Admittance
"I say we just contact Khelben and beg him to get us out of here." Masoj breathed restlessly as he strode from one end of the mantis nest room to the other. The whole crew had spent over an hour futilely combing the lower chambers of the Test of Faith and then had reunited in the mantis nest area to mope and complain.
"I thinks it's quite obvious we're going nowhere -- " San-Raal piped to strengthen his fellow dark-elf's dismal observations, "-- and fast, at that." He added for additional emphasis. He sat on the floor as Masoj plopped down beside him and absent-mindedly tapped his slender fingers atop his spellbook. He and his wizard friend looked up at Pryzma and Elyxya who, in turn, looked down at them from above; Meeks followed Nightshade around as the thief tested the walls for secret openings -- something she must have done over ten times.
Will strode into the room from his quick walk outside, "It looks bad; by all appearances we're nothing short of being jammed." He declared, which was absolutely no help at all for his expectant-faced teammates. He smiled falsely and walked over to stand beside Elyxya and Pryzma, "Anything interesting happen on this end?" He asked hopefully, a strange feeling balling up in his throat. From the floor, Masoj pulled a small amulet from beneath his robes and began swinging it before his eyes, "Will, think a second will you? If we had found something important, we wouldn't be sitting here doing zippo and grumbling about each-other." He snapped irritably, not bothering to look up at the cleric who glared down at him.
Will sneered, "A simple no' would have sufficed, you know." He retorted with an edge in his voice, an edge that was normally non-existent. I must be getting just as depressed as they, Will thought to himself in dismay and pulled his gaze from the young mage who was trying to hypnotize himself out of boredom. From beside Will, Elyxya spoke next; "Maybe we could beg Khelben to take us back." She said in exasperation and brought her hand to her aching head.
There was a moment of silence and Pryzma stepped turned around to face as much of the group as possible. Her hand went down to the hilt of the new undulated-blade sword that hung at her side, "I've been thinking lately about the whole Dran and Khelben thing. W-what if Khelben really doesn't care about us and he just wants us here for his own purposes and not the town's...like Sindel had explained down in the catacombs some time back." She said in a shaky voice, eyeing everyone separately.
Will's expression darkened, "Now wait a minute there, Pryzma --" He began but the drowess cut him off sharply with a serious stare, "I know we've been over the issue already, but...have we really? I mean, have we really thought this one through? Because I get the feeling we're into something that's not all right, something that won't be as glorious as we'd like it to be." She paused and the team listened intently, their gazes different from one to the other, "Wouldn't we be risking our lives for nothing? You know, I'm not a fan of that type of martyr. Maybe the fact that we cannot continue from here on is a sign from Dran Draggore that he wants us to get the hell out of his temple before we end up tearing it apart." She argued on with wavering conviction.
"Dran scares me." Meeks uttered, not at all enjoying the idea that someone might be toying with her. It made her feel so insignificant to wonder if Sindel had been right down in the catacombs, that's why she had never bothered to think the matter through a second time -- much less bring it out in the open again. "This is important." Pryzma went on, participation from the group members encouraging her flow of ideas, "We are obviously walking into great danger by continuing on with our mission." She said with a tone of finality. She exhaled loudly and awaited a thought-out response from someone other than Meeks.
"I think we should have faith in Khelben." Elyxya declared suddenly, drawing Will's attention, "We can't go on being ambivalent like this. We have to make up our minds; we've not got enough information or proof to name anyone the culprit of our sad situation, so I say we stick with our original course. We were hired by Khelben, so we stay loyal to Khelben. Makes sense to you guys?" She opted matter-of-factly. San-Raal opened his mouth to say something in response when Nightshade's voice rang out from the right.
"The wall!!!" She yelped in a high-pitched voice and immediately Pryzma jumped to her side and stared in the direction of Nightshade's pointing finger. The team all whipped their heads to the side as the wall that had once harbored two niches (one of which had been robbed of its green jewel from Meeks) dissipated and made way to a staircase going up. Everyone got up and headed towards the newly-arrived staircase; "So much for your sign from Dran'." Will chided as he swept past Pryzma and climbed the stairs ahead two at a time. Pryzma shook her head and followed quietly.
***
The staircase lead to a series of chambers that held miniature challenges much like the ones encountered in the lower chambers of the Test; nothing as big as the mantis army though, the team was happy to see. A series of puzzles and mazes that composed the intellectual part of the Test were handled easily by Masoj, San-Raal and Pryzma. A new type of creature had come up to fight the crew: flying snakes. They poisoned and the bit, and Elyxya and Meeks had their fair share of wounds for Will to sit and take care of. Oddly enough, one serpent had begun to follow Elyxya around, tagging along and causing no harm to the team whatsoever; the fighter named it "Slinky" -- the rest of the team laughed at her whole-heartedly.
