28 Nightal
A chunk of metal, most likely a piece of a broken blade, was partially wrapped in a blue cloth outlined in yellow borders. Opening the fabric, it was embroidered with a symbol of three intertwined rings, the middle ring of blue and the other two of gold. The metal shard was deceptively sharp, and its shine undiminished from the weather or unstable magic. The symbols meant nothing to the drow, though it did remind her of the Reforged Ring. That would be too coincidental and highly improbable. Wrapping the shard carefully in the cloth, she returned to her companions.
Zyne was wrapping a deep scratch from the ogre on himself. Tahlethar sat crossed legged in front of the tiny fire wrapped in a blanket. He had loaned his bedroll to Ariali who had been unable to take wolf form to rest.
"Come 'ere, let's get ye cleaned up too," the dwarf finished with his own arm.
Zarae sat near the dwarf, hand reaching behind her to the cut. It had stopped bleeding but left behind a rip in her spidersilk shirt. She used a cloth to clean the dried blood and dirt from the cut in her shin.
Zyne hesitated, knowing what he was about to ask. "don't think me dishonorable," he started, "but I need access to the wound…" pointing to her back shoulder.
It took a second, when the drowess realized what he was asking. A little nervous, she loosened her belt and lifted the back of her shirt up. The loose fabric had hidden her very thin frame, as well as several ugly scars. A few looked much like a fanged whip had found its mark; there were a few faded lines and old scratches crisscrossing obsidian skin. The worst looked like a sword had been run through her.
She leaned against the wall trying to catch her breath. The alley was hidden from the faerie fire that lit up most the city's buildings, being that this was the slums. Works of art were the last thing on the minds of those barely eeping out an existence. The constant smell of sewage and body odor permeated the area, but she'd started to get used to it now. the former noble peeked around the corner, hoping she'd lost her pursuers. What a fine mess you have gotten yourself into, she thought to herself. It was only a matter of time before she robbed the wrong person. The object in her hand, a foot long craved jade statue of a spider didn't seam like a bad haul. That was until the owners had arrived much earlier than she had been told to expect. Almost like it had been a set up. She cursed the male who offered her this job. This was too much of a novice mistake for the skilled thief to have made. She'd have a few words with her so-called partner when she got back. If she got back.
Into the pouch on her belt she attempted to put the spider, though it hung out halfway, and sat awkwardly. Another peek around the corner, she was sure they had taken a different alley. Scanning the street, all she saw was the usual, houseless rogues and non-drow who managed to not be slaves in a drow city. Beside her were several stacks of crates and barrels of questionable quality. But they were stacked just right and high enough she might could get herself up onto the roof of the ramshackle apartment building. Stepping back from the wall, she estimated the needed angle and speed to get herself up. She scooted her belt around, so the statuette was on her backside and out of the way. She sprinted for the crate, taking a leap and angling her foot to bounce off and up the wall. Unfortunately, the top crate was unable to hold even her small weight. Booted foot crashed through rotten wood pulling her down with a loud crack and crash. Shuffle of boots a few alleys over were now nearing her alley. Stuck in and between wooden planks, she groaned in pain. Slinters, broken chunks, and nails jabbed through thin fabric that was no barrier against the debris. Attempting to free herself, wood splinters were digging in deeper. She felt the blood dripping from one particular tear in her side. The shredded shirt revealed her real form beneath. Dressing like a male and keeping up the façade, (easy enough when she was lacking in the obvious female attributes) she had managed to keep herself hidden the last year. Even been able to join a smalltime thief's guild of males.
"Hello little fly," the soft melodious male voice spoke. There was no doubt she recognized her former partner in crime.
"Well, well, well," another added in, "what do we really have here?" nearing the struggling and trapped rogue. His sword tip lifted the torn fabric away from her before freeing her of her shirt.
There were several surprised gasps, then a few leaning over to whisper to one another.
The first male crossed his arms, "I told you so."
"So you did," the second male commented, his tone betraying the anger beneath the surface. Then to his band of mercenaries, "so Imboss was correct. This is a lost noble, and female in fact."
A couple jeers and calls to kill her came from the males. One male called to use her, a lecherous leer on his face. Another commented about what they might get if they turn her over to the first house for drow justice. Imboss sneered at Zarae when her blazing red hued eyes met his. There was still some of that female noble pride she was clinging to now. She spat at her former partner, refusing to beg. It was bad enough lowering herself to pretend to be male. Internally, however, was a fight between her fear of being captured alive and wanting to live. A step closer to the struggling Zarae, Imboss wiped his face. Fear grew in her, overwhelming the hate she had in the moment. His sword came up, before a consensus on what to do with her.
