Hellgate Keep IV: The Crossing

Chapter One – A Little R&R

The bright sun woke her as it slowly rose over the windowsill. It was around 6 in the morning. “Friday morning. Last day of training to be exact.” said Yasraena as she came out of reverie. She smiled at what she had just said, but was actually sad about it. She thought about the spells and skills she’d learned and had improved upon these last 4 weeks and the trials and acquaintances she had made in doing so. She found it difficult to find a weapons teacher that could challenge her enough, so all she could do was spar and practice perfecting and polishing her known moves. Oh how she wished that she could learn from Drizzt! His skills with his scimitars is amazing, the way he literally dances with his blades makes it look as if he and they were one. She could only dream of becoming his student, let alone becoming anywhere as good as he is. On the magical side of things, she had found that since she had loaned her spell books to the Lady’s magic school library, the faculty and students started to finally treat her like a real colleague. “Shared knowledge breeds trust” rings true it appears; at least at school. Yes, she’d miss her new friends and the challenges, but she knew that new ones were always on the horizon.   

It was quite a different experience from a month ago, where instead of toning her mind and body to new heights, she was just lounging, being pampered head to toe, relaxing, eating, drinking, etc. At first it was great, and she soaked up the luxury like a sponge in water. it was almost like when she was back in Ithilaughryn and was waited on by the males of her household; but after a tenday she started getting a little restless and figured she’d gotten all the rest and recuperation she needed. After all, she did feel rested; strong again in mind and body, alert and ready. So the training had started once again in earnest. 8-10 hrs a day, 6 days a week, 3 days each for martial and magical, for 1 month straight. It had paid off in the things she had learned and refined: Her grimoire had grown appreciably, by at least five new spells. Two of which enabled her to create 4 Focal Stones, enchanted gemstones that can hold spells like a charged item; she was now able to manipulate two of her spells through Spell Mastery so that the effects would follow her instead of being stationary. She had also found time to train to be more precise with her blades.

The mark upon her left forearm throbbed a bit as it usually did in the morning. Not really painful, just a mild discomfort to let her know that it’s always there. She looked at it, a scar in the shape of a perfect pentagram. The pulsing red lines apparently were to just mark her, as it hadn’t glowed again since it came back. Alustriel herself could not permanently rid her or her friends of this mark, even after casting a Wish spell, for they all still have it. It vanished for about 1 minute, then came right back as before, searing the skin into a scar. What the eventual consequences of this will be is not something she likes to think about for very long as it starts to depress her. At least she has a weapon that will give her a fighting chance if the day ever comes.

Malaci, Fleabus and Wilfbrim had been absent this whole time. She hadn’t seen them since the day she left on vacation. Strange for them to be gone so long without saying anything about where they would be, but, it was a welcome respite from the last few months of constantly being together. “I’d wager even they were grateful for it.” she thought.

It was not long after that she was approached by one of her Harper superiors about a task that needed doing. It seems there was an arch-mage who lived in a tower just outside of the city who recently passed away and who was a personal friend of Alustriel’s. In his will this Arch-mage had left everything he owned to the city and Alustriel in thanks, as he had no family. Alustriel decided to sell the stuff off at an open auction here in the city, during which and leading up to said auction, security will be tight with all magic transportation in or out of the city basically negated. Yasraena's job would be getting the loot from the tower to the city hold with no one noticing or taking interest.

“Strange mission for a Harper”, she thought, “but all right.”   

The solution was to learn the Teleport w/o Error spell and teleport the stuff to waiting wagons just outside the city limits. The wagons would have mundane items as well to hide the other more valuable stuff. Once there, wrap up everything and head into the city as everyday merchants coming to sell their wares. The plan worked flawlessly, the stuff got in without incident and her superiors were happy.

It was during the time of planning this mission that her wayward companions came back. Actuality, just Malaci, as Fleabus was in the city all along trying to become a citizen. He had succeeded in the test and bought a small house. Malaci was less forthright with what he had been up to in his spare time. Basically something about being in Waterdeep for a few weeks. That was ok though. Yas really didn’t want to know what Malaci did in his spare time. She thought it best if she didn’t, knowing Malaci. And there was still no sign of Wilfbrim. Again, very strange of him not to say anything, but she knew he could take care of himself.

Rumors of the auction began to spread in the city before even a single day went by after moving the booty inside the city. No one, not even Yasraena was aware of what the old mage had or what was going to be sold. BUT, Alustriel gave the word about a big auction in Silverymoon that was going to take place very soon, in about a tenday. Apparently, this word got to as far south as Calimshan and as far east as Thay, as there were a few people from those far off lands in the crowd. There must have been at least a thousand people in the main square taking part in this auction.

