A Division of Tasks
"If I understand your sentiments," Vizeran said, breaking the momentary silence that had settled over the group gathered in his arcane sanctum. "Some of you intend to return to the surface, but most are willing to help gather the components for the ritual."
Aleina gave a hesitant nod, seeing her reluctance mirrored by the others in the chamber who also gave their half-hearted assent. Like them, she held reservations about the drow wizard's plan. But something needed to be done to rid the Underdark of the demonic incursion, otherwise it would never be a place for two little myconid sprouts to grow and thrive. So far, the archmage's ritual was the only option.
"I sense your doubts, of course," Vizeran said, his crimson gaze sweeping the room. "How could you not have them? But it is good so many of you have agreed. Time is of the essence."
He held up a finger.
"The Tome of Zyx describes four stages of a demonic incursion," he continued. "The first begins when demons enter a world. Their presence weakens the barrier between the planes and, given time, they warp the land into something chaotic, malleable - like the Abyss itself. With most demons, the changes are subtle, taking years to manifest in ways that are even noticeable. But for demon lords? For them changes are seen in mere months."
"According to all available data," Koger intoned in his flat, metallic voice. "Multiple demon lords have been present in the Underdark far longer than a few months."
Vizeran nodded, giving a grim smile as he raised another of his spindly fingers.
"You are, of course, correct," he said. "We are beyond the first stage and well into the second, where the continued weakening of the barriers allow random portals to open, and the Abyss begins to seep into our plane. Fortunately, given the immensity of the Abyss, most of these portals lead to empty, uninhabited places. So, relatively few demons make it through beyond those directly summoned by the demon lords."
A heavy silence followed. For her part Aleina considered how the number of demons they'd encountered traveling the Underdark could be constituted as relatively few.
"What is stage three?" Kuhl asked from his place on the floor, his voice quiet yet pervasive.
"A stain on reality," Vizeran said, his tone even, gaze steady. "At that point, even banishing all the demons won't close the rifts. The portals become permanent. And once that happens… stage four is all but inevitable. This world will become another layer of the Abyss."
His dire words settled over the chamber like a shroud. The group exchanged uneasy glances, but those who had chosen to return to the surface — Lenora, Saliyra, Kelvane, Gorath, and Iandro — mostly avoided eye contact, their gazes fixed on the tower floor, as if already distancing themselves from the others.
"You're saying we don't have time to gather the components one at a time," Aligor said, arms crossed, his brow furrowed in thought. "We need to separate into groups."
"That would be wise," the archmage agreed.
"How many?" the former knight asked.
Vizeran's gaze traveled the room, his eyes narrowing slightly as he silently considered those present who agreed to his plan.
"The more groups we have, the faster we can gather the components," he said, his voice thoughtful. "But only if each has the strength to complete their tasks — which are difficult. A beholder eye, a goristro heart, demon lord blood, and surviving a lower level of the Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Given those tasks, I believe two groups are the most we can manage."
Aligor gave a firm nod.
"Then we have two healers," he said. "The groups should be formed around them."
Aleina's eyes met Kuhl's across the chamber. From the moment she had awoken to the nightmare of the Underdark in Velkynvelve, he had been with her — a steady, unwavering presence. Strong. Reliable. And now, she was being asked to separate from him. A lonely, yawning pit of worry opened within her. How could she do any of this without him?
Yet she remained silent, swallowing her distress, and gave a small, reluctant nod. Beside her, Jhelnae, somehow sensing the aasimar's turmoil, reached over and gave her knee a reassuring pat.
"In our youth," Raelyn said. "My sister Fey'anna and I competed often to see who could bring back a purple worm egg first. So, we should be part of the group retrieving that. And our ability to levitate will be crucial against the beholder."
"We?" Vizeran asked, his voice edged with confusion. "You intend to travel to Menzoberranzan to enlist this sister? As I said, time is of the essence."
Raelyn's eyes widened, and the normally self-possessed drow seemed, for a moment, at a loss for words.
"I meant Fel'rekt, of course," she said at last. "I believe he also has experience gathering purple worm eggs."
"I used to collect them in my youth," the gunslinger said mildly. "And I also competed with my siblings — winning more times than I lost."
