4 Nighthal
Her step was silent as shadow, even with the city stilled at this late hour; the last bell that marked the last hours of the day had rang. For her that was the signal to head down. The piwafwi was tight around her lithe form as she weaved through the maze of catwalks and suspension bridges over the twisting streets. The soft glow of the bioluminescent mold, the Gloom, seemed brighter this cycle. Dismissing the thought, she guessed it was because of the sneaking around that made her on edge. There was no need to be nervous, she told herself. Acting like you belong was the key. Her homecity was connected, the two known trading partners. But all those year growing up in her Lith My'Athar, she hadn't gotten the chance to actually visit. This was her first actual excursion outside the city limits, a new adventure she always craved.
Thoughts returned to the present as she was forced to stifled a cough from the overwhelming mold smell that increased as she ventured to the overly cramped lower level of the Heart ward. Had she been a native, she'd known to wear a special face cover. Sensing eyes on her, the linking shadow paused, scanning the area and watching for the threat; still nothing was following that she could see. No chances though, and the shadow was flanking a building again hoping to lose the unseen stalker. If there had been one. Head leaning back against the wooden side of the building she let out a breath and continued on her way again.
Stone columns and stalactites dotted an immense cavern that served as home to the port city. Dense and erratic array of reclaimed materials were constructed in layers to fill the cavern space. Narrow walkways and gangplanks were thread through the chaos, creating makeshift streets between buildings and old ruins, intermittently lit by lanterns of thrashing eels held in suspended globes of river water. This city was found on the third level of Undermountain, hunched on the banks of the subterranean Sargauth River, deep beneath the streets of Waterdeep. It was a place that was no stranger to death and destruction. The Port of Shadows was a haven for underworld and illicit activities, especially dangerous ones: Smuggling and smugglers; piracy and pirates; slavery and slavers; drug cartels and sellswords; assassins and poison makers; necromancers and corpse robbers. This was Skullport.
Overhead, a thick layer of dripping mold covered the ceiling, glowing sickly as it was stirred by the currents of air in the cavern. The bottom maze of streets were paved with cobblestones unlike the rope and wooden streets above. Many of the buildings she passed were, surprisingly, in better shape than she heard while many others were still abandoned. The rogue noted with genuine interest how the Lower Heart Ward had many unusual structures and landmarks; it also proved to be pragmatic with so few streets actually named in this ward.
Another cloaked figure passed the girl, their head down to hide their face from observation. Neither acknowledge each other, nor doubted the other was up to no good as well. A few turns and doubling back on streets, the unassuming wood and stone tavern finally came into view.
A sign engraved with a dragon wrapped around a foaming mug, read: The Flagon and the Dragon.
The red door was faded, the paint peeling. The silver knobs and hinges reflected the soft glow of the Gloom. The door opened into relatively crowded space despite the late hour; beings of the Underdark reckoned time differently and it wasn't surprising to find them here. The scent of hard ale mingled with the aroma of fried meats and sweet wines. Ten small tables dotted the tavern floor, five currently in use with two to three patrons; a zurkhwood counter was tended to with a short and lean dusky skinned half elvish woman pouring a deep red liquid into a large wine glass. The proprietor, a female half-drow named Cal'al Claddani, smiled at the newest visitor of her establishment. She had guessed this was one of Aunrae's girls. Or would be shortly. The girl tossed back her hood. Silvery hair highlighted with coppery red framed an ebon face of sharp elven features.
"what's your poison," Cal'al called out to a patron, sliding a mug to the next customer as a drow male stepped away, wine in hand and heading twords the back. A robed dwarf tossed a coin and carried his hard ale back to his group leaving a space open between the rogue and counter.
the tall teen-aged drow female reached into her pack and pulled out a small silver token and handed it to Cal.
"Ah, your definitely one of thems," her accent a mix of elvish with a touch of dwarvish. She nodded her head the way the previous drow had headed. "at the ball table. Cant miss 'em."
