The next morning, Skye was jolted awake by a loud squeal. She dashed out of her tent to investigate, only to discover her younger sister embracing the same white dog they had found the day before. A smile spread across her lips at the heartwarming scene. She even caught the faintest hint of a smile on the vampire spawn's face before he quickly cleared his throat and resumed analyzing his tome.
They reached the abandoned village in no time, only to find it overrun by goblins. Skye halted the party's advance, pointing out all the spots where the goblins were hiding.
"There are too many to fight," she explained. "We'll have to talk our way in."
As they approached, a goblin sneered at them. "'Allo and welcome to Bogrot! Now, kindly - giz all your stuff."
"It's a fine day, my friend," the air genasi began, a forced smile plastered on her face. "Why ruin it with killing?"
"Killing you would make my day, but I don't fancy cleaning up yer guts afterwards. Hand over yer stuff - now."
Skye smirked, glancing past the grimy creature. "Let me guess. That your girlfriend?"
The goblin followed her finger to the figure guarding the crumbling building behind him. The guard wore tattered armor, her body adorned with lavender tattoos.
"So what if she is?" the goblin retorted, crossing his arms nonchalantly.
The air genasi sniffed humorously and glanced over at the goblin beside him. "Does she know you're boning this one?"
Astarion stifled a laugh as the goblin's eyes widened in panic. "I-I don't know what yer talkin' about."
"I wonder what she'd think about this," Skye mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
The goblin blinked a few times, unable to break her intense gaze. "Alright, alright," he conceded. "Fine - keep yer goods. But this stays between us, yeah?"
The air genasi shrugged her shoulders before confidently striding inside. Astarion caught up to her with a raised brow. "Well done, darling. How'd you know that would work?"
Skye glanced at the goblin with the lavender tattoos. "She keeps looking back at him with that look in her eyes."
The vampire spawn twisted his nose in confusion. "What look?"
"The look you get when you're in love," Misty explained dreamily, keeping pace with them.
Astarion sighed in exasperation, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Gods, help us all."
Their goal was simple: find supplies and anything that could give them leverage on the upcoming rescue mission. They split up to cover as much of the village as they could before nightfall. Astarion, Misty, Skye, Shadowheart, and Wyll went in one direction, while the others went in the other. The first building they entered appeared to be a tavern of sorts, filled with racks of wine and a wooden bar spanning a quarter of the room. Exploring the room, they acquired many things, such as potions and ingredients to make them. Of course, they weren't going to miss out on the cobweb-covered wine either.
Misty wandered around and discovered a hatch that led to a room beneath them.
It was quite a long climb down to a cellar, but eventually, they made it to the bottom. The cellar was littered with old books and potions. Astarion found a chest containing many, in fact. As the party continued their search, Skye discovered a lever and pulled it, causing a large bookshelf to move to the side, revealing a secret passage.
"My, my. What have we here?" Astarion flashed the air genasi a flirtatious smile before entering. She couldn't help the heat that rose to her cheeks and silently cursed herself for it.
The passage led to a grassy cavern filled with moldering caskets. Skye approached one and opened the lid, discovering an odd scroll inside. She handed it to Wyll, who began to study it as they continued their search.
The vampire spawn sensed an unsettling presence near some of the other caskets and glanced uneasily at the others. "Perhaps we should leave the rest undisturbed."
Misty dismissed his suggestion as absurd and strode toward one at the rear of the cavern. Her hand barely grazed the lid when Astarion seized her arm and forcefully pulled her away. "You foolish girl! Do you have a brain?!"
Before she could react, the casket exploded, sending both of them sprawling as a skeletal creature burst forth. It darted to an adjacent casket and let out a chilling howl, causing it to splinter apart, unleashing yet another skeletal horror. Misty shrieked as one lunged at her, but Astarion swiftly intercepted it with his dagger.
The young genasi scrambled to her feet, narrowly evading the claws of the second skeleton. Skye retaliated with a bolt of radiant energy, reducing it to a heap of bones. She shot Misty a stern look. "Hide. I'll deal with you later," she hissed through clenched teeth, rallying Shadowheart and Wyll to join Astarion in the fray. Before the skeletal menace could summon reinforcements, Wyll unleashed a burst of energy that shattered it into fragments.
