Chapter 3
The Crypt
"We'll have to find a camp soon." Aiden said.
"Agreed." Hazel replied. She looked up to see an old church building. Looking at the vines and ruins, she could tell it had been abandoned for centuries. The group made their way through the gate and into the courtyard. There was a large statue that wasn't recognizable. Further into the courtyard was another party of adventurers; two of which were arguing.
"You're both twice as tall as me, but have half the bloody back bone!" A gnome yelled, pointing up at a half-elf.
"But we don't what that thing even is, and what about the crypt?" The half-elf stated.
"I'm telling you; it's a ship!" The gnome insisted. Hazel realized they must have been talking about the nautiloid. "And the crypt can wait. Mari and Barton have been trying to break in for days, now we-stop!" He turned his attention to the team, glaring daggers at Hazel.
The group stopped at the gnome's command.
"Got ourselves competition already?" The gnome mused. "That's our ship!"
"You mean the nautiloid?" Hazel asked.
"That ship is full of monsters. I wouldn't go near it." Ella spoke up.
The gnome's eyes widened. He must have been surprised to see a drow. "Uh, well…in that case…" The gnome hesitated. He turned to his half-elf friend. "Come on you lot! No use in getting killed. Second worm gets the cheese and all."
"Uh, the second mouse gets the cheese, no?" The half-elf corrected.
"Nobody's getting any damn cheese! Now move it!" The gnome snapped. He, the half-elf, and two other adventurers left the courtyard.
"You're more cunning than you look." Shadowheart complimented Ella. "I thought we had a fight on our hands."
"It would've been easier to kill them." Lae'zel grumbled.
The group walked up to the door.
"Maybe we can shelter here?" Aiden suggested, pulling at the doorknob, only to find it locked. "Or maybe not…?"
"Stand aside." Astarion spoke up, pulling some tools out of his pocket and began to pick the lock. He did it easily, and opened the door. "Like candy from a gnome."
The group walked into the crypt. They began to explore the first room, finding some fresh supplies for camp. Aiden examined a plaque, written in an old language.
"A dead tongue…whoever worshiped here must be long gone." He mused. "No prayers…only dust and silence…"
"Who are those prayers for?" Shadowheart asked. "Normally the patron god is obvious…not here…"
They continued to look around, until Hazel spotted a door.
"Do you think you could pick the lock on that one?" Hazel turned to Astarion.
"Or I could do this." Astarion said, walking up to the door and pulling a lever next to it. The door automatically opened.
"That works too." Hazel giggled, but her smiled disappeared when she spotted a human man on the other side of the door.
"Mari!" He shouted. Hazel spotted a human woman, carrying a quarterstaff.
"How did you get past Gimblebock?!" She demanded. "Back off! Andorn! Keep them busy."
She ran to another door down the hallway. She opened it and announced the party's presence. More adventurers ran out, preparing for battle.
Tom was the first to act, shooting at one of the humans.
"A gunslinger?!" One of the men gasped.
Astarion shot an arrow at Mari, narrowly missing her. She gasped as the arrow flew past her ear. Yan'lu charged at a barbarian man, swinging her quarterstaff. Hazel used her thorn whip on a drow wizard, pulling her closer and leaving thorns in her wrist. The man Tom shot at ran forward, swinging his great sword. Asha charged towards a dwarven woman, using her short sword. Gale used fire bolt on Andorn, hitting the human, and setting his clothes ablaze. Aiden also began using fire bolt and hitting another human. He turned to Tom and casted a healing spell.
"H-how…?" Tom asked.
"I can educate you on Faerun after this battle." Aiden answered.
Ella shot fire bolt at Mari, burning some of her clothes as well. Mari shouted and cast burning hands at Ella and Astarion. She hit the pale elf but completely missed Ella. The barbarian swung his club at Yan'lu, but the skilled monk dodged, making him hit the stone floor instead.
The drow wizard shot her own fire bolt at Hazel. The half-elf felt the heat on her clothes and skin. Shadowheart stepped forward and used guiding bolt on the drow wizard, killing her instantly.
"This will help with the pain." Shadowheart said, placing her hands on Hazel's skin. "Sanare."
The burns on Hazel's skin began to cool, and she felt much better. She looked up and watched as Lae'zel attacked a human with her great sword. The human in question was swinging his sword down at Tom, but the Gith was quick to block it. The dwarf fought Asha with her short sword, but the Tiefling was good at dodging the blows. Andorn swung his long sword at Gale, missing as well. Tom stood and shot at the human again, still making Hazel jump at the awful noise. Yan'lu was still fighting the barbarian, hitting him with her staff. Astarion swung his dagger at Mari. Hazel stood and used her thorn whip again, this time on Mari, pulling her away from Astarion by the waist. The woman cried in pain.