Raelyn shot him a glare, to which Fel'rekt responded with a barely perceptible smile, amusement flickering in his red eyes. Knowing the secret that Fel'rekt had once been Fey'anna, Aleina smiled to herself as well.
"Aleina, Sky, and I encountered the succubus in Gracklstugh," Jhelnae said. "And I have a feeling that if we return, she won't be able to resist showing up just to mock me."
"Why is that?" Raelyn asked.
Jhelnae sighed. "It's the relationship we have."
"That professor orb said the angel in Undermountain had something to do with a duergar prince," Eldeth mused. "So whoever goes there…"
"Should also go to Undermountain," Sky finished brightly, her tail lashing. "I've already seen two beholders — one in Mantol-Derith, and the Xanathar watched us play Blood and Fortune. Remember, Kuhl? Raelyn?"
She didn't even wait for the half-elf or drow to answer before continuing blithely.
"I'd really like to see a giant minotaur the size of a siege engine, but between facing a goristro or an angel in the lower levels of the Dungeon of the Mad Mage? I'll choose the angel."
"The chance to meet a celestial is not something I want to miss," Rhianne said from the depths of her cowl. "Also, if the succubus is disguised as you say, I've performed for her in the Hold of the Deepking. That might give us an opportunity to gather her blood — if she doesn't show up to mock you."
The darkling bard's comment about the succubus not acting as expected sparked a thought in Aleina.
"This succubus is slippery," she said. "The moment she senses a threat, she goes ethereal. So how do we actually get her blood?"
"Easy," Sky said with a nonchalant shrug of feline shoulders. "We use the element of surprise to stick her with something sharp."
She punctuated the words with a quick jab of her clawed hand.
"While I don't doubt Sky's speed," Aligor sighed. "That plan needs some work."
Lenora huffed in agreement but kept her fixed on the tower wall, refusing to be baited into the conversation.
"If it were me," Vizeran said, "I would trap her in a magic circle and then cast planar binding. But since you're asking, I assume you don't have access to those spells."
"We don't," Aleina admitted. "But we do have rings of spell storing."
She raised her hand, displaying the gold bands encircling the ring and middle finger of her left hand. Jhelnae followed suit, holding up her own. The spells Laeral had gifted them were gone, but the rings could be refilled.
"I see," the drow archmage mused. "Whoever casts planar binding will need to best the succubus in a contest of wills. Are you confident you can do that?"
Aleina and Jhelnae exchanged a glance. The half-drow shrugged.
"Yes," she said — but the hesitation in her voice undercut the certainty of the word.
"To gain an advantage over her, you could make a deal," Vizeran said. "Being a demon and not a devil, she'll break it, of course. But even for a demon, breaking the terms of a verbal contract carries a cost."
"A deal?" Jhelnae echoed, frowning.
"Offer her a service in exchange for her blood," the drow archmage explained. "She'll accept, fully intending to cheat you. And when she does, you cast planar binding. It will give you a slight edge in the contest of wills — you will have… what is the word you surfacers use? Righteousness? On your side."
Jhelnae shrugged again, nodding. "If it comes to that, we could do that."
"By my count," Kuhl said, "Aleina, Jhelnae, Sky, Eldeth, and Rhianne will be going to Gracklstugh and then Undermountain. That leaves me, Raelyn, and Fel'rekt to gather the purple worm egg and the beholder eye."
Was there a hint of reproach in his voice, the aasimar wondered, or did she imagine it? She wouldn't blame him if he felt that way. So far, all the companions from Velkynvelve would be with her, while he had only Raelyn — someone he knew only from being forced to play a prisoner death game with — and Fel'rekt, nearly a stranger.
"Diarnghan will go with you," Rhianne said.
The darkling ranger turned his hooded gaze toward his spouse in question before giving a slow, cowled nod.
"I'll join you as well," Aligor said.
"Then so shall I," Lhytris rasped.
The pallid-skinned man rarely took part in conversations, typically mumbling to himself, but he'd been unusually attentive during this one.
"My sister and I left Undermountain to seek out and study the Orderer QX-63 told me about," Koger intoned in his metallic voice. "Therefore, we will also accompany the half-elf."