It turned out that the afore mentioned arch-mage was quite a packrat of things in general, not just magical. There were things ranging from the mundane to magical in the shape of  rings, wands, potions, tapestries, paintings, silver services, armoire’s, furniture, knick knacks, etc. There was this one elven woman that caught Yasraena’s eye and ear. She got into a bidding war with what appeared to be a mage of some sort over a tapestry depicting a battle with a dragon. This bidding got pretty intense for just a tapestry, and her disappointment at losing was apparent.

Yasraena herself purchased a Bag of Beans and a few potions. It was during the auction that she again realized that Wilfbrim was not around, thinking he would have shown up for the auction at least.

That night after the auction, Malaci and Yasraena decided to go to one of their favorite Inn/taverns in the area, The Dancing Unicorn, to have some dinner and a few drinks to top off the day. The place was busy as usual, tables full, but managed to get a table down in front (being known has its advantages) and proceeded to enjoy the evening. Dinner was unusually good and the authentic Drow mushroom wine really made the meal.

When they had finished the meal, the current band was replaced with another. It was a four piece, with a large drum like instrument, a lutist, harpsichord and harpist who also sang. It turned out to be a vastly superior group and Yasraena found herself, tapping her foot and singing the melody under her breath along with the group. After the song was over, the singer, who was also an elf, came over and introduced himself, then asked Yas if she’d like to join the band for a song. She thanked him and agreed. She was flattered to say the least, but puzzled to know how he knew she was a musician. As she began to open a belt pouch to retrieve her flute, he stopped her and handed her his harp.

“What?” She asked as she grasped it. “But… I don’t play the …“

“Never mind about that. Just feel the music and let it take you.” And he began the count off…

1… 2… 3… 4…

The band began, and amazingly, she did feel the music take her. Once the band started, she began to follow along the melody, slowly at first, but then faster and more sure of herself. It was unreal! She had no idea of how to play this thing, yet here she was playing like seasoned bard! It was like a blur, it seemed to go on for a long while. She even got a little solo toward the end.

After the song ended, hearing the applause as she shook the elves hand one last time while handing the harp back with the other, the feeling had faded away to almost nothing.

“Thank you so much for that!! It was amazing!”

“You are welcome Yasraena of Oerth.” He said and took his leave to play some more with his friends.

As she started back to the table, she noticed that Malaci had left with another figure and were off at a private table to the side. As she sat back down and took a drink of her wine, she looked around the bar to see if perhaps Fleabus or Wilfbrim had come in, when she noticed the elven female that was at the auction today across the room at a booth by herself. She still looked pretty down, so Yasraena decided to go over and introduce herself in hopes of cheering her up a bit an possibly making a new friend in the process. So, she gets up and walks over to the booth.

“Excuse me, but do you mind if I join you? “she asks.

The elf raises her head and looks up into Yasraena’s smiling face and was startled, almost afraid for a moment, then remembered where she was.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting a drow to wake me from my daydreaming. You’re Yasraena T’Sarran, aren’t you? The famous drow, who with her friends helped save Silverymoon and gained the Lady’s favor.”

“It seems my reputation precedes me.” Yasraena replies.  She then holds out her hand in greeting and says, “Pleased to meet you…”

“Aloeranth; likewise Yasraena.” The elf finishes as she extends her own hand. “Well, it’s not that hard to figure out. You are the only drow elf I’ve seen here.”

Yasraena takes it and shakes firmly, then says with a smile as she takes the bench opposite her, “And I hope I’m not the last.” She pauses then adds “You seem to know all about me and why I’m here, Aloeranth. Why don’t you tell me about yourself and what brings you to the fair city of Silverymoon.”

Aloe pauses a moment before speaking, then says “Well, I come from Evereska, and it’s been a long journey. There are terrible things on the roads these days and it was not easy getting here, even for an experienced adventurer like myself.” She continues on with this story for a few more minutes, when Yasraena sees Malaci and his friend approaching. She waves to them and then gets up when they arrive so they can have a seat.

“Malaci! Where’d you get off to?” Yasraena exclaims when her friend gets to the table. “And who’s your friend here? I don’t think I’ve seen him before.”

“I was about to ask you the same thing, Yas” Malaci smirks as his eyes take an approving walk over Aloeranth. He bends down and extends his hand to her. “Greetings miss. I am Malaci, acrobat extrordenaire and adventurer; At your service.”

“Aloeranth of Evereska.” She replies. “Pleased, I’m sure.”

This is Jasper,” Malaci says as he gestures to his companion and looks at Yasraena, “an associate of mine.”

“Well, both of you, come sit down with us. Aloe here was just telling me about her travels and travails to our fair city.”

