Vizeran's Plan
Kuhl sat cross-legged on a heavy drow silk carpet at the top level of Vizeran's tower. The woven layer provided some cushion over the cold stone floor, but after the long march through the Underdark to get here, he would have much preferred a chair or sofa. Unfortunately, the archmage's sanctum wasn't designed to accommodate so many guests, leaving Sky, Diarnghan, Aligor, Kelvane, Iandro, Lhytris, and Gorath also on the floor with him. The tabaxi and big former gladiator, at least, seemed content with the arrangement. Gorath smiled as he selected a plate of dried mushrooms and rothe meat from a floating silver tray along with a goblet of spiced liquor. Sky, meanwhile, passed her hand under the levitating tray, golden eyes curious.
"Few of my kind could ever match me in the Art," Vizeran said, addressing the room in surface Common. "The Spider Mage and Gromph Baenre are the closest in talent. Old Dyrr was too, of course, but he is dead. Or rather destroyed. His unlife went far beyond his death after all. Skilled as the Spider Mage is, he is a recluse, possibly insane, has no house to back him, and thus was never really a threat. Which is why it was Gromph who became my rival at the Tower of Sorcere in Menzoberranzen."
The setting and Vizeran's tone reminded Kuhl of story telling times in an inn or tavern. It was what happened sometimes in the evenings at the Trollskull. Patrons lured in by food and drink lingered by the warmth of the hearth's glow. One of the guests would then start to tell a folktale or fable and the others listened with rapt attention.
But there were key differences between those gatherings on the surface and this one. Waitstaff served food and drink instead of floating trays borne by unseen magic and children sat on the floor to listen rather than bone-weary adventurers. Also, no storyteller at the Trollskull had ever been a wizened dark-elf archmage with a hulking, monstrous toad-like bodyguard looming over one shoulder. And, of course, the patrons at the taverns never had discussed how it might be possible to rid the Underdark of demons.
The thought drew a wistful sigh from Kuhl. He missed his life in Waterdeep keenly at that moment. If he weren't here, deep in the Underdark, he would likely be at the Trollskull right now - sitting with his back to the bar, chatting with Fargas and Surash while Rishal the Page Turner spun a tale in the taproom, firelight glinting off his golden scales.
"All drow are rivals," Raelyn said, with a shrug of dark shoulders that shifted her scant crystalline scaled armor in a way that drew Kuhl's attention back to the present. "I was even born with a rival. My sister…"
She trailed off, gaze flicking to Fel'rekt sitting next to her. His expression remained carefully neutral. Vizeran didn't seem to notice. But then, why would he? He didn't know the gunslinger's secret. That she once had been Raeyln's twin sister.
"I speak of the rivalry of wizards," Vizeran said, his crimson eyes glinting. "Not the inherent competition between siblings for their matron's favor. One kind of rivalry leads to blooded blades and poisoned wine cups. The other - to demonic incursions in the Underdark."
Kuhl knew the truth of those words. In Gravenhollow he'd seen the vision which showed the demonic incursion was the result of a single miscast spell by a lone drow wizard. Apparently by this rival Vizeran spoke of, Gromph Baenre. The archmage's gaze swept the room as he let his statement settle over his audience.
"I focused on mastering the Art, as did Gromph," Vizeran said, his tone measured. "But Gromph also proved himself an astute political manipulator. No more devout than I in his service to the Spider Queen, he orchestrated my disgrace and exile. Deprived of my skills, my house fell to our rivals, House Do'Urden. Meanwhile Gromph ascended to Archmage of Menzoberranzan, backed by his house, the First House of the Ruling Council."
Raelyn's nod was subtle but telling - either the fall of Vizeran's house was common knowledge, or such collapses of noble houses were not unexpected among the drow. Either way, it prompted the wizard to move forward with his tale.
"Gromph always hungered for power, and not even becoming Archmage of Menzoberranzan satisfied him. From this tower of exile, I kept watch on his activities. No easy task given his suspicious and circumspect nature. Nonetheless, my observations revealed that he crafted a unique ritual - one that drew on the energy of faerzress to channel incalculable arcane power. I believe he wanted to summon and bind one demon lord only and bind them, but the ritual went awry. The result was instead the shuddering of the walls between the planes and the wrenching of many demon lords from their layers of the Abyss and brought here. To the Prime. To the Underdark. Demogorgon arrived in the Claw Rift of Menzoberranzan, rampaged through the city, then departed through a tunnel into the Underdark. You all saw this in visions in Gravenhollow. And we also know the Spider Queen aided Gromph in his casting, perhaps misdirecting it - though to what purpose, only she knows."