At the mention of his name, the winged, spherical metallic creature looked up at the golden construct, mechanical parts clicking and whirring as his oversized, singular eye blinked. Meanwhile, the silver construct, Ancilla, stood impassively behind her creator, the runes and whorls on her body glowing blue. Her rigid stance and detached air mirrored that of Vizeran's monstrous bodyguard, Kleve.
"Wait," Kuhl said, shaking his head. "Now we have the opposite problem. There aren't enough people in the Gracklstugh and Undermountain group."
"It may not be as unbalanced as it seems," Vizeran said. "The journey to Undermountain is long. So, whichever group gathers the purple worm egg and the beholder eye should also head to the Labyrinth for the goristro heart — and perhaps the blood or ichor of a demon lord. Therefore, that group will need as much strength as possible."
"I don't like it," Kuhl said firmly with another shake of his head. "There should be more than five of them going to Undermountain. It's dangerous. Raelyn, Sky, and I were all taken prisoner there, and not even on one of the lower levels."
"Jhelnae, Sky, Eldeth, Rhianne, and myself," Aleina mumbled to herself, the beginning of an idea forming in her mind. "Wait, the fastest way to Gracklstugh from here is probably by boat across the Darklake, right?"
"I'm apparently heading to the Wormwrithings for a purple worm egg and a beholder eye," Diarnghan said, voice bemused as he cast a pointed, hooded glance at his wife. "But if I were going to Gracklstugh and wanted to get there quickly, I would take a boat."
"Where would we find one?" Aleina asked.
"Mantol-Derith," the drow in the charcoal robes sitting next to the archmage answered. "That would be the closest port to this tower."
A sidelong look from his archmage master made the younger drow go quiet and once more assume a silent, listening posture.
"That's where those of us heading to the surface would part ways with you," Kelvane said. "Either there or in Blingdenstone, which we'll likely reach first."
Aleina snapped her fingers and pointed at the former squire, who only looked at her in confusion.
"That's what I thought," Aleina said, her voice alight with excitement. "We have two friends in Blingdenstone who can join us — Mialee and Aravae. One's a druid who can change her shape, and the other is both a bladesinger and a spell-archer. That would bring our group to seven!"
"By all that dances," Jhelnae said, laughing. "I see where you're going with this — an expansion of the —"
"Sweet Sisterhood of Swanmays," Aleina finished with her friend, grinning.
They chuckled for a few moments before realizing the weight of the collective gazes now settled on them. Their laughter quickly faded.
"I am confused," Raelyn said, her dark brow creasing. "What is a swanmay?"
"Oh, I know this!" Sky said. "Mialee told me — it's a woman who can turn into a swan."
The furrow in the drow's ebony brow deepened. "What is a swan?"
"It's a big bird," Fel'rekt answered beside her. "White feathers, long neck. Surfacers consider it very beautiful."
He cocked his head in thought. "And a bird is a…" he began.
"I know what a bird is," Raelyn snapped. "It's like a bat covered in diatryma feathers."
"More like a smaller diatryma that can fly," the drow gunslinger muttered to himself, but his sister ignored him.
"And you are a… sisterhood of… swanmays?" She turned her gaze back to Jhelnae and Aleina. "So, you all can turn into these swans?"
Eldeth burst out laughing.
"I wish," Sky said wistfully.
"No, we can't turn into swans," Aleina clarified, wincing under Raelyn's scrutiny. "It's just a fun name."
"Fun name?" The drow woman asked, arching an eyebrow.
"You know," Aleina said, giving an open palmed gesture. "Fun. Like the fun names for a pet."
"A pet is an animal you're fond of," Fel'rekt added helpfully.
"Ah, I see," Raelyn said, dark lips twisting into a rare smile. "Like when I named my favorite phase spider to take on patrols, Eighinvrinak."
"Silent death," her gunslinger brother translated.
"Or the first sword gifted to me by my matron," Raelyn continued. "I called it Veleghinssin."
"Sweet death blade," Fel'rekt translated again, with a roll of his crimson eyes.
"Really liked putting 'death' in her names for things, didn't she?" Jhelnae muttered under her breath.
