6 Nighthal
The outside of the home was dingy looking, peeling paint revealing the refurbished ship wood; the rebar enforced windows provided no view of the inside due to thick curtains of black fabric. A heavy darkened wooden door held a single round window of translucent glass, it was too curtained to block any spying inside. But the looks were deceiving, and the inside was as lush as a manor on the surface. Tapestries lined the walls, interspersed with paintings and shelves of small sculptures that was clearly child made. Three plump chairs of soft fabric and a comfy couch circled a short table stacked with open tomes and used mugs. A table with four seats divided the room and marked the beginning of the kitchen. A drow male at the stove turned to greet the newest visitors, his oven mitted hand holding a pot of steaming stew filled the room with its delicious smell. An open door led to a hall that held three more doors. At the counter next to the cabinet was Maya, pulling out a set of plates. Jinx smiled nervously as her entrance into the home alerted the children who came streaming out one of the rooms to welcome the visitors.
"Am I late?" the tabaxi glancing around the room with a quick scan, "and I brought one of Cal's best," handing a bottle of elven wine to Maya after bowls were on the counter. "smells delicious."
"no worries. My mother is upstairs. Zak is taking Unriel back to the Promenade, as the other priestess are guiding the former slave to the surface, up to Waterdeep."
"How is Zak holding up?"
"about as can be expected."
Maya handed the bowls to Jinx to set on the table. The male drow cleared his throat as the drowlings stood there.
"this is Nashin," Maya introduced the male who'd been cooking, then the two children, "Seldszen our firstborn, and our daughter Xuna."
The boy, who looked like a 13-year-old human in age, was just like his mother in looks and built like his father, on the shorter side with untamable hair. The girl looking closer to three or four was just like her father in looks. Seldszen waved but was more focused on what was to be his bowl of stew. Xuna was shy and hiding behind her mother's leg while watching the stranger.
"They said you wanted to stay longer among us?" Maya asked.
"yes. That pirate said something of interest and couldn't get it out of my head. I've heard stories about…"
The main door opened again to Zarae entering sheepishly, knowing she was late, as was her tendency.
"I had reasons," Zarae started when Maya raised a snowy brow at her in mock upset.
"was it glistening in the Gloom light?" Maya then chuckled but motioned for her to join with Jinx who was taking a seat at the table.
The comment got a blush from Zarae; stories of her bad habits must have made it here too. "Did Lady Helvighym say something?"
"She might have mentioned it to mother about hiding particular items when you were around. A story about a chest filled with random items not belonging to you?"
"I can explain," Zarae started, then shook her head, "ok maybe I cant explain. But it is not entirely my fault."
Maya just shook her head as the male drow began pouring rothe and vegetable stew into bowls. The drowlings took their seats at the table, watching the newest stranger as they were introduced again.
Xuna started with a barrage of questions to the tabaxi who sat beside her, "you are like the cats of the temple? But you walk on two legs. And you wear clothes?"
"Xuna!" her mother apologized for her to Jinx who only laughed at the innocent girl's questions.
"my people bear resemblance to them. much like humans can bear resemblance to apes."
"oh!" the girl responded, then, glance to her father, "what is ape?"
Everyone chuckled as Nashin attempted to explain. Zarae studied the children's behavior. Or how they didn't fear or hold back their thoughts. They were not punished for speaking, or even looking at their mother unbidden. Mostly, how the children's mother was opposite everything she remembered of her own mother and drowling years. The drow rogue didn't understand the pain of emotion welling in her chest or see the slight change of hue in her eyes. Maya caught on, giving her daughter a hug. While Maya didn't grow up like most drow did, as her mother was loving and kind, she heard the stories from her mother's life who struggled while raising Maya.
"By the grace of the Dark Maiden we can break the cycle of our families into better than we had."
While talking Maya missed a small hand reaching up to grab a tiny crimson moss cakes with cave jelly. Nashin softly smacked her hand reminding her, dessert after supper.
"But something is going to eat that hand," Maya in loving way leaned over to her daughter who giggled with her mother pretending to eat her hand.
Stew dished out and a plate of mushroom flour bread passed around, Aunrae headed down to join the group around the table. She pointed at Xuna, knowingly but unseriously, only eliciting another giggle from the girl.
"bel'la dos, thank you for meeting here. Let us eat then talk when these 2," indicating her grandkids, "are out of the room."
"why cant I ever participate. I am not a drowling!" Saldszen whined.
