After the din of the celebrations, the temple seemed strangely silent. Only the sound of drums could be heard, but no laughter or singing passed the lips of the goblins standing guard. The creatures were fewer here, but the adventurers were all the more closely watched.
A sentinel shouted at them:
"Oi! Ain't no party in here! We're doing the Absolute's work."
Nymuë cast a knowing glance at her companions. It was time to put their plan to the test.
"I have an audience with your boss," she said.
"Hmm... Your kind usually don't deal with boss Ragzlin or priestess Gut. Guess you're after Minthara. No kidding, you're her spitting image. A bit too fair-skinned, perhaps."
The dark elf looked imperious:
"I wonder what my sister will think when I tell her you kept me waiting. I understand that your executioner has been serving as a meal for your spiders. Maybe they'll also find you to their liking?"
"No... No need to go that far", the sentry yelled. "Minthara knows her business, that's for sure, and I didn't mean to be disrespectful. Next raid gonna be a big one, aye! She's in jail, ma'am, with the last of the thieves. She was about to make him talk."
Trembling, the goblin pointed to a staircase leading to the heart of the building. The adventurers didn't bother with thanks before continuing on their way:
"If I didn't know you, I'd almost think you enjoyed terrorising those little creatures." Astarion whispered.
"You're right, you don't know me."
"Oh, don't be so rigid. Authority suits you well..."
"I'm surprised that a dark elf got lost among the goblins," Shadowheart thought. "Don't take it the wrong way Nymuë, but yours are pretty rare on the surface."
"You make me blush, Shadowheart. Who could have guessed I was your first?
"What I'm trying to say, is that drow social codes may not work with this Minthara."
Nymuë stopped at the top of the stairs, holding back a sigh. When she turned to her companions, her expression was distraught:
"The truth is... I'm not familiar with drow etiquette either. I've never met another one before today."
A silence greeted this confession, broken a moment later by the half-elf:
"You don't know your parents, then?" she asked.
"They passed away, probably trying to reach the surface. My mother died giving birth to me. It was the troubadours who were with her who took me in, then raised me."
"Then, they exploited me," she continued in thought. Pulling out her pendant from under her armour, she continued:
"The only thing I have from them is this medallion. I understand there are more dark elves at Baldur's Gate, but I've never met them. I suppose, like me, they prefer to keep a low profile."
"I know twins, in Sharess's caress." Astarion ventured."The best brothel in lower city. I'll introduce you to them, darling. I'm sure they'll know what to do with you…"
"The question I'm asking myself," the young woman retorted, playing with her dagger, "is what I should do with you."
"I have some ideas..."
Nymuë held her tongue at his unbearable grin. If things went wrong, she could always imagine a certain high elf in Minthara's place.
The basement of the temple had long since collapsed; what must have been a huge gallery now resembled a cave, with tunnels for walls. Even the floor was deceptive, a collection of disintegrated slabs forming gaping chasms in places. One of them, shallow, had been converted into a pit in which were two large spiders.
No wonder the goblins have made it their prison. The only alternatives, if by some miracle a prisoner managed to escape, were a bottomless abyss or a rendezvous with the arachnids.
It was the back of the room that caught the companions' attention. This area, separated from the rest by heavy iron bars, served as a makeshift jail. Two worgs were growling ferociously, chained to a wall. In the last cage was a brown bear.
It was even bigger than the one that had threatened them at the Emerald Grove. Two heavy ties restrained its movements, but it was so large that Nymuë wondered by what miracle the bars of the cell were still holding. A few goblins had gathered to throw stones at it.
The dark elf headed for the recess where she hoped to find her fellow drow. Nothing could be done for Halsin as long as Minthara was around. Furniture had been pushed up against the walls of the antechamber, a vain attempt to make it more habitable. Torches cast a flickering light, and a large granite desk took up most of the space.
Nymuë didn't know what she expected from this meeting with Minthara. To feel some kind of curiosity, perhaps, for one of her kin? Or even to find something familiar about her. A facial feature, an expression, an attitude... Anything that would have given her a sense of belonging.
