Jaelle's mother is a rather hammy cliche villain really... lot's of fantasy stories revolve around father/son conflicts, so I thought changing to a mother/daughter conflict would be a really dramatic twist :)
Imoen was the first to react, ripping out a wand of magic missile she kept tucked into her belt. Invidae responded instantly by pressing the dagger deeper into Jess' throat drawing a thin line of blood from the woman who just gurgled helplessly.
The young mage knew a single missile to the head could knock the general unconscious instantly, maybe even kill. But, even the slightest jerk would mean hitting her mother instead.
"The woman is bluffing," Shandra stood up. "Besides, even if she were to escape this place, where exactly would she go?"
"I have to agree," Jaheira stared at Invidae whilst pulling a nasty splinter from her neck. "This is pointless. Release the woman at once!"
"It remains to be seen if this is pointless," the general grinned. "As to where I would go… I'll be honest, I haven't thought that far ahead yet… but it will come. In the meantime I suggest no-one move or try to call for any help. Unless of course," she flashed her smile at Imoen. "You would like your final memory of your dear sweet old mother to be seeing her gutted from head to toe."
Imoen held the wand pointed at the generals head, undecided if she could risk it or not.
"Believe me, she's not bluffing," Jaelle said.
"What are you waiting for?" Edwin butted in with his contribution. "Just do it."
"B-but…" Imoen stuttered. "I might hit her…"
"What difference does it make? She is dead anyway! For once in your wretched existence, listen to the grey matter allegedly inside your head."
"Ack… the… th'weasly little twerp is right," Jess said between gasps.
"Of course I am," Edwin rolled his eyes. "Thank you for acknowledging it."
"Look… y'can't let this damn madwoman get out," Jess sounded a lot braver than she looked. Of course, it was one thing to say you could accept death when it comes; it was another when death was holding you hostage and promising to make it slow and painful.
Imoen looked into the eyes of the desperate, frightened woman as the tears started to swell. Logically, maybe Edwin was right. The woman had already died more than twenty years ago. But, the woman in question was her mother. No, Invidae was right. This was the first time Imoen and Jess would ever meet, and the red-head couldn't live with seeing her in so much pain.
"I… I can't…" she said, and the wand tumbled uselessly to the floor.
"Good," Invidae said. "Now, all of you surrender your weapons."
The others reluctantly followed Imoen's lead. Next, the general ordered them to tie each other with whatever rope and bits of cloth were in the room. She tied Jess herself before checking everyone to ensure they really were bound tight. By this time she was holding a loaded crossbow she'd found in a drawer. Tarant had a tendency to leave weapons all over the place which was useful in some crises but regrettable now.
"You see, my daughter," Invidae said as she tied Jaelle's arms behind her back. "Compassion is a weakness. You said yourself… once the wench is returned through time by your machine she would still live. But, because you could not bear to see her suffering in the present you have given the advantage to me."
"Is that the only reason for all this?" Jaelle asked skeptically. "To prove a point?" Invidae merely grinned and tugged tightly on the rope, eliciting a small yelp from her daughter.
"Well, this is another fine mess you've gotten us all into," Edwin remarked towards Imoen. Everyone was sat on their knees with their wrists tied to their ankles. In the circumstances, Imoen decided it was best to say nothing.
"Edwin," Cara had never stopped sobbing. "Why do you never go places where you can meet nice people?"
"Because, you old bat, people do not succeed in life by learning to be nice. They succeed through being ruthless bastards prepared to sell their own mothers into slavery…"
"What are you saying?"
"What? Oh…of course, it hasn't quite happened yet. Forget I said anything."
"Listen," Jaheira whispered. "If Jaelle spoke truly, then the machine will send everyone back whence they came in just over an hour. All we have to do is stall her until then." Shandra immediately snorted, earning another glare from her daughter. "What? What was that snort for?"
"An hour you say?" Shandra said. "It just seems to me that, now we are all disarmed and helpless, she no longer has any reason to keep any of us alive."