"you are not proving that now," Maya reprimanded, "but you know the dangers. Especially with this recent mission. I promise you will be allowed when the time and age is right."
The boy huffed, but couldn't argue. He's heard and seen enough the dangers they could get into with the rival groups of the city. Even heard about Umriel's death during the latest mission. He knew his parents were trying to protect him but it seam unfair he could not help yet. He's begun training with his father, learning to wield a sword. The growl from his stomach distracted him enough to forget it and dig into his stew, bringing forth a large potato-like veggie to his lips.
The group ate while several stories were told, Jinx eagerly telling stories of her homeland and the famous adventurer of her tribe, her grandmother. As eagerly as she told, she expected stories from everyone also. Zarae listened but kept her personal stories to herself apart from answering a few questions the tabaxi asked. Most her first three decades were painful to recall, and the hurt of losing her twin brother was still raw despite the years it had been. Living on the streets after her house destruction wasn't anything to glamorize either. The things she did to survive she wanted to forget, not relive them. She was willing to speak a little about coming to live with the Eilistraeens in Lith My'Athar after Jinx spoke more about her time among the followers of the Dark Maiden. Aunrae told of her own time before finding the Dark Dancer. She was once a priestess in a mid-ranked house of Maerimydra, under her older sister, the matron; that was until the city fell to fire giant occupation. An alliance of many organizations would eventually succeed in the liberation of Maerimydra from its former occupants. It was then Aunrae was exposed to the message of Eilistraee and chose to follow her. She mentioned the loss of her husband, but did not elaborate further. Nashin explained his former life as a slave, his escape and freedom from Menzoberranzan, meeting Aunrae, his career as a chef, meeting and falling in love with Maya and eventually to their two children.
Bowls were emptied, dessert filling children's bellies, Aunrae called for the group to move onto the serious matters. Seldszen took a small meal to the woman resting upstairs after they heard her awake and moving around. The children in their rooms, and everyone gathered around the short table in the living room, Maya chose to start the discussion with a recap the fate of the recused slaves, another evening's night raid on a slave ship, the losses and what they discovered about the ship's employers. One of the other priestess had lead a group for the next slave ship rescue, that occurred the next night.
"what of the old injured woman in the top cabin?" Jinx asked less tactfully than she intended, "I saw how bad she was before we got her out."
A glance around to confirm the children's doors were closed, Aunrae chose to speak next. "physically healed. The rest will take time," she answered. A long pause, tone serious, "But this is not over. Two nights ago, we barely stopped what we can only assume was the sniper determining to finish his job."
"what happened?" the tabaxi asked very concerned.
"we managed to stop an assassin. Unfortunately they got away."
"and we don't believe this will stop. Someone is determined to get Eris," Maya added. "pretty sure they are watching our house. Waiting for us to move her."
"what are yall planning to do?" Zarae inquired.
"our best chance is a decoy. But that is not what we wanted to meet about. I got my fellow priestesses working on this. I called yall," Aunrae pointing to the two, "about something else."
Maya took her turn to speak again, "Eris told me that a very dangerous group is searching for a legendary place. Something we do not want them finding. Believed her position as fortune teller gave her a means, clue or map about it. She wasn't entirely sure about that."
Jinx's curiosity peaked and her tail began swishing, unable to hide the excitement.
"was any of this about the papers we got? I thought I saw a name?" the drow rogue asked.
A nod, "This Cult, we believe is calling itself 'The Coming Chaos'. they are looking for the Vale of Shadowed Dreams."
Nashin spoke, "dare we ask what the Cult is after if they find this place?" a small bit of sarcasm; considering the amount of cult that rise up and try to make a name for themselves only to die out. He didn't think they were something to worry about. But the Cult's determination in getting the elderly woman was something they had to deal with.
"that is where Eris was fuzzy about. She could only recall hearing 'tarrasque' and a few names: Helmyn Yupu and Bevurth Ossabish. She thought the phrase 'Waker of the Beast' was a title or position."
"you think this Cult wants something with this mythical beast or they think the place has the beast?" Jinx asked.
"or are these 2 different goals?" Nashin added for them to consider.
"what is the human have in this?" Zarae asked. "why this place? What is it?"
Aunrae unfurled a parchment with runic shapes and scribbles next to them. Others were crossed out and some had naturally faded or been partially erased as if trying to figure out a puzzle or formula. One rune on the paper specifically resembled a tattoo Eris had on her forearm, that Jinx pointed out. More of the parchments were laid on the table, each person grabbing one to study.
Jinx set her sheet down, "you didn't answer what the Vale was?"
