They followed a narrow rocky passageway that took them deeper into the mountainside. Time seemed eternal in this cold, dark place and the air grew thicker, stuffier, as the minutes dragged on. The quietness led to profound thoughts. The gnoll chieftain's finally words, "Go, find the sorceress J'Nah, if you can", troubled Nikeisha and she was fearful that she was being led into a trap.
Suddenly the passageway opened into a small cavern. There were no more passages from this cavern but someone had excavated in the centre of the cave and a strong rope was dangling down the hole, tied to a rock. Nikeisha approached the hole, picking up a small rock on her way.
She dropped the rock down the opening listening for its impact with the bottom so she could gage the depth. The half elf, tagged at the rope, checking that it was secure, then she began the climb down, descending into the unknown below.
The area below the gnolls' caves wasn't dark as one would had expected, but instead glowed with a soft light that was like nothing Nikeisha had seen. She looked around, they were in a room, a ruin, and judging from the architect it was of Netherese origin.
Five doors surrounded them. The first was a massive double door, like one would see as the entrance to a palace. The other four were simple doors but each door radiated with its own coloured light; red, blue, green and white. It was the light from these doors that infused the room with its subtle luminosity.
In the centre of the rubble strewn floor stood a lever and on each side of the main door stood two pedestals. They all move across the debris littered floor testing each and ever door, but they all were locked with a magical seal. Then Nikeisha went over to the lever and putted it.
The lever began to shine with a light and door with the corresponding coloured light opened. They entered into a passage that also glowed with the same coloured light. There were other corridors off from the one they followed; glowing in a different light, but Ferran threw a stone down one of these corridors setting of a trap.
The passageway wasn't deserted, flying mephit, small vaguely humanoid creatures with wings, pointed ears and horns, flew about the corridors, trying to lure the adventurers into traps. At the end a great element was house, and after they defended it they were transport back to the main room, where one of the pedestals glowed with a light.
They repeated the process until all the pedestals glowed, each with a colour of one of the doors. Once all four pedestals were illuminated the main door opened to reveal a small entrance chamber with a door that led off from it. Behind the close door a voice could be heard, although indistinct.
They crept on silent feet to the door, and Nikeisha opened it just enough so they could see what was happening in the next room. The room was quite large, and columns, space regularly about the room, supported the massive ceiling. Cobwebs hung thickly in the corners and dust coated the floor's edges.
A hellhound paced the upper section of the room, while three male warriors of elven appearance stood guarding a woman of the same heritage and a quasit, a creature much like the mephit but more powerful, hovered above her. The voice belonged to the woman as she chanted; casting a summoning spell that Nikeisha wasn't familiar with.
The air before the elven woman blurred and when it cleared an apparition of a hooded woman stood before her. The illusionary woman's voice was hard and cruel as she berated the elven woman, whom she identified as J'Nah, for not having found some orb that she sought after. Nikeisha idly wondered what orb were they talking about and how this fitted in with J'Nah's alliance with the dragon as an orb wasn't one of the artifacts.
In her inattentiveness she lean slightly on the door, opening it a fraction more and with that small fraction the hinges squeaked with the rust of the ages. Nikeisha hoped and prayed that no one heard the sound but the quasit turned to look at the door.
"Well, what do we have here?" he demanded spying the three at the door.
They all turned to look at the group of adventurers even as the apparition disappeared with the final threat that she wouldn't tolerate any more failure.
"Just who are you to trespass on my lair?" J'Nah demanded arrogantly.
Nikeisha knew it would be foolish to not answer her, so she brazenly opened the door completely and approached the haughty woman until she stood only feet away.
"So you are J'Nah." Nikeisha stated pleasantly as Ferran and Dorna took positions behind her. She peered closely at J'Nah, though she looked like an elf there was some traces of another heritage that Nikeisha didn't recognize.
"Don't be pert, girl! You aren't smart enough to be deceiving!" she gave the half elf a superior look. "Now who are you?"
"My name is Nikeisha." The young faired skin girl said, "You aren't fully elven, are you?" she asked, her curiosity winning out.
J'Nah first looked stunned then a sly smile crept onto her face. "No I'm not. I am what is known as a Daemonfey, sun elves bred with demons to produce my family. You are very perceptive." Her smile broadened, "Of course, since our existence is a secret, I'm afraid I shall have to destroy you." With that she began to cast a spell.
Nikeisha wasn't quick enough to cast a spell in defence, but she was able to counter-spell J'Nah even as Dorna cast a spell that destroyed the hellhound in an implosion and one of Ferran's arrows pieced through the heart of one of J'Nah's bodyguards. The oily smile slid off the Daemonfey's face as she realized that she was up against a fairly talented sorceress and the sorceress' friends were systematically slaughtering her own henchmen.
