Sharia felt a wave of nausea as the smell reached her nose. Again, Sharia found herself wishing that Kiaba was her, so she could force him to go into the sewers instead for her. However, Kiaba was busy at the prison riot and, as much as she hated to admit it, Aribeth was right to let him go. The militia wouldn't be able to handle the escapees by themselves. Then again, they might not be able to handle Kiaba by themselves.
Sharia drew a breath before stepping through the door, down in the sewers. Again, a wave of nausea went through her and she had to fight down the urge to vomit. "Oh Tyr, let this be quick!" Sharia prayed as she continued down. She hoped that all of this was worth the trouble, because Veuguel was going to pay dearly if it was not. Sharia shivered at that thought. Oh Tyr, she had been around Kiaba way to long!
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Aribeth watched as another poor soul as his life past way. The pain and misery of the plague was heart stabbing. Aribeth turned way and found Kiaba in front of her. "Is Sharia back yet?" Aribeth, who was trying to get her heart started again, just stare. "I will that the silence as a 'no'." Kiaba said, "I'll wait." Kiaba sat down at the steps before the Portal of Return.
From what Aribeth had seen of Kiaba so far, he had a carefree attitude with little care of anything about his own fun. However, at the moment he was expressionless and seemed disappointed.
Aribeth studied the devil. He had a human build and, when standing, he was about 6 feet and 3 inches. He had glowing red eyes, white hair and ebony skin. There several bone spikes sticking out of him, the ones on his biceps and upper legs looked like pyramids while the ones on his shoulder blades curved out. She noted the tattoos on his biceps which was unusual arms. He had four wings on his back, which reminded her of a fairy, even though his were black.
"What are you staring at?" Kiaba asked suddenly. Aribeth looked at his confused, for she didn't really know. Then she looked away, suddenly, very aware. "Nothing important!" Aribeth answered, praying to Tyr and any other god that Kiaba didn't catch her quick response. "If you say so." was all he said in reply.
"Things at the prison not go as planned?" Aribeth asked. Kiaba shrugged, "I wasn't as fun as I thought it would be." Kiaba said. Aribeth sat beside him. "Who did those tattoos?" Aribeth asked, "I didn't know that devils marked themselves like that."
"That's because most devils don't have marks of…" Kiaba started to say but caught himself. "Why do you care anyway?"
"Most devils don't have what?" Aribeth asked. "Are these tattoos to mark you? Do they tell others of your blasphemy against the Burning Legion?"
"How did you know about…" Kiaba started to ask but quickly deduced the answer. "Sharia told you about that, uh?" Aribeth smiled, "Sharia told me everything she could about you. Is that what they are?"
Kiaba was silent of a moment. "Yes… and no. They do show the blasphemy I commented but… It's complicated."
Aribeth looked that tattoos for a moment. There were two, one on each arm. It was the combination of a triangle and rectangle with several ritual markings in them. She that the two tattoos were looked joined to get. The rectangle markings were very dim. "Why are some of the tattoos dimmer then the other?" Aribeth asked as she noted it. "That's not your concern." Kiaba said simply.
Aribeth looked down. It was strange, see him act this way. He was almost always full of energy, with a smile or frown. She decided to let it drop. A militia officer suddenly ran into the hall. "I better see what the problem is." Aribeth stood up.
Kiaba looked up for a moment and watched her. Kiaba looked at the tattoos on his arms for a moment. Aribeth was starting to remind him of Calius.
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Sharia was happy to finally be at the objective. She was positive that she would have to wash her clothes for a year, before she could finally get the stink and grime out of them. Sharia placed the locket into an indentation which to locket looked like it could fit into. The door quickly slide open and she stepped in.
It looked like a cleaner part of the sewers she was just in. Several faces turned toward her, she quickly guessed what was happening. There must have been another way in, for she had come just in time to interrupt Callik. Veuguel was behind a metal fence, free from harm… for the moment.
"So, you must been here to help poor Veuguel, the last of his loyal followers." Callik said. "You hope to save him all by yourself?"
"You're mistaken. I'm a member of the militia." Sharia answered, "However, I won't stand by and watch someone be murdered." Sharia quickly summoned a spiritual hammer. "Now be kind enough of leave." Even as Sharia gave the order to leave, Calli's men were already attacking. Sharia threw the hammer at the first before she cast a spell. Callik ducked the as the spiritual hammer buzzed past him but quickly realized that it was only a diversion.
Sharia quickly cast Summon V, a spell which summonedseveral dire tigers. She normally wouldn't need a spell like this becuasesinceKiaba liked to fight so much.In this case, being as outnumbered as she was and Kiaba not around, it was good to have such an equalizer. Callik and his men were outmatched andthe dire tigers made quick work of them. Sharia then turned her attention to Vaugual.
Veuguel was a handsome man, despite his age. He gave a charming smile. "Well, well, well. You made that look easy. I'm glad I don't have to deal with you… I don't have to, do I?" he said quickly. Sharia smiled. "I hope not. I have some questions for you." Still smiling, Veuguel opened his reach is hand out.
Sharia opened her hand and Veuguel put something in it, which Sharia quickly inspected. Feathers? Cockatrice Feathers! She looked back at him. "One of the Waterdhavian creatures was a cockatrice right. A dog was dragging a dead one in an alley. You can have it."
"Why are you being so helpful?" Sharia asked. He was starting to remind him of Kiaba and his reasons for helping. "I only held this auction because I was hoping that Nashar Alagondar would come. However, you came instead. I have several friends who have the plague. He will know about them. So I'm giving the cure back now."
Sharia couldn't believe this. This whole thing was just to lead the leader of Neverwinter out of retirement? That was amazing. Sharia took out her stone of recall and used it.
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Kiaba quick stood up as he sensed Sharia returning. As Sharia passed Kiaba took a whiff. "Oh, by the 9 Hells! Were did you come from? A sewer?" Sharia smiled "Actually,yes,I did." Aribeth was over to them in a second. "I was worried about you." Aribeth said, "By the smell, I guess had to go through the Neverwinter sewers." Sharia nodded, "However, I still have some cockatrice feathers." Sharia said as she had then to her. "All thanks to Veuguel."
Aribeth looked up,"That rogue!" Sharia nodded, "Apparently, he was holding an auction for them in hopes that he would bring Lord Nashar out of retirement." Aribeth rolled her eyes, "Old dogs never learn new tricks. They were at odds during Lord Nashar's adventuring days."
Kiaba then said, "While you're at it, you can give Aribeth this piece as well." Kiaba put a brain in Sharia's hands. "OH, BY TYR." Sharia screamed. "KAIBAKULRAN! WHAT IS THIS?" For a moment, Kiaba was unable to answer because he no longer had air. Kiaba's eyes rolled to his head, fighting back. However, it was over in a moment. "No sense of humor." He said with a smile. "It is the brain of the thought devourer. I believe that it is an ingredient." Kiaba explained, "The devourer took control of the prison warden and the other guards were either lock up or their minds were dominated. He was using the inmates to avoid recapture. Ironic, really."
Aribeth nodded in agreement. "It is. It's sad that some many dead over this." Aribeth said, "But at least two steps we are closer to cure." Kiaba turned to Sharia. "I don't think we should go our separate ways again."
"You worried about me?" Sharia asked in mockery.However,she quickly noted that he was serious. "We have contracts our heads." Kiaba said as he handed her a note.