Tahlethar looked up from his trance, unable to not take a peek at the female's bare backside. Though he was as surprised as the dwarf at the scars marring her back. Zarae flinched from his touch, the cool liquid from his kit made contact. It was a minor burning sensation, though made sharper when he attempted to clear away the clotted blood mingled with dirt. "shouldn't you buy me dinner first," she jested in elvish.
Zyne rolled his eyes as he cleaned out the surprisingly deep cut. Ignoring her nervous joke, "What did ye do?" he asked as the clean bandage covered it.
"Oh!" starting to turn to face the two males, pulling free from the sorcerer's hands, while her shirt fell back down to cover her. "This," pulling the light blue cloth free from her pouch. Carefully she unwrapped the metal shard to show Zyne.
"It looks like a broken piece of sword," Zyne taking the bundle from her. he held up the shard of metal admiring the craftsmanship from what could be seen. "Me guess, elvish crafted."
Tahlethar caught sight of the rings embroidered on the cloth, "Wait. That design. It looks familiar."
The blade shard in hand, Zyne handed the cloth over to the elf. He rifled through his pack to the papers he'd copied from the library in Myth Dyraalis.
"It looked like those iblith back in Skullport," Zarae commented.
"Here," the cleric called out, pulling the piece of parchment with the same design. "I don't think this is them. not unless they have some access to elven history."
"Do ye know who or what?" Zyne asked, handing the shard back to Zarae carefully. It wouldn't do them much good without the rest of the sword.
"Didn't get that far. Spent more time asking about Arselu'Tel'Quess. But I must have thought it something important," the elf tapping his chin in thought. Maybe Fin'are would know more. If they found him.
Zyne shrugged. The probability it meant anything of use to them had to be minimal anyway. What were the chances? "'ight elf," turning to Zarae, "let's get rest. We got a few hours before dawn. And if he," nudging his head to Tahlethar, "is correct, we need to be ready for the wild effects."
As the sun peeked over the horizon, it was as if magic was turned on again. The personal wards, the effects of their equipment, the soft hum of the energies, all returned. Most importantly, the pulsating blast of energy from the focal stone of the mythal. The sorcerer was nearly knocked to his knees from the sheer power that threatened to overwhelm him. The elves felt it like a thick oppressive blanket. It was enough, even Jinx, the least in touch with magic, was disturbed from her deep sleep. Each pulse of the mythal's power was a tingling sensation with a hum in their heads that couldn't be tuned out. Everyone grabbed their bags and bedrolls, dragging them outside to pack up their stuff. The incessant hum had eased up outside the chamber, able to hear their own thoughts again.
"We sure it's safe to?" the tabaxi shoving her bedroll onto her pack. She could see the dwarf and elf thinking about how to gather the magical energies of the mythal the safest way possible. "If I of all of us can barely stand being in there…"
The ranger took on her wolf form, relaxing slightly when the ability came again. She didn't realize how ill at ease she'd been about it, like a large piece of her had been missing. But soon that was drowned out by the oppressive feeling of the geas, the weight of why she was truly here, and the compelling magic from her master. Now she wished she had explained to them the truth of everything. The idea didn't come to her in time, if she had had the nerve to speak up anyway.
As expected, his voice stealing in, 'ah. There is my pet. I was so worried.'
Pretending to scout the area, the lythari stepped away from her companions to explain and update her master.
"mage hand," the dwarf agreeing with the tabaxi's thinking.
"Taking bets of the effect to work?" Jinx nudging Zarae in jesting.
"3 coppers," the rogue going along with it, "that someone else comes out."
"I predict something we wouldn't expect," Jinx betting.
"3 coppers we get something like an area effect again," Tahlethar whispered, to Zyne's annoyance.
Zyne called forth on the cantrip's magic, willing the spectral hand to appear. Instead of the floating digits, three illusory duplicates of the sorcerer appeared in the location. "Well," all four's hands went on their hips, "that could have gone worse."
"Like speaking bubbles?" Jinx trying to hold in the snicker.
"Keep trying?" Zarae offered, she too trying not laugh at Zyne's expression as she took the coppers.