Cal smiled again pouring a glass then slid it her direction. " Aleeian wine. the grapes are excellent, sweet , and just the right amount of tart. She's the one with the rod, by the way," then winked at the girl.
In the back near a small iron stove, were a group playing tentacle ball (a drow game akin to pool, but using tentacle rods instead of pool cues). A female drow playfully smacked the familiar male on the shoulder, leaning over to whisper in his ear, her eyes never leaving the approaching girl. She turned to face the rogue, waving her to draw closer. the older female seamed to quickly scan the newest joining them before motioning her to take a seat. Nearing the table, another drow female in black leather armor walked around the table. Her silvery hair was pinned up into a decorative bun, but her demeanor and mannerism betrayed her noble status.
"Vendui," a melodious voice finally spoke, "I am Aunrae," a wave twords to the male of all black garb, loose billowing shirt that was opened enough to show a bit his bare chest, form fitting leather pants, and elven crafted boots. "Kalannar," he replies rather hoarsely. "you are?"
"Zarae," the younger female introduced herself trying to keep her own noble air about her. "Zarae Kilantlar." the former noble name meant nothing to the group. The young drowess was unsure to be relieved or offended. But considering her house was no more, it was better to not have been acknowledge for her former status.
Aunrae motioned to the others around the table, "this is Hijinx in the Shadows,"
A spotted black furred feline humanoid interrupting, "Jinx," which Aunrae repeated. then she motioned to another male in elven chain and red fabric, "Zaknimar or Zak", a wave to the oldest looking female next to him, "Umriel," then the last female in the group, "my daughter Maya," a spitting image of her mother though her eyes were emerald as opposed to her mother's icy blue.
Umriel the shortest at the table despite being the oldest, tossed a tentacle rod to Jinx whose turn was next. The catfolk walked to the far end and leaned over, aiming the rod for a hard shot.
"Join us." Aunrae finally said, a predetermined phrase Zarae was informed to signal the correct group.
Then with the code word spoken, Zarae pulled a parchment with a coded message; tucked inside was a small mithril pendent of a sword atop a moon.
"I was recruited to help, Lady H," Zarae continued as Aunrae took the parchment to read it before handing it to Kalannar who likewise read then nodded. His expression softened, then handed a rod to Zarae. The parchment was tossed into the fire and the necklace returned to the girl. The note was to inform Aunrae that the person was trustworthy, sent to help in the mission. The necklace showed loyalties, a symbol of the drow goddess Eilistraee.
"Ever played?" the tabaxi asked in heavily accented drowic language, banking a ball into the hole, "easy to learn. I am rather new to it. Not super well known up there and the Ladies of the grove didn't have a tavern. You ask me, they need to think about that. It adds a little more fun to the original game. Well, I do guess I can see why this wasn't popular back in…" Zak softly elbowed Jinx, who apologized for her nervous rambling. Zak chuckled having gotten use to the scout's oddities.
Zarae smiled taking a sip of her drink and too curious to not ask, "How are you among…?" hands indicating a non drow, and what she guessed was a surface-dwelling race, being among drow, "and speak our tongue so well?"
"Ah that," the tabaxi started her tail moving with her speech, "long story. Doubt we need a sad back story at the moment. Short story, they saved me a few years ago and I have been with them since," motioning to Zak and Umriel specifically. "and yes, I am from the surface. I was in the Promenade and volunteered to help when Lady Aunrae asked for help. Who could pass it up? Visiting this city and res…"
Short story?" Umriel interrupted jokingly, "since when? Be first time."
"Hey. Better to ramble than brood, Miss dark and moody," Jinx retorted back equally joking.
A rod was extended to the new guest and Zarae exchanged her glass for a rod. Zak stepped close to the younger drow showing her how to pose and hit a colored ball. The first shot was air only, then a second shot was taken.
"nice shot," Zak replied as Zarae hit a ball into a hole.
