The Sea Temple

Set the Scene

Complication: [2] An obstacle blocks your way - the way forward is currently… uncooperative

Altered Scene: [5] Altered

Alteration: [2] The environment is different - leaving the cave, Morg finds herself somewhere else entirely

Hex Terrain

Terrain: [6] Rare terrain - a strange and foreboding stretch of water

Contents: [2] Nothing notable

—

The back wall of the cave seems to glow with an eerie half-light that has nothing to do with Morg’s spell, as she takes in the sight before her.

A pair of vast stone doors, chiseled and shaped with a scale-like pattern, are bordered by undulating frames that seem to twist and writhe like underwater currents. It has the look of a shrine or Temple, clearly built long ago to worship some ancient being or ****.

Something in her gut tells her that this is the way to what she seeks. But it also tells her that there’s danger behind these doors.

Nevertheless, she takes a few steps forward, hand outstretched. Her fingers almost brush the stonework, but find resistance, a shimmering barrier preventing her from making contact.

She frowns, trying a few simple charms, all to no avail, the barrier before her pulsating and rippling as it bars her way.

Never simple, is it.

It makes sense, of course. If the Sea Shroud is really here, of course it would be protected. She’ll have to double back, and see if she can pick up any clues to help her bypass the wards.

She turns about, wading back to the mouth of the cave. Passing under the natural arch of the cavern, she stops, eyes wide as she stares back at the beach. Or what was the beach.

The bone-pale sand of the shore is gone, replaced with what seems to be an endless expanse of water, glimmering obsidian blank under a starless sky. When she looks back, the cave is gone, and all around her is the same vast ocean.

Fear begins to prickle its way over Morgause’s skin, the fine hair on her arms standing on end. She slows her breathing, closing her eyes, trying to convince herself that this is just a vision.

But the water is cold around her ankles, and the sounds of the gently lapping waves, driven not by tide or wind, is all too real.

She lets out a tiny gasp, and blushes furiously at the fearful sound, as she hears something parting the water behind her, and feels a presence close at her back.