"Th'snobs right," Jess said. "Don't get me wrong… ah'm glad ya' didn't let me get cut up," she looked consolingly at Imoen. "But, this woman's mad y'see. She ain't gonna care what happens t'any of us now."
"Edwin!" Cara wailed. "Please do something! I don't want to die…"
"Oh, there you are going on about what 'you' want," Edwin spat. "How about thinking of what 'I' want for a change?"
"Please… you don't really hate me that much do you?" Cara placed her head across the wizards shoulder.
"Alright… fine," Edwin sighed. "This is an expensive robe. I don't want it soaked. I have an idea."
"Huh?" Imoen raised one of her thin eyebrows. "What ya' gonna do?"
"Don't worry… she's no better than any common thug. I know how to handle such people. You just have to speak to them in the right way… leave it to me," The wizard wiggled towards where Invidae now sat considering her next move. No-one attempted to stop him, all curious to see how this turned out.
"Listen you," Edwin puffed out his chest and spoke in a deep voice. "I suppose you think you're really bad, waving your little weapon around. Well, you are nothing compared to me."
"Truly?" Invidae stood up and looked down on him. So far, he only seemed to be amusing her.
"Let me tell you something… all this violent behavior you exhibit is so predictable. True dominance however, is established through crippling the minds of other people. To cause them to question the purpose and meaning of their lives, and then, while they are reeling with existential doubt, I step in with a list of easy answers and assume complete control. So, ask yourself, which of us is the truly bad person here?"
"Hmmm…" Invidae didn't think about it for very long before delivering a sharp knee to Edwin's jaw, sending the wizard sliding across the room on his back and crashing through the table legs.
"N-now," he mumbled as he spat out a tooth. "There's no need to get angry because you don't know the answer."
"Nice one Eddie," Imoen grinned. "I think you really had her on the ropes for a second there." Her moment of happiness was cut short when she found herself under Invidae's shadow. The mage looked up to see the woman holding what looked like a gag between her hands.
"I have decided what I'm going to do," the general announced.
"What is wrong?" Talindra sighed as Tarant finally broke off the staring contest they'd been engaged in for some time.
"I heard a crash," he explained.
"I'm sure someone probably just had an accident."
"Maybe… but I should go and check on the others."
"Is just an excuse to get away from me, or are you genuinely concerned?" Talindra smiled slightly, believing she might have found an avenue through which she might reach him.
"What kind of question is that?"
"I wish to know… do you feel a thing for anyone? Your sister, or the blonde girl… would it matter to you if anything were to happen to them?"
"They…" Tarant hesitated, a mannerism he clearly was not used to. "They have certain skills and qualities which would be difficult to replace."
"So it's only pragmatism is it?"
"Like I said."
"You have my eyes."
"What?" Tarant looked around. Well, yes, her eyes were the same shade of green as his but… "What has that got to do with anything?"
"I don't know if it's just vanity, but I've spent a lot of time in the past examining my own reflection. I can see the truth inside… I believe I understand now."
"Well, I'd love to stay and listen to your revelations, but…"
"You are a coward."
Tarant stopped dead at the door. No one, man or woman, had ever said such a thing to him and gotten away with it. He turned around to regard her in a similar way to how Jaelle sometimes regarded tiny creatures in her device for making small things look bigger. Fascinated in some ways, but thinking about what it would take to wipe them all out.
"I think," Talindra went on. "That you are afraid to allow yourself to feel. You're afraid that if you do, you might get hurt. You are cowardly, and selfish as well."
"Fascinating analysis," Tarant said. "If you knew anything about me, you'd know that those around me do tend to get hurt. I keep others at a distance because of this, yet it's selfish somehow?"
"I am sure others are aware of the dangers they face, yet they remain. Do you never question why that is?"
"Their choice," Tarant shrugged.
"Perhaps they believe like I do, or at least I hope, that there is good inside you and someday you will embrace it even if they have to suffer until then. The problem is, you are unwilling to make the effort for them as you're only worried about how you will feel inside if anything were to happen to them."
