According to the scholars of Faerûn, fishfolk were divided into two broad races. The first were the kuo-toa, driven into the subterranean depths of the Underdark many years ago. The second were the sahuagin, who lurked in the deepest oceans and raided settlements wherever they went.
The appearance of kuo-toa on the isolated island proved that a passage beneath it led into the Underdark. That was hardly unusual. The Underdark was famous for its countless interconnected tunnels. The well in an ordinary village might lead into the subterranean world, or a fissure created by an earthquake might descend directly into its depths.
This group of kuo-toa had followed an underground river to the surface and established an outpost on the island. They normally remained hidden inside caves beneath the cliffs of the southern harbor, sleeping during the day and emerging at night to hunt and reproduce, all while covetously watching the Cimarine Isles and the settlements along the Sword Coast.
When Skyl had surveyed the island from high above, he had assumed it was completely uninhabited and chosen it as the construction site for his flying enclave. He had never expected to discover more than a hundred troublesome neighbors.
The commotion caused by summoning the nature spirits had clearly enraged the fishfolk. They had emerged from their caves only to be drenched beneath a deluge of bird droppings, leaving them looking like plaster statues. Several kuo-toa had died from suffocation and panic, so their deaths had been anything but peaceful. The enraged fishfolk had then marched toward the summit under the leadership of Archpriest Wakunka, intent on taking revenge against whoever was responsible.
The rainstorms and forest fires that followed had inflicted even heavier casualties. Several kuo-toa corpses lay scattered through the woods, some roasted by the flames and others boiled alive by the steam.
The kuo-toa could hardly be described as a likable race. They were not merely evil and savage, but completely insane. They had once been slaves of the mind flayers and subjected to generations of psychic domination. After losing their illithid masters, their shattered minds had never recovered. They descended into madness and collectively embraced fanatical religious worship to resist the insanity lurking within them.
They were monsters with fishlike heads, humanoid bodies, slick skin, and webbed feet. They carried nets, fishing spears, and shields coated in slime.
By the time Skyl and the others returned to the Silver Tree, dozens of kuo-toa had surrounded Mia and the three packhorses. Had they arrived any later, both woman and animals would have been dragged away and sacrificed by the savage fishfolk.
Archpriest Wakunka spoke in fluent Undercommon. Its bulging, jaundiced eyes gleamed with a strange light as it stared fixedly at the Silver Tree.
It had already sensed the summons of a deity. It was not a distinct voice, but an unusual gust of wind, a change in the air's humidity, and a vague restlessness within its heart, all of which had guided it to the mountaintop.
In this universe, the boundary separating mortals and gods was not particularly clear. Every action taken by the gods influenced the history and reality of the Material Plane.
Before a revolutionary theory of magic could emerge, Oghma, the god of knowledge, had already permitted that knowledge to appear.
A storm sweeping across the ocean might be nothing more than an unprovoked outburst of anger from Umberlee, the Queen of the Depths.
Likewise, every action taken by mortals affected the divine portfolios and power of the gods.
If a theory had never been developed through labor, experience, and social practice, then even Oghma could not simply make it appear inside someone's mind.
If sailors made offerings to Umberlee before setting out to sea and succeeded in pleasing her, the storms of the ocean might avoid their ship.
Such was the subtle relationship of coexistence between gods and mortals. Although their positions were profoundly unequal, the mortals of Faerûn had long since grown accustomed to it and did not feel oppressed.
The existence of the gods was an objective reality, no different from wind, rain, thunder, or lightning. Those who feared storms worshiped the storm. Those who desired wealth worshiped wealth. It was a simple and ancient system of values.
Mortals were governed by the gods, yet the existence of the gods was also closely linked to mortal belief.
Most kuo-toa worshiped Blibdoolpoolp, the Sea Mother. According to legend, after their minds had shattered, the kuo-toa had used their fanatical religious devotion to conjure the goddess into existence. Her birth was the result of countless living beings focusing their beliefs upon a single idea. The fact that mortal faith could create a god revealed a great deal about the nature of divinity.
Wakunka knew that the Sea Mother desired this strange tree. From the slime secreted by its companions, it had detected a peculiar musky stench, like the contents of a beast's stomach. It was the scent of greed.
The Sea Mother wanted this tree.
