Tale to Tell
Meeks and Masoj remained speechless for a series of minutes that seemed to both of them like an eternity. Not sure wether it was safe to ask Masoj if he was ready to make it back through the electrical pods, Meeks had decided to wallow in her confusion and keep her herself busy by flipping a dagger from hand to hand. "Masoj," She asked suddenly, not bothering to look over at the wizard in question, "Do you think I'm stupid?". The question had been playing in her mind since the fight with Sindel, and now Masoj's earlier reaction to her offering of the healing potion didn't help her to think any different. As far as she knew, she wasn't that bad but she wasn't a brain either; but did it really matter?
A long and uncomfortable moment passed before Masoj responded, "Meeks, please." He said sharply and frowned. Masoj knew Meeks wasn't bad, but he couldn't get himself to comprehend how...well...--stupid--she could be sometimes. "It's not that I think you're stupid, in fact I don't think that at all. The thing is, you...can be...so absent minded sometimes." He continued when Meeks didn't respond. He looked over at Meeks but the black-haired warrior didn't return his gaze, instead, she continued to fiddle with her dagger. Just as Masoj figured that Meeks wouldn't be talking to him any more, she spoke up, "So?" She snapped, her husky voice wavering now, "Does it bother you that much?" She asked, clutching the hilt of her dagger and staring at the side wall. A desperate sigh escaped Masoj's lips, "No--I-" He began, completely at a loss for words until Meeks cut him off. "Look I'm sorry if I'm not a genius alright?" She cried and threw her dagger at the side wall in frustration.
When the knife hit the wall, it fell to floor and onto one of the electrical pods; the current immediately stopped. There was a shimmer and a waver in the side wall and then the wall disappeared altogether, revealing a large room filled with about a dozen weapon-wielding mantis warriors. "OhdeargodwhathaveIdone?" Meeks gasped in a breath and reached beside her for her polearm. The front row of mantises came forward and Meeks got to her feet, a lightning bolt zapped by her and Masoj ran past her towards the oncoming thrikreen, "Wait Masoj!" Meeks screamed and tore after the dark elf. Mantises, she knew, were quick and talented and it wasn't a good idea to fight a whole group of them at once.
Masoj disappeared amongst the army and the inability to spot him made Meeks nervous. She raced into battle with whatever mantis cared to take her on and wished Elyxya were there to dish out some battle tactics; of the two warriors, Meeks was the better fighter and Elyxya was the better strategist. The first creature went down in a gory mess and the next took its place without hesitation; this one though, had poisoned daggers. Making sure not to let the mantis' daggers even near her, Meeks dodged and weaved the ugly creature's rapid swipes. A terribly loud shrieking sound sounded from across the room and Masoj's voice said a few muffled words. Ignoring the high-pitched scream, Meeks continued hacking and slashing at the army of mantises.
When the creatures' ranks thinned, Meeks, sporting only minor wounds, jumped up to try to spot Masoj's whereabouts; unfortunately, her companion was nowhere in sight. All that could be seen, was two or three olive green mantises milling about over something at the back of the room. Faster than she could have imagined, Meek's attention was brought back to the moment at hand by a searing pain across her leg. She screamed and spun around to come face-to-face with a polearm wielding mantis warrior.
"So you're the leader!" She yelled, doing her best to ignore the deep gash in her leg that was hot with blood. The loathsome creature emitted the high-pitched scream that Meeks had heard earlier and realized it was a scream of pleasure; she emitted a scream of her own and swung downwards with the blade of her halberd, only to be deflected by the mantis. A few more blows were exchanged, blows that harmed Meeks nor mantis, and Meeks began to get frustrated. The mantis was very skilled with the polearm, something Meeks hadn't seen in a long time! Her voice cracking, she called out for Masoj's help but there was no response; only the leader before her shrieked again. "What have you done with him?!!" She screamed at the king mantis and engaged herself in a hilt-deflection battle with him. "What have you done with him?!!" She demanded again, feeling as though the mantis' glaring eyes were mocking her, just like the hideous shriek it produced. Meeks succeeded in driving the leader back and then she spun one full turn, spinning her blade with her, and caught the mantis off-guard. She felt the satisfying feeling of her blade cutting into flesh; the rule of the king had come to an end.