His tone was deliberately neutral at the last part. Raelyn had warned that she would not tolerate blasphemy against her goddess, and she seemed satisfied with his phrasing. It was strange, Kuhl thought. Vizeran was a mighty wizard, with a demonic bodyguard and likely an army of animated armor sets placed throughout his tower. Yet he still showed Raelyn a measure of deference which she seemed to expect.
"He was born and lived in the matriarchy of the drow," Dawnbringer observed in Kuhl's mind. "Old habits die hard, as they say."
Kuhl nodded slightly to himself. Of course. And for a dark-elf as ancient as Vizeran, such habits would have been ingrained over centuries.
"Though my primary purpose for journeying through the Underdark is to locate and study the Orderer QX-63 told me about," intoned Koger, the golden construct, in his hollow voice, gesturing toward the metallic, spherical, winged creature with a single central eye, "The possibility of using the faerzress as a conduit for arcane energy is fascinating. Perhaps it follows ley line properties. But I must say, it is incorrect to say the amount of channeled power would be 'incalculable'. With the proper data and a proper theoretical model, the potential arcane power channeled could be calculated.
"A term of phrasing only," Vizeran said, frowning.
But his gaze lingered on the construct with a spark of interest.
"Don't let him get started on theoretical models and calculations," Sophiya warned, rolling her eyes. "Once he starts, he'll never stop. My head is already hurting imagining him droning on and on about it."
She rubbed her temples as if preemptively warding off a headache.
"Perhaps if you had more of a head for theoretical models and calculations," Koger said, golden eyes brightening, "You would have graduated from Strixhaven in four years instead of six. Despite my tutoring."
"Perhaps if I told Mom I find how much Ancilla looks like me more than a little creepy," Sophiya said back, dropping her hands to her lap and inclining her chin towards her brother. "She'd make you dismantle her."
"Ancilla is modeled after Mother, not you," Koger replied, his hollow voice somehow sounding defensive.
"Yeah, and that's no less creepy," Sophiya muttered with a huff and another roll of the eyes.
Throughout the exchange the silver and lacquered wood shield maiden stood as a silent sentinel behind her maker, not reacting in any way to the conversation about her.
"We're not here to calculate potential arcane power," Fel'rekt interjected, placing a calming hand on Sophiya's knee as he fixed his attention on Vizeran. She smiled softly, and clasped the gunslinger's hand with her own. "We're here because you claimed to have a plan?"
"Should the opportunity present itself," Dawnbringer thought in Kuhl's mind, "Get advice from Fel'rekt on attracting a mate."
"I don't need advice in that area," he thought back.
"Clearly you do," the sword mentally said with a sigh. "You survived a death game with her, gifted her a magic sword, and all you gained was a hug and a kiss on the cheek? If you and she had gotten together, I could have had a part-elf, part-genasi with a noble djinn grandmother as my future bearer. Imagine the possibilities."
Kuhl rolled his eyes.
"You know, I could always offer to trade swords with her," he telepathically teased. "If that's what you want."
"That won't be necessary," came the quick reply.
"That's what I thought," the half-elf sent back, a trace of a smile forming on his lips.
"Don't get smug with me," the sword mentally admonished. "Or I might be tempted."
Kuhl allowed his trace of a smile to grow into the hint of a smirk, then focused again on the conversation in the sanctum.
"I have devised a ritual," Vizeran said. "Similar to Gromph's. That will draw the most powerful demon lords together. They are ruled by madness and hatred, and war ceaselessly against one another. Once brought together, they will try to destroy each other. Here, on the Prime, only their physical manifestations can be destroyed. But their essence will be cast back into the Abyss, as effectively as if banished. We then deal with the weakened victors."
Silence met the wizard's proposal as the gathered group considered it. Koger, not surprisingly, assessed the merits and weaknesses first.
"High probability of success," he said in his hollow, metallic voice. "Predicated on the successful casting of the ritual."
"What does 'predicated' mean?" Sky asked, looking up from her examination of one of the floating silver trays.
