Gaping Maw of Sound #8

• The Gaping Maw of Sound found the Tritons pulling them beneath Elfhome Lake were doing so in order to protect them after the raucus battle that had just taken place in Tree Pass -- they gave the group a weed which lodged itself in their throats called "Hanu" which allowed them to breathe under the water

  • While they were hospitable with the group, they took Jackal, claiming he was an abomination and purely evil

• The Gaping Maw followed the Triton to retrieve Jackal, Mr. Smith back among the group, ending up in the underwater mansion city of Thalassa

• They were taken to a cell where Kaos claimed he was the brother of Eve Galdarion, which the protector of Thalassa, Kahayla, did not take kindly to. The group was forced to wait in a cell of magical kelp while the Triton discussed the situation

  • During their stint in the cell, another Triton arrived as asked if they were Tuku or Toro -- when Kit answered they were Tuku, the individual, who had a scar over his eye, left them imprisoned

• Eventually, the group was brought before Tawhito, an old Triton who was reading to Jackal, in front of a statue of a human pointing to the horizon

  • As the situation was explained, Tawhito removed the muzzle on Jackal, after which Jackal spoke with the Voice

    • Where feather and horn
      Are both loved and scorned
      Beneath dragon mounds of bones
      The restless beneath
      Guard what you seek
      But first one must take up the throne

• Tawhito claimed Jackal was a construct of Eve, a child in a way, who had a purpose far beyond just speaking with the Voice, though he didn't know what it was

  • Before he could finish the conversation, however, an alarm went up and the group saw the waters around Thalassa fill with blood

• As the Triton were distracted with whatever threat was at their doorstep the group made their escape, swimming through an arch beneath Thalassa a fish had warned Oby to avoid

  • While the group felt a terrible presence in the arch, it seemed only Mr. Smith was affected in the long term

• The group escaped Thalassa with Jackal and reunited with Ellie on the shores near Tree Pass, swalloing their Hanu.

• As they dwelled on the riddle, they considered Ar'Vayn a possible destination, and in the morning, the woman they'd met at the Halfway There Inn, Middalah Devir, appeared and explained she was going to travel with them to the temple of her god, Thrax. She also showed a kinship with Neya, as though they were good friends.

• Middalah explained she'd been off in the world, killing those with the Voice, and that traveling with the group would hopefully afford her more opportunities to do so in Galdarion Forest.

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