Not even looking back at the corpse, which began to disappear as the others had, Meeks darted to the back of the room. The three mantises that she had spotted earlier lined up and charged simultaneously--blades first. Not sure what to do in this situation, and again wishing Elyxya was there to give her some tactics, Meeks decided to use her brain. She waited until the mantises were close enough to touch and then dropped to her belly and laid down flat, tripping all three creatures at once. Hastily, and panting, she jumped to her feet and swung her halberd in a wide arc, removing three heads as quickly and as neatly as such a task could be executed. The army now abolished, she got to her feet and looked across to the back of the room.
Meeks' heart dropped when she saw the cause of the mantis king's triumphant shrieks; at the back of the room lay Masoj, an unmoving pile of white hair and purple robes.
***
Back at the top of the Test of Faith stairs, Nightshade bit her finger nails anxiously, "There was an awful lot of noises coming from over there," She said, her voice barely audible, "Do you suppose they're alright?" She asked and turned to Pryzma for some answers. Pryzma's hand went to the new crystal amulet about her neck, "I sure hope so Nightshade." She answered. Pryzma, Nightshade and Izzy had been staring in the direction of the electrical pod chamber directly in front of them; they had heard the mantis army, but hadn't seen it. All they had to hold onto were hopes and fears.
Izzy was sitting on the floor, holding her knees and rocking herself back and forth, "I already saw one of my friends die, please don't let me have to see more." She prayed, closing her eyes and forcing herself to take deep breaths. Fearing she would be deeply traumatized when this whole temple raiding affair was over, Izzy hated every moment she'd lived since the beginning of this quest. She absolutely hated waking up and realizing that it wasn't all a bad nightmare.
"We should go in there and check things out." Nightshade said, desperately trying to find a way to reassure herself on her friends' well-being. Pryzma shook her head and patted her friend's arm, "Stay here, for all we know it could be worse than we think out there. And, I hate to say it but, maybe it would be useless." She said grimly and registered the horror-filled expression on Nightshade's face. "Do you mean-?" Nightshade asked, hoping Pryzma would say no. "I don't know Nightshade, but Lloth knows I hope not." She said darkly and looked on into the flashing chamber.
***
A multitude of feelings coursed through Meeks as she ran towards her collapsed friend. Strongest of all was fear; could Masoj really be dead? How happy would that witch Sindel be? What kind of chasm in Meeks' heart would such a loss leave? How would she tell the rest of the team? How many things have been left unsaid? Could Masoj be dead? Could he?
A bolt of pain shot through her torn and bloody thigh as she dropped to her knees at the fallen wizard's side and cast her polearm aside, "Masoj," She breathed and placed her hands on his small, motionless frame, "I told you to wait for me...I told you." She whispered and watched as a tear rolled off her cheek and landed amidst Masoj's disheveled hair. Beneath her hands, Masoj's body raised and fell, ever so lightly; he was breathing. "Masoj!" Meeks' cry of sheer elation was not much more than a shaky moan. With a renewed sense of responsibility, she pushed some hair out of Masoj's face and cleared her cotton-like throat, "Where is your wound?" She asked, afraid to harm the slender wizard by searching him while he was so weak.
Masoj's normally sharp, bright eyes seemed glassy now as Meeks looked into them. With much effort, the wounded drow rolled onto his back and lifted his arms to reveal two diagonal gashes from the bottom of his rib cage down to his mid-section. The deep cuts were bloody and the clear source of them was a dagger, Masoj was losing a great deal of blood. "Oh my god!" Meeks gasped and immediately covered the wounds with her hands, for all that was worth . Getting a brain storm, Meeks tore off her cloak and began to bandage Masoj's cuts, as she had seen Elyxya and Will do down in the catacombs. As she fiddled about clumsily, Masoj's voice sounded, "It's--it's no g-good," He choked, bringing his bloodied hands up to stop Meeks in her actions, "Th--the daggers w--were poisoned." He finished.
