After running through a gauntlet of giant-ant-riding, whip-wielding overseers, flanked by a throng of menacing metal slimes of both the electric and lance-flinging variety, Shaw arrived at the aptly named Lake of Rot; a place where the water literally kills you, either slowly or rapidly, depending on how long you stand in it. So of course the maniac who designed the place also elected to fill it with death breath spewing basilisks.
Shaw valiantly made her way through the lake, defeating a minor boss, but using up all her rot remedies and potions in the process. Sadly, she got turned around after the fight and somehow walked in the wrong direction, ending up back at the entrance.
Somewhat dejected, Shaw decided to go alleviate her frustration on the gargoyle bosses (see Update #59). The hitherto seemingly undefeatable duo was disposed of rather quickly, yielding a pair of new weapons as a prize.
Once the pair was reduced to dust, Shaw reckoned there must be more to this cave than a simple boss arena, so she decided to have a look around; this is how she found a coffin, that was not merely a decorative prop, but with which she could interact.
Sensing a trap, Shaw was hesitant, but curiosity got the better of her, and she hopped in.
The coffin sealed, it started to glow with cryptic writings…
…and proceeded to shoot up the waterfall.
The coffin having come to a stop, Shaw got out of her temporary tomb, and found herself in the Deeproot Depths, a cheerful place where Erdtree Avatars are regular enemies instead of bosses, and where the slightest misstep can send you hurtling to your death. This place honestly seemed worse than the Lake of Rot, so Shaw decided to leave it for now, and look for ways to cure rot.
She had heard a merchant in Caelid might have some of this remedy for sale, so she set out for the cursed place. While looking for the merchant, she ran into a dragon, a rot-spewing dragon. She died 3-4 times before giving up and resuming her search for the merchant, who’s location was eventually found, right next to a previously undiscovered site of grace. Shaw purchased her remedies along with something called dragonwound grease; this sounded like something that would help her fight the previously mentioned dragon. Sure enough, having slathered the grease onto her blade, the dragon no longer stood a chance.
