Chapter 104: Requests of a Silver Dragon
The party was more than a little tentative as they followed Harrian and Imoen back through the cave, heading for the cavern where Adalon waited, doubtless impatiently. They were distinctly less fearful, however, than they had been upon their first venture into the blackness of the cave – either from the guidance of Harrian and Imoen, who led them confidently, or from other thoughts taking precedence after the bickering that had been held outside the lair.
Either way, none spoke as they proceeded cautiously yet suitable speedily through the caves, following the light of the gemstone, until they reached the central cavern, where Adalon still waited… and let out a collective gasp of surprise.
"Harrian," Jaheira started, slowly and cautiously, though not tearing her eyes away from the great dragon. "When we are to approach something like this, you would do best to explain first, instead of just telling us we won't believe what you have seen and then running off."
Harrian, a little more at ease with his party behind him and his prior knowledge of Adalon's presence, shrugged. "Yes, but… I wanted to see the expressions on your faces," he told her, before turning away as she moved to glare at him. Even as he looked up at Adalon, he could feel the druid's eyes burning into the back of his skull in a most disconcerting manner, but tried to shrug the feeling off.
"Ah… Adalon. I have returned, as you bid me, and with me I bring my comrades. Speak what you would have of us, for if we can help each other in some way, then I shall not hesitate to extend an offer of aid to you," he declared, a little more eloquent than he usually was, but not without cause – Harrian knew when certain tones were needed for certain people and situations, and here the more eloquent, polite and charismatic he was, the better.
"Indeed, and welcome to my lair. I have watched your progress with great interest, most particularly your aiding Goldander Blackenrock with the Balor which would have otherwise killed the Svirfneblin," the dragon replied benevolently, but as if she was merely tolerating politeness for the moment to reach her aims, and was slowly losing patience with such a stance.
Harrian smiled slightly, giving another nod which was so low it was almost a bow. "Ah, my lady, you honour me with your words."
"I'm sure I do, but flattery is not why I have allowed you to come here." The silver dragon seemed amused, slightly, but there was also a note of warning in her tone of voice. "Do not think me too generous; I am not as tolerant as others of my kind." She paused, and drew herself up to her full, impressive height. "I am Adalon, the guardian, and I have done my duty as well as I have been able for many a century. I was not the first, but I know the history."
Beside Harrian, Imoen stood, still looking as awed as she had seemed when they had first arrived in the cavern together. "And you are… truly… a magnificent sight, my lady. I am awed," she murmured, in a whisper the walls of the cavern picked up and echoed around so it was loud enough to hear. Harrian made a mental note to not try to discuss things quietly in front of Adalon.
A note of impatience crept into Adalon's voice. "Yes, yes, of course, but I have little time for your starry-eyed fawning. Listen well to what I say," she insisted, sounding moderately irritated with the party already.
Imoen looked a little taken aback and sheepish, but when Anomen caught her eye and gave her a sympathetic and slightly encouraging smile, her expression snapped back up again to an emotionless one… even if a little awe still remained.
Slowly, Adalon began to explain her plight; how she was the guardian of the ancient temple of the surface elves above, which marked where the drow first descended to the Underdark. She explained how Ust Natha was founded as a symbol for the dark elves, was fought over regularly, though she watched over the area and maintained peace for as long as was possible, governing hostilities and bringing them to an end.
"But there has been a crime here recently, and I can no longer honour my commitment. I will ask your assistance, and in return I will aid you," Adalon said at last, a note of urgency creeping into her voice.
"Speak on, then," Harrian urged. "I would hear what you –"
"Silence!" Adalon shouted suddenly, and her loud voice echoed around the room disconcertingly and loud enough to deafen them all. There was a moment as the party clapped their hands over their ears, Haer'Dalis with a rueful mutter regarding the excellent acoustics of the cavern, and they paused until silence remained.
"I… I will tell you when you can speak," Adalon continued, quieter now, but with the same note of threat as before. "This is a very important matter, and I will not tolerate any interruption!"
"Of course, my lady Adalon," Jaheira spoke up suddenly, much to everyone's surprise. She swatted Harrian's arm lightly, giving him a warning look. "Harrian, do keep quiet."
"The Drow respected the borders of this place for centuries, only venturing out for sport and small skirmishes. That was the balance," Adalon elaborated slowly. "The two you seek, this Bodhi and Jon Irenicus, I believe they have made a deal with the Drow to further their own aims, and offered a way to tip the scales against their Elven enemy."
Edwin looked incredulous at this, stepping forwards with all the aplomb a Red Wizard of Thay could muster, which was quite a bit. "And they just strolled on by? Pardon me, madam, but you are no Svirfneblin begging for help. Did you not sense their… despotic nature?" he demanded in disbelief.
Adalon gave the Thayvian a piercing look until he mumbled something under his breath and backed off. The dragon paused, then regained her serene composure. "You may ask why I do not extend my influence. I cannot. Irenicus bargained with my most prized possession. He violated my lair and stole from me." There was a pause, as if the dragon was actually struggling with her words. "They have taken my eggs."