Kuhl saw now why he didn't have a plate of dried mushrooms and rothe meat or a goblet of spiced liquor. The tabaxi had been performing experiments with the tray working his area, restraining it then releasing it to watch it float away, before catching it to drag it back. Only now did she fully let it go to float on towards Aligor.
"It means," Aleina said. "The plan is only as good as his ability to cast this ritual he is talking about."
She had managed to find a seat on one of the sofas between Jhelnae and Eldeth.
"That is what I thought it meant," Sky said. "Sounds flawed."
"I was thinking the same thing," Aligor said with a sour expression from his place on the floor. "What makes you think you can cast this ritual?"
He took a goblet from the floating silver tray, but ignored the food, clearly not hungry at the moment.
"I can cast the ritual," Vizeran assured sharply, eyes narrowing. "Acquiring the knowledge to do so cost me dearly. Trust me on that."
The young drow next to him, his apprentice, nodded in agreement. For a moment he seemed haunted by a memory, eyes and expression horrified by whatever he saw there in his past. Then he composed himself and the impassive mask most dark-elves wore slipped back over his features.
Meanwhile, collective silence had once again descended as the group absorbed the wizard's statement. Rhianne finally broke the quiet.
"If you can cast this ritual," she said slowly from the depths of her cowl. "Why haven't you? As you say, the demon lords would destroy each other and there would be less to deal with afterward. There is no reason to delay."
"The ritual needs certain components to produce the talisman that will draw the demons together," the archmage said. "I have, of course, most of the components needed, but a few items remain to be collected. Then the rite to empower the talisman can then be cast, followed by blood and battle such as the Underdark has never seen. Which, given its bloody history, is saying something. Any survivors among the demon lords will be sorely weakened, and should be far easier to destroy."
"Which is why you need us," Diarnghan said, hooded head nodding in understanding.
"Which is why I need you," Vizeran agreed. The thin smile he offered was devoid of warmth and failed to reach his eyes. "By reaching Gravenhollow and making it to this tower, you've all proven yourselves adept at navigating a demon-infested Underdark. The servants I formerly had at this tower proved less capable."
Kuhl noted the archmage didn't seem overly mournful over the loss of these former servants.
"So, what is needed?" the darkling ranger asked.
"The unhatched egg of a purple worm, for channeling great physical power. The central eye of a beholder, to dismantle magical resistance. The feathers of an angel, to embody celestial authority and enrage fiendish creatures. The heart of a goristro, to sway the hearts of other demons. The blood of a succubus, to act as a lure, drawing demons closer. And a few drops of blood or ichor from a demon lord, to forge a strong connection to the beings the ritual will summon."
Iandro let out a mirthless laugh from where he sat on the floor.
"Yes, just a few drops of demon lord blood or ichor," he said, shaking his head. "We'll sneak up, slip in a stiletto, collect what we need in a little vial, and then be on our way. To do what you ask we'd need to kill a demon lord. And if we could do that, we wouldn't need your ritual in the first place."
"And you said earlier you believed this other wizard, this Gromph Baenre, only intended to summon a single demon lord and bind them," Lenora said. "Which means your ritual might go catastrophically wrong as well. The only thing I know is I want no part of it — and want to be far away, out of the Underdark far, if you attempt to cast it."
The Chessentan crossbow woman sat on a couch with Saliyra and Eldeth. Her fellow countrywoman nodded in agreement, flat expression echoing her companion's sentiment.
"If the surfacers wish to leave," Raelyn said with a dismissive wave. "Let them. This is the Underdark, the domain of the drow, and we need no help from others."
"And no one wants to help you," Eldeth said. "Given you only bring wars, raids, and bloodshed upon others. But the Underdark is home to more than drow."
"By all that dances," Jhelnae breathed. "Considering it was one of our kind who brought the demonic incursion, you might show less arrogance and more contrition.
Raelyn fixed the dwarf, then the half-drow with a pair of death glares, but the stares she received in return were just as unyielding.
"You must admit the humans have a point," Fel'rekt said, diffusing some of the tension. "This list of components — blood of a demon lord, angel feathers — might as well ask us to ensnare the nighttime moon from the surface and drag it down to the depths."
"The needed ingredients are difficult to obtain," Vizeran conceded. "But what is it the priestesses of the Spider Queen say? That sometimes, chaos provides?"