As they all sit down, Jasper grabs the attention of a bar wench and orders a jug of wine for the table. Not a minute later, the wench is back with the jug and 4 glasses, then takes her leave. Jasper begins pouring the wine and handing it around and just as the first drop is about to be tasted, in comes a vaguely familiar looking dwarf. He goes and plops himself down at a table facing away from us, so we can’t see his face. His armor is a bit worse for the wear, but there’s no mistaking that voice when he yells “Barmaid! Pitcher of your best ale! And step on it girl!”

Yasraena and Malaci look at each other then yell in the direction of the dwarf, “FLEABUS!!” This gets his attention and he looks over at us, recognizes us then gets up and comes over to our table.

“Well if it ain’t Malci and Yasraena. Just when I be needin’ to see ‘em too. Have I got some news for you two,” he begins, then notices the other two that are with us. “And who might these two be? Friends of yours I take it?” he says with suspicion in his eyes.

“I can vouch for Jasper here, my friend.” Malaci says. “I wanted to introduce him to the party anyway, so now’s a good a time as any.”

“Aloeranth here is just someone I met here in the tavern.” Says Yasranea. “So I can’t vouch for her other than with my instinct. Is this info that secret Fleabus?”

“I suppose not, as she doesn’t look like someone who’d work for the Zhents.”

“The Zhents? Do you mean the Zhentharim?” asks Aloe in an excited manner.

“Well, I sure don’t mean The Knights of Silver.” replies Fleabus. “Anyway what I found was the place as busy as a bee hive, with all kinds of people about doing what appeared to be rebuilding the damned place. Only there were Zhents afoot as well, looking like they were giving the orders. The last time we saw it, we thought we had finally driven out all the evil there. Apparently we missed some”

“You don’t mean Hellgate Keep?” Asks Malaci.

“What place do ye think I’m talking about, you dim-witted half elf? What other place has been a constant thorn in our side since we first went there? Yes Hellgate Keep!!”

“OK, OK, sorry, I just wanted to make sure! Jeez! Ask a question to clarify something and you get yelled at for it…

“Maybe the Zhents saw an opportunity and took it.” Yasraena says with an air of futility. “Maybe this was one of the reasons Alustriel wanted us to use that orb. What else can you tell us Fleabus?”

“Not much. I didn’t get a chance to see much except the outside and a little bit of a passageway leading into the keep. That, and the large amount of bodies working everywhere.”

“Don’t you think the Queen should be made aware of this?” Malaci says. “If the keep is occupied again, it could pose a threat to the city.”  

“My thoughts exactly.” replies Yasraena. “We need to inform Alustriel as soon as possible.”

“I guess the rogue isn’t so dim-witted after all. But, do you mind if I drink my ale before we go? I’m parched.” Says Fleabus, as he sees the confused barmaid looking for her customer. “Over here! I moved! Over here!”

“Oh all right.” Yas says back. “I need to finish my wine as well, and Aloe needs to finish her story anyway.”

As Aloe begins to tell of her misfortune of losing the bidding for a certain tapestry at the auction, Fleabus downs the first two mugs of the pitcher like he was dying of thirst. “Ahhhhhhh. Nothing quite as good as a cold ale after a long day.” He says as he begins to pour his third.

Just then, the front doors of the tavern burst open to show The Knights of Silver themselves come rushing in. They scan the room, then ask in a very authoritative voice “Is Yasraena T’Sarran, Malaci Thornbird and/or Fleabus Gundarock on these premises?”

Yasraena immediately raises her hand and says “I’m Yasraena, and these two are Malaci and Fleabus. What can we do for you gentlemen?”

They all move quickly, yet quietly to her table where the lead watchman comes up to Yasraena and softly says to her, but so all at the table can hear, “I was informed by my superiors to come and find you with a message. That you are needed at the main office of the city watch. That you are to meet with Guardmaster Willis regarding your friend Wilfbrim. It is important that you three accompany us immediately.”

“Of course, of course we will.” Yasraena says to them, then turns to Aloe. “Please excuse us Aloe, but as you can see we have pressing business. But, I’d like to continue this conversation if you’re willing.”

“I’m staying here in the upstairs part of the inn for at least a few more days.” Aloe replies. “Feel free to come back any time, Yasraena. And thank you for the company.”

“I will, and my pleasure Aloe.” She then turns to her friends and the watchmen and says “Gentlemen, shall we go?”

Chapter 2 – The Plot Thickens

The walk from the inn to the guard offices seemed unusually long to Yasraena, even though they were going at a pace that made the guards struggle to keep up. She was thinking the worst, which could only be the case if the city watch put forth this much effort to find them. What else could it be? It’s always bad if they make you come with them and are silent about the reason.

“Can’t you tell us what this is all about?” Malaci almost demanded of the guards that were leading the party.

“We’re taking you to the place the Guardmaster told us to take you to, which is the main watch station. He also told us to not say anything to you three regarding the nature of this summons.” The one on the left replied.

 “So, no, we can’t tell you anything. You’ll have to wait and be told by Willis himself.”