However, there was nothing about this drow that she could identify with. Her skin was darker than hers, almost purple. Her white hair was tied back in a quick bun. Even her armour seemed strange: a mixture of scales and leather, glinting blue-grey in the torchlight. It was tough enough to wishstand attacks from heavy weapons, but also stealthy, able to blend easily into the background. The general wore a spider web symbol on her neck, and her eyes... Her eyes were even redder than Astarion's. She was berating a goblin when they arrived, and the young woman could clearly see the scarlet of her pupils darken in anger. Judging by his trembling, the sentry at her feet could notice it too:
"Your scouting party has not returned," Minthara commented. "And half of the intruders died without providing any information."
"Sorry, mistress," the other murmured. "We screwed up."
"Until their sanctuary is found, I will take something precious from you every hour that passes. A trinket... a tongue... a limb."
"I'm no use without my limbs, ma'am! We're going to make the bear talk soon enough, I swear!"
"Silence now, creature. Or I will silence you forever."
She dismissed the goblin with a disdainful gesture, before laying eyes on the newcomers. A flash of surprise crossed her face as she met Nymuë's gaze. Instead of inviting them to approach, her thoughts mingled with those of her visitors, like a cold hand caressing their brains.
"The chamber melts away to reveal a dark, endless nowhere. In it there's a vision, the drow listening as a pale-eyed young woman whispered in her hear. One of those the Voice spoke of: one of the Chosen..."
The image dissipated as quickly as a breath of wind. Facing Minthara, the musician remembered to play her part:
"A true soul?" the general greeted her respectfully. "Praise be, sister. Are you here to join my hunt?"
"Oh," Astarion cried in delight. "Who do we hunt?"
Minthara turned slowly towards him, and the air became charged with electricity. When a wave of energy washed over the high elf, he fell backwards.
"You will speak, male, when you are allowed to. You've brought him wrong, sister."
The young woman smiled politely, clenching and unclenching her fingers to contain her concern. Astarion didn't seem to be hurt, pride aside. Under her gaze, he reluctantly held back his dagger.
"Forgive him, sister. Being in the presence of the Absolute's cherished children makes him lose all measure."
"I dare hope that you will be able to remind him of his place. Are you coming directly from Menzoberranzan?"
Cautiously, Nymuë replied:
"What makes you say that?"
Minthara pointed to the pendant she had forgotten to conceal under her armour:
"Your ornament. Only the greatest families of Menzoberrazan have the right to own one, like the Baenre's which I wear on my neck. However, I must admit that I don't recognise the symbol of your House?"
Her eyes scrutinised the 'A' engraved on the jewel, as well as the spider's web surrounding it. Nymuë gripped her necklace tightly:
"It's been a long time since I left the Underdark," she embroidered. "The interests of my House ceased to be my priority when I heard the call of the Absolute."
This answer seemed to satisfy her kin, for she smiled at her indulgently. The young woman continued:
"You said you were hunting?"
"Worshippers of a false divinity. Their existence is an insult to the Absolute's claim on this region. There is a weapon that our goddess seeks, I'm sure those wretches have it hidden away there. We will find it, amongs the deads and the ashes."
Her excitment was palpable. In spite of herself, the general's mind once again opened up to the adventurers. Her conscience lingered on thoughts of victory, of unbelievers blood spilled... And the weapon. She wanted to seize it, in the Absolute's name.
To her left, Nymuë felt Shadowheart's anxiety. As they feared, the artifact the cultists researched was the one that she carries, the same that had protected them when they entered the goblin camp. The dark elf's fists clenched; the fanatics cannot discovered that the weapon they coveted was within their grasp.
"The thief in our jails tried to flee to their sanctuary," Minthara continued. "Our executioner having turned his comrade into a pile of bloody bones, we will continue to remove parts of him, until he tells us exactly where it is. And if he decides to stay in his animal form, it doesn't matter: we'll use sharper weapons."
Slowly, an idea formed in the musician's mind. The bulk of the goblin forces would be decimated in a few hours, wiped out by Nettie's poison. The others were surely under Minthara's command, ready to take part in her raid... By luring them to the Grove, they could overwhelm them with the help of the tieflings. The druids wouldn't be cooperative of course, but Halsin could certainly convince them...