Raelyn's eyes narrowed at his words. She glanced away from her fixed stare at Jhelnae and towards the archmage. For once, however, she seemed at a loss, silenced by having the preachings of her goddess turned back on her. With a frown, she leaned back in her seat and fell silent.
"I know where we can find angel feathers," Sophiya said.
All eyes turned to the genasi.
"What?" Fel'rekt asked, his brow furrowing in surprise.
"I know where we can find angel feathers," she repeated.
She bent over and rummaged in the bag at her feet. From within, she pulled out a smooth, solid sphere of smoky gray quartz which barely fit in her palm.
"Professor?" she said, holding the orb aloft. "It's a professor orb I snuck out with when we fled Dweomercore — the Mad Mage's school of magic in Undermountain."
"Never a moment's rest for those burdened with the noble pursuit of spreading knowledge," intoned a dreary, monotone voice emanating from the sphere. "Which of my areas of expertise do you seek enlightenment on? The life cycle, diet, and physiological adaptations of xorn? The mineralogy, crystallography, and gemological classifications of precious stones? The grooming habits of shield dwarves? Or perhaps the history of Undermountain?"
"The last one, please," Sophiya said sweetly, casting a reassuring glance at the others.
"More than one thousand years ago, the arcane wizard known as Halaster Blackcloak is documented to have journeyed from a far-flung locale to the geographic vicinity of Mount Waterdeep," the orb began in a flat, matter-of-fact recital. "Another name for the mountain, as is widely known, is Mount Melairbode, named by the shield dwarf Melair who was the one who discovered mithril in the mountain. He named the mountain after himself and it is widely believed the added bode at the end is a shortened version of abode, though some scholars point out this is an unmerited assumption with not even a shred of archaeological evidence behind it."
"Stop, stop!" Sophiya tried to interrupt, wincing. She waved her free hand frantically over the sphere. "Go to the end, please. Where you summarize Undermountain and its denizens."
"Some believe Halaster hailed from the nearly forgotten empire known as the Cradlelands," Professor Bring droned on, oblivious. "These scholars posit humanity spread from the Cradlelands across Faerûn, disseminating from the contemporary Plains of Purple Dust, now a desolate and inhospitable wasteland purportedly birthed out of a conflict with the gods… Wait, did you request to skip to the end? There is a whole informative lecture that precedes it."
"I know, I know," the genasi said. "I listened to it all, remember? I just want my friends to hear the last part."
"Very well," the orb sighed — impressive, given it lacked lungs. "To offer proper context, let me specify I did not write the portion at the end of my lecture. It is a banal entreaty to try and attract adventurous individuals, also known as the foolhardy, into the depths of Undermountain."
The sphere paused for a moment and when it spoke again it recited in a higher tone with more inflection.
"Now that you've learned the history, care to test your courage, wit, and fortitude in the sprawling, labyrinthine depths below Mount Waterdeep? This dungeon is a gauntlet of skill, bravery, and ingenuity that few survive — but those who do leave with legendary treasure and tales of glory. Thrilling perils await — face a death tyrant's gaze, navigate an intricate obstacle course, and outwit cunning mind flayers. Encounter dark elves, fire giants, whimsical faerie dragons, and even a reclusive moon elf archdruid in a magical underground forest. Will you rescue a tribe of bullywugs from spirit naga overlords? Brave a maze filled with ferocious minotaurs? Cleanse the lair of a vampire priestess and her pet shadow dragon? Or perhaps scheme with a disgraced duergar prince against a powerful planetar?"
"And that's the part I wanted them to hear," Sophiya said, hastily shoving the sphere back into her bag.
The sudden silence of the orb the moment it was put away suggested the bag was extra-dimensional, like Sky's magic satchel or the portable hole Laeral had gifted them.
"By all that dances," Jhelnae said, shaking her head. "You listened to an entire lecture?"
"I listened bit by bit," the genasi said. "When trying to get back to sleep after waking up from nightmares here in the Underdark."
"Now that, I can understand," the half-drow said, nodding sympathetically.
"Oh, I get it," Sky said, her tail lashing with excitement. "A planetar — an angel— in Undermountain! If we can find it, we can get the feathers we need!"
"Precisely," Sophiya said, pointing at the tabaxi.
"Which means we all go deeper into Undermountain," Dawnbringer mentally observed. "Which is what Sky always wanted. It's uncanny how that crazy tabaxi always gets her way."
"That's one component you might be able to find," Iandro said, his tone skeptical. "To a ritual that may not even work."