Misty avoided her sister's gaze, nervously rubbing her arm as she approached.
"When someone tells you to leave something alone, you best listen!" Skye shouted as the others watched awkwardly behind her.
"I-I didn't think anything would happen," the younger genasi defended herself.
Astarion crossed his arms and rolled his crimson eyes in irritation. "Oh, yes, because I would pass up the chance to acquire more loot for no reason."
Misty glanced at her feet in silence as Skye knelt before her, placing gentle hands on her arms. "Don't touch anything else, do you understand?" Skye's voice was calm now. The younger genasi nodded, still avoiding her sister's gaze. "Good."
After summoning a cheeky quasit named Shovel, the party learned of a spellbook brimming with powerful incantations. Astarion, instantly intrigued, followed the peculiar creature to a mirror, with a skeptical Skye close behind. As they stood before the mirror, a smoky blue face materialized. The air genasi placed a hand on Astarion's chest as she stepped past him. "Let me handle this," she whispered, met by the vampire spawn's flirtatious smile. "Stop that."
Skye took a deep breath as the figure in the mirror scrutinized her, aware of the rest of the group shuffling nervously behind them.
"Spea-k your name," it ordered with an expressionless face.
The air genasi recalled the diary they had found in the remains of one of the moldering caskets, detailing Ilyn Toth's interest in necromancy. Shovel's former master. Skye cleared her throat and answered confidently, "Ilyn Toth."
The blue face in the mirror flickered red. "I know my m-aster's face. You are not Ilyn Toth."
Skye glanced over at the others, who watched with wide eyes. Shovel, standing beside her, gestured urgently for her to continue. Taking a steadying breath, the air genasi returned her gaze to the mirror.
"If you are his ally, ste-p forward and declare it."
Skye stepped forward with deliberate confidence. "I am indeed an ally of Ilyn Toth," she proclaimed, her voice steady. "We seek the knowledge and power within his spellbook." She glanced back over to see Misty giving her two thumbs up.
The mirror's face flickered again, this time pausing as if considering her words. "Only a t-rue ally of Ilyn Toth may pass. What th-ink you of the zulkir known as Szass Tam?"
The name sounded familiar to Skye. She recalled reading a tome on Thayan history not too long ago, which contained stories of a powerful lich who made deals with dark gods, sharing that very name. Taking a shuddering breath, she responded, "A foul lich. He should suffer a thousand more deaths."
"You are no zulkier, b-ut are you wise? T-tell me, why might one use balsam ointment?"
"Oh, balsam? Good for burns," Shovel interjected with a mischievous smile.
Skye glared at her, recognizing the lie immediately. Her fifteen years as a druid had taught her the uses of almost every plant, whether for poison or healing properties. She knew balsam was far more versatile than the quasit suggested. "Balsam ointment is used for healing," she began, her voice gaining confidence. "It soothes wounds and promotes recovery, an essential remedy for those who travel and fight."
"Acceptable. F-inally, if you could see an-ything in me, what w-ould it be?"
The air genasi knew this was a trick question. In her heart, she yearned for her sister's safety, for her to have a normal childhood, to go to school, make friends her age, and experience the joys of being a child. But she knew that wasn't the answer the mirror sought. Fixing her gaze confidently on the mirror, she spoke with resolute purpose. "I'd look for whatever godsdamn spell will rid me of this worm in my head."
"You seek to sur-vive. You seek power," the mirror responded, its voice resonating with approval. Slowly, a hidden pathway revealed itself before the adventurers. "Be wel-come."
Skye turned to her companions, determination gleaming in her eyes. "This is it. Let's go."
Their steps led them to a peculiar alchemy lab strewn with suspicious beakers and vials, skeletal remains, and crates and barrels filled with various herbs and plants. Beside them stood a locked cell containing an altar that held a strange book. The air genasi moved closer to get a better look, with the others following closely behind. She noticed a slight difference in the floor's levels and instinctively pulled Misty back roughly by the arm.
"Stop, it's a trap," Skye announced, raising her hand to halt the others. She glanced over her shoulder at Astarion. "Star, can you do the honors?"
