As the kuo-toa began to caper about their god's throne in celebration of His latest show of power. SHOOGBIMBHALD reached down and opened a backpack that leaned against the side of His throne. From it, He drew a mess kit and beckoned for the rest of the food offerings to be placed into the mess kit's cooking pan. Once that was done, SHOOGBIMBHALD began to make a series of esoteric gestures over the food while chanting along with the congregation. Soon enough, the fish began to sizzle and steam, while the glowing mushrooms began to dry up and glow brighter.

As he cooked and flavored his food through the use of Prestidigitation, Leo sensed a pulse of concern through his telepathic link with Nyphl. Leo sent a pulse of reassurance back and gave the flumph a few more scritches behind the eyestalks.

When He deemed that the food was sufficiently cooked, SHOOGBIMBHALD waved his hand over his breakfast to cool it down to an edible temperature. With that done, the god began to dine.

Under His spell, what should have been raw, subterranean sea creature instead was perfectly seasoned, properly cooked fish with a taste that felt both familiar and luxuriously elevated. The first bite was tender and flaky, yielding with almost no resistance. The flesh was moist, carrying a gentle natural sweetness that belonged only to truly fresh fish. The salt drew that sweetness forward, sharpening it just enough to make every mouthful vivid and distinct. The spices bloomed across the palate. Not overpowering, but layered. Warm notes drifted in first, perhaps pepper or paprika, followed by subtler aromatics that rose with the steam. Each element enhanced rather than masked the fish’s own flavor.

Meanwhile, where once there was the tongue-numbing taste of mud, now there were dried, candied mushrooms held a strangely enchanting flavor. At first bite, there is a gentle snap, the exterior firm but yielding, like a piece of chewy fruit that has spent time in the sun. The sugar glaze hits immediately: bright, sweet, almost crystalline on the tongue. But beneath it lay the earthiness of the mushroom, now moderated just so as to add to the experience rather than take away from it. The sweetness didn’t erase that umami core, it wrapped around it. The result was a duet of flavors. Caramel warmth paired with a subtle, almost truffle-like depth.

Soon enough, both morsels were gone. [b]"A fine appetizer."[/b] SHOOGBIMBHALD proclaimed. [b]"And now... the main course."[/b] With a gesture, the boot was brought before Him. Rather than place the boot in the pan though, SHOOGBIMBHALD slipped his hand beneath the boot and lifted it up to his eye level. He inhaled deeply then, causing the boot to almost immediately begin steaming. The steam was promptly sucked into SHOOGBIMBHALD'S gaping maw as he continued to inhale. And as He inhaled more and more of the steam, the boot began to lose more and more of it's moisture and color. When He was done inhaling, what once was a soaking wet brown leather boot was now bone dry and grayscale. SHOOGBIMBHALD then beckoned the young kuo-toa that had found the boot to stand before Him, where the god conveyed what was left of the boot back to its finder with a nod of approval.

With that all done, SHOOGBIMBHALD reclined back into His throne and observed the worship of His followers until it finally came to an abrupt end. He then watched as the followers all filed out until the only one left was the high priest, who reverently approached and bowed his head in the way he always did when there was something to report. [b]"Speak."[/b] SHOOGBIMBHALD commanded.

[b]"Great SHOOGBIMBHALD, your faithful servants have news. Good news. The Mother of Pearl smiles upon us through You."[/b] The exited goggler reported. [b]"We have been excavating. Exploring the cave systems that branch from Your sacred cathedral. Going deeper. Always deeper, as You have taught us. To find the treasures of the drowned places."[/b]

[b]"And you have found them."[/b] SHOOGBIMBHALD stated rather than questioned.

[b]"And we have found them, Great One. Stones. Brilliant stones. Each one as large as my head."[/b] The high priest confirmed. [b]"They glow with inner light. They pulse with power. The chamber where they rest... it feels sacred. Holy. We knew immediately that this was Your doing."[/b]

SHOOGBIMBHALD nodded at that last sentence. On the outside, He looked like He had known this news was coming all along. But on the inside? Elation surged through the telepathic link Leo and Nyphl shared. When the kuo-toa had fist set up a mining operation in response to an off-handed comment he'd made, Leo had never imagined that it would be this successful. Magic stones as big as a kuo-toa's head? Such a treasure trove would undoubtedly make him richer than he'd ever been in his entire life!

[b]"You led us there. You, in Your infinite wisdom. You wanted us to find these treasures. And now we offer them to You. We ask... we humbly beg... that You come see what Your servants have discovered in Your name. That You bless this sacred place with Your presence."[/b]

After permitting Leo a moment to fully collect himself, SHOOGBIMBHALD rose to His feet and stepped down from His throne, half distracted for a moment by the waving of the crab before looking to His high priest. [b]"Rise."[/b] The god commanded. [b]"Lead on."[/b]

Magic stones as big as a kuo-toa's head... Leo just had to see them!