After a night of rest and deliberation, the party decided to follow the mysterious underground river, hoping it would lead them closer to their goal. As they journeyed through the murky waters, Yurian, walking on the surface thanks to Xeiros’ magic, was suddenly ambushed by ghouls rising from the depths. The creatures clawed and bit at the party, some even managing to momentarily paralyze the heroes. Despite these challenges, the group fought valiantly and defeated the undead attackers.
Pressing on, they encountered strange creatures resembling stalactites. Some fell from above, while others seemed to move across the water or cling to the boats. Fortunately, these creatures posed little threat, allowing the group to continue their journey relatively unscathed.
Eventually, the long underground river opened into a vast, dark lake. Nearby, the party spotted figures carrying lights. Hoping to avoid conflict, the heroes tried to convince the strangers that Jolliver had recruited them. After some consideration, the strangers invited the party closer but suddenly turned hostile, brandishing weapons.
Eeyore bore the brunt of the attack, drawing the enemies’ attention as Yurian fled across the water into unknown territory. One of the women leapt into the water, mounting a shark, while the rest of the party quickly neutralized a spellcaster on land. Yurian managed to kill the shark rider but soon found himself pursued by the enraged shark. As he ventured further into the lake, he stumbled into a new danger—a group of swimming ghouls. Swarmed and overwhelmed, Yurian attempted to retreat, but one of the ghouls caught him and left him paralyzed.
Isaac rushed to his friend’s aid, drawing the attention of both the ghouls and the bloodthirsty shark. The situation grew dire as Xeiros hurried to Yurian, determined to heal him. Realizing the severity of the battle, Eeyore made a dramatic decision, removing his hat and preparing to unleash his full strength to turn the tide.