23 nightal
Ariali returned as quiet as when she'd left. Deep in thought, she missed the dark elf watching her. The lythari sat on the floor against the wall, head on her knees and arms wrapped around her. It was still before dawn, though the moon had fallen from sight no longer casting it light in through the window. The only sounds were the dwarf's snoring and the mumbling of the tabaxi tossing and turning in her sleep. Tahlethar and Zarae also found reverie difficult too, the curse of nightmares still plaguing them, causing them to relive their worst moments.
The cleric startled awake, trying to clear his mind of the images. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he found his heart racing. Legs dangled over the side of the top bunk, as he sat there attempting to ground himself in the present. A few deep breaths to steady himself, a reminder he was not back in that dell. He silently dropped to the floor, heading for where the pitcher had been. Realizing it had been used as a warning system, he silently chuckled at the drowess' work. He quietly moved the ceramic jug, but the ball bearing rang against the metallic coins. The elf grimaced; he saw amber eyes peering up from burgundy hair. Tahlethar mouthed to her he was going out, then stepped out of the room. He wanted to be outside before daybreak to pray for his spells under the starlight. Ariali gave an understanding nod.
Zarae kept still, though awoken from her own nightmares when the cleric departed the room. Closing her eyes, she saw the face of her twin brother, his terror forever etched in her mind. The collapsing stones falling all around them. Shouts of battle, the slaughter occurring on the floor above. Looking back to him when his grip on her hand lessoned, he was suddenly gone. The ground shook again, throwing her to the stone floor. They barely missed her, a particularly large stalactite clipping her shoulder. She screamed for him as she scrambled to her feet in desperation, her shoulder basically hanging useless, her other arm covering the opened wound. The sounds of the fight were drawing closer. Lightning struck and balls of fire thundered. Clanging ring of weapons, the cries of command, curses thrown at the enemy, and the screams of death. Another explosion rocked the drow castle, throwing more debris down around her and partially burying her.
The rogue sat up, legs over the side of the bed as she rubbed her face. Eyes locked with the lythari who momentarily looked up about to ask, but the glare from the drowess advised her to keep quiet. Zarae quietly departed the room, only to be met with the wood elf at the end of the hall, sitting cross-legged on a cushioned chair. The drowess only wanted a few minutes to herself, not deal with the faerie elf's accusatory glares, snide remarks, or condescending attitude. Shyael opened her eyes to the dark elf exiting. A few rude thoughts crossed the young drowess' mind, but she kept them to herself. The wood elf was able to pick up the meaning from the look the drow given her.
The rogue splashed her face at the makeshift sink made from a large metal bowl and pitcher. A glance at the mirror, the dark elf noticed the exhaustion showing in her face. She needed to find a cure to the curse sitting on them. Scanning the room, there were no windows she, despite her lean build, could slip out; just stalls with chamber pots, the counter with bowl and pitchers, and two small wash tubs. And the tub was not inviting. Maybe there was a bathhouse in the city she could also visit. Days on the road, a nice hot bath sounded good.
Jinx awoke in a jolt unable to catch her breath; she pawed at her throat still feeling the water filling her lungs. The distress caught Ariali's attention. She hurried over to lay a soothing hand over the tabaxi's shoulder. Jinx was not seeing the present. She jerked from the perceived threat, rolling and falling to the floor, tangled in her blanket. Golden eyes caught the cat's unfocused teal orbs as her head broke free of the fabric. Hitting the floor was enough to fully awaken her from the darkness of the past. Ariali apologized, explaining her concern.
The small commotion from the scout was enough to prompt the dwarf to consciousness. He grumbled incoherently about floating cities and giant cucumbers. It elicited a small chuckle from Ariali and distracted Jinx from her nightmare. The ranger helped the scout to her paws then sat on the lower bunkbed beside the tabaxi.
"you're rather pleasant in the morning," the dwarf mumbled as he sat up in the cot, swinging his shorter legs over and attempting to find the floor. The dwarf stretched exaggeratedly, noting two missing elves, "they eatin' without us!" in fake protest. When he caught sight of the tabaxi's ragged appearance, "another one of those nights?" he asked.
She just nodded, not up for chatting about it.
"Ye need to be seein' someone about this."
"I am sure we could seek out clerics of the elven deities," Ariali agreeing with Zyne. She too wanted freedom from this. She was sick from seeing Brom's smug face every time her eyes closed.