Wakunka therefore began threatening Skyl and his companions with feverish impatience.
Doric translated its words. "It says we must leave immediately. Otherwise, they'll hang us from the sea cliffs, eat our flesh, leave what remains for the seabirds, and throw our bones into the ocean for the fish to gnaw clean."
Skyl was not angered by the threat. When an opponent was this weak, every threat sounded like the yapping of a small dog. Rather than frightening him, it only seemed amusing.
Amusing or not, there was no reasoning with an evil race such as the kuo-toa. Showing them mercy would be a mistake. They hated everyone equally and would use the most barbaric methods imaginable to murder other surface races whenever an opportunity presented itself. Such was the will of the Sea Mother.
The only realistic method of peacefully coexisting with them was through enchantment magic. Words alone could never persuade these creatures.
Doric exchanged several sentences with Wakunka, but the fishfolk refused to yield an inch. In fact, they mistook the surface dwellers' restraint for weakness and became even more aggressive.
Since words had failed, it was time to let their weapons do the talking.
Skyl glanced at his companions, and both Stan and Doric immediately understood.
Stan gently strummed his guitar, causing the music to resonate with magical power. He appeared to be singing an American pop song, but he was actually casting [Mass Charm]. A wave of pink and violet sound spread outward, and the kuo-toa who had been shouting for blood suddenly froze.
From their perspective, the surface dwellers before them had abruptly become incredibly pleasant. They might as well have hatched from the same clutch of eggs and been long-lost brothers separated at birth.
Aside from Archpriest Wakunka, who resisted the charm through a combination of luck and ability, every other kuo-toa fell silent.
Realizing something was wrong, Wakunka immediately ordered its brethren to attack. However, the fishfolk warriors who normally obeyed its every command now hesitated. Even Wakunka's own son, a kuo-toa whip, remained rooted to the spot, stammering uncertainly.
Doric shuddered and transformed into an eagle.
Seizing the opportunity, Skyl cast [Enlarge/Reduce] upon Doric's transformed body, choosing the enlargement effect and turning her into a giant eagle. She flew into the air, seized Wakunka in her talons, and carried it in a circle above the mountaintop before dropping it.
Wakunka struck the ground with a wet splat and became a fish cake.
The kuo-toa were terrified and failed to react.
Skyl summoned an [Eldritch Blade], which streaked through the enemy formation at tremendous speed. It darted back and forth, first killing the stronger fishfolk that managed to break free from the charm.
Stan cast the 5th-level spell [Dominate Person], which forced humanoids that failed their saving throws to obey his commands. He ordered one of the kuo-toa whips to attack its own companions.
After landing, Doric transformed into an owlbear. Ordinarily, druids could only use Wild Shape to become beasts, while owlbears were classified as monstrosities. However, the tiefling girl possessed an unusual gift. She believed that owlbears were beasts, and that conviction somehow allowed her to add the creature to her Wild Shape repertoire.
The monster, with the head of an owl and the body of a bear, possessed extraordinary strength. It barreled forward like a massive boulder rolling down a mountainside, plowing a trench straight through the fishfolk formation. The weaker kuo-toa warriors were beaten until they foamed at the mouth, while the stronger ones were hurled away from the center of the battlefield.
One after another, the kuo-toa broke free from the charm. They hurled spears and fishing forks at Skyl and his companions, threw nets over them, and attempted to seize them with pincer staves.
The owlbear's hide was so thick that two direct stabs failed to pierce its skin. Doric simply tore the fishing nets apart, while anyone who tried to catch her with a pincer staff was dragged away by sheer brute strength.
Stan moved nimbly and retreated behind Skyl.
The [Eldritch Blades] revolving around Skyl automatically knocked aside every incoming weapon, protecting him with an impenetrable defense.
The kuo-toa failed to overcome their enemies despite attacking for so long, and infighting had erupted among their ranks. Even so, their mad ferocity prevented them from fleeing.
"This ends now."
As Skyl completed an incantation, more than a thousand prismatic [Eldritch Blades] materialized in the sky.
On average, every kuo-toa would have to survive attacks from ten separate blades. Each color also carried a different effect, including fire, acid, lightning, poison, cold, binding, and blindness.
The seven effects could be combined however Skyl pleased, ensuring that every fishfolk died with remarkable efficiency.
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