"I mean we should not be surprised, this is one of your people's game. Let me introduce…" Jinx started with excitement in her words, tail giving it away also.
Looking around to the group, and judging their time, "we probably should get started," Kalannar interrupted, "I'd rather be done before this crowd leaves."
Aunrae agreed. She ordered another round of fried rothe strips, using the motions to whisper a spell to protect their privacy. a parchment unfurled with a blueprint of a ship. Markings in drowic were on the edge of the map as were a few unusual symbols. Aunrae and Kalannar laid out the mission, sneak onto a particular slave ship and free the captives, get evidence of the highest in the organization.
Aunrae took lead, "So we have two who will join backing Kalannar up from this side," pointing to back side of the ship. "I need my stealthiest, that you Jinx and Zarae into the captain quarters from the secret door. Word is the captain is a bit of 'let others to the dirty work'. He also has a ledger we need before he has an opportunity to destroy it. It links to the larger organization and the head of it."
"how certain are we of that?" Zak asked.
"our intel. That was why we waited for this specific ship for so long."
"we wont have another shot at one of the leaders again," Kalannar added. "Security measures have increased since the re-opening of the Promenade and many of the slaver organizations have gotten better at slipping past our spies before we can move into position."
"are we not missing three based on this plan? Maya spoke up.
"they are meeting us at the dock tomorrow night. They had something to care for this day. I have already spoken to them," Kalannar replied.
Aunrae continues pointing to Zak and Umriel. "I have Zyne taking this side with your druid friend then Maya will take from the top side with our sorcerer."
The discussion continued for the hour as they worked out various contingency plans for various potentials that could happen, or rather, go wrong. There was most concern that the shipmen might kill their cargo.
As they were talking, the door opened, a cloaked figure stepping into the firelight with a rolled paper in hand. She greeted Aunrae passing the paper discreetly upon flashing the moon shaped pendent on a silver chain. She leaned over to whisper, and not even keen ears could overhear the words. Then as fast as she was in, the female messenger was gone.
As Aunrae read, her face changed into concern but determination.
"what is it," her daughter asked.
"what is the bad news," Jinx asked.
"There has been a change of plans. Hope you didnt plan anything later the next bell cycle." The drow priestess explained the sudden change that was passed to her and the new timing of the ships arrival; it had been moved up by a day and was expected in a few hours. They believed the Reforged Ring caught wind of a mission and hoped to outsmart the Eilistraeens. "thank the Lady for getting us word in time."
Kalannar reading over the message sighed, "we've has gone half through the last bell, so we meet before the next bell," then using the drow silent hand code, signed the name of the dock.
"Let Zyne and his few know the change," Maya spoke to Zak and Umriel as she quickly departed.
The group broke away, leaving only Jinx and Zarae behind in the tavern.
"I already ordered a room," the scout spoke, "come we can prepare there."
Zarae was hesitant but followed as she had few other options. Jinx led the drowess through the nearly invisible door into a hall of 5 doors. Scanning the door and checking for anything suspicious, Jinx unlocked her door and entered first, scanned the room then motioned for the Zarae to enter. The door closed, the tabaxi secured and then set a simple trap alarm on the door before tossing her pouch on one of the beds.
"guess it worked I got a two-bedder. I was just trying to keep appearances," she motioned for the drow girl to take a bed. Jinx then plopped down on her bed.
Zarae, to use to the ways of her people and the Underdark, had to double check the bed for anything suspicious before she even set her pack down.
"satisfied?" the cat asked, "tho I am actually surprised you got this far."
"how do you mean," the elf asked, "you speak as if you knew I was to join you."
"yes and no," biting her lip in thought, "Lady Aunrae suspected you, or someone like you to come. Asked if I'd…" trying to think of how to say the phrase in the language. Elvish was not her first, or second, but she spoke it fluently, most of the time. however, the language barrier often her coming off more blunt than intended. Which added to her tendency to speak before thinking out the best way to say something. "baby-sit? No, wrong word. Watch over you," she tried again upon the grimace from the drow. "I mean if you got a better place? By all means. But we are not too far from the dock here."
