Session 21: The Road to Sunken Catur
Canon Summary
The session opened with the party reviewing what they had learned after the dragon fight and the recovery of the well. The well had warned that the other wells may not be easily helpful, but that they might be persuaded by ancient things already in the party's possession, especially items of fiendish or celestial nature. The party considered the fragments of the orb of control, possible fiendish or celestial artifacts, and the larger concern that the outer islands were under unnatural stress.
Before moving toward Catur, the party reviewed the magical gifts received from Balrog. Mikani had the Cap of Water Breathing, activated with the word Kokyu. Brigit had a Shortbow of Warning, Roon had a +2 dwarven shield, Gildas had a Staff of Defense, Corvinus had a magical flame longsword whose fire could still work underwater, and Faban clarified the properties of his Acheron Blade. The Acheron Blade is a +1 weapon; it can grant Faban temporary hit points through Dark Blessing and can impose dread/disadvantage through Disheartening Strike, clarified as usable once per round.
The party reached the coast near Catur, confirming that Catur itself lies underwater, about six miles offshore. The group had spoken with giant fishermen and learned about water-breathing mushrooms. They had 28 mushrooms, each good for one hour of underwater breathing, plus 20 potions of water breathing made by Gildas, also lasting one hour each. This gave the group a strong but limited underwater operating window. The fisherman also advised that the city is dangerous and unfriendly to outsiders, and suggested disguises or a cover story.
Faban and Mikani settled on the main diplomatic ruse: Mikani would present herself as an emissary from the Celestial Isles, while Faban would present himself as a water-touched human connected to the Isles and a believer of Namaloa. The rest of the party would serve as entourage or protection, allowing Corvinus in particular to avoid direct falsehoods that might trouble his oath. The group spent some time discussing Corvinus's oath of devotion and the limits of deception, concluding that the safest approach was for him to say as little as possible while still truthfully acting as protector.
During the crossing, Roon successfully handled the boat despite only partial familiarity with watercraft. Faban kept watch, Mikani prepared herself as a formal emissary, and the party discussed the Celestial Isles. Important lore emerged: the Isles are largely draconic, home to dragonborn and kobolds, and were one of the last places where dragonkin lived peacefully after the fall of dragons. Their society is a constitutional monarchy led by the gold dragonborn high clan, named Mensen, and the Isles are known in the Outer Rim for appraisal work involving gems and artifacts.
Once in Catur, the group entered an underwater city environment with cultivated coral, underwater mushrooms, seed plants, and gardeners. The party was granted access to a courtyard area rather than full free movement. They learned that the smith they should seek was Uthgar, which mattered because one member of the party could potentially assist or learn from the city's underwater forge work.
Eventually, Faban and Mikani secured an audience with Catur's leadership. The party explained that they came seeking knowledge, not conflict, and asked for access to the city's well. Faban framed the request as mutually beneficial: helping Catur defend itself while also helping the party understand the larger danger threatening the wells. The queen agreed and led them to the well chamber.
The party entered an underwater cave chamber containing a dormant magical well, described less as an obvious fountain and more like a large pool of magic. The queen indicated the well and guarded the chamber, while the party debated who should approach. They reviewed the known wells: Korog, Scythe/Safi, Ordor, the unknown well in the Gale, the unknown well in Hanidal, and this unknown Catur well. Faban approached and warned the well that the Wand of Wells had been stolen and that whoever held it, possibly infernal or demonic, might attempt to destroy or undo the wells as had happened to Ordor.
The situation quickly escalated. The well or its guardian revealed awareness of the party's true nature and pushed them back toward the surface. Then the largest sea creature the party had ever seen appeared. Some recognized it as an aboleth. It spoke telepathically and identified itself as Niebain or Nebain, spelling uncertain and heard as N-I-E-B-A-I-N. It warned: "We are in great danger already." The queen then moved aside from a crack she had been holding, and water began rushing in. The session ended there, with the party suddenly facing an immediate flooding crisis.
Key Locations
- Coast near Catur: The party began on the western coast near the sunken city, using a small boat to reach the underwater location.
- Catur: A dangerous underwater city unfriendly to outsiders, containing cultivated underwater plant life, coral, mushrooms, a courtyard, smithing work, royal authority, and a hidden magical well.
- Catur's Well Chamber: An underwater cave with spires and a dormant magical pool/well, guarded or controlled by the queen.
Key NPCs / Entities
- Giant Fishermen: Provided directions, information about the city, and advice about underwater breathing mushrooms.
- Allister: A merchant who warned Faban that Catur is dangerous and does not like outsiders.
- Uthgar: The main smith or smith contact in Catur.
- Queen / Her Majesty of Catur: Allowed the party to approach the well after Faban argued that it would help both Catur and the wider struggle.
- Niebain / Nebain: An aboleth-like ancient sea entity associated with the well or Catur's defense. It warned the party that the danger had already arrived.
Important Lore
- The Wand of Wells remains central. It was stolen from someone the party trusted, and the party believes the thief may be infernal, demonic, or otherwise connected to the greater threat.
- Ordor was destroyed in Paramon. Korog and Scythe/Safi remain known wells. The party still does not know the names of the well in Catur, the well in the Gale, or the well in Hanidal.
- The Celestial Isles are a dragonkin society with a constitutional monarchy ruled by the gold dragonborn high clan Mensen. They are known for appraisal work, especially gems and artifacts.
Inventory / Resource Notes
- The party had 28 water-breathing mushrooms and 20 potions of water breathing before submerging.
- After initial use, the running count noted was 27 mushrooms and 16 potions, with Mikani relying on her cap instead.
Cliffhanger
The party is in Catur with the queen, the aboleth-like Niebain/Nebain has appeared, and water is rushing in through a crack. The next session begins in immediate danger.
Provenance
- Built from human-authored canon summary for session21.
- The ingest draft summary is source material, not canon.