“What in the hell has Wilfbrim gotten himself into?” Yasraena wondered.

***

About 15 minutes later, they all arrive at the watch station where they’re greeted by Guardmaster Willis himself.

“Here are the three you requested, sir.” The lead guard says to Willis.

“Good work in finding them so quickly men,” he says to the guards. “You’d best get back to your duties, now.”

“Yes sir,” they reply, salute and then depart.

“I’m sorry for bringing you all down here like this, but I thought it best if you found out from me instead of the grapevine.” Willis says as he turns to face the party. “Please, come with me.” He then leads them into the building, down the main corridor and to a small room with a large table and several chairs. After everyone is seated, he then continues on.

“I’m sorry to say that your friend is dead. He was murdered…” and before he could go on, questions come flying at him a mile a minute from all three seated at the table.

“Please! Please! Calm down and be quiet!” Willis has to almost yell at them. After they do calm down, he says, “OK. I’ll try to tell you all everything I know.” He pauses and takes a breath before continuing, thinking carefully about his next words.

“We responded to a call at the inn where your friend Wilfbrim was staying. A break and enter and assault, and that they still had the responsible party. When we got there, we found Wilfbrim in his room, on the floor, covered in blood and headless, and a halfling in the corner with blood all over him, also on the floor, but only unconscious. The inn’s bouncer was the one who had summoned us after hearing a scuffle in the room. It was him who knocked the little bastard out as he caught him rummaging through Wilfbrim’s belongings after the sinister deed. It was the halfling who murdered your friend, but we don’t know why as he won’t answer our questions. We thought you might be able to shed some light on this, which is why I had you brought here.”

“You mean to say that you still have him, and he’s here?!?!” Fleabus yells as he suddenly stands up and knocks his chair over backward.

Willis stops and looks at the angry dwarf with a sense of impatience. He takes a breath and slowly stands up to face him. “Yes, and that’s why we summoned you three. It isn’t against the law to use magical means to determine if what is said is the truth or not. But it is against the law to use magic or any other means to pry the truth from someone. At least for us it is.” He stops and lowers his voice before getting close to Fleabus before continuing. “Are you getting what I’m saying here, master dwarf?”

“Just show us where you’re holding him,” says Fleabus.

Yasraena then says gravely. “You want the truth? We’ll get it from him.”

When he saw the look on Yasraena’s face as he turned toward her, he didn’t doubt that statement for a second.  

***

Grelf, halfling assassin, sat in his completely empty cell and thought how he could have ended up here. He had always prided himself as being one of the best, one of the ones that could always get out of tight spots in the end; and he had done so in the past many times. There were times when he thought he wasn’t going to make it, but then miraculously, he always did. His luck was a thing of tavern tales. So how could he have landed himself into a place where he could not get out of?

A damn keepsake, that’s how. A frigging souvenir. And with that thought, he began to go over in his mind yet again the circumstances that led him here.

“The job was going perfectly until that thrice damned cleric returned earlier than expected.” he thought. The SOB caught Grelf as he was readying the apartment for his return. Grelf had no chance for a surprise attack, so he just went at him with all the ferocity a 2’ 7” halfling could muster. Luckily he was wearing his Gloves of Fire Giant Strength, so it was relatively easy to just tear his head off, but still he regretted the viciousness of it. He was usually more, well, professional. But he had to admit if this was the best the heroes of Silverymoon could do, these were going to be the easiest marks of his life.

The thing he regretted most was going through his belongings after the deed. It wasn’t that he needed money or anything. It was more for a souvenir of every mark he had ever done. He knew the practice was stupid, but it had become kind of a tradition. Kill the mark, snag something for the scrapbook. Well, it finally cost him. A damn holy symbol was going to cost him at least his freedom for a very long time, or at the worst his life.    

He also thought of the man who had offered these jobs to him.

Nalfost.

He had been an old partner in crime from way back, and who apparently was now allied with the Zhentarim. He’d always been a good source for a quick job here and there, and he paid pretty well most of the time, too. So when he approached his old halfling friend with an opportunity to off a certain party of adventurers, and for a small king’s ransom, Grelf all but jumped at it. Then he paid all in advance! That was unusual in of itself, but what Nalfost had told him as he handed over the pouch of gems not only gave him second thoughts about the job, it would stay with him forever.

“I know that we go back a ways, so I will spare you the niceties that others of your ilk are afforded and get to the point. You must know this task before you is of the utmost importance to not only myself, but to my superiors most of all. I know your capabilities, my old comrade. That is why I hired you in the first place. That and your unexplainable abundance of luck.” Nalfost then turned around and looked him directly in the eye and continued in a menacing tone that the halfling had never heard from him before, “But I warn you Grelf, if you find that this task is beyond your capability, or fail to do what you’ve been paid for, I guarantee that you will suffer eternally at the hands of powers greater and more evil than the Zhentarim themselves.”

