Hand of The Eldritch God

Ren looked at the woman beside him, “What was your name?”

“Cella.” She spoke in a whisper, as they pushed further into the blackness of the abyss beyond.

Together, they came to a branch in the path. “How do you remember where to go? It all seems aimless.”

She turned to look at him and pointed at a blank wall. “There are spores scattered in the pores throughout the caves. They are inert though, unable to sprout. They are placed in a particular pattern to indicate where to go. Those who came before marked the caverns so that only we who use the essence of life can detect the markings. We specialize in using magics that cultivate plants, or more commonly down here, fungus.”

“That’s far different from anything I’ve seen before. I’ve only experienced elemental affinities, no essences of life, or anything else.”

“I do not know of the commonalities above, but here, where life is so foreign, it is seen as precious and sacred.”

They walked for a while in silence, only the sound of her footsteps rang out as Ren utilized his stealth to move unnaturally quietly.

Coming to another junction between splitting sections of the Underdark, she paused. “There’s water along the path out.”

“I’ve been thirsty down here, it would be one hell of a relief to get a drink.” Ren smiled and was excited at the prospect of finally getting a drink. His need for water had greatly subsided after being restored by the alien power from below them, yet his body still ached for a fresh drink.

“No, it’s not a good sight, not for us. Water means more life, more life means more prey, thus more predators.”

Ren sighed. “If anything tries to get between me and a good drink of fresh clean water, I’ll turn it into a pile of rotten filth.”

“Yes… I’m sure you will. We still need to be careful though, the path will likely not be an easy one.

Approaching the path, the two made their way down a spiraling cavern into a field of moss-like growths. A warmth came up from the earth near the water. Small vents let out heat, while odd growths of every color fought over the right to absorb the heat and grow. It was like the deep ocean where life clung to the deep vents in the area. An explosion of life filled the area, where without the heat, it would have been just as barren as the rest of the Underdark.

Ren fought off the urge to just casually stroll out into the lushness of the area. Instead, he stayed back and observed the environment with his eldritch eyes. Against the faint ethereal grayness of the void his eyes now saw, there were countless traces of life. He had not been around so much life except for the sorrow of the goblins. Instead of the great corrupted mass of those beings, he saw the beauty of thousands of lifeforms. Small insects crawled all over and throughout the growths. Dozens of species flourished across the landscape, and small bioluminescent bugs swirled in the currents of the air created by the updraft of warm air.

Slowly he allowed himself to move forward as he felt Cella release waves of mana to ‘see’ the area around her. She walked at his flank, crouched low and moving as silently as she could.

Together they passed towards a sloping hillside, or what would have been a hillside if the open sky rose above them. As they breached further into the open area, Ren felt something watching them. A small movement by the edge of the water, and a dark aura coming from the area. That was all he noticed before he felt something retract further into the depths of the water.

Ren turned slightly and whispered over to Cella. “Something, in the water. Stay back for a moment.” His voice was barely loud enough to be heard. She hesitated for a moment and nodded before crouching down and remaining still.

Cella released two larger pulses of mana to see her surroundings, as she did, she noticed the water was slowly moving as a disturbance ripped along it. With small, quiet breaths, anxiety ate away at her as Ren made more space between them.

He slowly made his way down to the water’s edge as she crouched behind him on the edge of the hillside. He felt a presence move towards the edge of the water. He readied his revolver expecting some great albino crocodile to jump up and devour him. Wait, was is a ‘crocodile?’ Ren's memory failed him as he was momentarily distracted by the lost past.

In his moment of weakness, it struck out at him. A black tendril whipped up from the abyss. It struck him in the left arm, his right hand carrying the revolver, barely held onto it. His body lifted from the ground as he skidded across the warm, damp plants and fungi around him. Tumbling, his dexterity came in handy as he jumped out of the roll and fired an eldritch empowered shot into the thick tentacle emerging from the water.

“What the fu-” Ren was cut off.

Three more tendrils of black flesh arose from the water. All of them, at once slammed towards him. He tried to dodge, yet two struck him, one on his right thigh, the other one on his left arm again. The jolting sensation of his upper arm snapping as the bone shattered made him want to throw up. The pain was immense, but his newly ascended form allowed him to ignore the pain far easier than he could have before.

He fired two bullets into one of the tentacles, eldritch touch began to eat away at it swiftly, the black veins somehow visible even against the darkness of its flesh.

With two tendrils of black moving far more slowly than before, it was easier for him to dodge again. The act caused terrible pain to overcome him as his left arm was completely broken, unable to withstand any movement. Three more bullets left his revolver as he took down a third tentacle. The other two, already injured, were still in far too good of shape for having been infected with the corruption.

Ren realized something, this being was likely far more powerful than he was. If six rounds empowered by eldritch touch was hardly slowing it down enough for him to barely dodge, how much would it take to kill it?

Ren pulled on the eldritch touch within his own body. After the odd energy had become part of him, he had hardly noticed the corruption within him. It primarily ate away at the fourth power, the energy that he now drew on as well. He released a wave of eldritch horror, expelling the corruption from his own body. The water began to steam and a cold mist arose from it. The gasses released felt odd to breathe, and so he held his breath momentarily. The fumes slowly trailed up towards the ceiling of the waterway.

Fish and odd looking bugs floated to the surface as their bodies began to slowly wither then disintegrate. The fourth energy within Ren was not yet depleted, yet was unable to form another eldritch horror.

A black form loomed from the water. Its body was as black as midnight without stars or moon. Dozens of thick black tendrils lifted from the water around it as a singular orange eye lit up at the black eyelids of its face opened.

Abyssal Watcher Lvl 47

Looking into the great eye of the aberrant abomination, Ren knew his life would end in moments. Swirling violet energy materialized within his palm. It was ready to be used, even eager. From the swirling mass of energy, a purple streak of what looked like lightning struck the thing before him.

The eye closed as a score of black tentacles snapped forward absorbing the eldritch blast. Four tendrils rose from the deepness, and on their tips opened orange eyes. Far smaller than the primary eye, the four new ones peered into him.

A voice arose from the blackness, with a cold and distant tone, it spoke like the whisper of distant echoes. “Little one, I see something horrific in you. Could you be? Would you be? No, not at all, but somewhat.” Something like a laugh came from it. “I will let you live, but for my own sake, I want no dealings with those. Now, did you come here with purpose?”

Ren couldn’t tell what the being was getting at, but he did notice how it didn’t smash him into a thin red paste. Grateful to not be killed, he was quite confused, and rightfully so.

“Abyssal Watcher… I apologize. I did not know you were quite so reasonable, I mean, I didn’t know you could talk… I just wanted a drink and, well, I thought I was being attacked by some giant squid.” Ren sighed heavily not knowing how to even begin his part of, what would hopefully be a long conversation.

“Little one, I thought you were a tasty treat. Now I know you have nasty fangs, but I supposed you would, you being what you are. Have water, little things, have as much as you need. I am not the curious type to find out the answers to questions that should not be sought out you see.”

“I’m not sure what you mean, but, thanks. I appreciate you not killing me, I will get a drink and leave you alone now. Thanks.” Ren spoke, unable to find the right words. The whole situation was confusing, and he quite honestly didn’t understand what was going on.