Starday Morning, Fireseek 15, 591 Common Year

Newt sets out with Rain and Aramek. She holds her amulet in front of her, as she has seen priests hold a holy symbol. As she does so, she tries to extend her senses, paying particular attention to the doors while staying clear of any possible traps.

Rain abruptly comes to a stop and backtracks to Indranil to say, “Sir Indranil, might I also suggest that you send a group to go retrieve our packs. Who knows what unscrupulous sorts may attempt to pilfer them in our absence.” She smiles. “Besides, I am getting hungry.”

Indranil calls out, “Sgt Apone while you are collecting the wood have a team grab our pack and set about getting a mess put together. Then rotate everyone through to eat.”

“Yes sir,” Sgt. Apone replies.

Fingol pulls Indranil aside and whispers in Elvish, “There may be one other hope. My father had Rain gather up the items we took from Noch’s body. Among them was a powerful poison. My father didn’t ask her to destroy it, and I don’t recall anyone making a point of doing so. I didn’t ask what happened to it. I don’t think it good to ask about it now, but I think that Rain’s chances to take out the cleric might be better than they would appear.”

Indranil replies, “You make a very good case for not sending Rain into the shrine, but rather having her use the invisibility potions to get close to the priest once he is outside and use the poison on him. I am assuming it is the kind that can use to coat a blade or arrow with.

“Anyway, I would like a sneak look inside the shrine to know what we face. However, I think we have to deal with the uncertainty of not knowing the layout. I agree with you that it would give us an advantage to know what we face inside, but the likelihood is that the invisible spy would step on a trap or be caught when he/she makes a mistake. Then we would lose someone and gain nothing.

“So the potions would be better used to launch a strike against the priest as part of the overall assault. Impairing that priest by taking his unholy symbol or possibly killing him outright would only be possible with the team present to back up the strikers. Otherwise, they would be killed quickly after they made their attack.

“Sir Fingol, your council is most valuable and greatly appreciated. Sir Ragnbjorn asked my brother to be the second in command of this mission, but I am concerned that Sir Lorindel’s heart is not in leading troops and he is more concerned with his individual performance – or lack of it. I hope leading the scouting mission will allow him to recover his warrior spirit and dignity of command. He is impressive in his element – as we all are, I suppose. I am certain that he’ll do well. If he finds an escape tunnel, I hope he’ll be able to tell if it’s been used. Or that he’ll call either of us to inspect it for tracks.”

At the bottom of the mound, Rain, Aramek, Newt, and Gar gather around. Four of the lizardfolk archers stand above the entrance ready to shoot anything that might come out. Gar points out that there is magic but no poison guarding the door. Aramek also works his magic and finds that it is a faint abjuration form of magic that is guarding the door. Rain sees that there is indeed a glyph inscribed on the bottom of the door that will activate if certain conditions are not met. She had been trained in disabling such things with her tools by scratching out just the right lines using one of her long metal picks, but she has had little actual experience doing so, and erasing the wrong line would set the glyph off.

Xalakae moves right behind Rain, trying to perceive thoughts through the door, while acting as if she’s observing Rain.

From within Xalakae senses the thoughts of three Deathwalker warriors. S/he hones in on one of them who is thinking, Yes, they’re still out there. Hah! Let them try to get through this. The power of the Priest of the Dark One will melt the flesh from their bones, and then he will make those bones rise up to fight for us! We will all have our revenge on these slavers and their cannibalistic snakeskin allies. The power of the Dark One is now on our side and we will never be enslaved or colonized again! Just try to open that door. Yes, just try it. We’ll laugh our guts out as yours melt into the ground. Even if you don’t, scores of our warriors should be back any day now from their raids on the river. How many of you are out there? Doesn’t matter, our raiding parties will sweep you all away. Even if you break in you will have to face our priest, the Adept of Annihilation, and his servants Reece and Relikez. There is a mental shudder as he thinks of these two. “Come on, try and open the door! We want to hear you scream for a change!”

Newt steps over to stand with Aramek and keeps him between herself and Gar.

Aramek says to Rain, “My friend, I recommend against fiddling with that glyph unless you are absolutely certain that you can disarm it. As it is, our enemies inside will have no problem coming out and if we’re going to go in, it won’t be until tomorrow afternoon anyway. I suggest we just let Sir Indranil know for the present.”

