Having returned from their rather eventful hunting trip, Wicklow and the boys try to downplay the filthy, disheveled, and wounded state they are in. Wicklow chalks it up to a run-in with an aggressive wild boar, a half truth that his mother readily accepts. She has been preparing a feast with the supplies that the team had purchased for them. Shadwick returns home from the mine and they all sit down for dinner. Wicklow asks the team for stories of their adventures, and the family is horrified by what they hear: boastful tales of sexual exploits, murder, spiteful urination, and worst of all, encounters with demons and gateways into the Abyss. They have deep misgivings, but their son is an adult and they wish him to make his own decisions.
The next morning, the family has a tearful but hopeful parting. Wicklow’s mother asks them to do their best to teach him and protect him. Sartan assures her that they will, but if the worst happens, then according to the customs of his people, he will return the head of their fallen companion as a sign of respect. Wicklow’s mother blanches in dismay, and gives her son a tight hug before releasing him to his fate.
They travel through woods and hills under an overcast sky, for what proves to be an uneventful first day of travel. As night falls and they make camp, and Cycek climbs a tree to gaze out to the west. He sees moonlight reflecting off of water in the distance. He estimates it to be several hours distant. They decide to rest for the night and investigate it tomorrow, for they know that a lake lies just east of the Stone Tooth.
After several hours of travel the following morning, they find themselves on part of an ancient roadway. The dirt has eroded away and they can see flagstones revealed beneath their feet. They come into a clearing strewn with broken stones, apparently part of ancient ruined structures. Among them is a curious fountain. It stands in what may have been a plaza ages ago. It has a 3-foot high stone encircling wall and in the center is a stone gargoyle, spitting water. Cracks in the wall allow water to trickle out, but the level is constantly replenished by the gargoyle. A set of crooked stone steps spirals down steeply to a door below the base of the fountain.
Mishok is distrustful of the fountain. He asks Divoc for guidance to help detect any traps. He feels that they should be cautious but is certain that no trap that has been lain. Curious, the others fan out to explore. Sartan and Wicklow throw rocks into the water from afar, and they see an odd disturbance… a stirring of the water that they cannot understand. Davros and Mishok stand a safe distance away, but Cycek and Sartan move in closer to see what happens if they continue to disturb the water. They see a movement in the water… a wake as if something moves below the surface. The bottom of the fountain is filled with coins. They toss one more rock into the water. In a flash a snake-like column of water bursts from the fountain and bashes Sartan with tremendous force. It appears like a serpent, but shimmering and translucent, like water brought to life. All the explorers fall back to what they think is a safe distance and fire arrows at the creature. Those that connect make little impact. Wicklow, from the shelter of a large rock, and looking to Sartan for guidance, takes several shots, missing every time. As the melee continues, Mishok tries bashing the side of the fountain with his war hammer. He cracks a chunk of stone off the lip of the basin and water begins to pour out.
Their attention is drawn by a hissing voice. A small, hazy creature has fluttered on diaphanous wings, up from the stairs, and excoriates the group for disrupting the fountain. “Whaaaat the hell is going on up here!? Go away and leave us alone! Don’t bother the boss!” The vaguely humanoid creature has elongated facial features, skinny arms and legs, and long, wickedly clawed fingers.
Davros argues back at this strange, misty being. “Who’s your boss? I’m your boss You tell that water snake thing to knock it off, or I’ll kick your ass!”
The creatures clenches its tiny fists in fury and brandishes its spindly arms. “I’d like to see you try! Now, get out of here!”
In a flash, it flies to Davros and whistling like a piping hot tea kettle, it exhales a blast of scalding steam in his face. Davros curses in pain and rage. Meawhile, Cycek runs past the fountain with a small cooking pot. He hastily scoops a pot of water and races to put distance between himself and the fountain. His action draws the ire of the snake-like water creature. It bashes him, grasps him, and drags him over the lip of fountain and into the water. Thinking fast, he deploys the immovable rod, and tries to hang on to it. But the creature is too strong. His hand slips and the inexorable force pulls him under. Sartan runs to the fountain and, inspired by Mishok’s actions, hacks at the stone with his battle axe. A chunk of of the wall breaks away and Sartan is knocked flat by a torrent of water and stone. The creature, still bearing Cycek in its grasp, also surges through the breach. Sartan quickly grabs Cycek and, supported by Mishok, braces his feet against the broken stone, heaves with all his might, and draws Cycek along with the writhing creature fully from the fountain’s confines. Davros yells at them, “Why are you messing with this thing anyway!? What’s in it for us? This is a waste of time!”
Davros, furious, battles the fluttering steam creature, and manages to seriously wound the thing. It flees, flying up and away just as three similar creatures emerge from the stairwell. They are all in an uproar and immediately disperse to engage the party. Sometimes employing scalding steam breath, and other times scratching with sharp claws, these beasties harry anyone they can reach, causing burns and cuts. The party fights back and one at a time manages to dispatch the strange creatures. Cycek performs exceedingly well, positioning himself strategically, and aligning his arrow trajectories to penetrate two of the translucent opponents in a single shot. In dying, each of the creatures explodes in a scalding burst of steam, inflicting additional wounds on anybody nearby.
Finally, they turn their attention back to the writhing, weakened water creature. Sartan hacks into it with his axe. It shudders, flails, and unleashes a wet, gargling scream. It seems more susceptible to damage now that it is out of the fountain.
Wicklow, having failed to connect with any arrows, and having received minor burns, steps out from behind his hiding place, and sends a single point-blank arrow into the water-creature. The weird serpentine creature bursts like a water balloon. Steaming water pours out over their feet. Wicklow leaps into the air, whooping and hollering in excitement at having delivered the killing blow. Sartan is particularly annoyed at this, given the fact that Wicklow had made such a poor showing, despite previous claims to be a capable archer.
They pause to take stock of the situation. All is quiet at the moment. The fountain has emptied of water, and the gargoyle is no longer replenishing the water level. There do not appear to be any more adversaries at the moment.