey souls in an attempt to trap a specter whilst Lianthel, Morral, and Neil because to question the locals, eventually leading them to Talma's Farm which had collapsed during the initial emergence of the pit. There they found evidence that the barn had collapsed into an underground chamber that might not be entirely natural in nature. Informing the captain thereof and getting excavation underway Argus and Morral asked to be present during the autopsy of a farmer that had died after contact with the waters of the pit. Their findings were frightening as the man's blackened flesh and blood seemed close to the records of The Ebonblood Plague, an undead scourge from a few thousand years back. Meanwhile, with the aid of Lianthel and Neil, the guard was able to uncover the hole beneath the barn.

There they found a mysterious chamber with a strange bowl at it's center, strange inscriptions on the walls and a number of faces carved into the stone; one of which was prominently large and in marble. Though the inscriptions were impossible to decipher even with a Comprehend Languages spell, the inscription in the bowl was written in common; "Accept to serve". The Marble face meanwhile emanated mild magical auras, appearing to be a door of sorts. After deliberation it was decided the best course of action would be to tunnel past it.

With their choices made the group returned to their individual tasks until nightfall, gathering more information. During this time they learned that the previous owner of Talma's farmstead had been telling strange tales of adventuring in large caverns, and occasionally been entertaining guests at odd hours. Later that night the party successfully captured a specter and delivered it to the captain.

### Mistakes

During their second day after arriving in town the party once more pursued their own tasks. During this time Lianthel, having grown weary of being regaled to mining, made a blood offering to the bowl. Promptly, the marble face slid away and revealed a passage to chambers beyond. Infuriated and flabbergasted to various extents it was eventually decided that the group and a number of guards would enter. These plans were cut short as the passage began to close after Lianthel moved through it, leaving the party trapped along with two members of the guard; Simon and Jasper.

Deciding to move on with their task they made their way deeper into the subterranean space, finding expansive caverns with massive faces carved into them, as well as the remains of many long deceased people, seemingly around 300 years old. Deeper within they eventually stumbled into a main chamber where they met a ghost calling himself "The Keeper". In their conversation prior to battle Argus' worst fears & suspicions were confirmed: This place was dedicated to one of the great Titans of old. What's more, the ghost revealed the origin of the spreading corruption: a former high priest turned Lich during the sundering. This entity by the name of Darthoridan had corrupted the tears of the titan once sacred to his cult and used them to unleash the tide specters onto the outside world.

After eventually angering the spirit and engaging it in combat the ground emerged victorious, though not unharmed as the ghost's wail had aged Jasper, Lianthel, and Neil. It was decided then that they had best finish their investigations quickly and leave the place; retrieving a platinum heart and a magical staff before making their way out to seek aid for their afflicted comrades.

### Desperation

Outside they explained the situation to the captain and investigated the items they had found, revealing both to be keys in their own right. Fortune did smile upon them in the arrival of a new ally; a forest warden by the name of Avshalom who had followed the spreading corrupting back to its source. Whilst he said he would be capable of reversing the aging, he would only be able to do so once the coming day.. leaving two people permanently aged. Armed with this knowledge and having licked their wounds the group re-entered the caverns and proceeded to open the upper sanctum from whence the corrupted waters came. There they found a large mural telling the story of the titans and a great eye painted into the ceiling, a gemstone floating where it's pupil would be, weeping the waters that were the titan's blessing. After some contemplation and debate the group destroyed the crystal.

As the crystal shattered the rock around the chamber began to crack and the earth rumbled in anger. Forced to push the limits of their abilities and finding new depths to their powers, the group was able to narrowly escape the collapsing cavern and made its way outside. There they received news that the waters had ceased flowing, leaving the faces to weep no more. Taking a well earned and much needed rest, the group headed to the Inn to recover, leaving the decision of whom to cure for the morrow.