The main point of the upper chambers of the Test, Nightshade quickly figured, was to gather a large number of items that would eventually be deposited somewhere, which would then lead the team to the next part of their trial. It was best described as a trade-off treasure hunt. After suffering a great deal of torment, the crew finally set up camp' before a locked door.
"That burns, you fool!" Elyxya cried at Will as the cleric rubbed some pale salve on her left thigh. She had been bitten three consecutive times on the leg and had narrowly escaped poisoning. "Let me do my job, Elyxya. You're just like Masoj." He commented, recalling the time he had healed the wizard's cheek after they had returned from the catacombs; the mage had unceasingly jerked away from the sting of his healing. Above Elyxya's head hovered Slinky, who looked around blandly and seemed to be thinking about something important -- if such a thing could be said about a snake.
"It doesn't like me." Meeks whined as she looked up at the flying snake that clung to her best pal like a burr. She was sitting down atop her blankets and was munching on what was left of Will's conjured dinner, a dismantled orange that leaked all over her fingers and dripped into her lap. "I don't want it to come near me." Masoj said darkly, narrowing his eyes at the creature with obvious disdain; he had laid his blankets by Meeks', like he had for quite some nights, more than happy for the extra warmth he'd been getting from the warrior and her covers. Nightshade, a few paces away, scowled deeply, "Ugh, I don't want it to come near me either. I may have a heart attack." She said raspily and Pryzma nudged her when Elyxya looked over at her with a concerned look.
When Elyxya's wounds had been healed and Meeks' hunger had been temporarily sated, the small crew curled up and attempted to get some sleep. Nightshade and Pryzma stayed up though; Pryzma brushed Nightshade's long black hair while the thief rummaged through her backpack for an inventory check, both whispered like school girls did. "Were you serious about the Dran thing back in the mantis nest room?" Nightshade asked curiously, fingering the stopper of a bottle of blue healing fluid. Pryzma tugged a knot from her friend's hair, "Yes, I was. Did I not sound credible?" She replied quietly. "That's not it. It's just that we had all agreed earlier that we were gonna tear this place apart for Khelben and that Dran was bullshitting us -- or brainwashing us -- whatever." Nightshade said hastily, her voice coming out not as low as she'd like it to.
"Well people can change their minds, you know?" Pryzma declared and lifted the dark hair she was brushing to let it fall dramatically atop Nightshade's slender shoulders, "So I had a change of thought, that's all. Can you really blame me? I mean, we are in a precarious situation here; I just don't like the idea of being lead on. I'm afraid of what may be at the end of the line, and I'm not just talking about what we'll encounter the closer we get to Dran. I'm also talking about what will happen when we get back to the city -- if we get back to the city." She said meekly and Nightshade winced, "If what we did here was wrong, then we'll be looked on as murderers and raiders and horrid individuals altogether." She concluded.
Nightshade sighed and looked across at Meeks and Masoj; the two slept soundly in each-other's arms -- Meeks began to snore. "Pryzma, I just don't know what to think, you know? This is all very confusing to me; I expected this to be a straight-forward mission, but it's turning out to be quite complicated. Maybe Dran is right, maybe not. I really don't know." She said and shrugged confusedly and closed her bag then put it aside. Pryzma gave Nightshade's hair a final stroke, "Sure, but we'll have to come up with a decision one time or another, or we'll be walking into our deaths." She said apocalyptically and put away her hair brush. The two slipped beneath their covers and Pryzma immediately fell asleep. Nightshade rolled onto her side and faced Elyxya who slept with an arm draped over San-Raal's waist; her mind raced with after-thoughts concerning Pryzma's last words.
What if they were making a very big mistake in going on with the raid of Temple Darkmoon?
***
The next morning, bright and early, the group gathered around San-Raal as the mage rummaged through his backpack, "I swear the bone key I found goes with this lock," He mumbled and pointed a finger at the lock on the wall without looking. Indeed, there was a great possibility that the bone key did correspond to the lock he pointed to; the lock itself was made of a plate of ivory bone that sported an odd little opening. San-Raal has waited so long, impatiently, for the mystery of his key to be solved. He'd worked so hard for the little thing that he sincerely wished the key would be the ticket to something big and impressive, something that would bring reason to his craze and efforts.
A few seconds later, the drow pulled a mat-white key from his belongings, "Here we go!" He exclaimed and grinned proudly. Elyxya, who's pet snake Slinky had mysteriously disappeared that morning, hurried the wizard forward towards the lock, "Yes, yes...go!" She cried impatiently and ignored San-Raal's offended glare. Ha! My moment of triumph is at hand! San-Raal thought to himself and wrung his hands before trying the key. The rest of the team watched in silent excitement as the drow slipped the odd-ended tool into the lock and fiddled around with it; there was no immediate result. "I knew it!" Will shouted suddenly, scaring everyone out of their trance, "I knew it wouldn't wor--" He stopped short as a loud click' sounded beside him. The lock had opened, San-Raal had been right.
