THE NETHER SEA
Featuring Lemmy Solher…...Fighter 7/Monk 1……Adam
Charibdys
Chondrus, High Priest of Lutheria, advisor to the court of King Acastus in Mytros and all-round ne’er-do-well who you agreed to take on board the Ultros at Yonder Island, can (as promised) lead you to Lutheria. He gives you a course to navigate. Two days heading out into a largely uncharted sea you enter a storm and are drawn close to Charibdys - a huge whirlpool. Two enormous stone arms in chains stick out from the centre of the maelstrom and the Ultros is pulled in by the sucking waters, drawn down into the briny depths and spat out into an underworld sea.
The Realm of Lutheria
This is an underworld dominated by the Nether Sea, a dark poisonous sea whose acidic waters slowly eat away at the hulls of ships. The sea is several hundred square miles in area, containing a number of black and grey rocky islands, and somewhere high above, hidden behind a sky of swirling primordial gases, is a cavern roof. The subdued lighting of the gas is the only illumination in this otherwise dim underdark.
The Island of Ancient Titans
On one island of rock and slate you discovered three colossal statues bound in iron chains. One statue animates; the sound of scraping rock was heard as its eyelids slid open. The eyes were featureless grey stone. It spoke directly to your minds. The three are, or were, titans; tricked by their sister Lutheria to be petrified and bound forever to this place. The titan tells you that Lutheria roams the Nether Sea abord her vessel - the Hypnos. It would be impossible to find Lutheria unless she wants to be seen. If you wish to confront Lutheria you must attract her attention.
The Weapons of the Titans
There are a number of cubed constructs in the Nether Sea, each at least a hundred feet to a side. Within these are kept the weapons of the Titans. If you were to disturb one of these weapons – Lutheria will come to investigate. The titan gives you a secret word which will allow you entrance to the nearest cube – the word is impossible for mortals to pronounce and so it is implanted in Bidderus’ brain – unfortunately the human brain is not designed to be a vessel for this alien power word and Bidderus becomes temporarily insane. You are given advice: if you face Lutheria laugh at her jokes or else she’ll sew your mouth shut, and if you play the Royal Game (game of twenty squares) with her – let her win.
The Cube
The nearest cube is a mile offshore from the isle of the three titans. It is an enormous metal construct covered in runes of an ancient language. It is suspended by chains, each link so large it must weigh several tonnes. The top end of the chain is lost to sight amongst the swirling primordial gas-clouds high above. Atop the cube is a 30ft tall hourglass that pours its sands excruciatingly slow. It will take a thousand years to empty from top to bottom. A round black metallic plate seems to be the only possible point of entrance. Bidderus unleashes the primordial word from his mind and the black disc slides open.
The Denizens of the Cube
Down a spiral stair is a dark chamber. The chamber has metal walls and a stone floor – and two roughly humanoid, primordial creatures with no faces. One touches Lemmy and starts to assume Lemmy’s features. With each touch it becomes more difficult to tell Lemmy and the creature apart. A tough combat ensues, but eventually the defeated creatures fall to bits.
The Pit of Worms
In a nearby chamber, another of the primordial creatures is found. It stands guardian on a bridge above a pit filled with thousands of squelching, slimy, slithering worms. The sight and smell of the writhing pit is nauseating. The guardian of the bridge is despatched from range and the heroes are free to cross the bridge to reach the exit at the other side of the chamber.
LEVEL UP – LEVEL 9
Next instalment will probably be Summer 2023.