The disgusted look on Meeks' face tore Masoj apart, "We can still fix it!" She cried, hastily continuing her bandaging. "No...no--don't you see? The p--poison is taking effect." Masoj explained, futily pushing Meeks' hands away from his mid-section; he just didn't quite know how to tell her that her efforts were useless, he would be dead in a matter of time. Witlin moments, hot tears streaked Meeks' cheeks, "NO!" She screeched and tied the last bit of her make-shift bandage, "I don't want you to die." She moaned, bdnt down then pressed her cheek to Masoj's, "I don't want you to go." She repeated with a gentle sob. She prayed for the gods to take her too as she felt Masoj's hand at the back of her head.
"I shouldn't have brought you here," Meeks rambled, burying her face against the young drow's cheek, "It was so stupid...I was so stupid." She said, sincerely wishing she hadn't decided to come through the electrical pods. Maybe Sindel was right, maybe she was an imbecile, and maybe she didn't deserve someone as smart as Masoj. Quickly enough, Meeks' dismal thoughts came to a crashing end when Masoj's hands came up and held her face inches away from his, " No! Listen t-to me, Meeks," Masoj said and somewhere behind the glassy shield that the poison had created in his eyes, Meeks saw truthfulness, "Y-you're not s-stupid." He said sharply and then swallowed and drew in a breath, his health quickly--and clearly-- worsening, "The only r-reason I get frus...trated by your judgement is be-because I don't want y-you getting hurt." He continued.
Meeks' jaw remained agape, in shock as much as in need of air, long after Masoj's next words. Masoj pulled Meeks' face down to his until they were at kissing distance, "I-I love you, M-Meeks." He whispered, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke. Meeks couldn't believe this was happening; the only man she had ever loved, and that had ever loved her back, had just revealed his feelings and now he as going to die, "Oh me too, Masoj" She said and her tears never stopped flowing, of course now, she wasn't sure if they were out of sadness or happiness or both. Masoj's kiss was weak but still genuine, and Meeks had no way to respond to this tragedy but to excuse herself for all her `mistakes', "I'm sooo sorry for being stubborn with you and-and for not helping you when you were fighting Sindel and-and-and for the thing about the healing potion-" She paused for a moment in her line of confessions and seemed to be thinking of something; her concerned expression alarmed Masoj.
Suddenly, as if she'd been telepathically notified by the gods that there was a detonator in her backpack, Meeks threw her packsack to the ground at Masoj's side and began rummaging through it, all the while frowning apprehensively. "Potion!" Meeks cried triumphantly, tearing the little blue bottle of healing potion from her bag and holding it up like a trophy. Her eyes all ashimmer with hope and pride, she removed the small stopper and smiled at Masoj, "Now you're wounded! I'm using this and I don't care what you say! If this isn't a good time to use it than I don't know what is!" She declared. The liquid inside the glass bottle would heal anything, from poison to disease, it was a real treasure. Meeks couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it before, she figured it was because everything had happened so suddenly...
A thin smile crossed Masoj's lips and god knows it would have been a grin if he would have had the strength, "B-brilliant Meeks," He said softly, "You s-see? Y-you're perfectly-" He began to cough and little droplets of blood spattered from his mouth, "H-hurry p-please." He pleaded, well aware that the fast-acting poison had reached some vital organs and that he didn't have very much time left. Meeks nodded quickly and brought the vial of potion down to Masoj's lips, then retracted it quickly, immersing poor Masoj in complete confusion, "Do you just drink it? Or do I have to put it on your wounds?" Meeks asked, panicking a little (ahem--a lot). Masoj swallowed thickly, disbelieving Meeks' horrible timing for this kind of behavior, "Both!" He said empathetically then coughed up more blood, "D-drink first-" He managed, his glassy eyes filled with a horror and fear that was alien to the warrior kneeling at his side. Meeks returned the vial to Masoj's lips and brought her hand around to the back of his head to aid him in drinking the blessed liquid.
Masoj coughed and pushed the bottle away, "Now the w-wounds!" He ordered, a good thing too because Meeks had nearly forgotten that the elixir had to be shared, she was too enthralled and relieved at seeing Masoj drink his health back. Hastily, Meeks removed the make-shift bandages she'd created and opened Masoj's blood-stained robes until she reached his mid-section; she then poured some of the blue-colored healing potion into her palm and rubbed her hand across each deep gash. Masoj flinched and wriggled at the stinging pain that the liquid generated, but knew very well that it was all for the better.