The vampire spawn chuckled, flashing a sly grin. "With pleasure, darling."
Skye rolled her eyes, maintaining a firm grip on Misty's arm to keep her safe. As Astarion approached the suspicious area, he crouched low, examining the slight differences in the floor levels. His nimble fingers traced the edges of the trap, and with deft precision, he began to disarm it.
"Impressive work as always," Wyll commented, watching Astarion's meticulous movements.
The vampire spawn smirked, not breaking his concentration. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Wyll." Finally, with a soft click, he disabled the trap. He stood up, brushing his hands off with a flourish. "All done. You can proceed safely now."
Skye reached out to open the cell door, only to find it locked. "Shit," she muttered under her breath, frustration evident in her voice.
"Would you like me to pick the lock, too, darling?" Astarion interjected with his usual smartass tone, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
The air genasi raised her eyebrows defiantly, turning her nose away from him like a stubborn child. "No, I'll figure it out, thank you."
Wyll and Shadowheart exchanged a puzzled glance at their leader's uncharacteristic behavior. Skye was typically composed and strategic, but Astarion's teasing seemed to rattle her.
She began to search the laboratory meticulously, her keen eyes scanning every corner and surface in search of the key. After what felt like an eternity of rummaging through dusty shelves and overturned crates, Skye finally stumbled upon a storage room tucked away in a neglected corner. The air inside was musty and stale, filled with the scent of decay from sacks and barrels of long-rotted provisions.
Her gaze landed on a rotting wooden shelf that groaned under the weight of its contents. Among the debris and cobwebs, Skye spotted a glint of metal. She reached out and carefully retrieved an old, rusted key. It was tarnished with age, but its shape and size matched the lock on the cell door perfectly.
Turning on her heel, the air genasi marched back to where Astarion lounged against the wall, an amused smirk playing on his lips. She held up the key triumphantly, her smug expression speaking volumes as she inserted it into the lock with a satisfying click. With a smooth motion, she pulled the door open, revealing the dimly lit cell beyond.
Astarion raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Well done, darling. I knew you'd find it."
Skye rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smile of satisfaction. "Of course I did," she retorted.
As they entered, their eyes fell upon a chilling sight: a book bound in what appeared to be human flesh, its grotesque features hauntingly lifelike. Two large, amethyst eyes stared out from the cover, glinting eerily in the faint light. The book's mouth was frozen in a perpetual scream, its existence seemingly trapped in eternal agony.
Without hesitation, Skye moved forward to grasp the book, her hand reaching out towards its disturbing visage. But before her fingers could make contact, a cold hand closed around her wrist, stopping her midair. Startled, she turned to see Astarion behind her, his crimson eyes fixed on her with a rare seriousness that contrasted sharply with his usual playful demeanor. His mask of casual amusement quickly returned, however, as he spoke.
"You know, for someone so perceptive, you were really pushing your luck just then," he remarked with a sly smile, releasing her wrist.
Skye's golden eyes narrowed to slits as she shot him a sharp glance, her irritation clear despite his teasing. She stepped back, allowing him room to work. With practiced skill, Astarion knelt beside the grotesque book, his hands deftly navigating the unseen mechanisms hidden beneath its surface.
In a matter of moments, he disarmed the trap with precision. Rising to his feet, he cast a final smirk in Skye's direction, his amusement evident.
"Just saving you from a potentially painful lesson," he added nonchalantly, gesturing towards the now-safe book.
Skye huffed softly, though a begrudging smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I can handle myself, thank you," she retorted.
With the trap neutralized, the air genasi approached the grotesque tome once more, her hand hovering over its eerie cover. She took a deep breath, steeling herself against the unsettling aura it exuded, before finally lifting the book from its resting place on the altar.
As she cradled the weight of the book in her arms, its eerie presence seemed to pulse faintly against her skin, almost as if it were alive with malevolent energy. Skye noticed that the book was tightly sealed shut, devoid of any visible keyhole or latch. The longer she studied it, the more she became aware of its sinister nature, as if it emanated a dark essence that threatened to seep into her very being.
