(G598 09/08/2025 via Roll20 - JF(GM), AP) YI47

 

(G598 09/08/2025 via Roll20 - JF(GM), AP) YI47


[Fenrir and Reinward are searching for treasure in the Frumenti Forum, part of the sunken kingdom of Ammathar, under the area of the Shining Sea known as the Snare.]

DAY 697(29th Hammer)(January)

They slept well in the Water Room. Perhaps it was the gentle lapping of the water in the well or the peaceful quiet. While on his watch, in the small hours of the morning and while Reinward slept soundly, Fenrir noticed none other than one of his personal demons - Behemoth at the eastern doorway. Behemoth — a huge, muscular, coal-black tomcat with burning yellow eyes — raised one paw to his mouth in a “shhh” gesture and then beckoned Fenrir to follow him.

Intrigued, Fenrir did so and the cat led him to a secret door that in turn led to about a mile of twisting tunnels. Twenty minutes later Fenrir was stood before a rune-carved archway that hummed with arcane power.

Behemoth said;
'In there is something that we really need for our ... endeavors ... It is an object of great magical power known as the Heart-Knot. It won't be easy to get your hands on old chap, but I'm sure you'll manage it!'

Behemoth waved him into the chamber beyond. Perhaps as a demon he could not enter or perhaps he was just too lazy. In any event Fenrir found himself in a room full of shelves that held faded clothes, threats and balls of wool. Like an ancient and dusty haberdashery. Inside lurked an elf ghost. He was not hostile and  introduced himself as 'Caelthir, Keeper of Threads'. He was tall, had hair braided with 
silver cord, and wore robes embroidered with runes.

He told Fenrir;
'Beyond this room is the chamber of the Ribbonmonger. She was once a waver-mage who attempted to bind the Weave itself to her will. She fell into madness, her body unraveling  into living strands of magic. If you seek to destroy her, you must take the Heart Knot from her body. Beware her touch, as it can unravel your soul.'

'You wouldn't mind if I bump her off then?' asked Fenrir.

'No. I would be glad to be released from this curse,' replied the ghost.

Fenrir went through the next door, through some water logged corridors and found himself at a low entrance. He ducked through the broken arch and emerge into a vast, flooded grotto.  The walls dripped with condensation, their surfaces covered in thick, waving mats of green-gold  kelp. Faint bioluminescent motes drifted in the water, casting long, dancing shadows across  the ceiling.

The air smelled faintly of salt and ozone. Floating among the kelp were strange, spinning  shapes — spools of ribbon, each a different colour, gliding lazily through the air and  leaving shimmering trails behind them.

At the far end, partly obscured in the kelp, he saw an immense shape: a mass of writhing,  interwoven strands of luminous silk, coiling and uncoiling as if breathing. Somewhere deep  within it, a pale mask-like face turns toward him... and smiled.

There were seven spools, each about the size of a human torso and they all charged to attack Fenrir as he entered the chamber. He blasted away for some time and noticed that each of the spools had powers somewhat related to their colour. The blue one hit him with lightning, the red one shot flame and so on. One by one he blasted them to bits, but after a moment they reformed near the Ribbonmonger and leapt back into the fight.

After a while he gave up and went back to Caelthir who gave him this advice:

''
The coloured spools are “anchors” — fuses to her heart — that must be severed in the right order. 
''    
    
Fenrir returned and before the spools attacked had a good look around. Behind the kelp he thought he saw a faded rainbow painted on the walls. Could it be that simple?
It was worth a try he thought so started with red and worked his way through all the colours of the rainbow. It seemed to work, and although slightly injured by this time, he approached the Ribbonmonger.

Deep within the coils of silk, thread and ribbons that moved around and around her Fenrir could see the shriveled husk of a human. Some sort of lich perhaps? He wasn't sure. He tried turning on the charm.
'I can release you from your suffering.'
'Suffering?' she laughed. 'I am at the height of my powers you fool!'
And with that she attacked. Her coils lashed out, but could not get hold of Fenrir as he flew about the place, ducking and weaving. He could not avoid the showers of needles that came at him though, little slivers of steel that bit into any exposed flesh. He shot back with Eldritch Blasts and it soon came down to who would fall first as the blasts and needles flew between them.
     
Fenrir became nervous but kept piling on the attacks until she fell to the ground in a big pile of cloth. As he landed to survey what he had wrought, Behemoth nipped in, reached into the pile and yoinked the Heart-Knot.
'Thanks old chap. The rest of the treasure is yours. You are fine to make your own way back?'
With that the cheeky cat was gone. Fenrir searched the chamber and found a fair bit of treasure including The Ribbonmonger's Sash.

Once he was done and healed up enough to travel, he returned to the Water Room.