When the bottle was empty, Meeks felt relieved and somewhat proud, "You're okay now." She said confidently, hoping the potion would begin to work in short time. She looked over at Masoj and the wizard was smiling, the frightening glassiness in his eyes had gone, "Thank you, Meeks." He said in a low tone and Meeks knew he meant it, "You actually saved my life." He added, the words made him sound incredulous but something inside of him told him that he knew all along that it would happen. Meeks scooted closer and took Masoj's long hand in hers, "So, I guess this pays you back for that time in the catacombs when you said I owed you one, huh?" She commented with a smug smile, recalling the particular event as though it had happened the day before. Masoj's smile grew wider then, and although it was too painful to laugh, he gave off the right idea, "Yes, it most certainly does." He acknowledged, speaking with more stability now, "I think the poison is gone." He declared when the burning feeling his insides were feeling earlier disappeared as surely as it had begun. Meeks nodded and looked down at the drow' s belly, the previously deep and bloody wounds were already beginning to close up, "I'm so glad you're alright." She uttered with a sigh, "It would have been quite a loss." She concluded and turned back to look into Masoj's smiling face.
"That's a compliment if I've ever heard one," Masoj said and then sat up cautiously when the last of his cuts were healed, "You should quit killing and start healing, Meeks." He joked and chuckled, then grimaced as he realized that his wounds might be healed from the outside, but they were still painful on the inside. A horrified glare was shot in Masoj's direction, "Uck, no." Meeks said disgustedly, seeing herself in a clerical robe...tripping over her feet, over the stairs, over the robes...
Meeks surveyed the room and then looked Masoj up and down, he looked as though he'd never been hurt--except for the blood on his robes and hands, of course. Indescribably happy to see him well again, and proud that she as the one who helped him get that way, Meeks threw her arms around Masoj's neck and brought her mouth down on his in a possessive and passionate embrace.
***
Nervous yet bearing a self-satisfied smile, San-Raal returned from the catacombs and back to the Test of Faith. He'd dropped the bones he was carrying twice over, dodging clerics wasn't an easy task...and neither was keeping a good grip when suffering an electrical charge. San-Raal expected to be alone when he arrived back inside the room with the magical lips, but he was greeted by a surprise. Elyxya and Will were inside the room and waiting for San-Raal to return with the bones, things hadn't went so well on their end.
"Geez!" San-Raal gasped as he entered the little chamber and nearly dropped the bones a third time, he hadn't expected to see his friends there at all. "Hello to you too." Elyxya answered curtly and waved. With a disapproving shake of his head, San-Raal swept past Elyxya and placed himself before the stone mouth, "I got the bones," He said uselessly, "So what are you two doing here?". He touched the carving as he had before and, with a slight grinding noise, the lips parted to reveal a dark opening.
Elyxya and Will watched curiously as San-Raal dumped the bones into the chasm, "We ran into some--difficulties." Will said to answer San-Raal's earlier question, "We found what looks to be a mantis nest, but the area is sealed off by a heavy gate. Elyxya and I tried to break through it, but our efforts were futile." He explained. As Will finished his words, a bright flash of light emanated from the parted stone lips, causing San-Raal to cover his eyes. When the light died down, a small, ivory key with a golden ring attached to it lay in San-Raal's open hands. Before the mage could say anything haughty, the magical lips' monotone voice sounded, "For I am no longer hungry, I reward yee with the key." The voice declared and soon after the mouth closed and its magic ceased.
A wide smile crossed San-Raal's lean face as he turned to face Will and Elyxya, "So Will, this gate you speak of...was it--by any chance--locked?" He asked contemptuously, holding up the bone-key that he so rightfully acquired. Anyone with half a brain could figure out what was going on in the wizard's mind at the moment; San-Raal loved giving answers were there were none, and loved even more proving to people that he was right. Will nodded slowly, "Yes, yes it was." He said and San-Raal's smile grew wider, the drow's pride swelling quite visibly, "But you see, San-Raal, that key won't fit the lock." Will finished quaintly with a satisfied smile.