Astarion approached silently from behind, his presence barely perceptible until his hand grazed hers, sending a shiver down her spine. His voice, smooth and velvety, whispered into her ear, "That looks terribly heavy. Why don't you let me carry it for you?"
Skye tensed at the sensation of his touch, the warmth of his breath against her ear contrasting with the chill that still lingered from the book's touch. She turned slightly to meet his gaze. "It's quite alright, Astarion," she replied slightly irritated. "I believe I can manage."
With deliberate care, the air genasi carefully placed the cursed book into her backpack, securing it tightly to ensure it wouldn't shift or jostle. The weight of it pressed against her back was a constant reminder of its presence and the dark mysteries it held.
"Let's get out of here," she continued, her tone brisk as she turned away from the altar. "This place reeks of rotten meat, and I'd rather not linger any longer than necessary."
Wyll and Shadowheart nodded in agreement, casting uneasy glances at the grotesque book nestled within Skye's pack.
"Look what I found!" Misty exclaimed, rushing up to them with a piece of parchment.
The older genasi rolled her eyes. "Mist, what did I say about touching things?"
"Seriously though, look what I found!"
Skye let out an exasperated sigh as she snatched the paper from Misty's hand. The aged page, torn from what seemed to be a journal of arcane observations, detailed various troubling entries. 14 Elent. The book's key gem has gone missing. Familiar ordered to watch my apprentice. Then, further down read: 15 Nightal. Familiar reports apprentice disappeared near well. Will observe.
Misty's eyes gleamed with excitement, her anticipation palpable as she studied the cryptic message. "It has to be in the well, right?" she asked, her gaze shifting from the page to her sister's face. "That's where the apprentice was last seen."
"I don't know about this. This is dark magic—"
"Allow me, then," Astarion interjected smoothly, stepping forward with a confident smile. "We find the gem, unlock the book, and I'll read it. Everything will be perfectly fine."
The air genasi arched a skeptical eyebrow, her gaze flickering between Astarion and the unsettling page in her hand. "Right. And what if it's not?"
The vampire spawn's smile faltered slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features before he shrugged nonchalantly. "We deal with it when the time comes. Besides, what's life without a little risk?"
Skye sighed again, the weight of responsibility heavy on her shoulders. She glanced at Misty, her expression softening with sisterly concern. "Misty, this isn't a game," she said gently. "We're dealing with powerful magic here. If that gem unlocks something dangerous—"
"We'll handle it together," the younger genasi insisted.
Wyll stepped forward. "Skye's right to be cautious. We need to approach this carefully."
Shadowheart nodded in agreement, her eyes thoughtful as she regarded the torn page. "Dark magic has a way of twisting intentions. We must tread carefully."
A tense silence settled over the group as they contemplated their next move. The promise of forbidden knowledge beckoned tantalizingly, yet the potential dangers loomed ominously in the background. Skye took a deep breath, her mind racing with possibilities and uncertainties.
"Alright," she said finally, her voice steady with resolve. "Let's find this gem."
Misty recalled a well they had passed on their way to the ruined tavern. As they approached it, Skye flicked a coin down to gauge its depth, but it clinked against dry stone instead of splashing into water. She glanced up at Astarion with a furrowed brow. "It's dry. We'll need to find a safer way down than jumping."
Shadowheart rummaged in her bag and retrieved several potions, which she handed to the air genasi. "Feather fall potions," she explained calmly. "They'll let us float down to the bottom without any risk of injury."
Accepting the potions with a nod of thanks, Skye turned her attention to Misty and gestured for her to come closer. She unslung her backpack and held it out to her sister. "I need you to take my bag to Gale," she instructed softly.
Reluctantly, the younger genasi took the backpack, rolling her eyes in mild irritation. "I'm not your slave, you know."
Skye let out an exasperated sigh, her gaze filled with concern as she looked down at her sister. "It's too dangerous, Mist. We don't know what might be guarding this gem," she explained, gesturing towards a distant building where Gale was deep in conversation with Lae'zel. "The others are over there. We'll be back soon. I promise."
Misty averted her eyes from her sister's as she watched the rest of the group consume their potions and begin to descend into the well one by one.