"It seems your... information... is proving worthwhile after all, dread Mephistopheles," the Valsharess said as she paced back and forth in front of where she had summoned and bound the arch devil. "The one you warned me of is reported to be within the Underdark now, working alongside the ragtag rebels who yet dare to oppose me."
Mephistopheles smiled evilly. "All is as I said it would be, Matron Mother," he said in an oily tone.
The drow stopped her pacing. "You shall call me Valsharess!" she demanded as she turned to face the devil. "I have summoned and bound you, Mephistopheles, and you will bend to my will as you must!" she cried.
The devil bowed slightly. "Of course, great Valsharess. What is your desire?" Mephistopheles asked in a silky, smooth, soothing voice that dripped malice.
The Valsharess smiled. That's more like it, she thought. "I desire to know how this surfacer arrived in the Underdark so quickly. I desire to know exactly where this surfacer is. And most of all I desire this surfacer dead!"
The arch devil seemed to hesitate a moment. "The one you seek... is beyond my sight, great Valsharess," Mephistopheles admitted. This infuriated the devil more than he wanted to admit, for he had known exactly where Serena was until she'd confronted the mad mage in Undermountain. Shortly afterwards however, he hadn't been able to sense her or his gift. It is clear that something or someone is blocking me, the devil thought, the implications of which are... unpleasant.
"Beyond your power, Mephistopheles?" the Valsharess asked, unimpressed, nor did she believe the arch devil. "I would like to know how that is!" she said, turning her back to him. "Continue to search for the surfacer. I will find her. And when I do, both she and every last one of those wretched rebels will pay!" she vowed.
The Seer looked alarmed at what Viconia and Solaufein had told her. "Zesyyr now controls House Maeviir? Then I must assume Myrune is dead. Why did you do this?"
"Myrune would have betrayed us to the Valsharess," Viconia replied. "Solaufein was made aware of this by Tebimar, of all people, as he told you."
"I mentioned this to Serena when I saw her," Solaufein said. "It seems before she left with Valen and Nathyrra, she saw Tebimar and told him quite plainly that unless he fixed House Maeviir's leadership problem, on her return she would."
"I see," The Seer replied as she nodded reluctantly. "You are both probably right. Myrune was desperately trying to cling to power. If she had the opportunity to bow before the Valsharess and live, she would," the older drow admitted. "Perhaps your actions, and Serena's, will be for the greater good. I just hope that Zesyyr shows us more loyalty than she showed her own mother."
"That is a chance we felt we had to take," Viconia said.
"Going by the sound of that, I take it that House Maeviir's... problems have been dealt with?" Serena asked as she joined the three drow along with Valen, Nathyrra, her shield guardian and Deekin.
The Seer nodded in answer. "Yes... oh, how did you acquire the shield guardian?" she asked, looking at the construct.
Nathyrra stepped forward. "I was able to create him after we had defeated the maker, Mother Seer," the assassin replied. "Serena and Valen helped with the heavy lifting."
"Indeed, Nathyrra is a very talented mage," Serena added. "We've also managed to convince a group of sentient golems to help us."
"Sentient golems?" the Seer repeated. "There sounds to be a story behind that and no doubt a sad one. But it is pleasing to know we have such strong and powerful allies."
"Serena, while you are here, I need to talk to you about that talking sword you so kindly gave me for safe keeping," Viconia spoke up, sounding just as sarcastic as Serena often did.
"He hasn't been that much of a problem, has he?" Serena asked, fearing the worst.
"No, nothing like that, Serena, but it could take a while to explain," Viconia said, smiling as she beckoned her friend to a quiet corner of the temple.
"That's going to take a while, I'd say," Solaufein observed. "Shall we go to the public house, Nathyrra, and you can avail me the tale of your shield guardian?" the drow battle mage asked.
The former assassin smiled. "Are you sure that's all you want, male?" Nathyrra asked, her voice husky.
"I'm offended you'd think that way, my dear Nat," Solaufein replied, his face and tone impassive. His eyes, however, gave him away.
The Seer laughed lightly. "Go, you two, while you have the chance," she said, waving them away.
"Vicky, not only didn't you tell me about Solaufein being here, it seems you also forgot to tell me that he and Nathyrra seem to be... involved," Serena remarked dryly as she watched the assassin and the battle mage leave the temple, seemingly lost in their own little world.
Viconia smiled. "I like making your life interesting, old friend. You know how Solaufein can be. He likes keeping to the shadows, and going unnoticed."
Serena turned back to the drow cleric. "I hope that Nathyrra works out for him. Torm knows he could do with something good after Phaere. Otherwise I may need to have a little chat with her," she said, looking thoughtful. "Anyway, what's this about Enserric?"