"I know where to find a succubus," Jhelnae said. "In Gracklstugh. I saw her identity and location in one of my visions in Gravenhollow. Only…"
She trailed off, cocking her head in thought. The others waited until she turned to Vizeran.
"Why is that even on the list?" she asked. "Surely you could summon one and draw some blood."
The drow archmage gave her a thin, mirthless smile.
"I could," he said. "But there's always a risk with such creatures — they're cunning and devious — but I've done it before. Now, however, it would be unwise. With demon lords loose in the Underdark, the risks are far greater. If I summon and banish one, she would be free to report that a wizard in a tower is up to something in the Underdark, a place which would be of keen interest to those she serves. If I trap her here, she might harness the additional abyssal energy caused by the presence of the demon lords to break free, learn our plans, or worse — sabotage them. I'd prefer the succubus blood to be acquired in a way that doesn't involve one knowing about my tower."
The half-drow nodded.
"Then I know where we can find a succubus," she said.
"Purple worm eggs can be found in the Wormwrithings," Fel'rekt said thoughtfully. "It's dangerous, but drow have long harvested them from the nurseries there. We might even find one for sale in Menzoberranzan."
"There was a beholder assassinated while we were in Mantol-Derith," Diarnghan said. "If only we'd known."
"Yes… Lorthuun," Aligor murmured softly.
That beholder had been a member of the Zhentarim. It clearly had alliances, connections, and intelligence, and therefore had not just been a thing to be butchered for its central eye.
"There is an eye tyrant near the Wormwrithings," Vizeran said. "Whoever retrieves the purple worm egg could also harvest its central eye."
"Do we just kill it because we need its eye?" Kuhl asked, voicing his doubts.
The four drow — Vizeran, Raelyn, Fel'rekt, and the apprentice — looked at him in disbelief.
"If our need isn't reason enough," the drow archmage said, "Know that beholder holds over a hundred slaves, working them to death then claiming more. Does that appease your — what do you surfacers call it? — conscience?"
Kuhl gave a nod in response.
"What is a goristo?" Eldeth asked, clearly working her way through the list of needed components in her mind.
"A twenty-foot-tall, minotaur resembling, walking siege engine," Jhelnae answered. "Which I doubt is something commonly found in the Underdark."
The old drow archmage almost gave a genuine smile at her description. Kuhl wondered how she even knew what a goristo was, then remembered she studied books of demonology while a prisoner in Thay.
"They are not normally found in the Underdark, no," Vizeran said. But rumors suggest the demon armies of Baphomet and Yeenoghu wage war in a place known as the Labyrinth. There are likely goristos among Baphomet's servants there."
"Which means anyone trying to obtain the goristo heart," the dwarf said, crossing her arms. "Needs to kill a monstrously powerful creature and survive the chaos of two warring demon armies."
Vizeran's nod was slow and weary.
"And there still remains the question of how to get the blood or ichor of a demon lord," the wizard added, sighing.
"Perhaps, as is said, chaos will provide," Raelyn interjected.
Kuhl noted a change in her demeanor. She'd been initially dismissive of the archmage's plan, but now was considering it.
"Well, whether chaos provides or not," Lenora said. "I wish you luck. But I want no part of it. It is Blingdenstone or Mantol-Derith for me, then a caravan to the surface."
"Lenora," Kuhl said gently. "I know you're afraid. I know you want to go home. But this threat isn't confined to the Underdark. If we don't…"
"Don't start with me, Kuhl," Lenora interrupted, raising a hand to silence him. "I came down here for one reason — the reward I was promised. The job was to go to Mantol-Derith, retrieve a ring to guide us to Gravenhollow, and report to the Zhentarim. I nearly died before collecting that reward."
She jabbed a finger at the hole in her armor where the orog's arrow had pierced her chest.
"I want to go home, you say?" she asked, voice trembling with anger. "I don't have a home. I'm a vagabond mercenary with no real home. Saliyra and I were thrown out of the only real home we had when our lordly father died choking on a chicken bone and his legitimate family decided to throw out his bastard daughters like pieces of trash. So, yes, I want to go home, the home we have dreamed and schemed of creating since that day. Which is to take what we've earned and fight and bribe our way to land and titles in the Border Kingdoms. Then our daughters will be noble ones, not the product of by-blows into a scullery maid and a serving wench."