The sorcerer repeated the process, as did the three mirrored images. As he finished the incantation, his voice was amplified. Hand went over his mouth. Every time he attempted to speak, he could only shout. The next attempted ended the shout, but Zyne found himself levitating 20 feet in the air. Then he found himself disappearing from sight. The other three were startled by his disappearance, unsure if he been transported somewhere.
"This is getting annoying!" came from above.
Jinx fished out a rope, tying a loop and attempting to lasso the invisible dwarf directly below where he had been, and missed both times. Just then the levitation spell expired. A scream came from the dwarf as he fell twords the earth. Before the scout could get out of the way, Jinx found the falling dwarf landing atop her. Impacting the ground, with a loud thud, Zyne returned to visibility. Both screamed out from the sharp pain of collision, Zyne trying to untangle from Jinx and roll off of her onto his back. The other two rushed over to the tabaxi and dwarf to help. The dwarf laid there trying to catch his breath, the wind knocked out of him.
Laying next to the dwarf, "I am stepping far away next spell," Jinx groaned in pain, sure something was at the least sprained.
Tahlethar would have cast a simple healing spell but remember just in time that danger. Instead he reached down to help her sit up; she hissed out from a sharp pain in her back.
Zyne remained still and dazed, waving off the cleric and rogue extended hand.
"Try again or risk touching the tree?" Zarae asked.
Hand up in a 'give me a second' while still on his back. A few moments later, "durn wild magic!" when he finally caught his breath and wasn't seeing stars. He eased up from the ground with a deep groan. "getting too old for this."
That made the cleric chuckle softly, attempting again to give the dwarf a hand.
It was a few more tried before the spectral hand finally appeared; though than the expected, the appendage was triple the size. Zyne willed it forward, heading twords the doorway to the chamber below, the chardalyn held by the mage hand. He had to fight to focus, fight to continue down the stairs twords pure power. The hand moved twords the stone tree, faltering for a second as it passed an invisible barrier. The spell storing gem made contact. A bright flash temporarily blinded the dwarf as the chardalyn drank in the magic of the mythal.
When the chardalyn was filled with the power of living magic, the backlash of the transfer threw Zyne back against the stairs. The mage hand flickered and the gemstone dropped. Zyne was diving for it before it hit the stone floor, just barely catching it. Chardalyn were fragile like glass, and they didn't need to be releasing all the stored magical energy. Picking himself up, groaning and still hurting from the fall hurried to the stairs, back and forth from one hand to the other as it slowly cooled, "hot potato!" tossing it up twords Jinx.
The tabaxi caught it with relative ease, she too finding the gem rather hot, having to toss it back and forth between her hands. Tahalethar took the embordered cloth found by Zarae to wrap the spell gem in. It was carefully secured in an extra dimensional pouch.
"any changes down there?" Jinx called down.
Staring at the stone tree, he wasn't sure if he could tell if it had the slightest bit of being diminished or it was due to the overly bright light messing with his magic sensing eyes.
"You coming up," Tahlethar called after the gem was stored.
Zyne slowly made his way up, footing unsecure as his eyes were going from brilliant bright light to darkness of the stairway. A furred hand reached down and guided Zyne up the last few steps. He straightened his robe, eyesight adjusting to the light change.
"That footway is done," Zarae walking up from scouting around.
"That step, you mean?" the dwarf correcting her.
"Yes. we can get out of this wild magic," Jinx still feeling the pain of catching a dwarf.
"Where did that elf go?" Zyne turned noticing Ariali wasn't with them.
Ariali as the black wolf stopped at the slow-moving stream, golden eyes staring down into the trickling water. her ears twitched, hearing the talking of her companions in the distance. With a growl, a large paw stomped into the water to erase the reflection staring back at her. She returned to her elven form, taking a seat against a large pine. A sad sigh, she tried to think through what she could say in 25 words or less. His voice again came asking for an update, this time a tone of either annoyance and disappointment was felt through the sending.
Dead magic zone inside mythal. Not my fault. Wild magic. Magical energy collected inside gem. Continue through forest. City Darrormar. Into Wealdath forest. informative person.
Her head went back against the trunk, staring up to the canopy wishing she could see the sky or some light peeking through. She wiped a tear from her cheek, let out a slow breath. Gathering her nerve the lythari reminded herself why she had to do this. Of course, it wasn't the first time she wandered how much the aasimir was truly capable of and how much he bluffed. But as always, the horrific reminders of what he forced her to do overwhelmed her. She also knew the power of Brom's master.