The half-elf knew he'd been backed into a corner. He could either say he couldn't care less about anyone else, which he had to admit wasn't wholly true. He had… grown accustomed to his companions and would feel somewhat empty if they were to go even if he believed it was inevitable. The alternative was to admit he had some feelings, which just wasn't very him. Damn, he needed to smoke.
There was a knock at the kitchen door.
"Mmmmmm…mmmm…" was the answer.
Another knock, followed by Aerie softly calling, "h-hello?"
"MmmmMMmmmMMM!" Answered the chorus. The door slowly swung open.
"I-I just wanted to see if there was anything to eat," the avariel stepped in then gasped. Everyone was spread out on the floor, tied and gagged. "What… what happened?" She asked as she ran and pulled the cloth from Jaheira's mouth.
"Invidae escaped," the druid explained. "She has taken Jaelle and Imoen."
"Where?" Aerie asked. Jaheira looked at her disappointedly. Of course, it didn't take many guesses. "W-why'd she take Imoen?"
"Some kind of insurance, I would presume. Now, if your curiosity is satisfied, would mind very much untying… what? Where are you going child?!"
Aerie was already running towards the yard. She was only stopped by Fayanna gently taking hold of her arm.
"Momma," the young avariel spun around slightly puzzled. She recognized the fear and concern on her mothers face, but Aerie herself was determined. "My… my friends might be hurt… or worse. I-I have to go… there may not be much time."
"It's dangerous," Fayanna said.
"I know, but… I have to go," Aerie smiled but didn't lose any of her determination. She pulled away. Fayanna lost her grasp and had to let go. "Please help them," the young elf nodded to her other friends tied to the floor.
"Wait!" Jaheira shouted as the young elf disappeared. "Impetuous girl," she then muttered.
"Yes," Fayanna found herself staring blankly at the space her daughter had just been.
Imoen found herself staring into a much more open space. Invidae had led her and Jaelle outside to the shed, where Jaelle's Time Machine was still humming away. The general had secured the two hostages to a beam and proceeded to start fiddling with all her daughter's toys. Imoen didn't know exactly what she'd been doing, but the shed was… well she couldn't see all of it. The walls had faded far into the distance.
"What's happening?" The red head whispered over her shoulder.
"She's tampering with the system I designed for the dimensional collapse of the singularity," Jaelle explained.
"Ah, yeah, of course. I should have known that," Imoen shook her head. Really, it was so obvious. But then, a genuine thought did manage to make itself heard in her mind. "Hey, didn't Edwin say something very bad would happen if that thing became unstable?"
"Everything you know crushed to the size of a single atom… that's pretty bad."
"How bigs an atom?"
"Tiny," Jaelle sighed. She really hated having to keep explaining things. "Even tinier than your brain, impossible though that seems."
"Well, I'm sorry I haven't read every single book ever written…"
"You've never read any books."
"Alright, whose genius idea was it to build a Time Machine and leave it lying around the garden shed unprotected? And why're ya' being so moody with me anyway?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Certain death just tends to make me a little out of sorts, okay?"
"Fair enough. No one likes being killed, but there's no point in yelling at me about it is there?"
"Sorry," Jaelle thought that perhaps… perhaps that was a little of 'her' coming out. If so, it had to stop right away. "Anyway, we're alright. The field seems stable, for now."
"She knows what she's doing then?"
"I'm afraid it seems that way."
"Who do you think provided the resources for Jaelle to carry out her research back home?" Invidae turned away from her work, apparently done for the time being. "I did. I saw to it she was always provided with everything she needed… and learnt much myself in the process."
"You only wanted me to make weapons," Jaelle noted bitterly.
"Indeed. And now, at last, you have made me the ultimate weapon," The general grinned. "Control over time itself. I could crush all resistance before it has even started… not even the gods possess such power."
"That's what Edwin said!" Imoen let her jaw hang open in mock outrage. "You're just stealing all his ideas aren't you?"
