Keeper Sherbet and the Hydra’s Legacy
Before the destruction of the slab, Fenris, through the eyes of his feline companion, witnessed a vision. In it, the heroes stood around a table in a grand hall, resembling an abandoned room in the Rakota estate, writing letters. Fenris managed to read a letter from Brotor the Elder to his son, discovered by the current Brotor in Lux Astra, as well as a note from Felaia addressed to unknown descendants. Once they had finished, the heroes placed the scrolls on the table and asked someone named Sherbet to watch over the estate.
“Iscara, you know—either we’ll return ourselves, or he will come. And the password is ‘Raspberry You,’ got it?” one of the group said. From the shadows, Sherbet rasped his understanding. Looking closer, Fenris noticed the creature had three heads, realizing the hydra had once been a friendly guardian.
Awakening from the vision, Fenris recounted what he had seen to the group, then leapt into the chasm. Mid-air, he transformed into an eagle, gracefully landing at the bottom of the well. Tary summoned a blue dragon to carry her and Danaia down.
Meanwhile, Brotor received a call from his mentor at the Monastery of Balance, Abbot Kindheart. She revealed that Brotor’s father, who had been alive all this time, had been kidnapped. This, she explained, was somehow connected to the zombie sovlins, and she suspected Essu’s involvement.
Reuniting at the hydra’s body, the heroes had barely begun exchanging news when a harrowing scream echoed from deeper within the cave. Danaia teleported toward the sound, finding four rat-goblins devouring a fifth. While the others navigated crystal-covered pathways, the enemies ambushed Danaia, tying her up and dragging her away. The party arrived just in time to rescue her, setting the remaining foes ablaze as they attempted to flee across a hanging bridge. Brotor, in a reckless attack, destroyed the bridge’s support, causing it to collapse.
After a brief rest, the heroes examined the hydra’s body (finding 5 gold coins) and explored part of the dungeon. In one cavern, they spotted small figures in the distance. Fenris summoned a new familiar, a charming little faerie, and sent her to investigate. She reported a group of goblins, most dazed, tending mushrooms, while a goblin child sat on a throne. Somehow, the child could see the invisible faerie and offered her a glowing mushroom. Recognizing its narcotic potential, Danaia secured this treasure in one of Brotor’s tea pouches.
The adventurers then surfaced to investigate the fate of the city once under the hydra’s influence before setting out to search for Brotor’s father.