"Oh," Aleina murmured softly, her expression stricken.
Lenora shot the aasimar an angry glance, as if what she just described was the Aleina's fault.
Not knowing what to say, Kuhl responded with silence.
"I was promised a reward too," Gorath said from where he sat on the floor. "I don't care about noble titles and land, but I'd like to spend what I've earned. The Border Kingdoms sound as good a place as any. If you'll have me, that is. I'm too old for this life. The orog run nearly did me in — my lungs and heart almost burst."
"You'd be more than welcome to come with us," Saliyra encouraged.
"For my part I will stay and see this through," Aligor said. "As Kuhl said, this is about more than the Underdark.. If the demon incursion is not stopped down here, even that home you dream of in the Border Kingdoms is under threat."
Lenora responded almost before he finished.
"You stupid idiot!" she snapped, throwing her hands up in exasperation. She gestured sharply at Raelyn and Fel'rekt. "There are entire cities full of people like them down here — who seem more than capable of handling anything we might do. Why not admit the truth? You have a death wish! You've had one since the day Aridayne died!"
"I have no death wish," Aligor said with a weary sigh. "I was once a paladin of the Red Knight. I lost my way, but perhaps now I might…"
"What, redeem yourself?" Lenora said, cutting him off with a bitter laugh. "You've nothing to redeem. You wanted revenge for Aridayne, and there was nothing improper about that. To save your soul, you just need to see it through to the end — with your father. I'd do it for you myself if I could. Or is it that you've found new companions now? Ones who better fit your station — a fellow paladin, a Baldurian noble lady, and the rest. Fine. Stay down here with them. Die with them. I don't care anymore."
The tears she wiped away with trembling hands, however, belied her words. Saliyra, sitting beside her, placed a steading hand on her arm.
Aligor sat in silence, clearly unprepared for the raw emotion of her outburst.
"Lenora," he said quietly. "I want you to go to the surface and to the Border Kingdoms. But for my part, I need to see this through."
"Aligor," Kelvane said, his tentative tone already revealing which path he had chosen. "I followed you into what was basically exile after your father disinherited you. But even then, it was partly because of the dream Aridayne shared with me. In truth, being the fifth son as a result of your father's third marriage isn't all that different from being a bastard. I am also lacking a true home. And Lenora's right — we've saved enough coin. We can make it work, especially if we work together."
Both Chessentans gave the former squire an encouraging nod.
"You should also go to the surface, and to the Border Kingdoms, my friend," Aligor said, offering a sad smile. "Like them, you've more than earned it."
"We will return to the surface as well," Iandro began before his pallid skinned companion interrupted.
"No," Lhytris rasped. "Like Aligor, my place is here. I will stay with him. It seems he needs a new squire."
He gave the former-knight a ghastly smile that stretched his corpse-like features.
"You don't understand," Iandro said with a slow shake of his head. "We've been promised the help of high ranking priests. They will learn what went wrong, what curse you are under, and fully bring you back."
"Memories come to me from my former life like dreams," Lhytris said. "I like the ones from childhood best. When my next death comes, I'd like to be closer to that child from those memories than to what I became. The Lhytris you knew died in that wizard's tower in Westgate, Iandro. It is time for you to accept that… and move on."
Kuhl had never seen the man speak so lucidly and from the expression on his friend's face, his words hit a mark in Iandro, who fell silent.
"At least one Zhentarim companion staying with me," Aligor said, his tone carrying a faint note of gratitude. "Is very welcome."
Lenora's face twisted with emotion at his words, but with his gaze fixed on Lhytris, the former knight didn't notice her reaction.
"If I understand your sentiments," Vizeran said, after a few moments of quiet passed. "Some of you choose to return to the surface, but most are willing to help gather the components needed for the ritual."
Nods of assent met his question with the exception of Lenora. She repeatedly shook her head slowly, staring at Aligor through angry tears.
As usual I'm hoping this works. I absolutely need to stop working on this! I have things to get done and as my daughter said to me when she came downstairs in the late morning, "Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror? You haven't showered and are still in your pajamas. What are you, an addict for writing this story?" So, hoping it will be entertaining. Those familiar with the module will see I made some changes to the ritual components needed. Also, I still plan on having Vizeran try to direct where the Dark Heart Talisman will be placed and he will still want a look at Gromph's Grimoire. He is just keeping that close to the vest...