Shadowed Tower - 07 "The Lair of the Sea Goblins"

As the group speeds away under full sail, they begin to discuss what happened at the rock, and the poor fate of the fisherman, Ian. But not long after, Rowen spies a black cormorant with a strange plume approaching. With bows ready they watch the bird circle the boat before landing at the prow and changing into an airy shape of a Nas-kudra wizard. the illusory image goes on to spout what seems to be a pre-recorded message from said wizard:

"Defilers of the temple of Shulheen. Murderers of the Kudra No Shulheenan and blasphemous thieves. Your actions are unforgivable, yet I offer you one chance to check the tide and right the wrong you have done. Return the blessed Head of Shulheen and I will spare the lives of your two tribesmen. Do it not, and I will feed them their own entrails before giving their bodies to the red sharks. The boatman is known to us, and I swear by Shulheen's bloody tit that his brood will share his fate! ALONG WITH YOU, YOUR KINFOLK AND ALL WHO CALL YOU FRIEND!! Turn around and return the head or suffer the wrath of Shulheen and her servants..."

What could the message mean? Obviously the group doesn't have the "blessed head of Shulheen," whatever that is, but for some reason the sea goblins believe they do. The message also seemed to imply that both the Stormcrow and Ian are held captive, and if they don't have the stolen item, then where could it be?

Cinder comes to at this point as well, having finally shaken the last effects of the Stormcrow's poison.

After a short deliberation, in which the advantages of getting to Newydd ahead of the Stormcrow are weighed against condemning Ian to a cruel fate, the group decides to send Taen back to the sea goblin's rock to scout the lay of the land. Beaching the curragh, they build a small fire and set to drying out clothing while Taen heads down the coastline.

As it turns out, Taen's idea of reconnaissance has more to do with a one-faelinarie assault force than a scouting mission. After killing several goblins with well aimed arrows and searching a bit of the small tunnels inside the rock, she beats a hasty retreat, having stirred the hornet's nest but not found Ian or her assassin stepbrother.

Two candles later, after returning to the rock with the others, leaving only Kaerig behind with the boat, the group sees that the sea goblins are truly watchful now, with many lookouts upon the rock. Sneaking close through the heavy surf while in spider form, Cinder launches a truly impressive fireball that pretty much envelopes the entire rock and decimates several goblins.

Cinder then casts a levitation spell, ingeniously using Taen for the lateral push necessary to bring Graham, Khabsha and himself to the rock without the need of swimming in really heavy armor. Rowen takes the wet approach and almost gets attacked by the 12 foot red shark patrolling the waters around the rock. Thankfully, Cinder is able to Arcane tendril the finned menace before it reaches her.
Once everyone is on the rock, which has been melted to a smooth texture by arcane fire, they work their way quickly around to the submerged entrance. Asking who's to go first, Rowen volunteers Khabsha by giving her a push (Comedic moment on the character with a missing player). Graham and the others quickly follow, and after dealing with a couple more goblin guards underwater they are ready to enter the lair.

Our next comedic moment comes when they are deciding who will pop their head up into the lair first. Khabsha admonishes Rowen with a raised hand and warning shake of the head, conveying that she will not be pushed to the front again. Rowen looks over her shoulder through the water and sees the red shark approaching before shrugging and hurrying into the tunnel. Khabsha looks over her shoulder before quickly following.

Inside the lair they make short work of the goblins on the landing before moving off down the cramped tunnel, Graham in the lead. At the first junction, they spy a strange, spiked growth on the cave wall just before it expands and detonates, sending spiny missiles in all directions. Graham takes the brunt of them, and they burn with terrible pain where they pierce his skin, one coming so close to his eye that he thanks the Gods (and survival points) it didn't blind him. Those behind him are mostly shielded from the blast, but still manage to take a spine or two from the trap.
Following Taen's directions, they head left, up the tunnel passage toward the shrine she saw earlier. A second Exploding Urchin trap is disarmed with a well placed arrow and they emerge in the shrine room, where there are no enemies to be found.

With no other apparent options, they turn back down and ready themselves to enter the submerged passage to the right of the entrance hall, aware that the sea goblins and their mage have had time to prepare who knows what, but determined to see the mission through….