Subplot completed: 1 hero point for each of you, as well as one skill point to put into a perform skill. It might seem odd, but it seems an appropriate Desna/Azata-based boon.
Needless to say, it had been impossible to keep everyone out of the courtyard during that fateful evening. Pei, Tikhade, and a few of the more prominent paladins had watch with fascination and then awe as the wilted outsiders returned to their glory. While it had not been immediately noticeable to anyone but a few, the yamah had seemed older and weaker before, holding their frames heavily despite their pride.
With Rohini's magic strengthened under the starlight and the air chilly, the wings of the two reappeared as could be imagined, but they radiated their own bluish glow... with Illyata's being the stronger up to the point at which Nyota became the subject of Talon's affection. Her wings luminated and let out a shower of harmless sparks as she laughed and embraced the fighter in return. This contained more energy than before; it was practically a different, musical, and chiming sound.
Illyata pulled Rohini into a rapid embrace of her own. She seemed relieved, looking at her sister, and soon proceeded to rise into the air, singing a few loud notes as butterfly-shaped motes proceeded to appear in the air of the courtyard as if they had been waiting all along.
The heroes could feel the gratitude of a goddess coursing through them. For Rohini, this might not have been a new sensation, but for her there was a profound sense of peace, if not a promise, as she watched these creatures, that she could expect that perfect form to be her own on the day of Pharasma's judgement.
More and more motes clustered in the space, illuminating the temple.
"Blessed ones," Illyata blared, looking down. "Words are not enough to express our gratitude. We are being called home, now, but suffice to say that we shall return if ever you perform the calling."
As inquiet as Illyata happened to be, Nyota's body language imparted the idea of reluctance as the motes congregated. She planted one final kiss on Talon's forehead and raised her gaze to the sky, and then returned it to the lore warden.
"I have to go," she said simply. "But as my sister said, we will come back... If not, Desna's court is eternal whilst you are not, Beloved. Should you fall, I shall take you to our fields."
Each adventurer felt their moment in the yamah's farewell gaze, but then the two were enveloped by the motes and vanished completely, leaving the night air still and serene.
As Tikhade grew in reluctance, so did Rohini and Talon. This deflated Illyata's show of resolve like little else could do.
"Very well... We will wait, then. It is not a frightening place, this temple, and seems guarded enough, blessed ones."
Nyota's shoulders sagged in relief, and she leaned into Talon as if a great weight had been lifted.
"Thank you." she murmured.
Illyata straightened up.
"We can make ourselves of use here, I'm certain. In the meantime, I know Kanthuun must go replenish his supplies, and Drovya yet needs attending to."
Illyata bowed her head to the priestess.
"If that is what it takes to go home, then yes, blessed one."
Nyota was not so convinced.
"I don't want to end up down there again... I... I am afraid."
Illyata stared at her sister for a moment and shook her head.
"Our goddess is the goddess of fortune, dear sister... Desna shall take us home."
Her voice contained more doubt than it should. This was reflected on Nyota's face.
They both listened to Kanthuun's assertions and agreed, as they were deadweight, really, in the larger scheme of things.
"It must be done, Priestess." Illyata contended. "I would merely be obliged if you did it at a time when the stars are visible. If we are worthy still, Desna will see us and take us home."
"I felt something on the beach. Something... evil. It's gone, though..."
Nyota furrowed her brow even as Illyata got to work pulling Hanethes out of the boat.
"We're still here.... It's better, but I don't like this place, either..."
Her eyes film over and she takes a few steps onto the rocky shore before retreating back to help Talon bring Drovya onto the beach.
"Funny, I could have sworn..."
Illyata immediate shouldered the unconscious Hanethes, leaving Drovya to some other capable hands.
Provided that Kanthuun does provide somewhere to go immediately, they'll be fine, but after six seconds, the dice dictate they will go under.
That earned Talon a weary smile, to be sure.
---
The next eight hours were surprisingly uneventful, though Kanthuun's wayfinder ceased to stop buzzing and shaking incessantly. Left alone, it would probably prevent most from sleeping peacefully.
Illyata shook her head, hair shifting across the ground.