"Come on ye furball," the dwarf attempting to jest with the tabaxi, "let's join them before they eat everything."
"I want to stop by the washroom real quick. Meet yall at the table down there."
Shyael grew concerned about the time the drowess spent in the washroom, thinking she was attempting an escape or planning one. Before the wood elf got up to her feet, Zarae exited the room, the dark expression still on her face.
"Let us get breakfast," the comment dripping with sarcasm as Zarae knew the wood elf was mostly there for her than her companions.
It was quiet downstairs. The inn had only a few actual guests staying, and they were all still sleeping. A deeply tanned gnome was cleaning the taproom, startled when he saw the drow walking in from the staircase. Shyael following calmed the gnome.
"She must be one of the unusual guests?" the gnome asked. He'd gotten a note about some new visitors to the city, an odd bunch. But the letter said nothing about a dark elf. "Breg has some twisted humor," he mumbled under his breath.
Zarae sat at the counter watching the gnome finish clearing a table. He tucked the washcloth into his belt as he carried the plates to the back. Shyael sat on a stool, two down from Zarae, sliding it back away from the counter. It was her way of reminding the drow her disdain for this task of guarding her, and for the dark elf herself. To share a table and meal was a high sign of fellowship, and the wood elf would never give that to a drow. The gnome returned from the back, noting the elf's position. He attempted a silent question of asking if he should serve the guest. Shyael motioned for the gnome to go ahead.
"What can Tomin get you?" a serious tone, and less inviting than was usual for him.
Head tilted, the drowess studied the gnome, "you are svirfneblin?" It was a rarity to see the deep gnome up on the surface.
"My father was," Tomin replied, "family fled from Blingdenstone when it was attacked by Menzoberranzan." He said it as if she had some part in it. The drow had no doubt her people were involved when his accusation came.
Zarae took a second to think what the city was he mentioned. It was vagally familiar she thought. Tomin noted the drow before him didn't seam to know of Menzoberranzan; he just assumed most drow came from Menzo. He asked if she was from Guallidurth, the drow city below the Calim desert, which the drow shook her head in the negative. She was also not from the drow settlements of the Forest of Mir.
"Where you from then?"
"Lith My'Athar."
Tomin shook his head, not aware of it. It was no surprise to her. Most drow saw her city as some backwoods town, if they had even heard about it. It wasn't a large city and had been made smaller since the war during Lloth's silence.
Shyael glared at Zarae, "order a meal," stopping any further conversation between the two.
The dwarf's boots could be heard coming down the stairs. He was followed by Ariali, and a few minutes later by Jinx. The three joined the dark elf
Tahlethar sat on the roof balcony, arms raised in prayer. The soft glow of his goddess fell over him as an answer for granted spells. She had also answered his question of what was happening to him and his companions, directing them to a powerful cleric in the city. He opened his tired eyes as the first round of workers stirred from their homes far below. Two elven guards from their entrance were walking in the direction of the Blushing Unicorn, fully armed and proudly bearing their Sehanine tabards. Behind them strode a gnome cleric dressed in the robes of his deity- the Sly One, another elven cleric, and a lastly a flamboyantly dressed halfling. The gnome, cleric, and halfling stopped the troops then broke off, heading twords a large tree temple, disappearing from sight behind a stone tower, while the guards continued twords the tavern. The tree temple was near the city center, marked with the standards of the elven and gnome deities. The temple itself was formed of the trunks of two massive oaks twisted together, with the branches arching out over the nearest buildings like buttresses. Tahlethar had heard about the Twin Spires of Mystery, but never could guess its majesty.
The elf cleric got down from his perch, passing the guards along the way, and to the temple. He followed the ringed path around the trees up to the central building in the branches. Inside it was filled with so many luscious plants that it looked like a garden. Gentle silken curtains, embroidered with a full moon under a moonbow, surrounded a simple shrine to the Sehanine. Across from the shrine was a second one, a tapestry with a cloak and dagger behind it. The three who Tahlethar seen heading this direction weren't spotted within. However there were two elven clerics and two gnome clerics inside. They quickly determined a fellow cleric, the elf proudly wearing his Lady's symbol, welcoming him as a brother.
"You seek relief from this affliction," the elven seer stated as Tahlethar stepped closer to the cleric present.
"How can we help?" the female gnome asked.
"a remove curse spell should dispel this," motioning twords his head.
