26 Nightal
Zarae, with an elven escort still, headed to The Singing Anvil. A message the enchanter had finished early had been received, which was a relief to the group they didn't have to wait around another day. A few of the companions were getting restless, and this was a time sensitive mission they were on. The elven blacksmith looked up from her work, recognizing the drowess approaching.
"A day early!" Zarae not hiding the excitement of a newly enchanted weapon. Her hand was on the coin purse, jingling the metal around as she waited for enchanter Ravara to come out from the back.
The elven mage carried the weapon wrapped in a thick cloth; she was beaming with pride of her accomplishment, the grin spreading on her face. She set the bundle on the table before the other two, then bowed as the blacksmith acknowledged her work. Zarae carefully opened the cloth. The sai was gleaming from the firelight of the forge and shining brilliantly. The weapon hummed with an electric feel of magic. She gave it a few swings in the air, checking the balance, the feel, and admiring the work.
"The other half?" the blacksmith making sure the drow didn't forget to pay.
The coin pouch came out, the amount already counted, and was slid onto the table. Then one of her last coins from her homecity was added to the pile the elven blacksmith was counting. The two elves looked at the drowess questioningly but accepted the additional coin to the final price.
"That was actually fun," Ravara commented. She hadn't gotten to do much enchanting since arriving at the city. The need for magical weapons was rather low. Myth Dyraalis didn't produce many adventurers; being a magically hidden city, wars just didn't happen. The most fighting seen was debates in the city's politics. The recent adding of the halfling to the leadership the most controversial since the enchanter arrived.
Holding up her sai in inspection, "If I had the coin and time, I'd have you do my second," Zarae noticing the elf was hoping for another job. The enchanter's disappointment was obvious, but she understood. The drowess sheathed her sai, a nod of thanks and departed with the escort on her heels.
Stroll down the street after departing the blacksmith, the two females spotted an older gnome swaying and stumbling as he walked the street. Complaints grew as he bumped into pedestrians, but everyone he bumped into helped him back to his feet, and on his way. It seamed most the people of the area knew of the gnome; and that this had become a regular occurrence of late. The gnome stopped at a municipal building, sitting on the set of stairs. His rant, directed at the building, was in his native tongue, which Zarae knew nothing of. Out of his belt pouch came a silver flask. Its contents were quickly drained in one large gulp. As the two females neared, there was no missing the glare he wore was betrayed by the deep pain in his sunken eyes. It was confirmed when the elf leaned over to whisper into Zarae's ear.
"What you looking at demon!" the drunk gnome looking to pick a fight shouted at the dark elf. His started shaking his fist at the females, nearly falling over onto his face. Steadying himself, he continued to glare at Zarae.
"shee'lot," Zarae commented, shaking her head and continuing on her way.
Then to the elven escort as she passed, "traitor," he mumbled in common, the rest of his sentences slurred and unintelligible.
Jinx headed to the stable, paying the rest of the cost for housing their two mounts during the stay. Ariali followed, as per the request that the non-elves of their party be escorted. Eventually Zyne and Tahalethar joined down at the stable.
"Who riding with who now?" Zyne asked. "Not sure we can afford the extra horses needed."
"The woods will make it hard to travel on horseback," Ariali reminded them. "Perhaps we see about purchasing mounts when we are exiting the Wood."
They had discussed reaching Darromar on their course to the Wealdath. The three agreed with Ariali, they would do better to get mounts after they were done with the woods. They just needed to see who might would be willing to buy the two horses.
"Check out the miller's farm, Dathor," the stable keeper offered, overhearing the discussion. "He was expanding and probably be willing to pay for the horses."
They offered thanks and started out from the stables twords the direction pointed.
"Where that durn girl gone?" Zyne asking, hands on hip.
Zarae had mentioned needing to run an errand. But forgot to mention where she had gone. Or where they would meet up.
"I can stay and wait for her," Ariali offered.
"Wait!" Jinx rifled through her bag, finding a set of small smooth rocks. "I forgot about these," pulling one of the sending stone out.
"That would have been useful to know," Tahlethar commented offhandedly.
"Here," handing one to the lythari, then the other to the dwarf.
