Phealafarian Frontiers: 07: Here There Be Borglins
With the storm picking up behind them, the party made their way down the steep, weather-worn steps that wound along the cliffside, leading to the caves below. The air grew thick with moisture, the scent of salt and damp stone filling their lungs as the first echoes of distant waves crashing against the rocks reached their ears. The entrance to the cave yawned before them, dark and unwelcoming, its damp interior glistening with moisture. The faint, flickering glow of giant fire beetles illuminated small pockets of the cavern, their warm light barely enough to push back the deep shadows within.
Pulling out their lanterns, the party cautiously moved forward. The steady drip of water echoed through the cavern, each droplet hitting the stone floor with an oddly rhythmic beat. The glow of their lanterns reflected off slick, glistening walls, creating ghostly patterns that twisted and danced with every step. The fire beetles scuttled along the rocky surfaces, their bioluminescent glow pulsing in irregular bursts, casting fleeting shadows that flickered like whispers of movement in the darkness. The deeper they ventured, the more the air thickened with the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic, like rusted iron left too long in the rain. The shifting glow of their lights cast long, twisting shadows along the cave walls, making every crevice and outcropping seem to move. Tosk, ever eager, darted off ahead into the darkness. It wasn’t until he turned around and found himself completely alone that he hesitated. The vastness of the cave swallowed everything, the silence pressing in around him. Just as unease started to creep in, he spotted the others rounding a large stone pillar from the opposite direction and hurried to rejoin them, masking his brief moment of worry with an exaggerated stretch.
Deeper they went, the cave narrowing and twisting in unpredictable directions. The sound of buzzing drifted faintly down one of the tunnels, an ominous hum that sent a shiver down their spines. Deciding that whatever lay down that path was better left undisturbed, they pressed forward.
Erisa’s lantern swept across a chest half-buried in the damp cavern floor, its worn metal hinges catching the light. Before anyone else could react, Tosk rushed forward, fingers itching to pry it open. But as he reached out, his eyes landed on the massive, sleeping spider nestled in a web just a few feet away. He froze mid-motion, slowly straightening up and backing away, gesturing for Erisa to take his place. Carefully, she worked the lock and opened the chest, revealing an assortment of odds and ends—old coins, rusted tools, and, most disturbingly, two human teeth.
Further in, the party relied on the Locate Creature amulet to guide them to Matchlight. As Erisa held it, a faint glow shimmered in her vision, visible even through the solid rock of the cave. The light pulsed steadily, drawing her toward the fire elemental’s location like a beacon through the darkness. With each turn and passage, the glow grew stronger, leading them deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels. Along the way, Tosk found another chest, this one free of webs and guardians. Inside, among other trinkets, was a smaller locked box. He tucked it away for later, eager to see what secrets it might hold.
The winding tunnels eventually opened into a large chamber, a deep pool of water cutting through the middle of the cavern. Across the pool, a group of Borglins danced in manic celebration around a glass cage, within which a small fire elemental flickered and sputtered—Matchlight. The elemental’s glow reflected off the damp cave walls, turning the chamber into a bizarre, chaotic swirl of light and shadow.
Tobias cupped his hands and called out to the Borglins. The creatures stopped their frenzied movement, wide-eyed and startled. They whispered among themselves before responding. “Swim! Swim! Come talk!”
Reluctantly, the party waded into the cold, murky water, one by one making their way across. Eldrin hesitated at the edge, frowning at the idea of submerging himself in an unknown pool, but before he could protest further, the Borglins began throwing rocks into the water, laughing wildly.
The laughter turned to shrieks as the water below churned, and from the depths, a giant octopus emerged, its tentacles thrashing. The creature struck out at the intruders, dragging them under and forcing them to fight while struggling to stay afloat. Blades cut through waterlogged flesh, arrows found their mark despite the erratic thrashing, but the creature fought back with a terrifying strength. One of its massive tentacles wrapped around Tobias, yanking him beneath the surface as bubbles burst violently to the top. Erisa lunged forward, grasping at his arm, but the octopus dragged him deeper, his struggling form vanishing into the murky water. Just as panic began to set in, Thomas dove after him, slashing through the water, his blade slicing deep into the beast’s rubbery flesh. The octopus recoiled, loosening its grip just enough for Tobias to break free and surface with a gasping breath. Finally, with a well-placed strike from Eldrin, the beast shuddered and stilled, sinking limply into the depths. Gasping for breath, the party pulled themselves to the far shore, dripping and weary, where the now-fearful Borglins stood huddled together. Gasping for breath, the party pulled themselves to the far shore, dripping and weary, where the now-fearful Borglins stood huddled together.
Tobias, still catching his breath, held up a hand. “We’re not here to fight you. Just give us the elemental and tell us why you took it.”
The Borglins shuffled, exchanging nervous glances before one finally spoke. “Man give us teeth to take Fireman.”
Tobias frowned. “What man?”
“Fancy fat man.”
Recognition flickered across Erisa’s face. Reaching into her pouch, she pulled out the teeth she had found earlier in the chest. “How about a trade? Two teeth for the fire elemental?” she offered.
The Borglins eagerly accepted the deal, swapping the elemental for the grisly payment. The moment Matchlight was in their hands, its flames pulsed brighter, seemingly relieved to be freed from its glass prison. With their prize secured, the party wasted no time in making their way back through the winding tunnels.
As they neared the cave entrance, the storm outside had grown fierce, wind and rain howling against the rocks. Standing at the mouth of the cave, silhouetted by the storm, was a figure waiting for them. A stout man, dressed in fine but travel-worn clothes, watched them with a crooked smile. He stepped forward, introducing himself with a noticeable lisp.
“Marven,” he said, “merchant of fine goodth here in Thhormwatch Bay. And, I mutht thay, you’ve been rather troublethome for my planth.”
He wasted little time in admitting the truth—he had been the one to pay the Borglins to extinguish the lighthouse. A ship carrying valuable and exotic goods was due to arrive soon, and with the storm and no guiding light, he had hoped it would crash against the rocks, allowing him to claim its cargo for himself.
“But I’m a reathonable man,” he continued, spreading his hands. “You’ve already done half the work for me. If you jutht walk away, I’ll cut you in on the profitth. Help me, and I’ll make it worth your while.”
Thomas folded his arms, his expression cold. “And the crew on that ship?”
Marven shrugged. “Eh, they might die, but can’t make an omelet without breaking a few—”
His words were cut short as Erisa fired a crossbow bolt into his leg. With a sharp cry, he crumpled to the ground, clutching the wound. Before he could react further, Eldrin pounced, fists flying, striking him across the face until he fell unconscious.
Tosk hefted the limp trader over his shoulder, sparing a glance at the storm beyond the cave. The party stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, soaked to the bone, their adrenaline beginning to ebb. Relief mingled with exhaustion—Marven’s plan had been stopped, and the lighthouse would shine once more. Yet, there was a simmering anger beneath it all, the knowledge that this man had been willing to let an entire crew die for profit. Tobias clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “People like him don’t deserve second chances,” he muttered. No one disagreed. The only sound was the wind howling through the cave entrance as they turned to make the long climb back, justice—however they defined it—waiting at the top. “Guess we’re taking him back up, then.”
With the fire elemental secured and the true culprit in hand, the party began the long climb back up the rain-slicked cliffside stairs, the howling wind drowning out Marven’s groans as they carried him toward justice.
