Session 5: The Depths of the Darklake

## Key Plot Developments

The goblins begin to fight off the kuo-toan marauders. Sarith, who does not have his own weapon per Pyrite's demands, is caught in a net and dragged into the Darklake; Glyn, too, is caught. Pix and Trix goad Shuushar into intervening. After he screams in his native tongue, stunning the ambushers, he bursts into tears at this display of verbal violence.

After the battle, the group considers how to get to Shuushar's town of Sloobludop, which is across a stretch of the Darklake. They consider swimming, but Shuushar warns them about the perils of traveling through these mysterious waters. Glyn and Trix decide to build a boat.

As a large mushroom is whittled into a serviceable vessel, a new group of kuo-toa emerge. Their leader casts a spell and is able to converse with them. He introduces himself as Ploopploopeen, an archpriest of his town. He recognizes Shuushar, who vouches for his sincerity.

He promises that he and his guard will give the group protection as they travel from the Darklake's shore to Sloobludop in exchange for their cooperation. As he explains, his once-committed congregation of the Sea Mother has become fractured. His own daughter, a trained cleric, has led this rebellious faction in worship of an entity called the Deep Father. She has been demanding that groups of slavers accost travelers on the Darklake so that she may sacrifice them to this being. Ploopploopeen wants them to take them back as a peace offering to his daughter. When she lets her guard down, he will attack with his troops and demand her surrender. In this way, their assistance may help him reclaim his town.

As they travel across the Darklake, Bogtooth emerges from his book-induced trance. He has no recollection of what happened after the gnoll battle. Tremble, still crestfallen despite Stool's encouragement, briefly speaks with Sarith. Sarith affirms his desire to return Stool to his home in the Neverlight Grove, and entreats Tremble to help.

Ploopploopeen's entourage helps them travel across a fragment of the lake in peace. Trix takes in the depth of the lake, feeling like there's a dark power contained within the fathoms below.

When they reach the small town of Sloobludop, the group splits up. Trix, Pyrite, and Glyn encounter a merchant. They realize that gold is no good here; rather, as a follower of the sacrifice-oriented Sea Mother, the merchant demands meaningful trinkets from them. They bluff him and acquire a bag of holding and a potion.

Pix, Bogtooth, and Shuushar attempt to get food. Bogtooth is boisterous and brash, but Shuushar urges humility and caution. Pix leads them to food, where she is nearly enticed to give up a token from Eldeth in exchange for comestibles. They pass a kuo-toan child, who avoids conversation but regards them with cautious awe.

Tremble encounters Stool speaking with Sarith, who behaves in an uncharacteristically affectionate way with the small mushroom. Sarith affirms his desire to see Stool's plan to fruition.

When the group reunites, Ploopploopeen explains that he will present them as sacrifices to his daughter as soon as they're ready. He suggests that they take the next to rest so they'll be able to flee. He also asks if Shuushar would like to take part in the fight, referring to him as an old peer; Shuushar politely refuses. They affirm their devotion to the Sea Mother.

Bogtooth finally asks the party where Jimjar went. After he's told that Jimjar sacrificed himself for the good of the group, he lashes out, blaming the others for their carelessness. The party gets into an emotionally vulnerable conversation. Pyrite attempts to confirm her leadership of the team by making an inspirational speech. Tremble has mixed emotions, but internalizes the demand to toughen up.

During their night in a kuo-toan hut, the group suffers from nightmares. Each of them imagines themselves to be back on the Darklake. They stare into its impossibly deep waters, gazing into their wavering reflections. As they watch, their reflections grow second heads--monstrous, twisted, brimming with pointed teeth. Their second heads devour their first, awakening them in a cold sweat.

Trix, however, has a unique dream. When he stares into the Darklake, he can gaze through the murkiness to four pinpoints of light--eyes, he realizes. He hears a calm, soothing voice introducing itself as the Deepfather. The Deepfather promises Trix power in exchange for loyalty. It assures him that his decisions at the sacrificial ceremony tomorrow will be hugely consequential.

## New NPCs

1. Ploopploopeen, kuo-toan archpriest
2. The Deepfather

## Memorable Quotations

**The Deepfather:** Hey, buddy! How are you?

**Bogtooth:** Jimjar? You let the old man die?! He was a true goblin!

**Ploopploopeen:** We must all go with the currents, as they come.