For now, she couldn't communicate this plan to her comrades, for fear that the general would intercept it. They would have to trust her.
"No need of the prisoner," she said. "I already know the place you're looking for."
She heard Shadowheart jump and Lae'zel curse, but neither woman intervened. Only Astarion seemed to guess what she was getting at.
"Tell me what you know," Minthara ordered eagerly. "If we find this place, the Absolute will reward us with immense power."
Obediently, the dark elf made her way to the desk, on which a map lay. Her fingers caressed the surface, light as a feather, before stopping on the location of the Grove. The general's eyes widened:
"So close? The cowers have found refuge among the desperates, and you will lend a hand to this massacre. Since you already know the place, go their and make your way inside… As a friend. Let them welcome the very knife on their throats."
"And once inside?" Nymuë asked.
"I will gather a raiding party and move into position. You will open the gates from the inside, when the time is right to strike. We will cleanse the place of infidels and burn it to the ground in the Absolute's name. And then, we will be the first among Her favorites."
The dark elf hesitated:
"It will be so," she nodded.
"Good. Rallying the goblins is no simple matter, but my warband will be ready to attack by next light. On your signal, we'll break them. And when they are dead, the Absolute will reward your faith."
Minthara approached her, grabbing her chin possessively:
"As will I," she purred.
Nymuë tried to keep her composure, while Shadowheart stifled a cough behind her back. As for Lae'zel and Astarion, they admired the spectacle with great interest.
Her kin released her with a final, appreciative smile, before heading into the next room:
"It is time," she shouted. "Gather our men!"
The goblins stopped standing guard and rushed out. In an instant, the prison emptied, leaving only the creatures stationed in front of Halsin's cage. The bear roared as the general watched it with delight:
"We have found our prey," she declared.
Behind her, the adventurers remained silent. In truth, who was hunting whom?
The last three goblins were too busy laughing at their prisoner to care about strangers. When Shadowheart concentrated on her spell, her voice was barely louder than a whisper:
"Silencio," she summoned.
A magic bubble enveloped them, drowning out all outside noise. Only the shrill laughter of the creatures remained distinct; from now on, nothing could alert the patrols. The dark elf approached the group nonchalantly:
"Aren't you packing?" she asked them. "After all, it's not every day you get to slaughter druids."
The bear turned its impressive head and growled. She gave a half-smile:
"That one looks fierce, but I can tell you that his companions in the Grove are closer to hibernation..."
"They won't see the attack coming!", one goblin laughed.
"Yes," Nymuë agreed. "That's the least we can say."
She twirled her chained dagger and slit the sentry's throat. The creature nearby ran for cover, only avoiding an arrow from Astarion with a masterly dive. Unfortunately for it, Lae'zel's sword was ready; the githyanki cut it in two. The last guard was reaching for his weapon when a massive paw slammed him to the ground. He squeaked and scraped the stone slabs in vain, before being dragged inside the prison. There, his howl was silenced.
A bright light filled the cell as a humanoid form replaced the bear. Halsin was a tall, muscular wood elf. No wonder his animal form was so imposing! His medium-length brown hair reached his shoulders, and deep scratches marred his face. Rummaging through the goblin's corpse at his feet, he pulled out a key with which he unlocked his chains.
Cautiously, Nymuë opened the door, and it was when he met her suspicious gaze that the archdruid seemed to notice his hands, still covered in blood:
"Pardon the viscera," he told them. "One should cherish all of nature's bounty… but goblin guts are quite far down the list. You helped a bear without knowing if it was going to hit you next? Either you're a true friend of nature... or you're a bunch of lunatics."
Nymuë had her opinion on the answer.
"I owe you thanks," the archdruid continued, "Although I was afraid you'd be like those cultists when you arrived. My name is Halsin."
"We know," Shadowheart replied, "We come from the Emerald Grove."
"The same one you just sent that drow to?" he accused.
"The same one we just trapped that drow in," the musician retorted. "Goblins attacked it few days ago, when Aradin and his team returned. Sooner or later, they will have located you. Now, not only is their garrison reduced, but we've got the advantage of surprise."