Viconia shook her head. It was obvious that Serena would have a talk with Nathyrra about Solaufein before too long. "It seems Enserric may have a daughter somewhere in Waterdeep, assuming she's still alive. I also got the feeling that he has been less than a good parent, as he was a mage in life and was away a lot."
Serena nodded in understanding. "And you want me to see if I can find her once I get back to the surface?" she asked.
The drow cleric grinned. "Yes, I think it will bring him a measure of peace. I'll see if I can find anything else out for you as well."
"Alright, you do that, Vicky," Serena said, looking to where Valen and Deekin were standing. "While I better go rescue Deek from Mr Tall, Dark and Suspicious."
"I am curious about one thing, Deekin. You said your prior master was a dragon, yes?" Valen asked. "A white dragon?"
Deekin nodded as he absently inspected his nails. "Yup. Tymofarrar be big and white," he confirmed.
"Are you aware that the white dragon is the weakest of the many draconic species?" Valen informed the kobold.
"So? That not means much," Deekin replied with a shrug. "Old Master be way tougher than little Deekin. He be tougher than you, even."
Valen chuckled, amused at the notion. "I truly doubt that. Was this an old dragon, this Tymofarrar? A great wyrm of his kind?"
Deekin shook his head. "Nope. Tymofarrar was young and scrappy. And kind of fat for dragon, maybe."
"Then he would hardly be a match for me, little kobold. I have battled more than one dragon in my lifetime," Valen replied.
Deekin stopped inspecting his nails and looked up at Valen, grinning. "There be big paladin in white that storms into Old Master's cave, Deekin remembers. He swears that he going to kills Old Master." The bard paused for dramatic effect. "Old Master roll over, moaning that he ready to die. He say he be bad and evil dragon all his life and he just wants to confess sins. Paladin says okay and he comes to give confession."
Valen rolled his eyes. "And that's when your dragon master ate him, I suppose?"
"Nope. Old Master gots lots to confess. He tells great stories all night... he and paladin stays up and drinks and laughs. They becomes great friends and paladin falls," Deekin explained. "Last time Deekin hears about paladin, he be invading some country somewheres."
"I am almost positive you are not telling the truth," Valen said dryly.
"See?" Deekin said, pointing at the weapon master "You be just like paladin. You not knows when to relax and laughs and when you should be all angsty and serious."
Valen seemed to be about to respond, then suddenly thought better of it and turned away from the bard, muttering to himself.
Serena burst out laughing. "Oh goodness, Deek, you've never told me that story!" she said. "But you have a point. Mr Tall, Dark and Suspicious definitely does not know how to have fun, something I'm sure we'll enjoy teaching him, won't we, Deek?" The kobold nodded enthusiastically with a big tooth filled grin, while Valen had spun around, looking utterly horrified. This made the priestess laugh even harder. "Oh Valen, you really need to learn to relax, the look on your face!" she said. "Now come on, you two, let's go find Nathyrra."
Serena had located Nathyrra easily enough, and now they were all on Cavallas's boat, headed across the dark river once again.
"There is something you should know about me, Serena. I was reluctant to say anything before, as I barely knew you. But now, you have a right to know," Nathyrra said, looking uncomfortable. "As you may have heard, I was an assassin before I came to serve the Seer... a common enough profession among the drow. But I was no ordinary assassin; I served as one of the Red Sisters."
"The Red Sisters? That sounds familiar," Serena said with a frown. "However, the past is the past, Nathyrra, dear."
The drow smiled. "Now you sound like the Seer," she said, laughing a little. "But sometimes our history is not so easily ignored. I don't think you fully understand what I'm telling you." Nathyrra paused a moment. "The Red Sisters is an elite group of assassins sworn to the service of the Valsharess."
Yes, you're right about our history not being easy to ignore, Serena thought darkly. More so than you realise, Nathyrra. "You worked for the Valsharess?" she asked, surprised.
"I did, but those days are behind me now," Nathyrra confirmed. "The Seer has shown me a better way, and I have become a follower of Eilistraee."
Serena smiled at the drow. "Well, I'm glad you're on our side now, Nathyrra, dear. But it explains why you know so much about her."
"My knowledge of the Valsharess has proven valuable to the Seer and her followers, and for this I am glad," Nathyrra said. "But because of my former allegiance, there are some who still view me with suspicion."
"Understandable, I suppose, and something I know all too well," Serena replied. "I trust you, Nathyrra."
Nathyrra smiled, looking relieved. "Really? I... I was afraid that when I told you of my past that you might refuse to work with me. You wouldn't be the first." The drow let out a long sigh. "I'm glad we had this discussion, Serena; now that you know the truth about my past, we can be completely focused on stopping the Valsharess. Thank you."
Serena snorted. "Don't thank me yet, Nathyrra. We have a long way to go on this endeavour. I suspect things are going to get a lot worse before they get better."
"So this is the island with the strange town?" Serena asked as they walked along the shore, or what passed for one.