"What was that, Will?" Masoj purred and strode past the cleric to congratulate his friend; Will frowned and shook his head. San-Raal's scarlet eyes shimmered with pride and he rubbed his slender hands together as the great stone door opened before him, "Yes!" He squealed with delight. The door opened to reveal a long corridor, blocked off at the end by another door, that cut off consecutively to the left and right into ten small square areas. At once the group bolted to the other end of the corridor and attempted to open the door that stood in their way; it didn't budge.
"Alright then, let's see what those little indents in the wall are." Nightshade proposed brightly. The party turned and looked into the first square area; there was, on the back wall, a closed mouth of stone. Will recognized it in a flash, "Hey! That's just like the magical mouth that gave you the bone key." He declared and pointed at San-Raal; the mage nodded his approval and added with a shrug, "It probably talks like the one downstairs too." He blinked curiously and took a step forward to touch it as he had touched the other stone mouth. "Neato!" Meeks cried and bounded ahead, cutting the wizard off. She stopped before the chiseled lips and turned back to her crew, "Watch!" She said with a throaty chuckle, then bent and embraced the magical mouth; Masoj slapped his hand to his forehead and groaned.
As San-Raal had predicted, the lips animated and Meeks shrieked in shock, "Give me the blade that has taken so much, that life may never again feel its callous touch." The mouth spoke with a strangely compelling voice. Meeks trembled and darted over to Masoj who rolled his eyes, "I didn't do it!" Meeks yelped and clutched the mage's sleeve. Elyxya burst out laughing as San-Raal strode forward and faced the entire group, "Elyxya, please." He pleaded and the warrior quit laughing but remained all smiles, "The mouth wants a blade, we give it a blade." He continued when he had silence. The team shifted uncomfortably and Nightshade spoke up from the back, "What blade, San-Raal?" She asked bluntly, "There are lots of blades here with us." She looked around and San-Raal mimicked her. Elyxya hugged her new scimitar to her chest and, beside her, Meeks slipped her halberd behind her back; Will made no move towards his longsword and Masoj slid his hand into his boot to retrieve his dagger.
Pryzma though, stepped ahead and held out the wicked-edged sword that she had found in the lower chambers of the Test, "I got the feeling it was magical when I held it for the first time so I took it with haste. Maybe it's the sword the mouth wants." She said calmly and handed the weapon to San-Raal who took it from her with care. "Maybe." The mage breathed and plunged the sword blade-first between the stone mouth's open lips. At once, the animated thing's hunger was sated and the wall regained its normal appearance. Pryzma brushed off her hands, "What do you know, I was right." She said quaintly and looked back at the group.
They turned out of the alcove and headed into the next one where a second mouth awaited its feast. Once again the magical entity spoke and demanded its fee which happened to be a small red gem that the gang had found during the upper chambers' intellectual tests. When it had been satisfied, the party went to the next and so on until all ten mouths had been fed with small treasures that Nightshade had counted the night before while discussing with Pryzma. A few moments after the deed had been completed, the door at the other end of the corridor creaked open.
"Come on! The other door's open now!" Masoj called to the crew which had strayed to make sure their feeding' task had been properly executed. The other six team members jogged up to where the mage stood and peered into the room beyond. It was a well-lighted, empty room about the size of the entrance hall of Darkmoon. Masoj's nose twitched, "I have a bad feeling about this." He warned, surveying the room intently for possible traps or side passages. Elyxya and Meeks poked their heads in through the door and took a look for themselves, "Looks clean to me." Elyxya said and Meeks nodded to back her up, "I say we just calmly and cautiously--" She began and once gain her plans were ruined by Meeks who pushed past her and stood in the center of the empty room.
There was a relieved sigh from the other members of the crew despite the risk Meeks had put herself through. "Don't do that!" Masoj couldn't help but yell sternly at the object of his desire; Meeks put on a sheepish expression, "Well someone had to go first." She whined and looked to Elyxya for support. The other warrior licked her parched lips and dismissed her friend's silent plea; she walked up beside Masoj and looked around the room. The rest of the group finally came in and soon all seven hirelings stood in the center of the strangely quiet room. "What is the point of this???" Nightshade said sharply, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled in.
As if in response to the thief's question, a shift in the air before the group caused a surprised gasp to escape the team's lips. Before them appeared a tall man, garbed in a crimson clerical overcoat, black tunic and matching pants. The man smiled a velvet smile of which his emerald eyes betrayed the honesty. Elyxya drew her scimitar and Meeks angled the blade of her polearm; the mages of the group chanted quietly and Will's eyes were riveted thoughtfully on the figure before him.