Rain looks at Aramek “I agree. This is a dangerous glyph…”

“Rain, wait” says Newt with some urgency. “May I speak with you? Alone? Now.”

Interrupted by Newt, Rain stands and says, “Sure, over here.” She leads Newt several yards down towards the path leading off the mound.

Rain stops just short of the path, where nobody can overhear them. “What’s up?”

“Rain, find another way in. I have a bad feeling about this. That glyph is really powerful. They want us to go in that way and believe the glyph will kill us. Go look for other ways in.” Without waiting for Rain’s response she turns adding, “Excuse me. Sir Indranil needs to see me.” With that, Newt heads off to find Sir Indranil.

Rain catches up with Newt and walks with her up to Indranil, saying only “Thanks Newt.”

Gar says to the sorcerer, before Rain and Newt are out of earshot, “I could have a spell to dispel the ward tomorrow, Master Aramek. Do you have spells like that as well?”

“Good Father, that’s good to know, in the event we need to break in. I suspect the fires at the entrances and the blockage of the air vents will rather have them trying to break out and your spells will be put to more damaging effect against the enemy, rather than their door.” Aramek smiles.

“True, true,” Gar considers. “I wouldn’t want to waste more than one spell on the project,” He smiles and rubs Aramek’s back with his right hand, “but all options should be explored.” Gar continues to look at the sorcerer with a mischievous grin.

Gar stops rubbing Aramek’s back with a squeeze to his shoulders and let’s go respectfully. He clasps both arms loosely behind him. Changing the subject to pass the time he says, “Master Aramek, I remember that Master Parwyn makes potions and such, but does he also make magical arms from time to time?”

“No, Father Gar. His area of expertise, and the reason I was originally sent here, is his abilities with creating potions, poultices and such.”

“My lord!” Newt calls out fretfully, interrupting Indranil, who is speaking with Chief Rahk. “My lord Indranil, I must see you – and only you – right away!” As she says this she looks at the others and gives a particularly pointed glance at Rain, who had followed her.

Rain waits at the top of the mound, looking out to survey what everybody else is doing.

Indranil with a mid level bow says to Chief Rahk, “Please excuse me,” and then nods his head to Adelina and walks to a spot where they can talk without being overheard and asks, “Adelina what is it?”

“My lord! I have more information that you need.” Newt, near to freaking out about something, continues pleadingly, “…but first I need your solemn promise you won’t ask how I came by it! I assure you I got this information without putting our people at risk or with any nefarious means! Please, milord?”

“Adelina, I can’t promise to do something, or not do something, if I feel the lives and safety of our party is at stake. You will have to trust me that I will use my judgment and discretion wisely for the greater good of all and the success of our mission. I hope you have seen in my actions so far that I have done everything humanly possible to protect you and our party. Now take a deep breath and tell me what you need to say.”

Newt looks like she’s about to cry, but does as told. She takes a deep, considering breath, then, before she can change her mind, speaks very quickly and quietly so others – like Rain, eavesdropping nearby – won’t hear. ”About the Deathwalkers…They see us as slavers, and believe they are fighting for their freedom. They’ll fight very hard because of this.”

Just before Indranil can respond Newt continues, “There’s more. They are expecting scores of warriors – their raiding parties – to return any day now.”

Newt pauses only long enough for a quick breath, again cutting off Sir Indranil’s inevitable questions. “Their priest, they call him the ‘Adept of Annihilation.’ He has two servants, called Reece and Relikez, and these two make even the Deathwalkers shudder. I don’t know exactly what that all means.”

Slowing down, Newt says, “I’m sorry. That’s all I have. Please believe that they believe this!” She appears frightened, almost like a child expecting a punishment, as she waits for his response.

Indranil looks solemnly at Adelina and asks, “Why are you so upset to bring me this very valuable insight into the enemy?”

Lip still trembling, “Um… well, because I thought you would ask other questions. One’s I’d rather not answer, or can’t answer now.”  Ashamed, and unable to meet his eyes, she continues more softly and trailing off even more “I’m sorry. I don’t want to look like I don’t trust you…”

“Adelina, by the goddess I am fond of you… rest assured I want nothing but the best for you. I can see you are deeply conflicted and uncertain whom to trust. I have tried hard to provide you a safe place to recover from the shock of your parents going missing and seeing the slaughter at Cypress Hills. I have not pushed you because I trust your intentions and know that you mean us well. Yet at the same time I believe there is more to you that you are letting on and that at a time and place of your choosing you will reveal more about yourself. Until then you must know I am your friend and protector. I will die before I let anything happen to you.

