Boar watched from his seat on the small vessel as Nebula navigated the waters of the river. It had taken them three days, but, finally, Baldur's Gate was visible. None were more grateful than him that they would be able to stretch and take a small break in the city. After the past few days, he needed some distance from the others. Even a few hours would be appreciated.
Nebula directed them to the docks, and moored their vessel, getting out to inform the quartermaster whose ship they were returning. After a moment, she returned to the group, and pointed towards a ship with three masts. A nearby sign indicated that they were on Stormshore Street. "When you're done in town, you'll be able to find me at The Low Lantern." She informed them before striding off into the city to take care of some business first.
Boar did a double take between the supposed bar, and the city. Finally, he shook his head, and stepped inside of the tavern only to find a table full of folks gambling. A pleasant looking and scantily dressed woman in one of their laps. Ale seemed to be at hand everywhere with the occasional stronger drink. The ship rocked gently from side to side, and he shrugged. Of course, this group would meet at a seedy bar. "Fuck it." He muttered to himself as he ordered an ale, and joined the card game.
Kalinthe nodded to Xanth, and followed after Nebula who stopped by a shop to sell some of the items that they'd acquired recently. He watched from outside as the deal was made, and stepped beside her as she left the establishment. When she turned her head to look at him, he gave a simple nod, smiling when she nodded back.
Nebula saw the sign on a building that indicated Purple Wyrm Inn. That was all the sign she needed before ducking inside with Kalinthe in tow. She quickly purchased a room for the night even though it was still early in the day. The implication of what she was doing clear in her mind, but she didn't care what anybody thought. She wasn't actually doing anything. Just having a long overdue chat. After letting the stoic dark cloaked man inside the room, she closed and locked the door behind them before disarming. Her glaive resting on the bed beside her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kalinthe take a seat in one of the chairs in the room. He regarded her, and laced his fingers together, resting his chin on them. She glanced up, and looked at him for a moment before sighing. From her hip, she pulled a small hunting knife, and cut into her hand, letting blood pool in her cupped hand. From her bag, she pulled out a small tray made of tarnished metal. She let her blood drip onto the tray for a moment before wrapping it with a ripped piece of her cloak. Then, she took some firestarter, and lit the contents of the tray ablaze, saying a small prayer under her breath as her eyes remained transfixed on the oddly sparking flames. After several moments, the tiny fire went out now that it was bereft of fuel. She nodded once, and packed up the items she'd removed from her pack, leaving the weapons off for the time being.
"Neat trick, that." Kalinthe commented lightly with a small point of his still laced fingers.
"Just praying." She told him honestly, making a sweeping gesture with her hands. The injury she'd given herself on full display for a brief moment before she closed her hand, and sat comfortably. "My way of telling you that I will be as open and honest as you seem to be." She told him with her head tilted to the side in curiosity.
"You will have my candor." He replied, leaning forward. His amber eyes piercing her own as his fingers separated, and he lowered his hood, revealing a body that seemed to be made of gathered shadow. A pair of horns protruded from the top of his head, but it all seemed to fade away after a moment, sloughing off until nothing remained behind except for an erinyes skull with glowing amber eyes. "So long as you'll answer some questions of my own."
Nebula watched the change in mystified silence for a full minute. She simply couldn't take her eyes away. After a moment, she swallowed, and took a calming breath. "That actually explains quite a lot." She told him, crossing one leg over another, and pushing a stray lock of hair behind an ear. "And, of course, that's only fair."
The floating skull with small wisps of purple energy emanating from it seemed to nod at her before his body began to reform in a slow process that took as long as its inverse. "Why don't you go first, then? Since this is the conversation that you wanted, as you said, it's only fair."
She was pretty sure that he was toying with her given his words, but nodded. She mentally crossed off of her list why he was so slight for his size. That little transformation explained plenty on its own. He wasn't human or really anything that she'd seen before. That much was clear. She thought about all the odd occurrences and statements over the past tenday or so. Baalzebul. Lord. His odd form. She also thought she remembered a few others, though, those she had questions about. "So, Lord Seventh, why exactly are you here?"
A light she hadn't seen before glowed in his eyes, and he started to laugh. A smile impossibly marked on his face. After a moment, a gauntleted had wiped a bit of that odd shadow from near his eye, and flicked it away. "Ah, you're a fun one." He commented before leaning back in his seat. He hummed, and reflected for a moment before responding. "How much do you know about Myrkul?" He countered.