Any pride San-Raal could have felt earlier was cruelly extracted from his soul; his smile dropped and his face grew hot, "Oh." He murmured, pursing his lips and avoiding his friends' gazes. There as a moment of silence, in recognition of San-Raal's complete embarrassment, and then the stubborn mage spoke again, "Are you sure it won't fit? I mean...how can you be sure?" He stammered and clutched the bone-key firmly in his hand. Will shook his head and shrugged, "Look alright, that...key...of yours," He began, frowning at the odd thing in San-Raal's hand that actually bore no resemblance at all to a key, "isn't going to do the trick. The lock was green and the key hole was ordinary, not weird and screwy like that." He said and pointed at the bone-key for finality in his statement. A resolute attitude took San-Raal at this point and he clenched his fists at his sides, "But...how...I mean, you just-" He stuttered, motioning desperately at Will with his hand.
Elyxya came forward and looked San-Raal in the eye, "It's over hun. Just give up, kay? You lost this one." She soothed then reached out and stroked his hair. The animosity and perseverance in San-Raal took one last stand in a helpless whimper and then the defeated wizard dropped his head, "I know." He uttered, receiving a pat from Elyxya. "We've no choice, we have to go back to the meeting place and wait for the others." Elyxya said then, and exited the chamber followed by a glorified Will and a subdued San-Raal.
When they made it back to the meeting place, Nightshade, Izzy and Pryzma greeted them. Although Elyxya, Will and San-Raal were in a fairly good mood, Pryzma and her crew didn't seem too happy. In fact, the three ladies were staring out into the electrical pod chamber that Meeks and Masoj had decided to go through and bore rather concerned expressions. "What's going on, Pryzma?" San-Raal asked the little drow lady who seemed immersed in thought. Pryzma's lips tightened and she turned to look at her interrogator, "The thing is, I'm not too sure what's going on." She said slowly and fingered the new amulet about her neck, "Meeks and Masoj...they went through the pods out there and then there was an awful lot of commotion going on. I -we- didn't get to see anything though." She explained as best she could to her perplexed teammates. San-Raal frowned and Elyxya pushed past him, "What do you mean `commotion'? Fighting? Meeks and Masoj were fighting?" She assumed with an overly expressive set of gestures that made her look like a circus act.
Pryzma shrugged and then shook her head, "No..no, not Meeks and Masoj! There were too many sounds to be only two people fighting, I think something happened like...they found a passageway or something. I swear I heard weaponry, so maybe they met up with some guards or something." She opted. Elyxya wasn't satisfied, "Guards? In the Test of Faith? I don't think so." She debated, sincerely hoping it was only guards. If a bunch of guards had in fact attacked Meeks and Masoj, Elyxya thought to herself as the others fell silent and cast inquisitive glances at the flashing pods, they'd be more than capable to hold them off. Meeks' might and Masoj's magic made a powerful combination, they couldn't have been overpowered...unless there were too many opponents to handle and things got out of hand.
"I don't hear anything now." Will spoke for the first time in the conversation, bringing up a very real fact. At the sound of the cleric's words, Nightshade burst out in sobs, "I know!" She bawled, "That's what scares me the most!" She wiped at her tears and then shivered in internal shiver. Pryzma moved to comfort her pal and Izzy tagged along, her face a tired mess. With a mystery on their hands, the regrouped teammates felt as though they were being manipulated by fate. "I'm positive they're alright." San-Raal attempted, coming up behind Elyxya and placing his hands on her shoulders, "I've seen Meeks fight, she's pretty damn good. And Masoj'll take care of himself..." He looked at every member in turn and Elyxya turned her head to look up at him, "...and anyway, Masoj'd never let anything happen to Meeks if he can be there to stop it." The drow added optimistically, well aware of his friend Masoj's affections for the brash and quirky Meeks.
That did it, Elyxya couldn't stand not knowing if her best friend and Masoj were alive or not. Everything was too unsure and murky, there had to be a way to find out! She tore away from San-Raal and ran to the edge of the electrical pods, "I'm going to see what's what!" She cried determinedly and focused on the flashing lights, ready to run full speed at any time. "Me too!" She heard Nightshade cry and the tall thief was at her side in a matter of seconds, breathing heavily with tear-stained cheeks. Strong arms grasped both Elyxya and Nightshade from behind and pulled them away from the pods, "No! I won't have you two going in there like imbeciles! You both have no idea what could be awaiting you back there...and I don't want anyone putting themselves in jeopardy." Will grilled the two women sternly and tugged them by the arms back to the group. He let go of Nightshade and gave her back to Pryzma and Izzy; he kept the volatile Elyxya firmly in his grip, fearing she would fight back and run away.