Gale used fire bolt on Andorn, adding more burns to his clothes and skin. Aiden used his fire bolt on the human, still attacking Tom. The human began to scream as he burned to death. Shadowheart used her guiding bolt again, hitting the barbarian and killing him. Tom turned his gun to Mari, shooting and missing, making Hazel jump again. Yan'lu turned her attention to the dwarf, helping Asha fight her. Gale hit Andorn again with fire, and the human fell, overwhelmed by the flames.
Ella rushed at the dwarf with her dagger. Mari, still covered in thorns, turned to Hazel and hit her in the stomach with her staff. Shadowheart used her guiding bolt again, killing Mari instantly. Lae'zel stabbed the dwarf, finishing her off as well.
"You fight well." Shadowheart complimented Hazel, helping the winded druid to her feet. "Perhaps our survival isn't such a distant prospect."
"You're pretty lethal with that guiding bolt, Shadowheart." Hazel returned the compliment. "Shadowheart…mind if I call you Shadow?"
"I don't mind." Shadowheart said. "I quite like it."
"Shadow is a cute nickname." Aiden said. Shadow turned to Aiden and glared at him.
"Only Hazel can call me that." She said through clenched teeth.
"Uh-oh…someone's asking for all of us to call her Shadow!" Asha snickered.
Shadow shook her head and rolled her eyes. But Hazel could tell she was trying not to smile. The group took a short rest and Tom counted his bullets.
"How many left?" Asha asked him.
"Nine…" He answered. "Asha…people who use guns here…they're called 'gunslingers?'"
"Correct." Asha nodded. "But they're incredibly rare. I doubt you'll find a new gun- let alone bullets."
"I suggest the sooner you ditch the gun, the better." Lae'zel said. "And switch it out for better weapons. I have an extra great sword, and a crossbow would be much quieter than that explosive giveaway."
"I'll cross that bridge when I get there." Tom shrugged. "For now, I'll make the best of my gun."
"It is also a liability." Lae'zel scoffed. "It makes the druid, the wizard, and my kin jump at the sound of it. You would do well to consider their needs."
Hazel looked up at Gale, who made eye contact with her for a brief moment. Yan'lu looked at both of them in confusion, but then shook her head. As they picked through the other rooms, looking for gold and provisions, Hazel approached Gale. The wizard was looking through books, curiously flipping through a book on Mystra worship.
"Um…so you hate loud noises?" Hazel asked.
"I take you're on the spectrum as well?" Gale said, turning to smile warmly at Hazel.
"You-you too?!" Hazel gasped. "How old were you?"
"Eight." Gale replied. "I suppose my symptoms were quite obvious-considering my special interest in magic…and cats."
"I was eight too!" Hazel cheered. She cleared her throat and lowered her voice. "Sorry…I got excited. My parents noticed I took a special interest in rocks, as well as plants and animals. It was my father who brought an expert to diagnose me…it took my mother a while to learn and adjust, but she did it for me." She turned to Yan'lu. "So, what about you? When did you get diagnosed?"
"I don't know what you mean." Yan'lu said.
"You're autistic too, are you not?" Hazel tilted her head.
"Chk! I don't know what that is!" Yan'lu scoffed.
"Wait, you guys have autism too?!" Tom gasped, turning and pointing at Hazel and Gale.
"Are you autistic?" Hazel asked.
"No, sorry, I meant that on my planet, we have autistic people." Tom explained.
"Oh," Hazel nodded. "Sorry, I misunderstood."
"But…it's frowned upon…by some people…" Tom admitted.
"Oh…" Hazel said, looking at the ground.
"Your plane sounds terrible." Gale said. "But that's besides the point." He turned back to Yan'lu. "Do Githyanki have autism?"
"Please," Lae'zel interjected. "Any child of Gith with a strange mind would never survive training in a creche."
"I guess the Gith frown upon autism as well." Aiden mused.
"Chk!" Lae'zel scoffed. "With so many issues with sound, and other senses…there can be no room for weakness among the Tears."
Yan'lu nodded, and turned back to looking through the crates. Hazel shared an uneasy look with Gale. He shrugged, as though to say 'let the matter go, for now.'
"But she was just talking about how Tom should accommodate us-" Hazel whispered to Gale.