"Does this one ever shut up?" Invidae asked as she circled towards the red head.
"Of course she does," Jaelle said a little desperately. Invidae was twitching at her weapons. "Imoen, for heaven's sake, shut up."
"So what d'ya want?" The young mage went on, ignoring Jaelle's warning. "I suppose you want all the kings and rulers of the world to tremble and kneel before you… something like that right?"
"You are very shrewd aren't you?" The general smiled. "I may have a place for you in my New World Order."
"Yeah? What as… just, out of interest…"
In one movement Invidae's short sword slid from its sheath and had its tip pointing hovering just between Imoen's eyes. "An example, of course," she said pulling back a little for the thrust. "I only kept you alive in case Jaelle tried to deceive me. Now I am confident I can master the machine on my own, you have no further use."
"Hey… h-how about just leaving us to the sharks or something?" The young mage quipped, but her eyes and sweat betrayed how terrified she really was. Like most people, she was only ever cocky up to a point. Now she was beginning to realize that Invidae can and would seriously hurt her, the girl's attitude started to change.
"I prefer the personal touch."
"Wait… I-I-I'm really not that shrewd at all… I expect I got it all wrong didn't I?"
"Coward. You disgust me. Face your death like a woman."
"That's right. I'm a coward… and even if I could get free I'm so weak I couldn't possibly pose a threat to you. So you see I'm really not worth killing at all."
"Compelling argument. But if I spared every weakling the world would soon be full of them. I'm afraid it just makes me want to kill you more."
"Pl-please," Imoen blubbed but by now it was obvious her pleas were useless. All she could do was buy herself a little more time as Invidae took sadistic pleasure out of hearing her beg. Looking into this woman's eyes she realized it couldn't be lust for power that motivated her, for there was nothing in her soul apart from pure hate.
"Leave her alone!" Jaelle called as she tried to twist herself around to see.
"You were wrong," Invidae said to Imoen. "What, in the name of the machine god, would I want with your pathetic little rock? Kings and Empires… They all become dust in the end. No. Jaelle, this is to be your punishment for defying me. You will watch, helpless, as I destroy this place you have chosen to call your home and everything in it. Starting with this very annoying little bi…"
Imoen shut her eyes hard, not wanting to see it coming at all. Seconds later, it emerged that her head was still attached. She had literally been saved by the bell.
"An intruder!" Invidae beamed. "Now the real games will begin. And you'll be pleased to know you've been right once today. You're not worth killing, yet."
Imoen couldn't begin to describe how relieved she was. Whoever it was, she was going to be extra specially nice to them from now on. When Invidae waved her hand over the crystal ball she'd setup earlier, Imoen saw it was Aerie who had saved her. Of course, the avariel spent all that time reading and so had an excellent sense of narrative. That was why she'd waited until the last possible second to come in.
The avariel didn't seem particularly in awe of her surroundings, that a small garden shed had suddenly become an immense field. Of course, she had to believe she'd seen tricks like this before. She scanned her surroundings and cautiously began to walk forward. It wasn't long before she picked up on the presence of a scrying device and started looking around for it. Her blue eyes were soon staring hard right at the three observers.
"She must be a mage of some power," Invidae said. She placed her hand on the ball and spoke. "Come no further or you'll be destroyed."
"I'm a healer," Aerie answered, her voice only slightly distorted by reverberation through the crystal ball. "I… only want to make sure they're alright."
"No harm has come to them. You have my word."
"W-with respect, ma'am, I've no reason to trust your word have I?"
"Very well," Invidae nodded to Imoen. "Speak."
"A…Aerie?" The red head said.
"Imoen…?" The elf's ears seemed to stand up suddenly.
"Listen to me Aerie… get a move on kid, we're waiting to be rescued here…"
"Satisfied?" The general interrupted. "Now turn back, if you value your own life and theirs."
"You… you will not hurt them," the avariel stated.
"Oh? Pray, tell me why."