"Umm, yeah," Aleina said hastily, elbowing her friend into silence. "You've got the idea."
"It's the name of their all-female adventuring group," Eldeth said, laughter in her tone. "And now, apparently, I have the dubious honor of becoming a member."
"We aren't all female," Jhelnae protested. "Kuhl was with us the last time we used the name."
"I feel the need to point out," the half-elf said, casting glances at the other men in the room. "That I never actually agreed to that name."
"Well, I love it!" Sophiya declared, letting go of Fel'rekt's hand. "Could you use another member? I've been as deep as Dweomercore, and I've listened to Professor Bring's entire lecture on the history of Undermountain — so I've got experience and some useful information up here."
She tapped a finger to her temple.
Aleina sat back on the sofa, blinking at the genasi in surprise.
"You want to come with us?" she asked.
"You want to go with them?" Fel'rekt echoed, raising an eyebrow at Sophiya.
"I believe Embrie intended for us to stay together," Koger intoned, naming their draconic older brother.
Sophiya's expression fell.
"Unless, of course, you just want to keep your group at seven," she added quickly, waving her hands in an almost apologetic gesture. "Which I'd understand. It's a lucky number after all."
"No," Aleina said quickly. "We're not keeping the group at seven. If you want to come with us, you're more than welcome!"
Sophiya sat up straighter, clenching her fists in excitement.
"You mean that?"
"I believe Embrie intended for us to stay together," Koger repeated in his metallic voice.
"You're a swordswoman with a demon-slaying greatsword," Sky pointed out with an airy wave of her hand. "Who can summon a wave of thunder strong enough to stop a charging minotaur. Why wouldn't we want you?"
"With Sky mentioning that," Eldeth added. "Now I insist you join us."
"Then yes!" Sophiya exclaimed, clasping her hands together in a prayer-like motion. "I'd love to join the Sweet Sisterhood of Swanmays — if you'll have me."
"Of course we'll have you," Aleina said, smiling and still a little bewildered by the genasi's enthusiasm. "We'd be honored."
"I believe Embrie intended for us to stay together," Koger said again, as if a third protest might change the outcome.
"Not now, Koger," Sophiya said, holding up a hand. "I only have brothers, and I've always wanted sisters. This is my chance. Question — have you ever considered matching adventuring attire? I made the armor Raelyn is wearing, and I can get more scales if needed."
"Not only no," Eldeth said, shaking her head so vigorously that her red braids swung. "But Hells no. As in every layer of the Nine, no."
"You know what," Sophiya said, wincing slightly. "Forget I said anything. The newest member shouldn't be making suggestions."
"You made that?" Rhianne asked from the depths of her cowl, her hooded head swiveling to take in the ebony form of the dark elf wearing her barely there crystalline dragon-scale armor. "It's… very daring. If I weren't under a racial curse where light burns my skin, I'd definitely be tempted."
Lenora interrupted the conversation with a sharp, bitter laugh.
"Only noble-daughter," she said with an exasperated sigh, still staring at the tower wall rather than anyone in the chamber. "Could get people so under her spell that they're actually excited about the prospect of dying alongside her. Well, her optimism must be infectious — because I'm going too."
She glanced at Saliyra and shook her head when the other woman gave her a questioning look.
"Not you," the Chessentan crossbowwoman said. "Just me. One of us has to make good on our promise and live that life we dreamed of in the Border Kingdoms. If I don't make it out, then live a good one — for both of us. Even if only to spite the family that threw us to the wolves after our father died."
Lenora then let out a sharp huff and shook her head, as if disbelieving her own decision, before fixing her gaze on Aligor.
"Someone has to watch your back, you damned foolish idiot," she said. "But who's the greater fool? The idiot — or the woman who follows him, even when she knows better?"
Okay, hopefully this works. I thought about skipping all this (not wanting two back to back dialogue heavy chapters) and showing how they divided into groups in character thoughts, but decided against it. Hence, not only a heavy dialogue chapter but one in the *same* location.
From here, I plan on moving the story out of Vizeran's tower. I appreciate your patience.
Also, you didn't believe Lenora was really leaving, did you?