Nocturnal Descent

Threads of Discord – Episode 11

The group awakens in the eerie mushroom cavern, still reeling from their recent encounter with the giant fungi. Elise, ever the seeker of answers, consults the shadows for guidance and discovers a glimmer of hope. Twitch, their missing companion, is alive but ensnared in a web, and he’s not alone. The same web seems to hold the storm creature they faced earlier, imprisoned in a similar manner.

Meanwhile, Vye unlocks the mystery of a magical trinket she discovered – a wayfinder that points the way to one’s heart’s desire but with limited uses. Cassius, fuelled by determination to rescue Twitch, takes an oath to guide him unerringly. Following the slender threads on the cavern’s roof and other clues, they embark on a quest northward, desperate to reunite with their captured friend.

Their journey leads them to a junction, where Cassius’ unwavering sense of direction and the subtle threads above guide them northward. This path eventually brings them to an ominous entrance that reeks of spiderwebs and arachnid activity. They are faced with a choice – a discreet side entrance with uncertain destinations or a more conspicuous but direct route. They opt for the stealthier path, carefully navigating past tripwires.

A pool of fiery light from Phoenix’s magic reveals a vast, labyrinthine tunnel, cocooned with silken threads spiraling into a vortex. In the center of this grotesque masterpiece, the storm elemental struggles against its bonds. Cassius, immune to the silken trap, heads straight for Twitch’s cocoon while the rest of the group stays cautious.

Vye attempts to commune with the spirits, revealing that they’re in a forgotten temple dedicated to the goddess Nocturna. However, it has been occupied by a giant broodmother and her sinister spiderlords. When Elise loses her footing and becomes entangled in the web, the broodmother and her minions stir from below.

Chaos erupts as Priscilla’s dagger sends one spiderlord tumbling into the abyss while Vye’s spell lulls another into slumber. The broodmother sinks her fangs into Cassius, but Elise’s divine healing and the party’s combined efforts keep him alive. Phoenix and Priscilla free the storm elemental, hoping it will create a diversion.

As the freed elemental wreaks havoc, the party makes a hasty escape, their path marked by ominous drumbeats. They stumble upon an artificial barrier designed to deter spiders, and Priscilla heroically breaches it, allowing the group to pass through. Driven by the distant sounds of drums and the unknown lurking in the darkness, they find a quiet spot to camp and regroup.