"Legend tells of the Vale of Shadowed Dreams sought by adventurers for centuries. The most common claim is it is on another plane or within its own dreamscape. Other tales say the Vale is in an exotic faraway continent or a place only the ancient elves know of. Whatever or wherever, the myths say its sacred pool contains the power to make dreams reality. Other stories claim is makes the drinker a god; some say it grants a wish or gives all knowledge or unlimited power," the priestess recalled, "but the use of it comes at a great cost to the person who drinks from it."
"so the Cult thinks it has access or new found knowledge" Maya added, "something none has done in millennia."
"that is the thought. Centered around Eris and these runes and the markings on her body."
"you thinks she has a key, or maybe a map piece actually carved or inked into her skin?" inquired Jinx.
Nashin, fingers tapping his charcoal chin, "Still doesn't connect to the tarrasque. Not unless…" thinking aloud.
"what if they want the power or ability to awaken the beast?" the rogue finished.
"that is what I was thinking too," Aunrae confirmed.
Jinx sat back on the couch, fingers interlocked on her lap, "are we hunting the Cult or the location? Either way, you got my interest. I've always wanted to find a mythical location."
"maybe we do both." Zarae still studying the parchment in her hands. "That way we hedge the bets. We get the information to stop them if they find the place.
"what of the tattoos and runes? What do they speak of?"
"And how did she get the marks when no one else has found anything on it?"
"That is what we are wanting to find out. I have two people in mind that can start you on a path to looking into this. And at the least, stop the Cult"
"who you thinking of?" the druidess asked, "Lyra?"
Aunrae nodded, "she is a skilled diviner. With a specialty in mythical lore." Aunrae explaining her previous connection with this diviner, an elf from Maerimydra. "Fin'are Nhaendrin is knowledgeable about ancient locations. He is very old, even for our kind and has seen the rise and falls of many civilizations. I think he can point you a direction to look."
"supplies? More company?" Zarae inquired.
"I planned to supply yall with some equipment, and Zyne will be waiting for your arrival. He is a skilled sorcerer and one of my good friends."
"the dwarf?"
A nod from Maya while her mother was writing on a piece of parchment. Nashin had began cleaning up while the ladies finished planning. A chest was pulled out of a hidden trap door in the wall. Inside were a few pieces of equipment of high quality, including magical jewelry, travel gear, potions, and a few scrolls. When all the research papers and gathered information was stored in a bag of holding, Aunrae. Pulled forward another chest. Jinx was gifted with an amulet of non-detection, a better piwafwi, and a set of drowcraft swords to go with her elven bow. Zarae was given a ring of protection, a cloak of displacement, and bracers of unending daggers to replace her bandolier of daggers. A set of sending stones went into the bag, followed by a rod, a wand and several potions. Both were then made sure to have the general adventuring supplies plus odds and ends- bag of ball bearing, expendable pole, sovereign glue and universal solvent. What wasn't seen by the priestess entering a pouch was an engraved silver 6" rod that Zarae was sure calling out to her. The older priestess handed a parchment of names, contacts and people she had in various cities. Inside was a special token, a pendent sword set atop of a full moon with filigree around it crafted from mithril and set with a couple gems. If there was doubt about their loyalties amongst any of the contacts, this would prove their words.
Before they were leaving, Maya put out a hand at the young drowess. Zarae sheepishly handed over a mithril bracelet, and a several pieces of silverware.
Incredulously, "how? when did you find the time?" the tabaxi had to ask after laughing. They hadn't been joking about the sticky fingers.
The two head out of the manor making their way for the High Tide, the largest alehouse and entered by invitation only. Perfumed soaked cloths covered their nose and mouth to mitigate the ever-present stench of Skullport; something they learned from the native inhabitants. The streets were calm, less Skulkers out and about compared to their earlier trek through the streets. A skull shaped silhouette floated across the street above, grinning before moving on. A few turns and up a catwalk, the girls headed into another ward of the city. Rounding a corner was the two-story building built atop a brewery on the level below. The wooden sign with a mug above a stylized wave indicated this was the High Tide. The dark red wood door opened as a grey dwarf exiting. He tripped on the doorway too tipsy to catch himself before falling and rolling onto the rope-log bridge. The moving weight bounced the bridge, but the agile girls kept balance. Walking up to the fallen patron, Jinx rolled the dwarf over, making sure he didn't slip off the bridge to the stone street below. Zarae helped her, using the movement to check a pocket for anything important. Another grey dwarf was standing in the door laughing at his buddy's antics, "He asked for it," to the girl's concern. He walked up to the fallen companion, grabbing him under the arm and hoisting him up to lean on him.