"That is correct," Valen replied. "One day there was nothing here, the next there was, that's all I can really tell you about it."
"Drow scout!" Nathyrra hissed, pointing to a male drow vanishing into the shadows.
Serena sighed. "Oh joy, well, let's go find our welcoming committee that the Valsharess has so thoughtfully left for us." The priestess's sarcasm was hard to miss.
It didn't take long to find the small party of drow. However, it was the group's leader that took Serena by surprise. "Sabal!?" she asked, not believing her eyes. "What, how?"
The drow's eyes had gone wide with shock. "YOU!" Sabal cried. "It cannot be! The Valsharess has no idea who she faces! Kill them NOW!" The drow priestess seriously doubted that her men would do much more than annoy Serena a great deal.
The fight that erupted was brief and bloody, during which Sabal teleported away, leaving her men to be slaughtered.
"Well, that was unexpected," Serena muttered as she cleaned her weapons.
"Am I to understand that you have met that drow commander before?" Valen asked.
The priestess let out a heavy sigh. "Yes, some years ago now. I thought she was dead," Serena said, looking thoughtful. "Though at the time, the battle was utter chaos and I was hunting someone very particular. I remember that Sabal was badly wounded in the fight. I guess I simply assumed she died from her wounds." Serena gave a shrug.
"And now, years later, you run into her again and she is serving the Valsharess," Valen stated. "Forgive me for sounding so suspicious, but that seems oddly convenient, my lady."
Serena smiled a little. "I admit, I'm sure the gods are laughing at my expense about now."
Nathyrra seemed hesitant to speak. "Serena, dare we ask what you were doing when you encountered Sabal?"
The priestess shifted her weight uncomfortably. "No, I'd rather not. It's kind of... personal. One day I might be ready, but not just now," Serena said. Just how do you tell them you were hunting down your drow sibling? she wondered. "Please understand, Nathyrra."
"I think I do," the former Red Sister replied, looking over at the weapon master. "However, I fear that Valen will be less forgiving."
The four adventurers hadn't walked much further when two winged elves approached, one male, the other female. To Serena they seemed to move as if in a slight daze, and she also noticed that their wings were mottled and ragged, likely the result of too much time spent in the Underdark.
The male nodded in greeting, his wings rustling slightly. "Welcome to Shaori Fell, stranger. I am Skaa and this is Nairow." Despite his pleasant words, his voice was dull and flat.
The female chimed in, and her voice was just as emotionless. "You are welcome here, stranger. I'm sure you'll find our town quite beautiful, despite its troubles."
"Troubles?"Serena asked, wondering what bizarre situation she was in now. "Do you mean the drow?"
Skaa laughed or tried to. "The drow are not the cause of our troubles. Not directly. In truth, we are quite fond of our dark cousins."
"This is strange," Nathyrra said with a frown. "We drow are rarely welcomed by our cousins from the surface. I would have expected a much more hostile reaction."
Nairow shook her head. "Oh, no. Quite the contrary. We have welcomed the other drow here, just as we welcomed you. You are all free to explore our beautiful town."
"Beautiful?" Valen asked, surprised "But this is little more than a cold, damp cave!"
Skaa got a strange expression on his face, as if the weapon master's words were stirring up thoughts and memories he couldn't quite grasp. He shook his head, dispelling the strange stupor. "Once we lived high in the mountains, soaring among the clouds and the gleaming spires of our glorious city. But now we live here, underground. Cold, damp, dark... far better, don't you think?" he asked. "Only a fool wants to fly free and touch the sky." It was obvious to Serena that on some level he believed in what he was saying. But it was also clear to the priestess that something was very, very wrong.
"Are you prisoners here?" Serena asked, uncertain of what to make of it all.
Nairow's brow furrowed in confusion. "What an odd thing to say. Those drow asked us the same question when they first arrived. No, we are here because our Queen brought us here."
"Where can we find your Queen?" Nathyrra asked.
"Queen Shaori once dwelt in the castle, but she has since abandoned it. Now she lives in a secluded cave to the east of here. You can get there by going past the library," Nairow replied.
"Can you tell me about those drow you mentioned?" Serena asked. Just what is Sabal looking for?
"I can't tell you much. They said they were looking for something. Some type of artefact, I think. Isn't that strange? I can't even remember what they were looking for. How very odd," Skaa remarked. "No matter, I suppose. In any case, I told them they should go speak with Queen Shaori about it. If you want to know what they were after, you should go speak with her as well."
"You know, I find it strange you can't remember what they were looking for," Serena observed.
"These elves must be under some type of enchantment," Nathyrra whispered. "It might be dangerous to push them."
"Maybe if I concentrate, I can remember..." A spasm of pain flashed across Skaa's features, to be replaced by the familiar dazed expression. "No, I'm sorry. Maybe Queen Shaori can help you."