"I suspected I would need to earn trust with them," sitting on the bed and rummaging in her pack.
"how come?" Jinx asked, unaware of Zarae's particular history. Most the cat's actual experience had been among the Dark Dancer's followers.
Hesitant to speak about it, and give the wrong impression, "How much you know of my people's ways?"
"I been among the sword dancers for a few years now. I have seen how they have been treated among some of the people of the land," pointing up to imply the surface lands, "And the typical reputation of your race."
"I was one of those people who would have earned such a reputation. I am a drow noble, second house," she paused, a slight sadness in her eyes as they took on a bluish tint, "I was a noble," she corrected, "I have only been among the Dancing Ladies for a short time."
Jinx asked probing questions about the drowess time being among the Eilistraeens.
"I do not regret finding the Dark Maiden. Even if I had no choice to leave. Drow house wars," to the quizzical look of the tabaxi that quickly turned to understanding. "you said you were saved?" Zarae asked remembering the scouts words earlier and turning the subject off her.
"Ah yes. I suppose I can shape the story this time. But I get owed a story in turn?"
"perhaps,"
"I come from across the ocean. Maztica," the tabaxi started with her tale, "we wanted adventure, excitement, travel," a sadness tinging her words and emotions bubbling within, "we, as in me and my best friend Shade. My grandmother was an adventurer. A gift from the Cat Lord; I too was gifted with it but we were too young and inexperienced to realize how dangerous the world was. Tricked, captured, and stolen from my home."
"raided by a rival house I understand all too well."
Confused for a moment, then understood it was a drow experience, "no. Shade and me headed to the city to find a boat to travel across the waters to a land that I heard about. Slavers and poachers thought we would make a great…" trying to think of how to word that they were taken like an animal intended for a zoo, "anyway. We were kept for years, put on display, used to entertain people, treated like an animal or piece of property to do whatever our master and their guest pleased."
"my people are known for enslaving the inferior races. I assume surface races do also?" in her attempt to empathize, Zarae didn't realize her 'inferior' mark was hurtful.
Jinx continued, "Shade and me were able to escape. But it cost him his life and nearly mine."
"so the Ladies saved you by finding you?"
"yes. Bleeding out in the middle of a strange land, expecting to be hunted down since we killed one of so-called caretakers. Two ladies happened to be traveling that night and heard my pain-labored breathing or it might have been a pain-filled groan. They were able to get me back to their shrine and cared for me back to healthy."
"so you stay with them still?"
Before Jinx could continue her story, the door across from the hall slammed startling the two. Both slipping quietly towards the door listen.
Do you know drow sign? Zarae asked in the hand code
Yes but not as good as an elf, Jinx returned in sign, her hand gestures rough and childlike. Also I think that was a good reminder to head to the docks.
Jinx rushed over to the bed and slid out the locker out from under, unlocked and pulled out two shortswords and a well-crafted elven bow. She strapped on her teal and dark brown dyed leather armor and readied to leave.
Zarae pulled her own weapons out of her pack, two black metal sharpened sais and a round metal circular weapon that hooked onto her belt. A bandoleer of dagger was strapped on across her chest and her deep red cloak fixed on her shoulders.
Ready?
To kick some slaver butt? Oh yes," an devilish grin on the drow's face
While navigating through the streets twords the dock, the bell rang, and the two rogues had to pick up the pace, running late. She should have known the dock and warehouse would be on the other side of the city Jinx thought to herself leading the way through the maze of bridges. Twice the path was mistaken and they had to reround the building and change direction.
When the two rogues finally arrived, a group of cloaked figures were waiting, and some of them annoyed.