By the time Tahlethar returned to the tavern, his companions were eating breakfast in the quiet under the watch of the guards. His demeanor had changed back to his upbeat self. Healing spells cast in the mythal's boarders were greatly enhanced, and the elf could feel the full benefits the spell cast over him.
Tomin waved at him, not realizing he was with the companions at the bar, "what can Tomin get you?"
Leaning against the counter, Tahlethar ordered an omelet and spiced juice.
The guards turned their focus on the cleric, treating him as the leader, "Our leaders are willing to see you at the Tiru Tel-Quessir," the guard leader spoke, "by noon."
"And this Tiru?" the dwarf asking about where the tower's location was; and was basically ignored.
"The building you are seeking will be on the north end of the Mother Tree," giving the answer to the elf.
Zyne crossed his arms in annoyance after sliding his empty plate forward.
"How about a healer?" Zyne tried again, refusing to allow the elves to ignore him. They looked the dwarf up and down, not understanding. It wasn't for him, but his companions, and he made sure the elven guards understood the situation and predicament some of them were in.
Tahlethar interrupted before the guards could retort any rude gestures, "We can stop by the Twin Spires of Mystery. I have already been, and they will see to helping."
"Fine, whatever," Jinx commented in a rather grouchy tone, her mouth half full.
Another reminder to be at the tower by noon, three of the guards departed. This time the sun elf, Valandoril was left to escort the companions around the city; he was louder about his displeasure in this, as he knew this was more for the drow than anyone else. Zarae wasn't subtle either about the guards, performing a rude hand gesture and a drow expletive at them as they departed.
"ye wonder why folks think yall so haughty?" Zyne commented.
"Does everyone in this gods-forsaken country have a stick up their…" the tabaxi started.
A quick glance over at the sun elf, "What is the Twin Spires?" the lythari gently interrupting Jinx, before everyone's irritability threatened the mission. She too was having a hard time keeping the ire from her words but managed to keep herself thinking more clearly.
"Ah yes," Tahlethar tone having returned to his cheerful self, which Zyne noted. "In my prayers. My Lady informed me that this thing happening was not a small thing, requiring a remove curse spell."
"That bad, eh?" Zyne's thoughts about it were confirmed too.
"It must have worked," Ariali commented as she too was seeing the change in the cleric.
"Welcome back…" the Sehanine priestess started, until her eyes fell upon the drow throwing her cowl back and showing her face. Hands automatically gripping the staff she held in preparation to attack, eyes narrowed threateningly.
The Baravar priest, having heard the rumors from yesterday, held a hand up to halt a potential attack.
"Alae," attempting to mimic Tahlethar's greeting to the elven guards at the mythal's borders, her arms crossed in the drow sign of peace, a peace she didn't feel in the moment.
"I suspect they too seek help," the priestess sneered. She saw the dark elf in the temple as an afront to her goddess.
They couldn't ignore the fact the drow was with three of the People, and two others that meant no evil, the gnome priest reminded. The sooner they help, the sooner the strangers would be gone, he also offered when his previous words hadn't calmed his fellow clergy. The sun elf escort, though hesitantly, vouched for the group.
The healing fell over the effected members, the curse lifted from them, like scales falling away from their eyes. The relief and calm was immediate, and the irritability that was plaguing them gone.
The bounce in the tabaxi's step had returned as she did a spin on her toes, feeling light again. "What was it?" she asked the clerics, "what curse?"
"From what I gather," the gnome showing concern as he spoke, "it was 'Curse of Nightmares'. I haven't seen it before. We had to ask the Powers above to be sure."
"That makes more sense," Tahlethar thought aloud, "your average nightmare spell wouldn't have affected us three," pointing to Zarae and Ariali also.
"Who?" Zarae asked.
"Who might you've upset," the priestess a bit snippy in her response to the drow.
"Ye think it was the Cult?" the dwarf asking what they were all thinking.
"Depends on the true target also," Zarae offered. Not entirely sure she wasn't the target, and that this wasn't someone from her past. The words of a curse promising to hunt her down and never let her find true peace, haunted her often. Perhaps this was another reminder that she couldn't truly escape the Spider Queens claws.
Cutting into the drowess' thought was a "thank you," from the party.
"We need to head to the Tiru Tel-Quessir?" Ariali asked them.
"We got until noon," Tahlethar tapping his chin in thought, "and it is just after dawn. What if…"
"How about a bathing pool building?" Zarae offered.
"a bath house? Actually, that sounds nice," Tahlethar agreed.