When Brom didn't further speak, she got up off the ground, dusting leaves off herself and returned to her lupine form. When she saw the cat lady sliding down a steep slope of large mound, she stepped out into view.
"Found her!" Jinx called back. "You trying to take my job?" she jested with Ariali.
A puppy whine came from the lythari, then wagged her tail to show she understood the jest.
"Guess that was bound to happen when we have two of us with similar skill set," motioning for the wolf to follow back up the mound, "smell anything off?" Jinx was sensing something she couldn't explain. Something more than the wild magic or the strange woods they were in.
Ariali couldn't deny that she had been sensing it too, just couldn't put words to what. But something was setting off her internal alarms. Jinx had stopped beside a large olive-green vine, the many fanning branches thick as her arms at the one end and thick as her thighs at the central stem. It seamed to move with a breeze as they neared it. Passing it the vines, neither gave it any thought. There was no reason to suspect a carnivorous plant. Both missed the subtle movement along the ground. Four flexible tendrils sensed the potential prey, began slithering along the ground twords the two. Scaling the side of the 20-foot mound this side was slow going, several loose stones rolling down, before the scout found good footing for both of them.
Then without warning, serpentine tendril reached out and wrapped around a wolf leg, another around the tabaxi's. it yanked them down, slamming them into the stone, then pulling slowly twords the central stem as it was wrapping tightly up around their bodies and squeezing. The yell was cut off as the vine wound around their throats. Thankfully to the two, the other three had seen Jinx and Ariali suddenly go down from sight; they rushed over to see the two become grappled by a large plant. Jinx tried reaching for her swords as the grappling plant continued to tighten. Ariali's teeth tore into the plant just as it wrapped tendrils around her neck.
Zyne was not thinking about the danger of the wild magic, already casting. A beam of crackling, blue energy lanced out towards the vine. Zyne held the energy beam, inside cheering the spell had worked. What he didn't see was the feathers sprouting where his beard should have been. The cheer vanished when the lightning energy invigorated the vines; several more began crawling up the mound, faster than should have been possible.
"vyshaan," Tahlethar cursed. "Fire! try fire!" called when the vine was speeding up twords them. He took a deep breath, calling on the magic of his goddess. Instead of the flame-radiance falling down onto the vine, Tahlethar found himself suddenly glowing with bright light.
the magic weapon was screaming a warning in Zarae's head. Yet the light from the elf's spell was a brilliant intrusion, stinging Zarae's light sensitive eyes causing her main hand sai to miss the tendril reaching for the dwarf. Zyne released the magic bolt and tumbled to the side. Just as the vine reached out to grapple, a second edge sai chopped into the green, dropping the squirming tendril. Tahlethar backed up trying to pat out the bright light as if on fire.
"Try again!" Zarae called, sliding down the side of the mound twords the lythari and tabaxi. She attempted another chop with her sai. It struck the thick branch but was not enough to sever the tendril. Jinx was still struggling, her lung screaming for air, a paw finally able to grasp the hilt of her sword. Each wiggle to inch it out brung crushing waves of pain. Ariali had the vine in her jowls, still biting down. The sai came up again and again chopping at the vine.
Three scorching rays shot from Zyne's finger, striking the vines with a burst of flames. The wild magic of the area for once was in his favor. The dwarf felt the empowerment of his spell, sending another round of the flames into the choke creeper. The fire lapped at the greenery with a sizzle and unearthly scream from the central stem filled their ears. The vines around the lythari and tabaxi loosened, just enough. Jinx got her sword out at an angle to start sawing at the vines choking her. Just as Ariali got her jaw loose from the vine, the tendril wrapping the wolf was severed from Zarae's sai. Ariali sprang free of the plant and hurried up the side of the mound. Zarae hurried over to the vine arm Jinx had been working on, just avoiding another branch reaching out at her ankles. Tahlethar's call to Lady Goldheart was heard and the channeled magic struck the central plant. The vine about to grab the elf and dwarf suddenly stopped, curling back and shying away.
Ambitious was one word to describe the mage. Pragmatic and determined also came to mind. Kemas let a crooked grin grace his human-like features. The aasimir in the hands of the mummy lord was a pleasant image. Taking Brom's place in Helmyn's organization, that was something he could not deny he had looked forward to for years now. It seamed now like Valin was the path forward. Yes, Kiya and Scooper would be collateral damage, but that was the price of ambition.
