The Runelog
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by Christopher Bramley
Edited by Adam Manning
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Chapter 4 - The Puzzled Canal
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Once the wounded had been cared for, attentions were turned to the dead. The remaining Stormbullers performed the last rites upon their comrades. This involved slaughtering the dead men's bisons and mounting their bodies on the beasts' carcasses in accordance with their religion.
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The trolls then asked the survivors to accompany them to the salt mines to collect their ransom. Fearing treachery the adventurers took all the troll's armour and weapons and cast them into the river. They then told the trolls to run.
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Whilst continuing to follow the river, Yetharon told the others that she had been requested to seek out a weapon from the Puzzled Canal. As they approached the canal, they came across a pair of Newtlings fishing on the riverbank. After speaking to them, the newtlings agreed to fetch the Sea Elves.
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The party were enjoying a meal when the elves arrived, and their spokesman told them that three people must travel into the canal to seek the chamber of Halmiznican, the creator of the canal. According to legend ages old, one of the God Learners wanted to create an area of extreme magical power. To do this, Halmiznican summoned a wyevern and forced it to crash on the riverbank. The bones and flesh of the wyvern decomposed to form a network of streamlets giving rise to its name of the Puzzled Canal. However, the crash caused an artifcat known as the Magic Pillar to be lost and up to present times, Halmiznican has sat in the ribcage of the wyvern's skeleton endlessly searching the earth for the pillar. This churning was evident by the changing shape of the surface.
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Theseus, Elzibar and Aslak chose to enter the canal. They cast their spells of River Breathing and dove into the river. They were greeted by six Sea Elves. Aslak was chosen to be the Receiver with Theseus and Elzibar being his guides. Aslak was offered the Dreamweed to smoke and as he did a bubble of air encased him. He also began to have terrifying hallucinations about their impending doom.
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Theseus and Elzibar guided the bubble down the subterranean canal using their mental powers. They progressed slowly so as not to allow the fragile bubble to touch the canal's sides. After half an hour a freak current proved too powerful and cast the bubble out into the open air. The bubble burst and Aslak fell to the ground below.
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Meanwhile, Theseus and Elzibar were trapped underground in the constantly moving canals. Then, seeing daylight, Elzibar managed to swim to the surface, but Theseus was still trapped below. Sensing that time was running out Theseus headed back the way he came. A wrong turning lead him to a Dragon Skull. Swimming through its mouth, Theseus found himself in a chamber seemingly constructed from the ribcage of the enormous wyvern.
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A merman sat on a throne and spoke to Theseus.
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"Aah, you have arrived at last. I am Falconnan, the sixth incarnation of Halmiznican. I trust that you have come for this."
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Falconnan then offered a green and black bow to Theseus and continued,
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"This bow can only be used underwater and can only be touched by the hand of an elf. Do you have a container to carry it in?"
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Theseus offered his cloak and with that a tunnel leading to the surface appeared. Following the tunnel Theseus found himself in the river again and he swam to the bank. Once ashore he gave the bow to Yetharon and recounted all that had been said.
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The River Voices said their farewells and continued downriver towards Ogre Island. They came across a Newtling settlement and the inhabitants told them where to find the disturbance in the river. The adventurers travelled onto Ogre Island and just as they passed a tall black tower to the east, a winged demon swooped down from the sky. The party took cover in a ruined settlement until the danger passed.
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They then entered a marsh which eventually led to some roughly hewn marble stairs which led down to the river. Once on the river bank the party saw a whirlpool leading to a hole in the riverbed.
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Go onto Chapter 5.
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Go back to Chapter 3.
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