"The frustration is just as much mine as yours. Sitting and reading to learn is not a strong point of our kind. Had we learned more to serve our purpose, this might have gone differently. Be not ashamed."
She placed a calming hand on Hanethes' forehead, though her eyes do wander to the thrashing Drovya.
"I, too, wish to bask in the starlight."
Nyota grabbed Talon's forearm with a sure grip and pressed her head against his shoulder.
"I... I didn't mind, sister, but it will be good to see the sky again..."
Illyata twitched a little at Rohini's sudden revelation, simply because it became obvious that there had been a way out of the nightmare realm for some time, now. Had she more knowledge of the clerical ways of advancement, she might have been able to make this suggestion before. This did not mean she begrudged helping the adventurers, though. It was still a logical step.
On that note, the azata had some dealings with tedious travel before. Ebhanazor had boasted of one surefire way to cross ridiculous amounts of terrain in a day.
"A hound archon could take the small one, I'm sure, by way of his magic, but for the rest of you, I cannot be sure."
She regarded Rohini with a wry smile. [b]"
Nyota seemed more stunned than irritated. Whether it was at the fact that a Janni could have come to their rescue for some time or that she was going to be separated from Talon left some room for debate, however.
"Eilarune... I hope that these dreams cannot come from a living mind." Nyota nearly whispers, her words cryptic but somewhat fearful, brought on by the realisation of the tortures that likely happen to the still living and cognisant in the outer planes.
Illyata kneels next to Han, adjacent to Haka, and regards the one who removed the chains from her person with concern.
"Surely the Lady hasn't left you, blessed Rohini... She doesn't abandon lightly. After all, did she not send you to our aid? Is there not something you can do...? Your daily gifts are not so limited as ours."
It does indeed. This gives Rohini access to some earlier spoilers. My lurking anoche has also told me Kanthya is out of town, so you might not hear from him. I'm led to believe Daemons can eat haunts, but that production slightly overshadows demand.
Illyata and Nyota brought their gazes from the fellows on the ground to stare and Haka critically. Somewhere, a fourth wall crumbled in a rumble of thunder, and a gm looked up a band she had never heard or witnessed to find them more mediocre than their viewing numbers suggested. However, that was not so much an issue here compared to the other things at hand.
Somehow, outside seemed just a little less malevolent to Kanthuun. Only because of the lack of haunting forces overtly trying to open his skull and penetrate his brain, of course.
Nodding to Rohini, the yamah spins what those who speak the language recognize to be a quick tale in Abyssal about how her master (who is apparently Drovya right now) had already made contact with the general and discussed an assignment in the camp which he cannot disclose, but had imbibed something recreational created by Rohini before cowering most effectively and grovelling about not being hit.
It's a decent show, but the pantomime could use some work. To be precise, it's obvious to anyone present that the average drow soldier is a bit dim... or at least gullible.
Nyota backs away from her given target and places herself behind Talon as the discussion progresses.
"The second we do, blessed one, will be a moment of truth... No one will fail to see what we are and that we've still a spark left to steal." Illyata whispered, but complied, nodding to her sister to charm the other drow before he attempted anything. Illyata, at least, had to run forward, yanking Rohini's literal chain.
Illyata called out, blinking in surprise when the fleeing drow acquiesced.
Meanwhile, Nyota attempted to keep the attention of the one who spoke Undercommon. He stared at her staring at him. Nothing came of it.
Glad you're okay. I already wrote this post but my computer shut down right before I pushed send to do automatic updates. Again with my peripheral... I know they warn you but I just don't see said warnings!Anyhoo, I believe you'd cast Fly and Obscure Alignment?
"Sister..." Nyota trailed off as Illyata nodded her consent and allowed the spells necessary to be cast upon her before becoming invisible and making her ascent to the top of the tower.
Nyota pressed superficially-bound hands against the side of the pyramid and watched until she could no longer see the auras within a spell of magic detection.
A minute passed, and the sound of combat around the pyramid ceased with a loud, booming, ORDER! that veered through the minds of all present rather than shaking the ground. The voice was incredibly masculine, and both fierce and calming at once. Despite misgivings, there was something fatherly about it, despite an occasional snarl.