“I am not worried about the Deathwalkers expecting the return of their raiding parties. We dispatched them in the battle of the Javan River with Chief Rahk’s help. The fact that they are expecting rescue makes me feel a bit better about waiting to attack them until tomorrow. Their confidence in their ‘forthcoming’ rescue will make them complacent and should ensure us a relatively safe night.

“What you have told me about Reece and Relikez is shocking. I must think about this and consult with Sir Fingol.

“But please Adelina can you not tell me how it is you know these things? If you can’t or won’t say I understand, but please, the more I know about each one of us – our strengths and weaknesses – the better able I am to plan and protect our party and ensure we all live to see Westkeep.”

Newt looks up and says softly and more calmly, “Thank you my lord. I don’t want you to die for me.”

She looks around to see who might be listening. Newt notes Rain’s careful ‘inattention.’ Then she rises up on tiptoes to whisper, super softly, in Sir Indranil’s ear. She holds that pose, considering. There is no whisper.

Returning to a normal stance, she meets his gaze and says in a more normal voice, “I’ll tell you, my lord, when I can. I’m sorry.” Then she turns and walks quickly toward the closest known entry to the mound, apparently returning to work.

Indranil watches Newt walk back towards the main entrance and then motions to Rain, “Guardsman Rain – a word!”

Rain turns from where she is surveying the other sub-groups and walks over to Indranil saying, “There appears to be a warding glyph of significant power protecting that entrance. It can be bypassed by one who knows it’s secret, but based on input from Aramek and Newt, I would suggest we leave it alone and concentrate on the other entrances to their lair.”

“Yes, yes, yes as to your given mission we will talk a bit. Don’t play coy with me Rain. You trailed Adelina up here like a wolf tracking her prey scaring the daylights out of her. Then you stood there pretending you could not overhear. However, I think I am getting to know you and I could see every fiber in your body alert to her every word.”

Before Rain can come back with a snide reply Indranil waves her down saying, “I am not going to punish or reprimand you. I have learned to trust your instincts; and when the hairs go up on the back or your neck mine do too. You exasperate me sometimes! How many times must I prove to you my good intentions; that I am not some slave master, gang leader or pimp like you grew up with looking for way to trample and abuse you under my boot? We are alone in the Hool standing above an enemy fortress with a very small force. We must trust each other or we will all die. I would like your thoughts on what you overheard.”

Rain smiles but speaks a serious tone, “I came back up the hill with Newt because I had information you needed to hear about the entrance. Nothing more. And if you think so little of me that you believe that I would slink up here only to eavesdrop then you really do not know me at all. I in no way believe you to be a gang leader or punk from the street, you have proven yourself to be a very good leader and I have no problem following your lead. And I hope through my willingness to spy out the lair that you know I would risk my life to save any of you. Even Gar, gods help him. Indranil, I do trust you. What you think of me because of my background is your business, but please know that I do trust you and see your good intentions. With that said, I have shown some slight exasperations at your military methods. While I do believe you could do better in handling non-military folk such as I, that is my issue and I will deal with it.

“Yes I did overhear your conversation, but my guess is that you planned it that way. Otherwise you would have moved Newt farther away from those of us on top of the mount to ensure privacy. It is not my fault that I can pick up things others usually miss.” At this her smile widens.

“So, my thoughts? Obviously you and I both know who Reece and Relikez are. I think we can use that to our advantage. Maybe by invoking the name of Reece’s fiancé, or saying that she still lives. That may be enough to throw both of them off at a crucial opportunity.

“Newt was also able to provide some very detailed information about that door. Apparently she knows that it is a very deadly sigil that the Deathwalkers expect to kill a good number of us.

“As for Newt herself, I really don’t care what the hells she is hiding. I wish she would just get over it… and soon. I know how I feel about her. As long as she has not hidden some evil Deathwalker side of herself with intentions of stabbing us in the back when we engage the Priest, I don’t care about her background. I doubt it would alter the feelings of friendship I am growing for her. But that is her battle, and I respect her fight with it.

“Anything else, Sir Indranil?” she finishes, deliberately using his title to accent the fact that she does respect him.

“When you return from investigating the other doorways for magical traps let’s sit down and talk with Aramek.”

“Will do. Thanks for your trust Indranil.” She looks around for Newt then heads over to her.

Sir Fingol!  Do you have a moment?”

“Of course, Sir.”

 “I just had the most interesting conversations with Newt just now. Newt came across some fascinating information about the Deathwalkers and was fraught with anxiety lest I ask her how she came to it. I think her… whatever… is starting to manifest. She was terrified I would make her tell me how she came about the knowledge and made me promise not to make her tell. Apparently she can read magic Deathwalker glyphs. The main entrance is warded with a glyph of significant power protecting it. I find it fascinating she can read it but thankful she could and warned us as going in that way would likely kill us.

 “She also seems to have insight into the situation down below. Indranil repeats to Fingol what Newt told him and then pauses with an expectant look on his face as he waits for Fingol’s reaction.

“Reece?” Fingol says incredulously, “Oh my, we have to share this with the others. Reece figures into some things that happened in town, you came in at the end and may not recall all of the details or the significance to us now.”

“Master Parwyn is an alchemist in town. He was the victim of a burglary. If you remember, one of the assassins that attacked Prince Prospero had a statue and a journal in his pack. These were among the items taken from Master Parwyn’s home. They were the property of his son, Reece. The thief matched the description of the assassins that targeted our Prince.

“Aramek should be told about this. Aramek read the whole of Reece’s journal. Father Gar was with me when we investigated the store. I am sure it would interest him as well. We should tell everyone of course, but these may have the most to share.

“How exactly this information is to be used, I don’t know. It does mean more bad news though. Besides an evil priest, we will have to deal with at least one evil sorcerer or wizard. I don’t know anything about this Relikez, but Reece was an arcane spellcaster of some sort before he left Westkeep. He lost his love to the Scarlet Brotherhood. I am sure she was put to some sort of vile servitude. He started worshipping an evil god, Nerull I believe, in his thirst for vengeance. The journal entry that Aramek read to us said that he found some ancient power out here. A power that would help him get his revenge. If he wants to wipe Monmurg off the map, he has my blessing. The only problem is that Westkeep lies between him and that city. He must be stopped!”

Indranil takes this in and responds, “Sir Fingol, I am relieved you know so much about this past history and have ideas what to do. I confess I was at a loss what to do and that is why I sought you out straight away.

“Wait! Now I remember the name Relikez. He was a friend of Reece in Westkeep. A painter if I recall. And now he is feared by the Deathwalkers? I wonder what a painter becomes that elicits such fear in dark hearts!  Another unknown set before us.

 “Anyway, I am perplexed how Newt was able to read the glyph and understand what is below, but I do trust her. There is more. Rain followed Newt up the hill and overhead Newt telling me this information. She agrees with you that we must talk to Aramek.

“Considering all this, it sounds like waiting to attack until tomorrow is the right thing to do. The Deathwalkers below are as likely as not to leave us alone tonight thinking we will soon face their reinforcements from the rear when they return. They don’t know we killed them all in the battle of the Javan River. I hate the delay, but with so much unknown we need everyone to be at full strength. If we wait until tomorrow, perhaps Father Gar would, before beginning his rest, would heal Chief Rahk to full strength. Unless the Chief survives this fight, any victory would be hollow. Westkeep would have lost its best friend in the Malarat tribe.

“Wizards, clerics and sorcerers! They give me indigestion and a headache. Bah! Always with a ready excuse why they can’t do something and leave the heavy lifting to us eh?”

“How goes your hunt to recover arrows to replenish our stock? I have an idea for tomorrow. Since we can’t use the main entrance, why don’t we reverse trap it with an old fashioned trap of our own? Perhaps we can take some of the arrows that can’t be restored and dip them in the poison potion and then plant them on the path in front of the entrance? When the Deathwalkers storm out to ‘surprise’ us they will get a nasty little surprise of their own; with first a nice warm fire and then something nasty to step on!”