"How about the third in the Coming Chaos?" the mage offered. Knowing the mummy lord oracle could read his mind, he imagined every interaction with the aasimir.
Valin looked pleased, turning her attention to Kiya who was struggling less and less. The khenra's arm was loosening around the jar in her offhand. Soon the jar slipped and fell to the stone floor, the rolled in a circle. It was cracked but remained intact.
"Yes. I think that will work," Valin said. Though how much she would keep up her side of the bargain would be debatable. "Take care of the pest," indicating the kenku who would be released from the holding spell soon.
"Yes," standing up, "my lord, er, my lady," he added for flare. The mage walked over to Scooper, taking a second to circle the kenku and stopping behind him. Kemas slowly drew a dagger from his belt, intentionally making a show of it. He leaned down to whisper, "it's nothing personal. Just business."
Scooper's eyes widened, he fought the spell holding him, unable to break it. The scream of agony couldn't escape his beak, the blade sliding into his neck. Blood sprayed from the hole left behind when the blade pulled free of his feathered neck. Still the oracle's spell held him aloft, even as life was leaving his eyes.
Near unconsciousness, blackness overtaking her, Kiya didn't see the death her feathered friend. Her head slumped just as the holding spell expired. The kenku fell to the floor with a flop; he twitched a few times then remained still forever. Valin pulled a ceremonial jewel studded serrated dagger off her belt. "I think your liver will work," Valin leaned over in an almost whisper. Still holding the khenra aloft, the serrated blade entered just below her right rib.
When Valin was done with getting what she needed, she let the dying khenra slump to the floor. Kemas had to hold back the rising bile in his throat. He was seeing what he took sides with, and knowing how dangerous this course had become. The large heavy organ went into an empty jar as the oracle chanted the words of the ritual. In front of her floated the most unusual tome; its thick dragon leather cover and spine were covered in gems that represent eyes embedded in them. Every so often, the eyes move, shifting their gaze between different locations. Other designs and runes covered the leather, but nothing Kemas could understand at the moment. He assumed it was related to Kiya's native language. The chanting rose in a crescendo as the blade sliced into the oracles dead flesh. Her own liver, petrified looking and now flowing with necrotic magic, was set inside the large hole in the khenra. Valin's arms moved in the needed pattern of the ritual, the wound slowly knitting back together. As the magic filled the khenra, her own wound slowly closed up. The chanting ended with Kiya sitting up, her dead gaze at the oracle, waiting for its master's command. The mummy lord oracle repeated the ritual with Scooper, taking his eyes and replacing them with her own.
Undead eyes turned to the mage, a smirk creasing on her face, "now we deal with you."
Kemas made it to the reddish-brown doorway they had taken down, who knew how long ago. It was just him left of the three of them, and him alone amongst everyone who passed through. The sigils lit up and the mage quickly pass through to the chamber the Bedine priest had left them. When he made his way to the main chamber, Shir'Bir had been sitting at the low table. She was startled to see anyone returning and surprised to see the mage covered in blood and gore. Her glance behind Kemas implied she was expecting the other two at any moment. The mage shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. His face was blank, and he felt nothing; his memory was cloudy. He remembered entering, finding the oracle, and making some deal for knowledge of the location of the Book. But after that, it grew fuzzy. He saw the faces of Kiya and Scooper, but unsure where he was seeing them in the timeline.
"Are you injured?" Shir'Bir asked, pointing to the red stained robes.
Kemas looked down at himself, then another shake of his head. He didn't think he was injured. The Bedine priestess moved the mage to a cushion to sit, pouring a hot cup of spiced tea and sliding it to him.
"It has been a tenday," she started, "you are the first to return. I was coming to expect no one to make it."
"My companions haven't shown up?" taking the cup and pressing it to his lips.
A shake of her head, "what happened?"
Taking a long deep sip of the scolding hot tea, seemingly unphased, "I…" he started. He tried again, but found the words were not coming to him.
The priestess rested a gentle hand on his shoulder, noticing he was very cool to the touch, even through his clothing. "You are… chilled," a hand then onto his forehead.
"Really, I feel like I am…" hesitating, what was he feeling? Numbness was all he could think of. He looked down to the steam coming from the cup, knowing he should have felt its blistering heat, both on his hand and down his throat.
She let him finish the cup, then lead him to a small chamber with a few cots to rest. As Kemas laid there, all he could think about was Candlekeep. He had to get into the library's vaults. So consuming was this desire, the genasi tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep