Chapter Thirteen
Ari, Riri, and Onika came into the dining hall together. Ari was wearing the same sheer white wispy dress she'd had on during her previous visit to the tower while Riri remained in her leather armor and breeches. Ari padded barefoot along the floor to a seat at the table, settling in across from Samash. Already there was a feast set at the table, turkey legs, vegetables, fruits, breads, and various sauces. Samash held a turkey leg in each hand which he alternated between as he devoured the food. Riri took a seat next to Ari and began making a plate of fruits and vegetables, taking three turkey legs and handing them down to Onika who promptly took them in her mouth. Bilben sat at the head of the table with Nyx and Chaucer to either side of him. Samash, Goilon, and Kuku sat next to them and had already begun eating. Cotton was the last person to arrive, taking a seat next to Samash and across from Riri.
"Any word yet from our mischievous rogues?" Cotton asked as he stepped over the bench to settle into his seat. His metal prosthetic clanked as it hit the floor.
"No word yet," Samash said with a mouth full of food. "They didn't leave any way to contact them while they're out and about doing reconnaissance." He waved a turkey leg around the room as he spoke. "I'm fairly certain that the two of them together can more than hold their own."
"How is de crown comin along, Bilben?" Ari asked as she plucked a few grapes and put them on her plate. She brushed back a few dreadlocks and popped a grape in her mouth.
"Quite well, actually," exclaimed Bilben. "So far it looks that the artifact you brought me is indeed the true crown of the regalia set. Now that I have all three I can find a suitable bearer to wield them and become a champion for good," he said smiling with pleasure.
"What makes you so qualified ta pick someone ta take on de set as you say?" asked Riri with skepticism. Bilben chuckled.
"You sound like a certain someone else I've been working closely with," laughed Bilben casting a glance to Nyx. "It isn't a question of being qualified or not but rather a simple matter of possession," he said as a matter of fact. "I put in the work to possess the set therefore I have the privilege of choosing who should bear it."
"I mean, it makes sense when you think about it," said Kuku lifting his head from his plate of fruits and grains. "He could have just as easily dawned the set himself but instead has the foresight to seek out a worthy user."
"And I'll not be choosing by myself. I've already contacted the Harpers back in Baldur's Gate to let them know that I must convene with their leaders so that we might choose a champion," added Bilben as he picked over his vegetables.
Ari pulled her legs under her to sit cross-legged on the bench. She looked around at everyone at the table then over to Bilben. "Ya dun see anyone ere worthy ah bearin de set ya be playin wit?" she asked the halfling mage. Bilben looked around thoughtfully.
"You all are still so focused on Chult that I don't want to pull any of you away. The bearer of these artifacts will be someone who will travel great lengths in order to do the bidding of the good and just," he said in response. "Certainly more than some of you are qualified, but each of you still has a bit of growing to do yet. The Champion needs to be someone who is already powerful." Nyx scoffed then looked away pretending she hadn't made a sound. Bilben shot her a glare.
"Bearing these items seems like a big responsibility," added Goilon. "I fer one am glad I'm not being asked to carry that burden. Champion for good? No thank ya." Goilon ran a cloth napkin over his thick mustache, wiping away any sign of the dinner they were having.
"And we've got to stay focused on the mission at hand," piped in Cotton, "getting these cultists to stop sending assassins after us." He tore into a turkey leg with ravenous hunger, smiling as the meat hit his tastebuds.
"I understand the current plan on how we're to find these cultists," said Samash in a questioning tone, "but how are we supposed to stop the contract itself? Will we need to keep someone alive and force them to call it off?"
"I'm sure that Crom has something in mind for that," said Kuku with confidence. "He is a very capable assassin and rogue. Give him time."
"De more time we give dem de more likely we will ave ta deal wit anuda assassin," said Ari as she popped another grape in her mouth. "Wha kind of defenses do ya ave on dis towa, Mista Bilben?" She gently slid the strap of her dress back over her shoulder as she shot him a glance.
Bilben thought for a minute. "Most of your standard magical defenses, wards, glyphs, magical traps and the like," he said. "A few illusions meant to scare any would be burglars away. My personal favorite is the one of the lich that, should they chose to stay and fight it, they end up hitting a large bell that the illusion hides." He chuckled to himself at his cleverness.
"Do those defenses go with you or are they a permanent part of the tower?" asked Samash with concern.
"The illusions go with me but the glyphs, wards, and magical traps remain until they are tripped," responded Bilben with a wave of his hand. "I'll leave a diagram so that none of you trip them on accident, though I've already altered them so that you all can come and go freely."
"Well dat's a relief. Dun wanna gwon trippin magical traps in de middle ah de night," Ari said with reassurance. "Mi na all dere when mi sleepy so magic traps would be bad." They laughed as they finished their meals.
After dinner Samash thought he'd wait outside the tower entrance for the party's two rogues to arrive. He stood there in the light mist in his bunny slippers and robe, looking out into the street past the long walkway. The half-orc propped himself against the exterior of the tower, scanning the walkway up to the tower and the street beyond. Taking out a small block of wood and a knife Samash began to whittle down the block of wood while he waited. Samash was anxious to put this cult business behind him, to get on with his new life and seek out more adventure. He had come a long way, from being an exile among humans to being a convict sent on a suicide mission with Cotton as his handler to saving the world from the death curse and defeating one of the most evil liches in the known universe. He had a newfound sense of self pride traveling with this group, doing good things and helping people that needed them. It was a stark contrast to his life as an urchin and gladiator but he liked it much better.
After a little over an hour Samash spotted two figures coming down the street in the late evening darkness. Around one of the figures floated two smaller figures. Putting away his block of wood Samash pushed off from the tower and began walking down the tower walkway and towards the two figures that approached the gate to the tower grounds entrance. Reaching the gate Samash could finally make out that it was indeed Crom and Tamar, the tabaxi with her fairy dragons in tow. Calling out he opened the front gate for them. "The mission was a success I hope." Crom nodded lightly with a grin.
"Did you expect anything less from us?" Tamar exclaimed as she passed through the gate. "It was a good thing we had Adora and Kevin with us. They began to grow suspicious of Crom and nearly spotted me on the rooftops."
"We now know a great deal more about them, though," Crom explained. "I know what they wear and how they act so I can easily infiltrate them. Best of all I learned who they put their assassination contract through and which of them it was." Crom smiled mischievously. "In the morning I'll go back down to the anchorage disguised as Brother Francis and withdraw the contract."
"That's great news," exclaimed Samash. "It'll be such a relief to have that stupid contract off our backs." Samash locked the gate and walked with the two of them towards the tower, shuffling in his bunny slippers as the sun set in the background.
"When should we spring into action against these cultists?" asked Tamar with curious eyes. Kevin and Adora flew up behind her, visible in the setting sun.
"I'd say after Crom nullifies the assassination contract on our heads," responded Samash. "We'll accompany him down there but stay a safe distance away while he does his thing. Once he's done it'll be onto the cultists and their hideout." Opening the door to the tower Samash led the way inside and to the common room where everyone had gathered. Inside the party waited anxiously for the arrival of Crom and Tamar, standing up to greet them as they came in. Ari was still in her white sheer dress while Chaucer had dressed up in his finest coat. Goilon, too was in a fine nobleman's coat and shorts while Riri remained in her armor. Bran was in a linen shirt and brown breeches while Cotton had donned a formal jacket and pants. Kuku stood proud in his blue robes and black breeches that he always had.
Bilben and Nyx came into the room shortly after Tamar and Crom's arrival, greeting them politely and making their way to the head of the room. "It is time," Bilben announced. "You have all settled in quite nicely and I must be on my way," he said looking down at Nyx. "We've teleported everything we need to take with us and what is left is yours." He fanned out his arms to the furnishings in the common room as an example of what items were becoming theirs.
Chaucer was the first to hop up to Bilben and wrapped his tiny arms around the short halfling. "I'm going to miss you!" he exclaimed. "All the stories we had left to share and spells to learn from you. Please take care of yourself," Chaucer pleaded.
Riri smirked at Bilben over Chaucer's reaction, coming up to the halfling next. She gave him a light hug and said, "Until we meet again, my friend. May you stay safe an prosperous through all ah your days. It's been a joy traveling with you all those years ago." Onika came up alongside Bilben and rubbed her side against him purring. Bilben smiled nervously. He'd never felt fully comfortable with the overgrown cat.
One by one they all said their goodbyes with some hugging, some shaking hands, and all around genuine thanks and farewells. As they finished up Bilben took a step back to where Nyx was and nodded his readiness to her. Together they went through the motions of a teleportation spell, reciting the incantation and holding out their spell focus'. A glimmer of magical light began to spread over the floor beneath them and a shimmering started to occur in the air around them. As they finished their incantation they began to fade from view, waving to the party as they disappeared. In less than a minute the room was empty of Bilben and Nyx, the party left alone in their new tower.
Riri was the first to break the silence in the room. "It's gonna be an early day so I'm gonna hit de racks before it gets too late in de eve." Guiding Onika through the crowd Riri left the common room and headed to her sleeping quarters.
Ari was next to follow behind Riri. "Mi gone ta bed, too. Mi see ya all in de morning," she said with a wave of the hand. "Mi be up early ta make sure everyone is up." She padded out of the room in her bare feet and made her way to the sleeping quarters, her white dress flowing behind her as she walked.
"Should someone tell her to wear something underneath that dress besides her undergarments?" Bran asked the group. "It feels wrong seeing her like that. Isn't she like a teenager in elven years?"
Tamar snickered at Bran. "More like a young adult, but she is still over a hundred years old. The girl is going to wear what she wants, let her be. Just be thankful she's wearing anything under that sheer dress."
"What if she doesn't know that it's see through? Shouldn't we say something?" asked Chaucer as he bounced in front of the group. The white grung had a fondness for Ari, like that of a little sister. Together the two of them were the only jungle dwelling members of the regular party, the addition of Riri bumping that number up to three now.
"Nevermind all that," spat Cotton moving beside Chaucer. "We need to be talking about our plan of attack for tomorrow. Do we have any drawings of the building's layout? Do we know how many of them there are? Do we know what they can do? We need to answer these questions before we do anything." Cotton folded his arms over his chest and looked around at everyone.
"I'm afraid he has a point," said Samash with reservation. "What we know so far is where they are and who submitted the contract against us and who is putting out the contracts." Samash thought for a moment. "I think we need to consider Cotton's questions."
Bran nodded in agreeance. "I can get a hold of the architectural drawings for the building from a guy I know. Pretty sure I can get that by noon tomorrow if I play my cards right." He smirked casting a glance to Crom.
"I can always infiltrate them to get up close and personal to see what exactly they are capable of and get a rough number," remarked Crom as he leaned against the back of an overstuffed chair.
"Me, Adora, and Kevin can take up watch outside the building and see what the foot traffic looks like through there," chimed in Tamar. "See when it's the busiest."
"And take Ari with you. She can change her shape into something like a squirrel that won't be detected," said Cotton as he straightened his posture to stand tall and proud. He was feeling like the group leader once again, realizing in this moment just how much he missed the feeling. Samash squatted down to Cotton's level and offered him a soft tusk filled smile.
"This sounds like a fool-proof plan, old friend," said Samash. "What should the rest of us do while our rogues and Ari handle the heavy lifting tomorrow."
Cotton thought for only a moment then said, "Samash, Kuku, Goilon, Riri, and I will await Bran here in the tower. Once he is back with the drawings we will devise a plan of attack. The information we get from Tamar and Crom will tell us when to attack and what to attack with so that we can hit as many at once as possible." Cotton looked around at all the thoughtful faces in the room and smiled. He felt like he belonged once more.
Samash patted Cotton on the shoulder, beaming with pride at how naturally his old friend fell back into the role of leader. "So we plan our attack after Crom, Tamar, and Ari return with the information we need. Great," Samash said with enthusiasm.
"Let's follow those other two up to bed," said Bran. "We've got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. Don't want anyone falling asleep on the job." He brushed his brown hair behind his ear and moved to Cotton. "That means you too, old man. No tinkering into the night." Cotton chuckled to himself.
The midnight moon shone down on Ari in her white dress as she moved about the garden, admiring it in the moonlight. She looked every bit a ghost in her billowing white sheer garb, smelling the flowers and honeysuckles as she went. Moving her hands in a somatic motion she wove two spells near the gardens entrance and from it cropped up two stone statues of Shagambi, one of the nine trickster gods and Ari's personal deity. She'd been possessed by Shagambi while in the Tomb of Horrors and had never felt more alive than when she shared a body with her beloved goddess.
Ari moved to the statues and fondly placed a small hand at the nape of its neck, staring into the eyes of the snakes that arose from its back. She smiled to herself happy with her display of devotion to her goddess. Turning from the statues she surveyed the garden, looking for a place that she could raise a thatched hut of her own to live in, not comfortable sleeping inside the tower. Going over to a clearing she thought would make a good location for her hut, she once again began to weave her magic, focusing on the nearby trees and bramble. Slowly it began to take the shape of a hut as the branches twisted and turned to form walls and a roof. A small door frame beckoned to her as she approached the new structure. A small circular window adorned the front of the one-person hut, a few flowers growing around the window's exterior.
Ari walked barefoot into her hut, dropped her sheer gown, and laid down on the soft lush grass. Using her druidcraft she sprung up some new flowers of all colors and sizes. She rolled over onto her side to smell the fragrant scent of the flowers, smiling at her handy work. Sitting up she summoned her animal companion Poe, the raven flapping wildly as it appeared from nothing and came down to rest on her. Resting on her bent knee as she sat cross legged, the two communicated through the remainder of the evening, Poe bobbing and flapping his wings in excitement at the changes Ari had made as they went through the garden together.