"Now we can communicate," looking to her companions, "I forgot Aunrae gave us the set," the tabaxi explaining herself, "there's been much going on."
"Right…" Zyne taking the stone from Jinx as Ariali was given the second one. "Anyway, meet ye at the north exit."
It was about 15 minutes when Zarae and the escort met back at the Blushing Unicorn, spotting Ariali sitting on a bench. The two girls then headed for the northern exit as proposed by Zyne. It wasn't a long wait for the two elves when the other three, sans the horses, rejoined up.
"So. This is your last chance to do anything in the city. Once we leave, we wont be able to find it again for ten years," the cleric informed the group. It was mostly true, the three elves could find it in five years, but the other two didn't need to know. They didn't anticipate needing to find Myth Dyraalis again. He hoped they wouldn't need to. The escort walked over to a guard sitting on a stool near the stone wall, then whispered something the others couldn't hear. The guard nodded in acknowledgement of whatever the escort told him.
"Before you step through," the escort reached into her pouch, pulling out a small rough-edged gem of black hue. "This is a… gift, from the council. For the mission."
Zyne took the offered gem, inspecting it. It felt lighter than it should, and he could fill the void where it should be filled with magic.
"It is a spell storing gem. What you will need. That is all I know." Then the escort bid the group farewell.
Excitedly, "Spell storing, so we can absorb the magic of the mythal?" Jinx reached up to grab it from Zyne and study it.
"Easy there. If that is what I think it is," Tahlethar stepping next to Jinx, "it might be fragile. Especially if you drop it," hand out to receive it next.
"That there, is a chardalyn," the dwarf agreeing. "They are meant to be thrown down, so it breaks and releases the magic within."
Jinx handed it over to the cleric, who took a cloth and wrapped it before securing it into a pouch.
The tug of the mythal's warding magic was less exerting exiting the than entering. But it nonetheless felt like walking through water. The thick woods were before the five again. Tall pines over 50 feet tall, thick underbrush, the trickling of a nearby stream, the sounds of birds all greeted them. Turning to look behind, the city was gone, like it never existed to begin with. The elves of the group didn't even see the outline they could before. The tabaxi picked up a pine cone, tossed it a couple times and caught it. Then suddenly, he threw it the direction the came from. It flew twords the boundary they passed, then vanished from sight.
"Ten years? Really?" Zyne asked staring at the trees surrounding the spot the ward should have been.
The path they plotted followed a creek. Their plan was to reach the Hospice of St Marium by nightfall; though it was more likely they hit it late in the night, early morning.
Which was the case. They miscalculated the location of the Ilmater temple and by late that night, they stopped, exhausted and scratched up from trudging through the underbrush. They arrived at the end of the next day. The clearing was spotted from a good distance. Several of the game trails widened into cleared away paths.
The fortified monastery's grey stone walls came into view, a relief to the overly exhausted companions. An Ilmater monk greeted the five, despite seeing the dark elf with them. The gate was opened allowing them entrance.
Inside the walls was a five-building complex arranged in a pentagon. Three of the buildings were open walled rotundas with the two smaller buildings standing guard over the monastery. Entering the gate, they were hit with the delicate aroma of various herbs filling the air and mixing with the faint scent of old parchment. Hanging from the ceiling of one of the open buildings were bundles of rare, dried herbs and roots, each labeled with intricate calligraphy detailing their properties. Jars of unknown powders line the shelves no doubt added new notes with each breath. An elder-looking monk, dressed in simple white robes and a blood red skullcap, moved about with an air of tranquility. Beside him was a woman carefully grinding a handful of crimson berries in a mortar and pestle, her movements precise and deliberate. The Ilmatari monastery was more of a pharmacy and herbalist's shop than the stereotypical monastery. Its hospital was named after one of the female saints of Ilmater, a former Calimport slave.
The elder priest spotting the companions greeted them, "all non-troublemakers are welcome here," his emphasis directed to the drow.
"Just needing a place to rest," Zyne stepping forward. "Maybe some information."
"We don't…" the priest began.
"Get many folks like us?" the tabaxi interrupted having heard it too many times already.
"I mean nothing by it," thinking he offended the cat woman. "Come," he motioned for them to follow.