"The Lord of Bones?" She responded, looking out the window for a moment. "Not much." She finished.
"As I thought." He nodded before adding. "I was sent back. Forcefully. I want my power back, and I've found that reaping souls seems to make me stronger."
"That explains the strangeness after somebody dies near you." Nebula replied before waving a hand, and gesturing to him. "Where are my manners? I owe you answers as well."
Kalinthe nodded. His demeanor just as stoic as always, but, perhaps, more calculating. "Why Talos?"
A small smile pulled at her lips. "I'm from the archipelago near Chult." She responded with eyes that didn't blink. Like she was seeing something that was far away from them. "A trapper by trade. I was on my boat- just a small thing I could handle on my own- on my way in to port to sell my wares and resupply. I could see the town. Maybe a mile or so out. I obviously didn't see it happen, but I was told that somewhere on shore a Talossan completed a ritual. Calling Down the Thunder, they called it. The next thing I know, my boat was capsized, and I was fighting for my life in the middle of a hurricane. Everything was destroyed." She shook her head, and blinked. "Everything except for me and a handful of his priests. I learned to respect Talos that day."
"Fear is quite the motivator." He stated calmly.
"It's not fear." She responded. "At no point was I ever afraid. If he wanted me dead, I would be dead." She sighed, and shook her head again, rolling her eyes at herself. "Regardless, you owe me a question now." She stood up, and paced the small space she had in the room as she thought. "So, now, I understand why the beacon in Elturel seemed to make you uncomfortable, but what about Xanth? He looked to be squirming just as much as you were."
Kalinthe leaned in, elbows resting on his knees. "You're observant."
"No, actually. Not so much observant as- the reason behind an action." She explained.
"Regardless." He stated, using her words again. "Xanth is in a situation similar to myself. With a different master."
"So, that's why the child is okay to go off in the wild all on his own?" She asked as a follow up without thinking.
Kalinthe made a tutting sound, and waggled a finger. "Oh, no. I won't let you distract me that easily."
Nebula gave him a look, pausing in her tracks, and groaning. "Ugh. Sorry. It's just- intriguing."
He waved. "As you were." His eyes glanced down to the glaive on the bed. "Did the church teach you to fight, then?"
"They taught me some tricks." She responded vaguely. "That magic forcefield around me. I think it's like lightning." She raised her fists, and got into a fighting stance, focusing, and taking a couple of jabs as her fists sparked with lightning. "They called it stormstriker." She eventually added with a shrug.
Kalinthe watched her for a moment, satisfied with her explanation before answering her earlier question. "Xanth is much older and wiser than his physical years seem." He responded. "What does that forcefield do? Other than damage."
"Slows them down, mostly. Every once in a while, I can help reverse heal Elli." She responded vaguely.
"Reverse heal?" His voice baffled.
Nebula chuckled. "Take the damage instead of her. I still get hurt, but it's better than the healer getting hurt."
"Ah." He responded in understanding.
Nebula sat back down. "Why haven't I seen Xanth eat?"
Kalinthe's lips twitched upwards into a smirk. "I suspect that he eats overnight while the rest of us sleep. He's very- particular about his diet."
She nodded even though the way he said that left more questions in her mind. She guessed that he didn't think she was ready to hear it. With how odd this was already, she probably wasn't. "I believe it's your ask."
"What's your goal with the Zhentarim?" He asked with as much interest as before.
She looked up at the ceiling, and rubbed her temples. "Not much, honestly. They're just useful allies to have. Do you consume the souls you take?"
"Will my answer change anything?" He countered without missing a beat.
"No, not really. Just curious at this point." She responded bluntly.
"I don't know. I don't really eat in the traditional sense, and they do make me stronger. Is that answer enough for you?" Kalinthe responded.
Nebula nodded. "That's fine." She leaned back on the bed, using her arms to support her. "You're up." She yawned, sounding almost bored.
Kalinthe's voice lowered and darkened slightly. "If I told you that, one day, I may need a favor. One as simple as walking away. What would you ask in return?"
Nebula smirked, and stood up, reaching a hand out in offering for a simple handshake. "Oh, this will be a beautiful partnership." She responded with a similar tone, and a menacing smirk equal to his own. "Hold that thought while I consider, will you?"
"Deal." Kalinthe responded, taking her hand, and giving it a single shake. Their eyes and hands held tight and level for several moments before the broke apart.