"Just let it go, for now." Gale whispered back. "Now everyone understands people like us, and that's okay."
Another loud noise startled them. The group turned to see that Tom had pulled another strange lever on the wall of the library.
"Tom! We banned you from that!" Asha shouted.
"You banned me from buttons, not levers!" Tom argued.
"Ugh, what a mess." Astarion grumbled, looking at his nails.
"Everyone? A door opened over here!" Ella announced from the hallway.
"See? I did something." Tom said.
"Ugh!" Asha rolled her eyes.
"We should check it out." Hazel said, walking through the open door. There was another hallway, leading to another room, filled with chests of treasures and scrolls. "This place wasn't built for the living."
They came across another locked door, to which Astarion happily picked the lock. He could pick locks like they were nothing…Hazel was impressed.
Once the door was open, they realized they were in a tomb. A few stone caskets lined the walls, and there were skeletons lying on the ground.
"Armed scribes." Hazel observed. "But no sign of a struggle."
"I wonder what was so subversive about their words that they commanded protection." Astarion said.
The group walked up to a large statue, still more in tact than the one outside.
"That's Jergal! The Scribe of the Dead!" Hazel said. "I didn't know anyone still worshiped him."
They walked around, finding a corner. Tom reached for the wall.
"Tom, no!" Asha snapped. But she was too late, Tom had pressed a shiny button in the wall. Hazel heard a click and the wall was moved, revealing a secret room. Before the group could look into it, they heard another sound. The creaking of old bones.
Hazel turned to see the armed scribes slowly standing to their feet, magic practically radiating off them.
Hazel pulled out her quarterstaff, ready for battle. "Hells, something just woke up down here!"
"Let them come!" Shadow answered. "The darkness can be to our advantage."
Tom ran forward and pulled out his gun. Hazel was ready for the loud sound, but she still jumped. The entombed scribe swung its quarterstaff at Tom, hitting his side. Another scribe shot a magic missile at Lae'zel and missed. Lae'zel shot back with an arrow, hitting the cadaver. Shadow shot her firebolt and hit one of the scribes, setting its robes on fire. Hazel readied her thorn whip, hitting the nearest scribe and pulling it towards her, leaving thorns tangled in its clothes. The scribe charged at Hazel, swinging its quarterstaff. The druid ducked before the scribe could strike her. Aiden shot a guiding bolt at one of the other scribes, killing it instantly. Asha began shooting her arrows, while Yan'lu charged forward with her staff. Tom shot another bullet, carefully distributing them, and hitting one of the skeletons. The skeleton used an acid splash, almost hitting Tom and Lae'zel. Astarion, began using firebolt and hit another scribe, setting its robes on fire as well. Gale cast a witch bolt at another one. Shadow finished off another with her firebolt. Hazel grabbed her scimitar, swinging at the cadaver she was fighting and almost missed. The skeleton practically fell apart once she hit it. Aiden used his guiding bolt once again, taking down another scribe. There was one left, which Ella was quick to also set one fire.
"They didn't want to surrender their valuables, even after death." Hazel mused.
"They're unthinking cadavers." Astarion said. "I might as well feel sorry for a bread basket."
Hazel turned back to the secret room. She looked around inside, seeing one stone casket and a chest.
"A lot of effort to hide one sarcophagus." Hazel mused again, walking toward the ancient coffin. The group stood behind as she went to touch the lid, but then it seemed to slide back on its own accord, and out rose a corpse. It appeared to be a man, wearing old, tattered robes, a quarterstaff strapped to his back. He floated to the ground in front of Hazel, and opened his eyes. He appeared to be intact, but still had rotten into a thin corpse, almost a skeleton. His grey skin was wrinkled and withered.
He also didn't seem to be reanimated or a puppet, like the other skeletons. He seemed to move and act on his own accord.
"So, he has spoken." The corpse said, and it was though he had multiple voices. "And so, thou standest before me. Right, as always." He paused and looked at Hazel's group. "What a curious way to awaken."
"Who…what are you?" Aiden asked.
"I am not the same as those thou hast slain, if that is what thou meant." The corpse replied. "Thou mayest call me Withers." He turned back to Hazel. She shrunk slightly from his eye-contact, but he didn't seem to mind, as though he understood her.
"Now, I have a question for thee." Withers said to Hazel. "What is the worth of a single mortal's life?"
"Quite the question." Hazel replied. "What is the reason for it?"
"Curiosity," Withers said. "Nothing more. Now, wilt thou answer my question?"