Suffer eternally, he said. Eternally. He didn’t like the sound of that. But he liked even worse the thought of the powers that could back up that claim.   

So instead, he thought about his immediate problem… which was getting out of this cell and out of this building with his life intact. How he was going to do that without his items or even his weapons, he hadn’t a clue. 

***

When the group arrive at the cell where the halfling is being held and actually see the creature, they all have to stop in amazement. He is sitting cross legged in a 10x10 cell, his hands tied behind his back, staring at the ground. Sitting there, looking like the sorriest specimen they’d ever seen; he couldn’t have been more than 2 ½ ft tall, and scrawny by any halfling standard. How this pathetic creature had killed Wilfbrim was beyond any of them, but yet, here he was.

“Well, there he is.” Willis says as he goes to the cell door and unlocks, but doesn’t open it. “As per the law of the city, he will be tried for the murder of your friend. If he should happen to die during interrogation, before his appointed time tomorrow, it is of no consequence to me and would please me to no end. However, it would be a great displeasure to my superiors. So I must ask you please, to restrain yourselves from dispensing any… ‘personal justice’… while you’re in here with him. Do what you will to question him, just don’t kill him.” Then he throws the cell key to Yasraena, spits on the pathetic creature, then turns and leaves.

As they stand there a moment after he leaves, just staring at the pathetic creature, they also notice that even though there are at least a dozen cells in this cell block, the halfling is the only occupant. They also notice they are completely alone. No guards, no one to keep watch, no one.

 Fleabus finally goes and slowly opens the door with axe in hand, then steps inside, to be followed by Malaci and then Yasraena, who closes and locks the door behind her. The halfling stands and faces them as they enter, almost looking defiant.

            “So, you’re the little runt that killed our friend, eh?” Fleabus says to the decrepit creature. “Nice trick that, considering he was more than 3 times your size and strength.”

            The halfling looks up into his face and replies with a smile, “Well, what can I say? I’m one of the best,” which in turn earns him an immediate punch in the face from Fleabus. That he still stands afterward (albeit a little wobbly) apparently is a testament to his claim.

             “The best he says. Ha! The best at getting caught, maybe!” quips Malaci. “Halfling assassin… more like half-ass assassin!”

            Grelf shoots Malaci an evil look at that comment, but remains quiet.    

            Yasraena kneels down in front of him and says very calmly, “You know you’re going to die don’t you? It seems there’s nothing you can do about it, either.”

“Sure appears so, doesn’t it, Drow?” he looks up and replies with a bit of attitude “But things can change, though.”

“Yes they can, so true, so true,” she calmly replies back. “Faster than you could imagine, you little dung.” Then, so quickly it’s a blur, she reaches out with her right hand and grabs him by his tunic, then stands up and grabs the hair on the back of his head with her other hand, so his feet end up dangling a good two feet off the floor and his face a good 3 inches from hers.

The ease and fluidness at which she was able to do this startled Grelf. After all she was a female drow elf, not a freaking barbarian. He truly wondered if she was just going to snap his neck right there and then.

 “Now listen carefully, because I’m only going to say this once,” Yasraena continues on in a voice that could freeze blood. “I’m sure that ‘one of the best’ can see your situation is indeed a hopeless one. You are going to die for what you’ve done. How you die will be completely up to you though, as you have two choices before you. Quick and painless, or sloooooow and agonizing. Personally, I prefer the latter, because we not only have ways of getting the information out of you after your dead, but we also get to make your last moments in this life as painful as possible. Do you understand so far?”

Grelf feels her hand nod his head up and down a couple of times.

“Good. Now, how you answer the questions we ask will tell us the choice you’ve made. Quickly and truthfully will be your preferred way of doing it, if not my own. Ready?” She nods his head again. “Good. Why did you kill our friend Wilfbrim?”

“It was strictly business. He was a mark,” Grelf quickly replies.

Malaci then asks,”Who hired you for the task?”

“An old friend,” Grelf replies to Malaci.

“Wrong answer!” shouts Yasraena and throws him against the cell bars with all her might. Grelf sees stars and falls to the floor with a thud and a groan. He hears Malaci say something along the lines of “OOOOOH! THAT’S gotta hurt!!” When Fleabus goes and picks him up by the scruff of his neck and takes him back to the middle of the cell, he seems to be coherent again.

“Ye want to be answerin’ these questions a bit more specifically,” he says to the halfling as he cocks his own arm back in preparation for a throw. “Now who hired ye?”

“All right all right!” Grelf yells out. “His name is Nalfost and he apparently works for the Zhents now.”

“Nalfost!?!?” exclaims Malaci. “What the hell is that snake worshipping piece of crap doing involved in this? What did Wilfbrim ever do to him?”