"Because… you're a soldier, or so I was told, not… not an executioner. You can't kill someone who can't fight back."
This seemed to strike a chord with Invidae, at least for a moment. After considering the words for that amount of time she smirked. "You are as naïve as you look."
"Leave my friends alone!" Aerie demanded. "Come and fight me instead."
"What a strange girl. I can't quite work you out," the general took her hand away from the ball. "It's obvious she's no fighter," she said to her hostages. "She must just want to die. Yet I can see her fear… She knows who I am, yet she challenges me."
"Perhaps because, compassion is not a weakness?" Jaelle offered.
"Ridiculous."
"Really? Then also consider that perhaps Aerie is willing to risk her life because she knows we would do the same for her. Tell me, mother, were our situations reversed who would try to help you? Your own daughter certainly wouldn't. Your own soldiers didn't…"
"Explain!" Invidae surged forward, picking up the last four words as was intended.
"Your army is gone. They got fed up with the way you treated them and of fighting your pointless wars, and so they rose up and threw you off our world."
"No…?!"
"Well, okay, not throw exactly. They got their little army boots on and kicked you through the gate to Carceri. And, oh, how they danced, the little children of… hmpf," Invidae had her hand around Jaelle's throat, those eyes, full of hate, staring down at her daughter. She squeezed so hard it felt for a moment as if she were trying to absorb her child back into her body.
The general let go just as suddenly, her attention drawn to Imoen. She cupped the girls chin in her palm and scrutinized every aspect of her. "These people are backwards… but they could be taught," the general grinned. "I will raise a new army… but first…" She marched to the control box for Jaelle's Time Machine, used a fist to open a panel and removed the brightly glowing crystal.
"Is that…?" Imoen asked.
"The control crystal…" Jaelle said in disbelief. She had no idea Invidae could figure machines out so quickly.
"Knowing what I know, I see little reason to return to my own time as yet. One day, yes, but it will be to destroy our world forever," she threw the crystal to the ground and crushed it under her heel.
"Hang on," Imoen gasped. "Does this mean we can't send our mothers back? But that means…"
"Paradox, yes." Jaelle sighed.
"I'm still here though… I haven't poofed out of existence."
"Evidently not."
"Can you say something more useful?"
"I'm afraid I don't have any answers at the moment," Jaelle did seem remarkably calm however. As Invidae turned back to the ball and resumed her conversation with Aerie, she whispered to the redhead. "One thing I learned from mother's military tactics… always keep a reserve."
"Having thought it over," the general said to the avariel. "I've decided that cutting you down myself would be no better than cutting down any defenseless child. Nevertheless I admire your bravery, and so I intend to send you a gift." She took the ring and stood by the control panel, and the Time Machine came to life once more.
Much as Aerie would have liked to, she could really think no grounds for disputing anything Invidae had said. She was no fighter. The best she could hope was to distract the general from her plans long enough for other help to arrive.
She wasn't weak. That's what she kept telling people. Although it was herself she always needed to convince most of all. In her life as an adventurer she did suffer from a number of disadvantages. Since most people around her grew up on the ground and had no trouble, say, walking long distances and since she looked like them more or less, they assumed it should be the same for her. But in fact, her body wasn't made to endure that and she really had to struggle. Having the weight of a flying creature didn't often help her battles either. But it wasn't always a disadvantage. She didn't hit the floor as hard, and she did that a lot.
Really though, her record in battle was far from impressive. She was okay at casting her spells at enemies from a distance, but up close… even that bully she'd tried standing up to as a child had, in fact, beaten her very easily. One of these days, she was likely to lose more than just the fight. But, it was just not in her nature to do nothing while others were being threatened.
So, with a resigned sigh she plodded onwards, hands holding tightly onto the staff she'd picked up on the way. She wished she had a plan. The smart thing to do would have been to wait for the others to gather themselves and their weapons. But she'd felt right away that every second counted.