Fingol’s eyebrows knit together at the mention of the poison, “I don’t like the idea of using poison. I’d prefer to not speak of it with anyone else directly. I see the use of poison as evil. I suppose it is hypocritical of me, but I don’t want to be directly involved while at the same time I am glad for the hope it may give us here.  Perhaps I am wrong anyway. I don’t know for sure that Rain has it. It’s just that it would surprise me greatly if she didn’t. And if she won’t use it now, I wouldn’t have a guess what she’s going to save it for.”

“I believe she has it still,” Indranil says. “She did not say she didn’t when I described the assassination plan to her. I do not see poison as inherently evil. In this case I consider it capable of the greater good of keeping us all alive. Stepping on a sharp arrow is not going to kill any Deathwalkers by itself though it might kill them from infection but not in time to help us. If you are not comfortable being directly involved then would you be okay making the arrows and then leaving the task of dipping them in the poison and planting them to another?”

“The arrows should slow or stop a charge or escape, and fortify a defensive position. I hadn’t thought that they would kill anyone.” Fingol pauses, ”As for the poison, I don’t mean to stop anyone from using it” He still seems uncomfortable with the idea.

Indranil replies, “Sir Fingol, war is hell, and we flirt with evil every time we pick up a weapon in anger, but if it means you live and they die then I have no quarrel with using poison. Arrows won’t stop a concerted rush, it might slow it down a wee bit, but the first few attackers through will have broken off most of the arrows. Without poison to drop them it won’t have much impact. What would work well as a barrier would be mid to large sized stakes backing up the arrows. I was envisioning a three-part barrier: fire, poison arrows, and then stakes. That would really slow and hinder a charge out of the main entrance.”

Fingol responds, “If they do charge us, gods grant that they are that foolish, I’d like to have enough arrows for a few volleys. It’ll make the delays they face from the obstacles that much more deadly.”

Midway up the mound there are four more doors like the entrance door each one facing a different cardinal direction. Like the entrance door they are concealed behind foliage, sturdy and iron bound, and most importantly trapped with a glyph. Newt stops to examine one.

It occurs to Xalakae to wonder how the Deathwalker whose mind s/he read knew that Rain and the others were outside the door. Xalakae once again searches for thoughts to read in an attempt to learn the answer to this. Once again s/he is able to probe the mind of a Deathwalker on the other side of the door. S/he finds that they are simply hearing the movement of armored people and the muffled sounds of their conversations on the mound through the door.

S/he reflects back on the uncomfortable conversation s/he just had with Sir Indranil, thining to hiermself, I know it would be better if I told him, or at least told someone. I could then help the group more freely. But what is the prime directive of our people? ’Remain undetected.’ That is what I have been taught all my life, and I must not lightly put it aside. Disregarding this most basic of rules may even jeopardize my life, or worse, the lives of my parents! So I have to keep my secrets.

Here comes Rain. What will she ask me now? What should I say to her? They’re not going to like me much, for much longer, if I won’t tell them about myself. That’s the only way they’ll believe I trust them, and that they can trust me. Focus, Xalakae!  Just focus on learning about the Deathwalkers!’

Rain heads down the mound and finds Newt examining one of the entrances. Not the one with the glyph, but the next closest one. “Newt, thanks for your warning earlier about the glyph. I mentioned your concerns in detail to Indranil. I believe you are right, we should leave it alone for now. Let’s go back and see what Father Gar has to say about it though, he has not had a chance to weigh in.”

She pauses, and then continues, “I hope you don’t feel I have betrayed your confidence in telling Indranil. Whatever ability you have to know the things you know is a boon for all of us. The other day on the beach I pushed for you to open up to me… that was a mistake, you don’t know me well enough yet and I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Rain. You didn’t betray anything, this time or earlier. And like I said, I overreacted before. I feel like I am the only one who’s betraying anything. If I tell you and Sir Indranil things, I’m betraying trusts and people may die – possibly starting with me. But if I don’t tell you, some of the people in this group may also die – also possibly me. It’s a difficult position to be in when you want to earn people’s trust. And that’s the thing. I trust you, and I need your trust but can’t offer much right now to earn your trust. It feels terrible. Like I’m using you, but that’s not what I’m doing. Really. I just don’t know what to do.”

Newt stays seated there, making no move to go to Gar as Rain had suggested.