“Nothing that I know of,” says Grelf. “I could care less if he did, really. All I cared about was the job and getting paid. ”

“That’s it? You were hired by Nalfost to kill him. Nothing more? ” Yasraena almost yells at him.

“That’s pretty much it, yeah.” the halfling tells her. “But it wasn’t just the priest. Nalfost hired me to kill all of you.”

            “WHAT?!?!?” the group almost yells in unison.

“What could he possibly gain by killing all of us?” asks Fleabus.

“I’m not sure,” Grelf replies, “but he said something abut all the plans being able to finally be accomplished, once your group was out of the way. You all must have done something to really piss him off.”

“Call it a fundamental difference of ideals.” Yasraena says.

“Is there anything else you can tell us about your boss and the reason he wanted us dead?” asks Fleabus as he gently sets Grelf back on the cell floor and transfers his axe to his right hand.

“No, that’s all there is,” Grelf answers. “He hired me to kill the priest, then to kill all of you. His reasons are his own.”

            “Ok then, time to keep our end of the bargain,” answers Fleabus, as he swings his axe in a circular roundhouse directly at and through Grelf’s neck, severing his head in one clean stroke. He then goes to the fallen head and picks it up. Looking into the eyes, which seem to look very surprised, but still to have some life and comprehension in them, he yells, “That was for our friend you little prick! May you rot in hell!!” He then throws the head against the cell bars, where it hits with a dull ‘thunk’, falls to the ground and starts to roll, splattering blood, to where it finally stops next to the halfling’s lifeless body; the surprised expression still on its face.  

So passes Grelf of Lurien, halfling assassin.

“Not that he didn’t deserve it,” Malaci says no one in particular, “but that was brutal.”

“Yes it was,” Yasraena says, “and yes he deserved it.”

“So what now?” Malaci asks her.

“I don’t know about you two,” Fleabus says, “but after all this, I could use a belt or two… or three… or four for that matter.”

“I’ll agree to that my friend,” Yasraena says. “As soon as we tie up the loose ends here with Willis. I’ll even buy the first round.”

With that they take their leave of the bloody cell and find Willis in his office.

After they all tell him what happened, Willis reacts rather angrily and says, “Didn’t I tell you NOT to kill him? He was supposed to be interrogated, not executed! What am I supposed to tell my boss now?!?!”

“Ye can tell him that we got the little dung to confess to his vile deed and then dispensed a little swift justice of our own,” says Fleabus. “If he still has a problem, tell ‘im to come and talk to us! Ye know where we’ll be!”

After finalizing arrangements with Willis for their friend’s body and possessions to be handed over to the church of Mystra, they finally take their leave and head back to the Dancing Unicorn. 

*** 

When they arrive back at the inn, two hours after leaving, they’re surprised to see Aloeranth still sitting at the same table as before. As they approach her, she notices them, smiles and then waves them over.

“That was fast,” she says as they arrive at the table, then to Yasraena specifically. “I wasn’t expecting to see you at least until tomorrow. Dare I ask if things went well?”

“As well as can be expected I suppose,” she replies back. “Our friend Wilfbrim was killed last night in his apartment.”

“What? That’s terrible! I’m so sorry!” says Aloe.

 “Yeah, that’s what the whole thing with the city guards was about,” says Malaci as he takes a seat. “But they got the halfling that did it.”

“A halfling? Are you serious?” she says back. “That’s great news. At least he’ll pay for what he did.”

“Already has,” says Fleabus as he takes his place at the table. “With interest.”

“What did you do to him?” Aloe asks in a hushed voice.

“We told him he’d better answer our questions if he wanted to die a quick and painless death, as opposed to a slow and agonizing one.” says Yasraena matter of factly.

Then Malaci says, “He told us basically that Wilfbrim was his mark. We all were actually.”

“Ok. Wait a second. You’re telling me that not only did this halfling kill your friend, but you all were marked for assassination?” Aloe asks. “Why?”

            “We don’t know,” says Yas. “He said something about an old comrade of ours named Nalfost. About how he now works for the Zhentarim and all of his plans were finally going to be accomplished once we were out of the way. What those plans are however, we haven’t a clue.”

            “It sounds like you have a mystery on your hands.” says Aloe.

“That we do, that we do,” replies Yas. “But before we start to think about that, how about you finishing your story you were telling us before we were whisked away by the guards?”

 “Sure, I can do that. But I suppose I should start from the beginning to give you the whole story.” She then asks them “Have any of you heard of either Sammaster or ‘The Cult of the Dragon’?”

            “We’ve all heard of the Cult, but have never had to deal with them.” Offers Fleabus. Everyone around the table agrees to that, except Yasraena who, not surprisingly, had never heard of them before.