The quasit droved at Nikeisha, but, with an underarm throw, she threw her dagger at him. The quasit dodged the dagger and it went skidding across the floor, but it was unable the dodge Ferran's arrow as it caught him in the head. The quasit fell to the ground convulsing.
Nikeisha risked a quick look around even as she countered another of the other sorceress' spells. Dorna and Ferran had already dispatched the remaining two guards and the dwarf was flanking J'Nah. J'Nah, distracted by Dorna's movement turned her head in irritation. It was at this time that Ferran released the arrow he held in the taunt bow string, the arrow flew true, to protrude from the Daemonfey's neck. Nikeisha turned to look around the room in order to not watch the sorceress as she crumbed to the floor.
There were five other doors to the room they stood in; one directly opposite the door they entered through and two on each of the left and right walls.
As the woman hit the floor there was a dull clink sound. Nikeisha turned back to see what the sound was, and there on the floor laid a black dragon tooth; the last of the four artifacts located.
She swiftly picked it up and put it in her pack then they quickly move to the side doors to check for any more enemies that may be hiding. The pair of doors for each side only led to a single room. Both of theses smaller rooms appeared to have been a library, though the rooms were in disarray, full with dust, more cobwebs and decaying furniture.
They went to the last door. The room beyond it was larger than the previous two, but again it appeared to be another library, although it had been fixed up. In the centre floated a white ball of light, a wisp.
As Nikeisha entered the room she heard whispering in her mind, it took a few moments for Nikeisha to realise that the wisp was trying to telepathically communicate with her; thoughts and feelings past through her.
She could feel that its name was Azith, and it had a strong desire for magic. Several images flashed before her mind's eye showing her disappearing and appearing outside the cave entrance. The feelings associated with the images suggested that this is what the wisp was created for and a token of magic was needed for this to happen.
"One simple spell and you will teleport us to the surface. That's how it words?" Nikeisha clarified. Overwhelming feelings of anticipation and excitement washed over her, it was much like an overenthusiastic puppy. "Alright." She laughed, casting a small spell on it.
A white light surrounded them and when it cleared they stood in the High Forest, some feet away from the cave. Dawn was beginning to break over the trees, its pale light pinking the horizon, bringing the prospects of a clear day.
They proceeded through the forest to the spot where Ferran had left them the night before, where again he said his goodbyes. "Be careful with the dragon." He cautioned before melting into the forest.
It was a couple of hours after midday when they arrived at Tymofarrar's squared off rock to knock loudly the way he had instructed them. The rock face vanished to reveal Tymofarrar's lair. They walked in to face the white dragon.
Nikeisha was hesitant. She didn't trust the dragon; she would be a fool to, considering he had betrayed his last ally. Unconsciously she began to prepare herself for the worst case scenario.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't my intrepid warmling." Tymofarrar mocked, though seem generally surprised as they entered. "Is the deed done?"
"It is." She replied cautiously.
"You actually did it. Wonders will never cease." He smiled cunningly. "And for your endeavour I shall make your death quick and relatively painless." His neck lashed out, bringing his sharp teeth towards the young half elf. Prepared for his treachery, she tumbled away with the agility of her elven heritage, causing the dragon to smack his face on the stone floor.
Dorna, who also had ready herself to be betrayed, rushed in to hit the white scale neck, her heavy axe barely chipping the scales. The dragon turned towards the dwarf in irritation, but she had already hid behind some rocks. The moment's inattention was all the Nikeisha need to cast a fire base spell, knowing that white dragons had a slight weakness to that type of spell, although it wasn't much. Most dragons had at least some resistances to magic and there scales were an effective armour.
Tymofarrar continue to attack, growing more frustrated as the girls dodges he every move and weaken his armoured scales with their assault.
Suddenly the dragon let out a howl of annoyance and pain as Dorna's blade slipped between two scale and bit deep into the muscle of his neck. He swung about to attack the dwarven girl as she dashed to the other side.
Nikeisha could see the wound as the neck muscles stretch against it. The gash oozed blood though was hardly mortal but she could see a blood vessel, the size of her upper leg, throbbing.
She snatched her dagger from its sheath on her right thigh and lunged at the lesion heedless of the dragon. The fire enhanced weapon easily sliced open the large vessel and it squirted blood all over Nikeisha even as she quickly moved to a safe spot praying that the cut would now be fatal.
She wiped the blood from her face in time to see the white dragon rearing in rage. Gallons of blood flowed from the wound, turning Tymofarrar's front crimson. Then he collapsed to the rocky floor with a heavy boom as his heart starved from lack of blood.