There was some humming and screeching in the air. It was far above her, and getting nearer. Her keen eyes soon found the object. It was some strange metal bird, moving very, very fast. Aerie could make out a glass roof and a tiny person wearing a helmet seated within the flying machine, which was diving towards her. There was a flash and a small metal tube detached itself from the bird's wing and started speeding ahead. Running seemed like a good idea. Not knowing what to expect, she started throwing every type of magical protection she could around herself before the tube struck the ground.
The ensuing fireball propelled her about forty feet. Through a combination of stoneskins and protection from fire her clothes and hair were a little singed but she survived intact. She retaliated as the machine shot overhead launching all kinds of arrows and missiles of her own but they had little impact on it. It easily out flew the last wave of missiles which almost pathetically petered out. The metal bird roared through the air far into the distance before starting to turn about.
"I'm sorry," Aerie whispered towards it. Or, more precisely, the person sat within. She regretted the necessity, but since she couldn't damage the machine she would have to try attacking its living component. She closed her eyes and began to chant as the bird of metal started its next dive.
Under the glass dome, the machines pilot was suddenly overwhelmed with images. Creatures of nightmare suddenly given form, snapping and slithering all around. They tried desperately to push them away, to free themselves… On the ground, the avariel opened her eyes and watched the craft spin out of control. The great bird spiraled downwards and with one final roar exploded.
Aerie ran towards the crater, through the thick clouds of smoke and displaced dirt which still fell through the air. She hoped there was a chance the person had survived. But when she saw the wreckage and the inferno she realized there was none and turned away sadly. She had never seen the persons face, but that didn't make the knowledge that she'd killed any easier. The avariel had to tell herself not to dwell on it. She still had to help her friends.
A fist to the face soon halted that scheme. She was knocked to the floor. Before she could even lift her head, she felt a boot bury itself into her side before finally a hand grabbed her long hair and lifted the head for her. Aerie was surrounded by perhaps a dozen figures, two of whom lifted her to her feet. While she couldn't have presently managed that on her own, she didn't feel particularly grateful. Their leader strolled through the smoke in the sensual manner that only one type of creature in the realms makes a habit of in situations like this.
"Ibbil," said the priestess of Lloth.
Drow. Symbols of terror and tyranny throughout the realms, now suddenly reduced to being Invidae's playthings. Jaelle would like to have believed that the chances of someone like her mother turning up and taking possession of her Time Machine were small and that she was just very unlucky. But she realized now that much power in anyone's hands was dangerous. She had just wanted to learn. But Jaheira was right. She hadn't given any thought to the consequences. She couldn't just tell herself that her intentions were good and it was only people like Invidae who twisted her ideas and used them for evil. No, she had to take responsibility.
"What shall be done with her, mistress?" Asked a drow male.
"Kill her," the priestess instructed.
"Wait!" Another male shouted.
"You dare!" The priestess screeched. Then she smiled slyly. "Tell me, Alak, why should I spare her life? Is it because you want her? Does the thought of her soft, pale skin against yours excite you? Lloth would never permit such an act. We cannot risk the blood of our people becoming tainted. But… perhaps I should take her? And perhaps you would like to watch?"
"Forgive me, Mistress," the drow male stood with his back completely straight. "I just feel it would be wise to question her first. She may know something of where we are and why."
"There's always one trying to be a little cleverer than the rest," Invidae commented as she watched. "Just obey your instincts… destroy this lesser being."
"She doesn't look like she knows anything, but very well," the priestess turned to the captured elf taking on a stern and matronly demeanor. "You… Ibbil. You will answer my questions."
"N-no," Aerie answered. She was clearly still winded.
"If you don't I will kill you."
"You… w-will kill me a-anyway. So no."
"You see," the priestess turned to the clever male. "They always know. Never really any point in asking anything. Just cut her throat."
"With respect mistress," the drow male said bravely. "We do need information. Perhaps it would be prudent, on this one occasion, to allow the prisoner to live?"