Elyxya's response was an animal-like snarl, "So we just sit here and wait?" She spat and crossed her arms over her chest negatively. She just couldn't believe that she wasn't going to take on the pods and seek out her teammates. Will's brown eyes were implacable, "Yes." He said sharply and let go of Elyxya, `placing' her against San-Raal who immediately grasped her shoulders and held her firmly in place. Silence fell once again and deep inside, everyone even Elyxya, knew that Will's orders were justified and right.
***
"Oh my." Meeks breathed and bent to pick up the fearsome-looking sword that shimmered at her feet. She grasped the hilt and held the blade up to her eyes; instead of being straight like an ordinary blade, the edges were undulated. Meeks was delighted, "Masoj! Come here!" She called to her fellow mage who had disappeared into another short hallway not far from where she stood. After Masoj had fully healed and done up his robes, the room where the battle with the mantis army had taken place was examined. At the back of the room, to the right, was another room that cut off into three dead-end corridors each about fifteen feet in length. Meeks had went into the far left one and Masoj had taken the middle one.
"No! You come here!" Came Masoj's voice from the neighboring hallway. Meeks shrugged non-commitedly, grabbed the odd sword and walked out of her corridor and into the one where Masoj stood. The drow was looking at the wall to Meeks' right, two niches in the wall were all that Meeks could see, "What? What's so important that you can't come look at what I found?" Meeks asked, a little disappointment hidden in her words. She walked up beside Masoj and he looked over at her with a glint in his eye, "Look, Meeks, it's a generator." He said happily. A blank stare came in response to Masoj's declaration, "W-what does it generate?" Meeks asked and raised an eyebrow quizzically, in the manner that Masoj had done so many times before when he wasn't clear on a subject. "I don't know." Masoj said and then realized that Meeks was holding a sinister-looking sword in her hand that wasn't hers, "What's that?" He asked and raised an eyebrow, much as Meeks had imitated him earlier.
Meeks chuckled at the eyebrow thing, Masoj just couldn't help himself. "Well duh." She cried and brought the sword right up to the wizard's face, "It's a sword. And I found it over there." She said proudly and threw her thumb at the wall behind her. Masoj pushed the weapon away from his face with a bloody hand and shot Meeks a stupefied glance, "I gathered that, love." He snapped, using Meeks' new `nickname', "What I mean is, what's special about it? Besides the nasty look of it, of course." He added and eyed the undulated blade apprehensively. "I dunno." Meeks uttered and then made a dismissive gesture with her hand, "So, what about this generator of yours?" She asked, changing the subject lightly.
Masoj's gaze returned to the two niches in the wall before him, "To work this, you just put something in one niche and the item that is generated appears in the other. Simple, no?" He explained with a twitch of his sharp nose. Meeks nodded her approval and threw her backpack off of her shoulders, "I'll find something to trade." She volunteered and dug her hands into her bag. Masoj watched patiently (amazing) until Meeks pulled out a leather ribbon that would have served to tie her hair back in a pony tail, "Will this do?" Meeks asked brightly and held the ribbon up to her teammate. "Do you need it?" Masoj asked cautiously, not wanting to rob Meeks of something she could eventually be in need of . Meeks' hand went to the back of her head, "No. I've already got one." She answered and wiggled her ponytail to emphasize her point. A reserved smile crossed Masoj's thin lips, "Alright then. Let's give this thing a try." He declared and carefully placed the leather ribbon inside the right-hand niche.
Soundlessly, the procedure was made and when the ribbon disappeared in the right-hand niche, a slender wand appeared in the left-hand niche. Masoj took the wand and held it out for Meeks to see, "Not a bad deal, hmm?" He purred calmly but reveled silently in the great finding. Meeks frowned at Masoj's bloody hands and couldn't wait until she saw Will again so that he could create water and wash Masoj off, "Brilliant. It's a wand of what, though?" She asked curiously, hoping the drow would say it was a wand of teleportation so that she could go home or at least find the others of the group.
