I know, I know. It's been over a year since my last update. Things have been pretty crazy for me so I couldn't update. Finally got the inspiration to finish the second half of this chapter that is mostly action. I do recommend rereading my past chapters if only to reacquaint yourself with the characters. Cause there are ten central figures that have to be taken into account across this story. And that is a lot.

Act I:

A Fateful Competition

Chapter 3:

The Emerald Grotto

The drums began beating throughout the city of Jigow as the sun settled upon the horizon, signaling the beginning of the final competition. The Wayward Wayfarers had been on a roll with the competitions throughout the afternoon and evening. And had just been awarded for completing a maze when the drums began.

Following the crowds, they made their way through the Jumble district of Jigow until they came into the wide open town square near the shoreline.

Standing on a stack of crates so he could be seen. Elder Ushru was an elderly orc dressed in deep blue robes that appeared even darker in the dimming light of the setting sun. But his smile was radiant as he watched the large crowd gather for the final competition for the Festival of Merit.

Soon to be flanked by other officials of the festival. The group began discussing something among themselves before the elder once again turned to the crowd. He then began to address everyone as the Wayward Wayfarers were approached by a pair of city guards.

"Is something the matter, Sir?" Benjicot greeted the guard with the more decorated helmet of the two, whom he presumed was the officer.
"No, the elders and the festival staff have simply instructed us to gather you five for the final competition," the officer stated simply before gesturing for them to follow.

An escort," Elijen boasted, "How nice,"

Benjicot noticed that the Maroon Mercenaries were being summoned by a similar group of guards further off in the crowd. And his suspicions were confirmed when both groups met by the docks alongside Elder Ushru.

"Now, the competition will be a race to retrieve something within the Emerald Grotto!" Elder Ushru then produced a green and gold necklace with a large emerald at its center, "This Medal's twin has been placed within the deepest cavern of the Emerald Grotto, our two teams must search for it and bring it back within the hour!"

It was then that each participant was given a potion. "Drink up, it allows you to breathe underwater for an hour." one of the festival staff said as she handed Benjicot one such potion. As he drank the duergar dwarf noticed Lostmark awkwardly pocket his potion, as he did not need it.

"Now, on your marks! Get set! GO!" at the elder's shout all ten dived into the murky depths.

-V-

Adjusting to the fact that they could breathe underwater was disorienting at first. But the Wayfarers found themselves pulling ahead of the Maroon Mercs as they entered a flooded subterranean cavern filled with seaweed.

"I'm stuck," Benjicot looked back to see Lostmark entangled within some seaweed. It took a bit of work for the group to untangle them. The maroon mercs were swimming by, laughing at them all the while. The early lead was already lost.

After some fierce swimming. The group came upon a fork in the road with Maggie the ogre blocking one of the paths with her large frame, "Sorry guys, but Ayo asked me to guard our flank."

"There's another path this way," Dewhert pointed out. And the group wasted no time to take the detour. It was getting quite dark now within the cavern and only Llyn and Benjicot could see in the dark. And guiding Elijen, Dewhert, and Lostmark was proving quite a challenge.

"Hold on," Llyn casted a spell that created three small lights and guided them to her struggling comrades so they could see better. But soon the lights weren't needed; as a new source of illumination shone around a bend. As the wayfarers followed the light it led them to a vast cavern filled with coral and stalagmites and stalactites. And shining a green glow throughout the cavern was the emerald medal. Tied to a spear lodged into the side of a large shark.

"Well that complicates things," Lostmark stated what everyone was thinking as they saw the Maroon Mercenaries emerge into the cavern. There was a brief pause as both groups took in the situation. But it was the shark that struck first. Swimming towards the Mercs with incredible speed and baring its toothy maw. Galsariad the drow wizard quickly cast a spell on the shark. Slowing its movements just enough for the group to swim out of reach.

"Dewhert, Elijen!" Benjicot called out. "Try and hold down that shark! Llyn, get the spear. Lostmark you're with me!" The Wayfarers quickly obeyed they're seasoned leader's orders. Dewhert quickly swam over and grabbed the shark by the tail fins as Elijen wildshaped into a dolphin and tackled the predator with the barbed protrusions all of his wildshapes had. Puncturing sharkhide and spilling blood into the water. Llyn saw an opening to reach for the spear but was quickly intercepted by Maggie. Who used her immense size and strength to restrain Llyn.