Harrian grimaced a little. "That is most unfortunate," he murmured, wishing he could summon a bit more outrage on the dragon's behalf. "You have my regrets. I assume they are holding them hostage, threatening you with their destruction if you venture out?"
"I have been informed that to move from my lair is to cause the destruction of my eggs," Adalon agreed, regret and exasperation creeping into her voice. "It is the final straw in a long list of atrocities I have been witness to."
Haer'Dalis seemed thoughtful at this. "To stave off your wrath they have provoked it beyond imagining. These are impressive risks they are willing to take," he mused, looking a little devious, as if his creative mind was ticking over and whirring inside his head.
"You must retrieve them for me. Do this, and I will reveal a safe escape route to leave the Underdark, one that emerges close to where Irenicus plots his next move," Adalon told Harrian firmly, ignoring Haer'Dalis.
Harrian paused, frowning. "We don't exactly… wish to escape to the surface; not just yet. We came here for a reason. We need to find Irenicus and discover what his plans are – all we know is that he is here, employing the aid of the drow for some… unknown reason. We do not know if he is even still here, or where he is on the surface."
Adalon made a noise which sounded something like a sigh as she lowered her head so it was level with Harrian's body. He blinked as those deep, dark eyes became close enough that he could see his own reflection in them, and paused, waiting for her to continue. "Irenicus' plans are very simple. To what end, I do not know, but he seeks to besiege the Elven city of Suldanesselar. He cannot do so without the aid of the drow, and is encourage them to venture forth from the Underdark with an army like they have not done in decades, or even centuries. This is what Irenicus has planned." She straightened up again. "He is no longer here. He has moved on, beyond Ust Natha. If you wish to follow him, return to the surface, you will need my help. Retrieve my eggs."
"How?" Harrian asked pensively. "You cannot expect the eight of us to go against the might of an entire Drow city – that is… suicidal in its nature, at the very best!" he exclaimed, shaking his head.
"I realise the danger, but there is a far more subtle approach which you would do well to employ to use, if you wish to live – and it is in my best interests that you do live…" Adalon paused for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts. "You will pose as a group of Drow I dispatched recently, a party from another city headed for Ust Natha. They were foolish enough to wander into my lair, and it is from what they carried that I know of the Drow's – and Irenicus' – intentions. I will transform you so that you have the appearance of Drow. In the city, they shall not see through the illusion I shall create."
Jaheira shifted her feet uncomfortably. "To become such a hated thing… I do not look forward to that," she mumbled, but the echoes picked it up and again made it loud enough to hear. Adalon's expression didn't flicker as everyone else froze tentatively.
"When you arrive at the gate, tell them you are from the city of Ched Nasad, and that you seek sanctuary within Ust Natha," the dragon told Harrian calmly.
Harrian straightened up, glancing at everyone else. They looked faintly nervous, but nodded stoically, and he turned back to Adalon. "Very well… cast your spells, and let this be done," he told her, as firmly as he could manage.
When the dragon began speaking again, it was in a low chant which seemed from a void which was not her own. Arcane energy crackled and gathered above Adalon's head, pulsating and shifting ethereally, until the chanting of the silver dragon was done… and the gathering of magic rocketed towards them. Harrian closed his eyes, felt a wave of heat and a tingle run through him… then nothing. He opened his eyes, and looked down at his hand.
Dark skin greeted him, a deep, ebony hue which was as beautiful as it was disconcerting. He had the horrible feeling of looking at someone else's hand, for, although his own hand wasn't that chunky, the fingers were too delicate and slim… in fact, he looked as if he had lost about twenty pounds, and although he knew it was just an illusion, not an actual transformation, he felt it too.
The rogue raised his head, and was met with another unfamiliar sight – one of his comrades, similarly transformed. The shape of the face and shade of the skin were both different, but there was something in the eyes – a different colour though they were – which was a little familiar. "Anomen?" His voice sounded different to him, more lyrical. "What are you – " A pause as he realised the words he were speaking were not common, but Drow, yet he could understand them as easily as anything.
"It is done." Adalon's voice echoed through the cavern, jerking them all out of their amazement. "You now resemble the denizens of the Drow city, complete with a house insignia that will not draw undue attention. I suggest you act like Drow when speaking to anyone you meet.
"You will also have knowledge of the language of the Drow, and your speech will be heard as though you have spoken their dark tongue all your life."
"We noticed," Harrian replied, still a little stunned. "We will do what you can to retrieve your eggs."
"I thank you. Remember, you are from the city of Ched Nasad. Take a Drow name as well. Use 'Veldrin,' it is commonly used," the dragon declared impassively.
The drow-who-seemed-like-Anomen gave a slight smile, which had a twist to it that left no doubt in Harrian's mind just who this stranger was. "Very well… lead on, Veldrin, into this dark pit of oblivion…"