They both sunk to the floor with relief that it was over and they were alright. Nikeisha looked at Dorna then down at herself, their clothing was scorched and covered in tears, just about every bit of exposed skin was covered in abrasions, cuts or bruises and they were both covered in blood; in her case, she was drenched.
Nikeisha covered her face with her hand, and then she started to giggle, her giggle soon turned to laughter.
"What's funny?" Dorna demanded, irritated.
"I just can't believe we fought a dragon and came out of it in one piece." She explained with mirth. Dorna face was like a thunder cloud, and then suddenly she too began to laugh.
"Look." Dorna pointed, still chuckling. "The dragon's hoard." She said, going over to it.
Nikeisha followed wearily. The hoard wasn't big, only consisting of a small pile of gold coins, jewels and several small magical items, one of them being the mask. Nikeisha watched Dorna as she dutifully packed the hoard into their bags.
Once the dwarf was satisfied that she had all of the dragon's treasure they headed back to Blumberg and Deekin.
Dusk was hovering on the horizon when the pair arrived to the half ruin store Deekin was in, still hiding behind the counter.
"Deekin, it's just us." Nikeisha called out, so not to frighten him.
"Ooh, elfish human returns. Elfish human have news for Deekin?"
"Tymofarrar is dead."
Deekin looked suspiciously at Nikeisha and Dorna, taking in their dishevelled appearance. Then he relaxed. "I guess you tell truth. You look like you been to hell." He began to dance around the room. "Master dead. Deekin free. Master dead. Deekin free." He sung. He dance he way over to Nikeisha and with a flourish he handle her the broken tower statue.
She peered at the object as Deekin continued to sing and dance. It was octagonal shaped, about the length of her forearm. It was as wide as her hand and quite plain with a door at the base. Half of the top was crushed and a crystal was nestled inside. Nikeisha pulled out the crystal. It was perfectly round and very smooth.
"Deekin wonder what he do now." Deekin said as Nikeisha replaced the crystal back then put the tower into her pack. But before either Nikeisha or Dorna could reply Deekin spoke again. "Deekin thinks he need time with Deekin." And with that he left. With nothing left to do Nikeisha and Dorna used their rings to teleport themselves back to Drogan's.
Nikeisha had forgotten about her blood-soaked and bedraggled appearance, so she was quite surprised by the greeting they got when they arrived in the common room. Ayala's face had gone ghost white while Mischa let out a little cry. Xanos and Drogan, who were sitting before the fire, turned to see what was wrong. Xanos' sat in shock, while Drogan gravely walked over to the girls.
"Is any of that yours?" he asked gesturing at her clothes.
"Perhaps a tiny bit." She replied. The old dwarf nodded satisfied. "I've found the rest of the artifacts."
Drogan's smile was like the sun come up. "Well my girl, I knew you could do it. Well trot them out, let us see them." She did as he asked. He looked at each items then placed them in the chest by the little table, the others had also gathered to see the items. The last one Nikeisha gave to Drogan was the tower.
"What's this?" he exclaimed. "It's broken."
"I'm sorry. The kobold I got it from had accidentally broken it." She explained. "There is some kind of crystal inside of it."
"How remarkable." Ayala marvelled
"Truly." Drogan agreed, "The power it's giving off it extraordinary."
"A sorceress named J'Nah was looking for an orb for someone." Dorna chimed in. "The crystal is like an orb, perhaps that's what she was after."
"Who's J'Nah?" Drogan asked, and then changed his mind. "Never mind you can tell me all about it later. Well, obviously this isn't safe here," he pointed at the orb "so what we need to do now is get it away from here, and we need to identify it." He smiled beautifully. "Of course the two tasks can be done as one."
"Quit showing off dwarf," Ayala snapped, "and get on with it"
"Alright woman." He snapped back. "I have a friend, an archaeologist, who went to the Anauroch Desert last year with a Halfling caravan. He should be able to identify the orb."
"The Halflings are just outside Hilltop." Dorna said.
"Ah good. They should able to take Nikeisha to Garrick, my friend, if Nikeisha will agree to go." He looked expectantly at the fair, red-head and emerald eyed half elf.
"Of course I will go Master Drogan." She answered puzzled by his deferring the decision to her.
"You are not my student anymore, my girl; you completed your last test." He smiled at her as the realisation dawned on her. "You needn't call me Master Drogan anymore, Just Drogan; you never had problems with that name before."
"Do you think sending Nikeisha is a good idea?" Ayala asked worried.
"She is relatively unknown. Hopefully our enemy will not realise her capabilities. Besides they would probably expect me to have it." Drogan didn't seem as confident as he sounded.
"I'll go and organise things with the Halflings." Ayala announced.
