Shattered Star

”We would not hold you here,” one of the boggards states.

”Especially not after you beat us so hard,” one says, rubbing her head with some kind of ointment.

”Especially not after that. But the chief is in the caves over there, and he would reward you greatly for this,” the first says.

”We could have taken credit for this, idiot!” the third boggard says.

”Fuck.”

"Well, we might as well go check out who we just inadvertently helped," Asami says, casting a sidelong glance at her allies, and after some mild nods the group follows the boggards.

The group heads into the caverns with the boggard. The large cavern entrance has a cathedral-like ceiling that rises to a height of forty feet above. The ground is smooth and clear of debris, save for a few large boulders and rocks here and there. Along the western wall, flanked by passageways to either side, menaces a frightful wall-carving of an enormous multiheaded frog demon crouched on a mound of skulls and bones. Four crude nests of mud and reeds lie on the floor here and there. One boggard lies in a nest. Three others seem to be engaged in some sort of game with colored stones, but they seem more frustrated than happy with each other. They look alarmed as the party approaches, but the boggards accompanying them say something in their language and the ones in the cave return to their game.

The boggards lead the group into a deeper cave. The floor of this cavern is muddy and damp. Moisture runs from the walls and drips from the ceiling to gather in pools on the ground. To the south, a carving of a multiheaded frog looms between two smaller passageways. A pair of pottery jars caked with sticky orange fluid sit on a niche below this carving-more of this stuff is smeared over the walls and floor of both the smaller southern passageways. Sulking in the cavern is an armored, semi-regal looking boggard with two large frogs at his side. When he sees the group approaching he says something in the boggard tongue, which the boggards leading the party reply to. The chief looks to the group and raises his arms in joy. "So you have defeated the wicked bitch that plagued my village. Oh it really is so hard to find a nice, loyal demon priestess."

The chief leans forward and inspects gnoll. "Not in the slightest, but I can offer you a reward for having done so," he says.

"Well what do you all want? I haven't got all day. I have to get back to my village and take charge again, then find a new demon priestess," the chief replies. "Do you know a good demon priestess, perchance?"

"In truth, your majesty," Cade answers, his voice tinged in agitation.  "We simply wish to be on our way without provoking further molestation.  We came merely at the behest of your followers, as they implied you wished to reward those responsible for quelling whatever disagreement you had with your subordinates."

"Fine then," the chief replies. He gestures toward the three warrior boggards. "I shall give you my best reward. You may have any one of my wives."

"...With all due respect, your majesty," the wizard replies, lifting his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose as his mind races for a response, "We... do not wish to further deprive you of your tribe.  We are currently on an... expedition that will take us deep into the heart of danger, and... and I am not wont to subject any of your loyal followers to such inhospitable conditions."

"Well I don't understand why you'd come to claim reward then turn it down, but oh well. More for me," the chief says. "If you've got nothing else for me, go on and get out already."

"Absolutely," Anastasia nods. "We'll be on our way. Good luck rebuilding your tribe."

Ali nods and leaves

As the group leaves the boggard chief gives a brief yell. "Wait! Are you here for the statue and its treasures within? That strange giant, stone, human woman. The only way into its chambers is through caves underneath this cape, like this one. You won't get inside it going back out there. Be warned though, the caves between it and us are filled with giant solifugids."

The group advances into the cave without much more to say. They continue on until they hit a large cavern at the intersection of four tunnels. The domed ceiling rises to a height of twenty feet, while near the center of this cave stands a monument made of polished black basalt, seven-sided with the same great rune carved on each face. The top portion of the monument has broken away, revealing what appears to be a hollow space within in the shape of a female figure. An astounding number of strange albino insectoid creatures, each the size of a man's finger, scuttle and scurry along the walls. As the group approaches, three larger versions of said creatures emerge from the shadows, looking none too friendly.

Ana and Ali charge into the fray with the bugs, wielding their swords with skill and might, cutting deep gashes into the insects carapaces. Meliora and Cade provide ranged support with their arrows and magic, blasting down another of the bugs, as Asami and Aito trip up one of the insects to make it easier for Ana and Ali to finish it off.

With the solifugids defeated, the party advances deeper into the cave. Eventually they come to a hole in the ground fitted with a stone trap doorway. It seems to have been opened recently, and several sturdy ropes provide easy entrance to the chamber below.

The ceiling of this grand hall is made of polished gray marble. It rises to a height of twenty-five feet, supported by ornate columns whose central eight-foot-sections have been carved to resemble a beautiful woman, whom Cade immediately recognizes ans Runelord Sorshen. A ten-foot-square platform sits in a wide alcove on the north wall, atop which lies a white marble sarcophagus with a painted lid. The sound of gently running water echoes along the hall to the west.

"...Fascinating," Cade mutters, taking in the spacious hall.  "Despite the location, these structures are still remarkably preserved, much like the Crow.  Not to mention, this was once the Runelord Sorshen's sanctuary..."  The wizard's eyes scan the room, then fall onto the marble sarcophagus.  It is heavily decorated; gold and silver inlays glitter in the low light, with various gemstones glinting against the party's torchlight.  Cade takes a few steps to the side to inspect the coffin's profile and notices that the sarcophagus' head matches many portraits of the Runelord herself.  He feels a rush of tenuous excitement as he cautiously nears the coffin.  "A sarcophagus carved in the shape of Sorshen, here at the entrance?" Cade wonders aloud as he steps onto the raised platform.  "Interesting..."

He gingerly places his fingertips upon the foot of the sarcophagus.

"Cade, stop!" Asami shouts, starting forward just a bit too slow to actually stop the errant researcher.

Cade suddenly sees the towering figure of Runelord Sorshen standing over him. The giant figure seems to grab him and then squeeze ridiculously hard. Cade tried to fight for breath but the weight of the figure crushing him is too much to bear. Darkness overcomes his vision as his life fades away.

The rest of the party sees Cade fall to the floor dead in a matter of moments, with no obvious cause.

Ali runs over to Cade and shakes him. "Hey, come on, this isn't funny!"

"... Cade? Shit, Cade!?" Anastasia also runs over, kneeling next to his body and pressing a finger to his neck. No pulse. "Gods... gods damnit! Not again!"

Asami meanwhile just falls to her knees at the base of the steps leading to the platform, hand still outstretched. Tilting forward onto all fours, she stares unseeing at the floor. At her side a confused Eiko approaches Cade's body. "Mr. Cade? Why are you sleeping Mr. Cade?"

Meliora rushes in with Ali and Anastasia to Cade's side. "Cade? No, there has to be something we can do," she insists, channeling healing magic into his body in a futile, desperate attempt to bring him back to consciousness.

Darkness surrounds and crushes Cade.  With his last breath, he feels something deep within him pulled from his body.  An incoherent swirl of sensation and memories flood throughout him as his essence escapes into the aether...

...Followed by the steady beating of a heart.

A veil of darkness clouds Cade's vision, and what sounds like a roaring torrent of water fills his ears.  He takes a breath, stinging his lungs with the cold, stale air.  The wizard attempts to move, but his limbs act sluggishly, as if his body was still slumbering.  He tries to reach forward to steady himself on the coffin, but instead his hand slams against something hard.  He feels his lungs exhale air and make a yelp, but his ears remain engulfed by the strange din.

The rest of the party, meanwhile, have spent a few minutes trying to bring Cade back before they hear a soft thudding noise come from inside the sarcophagus, followed by a soft yip of pain.

Ali turns to the coffin and twitches their ear at the sound. They use all their strength to push off the lid of the coffin.