The senior priest led the group into a covered courtyard where a dozen people were. Half were gathered around a firepit. Others were sitting near a small pool. He pointed out the building that housed the hospital, then showed them the building with the cots for them to rest in for the night. If they wanted to buy anything the priestess working the mortar and pestle would gladly sell to them; however, all they had to sell were herbs, medicinal or recreational.
"Come, come," a man stirring the fire called to the five companions. The smiling stranger, an elderly man, was roasting meat. He waved them over when they hesitated. The smell of roasting meat made hungry stomachs growl. When they settled down by the fire, the elderly man offered to share his food with the newest visitors. A woman sitting nearby was talking to another about an unusual stone well in the forest; it had once been a lovely glade, but now the trees around it were dying and rotting on the spot. On the other side of the fire was a man whose hand was heavily wrapped in gauze. He was talking with a forth about the incident that landed him here at the monastery- his hand had gotten caught in a wolf trap. Ariali overheard the admission as she took her seat, tensing up, golden eyes narrowed at the man; but he didn't even pay her any attention. Everyone was distracted with the dark elf joining the six by the fire. Conversations stopped, all eyes staring in surprise.
Looking down at her arm, faking surprise at seeing obsidian colored skin, "oh look at that, Ilythiiri!" Then laughed mirthlessly, "yes I know," before anyone could say anything.
Zyne lightly elbowed the drow rolling his eyes, before he sat to join the people around the fire. "what's this 'bout a well?" declining a bit of the unusual looking meat on the spit. Now would be a good time to get information about the area, possible rumors, and maybe someone who knew the location of the mythal.
She hesitated a moment, before she could explain, "um…Out hunting in the woods," she started, then calming down from the initial surprise, "my game trail led to a clearing. Thought it odd a well was there. Never seen it before. But then again, I did travel a little out of my usual path. Harsh winter."
"Any chance it was in a large magical area?" Jinx asked, sensing the direction the dwarf was going with his question.
The hunter shrugged, describing her hunt and lack of success. She moved quickly onto another topic.
"You asking about the ancient elven place, the ruins," a cleric of Ilmater bringing a large pitcher of water and wooden cups, "I overheard the question."
"You know of it?" Tahlethar asked.
"Most of us," indicating the clerics of the monastery, "heard about a dangerous area of the forest not far from here. Said to been an elven city or something like that long ago."
"Don't suppose ye got someone to point us or show us?" the dwarf asked.
"Why?"
Tahlethar spoke up, "we have our reasons," expecting that fact he was an elf to be enough of an answer.
The Ilmater cleric looked to Tahlethar, then to Ariali, "I suppose we can get someone to help." Accepting the elf's answer. Or maybe knowing they wouldnt get much more from them if it was really elven business.
"What else do yall know of the area?" Jinx continued.
"Said to be haunted. Undead elves I would think," Ilmater cleric scratching his shin, "Actually, now I think about it. Heard about a party of treasure hunters being out there. One got hurt real bad. The healer tried to cure the poor soul. Ended worse off. Mummy rot! Bad case."
Another around the fire listening in, "I heard about that one too. Barely got the man out of there. Spent a few months holed up in there," pointing to one of the buildings.
"Do you know what happened," the drow asking.
The people looked at each other, as if evaluating whether to answer the drow, before one spoke up, "it's like the place is cursed. healing magic turned against you. That sorta thing."
"Never learned if the man made it," another person added.
"What treasure did they hope to find?" the lythari asking this time.
"Who knows. Doubt there is anything above ground left. But maybe…" leaning over to whisper, "maybe below…" a wink to Ariali.
The sorcerer cleared his throat, unsure of the man's intention in the comment, "don't suppose ye have any other good stories?" he asked, "ye know, the going-ons?"
Another person, this one a much younger man, wanting to get to talk, "there's been rumors of a large dangerous beast terrorizing the area."
A fourth, "naw. Can't be Iryklathagra. She lives on northwestern side of the mountains."
"I didn't say it was her."
"What else is 'large and dangerous'?"
A pause for quick thinking, "gnolls, orcs, giants, hobgoblins…"
"Now you're just listing creatures."