Shaking her head, the drow continued on inside the tavern followed by the tabaxi. A goliath stopped them before they got far inside, asking for their invitation. Before either rogue could speak, a familiar dwarf voice was vouching for the two, "hoy! they are with me, right 'ere," showing the documentation; the goliath nodded in acknowledgment, and they were allowed further inside. Zyne motioned the girls to follow him twords a back table. The aromatic scents of brewing ale, toasted malts, and boiling hops banished the worst of the reeking funk wafting from the Sargauth river, a relief when they removed their face cloths. The residual heat from its kettles and fermenters kept the alehouse more comfortable than many of the city's other taverns. Deep booths and secluded tables fill the pub, purposely built to discourage eavesdropping. Half these booths were full of predominantly wealthy patrons deep in conversations. Neither of the girls attracted unwanted attention, as Skullport was know for its wild array of races. An unassuming kobold was clearing tables, not given a second glance by anyone. As Zarae followed, she mentally noted each person, marked doors and window and especially every visible and potential weapon.
Zyne was seated after both the girls slid into the booth, then waved over a waitress.
"the brews are the finest in all of Undermountain; or at least the outrageous prices seam to imply."
A skinny well-built brunet halfling walked over after seeing the dwarf having his guest arrive. "what we having?" she asked preparing to write the orders. Three ales were ordered and set before each in relatively short order.
"how did you get in?" Jinx asked after a long gulp of her drink. Zarae was inspecting the liquid, dipping a pinkie in and testing it to test for poison.
"aye, don't ye worry. Elenor takes care of me," waggling his eyebrows, "I tip her well too," his comment directed to the suspicious drow. The black bearded dwarf leaned over with a poor attempt to whisper an answer the question, "it aint just me good looks. I gots some family wealth. If ye didn't notice, low class aint allowed in. but ye got enough…" thumb rubbing fingers to imply the word 'coin'. Then lifted his mug in a slight tip twords the girls before draining half of it in one gulp, then wiping the foam off his mustache. "Lady 'A' said ye be needing help and I been needing to get out of this city, get the road under me feet again. Plus," a little pride in his words, "everyone needs a good mage when adventuring."
"Know of any?" Jinx jesting.
"harr harr," he mocked, then rolled his eyes. "she told me a little. got ye'selves a mission to find a myth."
Zarae looked around to make sure no one was easedropping.
"don't ye worry, these booths specially crafted to prevent that. But if concerned, we can speak in code."
"What do you know?" the drowess asked in a lower voice.
Zyne's meal finally arrive, offering a portion to the girls, which they declined having ate not too long ago. "ye're loss," shovelling a large bite into his mouth. While he ate they spent the next half hour informing each other of the job, what they were going to be looking for and their hypothesis for the Cult's true purpose. The dwarf had heard about some dream place of wishes once before. But never thought much more of it. Now a dangerous organization was seeking and potentially close to finding something like that was something to take seriously now. after sharing information, Zyne asked about the old woman. He heard it been too dangerous to get her out with the other refugees to Waterdeep.
"An assassin?" he voice a little too loud, then repeated at a lower tone, "an assassin is still after her? wow. This Cult aint playing around are thee?"
"they are worried the house is being watched, waiting to leave," Jinx informed.
"and she's still imprisoned," the drowess remarked offhandedly.
"huh?" the dwarf's questioning look.
"I mean. She cant leave then she is basically in another prison," not explaining her thinking. The thought came from remembering being locked in rooms, forced to do her studies or forced to train for being a proper drow woman noble.
"better treated!" Zyne slightly offended at an implication that the human woman was being kept as a prisoner, "not chained up or being tortured."
"I apologize. I meant nothing like that."
They sat for about ten minutes saying nothing before Jinx had enough of it, "so how we traveling? Where we traveling?" breaking the silence.
The plate was slid to the edge of the table letting the waitress to know he'd finished. "I got me 'friend'," hands doing air quotes on the word friend, "at the docks able to book us passage on a ship. But…" thinking more about it," travel to the Promenade and use a portal might be an idea..." he didn't want to travel by ship and really didn't want to owe a favor that would be requested.
Zarae finally sipped her drink, making a face of disgust and slid it to Zyne, preferring sweet wine instead, "I suggest visiting Lyra first. She was searching for Finare's exact location and would message us when she could."