Rain smiles genuinely and offers a hand to help Newt up, “I had no idea it was like that. Newt what I know or guess about you is safe with me. I will not discuss it with another save Indranil or any of those you decided to open up to. Anyone else who questions the source of information you have gleaned through your abilities will not find a correct answer from me. I have your back, friend. Now let’s go find out what Father Gar thinks of this dangerous glyph.”

Newt cheers up visibly at being called “friend” and accepts the help getting up.

Newt, now smiling, “Okay, and we can tell him about the other glyphs, too, but I suspect they are the same.”

“Oh, and they’re listening behind the doors. I suppose I should tell that to Sir Indranil, but I bet he’s already guessed, so I’ll tell him after we see Father Gar.”

As Rain and Newt approach Gar and Aramek at the magically trapped entrance, she stops about 15 feet short of the door and motions for Gar and Armaek to join them. When they do, she says quietly, “Ok, here is what we know. First they are listening behind the doors so we need to keep our discussions quiet. Second, that glyph is very powerful. Any attempts to disarm manually would be foolish I believe. The other four entrances around the mound above us seem to be similarly trapped. I have heard what Aramek had to say before Newt and I had to step away… Gar, what are your thoughts?”

Newt flashes a quick smile at Rain before turning to listen to Father Gar’s comments.

“If you are too afraid to open it, milady, I can spare one dispel ward spell for the morrow for wherever we need it.” Gar’s eyes twinkle at Rain.

Newt marks that twinkle and determines to watch Gar’s approach to Rain in the future.

Without waiting for a response from Rain, Gar zeros in on Newt. “Can you hear or see them listening to us?”

Taken aback, Newt’s smile turns to a look of shocked terror for a split second before she can compose herself. Angrily, she shoots back “Yes! I can hear them when I’m close enough to the door!”

Rain stares blankly at Gar for a brief moment then puts hand to rapier hilt and continues in a serious deadpan tone, “Father Gar, you are out of line. Indranil and I did not want to bring this up yet, but you have forced my hand. If you continue to come up with simple and logical solutions to problems which quite obviously take repeated meetings in committee to form overly complex resolutions, then we will be forced to terminate your association with us… by steel,” at which Rain half draws her rapier and continues to stare down Gar.

“Milady Rain, the mission is to get you and then us into the shrine. If you cannot open the ward tomorrow, I can. That is all I said. How does this deviate from the group plan?” Gar smiles mischievously at Rain and then burst out laughing at Newt, “Born a witch, you’re going to be handy having around.”

Newt, raising her voice involuntarily, “Wha…? Who said I’m a witch? What do you mean by saying terrible things like that?!”

As Newt’s voice rises, Rain says in a low even voice, “Please keep your voices low, both of you.”

Gar tries to smile reassuringly toward Newt and in a quieter voice, “I mean no disrespect, mi’young lady. I would bet money that one of your ancestors was a magical creature: perhaps a sorcerer, perhaps a witch, perhaps a fairy? It appears to me the gifts of your ancestors now flow in your blood. Was one of your parents more mystical than the other?

Newt, indignant, lowers her voice and hisses to Gar, “You need to choose your words more carefully, Father. You’ll get someone hurt, loosely saying things like that.” Still through clenched teeth, crossing her arms, “And never you mind about my parents!”

As Aramek hears this exchange, he turns to Gar and says, “Father Gar, I don’t understand why you seem to enjoy upsetting the people around you. To what purpose?”

Gar cocks his head, “It is not purposeful, Aramek. But it does seem to happen a lot.” Gar grins innocently.

Aramek sighs with a bit of exasperation, then turns to Rain and Newt and winks, giving them a ‘well I tried’ look.

Rain replaces the rapier in its scabbard and shaking her head slightly says, “He is just being an ass, it’s his natural disposition. Gar, if you can indeed dispel a glyph tomorrow that is great news and I think our best way of dealing with them. If you have nothing further to add then let’s let Indranil know what we have found and our suggestions on dealing with it.”

She pauses for any further comments. If there are none she turns and heads off to find Indranil.

Gar silently smiles and follows Rain with the others up the hill.

Newt watches Gar go, a dark look on her face. When he is well away and the others have started up, she follows grumbling, “Witch indeed, says the barely sociable prayer monkey!”

Rain stifles a short laugh.