"I am Dran Draggore, High-Priest and overlord of this realm." The man introduced himself with a grace that was not false, "Welcome to Darkmoon, intrepid ones." He finished with an unreadable gleam in his eye. Will gasped and his cheeks grew hot; Meeks and Elyxya started forward but Masoj and San-Raal drew them back roughly; Pryzma and Nightshade just froze. "You bastard!" Came Will's booming, heated cry; his hand went to his sword like a magnet might to another. The team jumped at the cleric's sudden rude exclamation.
"My, my!" Dran cooed and held out his hands defensively, "What temper clerics have these days!" His keen eyes set on Will's gleaming longsword; he made no move to fight back. Will's mouth opened to retort, but Masoj's tongue was quicker, "Would you care to explain to me what the hell is going on here?" He said sharply, his brow furrowing in confusion and frustration. Meanwhile, Will's sword did not relent its assaulting point on Dran. "Whatever are you talking about?" Dran asked sarcastically, then, when the team before him didn't respond, added, "I believe you already know what's going on--" He paused and raised an eyebrow at Sindel's most hated rival, "--Masoj, is it? Anyhow, although you all know that what you are doing here in my temple is completely wrong, you still choose to go on with your mission and ravage my belongings." Dran went on, his hawk-like features growing stern. His emerald eyes scanned each member of the seven part party thoughtfully, it made the warriors nervous.
"We all think you're brainwashing us." Meeks declared from beside Elyxya in a matter-of-fact tone. Dran's jaw dropped in feigned surprise and Elyxya slapped the back of Meeks' head. "Is that so?" Dran asked skeptically, puting on a fine charade, "May I ask why you would take Khelben's word over mine?" He added with a brilliant fire in his gaze that created a window into his infuriated soul.
There was a momentary silence among the band of warriors, then Nightshade spoke her mind, "Because Khelben is the city Archmage and his words is reliable. What we've heard concerning you is not favorable, if you ask me, and the creatures we've encountered in your temple have not helped to prove our speculations otherwise." She explained and lifted her sharp nose haughtily. She was right, and even Dran knew it, but it wasn't going to be that easy for the seven teammates...not in Darkmoon! Dran chuckled but Elyxya did not miss the High-Priest's fists balling up at his sides, "And a High-Priest's words are not reliable?" He asked innocently. Among the team, thoughts of Sindel and her bad mouthing swam; she had been the living proof that high-ranked clergy weren't always reliable.
Meeks scratched her head and peered at Dran, "Sure...but, what about the monsters?" She said meekly; behind her, Masoj smiled at the comment and placed a hand on the lady's strong shoulder. She wasn't bright, he admitted to himself, but at least she was straight to the point. Already, Dran began to lose his patience, "Oh for the love of--" He rolled his eyes irritably then gave Will a nasty glance before changing the subject, "Concerning Sindel," He began, his grin returning, "she is safe...with me. She was able to discern right from wrong and thus joined me in my fight, as my High-Priestess." He said with and arrogant inflection. Wills sword tip clanged to the floor and his gaze went blank. His fears had been confirmed; Sindel was not coming back -- ever. It crossed his mind to doubt Dran's words, but he knew that it would be naive of him; Sindel had the best position now, just like she always strived to achieve. "I knew it." Masoj said under his breath. Pryzma shifted uncomfortably and Nightshade sneered vindictively at Dran. Meeks and Elyxya remained calm and San-Raal looked elsewhere in silent contemplation.
"Yes," Dran said calmly, "I thought I'd get that kind of reaction." He tugged at the sleeves of his flaming red overcoat and took one last look at the startled group of warriors before him, "Know this, impudent fools; now you get the mark of Darkmoon, and with it, access to the spires of my temple." He took a deep breath and then continued, "If you choose to go on with your quest to rid the Waterdeep of me and my temple, then please do. I have made a final effort to show you reason but it seems that barbaric nature has won over diplomacy. In that case, I am forced to strengthen my means of defense." He flashed the team a wicked smile and swept around to soundlessly walk out of the room, "I bid you good day." He echoed as he left.
"Wait!" Elyxya called after the cleric, but with a flick of his hand, Dran disappeared and a searing pain struck Elyxya's hand. She screamed and her cries were soon joined by those of the other team members. A few seconds later, the pain subsided and Elyxya looked down at her hand; in her palm was the intricate, seemingly incandescent, magical image of a dragon. The mark was on everyone else too. At the other end of the room, the wall disappeared to reveal a teleporter; they had passed the Test of Faith.
They were members of the cloth now.