            Aloe then explains, “They’re basically an evil cult who thinks that dragons will eventually rule over man. They worship dragons and manipulate them into their service.”

“Who’s this Sammaster?” asks Malaci.

“He is their founder and was their leader up until he found himself without a body,” replies Aloe, “He was thought to have finally perished for good until he became a lich almost 700 years ago. His physical body was eventually destroyed in one of the many battles with good he and his cult took part in. But his phylactery I’m afraid, survived intact. It has remained lost for over 400 years. Until recently it was believed to be lost for good, but it has been found again, and intact. It is one of the things his followers need to accomplish their plans of resurrecting him and bringing him into this world once again. As with any lich, if his phylactery can be found and destroyed for good, Sammaster will never be able to trouble this world ever again! ”

“How do you know all this?” asks Yasraena.

“I’ve been a scholar of the cult for a long time, most of my life as a matter of fact,” she replies. “As I’ve said, he has been thought dead and lost for hundreds of years up ‘til now. The cult now has the resources to bring him back. It’s been foretold in their writings and artifacts since their inception into this world.” She stops for a moment to gather her thoughts, then continues, “The tapestry; the one that I lost in the auction? It was bought up by none other than members of the Cult. Them buying it, and for the price they paid, just confirms my suspicions about it.”

“And what might those suspicions be, lass?” asks Fleabus.

“That the tapestry is in actuality, not only a map to the place where this ritual is going to take place, but also to where the phylactery itself lies. I’m betting they’re one in the same. Sammaster’s ancient tomb. Because I was able to take a close, but quick look at the items before bidding on them, I was able to discern certain things in the actual picture, which showed a diorama of a huge dragon battle with every color and age represented.” Aloe explained. “In the picture, there was a statue, a large silver replica of Tiamat. The diorama depicted it as something the evil dragons seemed to be after, like a prize or something of importance to them. If I’m right, the area that the battle took place in is referenced right in the picture, and is close to Silverymoon, very possibly south of the city in the low lying hills.”

At the words regarding the statue of Tiamat, the party all looks at each other for a brief moment. 

“Well, I suppose if you’re being so forthcoming, I suppose I should as well.” says Fleabus.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” asks Malaci.

“I was waiting for Aloe here to leave before I said anything, but like I said, if she trusts us enough to tell us what she knows, then we all should be just as trusting of her.” replies Fleabus.

“I thought we were,” says Yasraena with a bit of sarcasm in her voice. “But I suppose I can’t fault you for being cautious.”

“I appreciate the confidence master Gundarock,” says Aloe. “What were you about to say?”

Fleabus takes a moment to gather his thoughts, then says, “It was when I was spying on the keep before. I was scouting around the perimeter and front when I saw the dirty traitor Nalfost, standing there by himself. Perfect sitting duck, but as I begin to cast the spell ‘o death, what do I see come flyin’ in and land right in front of ‘ol Nalfost and begin to talk to him like he was along lost friend? A pretty godsdamn big black dragon is what!”

He stops and takes a drink before continuing.

“Well, they sit and talk for a few minutes, when I see Nalfost take out the statue of Tiamat… yes, our statue… and give it to the dragon, who taking it, flies away to the north. Nalfost then goes back into the keep. I stayed for ‘nother hour or so, but he never came back out, so I finally left as it was gettin’ dark.” He then looks to Aloe and says “I never gave it a second thought, thinking it was some sort of tribute to the dragon or something. That is until you just spoke of it in the picture on the tapestry.”

            Aloe catches her breath as she hears this come out of the dwarf’s mouth.

“You had a silver statue of Tiamat?” she asks him.

“Mithril actually,” replies Fleabus. “But aye, we did. We found it in the ruins of the Keep.”

            “A statue of Tiamat made of solid Mithril,” Aloe repeats. “You say you found this in the ruins of Hellgate Keep and that you saw this Nalfost give it to the black dragon?”

            “Not to be rude, lass, but isn’t that exactly what I just said?” Fleabus responds, now a little more interested.

            “Can you describe it in detail?” she asks, ignoring the jibe. Her voice rising a bit as she asks the question.

            “Well, it was Tiamat in Mithril.” Yasraena says. “About 3ft high by 2 ft long by about a foot wide. It weighed about 30-40 lbs.”

            “Don’t forget about the illusion on it.” Malaci says.

            “Oh yeah.” Yas says with a slight laugh, “There was a greater illusion imbedded in it that projected a life size Tiamat. It almost got the best of us when we first saw it.”

 “If what you just said is true, then all my suspicions have been confirmed.” says Aloe with a real fear in her eyes as she plops down in her chair as if defeated. “That all this isn’t just myth and legend. “The Crossing” is real add it’s really going to take place.”

“And what is this “Crossing?” asks Fleabus now hanging on her every word.