After handing Meeks the wand, Masoj opened his ever-present spellbook and flipped through a multitude of pages, "Hold on a moment and we'll find out." He uttered and Meeks watched his crimson eyes scan each page quickly. A moment later, a slender ebony finger sporting a long and pointed fingernail ticked a paragraph on a yellowed page, "Found it." Masoj said and removed his finger from the book. Meeks watched in utter fascination as Masoj took the wand from her hand recited a series of words from his book in a language that Meeks had never heard of. The thin wand emanated a soft blue light and then the light vanished altogether. "Wand of fireball." Masoj said and closed his book with a snap. He looked at the little item for a moment and then tucked it safely away in the folds of his purple robe.
Soon after, the two ventured into the next corridor (the far right one) and found a lever. As most people would, they pulled the lever. Nothing happened. With a resigned shrug and a profound need to see their teammates again, they exited the room and made their way back to the electrical pods. To their amazement, a clear path of de-activated pods lead the way back to safe ground; they figured that it was the lever's fault. Their hearts thumping in their chests, Meeks and Masoj tore though the path and arrived safely at the team's original meeting spot where, to their pleasant surprise, everyone was regrouped.
The people waiting at the meeting spot saw their teammates coming through the de-activated pods and uttered cries of relief and joy. Elyxya was the first to react, throwing herself onto Meeks and crushing her with her arms. Next was San-Raal who gave Masoj a friendly hug and an encouraging word. Once again, Nightshade erupted into sobs, but this time they were joyful. Will's hands came up in thanks and his smile radiated his relief. Pryzma clapped her hands and patted Meeks' back in admiration. Seeing Nightshade hug Masoj and kiss him on the forehead, Izzy bounded forward and attempted to do the same; unfortunately, Masoj wasn't drugged with happiness enough to let the gentle thief do so.
With dusk settling in outside Temple Darkmoon, Meeks and Masoj told their story while their party listened intently. Will created dinner, and Masoj's bloody hands and belly were washed clean, just as Meeks had hoped. The scimitar that Nightshade and Pryzma had found was given to Elyxya, who immediately adopted it with sparkling eyes and endless thanks. Pryzma's ring of sustenance was also given as a gift, to Meeks, who took offense at first and then figured it was nice of them to care about her stomach being full. The sinister sword that Meeks found was temporarily taken by Pryzma, who claimed it was magical. San-Raal's brave adventures in the catacombs was related to the group by San-Raal himself, the story bringing laughter here and there. Will and Elyxya told the group of the mantis nest they saw that was locked behind gates, saying that they needed a key to have access to it; Nightshade brought up the dying mantis warrior she had seen during her adventures and also the key that the creature had left behind. The bright green key, Elyxya and Will swore, was the one that corresponded with the lock near the mantis nest. Unhappily, San-Raal showed the group the bone-key he had acquired by fetching bones down in the catacombs and declared that he had no idea what lock it corresponded to.
With the day's events said and done, the group retreated to the area that Nightshade, Pryzma and Izzy had cleared out earlier. The team split up and settled within one of the three rooms; Pryzma, Nightshade and Izzy in the room where they'd found the halberd and the scimitar; Meeks, Masoj, Elyxya and San-Raal in the room that looked to have once served as living quarters for someone; and Will inside the room where the dying mantis had been found, the smallest room.
Although the rest of the team was comfortable for the evening, Will felt well...loneliness. His mind drifted to Sindel and he wondered what she was up to. Even though Sindel's presence was pure hell, Will found it lonely to be the only cleric in the party; and even lonelier to have no one to talk to, no matter how mean, before going to sleep. Ultimately, his thoughts reverted back to the night before's events and he contemplated how much he hated what Sindel had done to the members of his team. His corrupt side hoped Sindel had been exposed an imposter by the clerics of Darkmoon and killed, but his soft side wished she would come back to help him keep the team in line (even if she was the one puting the team out of line most of the time).
Where did she go? What did she do? These questions haunted Will during the evening, but later that night others popped into his mind. Could Sindel have went to Dran? Could she have accepted the high-priest's offer and become his high-priestess? Could she have turned against the party? For good?
Could she?