"I think I will also send Xanos and Dorna to assist Nikeisha." Drogan told her. "I think this shall be their last test."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." He looked at his two apprentices and Nikeisha as Ayala left. "I won't lie to you, this could be dangerous." They all nodded in understanding. "Well now if that's all taken care of, let's see to dinner and you can tell me all about recovering the artifacts."
"If you don't mind," Nikeisha asked, "but I think I'll have a bath first and burn my clothes."
Drogan chuckled. "Of course my girl, of course."
As soon as she left the room, Nikeisha could hear Dorna telling the others about their meeting with the gnolls. In particular the fact she had been there before and speculation of what had happening in that previous meeting. Then she heard Drogan's voice.
"It's none of your business Dorna, and I would thank you not to pursue such a sensitive topic for Nikeisha." Nikeisha felt somewhat embarrassed by it all, but was thankful that Drogan had stopped anyone asking her questions.
After her bath, and burning her clothes, she joined the others for dinner, where Dorna continued to tell them about their adventure. The evening was again light hearted and relaxing, as Xanos poked fun at Nikeisha's adventuring style and she responded with witty remarks.
Though the night was cheerful they were all conscious that after this night they would be separated and when they finally were reunited things wouldn't be the same. Mischa was the one who felt this the most as the others were going out on an adventure, even if it was just to deliver the orb to a wizard named Garrick, while she had to stay behind as Drogan didn't think she was ready to go out without him.
They retired early to be rested for their long trip that faced them. Nikeisha sat in her bed, awake; trying to imagine what life would now be like, where she would go. To start, of course, she would go to the desert to do Drogan's errand and she had decided to return to Hilltop briefly to make her report to Drogan and then? And then the whole world would be open to her.
There was a gentle knock on her door then the door slowly open and Drogan poked his head around the corner. "I was hoping you might still be up." He smiled, and the light of his candle reflected in his grey eyes. "Can I come in?"
"Of course."
He entered and sat on the edge of the bed. "Well my girl, you have came a long way." He marvelled.
"I guess I have." She conceded
He sighed. "You and Ashuador are the most skill adventurers I have ever had the pleasure to teach, maybe even met." He sat there, quiet for a few moments. "You in particular, Nikeisha. For one who never truly applied themselves to learning to be an adventurer until you came to me, you have definitely come far." He took Nikeisha's hands into his. "You have great power Nikeisha, and a great temper." Nikeisha was startled by his words. "Much like Xanos desire for power, you temper has the power to do good or bad, it's your choice." He got up and went to the door. "Remember what I said my girl."
The next day was bitterly cold with strong winds that whipped their cloaks around their ankles and dirty looking clouds across the sky. They briefly said their goodbyes not wanting to dwell upon it and headed their way to the outskirts of Hilltop, where the Halflings waited for them.
Xanos lead the way out of the house while Nikeisha and Dorna walked together behind him. As they past Fiona's smithery, she came bursting out. She appeared furious, yet Nikeisha could see the small smile hovering in the corners of her mouth.
"So you thought you could avoid me by slipping out of town, did you?" she asked in a scathing voice. Nikeisha saw Xanos flinch back from her voice; she knew that this unusually woman intimidated the half orc.
"Well hello Fiona." Nikeisha said pleasantly, playing along with the smithy's game. "You are looking well, I guess being reunited with your with your brother has done you good."
"That half orc of a half brother has destroyed my home. He spilt wine all over my rug."
"I'm so sorry to hear that. If you want I can drag him back to the cave and lock him back up in there."
Fiona took a long look at the half elf and then started to laugh. "Oh Nikeisha," Fiona said wrapping her into a bear hug, "I heard yesterday that you had passed your last test. I'm going to miss you." She released her hold, and then went back into her shop with a brief wave over her head.
The caravan had already began their trek to the desert but had left a message for the adventurers to catch up. They easily caught up to with the caravan about a half of mile to the east. Katriana, the owner of the caravan wasn't too happy about them coming along but was still thankful for the extra protection they provide, although she was quick to point out that with so many in the group it would likely attract more attention, and most of that attention would be bad.
Nikeisha and her friends were not the only additions to the convoy. The little kobold, Deekin, had also joint the expedition. He stood not far from where Nikeisha was speaking to Katriana, rubbing his foot on the ground and looking at her expectantly, as if he was hoping that she would see him; remember him.
"What are you doing here Deekin?" She asked him.
The kobold face lit up, happy that she had indeed remembered him. "Deekin serve as cook. Deekin think being on caravan good way to see world." He smiled at the thought. "And one day Deekin be an adventurer side kick and write a great epic."
He continued to tell her about his plans as the caravan moved out and the bells on the oxen clang their mournful sound.