The elder stirring the fire cleared his throat, the two younger men going silent. He drew out the silence before starting in on a story.
Ariali sat enjoying her slice of rare meat and listening to the elderly talk; his words were calming she found, and his story interesting. Then like oil slipping into her mind came his voice, Hello my pet. The smile faded from her face, and she found she lost her appetite. Though she knew no one else could hear his message, she couldn't help but look around as if everyone heard his voice. The man continued talking, she started scanning each person engrossed. Eyes locked onto the drow's own, before she quickly looked away, trying to hide her guilty feeling. Ariali stood up, dusting off her trousers, "I just need to stretch my legs," before anyone could ask, "I also wanted to see the herbalist."
The dwarf gave a nod of understanding, then in jest, "don't ye go wandering off. Don't need added trouble."
She forced a smile, then excused herself. The courtyard was in the midst of the pentagonal walls, so it was hard to find a place to be alone. The need became more urgent when she heard his voice again. On the backside of the hospital, she found no one around, a relief. There was a small fountain in the midst of a garden of various vegetables and herbs. Ariali sat on the edge of the fountain, her hands under the flow of the moving water, gathering her nerve to answer her master.
She updated the aasimir on their progress, attempting to give as little as she could. But he always knew what to ask, where to prod to trip her into revealing more. After some time, she left the garden, her heart heavy, her nerves frazzled, and the shame overwhelming.
The apothecary was storing her latest bits of the ground herbs when the ranger entered; she smiled to the elf, not missing the downcast mood that surrounded her. She dusted her hands, gave a warm smile and welcomed her in. Misinterpreting what was behind the melancholy, the woman walked over to lay a comforting hand on Ariali's shoulder. Then she headed twords the back, leaving the elven girl to herself.
The dwarf was up, himself heading to the herbalist when he saw the elf actually entering after disappearing for several moments. Ariali was browsing the jars when Zyne sidled up next to her, pretending to study the jars too.
"So ye want to talk about it?" he probed. The sorcerer could sense something was up, more than the mission. "Ye know, it wont go away if ye just push it down," not quite understanding the truth of it. He turned to face her, grabbed her hand and patted it, letting her know he would be there if she needed. "Ye aint alone," a reminder.
She swallowed hard, so much wanting to explain herself. "There are some things that one just cant," playing up his assumption the dwarf had.
Brom threw the bowl at the wall upon receiving the information from Eloth. He should have been aware of Kemas's obsession would leave him taking matters into his own hands. The Library had been another setback in their mission. Though he had learned a little more about the mythallars they didn't have before. Brom leaned on the table with his hands in front, staring down at the text on his desk. His tasks were finding the mage on the Moor, and finding useful information from the library of Myth Drannor about the thing Lyra called the Waymeet. He and Helmyn agreed that waiting for the weather to clear before attempting to start again on the High Moor. That left seeking out refugees, which meant dealing with the elves.
The half elf expected the reaction from the aasimir. Going rogue to fulfill his own desires potentially exposed the Coming Chaos's goals; they were already competing against a group who were set to stop them. Eloth turned to leave Brom's chambers when he stood up to face her.
"I can use you," catching her attempting to slip out quietly. "or at least your heritage."
The ranger raised a brow to the suggestion, hands went to her hips, "I am a 'half-breed', in case you forgot," the anger unexpectedly rising in her. her dealings with the elves had left a bad taste, causing her to identify with her human side more. "If you think they treat non-elves bad, how do you think they treat one like me?"
"But you cannot deny you have the connections we need." Knowing her family had come from Bristar, near Semberholme. "Maybe it is time you pay mommy a visit?"
The golems were dispatched relatively quickly with minimal damage to the three. The floor was covered in the green ooze that replaced their blood, their armor splattered. Scooper wiped a smudge of it, rolling it between taloned fingers before smelling it.
"Really?" Kiya kicking the smoldering golem.
"I dare you to taste it," Kemas whispered to the kenku, with a nudge. Then when he got no response, pulled out a vial gathering some. He held it up to his face and shook the gel inside before pocketing it into his spell component pouch. "never know what can be used from golem blood."