The first seen cloaked figure finally was spotted in the shadow of the building. The midnight blue piwafwi opened and a leather gloved hand signed for the two to follow. The part in Aunrae's her cloak revealed her ready for battle- dressed in elven mail of adamantine and silver longsword on her hip. Black elven boots muffle her footsteps. Beside her, Kalannar likewise dressed in mithril elven chain, adamantine morning star hanging from his belt, and elven black boots. However a black half-mask with silver threads partially obscured his face.
Decide to take a joy walk? Kalannar signed, his fingers showing his frustration, not only with the two but the entire change in the plans.
A long, enormous warehouse jutted out over the river on the masts of nine half-sunken ships, its belly lined with a thick net of hoists, cables, and lines. The space between the water and building allowed ships to pull into and under the warehouse. Every fifty feet along the floor, trap doors would allow goods to be pulled directly into the building above. Serving as the main trade house of the city, the Nine Bells was the heart of Skullport's rebuilding economy.
Hidden at the far end of the warehouse was an old caravel slaver ship, crimson red sails embroidered with black interlocking rings were being rolled up to hide their association. Several deckhands were meandering about The Renascent. Several of the crew were down below watching with weapons ready, almost as if they were excepting a raid. Four crew were on deck working the rigging for the crates, two were keeping guard while two others were moving large wooden crates and barrels. Aunrae signed to the person behind her having spotted the flash of a dagger inside a parted cloak as they departed the gangplank. The cloaked figure turned down an alley and headed up to a rope bridge road before they were lost to sight. Signals were given for the party to move into place. One of the Eilistraeens enacted an invisibility spell and was climbing a support beam then across one to allow him to be hidden in the rafters overlooking the ship, positioning themselves directly over the iron grate that led to the enslaved cargo below; he determined that there were being kept below in storage and sent a mental message to Kalannar. The guards below were heavily armed and ill at ease. Spider climb spell allowed a group to flank each side of the boat along the wood without being in the dangerous waters.
Aunrae signed the message she'd received, alerting Kalannar to move into place. He also noted that there were less men than expected of a crew, I think a few were "fired" before pulling into port, he signed.
The message from Maya came in; she and her group were in place. Then a message from another until the final signal was received. Like a panther on the prowl, Zak drew a blade across an exposed neck and dropping a watchman silently to the deck. The drow waved for the rest of his group to move in stealth and follow. Maya took on the shape of a bat heading down below through the grate. Aunrae and Kalannar started for the gangplank weapons drawn. Four people on each side of the ship were scrambling up the side and were over the railing.
An arrow thunked into a guard's throat who spotted the first few of the Eilisreaeens on deck. But his gurgled shout was enough to alert the crew. Three from below deck joined into the fray with weapons drawn and shouting that they were under attack. One of the raiders, a dwarf, became visible behind Kalannar, speaking the arcane words to a lightning bolt striking a charging pirate. Soon Kalannar was matching swords with two pirates, one hitting the water with a hard splash. Zarae slipped between the engaged parties and headed twords the front of the ship, the captain's quarters. Jinx was behind, bow cocked with an arrow and aimed for a pirate who noticed them. The door was locked when Zarae arrived and she set her tools to quickly working the tumblers. Two more pirates fell dead and the ship's crew kept coming. Soon they were joined by offshore members of the Reforged Ring, a relatively new criminal slaver gang. Zyne, the dwarf sorcerer, took a crossbow bolt to the shoulder disrupting the spell and dropping him to a knee. Zak was closest, stepped in beside him, joined by Umriel on the dwarf's other side. Swords slashed the shooter down. The couple moved together to the next slaver.
Yanking the bolt with a painful grunt, "did ye think it's go like the plan?" Zyne called as he tried to stand up again, then with difficulty, started the incantation for flame arrows. Severalconjured magical projectiles of flame shot out from his hands to strike down another slaver.