Jinx shook her head not too keen on the idea.
"How do ye keep clean?" the dwarf asked, more rhetorically, "if you got such an issue with water," not forgetting her previous encounters with bodies of water.
"I managed to learn one cantrip that has proven helpful," the tabaxi casting prestidigitation.
"And miss out on the relaxing, restful experience?" the elf looking around at the building, "I could go for a message," turning to the sun elf escort.
"We sure we have time?" Ariali asked with a glance to the sun elf then back to the cleric. "shouldn't we meet with the council first, then relax?"
"At the chances we are going," the drowess thinking aloud, "we will be running right into the next stage, or someone needing something for us to do. You know, the usual for adventurers. Or be run off once they hear our request."
They took a vote, it was three to two, the companions heading for the city bathhouse. They had two options, the Blueglow Moss or Moonlight Dip festhall. The Blueglow Moss was marble and stone building, built over a hot spring. The stairs led up to a porch bordered with four carved columns. On each side of the double door was stone benches. One seat sat a tall gnome dressed in purple robes to greet them. Their escort prevented discussion about the admittance of the drow.
"Wait here a second," the escort demanded.
Inside the door was a small antechamber with a counter on the right side. Behind the counter were doored shelves being restocked with towels. Another set of shelves contained hundreds of vials, mostly fragrant oils, soaps, and other bottles for customers' needs. On the left side was a door leading to a small storage room full of trunks and cabinets for storing one's gear. Weapons were not allowed past the next set of double doors, the half elf behind the counter informed the group. The sun elf explained the situation, opening the door and letting Zarae entrance with the others.
The half elf female understood, even though she remained suspicious of the dark elf, "Admission is five gold for two hours of use. It gives you access to the large double pools. Eight gold for a private bath, and an additional two for a 15-minute massage. One can also purchase additional oils," motioning twords the shelves behind her. "Five silver to safeguard your gear with one of our locks."
Since Jinx did not intend to use the pools, she was allowed to just pay for a massage. The others paid their passage to enter. Weapons and armor were secured in the storage chest. Zarae managed to keep a tiny dagger hidden in her undershirt. The halfling at the door allowed them past the next set of double doors.
The large room held two pools, one with steam coming off the water; the other was the cold-water pool. A pile of stones provided a small waterfall for each pool. The deck was filled with chairs, some holding towels. Around the two pools were 20 separate doors. Half would be private baths, the other half smaller rooms with tables for the massages. Carved into the stone and columns were flowering vines. Colored glass provided natural light from the roof. A permanent image spell was on the ceiling, making it always look spring, to go with the rest of the themed décor.
This early in the morning, only a handful of customers were in the bath house. Three private bath doors were closed, and two of the massage rooms. Three people sat on the underwater bench of the hot pool deep in conversation.
Zarae slipped to one of the private rooms, followed by Valandoril. "I can take a bath without you. Do you see a window I can escape from?" she had not granted the male permission to stay and would use this to get a break from the escort.
The sun elf scanned the room, then agreed to allow the drowess privacy. He stepped out to see the sorcerer and cleric stripping down and easing into the hot water. Zyne took the shallow end, away from the other customers. He needed a break from the elves. Tahlether struck up a conversation with the three elves, asking about rumors and the local gossip. Of course, it included the leaders allowing a drow into the city. Tahlethar pretended to not know, getting the other three to speak more freely. Ariali almost joined the males, then at the last second decided to go to a private room.
A small metal cup with a couple ball bearings was set in front of the door. A hidden dagger was pulled from the bodice and set on the edge of the tub in easy reach. Zarae peeled off her leather armor and slid slowly down into the magically heated water. The vial of a floral scented soap she liked, but didn't know what it was, was emptied into her water. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and allowed herself into a trance.
Jinx entered a room with just a cushioned table. Thinking it was empty, she stripped down, covered herself with a towel, and plopped on the table. A faded shape appeared, an unseen servant. A bottle picked up and emptied onto an invisible hand was clue to the masseuse. The tabaxi flinched when the surprisingly warm hands touched her tense shoulders. But within minutes, the work of the servant had helped her to relax.
Kemas, Trynoc, and Eloth continue trudging through snow, piles of rocks and boulders, searching for anything to mark an entrance. They already found several false leads, costing them precious time. They stopped at sunset, setting up camp. Eloth pulled the scroll from her pack along with a crystal bead. The bead shattered as she spoke the words of the spell. A hemispherical dome of force surrounded them. The atmosphere inside was pleasantly comfortable and dry, completely contrasting the weather outside. They set out their bed rolls and climbed in to rest.