Zin-para-jox. You shall not act as ANIMALS! Return to your posts immediately! A house divided FALLS, and we are not a house asunder!
The footsteps that followed did, however.
"We have what we came here for, and your reward shall soon be tangible! Fiz-zehe-yah!"
A loud roar echoed from around the camp, as well as the sound of swords being raised to the air.
"Uz-berei-na! In a show of the waking shift, I call the fallen here to likewise walk again!"
A small explosion of light burst forth from the other side of the pyramid, and the crowd's roar increased to a fever pitch...
masking the return of an invisible celestial.
"There is an opening at the top of the pyramid where this pillar originates, blessed ones." she whispers, barely noticeable above the din.
"And the enormous leonine daemon stands in front of the structure now. He made an opening by magic... I do not know if he intends to return, but for now he is not within and occupied."
It was infuriating to see so little, but the wayfinder's needle never strayed.
"Are you suggesting someone climb... or fly?" Illyata inquired very quietly.
The yamah turned away from the scene, Illyata's face set in a grim line. Even if the adventurers decided to interfere, the celestials couldn't.
The attention of gawkers in the camp was being gathered, however, and over-excited cacodaemons eager for a meal began to swarm over the brawl.
The two yamah remain incredibly tight-lipped, as if fearing their very voices could bring down a piece of the fiendish sun(if you can call it that) upon their companions, but Illyata does stare at a group of three male drow haggling with a group of remarkably fiendish-looking humans.
Illyata was obviously displeased with the proximity of the vile man to her person, and Nyota shook ever-so-slightly.
RAI probably means 3 uses per day, so that's what I'm ruling.
Nyota wandered closer to Talon in the muck as Illyata straightened her posture.
"Walking together seems a decent proposal, but that means the decision must be made quickly. Blessed ones, your quarry likely doesn't have much time, correct?"
She placed her arms out in front of her.
"The rouse must begin." she looked to Haka and made a feeble smile. "I am muddy enough for it, at least."
"Dear, dear Hanethes... it is not by any meager bonds we wear to deceive that we have been chained, rather that this entire place has bound us. It is of our volition that we serve you, for now, even if it means irons for a time."
The celestial inclined her head, regarding the rogue. "Though it is well that this is your reaction."
Illyata rose from the muck, unperturbed.
"Worry not. This grime is an insignificant setback, and one cannot begrudge the effort. My only solution, however, is simply that my sister and I act as your captives. I cannot imagine no other solution that sees us serving you in a proper capacity."
==
"If there's a risk of foot traffic... You'll need to make sure you use your wands... And while my sister and I can become invisible for a short time, we may need to come up with a more... long-term solution for blending in with you."
"So ready to be up and about, that Hanethes...," Illyata remarked to a nearby invisible halfling. "Not at all worried that he'd been impaled less than two minutes ago..."
Four holes in the bogwater marked the positions of Nyota and Haka.
"Do you want me to lift that gift from you now?"
"No, I think that mostly covers it, if my gift of tongues is adapting correctly." Illyata responded quietly.
And I assume Haka took the invisibling?
"We have a standoff..."
Init cycling-Wonky as heck,but unless Haka intends to do something outright, we're back to Drovya.
"Wistful thinking, anyway, I assure you. We will not distract you from your quest, but the passing of ages does nothing to stop one from wanting to go home." Illyata murmured. "I have little doubt that some of you will see Elysium whether we show it to you or not... though not until your time comes."
Her eyes locked with Rohini's, especially. Desna's Court existed in harmony with Elysium, after all.
"I would talk your ears off about our home if I could. And play a guide just as readily... Ah, to be in the Meadow of Solace once more..."
For once, Illyata seemed as profoundly sad as her counterpart, but it was just a glimmer of misery; a secondary failure of hope.
Nyota took Talon's hand briefly and smiled for a moment almost as fleeting.
"I would... I would show you, yes." she whispered.
"You haven't lived until you try these things' counterparts in Elysium! The sprawling, unspoilt wildlands of our home...! Ah, what would that do for your morale, I wonder... There are ripe berries the size of your head so filling that one bite could sustain you for a week, fresh, clean water in moving streams and crystal-clear rivers, and succulent nuts-,"
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