Metal rang all across the ship, arrows wizzing by. More pirates fell and injuries continued to grow. Everyone was engaged in combat. Just then Umriel cried out as a dagger hit her in the joint of her armor. Zak retaliated with splitting the pirate's skull leaving the dwarf vulnerable as he did. And just before a blade ended in Zyne's back, a flaming sword struck to block, Aunrae behind it and drove the enemy's weapon away. A half turn and attempting to avoid the flames, the slaver missed the spiked ball that crashed down into his skull, crumbling the pirate. One the Eilistraeen's was knock down and thrown off the ship managing to pull the pusher with them.
The lock finally click and fell open. Zarae motioned for Jinx to follow as she opened the captain's door. A tall scraggly haired male stood behind a terrified tattooed older woman, his blade on her throat. She was begging for her life, tears pouring down her dirty face. Her ankle was chained to the bedpost and her shirt torn.
As the two edge closer the dagger dug a little deeper on the terrified woman's throat. "I'll do it," he warned, "I know her real worth."
Zarae signed behind her back to take the left and she'd take right. Jinx's arrow remained aimed at the captain
He noted the girls were not understanding the prisoners use, "In fact, I'll inform you of her value, if…"
"You sure I cant drop you before that blade moves," Jinx growled in the common language.
"you think it is worth the chance? Can you move faster than my hand?" the blade digging in a bit and drawing blood.
"last chance," the tabaxi called pulled on the drawstring of her bow. Zarae using the shadows cast by the candles called upon the magic of the darkness and vanished from visible sight. The old captain was startled by the sudden loss of sight of the drow and pulled the woman closer, who cried out as the blade started drawing a red line. He shifted back and forth on his feet trying to find the invisible girl while keeping eyes on the armed cat woman, "alright, how about …"
Then the blade he held dropped as a dagger from the shadow cut into his wrist. Jinx released the arrow into his knee while Zarae pushed the woman out of range of the weapons. Before he could say anything or cry out another weapon was on his own throat, the drow daring him to fight her so she could slid the fine edge across his neck.
The sounds of metal ringing on metal stopped. Kalannar, blood splattered on his face and armor, entered into the captain's quarters followed by Aunrae. The older woman was cowering, arms covering his head but the chain held her captive still. With back up, Jinx lowered her bow to head over to free the captive. Zarae held the dagger tight on the captain's throat while he struggled to maintain a hand on his bleeding wrist. The priestess walked over to take control of the prisoner but Zarae was slow to allow him to go. She thought it best to just kill him there, Kalannar signing he 'agreed but they need to get information from him first', appealing to the pragmatic nature of his fellow drow. Reluctantly the rogue loosened the blade to turn the prisoner over.
Kalannar led Captain Favian out onto the deck where half the crew were tied up; they gave up quickly. Those laying on the floor, dead or dying had refused surrender. Each one of them was branded with the Reforged Ring symbol, knowing they would suffer much worse from their leader than with the honorable Eilistraeens. Maya lead thirty-two prisoners from below up onto the deck. Below the people had been crowded and packed into a small room and chained together. They were sickly malnourished, some severely injured, and all completely terrified. Several of the Eilistraeen were set to work releasing them from their chains. Many of these people had been fleeing war and were captured or tricked onto the ship to be sold. Others tried to buy passage and was then held captive. Each were branded with the Ring's symbol to mark their slave status. Many bore marks of punishment or their failure to escape. Clerics were at work on the sickest and closest to death, healing and restoring life. After each was chain-free Zak lead them off ship into the warehouse proper.
The ship captain, now chained and secured, was roughly forced to sit on a barrel as Kalannar stood over him.
"I suggest you start talking."
The captain laughed nervously, as he looked around at each rescuer and his remaining crew. He lifted his bleeding arm up requesting healing. Kalannar stared, an unspoken, talk first then healing might come.