"I left them vulnerable," Halsin admitted. "But I never thought they would face such a threat…"
"Fear the dangers within your own walls," the dark elf added. "Because Minthara isn't the only one to covet the Grove..."
Opening her bag, she handed him Kagha's letter, which she has previously stolen. The archdruid's eyes widened as he read it:
"The Shadow Druids? Oh Kagha, poor child... What was she thinking?"
"Remarkable ambition, albeit badly orchestrated," the rogue sighed.
"I should have prepared her more," the first druid continued. "Showed her the way... But these regrets are my burden to bear."
Then, he studied them carefully:
"It's no coincidence that you found me here, I'll wager? Your actions honour you, but I recognise that look in your eyes... Something's happened to you."
The archdruid's fingers shone with a golden glow, enveloping them in a gentle warmth. The sensation wasn't unpleasant, almost friendly... until it brushed against their temples, causing the parasite to tremble.
"Oak Father preserve you, child… You're infected, aren't you? But something's different. You're aware of the monster inside you, and you don't bow to the Absolute, like the true souls do... How is this possible?"
"We should have changed by now," Shadowheart said. "We've been suffering from this condition for several days, yet no symptoms have appeared. Our case is... complicated."
"I've been studying these parasites for a while now," Halsin said. "Ever since I discovered these so-called true souls in the area. Someone is using very powerful magic to modify these tadpoles; they're using them to exert control over the infected, and subject them to their will."
Nymuë held her breath: the same power she had employed against Andrick and Brynna should have taken hold of her long ago... Was it also Shadowheart's artefact that protected them from this influence, leaving them free in body and mind?
"I'm sorry to say I can't undo that magic, which means I can't cure you.," the archdruid confessed. "But that doesn't mean I can't help. My time in the cell has allowed me to observe these true souls; I may not have found a way to remove the tadpoles, but I know where they come from. This... place, these Towers... Innocents go in, true souls come out. If there is a cure for what ails you, it must be there."
"Moonrise Towers?" Nymuë asked, remembering the goblins she had met the day before. "Where is it?"
"I'll tell you more, I promise, but not now and not here. Time is running out; Minthara's troops are on their way to the Grove, and will arrive at dawn. We can overtake them."
"That's impossible," Shadowheart objected. "It took us almost two days to get here!"
"Because you used the paths," Halsin explained. "But we can go underneath."
And he pointed to the underground passage at the other end of the room.
"It collapsed a few days ago, so an army couldn't get in, but a small group will do. The goblins used to bring me food from here. Some of them have been sent to search an ancient village that has long since fallen into ruin. They're combing the whole area, but I don't know what they're looking for."
The companions exchanged a silent glance. Some informations were safer for them alone.
"If we go through these… tunnels," Lae'zel said, "are we going straight back to the village?"
"That would only leave us half a day 's walk to the Grove," Asarion reflected.
"In other words, we could arrive in the evening. We would have time to prepare to welcome Minthara properly. "
"Minthara is not the only danger," Halsin growled. "The other goblin leaders will continue to threaten my people."
"Well," Shadowheart said, "it's possible that we've already half solved this problem..."
She informed him of the poisoning of the creatures, deliberately omitting the origin of the toxin. The first druid smiled in admiration:
"You're as cunning as foxes, my friends. But what about the priestess inside the temple?"
"Maybe I have an idea," Nymuë suggested.
With a mischievous look, she pointed to the arachnid pit:
"You know how to talk to animals, don't you?"
END NOTES
Some informations about this chapter:
- Firstly, I've changed the layout of the dungeon to suit my needs.
- Similarly, I've created a tunnel connecting the abandoned village to the goblin camp. But you should know that there's really a passage that you can dig to escape discreetly, not far from Halsin's cell.
- I've slightly modified the 'Silence' spell from what it's actually capable of in Dungeons & Dragons lore. Normally, this spell prevents those trapped inside from hearing anything, and therefore from using spells that require oral pronunciation. Here, I've used it more as an 'isolation bubble', preventing outsiders from hearing what's going on inside.
I'll leave Priestess Gut to the spiders, as it looks like we're getting closer to an epic battle? Thank you for reading, and see you next week!