When the spell of the tiny hut expired, the three were up and moving about. Trynoc grumbled several times, as they traversed across the bare rocks. The three stood next to a large boulder shaped more like a pillar.
"All we have to do is find the cave mouth," Eloth reminded them.
They decided to split up and meet back at this pillar by noon. And it was nearly noon when a cry of discovery was heard from Kemas. Above his head, 50 feet up sheer rock, was spraying out a stream, carving into the stone and running twords the River Rauvin. Further back into the rock's ledge, was a pile of twisted metal and broken stone where the stream was coming from.
It took nearly an hour to get themselves up the sheer rock wall, fighting against the falling water to keep from slipping. Eloth cursing why Kemas hadn't prepared better spells. They hadn't even been prepared for the extent the climb required, their gear barely getting the job done. When all three were up the wall and on the ledge, Eloth pointed to evidence of where a volcano had poured down molten rock, nearly hiding the cave entrance. It was then that was noticed scripts carved into what remained of the stone door. In several languages, many unrecognizable to the three, was "Xammux, The Many" as well as various warnings.
The three eased across the slippery, uneven rocks inward along the faster moving stream. The water rose up to their knees, the tunnel descending twords flooded lower levels. The tunnel widened into a cavern, the stream pooling into a lake lit up by a bluish luminescence in the water. Shimmering green coated the walls and stalactites. Cavern botflies they guessed. They saw no other tunnels, no paths further into the cavern. Kemas took a rock, casting a light spell upon it and tossed it into the lake. As it sank, tumbling about from a strong current, it revealed a dark, jagged hole in the rock. Eloth pointed out the way the water moved about the lit rock. The light had also revealed several serpentine shaped skeletons on the bottom.
"Our path is through there?" Trynoc's deep voice echoing in the cavern pointing to the hole.
"I believe so," the half elf ranger studying the pool. She wasn't sure how well their magic rings would hold up entering the water.
"You prepare water breathing?" Trynoc asked.
"Ladies first," the mage commented, then began the motions to the needed spell on each of them.
Eloth rolled her eyes at Kemas, though understanding she should take point.
Trynoc, took a deep breath and jumped in. It was seconds when his face broke the water with a howl of pain and colorful curses, its icy depts shocking every nerve like a thousand stabbing needles. The ring was the only thing preventing shock and dangerous hypothermia.
Eloth, then Kemas, followed suit, easing into the water, barely able to catch their breath. All three plunged beneath, the spell holding and allowing them to breathe. The current was felt near the bottom, pulling them twords the decorative stone that once served as the door. There was no swimming against the tug, the current picking up and throwing them along the tunnel. No one knew how long they swam, concerned the spell would run out before they could find a pocket of air. Eventually the tunnel expanded with a break between the water and the ceiling. They tried swimming up, fighting against the current. It was no use, and they were pulled along through another tunnel into another cavern. This process continued until they were slammed into a set of smooth stairs. The stairs led up out of the water, to a threshold where once stood 40-foot doors. Carved into the adamantine doors was a figure of a long-bearded man holding aloft a staff. The eyes were set with jade and a garnet where the figure's necklace was, acting like a pendant. Around the figure were draconic-looking runes.
It wasn't long they had to wait before the water breathing spell expired, the three rushing out of the water to gulp in large breaths of the stale air. Kemas dried them quickly with a simple cantrip and they waited for the rings to rewarm them. Trynoc built a small fire as they rested. An hour later they were warm, filled and ready to continue their mission.
Passing by another set of doors led into a small chamber, evidence of having once been flooded by the water and lava marking the walls. They climbed over the piles, scrambling to find good footholds. Kemas was certain he saw humanoid bones in the stone; more than one set. The hardened lava path led to a third set of doors on the backside of the cavern. A cool breeze could be felt from beyond. The left side opened enough to allow them to slip in, though it was a tight fit for the fighter. He had to hand over his equipment before he could manage to get through. The other door was melted shut. Trynoc landed on the other side with an echoing thud.
Eloth cursed as she shushed them, listening for anything, "you feel it, don't you?" she asked Kemas.
He nodded. There was some presence here, he was sure. But they saw and heard nothing but breathing, once Trynoc stopped moving. Their hearts sank when the torch light moved across the floor, lighting up the space.