A shaky sigh, feeling weak from blood loss and left with no other options, "alright. Before…" the captain started when suddenly his throat exploded from his neck with a large magical energy spear replacing it. Before he hit the deck another energy spear flew striking the secured first mate. The Eilistraeen drow took cover unsure where the sniper was coming from. the older woman Eris, followed by Jinx, who'd been in stepped into the captain quarter's door way just as another energy spear came flying from the shadows. Umriel quick thinking and with supernatural speed dove in front of the woman taking the missile designated for her. Jinx somehow acting on instinct pulled herself and Eris down to the floor as a drow woman was taking a spear to the chest.
The sniper growled in frustration; the cloaked figure behind him screaming obscenities. On mission to get the tattooed woman, dead or alive, she was not to fall into anyone else's hands. And the captain was not to talk no matter what, dead or alive.
The sniper stepped back shrugging to the figure behind him, "I did what I could. The Slave Shelter are better prepared than we thought."
"get out of here," the cloaked one growled, snatching the weapon.
Hands up in surrender incase the volatile person changed their mind, the sniper stepped back, not turning his back to the figure. Another growl of frustration, the figure half turned to the sniper, eyes narrowed, then pulled forth the jingling pouch and tossed it to him. The sniper tipped his head in thanks, a fake smirk on his face, then disappeared from the scene. The cloaked figure likewise disappeared from the spot as they saw what was coming.
"there!" Kalannar called as he released a bolt of black energy the direction the sniper was. The sniper, however, was gone before the bolt reached the location. Blasting apart barrels and crates. But nothing was there. Aunrae rushed over to Umriel who was stone dead from the spear. She tried calling on the Lady but the magic failed in the moment. the older woman was so shook up she couldn't voice her words at what just happened; she fell to her knees sopping. Aunrae rocked the dead Umriel, her own tears falling.
Jinx laid there a moment, unsure what just happened, before she hopped up to her feet; offering a hand to Eris, the sobbing woman could barely manage to reach up. Jink walked Eris off the ship to join the clerics healing the former captives before heading back to the ship. Eris still trembling managed to ask, "have you seen my Sheba? My daughter. Is she safe?"
Zyne, the dwarf, was returning from below, unaware of the Umriel's death, "so how do we split this? Dibs on firing up the ship," he cackled, then with no verbal jabs returned, caught the expressions of the people, "whaddid I miss?" confused until his eyes caught sight of Aunrae and Umriel. "no..." trying to catch a breath and hold back emotions, "you gotta bring her back. She cant be gone."
Kalannar with several of his men lead the prisoners off the ship, "take these men to the Lowfellows," he barked orders, his expression tightening, "get the rest of the bodies off. Destroy this ship. We are sending a message."
Several of the Dark Ladies were taking Umriel off ship to be joined by the other losses of the Eilisraeens. Several were severely injured, three laid dead, and four unconscious, including the few who'd fallen from the deck. Two of the priestesses was kneeling and healing those they could save.
Jinx was followed by Zyne as they re-entered the captain quarters. "what else has been checked?" the tabaxi scout asked, then looked to Zyne to explain, "she's looting the captain's room," thumb pointing over her shoulder. "I can…um, loot the other rooms."
"loot? Really? That is your thought?" the sorcerer asked.
"what do you want me to call it?"
"remind me to have Filfaere give you some lesson in tact," then leaned over to whisper, "I doubt the Ladies would like you to call it that. Makes it sound like we did this for the goodies."
"ah. Note taken," she whispered back, "I mean, 'not steal while rambling through their stuff'," obviously poorly covering.
Zyne just shook his head helplessly. One day he's get that cat better trained in her words. Maya came up behind Zyne and Jinx to see what was being found.
When the tabaxi saw her, "Sheba?" Jinx asked, "was she…?"
Maya shook her head sadly, "She was killed before port. The iblith tossed her overboard when they were leaving. Needed to teach the other a lessons," anger rising in druidess' voice. When Maya cursed, it was serious.
"she say anything else?" the dwarf asked about Eris, "why she was separated at least or why any of this?" Zyne's own anger rose as he considered the freed slaves and their ordeal.