Ayo and Irvan quickly swam past the wrestling drow and orge to go for the spear. But the shark squirmed its way out of Dewhert's grasp and got around a large stalactite. The light of the emerald medal casting thick shadows throughout the cavern.

Llyn summoned her echo and used her strange magic to teleport and swap places with the illusory copy of herself. Leaving Maggie holding nothing but a gray shadowy form of Llyn as the real one chased after the shark.

As Benjicot and Lostmark were distracting Galsariad and Dermot, and Maggie was struggling with the shadow Llyn. Ayo and Irvan were the only members of the mercs to worry about. Llyn called to the dolphin that was Elijen. Who quickly swam over to Llyn so she could grab onto his dorsal fin and give chase. The two quickly overtook Irvan. But Ayo was swimming at a preternatural rate. And soon the blue orc was hanging onto the spear as the shark continued to deftly swim among the coral and stalagmites.

"Come on get me closer Elijen!" Elijen gave a series of clicks in response that Llyn could swear sounded passive aggressive.

Soon the shark made for the tunnel entrance that the mercs had come from. But Dewhert had swam into the path of the shark and clubbed the side of the shark's head with his quarterstaff. This caused Ayo to lose her grip on the spear as the shark careened into the wall on its side with the spear. Impaling the weapon further into the predator and killing it.

The two parties watched as the shark had crashed so hard into the cavern wall that it began to crumble away. Revealing a new light source.

Llyn and Elijen quickly swam down to the shark carcass and retrieved the medal. But Ayo wasn't done yet. And quickly swam after them to try and get the medal. Determination burning in her eyes.

"Get me out of here Elijen!" Llyn called as they swam towards the new light in the cavern. Emerging out of the water with a graceful dolphin jump into a space with air to breathe.

Llyn hit the ground hard as Elijen turned back into his halfling self. Llyn pulled herself up and found themselves in a grove of grass and various plants. A single hole in the ceiling of this beautiful place shone a ray of moonlight onto an object nestled amongst the grass.

"Llyn. I got the medal, come on and let's… Go…" Elijen cut himself off as he took in their surroundings. Llyn, who hurt her leg in the escape. Started dragging herself towards this reflective object in the grass. Then getting up and limping herself towards it. She then knelt down to find a necklace made of fine golden chain. A glittering golden disc shining up at her.

There shouldn't be moonlight shining in here," Elijen said. His brow furrowed, "The sun has only just set…" but Llyn wasn't listening as she reached out towards the necklace. Her hand barely grazed the golden disc before she fell unconscious.

-V-

"I am imprisoned, help me!" a voice calls out as Llyn falls out of golden light that shifts into pitch black darkness.

She again feels the sensation of buoying in water as a vermillion light shines out from the darkness before her. Before her is a male human with curly brown hair chained down by some kind of fleshy crimson substance. The man raises his head heavenward and sobs miserably before saying, "Moon Weaver, I beg of you. Guide those with the power to save me to the site where I first prayed to you." he casts his gaze downwards to settle upon Llyn's. Releasing a heavy sigh of relief before saying. "Oh gods, there you are! My name is Alyxian. I am lost in darkness. Long ago, I prayed to the Change Bringer in the heart of a temple of evil. I beg you, take my jewel and…"

A fierce pressure overcomes Llyn as if being crushed by an enormous height all around her. And her dream descends into darkness once more.

Author's Note: Now the main plot can kick off. A quick side question I wanted to ask of anyone who got to this point. Of the two adventuring parties: The Wayward Wayfarers and the Maroon Mercenaries. The Wayfarers are the main characters as they represent the players in a game of D in this module. While the Mercs are a group of NPCs that are present in the module itself. But do you guys want to see the story from the mercs perspective in addition to the Wayfarers going forward? I've been thinking about it for a while now but haven't committed to the idea just yet.

Anyway; Thoughts, comments, criticisms(politely), and any grammatical/spelling errors being pointed out would be appreciated, thanks!