"Oh uh, sure." Hazel nodded. She thought for a moment…what would her father have said? Her mother? She remembered they both valued life, creatures big and small…that's why they fell in love, despite her mother being a wood elf, and her father being a human. She searched her memories, thinking of what her parents taught her, as well as her circle.
"All life is valuable." Hazel replied. "And worth sacrificing everything for…" She trailed off, hoping her answer would suffice, or at least make sense.
"I'm sure thou believest as such." Withers said. "Very well, I am satisfied. We will meet again at the proper time and place. Farewell."
After their conversation, the ancient man walked out of the tome and began exploring the crypt, muttering to himself.
"How long has it been? Dust and parchment…still comforting after all these years… what a mess the centuries make…"
The group decided to leave him be, they gathered more gold and scrolls. Hazel had lingered, looking at the chest in the secret tomb. She opened it up and found a few things. Light-blue dye…her favorite color…how convenient. But she also found a large, strange coin made of iron and wondered what it was worth. She also found a strange necklace. The pendant was a skull, and magic radiated off of it.
"An amulet to cast 'Speak with the Dead.'" Astarion's voice made Hazel turn to look at him. She didn't realize he had also lingered. "You better hold onto that. It may come in handy."
~jb~
That night, the group decided to sleep outside, next to the crypt. The weather was nice, and everyone was able to set up tents and bedrolls, and they had enough provisions for a healthy dinner. Hazel spent the rest of the evening sifting through her new things. She had found a book in the crypt: 'The Curse of the Vampyr.' It was old, and had tips on how to survive a vampire encounter, as well as spotting its victims. She also found a howlite in one of the tombs. She took out her pouch and stored it with her growing collection of rocks. This journey was proving somewhat fruitful, despite the parasite.
She took out her sketchbook and debated on what to draw when she spotted him. Withers!
She walked towards the cadaver.
"We meet again. As predicted." He greeted her. "I shall be here in thy camp, should thou hast need of my services."
"What services can a skeleton offer?" Hazel asked.
"The threading between life and death." Withers replied. "Should thou or one of thy compatriots perish, I shall connect soul to body once more, for a price; coin."
"How much?"
"Two-hundred."
"Well, no one in camp has died at the moment…" Hazel replied.
"Indeed." Withers nodded. "Farewell."
Hazel went back to her bedroll by the fire. She began to draw Withers, as the corpse was now talking with Aiden. She heard footsteps approach her.
"So, we're resting here…turning in for the night?" Astarion asked.
"It's no feather-bed, but it will do." Hazel replied, still sketching Withers.
"I suppose…back in the city the night usually means busy streets, bursting taverns…curling up in the dirt feels…a little novel." Astarion admitted.
Hazel put her sketchbook away and stood to face Astarion. "I know the right herbs for a good tea if you can't settle in."
"Ah, thank you…tea isn't really my drink." Astarion admitted. "I'll stay up and take a walk. I need to…process this…" He pointed to his head, referring to the parasite. "You rest, I'll keep watch."
"Thank you." Hazel replied. "I'll sleep better for that."
"The pleasure's all mine." Astarion replied. "Sweet dreams." He turned to stand by his tent. Shadow walked up to Hazel.
"What were you two talking about?" She asked.
"Just about turning in for the night." Hazel said. "I guess he's not used to camping."
"I see…" Shadow replied. "I'd be careful with Astarion."
"You don't trust Astarion?" Hazel asked.
"Trust is a rare currency." Shadow said. "I wouldn't spend it on someone who pulled a knife on me moments after they met me."
"Ah…you have a fair point." Hazel said. "Well…maybe I should get some rest."
"Indeed, we'll need our strength for tomorrow." Shadow said before turning to walk towards Aiden. "Rest well."
~jb~
Aiden watched as the skeleton looked through a scroll, counting something.
"Not this one, or this one…and this one, less worthy still." Wither muttered.
"What are you counting there?" Aiden asked.
"Writing the balance." Withers replied. "Beyond mortal realms, there doth lie an amalgamation of souls who are in the same predicament as thee. They are ill-contempt for the destiny that was wrought upon them. For a mere pittance of coin, I might summon the worthiest among them to aid in thy undertaking."
"You mean…others in the multiverse?" Aiden asked. "Would they be joining us willingly?"
"Most forsooth." Withers reassured.
Aiden nodded and began to walk away, almost running into Shadow.
"Oh, hey." He greeted.
"Sorry, I just wanted to talk…" Shadow replied. "Are you sure resting is a good idea?"