Scooper rolled his eyes, then walked over to the edge of the pit and looked down, then back to Kiya. After a salute, he let down a rope, securing the end. He carefully climbed down scanning each shelf as he balanced, taloned feet gripping securely. His keen eyes spotted several dangerous traps. The sarcophagus was holding a very deadly trap, and well above the kenku's skill; he informed the two now peering over the edge of the pit above what he saw.
"What about those?" Kemas asked pointing to a canopic jar, one with the lid secured on it.
Climbing up to one, "Give me a second," pulling out his thieves' tools. The jars were on a pressure plate, set to release a toxic gas if disturbed. A little tinkering and the trap was disabled. Stabilizing his position, he leaned over to slide the two-foot jar off the trigger plate. This one was decorated with cats. Scooper handed the jar up to Kemas then returned and started disarming a second closed jar.
"What is with the cats?" the mage asked examining the canopic jar, then gripping the lid.
"I found a room full of cat stuff. Maybe this is related to the owner of that room."
The smell of decay gagged them, the putrid smell overwhelming as the mage pried the lid off. Inside was a preserved humanoid heart. The lid was quickly put back, the jar set down. The second jar held a kidney, the third a partial lung.
"This explains the purpose of A'Alai's missing organ," the wizard managed to get out between gagging coughs.
Kiya's mouth went tight, starting to put the pieces together. Someone was attempting one of the rituals in the tome. Most probably the creation of a mummy lord. A'Alai must have been working for the oracle.
"So what are we doing about that," pointing to sarcophagus.
"Leave it!" Scooper scrambling back up the to the other two, climbing over the ledge. "the trap is deadly."
Chanting softly a few arcane words, she closed her eyes. Then they suddenly opened, "I think it is a set up," Kiya commented. Pointing to a partially hidden door, "Valin must be further in." the khenra turned to exit the chamber, motioning for the two to come. Reaching the door, she paused. Something was nagging her. She pulled out the parchment from A'Alai's bag, rereading it. "Wait," then showed it to the kenku and mage, translating it for them. 'heart destroyed."
Kemas looked back to the jar with the heart, understanding what Kiya was suggesting. The jar was dropped intentionally, taking a few tries, before it was shattering on the stone floor. The heart bounced with a slurping flop then rolled twords the pit. He went into spellcasting, chanting the verbal components of a spell. The fire wreathe the organ, the liquid it was covered in sizzling as the fire burned. To his dismay, the heart didn't burn up, not even the slightest bit of char showed up. "so much for that."
Scooper took out his dagger stabbing it before it rolled into the pit. The blade slid in, but otherwise remained unharmed. Lifting the pierced heart, he held it aloft twords the others, "so now what?"
An empty jar was freed from the shelf, the heart plopped in and sealed quickly. Kiya needed to find a way to destroy the heart she knew. Maybe it was something to do with the owner of the cat room. Someone they haven't run into. "Keep that jar," she ordered, "we will need it."
Eventually they found a locked door they hadn't opened. The keyhole was different from usual, like the key was a little figure or charm that could be inserted. Scooper confirmed when he attempted to pick the lock.
"Hold on," the khenra turning to exit the hall and find the cat room. About five minutes later she returned with a bracelet in hand. Comparing the shape with each, she found the correct charm, it fit perfectly. The grinding of the stone unlocking allowed them to push open the door.
The chamber on the other side suddenly blinded them with a brilliant flash; all around the space was filled with shimmering points of eyeball shaped light shifting slowly, like dust motes stirred by a gentle breeze. The walls converged in a high peak overhead. When their eyes adjusted to the bright intrusion, there in the center was a woman in yellow robes floating crossed legged, hands out, palms up. The diadem framed her third-eye tattoo, which was glowing with a pulsing white light. A thin smile creased her face, shifting slightly from normal to undead looking.
"I have waited for so long," the floating figure finally speaking.
"Valin!" Kiya hissed. Her wand came from her sash and aimed for the floating oracle.
The oracle gave a slight nod. "I have already seen your defeat written in your past and future," the smile replaced with a sneer, undead eyes hard.
The khenra scoffed, "give me the tome. I couldn't care less about you or this."
