Journey Through the Shadow Realm
Portal Stone Quest Success
The group, led by DM, set out early in the morning to find the portal stone in the desert, guided by Melezin Shar. They were advised to offer tokens to the old gods of the road and to stay on the marked path. After a successful excavation, the portal stone was activated, and the group, along with their belongings, stepped through the portal. However, some members struggled with controlling the axe-beak, which was left behind. The group successfully traveled through the portal, with Frankie and others ensuring their belongings were safely transported.
Journey Through the Shadow Realm
The party continues their journey along a dark, eroding road in the Shadow Realm, staying close to the road markers despite the unfamiliar and unsettling environment. They encounter a small, bedraggled dog, which they leave a ration for but do not disturb. The group camps for the night, with Frankie taking the first watch, and later encounters a bear that is unharmed by their torchlight. They continue their journey the next day, with Frankie and Halvor taking turns on watch, and eventually reach a clearing beside a brook where they rest for the night.
Path Choices at the Fountain
The group encountered a crossroads at a fountain where an older woman was eating lunch with her dogs. After consulting a deck of cards, Frankie learned that any of the three paths could lead to their destination, the cave near the broken reeds. The group decided to follow Gore’s suggestion and take the darker path, despite Halvor’s preference for the lighter one. As they traveled, they noted that the dark road was more maintained with brighter road markers and signs of animal traffic.
Following Follower on Ridge Watch
The group continues traveling down a road, with a tall, dark humanoid figure with glowing green eyes following them at a distance. They take turns on watch duty, with Frankie and Halvor taking the first watch, followed by Splinter and Gore. The group discusses casting Pass Without Trace to lose their follower, and successfully rolls stealth checks. They eventually come upon a ridge where they see flickering green light, and the bear leads them up to the top of the ridge.
Discovering Ancient Valley Mysteries
The group discovers an ancient valley with translucent ruins, a swamp, and spectral lizard folk. They find a stone egg on a pillar and notice writing on platforms with statues, though they cannot decipher it. Frankie suggests following the path with the large lizard folk statues, while Vyth proposes investigating the altar area for a possible portal to the swamp. The group examines the altar and finds a plaque depicting a swamp scene, but the writing remains undecipherable.
Portal Activation and Arrival
The group successfully navigated through the Shadow Realm and emerged in a swampy area, with Frankie leading them to an altar where they left offerings and triggered a portal to transport them to their desired location. They discussed the possibility of encountering dangerous creatures like lizard folk and a transformed puppy, but managed to avoid any conflicts. The group was relieved to have survived the journey and arrived at their destination within their lifetimes, as predicted by a fortune teller at the crossroads.
Next Steps
- Make a decision on which path to take at the crossroads
- Stay on the road and avoid disturbing road markers during their journey through the Shadow Realm
- Remain vigilant and monitor the tall figure with green eyes that has been following the group
- Continue to follow the chosen path while staying on the shadow road to reach their destination
- Leave offerings and give thanks at the altar to properly exit the shadow realm
- Watch for the green-eyed creature to see if it followed them out of the Shadow Realm
- Vyth: Use ranger abilities to help navigate through the swamp area
- Continue northwest through the swamp towards their destination