To cast a dark ritual.

Mounted upon your horse, you lead the cadre of farmers back to the cavernous lair. Roland and his brother ride close behind, still entranced by the beast. With them, they lead the old mule loaded with their father and the bound redhead. The blond woman stumbles in line next trying to keep pace while occasionally stealing glances over her shoulder to the beast of Zporaflor at her rear. Moving at a slower pace than when you first journeyed to the farm, you arrive at the cave entrance around midnight.

Nisa, dressed in only her old brown woolen cloak, her swollen belly clearly visible from within the shroud, greats you all at the entrance. "It is good to see you again Herald. What shall be done with these two?" She asks of the redhead and old man. Her hissing voice and demonic appearance causing the bound girl to recoil in shock.

"Have them taken to the ceremonial hall." Your instruction is clear as you dismount. "I would suggest you follow Nisa and keep quiet. She will show you to a room where you will stay until I decide what is to be done with you." You tell the blond woman. Again, she doesn't respond with words but shakes her head in agreement. Roland and his brother dismount their horses and fall in around Nisa at the mule. Roland grabs his father while his brother grabs the girl to make their way into the lair.

Nisa regards the blond woman who has fallen in at her side. "Help secure the horses and follow me inside." She tells her and the two set about the task.

You enter the cave with the beast and make your way down to the ceremonial hall where you notice the brown mushroom has grown to waist height and slim trails of algae spiderweb out from its base to crawl along the floor. Roland and his brother have laid their father and the redhead before the large mushroom as they stand silently over the pair. The room is still pitch black and the girl lays silently, unsure of her surroundings. You clasp your hands and say a few abyssal words before snapping your fingers. A few dozen candles Nisa had previously spread about the room while you were away spark aflame, the dim light casting ghostly shadows along the room. The girl squints as her eyes adjust to seeing the chamber for the first time. She squirms with fear as you approach her and kneel. "Do not worry." You tell her as you gently caress her cheek. "Soon you will serve the will of my mistress Grevakhnu. But for tonight, our plans concern this one." You indicate the unconscious old man, your words doing nothing to comfort her. "Place him atop the altar." You instruct. Roland and his brother move to lift their father and lay his body across the head of the large mushroom.

Nisa enters the chamber, her cloak casting a shadow over her face from the candlelight. In her hands, she carries your sacrificial dagger as she joins you by the large mushroom: a blade of polished steel curving from its handle. Taking it in your hand, you begin a chant to Grevakhnu. The two white-eyed men step to either side and kneel, clearing the way to your fungal alter, as Nisa's hissing whisper joins in your dark chant. Taking slow deliberate steps toward the man lying atop the mushroom with each verse, you grip the dagger in both hands. The light from the candles dance from an unseen presence as shadows twist around the room.

"Hhhhmmmm.... mmm.. hhmmmm...." The bound redhead strains against her gag while trying to squirm free. Neither you or Nisa pay her any mind as you both continue the abyssal chant. Roland and his brother remain silent and motionless on either side of you. Standing before the large mushroom, the shadows in the room whip into a tempest and you know the moment is now. With a steady hand, you rake the dagger across the old man's stomach as blood spills out of his body and over the fungal alter of Zporaflor.

The motion of the shadows slow to a natural pace. You and Nisa's chanting fades to a mumble before falling silent. The only sound in the room are the faint cries of the redhead while Roland and his brother wordlessly drag her from the chamber.