The Lake of Nine Stones

The Lake of Nine Stones

Type	Lake
Location	North West Isonhound

Located somewhere in the North-West of Isonhound, the Lake of Nine Stones is approximately a kilometer in diameter. It is perfectly circular, and contains nine stones that orbit the center each at their own intervals.

About

The lake has no river or known source flowing into it, unless there is an river or spring concealed near the center. The water is salty, and there does not appear to be any life living in it, plant or animal. Nine small islands (the stones) orbit clockwise around the center of the lake, all at different speeds. They do not move quickly, and in their circuits they pass by within 10 feet of each other. Every approximately 12 and a quarter years, the stones form a perfect conjunction where passage from stone to stone toward the center is possible.

There is an invisible barrier of necrotic energy that forms the orbital path of each stone, but a gap opens up whenever two stones are aligned. This gap is physically passable in either direction as long as the stones remain in close proximity, but no attempts at magical transportation between stones or across the barriers have proven successful. Short distance magical teleportation within the confines of individual stones has proven possible.

The necrotic barriers are both capable of instantly decaying any living material that crosses them and disintegrating nonliving material. Attempts at dispelling or suppressing the barriers have all failed.

Blood of Eden Notes:

First Stone: A seemingly endless tide of skeletons conjured the moment the first step crossed the midpoint of the stone. First it was dozens, then hundreds, and they would knit themselves back together after being destroyed. Individually they were easily dispatched and could be passed through. The skeletons did not pursue any who crossed back onto the shore or who reached the next stone, and the moment the last foot left the island, the entire mass collapsed in a heap of bones that quickly dissolved into ash. (Side note: magical flight and levitation spells did not function here.)

Second Stone: Silence and enervation. This stone affected individuals differently depending on the order they stepped onto it. The first could not speak or make any sound, the second was physically weakened to the point of exhaustion, and this pattern repeated for each pair of individuals who stepped onto the stone. Despite these effects, it seemed at first as if the stone would be relatively safe to rest upon. It was not. An aura of lethargy also affected everyone, causing them to the Slowed. After a minute, the weakened individuals lost color to their skins, and otherworldly forces began to take control over their bodies. Meanwhile, those who had been silenced seemed to gain in strength. When the halfway point of this stone was crossed, a number of ghosts appeared, although no more than there were individuals in the group. Their frightening visages did hamper forward progress for some time though. Once either individual in an affected pair stepped onto the next stone, the effects gripping the other ceased, and it was easy enough for them to make the trip themselves.

Third Stone: Stasis. This stone did not appear to have any ill effects on the group, and we remained on it for a full 24 hours. While the negative effects of the previous stone faded while we remained here, all efforts made to rest or heal proved futile. We were able to catch our breaths and recover some abilities, but no healing was possible, nor (when a slight scuffle broke out) did it seem possible to harm anyone here.

Fourth Stone: The Maze. While only Eden stepped foot on this stone, she reported back her experience by yelling to us across the water, and he movements lead us to believe that despite an outward appearance of being a smooth stone island, there is in fact an invisible maze that covers the entire stone. Eden reported strange markings on the ground at what she identified as intersections, but in a script she could not identify. Perhaps these markings are clues or instructions of some kind, but in either case, Eden eventually made her way through. At the far end, she had clearly suffered some kind of ill effect from her trial and error path, but continued on.

Fifth Stone: Speaking. (with the Dead?) We could hear faint voices from this point, it was clear Eden had a conversation with someone or something, although no words could be made out. She advanced slowly, but seemingly without issue across the stone.

Sixth Stone: Explosives. From a distance, all we could make out was several figures appearing around the stone and moving to intercept Eden. When one got close, it burst in a violent explosion of energy of some kind. This energy seemed to invigorate the other figures even as it blasted Eden. Fortunately, Eden was able to out-maneuver the remaining figures and did not suffer additional explosions before reaching the next stone.

Seventh Stone: Sacrifice? Petrification? All we know is that Eden was unable to cross this stone alone. Through a spyglass she was seen to collapse to one knee, remain still for an extended time, and then collapse to the ground and begin dissolving. Speculation is that this stone may also have a paired effect that requires pairs of individuals.

Eighth Stone: Life? Entirely unknown, although Eden was certain both life and death were embodied. This is also the only stone with vegetation present.

Ninth Stone: There is a structure of some kind on this stone. From distant observation it appears to be a spire with a regular nonagonal base. It has been observed via spyglass that the side facing the conjunction of stones appears to be different in some way, perhaps an entrance. Eden was certain that the answers were inside.

History

Initially, some theorized an infernal connection between the circling stones and the Nine Hells, but no infernal connection has been discovered. Later attempts at deciphering any hints about the stones indicate there were once numbers associated with each, counting down from 9 as one went inward, although this convention was ignored for an ascending pattern by Blood of Eden.

Notable Events

The Death of Eden.

Eden, a female human archdruid once spent a great deal of time at the lake, studying its secrets, and trying to discern the purpose of the wards. At one point, whether right or wrong, she became convinced that if a person could reach the center, they could become immortal, and gain mastery over life and death, flesh and bone, truly the power of a god. She brought a party of companions with her named the Blood of Eden in an attempt to breach the barriers of the stones. The party bravely fought their way across the first 3 stones, but, as they recovered from completing the third, most knew they could not proceed and begged Eden to retreat with them. Eden refused, and despite the pleas of her companions pressed on alone. The others could only watch in amazement from the outside as Eden alone pressed through one more ring, then another, before she finally reached the seventh stone. At this point, although the Blood of Eden could not see what caused it, they saw Eden stumble and fall to one knee. She stayed that way for an hour, before the witnesses saw her collapse to the ground.

To date this excursion marks the farthest known passage across the stones, and the notes of the Blood of Eden on the trials that face any souls brave or foolish enough to attempt the crossing remain the most authoritative.

Skeleton Farming

Tsu-jes Crish, an enterprising necromancer, recently discovered that if one were able to gain control over the skeletons that appear from the first stone, the skeletons would be able to exit the stone and persist outside. He has since begun selling "ethically sourced" skeletons that do not require corpses to any interested parties. These skeletons are especially valuable, because they seem capable of understanding nuanced and complex instructions, and have considerably improved dexterity compared with normal skeletons. Tsu-jes is always willing to hire new bodyguards to protect him while he casts the spells to claim ownership of the skeletons, and has built a small compound on the shores of the lake to stop anyone else from encroaching on his business plan. He allows visitors, but any parties seeking to claim skeletons themselves are required to pay a hefty tax.