"Hmm… perhaps you are right. I'll have preferred a hunt anyway… Ibbil, answer my questions and we will release you and then give you two minutes to get away. I think that's fair."
As Invidae put her legs to watch the scene play out, Jaelle felt a tiny tug on her trouser leg, accompanied by faint ticking and whirring of gears. She looked down by her left leg and smiled warmly in greeting.
"Where have you guys been?" She said. The tiny replica modron merely stared up with a permanent cheerful expression painted on its face. It was unable to speak, but somewhere around dozens of these little helpers no bigger than a fist were awaiting instructions.
"You lie," the priestess in the crystal ball stated, having heard Aerie's attempts to explain what had happened. "You're… pretty, and thin… and therefore a liar."
"What if she is telling the truth?" The too-clever drow male asked.
"Impossible. No mere human could have created and have control over such power. They are… disgusting half-people. Not even that… barely even fit to be our slaves."
"I-I think," Aerie said. "That maybe… humans do have one very important trait that the drow lack."
"And what is that?"
"Imagination."
That last little remark earned Aerie another fist to the chin. Invidae chuckled, clearly enjoying the show. "She is a plucky little thing isn't she?"
The only reason Aerie hadn't hit the floor that time was that the two drow were still holding her up. With her vision blurred she could only just make out the priestess preparing her tentacled whip.
"You will be punished for your insolence," the drow explained.
There followed screams. But not Aerie's. She really didn't have the lung capacity to have made a blood-curdling noise like that. The drow soldiers instantly formed a circle around their priestess, red eyes scanning the landscape.
"Sounded like Veldrin," one of them said. "He was out guarding the perimeter." Then it started, the beating of drums. The soldiers looked out for their attackers, but they were still surrounded by smoke from the crashed flying machine and could only see clearly for a few feet. Their eyes had switched to infravision, but then they were blinded by the heat and fires from the wreckage.
"Where is it coming from?" Another soldier asked, as his comrades started to panic.
"It's everywhere! We are surrounded by an army!"
In fact, just a short way away, that 'army' started complaining of a sore back.
"'ere, 'ow long 'ave I t'keep this up?" Jess asked as she beat on the single drum which echoed around the expanded shed.
"Until they're all dead," Tarant answered as he wiped the blood from his sword. "So it won't be long now." He gave a nod to Jaheira. She and Talindra unsheathed their scimitars and joined him, running quickly through the smoke and spreading out.
Back in the circle, the drow priestess listened carefully to the drums. Her men were panicked by the thick smoke and heat. They were only males, so it was to be expected. But, years in the tunnels of the Underdark, she knew an echo when she heard one.
"It's a trick," she assured her troops. "There are only a few of them… in that direction. Spread out and find them!"
The dozen drow soldiers instantly obeyed the priestess, forming a line and marching carefully through the black clouds. Assuming it was the Ibbil the attackers wanted, she took hold of Aerie herself to use as a shield, just in case. The elf tried to struggle but found herself taken by surprise by the priestess's strength and was subdued within seconds.
The drow were almost blind, and with the drum beating their sense of hearing had become useless as well. It wasn't long before one soldier saw a shape. Slender and moving swiftly, it could only have been an elf, running straight for the drow line. He took aim with his crossbow and pulled the trigger, just as the shape fell forwards into a roll then continued running, disappearing again. A short distance away one drow's eyes went wide. He fell to his knees with a sigh then forward onto his face with a bolt protruding from his temple.
The same pattern was repeated several times along the line. Jaheira hid behind a rock as one drow passed her by. She then took the knife from her belt and cut out his throat. Talindra ran at one head on, ducking and slashing at his legs with her scimitar, then his chest as she rose up. Tarant employed a trick similar to Jaheira's, only he wrapped his strong arm around the drow's neck and squeezed the breath from him. There was no need to make a mess.
Hearing the gargles and death cries of her men, the priestess desperately sought a way out. She had no idea which way was safe, if any, so she decided to do something more desperate and take her prisoner down with her. At least whoever had slaughtered her men wouldn't take her prize.