"that would be a no-brainer," the dwarf commented under his breath. "she give a place for this Lyra?"
"said Lyra was most likely in," Zarae trying to recall the unfamiliar surface city, "I remember she said it was in eastern Calisham."
"oh! I think it was something raven," Jinx interjected, she too unfamiliar with the name of the city, "I remember it had a bird name."
Zyne chuckled, "Almraiven?"
"I think so."
Thinking again about it, "aye. Know how far Calisham is from here? Ye definitely want to use a portal to cut the distance." A silent sigh of relief to not needing to use the ship. There were shrines down in the southern kingdoms and thus could put them close to the country.
"actually," Zarae started, "I have not been on the surface before. So I have no idea."
Zyne coughed over his drink.
Jinx also confessing, "I am not from this country, or continent. My time across the ocean has been with limited freedom. The followers that found me called the forest Yuirwood. We used a portal to a temple before traveling here to Skullport. I was down in the deepest part of the ship that went through the sea caves."
The sorcerer dwarf coughed again from ale in his throat. Blinking rapidly twice while he stared at both the girls in front of him. "Seriously?" then grumbled a few words in dwarvish.
Jinx shrugged as there wasn't much else she could say.
"it takes many tendays to get that far south. I don't want to walk that far. If we want to take a portal, need to take a boat on the river to the temple"
"how long to get to the promenade?"
"it's about a day to day and half travel through the winding tunnels; we can cut that in half by boat," Zyne informed.
Stammering out a response, "I…um…would prefer…not taking… water path," Jinx did not want to admit her hydrophobia. But she couldn't hide the panic in her teal eyes. Her tail was swishing in agitation and she was starting to become short of breath. The dwarf stared at the cat for a long moment, putting together her previous comment about being in the deep part of the ship. Then with a silent understanding between them, he agreed travel by tunnel might be best despite the time. He'd just need to meet up with a friend to guide them there.
Zyne lead Jinx and Zarae to a small building in the top layer of the city. It was a simple unadorned building of stone. No signs hung displaying its purpose, no catwalks leading directly to the building. Outward appearance it appeared to be a set of apartments. Jinx spotted a sigil, thieves cant code at the bottom of the door. Zyne knocked on the door in a unique pattern, carefully hiding as much as possible from being viewed. Within a minute, the door opened. The inside opened to a long corridor with several doors. A half drow male dressed in simple green and brown leathers nodded acknowledgment to the dwarf then lead the three to the middle door.
The aasimir had a hard time following the group, but his numerous spies managed to pick up the trail when they left the High Tide. Payment did wonders in convincing tongues to wag, spilling information. Another customer of the alehouse, ally of Brom, managed to pay enough for the waitress to relay the next destination of the group he was asking about; when it was conveyed to the aasimir, he cursed knowing he couldn't follow. The woman extended a hand for her payment. He handed over the pouch and dismissed the woman. He'd need a person already within. He had a few ideas just who to blackmail into it. The mole who had been blackmailed before. But wasn't sure he wanted to risk it; it been too soon and suspicion was on the rise. Too much had been on the line with this network. No, he had better idea. Brom turned down the bridge and climbed up to a staircase, returning to his base and down to the cellar below.
Chained to the center of the floor by its neck was a black female wolf, laying there with an expression of defeat and resignation. She didn't even look up when the door opened, just closed her eyes waiting for whatever the aasimir planned next. Usually, it was humiliation before a mission that went against everything she stood for; assassinations were his favorite tasks for her, knowing full well how much this special wolf abhorred killing.
"ah my pretty pet. I think you will do," he started casting a spell that sent magical sparks into the thick spiked slave collar. This was the usual pattern when she was to be forced on a mission of murder. The wolf growled upon realization of his intent and tried to lunge at him, only to get a full dose of electrical pain through her body dropping her to the floor.
"you should know better by no my pup. How many times must we go through this? Hmm?" then laughed. "I will give you a reprieve. For I am merciful, am I not?"
A soft whine as his magic flowed over her forcing her to her paws.
"there is a group of adventurers I need you to follow and report back on. Just a simple spying job."
It never was a simple job, much less just spying. she could handle the usual ruffians he spied on, shady people and those up to evil deeds. His tone, demeanor and attitude was too different. This wouldn't be the usual. A sadness in the wolf's eyes knowing she'd have to obey. Up on her hunches, the chain clanked to the floor. But she couldn't and wouldn't strike out.
Holding a rough sketch of several people, "good girl. Now, this is who you are to spy and report back to me on."