“It’s the Cult ritual that transforms an old evil dragon into a dracolich, and it becomes the new vessel for Sammaster, allowing him to come back to un-life!” replies Aloe. “I believe that this black dragon you saw, whose name has to be Onyx, is the chosen of Sammaster and will be the one so transformed. That statue you found and that the dragon now has is the literal the key to starting it all!”

She stops for a moment and gazes at the entire party with a look of utter desperateness. “My deepest fears have come true and I have no other course open to myself but to try and stop this ritual from taking place. I will do so alone if I must, but I’ll have little chance to succeed if I try it alone. Will you help me?”

The party looks at the elf with new found respect for a silent moment before Yasraena replies, “I’ll help you Aloe. I have a feeling we’re tied into this somehow.”

“Aye, I’m with ye too, lass,” says Fleabus.

“And me,” adds Malaci. “Besides, there’s strength in numbers.”

Aloe visibly relaxes at this, as if a stone wall weight was lifted from her. “Thank you my friends, thank you. I don’t think I could have done it alone.”

“Do you have any idea of where to start at?” asks Yasraena.

“I think the best place to start would be Onyx’s lair,” Aloe replies. “I know the location. If my information was correct that is.”

“Well, seeing how it’s almost midnight, I suggest we start off tomorrow afternoon,” Yasraena replies back. “I know we all need to stock up on traveling supplies before we leave, so why don’t we all meet back here, ready to depart, by noon tomorrow.”

“Sounds good to me,” Malaci says.

“Aye, me as well,” adds Fleabus.

“Then we meet tomorrow afternoon,” says Aloe.

As they all get up and take their leave, Aloe stays put and says her goodbyes. When she is alone and has one more glass of wine, she thinks to herself, “I sure hope they’re as good as people say they are. Something tells me I’m going to need them.”

*** 

As Yasraena finally gets to bed, she resolves herself to stop by and inform Alustriel of what is going on before she and her friends leave the city. So the next morning on her way out, she does exactly that. When the palace guards see who is calling on her ladyship so early in the morn, they let her go in immediately. Luckily, Alustriel is not occupied and has time to listen to her new prospect. When she hears of hat Yasraena and her new friends are going to do, she is impressed.

“The Cult is not a group to underestimate, my friend,” she said. “They may be weak at present, but if what this Aloeranth says is true, they could become very great in power. Very great indeed.”

She pauses for a moment to think, then continues, “I will consult with the rest of the council on this matter in more detail at a later date, but for now, I will offer some help to you in the form of a fellow Harper. His name is Daerrian, a half-elf and since I know your group is somewhat lacking an offensive mage, he happens to be one of no small consequence. I know he will be of immense help to you and your party. Where are you staying? The Unicorn, as usual?”

“Am I that predictable?” she asks with a smile. “Yes, the unicorn.”

“I’ll have him meet you there in 2 hours ready to travel.” Alustriel answers back with her own smile, which then turns serious, “Yasraena, I know I don’t have to tell you the importance of this. If it’s real, you MUST stop it from happening. The consequences could be very bad for the northern realms if it succeeds. But if it’s something else, we also need to know what it is and the threat it may cause.”

She then grasps her hands and says, “Xal Eilistraee kyorl phor dos, ussta abbil.”     

“Bel'la dos, dosst highness. Lu' dos ichl.” Yasraena answers in turn, surprised and flattered that Alustriel would use her native tongue. 

***  

When Yasraena got back to the Unicorn, almost everyone was there except Aloe and Daerrian. Aloe still had 10 minutes, so she filled in the group about her new friend. Just when she had finished, lo and behold, there was Daerrian walking up to their table with Aloe right in front of him. When they arrived, Daerrian held back as Aloe continued on.

            “Well, is everyone ready to go?” She asks.

            “Sure are,” answers Yasraena. “Except for one thing.”

            “What’s that?” asks Aloe.

            “Meeting the new addition to our party, courtesy of Alustriel,” she answers, gesturing to the half-elf standing about 5 feet away from the group. “Daerrian I presume?”

            “That is me,” he answers as he steps towards Yasraena. “and you must be the famous Yasraena T’Sarran. Pleased to meet you.”

            “New member?” asks Aloe in surprise. “What new member?”

            “Daerrian Celevorn, at your service mi’lady,” says Daerrian with a bow. “With the lady’s regards.”

            “Yasraena there says you’re a mage of no small ability,” Malaci says.

            “ I don’t think I’d be here if I wasn’t, master rogue,” Daerrian replies back rather snippily. “Don’t worry. I know where our path leads and I come prepared for what we may meet along the way and once we get there.”

            As they get up and make ready to depart, Aloe is heard saying to him, “For the sake of the us and the realms, I hope your not just bragging, mage.” 

Chapter Three:

Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

Coming Soon!