Pushing Aerie to the ground, she unclipped the mace hanging from her belt. Then she stood perfectly still. Confused, the young avariel looked up at her face seeing the wide eyed shock. The priestesses white hair was matted with blood which trickled down her forehead. She toppled forwards, landing next to the rock that had fallen out of the sky. The clouds of smoke started to blow away as Fayanna came around to land.
"M-momma," Aerie said. "You… you should not have come. It's dangerous…"
"I know," the older avariel took her daughter's shoulders. "But I won't let you leave me again."
The others soon joined them. Jaheira looked very unhappy. Jess tried to straighten her aching back… Edwin came along from a little further behind, Cara and Shandra with him.
"Where were you?" Tarant demanded from the wizard.
"Me?" The wizard said. "Why… I was just… covering the rear. Yes, that's it."
"Eddie," Cara flitted about him with a handkerchief. "You still have blood you… You can't go outside looking like that."
"For the last time, leave me alone!" Edwin tried to shape her hands away, but she persisted in trying to make him presentable.
"How'd you get blood on you?" Tarant asked, since it clearly wasn't from fighting the drow.
"Got his dress snagged on a rock n' fell over," Jess explained.
"Sir," Aerie approached Tarant then waited.
"Yes, go on, you may speak," The son of Bhaal told her. Sometimes he got the impression that Aerie didn't quite trust him.
"It's… Invidae. She-she knows we're here. She's watching us even now."
"I told this endeavor was foolish," Shandra said.
"Then why did you come?" Jaheira demanded grumpily.
"I need to get back to my business in Tethyr," Shandra stared at her. Jaheira couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw a tear forming in her eye. "I…. have a family to take of. Besides, somebody has to keep an eye on you. Make sure you don't do anything too foolish."
"Speaking of foolishness… you!" Jaheira pointed at Aerie. "Never go running off like that again."
"I'm… sorry to have caused you to worry," the avariel hung her head.
"I… was not worried. It is simply my responsibility to keep you all safe. It's not easy if do not do as you're told," Jaheira explained, not convincing even herself. She smiled. "Fine. I was worried. Just don't do it again."
"I don't know what you're smiling for," Imoen said to Invidae, her courage returning. "Aerie beat your little kite. And drow? Puh-lease, we've beaten hundreds." Invidae turned around menacingly, and Imoen's courage decided it was better off staying hidden.
"Girl," The general said. "With this machine I could summon a thousand flying machines, or whole armies of drow. How about a tarrasque? How about nine of them?"
"There… is only one," Imoen pointed out. Clearly, she had read a little.
"Only one at this point in time. You see, there is no limit to what I can do with this device… I think you'll agree, nine tarrasques would be far more than your friends can deal with. Overkill of course," Invidae waved the thought away. "At least for the moment. I have other toys to play with first."
The general turned to the last creature she had summoned. A crystal golem, but not like any Imoen had seen before. It was far less human in shape. It had the long legs of a more predatory animal, its hands and fingers had been replaced with tubes, blades and an arsenal of other weapons.
"What is it?" The red-head asked Jaelle.
"Why that's an old Warlord type forty," the raven haired woman explained. "Been a while since I've seen one. They're from our world."
"What's it do?"
"It… goes to war. You see the clue is in the name, really."
"Yeah, yeah… I know we're all stupid. I mean, how's it different from our ordinary golems?"
"You know… stronger, faster, smarter… pretty much indestructible."
"Golem," Invidae said. The crystal creature came to life. Its single eye burned red. "Eliminate the intruders."
"By-your-command," the creature droned. It immediately took off with a flying leap, crashed to the ground some distance away and ran at high speed towards the unaware band of adventurers. It certainly moved with a grace Imoen was unused to seeing from a golem.
"Can they kill it?" The red-head asked.
Jaelle sighed, hanging her head. It had a weakness, but she could never get a message to them in time. She could only hope Edwin was bright enough to figure it out.