"we'll talk back at the manor," Maya replied, "let us…'loot'" using Jinx phrasing, "and see what we can discover about this Captain Favian, the lady, and the Ring."
Meanwhile Zarae shuffle through the papers, riffled through the ledgers, shoving the important looking documents into a bag. A parchment was covering a gold-plated letter opener that slid into the bag, along with papers and books. Something about the piece called to her as did a few other random items in the desk. The chest hidden in the floor only had a few bags of coins and the captain himself only had a few pieces of jewelry that was worth anything. About to join the other drow, a carving in the side of the wooden bed frame caught her sight. Securing the bag she knelt down to study the carving. At first glance it looked like a stylized lizard or even a dragon as if from below or above while it flew. Fingers tracing the groove, then suddenly remembered one of the parchments. Dumping the bag, with all the random odds she's collected and the papers, she flipped through til she came across a letter with the symbol. The language was not one she knew recognized. But she thought she picked out a name, Helmyn Yupu.
Helmyn Yupu walked down the corridor, or rather limped, silently cursing at the turn of events. The older tortle taken a partial hit from a magic bolt. Another string of curses as she closed the door behind her and sat hard onto the soft chair. Everything had been going surprisingly good. Her spy had prewarned her and she was close to beating them bleeding heart, slave shelter, meddling Eilistraeens. She just needed to get that fortune teller and she would have been set. She didn't even need the human alive. The tattoos covering her body would have been enough. This set her organization back many months' worth of work. Helmyn rubbed her temple trying to rid the headache that was building.
This had been the closest to her goal. The clue would point her in the direction of the Vale of Dreams. Most would have assumed that she sought it for her personal gain; but they not known the depth of her devotion, her zealousness to the dream, the being who showed her a new and glorious way. Granted her purpose, power and vision. A vision of the primordials overthrowing the so called Toril gods and bringing back the true gods of the worlds. The saviors and recreators of this glorious new world dethroning those who are the cause of so much pain and suffering; for it was they who caused the Spellplague, who allowed these evil forces and beings, who care nothing for the people and do not deserve to be worshiped. Her purpose, to awakened the beast that will bring this divine destruction, to awaken the tarrasque, create the apocalypse and bring forth a better world. The primordials came to her in her dreams, chose her to be their piece.
A knock brung her from her reminiscing, and a snarl warning the one on the other side that this was not the time. But the intruder did not get the message, continued knocking. The door slammed open to a tall male, human enough looking, with only his pupilless pale golden eyes giving away his plane-touched heritage. He threw back the hood of his cloak revealing silvery blond shoulder length hair and a suave smile. The man did not notice or did not care when the tortle woman gave him the iciest cold glare.
"you told me to report back as soon as I had information,"
"Unless it is about that fortune teller in our grasp, I doubt it will be worth my time."
"your assassin did the task. Favian wont speak a word. His mate neither."
"those fools get everything?"
"bad news first or good news?" he teased despite her growing fury.
She hated working with the aasimir, his so-called celestial blood was by no mean carried over to his morals. But that was what she needed. Someone slippery to get into places she could not, "speak. I tire of your face," she spat.
"very well. Yes, we lost all the documents in the burning and pillaging. But I doubt they know what they got…"
"doubt or know?"
"Let me correct, my dear lady of dour, they do not know about the translations of the runes nor the meaning of the tattoos..."
"yet" Helmyn mumbled under her breath. She wasn't optimistic about them not discovering something more happening.
"Their focus is freeing people and caring for the injured. I doubt they care considering we got another ship scheduled the next day. That will keep them busy from looking into it too deeply at the moment which is what we need. My assassin is hunting down Eris as we speak. If she does speak out, they are well behind us in this race." A purposeful pause testing the tortle's nerves.
"Now, the information you care about: we got some of the pictures from our mole. And runic markings from their head. And we manage to take one of their clerics…"
That dropped a bit of the scowl on Helmyn's face.