"We need it." Aiden reassured her. "I know we have ticking time-bombs in our heads, but there's nothing much else we can do until we find a healer."
"I guess you're right." Shadow said. "We'll have to be sharp if we are to find one. And maybe we'll get lucky…we're overdue some good fortune. Rest well." The two made their way closer to the fire, then Aiden laid on his bed-roll, ready to trance, while Shadow walked to her tent.
~jb~
Ella looked at the campfire, spotting Hazel curled up in her bedroll, while Aiden began to trance, lying flat on his back. It would be a challenge for the group to find a steady sleep schedule, as everyone had different needs. But she spotted Gale, warming his hands by the fire, lost in thought.
"Go to Hell." He suddenly said, surprising Ella.
"And a good evening to you too." She shot back.
"You're a good sport." Gale chuckled. "Forgive me, I was just poorly making a point… 'go to Hell'…an everyday expression. So trivial it's almost meaningless. But we've seen Hell. It's real. And it isn't trivial…" He trailed off.
"What's on your mind, Gale?" Ella asked.
"Dragons, mind flayers…they all used to just be abstracts on a piece of paper." Gale answered. "And now we have these tadpoles swimming in our heads like carnivorous fetuses…that's not abstract…"
"I'm not too worried." Ella said, trying to comfort the wizard. "I'm sure we'll find a healer tomorrow."
"That's the spirit." Gale smiled, warming Ella's heart and casting out her dark thoughts. "Let's be up with the lark. Find a healer before the wee one gets hungry." He turned and walked towards his tent. Ella turned towards the new camp guest. She walked towards Withers.
"Greetings." The cadaver greeted her. "Something haunts thy mind."
"Indeed." Ella replied. "I've been thinking about your question…I disagree with Hazel…my life seems to be meaningless…all I want to do is…take it…"
"The worth of a soul and a person's deeds are separate." Withers replied.
"But I don't know what my deeds were…" Ella admitted. "And frankly, I'm afraid to find out."
"It matters not what thy past is." Withers said. "What thou wilt do with your present is for thee to undertake. Thy future can be better."
"Really?" Ella asked. "Thank you…I…I needed to hear that."
"Indeed. Farewell." Withers nodded. Ella turned to her bedroll, deciding she should try to trance.
~jb~
Tom waited for Ella to walk away before approaching Withers.
"Is it thy turn for a query?" The skeleton said.
"I don't mean to be rude but…what are you?" Tom asked.
"There are many answers to that question. None are important." Withers replied.
"Skeletons aren't supposed to talk." Tom said.
"Correct." Withers said.
"Um…are you going to elaborate?"
"No."
"Okay then…" Tom backed away, unsure what to make of the dead man's answers. Why did he seem so…nonchalant?
Tom nearly ran into Lae'zel, who seemed angry.
"There are ghaik tadpoles swimming about in our heads!" She snapped. "And you choose idle chatter and resting?"
"You heard the others." Tom said. "We need it. I'm sure we'll find a creche tomorrow."
"The sooner the better." Lae'zel said. "Then you better not waste your resting time. Come morning, we continue our search for a creche. Hopefully this Zorru has the answers."
~jb~
Everyone else had settled down, except for Asha. The Tiefling tossed and turned in her bedroll- the only thing on her mind was the tadpole as it wriggled in her brain. She wondered what could happen come morning. She had been a ranger for many years, but never experienced this before…she was in over her head. She imagined her father scoffing at her. He would gloat at her now, saying he was right, that she wasn't cut out for adventures.
She took a deep breath, trying not to think about her past- her old home in Baldur's Gate. The others had hope, she should have hope too. She tried to think of happy memories. The time she knew when she wanted to be a ranger; the animal friends she made from her misadventures. She smiled and slowly drifted off to sleep.
AN: I got my autism diagnosis about a year and a half ago. It's really changed my life and my perspective. So, a lot of my recent OC's are also autistic. I decided Hazel was autistic the moment I created her. I also wanted to experiment with the idea of some Githyanki having autism, but what if some of them have to mask their symptoms so they're not outcasts, or worse, exterminated? Just some fun ideas I have and they don't have to be taken seriously.
As for Gale, I'm pretty sure it's fannon that he's autistic. I don't know if Larian Studios confirmed it, but I'm okay with it if they don't. Leaves it open-ended and people can come to their own conclusion. Either way, there's going to be a mini autism club in the group, and I'm excited to write more about Yan'lu's journey, as someone who also got a late diagnosis.
Hope y'all enjoyed!