"Not how this works. I need you. All three of you," a hand waved then fist closed, and the wand flew from the khenra's hand.
"Nope. Not how this is going," the wizard mockingly repeated, then pulling the wand from his belt. Kemas wasn't going to allow the oracle to keep speaking; the wand lit up as he activated it. Out shot a magical white goo that grew in size and shaped itself into a web. The oracle was quicker. Her body faded into a whirlwind of sand, the web passing through and landing on the wall behind. The sand then reformed into a humanoid shape right before the mage.
The oracle laughed mockingly, as she touched down onto the stone floor. Arms crossed as the other two stepped back and began circling the oracle. Kiya's free hand edged twords her weapon on her hip. Scooper flanked the undead woman on the other side, his own weapons sliding free of the scabbard.
I see what you want, whispered in Kemas' mind. I can give it to you for such a small sacrifice.
The mage growled, hiding his intrigue at the offer. He motioned his wrist for her to continue, though it looked like he was preparing to cast again to the kenku and khenra.
I get a simple organ you can live without, you give me the other two. I can tell you where the Book of Tarchamus is secured. You already know it is not in Blackstaff tower, a wry smile when she saw the wizard pause, stunned by the revelation. She had known just what to say to get his full attention.
Kemas looked over to the other two, who were catching on to something happening between the oracle and the wizard. The kenku back up a step reading his posture, his intent. Scooper shook his head, 'don't do it'.
Kiya still had the jar containing the heart, "I know if I destroy it, you are done for," she called to the undead.
The smug grin didn't disappear from the undead oracle, knowing something the jackal woman didn't know, "I still have lessons yet to teach you. But you will learn."
Scooper took the opportunity to stab out at Valin with her focused on Kiya and Kemas. The dagger surprisingly made contact with the mummy lord, drawing a deep gash in her side. She screamed in an unearthly voice, turning rapidly on the kenku. Before his second weapon made contact, her hand was holding a sliver of iron. The magical energy shot forth with the final word of the incantation and fell over Scooper. A scream froze in his throat; he couldn't move. The khenra lashed out with her own weapon, but Valin was faster, moving out of range of the khopesh. The blade was quickly reversed as Kiya moved out of range of the fist flying for her face.
"What are you waiting for?" Kiya growled, catching a glimpse of the wizard's inaction.
Kemas had hesitated in his attack, holding the wand ready, yet didn't strike out. His eyes locked with Valin's dead orbs trying to discern how much this oracle knew. The mummy could read the question on his mind, see the resistance breaking down.
"Candlekeep mean anything to you?" Valin teased.
That caught Kiya off guard, and her split-second hesitation opened her up for the bolt of light streaking from Valin's hands. The radiant energy hit the khenra in the chest, leaving smoldering fur and fabric and sent her stumbling back. She fell to a knee, clutching the burning wound with her free hand, attempting a healing spell. Valin still in range reach out with considerable strength around Kiya's neck, holstering her up and back against the wall. Undead fingers wrapped around her throat, squeezing. Suddenly Kiya's eyes went wide. She could feel the fell necrotic magic worming its way into her skin. Worse than the chokehold, the curse seeping into her being. Nausea overwhelmed her, the healing magic failed to reknit flesh. Fear rose in the khenra, one she hadn't felt before.
Kiya's questioning eyes were on Kemas, pleading for him to do something. With the hand around her throat, she was unable to speak. Scooper was still paralyzed from the magic, able to see what was happening yet unable to do anything, much less say anything.
Valin glanced over her shoulder to the mage; 'one last chance'.
Kemas swallowed as he stepped forward to the two females locked in battle. The web wand returned to its location on the mage. Another step forward, he lifted his orc skull headed staff to strike. At the last second, he shifted his hands on the shaft and twisted his arms, presenting his staff in service, taking a knee before the mummy lord. "You tell me what I seek. I offer someone better in my place for your organ collection."
If Kiya could scream, she'd throw the darkest curses at the mage. Instead Valin closed her grip tighter around the khenra's throat, her eyes glaring into Kiya's, a smug grin remaining.
"Who do you have in mind?" Valin was a little intrigued at what the mage was offering.